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40,669 | 72c74527cd95da08951aca026924812dcb49b1b3 | (CNN) -- There are certain elements of leadership that survive the centuries -- that are classical, says John Prevas, co-author of "Power Ambition Glory: The Stunning Parallels between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today." And while these features aren't necessarily a guarantee of success in the modern world, they can provide professionals with a framework around which success can be built, he says. So which leaders from the ancient past should you be looking to model your career on? Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) Alexander III of Macedon is the standard for leadership by which all others are measured, Prevas says. But does he merit his place as a leadership icon? "It's questionable," says Prevas. On the one hand, Alexander had a capacity for intense focus and was willing to sacrifice friends, family and personal fortunes to reach the top. But ambition fueled by a massive ego eventually proved to be Alexander's undoing, Prevas argues. Having defeated King Darius III in the Battle of Issus, the Persian king offered the marauding youngster the western half of his Persian Empire in return for his family who had been captured by the Macedonian army. Alexander's most senior commander, Parmenio, urged his young master to accept Darius's proposal and consolidate his power in the region. But Alexander ignored the advice, choosing instead to resume his conquest, capturing the Persian capital of Persepolis before hunting down and killing Darius. From there, Alexander continued eastwards conquering large parts of south central Asia before heading to India. But it was here that Alexander's exhausted army refused to carry on, thus ending his eastern escapade. Ancient quote: "I see no limits to what a man of ability can accomplish." Modern lesson: Youth is no barrier to success. Be bold and learn to focus on your task, but don't let your ambition or ego cloud your judgment. Listen to the advice of those more experienced than yourself. Xenophon (circa 435-circa 354 BC) An aristocrat by birth, Xenophon was a Greek military leader. But unlike Alexander the Great, Xenophon didn't command by the force of his personality, says Prevas, but sought to forge a consensus. "What makes Xenophon so unique as a leader is that he's not a soldier, he's a philosopher. He is elected by the soldiers to be one of the leaders based on his ability to articulate a course of action for them," Prevas said. Xenophon was a student of Socrates and didn't believe in democratic rule but he actually functioned as a democratic leader, Prevas says, leading a potentially unruly army of Greek mercenaries successfully out of Persia by occupying the middle ground. Ancient quote: "In life a leader must resign himself to expect anything and never count on anyone but himself." Modern lesson: Tailor your message to your audience and be sensitive to the moods and opinions of the people you manage. Augustus (63 BC-AD 14) Julius Caesar famously built the Roman Empire by conquest, but it was Augustus, his nephew and first Roman Emperor, who administered it and took it to its greatest heights, says Prevas. Augustus believed that the conquering achievements of Alexander the Great were actually easy when compared to the task of administering and building an empire, Prevas says. "He was a great administrator who made the political and economic foundation of Rome that lasted for the next 300 years," Prevas said. Ancient quote: "That which has been done well enough has been done quickly enough." Modern lesson: Augustus said: "Make haste slowly." In other words, Prevas says, move cautiously and thoughtfully in everything you do. Cleopatra (69 BC-30 BC) Ancient Egypt's last pharaoh is often feted for her seductive beauty. But Cleopatra was also a woman of high intelligence, as evidenced by her grasp of several languages, says Sean Easton, assistant professor of classics at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. "One of our principal sources for Cleopatra's life, Plutarch (the 2nd century biographer), says that in fact she rarely needed an interpreter to deliver her decisions to the representatives of foreign peoples," Easton said. She was a tenacious and resourceful leader who adopted a "hands-on" approach to power, consolidating her position through civil war with her brother and sister (Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoe IV), he says. Furthermore, Easton says, "she was a realist and wasn't afraid to gamble on bringing in a more powerful ally when that was what the situation called for," as shown by her personal and political courtship of Julius Caesar and Rome. Ancient quote: Easton says Cleopatra's attitude to power and life could be best summed up with the phrase, "Let it be done." Modern lesson: Leaders who back up their god-given attributes with hard work and imagination can create a formidable business package. | Today's professionals can learn much from the ancients .
Alexander the Great was notable for his "intense focus" but was undone by his ego .
Lesser-known leaders like Xenophon are good examples of leading by consensus .
Cleopatra was a realist and wasn't afraid to team up with a partner . |
240,544 | c364157188aabaa08aa42a1a4737394d43f54d6e | Conor O'Shea has branded criticism from Lawrence Dallaglio for demoting Chris Robshaw as Harlequins captain as a 'load of rubbish'. Joe Marler will lead Quins throughout the 2014-15 season to enable Robshaw to concentrate on his duties as England skipper with the next World Cup little over a year away. Former Red Rose and Wasps captain Dallaglio described the decision as 'strange', but O'Shea defended the change. Leader: Joe Marler replaces England skipper Chris Robshaw as Harlequins captain for the 2014-15 season . Born leader: Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea says criticism of the move is 'a load of rubbish' 'I take these things with a pinch of salt,' the club's director of rugby said. 'You put a microphone under someone's mouth and they say something people want to hear and it becomes a headline. 'If you dig a little deeper, then it's a load of rubbish. 'Chris has been incredible for us and has been captain of England and Quins for the last three years and with that comes pressure. Answering back: O'Shea (right) rejected Lawrence Dallaglio's (left) description of the decision as 'strange' 'I've been talking to Chris about it for a year and I just felt that with the year we have coming up, this is the right time to do it. 'I want what's best for Quins and for England. This decision was made to help Chris be the best he can be for England and Quins. 'Captaincy is second nature to him and he will still be a leader.' Season launch: Marler (fourth from right) lines up with the other Aviva Premiership captains on Wednesday . It's not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There's £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager . | Joe Marler will take over from Chris Robshaw as Harlequins captain .
Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea says the decision will bring the best out of England captain Robshaw for his club and country .
Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio said the decision was 'strange .
O'Shea said Dallaglio's comments were 'a load of rubbish' |
153,269 | 520a1b2823f63464413ad2194d3603929f4b8f3e | By . Laurie Whitwell . Follow @@lauriewhitwell . Glen Johnson and Bryan Ruiz will line up for their final Group D match at the World Cup with intimate knowledge of each other’s DNA. The pair, who are set to play for England and Costa Rica in Brazil, have become the first footballers to undergo a revolutionary genetic examination and reveal the results. Well rounded: Glen Johnson was found to have a good balance between power and endurance . On the back foot: Bryan Ruiz (right) trains with Costa Rica in the build up to the World Cup finals . British company DNAFit Life Sciences have devised a series of tests to measure athletes’ physical capabilities and devise bespoke training regimes. Johnson was found to have a good balance between power and endurance, as well as genes associated with fast-twitch muscle fibres that aid bursts of speed and jumping. His aerobic potential was measured as very high but he was found to need a diet low in refined carbs like white bread and potatoes. Loaner: Bryan Ruiz spent most of 2014 on loan at PSV from Fulham . Ruiz was found to have quick recovery time from exercise, so perhaps he will be the fresher of the pair after two games come June 24. Johnson said: ‘To have this data to show me the best ways to train and to eat so I can be at the top of my game is a remarkable advance.’ Dr Keith Grimaldi, who developed the test, said the results showed Johnson ‘has the perfect genetic make-up for a defender’. | England and Costa Rica will meet in Group D finale at Brazil 2014 .
Three Lions full-back has 'perfect genetic make-up for defender'
Genetic experiment first of its kind for footballers . |
281,769 | f90232d06a8c44f2e16ed7ddcc587129703f3424 | Washington (CNN) -- A suburban Washington county official at the center of an FBI investigation into years of kickbacks says he is innocent and that the facts will prove it. Jack Johnson, who served as the executive of Prince George's County, Maryland, since 2002, spoke to reporters late Friday after the FBI released details of how he and his wife allegedly tried to hide checks and evidence of illegal payments, even going so far as to flush a $100,000 check down the toilet. The Johnsons were both charged with tampering with evidence and destruction of records after they appeared in federal court late Friday in Greenbelt, Maryland, just outside the U.S. capital. "I'm innocent of these charges and I just can't wait for the facts to come out," said Johnson. "When they come out, I am absolutely convinced that I'm going to be -- that we will be vindicated." An affidavit by an FBI investigator whose team was monitoring wiretaps detailed a dramatic end to an alleged years-long kickback scheme organized by the couple. Read the affidavit (pdf) After the Johnsons were arrested, FBI agents searched their Mitchellville, Maryland, home, walking out with at least 10 boxes filled with evidence. U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein stressed the investigation is continuing. The Johnsons were released on their own recognizance, but Jack Johnson will be required to wear a monitoring device and presumably will be allowed to continue serving out the last weeks of his expiring term as county executive if he chooses. The judge, however, ordered him not to attempt to destroy any evidence. Jack Johnson had been the Prince George's County prosecutor prior to his eight years as executive. Leslie Johnson was just recently elected to the nine-member Prince George's County Council. "We socialize with them and it's just shocking," a female neighbor of the Johnsons told CNN affiliate WUSA on Friday. "They're very nice people, very kind people." The 10-page affidavit says the FBI began investigating Johnson in 2006 when it learned that certain real estate developers were paying Johnson for contracts. That led to "a series of authorizations for the interception of wire communications." The frantic end began early Friday when Johnson allegedly received a $15,000 payoff, and the FBI suddenly barged into the room to demand an explanation. Johnson told them the cash was for a party marking the end of his tenure as county executive. He also claimed he had no dealings with the developer who was with him. The FBI says Johnson made a series of false statements. The agents let him go but then eavesdropped on a series of frantic phone calls between the couple as Jack Johnson and the FBI headed for the Johnsons' Mitchellville home. "Two women (agents) are at the door," Leslie told her husband. "Don't answer it," Jack said. He told her to run upstairs to their bedroom and go to "my drawer." "You will see a check in there that (an unidentified developer) wrote to me," he said. The affidavit says that when Leslie found the check, Jack told her to tear it up. "Do you want me to put it down the toilet?" she asked. Jack Johnson replied, "Yes, flush that." The agents monitoring the phone calls heard a flushing sound. Leslie Johnson grabbed cash from the bedroom and also ran to the basement and grabbed more cash. "Put in your bra and walk out or something, I don't know what to do," Jack Johnson said. "I have it in my bra," his wife replied. Agents then searched Leslie Johnson and found $79,600 in her underwear, the FBI affidavit says. The wild ending may end up costing the Johnsons. The FBI says there is probable cause to believe that the pair "tampered with ... evidence and engaged in destruction, alteration, and falsification of records in a federal investigation." The FBI document does not say how much money Johnson may have received in kickbacks or bribes. It does say at least some of the funds involved were targeted from an $80 million budget for programs supported by federal grants such as those from Department of Housing and Community Development. CNN's Terry Frieden contributed to this report. | Jack Johnson is executive of Prince George's County, Maryland .
He says he is innocent and the facts will prove it .
He and his wife were charged Friday .
An FBI affidavit describes years of kickbacks . |
287,023 | ffe3c1723a9432655e20df79a3cd412cbff40abb | (CNN) -- Rightly billed as a clash of tennis titans, World No.1 versus World No.2, few were expecting the comprehensive manner of Novak Djokovic's defeat of Rafael Nadal to retain the ATP World Tour Finals title Monday night in London. Nadal will still end the year as the top ranked player in the world, but he was given a timely reminder that on the fast indoor surface of the 02 Arena, Djokovic reigns supreme, retaining his title with a 6-3 6-4 victory. It came after just one hour 36 minutes on his third championship point, with Nadal putting a forehand wide, rounding off an uncharacteristically tame display from the Spaniard. Djokovic has been undefeated since losing to Nadal in the final of the U.S. Open in September and he deservedly lifted the trophy, named in honor of former ATP president Brad Drewett, who died earlier this year. After the gladiatorial style entrants by both men, it was Djokovic who struck the first blows, racing to a 3-0 lead with an early break of Nadal's service. He had a point for a double break, but the Spaniard weathered the storm before making inroads on Djokovic's next service game to draw them level at 3-3. But Djokovic was not to be denied and after holding his own service, he broke Nadal again, the decisive point seeing both men at full stretch with scarcely believable retrieving. Djokovic finally put away a decisive volley then held his own service, clinching the set with an ace. He was immediately on the front foot in the second set, breaking Nadal early again to take a lead he never relinquished. Nadal was under pressure as he served to stay in the match at 3-5, saving the first match point and forcing his opponent to serve out for the championship. Nadal at last showed glimpses of his true quality by saving a second championship point, but any hopes of an unlikely revival were quickly snuffed out as Djokovic sent down an ace to bring up his third chance to take the title for a third time. Nadal still leads their career meetings 22-17 and will be looking to revenge the defeat when the 2014 season starts with the Australian Open in January. Before that, Djokovic will lead Serbia in the final of the Davis Cup against the Czech Republic, hoping to continue his unbeaten end to the season. Earlier, Fernando Verdasco and his Spanish compatriot David Marrero lifted the doubles title, beating the top seeds and three-time former champions Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States. Verdasco and Marrero won a close final 7-5 6-7 10-7 in one hour and 44 minutes, succeeding Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez as winners of the end of season finale. They shared $335,500 in prize money, while the Bryans -- five-time finalists -- split $195,500. The losing pair have the consolation of comfortably ending 2013 as the top pair in the world, winning three of the four major titles with a 70-13 record. | Novak Djokovic wins ATP World Tour Finals title for second straight year .
Thrashes Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-3 6-4 .
Near faultless display from Serbian World No.2 .
Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero win thrilling doubles final . |
246,506 | cb0607f5a95eedd1ef95caace004349b652d37f8 | It was around the dinner table on Boxing Night, during a conversation with his fiancee, when Simon Mignolet realised how his game had malfunctioned. He had just arrived home from a difficult afternoon at Burnley, a game Liverpool won 1-0. His return to action had been unexpected, as Brad Jones suffered an early injury, but when the Belgian goalkeeper came on he was indecisive and his performance lacked confidence and conviction. Mignolet had missed Liverpool’s three previous matches. Brendan Rodgers was vexed by his form and felt a spell out the team, starting against Manchester United, would benefit him but as he shanked clearances and conceded needless corners at Turf Moor, nothing appeared to have changed. VIDEO Scroll down to see how Simon Mignolet and David de Gea's stats square up . Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet (right) celebrates beating Tottenham on Tuesday with his team-mates . Mignolet, attempting to save Harry Kane's strike at Anfield, has kept six clean sheets in his last 13 games . Then came the talk with Jasmien, his long-term partner, which helped reality dawn. Mignolet realised he had stopped doing the things that had persuaded Liverpool to pay Sunderland £9million for his services. Once he had clarity, the fight back could begin. ‘My family were over and my missus and everyone were having dinner,’ says Mignolet. ‘She said “Simon are you sometimes overthinking stuff?” Those were her words. She comes to every game. I said we think about things, but I didn’t really give a response at the time. ‘She knows when to speak about football to me and when to leave me alone. The moment she came up with that and then next day the coaching staff gave me the same words. That was the trigger in my mind that we had to say "look, we have to sort this out". ‘The next day I went into training and again we analysed the game. I was always looking to find best possible solution for situations. I was trying to find the right pass but I had forgotten what the worst solution could be. I have always tended to over think things and that came into my game.’ The Belgian, working hard on crosses during a training session on Thursday, was dropped in December . The Belgian keeper rushes off his line to deny Kane scoring for Tottenham on Tuesday . It had been a horrid season for Mignolet, one that had been filled with criticism from all quarters. Some of it bordered on the vindictive, particularly the insults from former Liverpool keeper Bruce Grobbelaar who risibly likened him to Dracula. Other words, notably from Tim Howard and Gary Neville, also hurt but it is to his credit that he does not want to settle any scores during this conversation. He would be within his rights to shoot back but he has made himself the bigger man, particular where Grobbelaar is concerned. ‘From all the criticism I have had, you pick the things you can take on board and you pick the things you can leave alone,’ says Mignolet. So would he shake Grobbelaar’s hand if he seen him? The 26-year-old has been in impressive form since returning to the Liverpool side on Boxing Day last year . Mignolet will face competition for the No 1 jersey from Brad Jones (second left) who has returned to training . ‘Yes, of course,’ comes the instant reply. ‘I appreciate what he has done for the club and he has been a legend all the way through his life. He has won major trophies for Liverpool. I will respect him for that. I respect every goalkeeper who has done the job as I know what the job is. ‘As a footballer the only thing you can do is show what you can do on the pitch and answers the questions on the field. I’ve never reacted when there has been criticism, and I’ll never do that in the future. You learn from that experience. You can become better for it.’ Mignolet, certainly, has become better in recent weeks and his input to the win against Tottenham on Tuesday was crucial, when he made a spectacular save to thwart Erik Lamela. If Liverpool are to get beyond the FA Cup fifth round this evening at Crystal Palace, his good form must continue. ‘The manager has shown his faith in me and confidence in me and he believes in me,’ says Mignolet. ‘I appreciate it. When you play for a big club, people will have their eye on you and to see when you concede a goal, could he have done better? That will always be the case and I accept that.’ | Simon Mignolet was dropped from the Liverpool team earlier in the season .
The Belgian goalkeeper made a number of costly errors for the Reds .
Mignolet reveals his fiancee helped him put the slump in form behind him . |
155,209 | 549c8a990451ad88495ee148278c0b366cf5916c | (CNN) -- A consortium of wealthy city businessmen is poised to make an audacious takeover bid for English Premier League champions Manchester United. The self-styled "Red Knights" issued a statement on Tuesday to confirm that they had held talks about ousting the current American owners, the Glazer family, to assume control at Old Trafford. The Red Knights include Jim O'Neill, the chief economist at Goldman Sachs, who is reportedly a friend of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. "We can confirm that a group of high net worth individuals, who support Manchester United met in London yesterday," a statement released on behalf of the Red Knights read. "This group is supportive of current management but are looking at the feasibility of putting together a proposal to be put to the Glazer family regarding the ownership of Manchester United. "These discussions are in early stages and no contact has been made with the Glazer family." The Red Knights are joining forces with the influential Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), who have mounted a vociferous campaign against the Glazers over their debt leveraged buyout of the club and fears about its future viability. The current level of debt stands at $1,089 million and the Glazers recently launched a bond issue to raise $750 million to reduce the debt. Football floats on a sea of debt . "As a first step, the Red Knights want supporters to demonstrate their commitment by joining the free online membership of the Supporters Trust, www.joinmust.org," the statement went on. "Any new ownership model would aim not only to put the club on a sound financial footing, but would also aim to put the supporters at the heart of everything the club does." In recent weeks a groundswell of opinion has built up against the Glazers, who are rarely seen in public but did attend the English League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1. They would have seen a large body of fans donning the original green and gold shirts of United's founding club Newton Heath, one of the trademarks of the Supporters Trust campaign. Oliver Houston, a vice-chairman of MUST, told CNN World Sport that the Red Knights had their unequivocal backing and that his group had been involved in a series of meetings with them. "These guys are Manchester United supporters to the core and they are talking about putting in their own money in any possible bid," he said. Houston admitted that the Red Knights are at the "early stages" but had appointed a team of lawyers and advisers to bolster their activities. "We are talking about the long term health and sustainability of Manchester United," he added. But the Red Knights will need to raise at least $1.52 billion to launch a buyout of the most successful club in the English Premier League, Drew Barrand from Sport Industry Group told World Sport. The Glazers reacted quickly to news of the putative bid. "Manchester United is not for sale," said a spokesman for the family, who also own the NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The statement of intent by the Red Knights comes on the day that the latest football "rich list", compiled by Deloitte, found that Manchester United had slipped to third place behind Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid top rich list . The list excludes transfer fees and is based on turnover and income and United's slippage to third can, in part, be explained by the fall of the English pound against the euro. Real and Barcelona also benefit from negotiating their own television rights package while United are tied into the collective deal put in place by the English Premier League, but the statistics could give added justification for a takeover bid. | A group of 'high net worth individuals' consider takeover bid for Manchester United .
'The Red Knights' are unhappy about the level of debt built up the Glazer family to buy United .
The group are forming an alliance with the Manchester United Supporters Trust .
The Glazer family reiterate that the club is not for sale . |
38,979 | 6e203dfdfc98a586969457864c636f35c91045b2 | (CNN) -- A large storm system flooding portions of New York, Pennsylvania and New England on Friday afternoon has claimed at least eight lives, including seven in North Carolina, officials said. Nowhere was the misery more evident than Bertie County in northeastern North Carolina, where water in places was almost to the top of stop signs. The situation in the town of Windsor, which has about 2,000 residents, was dire Friday afternoon, said County Manager Zee Lamb. Perhaps 175 people have been rescued from rising floodwaters since Thursday night, Lamb said. "A lot of people cannot get to their homes." Rescue shelters were set up and animals in a small zoo were taken to higher ground. Dramatic video footage showed the damage and the Cashie River, which is about 16 feet above flood stage. Most roads to the town were closed or partially closed. "The county library is under 5 feet of water in the town of Windsor," Lamb said. "You cannot get to the courthouse by road. I got here by boat today." Many businesses in the city are underwater, said Lamb, adding the county has asked the state for emergency assistance. Some buildings had water 6 to 7 feet deep on their first floor. Historic homes in the town were damaged. Townspeople were surprised by the extent of the flooding, Lamb said. "[Hurricane] Floyd [in 1999] was supposed to be the 100-year-old flood. Eleven years later we have another major flood." The storm system was dropping heavy rain in the Northeast as the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole interacted with an upper-level low and a frontal boundary. An advisory from the National Weather Service said up to three more inches of rain may fall in the region. Flood watches and warnings were in effect from the mid-Atlantic states to Maine. High-wind warnings were in effect from Massachusetts to Maine, with wind gusts up to 60 mph. Boston was already feeling the effects, although the rain was expected to clear by Saturday morning. Philadelphia and much of eastern and central Pennsylvania were deluged by rainfall and a motorist died after driving into floodwaters near Skippack Creek, state troopers said. Troopers saw the vehicle floating near a golf course but were unable to reach the female driver, who was later found dead. Police said a 72-year-old woman was trapped for more than eight hours inside her car in Cumru Township before she escaped, according to WFMZ. The outlook was for clearer skies later in the day. A weather-related accident Thursday claimed four lives in Washington County, North Carolina, where a Jeep Grand Cherokee hydroplaned and ended up in a ditch filled with water. Four of five people in the SUV drowned. They were from Gwinnett County, Georgia. A 3-year-old survived and was hospitalized Friday, officials said. Two motorists died in Dare County on Friday, and another was killed in Pamlico County, said Julia Jarema, spokeswoman for the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management. About 150 roads were in North Carolina at one point were closed and some people were evacuated in Bertie County, said Patty McQuillan, communications officer for the state's Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Major road closures included U.S. 158 in Elizabeth City, U.S. 264 in Beaufort County and U.S. 17 in Windsor. In Swansboro, North Carolina, eight people were rescued, an emergency management official said. That scene repeated itself in a few other North Carolina and Virginia communities. Airport delays are expected to be crippling in the Northeast again, with ground stops and delays of three hours or more at the New York City airports and in Boston, Massachusetts. Baltimore, Maryland -- at 6.02 inches -- on Thursday had its wettest September day ever. Norfolk, Virginia, endured nearly 12 inches of rainfall. CNN affiliate WUSA showed images of flooding in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Rain left city streets underwater, stranded vehicles and sent scores of people to shelters and caused major delays at airports along the East Coast. Skies were beginning to clear Friday in much of the Carolinas and Virginia. Wilmington, North Carolina, has received 22.54 inches of rain since Sunday, the National Weather Service said. September's total of 22.72 inches was shy of the record 23.41 inches in 1999. "Water-wise, it was significant," said Warren Lee, emergency management director for New Hanover County, which includes three beach communities. Monday was actually worse than Thursday, said Lee, because the heavy rain hit bone-dry ground and sparked flash flooding. Crews will do a damage assessment Friday, he said, indicating there were few evacuations and little wind damage. Sixty miles up the coast, there was extensive flooding in Swansboro, according to Norman Bryson with Onslow County Emergency Management. The town was completely cut off to vehicular traffic. In Carolina Beach, a lake overflowed and flooded downtown, a video from CNN affiliate WRAL showed one person kayaking through the streets. U.S. 421 remained closed Friday morning. Carolina Beach Town Manager Tim Owens said the weather was improving Friday and the town expects tourists to return for the weekend. He said some residents near the retention lake likely have some flood damage. "We fared pretty well," he said. CNN iReporters snapped flood photos and told their tales. In upstate New York, Esopus Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River, overflowed and flooded shops and homes in downtown Phoenicia, said Kevin Keaveny. "I've never seen the water come up to the streets," he said. Margaret Pelczynski of Buffalo, New York, was visiting Carolina Beach. "This only confirms my beliefs that I'd gladly take a blizzard any day over this rain, wind and flooding," she wrote. And William Bernstein Jr. posted photos of Virginia Beach, Virginia. He said there were rescues Thursday and trees down in the Tidewater area. "I believe this will be one we will remember a long time," he wrote. In Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, many streets were flooded, as were stretches of Interstate 264, according to CNN Virginia affiliate WAVY 10. Some in the area are without power because of downed lines. Chris Hauser of Suffolk told WAVY he woke up to find water in his garage and up to 14 inches of water in his back yard, which is near a lake. As he stood on wooden planks just above the floodwater, Hauser quipped, "Now I have my dock that I always thought about building." CNN's Shawn Nottingham, Angela Fritz, Dave Alsup, Phil Gast, Taylor Ward and Scott Thompson contributed to this report. | Town in Bertie County, North Carolina, virtually underwater .
At least eight deaths attributed to storm .
CNN iReporters file dispatches from the scene .
High wind warnings issued for parts of Northeast; airport delays likely . |
187,084 | 7e49a7f6e335adb1aa6f585fe258f0192e9b9daf | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 07:29 EST, 16 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:56 EST, 16 April 2013 . A major earthquake on the Iran border killed at least 35 people in neighbouring Pakistan yesterday. Pakistani officials said hundreds of houses had been destroyed, while Iran appeared to have emerged relatively unscathed with reports that just 27 people were injured. The epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake was measured at 51 miles below ground, which was the likely reason for the relatively low level of damage in Iran. However, a number of remote Pakistani villages took the brunt of the shockwave, with many reporting rising death tolls. People evacuate buildings bringing traffic to a halt in Karachi, Pakistan, the city nearest the border with Iran where a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck . Early reports suggest that 40 have so far died but there is no information on damage. Pictured here is the aftermath in Karachi in Pakistan, which was also shaken . The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10.44 GMT at a depth of 9.4 miles. People in the city of Zahedan poured into the streets when the earthquake struck, Iran's Fars news agency reported. All communications in the area have been cut, the Iranian Red Crescent's Mahmoud Mozaffar told state television. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected area, he said. 'In the aftermath of this earthquake five evaluation teams from the Khash and Saravan branches were sent to the area to assess damage,' Mozaffar said. The epicenter was in southeast Iran in an area of mountains and desert, 125 miles south-east of Zahedan and 2155 miles north-west of Turbat in Pakistan, USGS said. On April 9, a powerful 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to Iran's only nuclear power station, killing 37 people, injuring 850 and devastating two villages. The epicenter was in southeast Iran in an area of mountains and desert, 125 miles south-east of Zahedan and 2155 miles north-west of Turbat in Pakistan . This quake also shook tall buildings in India's capital New Delhi, sending people running into the streets, witnesses said . A Pakistani woman worker uses her mobile phone after she was evacuated along with hundreds of other workers in Karachi . Most of Iran's nuclear-related facilities are located in central Iran or its west, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast. A U.S. Institute for Science and International Security map did not show any nuclear-linked facilities in south-eastern Iran close to Pakistan. Iran sits on major geological faultlines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that flattened the city of Bam, in Iran's far south-east, killing more than 25,000 people. This quake also shook tall buildings in India's capital New Delhi, sending people running into the streets, witnesses said. People also evacuated buildings in Qatar and Dubai, residents said. 'I was working and my work station was shaking,' said Viidhu Sekhri, 35, an underwriter at a New Delhi insurance company. 'Then it was a bit shaky so we just rushed outside.' Earlier in the day two smaller tremors were felt in India's Himalayan region close to the Chinese border. An official at India's disaster management authority said the tremors felt in New Delhi and across northern India were because of the earthquake in Iran. | People in city of Zahedan poured into the streets when it struck .
Quake also shook tall buildings in India's capital New Delhi .
Iran sits on major faultlines and has suffered several quakes . |
39,531 | 6fa6673b0391250b2280510aa59775a3b882a738 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- Prodding Israel and the Palestinian Authority to restart talks aimed at a permanent resolution of their decades-old conflict, President Obama dropped a demand for an Israeli settlement freeze, U.S., Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Benjamin Netanyahu, left, President Obama and Mahmoud Abbas. "Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations. It is time to move forward," Obama told reporters before a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It is time to show the flexibility and common sense and sense of compromise that is necessary to achieve our goals," Obama said. Obama first met separately with Netanyahu and Abbas on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in what he called "frank and productive" talks. The session was the first among the three leaders since Obama took office in January. George Mitchell, Obama's envoy for the Middle East, attended Tuesday's talks. He said the talks were "at all times cordial," but "direct" and sometimes "blunt." Obama told Abbas and Netanyahu that, "The only reason to hold public office is to get things done," and that everyone "must take risks for peace," Mitchell said. Mitchell told reporters the U.S. is "not identifying any issue as being a precondition or an impediment to negotiation." But the United States and Israel have publicly disagreed on Israeli plans to build more housing on land the Palestinians regard as theirs. Previous Obama administration demands for a freeze have been ignored by the Netanyahu government. Watch Netanyahu address peace, settlements » . Abbas has so far rejected resuming talks with Israel until the Jewish state halts all settlement building in the occupied West Bank and in predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem. Arab states also have balked at the U.S. request to take confidence-building measures toward Israel until Israel freezes settlement construction. Sitting with Netanyahu and Abbas, Obama softened his regular language on a settlement "freeze," saying that Israel has had meaningful discussions about "restraining" settlement activity. "But they need to translate these discussions into real action on this and other issues," he said. "Obama told Abbas that he couldn't get the settlement freeze and promised to keep trying, but that it shouldn't be a condition for talks and it was time to move on," one Palestinian aide to Abbas said. Several U.S. officials said that Obama told Abbas that although the U.S. believe a settlement freeze would create a better atmosphere for talks to begin, the lack of one should not be used an as excuse not to talk. "Let's not have the perfect be the enemy of the good," Obama told Abbas, according to the officials. Watch Obama: 'We have to find a way forward' » . "It's been apparent for some time that the Israelis were going to fall short of what is necessary on the settlement freeze," one senior U.S. official said. "But our view is let's get to negotiations and settlements will be addressed within those final status issues" A senior Israeli diplomat said Israel agreed to not building any new settlements, no outward expansion of existing growth and to only build for "natural" growth within existing settlements. He said Israel also agreed not to encourage Israelis to move to settlements, which would increase the population. "A complete settlement freeze wasn't physically or politically possible, especially in the absence of any Arab or Palestinian concessions," the Israeli diplomat said. "There was a time the gaps had significantly narrowed, but now they were starting to widen. The administration recognized, rather than have them widen further, we should start negotiating." The Palestinian aide to Abbas said Obama's failure to secure a settlement freeze has weakened him in the eyes of the Palestinian delegation, because it casts doubt on his ability to move Israel during final status negotiations. The Palestinians did win an important point, however, with Obama making clear that the peace talks would not start from scratch, which Netanyahu had favored. Rather the talks would take into account progress made in previous negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, the sources said. The Israeli diplomat said that Israel would "take into account" the previous negotiations, but stressed his country's longstanding position that "nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to." Obama also addressed Abbas' desire to have the terms for negotiations more clearly defined, asking Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to come to Washington next week for further talks. Next week's talks, to be led by George Mitchell, will center on what issues will be addressed at negotiations, which will present the U.S. with its next big challenge. Palestinians want negotiations to resolve the "final status" issues of the conflict, such as borders, Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Israel wants to begin with talks on a "provisional" Palestinian state. | NEW: Israel agrees to some limits on West Bank settlement growth .
"It is past time to talk about starting negotiations," President Obama says .
Obama meets separately, then jointly, with Netanyahu and Abbas .
Meetings come as hopes for renewed Israeli-Palestinian talks have dimmed . |
111,696 | 1c0991565c9f3ee556e9d7f2727316778056dd40 | (CNN Student News) -- May 17, 2011 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Israel • Pakistan • Memphis, Tennessee . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: An economic face-off, a special graduation speaker, and a look at what happened on this day in history. I'm Carl Azuz, and CNN Student News is ready to take flight. First Up: Shuttle Launch . UNIDENTIFIED NASA ANNOUNCER: ...liftoff for the final launch of Endeavour. Expanding our knowledge, expanding our lives in space. AZUZ: The space shuttle Endeavour taking off on its final endeavor. The launch was delayed due to mechanical problems, but NASA officials said those were all fixed. The shuttle and its crew are headed to the international space station. This is a 16-day mission and the next-to-the-last mission for the space shuttle program. Mae Jemison has flown on Endeavour before. On that mission, she became the first African-American woman to travel into space. She said yesterday's launch brought up mixed emotions. DR. MAE JEMISON, FORMER ASTRONAUT: It's very bittersweet, because it was a wonderful, beautiful launch. I was on the second mission of Endeavour. And things are transitioning. When we spoke last year, we were there talking about the fact that the shuttle era was coming to an end, and now the United States was putting more of its research money into how to do interplanetary travel, how to come up with the kinds of engines that are needed to go, to taking us to an asteroid. So, that transition is great, but it's sort of hard to see the shuttle program ending. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Mrs. Fulton's business class at Shepton High School in Plano, Texas! Which of these words means failing to make required payments on time? Is it: A) Arbitration, B) Bankruptcy, C) Collusion or D) Default? You've got three seconds -- GO! When you default, it means you haven't made your payments on time. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Debt Ceiling . AZUZ: There's a chance the U.S. government could default on its debt, money that it has borrowed. Congress actually sets a limit on how much money the government can borrow. It's called the debt ceiling. It's kind of like the limit on a credit card: once you've maxed out, you can't borrow any more. And the government is there, at that maxed-out limit: $14.294 trillion. If it can't borrow any more money, the government might not be able to pay its bills. That's not a good thing. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress yesterday that there are ways to keep things running for a few months, but he's urging lawmakers to raise the country's debt ceiling. That's something lawmakers have been debating for a while now. Maggie Lake looks at some of the arguments from both sides. (BEGIN VIDEO) MAGGIE LAKE, CNN ANCHOR AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK: Republicans want trillions in cuts and no tax hikes. Democrats say tax hikes should be included in the mix. And they caution against tying the debt limit too closely to deficit reduction. JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We believe that we can reach an agreement on significant deficit reduction within the same time frame that Congress needs to take action to raise the debt ceiling. But it simply would be folly, as I've said before, to say that if we don't get an agreement, or if we don't get the agreement we want, then we're just not going to raise the debt ceiling, come what may. LAKE: As politicians squabble, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has vowed to take "extraordinary measures" to allow the U.S. to continue paying its creditors, including borrowing from federal pension plans. Because of this, the U.S. will not default on its debt immediately. But Geithner says he'll run out of options in early August. Many in the Capitol believe Congress must act by then, and creditors will be watching every step of the way. Creditors like China, which holds more than $1 trillion worth of U.S. treasuries, and Japan, which holds more than $890 billion worth of debt. Over the years, the U.S. has been forced to raise the debt ceiling 74 times since 1962 to pay for tax cuts, foreign wars and other spending increases. In fiscal year 2000, total national debt stood at $5.5 trillion. Since then, debt has almost tripled. Most in Washington agree, not raising the debt ceiling, and defaulting on debt, would trigger a spike in borrowing rates and a loss of confidence in the ability of the U.S. government to honor its obligations. A high stakes game of political chicken is underway, and the national debt clock is ticking. Maggie Lake, CNN, New York. (END VIDEO) This Day in History . AZUZ: On this day in history, May 17th, in 1792, 24 stockbrokers and merchants signed the Buttonwood Agreement. That established the New York Stock Exchange. In 1875, Oliver Lewis rode Aristides to victory. It was the first running of the Kentucky Derby, now one of the world's most famous horse races. And in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education, saying that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. Border Violence . AZUZ: Increased tension around the nation of Israel after protesters who support the Palestinian people fought with Israeli forces on Sunday. The violence broke out on "Nakba Day." Nakba is Arabic for "catastrophe." The day marks the time in 1948 when Arabs were moved out of their homes after Israel was established. At least 12 people were killed in the fighting on Sunday. Hundreds of others were injured. Officials from Syria and Lebanon -- two of Israel's neighbors -- accused Israeli troops of firing on protesters. Israel said the protesters were illegally crossing the border. Israel's prime minister said he hoped for a quick, peaceful resolution. But he added that Israel is determined to defend its borders. U.S. & Pakistan . AZUZ: There's also been some tension between the United States and Pakistan recently, especially after U.S. forces killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The country accused the U.S. of violating Pakistani law by launching the attack on bin Laden inside of Pakistani borders. The U.S. has questioned how bin Laden lived near a Pakistani military academy without being discovered. Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Kerry, who's the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled to Pakistan. During the visit, he said the U.S. doesn't need to apologize for the raid that killed bin Laden. But he said that it's important for the two countries to find a way to resolve their differences, and he pointed out that the U.S. and Pakistan still share the same goal. SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: We must never lose sight of this central fact: we are strategic partners with a common enemy in terrorism and extremism. Both of our countries have sacrificed too many citizens and troops in the fight, and many too many to consider abandoning this important relationship for one reason or another. Far too much is at stake here. Commencement Contest . AZUZ: Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee had a high-profile graduation speaker for this year's ceremony: President Obama. He was there because the school won this year's Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. Public high schools across the country were judged on how they prepare students for college and for careers. Booker T. Washington used this video to show off some of the school's achievements. That includes test scores higher than the state average and the school's dramatically improved graduation rate. At yesterday's commencement, President Obama said that Booker T. Washington's progress should be an example for schools around the U.S. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Today, Booker T. Washington is a place that has proven why we can't accept excuses -- any excuses -- when it comes to education. In the United States of America, we should never accept anything less than the best that our children have to offer. Before We Go . AZUZ: Before we go, we offer for you a little case of identity crisis. Golden retrievers are supposed to hunt ducks. This one adopted them! They even follow her around, as if she's their mother. For instance, when it gets warm outside, they all cool off by pooling their resources. Though with any other retriever, these feathered friends would be duck soup. The retriever will raise them for two months with dogged determination before they leave the nest... or the pool. Goodbye . AZUZ: Of course, the dog could've ducked that kind of responsibility, but that kind of behavior wouldn't fit the bill. Oh yeah: duck puns! You can't deny it: they quack you up. I'm Carl Azuz, and I'm out! | Find out why a shuttle launch brought a former astronaut mixed emotions .
Consider the political debate surrounding raising the U.S. debt ceiling .
Discover why President Obama delivered a high school graduation address .
Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories . |
201,767 | 9134f93a5ea25bab8cd636bdf7477a8ce583621e | Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... With several beaches in Newcastle already closed due to rough weather, a shark sighting has prompted lifeguards north of Sydney to give swimmers a double reminder about taking the plunge. A 1.8 metre shark has been spotted off Bar Beach on Friday morning, while images have emerged of what appears to be shark bites from nearby Merewether Beach on Thursday night. Scroll down for video . A bodysurfer posted an Instagram photo of his alleged shark bite on his leg on Thursday . A 1.8 metre shark has been spotted off Bar Beach on Friday morning . A fellow bodysurfer, who goes by the username 'thefoof', responded with a photo of her own wound . Several Newcastle beaches had already been closed on Friday by lifeguards due to rough seas, but signs have since been erected warning of shark sightings. A City of Newcastle Council spokesperson said the person bitten by a shark on Thursday appears to have minor injuries to the leg. 'We're getting all of this third hand because it was not reported to our lifeguards, they were off duty at the time, but someone was reportedly bitten by a bull shark, or the person thought it was a two foot (61cm) bull shark,' she said on Friday. 'I have also seen a picture on social media of the person's leg with a few little holes in it. So not to downplay it because any kind of shark bite is serious, but it's very minor.' Images have emerged of what appears to be shark bites from nearby Merewether Beach (pictured) on Thursday night . This comes as a bodysurfer posted an Instagram photo of his alleged shark bite on his leg on Thursday. 'Got me! Tagged by #Bruce well, maybe his little brother. #sharkbite,' Pedroflores captioned the photo. It was soon followed by surf photographer Rod Owen's close up image of the injury. 'Remember when your mum said don't swim after dark! @pedroflores getting very lucky with a nibble from a pesky bull #shark at #merewether beach, #Newcastle this evening. Glad your (sic) ok son!' he wrote on Instagram. A fellow bodysurfer, who goes by the username 'thefoof', responded with a photo of her own wound. 'Now we've both been bitten by sharks @pedroflores #sharkbite #jesush #poopyopants,' she wrote. Beaches around Newcastle were shut for a record nine days in January after repeated sightings of a five-metre great white shark, nicknamed Bruce. Lifeguards will continue to warn swimmers about the recent sightings and patrol on jet skis to keep an eye out for further activity. '(But) usually what happens is the shark will take off the same day,' the council spokesperson said. | Several beaches have been closed in Newcastle, north of Sydney, due to rough weather .
A 1.8m shark was spotted off Bar Beach on Friday morning .
A bodysurfer and others posted Instagram photos of their shark bite on Thursday night .
Lifeguards will continue to warn swimmers about the recent sightings and patrol the waters . |
136,950 | 3d24aab7ab8ebf1f43b994f341117418ee2c2a72 | (CNN) -- African ministers and health experts are meeting in Ghana with one thing on their minds: how to stop the biggest ever outbreak of the Ebola virus from extending its deadly reach still further. The World Health Organization has warned that "drastic action" is needed to halt the killer in its tracks. It reports there have been 759 cases, including 467 deaths, in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia as of June 30. The outbreak began in March. This makes it the "largest in terms of the number of cases and deaths as well as geographical spread," said WHO. Not only is it uncontained, but this strain of the Ebola virus can kill up to 90% of those infected. READ MORE: What you need to know about Ebola . The scientist who first discovered the Ebola virus in the 1970s, Dr. Peter Piot, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the situation is "unprecedented." "One, [this is] the first time in West Africa that we have such an outbreak," he said. "Secondly, it is the first time that three countries are involved. And thirdly it's the first time that we have outbreaks in capitals, in capital cities." The looming threat has brought together the health ministers of 11 African nations -- the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda -- as well as health experts, Ebola survivors, and WHO representatives. Also present at the two-day summit in Accra, Ghana, are the representatives of airlines and mining companies, as well as donor nations helping to fund efforts to combat the virus. New cases of the virus continue to be reported. Between June 25 and 30, 22 new cases of the virus were reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, WHO said. Of those, 14 died. Exposure to body fluids . Ebola is a violent killer. The symptoms, at first, mimic the flu: headache, fever, fatigue. What comes next sounds like something out of a horror movie: significant diarrhea and vomiting, while the virus shuts off the blood's ability to clot. As a result, patients often suffer internal and external hemorrhaging. Many die in an average of 10 days. People are traveling without realizing they're carrying the deadly virus. It can take between two and 21 days after exposure for someone to feel sick. The good news is that Ebola isn't as easily spread as one may think. A patient isn't contagious -- meaning they can't spread the virus to other people -- until they are already showing symptoms. Then, the disease is transmitted by direct contact with the blood and body fluids of infected animals or people, according to WHO. In April, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta traveled to Conakry, Guinea, to report on what was being done to treat patients and contain the outbreak. "It took only moments to feel the impact of what was happening here," Gupta wrote after landing in Conakry. "There is a lot we know about Ebola, and it scares us almost as much as what we don't know." Fighting an epidemic . Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, has been working to fight the epidemic since March. But it warned in a news release last week that a "massive deployment of resources" is needed by West African nations and other organizations, saying it has reached the limit of what its teams can do. Ebola outbreaks usually are confined to remote areas, making the disease easier to contain. But this outbreak is different; patients have been identified in 60 locations in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. "The epidemic is out of control," says Dr. Bart Janssens, MSF director of operations. "With the appearance of new sites in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, there is a real risk of it spreading to other areas." Officials believe the wide footprint of this outbreak is partly because of the proximity between the jungle where the virus was first identified and cities such as Conakry. The capital of Guinea has a population of 2 million and an international airport. Complicating matters, the countries hit hardest by the epidemic have major medical infrastructure challenges. There is also a real sense of mistrust toward health workers from communities. In Sierra Leone and Guinea, WHO has said that community members have thrown stones at health care workers trying to investigate the outbreak. MSF has treated 470 people, it said last week, of which 215 were confirmed cases. However, it is now "having difficulty responding to the large number of new cases and locations," it said. While public anxiety is high, the statement said, governments and civil society groups are doing too little to acknowledge the scale of the epidemic or educate people about how to stop the spread of the disease. Another organization helping victims is Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian aid group. It has doctors in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, and near the border with Guinea. Virus 'should be easy to stop' There is no cure for Ebola, but in theory the disease should be easy to fight, Piot told CNN. "You need really close contact to become infected. So just being on the bus with someone with Ebola, that's not a problem." Simple hygienic measures like washing with soap and water, not re-using syringes, and avoiding contact with infected corpses are sufficient to stop spread of the disease, Piot said. "This is an epidemic of dysfunctional health systems," he added. "Fear of the virus, and the lack of trust in government, in the health system, is as bad as the actual virus." CNN's Mick Krever, Danielle Dellorto, Miriam Falco and Jen Christensen contributed to this report. | African health ministers and world experts gather in Ghana to discuss Ebola outbreak .
World Health Organization has warned that "drastic action" is needed to halt the epidemic .
The outbreak is the largest in terms of number of deaths and geographical spread .
