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247,185 | cbe14a680bb94e4cf5ac50143e3eddd4bdadef7f | She's been blissfully married to Prince Charles for nearly ten years but the Duchess of Cornwall attracted the attention of another famous face today. The royal found herself in Sky presenter Eamonn Holmes' embrace on a visit to the newly redeveloped West London campus. Eamonn greeted the Duchess like an old friend first clasping her hands in his, then giving her a hug when the royal couple met primary school children in the Academy's skills studios. Tender: The Duchess of Cornwall found herself in Sky presenter Eamonn Holmes' embrace on a visit to the newly redeveloped West London campus today . The broadcaster, who was joined by colleague Kay Burley, has been a guest at a number of royal events hosted by Camilla. The royal couple were on site to open the Sky Academy Careers Lab, a new one-day careers experience for 16-19 year olds. The royals toured Sky Studios, including the set of Sky Sports News HQ, and met young people and Sky staff taking part in some of the schemes that form Sky Academy. The Prince of Wales made royal history by opening the new academy aimed at inspiring the broadcasters of tomorrow - by unveiling an electronic plaque. Girlish: Camilla giggled bashfully whilst her husband Prince Charles looked on. Eamonn, who was joined by colleague Kay Burley, has been a guest at a number of royal events hosted by Camilla . Having a ball: The royal couple were on site to open the Sky Academy Careers Lab, a new one-day careers experience for 16-19 year olds . Getting technical: Camilla looks at a monitor with Sky employee Rachel Applin that remotely controls TV cameras at the Sky Sports news studio in London during her visit today . Royal duty: The couple toured Sky Studios, including the set of Sky Sports News HQ, and met young people and Sky staff taking part in some of the schemes that form Sky Academy . Mentoring: Camilla talks to schoolchildren who were learning how to put together a news item in mock studios at the Sky academy . It took just a press of a button to launch the Sky Academy Careers Lab, which aims to encourage teenagers to consider a career in the media, technology and business and equip them with the skills they will need. In the Academy's home at the west London campus of the broadcaster Sky, the electronic plaque appeared on a screen seconds after the heir to the throne, who was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, touched a tablet screen. Under the Academy, sixth form students are given hands on experience of life at Sky including working alongside staff on a practical challenge and get the chance to interview a senior employee about working in the industry. During their tour of the campus, Camilla could not resist trying her hand at controlling the robot cameras when the royal couple visited the Sky Sports News HQ studio. Grand unveiling: Prince Charles made royal history by opening the new academy aimed at inspiring the broadcasters of tomorrow - by unveiling an electronic plaque . Inspecting: Camilla looks at a plan of the Sky TV complex, though a lens that shows an illustration of interior workings, helped by Sky academy student and A level student Magid Elgady, 17, right, during a visit to Sky . As Rachel Wyse was presenting, the Duchess sat at a console and used two joysticks to set up the image on the screen and focus it. Rachel Applin, 31, a camera operator gave the royal visitor a quick to lesson in what to do and said afterwards: 'What the Duchess was doing was choosing the "into the break" shot. 'She did very well, she chose her own shot and focused it.' The royal couple also met presenters Kirsty Gallacher and Natalie Sawyer, with Ms Gallacher telling them how they had worked their way up to their positions. She said 'we were runners' and added jokingly, 'I made all the teas and coffee'. The royal couple then split up to watch groups of children working in mini news studio,s with the pupils acting as cameramen, presenters, directors and producers. Tasty? Charles tasted the juice of the Acai berry which grows wild in the rainforest and can be harvested by locals and provides them with an income . In another part of the campus, the Duchess was intrigued by an interactive wall that showed scenes from various departments at Sky when a visitor looked through holes in the wall. The installation was captioned with the words 'When you find a job, what will be most important to you?'. Before leaving, the royal couple attended a reception where they met staff and students and learnt about the latest developments in a Sky project, in partnership with WWF, to save a billion trees in the Amazon rainforest over a six year period. The Amazon was brought to Charles, and he tasted the juice of the Acai berry that grows wild in the rainforest and can be harvested by locals and provides them with an income. She won't let the rain dampen her spirits! Camilla smiles as she greets employees of the British TV station Sky during a visit with Prince Charles in London . On air: Camilla could not resist trying her hand at controlling the robot cameras when the royal couple visited the Sky Sports News HQ studio . After taking a sip from a tiny pot he said 'it's good' and then headed outside the building to turn on the lights on a 35ft Christmas tree as hundreds of staff watched. Sky Academy encompasses a series of initiatives that use the power of television, creativity and sport to inspire young people and help give them the skills and confidence they need to prepare them for the world of work. Sky say that their ambition is to create opportunities for one million young people in the UK and Ireland to build skills and experience by 2020. This visit reflects The Prince of Wales's determination to encourage training opportunities for young people across a range of industries. Day job: The Duchess of Cornwall looks at a monitor that remotely controls TV cameras at the Sky Sports news studio in London . In 2013, The Prince launched Industrial Cadets which is aimed at providing apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering, and since 1976 The Prince's Trust has been providing mentoring and skills-based activities for thousands of young people across the UK. In terms of television and film skills, in October last year Tthe Prince of Wales instigated a broadcasting industry Craft Skill Masterclass for students run by the Royal Television Society, of which he is Patron. The day was designed to showcase the tools and skills that are required for students to become experts in the broadcasting industry. The Prince's visit to the Sky Academy is another opportunity for His Royal Highness, together with The Duchess of Cornwall, to champion the importance of film and television production skills and training opportunities for young people. | Prince Charles and the Duchess were visiting Sky studios in West London .
They met primary school children in the Academy's skills studios .
Eamonn greeted Camilla as an old friend as the pair have met several times . |
268,199 | e75fe6c7e30ada54ca11658192a2a7fa7a092b79 | By . Martin Robinson for MailOnline . A cupboard has been put on the market for £7,500 as London's housing market reached a new ridiculous peak today. The estate agent selling the 5ft by 12ft room says it is perfect for someone looking for more storage at a price he believes will save the buyer money. The walk-in cupboard can only be bought by a resident already living in the Brentford Dock Estate, which sits on the Thames in west London. Scroll down for video . All yours for £7,500: This cupboard in Brentford is being put on the market as Londoners scramble for more storage space . Advert: The particulars on Right Move says: 'This baggage store is perfect for those who are seeking some additional space' The adverts says the cupboard 'sits idly between' two blocks and is 'just a short walk from the marina and local corner shop'. It continues: 'This baggage store is perfect for those who are seeking some additional space. 'The storage cupboard is a good size, perfect for a pushchair or pieces of furniture'. Much like investors who are selling garages in prime spots for up to £500,000 others are buying up space to cash in on those desperate for storage. Sales negotiator Jordan Williams from Quillam Property Services told the Standard: 'People use them as airing cupboards, or to store suitcases or bicycles or memorabilia – things like photographs which they don’t want to throw away but which they don’t have room for at home. 'If they have a cupboard they know their things are safe and secure and close by. Everybody loves a bit of extra storage.' The cupboard symbolises the struggle for most Londoners who are unable to afford a property, if at all. Symbolic: The cupboard is only available to people already living in the estate but represents how people are making money from the lack of space most Londoners have . In London, the average price is now £499,000 – putting it on the brink of a landmark £500,000. Data also shows that first-time buyers must find an average of £204,000 – a 12 per cent rise and the highest annual increase for nearly four years. Young home-seekers on a typical full-time salary of £21,200 would now need a mortgage of nine times their income with a five per cent deposit. Even if they do get on the property ladder, storage is likely to be at a minimum in most homes. But agents maintain that buying a cupboard offers good value because many pay in excess of £100 a month for storage with nothing to show for it. Mr Williams said: 'If you add up what you could spend on storage compared to buying a cupboard space you might be surprised'. | Walk-in room measures 5ft by 12ft and is being sold as storage .
Space in Brentford, west London, can only be bought by residents on estate .
Agent says buyer will save money because of high storage fees elsewhere . |
127,551 | 30de2bc302423c4fcd91c4991e203d239ec58ef4 | Across the world, life expectancy is steadily increasing and, on average a woman aged 60 today can expect to live until she is 82. For men, this is 79. But the quality of life for this ageing population varies drastically from country to country. Research has discovered that the best country to currently grow old in is Norway, followed by Sweden and Switzerland, while Afghanistan and Mozambique are the worst. The US is in 8th place, the UK is in 11th and Australia is in 13th. Scroll down for video . The 2014 Global AgeWatch Index ranks 96 nations on the quality of life for the over 60s. Norway, Sweden and Canada are currently the best countries to grow old in. At the opposite end of the scale is Afghanistan, Mozambique and West Bank and Gaza. The US is in 8th place, the UK is in 11th and Australia is in 13th . That’s according to findings from the 2014 Global AgeWatch Index. It ranks 96 nations on the basis of the quality of life and social and economic status of older people, aged 60 and over. The index studies four areas, in particular. Income covers the state of pensions, relative welfare of older people, GDP in each country, and poverty rate in old age. Health status includes life expectancy at 60 and psychological status. Capability covers the employment level and educational status of older people, and ‘Enabling environment’ includes physical safety, social connections and access to public transport. From this index, governments can use the findings to identify policies to improve the lives of their older people. Based on the research, Norway is the best place for older people, alongside Sweden, Switzerland and Canada. The UK ranked 11th overall, and 3rd for the enabling environment, but scored poorly for health, at 27th. Globally, by 2050, the report claims the number of over 60s will be 21 per cent of the global population. This is almost double the current figure of 12 per cent. Apart from Japan, the top ten countries are in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. Israel and Estonia join the top 20. The older populations of the three lowest-ranked countries, the West Bank and Gaza, (94) Mozambique (95) and Afghanistan (96), still account for less than five per cent of the total population. The proportion of over-80s is growing fastest, too – projected to rise from two per cent now to four per cent of the global population by 2050. And more than a third of countries are falling significantly behind those at the top of the Global AgeWatch Index. Globally, by 2050, the report claims the number of over 60s will be 21 per cent of the global population.This is almost double the current figure of 12 per cent. The proportion of over-80s is growing fastest, too – projected to rise from two per cent now to four per cent of the global population by 2050 . The index studies four areas. Income covers the state of pensions, relative welfare of older people, GDP in each country, and poverty rate in old age. Health status includes life expectancy at 60 and psychological wellbeing. Capability covers the employment level and educational status of older people, and ‘Enabling environment’ includes physical safety, social connections and access to public transport. This graph reveals the top 50 countries . Professor Asghar Zaidi, from the Centre for Research on Ageing at the University of Southampton, led the development of the index, working alongside HelpAge International. ‘The Index points to a mismatch between advances in longevity and a lag in the evolution of policies that empower older people,’ said Professor Zaidi. ‘Societies have been slow to embrace the positive aspects of longevity and to see older people as a resource that, in the right circumstances, can repay investment with extended working careers as well as more self-reliant, healthy and independent living.’ The report also highlights the disparity between those nations at the top of the index, and those in the lower third. For example, on income security, 26 countries scored less than half the top values set by Norway and France (89.1 and 88.0 respectively). Toby Porter, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, added: ‘The unprecedented rate and speed of population ageing presents policy-makers with a challenge. 'Only if they act now will they have a chance to meet the needs of their citizens and keep their economies going.’ ‘An essential distinction is required between policies suitable for the current generations of older people and those required for future generations,’ continued Professor Zaidi. ‘Today’s older people need protection and empowerment. For future generations the focus must be on providing opportunities for employment during their working lives and better mechanisms to build resilience for old age.’ Sufficient data was only available for 96 countries, resulting in many not being included, including Kazakhstan, Madagascar and Cuba. The 2014 Global AgeWatch Index ranks 96 nations on the basis of the quality of life and social and economic status of older people, aged 60 and over . The 2014 Global AgeWatch Index ranks 96 nations on the basis of the quality of life and social and economic status of older people, aged 60 and over. The index studies four areas, in particular. Income covers the state of pensions, relative welfare of older people, GDP in each country, and poverty rate in old age. Health status includes life expectancy at 60 and psychological status. Capability covers the employment level and educational status of older people, and ‘Enabling environment’ includes physical safety, social connections and access to public transport. From this index, governments can use it to identify policies to improve the lives of older people. | The 2014 Global AgeWatch Index ranks 96 nations on the quality of life for the over 60s .
The index studies income, employment opportunities, access to public transport and life expectancy .
Norway and Sweden are currently the best countries to grow old in, and Afghanistan and Mozambique are the worst .
The United States is in 8th place, the UK is in 11th and Australia is in 13th .
Report predicts that by 2050, 21% of the global population will be over 60 - almost double the current 12% figure .
Data was only available for 96 countries, resulting in many not being included, such as Madagascar and Cuba . |
276,138 | f1c5791ee899c3a4e71e0ddd286ec7f07789086a | Five million retired workers could be given the right to sell their private sector pensions for cash under plans being considered by ministers. Pensions Minister Steve Webb is pushing for landmark pension reforms in last year’s Budget to be extended to those who have already retired. Under the changes announced by George Osborne last year, savers will no longer have to use their pensions to buy an annuity – a financial product that pays an annual income until a retiree dies. Instead they will be able to cash in all or part of their savings for immediate use. Pensions minister Steve Webb wants to let people who have already retired cash in their annuities for a lump sum . But the changes do not currently apply to existing pensioners, meaning those who have already bought an annuity will miss out on the new freedoms. The plans do not affect the state pension. Yesterday Mr Webb, a Liberal Democrat who has been the architect of many of the Coalition’s pensions reforms, said: ‘I want to see people trusted with their own money wherever possible. I have already heard from people around the country who would like to see this change made. ‘I want to see if we can get these freedoms extended to those who are receiving an annuity, but who might prefer a cash lump sum. ‘No one would be obliged to do so, but for those who would prefer up-front capital to regular income, I can see no reason why this should not be an option.’ Under the latest plans, pensioners would be able to sell their annuities to the highest bidder, potentially unlocking tens of thousands of pounds. Mr Webb said there was ‘considerable interest and enthusiasm’ within the pensions industry for the idea. The change is unlikely to be put in place before the election. Mr Webb said he is currently seeking cross-party agreement to get the plan implemented in the next parliament. Critics say many annuities offer poor value for money, with pensioners offered miserly rates in return for their life savings. Pensions experts last night gave the proposal a mixed reception. 'I want to see people trusted with their own money wherever possible,' said pension minister Steve Webb . Ros Altmann, an adviser to government on older workers, said the scheme was potentially ‘workable’. But she warned it would need a ‘radical change of mindset’, and said pensioners would have to be wary of potentially high charges when cashing in investments. Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdowne, said the proposal was ‘not a bad idea in principle’, but added there were major practical difficulties, especially for those who decided they still want to buy annuities. He said: ‘The principle of allowing people to take back control over their own money is fine and consistent with the Government’s other reforms. ‘But it takes two to tango, and even where you have a customer who wants to cash in, they still have to find an insurance company who is willing to offer them a good deal. ‘The one thing that insurance companies will not want is all the sick and ill people taking out their money, because they effectively subsidise the people who live longer. ‘So you could well be in a situation where people would have to undergo an individual underwriting process. It could be pretty challenging.’ The latest figures from the pensions industry suggest there are about six million active annuities in the UK paying out a combined total of £11billion a year. But some people have more than one pension, and the Department for Work and Pensions estimates that about five million people in total are in receipt of annuity payments. Loyal savers are receiving the worst interest rates since records began, figures show. Rates have plunged to their lowest level in 15 years, with customers now getting an average of just 1.8 per cent on fixed-term savings accounts. Despite being among the worst-paying accounts in Britain, these have names such as Halifax’s ‘Liquid Gold’ – offering just 0.05 per cent – and Lloyds Bank’s ‘Platinum Saver’ which has a 0.1 per cent rate. The elderly have been particularly affected by plummeting savings rates, as many rely on the interest on a nest egg to boost their pension income. The Bank of England said the record low applied to accounts where you cannot withdraw your savings before a set date. But accounts which allow easier access to cash are also paying near-record lows, at just 0.76 per cent on average. The Bank of England’s base rate has been set at 0.5 per cent since March 2009, which has dragged down savings rates. In addition, the Government’s 2012 Funding for Lending scheme allowed banks to borrow £80billion cheaply from the Bank of England, meaning they no longer needed savers to fund loans. Sylvia Waycot, of Moneyfacts.co.uk, said many pensioners ‘have saved all their lives hoping to reap the rewards now, but they are not’. | New plans could see millions of retired workers given right to sell pension .
The changes are being floated by Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb .
He says he wants to 'trust people with their own money wherever possible'
Mr Webb said that he would like to launch a public consultation on issue . |
20,002 | 38cb2cb07b93736ed7a0690b1ec06b42e434a547 | By . Tom Mctague, Mailonline Deputy Political Editor . Police officers investigating the Plebgate scandal secretly obtained the telephone records of the senior Fleet Street journalist who first broke the story, it has been revealed. A Metropolitan police report into the ongoing saga, which was published yesterday, revealed that the force arrested an officer on suspicion of leaking information to the Sun after analysing the phone records of the newspaper's political editor Tom Newton Dunn. Scotland Yard also obtained call records to the Sun to try to identify a second potential source providing information about the Plebgate row in which the former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell was accused of swearing at police officers guarding Downing Street. Police officers secretly obtained the phone records of the Sun's political editor Tom Newton Dunn . The National Union of Journalists have accused the police of an ‘outrageous abuse’ of their position, while Tory MP Mark Reckless today demanded to know if journalists’ sources were safe. Mr Newton Dunn did not know that his phone records had been secretly obtained by the police. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act police have to go to court to ask a judge’s permission to get records belonging to a journalist. Journalists are then notified to give them the chance to fight against their records being investigated. Michelle Stanistreet, of the National Union of Journalists, said: ‘Instances like this amount to the outrageous criminalisation of sources who have taken the decision that information they are in receipt of deserves to come to the attention of the public.' She added: ‘If whistleblowers believe that material they pass to journalists can be accessed in this way – without even the journalists and newspaper knowing about it – they will understandably think twice about making that call.' A Sun spokesman said the newspaper was 'concerned' about the revelation. He said the Sun understood the intrusion 'was authorised by a police officer rather than a judge, for the apparent purpose of exposing a whistle-blower who was ultimately shown to have committed no criminal offence'. The spokesman added: 'We understand this was achieved, without our knowledge, by the use of police powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. 'This circumvented the normal safeguards in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which was designed to give proper protection to journalists and their sources. 'We will be writing to Lord Justice May, the Interception of Communications Commissioner, to ask him to examine how many times and with what justification these authorisations have been made against the media and whether he intends to issue any guidance on the media’s right to keep their phone records safe.' The Sun first published a front-page story on September 21, 2012, revealing Mr Mitchell had clashed with armed officers at Downing Street after they refused to let him cycle out of the main gate. The revelation sparked a political row, eventually forcing Mr Mitchell to resign from the Cabinet. But the Tory MP has consistently denied calling the police officers 'plebs'. It has since emerged that officers 'conspired' to undermine Mr Mitchell. The revelation that police secretly obtained Mr Newton Dunn's phone records emerged after the Met published a series of documents summarising its inquiry into the aftermath of the plebgate incident, which resulted in four police officers being sacked. Yesterday's report identified a female officer who texted a colleague two days after the incident to declare that she could ‘topple’ the Tory government. The report also contained new CCTV footage of the heated disagreement between diplomatic protection officer Toby Rowland and then Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell at the gates of Downing Street in September 2012. Scroll down for video . CCTV footage of the plebgate row shows a passer-by watching as the then Tory chief whip attempts to cycle out of the main gates of Downing Street . The new material - released by Scotland Yard from its investigation into the Plebgate affair 'dubbed Operation Alice' - shows the witness stopping to watch the confrontation . The witness turns back on himself after seeing Mr Mitchell told by police officers to wheel his bike through the side entrance . Previously-unseen CCTV images of the Plebgate row reveal that a passer-by witnessed the confrontation between police and Mr Mitchell. The man, who is clearly seen following the exchange, has never been traced. Today’s CCTV footage shows Mr Mitchell cycling down the middle of the street and then talking to three officers at the gate while a fourth stands nearby outside. In the original police account, several members of the public are said to have witnessed the exchange and were ‘visibly shocked’. A Dispatches documentary for Channel 4 challenged this with images obtained from CCTV shot from within Downing Street. But today's separate CCTV footage shows there were at least three members of the public outside the gates at the time of the row. At least one appeared to be listening to the exchange. PC Rowland alleges Mr Mitchell called police officers ‘****ing plebs’ during their exchange. Mr Mitchell denies he used the word ‘pleb’ but has apologised for swearing. Tory MPs and supporters of Mr Mitchell said that, despite the report being a ‘police report into the police’, it still showed dishonesty by officers working in Downing Street. They said serious questions must now be asked about whether the Diplomatic Protection Group in charge of guarding No. 10 was fit for purpose. Mr Davis, a former shadow Home Secretary, said: ‘What we have got here is evidence of industrial-scale dishonesty. There was a pack of policemen telling a pack of lies. This involved serious collusion between police officers who set out to harm the democratically elected Government. ‘Despite their attempts to justify their action on security grounds, it transpires that the only written guidance was that ministers should have ‘unfettered access at any time of day or night and at any entry point’. Tory MP Dominic Raab said: ‘This overdue report offers further evidence of the concerted deception used by police officers to stitch up Andrew Mitchell. ‘It’s shocking that specialist officers recruited to protect Downing Street saw fit to engage in such an outrageous plan to topple a senior minister. It’s a serious blow to public confidence in the police.’ Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell was targeted by a police conspiracy after swearing when blocked from cycling through the main Downing Street gates . | Police probing Plebgate saga accessed phone records of Tom Newton Dunn .
The revelation was buried in a Scotland Yard report published yesterday .
Tory MP Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling police officers 'f****** plebs'
Former chief whip admitted swearing but denied using the word 'pleb'
The original story was published in the Sun newspaper sparking political row . |
22,349 | 3f761056c8c428bb70c8b9e05f24cf4acf594823 | Every woman wants to look their best for their wedding day but one bride went to extreme lengths. Liz Kerslake, 39, from Plymouth, lost five stone and five dress sizes on a grueling calorie restricted diet in a bid to look perfect for her wedding day. The pretty brunette had previously been spurred on to lose weight after a cruel former partner called her 'fat and ugly'. Liz Kerslake from Plymouth dropped five dress sizes after piling on the pounds before her wedding . Liz says she used to have a takeaway every night and would drink a couple of glasses of wine as well . Stunning Liz might now be rocking an athletic eight-and-a-half stone body but, only two years ago, she tipped the scales at a bloated 13st 8lb. But this isn't the first time she's beat the battle of the bulge. During her first marriage Liz, a new home saleswoman, became comfortable and piled on the pounds. She decided to lose the weight however when her hubby insulted her looks, hitting the gym, cutting calories and dropping four stone. And it wasn't just the weight she lost. Liz eventually left her husband behind too and as they were going through their divorce in 2008, she met her now husband Nick. But as their relationship blossomed, 5ft 6in Liz stopped going to the gym and the weight piled on again. Ahead of their wedding last summer, she was determined to get rid of her belly and fit into her sleek white gown. Following her extreme diet which sees Liz have a protein shake for breakfast and nothing for lunch she is now a size eight and happy with her body . Liz wanted to look perfect for her second wedding after her first husband told her she was 'fat and ugly' A newly svelte Liz said: 'I was determined to look the best on mine and Nick's big day. When we got together I'd been hitting the gym four or five times a week. 'I felt really comfortable and stopped exercising but carried on eating the same. The weight piled back on and I was worried I would look bloated on my wedding day.' Liz lost four stone thanks to rigorous calories counting. She met her now husband Nick, while going through her first divorce in 2008 . In a desperate attempt to shed the inches, Liz signed up to the National Slimming & Cosmetic Clinics (NSCC) weight loss plan. She had heard about her local clinic in Plymouth from a male friend who had lost two stone and looked 'incredible'. Liz said: 'The final push to really do something about my weight came when Nick proposed. We set the date for the summer of 2014 and that gave me a goal. 'Within the first week of signing up with NSC I saw results. As soon as I could see a difference in the way I looked I was looking for reasons to stay on track. 'Before then I had always looked for an excuse to fall off the wagon.' As part of the NSCC plan, Liz visited the clinic every two weeks and met with the manager Karina where they discussed her goals and diet. Due to the demands of her work, Liz very rarely finds time to make it to the gym during the week, but mixed her healthier diet with walking her Chihuahua, Roxy, for up to an hour a day. Liz said: 'I had never snacked and always thought I'd been quite healthy but I could never shift the weight. 'What really worked for me was cutting out carbs. Where I'd normally have bread for breakfast and lunch, I'd swap that for a meal focused on protein.' Liz says she started to see results as soon as she joined up to her slimming club . Liz says cutting carbs is what worked best for her and focusing on meals that had a lot of protein in them . Eight months on from Liz and Nick's glorious wedding, she has managed to maintain her weight loss and feels much healthier. Liz said: 'When I'd tried before I'd eventually put the weight back on, but with NSC I've managed to keep it off. 'Two years on and now married the weight has stayed off. My clinic still support me through the maintenance of my weight loss and continue to make me feel part of a very big and successful family. 'Now I know I can walk into a shop and pick up a size eight dress and know it will fit - the same as buying something online. It's given me so much more confidence.' Breakfast: . White toast with butter and honey . Lunch: . A pre-packed sandwich . Dinner: . A takeaway washed down with a couple of glasses of wine . Breakfast: . Protein shake . Lunch: . Nothing . Dinner: . Either a piece of chicken or fish with lots of veg . | Liz Kerslake, 39, from Plymouth, dropped from a size 18 to a size eight .
Wanted to look perfect for second wedding to her husband Nick in 2014 .
Eight months after their wedding Liz has maintained her slim frame .
She first lost weight in 2008 when her ex called her 'fat and ugly' |
53,310 | 973aa86c98263f6f3702708aed29144bcb684c70 | Getting married is a big decision, but this couple could not wait to take the plunge. The bride and groom had their dream wedding day with a ceremony under the Indian Ocean. Chris and Janet Wright floated down an aisle edged with fish statues and exchanged their vows on written signs during the service, which took place 40ft below the surface in the Maldives. Husband and wife: Chris and Janet Wright remove their breathing apparatus to kiss . Dream day: Chris and Janet Wright were married in an underwater ceremony under the Indian Ocean . Traditional: Despite the wet surroundings, Janet wore a white dress and veil and even carried a bouquet . Long term love: The scuba mad couple had a registry office wedding (left) before their undersea ceremony . After 20 years together the couple, both . keen scuba divers, got hitched surrounded by fellow holidaymakers. The . pair held up cards reading ‘I do’ and then removed their oxygen . regulators to kiss. The ceremony was witnessed by a group of submerged guests including friends Thomas Taylor as ring bearer and Carol Bielfeld as the tutu-clad bridesmaid while Lisa Taylor photographed the event. Mr Wright, a chartered accountant said: 'We've been together for 20 years so we just thought it was time we should get married' 'We've . been scuba diving for years and we thought, 'Why don't we get married . out here? How nice it would be to have an underwater wedding ceremony.' He added: 'I was hoping she wouldn't keep me waiting at the altar - if she had been too long I might have run out of air. 'If you're into scuba diving, I would recommend getting married underwater. It was just awesome and well worth doing.' As the couple were unable to speak . under the water, the vows were completed using signs. Chris and Janet . each held up cards reading: 'I do' and then took out their regulators to . for the traditional kiss. Decor: The wedding included a stage with the couples' names and a forest of floating blooms . Sign language: Because they couldn't speak underwater, the couple used placards to complete their vows . Guests: Carol Bielfied, who wore a tutu, was maid of honour while Thomas Taylor (pictured) was the ring bearer . Watery welcome: The newly married couple pose with a sign erected by hotel staff outside the undersea venue . After the ceremony, the wedding party's oxygen tanks were released, sending clouds of bubbles to the ocean surface. The . 58-year-old bride said: 'It was totally amazing, they'd created a whole . stage area with a swinging seat, it was completely magical. 'There were curtains and flowers, there was an aisle to swim up and a big welcome sign. My big day was incredibly special - I couldn't imagine a better setting for our wedding.' The couple emerged into the tropical sunlight and toured the island on a catamaran with a 'just married' sail before heading back to their room for champagne and cake. Sealed with a kiss: Although the pair wore their respirators for the ceremony, they removed them for the kiss . Unique: The intimate ceremony was the South Ari Atoll's first undersea wedding . Scuba fans: In the run up to the nuptials, the couple went on a 26 dives but were kept clear of the venue by staff . Chris and Janet started diving more than a decade ago and love the warm waters of the Indian Ocean that surround the Maldives. The pair, who were staying at Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa in South Ari Atoll, had been on 26 dives on the run-up to their big day but instructors steered them away from the stage while it was being set up. Mr Wright said: 'The diving around Centara Grand is amazing, the house reef is good and teeming with life. You put your head underwater and you're in a different world. 'It was the island's first underwater . marriage and we can't thank our diving instructor Ibrahim Shaan and his . team, together with Voytec, Max and the staff of Centara Grand Island . Resort and Spa, enough for organising it.' Decoration: Along with a red carpet, stage and blooms, the venue was decorated with highly apt fish sculptures . Happily married: Both Janet and Chris agreed that the day had gone exactly as they hoped it would . | Chris and Janet, who have been together 20 years, are big scuba fans .
Decided to wed 12 metres below Indian Ocean off South Ari Atoll island .
Wore traditional wedding suit and dress, and even walked up the 'aisle'
Joined underwater by a ring bearer, photographer and bridesmaid .
As they couldn't speak below the waves, had to hold up cards to say 'I do'
Was the first ever scuba wedding for the small Maldivian island . |
217,645 | a5c777e40ecc99ad2338b7e86147ee646b04b24e | Classified ads: John Linder claims his wife Sharon had multiple lesbian relationships after advertising her services as a prostitute on ads site Gumtree . A solicitor is fighting to divorce his wife by claiming she advertised herself online as a ‘lesbian prostitute’. John Lindner, 63, told a court his wife Sharon had had ‘multiple lesbian relationships for money and kind’. He named 13 women with whom he claimed the mother of his two children had liaisons. Mr Lindner is trying to divorce her on grounds of alleged ‘unreasonable behaviour’, but she denies his accusations and has branded him a violent bully. The solicitor previously brought a sheaf of adverts to court, which he claimed his wife, 37, had posted on websites including Gumtree and Yahoo. He claimed she ‘had a string of lesbian lovers’ and ‘offered herself to other women, sometimes on a commercial basis’, the Court of Appeal heard. His ex-wife, who has reverted to her maiden name of Rawlins, argued he had been ‘controlling and violent’. In 2013 a family judge found Mr Lindner had broken her leg with a metal toilet roll holder, the court heard. He was convicted of assault and harassment, but the assault conviction was overturned on appeal. Yesterday Lady Justice Black branded the claims ‘a distraction’ from the divorce and urged the pair to bury the hatchet. The couple, from Bromley, south-east London, who married in 2005, have been at each other’s throats since their separation in 2012. Delays: Yesterday Lady Justice Black branded the couple's conflicting claims ‘a distraction’ from the divorce and urged the pair to bury the hatchet and finally end their marriage . At an earlier hearing, a judge warned: ‘Precious family resources are being spent on this contested divorce and one can only guess at the effect on the children of the relentless litigation between their parents.’ But both have continued to accuse the other of unreasonable behaviour, Lady Justice Black told the court in London. It heard Mr Lindner tried but failed to make Gumtree and Yahoo disclose details of any advertisements his wife had placed. He also demanded to see a police statement by a woman he claims had a relationship with his wife – Pauline Southerland, who had made a complaint of criminal damage to her Sky satellite dish. Miss Rawlins insisted she and the woman ‘are not and never have been lovers’. But a previous hearing heard that Miss Southerland said in a police statement ‘she is seeing the wife and that they are in a relationship’. Mr Lindner was appealing against a refusal to disclose that statement, but the judge dismissed it, saying: ‘More than two years have elapsed since [Mr Lindner and Miss Rawlins] separated. They could now be divorced … without the need to engage in hurtful, time-consuming and distracting litigation over how they behaved.’ It paves the way for a final divorce hearing, when a judge will decide whether either party behaved unreasonably. | John Lindner accused his wife Sharon of 'multiple lesbian relationships'
He says she 'offered herself to women, sometimes on a commercial basis'
But Sharon Rawlins argues her husband was 'controlling and violent'
Their claims and counter-claims must be resolved before they can divorce . |
147,997 | 4b62b148a6596a199656d08d0b6580bd8f1a317d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:00 EST, 14 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:47 EST, 15 August 2012 . Bad reception: Chadwick Lange, 43, had just moved to Manhattan from Miami when his Maserati was stolen . A Miami real estate agent who recently moved to Manhattan didn't exactly receive a warm welcome when his Maserati was stolen over the weekend. It didn't help that he left the car running in the middle of Times Square when he hopped out to say hello to a friend. Chadwick Lange, 43, reportedly made an easy target for two thieves who posed as Maserati enthusiasts who said they wanted to take pictures of the vehicle, which retails for more than $150,000. The New York Daily News reports that Mr Lange was driving through Times Square around 4.40am on Sunday morning when he saw a friend at the corner of 47th and Broadway. 'He puts the car in park but doesn't take the keys out. His friend is there, he starts talking to him while these two guys come up to him,' an unidentified police source tells the paper. The two men take some pictures of the car, and while Mr Lange is talking to his friend, one of the men slips in the driver's seat and speeds away. Wising up quickly, Mr Lange runs after the car and the second thief who was doing the same. The car slowed down to pick up the second suspect, but sped away up Eighth Avenue too quickly for Mr Lange to catch them. Pricey: Mr Lange parked his 2008 GranTurismo Maserati, similar to the car shown, in Times Square to say hello to a friend in the early hours of Sunday morning . Middle of the city: Two men approached Mr Lange in Times Square and asked to take a picture with the expensive car and he allowed them to, but then they drove away with it . When reached by The Daily News, Mr Lange declined to comment citing the on-going police investigation and insurance claim. His car and the two suspects still remain at large. Mr Lange recently moved up to New York from Florida and though reports of the stolen car do not include his photo, his picture has been taken at several society events both in Bridgehampton and in Miami. He works as a real estate broker for both Willoughby Realty Group and Xcellence Realty Llc. | Chadwick Lange, 43, was driving his Maserati through Times Square around 4.40am Sunday morning when he saw a friend and pulled over .
Two men approach him asking to take pictures with the fancy car .
The men proceed to steal the car, which still had the keys inside . |
246,703 | cb48491ace34e34d2b8cd87ff3f44c9bd1a8929b | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 06:13 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:09 EST, 9 December 2013 . Life on Earth may have come from deep underground, rather than from the surface, according to a study of our planet’s deep subterranean. Researchers have found microbes living and reproducing as deep as 5km (3.1 miles) below ground providing clues to where life on Earth originated some 3.5 billion years ago. The study suggests these microbes may have survived in isolation from the Earth’s surface for billions of years. Nature produces hydrogen through 'serpentinisation.' When water meets the mineral olivine under pressure, the rock absorbs mostly oxygen atoms transforming olivine into serpentine. The complex network of fracturing also creates habitat for subsurface microbial communities . But what is even more remarkable is that these isolated life-forms created a community of genetically similar individuals - despite living continents apart. Researchers found microbes in rock fractures deep beneath the North American and European continents that are highly similar to samples a Princeton University group obtained from deep rock fractures in a Johannesburg-area mine shaft. These DNA sequences are also similar to microbes found in the rocky seabeds off the North American northwest and northeastern Japanese coasts. This suggests that microbes evolved from a common ancestor that lived at a time when life on Earth originated. Matt Schrenk of Michigan State said it . was unclear how similar microbes had spread to places as far apart as . South Africa, North America and Japan. Researchers found microbes in rock fractures in the North American and European continents that are highly similar to samples obtained from deep rock fractures in a Johannesburg-area mine shaft. These are also similar to microbes found in the seabeds off the North American northwest and northeastern Japanese coasts . ‘Two years ago we had a scant idea about what microbes are present in subsurface rocks or what they eat,’ said Dr Schrenk. ‘Since then a number of studies have vastly expanded that database. We're getting this emerging picture not only of what sort of organisms are found in these systems but some consistency between sites globally -- we're seeing the same types of organisms everywhere we look.’ Instead of being fuelled by sunlight, the life forms would have been given energy from chemical fuel in the form of hydrogen and methane which can be produced in certain types of rock under high temperatures and pressures. ‘It is easy to understand how birds or fish might be similar oceans apart, but it challenges the imagination to think of nearly identical microbes 16,000 km apart from each other in the cracks of hard rock at extreme depths, pressures, and temperatures,’ said Dr Schrenk. The latest discovery is at odds to theories that life was created 'primordial soup' of surface lakes and seas. Pictured is a representation of Atoms floating in a primordial soup . The latest discovery is at odds to . theories that life was created ‘primordial soup’ of surface lakes and . seas, but in the tiny water-filled fissures found in underground rock, . said Matt Schrenk of Michigan State University. The primordial soup theory was proposed in 1953 by Harold Urey and Stanley Miller at Chicago University. It . suggest that 3.8 billion to 3.55 billion years ago life began in a pond . or ocean as a result of the combination of chemicals from the . atmosphere and some form of energy to make amino acids, the building . blocks of proteins, which would then evolve into the first species on . Earth. However, one problem . with this scenario, such as the fact that the surface of the planet at . this time years ago was subjected to intense ultraviolet radiation, . which would have quickly destroyed complex biological molecules exposed . to the light. ‘In some deep places, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the environment is highly dynamic and promotes prolific biological communities,’ said Dr McCollom. ‘In others, such as the deep fractures, the systems are isolated with a low diversity of microbes capable of surviving such harsh conditions.’ The latest discovery is at odds to theories that life was created ‘primordial soup’ of surface lakes and seas, but in the tiny water-filled fissures found in underground rock, said Matt Schrenk of Michigan State University. The primordial soup theory was proposed in 1953 by Harold Urey and Stanley Miller at Chicago University. It suggest that 3.8 billion to 3.55 billion years ago life began in a pond or ocean as a result of the combination of chemicals from the atmosphere and some form of energy to make amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, which would then evolve into the first species on Earth. However, one problem with this scenario, such as the fact that the surface of the planet at this time years ago was subjected to intense ultraviolet radiation, which would have quickly destroyed complex biological molecules exposed to the light. Scientists claim the microbes could have medical applications as they have been shown to survive found that underground microbes can survive temperatures as high as 120C and pressures 50 times greater than at the surface. The collection and coupling of microbiological and geochemical data made possible through the Deep Carbon Observatory is helping us understand and describe these phenomena. | Microbes have been living as deep as 5km (3.1 miles) below ground .
They survived in isolation from Earth’s surface for billions of years .
Scientists have found that these isolated life-forms created a community of genetically similar individuals - despite living continents apart . |
27,896 | 4f112b027965232d0f06364f9f5d793262de0786 | Journalist Caroline Clarke has known for most of her life that she was adopted, but it was not until she turned 37 and was searching for some medical history that she found out that her grandfather was the legendary signer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. Clarke, a married mother of two who hosts the syndicated TV show Black Enterprise Business Report, made the shocking discovery in 2002. That same year, she reunited for the first time with her birth mother, Carole 'Cookie' Cole. Last year, Clarke published a book about her extraordinary family titled Postcards From Cookie: A Memoir of Motherhood, Miracles and a Whole Lot of Mail. Famous relative: At age 37, journalist Caroline Clarke (left) found out that her biological mother, Carole 'Cookie' Cole, was the eldest daughter of famous singer Nat King Cole (right) Reunited: In 2002, Clarke and Carole 'Cookie' Cole (right) met for the first time after being estranged for 37 years - from the day of Clarke's birth . Cole clan: Carol Cole, pictured far left as a child next to her sister Natalie and their parents, gave birth to a baby daughter in 1964. She was forced to put her up for adoption because she was conceived out of wedlock . For Clarke, it all started when a mystery pain in her joints forced her to reach out to a social worker in hopes of obtaining her birth mother's medical history. But the woman at Spence-Chaplin Adoption Services did one better and voluntarily provided Clarke not only with her family's medical records, but also with a seven-page report detailing her mother’s personal history, down to her major in college. What the Ivy League-educated journalist learned was that she was born on Christmas Day in 1964 at Lenox Hill Hospital to an exceptionally wealthy and famous black family, but her 20-year-old mother was not allowed to raise her because Clarke was conceived out of wedlock, and the scandal could have damaged her grandfather's reputation, reported the New York Daily News back in April. Memoir: Caroline Clarke wrote a book about her incredible family in 2014, five years after the passing of her biological mother . By the time Clarke was born, Nat King Cole, her maternal grandfather, was one of the most celebrated entertainers in the country. The singer, his wife and their five children lived in a 20-room mansion in a tony part of Los Angeles where they hosted lavish parties for their famous friends. Born Nathaniel Adams Coles, Nat King Cole emerged in the post-World War II era as a trailblazing black performer, best known for such chart-topping hits as Mona Lisa and Unforgettable. He also held the distinction of being the first African-American man to host a show on NBC. That is why when the family learned that the singer's eldest unwed daughter, Carole, became pregnant, her mother made the decision to put the child up for adoption. Determined to keep her child, whom she named Gretchen, Carole Cole initially refused to sign the adoption papers, but she finally relented upon learning that her 45-year-old father was dying of lung cancer. ‘I lost my baby in December. I lost my father in February. I lost my soul,’ Carole Cole would write in her journal. Not long after, Robert and Vera Clarke, an African-American couple from The Bronx, adopted little Gretchen and renamed her Caroline. Her adoptive father was a college professor while her mother taught high school. Nat King Cole's music was ever present in the Clarkes' home on Wilson Avenue. By her own account, Caroline Clarke enjoyed a happy childhood marked by joyous celebrations and summers spent at her adoptive uncle's home in Long Island. It was during one of those family get-togethers that she met her future husband, John Graves, at the age of 7. Clarke went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from Smith College and a Master's degree from the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism. In an unexpected twist of fate, during her time as an undergraduate student, Clarke met and became close friends with Timolin ‘Timmie’ Cole, one of Nat King Cole's younger children who had a twin sister, Casey. Keeping up appearances: Maria Cole (far right) insisted that Carole put her child up for adoption. The Clarke family, from The Bronx, New York, raised little Caroline as their own . Nat King Cole at play with his girls. Like Caroline, Carole was also adopted. When her mother, Maria Cole's sister, passed away, the family of the famous musician took the child in . Long-distance relationship: Caroline (center) and Cookie (right) spent seven years, until her mother's passing in 2009, exchanging postcards and phone calls . Over the course of their 20-year friendship, Clarke got to know the Cole family well and was told about Timmie Cole's much older sister, Carole, who was an actress in Hollywood, and who put up her baby for adoption. Carole Cole herself was adopted by Nat King Cole and his wife, Maria, after Maria's sister died in her youth. After learning the truth about her heritage, Caroline Clarke recalled how at age 17, she was invited to a sleepover at Maria Cole’s penthouse at the Ritz Carlton in Boston. That night, Nat King Cole’s imperious widow questioned Caroline about her date of birth, the hospital where she was born and the circumstances of her adoption. At the time, Caroline Clarke thought nothing of Maria Cole’s very personal line of questioning. It was not years later that the conversation came back to haunt her. In 2002, Caroline Clarke finally reached out to her birth mother after getting her phone number from her friend, Timmie, who was actually her aunt. The mother and daughter reunited later that year and kept in touch, mostly via postcards, for the next seven years, until Carole Cole passed away from cancer in 2009. Truth comes to light: Caroline Clarke, the host of the TV show Black Enterprise Business Report, reached out to a social worker in 2002 to obtain medical history, but she got so much more than that . Over the course of their relationship, Carole Clarke was shocked to learn that her biological father was a white Jewish man whom her mother met in college, and who knew nothing of her existence. Clarke, a strong, independent black woman who married into the family that owned Black Enterprise, initially struggled to accept that she was a person of mixed race. ‘I was raised black in a black family, very happily, proudly, adamantly black. And finding out that my birth father was white was jolting,’ she revealed to the site The Root. In the end, however, Clarke was glad to uncover her family history, with all its dark secrets and unexpected twists and turns. ‘My feelings have evolved,' Clarke said in an interview with Smith College's news site. I accept that I am what I am genetically. Mixed-race is such a common reality now; the culture has evolved, which helps. But I still identify as African American.’ | Journalist Caroline Clarke found out the truth about her birth family in 2002 when she went searching for medical history .
Nat King Cole's eldest daughter, Carole 'Cookie' Cole, conceived a child out of wedlock and was forced to put her up for adoption by her mother .
A couple from The Bronx adopted Carole Cole's daughter and raised her as their own .
Caroline Clarke met her mother's much younger sister, Timmie Cole, while in college and became close friends with her, not knowing she was her aunt .
Mother and daughter finally reunited in 2002 and enjoyed a seven-year relationship, until Carole Cole's passing in 2009 . |
256,560 | d80fcb99bce96946f515e7b7fee5eac749079a6c | (CNN) -- Five blasts went off in the Nigerian city of Jos Friday night as residents were celebrating Christmas Eve, leaving 31 dead, a regional government official said. Choji Gyang, a special adviser to the governor of Nigeria's Plateau state, said two bombs went off in the Angwa Rukuba area of Jos. Within five to 20 minutes, three more blasts happened in the area of Kabong, he said. "We have a lot of casualties and are struggling to cope," Gyang said. Hassan John, a Jos resident and journalist with the media department of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, had just come out of church about 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) when he heard the sound of the first explosion. He rushed to the site, which he described as a beer parlor frequented by locals. "By the time I got there, there were women crying, people screaming. It was all chaos, people were screaming, blood everywhere." "I counted eight corpses all over, seven in the building," John said. He added that a second blast went off within a couple of minutes after the first one. "We cannot say if there are more bodies under the rubble because it was dark," John said. Gyang, who is special adviser on religious affairs to the governor, said it was unclear who set off the blasts or whether they were related. "It was Christmas Eve, lots of activities was going on. People were still preparing for Christmas, lots of people were coming into town. A blast went off, those around the area -- some were killed, some injured and the houses and cars caught fire," Gyang said. He said he received reports of "a lot of dead bodies." "The way they went off was in the same manner. They all went to where people were concentrated,"Gyang said. Several injured people were taken to a local hospital while some who were not severely injured left the scene on their own. John said the beer-parlor scene was chaotic as residents, especially young men, became agitated over the lack of security in what has been a volatile area. Hundreds of people from both faiths have died in violence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria in the past decade. "Soldiers fired a couple of rounds into the air because a riot was developing," John said. The first blasts occurred just a few buildings away from a police station and a military checkpoint, according to both Gyang and John. Gyang said that during the preceding two days, a special task force that had been sent to the Plateau state by the federal government had gone on radio telling residents to go about their business and not to worry about the security situation in the area. The government had increased security and checkpoints throughout the past week, including additional a patrols in various areas of Jos, Gyang said . "Five different bombs blasts in the heart of Jos. This is the height of insecurity in this city," Gyang said. "There is a lapse in security, specifically by the special task force," he said. "They have not been doing what they were expected to and as a result we had these attacks." In recent weeks, the governor's office had received letters purported to be from some Muslim organizations threatening attacks against Christians, Gyang said. "The security officials didn't take the threat letters seriously. They were thought of as gimmicks, and at the end of the day, they became reality." | Five blasts hit the city of Jos, a government official in Nigeria says .
"We have a lot of casualties," the official says .
One eyewitness says, "I counted eight corpses" |
173,770 | 6cdcbc595d954e47b7b4185f0d5a152f24c60e6f | For wealthy Victorians, visiting pyramids built by the Ancient Egyptians was one of the highlights in their grand tours. But now anyone can wander round the last of the Seven Wonders of the World from the comfort of their sofa, because Google has added pyramids and other sites in Giza, Egypt, to Google Street View. The Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx, which have stood for around 5,000 years, are two of the iconic landmarks mapped by Google’s team of trekkers. Mapping on a grand scale: The Great Pyramid (pictured) and the Great Sphinx, which have stood for around 5,000 years, are two of the iconic landmarks mapped by Google’s team of trekkers near Cairo in Egypt . The ancient structures dominate the skyline of the Sahara desert and seem a world away from the bustling city of Cairo, which lies to the north-east. Features of these landmarks and others in the Giza Necropolis can be seen up close in the Google Street View images and there are also glimpses of horses and carriages and market stalls around the historic sites. The Great Pyramid was built as a tomb and a symbol of eternity for the Pharaoh Khufu. It stands 456ft (139 metres) high – just over nine double decker buses stacked on top of one another. A holiday without the travel: Users of Google Street View can now see the Pyramids of Giza (pictured) from the comfort of their sofa,as the ancient landmarks have been mapped. Ancient pyramids dominate the skyline of the Sahara, while camels carry tourists to see the amazing sites . Purrfect shot? To the east of the pyramids sits the Great Sphinx, which is the oldest and largest known monumental sculpture in the world. With the body of a lion and the head of a human, it measures a grand 239ft (73 metres) long and 65ft (20 metres) high. The creature is believed to resemble Pharaoh Khafre . Palm-fringed fortress: The Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century defensive fortress perched atop the Mediterranean coast, has also been caught on camera . It was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for 3,800 years and is accompanied by the smaller pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, which have also been mapped by Google. To the east of the pyramids sits the Great Sphinx, which is the oldest and largest known monumental sculpture in the world. With the body of a lion and the head of a human, it measures a grand 239ft (73 metres) long and 65ft (20 metres) high. Literally translating to ‘Father of Dread,’ this mythical creature is believed to resemble Pharaoh Khafre, who was the ruler at the time of construction. Stepping outside the necropolis, Google also mapped the Pyramid of Djoser –which is the first to be designed by the great Egyptian architect Imhotep and lies in the burial ground of Saqqara. A view from the gods: Visitors to Google Maps can zoom in on landmarks from above to explore them. The Great Pyramid (pictured) was built as a tomb and a symbol of eternity for the Pharaoh Khufu, it stands 456ft (139 metres) high – just over nine double decker buses stacked on top of one another . Perfect geometry: Google also mapped the Pyramid of Djoser –which is the first to be designed by the great Egyptian architect Imhotep and lies along with the enclosure wall (pictured) at Saqqara . What a view: The ancient structures dominate the skyline of the Sahara desert and seems a world away from the bustling city of Cairo . A more modern mosque: Google also mapped more modern architectural wonders, such as Cairo Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (pictured) The Egyptian virtual tour also includes slightly modern wonders such as Abu Mena, which is one of the oldest sites of Christianity in Egypt and a spectacular mosque. The Hanging Church – one of the oldest Coptic Churches in the world, a medieval Islamic fortification known as the Cairo Citadel and the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century defensive fortress perched atop the Mediterranean coast have also been caught on camera. Users can visit the Google Cultural Institute to learn more about the treasures of ancient Egypt through historic photographs and ancient artefacts. ‘The Pyramids of Giza have survived nearly five millennia, and stand as a testament to the ingenuity of the ancient people who built them. Now this legacy is preserved in a new way with panoramic and immersive Street View imagery,’ Tarek Abdalla,Google’s Head of Marketing in the Middle East and Africa wrote. Google has previously mapped the temple of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, and the Taj Mahal in India as well as the Great Barrier Reef. A sense of size: Seeing the ancient landmarks from the perspective of a tourist allows Google Street View visitors to gain a sense of how massive the pyramids are and how hard it must have been for workers or slaves some 4,500 years ago to erect the massive monuments . Life on the hoof: Google's trekkers have also captured signs of local life including horse and carts (pictured) and market stalls . Impressive: The Great Pyramid (pictured) was built as a tomb and a symbol of eternity for the Pharoah Khufu, it stands 456ft (139 metres) high – just over nine double decker buses stacked on top of one another . The Hanging Church (pictured) – one of the oldest Coptic Churches in the world, a medieval Islamic fortification known as the Cairo Citadel and the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century defensive fortress perched atop the Mediterranean coast have also been caught on camera . | Google trekkers captured the 5,000-year-old pyramids in the Giza Necropolis, including the Great Pyramid .
Features of the structures can be seen up close as well as local market stalls, camels and horse and carriages .
Visitors to Google Street View can zoom in on landmarks from above as well as see them from street level .