The virus, which kills up to 90% of those infected, is spread through contact with body fluids . |
253,327 | d3e66f53b97c04c0ef606df755fc4e9d69fc0898 | Cherie has been treating her daughter Abbey with medicinal marijuana for several months and has seen a dramatic improvement in her condition . A NSW mother who was treating her two-year-old daughter with medicinal cannabis says the child has just months to live after police raided her supplier who was dobbed in to authorities by ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. Doctors told Cherie last year that her daughter Abbey would live only a few months as a result of CDKL5, a rare genetic condition that results in uncontrolled and violent seizures sometimes lasting up to 45 minutes, as well as a range of physical and mental disabilities. After months of failed treatment, and on the verge of admitting Abbey to a palliative care unit, Cherie bought some liquid medical marijuana from a supplier in Canberra and snuck it into the hospital and put it into Abbey's feeding tube. The result on the two-year-old's health was extraordinary. 'The seizures were less intense, they weren't as long and she wasn't having as many of them,' Cherie told Daily Mail Australia. 'I started her on it without the knowledge of the staff at the hospital… They were quite surprised because they didn't know what was going on. The paediatrician commented on how well she was looking.' Cherie describes Abbey, who is the youngest of her six children and the only one with the rare condition, as a 'cheeky' girl. 'She loves cuddles and she loves music, she just loves attention.' But Cherie says it is likely that Abbey will die in the next few months, after her supply of medicinal cannabis dries up. Cherie has enough medicinal cannabis to last Abbey for six weeks and no prospect of getting more since her cannabis supplier was raided in February. 'Once [the cannabis] is gone the seizures will return, there's no if and buts about it, there's a big risk of death,' she said. Scroll down for video . Left: Abbey before she started on medicinal cannabis; Right: Abbey after being treated with medicinal cannabis . Abbey suffers from a rare genetic condition and has spent half of her life in hospital . Cherie found her supplier after talking to friends online who were treating their own children with medicinal cannabis for uncontrolled seizures. 'I did my own research and everything was so positive. One of my friends was giving her child medicinal cannabis, I asked if she could recommend someone.' The supplier Cherie contacted was raided earlier this year after he was dobbed in to authorities by Katy Gallagher, ACT Chief Minister. The man had regularly corresponded with Ms Gallagher about medicinal cannabis, but she reported him to police after he informed her he was administering marijuana to a child. 'I felt that there was no other alternative to me but to forward that to child protection and to police, I still think that was the right thing to do despite people raising concerns about it,' said Ms Gallagher. She added that while she had 'huge empathy' for parents trying to find ways to alleviate the suffering of their sick children, she was required to forward on the man's email to police and child services. Cherie only has a six week supply of cannabis left and no way of getting more since her supplier was raided . ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said she had 'huge empathy' for parents wanting to treat their children, but said she was bound to report the cannabis supplier when he informed her he was supplying an illicit drug to a child . 'At the end of the day I think I have to operate within the laws that are currently in operation, which are very clear regarding marijuana and also child protection.' Ms Gallagher has received abuse and death threats on social media for the decision, with people calling her a 'robotic kid killer' a 'hypocrite' for whom 'evil is not a strong enough word' and comparing her to 'Nazi death camp guards'. '[Katy] would dob a homeless man into police for stealing bread cause stealing is illegal. Antiquated dinosaur,' wrote one person. But critics are not finding support from Cherie, who said: 'I can understand where Katy's coming from, yet she could have had more compassion regarding the situation.' The 60 Minutes TV program is airing a story on Sunday night about the fact that Australian families are being left with no choice but to break the law in order to save their children, while many families in America don’t need to go down that avenue as medicinal cannabis is legalised in some states. The report reveals that politicians, doctors and patients in Australia are shifting their thinking and there's now a green rush to legalise cannabis for medicine nationwide. Last week, governments in NSW, Queensland and Tasmania all signalled they would support law reform which would allow chronically-ill patients to take cannabis to relieve their suffering. After rejecting a medicinal cannabis trial earlier this month, the Tasmanian government has announced it would be prepared to support the findings of an Upper House inquiry into medicinal cannabis. Under a private member's bill to be introduced this month by Nationals MP Kevin Anderson, terminally-ill people and their carers will be legally able to carry up to 15 grams of cannabis. The renewed push to relax the laws comes as a new poll reveals two thirds of Australian’s support the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. However, it’s unlikely there will be any change to the legislation in Victoria with the state government and the opposition admitting they have no immediate plans to legalise the drug. Earlier this month, pregnant mother of one Cassie Batten was questioned by Victorian police over the use of cannabis oil to treat her epileptic three-year-old son. Clinical trials of medicinal cannabis could happen in NSW, but Premier Mike Baird is waiting on details about regulation and supply before making any commitments. Mr Baird indicated his support after meeting Daniel Haslam, a 24-year-old who in 2010 was told he would only live for a few more months. The Tamworth resident began taking cannabis as a pain coping mechanism to help him deal with the disease and has made vast improvements in his health. Daniel Haslam, 24, (pictured) was told in 2010 that he only had months to live but began taking cannabis as a pain coping mechanism to help him deal with the disease and has made vast improvements in his health . Tasmanian mum Nicole Cowles is hopeful the rising groundswell of support for the legalisation of medicinal marijuana could stop her having to obtain illegally from interstate suppliersto help the suffering of her daughter Alice Agnew, who is just eight. ‘I’m seeing Alice for who she really is – I only saw glimpses of her before,’ Ms Cowles said about the improvement of her daughter, who also suffers from CDKL5, since she started taking the liquid form of cannabis four times a day in February to help control her seizures. The family is one of 200 across the country who are forced to import the cannabis from a supplier in Kempsey in NSW which is free of charge but the waiting list is sitting at 1,500 with people desperate to get their hands on the drug to relieve chronic pain and aid with seizures. Alice Agnew when she wasn't on medicinal cannabis (left) and since she has been taking the treatment (right) | Cherie was going to admit her daughter Abbey to palliative care last year .
Abbey, two, suffers from CDKL5, a rare disorder causing violent seizures .
After researching medicinal cannabis Cherie found a supplier in Canberra and Abbey's condition improved dramatically .
Cherie's supplier was raided earlier this year after he was dobbed in by Katy Gallagher, ACT Chief Minister .
Cherie fears her daughter will die after their supply runs out in six weeks . |
272,856 | ed64b22cd24602baa059561c30b918e744874ef7 | By . Jennifer Newton for MailOnline . Nashville is the United States' most American city in terms of age, gender, income and education, according to a new study. Research has found that the demographics of the Tennessee city most closely mirror the average statistics for America as a whole. Age, gender and income as well as other factors such as household make-up, housing tenure and education were taken into account by the researchers, who looked at 366 cities across the U.S. Nashville, pictured has been named the most American city in terms of age, gender and income, according to new research . And Nashville, which was founded in 1779 and best-known as the centre of country music came out on top. It beat the likes of Cincinnati, who came in second place and Indianapolis, who were named the third most American city. Making up the top five were also Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. The least American city was named as McAllen in Texas with Boulder, Colorado and Altoona Philadelphia also dubbed least American. Brownsville, Texas and Yuma in Arizona also made up the bottom five. Cincinatti, pictured, which came second in a list of the most American cities in the U.S . Indianapolis in Indiana, which according to new research is the third most American city . 1. Nashville, Tennessee . 2. Cincinnati, Ohio . 3. Indianapolis, Indiana . 4. Charleston, South Carolina . 5. Jacksonville, Florida . 1. McAllen, Texas . 2. Boulder, Colorado . 3. Altoona, Pennsylvania . 4. Brownsville, Texas . 5. Yuma, Arizona . The study was conducted by personal finance website Wallethub, which examined data from the U.S. Census and Zillow. They compared America's 366 biggest metropolitan areas against 26 key factors before ranking them in terms of their socio-demographic status as well as house prices, the economy and education. Some of the county's biggest cities came near the bottom of the list with New York in 233rd place, San Francisco placed 301st, Los Angeles in 313th and Washington DC 340th. The city of McAllen in Texas came bottom of a list of the United States most American cities . The research also found that the most average city in America has a population, which is 74 per cent white, 13 per cent foreign born and 50.8 per cent female. It also shows the average house price in the average American city is $174,600, with a size of 1,773 square feet and has 2.63 residents. Sixty six per cent of people in the average American city live in a household with family with 38 per cent of people householders. It also reveals that most people are employed in is the education services and health and social care industry. The study found the average U.S. city has 11.6 per cent of people living below the poverty line with 28.7 per cent of over 25s having a Bachelor's degree or higher. Wallethub say the research could prove valuable to entrepreneurs, who are deciding where to launch business ideas before rolling them out across the country. | Tennessee city named the most America in a study by personal finance firm .
Demographics most closely mirror the statistics for the average America .
Beat Cincinnati and Indianapolis who came in second and third .
McAllen in Texas has been named the least American city by researchers . |
86,607 | f5cea881402673575e6eef37450392f8c5087366 | By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 09:57 EST, 8 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:46 EST, 9 October 2013 . Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that the Dutch government apologise after one of his country's diplomats was arrested. Russia claims Dmitry Borodin was badly beaten in front of his children by armed men in camouflage during an arrest on Saturday night. Speaking at an economic summit in Indonesia, President Putin said: 'This is the most gross breach of the Vienna Convention. Speaking at an economic summit in Indonesia, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has condemned the arrest of one of the country's diplomats at his flat in The Hague in the Netherlands . 'We . are awaiting an explanation, an apology and also punishment of those . responsible. Depending on how the Dutch side conducts itself, we will . react.' The foreign ministry in Moscow says Mr Borodin's flat in The Hague was stormed by officers wanting to arrest him over false claims of alleged domestic abuse. They say he explained he was a diplomat, but the men took no notice. The ministry added: 'Our diplomat was put in handcuffs and taken to a police station where he was held almost all night. 'After that he was let go without any explanations or apologies.' Dutch Police spokeswoman Ellen van Zijl confirmed an 'incident' had taken place, but she could not give details. Relations between the two countries were already under pressure following legal action by the Netherlands over the arrest of 30 Greenpeace campaigners. The activists, who sailed on a Dutch ship and include two Dutch nationals, were last week charged with piracy after trying to board a Russian oil rig. Moscow alleges that Dmitry Borodin's flat at The Hague was stormed by armed men who beat him in front of his children before keeping him in jail overnight . News of the charges, which carry a maximum 15-year sentence, prompted worldwide protests which were attended by actor Jude Law and musician Damon Albarn in London. Diplomatic immunity is a special status granted under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, giving immunity to anyone serving an officially recognised diplomatic function in another country. Depending on rank that can range from immunity for official actions, to immunity from all civil and criminal proceedings. Diplomatic agents and their families are 'inviolable', meaning they are exempt from all criminal jurisdiction. Without a waiver, a diplomatic agent, or dependent, may only be detained if they are likely to harm either themselves or the public. Diplomats cannot waive their own immunity, that can only be done by the Head of Mission for that country. Where police think there is sufficient evidence to charge an individual, but the Head of Mission does not agree to a waiver, the authorities can ask for the withdrawal of the individual and their family. | Moscow says Dmitry Borodin's flat in The Hague was stormed on Saturday .
Claims armed men beat Mr Borodin in front of his children .
He was allegedly held all night on false charges of domestic abuse .
Dutch authorities confirm there was an 'incident'
Diplomats have immunity from arrest under Vienna Convention . |
280,882 | f7de5e52d840958765007720d5d9b97fe85e555c | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 17:40 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:41 EST, 24 January 2014 . Polish authorities are now investigating claims the CIA operated a secret prison in used to torture suspected terrorists. News of the investigation comes after a Washington Post report Thursday that detailed the CIA bribe made to Polish intelligence officers and the egregious abuse that took place on the site. The spy agency paid millions to its Polish counterpart during a secret 2003 meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw for the right to use a remote villa for detaining terror suspects, according to the Post. Tortured: 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times at the secret Polish prison, according to the Washington Post . CIA operatives used the clandestine confines to waterboard 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 times during interrogations. The former al-Qaida member is now being held in Guantanamo Bay. The ‘black site’ was allowed to open after the CIA handed over two cardboard boxes filled with $15million, according to the Post. It was one of several across Europe. The report spurred prosecutors in the Polish city of Krakow to open an enquiry into the matter. ‘In the course of the investigation that is underway, we will analyze this Washington Post article and will include it in our investigation,’ Krakow sicty spokesperson Piotr Kosmaty told Reuters. The only way criminal charges could be filed is if Polish officials colluded CIA spooks to illegally detain or torture American prisoners, Reuters noted. Poland has long refuted claims of any secret CIA prison within its borders, and the country’s prime minister moved to further distance himself from any responsibility. Detained at the black site: Abu Zubaida (left) and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri (right) were both tortured at the site, CIA operatives reportedly performed a mock execution on al-Nashiri . ‘These allegations that appear in the public sphere are allegations about prisons and torture committed by the CIA, not Poles but Americans,’ said PM Donald Tusk. ‘Irrespective of what prosecutors determine with regard to the responsibility of Poland's civil servants in this case, our role is to guard the interests of the Polish state,’ he added. Hearings were held last month at the European Court of Human Rights regarding whether Poland had ever been complicit in torture, a decision is expected this year, the paper reported. The CIA decided on the remote Polish villa after a ‘remodeled chicken coop’ it had been using in Thailand became overcrowded with Middle Eastern detainees, according to the Post. Though the facility was not big, the American spies agreed to retrofit it with $300,000 in cameras and even converted a backyard shed into a cell. 'It was pretty spartan,’ an agency official told the paper. Once remodeled, a number of prisoners were taken there – including Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Agents performed a mock execution on the man despite him being of little intelligence value, the official said. Waterboarding: CIA operatives reportedly coerced prisoners to talk by putting rags over their faces and dumping water over them to simulate drowning . Spy agency: CIA operatives carried out secret missions and reportedly opened black sites around the world while fighting the 'war on terror' ‘He was an idiot,’ said the former CIA official. ‘He couldn’t read or comprehend a comic book.’ Mohammed was able to outlast the waterboarding because he memorized how long the waterboardings lasted and would just count down the seconds, according to the paper, but he eventually cracked. So did Zubaida, he even offered to help get new detainees to talk, the official said. These results likely are what led then-CIA director of operations Jose Rodriguez to say the techniques produced ‘dramatic positive results.’ Polish authorities will now determine if any laws were broken to achieve them. | The secret prison reportedly opened in 2003 after the CIA paid a $15million bribe to Polish intelligence officials .
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded at the site almost 200 times .
Other 9/11 co-conspirators were also taken there .
Polish officials are trying to determine if any Polish citizens were complicit in the torture of terror suspects . |
267,460 | e660561e43ab3eb57e5a7ee5490d873ab7e0c1af | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 14:46 EST, 12 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:51 EST, 12 August 2013 . On trial: Andrew Reeve, 55, and his wife Lesley, 56, of Hartlepool, County Durham, are accused of theft . A husband today denied stealing more than £100,000 from his wife's vulnerable godmother and claimed the alleged victim had told the couple to spend her life savings ‘as we saw fit’. Andrew Reeve, 55, and his wife Lesley, 56, of Hartlepool, County Durham, are accused of reducing 91-year-old dementia sufferer Joan Killen's bank accounts from £130,000 to just £3,000 in two years. The prosecution claimed some of that went on converting a garage into a wet room and gym, but the defendants said they were making it into a bedroom for her to live in. Mr Reeve told Teesside Crown Court that Miss Killen, who lives in a care home and considered the couple as her only family, was ‘delighted’ with the plan to move in with them. He claimed she then showed the couple her will ‘and told us we could spend what we needed to do the modernisations, and she also said we could use it as we saw fit’. Mr Reeve claimed the spinster told him they could use the money for ‘anything’. She wanted to see the couple enjoy her money while she was still alive, he claimed. The court has heard the couple paid off debts of more than £11,000, bought a car and regularly shopped at Next, Marks & Spencer and Argos. Mr Reeve became a signatory for her bank accounts and transferred money from savings to her current account, the court heard. Building work: The home where the Reeve couple proposed the garage conversion would be carried out . The couple are accused of stealing . £95,000 from her savings, plus her pension, winter fuel allowance and . money they made by renting her home out once she went into care. In the planning application to convert . their garage, the couple stated it was for a gym and wet room, but Mr . Reeve said this was not true and they intended it to be for Miss Killen. But when police arrested the couple . they found an exercise ball and treadmill in the room - which Mr Reeve . said was a coincidence. Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said: ‘The . truth is you had no intention of ever having Miss Killen to come and . live with you, did you?’ Mr Reeve replied: ‘That's not true.’ 'Taking advantage': There was regular spending by the couple at Next (left), Marks & Spencer (right, both file pictures) and Argos, funded by Miss Killen, the court was told . Case: The couple are accused at Teesside Crown Court (pictured) of stealing almost £95,000 from Joan Killen's savings after Mr Reeve became a co-signatory for her accounts when her mental health began to deteriorate . Mr Bean continued: ‘You have made up . this account in an attempt to explain away how you spent almost all her . life savings.’ Mr Reeve said: ‘That's not true.’ 'We love her, we love Joan. We are her only family and we haven't been able to see her for 19 months' Andrew Reeve . Earlier, he claimed he and his wife have been unable to see the pensioner since their arrest last year. ‘We love her, we love Joan,’ he told the jury. ‘We are her only family and we haven't been able to see her for 19 months.’ The couple jointly deny four counts of . theft. The case was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon when Mrs Reeve's . defence is expected to start. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Lesley, 56, and Andrew Reeve, 55, 'took advantage of her dementia'
Stole £100,000 and almost wiped out her life savings, court is told .
Hartlepool couple deny four theft counts at Teesside Crown Court . |
178,949 | 73b35b603453031f34f1d4f9660e5c8c04f2be5d | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Twelve-year-old Mohammed Rasoul, his right leg severed below the knee, maneuvers on crutches over the dirt and loose stones through the Falluja graveyard. Mohammed Rasoul sitting with his mother, Jinan Khalifa, eagerly awaits his trip to the United States. Row after row of headstones stand as the deadly reminder of the tragedy the city went through as insurgents battled for control of the city. Mohammed stops at his cousin's grave. "I feel an ache when I think of her. Every time I remember her, I cry," he told CNN at a visit to the grave a few months ago. As he spoke, he poured water on a tree he planted next to it. The headstone reads: "Martyr 643, the child Hajer Ismael Khalil, 13 October 2006." Clutching her photograph, Mohammed says, "My cousin died on the scene. I still remember her screams." The same explosion cost him his leg and his childhood. "A car came out of nowhere. My cousin was playing with her friend," he says. "I remember [the car] was green. It detonated." Watch Mohammed tell his story » . His mother, Jinan Khalifa, remembers that day all too well. She was in the kitchen when she heard a deafening explosion. "There was shattered glass from the windows falling all over us. I went outside and saw my son covered in blood from head to toe," she says. Her son endured 11 operations before doctors amputated his leg below the knee. Khalifa says her son put forward a tough face, but when he finally went back home the shock hit him. "That's where his personality started to change. He stopped laughing," she says. "It was tearing me up," Mohammed says "It was hard for me to watch others play. And I couldn't, I couldn't walk, it agitated me." CNN first broadcast his story in May where it caught the attention of an American charity, the Global Medical Relief Fund, which offered to help. "I cannot put my feelings into words," Khalifa says. "An entire book would not be enough. They gave my son his hope back. The America we knew was one that came, bombed, harmed. But when this organization came forward, we saw another face of America." The Global Medical Relief Fund, a small charity based in New York that helps children of war and natural disasters, has arranged for surgery and treatment at the Shriners Children Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elissa Montanti, the founder and director of the organization, says she was inspired to act when she first heard of Mohammed's tragic story. "I said, 'Oh, please, let me help this boy.' " Mohammed will arrive in the United States on Thursday afternoon. He will be fitted for a prosthetic leg in coming weeks and examined to see if he needs additional surgery. Montanti said her organization has a list of other young Iraqi children in need of help. "The word needs to get out." Asked how it makes her feel to help Mohammed, she says, "It makes me cry with joy." Mohammed, too, is ecstatic. "I didn't think this act of human kindness would be presented to me," he says. "I didn't have hope in Iraq -- hope that I would ever get my hope back. I didn't have a future." He adds, "I want to go to America and meet this person that gave me my future back." When he comes back home, he wants to help rebuild Falluja, starting with his school, which was bombed during the 2004 Falluja offensive. "I will never leave school and, God willing, I will continue my education and become an architect and build all the schools," he says, standing on his crutches. But first, he says, he wants to walk to water the tree he planted next to his cousin's grave. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Wayne Drash contributed to this report from Atlanta. | Boy, 12, lost leg to car bombing in Iraq; cousin was killed by blast .
He is now heading to the United States to get a prosthetic leg .
Boy: "I want to ... meet this person that gave me my future back"
Charity director says helping the boy makes her "cry with joy" |
282,435 | f9cf18aa65068690f60facba2b8e7f3a5c3686e3 | (CNN) -- Ronaldinho's participation in this summer's World Cup finals now appears in serious doubt after the AC Milan playmaker was not named in Brazil coach Carlos Dunga's 22-man squad for next month's friendly international against Ireland in London. The 29-year-old former Barcelona star has been in outstanding form for the Italian giants this season -- but he has still not done enough to force his way into Dunga's thinking for the match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Ronaldinho is not the only high-profile player not selected for the match, with Chelsea central defender Alex also left out of the squad. Manchester City forward Robinho, who is currently on loan for the rest of the season with Brazilian club Santos, is in the squad -- while there is also a place for full-back Dani Alves, although the Barcelona defender is currently sidelined with a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for around three weeks. Brazil squad to face Ireland: . Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (Roma). Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Luisao (Benfica), Michel Bastos (Lyon). Midfielders: Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Josue (Wolfsburg), Kleberson (Flamengo), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray). Forwards: Kaka (Real Madrid), Robinho (Santos), Nilmar (Villarreal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo), Julio Baptista (Roma). | Ronaldinho left out of Brazil's squad for next month's friendly against Ireland .
There is no place for the playmaker despite his outstanding form for AC Milan .
On-loan Santos forward Robinho has been named in 22-man squad for Emirates Stadium match . |
81,190 | e615220e7afea405526e3f6646433ab9235d2400 | Washington (CNN) -- The new Congress is still a month and a half away from being seated, but the battle for the next Congress is already heating up. And the fight for the 2014 Senate may end up being the most compelling storyline as the dawn of the midterm campaign approaches. After failing to take advantage of a golden opportunity to win back control of the chamber this year, the GOP gets another chance in 2014. The Democrats, with big victories in the 2008 election, will be defending 20 of the 33 Senate seats up for grabs in 2014. If it sounds familiar, it is. Thanks to their success in the 2006 midterms, the Democrats defended 23 of the 33 seats up for grabs last week. In fact, they expanded their majority by at least one seat and probably two -- depending on which party Independent Angus King, the senator-elect from Maine, caucuses with -- from their current 53-47 majority. Analysis: It's never too early to talk about 2016 . "It would be easy for someone to say the Democrats 'were on the defensive in 2012 and they did just fine,' but I don't think any two election cycles are exactly the same. We have to see what the political environment looks like; we have to see what candidates and nominees emerge; we have to see what kind of retirements we have. Those are the factors that play into how successful a party will ultimately be in the upcoming election," says Nathan Gonzales, deputy editor of the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report. And the current lame-duck session between now and the end of the year could also impact the next election. Difficult votes on avoiding the fiscal cliff in 2012 could come back to haunt some senators facing difficult primary or general election challenges in 2014. Among the most vulnerable Democratic senators up for re-election in 2014 are (in alphabetical order): Mark Begich of Alaska, Max Baucus of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Democrats may also have some open seats to defend. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey is an obvious candidate to retire. He'll be 90 by November 2014. And Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia will be 77 by the midterms. Republicans and Democrats proclaim optimism on fiscal cliff deal . "There are some vulnerabilities on the Democratic side, but a lot of it depends on how popular the president is in the midterms and the quality of the Republican challengers against these Democratic senators," adds Gonzales. A senior GOP strategist argues that President Barack Obama's victory last week makes it tougher for some of those Senate Democrats facing challenging re-elections. "The irony of this past election is that if you're Mary Landrieu, Mark Pryor, Tim Johnson or other targeted Democrats, it would have been easier for each of them politically if President Obama had not been re-elected. Because the president's liberal, big government agenda, and their longtime support for it, will undoubtedly play an even greater role in each of their races next cycle," says the strategist, who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity. But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the group that focuses on getting Democrats elected to the Senate, disagrees. "Last week's results proved that conventional wisdom is often wrong, especially two years out from Election Day. We've proven we can win in red states, we can overcome steep spending deficits, and we can defy the odds even when the map is tilted against us. Remember only two Democratic incumbents have lost reelection in eight years," DSCC Communications Director Matt Canter tells CNN. Opinion: Conservatives, don't despair . The 2014 geography seems friendlier to the GOP. Of the 13 Republican seats up for grabs next November, only Susan Collins of Maine comes from a state that's not solidly red. The moderate Republican senator hasn't said if she'll retire or run for another term in 2014. Some of the Republicans up for re-election, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, could face potential primary challenges. Regardless, just holding onto their seats won't be enough for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. A big problem, of course, is that the last GOP primaries resulted in some extreme, combustible or un-electable Senate candidates, who have arguably cost the Republicans five Senate seats over the past two cycles. That includes controversial comments about rape by Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri and Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who both lost their contests last week. "Republicans openly acknowledge that they have a lot of soul searching to do right now. The party is at war with itself. Even in more conservative areas of the country, voters reject the extremism and tea party ideology that has taken over the Republican Party," suggests Canter. The key for the Republicans is if stronger, less controversial and more generally acceptable nominees emerge from their 2014 primary process. People 'unliking' Romney on Facebook . "I think you can find common-sense conservative candidates who can appeal to primary and general election voters," says another Republican strategist, adding this needs to come without the downside of those candidates saying some stupid things. For the GOP, the simple math of the next Senate means winning back the majority will be a tougher proposition in 2014 than it was this year. But Republicans do have one thing in their favor: A midterm electorate. "If 2014 is similar to past midterm elections, the demographics of the people who turn out to vote will be very different from the electorate in the presidential elections of 2008 or 2012," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "In midterms dating back to the 1990s, voters under the age of 30 represented 11%-13% of all voters, compared to 19% this year. African-Americans in past midterms have represented 9%-11% of all voters, compared to 13% in 2012. So if history is any guide, the 2014 midterm electorate will be older and a bit whiter than this year, which could easily benefit Republican candidates," adds Holland. Just like last cycle, we may not have to wait until Election Day for the first Senate contest of 2014 and if that's the case, we'll have Massachusetts to thank. The 2009 death of Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy forced a January 2010 special election, which Republican state Sen. Scott Brown won, in an upset. If Massachusetts' senior senator, Foreign Relations chairman John Kerry, is nominated as Obama's defense secretary or secretary of state for his second term, there would be another special election in that state. And that could provide an opening for Brown, who was just defeated last week, to make a comeback. Moderate Senate Democrats eye midterms warily . | The race for the 2014 U.S. Senate is already starting .
Democrats actually gained at least one Senate seat in last week's election .
Republicans have one thing in their favor in 2014 - a midterm electorate . |
38,773 | 6d97640f3c434c29688074c50079bb48578ebafa | (CNN) -- The European Union will launch its first naval operation Tuesday, protecting vessels from pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia, EU policy chief Javier Solana announced Monday. A French army helicopter taking off from French frigate Nivose, on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. EU foreign ministers approved the mission during their regular meeting in Brussels on Monday. Solana said the operation is "very important" because EU vessels will be operating "in a place in the world that everybody's looking at because of the new problems related to piracy." "It's very important that we have taken that decision to launch it tomorrow," he added. The EU naval force will take over the role of escorting United Nations World Food Program vessels carrying food and relief supplies to war-torn Somalia, an EU news release said. Its mandate, which is spelled out in several U.N. Security Council resolutions, also will include "the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast," the news release stated. The deployment follows a decision by the European Council in September that established a coordination cell that supported surveillance and protection operations by several member states off the Somali coast. Piracy has become increasingly common in that area this year, particularly in the Gulf of Aden. So far, pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off Somalia's coast and successfully hijacked nearly 40, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Those hijacked vessels include an enormous oil tanker, a chemical tanker, and a ship laden with Soviet-era arms, including tanks. The pirates normally hold the ships for ransom. The Somali-based pirates have extended their reach beyond Somalia's coastline. On Saturday, a Dutch-operated container ship outran pirates off the coast of Tanzania, an IMB official told CNN. A luxury cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 passengers and crew successfully outran pirates off the coast of Yemen last weekend. A multinational fleet -- including vessels from the United States, NATO member states, Russia and India -- has been patrolling the Indian Ocean waters near the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Around 20,000 oil tankers, freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year. In a recent interview provided to CNN, a pirate leader claimed attacks on shipping would continue so long as life in Somalia remained desperate. "The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, identified by only one name, Boyah. "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything." | EU force will take over the role of escorting U.N. World Food Program vessels .
Role includes "protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast"
Pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off Somalia's coast this year .
Warships from U.S., India, Russia and Malaysia also patrol region . |
66,034 | bb70b04a1c22a691e3d2e6ed987726f28f1f2c8c | A farmer who was offered £1million to put a wind turbine on his land turned it down because he said it would blight the 'beautiful and unspoilt' countryside. But now Tony Dallyn, 54, who farms in a Devon valley made famous by Michael Morpugo's smash hit, War Horse, faces having to see the towering device anyway, because his neighbour has agreed to host the 251ft turbine instead. And while it wouldn't have been visible to Mr Dallyn if he'd agreed to site it on his land, the proposed device will now be just 450ft away and highly visible from his house if neighbouring farmer, Martin Goddard, wins planning permission for it. Devon farmer Tony Dallyn, 54, of Loosedown Barton, near Winkleigh, turned down £1million for wind turbine . Filming War Horse: Mr Dallyn said it was a 'life-changing amount' but he didn't want to 'blight the landscape' Mr Dallyn, who inherited his 1,800-acre farm from his parents in 1961, says he received offers from companies Murex and MI Grid to allow them to site a 500kW turbine on his Loosedon Barton farm. He said he was told the device could earn him between £35,000 and £50,000 a year, or up to £1million over 20 years, but decided to say no as he would not be able to 'look people in the eye' if he destroyed the land near the Okement Valley, where War Horse author, Michael Morpugo, set his book. He said: 'The papers were on the table ready to be signed to give a company a two-year option, but we decided we just could not inflict such a turbine upon our neighbours and wider community. 'It would have been a life-changing amount of money which could have financed the next step of the business, but the turbine would have towered above the hillside and been a huge blight on the landscape. 'I didn't want to be responsible - our farm is visible from everywhere north of Dartmoor and Okehampton into North Devon.' Then Mr Dallyn discovered Mr Goddard's plans for a near-identical 250ft turbine on his land next door. Around 100 local residents are objecting . to the proposed turbine, including Mr Dallyn and Mr Morpurgo, 70, who . has become the public figurehead for the valley's battle against . turbines, describing them as a threat to its 'oasis of peace and . wonder'. Spielberg hit: The 2011 War Horse film was shot near around the Okement Valley, near Mr Dallyn's land . Rolling hills: Michael Morpugo's book, which became a theatre production and a movie, was filmed in Devon . Mr Morpugo wrote in a letter to the local authority: 'We will have a random scattering of thousands of these huge wind turbines all over Devon, all over our countryside... 'If our democracy means anything, this should not and must not be allowed.' The plans are currently under appeal after being rejected unanimously by Winkleigh Parish Council and refused planning permission by Torridge District Council. Mr Dallyn, who grows wheat and barley on his farm and hopes to pass the business on to his son, added: 'It is a lot of money to turn down, and I can understand why some people would take it. 'I just feel I would like to leave my small patch of England as beautiful and unspoilt as it was when I inherited it.' Mr Dallyn inherited the farm near Winkleigh from his parents in 1961, and hopes to pass it on to his son . Property developers began eyeing the Devon landscape last year after identifying it as a good location for a battery of new turbines, but campaigners warned the projects could ruin the scenery and wreck the tourist industry which inspired by War Horse. A recent map drawn up by the Campaign to Protect Rural England revealed 11 turbines are currently in planning, with another nine in the pipeline. | Devon landowner Tony Dallyn, 54, says he had offers from two companies .
Said they asked to site a 251ft device on his land near Okement Valley .
Countryside was made famous as setting for Michael Morpugo's War Horse .
Turned down 'life-changing' chance to earn up to £50,000/year for 20 years .
Now his neighbour, Martin Goddard, has agreed to have turbine on his land .
If turbine goes ahead, Mr Dallyn will be able to see it from his farmhouse .
He and Mr Morpugo among 100 residents objecting to the proposed device . |
200,330 | 8f52dfc3f94a7c21c2df954bf2086783d7997fdb | By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 04:42 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:53 EST, 13 January 2014 . Jailed: Michaella McCollum, 20, arrives at a court hearing in handcuffs. She told of the moment she first let her family know what had happened to her . Jailed drugs mule Michaella McCollum has told of the moment she phoned home with the news that she had been arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs out of Peru. The 20-year-old, from Dungannon, County Tyrone said that the shock of finding out her daughter was in custody almost 6,000 miles away 'nearly killed' her mother. She was last month sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, alongside Melissa Reid, also 20, with whom she was caught trying to smuggle 24lbs of cocaine out of Lima airport in August. Miss McCollum's family launched a missing person appeal after she failed to answer her phone or update her Facebook page for more than a fortnight. In fact she was being held in a police cell in Lima. She remembered the moment her mother, Nora, picked up the phone, saying: 'As soon as she heard my voice she screamed "Michaella! My baby! I thought you were dead".' 'She started crying. Then I said "Mummy, I'm in jail. In Peru".' At this point, Miss McCollum said the phone went silent, according to Patricia Devlin at the Sunday Life newspaper in Belfast. 'Mummy I'm in jail': Miss McCollum spoke to her mother, Nora, right, on the phone from a Peruvian cell. Pictured left is Miss McCollum's sister, Samantha . Caught: A photo taken by Peruvian police shows the moment Miss McCollum, left, and Miss Reid, right, were apprehended . Inside: Miss McCollum speaks with her lawyer from inside a cell at Sarita Colonia prison in Callao . 'I found out that after we'd spoken she . had chest pains and was taken to hospital - I nearly killed her with the . stress', she said. Miss McCollum and Miss Reid, sometimes . called the 'Peru two', decided to plead guilty to drugs trafficking in . the hope of receiving a more lenient sentence. The six years and eight months they were given is the minimum jail term for the offence. In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors did not pursue allegations that the women had been paid to carry the drugs. Sentence: Miss McCollum, right, and Miss Reid, left, were given sentences of six years and eight months for drug trafficking. They are shown attending a court hearing last month . Filthy: The 'Peru Two' were both sent to Santa Monica prison - an overcrowded and unhygienic jail rife with HIV and tuberculosis . Inmates: Santa Monica prison, where the women were held, was built for 250 women but holds more than 1,000 . As their sentence is under seven years, the possibility remains open that they can be transferred to a prison in the UK - though the governments in both countries would have to agree to the transfer. The pair had been working at bars in Ibiza before they made the trip to Peru. They originally claimed to have been kidnapped by a gang in Ibiza and forced to travel to Peru. Though they did not pursue that defence in court, Miss Reid has maintained that she attempted to smuggle the drugs 'under duress'. | Michaella McCollum, 20, told how she broke the news to her mother Nora .
She says Mrs McCollum had 'chest pains' and had to go to hospital .
The family had put out an appeal after she dropped out of contact .
She had been arrested alongside Melissa Reid, 20, for drugs trafficking .
The 'Peru two' pleaded guilty and accepted 6-year jail terms last month . |
137,920 | 3e5f300194ca2ffc00471611fb6cd783f7dd92d8 | Speakers at the National Rifle Association's annual convention took pot shots at President Barack Obama, as the man who has become the face of America's largest gun-rights group announced that the NRA had grown to 5 million members. 'By the time we're finished, that must and will be 10 million,' said NRA executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. But much of Saturday's activities at the group's annual convention were devoted to slamming Obama for what speakers called failed gun control legislation for which the White House has manufactured the illusion of popular support. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre slammed President Obama for ignoring the gun violence problem caused firearms in his native Chicago owned by criminals. He also announced that his organization had for the first time enrolled five million members . National Rifle Association President David Keene said Americans' support for a gun-control Senate bill soured once they learned what was in the proposed law. The legislation ultimately failed despite White House claims of overwhelming public support . Defiance is the order of the day at the NRA convention, with vendors advertising slogan-festooned signs, shirts, bumper stickers and hats . The White House has claimed that a massive majority of Americans supported the measure, which would have expanded the use of background checks before gun purchases. Obama endorsed the bill, but it failed in an April Senate vote. And many Republicans in Washington have declared the gun-control season closed. 'Support for the president's agenda began to weaken,' NRA president David Keene claimed Saturday, 'as ordinary citizens began to look deeper at what was proposed.' LaPierre was less diplomatic, calling the bill, co-sponsored n the Senate by West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and Pennsylvania Republican Patrick Toomey a 'convoluted scheme tantamount to national registration of every gun owner in America.' Claiming Obama harbors an 'agenda to destroy our Second Amendment,' he insisted that the president 'will stop at nothing. Then he boasted, 'That's what he has gotten: nothing. Absolutely nothing.' White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One that as many as 23 'executive actions' were under consideration, which could allow Obama to act without Congress . Obama, in San Jose, Costa Rica, may not be hearing Americans clearly, according to Wayne LaPierre . Texas Gov. Rick Perry seemed to agree about Obama in a Washington Times interview published Saturday. 'His goal - well before he became president of the United States - was to try to disarm the American public,' Perry said. 'He just disregards the Constitution.' LaPierre also blamed the White House for misleading Americans about the content of the failed Senate bill. But 'the biggest whopper of all,' he insisted, 'is that 90 per cent of Americans support his background check bill. During a press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Friday, while en route from Mexico to Costa Rica, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that Obama remains committed to 'pressing Congress to take action to reduce gun violence.' And that, Carney said, 'includes exploring every executive action he might be able to . take' without congressional approval. NRA lobbying chief Chris Cox said gun control groups have 'spent millions on bogus polls' - which the White House then leverages politically - to create an impression that Americans are clamoring for firearms restrictions . Obama's 'goal, well before he became president of the United States, was to try to disarm the American public,' said Texas Gov. Rick Perry . 'We are going to . press ahead,' Carney added. 'The President made clear that sometimes these efforts . don’t succeed initially, but especially when you have 85 to 90 per cent . of the American people supporting, in the case of background checks . being expanded, a legislative proposal, this is going to get done. That statistic comes from a Quinnipiac University poll conducted between March 27 and April 1. It found that mandatory background checks for most gun purchasers have 91 per cent of U.S. voters, including 96 per cent of Democrats, 88 per cent of Republicans and 88 per cent of Americans in gun-owning households. In the same poll, 53 per cent of gun owners - the constituency gathered in Houston - agreed that 'universal background checks could lead to confiscation of legal guns.' Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the group's lobbying arm, questioned the White House's number - saying that gun control groups have 'spent millions on bogus polls.' Actor and former Marine Corps drill instructor Ronald Lee 'Gunny' Ermey, best known for his gunnery-sergeant role in Full Metal Jacket, told MailOnline at the NRA convention that President Obama 'doesn't know who he's fooling with' NRA members aren't a shy bunch, and many wore t-shirts expressing their love for firearms - or their disdain for gun control advocates like CNN host Piers Morgan . LaPierre said 'the only "90" the president won't talk about is Chicago - his own hometown, now run by his former chief of staff. The president won't talk about Chicago, but he should. Because in the entire United States, Chicago rates 90th out of 90 jurisdictions in federal firearms prosecution: dead last.' He added that there is 'a shooting every 6.3 hours' in the Windy City, 'the deadliest city in America, the president's own home town.' 'If the president had one clue about how to clean up violent crime,' LaPierre said to applause, 'don't you think he'd do it in his own hometown? If his policies brought us Chicago, why would we want to listen to him on anything else?' | NRA head honcho insists support for background-check legislation is far smaller than the president claims .
White House press secretary warns that the gun-control fight is just warming up, with presidential executive orders still under consideration .
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Obama has long planned 'to disarm the American public' |
276,104 | f1bb1e72a0ef0aead90ffbdbed911e0d51e801fb | Before he went missing, Johnathan Croom had developed an obsession with the movie "Into the Wild," in which a young man leaves society to go live off the land. Unfortunately, both stories had tragic endings. The body of 18-year-old Croom turned up in rural Oregon on Monday, authorities say. It was 1,000 feet from his abandoned car, which officers found last week. They suspect no foul play and are investigating the death as a suicide, said Dwes Hutson, public information officer for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. "John made us feel like he was OK, but he was really hurting inside," his father, David Croom, said Tuesday. "It's really important that we pay real close attention to what our kids are saying and that we remind them that we love them, because there are influences in the world that tell them otherwise. "John is loved by many. I appreciate all the help and what everyone has done. My instincts told me this could happen. I'm trying to be strong for my community." In the movie based on Jon Krakauer's 1996 nonfiction book, a young man by the name of Chris McCandless disappears from society. Over the past six months, David Croom said, his son had shown a growing interest in the movie and possibly wanted to emulate McCandless' actions. "He's been watching the movie a lot," Croom said before his son's body was found. "Maybe he said, 'I want to do it.' That's our theory, because he kept talking about the movie." Johnathan's green Honda CRV was found on a lonely road in the quiet country town of Riddle, Oregon, on Wednesday, two days after he was supposed to start college at Mesa Community College. "We still don't know what happened," Croom said, "but he was lost in the wild. He got in over his head, and things didn't go well." He was last seen at a friend's home in Seattle, where he'd been visiting. His father assumed he was driving back to Arizona through Washington and Oregon before he went missing. The teen has been a main topic of conversation in Riddle, a logging and ranching community of about 1,300 with no traditional grocery store and no movie theater. People had been searching their property for him, said one resident, a longtime rancher who asked that he not be identified. "There's nothing that makes sense," he said. What happened to him does not seem to square with what happened in the movie. Riddle is dozens of miles from the nearest wilderness area, residents say. "It's 2½ miles from the major interstate; it's right in town in Riddle," Huston said of where Croom's car was found. "There are houses and people, and it's well-populated, so if he wanted to do an 'Into the Wild,' it wasn't the appropriate place." Krakauer's account of McCandless' life has taken on an almost cult status among countless free spirits who dream of shedding the trappings of modern life and living off the land. "There were similarities," Croom said of his son's disappearance. In the book, McCandless cut off communication with his parents and traveled to Alaska, where he lived in a school bus before dying of starvation. Like McCandless, Johnathan Croom apparently traveled with very few belongings: perhaps a small backpack and his phone, his father said. Left behind in the Honda was the teen's ID card, plus a sweatshirt, blanket and jug of water, things someone might need to survive in the wilderness. Johnathan Croom's camping experience was limited at best, his father said, not much more than camping once or twice. Several reports describing travelers with an apparent interest in McCandless and the abandoned "Magic Bus" parked near Healy, Alaska, outside Denali National Park, have surfaced recently. In May, a police helicopter reportedly rescued three German men who had hiked into the wilderness looking for the bus. An Oklahoma teen inspired by the movie reportedly went missing in Oregon in March after telling his parents he wanted to "live in the wild." In 2010, a Swiss woman reportedly drowned in an Alaska river during her trek to visit the famous bus. | Law enforcement official says death is being investigated as a suicide .
Arizona father feared teen vanished in Oregon to live off land like the film "Into the Wild"
Johnathan Croom, 18, had never been in the wild before, says his father .
The teen's Honda SUV was abandoned in a small town in western Oregon . |
108,568 | 17fca8507c6630094d85d89dabdab449f3e62d0d | (CNN) -- With the official state death toll now at 337, the Wednesday through Thursday tornado outbreak is the second-deadliest single day for tornadoes since recordkeeping began, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The outbreak is also on record as creating the most number of tornadoes in a single day. Records go back to 1680. Since then, there has been only one other date in U.S. history on which more people died during a severe weather outbreak, according to the National Weather Service. Weather officials say the reason why so many perished was due to the size and path of the tornadoes. Meteorologists rely on what is called an "Enhanced Fujita Scale" to rate the severity of tornadoes. The lowest ranking, EF0, applies to twisters with recorded 3-second wind gusts of 65 to 85 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The highest, an EF5, is assigned to tornadoes with speeds of more than 200 mph. The weather service has so far recorded 11 tornadoes with EF3 ratings or higher that struck central and north Alabama on Wednesday. Some of the twisters were three-quarters of a mile wide and traveled dozens of miles, experts said. "That's an astounding amount for a single-day tornado event." said Krissy Scotten, a weather service meteorologist in Birmingham, Alabama. "It's one of those instances where you had very large tornadoes on very long tracks hitting heavily populated areas." "When you put that together, you're going to see large loss of life and massive devastation," Scotten said. According to the National Weather Service: . FATALITIES . -- The deadliest single day for tornadoes was on March 18, 1925, with 747 fatalities across seven states. -- As of Saturday morning, the Wednesday-Thursday outbreak has seen 337 fatalities across six states. -- The third-deadliest tornado outbreak was on March 21, 1932, when 332 people died. SEVERITY . -- An EF4 tornado that struck Pleasant Grove, Alabama, was produced by an astounding supercell thunderstorm that began in Newton County, Mississippi, and dissipated in Macon County, North Carolina. That supercell lasted 7 hours and 24 minutes and covered 380 miles, producing several strong to violent tornadoes along the way. -- The agency estimates that on Wednesday-Thursday, there were 211 tornadoes. -- The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event took place from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes. More information at: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/april_2011_tornado_information.html . | It's also on record as creating the most number of tornadoes in a single day .
NOAA: The deadliest single day for tornadoes was in 1925 when 747 people died .