The Great Sphinx has also been mapped, as well ancient Christian monuments and pretty fortresses . |
103,503 | 1177c503a5ec2e78772bc751f44419920bf4bfd8 | Washington (CNN) -- Sanctions. International monitors. Increased jet fighters in the region. Trying to figure out how the United States and its European allies will respond to Russia's Crimea incursion gets confusing. The tense showdown over Ukrainian sovereignty offers few easy answers, with differing priorities between Washington and the European Union adding to the confusion. Here is a look at where Western allies stand: . Military . United States -- It is hard to imagine a scenario that would cause U.S. troops to get involved in Ukraine. At the same time, the Obama administration can't rule out any option as it pushes for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine aimed at de-escalating the current crisis and laying the groundwork for peaceful coexistence going forward. The Pentagon has announced the addition of six F-15 fighter planes to the four currently on a NATO mission in the Baltics. Previously, Washington halted ongoing military cooperation with Russia. After a series meetings Wednesday with European, Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in Paris, Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters that "all parties agreed today that it is important to try to resolve the issues through dialogue." He added: "They don't believe that any of us are served by greater or further confrontation." Europe -- The last thing the European Union wants is an armed conflict in its backyard. Only if Russian forces moved into eastern Ukraine would consideration be given to bolstering NATO forces in neighboring countries. While no obligation exists for NATO to militarily defend Ukraine against Russian aggression, the United States and Britain -- along with Russia -- committed to protecting Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity in 1994 when Kiev gave up its nuclear arsenal that dated back to the Soviet era. What happens now to Ukraine will have an impact on nuclear nonproliferation programs elsewhere, Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned Thursday. His implication was clear: failure to effectively respond to Russia's aggression in Crimea would embolden North Korea and Iran to further resist Western efforts to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. Sanctions . The United States -- President Barack Obama said Thursday that he signed an executive order that laid the groundwork for sanctions against people and entities deemed responsible for the crisis. The executive order provides the legal basis for sanctions against specific people and entities, but White House spokesman Jay Carney later told reporters no individuals were specifically targeted. Visa bans are already in effect for some Russian and Ukrainian officials, and the freezing of assets and property could be forthcoming. The moves fall short of broader economic sanctions aimed at Russia's state-owned banks and energy industry sought by some in Congress. "This action by Russia cannot go unchallenged," Republican Rep. Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Thursday at a hearing where the panel approved a non-binding resolution backing sanctions. Europe -- Closer proximity to Russia and crucial economic ties make the issue of sanctions more difficult for European countries. Already, Russia threatens to retaliate with its own sanctions if the United States and Europe take such a step. Russia is the European Union's third-biggest trading partner after the United States and China, with goods and services worth more than $500 billion exchanged in 2012. About 75% of all foreign direct investment in Russia originates in EU member states, according to the European Commission. In addition, Russia is the single biggest supplier of energy to the European Union. British energy firm BP is the second-largest shareholder in Russia's leading oil producer Rosneft, and some of the biggest energy companies in Germany, the Netherlands and France are invested in a joint venture with Russian gas giant Gazprom. "If and when any sanctions are placed on Russia, they are likely to be targeted on key officials rather than on the wider economy," said Neil Shearing, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. "Europe is too dependent on Russian energy to countenance full-blown trade restrictions." On Thursday, the European Union threatened limited steps if no substantive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine start in coming days. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told reporters in Brussels that "in any absence of results, the EU will decide on additional measures such as travel bans, asset freezes, and cancellation of the EU-Russia summit." Later, Kerry told reporters that no serious gap existed between the U.S. and EU approaches, adding that " there may be some differences of opinion about timing or about one choice over another." Aid . United States -- Kerry announced $1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine this week as part of the Obama administration's effort to publicly support the interim government and provide incentive for Ukraine to continue to align itself with the West through the European Union instead of Russia. Obama called Thursday for Congress to support assistance for the Ukrainian government from both the United States and the International Monetary Fund. A few hours later, the Republican-led House overwhelmingly approved an aid package to authorize the previously announced loan guarantees. Such support offers a trifecta of being unilateral, enjoying political support at home and backing the goal of bolstering Ukraine. Europe -- The European Union announced Wednesday it will offer Ukraine at least $15 billion in aid as the country struggles with dwindling cash and the military standoff with Russia. The package would provide Ukraine with assistance over the next few years, said Jose Manuel Barroso, the head of the EU's executive body, the European Commission. On Wednesday, Ukraine said it would be unable to pay its February natural gas bill to Gazprom. European aid is the easiest way to show immediate support for Ukraine while avoiding risks of counter-sanctions and other retaliation. Diplomacy . United States -- The United States is working with European allies to create an "exit ramp" for Putin to be able to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis. Their plan would call for Russian troops in Crimea to return to their barracks, and international observers to come to Ukraine to monitor the situation on the ground, where Russia complains of persecution against ethnic Russians. In addition, the United States seeks to isolate Russia diplomatically, joining other members of the G8 group of industrial powers in pulling out of preparatory meetings for the scheduled June summit in Sochi, Russia. The foundation of the U.S. stance is for Ukraine to maintain its independence and territorial integrity, while also recognizing Russia's historical and economic ties to Ukraine. Obama said Thursday he was "confident" that the international community was "moving forward together" in responding to what he called the Russian intervention. Europe -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Obama on Tuesday about the diplomatic exit ramp, but initial indications Thursday showed little progress with Russia on agreement. Reflecting the standoff, Merkel said Thursday that the European Union wants to do everything it can to settle the Ukraine crisis diplomatically, but she warned that without any "diplomatic possibility," steps such as asset freezing and visa limitations would be options. CNNMoney's Mark Thompson, Alanna Petroff and Charles Riley and CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. | Where do Washington and the European Union stand on the Ukraine crisis?
No one wants an armed conflict, especially in the EU's backyard .
Europe's economic ties with Russia make it less likely to back strong sanctions .
NEW: The U.S. House authorizes loan guarantees for Ukraine . |
80,015 | e2cbc42dd32ec9835aafc4c1f652988d59ddbc1a | One driver in New York City has found an inventive way of beating the heat wave scorching the East Coast - by fitting an entire air conditioner in his car window. The hilarious image taken in the Lower East Side was shared by The Lo-Down as residents faced yet another day of temperatures in the 90s before the heat wave eventually breaks this weekend. Millions of people across the Northeast and New England are feeling the heat wave and grappling with the hottest temperatures of the year so far, the Weather Channel reported. In Maryland, misery has been compounded by a massive water shortage as work is carried out on an aging water main in Prince George's County. Utility company WSSC has enforced water restrictions on thousands of people throughout the area as workers make emergency repairs to the main that was on the brink of failure. Inventive: This car fitted with a whole air conditioner has been spotted in the Lower East Side of New York City as the driver battles the never-ending heat wave scorching the East Coast . Cooling down: Kids cool off in the spray of an open hydrant on . a hot evening in Lawrence, Massachusett. The Northeast is . in the midst of the year's hottest temperatures, with more to come . Escape: A man cools off at Castle Island in South Boston on Wednesday as the heat wave continued . Struggle: House painter Jesus Rubela wipes the sweat from his face while restoring a home in South Boston . Staying cool: Rich Barber cools off on a water slide at the Community pool in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania . It means that residents are no allowed . to use water outside and can only use water when it's necessary - and . should not flush toilets after every use. Originally it was thought that there would be a complete closure, which shuttered businesses and led residents to fill bathtubs and stock up on bottled water in preparation. In New England, electricity use is nearing record levels as people rely on their air conditioners, and the power grid operator has asked customers to conserve electricity. Con . Edison, which provides power to New York, said it was prepared for . outages and had extra crews on call as the mercury continues to soar in . the city. The . health commissioner of Philadelphia, where the heat index reached 103 . degrees on Monday, launched special summer heat programs, including a . hotline for heat emergencies. In Philadelphia an excessive heat warning is in effect until Saturday evening. 'In this case, it's the longevity of the heat wave, that poses the biggest concern, rather than the magnitude of the temperatures, themselves,' said weather.com Senior Meteorologist Jon Erdman. Staying hot: A map shows the blistering temperatures across the United States on Wednesday . More to come: A map for Thursday shows temperatures of 99 degrees F will hit New York . Good for business: Warmer, drier weather in Granger, Iowa has helped improve crops after a soggy spring . Fed up: A man sits in the shade avoiding the heat of the sun near his home in Philadelphia on Wednesday . 'There is relief ahead. Cooler air should arrive in the Upper Midwest beginning Friday. By this weekend, the Northeast will receive the cooler air with open arms. All this will come at the cost of severe thunderstorms, however.' As residents across the East face sauna-like conditions, more Northerly states from the Dakotas into northerly New England will see fierce thunderstorms Wednesday. All this while wildfires in California and the Southwest and Colorado face disastrous flood potential into Wednesday. And forecasters have warned the heat . will continue to rise throughout the week. In Philadelphia temperatures . will reach 95 on Wednesday and 97 on Thursday, while in Newark, New . Jersey, temperatures will soar to 97 on Thursday before nudging up to 98 . on Friday. The heat will expand into the Midwest and northern Plains by midweek, the weather service said. Storm brewing: Young brothers in Rollingstone, Minnesota knock down a sand castle Tuesday. The northern Midwest is predicted to bear the brunt of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday . Swimmers cool off with floaties Tuesday at the Michael LaCanne Memorial Park beach in Goodview, Minnestoa where temperatures of 90 degrees and 100-degree heat index had people finding ways to keep cool . People keep cool by swimming in the water at the Lower Falls of the Swift River, in Albany, New Hampshire on Tuesday. A weeklong heat wave continues to bear down on much of the region . But . it's not only the East that is sweltering in the heat as Medford, . Oregon endured temperatures of 99 on Monday and residents of Boise, . Idaho suffered through 101 degrees. These temperatures are as much as 10 degrees above the average for this time of year. In California, over 600 firefighters are battling a fire that rages 70 miles east of Los Angeles. The blaze began Monday and had grown to over 12 square miles in less than 24 hours. The . fire is on Forest Service Land and, though it is starting to be . contained, weather conditions don't suggest rain in the rugged, arid . area and the flames remain on a course approaching more densely . populated Palm Springs, California. Further east in Colorado and New Mexico, residents are bracing for the opposite problem. Storms: The northern end of the Miodwest's so-called Northern Tier states are braced for a brutal thunderstorm lashing through Wednesday . Double whammy: As it passes over the Great Lakes, the storm is expected to then move into the northerly end of New England on Wednesday evening, bringing hail, high winds, and flooding potential . The Four Corners region is expecting massive downpours thanks to an influx of moist air from the Gulf. Brutal winds and flooding could accompany these storms, which are expected to last through Thursday. Flooding . is expected to be particularly bad in areas already damaged by . wildfires as burn scars leave rain water with nowhere to go. To the north in the northern Midwest and east in to northern New England, fierce storms are predicted as well. On Wednesday, according to Accuweather.com, the region should expect localized damaging winds and dangerous lightning strikes. Beachgoers take shelter under an umbrella as they wait for the heavy rains to past over McGee Beach in Corpus Christi, Texas, Tuesday. Areas along the Gulf saw abundant showers early in the week . Fires, too: As much of the country bears the brunt of heat and storms, California is seeing a 12 square mile wildfire rip through arid mountains east of Los Angeles . Evacuee Shanda Paul watches flames move over a hill near Mountain Center in Riverside County, California as the mountain fire grew to 4700 acres overnight . Rapid: The remains of a home destroyed by the Southern California fire on Tuesday in Pine Springs Ranch.The swift fire in the mountains west of Palm Springs doubled overnight . Threatening: Officials say the wildfire in the mountains west of Palm Springs has destroyed three houses and three mobile homes and is threatening dozens more residences . Trees in Phoenix were uprooted by gale-force winds Monday evening. On Wednesday, neighboring New Mexico and Colorado can expect more of the same . Forecasters predict that Providence, New York City, . Philadelphia and Washington will see temperatures averaging in the . mid-90s and could see the heat index values in the low 100s. The . searing heat will be accompanied by largely stagnant, windless . conditions, leaving Northeasterners without so much as an occasional . cool breeze to take their minds off the heat. For New York City and southern . New England, this qualifies as a heat wave, which is three . or more days with highs in the 90s. The heatwave is expected to stretch into seven days. According to CBS News, a . heat advisory is announced when the heat and humidity combine to make . it feel like at least 95 degrees out for two days on end or, . alternatively, if the heat index reaches 100 to 104. Be advised, this week’s heat wave will offer both. 'It's . going to be very hot and humid this week,' said New York Mayor Michael . Bloomberg. Beating the heat: Angela Bradbury, 11, left, and Zoe Riedel, 8, right, jump through a waterfall to cool-off at the Yards Park, near the Washington Nationals baseball stadium, where temperatures were in the mid-90s on Tuesday . Hot work: Roofer Juan Belis works in the midday heat atop a building in Philadelphia on Tuesday . Seeking shelter: A woman holds an umbrella under the sun as she walks by the U.S. Capitol in Washington . Too much to take: A man relaxes in the stifling heat on a bench near Times Square in New York City . Escape: Youngsters frolic on a raft in Curtis Pond to cool off on Tuesday in Calais, Vermont . 'The weather can be dangerous, especially for those without . air conditioning, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. There are about 425 cooling centers that we have open around the city . for those needing relief from the heat.' This overwhelming heat wave is expected to last until Sunday, when temperatures will drop to an average of the mid-80s. Residents can't expect a complete reprieve, however. With the incoming cooler temperatures will come the potential for extreme storms and accompanying damage in the East. On . Friday and Saturday, the Northeast is predicted to bear the brunt of . some serious thunderstorms, bringing with them high, gusting winds and . the potential for flash flooding. Already . stricken from a serious heat wave, the Northeast corridor is expected . to finally see the weather calm down and cool off by Sunday. Time fur a dip: Dogs splash in canine wading pools in Hudson River Park during the heatwave in New York . Doing the trick: A dog splashes in a canine wading pool as temperatures reach the mid-90s in New York . Shade: A man sleeps under a Subway entrance's awning at Union Square in New York on Tuesday . In the mean time, people . living in the heat wave areas should be careful to drink enough water . and should avoid strenuous activity in the middle of the day. They . should also wear hats and sunscreen. But . it won't be just be the Northeast sweating through the week as parts of . the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley - including Chicago, Detroit and . Cincinnati - are seeing temperatures in the low 90s. Temperatures this month in the Northeast are several degrees above average due to a hot start to the month. In southern New England, the average . temperature so far this month is five to six degrees above average in . Boston, Hartford and Providence, the Weather Channel reported. | Heat advisories in place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore .
Thousands of residents in Maryland face water shortage as work is carried out on a failing water main .
Four Corners region of Colorado and New Mexico braced for disastrous flooding on Wednesday along with the northern Midwest and New England .
A wildfire that has grown to more than 12 square miles rages in California .
The Northeast heat will last until the weekend, when dangerous storms could move into the area . |
246,544 | cb1051a8f715d73e468f27a4f7903f900de4423c | (CNN) -- "This is Norway checker," echoed the voice through the scrambler. "I have a good stop for you in Stavanger." Nobody on the outside world could have known what she meant. But inside Bletchley Park, a World War II code-breaking enclave in the English countryside of Buckinghamshire, 18-year-old Ruth Bourne had discovered a vital piece of intelligence. Working alongside thousands of other women to decipher encoded German signals sent between Nazi generals, Bourne's discovery meant passing on the information to her superiors to assess whether this was another piece of the decryption puzzle. Read more: Code-breaking Enigma machine goes under the hammer . With every room named after a country that had been toppled by the Nazis, and each machine christened as one of its towns, Bletchley Park's simple yet effective checking system proved crucial in the defeat of Hitler's regime. A culture of secrecy . Far from being a group of experienced decoders, however, the estate's recruits mainly consisted of young teenage military personnel, a smattering of crossword whizzes who had been able to complete The Daily Telegraph's puzzle in less than 12 minutes, and numerous 18-year-old girls plucked from their quiet home towns. "It was the middle of the war when I received a call saying I was to go into war work to support Britain's efforts from home," explains 88-year-old Margaret Bullen, a machine wire operator who served from 1942 until the end of the war. "A letter from the Foreign Office then arrived saying I had an interview -- but I had no idea what it was for, and two weeks later, I was told I'd be off to Bletchley." Read more: Enigma machine sells for world record price . "Before starting work we were told to sign the Official Secrets Act, which was a rather frightening experience for someone as young and naive as I was," says 90-year-old Becky Webb, who joined the war effort at age 18 in 1941. "I had no idea how I'd comply with it!" But compliance was the only option, making these three young women -- Webb, Bullen and Bourne -- fierce guards of the country's anonymous decoding history for several decades. Indeed, it wasn't until some thirty years later that Bletchley's long maintained shroud of secrecy began to lift, after the publication of "The Ultra Secret" -- a tell all book from former RAF officer Frederick W. Winterbotham, who later became an Ultra supervisor. The 1974 expose revealed how Ultra intelligence had been used to intercept communication behind enemy lines and disseminate vital information to Britain and its allies. Though Winterbotham was accused of embellishing and aggrandizing his role in the tale, without his account, the real story of what went on inside the UK's code-breaking operation may never have been known. Read more: 70-year-old coded war message found attached to pigeon . "It sounds strange that we knew so little about what was going on, but that was how it was," reflects Bullen. "I was sent to live with a couple who were ordered to take me in because of the war. They never once asked me what I was doing there--nobody did--not even the local village workers who'd serve us coffee at the café on our lunch break, in spite of the fact a group of 18-year-olds had suddenly arrived in this little hamlet," she explains. "I only heard the name Colossus--the machine I was working on--some three decades after the war ended, and it wasn't until I later visited Bletchley Park that I said: 'this is where I worked, this is what I did!'" While Winterbotham's revelations sent shock waves through the secretive decryption community, lifting the lid on what really happened inside the park ensued slowly and sporadically, with the bulk of the information being released in the early 2000s. "I'm delighted that we can discuss our time there now that everything has come out, and I give talks on the subject whenever I'm asked," enthuses Webb. "I've given 97 to date!" Silent heroines . For many of the young women at Bletchley, though, the removal of the clandestine veil came too late, with the majority of workers' parents having passed away before the decryption effort became public knowledge. Bourne, an 18-year-old naval recruit who was sent to one of the park's expansion locations in Eastcote -- on the outskirts of London -- was one of many who was never able to tell her loved ones about her contribution to the war. "You led two lives there," she recalls. "One life was in A Block, where you ate in the canteen, and talked about boyfriends, and getting trains to London, and where to find black nylon stockings." "B Block was where we worked, surrounded by high walls, barbed wire and two naval marines guarding the place. If you could make your voice heard over the noise of 12 Turing Bombe machines, that was the only time you would speak about work -- but you never would," she explains. "I never knew what any of my coworkers were doing, and vice versa, and my parents never knew a thing of it." After the Nazi regime fell in 1945, many of Bletchley's women returned home, while others stayed involved with the military's work. Bourne was given work as a wire destroyer: desoldering the many cables that had been painstakingly connected during intelligence operations throughout the war, while Webb was sent to the Pentagon to paraphrase translated Japanese messages for transmission to officials. "Upon leaving Bletchley, we really had no skills whatsoever," remembers Bourne. "Apart from how to keep a secret!" And that secret was very nearly never told, especially after the original estate was due to be knocked down some 23 years ago, with houses and a supermarket planned to be built in its place. Preserving Bletchley . It was in May of 1991that Bletchley's fortunes changed, after a small local committee gathered a group of veterans at the park to say a final farewell to the historic location. But the group became determined to turn it into a heritage site after hearing the astounding stories of so many code-breakers, engineers and members of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) who worked at the park during the war. The Bletchley Park Trust was formed the following year, and from then on, regular reunions and exhibitions at the estate have enabled its former workers and inhabitants to share stories that were on the precipice of being lost forever. Winterbotham's book might have been the first time that story of the World War II code-breakers entered the realm of popular culture, but it certainly wasn't the last, with TV drama "The Bletchley Circle" proving popular in both the UK and United States earlier this year. With a second series on its way, and exhibitions at the Trust attracting visitors from around the globe, the world's fascination with the once elusive Bletchley Park shows no sign of slowing. The culture of secrecy that once threatened Bletchley from being all but erased from the history books has well and truly ended. The National Museum Of Computing at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, UK unveils its "Women in computing" exhibit. | Bletchley Park was the home of British code-breaking during World War II .
The National Museum of Computing based at the Bletchley estate launched a new exhibit on women in computing .
Bletchley's fascinating history only became public several decades after the war ended .
Women made up majority of the 10,000 people who worked at secret code-breaking operation . |
108,810 | 184cd357ef95bc0ab09f07654381d4f9f4b900a1 | A 30-year-old professional surfer and model has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly following an elderly woman back to her apartment and running her down as part of a road rage incident. Jill Hansen was formerly charged around 8pm on Friday in Hawaii following the attack in Waikiki, Honolulu, around noon on Wednesday, Hawaii News Now reported. A witness, Chris Khory, has told police that he stopped Hansen from hitting the 73-year-old victim, identified as Elizabeth Conklin, a second time by smashing her back window with a crowbar. Khory said after knocking Conklin down Hansen got out of her Volkswagen sedan, looked at her, got back in the car and reversed, according to Khon2. Scroll down for video . Charged: Jill Hansen, 30, has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly running down an elderly woman with her car in Waikiki . Jill Hansen was arrested on suspicion of intentionally striking a 73-year-old woman in a Waikiki parking garage with her car. She has a history of driving problems . In an effort to get Hansen's attention and stop her from hitting the woman again, a bystander used a crowbar to break one of the car's windows . Hansen is alleged to have followed the victim back to her apartment complex in Waikiki, waiting for her to get out of the car and then running her down . Jill Hansen is a self-described professional surfer and model . Khory, who works at the apartment complex on Kalakaua Ave, said he quickly grabbed a crowbar and ran over and smashed Hansen's back window. Stunned, Hansen got and fled, leaving behind her car. Police used it to track her down, arresting Hansen six hours later in the Manoa area. Conklin was taken to hospital with cuts, bruises and a head injury. She was hospitalized in serious condition, emergency officials said. This is not Hansen's first run-in with police. She has a pending assault case and in a separate case was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Police used Hansen's car, which she left at the scene after running away, to identify her and track her down . Police arrested 30-year-old Jill Anjuli Hansen shortly after 7 pm on May 14 . The incident occurred in the garage of the Diamond Head Apartments on Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki . Surfer Jill Hansen was arrested for attempted murder . There is also an active restraining order filed by her father. According to the court documents, her father says she used Facebook to find someone to murder him and his family. She has multiple rants on the social media site. She claims to be a professional surfer and model and lashes out at critics. Hansen has not yet been charged. According to the court documents, Hansen's father says she used Facebook to find someone to murder him and his family. He has a restraining order against his daughter . Police said Hansen followed the older woman through the parking garage's security gate and then intentionally hit the woman with her car after she had exited her vehicle . Police said Hansen and the older woman do not know each other, and there was no apparent motive . According to Insurance News Net, Hansen is known in Honolulu for being a worry on the roads. A member of the Maunalani Heights Neighborhood Security Watch, who asked not to be identified, said the group alerted its members about Hansen last year after several incidents involving erratic driving and behavior. 'We needed everybody on the lookout for her - that's how scary it was,' the member said. 'All 500 members were eventually brought into the loop of this situation because it was so serious.' 'There were probably over half a dozen people that had been adversely affected by her driving. 'Two people almost run over by her, one person almost had a head-on collision with her.' Hansen was not arrested in connection with those incidents, the member said. Bad reputation: Jill Hansen was allegedly known around her neighborhood for her driving record, and not in a good way, sources say . According to court records, Hansen was cited three times for speeding since February, the most recent time on Sunday. In that incident she was allegedly driving 72 mph in a 35 mph zone in Wahiawa. She is set to appear in court for that case in June. She was also ticketed for using a mobile electronic device while driving in July. She received a $147 fine. In addition, in 2011 she received fines for disregarding a stop sign, driving without a license and driving without insurance. In 2013 she was fined for driving without headlights. She has two convictions, one for speeding and the other for driving without a license in 2010, according to the state Criminal Justice Data Center. Besides her driving offenses, Hansen was arrested April 18 for investigation of third-degree assault. She is scheduled to appear for that case in District Court on Friday. According to court records, Hansen was cited three times for speeding since February, the most recent time on Sunday . | Jill Hansen, 30, is alleged to have run down an elderly woman in the garage of an apartment complex with Honolulu on Wednesday .
The two are said to have had a road rage encounter and Hansen followed the woman home .
A worker at the complex witnessed the alleged attack .
He used a crowbar to smash out the back window of Hansen's car .
The witness said she was preparing to run down the victim a second time .
Hansen is known around her neighborhood for being 'scary' behind the wheel, sources say .
She has now been charged with attempted murder . |
74,004 | d1d52df13102f902efac5535143016f97c9a8ea5 | (CNN) -- After reviewing the case of a woman who died at New Orleans, Louisiana's Memorial Hospital in the days after Hurricane Katrina, coroner Frank Minyard said Thursday that he cannot classify her death as a homicide. Minyard said he hopes his findings on the death of Jannie Burgess, 79, will mark "the end of the Memorial Hospital hurricane situation." The review was initiated after an August 2009 New York Times article quoted a doctor as saying Memorial patients were given morphine and other drugs after Katrina struck in August 2005, with hospital staff knowing that it could hasten some of the patients' deaths. Burgess' manner of death is unclassified, the coroner said, and the cause of her death undetermined. "I don't think -- and I could be wrong -- I don't think the morphine contributed as much to her demise as her physical condition," said Minyard, who's served as the coroner of Orleans Parish since 1974. "This patient was extremely sick," Minyard said of Burgess. The woman had had surgery a week before and had been on "morphine around the clock. She'd had kidney failure. She'd had liver failure." She also had developed sepsis, or blood poisoning, he said. Burgess was being treated for advanced uterine cancer and kidney failure, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Dr. Ewing Cook told the New York Times that he asked a nurse to increase Burgess' morphine and give her "enough until she goes." "If you don't think that by giving a person a lot of morphine, you're not prematurely sending them to their grave, then you're a very naive doctor," Cook told the Times. "We kill 'em." On Burgess, he said, "I gave her medicine so I could get rid of her faster, get the nurses off the floor." He added, "There's no question I hastened her demise." In response to a Times-Picayune report in September, Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro Jr. said he planned to look into the deaths but stopped short of calling it an investigation. Minyard said Thursday that he had delivered a detailed report to Cannizzaro on Wednesday. Because she had been receiving morphine, Burgess had naturally developed some tolerance to it, Minyard said. He also took her weight, 240 pounds, into account. Burgess had received seven 15-milligram shots of morphine and died 3½ hours after receiving the last one, he said. Deaths from morphine, or any narcotic, tend to happen immediately, he said. Minyard said he believes that Burgess' blood poisoning, along with anemia she had before her surgery, mostly contributed to her death. "I'm saying 'mostly' because we really don't know," he said. "And when you really don't know, you have to be 100 percent sure" when calling a death a homicide. He said he doesn't believe that Burgess received enough morphine to kill her. Minyard said Thursday that when he told Burgess' relatives about his findings, "they were very polite." He said they will come in to speak with him soon. Katrina roared ashore near the Mississippi-Louisiana state line on August 29, 2005, rupturing three of New Orleans' protective levees and putting about three-quarters of the city under water. Charles Foti Jr., who was then the state attorney general, launched an investigation after officials from Lifecare, an acute-care facility operating on the seventh floor of Memorial, reported allegations that several seriously ill, mostly elderly patients had been euthanized by medical staff at Memorial as the floodwaters rose around the hospital and conditions inside deteriorated. In 2006, Foti ordered the arrest of Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses, Lori Budo and Cheri Landry, on preliminary charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of four of the patients. Former Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan, who under Louisiana law was responsible for prosecuting crimes, gave Budo and Landry immunity in exchange for their testimony. In July 2007, a grand jury refused to indict Pou. Foti said his investigation revealed that the four patients were given a "lethal cocktail" of morphine and midazolam hydrochloride, both central nervous system depressants. The patients were 63, 68, 91 and 93, he said. Pou, Landry and Budo denied the charges, and their attorneys said they acted heroically, staying to treat patients rather than evacuate. In an interview with Newsweek magazine in 2007, Pou admitted giving the patients drugs. "If in doing so it hastened their deaths, then that's what happened," she said. "But this was not 'I'm going to go to the seventh floor and murder some people.' We're here to help patients." The grand jury never heard testimony from five specialists who advised Foti that the patients were deliberately killed with overdoses of drugs after Katrina struck. All five were brought in by Foti's office to analyze the deaths and concluded that the patients were homicide victims. After the grand jury refused to indict Pou, Jordan called the case closed and said he would no longer pursue it. CNN and the Times-Picayune have filed suit seeking the release of Foti's investigative file into the deaths. CNN was the first to report the allegations of euthanasia, six weeks after the hurricane. The case went to the Louisiana Supreme Court, which in July sent it back to the trial court to rule on whether criminal charges in the case are reasonably anticipated. No new trial date has been set, Lori Mince, the New Orleans attorney representing the media organization, said Thursday. Hospital workers identified only as John and Jane Does have sued to block the file's release, claiming that the records are covered by grand jury secrecy rules, that they should have been considered confidential informants and that releasing the documents would violate their privacy. | 79-year-old Jannie Burgess died in New Orleans hospital .
Newspaper quoted doctor as saying patients given morphine after storm .
"This patient was extremely sick," coroner says .
He said he doesn't think received enough morphine to kill her . |
40,374 | 71ed65890c8ab63b95b61a5f169f5e880a7b44df | By . Fiona Macrae . If you’ve over-indulged this summer, don’t despair – because it is possible to be fat and fit. Doctors say being overweight will not necessarily send people to an early grave because such a thing as ‘healthy obesity’ exists. In fact, up to one in four of those labelled obese are lucky enough to be fat and fit. They are physically fit, have normal blood pressure and process sugar easily, despite their generous proportions. Celebrities including Nigella Lawson (left) and Lisa Riley (right) have long said that it possible to carry extra weight and still be fit. Researchers now believe this is true, defining it as 'metabolically healthy obesity' Studies show that ‘sufferers’ of healthy obesity have a lower risk of various ills than others who are similarly overweight. One . 15-year-long Italian study found that the ‘healthy obese’ were no more . likely to develop heart disease or cancer – or die at any given time – . than those of normal weight. In . other studies, being fat and fit cut the risk of ill health, even if it . did not completely remove it. The figures come from German experts who . trawled years of research from around the world into the topic. Their . acknowledgement will no doubt be welcome news for the likes of cook . Nigella Lawson and singer Adele, who have long argued it is possible to . be fat and fit. Writing in a . medical journal published by the respected Lancet group, the medics . said accurately identifying those who are fat and fit would cut the bill . for obesity treatment. Adele said she would only lose weight if it affected her health and so far, she said, it hasn't . Gastric . bypass and banding operations cost taxpayers up to £85million a year, . as growing numbers of people become hugely overweight. Targeting . treatment to those who would benefit the most could ensure taxpayers’ money is best spent. The researchers said: ‘Potentially scarce resources . can be more effectively tailored … Some prevention and treatment . strategies can be very expensive and time-consuming.’ Genes . are thought to be key, but working out why some of our bodies resist . the toll of excess weight could also lead to treatments to improve the . health of the obese who are not fortunate enough to fall into the . healthy category. Doctors normally gauge whether a patient’s size is a . health concern by using their weight and height to calculate their body . mass index, or BMI. But . relying on BMI is controversial, as it does not distinguish between . muscle and fat, meaning some athletes are classified as obese. The . German researchers said using BMI alone was ‘insufficient’ and other . factors such as waist size, blood pressure and where fat is stored in . the body needed to be taken into account. But . much more research is needed before any formula is ready for use in . doctor’s surgeries. And in the meantime, the researchers say that the . obese should still think about losing weight. The . team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition and the University of . Tubingen said: ‘Prevention of obesity through healthy diet and physical . activity should be widely promoted.’ Writing . in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, they warned that . not everyone who is ‘healthy obese’ will stay that way. Dr . Ian Campbell, a GP and medical director of charity Weight Concern, said . it made ‘perfect sense’ that some people could be fat but healthy. But . he warned: ‘The science is not yet precise. There is always a risk that . you will develop problems later.’ | Most people - including the medical community - equate lower weight with better health, but researchers say there is such a thing as 'healthy obesity'
Said BMI is too crude a tool to use when assessing someone's health .
They believe concept should be more clearly defined so that overweight people at a higher risk of disease can get the treatment they need .
But added that overweight people should attempt to lose weight as they are still at higher risk of disease in the long-term .
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33,331 | 5ec3cbdf3653271a436aed20db4369ece0a2892d | Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, has declared that when dealing with would-be "terrorist fighters," he believes it should be easier to confiscate passports -- to stop people traveling, to prevent those who go abroad to fight from returning to the UK, and to deal decisively with those who are here. How exactly the Counter Terrorism Bill will be framed when it is published shortly remains unclear, but current proposals go beyond what is required and risk doing exactly what the U.N. Security Council insists on, which is to act in compliance with international law. "Dealing decisively with those who are here" sounds good, of course, and there are plenty of terrorism-related offences already on the statute books which can do duty. Whether more are needed is a matter for debate, but clearly, as the U.N. Security Council affirmed last September in its unanimous resolution on "foreign terrorist fighters," states must also address the underlying factors, as well implementing rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. Denmark is working on the latter, but has anyone looked to see how they work? The Security Council says states are obliged to prevent the movement of terrorists by way of effective border and passport controls, and passports are probably the easiest target. British citizens have no legal right to a passport, which continues to be issued under the Royal Prerogative and therefore within the discretion of the Crown (in practice, the Identity and Passport Service acting for the Home Office). Passports can be withdrawn or "canceled" for a number of reasons, including public interest grounds such as suspicion that the holder might be involved in international organized crime or in terrorism. The surrender of a passport can also be required as a condition of bail. But what the British government now wants is a statutory power allowing it to seize and retain a canceled passport, so as to reduce the likelihood of it being used anyway. In practice, though, it will be difficult to stop people traveling in the absence of evidence of their intentions; their proposed destination may be a give-away, but what if their aims are not terrorism-related, but humanitarian? Many are keen to assist those injured or at risk because of conflict. The Security Council says there needs to be "credible information" and "reasonable grounds" to believe that an individual is traveling for terrorism-related purposes; it encourages the use of "evidence-based traveler risk assessment." But there are dangers here, and it rightly insists that authorities do not resort to profiling based on stereotypes which in turn reflect internationally prohibited grounds of discrimination. How will the UK apply such standards, and what protection will citizens have against arbitrary restrictions on freedom of movement? Will police officers be entitled to act simply on suspicion? In debating earlier legislation, the Government made it clear that "suspicion" was a "lesser test" than belief, and certainly far short of the standard of proof in criminal matters. These issues demand serious thought, if arbitrary power is to be avoided, and discretion confined and structured as the rule of law requires. It is in stopping citizens from returning, however, that the Government will run into trouble with the law. Exclusion orders have been used against UK citizens in the recent past, limiting freedom of movement between Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the 1970s to the 1990s; but these orders were an internal matter, applied to citizens within the United Kingdom, whereas the Prime Minister's notion is to exclude citizens from the UK. The new "temporary exclusion orders," it is proposed, will include passport cancellation, entry on a "no fly list," and sanctions against any airline carrying an "excluded" British citizen to the UK. Such orders may extend for up to two years, though why two years is anyone's guess, and not apparently evidence-based. Return following exclusion may be allowed, but could be conditioned on prosecution, restrictions on movement, or immersion in a "de-radicalization programme" -- the dice look loaded with presumptions -- and returning without permission could result in up to five years in jail. Humanitarian workers thus run the risk of becoming trapped in a war zone, while others -- rightly or wrongly suspected of criminal activity -- may be rendered effectively stateless in some transit state or half-way house, in both cases denied the protection which the state owes to its citizens, and allowing the United Kingdom to avoid the responsibility which it owes to other states. Time and again, the Security Council has stressed that whatever measures states take to deal with terrorist-related threats must comply with all their obligations under international law. Specifically, it has said that no state would be obliged to deny entry or require the departure from its territory of its own nationals or permanent residents. "Exile," after all, is expressly prohibited by Article 9 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while Article 12(4) of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights declares that: "No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country." Cameron's statements regarding so-called jihadists are regrettably indiscriminate and premised on assumptions of guilt. He has called for a "discretionary power" to exclude citizens from the UK, though this seems to imply an arbitrary competence exercised according to the rule of government, not the legal certainty and procedural protection required by the rule of law, and with no regard either to the rights and interests of other states, or to the necessity for improved international cooperation. No state is obliged to accept another's "temporarily excluded" citizens. Any state would be fully within its rights to deport such a person to the UK, and the UK is duty-bound to readmit citizens not allowed to remain in other countries. Moreover, any state whose airline was sanctioned because it carried a UK citizen back to the UK, would be equally entitled to apply counter-measures against the UK, by reason of its unlawful conduct. As was the case earlier this year with deprivation of citizenship, the rush to legislation led to inadequate scrutiny by parliament and cursory consideration of the applicable international law. The result then -- as it may be again -- was a broadening of executive authority beyond what the rule of law in a representative democratic state requires and demands. READ MORE: UK spy chief says tech firms must help combat terrorREAD MORE: Denmark offers foreign fighters rehab, not jailREAD MORE: Will ISIS 'weaponize' foreign fighters? | UK PM wants to make it easier for authorities to confiscate the passports of would-be jihadis .
British citizens subjected to planned exclusion orders will be banned from UK .
Goodwin Gill questions how government will know whether people are traveling for jihad .
"'Exile' is expressly prohibited by Article 9 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights" |
11,199 | 1fd9ec89bee1a156ebe1a881febf7ff15812a0d4 | Police have started searching properties near the home where three missing women were imprisoned for a decade after one of the victims told police there could be other girls, it has emerged. Michelle Knight, who was found at the Cleveland home on Monday after being held against her will for more than 10 years, said that there was another girl at the home around 10 years ago. But Knight, who herself was kidnapped in 2002, said the victim then disappeared. In police interviews she added that she did not know how many other women were in the house because they were all locked in separate rooms, Fox News reported. Scroll down for video . Found: Three women were found at this home in Cleveland on Monday, but police are now searching more nearby properties after one victim said there could have been more women . Along with his alleged victims, only Ariel Castro lived at the home at Seymour Avenue. His older brother Pedro lived at his mother's home, while Onil, the youngest of the three brothers, lived alone in his own home 'somewhere in the lower west side', police said. The details could give hope to the . family of Ashley Summer, who was 14 when she vanished on July 6, 2007 in . the same neighborhood from where Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were taken. Initially Ashley was considered a runaway as had she lived with her great-uncle and they had argued prior to her disappearance. But a year later the police and FBI . believed Ashley was an 'endangered juvenile' who could be 'being held . again her will'. In 2009, the FBI said they suspected a link between . Ashley’s disappearance and those of Berry and DeJesus. Where is she? The family of Ashley Summers, . (pictured left and right in an 'age-progressed' rendering of her as . might would look now) said they initially thought she could be among the . found women . Probe: Members of the FBI evidence response team carry out evidence from the home on Tuesday . Ashley's physical appearance and the . proximity of her home to the other disappearances lead investigators to . suspect the cases were linked and that all three might have been . kidnapped by the same man. Interview: Victim Michelle Knight said she saw another woman at the home around 10 years ago . Special Agent Vicki Anderson, of the FBI Cleveland Division told Cleveland.com on Tuesday that Ashley remains in their thoughts as they gather evidence at Ariel Castro's Seymore Avenue home. ‘We are keeping Ashley in our . thoughts as we go every step of the way,’ she said. ‘Whether it is . something we find at the house, or someone seeing the stories remembers . something, we continue our search for Ashley.’ A cadaver dog, along with various law enforcement officers, searched Ariel Castro's Cleveland home on Tuesday, said Anderson. But police . revealed they had not found any human remains at the house despite fears . up to five babies could be buried in the garden. But police did confirm on Wednesday that they found ties and chains inside the home. 'We have confirmation that they were bound, and there (were) chains and ropes in the home,' Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said, adding that authorities did not miss opportunities to find them. Prior . to the disclosure of the naming of the women discovered on Monday, . Summers' family had briefly thought their daughter could be amongst . those discovered. 'We're hoping that it's connected, and they knew where she was,' her aunt Debra Summers told CNN. 'We're hoping for a miracle.' Found: Gina DeJesus, left, was just 14 when she . vanished in 2004, while another alleged victim Amanda Berry, right, was 16 when she went missing in 2003. Both women were found on Monday . Missing: Michelle Knight, now 32, was also found inside the home, nearly 11 years after she went missing . The Summers family is renewing . their efforts to publicize Ashley's disappearance. The FBI's missing . person website says Ashley Summers has a tattoo of 'Gene' enclosed in a . heart on her upper arm, and her birthday is June 16, 1993, making her 19 . years old. Investigators will speak to Gina . DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight to see if they know anything . about Summers' disappearance. On . Tuesday, Cleveland Police said: 'Every single lead was followed up on . no matter how small. We dug up yards, canvassed neighborhoods. [The] . real hero is Amanda Berry.' Until now the search for the missing women had been fruitless, a series of false leads and bitter disappointment for the desperate families. Michelle Knight, who was 20 years old . when she went missing in August 2002, was last seen at a cousin's house . near West 106th Street and Lorain Avenue. This map shows the block, Lorain Avenue, in Cleveland where the three girls went missing, years apart. They were found Monday on Seymour Avenue, approximately three miles from where they were abducted . Combing: Cleveland police and FBI agents search a yard. There were apparently signs that dirt had recently been moved in the backyard of the house . Hunt: FBI personnel take evidence from the house where Ariel Castro lived with his alleged victims . Hunt: Reports said authorities are now looking at other properties in the area after a victim was interviewed . Three . years later, in April 2003, Amanda Berry, disappeared after leaving her . job at a Burger King - at West 110th Street and Lorain. It was the day . before her 17th birthday. And a year later, Gina DeJesus, then 14 years old, was last seen leaving her middle school at West 105th Street and Lorain. All . three were found safe on Monday night after Berry bolted from a home on . Seymour Avenue, about three miles from where they were last seen. She . told police that she and the other girls were being held prisoner by . Ariel Castro, 52, who has been arrested along with his two brothers, Pedro and Onil, on . suspicion of kidnapping. Cadaver . dogs appeared at the home following fears babies were born inside the . Cleveland house. At least five children may have born at the house, . police sources told NewsChannel5. One . victim suffered up to three miscarriages because she was so . malnourished, while other sources told WKYC the captors would beat the . pregnant women, so that the babies would not survive. Ashley Summers was 14 years old when she was reported missing in 2007 from her home in the same neighborhood where Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus had vanished . It is unknown what happened to any . children who were born at the home, but one six-year-old girl, Jocelyn, . was found inside the home. She was born to victim Amanda Berry, . 27, while she was imprisoned, and authorities said she is 'happy and . healthy' despite growing up in captivity. Authorities are now investigating how the horrors inside the home went undetected for so long. Neighbour . Israel Lugo said other neighbors had seen naked women crawling on all . fours behind Castro's house. Three men were in the garden and were . controlling the women, he said. 'We . thought it was funny at first, and then we thought that was weird so we . called the cops,' neighbor Nina Samoylicz told CNN. 'They thought we . was playing, joking, they didn't believe us.' Neighbors waited for police for two hours but no patrol cars showed up. Brothers: From left, Ariel, Onil and Pedro have all been arrested in connection with the abduction of Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight almost ten years ago . Cleveland police said that the department has no records of a call for service to that home. But the claim is one of a number of stories to have emerged from neighbors who say they reported unusual goings-on at Castro's Seymour Avenue, Cleveland home to local police who either didn't respond or didn't enter the house when they did show up. Lugo said he also called police after his sister saw a woman and a baby standing in a window at the home which was half covered by a plank. Lugo also said his mother was puzzled when Castro would park outside the home in his yellow school bus. He would go inside clutching bags of McDonalds and sodas. It has emerged that Ariel Castro would allegedly use a sick game to 'train' the three girls not to run away by pretending to leave the house, only to beat them if they tried to run free. Reunited: Amanda Berry (center) at the Cleveland Hospital alongside her emotional sister (left) and daughter Jocelyn that she gave birth to during the 10 years she was held against her will . Relief: Ricky DeJesus, brother of Gina, holds his head in his hand outside his family's home in Cleveland . It is said to be just one of the manipulative tactics he used to keep the three young women in his house for up to ten years, in addition to frequent beatings and chains hanging from the ceiling. But on Tuesday, Cleveland Police said: 'Every single lead was followed up on no matter how small. We dug up yards, canvassed neighborhoods. [The] real hero is Amanda Berry.' Until now the search for the missing women had been fruitless, a series of false leads and bitter disappointment for the desperate families. The . exact circumstances of the abductions is currently unclear, and it is . not known whether or not the kidnapper deliberately targeted the block . where all three victims were taken. The three brothers are expected to be arraigned before the end of the day. | Michelle Knight, who was found at the home on Monday, told police there was once another woman at the house .
She said she did not know if there were other women while she was there as they were locked in separate rooms .
Ashley .
Summers has been missing for almost six years and disappeared in the .
same neighborhood as two of the women found on Monday . |
144,821 | 4752a4ce0ba788518a408a3a9bca162a415b2091 | (CNN) -- Reputed mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, visibly annoyed, muttered under his breath "You're a f---ing liar" Thursday as a disgraced former FBI supervisor testified that there was "no question" the Irish gangster doubled as an informant for FBI Boston. Prosecutor Brian Kelly requested that the judge in Bulger's federal trial advise Bulger to "keep his little remarks to himself," which Judge Denise Casper advised shortly after. Both sets of attorneys have spent a remarkable amount of time during the trial of the notorious Bulger, charged with 19 murders and in court after living in hiding for 16 years, trying to prove whether Bulger was an informant during a 15-year period. Even Judge Casper is beginning to question the importance of the issue. During post-court discussion over motions, as the defense was attempting to further it's argument that Bulger's informant records were forged by his FBI handler, Judge Casper questioned, "How does that address that your client is not guilty of crimes here?" Bulger's attorney J.W. Carney danced around the question and responded, "Bulger was not providing information as an informant, he was providing money so that he'd get tipped off about wire taps and search warrants." Bulger's attorneys have been quick to admit to acts of extortion and racketeering -- charges Bulger is also facing -- to defend their client's position that he was not another "rat" from South Boston. "Why can't both be true?" Judge Casper inquired. "The defendant's position is (that) only one is true." Carney said. "Why would James Bulger be paying all this money to all these people if the government's theory is he got all this protection because he was providing information. Why would he keep paying everybody?" Former FBI supervisor John Morris, an addition to the government's long list of cooperating witnesses, testified Thursday that he took bribes from Bulger in the amount of $7,000, along with a silver-plated champagne bucket and two cases of imported wine. Morris said he asked Bulger if he could "spring" for a plane ticket for his secretary girlfriend to visit him during FBI training in Georgia, and Bulger obliged. Morris admitted to his acts of corruption in 1997 in exchange for immunity. A sheepish, red-faced Morris, though less than six feet away from Bulger, avoided eye contact with the defendant, who glared steadily at his old confidant throughout his testimony. This is the first time the two have seen each other since they cut ties in 1991 after Morris leaked Bulger's informant status to the Boston Globe. Morris said he first met Bulger at a dinner he hosted his Lexington, Massachusetts, home in 1978 along with Bulger's FBI handler John Connolly, whom he characterized as his "best friend." Morris said he met Bulger and later his associate Steve "The Rifleman" Flemmi eight to 10 times in various places, including Morris' home, Morris' girlfriend's apartment, a hotel, Bulger's home and even in Flemmi's mother's house for dinner. Flemmi's mother cooked. The defense has previously argued that Bulger was not treated like an informant, and thus did not believe that he was. Morris testified that Connolly preferred to meet Bulger in "pleasant surroundings, not the type of surroundings you would meet a normal informant," like in a hotel or car. "He wanted Mr. Bulger to be comfortable," Morris said. Morris was supervisor to rogue FBI agent Connolly, who is currently serving a 40-year sentence on second-degree murder charges for leaking the identities of witnesses cooperating against Bulger's Winter Hill Gang. Flemmi, serving a life sentence, is set to testify against Bulger later in this trial after agreeing to cooperate with the government to evade the death penalty in 1997. All that Bulger and Flemmi wanted from their handlers in exchange for information was "a head start," as Morris described -- to be tipped off if they were going to be indicted or charged so they could flee. The pair, according to Morris, knew they were "fair game" and acknowledged that they were engaging in criminal activity and at some point they might get charged. If that happened, they didn't want their identity as informants disclosed and would rather "take the risk" Morris said. Morris admitted to tipping his informants off to wire taps, and keeping their names out of a 1975 horse race indictment. He testified that the Mafia, or La Cosa Nostra, was the main priority of the FBI in Boston and that Bulger and his partner Flemmi were instrumental in the take-down of those mobsters. The two provided the agents with a drawing of Mafia headquarters, and that was used to take down the New England Mafia in a 1983 sting. After being tipped off to an indictment, Bulger went on the run for 16 years and landed himself on the FBI's top 10 most wanted list before being arrested in his Santa Monica. California, home with his girlfriend in 2011. Morris said that he signed off on reports Bulger provided to the FBI that he knew were false lies to protect himself from being implicated as the person to who leaked sensitive information that may have tipped Bulger off to witnesses that were cooperating against him. Those potential witnesses were eventually murdered, Morris said, and Bulger has been charged in their killings. While the defense had little time to cross-examine Morris, who will be back on the stand Friday, defense attorney Hank Brennan painted Morris to be a liar, an adulterer, and a fraud. He was able to fire off a question that is likely to resound with the jury. "You were corrupt, weren't you Mr. Morris?" Brennan queried. "Yes," Morris exhaled after a long pause and a deep breath. | A former FBI agents is asked: "You were corrupt, weren't you?"
"Yes," comes the answer from agent, who is testifying against "Whitey" Bulger .
Reputed mob boss Bulger is charged with 19 murders .
He lived in hiding for 16 years, after a tipoff from an FBI source that he faced indictment . |
65,160 | b9053b62cdd76674360221a6c20ad9a2802a3abb | By . Lizzie Parry . Born 16 weeks premature Emily Cressey clung to life, her tiny hand gripping her mothers as she fought to survive. The fragile newborn is one of the youngest baby's to have been born in Scotland, surviving despite being born at 24 weeks - the legal threshold for an abortion. But today the 10-week-old has reached another milestone, defying the medical odds. When tiny Emily Cressey was born at 16 weeks premature she clung to life, gripping her mother Claire's hand as she fought to survive . The fragile newborn, pictured right with her father Alan Coultas, is one of the youngest baby's to be born in Scotland having arrived at 24 weeks - the legal threshold for an abortion . But today the tiny 10-week-old has reached another milestone, her family feared she might not see, as mother Claire feeds her with a bottle . Emily, known as the 'little miracle', has been fed with a bottle by her mother Claire Cressey for the first time, after her family prayed she would pull through. Ms Cressey, 34, shared the moment she and her family feared might never come on social media. She said: 'It was the most beautiful moment, most mothers take that for granted, even get fed-up with doing it, not me. 'To see her take a bottle was wonderful, I'm so grateful for this time, so precious, when you fight to keep your baby alive for so long you often overlook these simple kind of moments, just like we did her jabs. 'To hold Emily with a bottle, her tubes seemed to vanish and the moment became real, gazing down at my baby watching her feed felt so right and I'm so thankful at the same time.' Emily was born weighing little more than half-a-bag of sugar. A medical team from Edinburgh . transported Ms Cressey from her home in Coldstream to ensure experts . were on hand to give Emily the help necessary to survive beyond birth. She . fought to stay alive, first on a ventilator, then by using a continuous . positive airway pressure machine, necessary to help her lungs develop . until they could function on their own. Emily who is now 10 weeks old was born weighing little more than half-a-bag of sugar . She fought to stay alive, first on a ventilator, then by using a continuous positive airway pressure machine, necessary to help her lungs develop until they could function on their own . For every week tiny Emily fights for life, her parents and siblings Caitlin, eight, Millie, four, and Brooke, 17 months, mark the milestone with a cake. Ms Cressey said: 'Time has been an amazing healer and look at all those candles now. We are truly blessed by Emily, wow where have the ten weeks gone?' Her weight has increased from just 1Ib 3oz to a steady 3Ib 15oz with every other feed now being from the bottle. Father Alan Coultas, and siblings Caitlin, eight, Millie, four, and Brooke, 17 months, marked her weekly milestone with their usual cake and candles. Ms Cressey added: 'Time has been an amazing healer and look at all those candles now. We are truly blessed by Emily, wow where have the ten weeks gone? 'I cradle Emily and think back to those first few weeks every day and I am shocked at how far we have come. 'I've even shocked myself and realise I've found a new inner strength I never knew I had. 'Although Emily is still very tiny she is here, she is strong, she is determined, and she's one hell of a fighter - what more could we ask for? Nothing.' | Tiny Emily Cressey was born 16 weeks premature weighing 1lb 3oz .
Now 10 weeks old, the tiny tot has reached another milestone .
Her mother Claire Cressey, 34, can now feed her daughter with a bottle .
For each week Emily fights her family mark the achievement with a cake . |
217,678 | a5d569f00528fb58f9e2417a035bccbedfb65c90 | By . Daniel Miller . Last updated at 8:46 PM on 7th October 2011 . George Clooney has denied attending one of Silvio Berlusconi's 'bunga bunga' sex parties but claims the Italian leader did show him his double bed. Speaking for the first time about the incident the actor said he had gone to meet Mr Berlusconi in Rome to discuss the possibility of Italy providing helicopters for the relief effort in Sudan. But he told the Time magazine website the Italian Prime Minister seemed . far more interested in socialising and begged him to stick around for a . party. Scroll down for video . George Clooney said he had gone to meet Silvio . Berlusconi in Rome to discuss the possibility of Italy providing . helicopters for the relief effort in Sudan . He claimed 75-year-old Berlusconi led him up to his bedroom to show off a double bed given to him by Vladimir Putin. Clooney said: 'I've had one evening with Berlusconi and it was one of the more astonishing evenings of my life. 'I went to speak about Darfur. I'd done my homework. 'He took me to see his bedroom and the bed that Putin gave him. It became a very different evening than anyone thought. Berlusconi is accused of abusing the office of Prime Minister and paying for sex with an underage prostitute . 'I was like "I have to go" and he was . saying "where are you going there's going to be a party", and I was . like 'No, I gotta go, I really do.' Berlusconi's lawyers want the actor to appear as a witness during the Italian Prime Minister's trial. He is accused of abusing the office of Prime Minister and paying for sexual intercourse with an underage girl. Nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug (left) and escort girl Patrizia D'Addario have been named in connection with sex parties allegedly held by Berlusconi . The prostitute, nicknamed Ruby the Heart Stealer, claims Clooney had attended one of Belusconi's infamous 'bunga bunga' sex parties in Milan. Clooney, who owns an 18th century villa in Northern Italy, flatly denied attending the event claiming the only time he has met with the Italian leader was at the 2008 meeting in Rome. He said he would be happy to give evidence on behalf of Berlusconi. | Star talks for first time about meeting with Italian PM . |
130,250 | 3460bfb929423223e5922a03d1c262e285023b46 | By . Sam Webb and Paul Harris . PUBLISHED: . 08:02 EST, 9 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:56 EST, 11 September 2013 . Oh, the joy of living on your very own country estate. There’s not a car in sight, the birds are singing in the nearby trees … and the Tube station is just around the corner. Granted, it’s not exactly your archetypal stately pile, not least because the grounds stretch out for no more than half an acre, but with a price tag of £105million, and tucked out of sight in an upmarket area of central London, Park House is set to become Britain’s most expensive home to be sold on the open market. It is currently owned by Professor Gert-Rudolf Flick, the German heir to the Daimler Benz auto fortune who is worth an estimated £350million. Despite being a vast property, there would be no way of knowing it exists with entry via a discreet, unsuspecting drive . Mr Flick's father, Friedrich Flick, . established the family's industrial empire by founding a conglomerate . during the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1933. He . was found guilty of war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials in 1947 after . using an estimated 48,000 labourers from Nazi concentration camps within . his many enterprises, of whom an estimated 80 per cent died from . work-related causes. Though . originally a member of the liberal German People's party, he donated . over seven million marks to the Nazi party from 1933 onwards, before . being sentenced to seven years imprisonment following the tribunal which . has become known as The Flick Trial. He was subsequently pardoned and went on to become the richest man in West Germany before dying in 1972. Gert Rudolph Flick has two children from different marriages, and lived in the property with his third wife, Dr Corinne Flick. The property is on the market with Beauchamp Estates for £105 million. Gert Rudolph Flick is selling the home he shares with his third wife, Corinne, for £105million . Friedrich Flick is pictured facing sentencing for war crimes at his 1947 tribunal which formed part of the Nuremberg Trials brought against Nazi party members and cooperatives . This makes the nine-figure home the most expensive on the open market and 640 times the £164,000 typically paid for a house in England and Wales. It is 275 times the price of the average home in London and is one of only nine homes that fetch nine figures in the capital. But despite the price-tag, which would incur a stamp duty charge of £7.35 million, the beautiful property is not expected to be on the market for long. There is also planning permission to . enlarge the home by approximately 8,000sq/ft with a subterranean . extension to include a 50ft swimming pool along with gym and cinema as . well as three further bedrooms above the drawing room. Professor . Gert-Rudolf Flick has a PhD in Law from the University of Munich and is . a scholar of European art history covering the period from the . 16th-19th centuries. Flick is a prolific buyer of artwork and antiques with Park House playing home to one of the world's finest silver collections. He . said: 'I was attracted to it because it is almost a country house in . the middle of London. It is very quiet. From no window can you see a car . passing by. 'I am not really leaving London but might relocate for a year to Austria, where I have a home.' | Park House in South Kensington is set in just half an acre of land and is 640 times the average house price in the UK .