The historic research records date back to 1680, NOAA says . |
276,451 | f22ba7bb9d2df431615bee898ecb3d5ed0b8939f | (CNN) -- I watched as the sellers and beggars descended on her. I was thankful she was walking in front of me although I knew my turn would soon follow. There were women hawking iced water and children with prayer beads, wooden sculptures and cotton pants. Everyone trying to get her attention by saying, "Lady, lady ... You want water? Buy something ... pants, water? Madame, lady, you buy something ..." The woman who was the target of this avalanche of requests -- who, like me, was a tourist at the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia -- walked along the road toward the area where the buses and drivers waited to pick visitors up. As the seconds passed, she said "no" and "no thank you," and some of the sellers and beggars relented. Some did not. They dug in and stuck with her, pulling on her shirt and saying again and again and again, "Buy something, lady." The woman finally shrieked "NO!!!!" I was surprised and actually relieved to see this. I had done the same thing the day before. Of course, I felt embarrassed at my strong and exasperated response. It is a simple word understood across languages and cultures. No. But clearly as I saw this stranger demonstrate, making ourselves understood when saying what seems to be so simple is another matter. We have all been there on the receiving end of a request that we do not want or simply cannot accommodate, and many have much higher stakes than the answer we give to strangers at a tourist spot 12 time zones away. We know that feeling of "here it comes" in anticipation of a request that may not fit with our lives. We have all been there -- a request comes in via e-mail -- and we are loath to agree. For a variety of reasons, we simply cannot, must not, will not, we tell ourselves, but we do. These requests come from people in our lives: Our bosses, colleagues, brothers, sisters, children, friends, partners, even from friends of friends, otherwise known as strangers. For things big and small, easy and difficult to accomplish. For some reason, saying no is much harder than it should be. Out of curiosity, and with guidance from Dan Ariely, a professor of economics and psychology at Duke University in North Carolina, I crafted a survey asking people about their experiences in turning down requests. We wondered whether there was a way to say no that did not involve guilt or anger for either the rejected or rejected. We discovered a number of interesting things: Many of us are saying no in limping, half-baked ways that leave neither us nor the rejected party feeling good about the answer. Judging by the roughly 500 people who took the time to answer our survey, the experience of saying no and feeling badly about it is common -- and interestingly, falls along gender lines. Specifically, women were more likely to anticipate they would feel badly if they said no and did in fact feel badly when they did say no. Our results also indicated women felt even worse about saying no when the request came from another woman. Men were more likely to anticipate they would not feel too badly. They reported after the fact that they felt just as they had anticipated when they rejected requests made of them. It was eye-opening to see the actual requests that were made. From money and co-signing for student loans and new cars (from nonfamily members) to taking care of untrained, "scary" dogs and even children who jump on the furniture and generally ignore house rules. There were requests for time to volunteer at church, to cook meals, to make long car trips and to provide places to live, couches to sleep on, letters of recommendation and even the ashes and urn of a loved one. Most people seemed to really take time to see whether getting to yes was even possible. It was not rare for people to include explanations about the constraints that would prevent them from being able to say yes. Some even thanked the person making the request for thinking of them. Overall, respondents were thoughtful and tried to be helpful. In their rejection of the request, they sometimes offered other solutions or compromises. This stands in sharp contrast to the recent tussle on LinkedIn between a communication professional and a job seeker. As hard as it is to say no, in many cases, people have to learn the skill, or they risk finding their time, money and resources exhausted. If you are someone inundated with requests, here are a few suggestions to get past your own resistance to saying no: . 1. Take your time in deciding: Do not feel obligated to give an answer on the spot. Some people use e-mail auto-responders to buy them time to consider all requests, and this seems to be a strategy that works well. 2. Get more details about the request: Often requests end up involving much more work than it may seem initially. Make sure to get all the details necessary to make an informed decision. Also feel free to change your mind. Many participants reported saying yes and then going back and rejecting the request after a couple of days' thought. See No. 1. 3. Align with your priorities: Saying no may be difficult but if what you are being asked to do does not align with your priorities or values, then it will be a poor use of your time and energy -- no matter what the request. One participant shared how her stepchild had asked for the urn and ashes of his father, her deceased husband. They had been married 20 years; she wanted to keep "him" with her even after death. She told her stepson that when she passed away, the ashes would go to him, but in the meantime, she was going to keep them. A sensible compromise can go a long way. 4. Find a "go-to" system: A number of the participants said that they had set up a go-to system to help them both make and deliver the decisions. For instance, they had rules about certain kinds of requests: They had a predetermined number of requests they would agree to each month or year. Others had several pre-written responses in their e-mail accounts that they could send out once they had classified what category the request fell into for them. Others indicated they preferred to say no in writing via text or e-mail instead of verbally, because it made the process easier for them. 5. Give up the guilt: The research indicates that many women anticipate and feel badly about saying no. That does not help. Give up the guilt, consider what you agree to do and what you are able and then just get on with it. Know that saying no will create fallout -- feel OK about that. It is an inevitable part of the process. The results to the initial survey only increased our curiosity about the whole process of saying no. Because the responses were so rich, we are eager to explore the topic more deeply to get a better sense of what works and what strategies people are using. We are also curious about how positions of authority as well as emotions such as regret, fear and anger influence our ability to say no. We also hope to gain more insight into how relationships and gender frame the rejection of requests. We invite you to take a few minutes to participate in the survey. In this case, please don't say no. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julianne Wurm. | It's common to feel pressure when you receive too many requests from many people .
Julianne Wurm: While people want to say no, they often feel trapped into saying yes .
Some simple rules can help people navigate the requests and set their priorities, she says . |
212,555 | 9f3b15d2f7ce4c255cd053c96bbfceed26bf67c6 | By . Sean O'hare . PUBLISHED: . 12:49 EST, 9 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:22 EST, 10 January 2013 . Three company bosses swindled thousands of music lovers out of tickets in a £3million scam, a court heard. Andrew Lagan, 49, David Rolls, 48, and Gary Agar, 44, allegedly ripped off fans of acts including Kings of Leon, Jay-Z and Sir Paul McCartney. The trio offered non-existent tickets for sale over the internet and processed the payments through the account for their company, Good Time Entertainment (GTE), Harrow Crown Court heard. Andrew Lagan allegedly ripped off thousands of music lovers . David Rolls is alleged to have sold non-existent tickets online . Gary Agar belonged to Good Time Entertainment with the other men . Other events targeted included the T in the Park festival in Balado, Kinnross-shire, Scotland, the V Festivals, in Staffordshire and Essex, and the Benicassim festival in Spain. After payments were made to the Allied Irish bank account, the money was either siphoned off into accounts in Budapest or Thailand, or withdrawn in cash, jurors were told. Prosecutor Toby Fitzgerald said: 'Together the defendants operated Good Time Entertainment Ltd and through the use of this company and websites associated with it, the defendants offered tickets for sale to members of the public over the internet. 'They created 100 per cent profit for themselves because they took the money without providing anything in return. 'Having had the money transferred into a bank account controlled by the defendants the money was removed from the bank account. 'It was removed to make very sure that when the inevitable time of reckoning came, when it became clear that the tickets were not provided and people were after their money back, the money had disappeared,' he added. He said transfers were made to the Link FX money exchange in Victoria where more than £2m was withdrawn during the course of a year. GTE was first set up in June 2003 with Agar the sole shareholder, the court heard. The accused allegedly ripped off fans of acts including Kings of Leon (pictured), Jay-Z and Sir Paul McCartney . Ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney (pictured) was one of the musicians who fans paid to see and were allegedly ripped off by Lagan, Rolls and Gary Agar . By 2006 the company's profits were dwindling and Agar formally resigned as its director. The prosecutor said Rolls and Lagan became involved in the business and the offences were committed between November 2009 and October 2010. Jurors heard in the autumn of 2009 Agar informed the company's accountant that it had effectively ceased trading, but was going to continue processing credit cards for a company in Budapest. 'There was no trade involved, it was simply a deception of members of the public,' said Mr Fitzgerald. He explained that when customers did not receive their tickets, they contacted their credit or debit card issuers, who in turn contacted First Data International (FDI), who handled the purchases. Jurors heard that First Data International had provided GTE with a 'merchant terminal' through which they would take payment for the bogus tickets. After receiving a large number of requests from banks for reimbursement for 'charge backs' that they had had to pay, FDI stopped transferring money from customers into the company account. The combined loss to customers who paid by debit card and First Data International was said to be in excess of £2.9m. Rolls, of Poplar, east London, Lagan, of North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, and Agar, of South Ruislip, west London, each deny two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of converting or transferring criminal property. The trial continues. JAY Z pictured here in the middle of Rihanna and Cold Play was another odf the musicians whose fans were allegedly ripped off by the ticket business . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Fake tickets allegedly sold over the internet and 100% profits siphoned off .
Lagan, 49, Rolls, 48, and Agar, 44, all deny charges at Harrow Crown Court . |
240,160 | c2e9ba3fd30c92e045638a5c68a20cb2b4fae60b | Bersant Celina proved the hero for Manchester City's Under 21 side as the young Norwegian came off the bench to grab the winner for his team at Hyde's Ewen Fields ground. Dominic Solanke gave Chelsea a dream start when he fired past City goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the third minute, but goals from Brandon Barker and Thierry Ambrose secured a 2-1 lead for the home side heading into the break. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was present in the stands and would have been impressed with what he saw in the first 45 minutes. Manchester City's Bersant Celina (right) races away to celebrate following his late winner against Chelsea . Celina (centre) is mobbed by his City team-mates after his 91st-minute strike secured a 3-2 victory for his side . Dominic Solanke (right) had earlier fired in a 68th-minute goal, his second of the game, to level the scores . Solanke completed his brace in the 68th minute to level matters once more with Nathan Ake and Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressing in midfield for the young Blues. The game looked to be heading to a stalemate, but Celina, who replaced Barker in the 75th minute, had other ideas. The 17-year-old forward exchanged passes with the outstanding Oliver Ntcham to fire past Blues goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney to secure victory. Patrick Vieira's side now move above Chelsea at the top of U21 Premier League table. They now have a two-point cushion over their rivals. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was present at the match to watch the U21s secure victory . | Dominic Solanke gave Chelsea an early lead on Thursday night .
Brandon Barker and Thierry Ambrose replied for City in the second-half .
Solanke completed his brace in the 68th minute to level the scores again .
Bersant Celina came off the bench to net winner in the 91st minute .
Patrick Vieira's side move above Chelsea at top of U21 Premier League .
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was in the stands . |
246,547 | cb10b460400781956110dce573170fd8773e4c5d | Murdered: Chris Preece was stabbed to death on his farmstead by robbers who took mobile phones . A British engineer was murdered and his wife brutally beaten at their remote South African farm by robbers who took just £210 cash and a mobile phone. Chris Preece, 54, who made his home there after ‘falling in love with the country’ was hacked to death in his kitchen by a gang with machetes. His wife Felicity, 56, was stabbed and hit with a pole, fracturing her skull. She survived a 12-hour wait for help by treating her own wounds. The murder, on Saturday evening, is the latest in a spate of violent robberies in South Africa targeting relatively wealthy white farmers. Mr Preece, originally from Southgate, north London, was attacked at about 7pm as he went to take his seven dogs for a walk at his farm near Ficksburg, on the Lesotho border. The gang killed him, then attacked his wife. ‘Because the gang had cut the telephone wires and there is no mobile phone reception, she couldn’t get help,’ said friend and neighbour Gavin Hoole. ‘It was only the next morning, at around 7am, that anyone realised something was wrong.’ Mr Preece’s South African daughter-in-law Jeanne Preece said he had gone to the country in 1995 to work as a geotechnical engineer with diamond firm De Beers. ‘He fell in love with South Africa from day one,’ she said yesterday. Last year he was made principal geotechnical engineer for rival mining firm Snowden in . Johannesburg. He would drive 200 miles home to his wife every weekend. The couple kept horses and were in the process of transforming the farm into a nature reserve with cheetahs and birds of prey. Jeanne Preece, who is married to their son, said the couple, who have two daughters, were unaware there had been a murder and four robberies on local farms in the past month. Felicity Preece was yesterday said to be in a ‘stable but traumatised state’ in hospital. The region: Mr Preece was murdered just outside of Ficksburg which is on the border of Lesotho . Mr Preece's death is the latest in an alarming trend of brutal murders on remote farmsteads in post apartheid South Africa. Since . the country's first fully democratic elections in 1994, more than 3,000 . white, mainly Afrikaans, farmers have been killed in their homes. The so-called 'farm attacks' are part of the wave of criminality that has engulfed the country in recent years, something criminologist blame of a number of factors, including inept policing and widening social inequality. But in the case of 'farm attacks' - which occur far from the crime-ravaged townships - academics also blame a breakdown in the traditional social contract between employer and employee. Police research shows that the murders are normally carried out by drug-addicted, unemployed black men. Often they have some connection with the targeted farmstead. Local police said the attack at Mr Preece's farm - called Fleur de Lys - is the fifth such attack, and the second murder, in the district over the past month. Yesterday Jeanne Preece told the local Volksblad newspaper how Mr Preece had moved to South Africa in 1995 for work, after which he had 'fallen in love' with the country. He worked as principal geotechnical engineer for mining firm Snowden and was based in the country's commercial capital Johannesburg. However he spent every weekend on the farm, 200 miles drive away, where he wife Felicity lived. The couple were passionate about wildlife and welcomed local children to the farm to teach them to ride horses. Rural: A wave of attacks on farms has been blamed on social inequality (pictured is a general view of the area near Ficksburg where Mr Preece's farmstead lies) It had been the couple's dream to turn the farm, which is set in rolling green hills, into a nature reserve and rehabilitation resort for owls and cheetahs. He was especially looking forward to seeing all his family over Christmas, Mrs Preece said. Yesterday a spokesman for the hospital at which Mrs Preece is being treated said she is in a 'stable but traumatized state'. Local police spokesman Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini said police were alerted to the attack by a worker who discovered the bloody scene as he arrived for work on Sunday morning. He said the murder weapons were found in the house. Police have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the attack, which locals believe to have been committed by men who crossed the nearby border from Lesotho. | Chris Preece's wife was also injured in the attack which happened after robbers poisoned their guard dogs .
This farm attack is the latest in a string of similar incidents and has been blamed on social inequality . |
98,300 | 0a8f8665b7473d2282e49f9191ce22714c8b1ea6 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:36 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:02 EST, 9 December 2013 . A video compilation showing dogs being terrified of cats has reached nearly 4.4million views on Youtube in four days. The three-minute clip named 'You Shall Not Pass, Dog' shows several dogs' irrational fear of walking past a cat. One of the clips sees boxer hiding at the top of a staircase, refusing to come down as a tortoise cat sits a few steps below. Scroll down for YouTube video . In charge: A boxer cowers in fear as the tortoise cat stares him back up the stairs . Feline fear: The boxer gives his owner a pleading look as if to ask for help to get past the cat . The boxer scratches at the stairs, howls and whimpers, but dares not take another step. Another . shows a similar situation where the owner is forced to remove the black . cat at the bottom of the stairs in order to get the dog to come down. A brilliant clip shows a corgi stop dead in its tracks as it spots a cat in the doorway into the next room. It paces back and forward, staying close to the wall in a failed attempt to pluck up the courage to walk past the cat. Try and you will fail: A dog stops dead in his tracks when he spots the cat . Cat overlord: There was no point in even trying for this dog when the master cat was placed atop the stairs . Territorial: A dark cat lies on the bottom stair, as if protecting the ground floor from the family dog, and although he tries his best to face his fear, the dog does not dare walk down the stairs . My saviour: A human hero steps in and removes the cat and the dog can finally run down the stairs . Royal guard: This corgi had the shock of his life when he discovered that the cat was blocking the kitchen door . Fear of fur: Despite trying several times, the corgi could not pluck up the courage to walk past the cat . Brave attempt: A large dog starts making its way up the stairs... ... but it soon runs back down again when a cat appears at the top . | Video of dogs who are scared of cats gets 4.4million views in four days .
'You Shall Not Pass, Dog' sees dogs with severe feline fear . |
68,032 | c105a89b24e9eea446701a1af2779f6120a9d830 | By . Laurie Whitwell . Follow @@lauriewhitwell . Aston Villa have announced the signing of French defender Aly Cissokho from Valencia, subject to international clearance. The 26-year-old left-back has agreed a four-year deal with Paul Lambert's side. Villa announced the move on their official Twitter account, saying: 'Aly Cissokho has joined us on a four-year deal from @ValenciaCF, subject to international clearance.' Transfer: Valencia signed Cissokho from Lyon for £5m two years ago, but would accept less than half that now . Cissokho, who has won one cap for France, joined Liverpool on a season-long loan last August, but made only 15 league appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side before returning to Valencia. The full-back moved to the Spanish club from Lyon in 2012, while he has also played for Porto, Vitoria Setebal and Gueugnon, where he began his senior career. Cissokho joins the likes of Kieran Richardson, Joe Cole and Philippe Senderos as new arrivals at Villa Park this summer. The 26-year-old French international, 26, cost around £2million and is likely to push Joe Bennett down the pecking order. Paul Lambert has been looking to strengthen that area of his team after Ryan Bertrand's loan move came to an end. The Villa manager plans to use Kieran Richardson further up the pitch. Loan: Aly Cissokho celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Stoke while on loan at Anfield last season . Signings: Paul Lambert has already signed Philippe Senderos, Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson this summer . Left-back: After failing to sign Ryan Bertrand, Aston Villa signed Kieran Richardson and Aly Cissokho instead . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | It's believed the transfer fee is around £2million .
The Frenchman has agreed a four-year deal .
Cissokho spent last year on loan at Liverpool .
Former Lyon left-back has one cap for France . |
14,807 | 29fc8e9c4cb3a82884e7e4ffbbcfc65eff8100b0 | (CNN) -- Utah multimillionaire Jon Huntsman Sr. said Friday the Salt Lake City cancer center that bears his name will get a $100 million addition, half of which is coming from his family. The 220,000-square-foot addition will be used to find cures for childhood cancers, and will double the Huntsman Cancer Institute's research space, said the 76-year-old businessman and philanthropist, father of former Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. Patients who are treated at the cancer center are teamed up with cancer specialists as well as researchers who are trying to find better ways to treat and, hopefully, cure them. The new laboratories will be used to further study genetic childhood cancers and cancers that affect families, including the three leading causes of disease death in children: leukemia, sarcoma and brain cancer. "The only way to make progress on cancer is to keep delving deeper and deeper in the research technology." says Huntsman. Cancer claims about 550,000 lives a year, something Americans have accepted as a way of life. But they would not accept losing 550,000 soldiers on the battlefield each year, he adds. "The private sector should do more; the government should do more," says Huntsman. Huntsman says he wants to die broke because "you can't spend money after you die." His family "has put about $400 million into the cancer center, and we've raised about a billion dollars for cancer research (overall)," he says. For the latest expansion, "the family is putting about half of it up," he says. He raised the rest of the funds from donors like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Utah Legislature and other major hospital groups in the area also contributed. Four-time cancer survivor gives back . Huntsman's riches grew out of a small plastics company he founded in the early 1970s. "A small team that worked with me -- we invented the Big Mac hamburger container," he says. After selling that company, he founded Huntsman Chemical Corp. But long before he became a billionaire, Huntsman believed in spreading his wealth. "There's just a certain joy in your heart to be able to help somebody else -- even when you're struggling," he says. "When my wife and I made only $300 a month as a naval officer right out of college and I had debts to pay, we always gave $50 a month away to charity in addition to our tithing," he says. "It was just something that in my heart I've always believed, that if you are generous and help others, you'll be blessed in your own life. And more importantly, it's just the right thing to do." Huntsman spent more than a decade on the Forbes billionaire list, but he's fallen off it due to his many contributions -- something he's fine with. So far, he and his family have donated more than $1.2 billion to thousands of charities and individuals in the United States and abroad, and he's dedicated his life and fortune to curing cancer. That dedication goes back decades. Huntsman's mother, who taught him about the importance of giving, died from cancer, as did his father and stepmother. Huntsman himself has also battled cancer, and has survived prostate cancer, mouth cancer and two types of skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, one or two children develop cancer for every 10,000 children in the United States. While progress has been made in treating and curing children with cancer, it's still the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children ages 1 to 14. | The Huntsman Cancer Center is getting a $100 million addition .
The Huntsman family is putting up about half, says Jon Huntsman Sr.
The expansion will be used to research and treat childhood cancers . |
253,481 | d41a6f2bafac5b3f60d35479e4f87dd5f37be5ac | Eoin Morgan took a big step towards accepting his days as a Test cricketer are over by paving the way for his return to the Indian Premier League. The England one-day captain’s decision to put his name forward for the IPL auction on February 17 in Bangalore is a realisation that he remains further away than ever from adding to his 16 Test appearances. This time last year Paul Downton, then the new managing director, persuaded Morgan to miss out on the Twenty20 riches in a clear indication that England wanted to give him another chance to prove he can thrive in the ultimate game. England captain Eoin Morgan has put his name forward for the IPL auction in February . Yet he failed to score enough first-class runs with Middlesex to stake a claim to face Sri Lanka and India last summer and seemingly realises that he is better off concentrating on the limited-overs formats that made his name. ‘My ambition is still to play Test cricket, absolutely, but given where I’m at at the moment I think the IPL is the best thing for me,’ said Morgan ahead of Friday’s winner takes all Tri-series match against India. Morgan, who will not miss any England one-day cricket while he is in India, has always said that he wants to revive a Test career that was derailed against Pakistan three years ago but has now had to scale down his ambitions. Morgan is England's ODI captain and says he still wants to play Test cricket but his chances have been 'scaled down' after not making the team in the summer . ‘The opportunity I gave myself in missing the IPL was the potential carrot at the end of the road,’ said the former Bangalore and Kolkata player. ‘I think there were three positions available in the Test team at the start of last summer but I didn’t manage to get any of them. So since then it’s been scaled down a bit.’ The immediate conclusion is that Morgan and Ravi Bopara, who will also join the auction, believe they have no chance of being picked for the three-Test tour of West Indies that follows swiftly on from the World Cup. That tour clashes with the IPL in its entirety meaning that no Test players will be able to even have a short stay in India, as has been possible previously. Morgan is preparing to lead England in their latest Tri-series game with India on Friday . It also raises major questions over the strength of the West Indies side that England will face in April as many of the Caribbean’s best players, at loggerheads with their own board, may decide to put Twenty20 money ahead of Test cricket. The ECB will have no qualms about Morgan throwing in his lot with the IPL this time because there is a growing acceptance that it is in England’s best interests for as many of their players as possible to experience the IPL and the Big Bash, which has been incredibly successful here this year. There is also so much cricket now, particularly this year, that the ECB realise it will become harder for players to feature in all formats and accept England will increasingly move towards different teams for different cricket. Jos Butler and Steven Finn were in the nets at the WACA ahead of the match with India . Morgan, as a new international captain, believes he will benefit from returning to a competition that includes many of the world’s best players but few from England because of fixture clashes and workloads. ‘It’s nice to have one ear to the ground both by playing in the Big Bash and potentially the IPL again,’ he said. ‘It’s very useful because cricket is changing so much that it’s good to have new, fresh ideas. ‘I think any England player who has the chance to play in these competitions should grab it with both hands. It’s a great experience and a huge opportunity to put yourself under pressure and bridge that gap between our domestic game at home and the international game.’ England bowler James Anderson gets past Buttler during a game of touch rugby during training . James Taylor beats Anderson during a game of touch rugby at the WACA . Rohit Sharma, who hit 264 on his own for India in a one-day game last year against Sri Lanka, had a fitness test at the WACA today on the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the Tri-series so far. And if he comes through it and plays in Friday’s game it will be a major boost to an India side who have looked weary and, frankly, uninterested in this tournament so far having already been in Australia for nearly four months. But England remain strong favourites to repeat their comprehensive defeat of India at the Gabba, particularly with the WACA pitch expected to provide its usual bounce. The winners play Australia in Sunday’s final. | England's ODI captian Eoin Morgan puts himself forward for the IPL .
Morgan still wants to play Test cricket for England but says chances have been 'scaled down'
England face India on Friday with the winner going on to play Australia . |
240,391 | c3320a1c46b45aa4cf5086cf5291e1bf79dfe299 | Steven Fletcher has pleaded with Gus Poyet to recall him to the Sunderland side for this weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby after Jozy Altidore’s goal drought extended to over a year. American striker Altidore has started the last two in place of Fletcher but has failed to add to his one Premier League strike, which came on December 4 last year. The £6.5million frontman was guilty of a glaring miss during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham when he swung at fresh air just five yards from an open goal. Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher (right) is tackled by West Ham defender Winston Reid in December . Altidore was eventually replaced by four-goal top scorer Fletcher, and the Scotland international has told manager Poyet that he is ready to start at St James’ Park having missed the last two 3-0 victories on Tyneside. ‘I had a little niggle after the Man City game so I missed Liverpool, which was disappointing, but I got on against West Ham and I feel fully fit now,’ he said. ‘I missed both 3-0 wins through injury so I want to be involved next week. ‘We’ve got a good record there but their form has picked up as well. But there’ s no point in putting extra pressure on ourselves because that won’t help. Jozy Altidore was guilty of a glaring during his side's 1-1 draw with the Hammers on Saturday . Altidore reacts after he tried to shoot, but instead kicked air from three yards out with the goal at his mercy . Altidore looks frustrated as the chance passes him by shortly before the half time whistle was blown . ‘I’m looking forward to going there. I’ve only played there once before for Wolves.’ Fletcher did score against Newcastle during last season’s 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light. And he reflected: ‘Scoring against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light is definitely the highlight of my Sunderland career so far. ‘It was a great moment. I don’t think I’d scored for a while when I did so I was a bit emotional.’ The Black Cats are without a win in six having drawn five of those matches to leave them two points above the relegation zone and Poyet has admitted that he doesn’t enjoy watching his team play. Fletcher, however, says there is no need to panic just yet. ‘The draws can’t be a bad thing,’ he said. ‘It’s a point and we’re happy as long as we can start turning the draws into wins. Gus Poyet shouts instructions during his side's 1-1 draw against West Ham at the Stadium of Light . ‘We’re creating chances so if we start putting them away we will start winning games. We are hard to beat at the moment. ‘From last year to this season it’s a big positive for us to have more points on the board. We can still have a good season. ‘There are some games you look at this season that we probably would have lost last year. We’ve shut the door at the back and we if we keep creating chances we will be okay.’ | Sunderland travel to Newcastle for the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday .
Jozy Altidore has not scored for over a year for the Black Cats .
Steven Fletcher insists he is ready to start at St James' Park .
Altidore has started ahead of Fletcher in the last two matches .
Gus Poyet's side are without a win in six games .
Sunderland are currently two points above the relegation zone . |
104,754 | 1326b72c4e27bf736f692012857c77ed7cde14f0 | A jobless thug whose pet dog mauled his partner's 11-month-old baby to death has been spared jail despite sending her vile Snapchat messages threatening to murder her and abuse her corpse. Lee Wright, 27, bombarded his former partner Chloe King, 21, with a serious of sickening messages which included blaming her for the death of Ava-Jayne Corless in February. The baby had been sleeping when she was brutally savaged by Wright's American pitbull terrier. Vile: Lee Wright was spared jail despite sending a series of sick threats to his former partner - after his American pitbull terrier mauled her 11-month-old daughter to death . Wright and Miss King were watching television downstairs when the dog killed the girl, and although they tried to rescue her from the jaws of the pet, she suffered horrific injuries and died in hospital. Following the attack, Miss King ended the relationship. Two weeks ago Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that Wright then sent abusive messages, also calling her a 'slag' and a 'slut', saying 'it was your fault Ava died'. Appearing via video link at Blackburn Magistrates' Court today, Wright was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and a two-year supervision order after he pleaded guilty to harassment at an earlier hearing. Tragic: Chloe King, pictured with her daughter Ava-Jayne Corless, who was killed by the dog in February . Restraining order: Wright is banned from making contact with Miss King or her mother Claire for two years . He was also given a two year restraining order banning him from any form of contact with Miss King or her mother Claire King. And he was ordered to stay at home between 7pm and 4am for 12 months and told to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85 to be taken from his benefits. The court heard that when Miss King told Wright the relationship was over, he sent her a number of insulting messages before she contacted the police out of desperation. He was warned not to have any further contact with her but on August 6 he bumped into Miss King and was 'very apologetic' and she felt sorry for him, prosecutor Chrissie Hunt said. 'She began to speak to him while making it very clear she wanted not further relationship with him, however a couple of weeks after contact was reinstated he began to send her messages which included images of pills and rope,' she said. Heartbreaking: Ava-Jayne was just 11-months-old when she was killed at Wright's home in Blackburn . Jobless: Wright swears as he enters Blackburn Magistrates' Court two weeks ago . 'The defendant began to utilise social media in order to contact Chloe King, which she ignored. 'Then he created false Facebook profiles to contact her. Miss King has tried desperately to block contact from that particular source. 'The defendant's behaviour deteriorated towards the end of August and the messages became worse. He sent her a list of things he wanted to do prior to killing himself - the list included publishing intimate photos of her.' Ms Hunt added that in September Miss King saw Wright near her home and was so concerned that she withheld her number and phoned him to ask what he was doing. Mitigation: Wright's lawyer Paul Huxley said his client was 'absolutely gutted' as to what happened in February . Miss King's mother Claire - the grandmother of Ava-Jayne - then tried to speak with Wright's mother to discuss his behaviour while he was present. However, during the summit he ran upstairs and cut himself with a Stanley knife, the court heard. When he was eventually arrested and interviewed by police, Wright remained defiant - asked why he went near her house, he said 'I will go where I want, it's a free country'. In mitigation, Paul Huxley said his client was 'absolutely gutted' as to what happened in February and he feels a huge amount of responsibility for the incident. Savaged: Wright and Miss King were watching television downstairs when the dog killed the girl, and although they tried to rescue her from the jaws of the pet, she suffered horrific injuries and died in hospital . He added: 'I'm not going to discuss the dog itself because that's not relevant, but what then follows on is press interest and a huge amount of public interest to the point gentlemen walk down the street and he is verbally shouted at by random people. 'He has been shunned by his friends and it must be said, this has been the worst year of his life. 'He has made a foolish and immature comment about killing her and freezing her - it's ridiculous to say the least.' Blackburn JPs considered the aggravating features of his case but decided to suspend his sentence so he can be rehabilitated in the community. Chair John Wainwright said: 'This has caused stress, been over a long period of time and included photos. 'This was emotional and caused distress to the complainant and her family. The reason for this sentence is for punishment and rehabilitation. 'This is to allow you to react with the probation service over a prolonged period of time.' | Lee Wright was in relationship with Chloe King, Ava-Jayne Corless' mother .
Earlier this year Wright's dog mauled 11-month-old Ava-Jayne to death .
Miss King ended her relationship with him after the savage attack .
But he then started sending her vile abusive messages on Snapchat .
Today he was spared jail at Blackburn Magistrates' Court but banned from contacting Ms King for two years . |
237,492 | bf5e5ae4706fed12076aac7c7e95d2a2f09ba17f | By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 12:15 EST, 9 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 11 November 2013 . A mother from Scotland has vented her frustration after council workers refused to collect her bin because it was left open one inch. The binmen, from Midlothian Council, said that new health and safety rules meant they couldn't collect the waste, claiming the bag had become jammed. Susan Wright, 39, from Dalkeith, owns the bin and has called the decision 'bonkers'. Susan Wright, 39, a mother-of-three from Dalkeith has hit out at Midlothian Council after workers refused to empty her bin which had a bag caught in the lid . The mother-of-three said: ‘Surely there’s common sense that tells you that you can lift a bin lid up to see if the bin is overflowing or not, or whether a bag’s just caught. 'They didn’t even bother to do that. They go on about health and safety of their workers, but what about the health and safety of my family? 'We’re a family of five, I’ve got a young baby and I’ve now got to store a month’s worth of bin rubbish.’ However when she complained officials told her she would have to wait a fortnight for the binmen to come back, as workers are being told not to empty any bin which is left open, whether it is overflowing or not. In a statement, the council said: ‘As you know, due to health and safety regulations, the binmen are now not emptying bins where the lid is open. This is a procedure that they are following very strictly. ‘It is unlikely that the men will call back to empty your bin. I understand that in this case it was not due to the bin overflowing. I have therefore passed your concerns onto the waste management team for information.’ The workers claimed that a bag had become jammed in the lid (pictured) and that they couldn't empty it for 'health and safety reasons' Mrs Wright claims there are another eight or ten bins that have not been collected because the lids have been left open under the draconian new rules. Local councillor Margot Russell said common sense had not been used, adding: ‘I’ve seen buckets where the lid is halfway open and it’s full. 'The policy at the moment is that the guys wouldn’t touch that, but this particular one is only a smidgeon – a wee bit – open. They’ve maybe taken the guidelines too strictly.’ Midlothian Council is receiving about 200 calls a day from residents about bins not being collected by the 100 staff that work in waste management. | Susan Wright, from Dalkeith, has complained to Midlothian Council .
Workers refused to empty wheelie bin because a bag was caught in the lid .
Council says she will have to wait two weeks for them to come back .
New health and safety rules mean no open bins will be emptied . |
46,646 | 836ce2690c5e694cafddcc52fa5998eba9dba345 | By . Jack Doyle . A triple killer has won an £800 payout because some of his belongings – including nasal hair clippers and a carton of cranberry juice – were damaged or lost in jail. Kevan Thakrar, 26, won £500 of the sum because officers did not apologise for the incident, which he claims left him ‘stressed’. Thakrar used a machine-gun to murder three men in a suburban home over a £10,000 drug debt and was jailed for 35 years in 2008. Behind bars, the gangster slashed three guards with a broken bottle. He is regarded as one of Britain’s most dangerous prisoners. Triple killer: Kevan Thakrar was jailed for murdering three men over a £10,000 cocaine debt . While he was being transferred from one prison to another, some of his possessions were misplaced. A pair of nasal hair clippers, a stereo and an alarm clock were damaged, while personal papers, a carton of cranberry juice and some protein powder were lost. The killer claimed he was ‘stressed’ by the damage to the clippers, while some of the lost items were ‘priceless’. A judge ordered prison bosses to pay him £314.97 – as well as a further £500 to make up for the lost possessions and for failing to give the apology he demanded. Thakrar has since boasted on Facebook about a plan to send bailiffs to collect his cash from the Ministry of Justice. The payout provoked fury among his victims, including one of the prison officers stabbed by Thakrar. Craig Wylde, 32, who lost eight pints of blood after the attack, said the claim was laughable. He added: ‘It is another case of the prisoner getting everything and the real victims getting nothing. ‘He is always trying it on. This is the sort of person he is. He has to complain about everything and thinks he’s a big man because he’s challenging the system. This latest claim will have cost thousands and thousands of taxpayers’ money. It is just totally pathetic.’ Former Scots Guards Craig Wylde, a prison warder, lost eight pints of blood after being stabbed by thug Thakrar. He is still waiting to hear if he will receive compensation . Thakrar killed three men with a Mac 10 machine-gun in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. He would have shot two women as well, but his gun ran out of bullets – forcing him to use a knife. He and his brother Miran, then 24, made Keith Cowell, 52, his son Matthew Cowell, 17, and Tony Dulieu, 33, kneel on the floor, then shot them in a revenge plot over a cocaine deal. A 23-year-old woman was stabbed six times as she tried to protect her daughter, and another woman was hurt. Thakrar was jailed for three counts of murder, two of attempted murder and a firearms offence. As a result of attacking three guards, the killer was transferred from Frankland prison, in County Durham, pictured, to Woodhill in Milton Keynes . Behind bars he soon became a serial complainer, repeatedly bringing cases against the prison authorities. This is the second time he has successfully claimed for lost or damaged property. In 2012 he won an apology from the . prison ombudsman after authorities failed to investigate an alleged . attack on him by guards, and in 2010 he claimed that prison staff wrote . false entries on his files. The same year, he attacked three officers with a chili sauce bottle after barricading himself in his cell. Mr Wylde lost eight pints of blood when the jagged glass severed a major artery. graphic . Thakrar . shouted, ‘I’m going to kill you’, and stabbed a second officer, Claire . Lewis, in the back. A third officer tackled him, and Thakrar slashed his . face. He was charged with attempted murder, but cleared by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. He argued that he had acted in self-defence, as a pre-emptive strike after suffering years of alleged racist bullying. As a result of the incident, he was transferred from Frankland prison, in County Durham, to Woodhill in Milton Keynes. In the move, some of his property was lost or damaged, and a prison ombudsman awarded him £10 in compensation. But Thakrar took the case to court and, in September last year, District Judge Neil Hickman ruled that he was entitled to a further payout. The judge said that there had been an ‘outrageous delay’ of 13 months in paying the £10 proposed by the ombudsman. He said it had ‘all the appearance of a calculated gesture’ by the Ministry of Justice, and criticised the fact that no apology had been made. Thakrar at first claimed to have lost £100 of goods, but later upped this estimate to £230.01. The judge awarded him £90 for loss of property – on top of the £10 from the ombudsman – and £224.97 for the damaged items. He also awarded an extra £500 because prison bosses refused to say sorry. He said: ‘Had the defendants said promptly and sincerely to Mr Thakrar that they deeply regretted the loss of his personal items and understood his distress, the loss of them would not have been aggravated in the way that it has been. ‘The Ministry has steadfastly failed even to tender the grudging and belated apology recommended by the ombudsman.’ Thakrar still updates his Facebook page from one of Britain’s top security prisons. In his most recent post on the social . networking site, he gloats about his money, and reveals that he . attempted to send bailiffs to collect it from Justice Secretary Chris . Grayling. The Justice for Kevan Thakrar Facebook page that claims he is a victim of a miscarriage of justice . He describes formally applying for a court enforcement order, before adding: ‘Although it may have been a few months late, Grayling paid up. It is a shame though – I was quite looking forward to the bailiffs going into the Ministry of Justice.’ By contrast, Mr Wylde has yet to learn if he will be compensated for his injuries. Last night, a Prison Service spokesman said: ‘We robustly defend all cases as far as the evidence allows.’ | Kevan Thakran used a machine-gun to murder three men over drug debt .
26-year-old from Hertfordshire was jailed for 35 years in 2008 .
Man is regarded as once of the country's most dangerous criminals .
Pair of nasal hair clippers broken and cranberry juice lost in prison transfer .
Awarded an £800 payout as officers did not apologise for the incident . |
186,243 | 7d3963fede60ab74cdce8337fe9b16cefe9f29df | By . Louise Boyle . A desperate search is underway after a four-day-old baby went missing in the early hours today from the room where his mother and father were sleeping. The newborn's mother . called 911 after waking at 4.30am on Thursday to find her son Kayden . Powell missing from his bassinet in a room where she was sleeping at a . home in the Town of Beloit, Wisconsin. The 18-year-old mother, Brianna . Marshall, and the infant's 23-year-old father, Bruce Powell, were . staying at the house, said town police chief Steven Kopp. Missing: Kayden Powell, now five-days-old, disappeared from his bassinet in the early hours of yesterday . Reunited: Brianna Marshall and Bruce Powell, pictured shortly after Kayden's birth, are back with their son . Police reported on Thursday afternoon that a person of interest had been arrested in Iowa. That person is believed to be a relative, according to wqow. Kristin Smith was arrested in West Branch on fraud charges after a warrant was put out for her arrest in Texas. She has not been charged in the baby's disappearance but is due to be questioned by the FBI. Baby Kayden has still not been found but Smith was carrying baby clothing. She claims not to know what happened to the child. Smith claims to be Brianna Marshall's half-sister, with the women sharing the same father. The women had reportedly discussed moving to Colorado, along with Bruce Powell, after the baby was born. Chief Kopp confirmed that Smith left the home in the early hours of Thursday - before the mother reported the child missing. West Branch, Iowa is 170miles from Beloit - roughly a two and a half hour drive away. Fears: Brianna and Bruce had feared for their son's safety after waking to find he was missing . On the trail: A map shows the house Kayden was kidnapped from and where he was later found . There were no signs of a break-in at the home and police said it was being processed as a crime scene. No one in or around the home reported anything suspicious, according to police reports. The . mother, who just turned 18, and father were at the police station . cooperating with police along with the mother's brother and a friend. They were all at the house on Wednesday night. The . homeowner of the property where the family were staying is listed as . 46-year-old Mark Bennett who has a history of arrests for battery and . criminal misdemeanors. The FBI and Wisconsin Department of Justice are helping local authorities in the search in Rock County. Search: Forty officers from law enforcement agencies have now joined in the search for missing Kayden . The Rock County Sheriff's Office had . provided 16 staff at the scene, including all members of its detective . bureau and its special investigations unit. Kopp says the incident is not . believed to be a custody dispute. The chief says an Amber Alert was not . issued because the disappearance doesn't meet the criteria. An Amber Alert is only issued if the child is at risk of serious injury . or death and there is sufficient descriptive information of child, . captor or captor's vehicle. The . baby was born at Beloit Memorial Hospital. He is African-American, 20 . inches long, 6 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, according to . police. Brianna Marshall, 18, called police after awaking around 4.30am and finding her newborn son missing from his bassinet . Scene: Baby Kayden was snatched from his crib at this Wisconsin home yesterday morning. Police say there were no signs of forced entry at the house, which is currently being processed as a crime scene . | The 18-year-old mother, Brianna .
Marshall, woke to find her newborn baby missing in Town of Beloit, Wisconsin .
A person of interest has been arrested on Thursday afternoon in Iowa .
Authorities said that the person arrested was a relative - there is still no sign of the missing child .
Police chief said no sign of a break-in at the home and neighbors heard nothing suspicious .
Baby Kayden was born 4 days ago at Beloit Memorial Hospital . |
2,967 | 089fedd06609cf3aaa5204a0cf2895e35dcdcf92 | By . William Cook, Andy Dolan, Nick Fagge, Neil Sears and Paul Bentley . PUBLISHED: . 09:46 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:14 EST, 30 October 2012 . Police are investigating allegations that a BBC radio journalist killed himself after being sexually harassed by a female colleague. Russell Joslin, 50, whose father is a former chief constable, suffocated himself last Monday despite being on suicide watch at a psychiatric hospital. His family claim he was driven to his death after bosses at the BBC failed to take seriously allegations that he was being bullied by a female colleague. Gathering information: Police are assisting in establishing the circumstances surrounding the death of Russell Joslin, pictured left in 2008 and right, before his death in a psychiatric hospital last Monday . The woman is said to have targeted . him after he spurned her sexual advances during a night out at a . restaurant in 2007 near his home in affluent Kenilworth, Warwickshire. She allegedly left him a series of abusive phone messages, in which she swore and belittled him. In them, she accused him of being ‘flaky’ and a ‘loser’. ‘Don’t ever ever ever think of me as your mate again. 'Do what you have to at the BBC because you are a loser on 27 grand a year,’ one message said. Mr Joslin had apparently spoken with . the BBC’s occupational health department about the allegations this . spring when he was off work sick with stress. Mr Joslin’s father, Peter, the . retired chief constable of Warwickshire, has called for the BBC to act . and a corporation spokesman says it will hold an investigation to . establish the facts. His family have welcomed the involvement of the police as 'the first step towards justice for Russell'. Yesterday, Warwickshire Police confirmed they had been asked by Russell’s father Peter - a former chief constable who led the force for 44 years - to investigate allegations his son was sexually harassed and bullied by the woman. A force spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm that Warwickshire Police is assisting the coroner in establishing the circumstances of Mr Joslin’s death, including gathering information from the family which is normal practice in these matters. 'As such we are working with, and will be led by, the coroner who is responsible for conducting an inquest into the circumstances of Mr Joslin’s death.' 'It's what he would have wanted': Joslin's Father, Peter, 78, a retired chief constable, welcomed the involvement of the Police . A statement from Joslin’s family said: 'This is what Russell would have wanted. It is the first step towards justice for Russell.' Joslin's parents had previously blamed the BBC for failing to prevent his death. After calling for a BBC inquiry, the . family called for an independent inquiry into whether the . corporation’s management properly responded to Russell’s complaints . about the alleged sexual harassment. It has emerged that Joslin, who lived in a flat next door to his parents’ home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, had received a text message in error from a BBC chief days before his death. The text, from BBC West Midlands’ head of programmes Cath Hearne to Russell, read: 'However, do not contact him until he gets back to me. This is massively sensitive.' Joslin's family say his descent into mental illness began after he allegedly spurned unwanted sexual advances by the woman broadcaster during a night out at a restaurant near his home in affluent Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Mr Joslin’s parents said he was forced to leave her in the restaurant because of her behaviour, after which she sent him a flurry of abusive phone messages which have been played to the Daily Mail and in which she swore and belittled him. Peter Joslin said that while questions need to be asked at the hospital over how his son was apparently able to take his own life, the BBC should hold an investigation into his treatment. Mr Joslin, 78, added: ‘There is some evidence to support accusations that Russell was being sexually harassed or bullied. ‘I am shocked to discover the apparent attitudes of certain individuals to their employees at the BBC. ‘I believe he was ignored by his bosses, despite outlining his concerns about the particular staff member he claimed had sexually harassed him. ‘He enjoyed his work at the BBC but in recent years the situation had become intolerable for him there.’ Mr Joslin, who lives with wife Kathy next door to their son’s home, retired in 1998 after 44 years’ service – the longest-serving policeman ever in the UK. He said his son’s alleged ‘sexual harassment’ by the female colleague at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was the ‘trigger’ which caused his mental illness. There had been ‘plenty of opportunities’ for managers to intervene after he complained, but ‘nothing was done to help him’. Mr Joslin said he felt more should have been done to pick up the problems as his son was clearly quite distressed. Their son was admitted to St Michael’s psychiatric hospital in Warwick on Friday after suffering minor injuries when he walked in to the road and was hit by a bus in an apparent suicide attempt. Mr Joslin senior said the hospital ‘specialises in people who are at high risk of committing suicide and he was checked every 15 minutes.’ He was found choking on Sunday and taken to nearby Warwick Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the following afternoon. St Michael's hospital where Russell Joslin was admitted for help and later found dead . His family and his ex-girlfriend, Lucy Poulson, claimed that after propositioning him in the restaurant, the woman – no longer at the station – began targeting him in other ways at work, deliberately cutting him off while he was on air. It is understood that Mr Joslin, a bachelor who covered south Warwickshire for the station, first complained about her to management after she sent him an unpleasant email. He is thought to have approached bosses again early this year to complain about being sidelined at the station, concerned he had been overlooked for news reading and presenting opportunities. Miss Poulson said he then became consumed by worry and stress ‘because he knew that people don’t go very far by speaking out against organisations like the BBC’. He was diagnosed with depression and suffered a breakdown soon afterwards. Miss Poulson, 28, a freelance theatre director, told the Daily Mail that the BBC had paid for him to receive counselling. Russell Joslin recorded the following three messages from his female colleague after he left her in the restaurant. ‘Thanks . a lot, you’ve p***** on your chips. I’m trying to get a taxi to . Coventry. Thanks for abandoning me. Don’t ever ever ever think of me as . your mate again. Do what you have to at the BBC because you are a loser . on 27 grand a year. But don’t ever ever encroach on me or my talent.’ ‘Hi, . it’s me. I’m in a taxi from Kenilworth to Coventry. Russell, don’t ever . count on me as a friend. I’m going home. Please don’t think you can . rely on me – you’ve insulted me. You have left me stranded in . Kenilworth. You are flaky, you are poor, you are weak. I don’t want . anything to do with you except on the radio. Goodbye.’‘Hi, it’s 9.21. I’m back at my car. Don’t ever ever ever presume friendship with me again, all right? Goodbye.’ His GP and the corporation’s own occupational health specialist all advised him not to return to work at the station for the good of his health. But despite this bosses told him he would have to return full time before he could think about transferring to another station. Mr Joslin eventually went back to work three months later, but on a part-time basis. Miss Poulson said she split from Mr Joslin in 2010, after four years together, but the pair remained close. She said that in recent months he had been ‘the happiest I had known him’ and was considering returning to freelance journalism. She said that for years he felt unable to speak out against his tormentor. When he finally did pluck up the courage to speak out, she said the office climate left him fearful for his job and future. Miss Poulson added: ‘Russell told me that this woman treated many people badly at the station, but nothing was done because of her senior status. 'It seemed everybody was scared to tackle her. People need to know that this culture still exists – of allowing certain individuals to be in control, when others don’t seem to matter.’ Neither Warwickshire Police, responsible for policing in Kenilworth, or West Midlands Police, which covers Coventry, could find any record of Mr Joslin reporting the alleged harassment. The woman he accused said there was never a complaint against her and she denied any wrongdoing. She said she was asked by managers to try to help him. She told the Daily Mail: ‘I got a message to say Russell had died. I’m really upset about it and can’t say any more.’ Told of the Joslin family’s allegations that his illness had been triggered by her alleged behaviour, she said: ‘I don’t know what you are talking about’ and put the phone down. Mr Joslin’s colleagues are being offered counselling by the BBC. His funeral is to be held on Wednesday. A BBC spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Russell Joslin’s family at this sad time. 'This is a difficult time for everyone who knew him. 'The BBC is committed to working constructively with the family to ensure that their concerns are vigorously addressed. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the facts are established.’ An inquest into Mr Joslin’s death was opened yesterday at the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa. Coroner Sean McGovern was told the radio presenter died of ‘asphyxiation’. Contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 if you need help or advice. | Russell Joslin, 50, found dead after being admitted to psychiatric hospital following previous suicide attempt .