It is just one of nine homes across the UK that are in the nine-figure price bracket . |
46,571 | 8338fa463dd8b5d90ebdef59d96ce67c70b19974 | By . James Gordon . PUBLISHED: . 20:58 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:52 EST, 30 November 2013 . Think of LA and the mind conjures up images of sunshine, sand and palm trees... perhaps the Hollywood sign or Rodeo Drive? But when the sun goes down the city comes to life in the most beguiling manner. As the sunlight fades, the lights of a different kind emerge in the gritty streets of the City of Angels. The bright, vibrant colors of neon signs provide an alluring welcome to even the dingiest of neighborhoods. From motels to liquor stores, often in the most insalubrious of areas, you can find a slice of Americana. Enticing: The glow of neon and bright lights of an LA liquor store call Angelenos to park up and step inside . Streets that are normally teeming . with cars appear deserted with just the glow of traffic lights and the . electric sign of a nearby store to light the way. The pictures depict a calmness of LA that is rarely experienced. One can almost hear the buzzing of . the neon lights and the flickering of a strobe as they as they provide a . beacon for some Angeleno to grab a bottle of beer, stay the night or do their laundry. And even though many of the stores are closed, the luminous, energetic colors remind us all that here is a city bursting full of life. Glowing: At this liquor store, you're spoilt for lighting... If not for choice! The photographer Vicky Moon calls her series 'Expired L.A.: an ongoing series of exploration of Los Angeles at night' Ms. Moon says she looks for run down buildings that hold a forgotten beauty and photographs them with expired, 35-year-old film. 'Every building is unique and captivating, as well as the individual color shifts each building creates with every exposure.' 'I am fascinated by the drama that is . created by the night sky and seek the beautiful in the over looked; I . find the mundane to be extravagant and I find the beauty in the expired; . This is my Los Angeles,' she says. Lost in translation: At this LA laundry, even Chinese script does not escape the clutches of the neon press... A touch of class: Impress your friends with a stay at the 'Harvard House' where color TV with questionable entertainment is still a feature! Ruski red: Life can be lived at this Russian liquor store with lottery, money orders, groceries and beer amongst the items that can be picked up . Now showing: Bold and bright, drinkers would not have a hard time finding a pick-me-up near this store . Open all hours: No signs of life outside this sinister looking 'theater' In the neighborhood: Renters would find themselves stumbling to and from this charming and conveniently located cocktail bar in the early hours . Signing off: It looks like the only thing that wasn't delivered was the 'Q' in this sign . Lights off: Maintenance standards at the Palace reached such depths, they rebranded to 'Lace'! Vacancy: A cosy night with so few guests, you'd know them all by dinner . An LA original? It seems the connecting orbits motif has been around longer than anyone realised . Lighting up: There is a warming constancy to the shop level lightning . Get the message: How many open signs does one shop need? | Mesmerizing pictures show a darker side to LA punctuated by strips of neon .
A slice of small town America in one of the nations biggest cities .
Calmness in the chaos as colorful lighting hints at busier times come daybreak . |
177,853 | 723be18960d7a2c562e124942141c3110d71907c | Washington (CNN) -- In the hours after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, law enforcement officials were searching for a dark-skinned Middle Eastern man in connection to the attack that killed 168 people, including 19 children. Meanwhile, Timothy McVeigh, the real bomber, was getting away. Following the 1996 bombing at the Atlanta Olympics, investigators and the media initially focused on a local security guard named Richard Jewell. The real terrorist, Eric Robert Rudolph, who later admitted to planting the pipe bomb that killed two and injured 111 others, remained free until he was caught in 2003. And even in 2011 in Norway, when a bomb went off outside the prime minister's office, killing eight people, followed by the shooting deaths of 69 people at a Labour Party youth camp, police immediately started looking for Muslims or radical Islamists. Days later, Anders Behring Breivik, a white Norwegian, was arrested. He claimed the attacks were necessary to protect Norway from multiculturalism. In each case, the initial rush to judgment by law enforcement and the media may have distracted officials from the real perpetrator and caused unnecessary harm to individuals and ethnic groups who had nothing to do with the attacks. After Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon, which left three dead and more than 170 others hurt, there had been initial reports of a Saudi national being questioned. On Tuesday, a U.S. official told CNN that, "as of now" there was no foreign or al Qaeda connection, but the investigation is ongoing. The Saudi male in question was a spectator at the race, the official said. The man was injured and was running away because of his injury. He was stopped and authorities questioned him, but "it came up empty. He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time." Juliette Kayyem, CNN contributor and former U.S. assistant secretary for homeland security, cautioned against putting too much stock in the early reports of Arab involvement. "I'm pretty cautious about stuff like this, remembering the Oklahoma bombing when it was famously reported that four men in Arab garb were responsible for it," said Kayyem on Piers Morgan Live. "So that's why I think it's important to sort of be cautious on who are they interviewing yet, because the rumors tend to all merge together. And it's important to just sort of let the story line figure out where it's going and then let the forensics sort of lead to the suspects," she said. The media has been guilty of making quick assumptions about possible culprits, especially in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing and the Norway massacre. A.M. Rosenthal, after the Oklahoma City bombing, bemoaned in The New York Times the lack of commitment from Western governments to stop Mideast terrorism, saying it was essential "these Mideastern leaders and their public know that their countries will be held directly responsible for all attacks carried out by terrorists whom they help or harbor -- and that this decision has no expiration date, no statute of limitations." In the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin quoted others to help link the attacks in Norway to so-called Islamic radicals. She pointed to Gary Schmitt of the American Enterprise Institute who said, "There has been a lot of talk over the past few months on how we've got al-Qaeda on the run and, compared with what it once was, it's become a rump organization. "But as the attack in Oslo reminds us, there are plenty of al-Qaeda allies still operating. No doubt cutting the head off a snake is important; the problem is, we're dealing with global nest of snakes." But after the bombings in Boston, most major media so far have been cautious in reporting on who perpetrated the attacks, and federal officials, including the president, have been especially reluctant to blame the attack on foreign or domestic elements. "What we don't yet know...is who carried out this attack or why, whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual," President Barack Obama said Tuesday. "They want to be absolutely sure what they're dealing with before kind of getting ahead of it" said CNN analyst Paul Cruickshank on Piers Morgan Live. | In attacks in Oklahoma City, Atlanta and Norway, reports of an initial suspect were wrong .
Officials and the media were guilty of a rush to judgment in those instances .
Most hesitant so far to lay blame or point to suspects in Boston case . |
145,391 | 4805e86cd9d103313ce391a2eff2ffd36645f888 | By . Tom Kelly . The BBC’s chief cricket commentator . has revealed how he offered to take his wife’s terminally ill former . husband abroad to an assisted suicide clinic. Test . Match Special presenter Jonathan Agnew said he would accompany Brian . Dodds to Dignitas in Switzerland after he was diagnosed with motor . neurone disease. Mr Agnew, . 53, said assisted suicide was an ‘extremely sensitive and complex’ moral . issue but believed individuals should be able to choose to die if they . wanted. Life or death decision: Jonathan Agnew, 52, with his wife whose former husband Brian Dodds was seriously ill. Mr Agnew offered to accompany him to the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland . ‘It was a very short conversation with Brian,’ he said. ‘He just gave me a look and a nod of appreciation that I had made the offer. That was all. Jonathan Agnew with second wife Emma. He offered to accompany her ex- husband to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland . ‘I did it because I wanted to give him the choice and because I hope that one day, if I am ever in that situation, somebody will make the same offer to me. ‘No pressure, just knowing the possibility is there if I wanted it.’ Mr Agnew had enjoyed a good relationship with Leicester solicitor Mr Dodds, who lost his two-year battle with motor neurone disease in December 2005. The commentator’s second wife Emma had two children with Mr Dodds – Charlotte, 23, and 19-year-old Thomas. But the youngsters were able to remain close to their father thanks to efforts by the Agnews to include Mr Dodds in regular Sunday lunches and even family holidays. Mr Agnew said his wife, a BBC journalist he married in 1996, may not have known about his conversation about assisted suicide with her former husband, but he believed she would have ‘felt the same way’ about it. The former England and Leicestershire cricketer added: ‘I have no idea how I would respond. ‘Like anyone, while I am fit and healthy I will fight to my last breath for life. But if I was suffering with a terminal illness, who knows how I would feel or what I would want? ‘It’s something that is unimaginable until it happens to you and that is why I believe it has to be for that individual to decide what he or she wants to do. ‘If someone you love and care about, . and who is clearly ill and suffering as Brian was, and he knew it was . only going to get worse, I felt it was the right thing that he at least . knew I would help him. 'It’s so hard for people who have to frame legislation and make laws on this subject. It’s a minefield. ‘But until you’re in that situation yourself I think your views are irrelevant.’ More than 200 Britons have died at Dignitas since it was set up in 1998. The cricket commentator said he had good relationship with Mr . Dodds who died in December 2005 after a two-year battle with motor neurone disease . Under . guidelines issued by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2010, a person . accompanying someone abroad to commit assisted suicide is unlikely to . face the courts. But the . guidance says a prosecution is ‘more likely to be required’ if the . victim lacked the capacity ‘to reach an informed decision to commit . suicide’. In deciding . whether to take action, police must investigate whether a person was . able to give their consent. A mainstay of Test Match Special on BBC . Radio 4 Live, Mr Agnew last month encouraged his 240,000 Twitter . followers to donate cash to his stepson’s money-raising climb of Mount . Kilimanjaro for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Earlier . this year he said he wanted to stand up for fathers in broken families . after revealing how the end of his marriage to first wife Beverley . affected his relationship with his daughters. He . told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs how his separation in 1993 after . ten years of marriage left him sidelined and struggling to maintain . closeness with his daughters Jennifer, now 27, and 24-year-old Rebecca. | The BBC commentator said he had a brief conversation with his second Wife's ex-husband Brian Dodds .
He offered to accompany Mr Dodds, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland . |
270,054 | e9c25a265315bea42c9d34acc011aceb64217a19 | (CNN) -- African-Americans really like President Obama, but more and more feel that race relations have not gotten better since he took office, a new national poll found. Obama's crowd in Chicago on Election Night, when fewer blacks thought race relations were a serious problem. Ninety-six percent of African-Americans approve of how Obama is handling his presidency, according to a CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Thursday. During the 2008 election, 38 percent of blacks surveyed thought racial discrimination was a serious problem. In the new survey, 55 percent of blacks surveyed believed it was a serious problem, which is about the same level as it was in 2000. The poll was conducted May 16-18, in telephone interviews with 505 African-Americans and 501 whites. Blacks and whites had differing opinions of Obama's performance. More than 60 percent of blacks felt that Obama met their expectations, while 46 percent of whites did. See the CNN/ESSENCE poll results » . Thirty percent of blacks said Obama exceeded their expectations, compared with 16 percent of whites. Six percent of blacks said Obama did not meet expectations, compared with 35 percent of whites. Both blacks and whites gave similar answers to a survey question about whether race relations will always be a problem in the United States. Forty-five percent of blacks answered yes, while 42 percent of whites said yes. Fifty percent of blacks said no, while 56 percent of whites said no. Sound off: Have race relations improved? The poll had a sampling error on these questions of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. | African-Americans strongly approve of Obama and his performance, poll finds .
During election, fewer black people thought discrimination was a serious problem .
Smaller percentage of whites than blacks say Obama has met their expectations .
About half of both whites and blacks think race relations will improve . |
68,648 | c2b28226591ff5b6318cf8c980a572a573c4cdad | By . Associated Press Reporter . Newly released documents show the body of at . least one baby found in the garage of a Utah woman accused of killing . six of her newborns over a decade was covered in a chemical that smelled . like iodine. In addition, suspect Megan Huntsman told police in a phone conversation on the day the first body was found by her husband that the baby was stillborn and she had been afraid to go to police or a hospital, the search warrant affidavit says, . She didn't say why she was scared. Scroll down for video . On trial: Megan Huntsman, a Utah woman accused of killing six babies she gave birth to over 10 years, appears in court in Provo, Utah, on April 21, 2014. The 39-year-old told investigators that she either strangled or suffocated the six children and then put them inside boxes in her garage . Prosecutors have filed six first-degree murder charges against Huntsman, who allegedly doused at least one of the babies in a chemical before hiding it in the garage of her estranged husband's parents house . A state judge granted county prosecutors a week to sort through evidence and ensure they choose the proper charges. Huntsman is being held on $6 million bail . Megan Huntsman, accused of killing six of her babies and storing their bodies in her garage, appears in court Monday, April 28, 2014, in Provo, Utah . Authorities also reported finding bloody leather gloves and women's underwear in the garage, and infant booties and clothes in the master bedroom. Police took stained sections of a mattress in the master bedroom as evidence. Police have said Darren West, the estranged husband of Huntsman, 39, found the first body after opening a small white box covered with electrician's tape on April 12. The documents released Friday state that West also told police he discovered the baby in a plastic bag with a strong chemical odor emanating from it. West said there was no decomposition smell, just a chemical odor. Police in Pleasant Grove discovered the six other dead babies after obtaining a search warrant for the house. They were in boxes throughout the garage, wrapped in shirts or towels, documents show. Scene: Seven infant bodies were discovered packaged up in separate containers at this home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Documents released Friday, May 2, 2014 show the body of at least one baby found in the garage of Megan Huntsman, accused of killing six of her newborns over a decade, was covered in a chemical that smelled like iodine . Authorities investigate the crime scene on April 13, 2014 . Huntsman later acknowledged that from 1996 to 2006, she strangled or suffocated six of the babies, put them in plastic bags and packed them inside boxes in the garage south of Salt Lake City, separate court document states. Huntsman said one infant found in the garage was stillborn. Huntsman has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder. She has not entered a plea. Investigators say they know Huntsman's motive but declined to discuss it publicly. During a brief court appearance Monday in Provo, the shackled Huntsman mostly kept her eyes focused downward as she was informed of the charges. Defense attorney Doug Thompson told reporters afterward that he has spoken with Huntsman and she seemed fine, though he declined to provide details on her state of mind. Documents released Friday, May 2, 2014 show the body of at least one baby found in the garage of the Utah woman accused of killing six of her newborns over a decade was covered in a chemical that smelled like iodine. Megan Huntsman is charged with killing six newborns in Utah . Investigators believe West is the father of the babies. He lived with Huntsman during the decade the babies were killed and was in federal prison on drug charges from 2006 until January. Prosecutors said he is cooperating with the investigation and is not a suspect. Authorities are awaiting DNA testing to confirm Huntsman and West are the parents of the babies, and to determine the sex of the children. Their causes of death also remain uncertain. The FBI has been brought in to help because no labs in Utah can analyze the type of DNA taken from the small corpses, police said. Megan Huntsman, accused of killing six of her babies and storing their bodies in her garage, appears in court Monday, April 28, 2014, in Provo, Utah. Prosecutors have filed six first-degree murder charges against Huntsman . | Megan Huntsman, 39, was charged after her estranged husband found the dead body of an infant in their garage .
Documents released Friday show one of the babies was covered in a chemical, possible iodine .
Huntsman is charged with killing six newborns in Utah and faces five years to life on each count of felony murder .
Six of the seven children were born alive and Huntsman has admitted to either strangling or suffocating them all, court documents say .
Neighbors noticed she gained and lost weight through the years but never suspected that she was pregnant .
Investigators do not believe the husband, who had just arrived home from prison, had any knowledge of the killings . |
265,262 | e38f4037687bbae43a62bf73778d2e4861e96438 | (CNN) -- A 19-year-old woman charged with killing a Pennsylvania man she met through Craigslist has given a second jailhouse interview and provided specific details about other killings she claims to have committed. Miranda Barbour told the Daily Item newspaper of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, that she killed men in Big Lake, Alaska; Mexico Beach, Florida; and Raleigh, North Carolina. In her first jailhouse interview in mid-February, she told the Daily Item reporter she had killed at least 22 men over six years across the country but didn't provide any specific locations. Sunbury Police Chief Chief Steve Mazzeo told CNN he passed along the information to other jurisdictions. "I'm not saying I do or don't believe it," Mazzeo said Sunday. CNN is seeking a response from law enforcement authorities in those three cities. Sunbury police have charged Miranda Barbour and her husband, Elytte Barbour, 22, in one death, the November 2013 stabbing and strangling of Troy LaFerrara, 42, in their car. They connected with him through a Craigslist companionship ad, police said. Investigators tracked the couple through phone numbers in LaFerrara's phone. Police said the couple just wanted to kill someone together for the thrill. They had been married for only three weeks at the time of the slaying and had moved from North Carolina to Pennsylvania after tying the knot. After Barbour's first interview, authorities said they had not corroborated any of her claims, including statements that she was involved in Satanism. "They are looking for full bodies," Barbour told the Daily Item in the second interview. "They won't find any. But they will find body parts" of runaways and individuals she described as bad people in Big Lake and Mexico Beach. She told the paper she dumped a body off Interstate 95 in Raleigh but gave no other details. Her lawyer, Edward Greco, told CNN on Sunday he had no comment. In the recent interview, Barbour told the Daily Item that two other men responded to her ad for companionship but never showed up to meet her. "I tried it a few times, but it never worked out," Miranda Barbour told the Daily Item, referring to the couple's plan to kill someone together. "I knew we were going to do this since the day we met, and we tried, but the others just didn't show up." Jailed husband of self-professed serial killer to CNN: 'I still love her' Desperate for answers, some cling to Barbour killing claims . CNN's Elizabeth Landers contributed to this report. | Suspect said she killed in Alaska, Florida and North Carolina .
No word on whether authorities have confirmed her claims .
Miranda Barbour and her husband are charged with murder in Pennsylvania .
Police said they met the man through a Craigslist companionship ad . |
39,803 | 705ab4fe2d13fc91785482e5717ee297dd97b405 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Police have arrested three suspects in the kidnapping of Warren Weinstein, a development expert from the United States who was snatched this month from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, a police official said Tuesday. The official asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said she was not aware of any arrests. Weinstein was abducted August 13 when gunmen, posing as neighbors offering food, pistol-whipped him and his driver and tied up his guards, U.S. Embassy and Pakistani officials said. Weinstein works for J.E. Austin Associates Inc., a U.S. consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia, a Pakistani official said. He is a world-renowned development expert, with 25 years of experience, according to his company's website. The site says he was heading what the company described as the "Pakistan Initiative for Strategic Development and Competitiveness." As Weinstein's security guards prepared for the meal before the Ramadan fast, three men knocked at the front gate and offered food for the meal -- a traditional practice among Muslims during the Ramadan holy month, according to senior Lahore police official Tajamal Hussain. Once the gate was opened, the three men forced their way in, while five other suspects entered the house from the back, Hussain said. The men tied up the three security guards and duct-taped their mouths, he said. They pistol-whipped the driver and forced him to take them to Weinstein's room where the men hit Weinstein in the head with a pistol, and forced him out of the house and into a waiting car, Hussain said. He said Weinstein is in his 60s. | Gunmen abducted Warren Weinstein from his home in Lahore, Pakistan .
Weinstein is a U.S. development expert who works in Pakistan .
Investigators have arrested three suspects, a police official said Tuesday . |
234,311 | bb53328c745d4fd2613c356245f457fa43b8a4aa | By . Vanessa Allen . PUBLISHED: . 01:49 EST, 22 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:32 EST, 23 May 2013 . Blame: Actress Penelope Keith has attacked women who get divorced later in life, saying they are to blame for pushing up house prices . As forthright Audrey Forbes-Hamilton in sitcom To The Manor Born, she was never afraid to speak her mind. Yesterday actress Penelope Keith spoke out to defend her real-life ‘manor’ – taking aim at wind turbines, oligarchs and a generation of ‘silver splitters’. She blamed a surge in divorces among baby boomer couples for driving up property prices in the Home Counties, as newly-single women in their 50s and 60s bought up flats and cottages. And she lambasted developers who built ‘vast housing estates’ in her adopted county of Surrey, and the super-rich oligarchs who filled its skies with helicopter traffic. Miss Keith, watched by millions in TV shows including The Good Life, gave a wide-ranging interview to Country Life magazine in which she said parts of Surrey were under constant threat from developers. The actress, 73, conceded that the county’s stockbroker-belt did need more affordable housing and appeared to blame baby boomer divorcees for driving up property prices. She said: ‘I read about affordable houses that are £300,000. Sorry? Affordable for whom? It’s a terribly knotty problem. ‘If only we could educate people to go on living together for longer. It’s all these single dwellings, all these women in their 50s and 60s who suddenly want their own space, to be their own people. To do what?’ Figures have shown that divorces among couples of retirement age – dubbed the ‘silver splitters’ – have almost doubled in a decade, with the majority instigated by women. The phenomenon has been blamed on increased life expectancy, better health and a greater ‘lust for life’ among the baby boomers compared with previous generations. The comparative financial independence of women has also given them the freedom to leave their husbands – something earlier generations were less able to do. Actress Diana Quick was 61 when she separated from actor Bill Nighy last year, after a 28-year relationship. Sympathy: Keith, who starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born, has said she has no sympathy for women in their fifties who leave their husbands because they want 'their own space' Marriage: Keith has been married to her husband Rodney Timson for over 30 years. She met the twice-divorced policeman, who is eight years her junior while appearing on stage in Chichester, West Sussex . At the time, she said: ‘There are far more couples splitting up in their 60s now and one reason is that they can. Economically, they have more independence.’ Property sales have been affected by the surge in later-life divorces and estate agents have warned of a shortage of smaller properties as more people choose to live alone. In her interview, Miss Keith said London was now ‘too full’, placing increased demand on the surrounding Home Counties. Penelope Keith with To The Manor Born co-star Peter Bowles . She said: ‘Vast housing estates built in the countryside remove the reason why people want to move to the country. If you want to embrace a culture, you can’t flood it, but it seems they will never build just a few houses in an area.’ Other threats to the Surrey countryside included helicopter traffic from the oligarchs who have bought gated mansions in St George’s Hill and Wentworth, she warned. Surrey is the richest county for property wealth and has become a magnet for Russian oligarchs and other ‘non-doms’. Miss Keith, a former High Sheriff of Surrey who is involved with several charities and serves as one of the county’s deputy lieutenants, questioned if the new wealthy residents wanted to be part of the traditional community. She said: ‘Everyone thinks you live among all these rich people, but you can’t get near any of that money… How do I let them know about battered wives, or my prison charity, or the school in India? I don’t think they want to know.’ Miss Keith continued: ‘There are wonderful places, such as the Surrey Hills… but if you’re vulnerable or on the lower echelons, it’s pretty bloody awful.’ She came to prominence with her portrayal of social-climbing Margot Leadbetter in The Good Life from 1975 to 1978, starring with Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal and Paul Eddington, and played lady of the manor Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born, broadcast from 1979 to 1981. Miss Keith lives in a village near Godalming with her husband of 36 years, ex-policeman Rodney Timson. The couple also have a home in the Scottish Highlands, and Miss Keith questioned the impact of wind turbines built in the area. She said: ‘There are a hell of a lot of wind farms in the Highlands. Do they really produce that much energy? I can’t square the circle. ‘As you enter London, it says you’re entering a low-emission zone just as overhead come these great jumbos spewing out more gunge than I would in my entire life.’ Couples in their forties are most likely to divorce, but more men aged over 60 split than women of the same age (Source: Office for National Statistics) | Actress Penelope Keith attacked women who get divorced later in life .
No sympathy for women who separate because they want 'their own space' |
206,752 | 97b1622b7240729c1a11097946c780a5efa2bc30 | London (CNN) -- A funeral took place in London Friday for Mark Duggan, the father of four whose death after his cab was stopped by armed police led to protests that expanded into four days of rioting. A horse-drawn cortege processed through the streets from his parents' home in the north London neighborhood of Tottenham to the church in nearby Wood Green where the ceremony was held, with many mourners on hand. Duggan, 29, died on August 4 from a gunshot to the chest after a police unit that deals with gun crime stopped the cab that was carrying him. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is still investigating the circumstances around his death and said Thursday that it "is far from reaching any conclusions." A peaceful protest in Tottenham two days after his death turned violent and rioting spread to other parts of London and other English cities over the following days. Michael Jarrett, 47, from Tottenham was among hundreds who turned out to pay their respects to Duggan and his family. In 1985, Jarrett's mother, Cynthia, died after four police officers searched her home in Tottenham's Broadwater Farm housing project. Anger over her death sparked the Broadwater Farm riots, in which a policeman died. The area's reputation was tainted for years. Speaking outside the church where Duggan's funeral was held, Jarrett told CNN little had changed in the decades since then. "The ethnic minorities are still being mistreated," he said. "I don't think a lot changed, the mood in the area is one of regret and sorrow. But there is still a lot of mistrust where the police are concerned." He said politicians who blamed people who "just want to loot, steal and riot" for the unrest that broke out last month need to look at the underlying problems behind such behavior. "I actually condemn the looting and the burning of buildings," he said, "but I understand the situation behind and the frustration and anger behind it. That I do understand. Fully." Yvonne Collail, 47, from Tottenham told CNN she was concerned that the recent trouble in Tottenham had made everyone less safe and meant the police would have to carry guns, which is unusual in Britain. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement beforehand that a senior officer had "met with the parents and family of Mark Duggan and discussed the policing arrangements" for the funeral. "In line with the family's wishes, the policing will reflect the family's desire for a local, peaceful and dignified funeral," the statement said. Questions remain unanswered about the circumstances of Duggan's death. Prime Minister David Cameron said last month that Duggan had been shot by police but the IPCC has yet to reach a formal conclusion. In a letter to the Times of London published Thursday, the IPCC said the newspaper's headline indicating that an officer had been cleared of shooting Duggan was incorrect and "irresponsible." The IPCC said it is continuing to follow numerous leads as it investigates Duggan's death, including examining security camera footage, conducting forensic tests and talking to witnesses. The commission acknowledged that "people want answers," but urged them "not to rush to judgment until they see and hear the evidence for themselves." A Metropolitan Police statement Thursday said: "The firearms officer involved in the shooting of Mark Duggan is not about to return to operational firearms duties." Initial reports that Duggan shot at police were ruled out by ballistic tests, which found that a bullet that lodged in one officer's radio was of a type issued to police. The IPCC also said there had been no exchange of fire. A handgun that was not police issue was found at the scene, the IPCC said, but there was no evidence it had been fired during the incident. CNN's France Costrel and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report. | NEW: Hundreds of mourners attend the funeral in north London .
NEW: The son of a woman whose death sparked a 1985 riot says people mistrust the police .
Duggan died after an incident involving armed police in north London .
A peaceful protest over his death two days later turned violent, sparking riots . |
218,408 | a6c179a1382c214948887a0c18d5f136b09f679e | (CNN) -- Oh, Rebecca Black. You gave us a reason to reconsider our favorite day of the workweek. And, apparently, the Internet couldn't get enough. Black, the teen songstress who became a YouTube sensation with the bubblegum ear worm "Friday," topped the Google Zeitgeist list of hot search terms in 2011. Released in March, the largely reviled tune caused searches for the then-13-year-old's name to increase more than 10,000% over the past year, Google reported Wednesday. This year was the 11th for Zeitgeist, Google's look at search trends for the year. The report, rendered with interactive images and detailed infographics, breaks down searches by country and region as well as tallying global activity. "From local celebrities in Finland to Singaporeans looking for news on the revolutions in Egypt and Libya half a world away, people turned to Google to learn more about what was happening on the world stage," Google's Amit Singhal wrote on the company's official blog. The top 10 wasn't all breezy pop songs. "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn, who died in a car crash in June, was the third-hottest search, while Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder who died in October, was ninth. Jobs was already an internationally known name. But searches for him still rose 982% over 2010, Google said, with traffic peaking the week after his death. It was a big year for technology overall, and Google's results show it. The company's own Google+ social network was second on the list. (If that seems all too convenient, note that Zeitgeist rankings consider how fast a search term rises. So something that didn't exist last year, like Google+ or Rebecca Black's career, is inevitably going to have an advantage.) Massive video game release "Battlefield 3" was fifth on the list, and the iPad 2 was 10th. Squeezed between those two offerings, at No. 6, was a tech world product that doesn't even exist: the iPhone 5. Google says searches for that term peaked the week of September 25, days before Apple lovers learned that the new phone they were getting was, in fact, called the iPhone 4S. Singer Adele, Japan's damaged Fukushima power plant and acquitted murder suspect Casey Anthony rounded out the top 10. Of course, where there are top risers, there are fastest fallers. As Google+ emerged (albeit to what appears to be waning interest), former social networking hot spot Myspace slid, becoming the fastest-dropping search term. Delta Air Lines, Chinese Web services company Baidu (a Google rival during the company's now-terminated efforts there) and the Spanish-language search "Hotmail correo" also saw big dips, compared with their 2010 search rankings. | Rebecca Black, Steve Jobs among hottest 2011 searches on Google .
Google Zeitgeist annually charts the fastest-rising search terms on the site .
The nonexistent iPhone 5 (Apple actually launched the 4S) made the top 10 .
Once dominant Myspace was among the fastest-dropping search terms of the year . |
84,979 | f10906a9ca6b30e2cb28f777668c71f079d80d74 | (CNN) -- The lawyer for comedian Bill Cosby, in response to over a dozen allegations of sexual assault by different women over many years, made this statement on November 16: . "Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives." This terse press release tries to convince us that an accusation of rape cannot be true if it is 1) old news 2) already disbelieved by at least one person and 3) made against a man almost 80 years old. We don't know what Bill Cosby did or did not do, but these allegations should not be easily dismissed. Over a dozen women have come forward alleging remarkably similar patterns of abuse. While alone with Cosby, they say they were drugged and assaulted, then silenced afterward by Cosby handlers. One of the victims is Barbara Bowman, a 46-year-old married mother of two, who said Cosby repeatedly raped her when she was a teenager and aspiring actress under his tutelage. Bowman has no financial incentive to speak out; she never asked for or received money from Cosby, and the statue of limitations in her case has long passed. It takes a surprisingly long time for victims' denial to crack. I know this firsthand. Five years passed before I spoke about my own abuse, and another 10 before I wrote about it. Some victims can't admit for years -- even to ourselves -- that we were raped. Denial, shame and self-doubt are all typical psychological byproducts of being abused by someone you trust. No one wants to be a victim of sexual abuse. It's hard to admit it and it's natural to think that denying a traumatic, demeaning, embarrassing assault gives you control over the damage. Victims sometimes need decades to come forward about what is perhaps the most traumatic physical and psychological betrayal that one can experience. It is harrowing to speak out about rape and other acts of abuse perpetuated by someone you know. You feel complicit; someone you trusted caused you terrific physical pain and humiliation. This is not like describing how you lost your wallet or broke your leg skiing. Immense courage is required to report the crime, and to allow others to intentionally or unintentionally make you relive painful experiences you'd give anything to forget. The trauma compounds when your rapist is famous. Everybody grills you about meaningless, salacious, intrusive details. Many people do not want to believe you. It is excruciating to hear about rape and assault. Most listeners therefore want to disbelieve victims. So it's not surprising that these allegations about Cosby have been discredited before. Lawyers, police officers and prosecutors had powerful psychological and financial motives not to believe victims who reported Cosby's attacks. For these reasons, acquaintance rape and all other forms of intimate violence are vastly under-reported, under-prosecuted crimes. Victims need and deserve extra time, and extra respect, when they summon the courage to expose their assaults. The stigma of being a rape victim is starting to erode little by little. People who were never raped are beginning to internalize that it's normal to delay reporting rape, it's normal to have great difficulty confronting an abuser, particularly a powerful celebrity, and it's normal for a victim to feel shame, reticence and confusion. Rape and relationship violence experts know that one of the most important factors in recovering from assault is that the first person you tell believes you. Even if decades-old allegations are surfacing, we need to take them as seriously as if the assaults occurred yesterday. Let's hope that the media, corporate leaders and our criminal justice system begin to offer compassion and dignity to women (and men) coming forward with allegations of violence and sexual assault. Let's try to find ways to end rape on college campuses, in the military, in the NFL, in our religious institutions, in our homes and elsewhere. | Leslie Steiner: Bill Cosby's lawyer tries to dismiss allegations against Cosby .
Steiner: We don't know what Cosby did or did not do, but we should take this seriously .
She says over a dozen women have come forward alleging similar patterns of abuse .
Steiner: No woman wants to be a victim of rape or abuse; it takes courage to report it . |
111,139 | 1b4ff73c4cb3653b002b44f40a5bfd485ac28323 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:47 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:47 EST, 9 December 2013 . A teenager whose mother suffered sexual abuse from the age of eight has revealed the shocking moment she learned her grandfather was also her father. Arie Kibibi, 19, appeared on Katie Couric's show on Monday afternoon with her mother, Aziza Kibibi, 35, who detailed the years of abuse - and five pregnancies - at the hands of her father. Her father, Aswad Ayinde, a successful music video director best known for the Fugees' 'Killing Me Softly', was sentenced to 50 years in prison in August for the sickening abuse. Arie told Katie that, as she grew up, she repeatedly asked her mother who her father was, and all her mother would ever say was that he was someone her grandfather had approved of. Scroll down for video . Together: Aziza Kibibi, right, appeared on Katie Couric's show on Monday to recount years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father. She was joined by her 19-year-old daughter, Arie . But 'when I was 14, she told me,' Arie said. 'She said, "Your father is my father". I just froze.' However, she was also struck with an overwhelming sense of love and respect for her mother, who has showed extraordinary courage as she has taken control of her life. 'When I found out what happened to my mother, I only felt more love for her,' Arie said. Kibibi, who grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, was just eight when she was first abused by her father. To her, Ayinde had always been the perfect father so she trusted him when he told her he was going to teach her 'how to be a woman'. 'It . was overwhelming in my mind and it was overwhelming for my body,' she . said of the rapes. 'Inside my head I just wanted to scream out. 'He . said that all fathers did this with their daughters and that moms . didn't understand. He told me I was his sex slave. He told me that this . is what god put me here to do.' Strength: Aziza Kibibi spoke out on the Katie Couric show about the years of sexual abuse she endured at the hands of her father, a successful music video producer who impregnated her five times . Close: Aziza told Arie that her grandfather was also her father when she was 14 and Arie said that knowing her mother had gone through so much and survived just made her love her more . She added: 'At the time I was obeying him, and I respected him and I love him, so I did what he said.' For . years she endured the abuse - too scared to run away in case because he . had told her he would abuse the next oldest sister instead if she went . anywhere. When she was about 15, she walked in on her father abusing her sister, who was 11. Kibibi, who had believed she was protecting her sister by enduring the abuse, was at an even greater loss. 'When . I saw what he was doing to her, I was heartbroken,' Kibibi said. 'Nothing he said could be trusted. At the same time I felt defeated.' Throughout Kibibi's terrifying ordeal, her mother knew what was happening, she said. But . rather than be angry at her - then or now - Kibibi said she knew her . mother was being abused by her father and that she was probably . overwhelmed with conflicting emotions, including jealousy. 'He . told her he was molesting me in order to help my skin condition,' Kibibi said. 'She complied with what he told her... I'm sure fear played . a big role in it. She was afraid of him.' Speaking out: Aziza appeared on the Katie Couric show on Monday so other victims will not feel alone . Harrowing: Couric asks Aziza about the years of abuse, which began when she was just eight years old . On . one occasion, Kibibi's mother called the police to report her husband's . abuse but she said that nothing was done to help her - leaving her . mother to feel alone. 'He started to appear like this untouchable,' she said. 'He could get away with things. I think she just gave up.' When she was 16, Kibibi gave birth to her first child and her father . delivered the baby girl at their home. With no apparent genetic . problems, her father was convinced that there was nothing wrong. 'He . decided that she was going to be the beginning of a new race,' she said. 'He said he . understands now why royalty inbreeds, to keep the bloodline pure.' Sickening: Aswad Ayinde was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the sexual abuse . She . went on to carry five more of his children and give birth to four. One . daughter, who suffered from two genetic diseases, passed away when she . was nine. But the following children would not . be so lucky. Two further daughters born from her father would be . diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU) a disease that prevents the body . from breaking down amino acids. PKU can cause brain damage and seizures. When she was older and one of her sons fell sick, she finally got the courage to take him to the hospital since Ayinde was out of town on a business trip. But she didn't know how to interact with the doctors and a social worker stepped in, alerting the Department of Youth a Family Services. When Ayinde returned from his business trip he was enraged, and threatened to forcibly remove his son from the hospital. Child services stepped in before he could do that and placed them in separate homes. After that Kibibi, her mother and her sisters moved away from Ayinde as she attempted to get her children back. Having to fight to get her children back also empowered Kibibi, and translated to her life after abuse. She now lives in East Orange, New Jersey with her husband. She went back to school for her GED and will finish her liberal arts degree from Essex County College this fall. She also runs her own baking business and plans to start a restaurant someday. Kibibi and her sister decided to finally bring charges against their abusive father. They delayed pressing charges since they were unsure the affect it would have on the children. Ayinde, who is also known as Charles . McGill, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on July 26, finally ending . Kibibi's nightmare. He has three more trials against him pending. Kibibi was shocked when Katie Couric read out a statement from her father's attorney, saying that he claimed he was not guilty. No remorse: Ayinde claims he is innocent - to which his daughter says: 'I leave him to God' 'For him to continue to say he didn't do any of these to things, attempting to make me look like a liar, it saddens me,' she said. 'But I leave him to God . ultimately.' As for her mother, she said that there are no hard feelings there. 'I've forgiven my mom,' she said. 'We're actually very . close... I know she was abused. I know there has to be a lot . of conflicts there. but I know she wishes she did everything so . differently.' While . the identities of sexual abuse victims stay protected, Kibibi decided . to step forward to share her story in order to help other victims. 'There . are a lot of other girls and women out there that are suffering from . sexual abuse,' she said. 'One of the things that my father used to do to . control us was to stay quiet... As a survivor, I decided that I should . speak out.' | Aziza Kibibi, now 35, was raped by her father from the age of 8 .
He impregnated her five times and they had four children - including 19-year-old Arie who discovered the truth when she was 14 .
'I just froze,' she said of the moment she found out .
Kibibi's father Aswad Ayinde, a successful music video director known for the Fugees' Killing Me Softly, has been jailed for 50 years . |
141,423 | 42ddcb677563b26d2bfc29f1099bab9501cc9fce | Hannah: The Robinson family who's one-year-old daughter Hannah (above) suffers many life-threatening diseases claim thieves stole their baby's story and began a phony fundraising page to raise $10,000 . Sick thieves stole photos of a seriously-ill baby to set up fake fundraiser page to receive $10,000, according to the child's family. In May, the Robinson family created a GoFundMe page called 'Hannah's Fight' with the goal of raising $250,000 for their baby, Hannah Robinson. Hannah was born seven weeks premature and suffers from Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, bowel disease, and other health issues involving her skin and heart, according to their GoFundMe page. So far, their campaign has raised more than $13,000, but took a hit when the family discovered that someone had been running a phony 'Hannah's Fight' campaign on Kickstarter -- another fundraising website -- and raised $10,000, the family reported. The family posted the news Saturday on their GoFundMe page as well as the campaign's Facebook profile. The page has since been taken down. The family wrote that the thieves used the exact same information the family posted about Hannah and even sometimes posted the family's updates as their own. 'Im not sure what kind of person steals over $10,000 from a sick little girl's campaign,' the family wrote, 'but I guess they felt they needed it more than her. 'We have prayed for these people and I hope they get the help they need and Hannah's Fight will move forward.' Scroll down for video . Premature: Hannah was born seven weeks premature and suffers from Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, bowel disease, and other health issues involving her skin and heart (here Hannah is photographed shortly after her birth) Medication: Hannah will need lifelong medication and between seven and nine surgeries to fix her health issues, the family says . The family says that Hannah will be on medication for the rest of her life and those medications cost more than $800 per month. She will need between seven and nine surgeries to 'fix her issues,' according to the family, and will have to undergo plastic surgery when she is older. Though this is a setback for the family that missed out on the $10,000 due to the phony page, this isn't the first time their campaign has taken a hit. Social Media: The family promoted their Hannah's Fight campaign on Twitter, GoFundMe, Facebook, and YouTube (here Hannah is photographed nearly a year after her birth) Last month, the campaign was allegedly attacked after receiving support from Stephen Collins, former '7th Heaven' star and accused child molester, according toTMZ. Collins only retweeted a tweet on Twitter in an effort to gain support for the sick child, but many of the campaign's supporters attacked the campaign for associating with an accused child molester, TMZ reports. TMZ reports that Denver said that he deleted Collins' tweet after being bombarded by angry Hannah supporters who hated that Collins had any involvement in the campaign. | The Robinson family who's one-year-old daughter Hannah suffers many life-threatenening diseases claim thieves stole their baby's story and began a phony fundraising page where they raised $10,000 .
Hannah was born seven weeks premature and suffers multiple life-threatening diseases .
The family's campaign also received criticism last month after they received support from accused child molester Stephen Collins . |
154,622 | 53ce112b9b87fd766419875809c371ebbed43cf1 | (CNN) -- Avril Lavigne's husband, Chad Kroeger, has set a high bar for an anniversary gift. On Twitter on Thursday, Lavigne briefly shared a photo of what Nickelback frontman Kroeger gave her in honor of their first wedding anniversary: a 17-carat diamond ring. "I still can't believe my 1 year anniversary gift. 17 carat emerald cut. Wow. I love my hubby," Lavigne said in the tweet, which she's since removed without explanation. The humongous sparkler is larger than the jewelry Kroeger proposed with. When he popped the question to Lavigne in 2012, he did it with a still impressive 14-carat diamond. The two Canadian rockers went on to marry July 1, 2013. | Avril Lavigne tweeted a photo of her 17-carat diamond ring .
She's been married to Nickelback's Chad Kroeger for a year .
The present is bigger than Lavigne's engagement ring .
Lavigne later removed her tweet without explanation . |
154,176 | 53453ef9d8f3143f19f7497c5cb29f75576c1f46 | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 06:16 EST, 25 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:28 EST, 25 September 2013 . Amazon is refreshing its line-up of tablet computers with two new devices, both called Kindle Fire HDX while taking a serious swipe at its competitors who continue to dominate the market. One of its new tablets has a 7-inch screen, while the other is 8.9-inch version and both are said to be three times faster than the previous generation, as well as lighter and thinner. Both also have have sharper, more colourful displays that feature more pixels per inch than the latest iPad, or Google's new Nexus 7. Amazon's 7-inch and a 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablets, pictured right to left, are three times faster than older models. They have higher pixel-per-inch displays than Apple's current iPad - making text or images sharper. New features include a Mayday tool that lets first-time tablet owners get customer service support . To access the new Mayday feature, users can press the Help button from the Kindle Fire HDX's homescreen. It will then call a live free technical support team member to help with operational questions or access to books, movies, songs or other media . The 7-inch model has a screen resolution of 1980 x 1200, giving a PPI of 330, while the 8.9-inch, 2560 x 1600 display has a 339 PPI. By comparison, the current iPad with Retina Display runs PPI of 264, while the new Google Nexus 7, quoted as having the best tablet screen on the market, has 323 PPI. The 7-inch model is now 8mm thick and weighs 303g - down . from 10mm and 394g. Whereas the 8.9-inch model is 8mm thick, down from 9mm, and weighs 374g. Both Kindle HDX models also come with . Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, which is top of the line . for tablets, and can handle graphics four times . faster than before. In the U.S, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX starts at $229 with 8GB memory, while the 8.9inch costs $379 also for 8GB. Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch model . Screen resolution: 1980 x 1200 . PPI: 330 . Weight: 303g (down from 394g) Thickness: 8mm (down from 10mm) Price: Starts at $229 with 8GB memory . Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch model . Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600 . PPI: 339 . Weight: 374g (down from 544g) Thickness: 8mm (down from 9mm) Price: Starts at $379 with 8GB memory . Prices and release dates for the UK have not yet been announced. Additionally, to help people who have not owned tablets before the new Kindles come with a feature called 'Mayday', which lets users speak to a live customer service representative in a video window when downloading apps or using certain features. The helpers can explain new features or troubleshoot problems while guiding users with on-screen hand scribbles. They can even take control of the device remotely. CEO Jeff Bezos introduced the feature, saying it is 'completely unique' and takes advantage of Amazon's massive cloud computing and customer service infrastructure. It also builds on Amazon's reputation for excellent customer service. This image shows the new 8.9-inch Amazon Kindle HDX tablet, centre, the 7-inch Kindle HDX, left, and an updated Kindle HD, right. The HDX models are four times faster at handling graphics. The new Kindle HD has a magnesium alloy case but has the same processor as older Kindle Fire models . 'You shouldn't have to be afraid of your device,' Bezos said. In a demo, Bezos asked an on-screen customer service representative to recommend an app. The rep suggested Angry Birds: Star Wars II, while also giving instructions on how to set time limits on various activities for children. While the new Kindles are upgraded in several ways, Amazon also cut the price on what will be its entry-level, updated 7-inch tablet, the Kindle Fire HD with 8GB of memory now costing $139 in the U.S. The new Kindle Fire HD has a magnesium alloy body, like the HDX models, but has the same screen resolution and processing power of the older models. Stephen Baker, a consumer technology analyst with research firm NPD Group, said the price cut to the Kindle Fire HD will do more to help Amazon compete in the tablet market than the added features on the newer models. In the U.S, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX, pictured, starts at $379 for 8GB memory. The 7-inch model starts at $229, also for 8GB. Prices and release dates for the UK have not yet been announced . 'That's where that model needs to be priced,' Baker said, explaining that there are numerous manufacturers with tablets with screens that measure seven inches diagonally, all priced around the same mark. 'A big focus in that 7-inch category is just price.' Between May and July, Kindles accounted for 17 per cent of all tablets sold in the U.S. compared to 48 per cent for Apple's iPad and 8 per cent for Samsung's Galaxy line, according to NPD. Globally, Amazon's shipments between April and June were down 59 per cent from a year earlier, at 470,000. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, pictured, poses with the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX at an event in Seattle . This is compared to 14.6 million for Apple's iPad, down 17 percent from a year ago, and 10.8 million for Samsung's Galaxy line, up 539 per cent. Amazon sells most of its Kindles around the Christmas holidays, Baker said. Beyond the improved specifications, Amazon also unveiled more features that incorporate data from its IMDb movie database partner. With the newer tablets, users who turn on the 'X-ray' feature can see a small window that lists the name of a song that is playing in some TV shows and movies. One tap brings up the option to buy the song. Users can also look for all music in a show and zip to the exact spot where a particular song is playing. People who have set up Amazon's video player as an app on their TVs or through game consoles can also follow along in real-time on their tablets, getting information on actors and trivia related to the shows on their larger screen. Music lovers can see song lyrics when they play songs bought from Amazon, lyrics are highlighted as they are sung and tapping on the lyrics will zip to the appropriate point in the song. Bezos said these services are only possible because Amazon provides the hardware, operating system, applications, cloud infrastructure and services for the devices. The 'hardest and coolest' services such as its Mayday service lie at the intersection of 'customer delight' and 'deep integration through the entire stack,' he added. Amazon also unveiled new 'origami covers' that lie flat when closed over the screen but can be folded and snapped into place as a stand that works both in horizontal and vertical position. They'll come in seven different colours in the U.S for between $45 and $70. | Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX tablets come in 7-inch and 8.9-inch versions .
Top-of-the-range processors are three times faster than older models .
Displays both have more pixels per inch than the latest Apple iPad .
Prices in the U.S start at $229 for the 7-inch and $379 for the 8.9-inch .
UK release dates and prices have not yet been announced . |
102,387 | 0fef8c43bd1198c88ddb323102b8ffa66908a046 | More than £325million has been spent running plush Ministry of Defence offices while soldiers and their families live in dilapidated homes. Defence chiefs are forking out huge amounts of taxpayers' money on lavish offices with marble and stone floors, a fully-equipped gym, restaurant and coffee bars so civil servants work in comfort. Yet troops must endure ageing barracks with leaking roofs, broken boilers, faulty wiring, cracked windows and damp. Expensive: Refurbishment at the Ministry of Defence in London . The sums spent on making life easy for cosseted desk-bound penpushers will fuel disgruntlement within the hard-pressed Armed Forces. They are revealed at a time of plunging morale among troops - many whom risked their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan - as they struggle to deal with 30,000 redundancies, pay freezes and the axing of perks. The MoD has forked out £285million running its state-of-the-art air-conditioned main office in Whitehall, a prime location next to the River Thames, in just three years. The imposing building houses more than 30,000 civil servants who enjoys subsidised restaurants, cafes and 'relaxation rooms' where staff can take a break. Grand: The Ministry of Defence office in Whitehall . The offices also contain plasma screens, 3,500 oak doors costing £3million and civil servants sit on chairs worth £1,000 each. Ministers paid £746million for the private finance deal, where the Government repays the cost of refurbishment and maintenance over 30 years. But when inflation is taken into account, actual payments over 30 years will be £ 2.35billion. The MoD has also spent £32million running St Georges Court, a small office complex in New Oxford Street, central London, and £6.5million on operating Cromwell House, a Grade 1-listed building in Whitehall Gardens. The figures were uncovered by Parliamentary questions from Labour MP John Mann. The amount of money spent contrasts sharply with the dilapidated military accommodation that troops and their families are forced to endure in Britain and Germany. In 2011, the MoD received more than 400,000 complaints about substandard homes. Most gripes were about damp, mould, leaking roofs and problems with boilers and electricity supplies. Uncovered: John Mann MP discovered the extravagant new expenditure . A survey this year by the RAF Families Federation highlighted how service personnel were still living in crumbling homes. One wife, who declined to be named, told the organisation: 'I have just moved into the worst accommodation I have ever occupied during my marriage. 'Mould, archaic plumbing, broken windows and a concrete garden are all features of my new home. It is situated on a very dilapidated estate. Empty houses surround me, with broken fences, windows and scaffolding propping up condemned housing. It has brought me to tears.' A report by the Commons' Defence Select Committee recently found two-thirds of service accommodation for members of the armed forces without families was rated 'unsatisfactory'. Despite this, the Coalition has halted a £5billion upgrade programme for military housing in a bid to save money. In the Armed Forces own annual survey, published this week, one in three troops said the shabby state of service accommodation increased their desire to quit. And 30 per cent said they were 'dissatisfied' with the standard of military accommodation with 40 per cent claiming they were unhappy at how long it took to get workmen to carry out repairs. | MoD has forked out £285million running its state-of-the-art main office .
Costs come amid a £5billion freeze on military housing improvements . |
157,123 | 572604dd996b2b78650f594032c2fcb253cbf366 | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Federal authorities have charged a trendy Santa Monica sushi restaurant with serving whale meat -- an investigation that was spurred by the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary, "The Cove." Prosecutors charged Typhoon Restaurant Inc., the parent company of The Hump, and one of its chefs -- Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, 45 -- with the illegal sale of a marine mammal product for an unauthorized purpose. While it is considered a delicacy in Japan and some other countries, meat from whale -- an endangered species -- cannot be sold legally in the United States. The misdemeanor charge carries a federal prison sentence of up to a year and a fine of up to $200,000 for the company, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Lawyers for Typhoon could not be reached for comment. But the restaurant told the Los Angeles Times it accepts responsibility and will pay a fine. The investigation began in October when two members of the team that made "The Cove" visited The Hump, officials said. "The Cove," which exposes the annual killing of dolphins at a Japanese fishing village, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary on Sunday. The restaurant, located at the Santa Monica Airport, is known for its exotic fare. Its Web site asks diners to surrender themselves to its chefs for "a culinary adventure ... unlike any that you have previously experienced." Armed with a hidden camera, the two women captured the waitress serving them whale and horse meat and identifying them as such, a federal criminal complaint said. A receipt from the restaurant at the end of the meal identified their selection as "whale" and "horse" with the cost -- $85 -- written next to them. The women snuck pieces of the meat into a napkin and later sent them for examination to a researcher at Oregon State University. He identified the whale sample to be that of sei whale, prosecutors said. The sei is found throughout the world's oceans. Whalers began to hunt them after the population of blue and in whales declined due to overfishing. It is now considered an endangered species. In February and March, the activists returned and again asked for -- and were served -- whale meat, the criminal complaint said. A DNA test of the meat smuggled out after the February visit confirmed it to be meat from the sei whale, Mrozek said. During the last visit in March, officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observed the activists asking for "kujira" or whale meat. One of the officers then saw the sushi chef leave the restaurant and return with a wrapped package that he seemed to have retrieved from a parked Mercedes, the complaint said. The chef then told a customer it was whale meat, the document said. The next, officials raided the restaurant and chef Yamamoto admitted that he had served whale meat, the complaint said. "Someone should not be able to walk into a restaurant and order a plate of an endangered species," said U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. Authorities do not yet know where the meat came from. Conservation agencies are engaged in an ongoing feud with Japan over whaling. In the early 1980s, the International Whaling Commission determined that there should be a moratorium on commercial whale hunting. Whaling is allowed under international law when done for scientific reasons, which Japan cites as the legal basis for its hunts. The country's annual hunt kills up to 1,000 whales a year. Many in the international community believe that such hunts amount to needless slaughter. Critics say that Japan's research is actually a pretext for retrieving whale meat to be sold in markets and restaurants. | Eatery charged with the illegal sale of a marine mammal product for unauthorized use .