Family of BBC radio reporter say he was bullied by colleague after spurning her sexual advances .
His father Peter, a former chief constable, asked police to investigate allegations .
Warwickshire Police confirm they are assisting in 'establishing the circumstances' of death . |
25,127 | 473231f639bce90ebd9c2dba08e7d2261680aecd | 'Colourful past': Prince Andrew has been controversially elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society . Founded in 1660, the Royal Society brings together luminaries of the scientific world. The cosmologist Stephen Hawking, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the internet, and Sir John Sulston, who oversaw the human genome project, are among its current fellows. Now they have been joined by someone with a rather less distinguished scientific background. Prince Andrew, who gained six O-levels and three A-levels (in English, history and politics) before going to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, has been elected a fellow. But his selection to the prestigious role has caused a revolt at the society. Critics have highlighted his 'over-colourful past', and lack of a scientific background. They have told Royal Society president Sir Paul Nurse they oppose the choice of the Duke and have also questioned the validity of the election. Rebels claim the use of ballot papers that carried only a Yes box meant the only way to vote against the Duke was to spoil it, so they had no way of preventing him being chosen. But the society claims fellows were offered advice on how to vote against. Results of the ballot announced on Friday showed he won the role with votes from only 11 per cent of the electorate, with a huge number of abstentions. Only 147 fellows out of some 1,300 had voted for the prince with 24 spoilt papers against. Some 1,128 fellows abstained. The rebellion is being led by David Colquhoun, a society fellow and professor of pharmacology at University College London. 'The Royal Society was founded to advocate the idea that science is what matters, not deference to authority,' he said. 'The exception to that seems to be deference to “royal blood”, but it is taking deference too far to elect Prince Andrew.' Giants of science: Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, is a fellow of the Royal Society . Prof Colquhoun highlighted some . controversial aspects of the Duke's 'over-colourful past' including the . sale of his former home, Sunninghill Park, to Timur Kulibayev, the . son-in-law of the Kazakh president, for £3million above the £12million . asking price. The Duke was nominated by the . society's ruling council. Last night a spokesman for the society said . Prof Colquhoun and other critics were 'in a minority'. Bill Hartnett said: 'The Duke was . nominated because of the huge support he has shown to British scientists . and the development of British science. 'The Duke has been very supportive of . young British scientists, hosting events and attending events at the . society, and he has been instrumental in bridging the gap between . academic science in Britain and British industry.' Prince Andrew joins his father Prince . Philip, siblings Prince Charles and Princess Anne and nephew Prince . William as royal fellows. The Queen is the society's patron. Mr Hartnett added: 'We have a very strong link with the Royal Family. That is why we are the Royal Society.' Great mind: Sir John Sulston's work on mapping the human genome has made him a champion of science and a fellow of the Royal Society . | Prince Andrew joins Stephen Hawking and Sir Tim Berners-Lee as a fellow .
Dissenters are angry over their new fellow's lack of scientific background .
Critics say 'yes only' ballot meant they had no way to stop him being chosen . |
71,304 | ca2368f640f0567856dcc8ee593e996861679d11 | The four people who allegedly pelted rocks at police officers and abused paramedics when they tried to save a teenage man after he was struck by a train, have been charged. Adrian Simon was celebrating his birthday with family and friends when he fell asleep on the tracks at a railway crossing near Taree, on the north coast of New South Wales on December 21. Emergency services were called to Bushland Drive after reports that an 18-year-old was hit by a train around 4.30am and had both his legs severed. Simon was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition but died three days later on Christmas Eve. Scroll down for video . Adrian Simon was celebrating his birthday with friends when he fell asleep on the tracks at a railway crossing . When police and paramedics arrived, they were forced to take refuge in the train driver's cabin, along with the 33-year-old train driver, after they were allegedly hurled with rocks. Paramedics were also allegedly blocked, pushed and verbally abused by the group during their initial attempts to treat the teen, and an ambulance vehicle was damaged from the rocks. One man and woman and two teenage girls have been charged over a public order incident. A 34-year-old man has been charged with affray; obstruction of and violence against ambulance officers; malicious damage to ambulance and five counts of assault police. A 19-year-old woman has been charged with affray; obstruction of and violence against ambulance officers and five counts of assault police. A 17-year-old was charged with affray; obstruction of and violence against ambulance officers; malicious damage to train and five counts of assault police. A 14-year-old girl was charged with obstruction of and violence against ambulance officers and four counts of assault police. The adults were given conditional bail to appear at Taree Local Court on Tuesday February 24. The juveniles will appear at a Children’s court on Tuesday February 24. The 18-year-old was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition but died three days later . Train tracks: This is the crossing where the tragic incident occurred, costing the 18-year-old his life . Emergency services were called to Bushland Drive railway crossing in Taree on the NSW mid-north coast . The 18-year-old, who was celebrating his birthday with family and friends, was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition but died three days later on Christmas Eve. The train driver, from Queensland, who managed to stop the train soon after the accident and contact emergency services, was taken to Manning Base Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing. A crime scene was established and specialist officers attended the location and an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police reinforcements were called and a number of other officers attended the location and dispersed the group. No one was injured as a result. Emergency services found the man on the tracks with his legs severed, at about 4.30am on Sunday. He was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition . Bystanders caused havoc for emergency services by throwing rocks at police investigating the scene and abusing paramedics during their initial attempts to treat the teen . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Four have been charged after allegedly attacking emergency services .
One man and woman and two teenage girls will appear in court next month .
Police found Adrian Simon on the tracks with both his legs severed .
Adrian Simon was celebrating his birthday nearby with family and friends .
He was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital but died three days later .
Bystanders threw rocks at police officers, paramedics and train driver .
The group of people abused paramedics during their attempts to treat teen . |
132,628 | 3782e944c95e7cdaf3f24cf5bc984107453709e9 | More than two years on from the worst nuclear disaster in a quarter of a century, the situation at Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains toxic, prompting the Japanese government to announce new measures to attempt to deal with radioactive leaks. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), has been criticized for its handling of the disaster, with the country's Trade and Industry Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, comparing its stopgap approach to a game of "Whack-a-mole." The government has now stepped in and pledged $470 million to try to tackle the leaks, through measures which by its own admission are unconventional and untested. How did we reach this point? When the 2011 tsunami swamped the plant, located 149 miles (240 kilometers) north of Tokyo on Japan's eastern seaboard, it cut the power to vital cooling systems for the three reactors in use at the time, resulting in the second-worst nuclear accident in history after Chernobyl in 1986, as the reactors melted down and leaked radioactive material into the atmosphere. TEPCO has since been pumping huge volumes of water into the plant -- hundreds of tons daily -- to cool the crippled reactors that once powered the plant. This water, which becomes highly radioactive once it comes into contact with the plant's fuel rods, has been stored in makeshift, hastily-built storage tanks around the site -- about 1,000 so far -- containing enough irradiated water to fill about 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with about 400 tons added to the tanks daily. Scientists who monitor radiation levels offshore have pointed to evidence of an ongoing leak for more than a year, but it was only recently that TEPCO admitted it was occurring. Last month, TEPCO said one of the storage tanks at the site had leaked 300 tons of toxic water, prompting Japan's nuclear regulator to declare the situation a Level 3 serious incident, its most serious assessment since the 2011 meltdowns. It has since stated that several tanks and pipes at the plant are suspected of leaking toxic water. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Level 3 applies to situations in which there is "severe contamination in an area not expected by design, with a low probability of significant public exposure." More leaks feared at Fukushima . Why are these holding tanks leaking? The leaks that have occurred so far have been in a type of storage tank using plastic seals. About 350 of the 1,000 tanks in place are constructed in the same way. These are the ones that were constructed hastily in the aftermath of the disaster as a makeshift measure -- but, two and a half years on, are beginning to fail. Michael Friedlander, a nuclear engineer and former U.S. power plant operator, told CNN the eventual failure of the tanks years after they were deployed on a supposedly temporary, emergency basis is illustrative of TEPCO's ad hoc, unsustainable response to the disaster. "Given the cards they were dealt, building a tank farm to hold the water in in the heat of the emergency, there was really there only one option, so I don't fault them for that," he said. But beyond the emergency response, TEPCO had demonstrated no long-term vision for dealing with the problem, he said. "You can't be getting rid of 400 tons of water a day with no end in sight," he added. "Their strategy was never sustainable. You've got all this radioactive material sitting there next to the plant with effectively no long term strategy for dealing with it." Is this the only problem? There's also an issue with groundwater, which flows from the hills surrounding the plant and gets contaminated in radioactive areas. In July, TEPCO admitted that radioactive groundwater was leaking into the Pacific Ocean from the plant, even though an underground barrier was built to seal in the water. How much radiation is there? In July, TEPCO disclosed that water from test wells around the reactor buildings showed concentrations of radioactive tritium in one well as high as 500,000 becquerels -- a unit of radioactive intensity -- per liter of water. By comparison, Japan's maximum safe level of radioactivity in drinking water for adults is 300 becquerels per liter. This month, a sharp spike in radiation levels was detected in some of the pipes and storage tanks -- the highest reading was 1,800 millisieverts per hour at the bottom fringe of the tank. Readings of 220 and 70 millisieverts per hour were measured at the bottom of other two tanks. And TEPCO said it found a dried stain under the pipe with a 230 millisieverts per hour radiation measurement. The average person in an industrialized country is naturally exposed to 3 millisieverts a year. Experts say that after a single acute exposure of 1,000 millisieverts, people tend to start feeling nauseated. Exposure at 5,000 millisieverts over the course of a few hours can be fatal. What threat does the current leak pose? "In the grand scheme of things, is it a potential threat to Tokyo or the countryside outside the plant proper? Truthfully, no," said Friedlander. "In the event one of the tanks ruptures due to another seismic event would it make a huge mess? Absolutely." It also represents a threat to the workers at the plant if they come into contact with radiation at that level. Some experts have suggested that contaminated water may need to dumped into the ocean at some stage. Japan fed up with 'whack-a-mole' approach to Fukushima . How dangerous would this be? "In the context of the original accident and ground leakage they've had going on for 2.5 years? After a short period of time you probably couldn't even detect it, quite honestly," said Friedlander. "The currents, the background radiation that's already there -- the contaminated water would get diluted out by the vastness of the Pacific."
Fisheries around the area have closed as the catch is not fit for consumption. "But a good responsible nuclear operator would do everything possible to clean that water up to the best technological standards of today -- which is very clean. It's only the residue that technology can't clean up that gets put in the ocean." How radiation can be removed from the contaminated water? "With off the shelf technology you can get rid of nearly all radioactivity to below detectable levels," he said. One exception was tritium, which he said, "requires completely different technology that you couldn't deploy on this scale." Aside from that, technology existed to be able to process the water to acceptable levels for release. What are the options to halt this leakage? TEPCO has proposed setting up a subterranean barrier around the plant by freezing the ground around it, preventing groundwater from leaking into the damaged plant and carrying radioactive particles with it as it seeps out. The plan to freeze the ground presents significant technical challenges. It could involve plunging thousands of tubes carrying a powerful coolant liquid deep into the ground surrounding the stricken reactor buildings. The technology has been used before in the construction of tunnels, but never on the massive scale that the Fukushima plant would require. Will it work? According to Friedlander, this technology has only really been employed as a temporary solution, during construction projects for example -- but to attempt to use the freezing option as a long-term option would make little sense. He said the only viable option is to clean the water to a standard where it can be released. "I get it's going to take 40 years to decontaminate those buildings," he said. "But there has to be a way to figure out where groundwater intrusion is coming from and stop it. There has to be a way of doing that from outside the buildings -- you can't be getting rid of 400 tons of water a day with no end in sight. "This is nothing more sophisticated than when your basement at home leaks. There's well established technology for dealing with groundwater intrusion in facilities. "But freezing the ground for 40 years doesn't sound like a sustainable solution." TEPCO looks for outside help to stabilize crippled Fukushima nuclear plant . | Operators Tokyo Electric Power Company criticized for their handling of the disaster .
Huge volumes of water pumped into the plant to cool the crippled reactors .
But damaged water storage tanks have been leaking irradiated water .
TEPCO said one tank at the Fukushima site had leaked 300 tons of toxic water . |
47,118 | 84c10ca7f258ca09e4324841de1ab919570682c5 | Floyd Mayweather has selected Bolton as one of the six venues on the England leg of his world tour, leading to fevered speculation that a match-up with Amir Khan could soon be on the cards. Bolton is, of course, the home town of Khan, and the American's announcement does suggest that any potential fight is moving closer to fruition. Mayweather, widely heralded as the best boxer on the planet, will top the bill at a sportsman's dinner held at the Reebok Stadium - the home of Bolton Wanderers - on Monday 23 June. VIDEO: Scroll down for Amir Khan: Mayweather assured me fight will happen in future . Bolton bound: Floyd Mayweather is heading to Amir Khan's home town as part of his world tour . Homecoming: Khan and his management are expected to be in Bolton at the same time . And Spencer . Brown, the British businessman responsible for making the deal to . bring Mayweather to Bolton believes that Khan's people will be at the . event as well. 'Floyd . Mayweather Jnr is going to walk into a building with his “Money Team” in Amir Khan’s back yard...I have to pinch myself that he’s really . coming over here. 'It’s the stuff legends are made of.' Khan and Mayweather were both in action last Saturday night in Las Vegas, winning their fights against American Luis Collazo and the Argentine Marcos Maidana respectively. Ready: Khan made easy work of American Luis Collazo during his Welterweight fight in Las Vegas . | Floyd Mayweather has selected Bolton as one of six English venues on his world tour of public appearances .
Bolton is the home town of Amir Khan, the British boxer desperate to fight Mayweather for his WBA and WBC welterweight belts .
Khan's representatives are expected to be at Bolton's Reebok Stadium for this appearance .
This has lead to speculation that both fighters will agree a match-up . |
132,045 | 36c2b4f6c4b0c2b72e3bb81184222008a58d6fa6 | By . Eleanor Harding and Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 06:00 EST, 24 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:45 EST, 25 February 2013 . The Arctic weather looks set to continue as forecasters warn temperatures could stay below average for most of March. The UK was feeling the chill today as parts of Britain faced temperatures colder than Moscow. The mercury plunged to -3C in Aberdeenshire and the bitter weather remains colder than the Russian capital, which is enjoying 1C. And it looks like Spring - due to officially start on March 1 - could also be on the back- burner, as the Met Office warns much of the next month will also be colder than usual. Snow covered rooftops of Castleside, County Durham this morning after a weekend of heavy snow showers. Parts of Britain faced temperatures colder than Moscow . A man stands on Hownsgill Viaduct over looking the snow covered rooftop of Castleside, County Durham. The weekend saw temperatures of -4C (25F) in the north of England, with several inches of snow falling along the eastern coast . A walker trudges through the snow in Castleside County Durham. The Arctic weather looks set to continue, with the risk of below-average temperatures persisting until the end of the week - and into March . Snow covered fields near Castleside County Durham. Forecasters have warned there is no sign of Spring yet, with brisk winds making it feel much cooler . And last night in Loch Glascarnoch, in Scotland, temperatures dipped to -7.6C overnight. Moscow experienced lows of -6C. The weekend saw temperatures of -4C . (25F) in the north of England, with several inches of snow falling along . the eastern coast, blown in by the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ weather system. Despite the chill, party goers in Newcastle braved . the icy pavements dressed only in high heels and skimpy dresses over the . weekend, without an extra layer in sight. The changing of the seasons will be greeted with snow flurries and frosts, forecasters have warned. The Met Office, which considers March 1 . as the first day of spring, also warned there could be more of the snow . that hit the east of the country over the weekend, as the mercury . hovered just above freezing in most areas. February's full moon, which will be visible tonight, has long been dubbed the 'Snow Moon', because February was often the snowiest month of the year, particularly in America. This fun-loving squirrel caused a stir when he was photographed with a frosty dusting on his nose amid the thick snowfall in the Yorkshire Dales . The cheeky chap looks ready to start a snowball fight as he gathers up the chilly powder in between his paws . But the chilly weather seems to have finally taken it out of him as he retires to a branch to try and get some shut-eye . The Met Office has issued a yellow alert level two - . which is triggered to let health and social care providers know when . there is a risk that extreme weather could affect services. It . said: 'During Monday, although still feeling very cold across southern . areas in strong winds at times, less cold air is expected to move in, . allowing temperatures to recover somewhat. 'Further . north, the cold conditions are expected to hang on, although colder . night time minima may be offset by sunnier periods by day. There is a . risk of icy conditions at times, especially across the north.' A spokesman added: 'The below average temperatures look likely to last throughout March. 'Although generally temperatures are expected to rise, they are going to be likely to be below average for the month.' Despite the cold weather over the past week there has been no frost because the clouds covering the UK have acted as a blanket, the Met Office has said. While much of the UK has 'felt much colder than any other time this winter', there has not been the right 'ingredients' for a long hard frost. It said: 'For a classic frosty night we need a few ingredients: low temperatures, clear skies, calm winds and moisture. 'A clear, calm night gives excellent radiation conditions – by this we mean that the heat absorbed by the Earth’s surface during the day escapes readily back into space and allows temperatures to fall. 'If the temperature falls to the dew point (the temperature to which air must cool for it to become saturated with water vapour) moisture will condense and form droplets on the ground’s surface. When temperatures fall below freezing the droplets freeze and we get frost.' It said thick cloud cover was stopping temperatures from falling too much below freezing. It said: 'The wind is also important as it mixes the lower part of our atmosphere. Rather than having cold air pooling in one place and causing low temperatures, the wind can bring less cold air from another location or even bring it down from the upper atmosphere. 'This also helps to keep temperatures from falling too low. However, easterly winds this week have certainly made it feel very cold indeed!' These girls were seemingly oblivious to the freezing temperatures as they enjoyed a night out in Newcastle . Two girls get out of a cab before a night out in Newcastle city centre . Painting the toon red: Four girls in party gear on a night out walk down an icy road . Chilly: The whole country was . feeling the chill as flurries of snow drift in from the east . Today there is likely to be more snow across England and Wales, with . areas of high ground, especially in the South East, most at risk. Temperatures will be slightly warmer, . with highs of 7C (45F) in the North and 6C (43F) in the South, but high . winds from the East will make the temperature feel more like -1C (30F) or -2C (28F). Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell . said: ‘Cold weather looks to continue through much of the next week, . with brisk winds in the South accentuating the cold. ‘We could see a few snow flurries from . time to time, particularly across the East. Overnight temperatures will . fall to -3C (27F).’ Laura Caldwell of MeteoGroup said: . ‘Long term, looking into March it’s unlikely we’ll get any warmer . spring-like weather any time soon. This is because of the north-westerly . winds blowing down from the Arctic, which look likely to persist.’ | Met Office says temperatures likely to be below average throughout March .
At Loch Glascarnoch, in Scotland, temperatures dipped to -7.6 °C overnight .
Whole country will feel the chill as flurries of snow drift in from Russia .
North west of Scotland may see bright patches and temperatures of 4C . |
114,574 | 1fe112bf580204e9ab1cb03947b8b7e7c6719299 | Labour has committed to £850million in new free schools after the next election, despite opposing Michael Gove’s flagship policy. Ed Miliband’s party has promised that any free schools which are open or ‘in the pipeline’ after May 2015 will still go ahead. It left the party open to charges of hypocrisy after repeatedly warning the policy of allowing parents and other groups to open new schools would end in ‘chaos’. Education Secretary Michael Gove today announced another 38 new free schools, as it emerged Labour would not cancel planned schools if they win in 2015 . Senior Labour figures have repeatedly criticised the free schools programme, calling for it to be halted. Mr Miliband has claimed they are the ‘opposite of the thing we need’ while Ed Balls said it was part of ‘the most socially divisive education experiment for 60 years’. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has said they ‘a vanity project for yummy mummies’ and ‘a dangerous ideological experiment’. However, according to a report in Building magazine, Labour will not cancel free schools planned to open after the next election. It amounts to a commitment worth more than £850m in construction work, it was reported. A Labour spokesman said: ‘Free schools that are open - or in the pipeline - will remain.’ Labour's shadow education Tristram Hunt has dismissed the free schools programme as ‘a dangerous ideological experiment’ The admission has been welcomed by building firms who feared work would be lost if the plug was pulled by an incoming government. Mr Gove today approved 38 new free schools, providing 22,000 extra places, taking the total number of open and approved free schools to 331. However, all but three of the 38 schools intend to open their doors in September next year, after the general election. A Tory source said: 'Labour’s hypocrisy on free schools knows no bounds. They denigrate free schools at every opportunity – until they want the votes of parents hoping for a free school in their area. 'Only Labour could commit almost a billion pounds to a policy they say will cause ‘chaos’. It makes you wonder how much they’d spend on policies they actually support. 'We know whose side we’re on – parents desperate for a better education for their children. That’s what free schools are all about. ‘Labour should hold their hands up, admit they got it wrong and wholeheartedly back free schools.' The government insists that the vast majority of the new schools are in areas most in need of more school places,. Mr Gove said: ‘Free schools are giving thousands of children from ordinary backgrounds the kind of education previously reserved for the rich and the lucky. ‘Thanks to our free school programme, many more parents now have a new school in their neighbourhood offering high standards and tough discipline. Free schools put teachers – not bureaucrats and politicians – in the driving seat, as they are the ones who know their pupils best.’ A Labour party spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We set out in June last year that we would not continue with the free school programme if we win the next general election. ‘We said then that existing free schools would remain, as would those in the pipeline. We are undertaking a zero-based spending review of the DfE.’ | Michael Gove's flagship policy has been repeatedly condemned by Labour .
Ed Balls said they were part of 'socially divisive education experiment'
But a Labour spokesman reveals it would not cancel planned new schools .
Tories say Labour's 'hypocrisy on free schools knows no bounds' |
273,569 | ee5fc292cedb07f38f796bf371b409604c569ecc | Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Republican presidential candidates faced off twice in 11 hours on Saturday and Sunday in debates ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. While both debates were staged in the Granite State, it was clear that the rivals intended for their messages to go beyond New Hampshire. Here are five things we learned from the weekend. Romney's debating skills on display . Neither debate did much to change the state of play in New Hampshire. Front-runner Mitt Romney's rivals went after him in both debates. Even when other candidates slighted Romney -- Rick Perry referred to an "insider from Wall Street," and Gingrich went after Romney's private-sector record by repeatedly citing an article by The New York Times -- the jabs were either veiled or dispassionate. And using The New York Times to back up an argument probably won't excite the conservative base. Romney's opponents did step up their attacks between Saturday and Sunday, but then they seemed to back off. CNN.com Opinion contributor Todd Graham, an award-winning college debating coach, speculated that Romney's rivals dropped the direct attacks because they were "worried about overcorrecting, appearing rude, and alienating voters (Gingrich came close when he told Romney to 'drop the pious baloney') -- or in the heat of the moment, they forgot their coaching once the second debate was under way." Graham concluded that between Romney's polished debating skills and sometimes poor debating by his rivals, he has only solidified his position. Looking ahead to the general election? Over the past few years, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement has made strides, and many question whether someone who is not a supporter of the movement could win a general election in 2012. Such rights played a role in both debates. Rick Santorum, who has run on a predominantly social values platform, offered perhaps his strongest statement of homosexual support to date, saying he would not repudiate a son who told him he was gay. He was careful, however, not to say that he would fight for gay individuals, instead saying he would be an advocate for "every person in America" and would make sure people are treated with "respect and dignity." On the same topic, Romney said he has hired gay staffers in the past and would never discriminate against gays or attempt to take away their rights. Are these two men looking ahead to a general election, where strong social conservative values may not play as well? Social issues played a big role in Iowa and will do so again in South Carolina. Santorum's answer may have been a good middle-of-the-road response and a reminder of a phrase often used by Christian conservatives: Love the sinner, hate the sin. That may be a message to which conservative voters in South Carolina can relate. Message received? Americans have made clear their disdain for Congress, partisan politics and theatrics bringing government to a standstill. Both Gingrich and Romney touted their records of working with Democrats to hammer out legislative deals. Gingrich, who is best known for battling President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, highlighted that he struck deals with the Democratic president even though he wanted to make him "a one-term president." And Romney noted that when he was running Massachusetts, the state legislature was 85% Democratic but that he found "common ground," adding that he's proved he can "work with Republicans and Democrats who are willing to work together." Santorum touted his ability to gain support among voters of both parties in his former Pennsylvania district, and Huntsman said that serving one's country should always trump party loyalty. But before candidates can work on uniting the party, they will have to triumph over their rivals as the bruising GOP primary plays out this winter. Huntsman's last stand? Since former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is placing all his chips on a strong finish in New Hampshire's Tuesday primary, the debates were his last, best chance to make his case. Saturday's lukewarm performance was followed by a stronger delivery on Sunday morning. After coming under attack Saturday night by Romney for his service as U.S. ambassador to China during the first two years of President Barack Obama's term, Huntsman strongly defended his time in Beijing on Sunday. But he also highlighted his fiscal plans as in tune with conservative Republican principles. And in a state where independent voters hold sway, Huntsman made his pitch, saying, "the American people are tired of the partisan division. They have had enough. And I say, we've had enough, and we have to change our direction in terms of coming together as Americans first and foremost and finding solutions to our problems." Ron Paul punches hard -- in person . The candidates have let super political action committees that support them do their dirty work on the campaign trail, spending millions on attack ads. But Ron Paul was one of the few candidates to repeat to his rivals' faces the same harsh criticism he's unleashed in ads or on the campaign trail. Paul stood firm in calling Santorum "corrupt" and Gingrich a "chicken hawk" for not having served in the military. "Would you use that phrase (chicken hawk) again?" moderator Diane Sawyer asked Paul on Saturday. "Yeah," Paul responded. "I think people who don't serve when they could and they get three or four or even five deferments aren't -- they have no right to send our kids off to war. "I'm trying to stop the wars," he said. "But at least, you know, I went when they called me up." Gingrich responded with anger. "Dr. Paul has a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and false," he said, denying that he had asked for a deferment and pointing out that his father had served overseas. "I think I have a pretty good idea of what it's like as a family to worry about your father getting killed, and I personally resent the kinds of comments and aspersions (Paul) routinely makes without accurate information and then just slurs people." CNN's Gabriella Schwarz, Shawna Shepherd, Paul Steinhauser, Rachel Streitfeld, Shannon Travis and Chris Welch contributed to this report. | Romney's opponents step up their attacks over the weekend .
Social issues will play a large role in South Carolina .
Gingrich, Romney tout their bipartisan efforts .
Paul repeats harsh criticism to opponents' faces . |
23,077 | 417c71371b0dc0713bfa75ef971a62049f1177bc | (CNN) -- It was one of those oh-by-the-way moments -- an afterthought really. It wasn't supposed to be a coming out party. Sure, the subject matter was serious, but in the end the mood was lighthearted. Lawmakers gathered in the Pennsylvania state capital in Harrisburg on Tuesday to propose a major change in the state's hate crime law to extend protection to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Lawmakers made their pitch for getting the legislation to the governor's desk by the end of the year. Then bill sponsor, Sen. Jim Ferlo of Pittsburgh, made his surprise announcement -- very casually. "Hundreds of people know I'm gay. I just never made an official declaration," he said. "I never felt I had to wear a billboard on my forehead. But I'm gay. Get over it. I love it. It's a great life." The announcement capped a momentous day for the LGBT community. Earlier, charges were filed against three people in the recent beating of a gay couple in Philadelphia. All are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal conspiracy, CNN affiliate WPVI reported. They could not be charged with a hate crime for the same reason lawmakers held their news conference -- people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are not covered under Pennsylvania's hate crime law. Kevin J. Harrigan, 26, Kathryn G. Knott, 24, and Phillip Williams, 24, surrendered to police on Wednesday, according to WPVI. Later, Ferlo, who will be leaving the state Senate in November, said his remarks weren't planned. "It was totally impromptu. I've never denied it. I've never felt the need to talk about it," he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In 2012: Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin is first openly gay person elected to Senate . | Senator's coming out is more of an afterthought .
Sen. Jim Ferlo was announcing a proposed change to the state's hate crime law .
"I'm gay. Get over it," he says .
Three suspects in the beating of a gay couple have been charged . |
89,703 | febd47b0578c93d2465a88d39c27d98a7a1f704d | These pictures show how a drunk father got his seven-year-old son to drive him 15 miles home after a drinking session in China. Jun Yu was sent to pick up his father after he passed out near his regular drinking den in the city of Yizhou in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Officers were alerted to the images after they went viral when they were posted by a stunned motorist who saw the child driving. At the wheel: Jun Yu was sent to pick up his father after he passed out near his regular drinking den in the Chinese city of Yizhou . Enjoy the ride: Officers were alerted to the images after they went viral when they were posted by a stunned motorist who saw the child driving . The pictures show the youngster driving a three-wheeled vehicle with his father slumped in the trailer behind him. It has been reported that the child's mother dispatched him to collect his father after she was told he had passed out. According to neighbours, it is not the first time Jun Yu has acted as a taxi driver for his father. Chinese police have confirmed that the images of the youngster driving are genuine. Officers confirmed that they had spoken to the parents and were considering charges for allowing the boy to drive the vehicle while under age. The youngster's mother dispatched him to collect his father after she was told he had passed out . A police spokesman said: 'The child drove a total of 20km to bring his father home. His father was incapacitated after a night of drinking with friends at a bar near his place of work.' The legal age for driving in China is 18 although in many rural areas it is largely ignored as children help parents with farm work and often drive farm vehicles similar to the three-wheeled truck. The images sparked widespread criticism of the father, but praise for the seven-year-old boy's driving skills. | Jun Yu sent to pick up his drunk father after he passed out near work place .
Motorists then saw child, seven, driving with his father slumped in trailer .
Images, taken in Yizhou, China went viral on social media in the country .
Reports suggest Jun's mother sent him on the mission to collect his father . |
213,137 | a002cff2efe41782cff61511076cd5143a37f54f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . When Janelly Martinez-Amador was four months old, she couldn't bear to be held by her parents. Confused that their daughter seemed to be in pain from their touch, Salvador Martinez and Janet Amador took her to the doctors - and were stunned to learn her body was unable to make bones. Now more than six years on, in a show of medical and the extraordinary bravery of Janelly and her parents, the young girl is growing - and has even learned how to dance. Janelly, from Antioch, Tennessee, was born with the most severe form of hypophosphatasia, an extremely rare bone disorder which leads to loss of all bone mineralization during childhood. Scroll down for video . Fighter: Janelly Martinez-Amador was unable to develop bones when she was born but now, after taking part in a clinical drug trial for a new treatment, she has stunned doctors with her progress . 'We started noticing she wasn’t growing . as she should at that point and she wasn't gaining the weight as she . should at her age,' her father told The Tennessean. 'She didn't used to like to be . held in my arms,' her mother added. 'The only thing . she liked was to be put up on a pillow. That would make her . comfortable.' She was unable to move any of her body, and her bones didn't even show up on X-rays. By the time she turned two, she was still relying on ventilators and tracheotomies as she did not have ribs to support her breathing - and her parents were uncertain how much longer she would survive. Joy: Janelly, who is nearly seven and improving every day, loves to bop to music in her stroller . Progress: The little girl's bones were so small they could not be seen on X-rays after she was born, but 18 months after taking a new drug doctors saw she was developing a rib cage . Janelly has a rare condition called hypophosphatasia, a genetic disorder that affects the development of bone and teeth. It can cause a loss of all bone mineralization. The condition occurs due to an enzyme deficiency, which causes the bones to become soft as they can't absorb important minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, increasing the risks for pain and bone deterioration. The condition affects about one in 100,000 babies born in the U.S. The earlier the diagnosis is made the more severe the skeletal manifestations. More than half of those born with the disease don't survive beyond their first birthday. A milder form, which can be diagnosed in adulthood, occurs more frequently. Depending on the severity, people with the condition might see deformities of the limbs and chest and regular fractures. Losing teeth earlier than usual could also be a sign. But when she turned two years and eight months old, her parents put her forward for a clinical trial involving an experimental medicine at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The clinical study treated nine toddlers from across the world with a biologic enzyme called asfotase alfa, which encouraged bones to grow. A special port was inserted into her abdomen so she could receive the drug. Janelly was the smallest child in the study, and while the other children started noticing bone growth as soon as three weeks after taking the drug, it did not appear to be working for Janelly. 'We were fearful that her bone disease was so terribly severe that it might not work,' Dr. Michael P. Whyte, a metabolic bone disease specialist with . Washington University School of Medicine, said. 'We were very concerned when the therapy . started that there was no mineral in her bones to target with enzymes,' he told The Tennessean. 'So would the enzyme find its way to bone and hook onto . something to help her? But apparently - although you couldn't see the . mineral on an X-ray - there was still enough there that the first . molecule or enzyme to land did something.' But her parents started noticing she was gaining muscle control and, after a year of treatment, she was finally able to move all of her limbs. After 18 months, her ribs started to form. Now, four years since the start of her treatment, she no longer uses a ventilator and loves dancing and bops along to music in her stroller. Thankful: She is pictured with her mother Janet Amador and father Salvador Martinez (right) when they met the leader of the clinical trial, Dr. Michael P. Whyte (left), for the first time this month . Care: Doctors at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt have celebrated her progress . She uses a wheelchair and she is still the size of a child half her age, but her bones are growing and doctors are hopeful. They hope to be able to remove her tracheotomy tube this spring, which has prevented her from speaking. Her cognitive abilities will be tested in July - but she appears to be improving each day. 'This is why we get into medicine in the first place: to truly make a difference in the life of a child,' her physician, Jill Simmons, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at Vanderbilt, told Newswise. 'My goodness, to go from no bones to bones. That's the most impressive thing I have seen as a physician. It's incredible.' See below for video . | Janelly Martinez-Amador was four months old when she was diagnosed with a rare disorder which stops bones forming during childhood .
She could not move or breathe on her own .
Before her third birthday, she started taking part in new drug trial .
Now she is breathing and eating and enjoys bopping in her stroller . |
35,844 | 65c7eaa259de9e8b8e14804e8fef7d64bec34a0f | By . Emma Glanfield . Hollyoaks has overtaken EastEnders as Britain’s most violent soap opera with threatening scenes occurring on average 11.5 times per hour, according to a study by media regulator Ofcom. The Channel 4 programme, aimed at teens and young adults, has seen the number of violent scenes increase considerably in recent years and last year it was censured by Ofcom. Hollyoaks has risen from 2.1 violent scenes per hour in 2001/2 to 11.5 scenes per hour last year. At the same time EastEnders has seen a dramatic fall from 6.1 to 2.1 over the same period. Scroll down for video . The number of violent scenes in Hollyoaks (above) has risen from 2.1 per hour in 2001/2 to 11.5 scenes per hour last year. Pictured: Nicole Barber-Lane's character Myra McQueen was attacked in August last year . ITV's Coronation Street has remained largely steady at 3, while Emmerdale has seen an increase during those years from 2.5 to 4. The new research comes just days after one broadcaster was given a substantial fine by the regulator for screening graphic depictions of ‘extreme violence’ including torture, a child murder and dismemberment of a corpse before the watershed. Investigation Discovery was given a £100,000 penalty for screening eight episodes of its documentary series Deadly Women during daytime schedules. For the new Ofcom study, researchers looked at 282 episodes of the four soaps and found that more than half of all the violent scenes they recorded were in Hollyoaks. The Channel 4 show also accounted for all of what were classed as ‘strong violence’, much of them coming from two storylines. Almost three-quarters of the scenes classed as violent were made up of threats and intimidation or incidents such as pushing, prodding and tripping. Fists were used in only five per cents of the incidents - slightly fewer than the slaps which made up six per cent- and the shooting of firearms made up less than one per cent. EastEnders (above) is no longer Britain's most violent soap, with threatening scenes having seen a dramatic fall from 6.1 per hour in 2001/2 to 2.1 per hour last year. Pictured: Peter Beale threatens Billy Mitchell . In its report Ofcom said: ‘The conclusion must be that the amount of violence logged in a soap appears to be largely determined by the storylines running at a particular time. ‘In Hollyoaks all the violent scenes with a high severity rating were either central or pivotal to the storyline in which they appeared. Violence occurred for a reason, and was used to drive the narrative along. ‘In the overwhelming number of cases it was considered to add dramatic value to the plot or the characterisations.’ The report pointed out that violence in the soaps - which it said in most cases was ‘quite mild’ - did not trivialise, glamorise or condone it. And it said that for the most part viewers would have been aware they could expect the violent scenes and would not have been surprised by it. Last year Ofcom ruled that Hollyoaks breached its programme code by screening a scene before the watershed in which character Simon Walker was pushed under a train. However there have not been any major viewer complaints about violence in the series since then. Hollyoaks also accounted for all of what were classed as 'strong violence' scenes. Pictured: Characters Ste and Freddie, dressed in boiler suits and balaclavas, hold up a delivery van of drugs in an episode aired last year . A Channel 4 spokesman said: ‘We are committed to ensuring that all Hollyoaks storylines are appropriate for a pre-watershed audience. ‘The portrayal of violence is appropriately limited and is shown within the context of long-running storylines - and programmes that include scenes which some people may find upsetting are clearly flagged to viewers at the beginning of the broadcast. ‘Hollyoaks has a track record in tackling issues affecting its audience and has worked alongside government and leading charities on subjects such as domestic abuse and bullying.’ The sharp rise in the number of violent scenes in Hollyoaks over the last few years has included a number of major storylines. Ofcom statistics show the number of threatening scenes in the Channel 4 soap has risen from 2.1 per hour in 2001/2 to 11.5 per hour last year. Some of the more recent Hollyoaks storylines have seen characters embroiled in violence, crime and tragedy. Unsuspecting Myra McQueen – played by Nicole Barber-Lane - was attacked and later shot by Dr Paul Browning, towards the end of last year. Some of the more recent Hollyoaks storylines have seen characters embroiled in violence, crime and tragedy. Pictured: Ste torches's Fraser Black's car as the whodunnit into his murder continues . More recently, the body of arch villain Fraser Black was found slumped in a car at a petrol station after he was shot dead. The drama focused on a ‘whodunnit-style’ killing which later revealed Freddie Roscoe to be his killer. However, some of the biggest drama of the show came last year when - to celebrate the soap turning 18 years old - five main characters were killed off in one week. Ash Kane and Doug Carter were killed in an explosion, while Claire Devine was ran over by Dr Browning after Mercedes McQueen pushed her in front of his car. Callum Kane and newcomer Jade Hedy were also killed off in Hollyoaks Later. Last year, the Channel 4 show was wrapped by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules in an episode, screened at 6.30pm, in which a main character was killed by a speeding train. The scene, aired in March, marked the culmination of a long-running revenge storyline involving a former undercover policeman, Walker, and ex-drug dealer Brendan. Hollyoaks was wrapped by Ofcom after a scene, aired before the watershed in March last year, followed the death of a character Walker (above) who was killed by a speeding train . It . ended with Walker screaming as he fell backwards on to the railway track . and into the path of a train before the camera cut away to show the . train passing at high speed. There were no images of Walker being hit by the train but the fight in the build-up included several blows to the face and stomach, Brendan’s head being pushed through railings, Walker with bloody lips and blood running from his nose, while viewers heard the groans as they inflicted blows. Channel 4 said that the storyline had run for around a year and that viewers were notified that a dramatic episode would be broadcast. Tina McIntyre - played by Michelle Keegan - was killed off in Coronation Street earlier this year . However, . Ofcom said the pre-programme information was too vague and would 'not . have prepared the significant number of younger viewers in the audience, . or their parents, adequately for the violent, intense and shocking . scenes which followed.' Other dramatic storylines in popular British soaps so far this year include the death of Tina McIntyre – played by Michelle Keegan – in Coronation Street. The barmaid could be seen lying motionless on the cobbles after plunging from the balcony of the builder’s yard flat following a dramatic showdown in an episode aired towards the end of May. And in EastEnders fans were glued to their screens in April when Lucy Beale in a ‘whodunnit-style’ killing. | Hollyoaks has overtaken EastEnders as country's most violent soap opera .
Channel 4 show had on average 11.5 violent scenes per hour, claim Ofcom .
In comparison BBC's EastEnders had only 2.1 threatening scenes per hour . |
42,060 | 76aa44c7c38bfcff17be6172da98199464682960 | By . Wills Robinson for MailOnline . A care home has been fined £85,000 after a dementia sufferer was crushed to death by a wardrobe that wasn't fitted properly to her bedroom wall. Claire Hughes, 64, who suffered from dementia, was 'obsessed' with dressing up in her old clothes, and would put on layer upon layer if left by herself at the Chase Care Centre in Watford, Hertfordshire. St Albans Crown Court heard how she was found dead underneath her wardrobe after pulling it free from - sending it toppling onto her in December 2011. Dementia-sufferer Claire Hughes, 64, was found dead at Chase Care Centre in Watford, Hertfordshire, after her wardrobe fell on top of her . The court heard on Thursday how the wardrobe had not been fixed to the wall properly and had only been screwed into chipboard on the wall. Mrs Hughes had been trying to get to her clothes, pulling at the locked wardrobe until it fell on top of her, crushing her to death. The court heard how Mrs Hughes was diagnosed with dementia in 2007 and would only let her husband, a retired company director, feed her. Sandra Dias, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive - which brought the prosecution - said the care home was aware of Mrs Hughes' obsession with her clothing and should have taken steps to secure the wardrobe. She said: 'Mrs Hughes' death was a wholly preventable tragedy caused by unacceptable management failings on the part of Life Style Care PLC. They put her at unnecessary risk. 'The company was aware of her obsession with clothing and that is why they locked her wardrobe. 'In doing so it was eminently foreseeable that she would attempt to open it using force, and that the wardrobe therefore needed to be rigid and secure. 'Working in a care home is a specialised job, which involves dealing with vulnerable people. 'Care homes must ensure that they have the correct training in place for all their employees, and that they work to adequately assess and eliminate all significant risks.' St Albans Crown Court heard the wardrobe was full of old clothes she was 'obsessed' with and had not been fitted to the wall properly . Dominic Kay, defending, said: 'It is a very, very sad case. Mrs Hughes was well-liked by the staff. The company expresses its regret and remorse to her family. 'It was not foreseen that she would use the force she did on the wardrobe. It is not a case of corner cutting. It was an oversight.' The company which runs the care home LifeStyle Care - which has 37 care homes around the UK - admitted failing to discharge its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It said it had now ensured the wardrobes in all of its care homes were now secured with longer screws fixed to timber batons and fixed to a concrete wall. Judge John Plumstead said: 'This unfortunate lady was intent on gaining access to her clothing. 'Steps should have been taken to ensure the wardrobe was fixed. The attempt to fix the wardrobe was botched. The wardrobe was very poorly secured indeed. The company failed in their duty to keep this lady safe.' The firm was fined £85,000 and ordered to pay £48,000 in court costs. | Claire Hughes, 64, was found dead at Chase Care Centre in Watford .
St Albans Crown Court heard it was full of old clothes she loved to dress in .
Wardrobe was only screwed into chipboard and not fixed to wall properly .
She tried to pull at the locked wardrobe - causing it to topple onto her .
Prosecution said care home staff should have been aware of her 'obsession' with clothes . |
207,281 | 985dc4e064f7b2507b0f50f5bfd1f95843b9e10d | With Tomas Rosicky rolling back the years against Brighton on Saturday to help Arsenal to a 3-2 win in the FA Cup fourth round, there has been no shortage of plaudits for the Czech midfielder. Certainly, the 34-year-old has proven himself to be one of Arsene Wenger's most successful signings since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2006. We asked JustArsenal blogger Bob Allock to give us the rundown on how Rosicky has won over so many fans' hearts and etched himself into Gunners' folklore. Tomas Rosicky is proving his worth to the Arsenal cause and deserves a contract extension at the club . Rosicky put in a man of the match performance as Arsenal beat Brighton 3-2 in the FA Cup fourth-round . After the Arsenal and Czech Republic star Tomas Rosicky put in a fantastic creative performance at the heart of midfield, which rightly earned him the Man of the Match award, Arsene Wenger was quick to heap praise on the 34-year old. The Frenchman said, 'He was wonderful. A player we all love. If you love football, you love Rosicky. On top of that he's a fantastic character, scored and I'm very pleased for him.' And this just highlights what the Arsenal fans have known for a long time, that Rosicky embodies the manager's football philosophy. The way that Rosicky plays the game, with superb technical ability and the drive and attacking intent to go with it, is what we want to see from the Gunners. The way he can control and set the tempo of the game, as well as some of the outrageous bits of skill he produces is the reason why the fans call him `little Mozart`. Some people do not seem to appreciate his talents quite as much, as Phil Neville showed by calling his reverse passes against Brighton `disrespectful`. Neville later claimed that his comments were tongue in cheek, but I for one don't buy it. Some people still seem to want football to return to the days of heavy leather boots and ball on muddy pitches, with defenders allowed to get away with GBH to stop these uppity skillful players making fools of them. Arsenal fans, however, and most modern football fans, appreciate special talents and Rosicky has certainly been one of them. He may not weigh in with lots of goals for the Gunners, but he has blessed us with some special and important ones and he is one of those players that is worth the ticket price alone. One of the longest serving Gunners, Rosicky embodies the way that Arsenal want to play the game, with panache and with entertainment a close second to results. He scored with a well taken volley to give help restore Arsenal's two goal cushion in the second-half . Rosicky joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortumund in 2006 and has since made 235 appearances for the club . His superb goal yesterday, giving the Brighton defenders `the eyes` and effortlessly volleying in the return pass from Giroud was special but his goal against Sunderland last February was probably his best and more typical of his all-round contribution. It was more of a team goal for one thing, with Rosicky picking the ball up on the right and going on a mazy run and making not one, but two deft one-two's with Cazorla and then Giroud as he made the Sunderland players look like they were standing in treacle as he burst into the box and finished with a sublime dink over the keeper. So there was no doubt from Arsenal fans that he was worth the contract extension that he signed towards the end of the last campaign or that he is worth another at the end of this one. More surprising to us is that Wenger has not made more use of him, with just six starts in all competitions so far this season and three of those in domestic cup games. Yesterday's performance was not unexpected from our midfield maestro at all. Rosicky is no spring chicken but he always shows the same energy, enthusiasm and ability as ever and I for one am hoping to be able to appreciate him more this season and at least one more. Sign him up Arsene, because talents like Rosicky do not come along too often. Follow @JustArsenal on Twitter . The 34-year-old Czech midfielder has firmly established himself as a favourite among the Arsenal fans . Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2014 and will be looking to defend their crown after progressing to the fifth round . | Tomas Rosicky's performance against Brighton showed his class .