Meat from whale, an endangered species, cannot be sold legally in the United States .
Authorities do not yet know where the meat came from . |
7,287 | 14a38c5a221d4db0c37f7022e84435bf6cd55d56 | CANTON, Mississippi (In Session/CNN) -- A Mississippi middle school teacher could face the death penalty after she was found guilty Tuesday of fatally shooting and stabbing her lover's pregnant fiancee in 2006. Carla Hughes taught at the same middle school as the victim's fiancé, Keyon Pittman. Carla Hughes, 28, sobbed loudly as a judge read the verdicts on two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Avis Banks and her unborn child. The jury also found the slayings occurred during the commission of a burglary, making Hughes eligible for the death penalty. A jury of nine women and three men are due to return to Madison County Circuit Court Wednesday morning to decide if Hughes should be executed for killing Banks, who was five months pregnant. Their verdict must be unanimous or Hughes will receive a life sentence. Mississippi is among the states that consider murdering a pregnant woman to be taking two lives. Madison County district attorneys alleged Hughes killed Banks so she could be with Keyon Pittman, her lover and colleague at Chastain Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi. Watch the jury find Carla Hughes guilty » . Banks, 27, was found lying in a pool of blood on November 29, 2006, in the garage of the Ridgeland home she shared with Pittman, the father of her unborn child. She had been shot four times in the leg, chest and head, and then stabbed multiple times in the face and neck as she lay dying, according to medical testimony. Suspicion initially fell on Pittman, who admitted to having an affair with Hughes, a language arts teacher. Pittman, a key prosecution witness, told the jury he began seeing Hughes one month after finding out his girlfriend was pregnant. He testified that the two met frequently in Hughes' home and even went out of town together, but he insisted the relationship was based solely on sex. Throughout the trial, defense lawyers maintained her innocence and attempted to cast blame on Pittman, portraying him as a womanizer seeking to avoid the burden of fatherhood. But prosecutors said they could not link the crime to Pittman, who testified that he invoked his right against self-incrimination during a preliminary hearing when asked where he was the afternoon his fiancée was killed. Instead, prosecutors alleged that the murder weapons connected Hughes to the crime. The defendant's cousin testified that he lent her a knife and a loaded .38 caliber revolver the weekend before Banks' death. Ballistics tests matched the bullets from Banks' body to the gun, which Hughes returned unloaded to her cousin after her first interview with police. Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest said Banks' relatives plan to deliver victim impact statements at the sentencing. He said medical testimony will be presented to support the prosecution's claim that the murders were gruesome and heinous, and warrant the death penalty. Hughes' lawyer, Johnnie E. Walls, Jr., a Mississippi state senator, said her relatives will testify in a bid to spare her life. | Mississippi jury convicts Carla Hughes of two counts of capital murder on Tuesday .
Avis Banks was five months pregnant when she was shot and stabbed in 2006 .
Prosecutors said Hughes killed so she could be with Banks' fiance, Keyon Pittman .
Hughes and Pittman were teachers at Chastain Middle School in Jackson . |
73,748 | d11cb25a2422515e10b0d3e28dca49e452722248 | (CNN) -- He may be in need of match practice on hard courts, but Rafael Nadal had the good fortune of reaching the last 16 of the Masters Series 1000 tournament in Indian Wells without hitting a ball in anger Monday. His third-round opponent Leonardo Mayer of Argentina withdrew before the start of their match on the Stadium Court, citing a back problem. Nadal, who has slipped to No. 5 in the world rankings after a seven-month injury layoff, made his comeback last month in three clay court tournaments in South America, testing his troublesome knee. He beat Mayer, his second career win over him, in the quarterfinals in Acapulco before going on to claim the title in confident style. But the eyes of the tennis world were on Nadal as he returned to the more unforgiving hard court surface for the first time in 346 days with a second round match against Ryan Harrison of the United States Saturday. The Spanish maestro came through that test 7-6 6-2 to advance to the third round of the tournament for the ninth time, bidding for his third title as the Californian event. He will now get an extra day's rest before facing Ernests Gulbis of Latvia for a place in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Gulbis, renowned for his fiery temperament, smashed his racket during the first set of his match against Andreas Seppi as he lost five straight games to concede it 7-5. But he recovered with fine play in the second set before setting up victory as he broke his Italian opponent in the seventh game of the decider. Gulbis served it out to win 5-7 6-3 6-4 to earn a crack at the 11-time grand slam champion. If Nadal, looking to defend his French Open crown on his favorite clay surface later this year, can get past Gulbis, he is likely to face his first big test with a possible last eight clash against his great rival Roger Federer, the second seed. Defending champion Federer, who said before the start of the tournament that he was "excited" by the return of Nadal to top flight action, thrashed Croatia's Ivan Dodig 6-3 6-1 to set up a fourth-round clash with his friend and fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka. Wawrinka, the 18th seed, won 6-4 7-5 against Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt, who on Saturday beat last year's losing finalist John Isner. Tenth seed Richard Gasquet set up a last-16 clash with world No. 6 Tomas Berdych, while fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon will take on big-serving South African Kevin Anderson. In the women's draw, top seed Victoria Azarenka came from a set down to beat Belgian No. 28 Kirsten Flipkens 3-6 6-3 6-0. The world No. 2 won 12 points in a row to extend her winning streak to 16 matches and set up a fourth-round clash with Poland's Urszula Radwanska. "I'm really happy that I find the ability to turn around my matches no matter what the circumstances are on the court," said the Belorussian, who was criticized after taking a lengthy medical timeout before winning her Australian Open semifinal against Sloane Stephens in late January. "To know when to take your opportunities is a learning experience. I'm glad I'm starting to master that." Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur also went to three sets before beating China's Peng Shuai 6-3 3-6 6-2, earning a meeting with Germany's Mona Barthel -- who beat former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic 6-1 3-6 6-0. Caroline Wozniacki, another former No. 1, went through to the last 16 with a 6-2 6-1 win over Elena Vesnina and will next face another Russian in 10th seed Nadia Petrova. German fourth seed Angelique Kerber also progressed, beating Belgium's No. 30 Yanina Wickmayer 6-1 7-6 (7-4) to set up a clash with 95th-ranked Spaniard Garbine Muguruza. | Rafael Nadal into fourth round of Masters 1000 Series at Indian Wells after a walkover .
Nadal will play Ernests Gulbis of Latvia for a quarterfinal berth in hard-court event .
Roger Federer also through to last 16, where he will play Stanislas Wawrinka .
Top women's seed Victoria Azarenka battles through after losing first set . |
225,657 | b0344d585e733dbb6e97c88d4125689072c55224 | A Spidercam suspended above the field distracted Australia captain Steve Smith as he attempted to take a catch during the fourth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India opener Lokesh Rahul, on 46, skied a Shane Watson delivery high in the air behind the stumps, just before the lunch interval. Smith ran back from slip to take the catch but reacted angrily after putting down the chance, pointing toward the wires of the aerial camera. Smith appeared to immediately mouth 'f****** wire' and was still gesticulating a few overs later when briefly discussing the incident with umpire Richard Kettleborough. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Steve Smith spilling a catch and blaming Spidercam . Australia captain Steve Smith looks up towards the Spidercam after dropping a catch on Thursday . The camera is suspended above the field of play and Smith looks directly towards it . The ball drops towards Smith after India opener Lokesh Rahul skied a shot high in the air . The ball slips out of Smith's hands during the fourth Test between Australian and India . Smith points towards the Spidercam and blames it for distracting him when attempting the catch . Rahul, who was on 46 at the time of the dropped catch, reached his maiden Test century shortly before tea and was finally dismissed for 110 after the interval. A joint statement from Cricket Australia and host broadcaster, the Nine Network, which appeared on the Cricket Australia website, confirmed that Smith had been distracted by one of the wires. 'We (Cricket Australia & Nine) have spoken about the matter involving Spidercam and the dropped catch before lunch and it's clear the ball did not hit the camera or its supporting wires,' the joint statement read. 'Captain Steve Smith was distracted by one of the wires in his eye line.' 'Both CA and Nine will continue to work together on the use of Spidercam in the broadcast coverage and will take on board any player feedback as necessary. 'As it stands, if any player has a concern about the placement of Spidercam they can ask the umpires for it to be moved.' Smith has another look up at the Spidercam on day three at the Sydney Cricket Ground . Smith is left frustrated after dropping the catch with Rahul later going on to score a century . The camera, which is suspended from wires attached to light towers and can maneuver over the playing area at varying heights, was subsequently moved away from play, near the boundary rope. 'It wasn't ideal where it was positioned for that particular ball,' Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. 'I like watching it, but they have to get the position right when the bowlers bowling, particularly on the off-side, which we are speaking to Channel Nine about.' | Camera above the field distracted Steve Smith on Thursday .
The Australia captain complained after he dropped a catch .
The ball did not hit the camera or its supporting wires .
Australia are playing India in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground . |
255,080 | d62bf8e21a808f8ac0068acb8be5d1fe25c33c72 | (CNN) -- Authorities said there was no danger at Texas A&M University after a report of a gunman on campus Thursday turned out to be a person with a replica weapon. A partial lockdown and campus-wide alert system went into effect after a bus driver spotted what he described as a man carrying what looked like an AK-47, officials said. The alert, known as a "Code Maroon," was issued at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. ET). It asked those on campus to "seek safe shelter until further notice." About an hour and a half later, an all-clear was given and business resumed as normal at the university, officials said. Texas A&M, located in College Station, Texas, has an enrollment of more than 49,000. It is the home of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and also home to the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, the largest uniformed ROTC body outside of the service academies. Some members of the Corps are on special drill teams and are known to train with mock rifles on campus. Rudder Tower, where the alleged armed man was spotted, is one of the most heavily trafficked parts of campus. CNN's Mariano Castillo, Marylynn Ryan and Nick Valencia contributed to this report. | NEW: Police identified a man with a replica rifle .
NEW: An all-clear is given .
A bus driver reported seeing a man carrying what looked like an AK-47 . |
155,795 | 55639a20452febfe3cb70b91bb3ab3b7b4e1fedb | Gerry Adams has admitted the IRA sentenced suspected paedophiles to death using kangaroo courts but has denied claims he covered up the alleged rape of a commander's niece. It came as it emerged British secret services blackmailed former IRA chief of staff Joe Cahill to spy for them after he was allegedly caught abusing a 14-year-old girl. His niece Mairia Cahill, 33, says she was raped by a different suspected IRA member when she was 16 and Mr Adams and others interrogated her and made to attend a face-to-face meeting with her abuser. Mr Adams denies her claims but admitted that the IRA had interfered with sex cases and had failed victims. Scroll down for video . Turned? Former IRA Chief of Staff Joe Cahill, left with Gerry Adams, spied for the British after being caught abusing a 14-year-old, it was claimed today . Republican: Cahill, left, was jailed for life for killing a policeman and later helped form the modern Provisional IRA. His niece Mairia, right, claims she was abused by a different IRA member but leadership including Gerry Adams tried her by kangaroo court . Adams admitted the IRA's kangaroo courts for sex offenders meant they were 'ill-equipped' to deal with the issue. He wrote on his blog: 'This included very sensitive areas such as responding to demands to take action against rapists and child abusers. The IRA on occasion shot alleged sex offenders or expelled them,' he said. 'While this may have been expedient at the time it was not appropriate. 'Victims were left without the necessary social service support and abusers without supervision. It ultimately failed victims and the community alike. That is a matter of profound regret for me, and many other republicans'. Today the Daily Mirror claimed the IRA's former Chief of staff Joe Cahill was photographed by a covert unit in his car but never prosecuted - instead he was convinced to share secrets about the IRA's leadership, it was claimed today. Cahill, who died in 2004 and whose coffin was carried by Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, was considered one of Britain's 'prized assets' in Northern Ireland, it was alleged. As a member of the IRA's leadership Cahill would have had detailed knowledge about its bombing campaigns and would be involved in arming members and raising funding for terrorism. Today a security services source has claimed Joe Cahill was followed around Belfast by spies in the 1970s before he was caught abusing the 14-year-old child. Officers then turned him to spy for Britain during the Troubles. 'The pictures clearly identified both Cahill and his victim,' the source told the Daily Mirror. 'Her father would have killed him if he had found out. He was never prosecuted and instead the pictures were used to turn him. He was a prized asset.' Backer: Adams sits with Cahill at his book launch in Belfast in 2002, shortly before his death . Tribute: Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness carry Joe Cahill's coffin after he died in 2004, aged 84 . Cahill was a founding commander of the modern Provisional IRA that killed nearly 1,800 people during a failed 1970-1997 campaign to force Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom. He himself was sentenced to death for killing a policeman in the 1940s, but this was changed to a life sentence after pressure from Britain by the Irish government and the Vatican. He served less than ten years before his release but jailed again during the IRA's Border Campaign of the 1950s. The new allegations about Cahill being a double agent means he may have been working for one of several secret services units working in Northern Ireland at the time. Members would spy on Republicans and female members were known to have sex with IRA members for information. Cahill's alleged role as a British agent was only known to a small number of people but an IRA source told the Mirror there were suspicions he was an informer. Last week Adams also faced new accusations that he concealed child-abuse crimes within his own secretive movement, this time allegedly committed by a Belfast officer of the outlawed Irish Republican Army. Mairia Cahill, a member of one of Belfast's top IRA families, appeared alongside a former foreign minister outside Ireland's parliament to accuse Adams of conspiring to suppress her reports of being raped by an IRA commander from Adams' home district in 1997, when she was 16. Cahill is a grand-niece of Joe Cahill, but she was not his victim. She received legal anonymity when she went to police with her accusations. In 2012 the man she accused of raping her, Martin Morris, was charged with IRA membership and 13 counts of sexual assault. He always denied her claims and was acquitted of all charges. Four others were charged with IRA membership based on Cahill's accusation that they interrogated her several times in 1999 and 2000 about her accusations against Morris, when the IRA attempted to determine whether Cahill or Morris was telling the truth. She said at one point the IRA forced her to confront Morris face to face. Prosecutors withdrew the case without explanation earlier this year. Cahill waived her anonymity in a BBC documentary broadcast last Tuesday, during which she accused Adams of telling her she might have enjoyed the abuse. Adams acknowledged meeting Cahill around that time, but rejected her account and denied knowing of any IRA inquiry into her case. History: Joe Cahill (centre left) pictured as a wanted man at an IRA news conference in 1971. His press conference ended abruptly when guards posted on nearby street corners warned of approaching British Army patrols . Last year the paedophile brother of Gerry Adams was jailed for 16 years for raping his daughter. Liam Adams, 58, was found guilty of a string of vile sexual assaults on his child Aine Dahlstrom when she was aged between four and nine in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 40-year-old, who has waived her right to anonymity, wiped tears from her eyes as she watched him jailed. | Joe Cahill allegedly turned by secret agents after photos of child abuse .
IRA boss was never prosecuted after alleged incident in the 1970s .
Security Source claims he was Britain's 'prized asset' in Northern Ireland .
Gerry Adams admits IRA's policy of shooting sex offenders failed victims .
Joe Cahill's niece Mairia says she was raped but IRA suppressed her case . |
230,370 | b6510b40b235314493a03c7fdffb306b29a51b03 | Teenager Lucie Low is doubled over in agonising pain every day after being diagnosed with a rare digestive disorder . Doubled over in pain, teenager Lucie Low suffers pain so agonising it feels as though she is in labour. But the 13-year-old is not expecting a baby. When she first went to see doctors, they put her pain down to constipation. But Lucie is not constipated. After enduring months of agony, Lucie was admitted to hospital last month. There doctors discovered she was suffering from a rare digestive disorder. The condition, superior mesenteric arterial syndrome, is caused when the duodenum - part of the small intestine - is compressed between two arteries, which can cause it to become blocked. Such is the rarity of the illness, that Lucie's local NHS hospital are struggling to find a specialist to treat the teenager. After six weeks of watching her daughter battle the pain, Lucie's mother Zoe is today trying to raise enough money to pay for a private specialist. The 36-year-old, said: 'Lucie is in pain 24/7. She is so distressed. She is crying and screaming out my name. 'The only way to describe it is like she is in labour, she is doubled over. 'I have had to see my beautiful 13-year-old daughter go from being a normal teenage girl to not being able to get out of bed. 'She usually loves school and she really misses her friends. She is a real bookworm but she isn't even able to read because she is in so much pain.' In a video uploaded to a fundraising page, Lucie whimpers in pain and says 'I can't take it no more' and later 'I can't take it mummy'. The mother-of-two, added: 'I feel helpless, I'm desperate for her to get the help she needs. I set up a page on Facebook as a last resort, just to see if I could get any help. 'I have spoken to so many consultants and been to the patient advice and liaison service and the nurses are doing everything they can but it is not getting us anywhere.' Lucie, from Rainham, Kent, began suffering stomach problems last August when she started getting pain every time she ate. The pain got worse from October and she lost more than two stone in weight. Doctors initially diagnosed constipation and sent her home before she was eventually admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for tests. Lucie went there for an exploratory procedure and was told she would be there for two days, but she ended up 'doubled over in pain' and stayed for 10 days. Lucie, pictured with her mother Zoe and brother Tom, has been in and out of hospital since last month as doctors try to find the best form of treatment for her . Her mother Zoe, has started to raise money, in the hope of being able to pay for Lucie, pictured left before going into hospital, and right in hospital, to see a private specialist . She was then transferred to Medway Maritime Hospital and has been on the children's ward since - apart from a couple of days earlier this month when she was well enough to go home. Zoe says Lucie is only being given pain relief and the hospital do not have the specialists needed to treat her. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare condition. It occurs when the duodenum - part of the small intestine - is compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. The compression causes the duodenum to become blocked, which causes acute pain. It is known to be a complication of scoliosis surgery, anorexia, and trauma. Doctors have contacted a number of other hospitals but so far not found Lucie the help she needs. Ms Low said doctors at GOSH are waiting for the results of some more tests, adding she is 'frustrated' by the delay. She added: 'She has been in this level of pain for about 18 days now and it is constant, 24 hours a day. 'I originally set up the Facebook page to find help. It wasn't about money, I just got desperate and wanted somebody to help treat her.' A Medway Maritime Hospital spokesman said they are doing all they can for the family. He said: 'The paediatric team at Medway Maritime Hospital are doing everything possible to care for Lucie and to support her family. 'Unfortunately, we are unable to discuss individual patient cases, so cannot provide any further comment at this stage.' In just 24 hours Lucie's family and friends have raised more than £2,000. | Lucie Low, 13, has been diagnosed with a rare digestive disorder .
Part of her small intestine is being compressed by two different arteries .
Part of the duodenum becomes blocked, causing the acute pain .
Lucie is currently in hospital while doctors await more tests to try and find a suitable course of treatment .
Mother Zoe is raising money to try and pay for a private specialist . |
224,117 | ae341bfea4e313d4558f79ce52d7d13d25236b48 | Kudos to the rabble rousers in the Class of 2014 making waves across the country protesting the political views of commencement speakers. Your intentions are entirely in the right place, but you're going about it all wrong. It's understandable to want to protest the views and actions of Condoleezza Rice, a leading war monger in the Bush administration who backed policies that led to so many needless American and Iraqi deaths. There's a valid critique of how the International Monetary Fund and its leader, Christine Lagarde, actually harm poor nations with the economic conditions IMF loans impose. And the University of California at Berkeley was arguably extremely violent in its handling of Occupy protesters under the leadership of Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. All three leaders have canceled planned commencement addresses after protests by students at Rutgers University, Smith College and Haverford College respectively. Which doesn't accomplish very much, I'm afraid. The media story -- and thus the public discussion generally -- is now about free speech and the marketplace of ideas and whether today's college students are so intolerant of different viewpoints that they try and banish them altogether. We're discussing whether the Class of 2014 is too entitled when we should be talking about the failures of foreign policy in the Bush administration and appropriate police powers in a post-9/11 security state. Is the Class of 2014 too entitled? Not necessarily. But you might not be good organizers. So to those of you who haven't raised objections to commencement speakers yet, or who are getting a jump on 2015, here's some advice: Let them come. The most objectionable speaker you can imagine with a public policy reputation you find utterly detestable? Roll out the red mortar board and gown. Allow them to come. Nay, lure them. And then protest. Then the story will be about your message, not just your miff. And in the age of social media, that message will spread. Everyone's already futzing with their smartphones under their gowns anyway. How can you stage an effective protest at your graduation? Here are a few ideas. Spell out a message: Use masking tape to put a letter on each mortar cap, be sure to sit in the right order with your compatriots and at the right moment, send your message without saying a single word. Alternatively, you can achieve a similar effect by writing each letter on a manila file folder, folding each up and hiding it under your gown until the right moment. A great thing about this tactic is it forces you to get your critique down to its essence, which makes your message clear and easily shared by others. In a variation on this, students at Columbia University are planning a graduation protest placing pieces of red tape on their mortar boards to voice displeasure with the university failing to take certain steps to prevent sexual assault on campus. Stand up and turn around: Sometimes the most powerful speech comes in the form of silence. At the start of the commencement address, stand up and turn around. Ideally make sure you're not the only one -- that there are 20 or 200 people scattered throughout the graduating class who will start popping up one by one and stand silently, back to the speaker, in quiet but powerful protest. Especially if a large number of students oppose the speaker, this is a great way to put that on display. On the other hand, this doesn't work well with a small handful of protesters. Students at the University of Michigan organized such a protest in 2011 when Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was their commencement speaker. Snyder had proposed more than $200 million in higher education budget cuts. Unfortunately, though, out of 5,500 graduates, only a few dozen stood in protest. Organize a picket: Sure it's old-fashioned, but it works: A few dozen students and allies with picket signs voicing their disapproval with the chosen commencement speaker. It helps if you have fliers to hand out to the audience attending the commencement, so you can at least inform them of why you're protesting even if they're not going to join you. In 2012, when George Washington University (my alma mater) gave an honorary degree to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, a group of students protested Slim's business practices, which they argue have trampled on poor people and developing nations. The protest was small, but large enough to get covered by The Washington Post. Get creative: I'm not going to encourage anything illegal or even questionably immoral, but I will say that from streaking to well-timed releases of doves, there are plenty of ways to get attention for your protest. You're college students. You're a creative, think-outside-the-box bunch. Get some balloons and duct tape and tarantulas and do something inventive and attention getting. Effective protests aren't about anger. They're about spectacle. Make a spectacle. Bonus: Even the well-known folks often give boring commencement speeches, so if you can make your protest entertaining, your fellow students will be even more grateful. Booing and heckling are so 2004: And they're rude. I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, but one of the things you learn as you grow up in your political activist life is that cathartic isn't a synonym for strategic. In fact, they're often diametrically opposed. You might feel damn proud of yourself as you're being hauled off by campus security after screaming at some neoconservative commencement speaker but at least a third of the audience thinks you're an obnoxious jerk. And a third don't know why you were protesting and/or forgot that you even protested a second after it happened. The third who support you? They'll support you no matter what, so try a different tactic and see if you can broaden your support and engage and inform a wider swath of the audience. Activism isn't about self-expression. It's about changing hearts and minds and engaging more and more people in the fight for change. But you can't change those hearts and minds and get more people engaged if you aren't even heard in the first place. Invite those different opinions onto your campus, instead of dismissing them. We need to engage more with ideas we disagree with, that's what sharpens our own views and ideas. And if you do disagree, if you want to protest and do so visibly, make it count. | Sally Kohn: Students protesting views of commencement speakers are well-intentioned .
Condoleezza Rice, Christine Lagarde canceled their appearances after outcry .
Kohn: Don't stop speakers from coming to campus, but protest if you object to their views .
She says students can silently show their disapproval, but don't be rude . |
140,125 | 412cad659f330fdc2ff2ba701895cf32dad58fd8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:59 EST, 10 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:37 EST, 16 April 2013 . A former Disneyland princess has revealed the tough demands placed on the real-life actors playing classic animated characters including Snow White, Alice In Wonderland and Tinkerbell. Known as ‘face characters,’ the princesses not only have to look the part, they need to remember quotes from their movies, stay in character at all times, and know how to sing and dance. A former Snow White actress, known only as Reddit user doublenn recently held an Ask Me Anything Q&A session in which she revealed how tough it can be working at Disneyland. Scroll down for video . In order to play a Disney princess an actor must have the right body type, the right age, and have the right temperament, reports Business Insider. According to doublenn, becoming a Disney princess requires a long and drawn out audition process. First the girls are checked to see which character they could potentially look like, then follow several other tests including dancing, acting in character and an interview. There are certain height restrictions involved as a Disney princess is typically between 5ft 4inches and 5ft 7inches, although for fairies such as Tinkerbell, Alice and Wendy must be more petite - between 4ft 11inches and 5ft 2inches. Age is another important factor. Most girls are between 18 and 23, some last until they are 27, but it is almost unheard off for a princess or fairy to be played by someone over 27. Disney face characters are required to stay in character at all times and always smile . Once chosen, the lucky actors go through an intensive five day training course during which they study Disney movies so they can quote lines said by their character. Each day requires a lot of preparation for the actor to become their character. Doublenn told Reddit that it would take her an hour to get read, including 20 minutes just putting on Snow White’s dress. Throughout the day she was then required to touch-up her makeup to ensure she always looked her best. Doublenn also revealed that being a face character isn’t a lucrative career and during her time as Snow White she started on $13.50 an hour which increased to $16. Actors playing Disney princesses go through a tough selection process and their careers are over before they become 27 . Disney also has lots of rules for its actors to follow, with the main one being that princesses need to remain in character at all time. Other rules include not being allowed to sit down while working, always smiling, always doing the character's voice. Doublenn revealed that as a result of straining her voice to sound more like Snow White over several years she developed inoperable vocal nodes. However she also says she enjoyed her time at Disney and made some long lasting friends with the other princesses. Rules for Disney princesses include always smiling and always talking in the voice of their character . | A former Snow White has revealed the tough demands that Disney places on its 'face characters'
Actors have to conform to rigid body types and can't be taller than 5ft 7 inches .