Arsenal beat The Seagulls 3-2 in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday .
Rosicky scored with a well taken volley to help them on their way .
The midfielder's overall contribution is deserving of a contract extension .
Click here for Arsenal transfer news . |
44,950 | 7eaaa5bfe35344ee85eeb871a4d31cd31b12965b | By . Gemma Mullin . A parking space just big enough for a family car in a tiny village has gone on the market for an eye-watering £25,000. Several offers have already come in for the unmarked spot in North Parade, Portscatho, Cornwall. Many of the houses in the village have no parking of their own and there has not been a parking space on sale in Portscatho in the last 10 years. The parking space in Portscatho, Cornwall has gone on the market for £25,000 - £3,000 more than the average salary in the region . With the average salary in Cornwall at just over £22,000 the parking space will be well out of reach for most locals, but the picture postcard village has a high number of holiday homes for which parking is at a premium. According to Michelle Jeffery, from Alastair Shaw estate agents, which is marketing the parking space, guaranteed parking could add twice its purchase price to the value of a property. 'It is on the market for the price that someone thinks it is worth,' she said. 'But if you had a property here already and then had a parking space as well it could increase the value of your property by £50,000. The unmarked spot is big enough for a family car and could add twice its purchase price in value to a property . There has not been a parking space for sale in the picture postcard village for the last 10 years . 'We have had some interest in the space - and offers above the £25,000 - but we are leaving it open at the moment as we are coming into the season which is the prime time when there will be more people around.' The car parking space has been marketed as: 'A very rare opportunity to acquire this car parking space that is conveniently located down in the middle of the village and within a stone's throw of the beach. 'The parking space is within close proximity of properties along The Lugger, North Parade and within The Square, Portscatho. There is room within the space to park one vehicle. 'Parking spaces rarely become available within the village and we recommend any interest to be registered with us as soon as possible.' The village of Portscatho offers a range of shops including village shop, butchers, art galleries, public house, social club, restaurant, post office and doctors surgery. Portscatho is a coastal village with a large number of holiday homes meaning that parking is at a premium . | Estate agents have already had several offers for the unmarked spot .
It has become the first parking space to go on sale in the village for 10 years .
The spot in Portscatho is being marketed as a 'very rare opportunity'
Would set owner back more than the Cornish average salary of £22,246 . |
85,200 | f1a140e911740153fe4beacbf3a60581e560e6da | Seeing the Northern Lights has overtaken the Pyramids and Great Barrier Reef at the top of the typical Briton’s holiday wish list, according to a survey.The poll found that witnessing the Aurora Borealis in Norway has overtaken traditional tourist destinations to become the must-see holiday sight.The study by Travelsupermarket.com found more than half of us (54 per cent) have compiled a ‘Holiday Bucket List’ – a list of places they want to visit before they die. The Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis, is the new must-see destination, with 37 per cent of travellers putting it on the top of their 'holiday bucket list' Egypt's ancient Pyramids in Giza is still a top destination for holiday makers, coming second on a new poll by Travelsupermarket.com . However, one in ten of us will never tick anything off our list of holiday ambitions, and 32 per cent are resigned to visiting fewer than half of our must-see destinations. The top ten destinations are: 1, Aurora . Borealis (37 per cent); 2, Pyramids (35pc); 3, Route 66 (33pc); 4, . Great Wall of China (32pc); 5, African safari (31pc); 6, Helicopter ride . over Grand Canyon (30pc); 7, Caribbean cruise (29pc); 8, Taj Mahal . (28pc); 9, Venice (27pc); 10, Great Barrier Reef (24pc). The Great Wall of China, which dates back to the 7th century BC, remains in the top ten must-visit destinations, with 32 per cent of people wanting to visit before they die . Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities include an African safari and a helicopter ride over the Gran Canyon . Travelsupermarket’s Bob Atkinson said: ‘Ten years ago African safaris and Route 66 road trips were appealing mainly because they were perceived to be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. ‘The world is a lot more accessible now, so we’re seeing destinations much closer to home become popular because people have decided it’s something they must see.’ 1. Northern Lights, Norway . 2. Pyramids, Egypt . 3. Route 66, America . 4. Great Wall of China . 5. African safari . 6. Helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon . 7. Caribbean Cruise . 8. Taj Mahal, India . 9. Venice, Italy . 10. Great Barrier Reef . While we are most likely to compile a countdown of our ideal holidays around the age of 32, the constraints of settling down and having children force many to think again about travelling to far-flung destinations.Young adults between 18 and 34 are 51 per cent more likely to aim for cultural experiences such as the Rio Carnival in Brazil than those over 55, who prioritise trips closer to home.Explaining why we make 'bucket lists', especially when it comes to dream holidays, behaviour specialist Seven Suphi explains: 'We set goals in all aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships and families, and our holidays are no different.'While realising some dreams might be out of our hands, travel can be a great thing to focus on, allowing us to set goals which we can achieve, providing we save and plan appropriately. 'Holiday Bucket Lists can be very . valuable - having something to look forward to keeps us motivated, and . pushing ourselves to try something out of the ordinary can be . exhilarating.' Top trips: Caribbean cruises and a trip to India's Taj Mahal also make the cut on people's holiday bucket lists . | Desire to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway has overtaken traditional trips .
More than half of people have a 'Holiday Bucket List'
Egypt's Pyramids and a cruise around the Caribbean remain popular . |
32,196 | 5b9fa7e44455a809077695ef670c16080294f9b0 | By . Snejana Farberov . A fast-food worker in southern New Jersey has been caught on video viciously beating and kicking a mother in front of her young son as a group of people stood by and did nothing to help he. As bystanders watched and some recorded it on cell phones, the woman in a burgundy McDonald's uniform pummeled the mother and kicked her in the back along a trail in Salem on Tuesday night. The suspect is also heard threatening to attack the victim's 2-year-old son, who repeatedly kicked the suspect's legs to stop her from hurting his mother. Scroll down for video . Face-off: Police in New Jersey have obtained this cell phone video showing a female McDonald's worker dressed in a burgundy uniform confronting a young mother in a wooded area in Salem . Pummeled: The attacker, identified as Latia Harris, pulled the 27-year-old woman to the ground in front of her 2-year-old son and proceeded to punch her in the face about 20 times . Salem Police Chief John Pelura III said the attacker has been identified as 25-year-old Latia Harris. She remains at large. Wanted: Latia Harris, 25, is facing charges of assault and making terroristic threats . According to Pelura, the 27-year-old victim told officers a woman named 'Tia' who works at McDonald's accused her of spreading rumors about her and her manager. The victim has been treated at a hospital for her injuries. Police obtained a copy of the video depicting the attack before it was removed from Facebook. The graphic footage shows the McDonald's employee pounding another woman as a group of people stand around and watch in a wooded area behind the McDonald’s eatery on East Broadway in Salem. After the victim is thrown to the ground, the attacker proceeds to punch and kick her at least 20 times. The woman's toddler tries to intervene on his mother's behalf by kicking her assailant and yelling at her to stop. ‘Mommy!’ the little boy cries out. At one point, Harris threatens to beat up the 2-year-old. 'Monstrous': The victim's son tried to intervene by repeatedly kicking her attacker in the legs until Harris threatened to kick the 2-year-old in the face (right) No mercy: The assailant kicked the mother in the back as she lay on the grass in a fetal position with witnesses standing around her . ‘You better get your son before I kick him in the [expletive] face too,’ she screams. The beating ends with the McDonald's staffer spitting on the victim lying bleeding on the ground. Before . she walks away, the woman warns the brutalized young mother: 'It's not . over... you almost made me lose my job… stupid tramp.' Police officers were called to the scene just after 7pm after receiving reports of a woman covered in blood. They found the 27-year-old bleeding . profusely from her face and acting disoriented and confused. She was . taken to The Memorial Hospital of Salem County to be treated for injuries to her face. Chief Pelura said in a statement to . MailOnline Thursday that criminal complaints have been signed against . Harris for aggravated assault and two counts of terroristic threats, but . she could face additional charges after her arrest. Bail for Harris has been set at $35,000. One of the complaints stated that Harris threatened to shoot the 27-year-old mother. According to the police chief, Harris has not returned to work since the Tuesday assault. Ominous warning: The 25-year-old allegedly threatened to shoot the victim as payback for nearly getting her fired from McDonald's before she spat on her and walked away . Her last known address is currently vacant and police are working to identify family members and potential locations of Harris’ whereabouts. 'Police in this county deal with this type of violence everyday. Yet, this video is physically sickening to watch,' Pelura stated. 'There is a moral and social breakdown in the fabric of our society which is clearly evident when a woman gets pummeled in broad daylight in front of her child while a dozen people pull out their phones to record the incident instead of calling for help.' He added: 'There is so little regard for human life - by the actor and the bystanders.' | Video of the beating was recorded by a bystander Tuesday behind a McDonald's in Salem, New Jersey .
Police identified attacker as 25-year-old Latia Harris, who now faces charges of assault and making terroristic threats .
Harris allegedly attacked the 27-year-old mother in front of her 2-year-old son for spreading rumors about her . |
267,532 | e678572f265638f898f56ecfeed1336900d975a4 | From age-restricted tanning sessions to refunds on 'lemon' pets - these are some of the new laws set to take effect across America in the new year. Take-home placentas, minimum wage rises and voting pre-registration are among about 40,000 new laws, regulations and resolutions approved by state legislatures this year. Many of the changes will kick off on January 1. Changes: More than 40,000 new laws and regulations will take effect across America next year, including laws banning under-18s from using tanning facilities in Illinois . Should teens be banned from using tanning salons? Should teens be banned from using tanning salons? Now share your opinion . In Illinois, more than 200 new laws will commence from the beginning of the year. If you're a pale 17-year-old, get your indoor tanning sessions in now because a new state law will ban teens from using tanning salons. Illinois will become the sixth state to keep under-18s out of the facilities, . part of a growing regulatory trend aiming to reduce . the risk of skin cancer. Meanwhile in Arkansas, voters will soon need to show a photo ID at polling places, while Virginia punters will be able to register online for the first time. In Oregon, new mothers will be able to take their placentas home from the hospital, but people who smoke in motor vehicles in front of children will be in a lot of trouble. California students must be allowed to . play school sports and use school bathrooms 'consistent with their . gender identity', regardless of their sex at birth. People in Delaware with a taste for shark fin soup beware: sale, possession or distribution of the delicacy will be prohibited. And over in Colorado, adults aged 21 or older will be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use from a state-licensed retail store. Green-out: In Colorado, adults aged 21 or older will be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use from a state-licensed retail store . In a win for workers, minimum-wage increases take effect in four northeastern U.S. states: Connecticut's rises to $8.70 an hour, New Jersey's to $8.25, and New York's and Rhode Island's to $8. And over in Connecticut, new gun-control laws in the aftermath of the Newtown massacre include mandatory registration of all assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines bought before April 2013. Meanwhile, Rhode Island will ban prospective employers from asking about an applicant's criminal history, Illinois pet owners will be able to return a 'lemon pet' or be reimbursed for . vet costs if a seller fails to disclose an illness and 16-year-olds in Colorado will be able to pre-register to vote. | About 40,000 new laws, regulations and resolutions will take effect across America next year .
New state laws include banning under-18 Illinois teens from using tanning salons and allowing Colorado adults to buy up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use . |
254,404 | d54c73c19863447cb8eb2070324949dfed0841da | Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga troubles continued on Sunday with a 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt that left the 2011 and 2012 champions bottom of the table after 13 games. Alexander Meier's fourth-minute strike and Haris Seferovic's goal in the 78th were enough to inflict Dortmund with their eighth defeat of the season. Meier got the home side off to a flying start when he ran onto Marco Russ's long clearance and clipped the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. VIDEO Scroll down for Bundesliga highlights: Frankfurt 2-0 Borussia Dortmund . Frankfurt's Alexander Meier celebrates after scoring in the fifth minute against Borussia Dortmund . The Frankfurt striker is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the opening goal . Frankfurt's Haris Seferovic (left) makes it 2-0 in the 78th minute to consign Dortmund to another loss . Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (right) whips in a free-kick as the Frankfurt wall brace for impact . A defensive mix-up between Weidenfeller and Matthias Ginter allowed Seforovic to clinch the result. Ginter headed the ball back to the Dortmund captain, only to find he had emerged from goal, and the grateful Seferovic made no mistake. Frankfurt reserve keeper Felix Wiedwald produced a host of saves at the other end as the home side climbed to ninth. The 24-year-old Wiedwald, playing because of an injury to Kevin Trapp, denied Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Kevin Grosskreutz almost equalized in the 24th minute when he struck the post on the rebound from Aubameyang's effort. Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp vowed he would continue fighting to turn the side's domestic season around. 'I consider myself fully responsible,' said Klopp. 'There's no tendency (for a coaching change) here. Until someone comes along and tells me otherwise, I can't go away. I can't go until there's a better solution. 'If it was only based on luck, and if a coaching change was guaranteed to bring the luck back, then I would make the way free.' Borussia Dortmunds coach Jurgen Klopp watches on from the sidelines after his side concede early on . Frankfurt's Makoto Hasebe (left) shields the ball from Dortmundí midfielder Shinji Kagawa . Frankfurt's Takashi Inui (left) handles the ball as Kagawa watches on at the Commerzbank Arena . Dortmund defender Lukasz Piszczek went off with a thigh injury in the 38th, when Juergen Klopp opted to send on Adrian Ramos, a forward. Ramos also found Wiedwald in inspired form. Meier missed two good chances before Seferovic sealed Dortmund's fate. Frankfurt's goal scorer Meier gets physical with Borussia Dortmund's Sven Bender (left) Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (right) gets a shot away under pressure from Frankfurt's Marc Stendera . VIDEO Fans right to be frustrated - Klopp . Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller leaves the field at the final whistle after his side's loss . The Borussia Dortmund team face their supporters following their 2-0 away loss to Frankfurt . | Borussia Dortmund stay rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga .
Frankfurt climb up to ninth in the league table .
Goals from Alexander Meier and Haris Seferovic secure win for Frankfurt .
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp vowed he would continue fighting to turn the side's domestic season around . |
87,478 | f8332ac147a198f987b8d5b521e7393b63ee38db | Iain Duncan Smith has launched an incendiary attack on the BBC for ‘adopting the language of the Labour Party’ by branding a key welfare reform a ‘bedroom tax’. In a letter leaked to the Daily Mail, the Work and Pensions Secretary accuses the corporation of helping to alarm hundreds of thousands of people in social housing who will be unaffected. In the strongest attack on its coverage by a minister since the coalition came to power, he says there has been ‘persistent use’ of the term ‘bedroom tax’ by BBC correspondents and on the BBC’s news website, despite the phrase being ‘innately political and indeed factually wrong’. Iain Duncan Smith slated the BBC for using the 'innately political' and 'factually wrong' term . Under the Government’s housing benefit reforms, which come into effect in April, working-age claimants in social housing who have more bedrooms than they require will see their handouts reduced. Tenants affected will face a 14 per cent cut in housing benefit for the first excess bedroom, and 25 per cent where two or more bedrooms are unused. The Government, which estimates the average affected household affected will lose £14 a week, says the policy will save taxpayers £500 million a year from the massive housing benefit bill. It will also encourage people to move into smaller properties to relieve pressure on stock, helping families crammed into homes that are too small, ministers say. Mr Duncan Smith says the Government is simply cutting what he calls a ‘spare room subsidy’, but Labour has mounted a fierce campaign to oppose the move, branding it a ‘bedroom tax’. In a letter dated March 7, to Fran Unsworth, the acting head of BBC News, the Work and Pensions Secretary insists: ‘It is not a tax and it is wrong to describe it in this way. A tax, as the Oxford English Dictionary makes clear, is a “compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on worker’s income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services and transactions”.’ Fran Upsworth is acting head of BBC news and was sent the letter after Duncan Smith became enraged . He goes on: ‘What this policy does it reduce some social housing tenants’ benefit if their home has one or more spare bedrooms. This cannot in any way be described as a tax. The BBC gas a duty to inform the public. We believe that the BBC is failing in this duty and confusing members of the public on whether they might be “taxed”. ‘This is a public disservice. In using the word tax, the BBC has helped to worry those not in social housing that they might be taxed when this is not the policy. ‘It is also a term continually used and promoted by the Labour Party.’ Mr Duncan Smith says that the Government has complained about the unquestioning use of the term before and been led to believe that the BBC, which has a statutory duty to be politically unbiased, accepted it was political and should not be used. But correspondents continue to use it, sometimes with the addition of the words ‘critics call’ or ‘it’s been called’, he complains. The Work and Pensions Secretary said he accepts the BBC is right to report that the Labour Party is calling the policy a tax, but insists its correspondents should make clear that the term is factually incorrect and innately political. ‘We do not believe it is the job of the BBC to use misleading terms and promote the views of the Labour Party,’ he adds. ‘Rather than doing this, you might care to devote some time to explaining what the Government is trying to do – I’m sure your audience would value this.’ He points out that on BBC Breakfast, Moneybox presenter Paul Lewis talked about how the policy might impact disabled people and foster carers ‘without even mention there is millions in support’ for those groups. Foster carers and parents of serving armed forces personnel have since been exempted from welfare deductions. ‘Nor have we heard any of the facts given to you by the department about the thousands of families in overcrowded accommodation or on waiting lists for a home,’ Mr Duncan Smith adds. ‘This is not simple debate about the “branding” of a policy. It is about factual accuracy, ensuring the public are properly informed, and being clear about the political nature of terminology that has gained common currency at the BBC. ‘The public expects you to do better.’ A BBC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received a letter from Iain Duncan Smith and we will respond directly in due course.” A YouGov poll showed that 49 per cent of the public support the government’s reforms, compared to 38 per cent against. Labour has opposed the welfare reform, but yesterday there was confusion as one shadow minister suggested it would support it when claimants refused to move to smaller properties. Shadow culture minister Helen Goodman said: ‘We have said that the bedroom tax should only apply if people have been offered a smaller place to live and turned it down, because obviously it’s better to use housing stock more efficiently.’ A Labour spokesman insisted: ‘We strongly oppose the bedroom tax and continue to do so.’ | Duncan Smith accuses the BBC of helping to alarm thousands of people .
He wrote in a letter that the phrase was political and 'factually wrong'
The government estimates that each household affected will lose £14 a week . |
217,973 | a635091c5db07db218abcdd71ef1158850771e99 | Drinking between two to four cups of coffee every day appears to reduce the risk of suicide in men and women by 50 per cent, according to a new study. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed data from three previous US studies and found the risk of suicide amongst adults who drank several cups of caffeinated coffee on a daily basis was about half that of that compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee, very little coffee or no coffee at all. The study, of 200,000 men and women, examined data which outlined their caffeine . consumption both coffee and non-coffee . sources – including tea, caffeinated soft drinks, and chocolate. Feel the buzz: Those who drink two to four cups of coffee every day have a 50 per cent less suicide risk compared to those who drink decaffeinated coffee, little coffee or no coffee, according to new research . However for the majority, coffee was the main caffeine source and over the average 6 and-a-half year assessment period, there were just 277 deaths from suicide. ‘Unlike previous investigations, we were able to assess association of consumption of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages, and we identify caffeine as the most likely candidate of any putative protective effect of coffee,' said lead researcher Michel Lucas, research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH. Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system but may act as a mild antidepressant by increasing production of certain 'feel good' neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. This could explain why previous epidemiological studies have found a lower risk of depression among coffee drinkers in past, the researchers reported. In spite of the findings, the authors do not recommend that depressed adults self-medicate by increasing their caffeine consumption as an increase could result in unpleasant side effects. Despite the findings, depressed adults are advised not to self-medicate by drinking more coffee than usual. A previous study found an increase in suicide amongst those who consumed more than eight cups a day (posed by model) ‘Overall, our results suggest that there is little further benefit for consumption above two to three cups a day or 400 mg of caffeine a day,’ the authors wrote. The researchers didn’t observe any major difference in risk between those who drank two to three cups of coffee per day and four or more cups a day, most likely due to the small number of suicide cases in these categories. However, in a previous HSPH coffee-depression study, the investigators observed a maximal effect among those who drank four or more cups per day. In fact one previous large Finnish study showed a higher risk of suicide . among people drinking eight or nine cups per day. Few participants in . the two HSPH studies drank such large amounts of . coffee so the impact of six or more cups a day of coffee was not . addressed in these two studies. | Harvard study analysed caffeine consumption of 200,000 men and women .
2-4 cups have most protective effect - over tea, chocolate and soft drinks .
But researchers warn depressed people shouldn't use coffee to self-medicate . |
7,823 | 16266d665fe30a4071ef4c3bef581a1ebbc9e07c | (CNN) -- Better late than never. As those in green danced with joy and celebrated the apparent end of Mexico's World Cup curse, those in orange were already planning their flights home. Mexico, which had failed to win a last-16 match in its previous five attempts, finally appeared to have cracked it. Giovani Dos Santos' strike, which came in the 48th minute, looked like it had secured a quarterfinal place for only the third time in nation's history -- and the first on foreign soil. And yet, with the prize within its grasp, Mexico faltered at the last. With just two minutes of the contest remaining, step forward Wesley Sneijder. A man for whom nothing had gone right all afternoon. His passing was wayward, his touch was off and the quality with which he has been blessed appeared to have temporarily escaped him. But when the Netherlands needed the Galatasaray man the most, he delivered. With 88 minutes on the clock, the ball came out to Sneijder on the edge of the penalty area and he sent an unstoppable right-footed effort into the bottom corner. Cue the hysteria from the Dutch fans, who had already consigned themselves to an evening of drowning their sorrows and an early flight back to Amsterdam. In the energy-sapping conditions of Fortaleza, where the temperature pitchside reached over 100, Mexico suddenly wilted. For the best part of 90 minutes it had negated the attacking threat of the Dutch, seen off Robin van Persie and looked good value for a place in the last eight. After all, for a team which only qualified for the tournament following a playoff against New Zealand, a place in the quarterfinals would represent a huge success. Mexico, led by the charismatic and affable Miguel Herrera, have become one of the most difficult sides to beat. But when it needed its resilience most, it failed. Instead, Arjen Robben, the man who had tormented Mexico for large periods of the second half, was brought down inside the penalty area by Rafael Marquez. While the Mexican players protested following Robben's spectacular fall, their anger fell on deaf ears. "He dived three times, he should have cautioned him the first time," Miguel Herrera, the Mexico coach, told reporters of Robben after the game. "It seems to me the reason (we lost) was the referee, the man with the whistle. He left us outside the next stage of the World Cup. "If the referee starts marking fouls that don't exist, you leave the World Cup to circumstances out of your hands. We expect the referee committee to take a look at that and that this gentleman goes home, just like us." Herrera was still seething after the game as he addressed the press -- and television replays suggested he had a point. Nevertheless, a penalty was awarded and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar showed remarkable composure to fire low into the corner and break Mexican hearts in the fourth minute of six added on. "The players showed they had faith and belief until the very end," van Gaal told reporters following the 2-1 victory. "The humidity was not in our favor, so when you see that until the very last minute we were fresher and fitter than the Mexicans, that is a big compliment to my players. "Not only did they have belief but physically they prepared so well to play this match. That of course gives us enormous confidence going forward." Few would have expected such late drama, with the Dutch appearing to struggle to create many clear-cut opportunities before falling behind. Mexico, which defeated Cameroon and Croatia either side of a draw with Brazil, started positively and felt it should have been given a penalty when Ron Vlaar fouled Hector Herrera. Those appeals were dismissed by referee Pedro Proenca, as were the shouts from the Dutch when Robben was upended by a combination of Hector Moreno and Marquez. With both teams having slowed down play following the tournament's first three-minute cooling break, introduced by FIFA to combat dehydration in the hot weather, it was little surprise that the first half ended goalless. But the second 45 minutes proved a far more entertaining affair -- especially given Mexico's rapid start. Dos Santos received the ball 20 yards from goal and his fierce effort flew past Jasper Cillessen and into the far corner. That goal appeared to stun the Dutch -- a side which had swept all before it in the group stage. After all, this was a Netherlands team which had dismantled reigning world champion Spain 5-1, beaten Chile comfortably and fought back to see off Australia. But in the oppressive heat, the men in orange appeared to be toiling under the heavy sun. When the Dutch did get forward, they found the irrepressible Ochoa in the form of his life. Already a star following his performance against Brazil, where he produced save after save, the Mexico goalkeeper was at it again. First, he denied Stefan de Vrij from close range, pushing his header onto the post before standing tall to block Robben's effort. The Dutch looked down and out. And then it happened. Step forward Sneijder, one of the few experienced players who was there that fateful night in South Africa when his side was beaten in the final by Spain. With just two minutes remaining, his rasping effort flew past Ochoa and breathed new life into his ailing teammates. Huntelaar, who had replaced the ineffective van Persie, then converted his injury-time penalty to spark wild celebrations. A date with Costa Rica now awaits the Dutch -- for Mexico, it's home time once again. Brazil 2014 World Cup: schedule of matches . | Netherlands defeats Mexico 2-1 in Fortaleza .
Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar score late goals to secure win .
Giovani Dos Santos had given Mexico 48th minute lead .
Dutch will face Costa Rica in quarterfinals . |
11,518 | 20c0200978a1c4aeabc7d913bb04c2cbf48ff75a | By . Travelmail Reporter . Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson has backed a £2.6m fundraising drive to keep his favourite childhood beach from falling into the hands of developers. The National Trust is trying to buy 'magical' Bantham Beach in south Devon after its owners put it up for sale earlier this month. The seaside idyll inspired Agatha Christie and is a favourite holiday spot of tycoon Sir Richard who says the British coastline is at risk of being overdeveloped and spoiled for future generations. Speaking up: Sir Richard Branson could be set to finance the safe-keeping of Bantham Beach . Scenic: Bantham has described the beach as his favourite place . Bantham: Sir Richard who says the British coastline is at risk of being overdeveloped and spoiled for future generations . His comments prompted speculation that the billionaire businessman will make a sizeable contribution to the fund - or even buy the beach for himself. Sir Richard said: 'I have a strong connection to Bantham, having holidayed there as a child. 'My dad used to take me down there in a little bumpyed-bump (corr) car and we would catch sand eels to use as bait to go fishing for bass. 'My daughter, Holly has a number of good friends that live there. 'A lot of the UK's coastline is being overdeveloped and spoiled for future generations. 'We therefore need to get behind the National Trust in their campaign to save one of England's most beautiful and untouched beaches at Bantham.' Fancy it? Family-owned Evans Estates put the entire hamlet of Bantham up for sale, including 728 acres of land, 21 homes, a golf course a shop for £11.5 million . Memories: Sir Richard said: "I have a strong connection to Bantham, having holidayed there as a child . The National Trust decided to act after family-owned Evans Estates put the entire hamlet of Bantham up for sale, including 728 acres of land, 21 homes, a golf course a shop for £11.5 million. Trust officials decided against buying the homes but hope to secure the beach and the surrounding Avon estuary for £7.2million. The initial £4.6 million will come from the Trust's Neptune Coastline Campaign pot, set up to save and care for some of the UK's most vulnerable stretches of coastline. A further £2.6m will need to come from public donations but only £36,000 has been raised so far. Memories: Sir Richard said: "I have a strong connection to Bantham, having holidayed there as a child . | The tycoon used to holiday at Bantham as a child .
Branson supporting £2.6m fundraiser to 'save' the beach .
Evans Estates has put the entire hamlet of Bantham up for sale . |
95,321 | 0682582f872835eb458978def3d051a631c9ffd3 | Glenn Whelan has slammed his Stoke City teammates and labelled their display at Blackburn as 'the worst performance' following their embarrassing exit. Mark Hughes' side took the lead at Ewood Park but were outplayed and outfought as the Lancashire club came away with a 4-1 win. The Irish international didn't hold back and heavily criticised the performance. Glenn Whelan (centre) has slammed his teammates and labelled their FA Cup exit to Blackburn as 'the worst' Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel he said: 'It was terrible. It was the worst performance I've ever seen a Stoke City side put out; we didn't want to fight or do the basics. 'Fair play to Blackburn, they came out and properly dug us out. 'We weren't prepared to work hard enough. It's ok when things are going well, we've got good players then but when you want to fight and you want to knuckle down maybe we haven't got enough in the dressing room. The Irish midfielder and his teammates look on after conceding their fourth goal at Ewood Park . 'Hopefully the manager has seen that today and will show it next week because it's just not good enough; as a team, as an 11. Players didn't really want to be out there and you could see that after the first 10 minutes. Credit to Blackburn they deserved to go through.' Stoke were hampered by a number of injuries in the build up to the game and had Geoff Cameron sent off in the first half but Whelan feels they have no excuse. 'Injuries are an easy excuse. We've still got 11 players to go out and give Blackburn a game. Joshua King (7) scored an impressive hat trick to compel Stoke to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat . 'We were 1-0 up but we gave away sloppy goals and it was really disappointing today because we thought we could go on and do something. 'We've sat down and had words between ourselves but that will stay within the dressing room. It's not nice coming away from a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in mid-week but you think ok, it's the champions. Not against Blackburn, no disrespect. They fully deserved to win and I don't think they had to work very hard to get it. 'What the manager has said will stay in the dressing room. Things have been got off chests. It doesn't matter how good a player you are if you are not prepared to put the work in; the hard yards and the graft. If you don't do that then you don't deserve to be wearing the jersey. Peter Crouch (left) gives Mark Hughes' side the lead in the FA Cup tie but it was all downhill after that . 'Hopefully in the next week some lads will have to reflect on that.' Despite the setback, Whelan wants his side to move on from this disappointment and concentrate on the rest of the season. 'It's hard work from Monday, going out and getting our season going again. We were thinking we had a good chance of going a long way in this competition. 'It wasn't to be but we have to keep our season going, get our standards up and make sure the season does not slip us by because we can still achieve something this year.' Geoff Cameron (right) was sent off in for a foul on King which led to Rudy Gestede scoring from the spot . Mark Hughes shows his frustration after seeing his side lose heavily to the Championship side . | Glenn Whelan says Stoke's cup exit to Blackburn is 'the worst he's seen'
The Potter's were comfortably beaten 4-1 by the Championship side .
Joshua King scored a superb hat trick for Rovers at Ewood Park .
Click here for all the latest Stoke City news . |
127,442 | 30b7abfaa22ad4e0303d10fa53533fadb59235a6 | A waiter who mistakenly threw away up to $7,000 in a 'Tips For Jesus' gratuity is praying that the money can be resurrected. Ron Kinney, 67, waits tables at the French Quarter Restaurant in West Hollywood, California. In December, he received a huge tip on a $50 bill - but threw away the receipt, thinking that a diner had simply had too much to drink. Unbeknown to Mr Kinney, 'Tips for Jesus' is a phenomenon sweeping the country where restaurant staff from New York to Arizona have been left thousands of dollars by an extremely generous, anonymous patron. It's a miracle! Restaurant staff up and down the country have been receiving big tips on checks stamped with @tipsforjesus . It has been claimed that at least one of the 'Tips For Jesus' do-gooders is former PayPal vice president Jack Selby. Former PayPal VP Jack Selby is believed to be behind 'Tips For Jesus' By the time Mr Kinney and his co-workers realized the good fortune, the receipt was gone. Mr Kinney told the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I was pretty naive. 'I thought it was someone who had a drink too many and didn’t realize what they were doing. He added: “The money would sure have come in handy for me to help for retirement. We have no such plan at work.' In December, Aruj Dhuwan, a waiter at . Bo's Kitchen, New York, said he was left a staggering tip of $1,000 . dollars from a table he served late on Saturday night that included Mr . Selby. It was the third time . the Tips For Jesus lightning struck in the city in a single weekend. A . worker at The Smith near Lincoln Center was left $3,500, while another . at NoMad in the Flatiron District got $7,000. It . has previously been speculated that Mr Selby, who became a . multimillionaire when PayPal was sold to eBay, was the person behind . Tips For Jesus. The . 39-year-old businessman is believed to have handed out tens of thousands . of dollars in tips in the past three months at cafes and clubs from . Michigan to California. Mr Selby was among a small group of alumni who made a fortune at PayPal, and since leaving the firm has dabbled in film production, venture capitalism and now, according to his Facebook, he's opened a dry-cleaning business. While he hasn't officially revealed himself anywhere since the story went viral, he posted a link to an article about one generous gratuity on his page. And his Facebook friends appear to be in on the charitable scheme. One, Anne Woolway, commented: 'Do we win if we know whom is behind tipsforjesus?' Another, Rob Hughes, added: 'and the mystery tipper strikes again...' Mr Kinney, 67, who waits tables at the French Quarter restaurant in West Hollywood, said that he had no idea that the huge tip was serious and it would have been useful for his retirement . Mr Selby also owns homes in all the states where tips were received, including multiple residences in Arizona and California. Last year, Mr Selby started a company Incognito Pictures with the aim to make movies for a budget of $10 million or less. He secured $50million in financing for the project and entered into a long-term distribution deal with The Weinstein Company. Tipsforjesus has left a trail of extremely happy servers across the country after dropping the ridiculously generous tips. | Ron Kinney, 67, waits tables at the French Quarter Restaurant in West Hollywood, California .
'Tips for Jesus' is a phenomenon where restaurant staff from New York to Arizona have been .
left thousands by an anonymous patron . |
249,016 | ce3c395c97a809bbcb7c660cf446be95f4f36472 | By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 10:06 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:01 EST, 8 November 2012 . Sometimes the dreaded FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) makes us do crazy things. And that's precisely what has happened to 28-year-old Helen Wakefield from Warrington, Cheshire, this November. Or, rather, this MOvember. So bored was the travel radio presenter of being unable to join her male mates' mission to grow a November moustache (in effort to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer) that she decided to do the next best thing: draw one on. Day one: Everyone has to start somewhere, Helen, chin up! The imaginative girl, who aims to raise over £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK through sponsorship, has pledged to draw a comedy moustache on her face every day throughout November. And only eight days in she has already raised nearly half her target total. The idea started as a joke, but now, in keeping with the theme of the . Movember, Helen's moustache will grow . as the month goes on. And the (unofficial) Victoria Pendleton lookalike's 'tache - which started as a Charlie Chaplin-style square directly under her nose - has already 'grown' to reach the end of her lips. Joker Helen promises that by the end of the month, she will be sporting a full-on curly moustache. Hercule Poirot, I presume? Helen Wakefield regards her new lip 'hair' suspiciously on day two, left, and looks pleased with it on day four, right . Helen, who presents travel radio across the North West, said: 'I sponsor my mates to do Movember every year, and I think it's a great cause. 'I was always a little jealous that I couldn't join in the fun though - and this year I jokingly posted on Facebook that I was going to draw on a moustache to join in. 'So many people responded to it and said it was a great idea - and that they would sponsor me to do it, so I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. 'My friends think it's hilarious, and it's fine when I'm at work or with my family, but I do get some funny looks in the street. 'I went shopping in the Trafford Centre last week and people were almost falling over, doing double takes. I'm definitely earning my sponsorship money!' Why should boys have all the fun? Things are beginning to look up on day three, left, and Helen's moustache begins to rival her eyebrows in size on day four, right . And altruistic Helen is not only doing her bit for prostate cancer - she regularly volunteers her time at a shelter, too. She said: 'I volunteer at a homeless shelter once a week, and the guys there thought it was hilarious when I turned up sporting a curly moustache. 'My aim is to raise more than £1000 for Prostate Cancer UK - I'm about half way there at the moment. 'I think it's so important to raise as much awareness of cancer and fundraising as possible - it's a cause very close to my heart, and hopefully I'm doing my bit.' Helen has already raised £429, and to add to her grand total visit www.justgiving.com/thecrazytashlady. To see updates of her moustache growth, follow her on twitter at @crazytashlady . Day seven: Helen's moustache begins to take on some serious shape, left, and at a party with friends, right . 'Tachetastic: Helen with her boyfriend Ben and his genuine, hairy moustache . | Helen Wakefield, 28, from Cheshire, didn't want to miss out on MOvember .
MOvember involves men growing a moustache throughout November to raise awareness for prostate cancer .
Helen aims to raise over £1000 for Prostate Cancer UK, and has already raised £429 . |
45,859 | 813d1a365d9615828550614f41e0a5cfc9679520 | By . Snejana Farberov . and Ted Thornhill . Tara the cat has drawn more than 20million views on YouTube, tossed the first pitch at a baseball game, and now California's heroic feline is getting her own holiday. Last week, the Bakersfield Board of Supervisors proclaimed June 3 Tara the Hero Cat Day to honor Erica and Roger Triantafilo' furry friend for valiantly saving their 4-year-old son from a vicious dog. On Tuesday, the Traintfilos arrived at the Kern County Board of Supervisors chambers in Bakersfield for the ceremony with Tara in tow on a leash. Scroll down for video - WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Cat of the hour: Tara the cat is held by Roger Triantafilo while he gives a few words of thanks to the Kern County Board of Supervisors in Bakersfield, California, after the board proclaimed Tuesday as Tara the Hero Cat Day in Kern County . Purr-fect day: Tara, seen on a leash with her owners and their 4-year-old son, Jeremy, received a certificate and some cat toys for her bravery . Cat's clan: The Bakersfield family were recognized for representing their hometown with composure and kindheartedness . Town officials presented the family with a certificate of recognition and threw in some toys for the four-legged hero. Tara's owners said they were overwhelmed by the community's response to the now-viral video showing the fearless kitty coming to the rescue of their son, Jeremy. ‘To have this recognition is unreal. We're proud to be a part of this community. Kern County is our home and we love it,’ Roger Triantafilo told Bakersfield Now. Some star-struck Bakersfield supervisors even asked to pose for selfies with the cat of the hour, who did not appear bothered by all the attention. For the humble whiskered hero, this was only the latest in a series of honors. On May 20, the tabby threw the first pitch at a Bakersfield Blaze home game at Same Lynn Ballpark. She was carried onto the pitch by Roger Triantafilo, accompanied by his son, Jeremy, who she saved from the dog attack, and his wife, Erica. Inseparable: Jeremy and his four-legged pal on his first day of pre-school before the dog attack . Tara has catapulted to international fame thanks to her on-camera heroics . Feline fine: Hero cat Tara, with the help of her owner Roger Triantafilo and team staff member Jade Henry (right), 'tosses' the first pitch prior to the start of the Bakersfield Blaze and Lancaster Jayhawks Single A baseball game in Bakersfield, California, on Tuesday . Claw blimey: Tara, with Roger Triantafilo, leaves with son Jeremy (left) and mom Erica after throwing the ceremonial first pitch . Cat's amazing: The famous feline was the star attraction on Tuesday at the Bakersfield Blaze home game . Tara, however, didn’t quite play ball. Organizers had provided a baseball attached to a piece of string for the ceremonial first pitch, but . she wasn’t very interested in swatting it. Three days later, Tara made an appearance at the Bakersfield Condors hockey game and dropped the puck with the help of her owners. Three weeks ago, she became the nation's most beloved cat when surveillance . footage emerged showing her saving Jeremy by pouncing on the . neighbor's dog as it attacked him. Tara's owners said she has been best friends with Jeremy since he was born. She followed Erica and Roger Triantafilo home from a park about six years ago and has been a member of the family ever since, they said. 'It's pretty amazing to see just a cat . take on a dog and selflessly put herself out there,' Roger Triantafilo said. 'That dog did not . even know what hit him.' Erica explained that she had been near to the house watering a tree when the neighbor's dog, an eight-month-old male Labrador-Chow mix, escaped and grabbed her son by the leg. 'I'd never seen a dog just shake a child like that so violently,' she said. 'I just remember hearing him and the next thing I know, I see my cat flying out of nowhere and getting to this dog.' Loved: The cat happily lets the little boy kiss her as he calls her a hero who saved him from a 'mean dog' After the attack, Tara can be seen chasing the dog away before returning to Jeremy's side. In an interview with the Bakersfield Californian, . his family said she had always been protective over their oldest child . and slept in his crib when he was a baby. They also have younger twin . boys. They added that Tara became part of the family in 2008 when she followed them home from a nearby park - and they accepted her into their home, even though Erica is allergic to cats. She 'really just adopted us from there,' Mrs Triantafilo said. They named her Tara after 'Zatara', which was the name given to Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo by smugglers. They told him it means driftwood. 'We named her driftwood because she's our little cat that followed us home,' Triantafilo said. 'She's our little driftwood. She's amazing.' She said that even though her three boys tug at Tara, she sits there and takes it. Lurking: Jeremy Triantafilo was outside his family's home when a neighbor's dog escaped and ran towards him . To the rescue! Tara runs towards her owner as Scrappy shakes him. The dog was euthanized after continuing to show aggression during a 10-day assessment . 'She's the most mellow cat you've ever seen,' she told Today. 'All our boys love her... and she loves them right back.' The video had shown . Jeremy sitting on his bicycle outside his family's home on Tuesday when . the dog escaped its home through an open gate and crept up on him from . behind. Surveillance footage, which Jeremy's father uploaded to YouTube, shows the dog grabbing the boy's leg and pulling him to the ground before violently shaking him with his teeth clamped tight. Then suddenly, an unlikely hero bounds towards him - the family's cat, Tara. The . video shows the fearless feline jumping on the dog with enough force to . push him away from the boy. Tara then chases the dog away from the . driveway with its leg between its tail. Feline brave: The cat launches herself at the startled dog and knocks it away from Jeremy . And don't come back! Tara follows the dog to make sure it has left, before returning to check on Jeremy . The neighbor, who had been pulling out of their gated driveway when the dog escaped, called 911 for the boy and his mother, KERO reported. The boy, who has mild autism, needed stitches to the deep wounds on his legs but is otherwise fine. 'He's just bouncing back from this,' she told Today. 'He . tells us it feels better.' Speaking to Kero, he said: 'Tara is my hero!' The dog was taken by Bakersfield Animal Control and was later put down. Injuries: Jeremy needed stitches to the wounds on his leg, pictured, but is otherwise fine, his mother said . Relief: Jeremy's parents, Erica and Roger, pictured, said they were relieved his injuries were not worse . The . encounter was caught on surveillance cameras outside the home and . uploaded to YouTube by the boy's father. 'My cat . defends my son during a vicious dog attack and runs the dog off before . he can do additional damage,' Triantafilo wrote beneath the video. 'Thankfully, my son is fine!' The . boy's mother said on Facebook: 'We aren't upset with our neighbors, . we're just thankful our son wasn't injured more... Our cat is my hero!' 'Whoever said cats don't love their owners!' one YouTube viewer said. | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Triantafilo family and Tara were given a certificate of recognition and cat toys by Bakersfield Board of Supervisors .
The cat made an appearance at Sam Lynn Ballpark to throw first pitch two weeks ago .
Jeremy Triantafilo was outside his family's California home when the neighbor's dog escaped and grabbed him from behind .
Surveillance cameras captured Tara jumping on the dog and chasing it away .
Labrador-Chow mix has since been put down . |
49,525 | 8bfa38daac63c42e5bdc31abc33ce6b20835d35c | The special court set up in Cambodia to try people accused of atrocities under the Khmer Rouge has ordered the release of the regime's "first lady," saying she's unfit to stand trial. Ieng Thirith, who served as minister for social affairs in the Khmer Rouge regime during the 1970s, had been accused of crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, genocide, homicide, torture and religious persecution. However, proceedings against her were halted in November last year after the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia decided she could not face trial as she suffered from dementia. After seeking further medical assessment, the court issued a statement Thursday confirming the earlier diagnosis that Ieng Thirith suffers from a "progressive, degenerative illness (likely Alzheimer's disease) and remains unfit to stand trial." Judge resigns from court trying Khmer Rouge crimes . It added that medical experts confirmed that "all treatment options have now been exhausted and that the accused's cognitive impairment is likely irreversible." As a result, the court recognized she would be incapable of remembering or complying with any conditions -- but reminded her not to interfere in their investigations in any way and to remain in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge torture prison chief gets life sentence . Ieng Thirith, 80, was one of four surviving leaders of the brutal regime facing prosecution -- the others being her husband Ieng Sary, the former Khmer Rouge foreign minister; Khieu Samphon, the nominal head of state; and Nuon Chea, the prime minister, also known as Brother Number 2. They remain on trial. The head of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, was known as Brother Number 1. He died in 1998, long before the U.N.-backed court came into existence. He had previously been married to Ieng Thirith's sister, Khieu Ponnary. Under Pol Pot's leadership, the Khmer Rouge regime was responsible for the deaths of millions of ordinary Cambodians during a four-year reign of terror that was eventually halted in 1979 by invading Vietnamese forces. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge ordered people out of Phnom Penh, the capital, and other cities in Cambodia to work in the countryside. It is said to be responsible for about 1.7 million deaths, roughly a quarter of the population at the time. Its stated aim was to create a Communist utopia, but instead the regime forced Cambodians into what has been described as a living hell. | U.N. court in Cambodia upheld earlier diagnosis that Ieng Thirith has dementia .
Court: Experts say accused's cognitive impairment is 'likely irreversible'
Three others, include Ieng Thirith's husband, face charges of crimes against humanity .
Khmer Rouge regime's four-year rule in the 1970s is blamed for 1.7 million deaths . |
222,743 | ac5898a375a136a9e1b8d13135d312def3b53252 | The UN's World Health Organisation has come out with the firm recommendation that we should all be aiming to cut our sugar intake by half . On paper, you would think it had been a good week for those with serious concerns about the amounts of sugar that so many of us are consuming. On Wednesday, for instance, no less an authority than the UN’s World Health Organisation came out with the firm recommendation that we should all be aiming to cut our sugar intake by half and that children should not be given fizzy drinks at all. That came just one day after Dame Sally Davies, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, proposed that a sugar tax needed to be introduced if we wanted to cut sugar intake and reduce obesity. And it came on the same day that an eminent New York cardiovascular research scientist warned that the long-running demonisation of fats, and saturated fats in particular, could be entirely misplaced. The real killer, according to Dr James DaNicolantio, particularly when it comes to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes — those two scourges of the modern age — is sugar. After these three dramatic interventions, surely it is game, set and match for those of us who would like to see sugar consumption seriously reduced? Well, as a cardiologist and science director of the campaigning health group, Action On Sugar, I can tell you that we’re certainly not dancing in the streets just yet. For despite the mounting evidence of the damage to health done by sugar — evidence that many working in the field would now describe as overwhelming — this was the response from the Prime Minister’s official spokesman on Wednesday: ‘What we are doing is working with the industry. You have already seen commitments from retailers and food manufacturers to reduce levels of salt, to remove some artificial fats, to reduce calorie content and improve labelling.’ It’s the first sentence — ‘what we are doing is working with the industry’ — that gives the game away because it’s absolutely true. The links between Government ministers and food manufacturers, and indeed between scientists who are supposed to advise the Government and the food manufacturers, are nothing short of astonishing. For these are the same food manufacturers who have been adding extra sugar to processed foods, confectionery and fizzy drinks for decades. The London Olympic Games, the biggest celebration of fitness and health in this country for decades, was sponsored by Coca-Cola and McDonald's . It is the closeness of those links that are widely blamed for a compulsory food traffic-light system — an idea once enthusiastically championed by the Food Standards Agency and designed to give shoppers an idea of the nutritional value (or not) of the item they were about to buy — quietly dying a death soon after the Coalition came to power. But then what do we expect when the London Olympic Games, the biggest celebration of fitness and health in this country for decades, was sponsored by Coca-Cola and McDonald’s? And what do we expect when, as this newspaper revealed only last month, fast-food companies, supermarkets and restaurant chains have had dozens of meetings with ministers since the last election? Nando’s, Tesco, Pepsi, Mars and, almost inevitably, the ubiquitous McDonald’s are among those who have had the chance to bend the ministerial ear since 2010. Government ministers hate their close links to the food industry being exposed by the media. But these links exist and are one reason, I believe, for the Government’s lax approach. Too often, when a minister pronounces on dietary matters, I wonder whether he is just saying what his chums in the food industry have told him to say. Meanwhile, rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer — all conditions with increasingly strong links to sugar intake — continue to rise. Influential organisations such as the British Nutrition Foundation have a membership that reads like the Who's Who of the sugar industry - Coca-Cola and Pepsi among them . The Food and Drink Federation, the industry lobby group, for instance, has had 16 meeting with ministers since the last election and an astonishing 99 with Government officials. By contrast, we in Action On Sugar have had just one, although a second, we’re told, is in the pipeline. There’s no way of knowing who has met whom, but there is also no hiding the conflicts of interest. Bill Morgan, special adviser to former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, for instance, came from a PR firm that has Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods and Tesco on its books, although the PR company has always denied that Mr Morgan worked on two of those accounts. But its website did highlight his potential for linking the interests of its clients with Government policy. Even Mr Lansley, himself, architect of the Government’s ‘Responsibility Deal’, which effectively handed responsibility for the levels of fats, salt and sugar in food to the food manufacturers themselves, has past links with the industry. In 2009, while still Shadow Health Secretary, he was director of a marketing firm where clients included Pepsi, Mars, Pizza Hut and Diageo’s Guinness. Earlier this year, Channel 4’s Dispatches programme revealed that five of the eight members of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee of Nutrition (SACN) received substantial funding from large confectionary companies. The real killer, according to Dr James DaNicolantio, particularly when it comes to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes - those two scourges of the modern age - is sugar . These included the committee’s chairman, Professor Ian Macdonald, who receives money not only from Unilever, the world’s biggest ice-cream maker, but also from Coca-Cola and Mars. His committee colleague, Professor Tom Sanders, one of the Government’s most trusted advisers when it comes to diet, sugar and heart disease, has had his research funded to the tune of £4.5 million by the sugar giant Tate & Lyle. There is, of course, no evidence — or indeed, any suggestion — that members of the SACN have ever put the interests of the companies that sponsor them first. But the committee has gone against prevailing scientific opinion as rates of obesity and diet-related diabetes have grown and its reports are said to be one of the main reasons why official health advice on the amounts of sugar we eat haven’t changed in 11 years. The WHO is absolutely right, we must cut down on our consumption of dietary sugar . This advice suggests that an individual can consume a staggering 22 teaspoons of sugar a day as part of a guideline daily amount. On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation suggested that figure should be just six teaspoons. The difference is huge and, in the face of the dramatic intervention by the WHO, I wonder if the SACN’s committee’s recommendations will suddenly be changing now? On Wednesday, I was due to go on Channel 4 News to discuss the WHO’s new recommendations but the debate was cancelled when the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) withdrew, apparently after discovering that I would be up against them. Had they turned up, I might have pointed out that the relentless drive for profit among food companies had contributed to unnecessary suffering for millions of people and thousands of deaths that might otherwise have been prevented. Moreover, there is growing evidence that not all calories are the same (contrary to what the food companies will tell you). Research from Stanford University last year showed that for every 150 sugar calories (from a can of Coke, for example) consumed above the recommended daily calorie intake, there is an 11-fold increase in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes compared with 150 ‘excess’ calories consumed from a non-sugar source. That increase is completely independent of body weight and levels of exercise: in other words, we are all vulnerable. Yet still the Government does nothing. And as long as influential organisations such as the British Nutrition Foundation have a membership that reads like the Who’s Who of the sugar industry — Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s McDonald’s, Nestle and Pepsi among them — and the British Dietetic Association can promote an Eat Well plate that includes a full-sugar can of cola and fruit juice as part of a balanced diet, I fear that won’t change. But change it must, for our health, and particularly the health of our children, depends upon it. The WHO is absolutely right, we must cut down on our consumption of dietary sugar and it’s high-time the Government cast aside its cosy relationship with the food industry, faced up to the unpalatable scientific facts and did the right thing. | World Health Organisation recommended cutting our sugar intake by half .
Government's Chief Medical Officer has proposed a sugar tax .
Cardiologists have claimed that sugar is the real killer when it comes to heart disease and diabetes .
Closeness of links between Government ministers and food manufacturers has been widely blamed for a compulsory food traffic-light system .
Dr Aseem Malhotra is Science Director of Action On Sugar . |
78,965 | dfd07362dea7727104a1f36c532a1c938e5b0ca1 | Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar is not guaranteed his starting place back even when fully fit because of the form of stand-ins Ciaran Clark and Jores Okore. Manager Paul Lambert insists the Holland defender has a ‘fight’ ahead to earn selection given Villa have not lost since the deputy centre backs stepped up. Clark, 25, and Okore, 22, have started the last four Premier League games due to calf injuries to Vlaar and Philippe Senderos, as well as Nathan Baker’s knee problem. Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar (right) is back in contention for a starting place in central defence . But the form of stand-ins Ciaran Clark (left) and Jores Okore mean Vlaar is not guaranteed a place . Draws with Southampton and Burnley were followed by wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester City. Vlaar, whose last game was the draw at West Ham United, is back in training and in contention for Saturday’s game against West Bromwich Albion - but he is by no means a certainty once he is 100 per cent fit. ‘You earn the right then you’re in the team,’ said Lambert. ‘Your job is to stay in it. Those two lads have been playing really well now. ‘I’m sure Ron, Philippe and Nathan will know that there’s a really big fight on for them to get in the side. You need that competition for people to play on top of their game. The Villa skipper trains at Bodymoor Heath ahead of this weekend's clash with West Bromwich Albion . ‘Ciaran and Jores have been absolutely excellent for us and have struck up a good understanding. They’re in form and there’s a good little partnership developing there. ‘In the four games they’ve played together they’ve been outstanding, the two of them. Sometimes you just stumble on things and it works. ‘To be fair to Jores, he had 14 months out before he played Southampton and that’s a long, long time out of football. ‘To come in and perform the way he has - his standards have been exceptionally high. And Ciaran seems to be thriving on the responsibility, helping him through it.’ Lambert will set two personal records if Villa win at The Hawthorns. Villa have not gone six games unbeaten under his stewardship, nor won three games on the run. Clark (left) and Okore (right) have featured in two wins and two draws for Villa in the last four games . | Ron Vlaar could return from injury against West Bromwich Albion .
Aston Villa captain has not played since the draw at West Ham United .
But he is not guaranteed to return straight into the starting line-up .
Ciaran Clark and Jores Okore are impressing and could retain places . |
71,701 | cb33b82431f17762d99c45cba51654aba39a6fa8 | A star player at the high school football team caught up in a allegations of sick hazing rituals carried out on freshman has lost his scholarship to Penn State University. Myles Hartsfield, 17, a cornerback in his final year at the beleaguered Sayreville War Memorial School in Parlin, New Jersey, was dropped by coaches today. Seven players have been charged with sex crimes over allegations that older team members would routinely hold new players down, anally penetrate them with their fingers, then stick it in the boy's mouth. Promising: Myles Hartsfield, a cornerback for the scandal-hit football team at Sayreville War Memorial School in New Jersey, has lost his scholarship to Penn State University. He is pictured here earlier in his high school career . Young talent: Hartsfield, pictured in 2011, is now considered one of the most promising players in the state, and had several scholarships to choose from . It is not clear whether Hartsfield is one of the players, all aged 15-17, who have been arrested and charged. The names of those charged have not been released because they are all juveniles. The blow to Hartsfield's career was reported today by BlueWhiteIllustrated, a fan site for the Nittany Lions, Penn State's team. He has been described as an 'explosive talent' in offense and defense - and had the pick of several scholarships before choosing Penn State. According to some rankings, he is the 13th most promising player in New Jersey. 'Sick ritual': Sayreville War Memorial High School's football team, some of whose players are pictured above, has been by a hazing scandal. The identities of the players involved is not known . But he, and all his teammates, are now in jeopardy after the season was canceled while investigations take place. The scandal widened last night after the area's Superintendent revealed that the hazing may have been going on for years - and said that football may not come back to the school for a very long time. Sayreville Schools Superintendent Richard Labbe revealed that information gathered by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Officer suggests the harassment, intimidation and bullying may have taken place before this year in the Bombers' locker room. Action: Superintendent Richard Labbe is considering banning football indefinitely at Sayreville War Memorial High School after the prosecutor said there is evidence of previous harassment, bullying and intimidation . Having already suspended the squad for a season, Labbe is now considering extending the ban into 2015 and beyond. The scandal has forced the school to call off this season's football as officials consider the future of the team, the coach and the principal. More details also emerged about the alleged incident itself - which is claimed to have required seven people at once. Four boys would pin the freshman down in the locker room, and two would stand guard. The seventh would howl, turn off the lights, then carry out the penetration, according to the new claims. Sayreville War Memorial High School has been rocked by allegations of bullying, intimidation and harassment among players on their popular football team. Here students are seen arriving at the school last week . Sayreville War Memorial High School senior Kishan Patel, 17, stops to answer questions from the media as he leaves school last week . The description of the attacks, which are alleged to have taken place almost every day from September 19 to 29, was given by an unnamed parent of a football player to NJ Advance Media on Saturday. He or she described the ritual as 'sickening'. They said: 'Just think if my son or somebody else's son wanted to leave and they either felt overwhelmed by it, [or] they couldn't leave because there was somebody at the door'. It came as the coach of the team, George Najjar, refused to answer questions to the news website about whether he would resign. He said: 'There will be a time and place when I have something to say, but now is not the time.' Three students were charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint, hazing and other crimes for an act of sexual penetration upon one of the children. The four other students were charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact and other crimes. Those in custody were awaiting a Family Court decision on whether they would be held at a juvenile detention facility or be released to their families. Their names weren't released because of their ages. Upset: Audience members react as members of the Sayreville Board of Education address a hazing incident that 'went too far' and is at the center of the investigation into the Sayreville War Memorial High School football team . Discussion: Members of the Sayreville Board of Education hold a press conference at the Selover School in South Amboy, N.J., to address a hazing incident that 'went too far' | Myles Hartsfield was dropped by Penn State University, it was revealed .
Player, 17, has 'explosive talent' - but is caught up in hazing allegations .
Senior-year player is star of Sayreville War Memorial High School team .
Allegations surfaced of players at New Jersey school abusing freshmen .
Boys allegedly be held down while older boys anally penetrated them .
Used finger and would then force it into boys' mouths .
Seven players have been charged with sex crimes after revelations .
It is not clear whether Hartsfield is among them . |
198,057 | 8c5ffc70755ad7c0f02ee9250d603fe18a34c5f5 | Do you regularly 'detox' with a green tea or a wheatgrass juice and pack your diet full of chia seeds and acai berry all in the hope of improving your cholesterol, combating cancer and promoting weight loss? Are you among the millions who believe oysters are an aphrodisiac, boosting your sex drive? Every day across the world scientists publish countless studies into the health benefits of various foods, prompting new food fads, and encouraging millions to invest in 'the' latest superfood. Frustrated by the constant stream of conflicting scientific evidence, one data journalist and information designer from London was inspired to 'wade through the murk' to offer people a little light in the confusion. David McCandless, author of the book Information Is Beautiful, began collating thousands of scientific studies to produce a stunning interactive Snake Oil Superfoods infographic to inform people and ensure 'they aren't duped'. The 43-year-old embarked on the challenge with Dr Miriam Quick, investigating the evidence to establish which studies 'really stand up to the test of science', promising 'solid scientific evidence for extra health benefits of certain foods'. A new infographic that was four years in the making reveals the grade of scientific evidence behind various so-called superfoods. Data journalist David McCandless was inspired to collate the information after becoming frustrated with the confusing number of scientific studies . The finished, though ever-evolving, product divides a vast range of foods into those backed by 'strong', 'good', 'promising', 'inconclusive', 'some', 'slight', and 'no evidence' categories. And the majority sit in the inconclusive to no evidence range. There is no evidence oysters are good for your sex life. There is only 'some' evidence to back the theory that green tea is beneficial to cholesterol levels, the proof that wheatgrass is good for your general health, that chia seeds boost weight loss and heart health and acai berry helps in the fight against cancer and boost weight loss is only slight. But it is not all bad news. There is strong evidence that three grams of the sugars found in oats and barley each day helps lower blood cholesterol, and that garlic really can help lower blood pressure, especially for those with raised blood pressure. Meanwhile there is 'good' proof that almonds consistently lower 'bad' cholesterol in healthy people as well as those with high cholesterol and diabetes. And the scientific basis for another new superfood, coconut oil, boosting weight loss is 'promising,' according to the infographic. Mr McCandless told MailOnline: 'This is really a sequel to a previous graphic about supplements, collating the nutritional information of supplements from Vitamin D to Goji berries. The graphic divides various foods into seven categories, rating the quality of the evidence for the health claims - strong, good, promising, inconclusive, some, slight and no evidence. Hovering over the various foods allows the reader to link back to scientific studies . 'We first created that around four years ago and it has evolved over several years. 'I realised there were lots of foods claiming to be superfoods, and beneficial for your health. So about two years ago we started researching, it took about nine months in total, though not full time. 'With supplements it is slightly easier because they can be tested in clinical trials. But with foods it is harder to test exactly how they affect the body. 'A lot of the evidence is from epidemiological studies, a survey of a population for example. The grade of scientific evidence is slightly lower. 'They might identify a beneficial chemical in red wine, for example, and then infer that food or drink carries the benefit.' Mr McCandless told MailOnline he is 'a bit of a health freak', and so was inspired by his own curiosity to produce the 'ever-evolving' piece of work. 'I try to live a super healthy lifestyle but have been frustrated by the grade of the evidence,' he said. 'I was left trying to find some sense in the murk. One day a study would say something was good for you, and the next would contradict it. 'We want the graphic to act as a filter, allowing us to share the information with people. 'We spent a lot of time collating the information, to make sure people aren't duped - that's the real goal.' The infographic features in Mr McCandless' book, Information Is Beautiful. His book Knowledge Is Beautiful is also out now. Mr McCandless said the piece of work is 'ever-evolving' as the team at Information Is Beautiful constantly update it, as new studies emerge . | Data journalist David McCandless began research for the infographic two years ago .
He spent nine months investigating scientific evidence backing the health benefits of various superfoods .
Produced an interactive infographic, which is constantly evolving, to help people 'wade through the murk'
Foods are divided into seven categories - strong, good, promising, inconclusive, some, slight and no evidence .
Graphic shows three grams of the sugars in barley and oats each day does help lower cholesterol .
Garlic really can help lower blood pressure, especially in those people with raised blood pressure .
There is 'good' proof almonds consistently lower 'bad' cholesterol in healthy people and those with diabetes .
And the scientific basis for another new superfood, coconut oil, boosting weight loss is 'promising'
But there is no evidence oysters are aphrodisiacs and the evidence supporting the idea acai berries help fight cancer and chia seeds boost weight loss is slight while there's some evidence wheatgrass is good for overall health . |
8,524 | 180d177c6976b0824d83495240a3a9badc21af41 | By . Associated Press . and James Rush for MailOnline . A couple have been indicted by a grand jury in the grisly death of a New Orleans stripper who was stabbed and dismembered two years ago. Margaret Sanchez, 30, and Terry Speaks, 41, have been charged with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Jaren Lockhart, 22, died from a single stab wound to the chest. Her head and body parts were found discarded along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Margaret Sanchez, 30, (left) and Terry Speaks, 41, (right) have been indicted by a grand jury in the killing and dismemberment of a New Orleans stripper . Sanchez and Speaks, who is in a federal prison in New York, have been accused of inviting Lockhart to a private party on June 6, 2012, Nola.com/The Times-Picayune has reported. Police say Lockhart told co-workers at Temptations Gentlemen's Club that she was leaving to 'make rent.' According to the report, Lockhart's head, legs and arms below the elbows were cut off. Speaks has also been charged with failure to register as a sex offender. Jaren Lockhart, 22, died from a single stab wound to the chest. Her head and body parts were found discarded along the Mississippi Gulf Coast . Authorities found the stabbed torso of Lockhart washed up in Mississippi's Hancock County in June 2012, NOLA reported at the time. Her decapitated head and parts of her legs were found in nearby Harrison County. Authorities were able to identify Lockhart based on her neck tattoos. Her fiance reported her missing after she did not return from a shift at a Bourbon Street club. | Margaret Sanchez and Terry Speaks indicted in killing of Jaren Lockhart .
Pair charged with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice .
Lockhart, 22, died from a single stab wound to the chest before her head and body parts were found discarded along Mississippi Gulf Coast . |
164,677 | 60f2fc5f1b76cf6553782cd9bbbed91b77776024 | (CNN) -- Lindsay Spencer was two years out of college and facing one of the biggest decisions of her young life: what to do with those Facebook friend requests from people she met through her job. Blurring work and personal friendships is prompting Lindsay Spencer to maintain separate Facebook pages. "There's nothing on my personal page that's horrible," says the 24-year-old communications coordinator for the National Peanut Board in Atlanta, Georgia. "It's just that there are some things that are not work-appropriate." Many of the job-related friend requests came after meeting people at conferences. Eventually they would find her by searching on Facebook and request to be "friended." Initially Spencer decided to ignore the requests. After all, does a virtual stranger really care what her favorite movies are? Do they really benefit from learning details about her weekend leisure time? Spencer's answer was to create a second Facebook page, which she devotes to work-related information. This means she now has her "friend friends," about 400 of them, and then she has her "work friends," four, so far. Spencer's modern dilemma is becoming more common throughout the world, experts say, as friendships with co-workers extend to our lives spent online after work hours. Simultaneously, our computer time at the office is becoming an extension of our personal life, they say. 'Work takes place in more places now' This isn't necessarily a bad thing, says Paul Levinson, professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University in New York. "No one ever forces us to go online -- we can shut it off," he says. "What this is really all about is an increase in information sharing." And with the popularity of smartphones and other handheld devices, many people carry their work into their homes and are never separated from e-mail. They also have the ability to stay in constant touch with their favorite social networking sites. "There is increasingly less difference in work life and personal time," Levinson says. "We are coming from a time when there were very clear boundaries. That comes from an older expectation. Work takes place in more places now." And again, Levinson doesn't think it's a bad thing to have access to all this information about work and co-workers. Spencer, who has friended her manager but not her big boss, says she likes to think her co-workers are sensible enough not to put out too much information -- especially photographs -- on social networking sites. And so far, so good. There have been no embarrassing images of drunken escapades, no status updates erupting with emotional outbursts. Social networking sites have both good and bad uses in the business world, says Dr. Lynn Friedman, a clinical psychologist and adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University. Face time vs. Facebook time . People can use the sites to make new acquaintances outside their departments and groups, and users can extend their networks beyond the traditional workplace, she says in an interview by e-mail. "It's a way to enter new professional galaxies." But people can use the sites too much and as a consequence give less time to meeting with co-workers in person. "In most businesses, it's optimal to mix social networking with real-life face-to-face interaction," she writes. "However, social networking can provide a springboard for identifying kindred spirits with whom one might want to do something old-fashioned like, say, having a cup of coffee. In an ideal world, it's best to relate to others in both cyber and real space." Paula Pile, a psychologist who practices in North Carolina, says you need to be careful to make sure that social networking sites aren't encroaching on your office time. More than an hour a day is excessive, she warns. Worse, spending too much time on the sites can disrupt your balance between work and private time. It can also take you out of your family time with your spouse or children. "If you are spending two hours at home on them each night, you are not available to your family," she says. Set boundaries . Both psychologists advise setting boundaries between yourself and the people you work with, as well as your online "friends." Friedman also suggests setting goals for using social networking sites and telling others about your limits to avoid hurt feelings. She uses an example of someone who lets people know, "I don't do those things at nights or on weekends so I can have my time with family." And Pile says to consider who you're corresponding with during your work time. If they aren't people you would talk to in "real life," she says, you probably are wasting time. | Do job-related Facebook friends really need to know details of your personal life?
Facebook user decided to separate her "friend friends" and her "work friends"
Expert: More than one hour per day on social sites is too much .
Set goals for how you use sites and make your friends aware of them . |
241,163 | c434adcce4403736496738efea1acdb707d73704 | (CNN) -- Britain's Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two at the Chinese Grand Prix Sunday as his teammate Nico Rosberg clung on to his lead in the F1 world championship title race. It was the third straight victory for Hamilton after his retirement in the opening round in Australia and he led for every one of the 56 laps in Shanghai after starting from pole position. By contrast, Rosberg had to battle through the field after a wretched start and only overhauled Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari after the final round of pit stops. Read more: CNN's essential guide to F1 in 2014 . Rosberg, who won in Australia, has a four-point lead over Hamilton after four rounds of the 2014 season, which is being dominated by their all-conquering Mercedes team. Alonso's third was a rare bright spot in a difficult season for Ferrari, whose team boss Stefano Domenicali quit earlier this week, but it was a frustrating afternoon for Red Bull and defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. The German had to give best to his rookie teammate Daniel Ricciardo in the battle for a distant fourth after initially running in second following a fine start. Vettel also appeared to disregard team orders after being told to let Australia's Ricciardo past. "Tough luck" came the reply over race radio, but he did move over shortly afterwards. Read more: Hamilton wins duel with Rosberg in Bahrain . Hamilton was involved in an epic battle with Rosberg in Bahrain, but spent much of the latest race in splendid isolation, finishing over 18 seconds clear as he took the checkered flag. "It's incredible, I just can't believe how amazing this car is," the 2008 world champion said in his post-race podium interview. "I was just really racing myself," he added. Two-time champion Alonso was delighted to have edged ahead of the two Red Bulls after the ructions within his team which have seen Domenicali replaced by Marco Mattiacci. "It was a good weekend, we improved the car and were more competitive," he said. "We've not had the start to the season we would have liked, but we are still in the fight," added the Spaniard. Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Force India, just holding off Finn Valtteri Bottas in his Williams. Bottas and Rosberg made heavy contact on the first corner but both were able to continue unhindered. "There were cars all over the place and it was great my car held on," a relieved Rosberg said. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez in the second Force India and youngster Daniil Kvyat in a Toro Rosso completed the points scoring positions. Read more: Why can't women win in F1? Hamilton was completing his 25th career win and it was the first time he has achieved a run of three successive victories, underlining his challenge for a coveted second world crown. With four races out of 19 gone, Mercedes already have established a massive lead in the constructors' standings with 154 points, 97 more than second-placed Red Bull, who disappointed in the race proper Sunday after promising performances in practice and qualifying. They will hope to have closed the gap in technical prowess by the time of the fifth round of the season in Barcelona from May 9-11, a circuit which has favored Red Bull in the past. | Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai .
Third straight F1 win for Hamilton .
Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg finishes second .
Fernando Alonso claims the final podium spot in third . |
44,704 | 7e06b8a3f6582d0dcacd94466a1c7497894ee7d8 | By . Sam Greenhill . A report detailing Jimmy Savile’s abuse of up to 1,000 children on BBC premises has been delayed, it was announced last night. Dame Janet Smith’s review of the paedophile DJ’s victims at the corporation was expected to be published later this month. But now it will be shelved until the middle of the year, at the request of police and prosecutors who want it delayed until after the trial of former presenter Stuart Hall. Delay: A report into the activities of Jimmy Savile, pictured, has been delayed after a police request . Last night victims' lawyers expressed disappointment at the setback. It means the BBC is spared a crisis, for now, over the scale of Savile's offending. The report is expected to accuse BBC executives of turning a blind eye to the rape and sexual abuse of up to 1,000 boys and girls in the corporation's changing rooms and studios. The review, led by former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith, is expected to suggest the abuse took place on BBC property for more than four decades. In three known cases, Savile carried out his abuse with the help of others connected to the BBC, the review has heard. A source said: 'It will go right to the heart of how Savile was able to get away with the most heinous of crimes under the very noses of BBC staff for more than 40 years.' 'Under their noses': The report is expected to shed light on 40 years of abuse by the peadophile DJ . Yesterday a spokesman for the Dame Janet Smith Review said: 'The Review recently received a request from Lancashire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to postpone delivery of its report until the criminal proceedings against Stuart Hall have concluded in mid-2014.' He said there were concerns it could 'adversely affect the fairness of Mr Hall's trial', and said Dame Janet Smith had agreed to postpone her report. Trial: Lancashire police asked that the report be delayed so as not to affect the 'fairness' of the forthcoming trial of Stuart Hall, pictured . Liz Dux, a lawyer at Slater & Gordon representing 74 victims of Savile, said: 'The victims will be naturally disappointed by the delay in the release of this report. They have been living with the trauma of this matter in the spotlight now for 16 months. 'Those that have given evidence to the Dame Janet Smith review were pleased with how sympathetically they were listened to but there has been no follow up support given by the BBC after they went through the trauma of giving their statements. 'They will understand the reasons why the release of the report has been delayed but for them their suffering continues until answers are given.' The Dame Janet Smith Review is expected to overshadow the investigation led by Nick Pollard, former head of Sky News, which sought to uncover why the BBC dropped its Newsnight programme on the Savile allegations. Police investigations have so far uncovered that at least 450 people were abused by the Jim'll Fix It presenter on BBC premises. They also say at least 1,300 people were attacked by him over the course of 54 years. Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, is said to have carried out most of the attacks in the 1960s and 1970s, when his popularity as a BBC presenter was at its peak. However, aged 79 he groped a teenage girl while filming the last Top of the Pops. Described as Britain's worst ever paedophile, Savile's abuse also took place on NHS premises, prompting a further review expected later this year. | Dame Janet Smith review is set to detail 1,000 cases of child abuse .
But police and prosecutors asked for it to be held back .
There are fears it could affect the 'fairness' of upcoming Stuart Hall trial .
It is now expected to be published in 'mid-2014' |
123,260 | 2b56c7b9ceed62f7e84f86e4423627b8c3505722 | Sportsmail takes a look at 10 things we have learned from an entertaining weekend of Premier League fixtures, as well as intriguing statistics from the Football League. 1) The dramatic Manchester United equaliser that followed the dismissal of Branislav Ivanovic was a reminder that the depth of Chelsea’s squad remains to be tested. He was one of seven players in the side that lined up at Old Trafford who have started every Premier League game this season, while Oscar has missed only one match. Cesar Azpilicueta was ever present before this game, while Diego Costa has missed just two. Branislav Ivanovic, one of seven Chelsea players to have started every game, was sent off against Man United . Manager Jose Mourinho has given starts to just 16 players in total, compared to the 23 used so far by biggest title rivals Manchester City. If Chelsea want to match the achievements of Arsenal’s 2003-4 Invincibles they can’t afford too many suspensions. The legendary Gunners side had nine players who appeared in more than 30 League games. 2) Southampton need to start talking to midfielder Jack Cork about a new contract or risk losing the midfielder for nothing when his current deal expires next summer. The 25-year-old has struggled to break into Ronald Koeman’s first team, but after playing his part in the 8-0 destruction of Sunderland was again excellent in the win over Stoke. In the 62 minutes before he was subbed after taking a knock he’d found a team mate with 38 of his 40 passes, and covered more ground (5.0 miles) than any other Saints player. Southampton midfielder Jack Cork, pictured in action against Stoke, has impressed in his last two outings . 3) Letting Jack Colback move up the road to Newcastle for nothing always seemed an odd bit of business by Sunderland, and the flame haired midfielder continues to be one of Alan Pardew’s key players. Any of the quarter-backs playing in Sunday’s NFL game at Wembley would have appreciated the pass he hit for Sammy Ameobi’s goal seven seconds after half time at Tottenham. And Colback, described earlier this season by Roy Hodgson as the ‘ginger Andrea Pirlo’, continued to be an unsung hero in the Toon’s 2-1 win, only once failing to find a team mate with a pass in the entire 90 minutes. Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback challenges Tottenham wideman Erik Lamela during the Magpies 2-1 win . 4) James Collins might not be the world’s greatest centre back with the ball at his feet, but when it comes to courage the Welsh international is never found wanting. The 31-year-old set the tone early in the game for West Ham’s committed defending against Manchester City by getting hit in a defensive wall without flinching. He went on to make three more equally brave blocks, won 100 per cent of his heading duels, and his 12 clearances were as many as the rest of Hammers’ defence put together. West Ham defender James Collins makes a courageous challenge to deny Man City frontman Sergio Aguero . 5) Saido Berahino is the young man you want when there’s a crucial penalty to be taken – as he proved by slotting away West Bromwich Albion’s injury time equaliser against Crystal Palace. The striker has never failed to score from 12 yards, and insisted on keeping spot kick duties despite the arrival in the summer of midfielder Craig Gardner – who took them successfully for both Sunderland and Birmingham. He’s justified that with three now among his eight goals this campaign – and also scored a crucial one that helped England’s Under 21 side qualify for next summer’s European Championship finals. West Brom striker Saido Berahino is yet to miss from the penalty spot and netted against Crystal Palace . 6) Winger Jefferson Montero has been Swansea’s super-sub all season, appearing in all but one of their Premier League matches but never getting more than 25 minutes. That finally changed when he got his first League start against Leicester, and the 25-year-old Ecuador international made the most of the chance. His pace – only Wayne Routledge recorded a quicker top speed than his 20.5mph - made him a constant threat, and he laid on the chance for Wilfried Bony’s second goal in the 2-0 win. Jefferson Montero has appeared in all but one of Swansea's games but has yet to play more than 25 minutes . 7) Brighton boss Sami Hyppia needs to get his strikers firing – of the four forwards on his books only Craig Mackail-Smith has hit the target in the Championship with the princely sum of one goal. When Joe Bennett gave the Seagulls the lead against Rotherham it was the eighth of the club’s last nine to be scored by a defender – making it all the more annoying when former Brighton frontman Alex Revell grabbed an equaliser. 8) Mick McCarthy has always prided himself on the resilience of his teams, but his Ipswich side have suddenly developed an inability to hang on to a lead. In the last four games they have let nine points slip away from winning positions, and the latest came when Nahki Wells struck twice to help Huddersfield recover from being 2-0 down at Portman Road. Brighton defender Joe Bennett (right) is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring against Rotherham . 9) Notts County’s rookie boss Shaun Derry raised eyebrows in the summer when he brought in five players aged over 30 as part of an overhaul of the club’s squad that saw 17 leave and 14 new arrivals. The former QPR midfielder’s trust in signing senior pros in an era when most clubs just want young prospects with a resale value is working pretty well. Their 1-0 success at Scunthorpe, achieved when on loan Wolves winger Zeli Ismail converted a last minute penalty, was his team’s sixth win in a row and took them into third place in League One. 10) Jamie Cureton has a career average of a goal every three games, which is not bad for a 39-year-old with 766 senior appearances behind him, stretching right back to when he made his debut for Norwich in November 1994. He remains as consistent as ever. His strike that earned Dagenham a 1-1 draw at Wycombe in League Two was his fifth in 15 League appearances this season. Dagenham and Redbridge striker Jamie Cureton, now 39, has a career average of a goal every three games . | Chelsea's squad yet to be tested - seven players have started every game .
Southampton midfielder Jack Cork has impressed in his last two matches .
Jack Colback remains Newcastle's 'unsung hero' after win over Tottenham .
Saido Berahino is yet to miss from the penalty spot for West Brom . |
37,776 | 6af0635e65ba128e9cef094cce3447f1b25e3bbb | George Soros says both Greece and Portugal should dump the euro and quit the EU because of their massive debts . Greece and Portugal should quit the euro to help save the currency, George Soros said yesterday. The former currency speculator turned . billionaire philanthropist also backed the idea of a euro bond, where . debt is issued jointly by member states. He said: ‘Countries sharing the currency must be able to refinance a large part of their debt under the same conditions.’ Such a bond would allow Europe’s . poorer countries to raise money cheaply, because French and German . financial muscle would act as a guarantee. Soros told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that Portugal and Greece leaving would not kill off the euro - or the EU. Debt-stricken Greece and Portugal are struggling to implement eurozone and International Monetary Fund-mandated reforms by slashing spending and raising taxes in exchange for financial aid. European shares experienced slight gains as investors focused on tomorrow’s meeting between France and Germany to deal with the current financial crisis in the region. President Nicholas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel have taken leading roles in the debt crisis and will hold talks and a press conference in Paris. Soros also suggested the time had come for eurozone members to accept the introduction of eurobonds. 'Whether you like it or not, the euro exists. And for it to function properly, countries sharing the currency must be able to refinance a large part of their debt under the same conditions,' he said. Berlin is opposed to the introduction of such bonds, but Soros suggested Germany, as Europe's strongest financial partner, should be responsible for defining the rules for its introduction. Soros, who made over $1billion by betting against the British pound in 1992, also said he had no intention of playing the market against the common european currency. 'I am certainly not betting against the euro, because the Chinese have a huge interest in an alternative to the dollar and will do everything possible to help Europeans save it,' he said. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicholas Sarkozy (pictured here in December last year) have taken leading roles in the debt crisis and will hold talks and a press conference in Paris. Both Greece and Portugal, along with Ireland, have been granted multi-billion EU-IMF rescue loans to prevent them from defaulting on their huge debts. Despite Berlin’s resistance to the idea of eurobonds, today one of Germany’s leading economic associations came out in favour of the move, claiming all other avenues had been exhausted. BGA export association president Anton Boerner said: ‘What is the alternative? 'The alternative is the markets attack Italy, then France, we lose our AAA rating and then it's our turn. This is a downward spiral that would lead to a worldwide depression. 'What have we achieved then? We'll end up paying [for the crisis] three times over. This way we pay just once.' The head of the centre-left Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, has also backed the idea, telling German public television station ARD late on Sunday that eurozone countries should be able to raise 50-60 per cent of their funding through such joint issues if they agreed to certain conditions. Sarkozy (left) was pictured this weekend at a lunch with crew members of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during a visit aboard the ship in Toulon. Merkel, right, attended a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall . 'States that use eurobonds would have to agree to give up a degree of sovereignty over their own budgets,' Gabriel said. After unveiling tougher austerity plans in return for European Central Bank help, Italian Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti said a common eurozone bond would stop markets forcing high-debt economies in the bloc to the brink. 'We would not have arrived where we are if we had had the eurobond,' he said on Saturday. Merkel and Sarkozy are instead expected to discuss improving economic governance in the eurozone. Officials have suggested they could agree to introduce regular meetings of eurozone leaders - a longstanding French demand - and enlarge the role of European Council President Herman van Rompuy to make him a spokesman for the euro. These steps could bring greater policy discipline in the 17-nation currency bloc, which has regularly sowed confusion in the markets by talking with disparate voices, but are unlikely to assuage market concerns about the high debt and deficit levels of certain countries in the bloc. Yields on Italian and Spanish bonds fell back to around five percent last week after the ECB intervened in the market to support them. The ECB is due to publish data detailing how many bonds it bought in the week up to last Wednesday. Both German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Economy Minister Philipp Roesler gave interviews over the weekend in which they spoke out against eurozone bonds and debt collectivization. Conservative German newspaper Die Welt, however, reported that the government was no longer ruling out the idea. Merkel, whose popularity has sunk to its lowest level in nearly five years according to recent polls, could face a revolt within her coalition and Germany's broader economic policy establishment if she agreed to joint bond issuance. Her coalition partners, the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), are seen as dead-set against the idea. The leadership of the FDP have set a meeting for Wednesday to discuss their stance on the euro crisis, which will be chaired by Roesler, a party spokesman said. German media reports have said a working group within Merkel's own Christian Democrats (CDU) has been studying the idea of eurobonds in greater detail, suggesting some may be open to it. But leading members of the party have ruled it out in clear terms in recent weeks and other northern European member states, such as the Netherlands and Finland are also vehemently opposed. Boerner of the BGA said, however, that eurobonds may be the only solution that can prevent the markets from launching new assaults on eurozone members. 'We must show the markets that we are ready to use the appropriate tools, and that means eurobonds signed off by Germany,' said Boerner. 'We need eurobonds with strict conditions attached. We need this and we need it fast.' On the up: After the drama of last week, the FTSE made marginal gains today . At the close of business today, the FTSE 100 index was trading up 30.55 points at 5,350.58 . The Dax was up 24.50 points at 6,022.24, while France’s CAC 40 was up 25.18 at 3,239.06. Spain's IBEX also rose, ending the day up 61.7 points on 8,709. The rise in London was driven by commodity stocks such as mining giants Kazakhmys and Vedanta Resources as well as oil supermajor BP. | FTSE ends day up by 30.55 points .
French and German markets also make small gains . |
98,261 | 0a81e76af0b6d24ab410995795cdfa11d73ecec9 | Suge Knight has released graphic photos of his injured torso following an attack at a VMA pre-party in which he was shot six times. In one of the pictures five bullets holes can be seen in the rapper's back along with a large surgical wound where doctors opened him up to check for organ damage. In another picture the sixth wound, on the 49-year-old's arm near his tattoo commemorating Tupac, is visible after being stuffed with gauze. Scroll down for video . Suge Knight has revealed pictures of his wounded torso after he was shot six times at a party hosted by Chris Brown. Pictured, five bullet holes are visible on the rapper's stomach along with a surgical scar where doctors opened him up to check no organs were damaged . Knight was shot five times in the torso and chest and a sixth time in the arm during an attack at a pre-VMA party in an LA club hosted by Chris Brown . Together: Chris Brown was hosting a VMA pre-party when Knight was attacked, and police say the gunman targeted his victim contradicting earlier reports that Knight had stepped into the line of fire . Fortunately surgeons say none of his organs were harmed during the assault, according to TMZ. Knight returned home from hospital on Wednesday as reports surfaced that investigators are looking at several 'people of interest' whose names or street monikers had come up in interviews, the New York Daily News reported. The images were released a week after investigators said footage taken inside the LA nightclub where the attack took place shows Knight was targeted by the gunman. Knight, 49, was shot at an album release party hosted by Chris Brown at 1Oak in West Hollywood in the early hours of Sunday. Two others, including 19-year-old model Megan Hawkins, were shot at the pre-VMA party and all three were rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 'Video . shows the suspect with a handgun firing at Knight [and] striking the . two other victims who were in his vicinity,' Los Angeles County . sheriff's Lt. John Corina told CBSLA. After firing, the suspect started running for the exits alongside partygoers. Corina added that he did not know if the two other victims, Hawkins and a 33-year-old man, were targeted. All three victims were expected to recover, authorities said. Other video taken outside the club apparent show the music producer being led to a waiting police car by an armed officer as an ambulance arrives at the scene. Sources . claim he calmly . walked outside and asked a cop for help before he was rushed to . hospital. Roads . around the nightclub were immediately sealed off by police, as the . nightclub was evacuated, with several partygoers detained for . questioning. Injuries: Three people were shot at a party hosted by Chris Brown at the exclusive West Hollywood nightclub on Sunday morning after a gunman targeted music mogul Suge Knight. Here one victim is taken to hospital . Aftermath: Brown jumped on a table after the shooting, apparently furious at what had taken place . Host: Brown was pictured enjoying the party before the shooting took place; cops say Knight was targeted . On Monday, Knight's family issued a . statement which read: 'The family of Suge Knight asks that you keep Suge . in your prayers and to stray away from the negativity portrayed by the . media. 'Suge is currently resting and has lost a lot of blood, he's . human. He's done a lot of things for the community and the culture as a whole so we ask that you respect that.' Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records with Dr. Dre and the rapper The D.O.C., is no stranger to the effects of gun violence. His friend Tupac Shakur was shot multiple times during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996 - although during a previous visit to 1OAK, Knight told reporters that no one had ever been charged with Shakur's murder because he wasn't really dead, and was instead living on an island. Knight also suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during a shooting at a 2005 pre-VMA party, hosted by rapper Kanye West. Host: The pre-VMA party was hosted by Brown at the popular club in West Hollywood (pictured) In the moments after the gunfire, . Brown was seen climbing onto a bar in the nightclub, apparently angrily . remonstrating with other clubgoers as a bouncer told them to 'Get down'. At around 5:45 a.m. LA time, Brown tweeted about the incident. 'It's . disappointing that we as a society can#t have fun or enjoy ourselves . without any altercations sometimes. Miss me with the bullsh*t!!!' he . tweeted. The Los Angeles branch of 1OAK - which stands for One Of A Kind - is a spin off of the New York club, while there are further branches in Las Vegas and Mexico City. The club, which bills itself as 'Bringing a New York nightclub experience to Los Angeles' has been open on the famous Sunset Strip since the start of the year and has proved popular with many celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna. | Music mogul, 49, was attacked nine days ago at party in an LA nightclub .
Suge Knight shot five times in torso and once in the arm during attack .
Has now revealed photos of his damaged torso, including surgical wound .
Doctors were forced to operate on musician to check for organ damage . |
11,198 | 1fd97f0a5ad19b8714618f9cba4753ee343d8bd2 | By . Paul Donnelley . The unmanned . Dragon capsule from the private US firm SpaceX successfully reached the . International Space Station today, its third trip carrying supplies and equipment . to the orbiting lab. NASA broadcast . live images of the ISS's 17.6m (57.7ft) long robotic arm as it grabbed hold of . the gumdrop-shaped capsule on schedule. 'Capture . complete, congratulations to the entire team,' said the Japanese station . commander, Koichi Wakata, who was in charge of operating the mechanical arm . along with American Rick Mastracchio. Scroll down for video . SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule is seen after being berthed on to the International Space Station. At the time this photo was taken the capsule was traveling over Brazil . 'We're excited,' Wakata said, smiling. Both astronauts . were dressed casually in polo shirts as they carried out the procedure. NASA said the . event took place 250miles (402km) above the Earth's surface as the ISS hovered . over the Nile. SpaceX has a . $1.6bn contract with NASA for a series of future supply missions. NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio at the controls during the berthing of the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule to the International Space Station . SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule approaches the International Space Station high above the earth's surface . This marks the . California-based company's third commercial resupply mission and fourth visit . to the ISS. After three . delays, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the Dragon capsule from Cape . Canaveral in Florida on Friday. The mission had . originally been scheduled for mid-March but did not go ahead because of . technical issues. The SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule begins the process of being berthed on to the International Space Station . The Dragon . capsule delivered 2.2 tons of cargo, including food, new spacesuits, . components to replace those aboard the ISS and equipment for 150 scientific . experiments. One of the . experiments will be the Vegetable Production System, or Veggie, which would . allow the production of salad-type crops to safely feed the astronauts. Another . experiment seeks to determine why an astronaut's immune system weakens in . microgravity. The SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule begins the process of being berthed on to the International Space Station . SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule just prior to being captured by the Canadarm2 from the International Space Station . SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule just prior to being captured by the Canadarm2 from the International Space Station . The SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule is captured by the Canadarm2 from the International Space Station . NASA is also . sending an experiment system that can more rapidly transmit data using a laser . communication system, in a first from space. In all, SpaceX . is due to complete a dozen missions for the US space agency. SpaceX became . the first commercial entity to reach the space station with its Dragon cargo . ship in May 2012 in a trial run. Owned by internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, the . company's first cargo mission took place in October that year. The last mission . involving a Dragon capsule was completed in March 2013. | NASA broadcast live feed of 57.7ft robotic arm as it grabbed hold of .
gumdrop-shaped capsule .
SpaceX has a .
$1.6bn contract with NASA for a series of future supply missions; third commercial resupply mission and fourth visit .
to the ISS .
After three .
delays, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the Dragon capsule from Cape .
Canaveral on Friday .
Dragon .
delivered 2.2 tons of cargo including food, new spacesuits and equipment for 150 scientific .
experiments . |
25,890 | 4960d99a5f9dc113af2ee3758c75a1cb3e9092c3 | Hoof by hoof, Harold Kelly's family of horses crest the hill, kicking up dust, treading over stones and packed dirt. It's another 70-degree day in central California. In the dead of winter, there's not a cloud in sight. And there's no rain in the forecast. Fifty horses trot on Kelly's 300-acre spread outside of Fresno, part of a vast valley that's a farming and ranching hub to the nation. "Every horse out here I've raised, but for the exception of two," Kelly declares. His herd sips from a water trough, an oasis that's suddenly taken on greater meaning. The surrounding hills show brown soil where there should be lush, green pasture. That's because a historic disaster is unfolding: California is facing perhaps its worst drought since record-keeping began a century ago, California Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed this month. At the center of this ongoing catastrophe are farmers and ranchers like Kelly, pushed to their financial limits. "Normally, it'd be raining and we'd have grass growing," Kelly remarks. "The grass is basically all gone." There's nothing on the ground for Kelly's animals to eat. Winter is California's wet season, but it hasn't rained on Kelly's ranch in unincorporated Tivy Valley, near Sanger, since December 7, 2013. Even on that day, just a few drops fell -- exactly 0.15 inches -- according to Paul Jones, cooperative program manager at the National Weather Service. In fact, the area's rainfall for 2013 was 3.01 inches, compared with an average year of 11.5 inches. Kelly is now teetering on the brink of monetary collapse -- like many other ranchers and farmers in California's Central Valley, a breadbasket to the country as it stretches most of the state's length roughly from Sacramento to Bakersfield. "I borrowed money -- I hate to even say that -- but I recently borrowed money to buy hay," the proud rancher says. With hay prices on the rise because of the drought, Kelly spends $800 to 1,000 a week on feed. That's money that he doesn't have. "I don't really have much of a choice. That's the way I look at it." Even so, his horses have cantered to better days. "Some of them have dropped off a little bit in weight," Kelly says, taking a look at a mare whose ribs are beginning to show. "They would be fat if there was rain." Kelly has now decided that he must sell some of his horses. "I hate to get rid of them...but it's time," he says. What's causing this strange weather pattern? Financial toll . The exact financial impact of the historic drought in California -- as well as a moderate to extreme drought throughout the American West -- has yet to be calculated by state and federal officials or farming and ranching associations. But the financial blow could be in the billions of dollars, especially if the 2012 national drought is any indication. That disaster cost the country $30 billion, according to the National Climatic Data Center. In the Central Valley's agriculture sector alone, the potential impact could exceed $1 billion in 2014 unless relief is provided, according to the Westlands Water District. Already, about 200,000 of 600,000 acres of prime farmland in Fresno and Kings Counties won't be planted this year because of the drought, the district said. That fallow land amounts to about 312 square miles. Some federal relief is uncertain because Congress hasn't been able to pass a farm bill since last year. Federal officials are seeking a bill that would provide retroactive disaster assistance to livestock producers who've been forced to thin their herds "to the lowest level in decades" because of the long-term drought, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Congress has been divided on a proposed bill's food stamp and dairy pricing programs, said Justin Oldfield, a vice president with the California Cattlement's Association. The governor's drought emergency, which included the entire state, won't help ranchers much because the measure allows water agencies to move water from northern to southern California, unless those cattlemen are located in a benefiting water district, Oldfield said. "This is by far the worst drought that we've had, and in terms of ranchers, it's the worst drought since the '70s and some say it's worst than that," Oldfield said. "If they have to sell cows, it will be extremely devastating for them. But they will work through it and come back. The people don't quit." Federal officials also fear ranchers going bust overnight. "That's why we keep pushing daily for Congress to get something done," said U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Courtney Rowe. Weirdly warm, dry winters spur bears to stop hibernating, start eating . Horses as family . Central California's fields and tree crops -- which provide half of the nation's fruits, nuts and vegetables -- are deteriorating. The state holds 80,500 farms and ranches, which together generate more than $100 billion in economic activity, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture . The bad turn in nature has forced Kelly to find other ways to keep his horses alive on his ranch about 200 miles north of Los Angeles. Every day, he fills his truck with hay purchased through a retailer, and drives into the dry pasture to feed his herd. He gives a loud whistle, and they come running. "There are a whole lot of people like me. Some of them are hurting worse than I am," he said. To this life-long horse trainer and rancher, horses aren't just a business -- it's lifestyle and family. "Hey, little girl," he says to a chestnut mare who approaches his side. "It's pretty hard. Sometimes you don't have any choice. You don't have to be too smart to figure out this is what I need to do. "It's on the verge of very desperate" In Wednesday's State of the State address, Brown underlined the need to cut back on water resources. He's already called for a voluntary 20% conservation effort statewide. "Right now, it is imperative that we do everything possible to mitigate the effects of the drought. We need everyone in every part of the state to conserve water. We need regulators to rebalance water rules and enable voluntary transfers of water, and we must prepare for forest fires," Brown said. "Among all our uncertainties, weather is one of the most basic. We can't control it. We can only live with it, and now we have to live with a very serious drought of uncertain duration," he said. Those who make their living off the land and its animals are desperate for relief from the parched conditions. Anthony Caglia runs Sidelver Wings Horse Rescue, dedicated to the rehabilitation and placement of orphaned horses. As Kelly's neighbor and fellow horseman, he's promised to do what he can to help -- even as he struggles in the face of the drought. His 60-acre equine ranch is at capacity with thoroughbreds, quarter horses and appaloosas up for adoption. Since the dry spell hit, calls for help have increased significantly. "Usually, we get a phone call two to four times a month," he said. "We're getting them two to three times a week now. We're at capacity, there's a waiting list." Like Kelly, Caglia now purchases hay for the rescue horses and relies on donations to keep his organization running. "I've been in this area all my life, and I've never seen it this bad. It was just upon us so fast. Hopefully we can get some rain, get some pasture back in and get some people back to work. It's on the verge of very desperate," he said. "The farmers don't have anyone working. Nobody has money." Caglia said. He says many people are considering sending their horses to slaughter. "It's money for them, they can't get money otherwise. We like to let the horses live their lives out here. The founding of the ranch was to pay back the horse. The horse is what brought us here today. It took us across the United States, it brought our food in, it plowed our fields, it got us to town and back. It's a payback to the horse." "In a month from now, I won't have many left." Across the road in Tivy Valley, Kelly has six to eight horses leaving for new homes in the coming weeks. They'll be separated and sent in trailers to different parts of the state. Equestrian Marcee Hansen will be one of the new owners: she's taking a 3-month-old colt off Kelly's hands to raise in her own. But not everyone shares Hansen's intention of raising a horse, Kelly says. Potential buyers have offered money per pound for each horse, a telltale sign of a plan to send the horse to slaughter. "I'd rather borrow money and feed the horses than see them go to slaughter ... I'm not going to let them starve, whatever it takes," Kelly said. He expects he'll adopt-out every single one of his horses, but plays with the idea of keeping just one or two around for company. "I've gotten close to them. They become a little bit like kids," he says. "They become like a person, like a friend you're saying good bye to." | Rancher Harold Kelly loves his horses, but he's going broke feeding them in the drought .
He now must sell off horses and is wary of buyers who want to re-sell them for slaughter .
One region alone in California could face $1 billion is drought losses .
"Now we have to live with a very serious drought of uncertain duration," governor says . |
66,281 | bc0a0ed711642f0a009413e23e27045c289523d5 | Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine agreed on a complete ceasefire and buffer zone early Saturday in talks in Belarus, Russia's state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported. Both sides also agreed to move heavy weaponry back from the front lines of the conflict, which had been raging from April until a preliminary truce was reached two weeks ago. That ceasefire has been shaky and interspersed with fighting that is at times heavy. The new deal -- hammered out at talks in Minsk by representatives of Russia, the Ukrainian government, rebel leaders and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe -- sets out nine provisions for a more lasting ceasefire, RIA Novosti said. The "Minsk memorandum," read out by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, includes: a bilateral ceasefire; no movement of military forces beyond the front line as of September 19; no use of weapons or offensive action; heavy weaponry to be moved back at least 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the front line, to create a 30-kilometer buffer zone. The provisions also include a ban on the use of heavy weaponry in residential areas; a ban on flights over the buffer zone except by the OSCE, which has been monitoring implementation of the ceasefire; and the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and military equipment from Ukrainian territory -- to be monitored by the OSCE. Ukraine and the West say Russia has given heavy weaponry and training to the rebels, as well sending Russian troops over the border to fight alongside them. Russia's President Vladimir Putin denies the claims. Russia sends convoy . Meanwhile, a third Russian humanitarian-aid convoy has arrived in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine after crossing the border early Saturday, Russia's state-run Itar-Tass reported. The 200 trucks are carrying food, power generators, medical supplies, clothes and bottled water, according to the report. According to Itar-Tass, Ukrainian authorities and representatives from International Committee of the Red Cross were offered the chance to inspect the latest convoy but "refused without offering any reasons." Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council spokesman Col. Andriy Lysenko told reporters in Kiev on Saturday that Russia had informed Ukraine that it would send a humanitarian aid convoy but that it had not asked for permission. Lysenko was not able to confirm that the convoy had crossed the border. He said separatists control the Izvarino checkpoint through which the convoy reportedly passed and that Ukrainian border guards would not be able to inspect the trucks' contents as they do not man the crossing. Two previous convoys entered Ukraine from Russia without the permission of Ukrainian authorities or checks on what the trucks were carrying. They delivered supplies to the city of Luhansk, like Donetsk a stronghold for the pro-Russia rebels who have been battling Ukrainian forces for control of the area. Poroshenko 'fully satisfied' with U.S. help . On Thursday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko advocated before a joint session in Congress in Washington for greater support to his military, which has been battling pro-Russia rebels in his country's east. The United States has sent nonlethal aid such as blankets and night night vision goggles, but Poroshenko requested help arming his troops -- a request that once again was rebuffed. Poroshenko, who also met with U.S. President Barack Obama, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Ukraine was "fully satisfied" with the offer of U.S. help received. He also stressed that the crisis in eastern Ukraine could not be resolved by military means alone. A rocket attack by pro-Russia rebels killed 10 civilians and injured 12 others in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, the Ukrainian military said. In Ukraine this week, lawmakers passed legislation giving "special status" to rebel-controlled areas in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The measure grants amnesty to the separatists -- but only if they disarm, release hostages and give up occupied buildings. The new law also provides protections for Russian-language speakers in the region. Sanctions pressure Russia . Russia's incursion into Ukraine has spurred several rounds of economic sanctions from the United States and Europe, which have so far failed to persuade Putin to change course. After Poroshenko's speech to Congress, legislators on the Senate Foreign Relations panel voted unanimously to advance a bipartisan package of new aid to Ukraine that includes both military and non-military assistance to the country. The measure allocates $350 million for the effort. At the same time, the Ukrainian Parliament and the European Union ratified a political and economic agreement that also includes free trade provisions, though they won't come into force until the start of 2016. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to drop the EU Association agreement late last year in favor of closer ties with Moscow triggered the popular unrest that led to his ouster in February, followed by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region a month later and the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine. Moscow is opposed to Ukraine's pivot toward the West, which has been pushed forward by Poroshenko. | Russia did not ask for permission to send in its aid convoy, Ukrainian official says .
Ukraine, rebels agree to detailed ceasefire deal, Russian state media say .
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Poroshenko asked the U.S. for arms .
The request was denied, but lawmakers approved more nonlethal aid . |
19,937 | 389aa586827c099a88889dfd5607de0ed1423bbc | (CNN) -- In the not-too-distant future, you'll receive a full diagnosis and cure from your smartphone before you have even realized you're unwell. While this may seem like science fiction, it's on the cusp of becoming a reality. Digital is set to embark on a path of radical transformation in the health and wellness sector and in doing so it will help us to overcome some of the most significant challenges we face in health care. We have an aging society and as elderly people account for a larger share of the population, the prevalence of long-term health problems will increase. This will cause a bigger cost burden and pressure health systems to accommodate an aging workforce. Furthermore, lifestyle-related chronic health problems, including obesity and diabetes, are on the rise with dramatic implications for health service budgets. The cost of supporting these demographic trends is unsustainable but digital services are likely to be part of the solution society is looking for. Tell us: What's your dream smartphone feature? One trend that's captured the imagination of many is "body hacking" or understanding the "quantified self." Whether it's an app tracking your dietary intake or a wearable band counting the physical activity you undertake each day, these devices provide you with the tools to understand your health immediately based on the data your body has provided. Every individual can benefit from better access to information about their bodies and greater awareness leads to better understanding of the consequences. Little by little this starts to change behaviors. The growth in availability of portable and highly connected health devices will drive an expectation in society to be aware of our own health and more pro-active in the lifestyle choices we make. People will use technology to prevent and diagnose disease, and in some cases, bypass the doctor's clinic by taking health care into their own hands, or at the least go armed to the doctor with helpful diagnostic information. Our informed insight will mean that the doctor's role will change. They will become coaches, rather than a source of initial diagnosis. Self-diagnostic tools will empower doctors to monitor, prevent and treat medical conditions. One early example of this is the ECG attachment for the iPhone, which is already capable of producing medical-grade data. Private health care organizations will tap into health applications and their capacity for diagnosis as a result, and will offer these widely to consumers. Your smartphone will come to know your body better than you know yourself and doctors will provide a health care service based on your measured behavior and key health indicators. Imagine taking a picture of a rash or ailment with your mobile, uploading it to a diagnostic app and receiving a tailored diagnosis based on the information from the picture, coupled with your personal data that the mobile device has already collected. This is the private data driven future we are seriously looking at, both in developed countries with unsustainable health care costs, but also in countries where people do not have affordable access to health care. Although self-diagnostic tools will encourage better knowledge of our health, this brings about a moral conundrum. Firstly, the value of these insights suggests that we will be happy to share our personal data but there is bound to be an element of suspicion. Secondly, if we understand our bodies and lower risk of illness, will the insurance industry reward those who have a healthy lifestyle and punish those who don't? If healthy people are not rewarded with lower insurance costs for their lifestyles, would they argue that they are being penalized for the unhealthy habits of others? Where do we draw the line between what is a lifestyle choice and genetic illness that we have no control over? Currently, health care systems focus primarily on chronic ill health, rather than the preventative measures of living a healthy lifestyle, but this may be the adjustment that both the health care system and insurance companies make as a result of digital health devices. The ultimate health care applications will allow us to monitor our body and use the insight from that data to create an actionable, preventative health solution, such as an individual exercise or nutritional plan, in addition to devising a personal cocktail of medicine. However, in order to ultimately take off, digital health services need to be designed so that they embed into current human behaviors. Devices that are uncomfortable to wear or don't provide simple explanations of data will not be adopted. Usability is key: People want something intuitive and simple. Healthcare solutions must be designed with the user in mind, enabling people to arrive at actionable conclusions based on their personal data. With well designed digital health services and devices, individuals can take ownership of their own lifestyle behavior and health, which in turn will bring about significant economic and social benefits globally. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mark Curtis. | Smartphones will soon be able to deliver diagnosis and suggest cures even before we know we're ill, says Mark Curtis .
"Body hacking" tools, such as wearable bands that monitor physical activity, will help improve our health awareness, Curtis says .
Medical monitoring technology will open new area of debate over privacy and the cost of health care insurance . |
29,512 | 53e650828e95bba8e944312dd584ce6f4c04ec64 | By . Lucy Crossley . A unit of museum experts tasked with investigating unexplained phenomenon have been left baffled by a mysterious substance, dubbed 'space slime'. Carrying out work which would leave even The X-Files's Fox Mulder and Dana Scully stumped, the team at the Natural History Museum have been tasked with identifying a host of bizarre items discovered by the British public. Among the finds examined by the museum's Identification and Advisory Service was a mysterious slime discovered in a peaceful nature reserve in Somerset. Mysterious: The origins of the 'space slime', discovered at a nature reserve in Somerset, is being investigated by experts at the Natural History Museum's Identification and Advisory Service, established to probe unexplained objects . Secrets of the universe: The strange gloop, found at the Ham Wall nature reserve, mysteriously appeared around the same time as a meteor crashed to earth in Chelyabinsk, Russia . The strange gloop, found at the Ham Wall nature reserve, mysteriously appeared around the same time as a meteor crashed to earth in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and an amateur photographer claimed he had captured a mysterious object whizzing through the sky above the park on camera. The object appeared to be a meteor, although this was not confirmed by astronomers. Nature buffs claimed the slime was merely frogspawn, while others said it was 'star jelly', a strange substance said to appear when meteors fall to earth, which has continued to stump scientists. The London-based museum's Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity (AMC), which houses the Identification and Advisory Service, was tasked with investigating the mysterious slime, with the aim of establishing whether it had fallen from space, or if its origins were rather more terrestrial. Laboratory tests have so far failed to find just what it could be - and where it had come from. Discovery: The Natural History Museum's Chesca Rogers says the slime is still a genuine mystery . Discovery: The Natural History Museum's Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity is tasked with identifying unknown objects, such as this rock which a member of the public mistook for a dinosaur skull . Agent Skull-y: The pelvis bones of sea birds, such as auks and puffins, were thought by their imaginative discoverers to be dragon skulls . The tooth is out there: A deer skull was mistaken for that on an ice-age sabre tooth cat because of its long tusks . Scientists from the unit extracted DNA from the jelly and tried to match it against that of birds and frogs, without success. DNA traces of worms and bacteria were found in the substance, but these were not thought to have been the source of the slime, and had more likely come from organisms which colonised the matter. Chesca Rogers, from the AMC, has been working on the mysterious substance since it was sent tothe unit by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which runs the nature reserve where it was found in February. 'The slime is still a genuine mystery,' Ms Rogers told The Daily Telegraph.'There are stories in folklore that link it with meteor sightings. Some people think it might be unfertilised frog spawn, others think it is a fungus, or a slime mould or that it is plant related.'None of the tests we have done so far have told us anything conclusive, but the samples we got were not in the best condition and highly contaminated.' Ms Rogers is set to open up her very own . X-Files this Friday at a museum talk where she will explain how she has . been unravelling the mystery, as well as other examples of the AMC's most intriguing and puzzling cases. Revealing: The secrets of the AMC will be revealed at a talk at the Natural History Museum this week . Mystery: The origins of the 'space slime' might even have left Mulder and Scully from cult television programme The X-Files stumped . The doors at the AMC, located inside the museum's Darwin Centre, are open daily so that people who find strange objects, including fossils, can get help with identifying them. However, some of the mysteries of finds brought to the AMC, which was opened in 2010, by eagle-eyed members of the public have proved easier to solve. The haul has included stones they believe to be the remains of a dinosaur and 'meteorites' that are in fact discarded aluminium foil. A skull believed to have belonged to an ice-age sabre tooth cat, its fur still intact, was instead found to be that of a Chinese Water Deer, thought to have been mistaken for the ancient predator because of its long tusks which could have been mistaken for the cat's powerful incisors. Other animal remains have been mistaken for something even more incredible, such as the pelvis bones of sea birds, such as auks and puffins, which were thought by their imaginative discoverers to be dragon skulls. In one case, which initially appeared to be one for agents Mulder and Scully, an 'alien' in a jar of liquid was brought in, only to be revealed as a science fiction toy. Every year the museum received around around 10,000 inquiries from the public, who are encouraged to bring their finds to the AMC, which is funded by supported by Professor Anthony Marmont, Angela Marmont and John Lyon’s Charity. | Strange substance found in nature reserve thought to be linked to meteor .
Jelly investigated at museum's Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity .
Experts tasked with identifying unexplained items including 'dragon skulls' |
90,332 | 003ab07425031001d72b80d3ea80d59fa9a07ccd | You don't normally expect to be in the middle of a scrum at an event in aid of a charity. A nightclub or student disco maybe, but not at a charity ball. But that's exactly what happened to me this week – when I attended a ball in aid of the NSPCC at the Hurlingham Club in Chelsea. The very genteel Hurlingham Club is one of the most beautiful sports clubs in the country, built in 42 acres of the most prime real estate in the world, just south of Chelsea down near the river, but I didn't realise what the exact nature of the event was at first. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Spencer attended an NSPCC charity ball this week but wasn't prepared for the hoards of teenage fans . The trick for this would be to thoroughly read the invite, as it was clearly stated that this was a ball for under 16s. But I rarely read the instructions on anything, so it came as a bit of a surprise when I walked through the door and I was surrounded by about 200 very excitable young women, all of whom wanted a selfie. Everywhere I went there was a cluster of well-spoken girls in Little Black Dresses waving smartphones at me. Spencer managed to pose for one picture alone outside the event . Spencer posed for endless selfies with his fans when arriving at the ball . Spencer says that the ball was filled with well spoken girls in black dresses . You can see from the video below the sort of numbers in the herd of young girls. What is the collective noun for a group of teenage girls? A 'giggle' of girls I believe. Clearly I was more than happy to accommodate as they all asked very politely but it felt like I was lost at sea with the crowd choosing where I went. Spencer posed for further pictures in the back of a London taxi which was converted into a photo booth . The event helped to raise over £20,000 for the charity . For health and safety reasons the organisers ended up putting me in a specially designed London taxi which had been converted into a photo booth, and it seemed like an hour passed by having girls (and occasionally some boys) ushered in and out of the taxi. But deep down I loved the attention – and they were all really charming and polite, I simply couldn't refuse and I think it's fair to say that anyone who asked for an picture got one, and in some cases five or six. And of course the most important thing was the event raised over £20,000 for the very good cause of the NSPCC, protecting vulnerable children all over the UK, and preventing abuse. If you would like to donate to the NSPCC please click here. | Spencer attended the NSPCC ball at the Hurlingham Club in London .
He was met by hundreds of 15-year-old girls who were all after selfies .
The event helped to raise £20,000 for the NSPCC . |
206,868 | 97ddbdecb02dcbf479c3506fd2c72ff32d5596ec | (CNN) -- Late in January, the book publisher Macmillan told Amazon it wanted to raise the prices of its books sold through the online retailer. Amazon made clear it wanted to continue to set prices for Macmillan's books, as it does for most books it sells. To make sure the publisher understood it was serious, Amazon cut the links that enable people to buy Macmillan's books via Amazon's Web site. For more than a week, you could still see Macmillan books on Amazon; you just couldn't order one. Even though the two companies have since struck a truce, the showdown should deeply concern anyone who cares not merely about the health of this vital industry, but about concentration of political power in America. What should concern us foremost is not that Amazon's managers believe they -- rather than the people who write and edit our books -- have a right to set the price for books. It is that Amazon's managers believe they have consolidated sufficient power -- the company sells as much as 80 percent of all ebooks, for instance -- to enforce their will by cutting off the public's access to a publisher's books. More disturbing yet, Amazon is not alone in having captured such a position. Another company that has captured a real say over the actions of our publishers is Wal-Mart. And Wal-Mart is a goliath that has repeatedly used its dominant position to influence the content of products by refusing to sell certain books or music. Indeed, such brute use of power is increasingly the norm across our economy. As anyone who has studied the business practices of Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Best Buy knows, rough treatment of the people who make what we buy is true in just about every industry. It was not always this way in America. A generation ago every city boasted its own department stores, discount shops and independent bookstores. Power was so widely distributed that few retailers enjoyed any real power over suppliers. The consolidation in retail since then is due largely to two revolutions in our anti-monopoly laws. The first was the Consumer Goods Pricing Act of 1975, which gave retailers the power to price other companies' products. Second was the Reagan administration's reframing of our anti-monopoly laws in 1981 around the concept of "consumer welfare." Until then, the prime purpose of anti-monopoly laws was to protect citizens against concentration of political power. Since then, officials have used our anti-monopoly laws instead to lower prices. To achieve this end, they often virtually promote concentration of power over entire market systems. As a result, it is now all but routine for big firms, in their efforts to grow bigger and increase profits, to dictate prices to suppliers who depend on them to get to their customers. Such use of power can strip away or destroy much of the cash suppliers would have invested in new products or simply to maintain systems and skills. There is nothing new in this. A century ago Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes spelled out the dangers in a case in which a retailer manipulated the price of a drug, "I cannot believe," he wrote, "that in the long run the public will profit by this court permitting knaves to cut reasonable prices for some ulterior purpose of their own, and thus to impair, if not to destroy, the production and sale of articles which it is assumed to be desirable that the public be able to get." In the case of Amazon, consolidation has often been presented as a consequence of new technologies. And it is not entirely clear how we can apply traditional anti-monopoly laws, many of which have geographic components, to online commerce. But any careful reading of history will carry us to analogous challenges in our past, like those posed by the early railways, and thereby to other potentially useful forms of anti-monopoly law such as common carriage rules. Also, most of Amazon's abuses would have been avoided if the people who make our products (in this case books) still enjoyed complete autonomy to set their own prices. Amazon acted badly. So too Wal-Mart, especially during last fall's book price war. Yet the fundamental flaw lies not with the decisions made by managers of these companies. It lies with viewing our anti-monopoly laws as a tool to promote a flawed vision of efficiency rather than to protect our most vital liberties. Defenders of concentration will continue to justify their use of power with claims they are serving the "consumer." But we should be clear that fixation on lowering prices can result in truly dramatic costs. Sometimes it is degradation of the quality and safety of the products delivered to the American "consumer." Sometimes it is the concentration of power over the people who produce our books and other vital products and over the American citizen. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Barry C. Lynn. | Dispute over e-book prices between Amazon, publisher a power play, says Barry C. Lynn .
Lynn: Government has stressed lower prices while allowing growth of powerful retailers .
He says the cost of the policy has been domination of retailers over suppliers . |
182,647 | 7886b22870e13d071198f1863b0b0f5831a57011 | A suicide bomber has killed at least 55 people and wounded more than 120 during a 'flag-lowering' ceremony at the main Pakistan-India border crossing. The explosion happened at the Wagah border gate near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore after the display of military pageantry that attracts thousands of spectators every day. Crowds gather at Wagah each sunset to watch the ceremony that accompanies the formal closing of the border post. Scroll down for video . At least 55 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing at a border crossing between India and Pakistan . A woman mourns for her relative next to the bodies of the blast victims at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan . The Punjab police chief said the blast happened when a suicide attacker approached a restaurant after the Wagah ceremony and detonated his explosives . Pakistan has been wracked by a homegrown Taliban insurgency, the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) movement that has killed thousands of people in recent years . The attack is a rare strike in Punjab, Pakistan's richest and most populous province. The area, which is also the power-base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has been spared the worst of the bloody wave of Islamist violence that has assailed the country in recent years. Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab provincial police chief, said: 'It appears to have been a suicide attack. At least 55 people have been killed and more than 120 wounded. Women and children were also killed.' Lahore police chief Amin Wains confirmed it was a suicide attack. It appears the blast took place some distance from the famous crossing point itself. 'People were returning after watching the parade at Wagah border when the blast took place. Ball bearings were found at the scene,' he said. A Pakistani woman next to paramedics who tend to a body of the blast victim at the Wagah border crossing . A woman comforts a man mourning for their relative in the wake of the deadly explosion near Lahore . The attack is a rare strike in Punjab, which is Pakistan's richest and most populous province . Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab police chief, said the blast happened when a suicide attacker approached a restaurant after the Wagah ceremony and detonated his explosives. He said the attacker had struck when security had been 'a bit relaxed'. There are several security checkpoints on the road leading to the border post, which is equipped with a ceremonial gate and banked seating. Before entering, spectators are security checked, though searches are not always particularly rigorous. Dozens of people use the Wagah crossing to enter India and Pakistan every day as it is the only road crossing between the two countries. It is also a crucial trade facility, where truck-loads of goods coming from and going to India are loaded and unloaded. A child is injured and receives initial treatment at a hospital in Lahore following the explosion in the Punjab area . Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a 'dastardly act of terrorism' Rescue workers and police tend to the bodies of the victims of the suicide bomb attack in Pakistan . Pakistani authorities transport the body of the suicide attack, which has been condemned as an 'act of terror' Tahir Javed, a senior security official in Punjab province said that the dead included three members of the border force. He said: 'The suicide bomber failed to cross the security barrier and blew himself up outside when people were coming out.' Tonight, Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan condemned the blast as an 'act of terror'. 'Shocked and saddened by suicide attack near Wagah border,' the former international cricketer tweeted. Meanwhile Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a 'dastardly act of terrorism'. India has in the past accused Pakistan of sponsoring jihadi groups in the region. The two countries, which have fought three wars against each other, have been engaged in a long-running conflict over the region of Kashmir, which both sides claim. An Indian security official said the Indian side of the border was not affected by the explosion. Devastated relatives stand beside the victims of the attack, which various umbrella groups of the Tehreek-e-Taliban group have claimed credit for . In recent weeks, the homegrown Pakistani Taliban group has become fragmented and the differing factions have all laid claim to the suicide bomb attack which has killed at least 55 people . Pakistan has been wracked by a homegrown Taliban insurgency, the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) movement that has killed thousands of people in recent years. In recent weeks the movement has become fragmented, which has meant several conflicting claims of responsibility for the attack. Abdullah Bahar, a spokesman for a TTP faction loyal to its dead chief Hakimullah Mehsud, said they carried it out to avenge Mehsud's killing in a US drone strike last year. But the Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction, which broke away from the main TTP leadership in September, rubbished the claim and said they were behind the blast. Group spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said in an email statement the attack was revenge for those killed in the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan tribal area, on the Afghan border. Ehsan said they would soon release video footage of the attack. TV channels also ran claims from a third militant faction, called Jundullah. Pakistani paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the road leading to the scene of the attack in Lahore . Attacks by the homegrown Taliban insurgency were once a near-daily occurrence but have tailed off since the army launched its anti-militant offensive in the north-west. In June the army began the long-awaited operation against militant hideouts in North Waziristan after a bloody raid on Karachi Airport ended faltering peace talks between the government and the Taliban. More than 1,100 militants and 100 soldiers have been killed since the start of the operation, and more than 100 militants have surrendered, according to the military. | At least 55 people killed and 120 wounded during ceremony at sunset .
Explosion happened at the main Pakistan-India border crossing .
Pakistani politician Imran Khan described the blast as an 'act of terror'
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a 'dastardly act of terrorism'
Pakistan has been wracked by a homegrown Taliban group in recent years . |
3,954 | 0b69f9be3b89cc7d780c54eb8da63a8d835a8062 | By . Lydia Warren, Hayley Peterson and Katie Davies . PUBLISHED: . 13:26 EST, 18 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:58 EST, 18 May 2013 . The gunman who held hostage 21-year-old Hofstra University student, Andrea Rebello, who later died in the police gun battle has been identified by police as Dalton Smith - a known criminal who was wanted for absconding parole for robbery. Police revealed the identity of Smith, 30, of Hempstead, today and revealed a warrant was put out for his arrest on April 25. He had been found guilty of robbery in the 1st degree and had an extensive criminal background going back to 1999 with multiple convictions for theft and assault. Robbery: Dalton Smith was today identified by police as the man who was carrying out a robbery on a sorority house in Uniondale when Andrea Rebello was shot dead . He also spent time in prison and was convicted again for handling contraband goods while behind bars. He was shot by police on Friday after what appears to be an attempted robbery on Rebello, her twin and their friends. Reports say the man shot Andrea Rebello as she pleaded for her life. The 30-year-old followed the sisters, Jessica and Andrea, Jessica's boyfriend John Kourtessiss and another student called Shannon Thomas back to the girls' California Avenue sorority house from the popular student bar, McHebes, according to the New York Post. The gunman reportedly targeted the students after seeing them spending large amounts of money in the drinking spot to celebrate the end of the school term. Around 2.20am he allegedly peered through the window in his ski mask and knocked on the door before forcing himself in and taking the group hostage. Raiding the home he shouted: 'I saw you at the bar drinking. I know you have more money than this!', according to police sources quoted in the Post report. He made the twins remain but told Thomas to leave and withdraw money from an ATM machine - warning her he would shoot her friends if she tried anything. While away from the home she called 911. As police arrived neighbors said they heard blood-curdling screams and what sounded like a woman pleading for her life. Victoria Dehel, who lives four doors down told the New York Times that she heard shouting. At first is sounded like 'a bunch of drunk college students,' she told the Times. 'And then the screaming just got worse and worse and worse. And then we heard thuds, like five bangs,' she said. Dehel said she and her boyfriend stepped onto their porch and they could hear what sounded like a woman pleading for her life, just as police cars raced down the street. 'I turned to my boyfriend and I said, 'I think someone just got murdered'. It was awful,' she said. '[Police] drew their weapons and went inside,' neighbor Frank Pugliese, 19 told the Post. “She was pleading for her life. You could tell she was scared. It . was a surreal moment . . . She was pleading — her voice was trembling . and she yelled, ‘No, no!’ ” Victim: Andrea Rebello (right), has been shot dead by a masked intruder during an invasion of the home she shares with her twin sister Jessica (left). The suspect was also shot dead at the scene . Loss: The twins reportedly lived at the home just a block from campus with more of their sorority sisters . Horror: It is unknown at this time whether Rebello's twin sister witnessed the killing, but police confirmed that her sister had remained in the home while another girl was allowed outside . Smith is believed to have held them on the second floor. Thomas told the 911 dispatcher that he had a silver handgun pointed . at her friend's head in a bedroom, NBC reported. The dispatcher passed the information to police and less than a minute later, Nassau . County police officers reached the home. When they arrived, shots went off. A law enforcement source told the New York Post it appeared the suspect killed Rebello and the police then killed him but this timetable of events was still being verified. 'We . don't know [the suspect's] motive at this time but it appears to be a . robbery,' Chief Rick Capece said in a press conference on Friday. Anthony Kourtessiss said his son was being questioned by police last night and Jessica was 'inconsolable'. 'It’s a terrible situation,' he told the newspaper. '[Jessica] was very upset, inconsolable right now.' Scene: Officers guard the area leading to the white house, background, where the shooting broke out . Scene: She was home with two other girls and a male when the break in took place around 2.30am . Rebello was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi . sorority and lived with six of her sorority sisters at the home, including her sister. Students . flocked to Twitter to express their grief at the killing, with many . writing 'R.I.P' messages to Andrea and sending her twin sister their . best wishes and prayers. A private vigil was held at the Hofstra Student Center last night and it was announced today that her funeral will take place on Wednesday. Rebello's father, Fernando, was too distraught to discuss the incident outside the family's home in Tarrytown, New York, yesterday. 'It's my daughter, my baby daughter,' the landscaping company chief told the Journal News outside the home he shares with wife Nella. 'She was so beautiful. I'm so confused. 'I don't know what to do,' he added. Her godmother told the newspaper: 'It's just too tragic'. Andrea was . a junior at Hofstra studying Public Relations and Sociology and had attended Sleepy Hollow High School alongside her sister. 'I'm 100% Portuguese and have an identical twin sister so I guess that makes me kind of unique?' she wrote on her blog. Principal Carol Conklin-Spillane said the girls were 'a set' and Andrea was devoted to her family who are close to other members of the Portuguese community in the area. 'She had a devotion to family and sense of purpose and of opportunity,' she said. Photographs . on her Facebook page show the girl as a popular student who enjoyed . hanging out with friends and her twin sister, while her blog documents . her cooking hobby. Neighbors said their house had a vegetable garden and the twins would sometimes drop off the produce. 'They brought me some vegetables from their garden. They’re very nice people. They’d do anything for you,' Harris Bank told the New York Post. Her funeral will be held at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow and will be officiated by the Rev. Osvaldo Franklin, of Our Lady of Fatima in Yonkers, who gave the twins their first communion. He said they helped with Mass for several years after that. Sisters: Jessica and Andrea Rebello, pictured, remained in the home while another girl was allowed out to collect money from an ATM. The girl called police immediately and they arrived minutes later . Popular: Photographs on Facebook show Andrea, a junior at Hofstra, enjoying nights out with friends . Break in: Police said that the masked, armed intruder knocked on the front door before forcing his way inside the home and holding the friends, including Andrea (left), hostage . Distraught: Hofstra University students gather near the house where the girl and an armed intruder were killed . Sadness: The suspect and the girl were both shot after police arrived at the Long Island home . Authorities said Andrea's twin sister is now with their family. On Friday morning, Hofstra University . President Stuart Rabinowitz released a statement condemning the shooting . as a 'senseless act of violence'. 'The Nassau County Police have . notified us that early this morning a Hofstra student was killed during a . tragic crime which took place in a rental house off campus,' the . statement read. 'The police investigation is ongoing, . and we do not yet know all of the relevant details. What we do know is . that a young member of the Hofstra family has been taken from us in a . senseless act of violence.' Home: The victim lived at the home which is just a block from the university campus with sorority sisters . Campus: The private university, on Long Island in New York, has nearly 13,000 students . Friday was the last day of exams . for students at the university and graduation is being held on Sunday, . but Rabinowitz added that the ceremonies would go ahead as scheduled. 'The accomplishments of our graduates . must be recognized, and together our community will heal and find the . strength to move forward,' he said. Hofstra University is a private . college on Long Island, New York. Nearly 13,000 students attend the . university, which is about 25 miles east of New York City. | Andrea Rebello, a junior at Hofstra, was shot dead at 2.20am on Friday in her Uniondale sorority house .
A masked male intruder, today named as Dalton Smith, was also shot dead .
The victim's twin, Jessica, was also held hostage along with her boyfriend .
Police were alerted when their friend Shannon Thomas was allowed out to get cash from an ATM and immediately called the authorities .
Smith allegedly shot Rebello as police arrived at the property .
Smith had three previous convictions for robbery and one for assault, there was a warrant out for his arrest after he absconded parole in April . |
210,415 | 9c851e7c07e90ba1d4d959fd8b5aca73341619d7 | Washington (CNN) -- As the Senate cleared the way for consideration of gun control measures for the first time in nearly 20 years, the path ahead for any gun control measure in the Republican-led House of Representatives is rocky and uncertain. Senate overcomes filibuster, clearing the way for debate on gun bill . Family members of those killed in the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, spent three days shuffling from meeting to meeting with senators urging swift action. But across the Capitol, there is no sense of urgency as most rank and file House GOP members are taking a wait and see approach to moving any gun bill, while a bloc of Republicans members are solidly against considering new gun restrictions. Manchin to Sandy Hook parents: 'I can do something' House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio repeated his long held position that the House would review whatever emerged from the Senate. He was noncommittal about bringing gun legislation to the House floor for a vote. King, Thompson to introduce background checks in House . "I fully expect that the House will act in some way, shape or form but to make a blanket commitment without knowing what the underlying bill is I think would be irresponsible on my part," Boehner told reporters on Thursday. Unlike senators, many of whom represent diverse states that include urban and suburban constituencies pressing for new gun restrictions, House districts are more narrowly drawn along partisan lines, and the current House is dominated by members in reliably Republican seats who feel less pressure to act. In many cases, these members are getting lobbied from constituents to hold the line against anything they think could curb access to guns. Sen. Rand Paul: The government wants your gun rights . "You have a lot of members here who are still scared of the NRA," Democratic Rep Carolyn McCarthy of New York, a gun control advocate, said on Wednesday. Gun control advocates are hopeful the Senate deal struck by pro-gun Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, a key conservative, on expanding background checks will help provide cover for Republicans in the House who might be worried about backlash for supporting it. While it appears Toomey's top billing is helping, so far most rank and file House Republicans say they want proof the Senate can actually pass something. Meanwhile, they continue to call for the Obama administration to enforce current gun laws, and emphasize there is bipartisan support to address mental health issues over measures dealing with access to guns. Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, who hails from Manchin's home state and is running for an open Senate seat there in 2014, said the Senate proposal "has got problems. It's very unpopular in the state." Capito said her office is already getting a lot of calls from voters in her district who oppose it, and estimated the current breakdown of the calls is roughly nine callers against gun control legislation for every one caller who says Congress needs to pass something. But Capito said she still wants to see the fine print of the Senate plan. A bipartisan duo in the House -- Rep. Peter King, R-New York, and Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California -- plan to introduce a House version of the background check bill early this week. King said there would likely be fewer than 10 House Republicans supporting it at first, but he said many GOP colleagues want to wait to see what happens in the Senate. King said it was too early to gauge the chances for the background check bill in the House, but stressed, "the biggest swing factor will be if a number of 'Pat Toomey- like' Republicans support it in the Senate and it just creates a wave." Thompson argued the national polls showing a public outcry for action mean Boehner and other House GOP leaders can't ignore the issue for long. CNN Poll: Popular background checks also cause worry . CNN Poll: Importance of guns soars, as do gun owner concerns . Gun rights activist: 'Your polls are hokum' "I cannot imagine how the majority in the House could even think of not taking this bill up for a vote, especially after you've seen this breakthrough bipartisan support in the Senate. This isn't about the leadership of the majority party throttling Congress. This is about the American people wanting a vote, wanting background checks." Why is this so hard? The disconnect on background checks and guns . Would background checks have stopped recent mass shootings? How do background checks work? Moderate GOP Rep. Charlie Dent, who represents one of a few swing districts in Pennsylvania, noted that the NRA backed a similar measure adopted by his home state in the 1990s requiring background checks for pistols. Toomey called Dent and other House Republicans earlier this week seeking their support before he unveiled his plan. Dent called the Senate compromise "a proposal really worthy of serious consideration" and while he hasn't fully endorsed it, he is on record pushing for enhanced background check legislation. NRA: Senate compromise 'will not prevent the next shooting' Asked if Toomey helps attract support from his GOP colleagues, Dent said, "I suspect the answer to that question will largely depend on where you live. I suspect those who are from states like Pennsylvania, also the northeast, mid-Atlantic area might bring some measure of comfort to House members knowing that Sen. Toomey supports this." Others agreed Toomey's top billing helps with House conservatives, but only to a degree. "What it does do is it forces you to look at it seriously, as it should. I don't think on issues like this, however, it will impact how people will vote in one way or another," said Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Florida. Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan, a former federal prosecutor who represents a suburban area outside Philadelphia, said he's already on board with the Senate plan. He said the background check piece along with other provisions "could be a promising package (in the House) and something that could be sold." Thompson said Thursday he and King are in discussions with seven to eight additional House Republicans about signing on to that bill. In recent high-profile legislative debates, such as the fiscal cliff, Boehner has passed final measures with a majority of his own members opposing them. But Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman, an ardent gun rights advocate, is circulating a letter to Boehner warning him not to allow a vote on any gun bill unless a majority of House Republicans are on board. The letter, signed by 46 House Republicans so far, argues the background check measure violates the Second Amendment and wouldn't be an effective crime-fighting tool. It concludes "under the precedents and traditions of the House, we would ask that no gun legislation be brought to the floor of the House unless it has the support of a majority of our caucus." Asked if he'll adhere to the test of only allowing a vote on a bill if it has the support of the majority of his own members, Boehner left some room on Thursday: "Certainly my prerogative or my intention is to always pass bills with strong Republican support." Senior House GOP aides caution that while the Senate may pass a bill soon, that doesn't necessarily mean the House will take up the proposal. They note that the process in the Senate took several months. House Republicans do expect President Barack Obama to ramp up political pressure and keep the issue out front to try to force action, but one of these senior House Republican sources suggested the White House refrain from any attempt to squeeze members. "If the president really wants to get something done it is not the best strategy to try and jam the House. That hasn't proven to be effective in the past," this aide told CNN. In gun debate, Biden cites paranoia, Ferraris . But McCarthy insisted this time around the pro-gun control effort is just getting started and is more organized to turn the pressure on House members after the Senate acts. Pointing to public opinion polls showing overwhelming support among women for gun legislation, McCarthy pledged, "We're showing our power and that power is not going to go away. I think it's going to be more difficult for them when they go home and haven't voted for something to save lives." Michelle Obama makes emotional entrance into gun debate . Opinion: A mother's journey to bearing arms . Capito said the shooting in Newtown that left 20 children and six educators dead was a "wake-up call" and believes the House will ultimately vote on some package. But she stressed because the issue was politically sensitive it should go through "regular order," meaning committees will hold hearings and spend time going through proposals. That means it will be many weeks, and likely months, before the House moves anything. | There is no sense of urgency in the House about moving a gun control bill .
West Virginia Republican: The Senate proposal "has got problems"
Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Pat Toomey has been calling GOP House members from his state .
NEW: A bipartisan duo in the House plans to introduce a background check bill next week . |
144,978 | 4786a87fdd170fbef8dcef681fd2d377d6812487 | Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said three in four people back the benefits cap . The cap on benefits of £26,000 a year could be cut, Iain Duncan Smith suggested yesterday, telling MPs that the figure was ‘under review’. The Work and Pensions Secretary was responding to continuing anger from Tories, who indicated that they want the figure reduced to £20,000 or lower. MP Andrew Bridgen told the Commons that the limit was ‘considerably more’ than the average take-home pay in his constituency. Official figures show workers in North West Leicestershire earn on average £22,130 but keep only £17,866 after tax. Mr Bridgen urged the Minister to continue the squeeze so benefits were always lower than earnings. Mr Duncan Smith’s comment follows demands from Conservative MPs last week to lower the limit to £20,000. He said yesterday: ‘The only people who don’t support the cap are the Labour Opposition.’ Tory MP Philip Davies also highlighted the Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street and Channel 5’s On Benefits and Proud. He said it showed claimants who could afford ‘copious amounts of cigarettes, have lots of tattoos done [and] watch Sky TV on the obligatory wide-screen television’. Last week it was revealed 33,000 families claimed £26,000-plus a year in handouts before the cap was imposed last July. It included 150 who received more than the take-home pay of someone on a salary of £65,000-a-year. In the Commons Mr Bridgen said his constituents were astonished by the figures. Jobcentre: Ministers hope that capping benefits will persuade thousands of people to find work instead . He urged Mr Duncan Smith to ‘persevere with this policy of a benefits cap and also review the level at which the cap, which is currently considerably more than the average post tax income in my constituency’. Reducing the cap to £20,000 would be the equivalent to take take home pay of someone in work on a salary of around £25,000. Mr Duncan Smith said: ’73 per cent of the public support the cap as it stands, nine out of 10 Londoners in a recent poll supported the cap. The only people who don't support the cap are the Labour opposition. ‘We will keep the policy under review but the one thing we should celebrate is we are reforming welfare to ensure those who need the money get it, and those who don't make sure they go back to work.’ The cap affects income from the main out-of-work benefits including Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and other benefits such as Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit and Carer’s Allowance. However, households are exempt from the cap if someone living their receives one of a number of other benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Industrial Injuries Benefit and the War Disablement Pension. Mr Duncan Smith also revealed he thought the controversial Channel 4 show Benefits Street was helping to win the argument for reform. The Tory minister said viewers were rightly 'shocked' by programmes such as Benefits Street and On Benefits and Proud, featuring people who spend their benefit money on luxuries such as cigarettes and wide-screen TVs, but that they had enabled the Government to force through measures, which he said would put an end to the abuse. Conservative MP Philip Davies said the documentaries will leave working people 'irritated' by the spending f those living on state handouts. Channel 4 show Benefits Street, which features people living on James Turner Street in Birmingham, is helping to win the argument for benefits reform, Mr Duncan Smith suggested . The member for Shipley asked Mr Duncan Smith: 'Have you managed to watch programmes like Benefits Street and On Benefits and Proud? 'If . so, have you, like me, been struck by the number of people on there who . manage to combine complaining about welfare reforms whilst being able . to afford being able to buy copious amounts of cigarettes, have lots of . tattoos done, watch Sky TV on the obligatory wide-screen television?' He . added: 'Do you understand the concerns and irritations of many of the . people who go out to work every day, pay their taxes, who cannot afford . those kinds of luxuries themselves?' Mr Duncan Smith replied: 'Many people are shocked by what they see, but the reality is that is why the public backs our welfare reform package, to get more people back to work, to end these abuses.' He said the last Labour government, which presided over 'massive spending and trapping people in a benefit dependency' was to blame for the abuse. | Work and Pensions Secretary said £26,000 limit on claims is 'under review'
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen warns his constituents were 'astonished' by scale .
£22,000 average salary in North West Leicestershire, or £17,800 take home .
73% back the benefits cap, including 90% of Londoners, polls show .
Shows like C4's Benefits Street are 'winning the argument', IDS claims . |
286,563 | ff4c1691a64554e7f1df77a6311fa993554626e2 | Pictures and footage have emerged showing a man and his partner waving a giant Australian flag in the crowd at the Melbourne Cup - and the shocking moment Araldo flipped out and broke his leg on the way back to the mounting yard that led vets to put him down. Channel Seven have identified a man in a green polo shirt and a black cap as Mark Schneider, who along with his partner was pictured on the fence celebrating the race with a huge flag. Footage taken from the woman's phone, Channel Seven cameras and a camera mounted on the helmet of Araldo's jockey Dwayne Dunn capture the exact moment the horse spots the flag in the crowd and loses its composure - kicking a fence that shattered its leg. It comes as Racing Victoria confirmed that flags would be banned for the remainder of the Melbourne Cup carnival - and that horses would be led back to mountain yard via a different route away from the crowd. Scroll down for video . Mark Schneider, pictured in a green polo shirt and a black cap, says he deeply regretted the incident . Mr Schneider, with the assistance of another man, helps hold his partner up as she waves the large flag that spooked Araldo . Seven-year-old stallion Araldo (left) ridden by Dwayne Dunn is pictured tangled in the fence after being spooked by an Australian flag . Araldo, piloted by jockey Dwayne Dunn, is clearly distressed at the sight of the flag . Racegoers claim that Mr Schneider thought the incident was funny - but he said in a statement to Seven News that he was 'shattered' and 'deeply shaken' The man and his partner are then confronted moments later by angry punters in the crowd, who have accused the couple of finding it funny. 'A horse got hurt and you thought it was funny,' a racegoer says to Mr Schneider. 'You just put it up again.... the owners of Araldo have a million-dollar horse that's going to get the vet now saving its life because of you.' 'But you think it's funny. You laughed at security when he came up to you. Mr Schneider told Seven News in a statement: 'As owners ourselves we are shattered at the events of yesterday ... regretting what unfolded and are deeply shaken,' But a woman who witnessed the confrontation between Mr Schneider and the man in the crowd claims he wasn't initially bothered by Araldo's reaction. 'I don't think he really cared until he found out that the horse was injured.' Admire Rakti, the pre-race favourite, also died shortly after the prestigious race, with a preliminary autopsy pointing to to acute heart failure and an irregular heart rhythm as the cause of death. VRC confirmed the rule changes to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday evening, citing the safety and wellbeing of horses, participants, employees and other event patrons as the key reasons. The ban on flags will be in place for the remaining two days of the spring racing carnival, but it has not been confirmed whether these measures will be implemented permanently. Julian Sullivan, VRC Acting Chief Executive, said the amendments had been implemented in direct response to Araldo sustaining a broken pastern when returning to the Mounting Yard on Tuesday. 'While it is important not to respond in a knee-jerk manner, these interim arrangements will be implemented until procedures are reviewed after the Melbourne Cup Carnival,' Mr Sullivan said. Horses will also be led along a different path after the race, a decision which was made in conjunction with Racing Victoria Chairman of Stewards Terry Bailey. 'Traditionally horses wait for the winner to lead them down the race, but will now enter the Mounting Yard in the order they return,' Mr Sullivan said. 'The larger crowds that gather for the Group 1 races will still have the opportunity to see the horses return to scale along the track.' Earlier on Wednesday pictures emerged showing Araldo, which ran seventh, clearly distressed at the site of a large flag being waved by a member of the public - who then shattered its leg after freaking out and kicking a fence on the way back to the mounting yard. Anthony Feroce, the racing manager of Araldo's stables, told the Herald Sun Melbourne Cup organisers should review crowd control measures after the freak incident, saying: 'It's not like car racing.' In mobile phone footage aired on Channel Seven, a man is seen angrily confronting Mr Schneider . Mr Schneider pictured here in the crowd says he is a regular racegoer and has previously waved the flag at the Melbourne Cup . The horse, which ran seventh, is clearly distressed at the site of a large flag being waved by a member of the crowd - and shattered its leg after freaking out and kicking a fence on the way back to the mounting yard . This shot taken from a camera mounted to the helmet of Araldo's jockey Dwayne Dunn shows the moment the horse spots the flag . The horse was later put down due to the injury suffered, during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Tuesday . The death of Araldo and pre-race favour Admire Rakti overshadowed victory for the German-trained Protectionist, who romped away with the biggest winning margin in nearly two decades, and also reignited a bitter debate about the ethical treatment of racing horses. Dr Stewart said an autopsy was conducted for Admire Rakti on Tuesday night at the University of Melbourne and initial results point to acute heart failure and an irregular heart rhythm. A full post mortem with microscopic and toxicology studies will take 10 days or more, he said. 'It's seen in racehorses and human athletes as well - in the large mass of the muscle of the heart, the electrical current has to get through in a coordinated way, and at high heart rates sometimes that can become short circuited,' Dr Stewart said. Admire Rakti, the pre-race favourite, finished last in the Melbourne Cup and almost walked across the line . The heartbreaking moment that Melbourne Cup pre-race favourite Admire Rakti collapses and dies in the stall after the race . Racing Victoria head of veterinary services and equine welfare Dr Brian Stewart (left) and chairman of stewards Terry Bailey arrive at a press conferenceon Wednesday. Mr Bailey called Dr Stewart at 10pm the night before the Melbourne Cup to ask him to vet Admire Rakti . 'It happens more or less spontaneously with no warning.' He initially said the horse suffered from 'sudden death syndrome', which occurs in just 0.007 per cent of racehorses. The reason for Araldo’s demise was immediately clear. Speaking shortly afterwards, his trainer Mike Moroney said that the stallion had become distressed by a big flag and run off. 'They run the Melbourne Cup for 154 years and nothing like that has happened,' he said. Anthony Feroce, racing manager at Mike Moroney's Ballymore stables, said the horse's death was a 'freakish accident', but he anticipated the Victoria Racing Club would review how close punters are allowed to get to Cup horses following the race. 'I think the Victoria Racing Club does a magnificent job, but possibly they could look at flags that close to where the horses go,' Mr Feroce said. 'Someone had a big flag and was waving it and right at the time when our horse went passed it and they're animals, they get spooked quite easily.' Mr Feroce added that it was 'not fair' that racing was being portrayed as a cruel industry following the deaths of the two horses. 'All care is taken for their wellbeing and their welfare and I assure you, you've just got to talk to everybody involved and see how much love they have for the animals,' he said. 'Now and then we do have unfortunate accidents that happen but that's no different to any other sport.' The deaths of the two horses prompted an outpouring of comment online and reaction from animal charities who insist that racing is a cruel sport. Protectionist led the field home in stunning fashion - heading Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman by three lengths . Protectionist's owners will pocket $3.6million of the Melbourne Cup's generous $6.2million pool . Ryan Moore rides Protectionist to win race 7, the Melbourne Cup on Melbourne Cup Day . Spectacle: The Melbourne Cup is the premier event in Australian racing and brings the country to a standstill every year . | Araldo broke his leg after being spooked by an Aussie flag on way back to mounting yard after the race .
The Victorian Racing Club have banned flags from horse areas and changed the path they take after the race .
The changes will be implemented for the final two days of the spring carnival .
Flag-waver Michael Schneider said he was 'shattered' by the event which lead to the death of Araldo .
There was hope that the horse's injury could be operated on but it was put down after all options were exhausted .
Pre-race favourite Admire Rakti collapsed and died in the stalls after finishing last in the race .
Protectionist ($7.50) won the Melbourne Cup by three lengths . |
34,907 | 6332799d756ec925a05c851dc6dc3eeb10584635 | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 09:46 EST, 15 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:52 EST, 15 April 2013 . Britain looked blooming marvellous as the sun came out to play today. At last, flower growers got some joy as the UK's only hyacinths bulb fields burst into bloom in Cambridgeshire one month later than usual. In the Vale of Evesham, in the Cotswolds, asparagus growers finally started getting ready for the British Asparagus Festival on St George’s Day. But in Ashridge, Hertfordshire, they're still waiting because the annual flowering of bluebells hasn't quite happened yet. Usually, by mid-April the ground at Dockey Wood is blanketed in blue but the unseasonal cold spell - which has also reduced Evesham's asparagus crop to only 10 per cent of what it should be - has put paid to that. Scroll down for video . Too soon: There's no bluebells yet at Dockey Wood, near Ashridge, Hertfordshire, this spring . In bloom: But in previous years Dockey Wood has been covered in a blue blanket . The Festival at Bretforton, near . Evesham, on April 23 sees a day of celebration of the crop and the start . of the eight week season. In the Cambridgeshire countryside, the . world's largest collection of rare hyacinths is putting on a stunning . display of colour in a fragrance-filled two-acre field after Spring . finally sprung. Grandfather Alan Shipp, 75, has been . custodian of the UK's National Collection of Hyacinths since 1989 and . now has more than 150,000 flowering bulbs. 'The hyacinths are a good four weeks . later than usual due to the cold weather, but there has been no damage . to the flowers,' said Mr Shipp. 'It's the next three months which are important now as the weather will affect the size of the bulbs. 'We need plenty of sun to put energy into the bulbs, but we don't want it to be too hot as it shortens the growing season.' Charlie the dog playing amongst daffodils on the Stray in Harrogate, North Yorkshire . All smiles: Jake Pickersgill, three, and Hana Hadfield, three, from Blackpool, enjoy a day out in Stanley Park . Aaah: Jake and Hana playing in the sun in Stanley Park, Blackpool, Lancashire . Forecasters say Thetford in Norfolk is expected to be the hottest spot in the UK today reaching an almost summery 16C. Shrewsbury . and Skipton will reach 15C and 14C while Lerwick on the Shetland . Islands will be the UK's coolest place reaching just 5C. With the weather staying warm, London could reach 17C on Wednesday. English literature student Alice Heidemann enjoys some sun at last on the beach in Aberdeen today with the north east experiencing temperatures around 15C . In the Cambridgeshire countryside, the world's largest collection of rare hyacinths is putting on a stunning display of colour. Pictured with them is eight-year-old Rosie Rickards . Alan Shipp in his field of hyacinths, which are finally beginning to burst into flower . Fun on the beach today despite slightly chilly temperatures at Southsea, Hampshire . While temperatures weren't exactly Mediterranean, after a seemingly endless winter yesterday’s warm weather was a good start. As . predicted, it was the hottest day of the year so far with the . thermometer peaking at 22C (72F) in Gravesend and Manston in Kent. It is hoped the widespread temperature increase will jolt Mother Nature out of her unusually long hibernation. Bluebells and some daffodils, which . normally brighten the countryside and gardens with displays of colour, . have yet to flower, while parks await the glorious burst of cherry . blossom. As for the bird population, there are . fears that a lack of insects may have had terrible consequences for the . tens of thousands of migrating birds that usually reach Britain by the . start of April. Some birds may have delayed their . journey north, but ornithologists fear thousands of birds that rely on . insects for food may have arrived and died. The National Trust was expecting the . ‘main pulse’ of migrating birds – including swallows and house martins – . to arrive over the weekend with the help of strong southerly winds. But Grahame Madge of the RSPB said: . ‘We’re actually not sure where they all are. Possibly many have already . arrived and perished or they may be hanging around waiting for the right . conditions.’ He added: ‘When they arrive they are . exhausted. They have probably lost half their body weight and are right . on the edge of survival. ‘If they arrive and there are no insects to feed on they are in big trouble. We could be looking at a bleak picture.’ Bluebells are one wonder of the British countryside that have yet to appear. It is thought peak flowering could be . delayed until mid-May this year. There are also fears that many . daffodils may not flower at all. Tom Price, curator of Oxford . University’s Botanic Garden, said: ‘It’s possible the bulbs have been . damaged by the prolonged wet, and then very cold weather. Some of them . could have rotted or died off in the soil.’ However, experts suggest the late spring could be a sign of an increasingly rare hot summer. Matthew Oates, a naturalist for the . National Trust, said: ‘There is a really good link between late springs . and very good summers, and we are due, overdue, a very good summer.’ A Met Office spokesman said: ‘Temperatures will drop a bit tomorrow but it will stay generally mild.’ | Usually, by now the ground at Dockey Wood, Herts, is blanketed in blue .
But they're still waiting because the annual flowering hasn't happened .
Warmth is set to continue through the week, says the Met Office .
Temperatures should remain around the mid-teens - though it won't be dry .
The sun should return by Friday for a warm weekend after mixed week . |
279,878 | f68f17502d32d84915d58d19ce674d0e1e5dde0d | By . Gavin Allen . UPDATED: . 15:44 EST, 18 December 2011 . The wintry conditions claimed the life of a 37-year-old man today who reportedly fell through a frozen lake in East Dunbartonshire after trying to rescue his dog who had gone into the water. Strathclyde Police said the man's body was recovered from the Gadloch in Lenzie following an extensive search involving divers and a police helicopter. Police said investigations are continuing but they believe it was an accident and there were no suspicious circumstances. The incident in central Scotland came after thermometers hit -5C in Eskdalemuir yesterday, and there were gloves and scarves abound as far south as Benson, where the temperature reached -4.7C . The surges of snow as we head towards December 25 had led some bookmakers to slash the odds of a white Christmas at the end of last week, with Ladbrokes offering a 3/1 chance that London will have snow on the big day, while the odds were 9/4 for Edinburgh and Glasgow. No, it's not the Alps... Robin Cummings, 43, skis down some virgin snow near Buxton, Derbyshire . Walkers make their way along a footpath across the Pennines close to the highest motorway in Britain, the M62, where Lancashire and Yorkshire meet . With food in short supply, these two blue tits fight it out for any scraps that could be retrieved from a snow-covered bird feeder . Covered with snow: Across the UK snow has fallen, but as the countdown to the big day begins, the chances of a White Christmas are looking unlikely . White blanket: Heavy snowfall has been seen in Scotland with snow covering a valley at Wanlockhead, Dumfries Scotland . Stuck: Canal boats surrounded by frozen water in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in Central Lancashire . However, there was precious little . snow around the UK with only the Highlands of Scotland and North and . West Wales seeing much in the way of truly white weather. And . the forecast for the weeks ahead is milder, with a much drier and . brighter day across the country today with wintry showers less . widespread and frequent. The . East of the country can expect to see the best of the sunshine, but it . will stay staying cold for everyone who is chilled by the northwesterly . wind. Despite . the milder conditions, however, Christmas shoppers and motorists were . still warned they could expect treacherous driving conditions. 'It . is getting milder, particularly from midweek onwards so it will be . quite clear with fewer wintry showers,' said Met Office forecaster . Michael Lawrence. 'There is rain on the way and we are expecting a milder wind direction. There . are still some patches of high pressure coming in from the Atlantic, . and we can't rule out the chances of a white Christmas in some places, . but the signs are at the moment are that it won't be a white Christmas . for the majority of us.' Despite the worst of weather predictions not coming to pass this weekend there were still major problems on the roads. Treacherous icy conditions left two . motorist in hospital after a five car pile-up on the A41, in Kingswood, . near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The . collision happened as dozens of other drivers were crashing and sliding . off the roads as a result of black ice across the South East of . England. Surrounded by snow: A horse in Scotland where the thermometer bottomed out at -5C in Eskdalemuir yesterday . Wave to the camera: Two walkers enjoys the rough seas on Porthmeor Beach in St Ives . Silent night: A car battles to make its way through snow and ice on the Weaver Hills near Wootton, Staffordshire . Too cold to ride? A shopper pushes a bicycle through the snow in Buxton, central England . A man and a woman . were taken to hospital suffering from an arm injuries and cuts after the . vehicles skidded into each other on the ice covered route. It . happened just before 9am and involved a a green BMW 520, a black Ford . KA, a red Ford KA, a black Toyota Corolla, and a black BMW 320. The road was closed down for several hours so that the vehicles could safely be recovered. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police . said: 'Officers on the scene have reported the road is icy and driving . conditions are treacherous.' South . Central Ambulance Service were advising motorists to take extra care . after attending a number of crashes across Hampshire, Berkshire, . Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire due to the icy conditions. Black ice also caused a spate of crashes across Gloucestershire over the weekend. Gloucestershire Police said there were dozens of accidents on high ground in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean on Saturday morning. In the Forest area a silver Renault Clio careered into a ditch on the B4215 at Rudford at just after 6am but the driver escaped uninjured. A green Vauxhall Astra collided with a bus stop on the A48 in Minsterworth, near Gloucester, at 6.15am and the driver, a 36 year-old man was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital as a precautionary measure. The bus stop was described as completely demolished. The Highways Agency insisted it is equipped to cope with the cold snap, saying it has 500 state-of-the-art winter vehicles on standby and enough salt to deal with severe conditions. | Temperatures plunge to -5C in Scotland .
Ice warnings still in place across entire country . |
269,231 | e8c201da2d511653df93f8e50900fc263f582ddd | By . Associated Press . Last updated at 10:12 AM on 21st February 2012 . John Glenn, the former astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, has slammed the U.S. for being unable to take workers to and from its own space station. The 90-year-old, who circled the Earth three times in five hours on February 20, 1962 and helped lead the nation into space, lambasted the county on the 50th anniversary of his feat. 'It's unseemly to me that here we are, supposedly the world's greatest space-faring nation, and we don't even have a way to get back and forth to our own International Space Station,' he told ABC. Disappointed: John Glenn, the former astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, has slammed the U.S. for being unable to take workers to and from its own space station . Discussing the past: Mr Glenn (center) was the focus of the attention at a panel hosted by Ohio State on Monday . John Glenn commemorated the 50th anniversary in his flight as the first American to orbit the moon . His comments referenced NASA retiring its fleet of space shuttles last year - meaning astronauts have no way of reaching the space station unless they rent a seat on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This will continue until NASA, which hopes private industry will take on the job of taking astronauts to the space station, is able to create its new Space Launch System. Glenn's criticism came as NASA surprised him with a live chat with the International Space Station while he . marked 50 years since his historic spaceflight. He celebrated the anniversary at Ohio State University by kicking off a forum about NASA's future. The first man to set foot on the moon led the tributes to the first American to orbit the Earth on the 50th anniversary of the feat. Neil Armstrong was the surprise speaker at an Ohio State University gala honouring John Glenn half a century after Mr Glenn's historic 1962 space flight. Success: John Glenn pictured on 20 February 1962 after completing his mission . Rocket man: John Glenn at Cape Canaveral, beside . Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft 'Friendship 7'. Monday marks 50 years since . Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth . Mr Armstrong said there was a need for leadership in the space programme and Mr Glenn 'literally rose to the occasion'. Mr Glenn has had his share of accomplishments. But the former astronaut and US senator from Ohio recently said he envies Mr Armstrong and wishes he could have been part of the first manned moon landing in 1969. Mr Glenn got another surprise earlier . when Nasa enabled him to speak live with crew members from the . International Space Station. Commander Don Burbank appeared by . video link, flanked by two flight engineers floating in the zero-gravity . environment, and said the crew was delighted to help commemorate Mr . Glenn's momentous trip. Sitting on stage with NASA Administrator . Charles Bolden, he chatted by video link with three space station crew . members about space research and the future of the so called ‘final . frontier’. Mr Glenn was among the top military test pilots presented in 1959 as the Mercury Seven. The only other surviving Mercury astronaut is Scott Carpenter, who called out the memorable line: . ‘Godspeed John Glenn’ moments before the rocket ignited for Mr Glenn's spaceflight.' ‘Fifty years ago today, Friendship 7 was . orbiting planet Earth, and that helped in a very big way, paved the way . for America to become a space power, and to go to the moon, and to do . the things that we're doing right now on the International Space . Station,’ Mr Burbank said. ‘And we hope this also can help set the stage for us down the road to do even greater things.’ Mr Glenn had a light-hearted but educational exchange with the space station crew, asking them about the types and number of experiments on board - more than a hundred, they said - and explaining to his gravity-bound audience of more than 200 people that, for example, a candle burns differently in space than on Earth. When Mr Bolden asked the astronauts which experiment they'd like to hand off to Glenn if he could join them, Mr Burbank suggested research on the ‘regenerative environmental control systems’ on spacecraft. Meeting of minds: Former astronaut-turned-Senator Glenn (left) was questioned by NASA administrator Charles Bolden and they reflected on the past and future of the country's space program . Laughing matter: Mr Glenn joked that he thought they would make him clean the toilets on the spaceship . ‘That's a fancy word for our toilet,’ flight engineer Don Pettit added. Mr . Glenn took the humor in stride, replying that being ordered to fix the . toilet was ‘exactly what I thought I was going to get assigned to’. Mr Glenn also inquired about how far the space station had travelled during the course of the roughly 15 minutes they'd been talking. They hadn't kept an eye on the exact distance but said they guessed it was about one-fourth of the way around the Earth. Mr Bolden joked that Mr Glenn sometimes bugs him about making a trip to the space station. Mr Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space in 1998, at age 77. Presidential approval: John Glenn appear alongside JFK at Cape Canaveral several days before his space mission . Mission complete: Glenn shows President Kennedy the Friendship 7, the space capsule which carried him around the world . He and Annie, his wife of almost seven decades, were scheduled to cap Monday's anniversary by participating in a student-led question-and-answer session during an evening gala featuring a keynote speech by former astronaut Mark Kelly, the commander of the space shuttle Endeavour's final mission and husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Today's talk follows on the heels of a weekend full of anniversary activities. Hundreds of NASA workers jammed a space center auditorium on Friday to honor Mr Glenn, and on Saturday, he was joined by Mr Carpenter as they reunited with more than 100 retirees who worked on Project Mercury. The early 1960s were a magical time in Cape Canaveral and adjoining Cocoa Beach, Carpenter said. 'Everyone was behind us. The whole nation was behind what we were doing,' he said. American hero: Glenn said that today's cell phones have more processing power than the technology which was available to the Nasa crew in 1962 . | Glenn was first American to go on the milestone trip, but the fifth overall .
Neil Armstrong was the surprise speaker at the gala honouring Glenn . |
120,199 | 2758ea434f82e071e29c2ce22b93a0f08e0127e0 | New video has been released showing the moment police escorted a woman off a Delta flight earlier this week, after it was forced to reroute due to a passenger argument. Amy Fine of Boca Raton, Florida caused a disturbance on the flight to West Palm Beach, when the older woman sitting in front of her reclined her seat to knit and accidentally hit Fine in the head. Fine caused a commotion and the flight was forced to land at Jacksonville Airport in the third incident of its kind in less than a week. In a video recorded by a passenger, Fine is seen being escorted off the plane by three officers as someone in the background yells out 'Thank you'. Scroll down for video . Kicked off: 52-year-old Amy Fine (circled) was escorted off a Delta flight Monday night, after she forced the flight to land early after getting into an argument with another passenger . Passenger Aaron Klipin told WPTV that a woman sitting next to him got into an argument with a passenger behind her. The woman reclined her seat so she could knit while the other passenger was trying to sleep on the tray table. Klipin said the woman who was trying to take a nap started screaming and swearing, drawing the attention of the flight crew. According to the passenger, when a flight attendant came over, the dispute between the two women became even more heated, and the woman with her head on the tray table demanded that the plane be diverted. Klipin recalled hearing the woman say: 'I don't care about the consequences; put this plane down.' Another traveler who spoke to ABC's Good Morning America described the woman as 'nuts,' saying that she launched into a tirade about her dead pets. 'She said, "I lost two dogs in the last month. I want her [the reclining passenger] off of here, or I'm going to leave; or I want you to stop the plane.' The stewardess went to talk to the pilot, who made the decision to land the plane 'out of an abundance of caution,' according to a Delta spokesman. A few minutes later, the flight touched down in Jacksonville, where it was met by local law enforcement officials who removed the unruly woman from the plane. The flight later continued on to West Palm Beach, arriving after 11pm. A spokesman for the airline said: 'Out of an abundance of caution, the captain elected to divert to the closest airport. Local law enforcement met the flight and removed the passenger.' According to the airline, the diversion was 'due to safety reasons in regard to a passenger issue' but Florida television station WPTV reported that the plane rerouted due to a dispute over a reclining seat. Flight 2370 was forced to land in Jacksonville due to an undisclosed passenger disturbance. Above, a file photo of a Delta jet . This is the third similar incident, after diminishing leg room contributed to two clashes just last week. On Wednesday August 27, a American Airlines Miami-to-Paris flight was rerouted to Boston after air marshals had to restrain a man as two passengers came to blows when one of them attempted to recline their seat. The male passenger, Edmund Alexandre, of France, continued to be disruptive when a crew member tried to calm him, following him down the aisle and grabbing his arm. Two undercover federal air marshals on the flight then subdued and handcuffed the 61-year-old traveler. And on August 24, a fight started on a United Airlines flight when a male passenger resorted to using a Knee Defender, a $21 gadget designed to prevent the person in front from reclining. A female passenger, sitting in the middle of Row 11 tried to recline, but found she couldn’t. When it emerged that the man in the seat behind had attached a Knee Defender, she asked a member of cabin crew to remove it. He refused, saying that he would no longer be able to work on his laptop, and the situation escalated, with the woman hurling a glass of water in the man’s face. The New Jersey-to-Denver flight was diverted to Chicago, and both of the passengers were booted off. Reclining has long been a contentious issue, with surveys finding that as many as nine out of ten passengers believing that reclining seats should be banned on shorter flights. There is even a campaign on business networking site LinkedIn to make airlines remove reclinable seats on short-haul journeys. | Amy Fine, 52, was kicked off a flight from New York to West Palm Beach, Florida for getting in an argument with another passenger .
The older woman sitting in front of Fine reclined her seat to knit, accidentally hitting Fine in the head .
Fine then demanded the plane land early in Jacksonville, where three police officers escorted her off the plane .
It is the third incident over reclining seats in just a week . |
80,597 | e46f3eeb218cea940d9041ca42db11d5fff87784 | Authorities have revealed details surrounding the arrest of Sydney man Peter Gardner who is being held in a Chinese jail for alleged drug-smuggling. Gardner will find out his fate on Sunday - his 37th day in custody - whether or not he will be charged or released as this is the longest Chinese police can hold someone without an outcome. The 25-year-old was taken into custody along with Kalynda Davies, also from Sydney, who has since returned to Australia. Chinese authorities alleged they found 30kg of ice inside the luggage of Sydney man Peter Gardner . Gardner could face the death penalty by firing squad for allegedly attempting to traffic 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, also known as the drug ice. Guangzhou Customs claim they found the drugs in 60 vacuum-sealed bags inside Gardner's luggage while he was on his way to Sydney on Flight CZ325, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. His two pieces of hand luggage had to be forced open by authorities in an interrogation room in Baiyun Airport as the zippers were super glued. It is believed to be the most ice local customs have ever found leaving the country. The pair had only travelled to Guangzhou - in China's southern region - for three days and were on their way home November 8. They were stopped at security screening after checks revealed something unusual inside Gardner's bags. A month later, his companion - Ms Davis - was released without warning, with authorities later explaining there was no evidence that tied her to the alleged drug trafficking in a statement to Fairfax Media. 'There was no evidence that shows [Davis] had any subjective intention to take part in this drug trafficking crime,' Guangzhou Customs said. Kalynda Davis, 22, (pictured left with her father, Larry) was arrested along with Mr Gardner but has since been released. After her return to Australia, family and friends were seen visiting the family home (right) These details emerge as the father of Gardner said he did not know if his son was innocent. Russell Gardner told The Daily Telegraph his son was 'doing okay' while in prison. The woman who was with Gardner at the time of his arrest was Kalynda Davis. She was also taken into custody but was released and returned to her relieved family in Sydney last Tuesday after spending a month in a cramped Chinese prison cell. But Peter Gardner, who she met on Tinder just weeks before travelling to China, remains locked-up in Guangzhou. 'I don’t know if he's innocent. She obviously was innocent because the police wouldn't have let her go if they couldn't pin it on her,' Gardner's father told the Telegraph. 'There’s probably more to the story but the embassy know and the lawyers know.' Mr Gardner said his son, who had never been in serious trouble before, had not been allowed to make any contact with his anxious family, except for sending a couple of letters. Welcome home: Friends of Kalynda Davis arrived at the family's home in Glenmore Park to welcome Kalynda home with flowers . Despite this, and the threat of the death penalty, he said Chinese police were treating his son 'okay'. 'I’ve got over that initial shock you get at first, but you’ve got to take it as it comes. We’re managing, we’re pulling together. We’re still a close family, the Chinese are treating him okay,' he said. Peter Gardner, a New Zealand national, had been living in Richmond in Sydney's north-western suburbs after completing his apprenticeship at a western Sydney construction firm. Russell said the accusation his son had been carrying methamphetamine did not make any sense. He said he had hired a Chinese lawyer and the family were nervously waiting on the findings of the Chinese investigators. A former friend told Fairfax Media Gardner was a 'great guy' who was 'very caring, nice and softly spoken'. 'I guess he just got tangled up in a bad way of life. Every time I talked to him he was always genuine and never seemed like he would get involved in that,' the Richmond High School alumni said. While Gardner remained in jail, his travel companion, Kalynda Davis, touched down in Sydney last Tuesday. Family and friends of the 22-year-old were seen coming in and out of her home in the days following her homecoming. Friends of Kalynda Davis in Sydney have told media 'she's doing fine.' 'She's great, she's innocent, she's fine,' a friend said outside the family home. Daily Mail Australia understands Ms Davis will catch up with some of her friends in private over the weekend. Kalynda Davis's (pictured) friends say they have constantly believed that her truth was always going to come out . Ms Davis met Gardner just weeks before they took a spontaneous trip to China together . Kalynda Davis’ anguished father said he ‘just collapsed’ as soon as his little girl returned home after an ordeal he described as 'a parent's worst nightmare and multiply it by ten'. ‘I knew she was so innocent. I prayed every night that the truth would come out… We found out that she was being released on Friday [December 5] night,' former policeman Larry Davies told The Western Weekender. ‘We cried and cried and cried and cried and I don’t think I had more than four hours sleep after that until last night, when she was home safely.' Ms Davis quickly found herself in a living hell after starting out on what was meant to be a fun spontaneous trip with Gardner who she met on Tinder two weeks before. Ms Davis later told her father: 'I'm sorry dad, I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I didn't do it'. The Glenmore Park resident's long blonde hair was cut into a short bob while she was locked up in the detention centre. She was kept in a small holding area, ‘with a small area to sleep and that’s it’, but her family last week praised the Chinese authorities for being very respectful in their treatment of Kalynda. Kalynda Davis was driven away from the family home by her father to escape the hype and attention just a day after she arrived home last week . A friend of Kalynda Davis arrives at the Glenmore Park house in western Sydney with a gift for the 22-year-old . The relatives of Kalynda Davis (pictured) arrived at her house in Glenmore Park in western Sydney last Tuesday . When friends of Ms Davis heard of her return, all they could express was relief. 'SHES HOME!! BIGGEST SMILE EVER!,' close friend Dan Stella wrote on his Facebook page. 'The last month has been a daily struggle but today I sit here with tears of happiness. 'I can't even concentrate, drivin' off the road and s**t haha. "So happy!" Every day we have something to be thankful for! 'Today is kal is home safe and well with love ones. See you soon, always had ya back, always will... so glad your ok "best day of my f**king life...... love ya kal".' Sydney man Dan Stella (above, left) has posted on Instagram (above) about his 'tears of happiness' at the safe return of his dear friend Kalynda Davis (right, next to Stella) Kalynda Davis returned to her family’s double-storey brick home in Glenmore Park (pictured) in Sydney’s outer west . A school friend told Daily Mail Australia the Davis family would be delighted to have Kalynda home for Christmas. 'This is amazing news. Especially for her family, they must be so happy to have her home for Christmas and I'm so happy for them all and ecstatic to hear she's home,' they said. Kalynda's friend of more than a decade, Blake Tatafu, 22, told Daily Mail Australia he was overjoyed at his good mate's release. 'I don't think there's actually words to describe [how I'm feeling]', Mr Tatafu said. 'It just proves that the truth will set you free.' A family liaison officer- DFAT's Claire Went - was sent from Canberra to China to support the Davis family, who said in a statement they would not have made it through without her. 'Without the support of Ms Went we would not have been able to get through this difficult time', they said. Asked if he was delighted Kalynda was home safe, John, a visiting elderly relative told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Of course we are.' Ms Davis (pictured) has returned home after being detained for a month in a Chinese prison after she had her long-blonde hair cut into a bob . Her family have always said she was innocent in the entire incident, which saw her facing a possible death penalty . Following their daughter's return, Kaylnda's parents - father Larry and mother Jennifer - told reporters they were pleased and relieved Kalynda was free and safe following her month-long ordeal in Guangzhou. In a statement, they said: 'We are happy to have Kalynda back home. We have always known Kalynda to be innocent of these allegations.' 'Her return home today is a clear statement of her innocence. 'We have received so much support from family and friends. We thank everyone for the support we have received during the last month.' Do you know more? Email: [email protected], [email protected] . The 22-year-old's father said he had been through an ordeal that was ten times worse than any parent's nightmare . Kalynda Davis as fresh-faced teenager and a talented young sportswoman at school a few years ago . Following her release, Ms Davis's family said in a statement: 'We are happy to have Kalynda back home. We have always known Kalynda to be innocent of these allegations' | Custom officers in Guangzhou alleged they found 60 vacuum-sealed bags inside Peter Gardner's luggage .
This is the 25-year-old's 37th day in a Chinese jail, which is the longest police can keep him before they have to charge or release him .
The father of the Sydney man says he does not know if his son is innocent .
'We're pulling together, we're still a close family, the Chinese are treating him okay,' Russell Gardner said as his son faces the death penalty .
The woman with Gardner at the time of his arrest was Kalynda Davis, 22 .
Davies was held in a Chinese jail for a month before returning home last week . |
104,121 | 125557805e605bb31241db8350b76f72671a2ef8 | By . Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Editor . Confession: Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke has admitted the firm failed to change fast enough to help customers during the economic downturn . Tesco has admitted it failed to help customers during the economic downturn as it announced it will cut prices on everyday food essentials by some £200million. It is also introducing a ‘Fuel Save’ scheme to cut living costs where holders of its Clubcard will be able to earn savings of 2p-20p a litre on petrol based on spending. Britain’s biggest supermarket has also pledged to improve quality and bring forward a refurbishment of hundreds of its ‘big box’ stores. It will spend millions developing its website which is now generating food sales of £2.5billion a year and a trading profit of £127million. This will involve opening hundreds of new ‘click and collect’ points for food and other web purchases in stations and other locations. The moves come as the company tries to turn around a slump in sales and market share with shoppers deserting to cheaper budget rivals – Aldi and Lidl – as well as Waitrose. Chief executive Philip Clarke told investors that the company had failed to change fast enough to help the ‘squeezed middle’ and low income households during the financial crisis. ‘It has been tough for consumers and it’s been tough for the company. Our headline results are not where we want them to be,’ he said. ‘I have not seen such a level and sustained pressure on consumers in my 40 years. The squeeze continues. There are signs of confidence in the UK economy but consumers are not yet seeing that being translated into spending power. ‘The least affluent customers and middle income families are being forced to make choices.’ He added: ‘Businesses which don’t change with the times don’t succeed and we did not change enough, not enough for our customers. But now we have changed.’ Cuts: It comes as Tesco has announced it will cut prices on everyday food essentials by some £200million . Mr Clarke said the giant, which takes around 30p in the £1 of all spending on groceries, had wrongly become locked into a mindset that ‘big is best’. He said the firm’s bosses now accept this is not automatically the case. In fact, sales through its big stores were down by 3.1per cent in the crucial Christmas period. As a result, it has decided to dramatically cut back on building new stores and will, instead, divert cash into major refurbishments. The success of the price cuts initiative will depend on whether customers trust the store to deliver . This will include installing coffee shops, family restaurants and bakery shops into many of its biggest large stores, using the brands, Harris & Hoole, Giraffe and Euphorium. Prototype stores in Watford, Purley and Coventry, which also have Tesco F+F fashion boutiques, pharmacies and opticians, will be used as the templates for the new look interiors. The company opened some 2.5million square feet of new floor space in this country in 2012-13, however that will come down to just 700,000 in 2014/15. Most of this new space will be in convenience stores as people switch away from one big weekly shop to making several trips. Mr Clarke said the company will do away with ‘frivolous’ price promotions to a regime of permanent lower prices on food essentials bought every week. He said: ‘Prices must get better and must be more stable. Frivolous promotions must end and trusted ones should be in place and that will start now.’ The success of the price cut initiative will depend on whether customers trust the store to deliver. The firm promised reductions of £500m in the ‘Big Price Drop’ in 2011, however subsequent surveys found many of the reductions were not what they seemed. Mr Clarke said he had he regretted the way that promotion was implemented, saying: ‘It was not executed well.’ He insisted the company has now undergone a fundamental change in philosophy, adding: ‘People will not be fooled and we are going to deliver what we have said.’ Competition: Shoppers are increasingly deserting Tesco in favour of budget rivals Aldi (pictured) and Lidl . The UK managing director, Chris Bush, said price cuts on everyday essential foods have been brought forward specifically to match the low figures at firms like Aldi and Lidl. The national Fuel Save scheme, which will be a permanent money-saving measure, has proved popular during trials in Wales and Norwich. Customers who spend £20 earn a discount of 1p a litre on fuel at Tesco petrol stations. Drivers can choose to save up their discount over several shops to the point that they might earn a saving of as much as 20p a litre. | Philip Clarke admits Tesco failed to help customers during financial crisis .
'It has been tough for consumers and tough for the company,' says CEO .
Comes as firm has announced long-term price slashes on food essentials .
Also launching 'Fuel Save' scheme for Clubcard holders to cut living costs .
Shoppers have increasingly shunned Tesco for budget rivals Aldi and Lidl . |
237,453 | bf5144a8bf36c344885cd8016c41aff5c486aa9a | Here is a look at what you need to know about D-Day. Allied troops invaded Normandy on June 6, 1944. Facts:June 6, 1944 - D-Day, World War II, the Allied invasion of Normandy. The largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion's code name was Operation Overlord. General Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded the operation, and plans were made to land in Normandy, west of where the German troops and artillery are built up. More: See historic photos from the landing . The "D" stands for Day. D-Day and H-Hour stand for the secret time/day an operation is scheduled to begin. Code names for the five beaches where the Allies landed: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The date June 5, 1944 was originally chosen for the invasion, but bad weather forced the Allies to postpone one day. Timeline:August 19, 1942 - A raid on the French port of Dieppe that resulted in heavy losses convinces D-Day planners to land on the beaches, so discussions and preparations for an Allied invasion across the English Channel begin. May 1943 - The Trident Conference, a British and American strategy meeting on the war. In Washington, DC, Winston Churchill, President Roosevelt and their military advisers discuss, among other things, crossing the English Channel. August 1943 - The Quadrant Conference, where the British and American military chiefs of staff outline Operation Overlord. November and December 1943 - The Sextant and Eureka Conferences, where the British and American military chiefs discuss the specifics of the assault on France. 1944 - The Germans expect an invasion along the north coast of France, but they do not know where. They build up their troops and artillery near Calais, where the English Channel is the narrowest. June 5, 1944 - Between 11 pm and 3 am, 13,000 allied paratroopers and gliders carrying heavy equipment leave England to begin the invasion of France by air. In a broadcast message to the troops, delivered before they leave, Eisenhower says, "The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory.... We will accept nothing less than full victory!" June 6, 1944 - Overnight, a military armada and more than 156,000 troops cross the English Channel. Minesweepers go ahead to clear the waters in preparation for the more than 2,300 landing crafts that will be carrying men, vehicles and supplies. Between midnight and 8 am, Allied forces of more than 11,000 aircraft, fly 14,674 sorties. 6:30 am - Troops begin coming ashore on a 60-mile front. More: Before and after D-Day: Color photos . In a broadcast to the people of occupied Europe, Eisenhower says, "Although the initial assault may not have been in your own country, the hour of your liberation is approaching." More about World War II and veterans: . By the numbers: Veterans from U.S. wars . CNN Heroes: Making life easier for disabled veterans . A daughter faces demons of father's war . WWII Marine's diary found by sweetheart years later . Must-see sights for military buffs . | During World War II, Allied troops invaded Normandy on June 6, 1944 .
It was known as D-Day . |
1,277 | 039a25b3b79a5515dfce3bc15a68e4f809fd370c | (CNN) -- Since President Obama seems to be a reflective soul, he must be reflecting on the irony of his latest predicament: as the man who came into office promising to change everything and who instead seems to have let much of what he promised to fix only get worse. First, the good news: Slowly but surely, the economy is coming back. And that's no small feat, given where it was in 2009. Then, everything else: The constitutional scholar, civil libertarian and antiwar activist can't seem to wake up each day without some basic challenge to his political ecology. The confirmed presence of chemical weapons in Syria now makes some sort of escalation there inevitable, just as the war in Afghanistan winds down. (More military support for the rebels? No-fly zone?) The newbie senator who railed against President George W. Bush's "warrantless wiretaps" is now defending his own version of government for-your-own-safety intrusion. ("No one is listening to your telephone calls.") He gives a speech defending drone strikes; he answers questions about the Justice Department's dragnet surveillance of media outlets in its leak investigations. He might be forgiven for asking himself James Stockdale's infamous vice presidential debate questions: Who am I? And what am I doing here? CNN poll: Obama numbers plunge into generation gap . Now all he has to do is answer them. The president has -- rightly -- called for a public debate about the proper balance between national security and privacy. But the debate can't happen without him. In fact, he needs to lead it. That's what presidents are supposed to do when the country is having a national conversation. It's part of the job description. In the National Security Agency controversy, we've heard from the leaker, the director of the NSA, the director of national intelligence, the members of the intelligence committees. We heard a bit from the president, who seems to be saying, in effect, that "I'm glad you guys are talking about this, because we are going to have to make some tough choices as a society." Here's what we know: The president entered office skeptical of the very programs he is now defending. But after vetting them and adding some additional protections, he now thinks they are important, even integral, to our self-defense. All of which makes sense to me personally. But it's hard to categorically decide something (especially when it affects you) without some more information. And if you're asking people to decide that Big Brother-ism in some form is OK -- and to trust that you are doing the right thing -- you've got to give them something to work with. Remember when Bush said "I hope the American people trust me"? It turned out they didn't. Obama bristles at suggestion he's shifted on snooping . In fact, the public's view of the Obama administration's handling of civil liberties is beginning to eerily resemble what the public thought about Bush: Forty-three percent in a new CNN/ORC poll say the administration has gone too far in restricting some civil liberties in order to fight terrorism. In 2006, 39% thought Bush had gone too far. That's the same Bush that then-Sen. Obama excoriated for the "warrantless wiretaps" in 2006. But the worst news for the president is that he seems, at least right now, to be losing the benefit-of-the-doubt factor he has enjoyed because people think he's an honest guy who tries to do the right thing. The latest CNN/ORC polling shows that while 49% of Americans consider the president to be "honest and trustworthy," that's down 9 points -- in one month. And his approval rating has fallen 8 points to just 45%. The unkindest drop, fueling the entire downward trend, comes from Obama's stalwarts, younger voters. A huge 17-point decline among the under-30 set has got to be some sort of wake-up call. Now, I know this president doesn't like some parts of his job. He doesn't much like schmoozing members of Congress, despite his recent share-a-meal plan with assorted Capitol Hill types. He doesn't like the LBJ-style strong-arming, either. He doesn't much like the messy lawmaking process in which personal relationships can often mean the difference between getting what you want and getting nothing at all. And he doesn't ever like to be pushed. Ever. No-drama Obama, remember? But he does like speeches. He likes writing them, redrafting them, pondering them. He likes giving them, too -- because he's good at it. So speak. The American people need some quality time here. An interview or two, sure. Declassify some information about thwarted terror attacks that can be shared without compromising intelligence. Let Americans in on the real secret they're puzzling: how this president has been affected by what he has seen from the Oval Office. Some may buy it; some may not. But letting us in on this secret is just part of the job. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gloria Borger. | President Obama's numbers have taken a hit, according to a new poll .
Gloria Borger says the president must wonder how he got into this predicament .
Obama decided to largely back Bush's surveillance policies, she says .
Borger: Obama should lead the debate over security rather than just listen to it . |
224,423 | ae97b16f015d00f75b177157105f50fc15e4806d | (CNN) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai is meeting this week with President Obama in Washington amid increasing ambivalence in the United States about what to do about the war in Afghanistan. Americans are tired of the war. Too much blood and treasure has been spent. The White House is grappling with troop numbers for 2013 and with the nature and scope of any U.S. mission after 2014. With the persisting corruption and poor governance of the Afghan government and Karzai's fear that the United States is preparing to abandon him, the relationship between Kabul and Washington has steadily deteriorated. As the United States radically reduces its mission in Afghanistan, it will leave behind a stalled and perilous security situation and a likely severe economic downturn. Many Afghans expect a collapse into civil war, and few see their political system as legitimate. Karzai and Obama face thorny issues such as the stalled negotiations with the Taliban. Recently, Kabul has persuaded Pakistan to release some Taliban prisoners to jump-start the negotiations, relegating the United States to the back seat. Much to the displeasure of the International Security Assistance Force, the Afghan government also plans to release several hundred Taliban-linked prisoners, although any real momentum in the negotiations is yet to take place. U.S. may remove all triips from Afghanistan after 2014 . Washington needs to be careful that negotiations are structured in a way that enhances Afghanistan's stability and is not merely a fig leaf for U.S. and NATO troop departure. Countering terrorism will be an important U.S. interest after 2014. The Taliban may have soured on al Qaeda, but fully breaking with the terror group is not in the Taliban's best interest. If negotiations give the insurgents de facto control of parts of the country, the Taliban will at best play it both ways: with the jihadists and with the United States. Negotiations of a status-of-forces agreement after 2014 will also be on the table between Karzai and Obama. Immunity of U.S. soldiers from Afghan prosecution and control over detainees previously have been major sticking points, and any Afghan release of Taliban-linked prisoners will complicate that discussion. Karzai has seemed determined to secure commitments from Washington to deliver military enablers until Afghan support forces have built up. The Afghan National Security Forces have improved but cannot function without international enablers -- in areas such as air support, medevac, intelligence and logistical assets and maintenance -- for several years to come. But Washington has signaled that it is contemplating very small troop levels after 2014, as low as 3,000. CNN reports that withdrawing all troops might even be considered. Everyone is hedging their bets in light of the transition uncertainties and the real possibility of a major security meltdown after 2014. Afghan army commanders are leaking intelligence and weapons to insurgents; Afghan families are sending one son to join the army, one to the Taliban and one to the local warlord's militia. With Afghan president's visit, nations' post-2014 future takes shape . Patronage networks pervade the Afghan forces, and a crucial question is whether they can avoid splintering along ethnic and patronage lines after 2014. If security forces do fall apart, the chances of Taliban control of large portions of the country and a civil war are much greater. Obama can use the summit to announce concrete measures -- such as providing enablers -- to demonstrate U.S. commitment to heading off a security meltdown. The United States and international security forces also need to strongly focus on countering the rifts within the Afghan army. Assisting the Afghan army after 2014 is important. But even with better security, it is doubtful that Afghanistan can be stable without improvements in its government. Afghanistan's political system is preoccupied with the 2014 elections. Corruption, serious crime, land theft and other usurpation of resources, nepotism, a lack of rule of law and exclusionary patronage networks afflict governance. Afghans crave accountability and justice and resent the current mafia-like rule. Whether the 2014 elections will usher in better leaders or trigger violent conflict is another huge question mark. Emphasizing good governance, not sacrificing it to short-term military expediencies by embracing thuggish government officials, is as important as leaving Afghanistan in a measured and unrushed way -- one that doesn't jeopardize the fledgling institutional and security capacity that the country has managed to build up. U.S. likely to keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan after NATO forces leave . Karzai has been deaf and blind to the reality that reducing corruption, improving governance and allowing for a more pluralistic political system are essential for Afghanistan's stability. His visit provides an opportunity to deliver the message again -- and strongly. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Vanda Felbab-Brown. | Afghan President Karzai meeting with President Obama in Washington this week .
Felbab-Brown: Afghan politics are corrupt; army not ready for 2014 troop pullout .
She says Taliban, insurgents, splintered army, corrupt officials are all jockeying for power .
U.S. needs to commit to helping Afghan security, she says, and insist corruption be wiped out . |
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