Those lucky enough to be selected are expected to remain in character at all time . |
105,080 | 138f0fdf866aea449bb36e51f79fb7b82f027e0c | (CNN) -- This past week, at "town hall" meetings in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire, a group of Republican senators sounded alarms about disasters that will befall local economies should the threat of more than $500 billion in defense cuts over the next decade become a reality in January. To his credit, the group's leader, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, admitted that Congress should take some of the blame for creating this situation. But that was a rare recognition of reality at town halls that were more like a Republican version of the mythical Potemkin villages: fake towns hastily put together by Russian Minister Grigory Potemkin to impress the visiting empress. The real purpose of the GOP's Potemkin town halls? To redefine Congress' unfinished task of deficit reduction as an Obama administration leadership failure that has put both national security and swing-state jobs at risk by playing games with defense spending. The road to these town halls began in Washington a year ago with a congressional vote that was needed to raise the debt ceiling and avoid U.S. default on a debt that has skyrocketed since 2000. House Republicans, shackled by a tea party ball-and-chain, turned the vote into a heated debate on spending cuts. The ensuing legislative battle led not to meaningful deficit reduction but to the Budget Control Act of 2011. It's an 11th-hour "Hail Mary" legislation that raised the debt ceiling -- and kicked the deficit can down the road by one year. The Budget Control Act mandated $917 billion in federal spending cuts over a 10-year period, including some $487 billion in defense cuts. But that wasn't all. The centerpiece was a different kind of act: A high-wire act called "sequestration." Sequestration is a trigger. It's scheduled to be pulled in early January -- unleashing $1.2 trillion in additional cuts, half in defense, half in other domestic spending, unless Congress agrees on an alternate plan. Almost no Democrat or Republican wants to make these sequestration cuts because they will have significant and negative consequences for national security and for domestic spending, affecting millions of Americans. In fact, almost no one who voted for this legislation ever thought these cuts would actually be made. The Budget Control Act of 2011 was intended to provide breathing space and to buy time. Sequestration was added to force a congressional "supercommittee" to come up with a deficit deal late last year, "or else." But the supercommittee was as divided as the Congress that created it; Congress couldn't come up with a solution, and it was no real surprise that the supercommittee couldn't either. McCain and his swing-state town hall team were right in framing the consequences: If the trigger is pulled, sequestration will have immediate and negative impact on millions of Americans. This includes not just U.S. troops, defense industry civilians and local bases. It also includes schools and Head Start participants, struggling families for whom child care support is critical, unemployed workers who need job training programs -- all would lose out in the nondefense portion of sequestration. But the senators were disingenuous in exhorting their audiences to "demand presidential leadership" to avoid falling off the fiscal cliff in January -- and wrong to imply that the president has been AWOL on the issue, leaving national security and jobs at risk. President Barack Obama has made clear he doesn't want to see these cuts happen next year. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has repeatedly declared that sequestration defense cuts -- coming on top of the 10-year, $487 billion in defense cuts that start next year -- would have disastrous consequences for our national security. Obama has been at the table since last summer trying to prevent this by reaching a bipartisan agreement on deficit reduction. He laid out a detailed plan to reduce the deficit by more than $4 trillion over the next decade -- a plan that would bring annual domestic spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy since President Dwight D. Eisenhower and would require less in defense cuts than recommended by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Commission. But the president calls for a balanced approach that includes spending cuts and investment revenue. His proposed spending cuts outweigh the proposed additional revenue by more than double. But it's the investment revenue which has been the deal-breaker for most Republicans. In fact, that's the major reason that sequestration includes the $500 billion in defense spending cuts: Faced with their own Hobson's choice of putting at risk either the defense budget or continued tax breaks for the wealthy, Congressional Republicans grimaced -- and threw defense into the cauldron to protect the tax breaks. It seems clear that the political brinksmanship will continue until Republicans and Democrats in Congress figure out how to do what military and civilian leaders at the Pentagon had to do this past year in addressing the initial $487 billion in defense cuts: Namely, tie spending to the national interest and do so recognizing "we're all in this together." Obama ordered the Pentagon to devise a plan ensuring that national security priorities would guide and frame spending decisions, rather than the other way around; and ensuring that the U.S. military would remain the strongest and best in the world to protect and defend U.S. national interests. The generals, admirals and civilian leaders did just that. All had a stake in the outcome and recognized the world had changed. All were involved throughout in shaping the plan. All recognized that pet projects and sacred cows had to meet the tests of commonly defined national security priorities or be reduced or jettisoned. All understood that to succeed in keeping the country safe and secure, they needed not just to cut in some areas but to invest in others, and that having the best and strongest military in the world was not really synonymous with continuing to spend unlimited billions. All made difficult individual decisions in the belief that they were all in this together, and they have spoken publicly and privately in support of the strategic framework they developed to guide defense spending decisions over the next decade. Maybe instead of holding political Potemkin town halls in swing states about the dangers that sequestration poses for the Pentagon, we should ask congressional leaders to take lessons from the Pentagon on how to work together to prevent it from happening. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Doug Wilson. | Doug Wilson: GOP distorting reality behind Pentagon cuts that could be triggered in January .
"Sequestration" will start $1.2 trillion in cuts, with half of that in defense .
Wilson: GOP blames looming disaster on Obama, but it was a delaying tactic by Congress .
Obama doesn't want these harmful sequestration cuts and has alternative plans, he says . |
276,742 | f286fecabe254d538001bad09eed8c973b1ef3e4 | Al Qaeda planned to hijack cruise ships and post footage of passengers being executed online to pressurise governments to release particular prisoners, it has been revealed. Documents embedded inside a pornographic movie, on a memory disc, show how the terror network wanted to dress tourists up in Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits before murdering them. The audacious plan is just one of several plots discovered by investigators who decrypted the hardware found in the underpants of a suspected terrorist arrested in Berlin last year. Scroll down to see video... Hijack: Al Qaeda wanted to seize cruise ships and post footage of passengers being executed online to pressurise governments to release particular prisoners (file picture) Execution: Al Qaeda wanted to dress cruise ship passengers up in Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits and then film their murders to post footage online . Osama bin Laden may have ordered the slaughter of the 9/11 attacks but he drew the line at a bloodthirsty killing machine dubbed the 'human lawn mower', according to papers seized from his compound. An idea to fix rotating blades to the front of a pickup truck and drive it into crowds, mowing innocent people down like weeds, attracted widespread enthusiasm among Al Qaeda supporters on the internet last year. But documents seized from the Bin Laden compound in Pakistan reveal that the Al Qaeda leader felt it was a step too far even for the terror group, according to intelligence officials who have read them. 'He was upset about it,' a former US intelligence official told the Washington Post. 'He felt it conflicted with what his vision for what he wanted Al Qaeda to be.' Newly released excerpts from the al Qaeda papers seized when Navy SEAL commandos stormed his compound a year ago reveal how bin Laden was struggling to maintain his influence in a terror group whose command structure had been severely weakened by US drone attacks. And, incredibly, the documents suggest the man who ordered two planes to fly into New York’s World Trade Centre was concerned that Al Qaeda’s public image was being tarnished by the atrocities being carried out in its name in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. In the months before his death bin Laden had backed a Libyan-born al Qaeda 'moderate', Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, in drawing up a code of behaviour that would rein in what they regarded as the worst excesses of Al Qaeda activity. Although both men remained convinced it was their group’s duty to kill westerners, including civilians, they felt that murdering fellow Muslims was 'bad for their public image', said Al Qaeda expert Jarret Brachman. Tom Leonard . The cache of 141 documents, described as 'pure gold' by intelligence agencies, also details how the network wanted to conduct a Mumbai-style attack - where ten gunmen killed 164 people in a three-day rampage in 2008 - in Europe. And it reveals the organisation is using a 'twin-track strategy' - using 'low-cost, low-tech attacks' to keep security services preoccupied as other 'operatives' plan large-scale 9/11 type atrocities. The documents, seized by German intelligence operatives in the days following Osama Bin Laden's death last year, reveal an 'extraordinarily detailed insight into the inner workings of Al Qaeda'. They also state some of the tactics used by the organisation as it attempts to elude the counter-terrorism initiatives of the world’s military and intelligence agencies. CNN reports how Al Qaeda's hand in . the London 7/7 and attempted 7/21 bomb plots emerges for the first time . with a highly detailed account from cell leader Rashid Rauf. CNN's Nic Robertson said: 'These documents show that London was extremely lucky on 7/21. 'The terrorists were using the same . bomb-building instructions as the 7/7 bombers, who had actually . encountered the same problem with the way they had mixed their . explosives. 'The 7/7 bombers had closer contacts with Rauf and were able to contact him and change their bombs so that they worked.' The . 46 page document outlines how and why the liquid explosive plot took . shape and explains how counter-surveillance measures by the 21/7 bombers . threw security officers off their scent. The . files also contain details of the ways in which Al Qaeda seeks to learn . from its mistakes, and the levels of sophistication and determination . within its ranks. In . addition, they reveal the impact that military drone strikes and . infiltration by intelligence agencies are having on al Qaeda's numbers . and behaviour. Robertson . added: 'These documents lay open Al Qaeda’s inner workings. They prove . the links between some of its highest profile plots and attacks, and . show how it's trying to cope with the constant pressure from military . and intelligence operations against it.' The . documents were discovered on the memory disc when Austrian 22-year-old . Maqsood Lodin was arrested following his return to Germany from . Pakistan. Buried amongst the files was a pornographic video called Kick Ass, and a document marked 'Sexy Tanja'. It . took German investigators several weeks to decrypt the file, but when . they did they found an inside track on some of the terror group's most . audacious plots and a road map for future operations. PDF . terrorist training manuals in German, English and Arabic were also . found in what U.S. intelligence sources say is the most important haul . of terrorist materials in the last year. Lodin . and another man called Yusuf Ocak, who allegedly travelled back to . Europe with him, are now on trial in Berlin where they are pleading not . guilty to terror offences. Ocak was detained in Vienna two weeks after Lodin's arrest. Destruction: The 7/7 London bombings only 'succeeded' because the bombers were in contact with the cell leader, as opposed to the group behind the failed 21/7 explosions . | Audacious plan 'one of several' discovered on decrypted memory disc .
Tourists 'to be dressed in Guantanamo Bay orange jumpsuits' and killed .
Wanted to conduct Mumbai-style terror attack in Europe .
Twin-track strategy of 'low-cost, low-tech attacks' to busy security services .
Then other 'operatives' plan large-scale 9/11 type atrocities .
London 21/7 bombings failed because group was not in touch with leader . |
108,480 | 17df66cc5feb482a63e4c6834048e0db0ec86e56 | (CNN) -- A circus producer said Friday that an animal rights group has paid it $9.3 million to settle two federal court cases claiming elephant abuse. Feld Entertainment, Inc., trumpeted the settlement with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as a victory for its Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. "These defendants attempted to destroy our family-owned business with a hired plaintiff who made statements that the court did not believe," said Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, in a statement. "Animal activists have been attacking our family, our company, and our employees for decades because they oppose animals in circuses," Feld said. "This settlement is a vindication not just for the company but also for the dedicated men and women who spend their lives working and caring for all the animals with Ringling Brothers in the face of such targeted, malicious rhetoric." The ASPCA was one of several animal rights groups that sued Feld Entertainment in 2000, alleging that circus elephants were abused. Both parties filed dismissal papers in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The ASPCA confirmed the settlement, saying in a statement that "the organization does not admit to any liability or wrongdoing." The court never ruled on the merits of the elephant abuse allegations, it said. "After more than a decade of litigating with Feld Entertainment, the ASPCA concluded that it is in the best interests of the organization to resolve this expensive, protracted litigation," said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres in the statement. Feld's cases, which include allegations of litigation abuse and racketeering, will continue against the other defendants -- the Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Animal Protection Institute United with Born Free USA and Tom Rider, a former circus employee who testified against Ringling Bros. U.S. District Judge Emmett G. Sullivan deemed Rider's testimony tainted because he had been paid by animal rights activists and did not have standing to sue. "The court finds that Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony regarding the matters discussed herein, i.e., the allegations related to his standing to sue," he wrote in a December 2009 opinion. CNN was not able to reach Rider on Friday. ASPCA spokeswoman Elizabeth Estroff would not comment on specifics of the case. Friday's settlement did not placate Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "While HSUS was not a party to the original case against Ringling, we agree with so many critics of the circus that its treatment of elephants is deplorable and unacceptable. We'll continue to make our case to the public, even as Ringling files frivolous and retaliatory legal actions to divert and distract from its abuse of elephants," he said in a statement. John Simpson, lead counsel for Feld and a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski in Washington, said Feld's legal costs since July 2000 have exceeded $20 million, but that settlements with other defendants may be reached. "We're going to see this through to conclusion, whether it ends in a verdict or whether it ends in a settlement," he said in a telephone interview. "But they know where to find me." The toll of the case has gone beyond a financial one, he said. "It gets very personal and nasty out there on the line when the company's employees are handling the elephants in public on walks," he said. "I think the people who have cared for these animals have suffered and been unjustly accused." CNN's Devon Sayers contributed to this report. | ASPCA pays $9.3 million to Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld says it has paid more than $20 million on legal fees .
A former circus employee's testimony was deemed tainted . |
53,210 | 96ed959347115a9cd88216ec1dfa2bebab99afbd | New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India successfully launched five satellites into orbit Monday, one of them a mini-spacecraft built by students, space officials said. The main payload was a remote-sensing satellite -- CARTOSAT-2B -- which the country's space agency said would be used in infrastructure programs because of its capability to take high-resolution images of the Earth. Other smaller devices comprised satellites from a Canadian university, Algeria and STUDSAT, a light-weight rocket made by Indian engineering students, the Indian Space Research Organization said. Monday's launch came two months after an Indian satellite powered for the first time by a home-made cryogenic engine failed in what was seen as a setback to the country's space ambitions. ISRO spokesman S. Satish told CNN that scientists have identified the causes behind April's misfire. India now aims to test the same domestically built technology within a year, he said. The South Asian nation has an expansive space program. In 2008, India sent its first unmanned mission to the moon, called Chandrayaan-I. Chandrayaan-1, meaning moon craft, dropped a TV-sized probe on the lunar surface, completed more than 3,400 orbits and met most of its scientific objectives in 312 days before vanishing off radars abruptly last year, according to the space agency. The satellite carried payloads from the United States, the European Union and Bulgaria. One of its aims was to search for evidence of water or ice and identify the chemical composition of certain lunar rocks. The Chandrayaan-1 mission came to be seen in India as the 21st century Asian version of the space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union -- but this time involving India and China. China launched a manned space flight in October 2003, becoming the third nation in the world to put a person into orbit. India has not launched any manned space flights. Satish said the Indian agency also was planning to launch a second version of Chandrayaan in 2013. India held its first rocket launch from a fishing village in southern India in 1963. Now, the South Asian nation lists more than 60 events as "milestones" in its space program, which includes the successful use of polar and geosynchronous satellite launch vehicles. Indian scientists say their country has the world's largest constellation of remote-sensing satellites.These satellites, according to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, capture images of the Earth used in a range of applications -- agriculture, water resources, urban development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, drought and flood forecasting, ocean resources and disaster management. Another major system, or INSAT, is used for communication, television and meteorology. | The payload ranged from a remote-sensing satellite to a student-built mini-spacecraft.
Monday's launch came two months after rocket failure .
India also has launched satellite into lunar orbit .
Aims to launch another lunar probe in 2013 . |
204,009 | 9419f80cabe3a3071171afb18fd2b605a20396be | In the clear: No further action will be taken against Oxford Union President Ben Sullivan . The president of the Oxford Union will not face charges over claims he raped one fellow student and attacked another. Ben Sullivan, a third-year undergraduate, was arrested at dawn early last month in his college room at Christ Church and has been on bail for six weeks. Yesterday police informed the 21-year-old that no further action would be taken against him following an investigation into the allegations, thought to have been made by the young women more than a year ago. Mr Sullivan's arrest rocked the prestigious 200-year-old debating society, a breeding ground for political leaders whose former presidents include cabinet ministers William Hague and Michael Gove, London Mayor Boris Johnson and prime ministers from William Gladstone and Herbert Asquith to Edward Heath. Publicity surrounding the case sparked a boycott campaign by students that saw a host of high-profile speakers cancel their appearances. A picture of banker's son Mr Sullivan in evening suit and bow tie made headlines across the world, even though he had not been charged. Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman, Interpol secretary-general Robert Noble, US entrepreneur Julie Meyer and David Mepham, the UK director of Human Rights Watch, were all said to have pulled out of debates at the Oxford Union citing concerns about Mr Sullivan's arrest. A letter written by student politicians to around 30 speakers who had been booked to attend asked them to boycott the Union, and for Mr Sullivan to resign in what they called a 'push for equality'. The letter, by student union official Sarah Pine, was signed by feminist activists Laurie Penny and Caroline Criado-Perez. Case dropped: Ben Sullivan, 21, will face no further action over allegations of rape and attempted rape . Mr Sullivan, a former pupil at . £22,000-a-year St Paul's School in London, repeatedly rejected calls to . stand down as president while the police carried out their . investigation. He avoided a vote of no confidence after fellow Union . officers defeated a motion to call one by a single vote. The rape was alleged to have occurred in January 2013 and the attempted rape in April 2013. Last . night Nigel Evans, the Tory MP and former Deputy Speaker of the Commons . who was cleared of a number of rape and sexual assault charges earlier . this year at Preston Crown Court, said Mr Sullivan's case demonstrated . the need for alleged rapists to be given anonymity until they are . charged. Mr Sullivan, 21, will face no charges after police decided there was insufficient evidence . Mr Evans, who has been supporting the student, said: 'To go through the torture of a public trial by students is appalling. 'Anonymity . would have made his life easier by a great margin. It would still have . been very stressful but he wouldn't have had to put up with people . dropping out of speaking at the Union and a vote of no confidence in . him. It gives further credibility to my campaign to have that. The glare . of publicity this lad went through is appalling.' Mr Evans is calling . for the Home Affairs Select Committee to investigate the granting of . anonymity to arrested sex offenders until they are charged. A . judge could still decide to name them if the circumstances were . exceptional, he said. Last month Jennifer Perry, an author who was . booked at speak at the Union on stalking and harassment, said she felt . uncomfortable about the feminist boycott. She . said: 'It shouldn't be a group of young women making that decision; it . should be in the hands of the police. This campaign could harm their . investigations.' Mr . Sullivan, a history and politics student who is taking his final exams . this summer, was informed yesterday afternoon there would no charges. He . spent a quiet evening with his family. A . Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: 'We have decided that there . is insufficient evidence to prosecute a 21-year-old man from Oxford who . was arrested following a complaint of rape and a complaint of attempted . rape made by two women. We will be writing to the complainants to . explain our decision in more detail.' The . Union released a statement last night saying: 'As far as the Society is . concerned, this is the end of the matter. We would like to thank Mr . Sullivan for his work as president under the most difficult of . circumstances and wish him well for the future.' Prestigious: A previous debate at the 191-year-old society, with Mr Sullivan pictured centre . Training ground: Previous leaders of the debating society have included William Hague, pictured in 1987 . | Ben Sullivan, 21, arrested last month in his room at historic university .
He was accused of raping one woman and attempting to rape another .
Today Thames Valley Police confirmed they will not pursue a prosecution .
Several speakers cancelled appearances at world-famous debating society . |
240,397 | c3332c8fdc9f1059768c39cc3d638d52c75ad83c | Unlike most men going through a break-up, Dean Kremer did not go out and get drunk with his mates. Instead he started collecting replica Star Wars lightsabers. Now the Darwin man is selling them off and the money will go towards buy a home with his new girlfriend. Mr Kremer, 33, is letting go of one Yoda lightsaber, one Darth Maul, two Darth Vaders, two Anakin Skywalkers, one Mace Windu, one Obi-Wan Kenobi and two Luke Skywalkers. Scroll down for video . Dean Kremer (pictured with a Luke Skywalker lightsaber), 33, is looking to sell off his collection of 10 Master Replica lightsabers . The lightsaber was made famous by the Star Wars saga, which starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker (above) The Darwin man started collecting the lightsabers after he broke up with his ex-girlfriend . After being with his girlfriend Maria for three years, Mr Kremer decided it was time to sell off the Master Replica lightsabers, which are no longer manufactured. '[They] reminded me of the break-up with the ex-girlfriend. I started collecting after the break-up,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The new girlfriend is very indifferent about it and we're going to use the funds for something better. 'Hopefully towards a house and something more constructive.' The collection includes a Darth Vader one (left) and the purchase comes with a custom cabinet with fluorescent down lights . He is selling all of them - including one Yoda lightsaber, one Darth Maul, two Darth Vaders (one is pictured above), two Anakin Skywalkers, one Mace Windu, one Obi-Wan Kenobi and two Luke Skywalkers - for $3,000 . The collection consists of one of these Luke Skywalker lightsabers and started collecting them because he was not much of a drinker . Mr Kremer said he started collecting the lightsabers five years ago because he was not much of a drinker. 'I'm just applying paperback psychology to this. I wanted to remind myself of good childhood memories. It was like a post break-up depression, I guess,' he said. 'I’m not much of a partier or a drinker. It wasn't really my style, especially in response to a break up.' He said he bought them to remind him of better times and hanging out with his cousins during his childhood . Mr Kremer said the lightsabers reminded him of the time he spent hanging out with his cousins. 'My cousins were a lot more well off and when we visited their homes, they would have all these Star Wars toys,' he said. '[I would play] with my cousins in their home and play with the older kids toys. 'We can also relate to that because the older kids always had better toys than the younger kids.' To get your hands on the collection, Mr Kremer is advertising the lightsabers for $3,000 on Gumtree. It comes with a custom cabinet with sliding glass doors and fluorescent down lights to store them in. 'For the price of the collection, they [the new owner] would have to be a pretty big fan, so I'm sure it'll go to a good home,' he said. | Dean Kremer, 33, started collecting Star Wars lightsabers after a break-up .
He is now selling his collection, which contains 10 replicas from the saga .
Mr Kremer said he decided to sell up because they reminded him of his ex .
He and his new girlfriend will be using money to help buy them a house .
The 33-year-old is selling the collection on Gumtree, priced at $3,000 . |
98,480 | 0acc4504701074a8dae697b766a1df12be3257fe | By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 13:08 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:28 EST, 10 May 2013 . A father was jailed for seven years today after admitting killing his disabled seven-month-old son. Nathan Pick, 38, lashed out at James-Lee because he could not get him to stop screaming at their home in Chaddesden, Derbyshire. The baby, who was born with a heart defect and had to be tube-fed, suffered brain injuries and died the next day in hospital as a result of the blow to the back of the head. Pick was arrested on suspicion of murder and and charged, but originally claimed to police that James-Lee had begun to fit and hit his head in his swing chair. But on Wednesday, a week before his trial was due to start, he admitted manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court. Frustrated: Nathan Pick (left) lashed out at his son James-Lee (right) because he could not stop him crying . In mitigation today, Shaun Smith QC, defending Pick, said it had not been a deliberate act to kill or cause serious injury to the child. Mr Smith said: 'He was frustrated by his inability to be accepted by his baby son. 'He is truly sorry for this. He would not want this to happen to anybody else.' The court heard James-Lee spent three months in hospital after being born with a heart defect in October 2011. His mother Hannah Goldby, who was Pick’s partner at the time, called James-Lee 'her little fighter'. He required medication and care each day, the court heard. Pick struggled to bond with his son and grew frustrated that he could not calm the child. On May 7 last year, Pick 'snapped' and lashed out at his son while the child was sat in his swing chair. He called Ms Goldby, who had gone to the fish shop, and said: 'Come back quick. He’s fitting. I think he’s dead,' then called 999. Paramedics attended and found James-Lee 'very blue and flaccid ... lifeless and still'. The baby was taken to Royal Derby Hospital before being transferred to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. An MRI scan revealed he had suffered brain injuries, swelling to the brain and bleeding into his spinal cord. His life support machine was switched off on May 8. Jailed: Pick was sentenced to seven years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court today . Tragically he was the second child Ms Goldby had lost in three years. Her daughter Zoe died of sudden infant death syndrome in 2009 when she was seven weeks old. There were no suspicious circumstances, the court heard. Sentencing Pick at the same court today, Lord Justice Julian Flaux said: 'You clearly found the reaction from your son frustrating and upsetting.' He said he accepted Pick had not set out to kill or seriously harm his child but that his son could not be blamed for crying. He also accepted Pick, who has a 12-year-old son, was not a violent or bad man. There was no history of abuse or violence, he added. The judge added: 'The stress caused you to snap. You did not intend to kill him or cause him serious injuries but you now accept that blow was an unlawful act.' The judge told Pick he would need to pass a sentence of imprisonment because a 'defenceless and vulnerable' child had died as a result of his actions. He jailed Pick, who appeared tearful in the dock, for seven years. Lord Justice Flaux told family and friends in the public gallery that he hoped the conclusion of the case would provide them with some comfort. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Cox, from the East Midlands Major Crime Unit, said: 'This is a tragic case. I hope today’s sentence allows James-Lee’s family to move forward with the grieving process. 'I would urge anyone struggling to cope with being a new parent to access the help and support available to them so tragedies like this can be avoided in the future.' | Nathan Pick 'snapped' after struggling to bond with son James-Lee .
Pleaded guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in jail . |
89,621 | fe7b37253ce11b1e2bd8bd202fd00e5b629b147d | A Montgomery County man has been arrested after confessing to a TV news crew that he set a house fire the station was covering. WJLA-TV was at the scene of an active Rockville house fire on Wednesday when a man who identified himself as Carlos walked up and said: 'Me. Me. I set it on fire.' The man said he wanted to bring attention to deplorable living conditions inside the home. He said he had complained about the conditions to police but that they didn’t take them seriously. WJLA-TV was at the scene of an active Rockville house fire on Wednesday when a man who identified himself as Carlos walked up and said: 'Me. Me. I set it on fire' Damage to the property is estimated at $400,000 and the house is likely a loss. WJLA reports the man nonchalantly answered several questions from the reporter abot how he did it. 'I just poured gasoline on the floor, set it on fire, went to grab a drink, and came back,' he said. 'Just so you [the media] could get here....for your attention,' he added. The man then walked up to two Rockville police officers and told them he set the fire. They arrested him. The moment of his confession to police was also caught on camera as astonished officers looked on. 'Carlos' also confessed to stunned police at the scene, who immediately took him into custody . Once at the police station, however, 'Carlos' was reportedly less talkative and asked for an attorney. Police say the man was among six people living in the home. No one was injured. Damage to the property is estimated at $400,000 and the house is likely a loss. Local woman Linda Ekizian said there were police cars outside the house fairly often. 'I'm just thinking about all of the firefighters whose lives were put in jeopardy because of this. There's no excuse for it, none at all,' she said. | Man calling himself 'Carlos' said he had complained about the conditions to police but that they didn’t take them seriously .
'Carlos' also confessed to shocked police, but asked for an attorney after being taken into custody .
House is considered a loss with about $400,000 in damages . |
6,313 | 11e5f652af99a05c41640f14064b46169599b8cd | By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 10:00 EST, 31 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:31 EST, 31 October 2013 . A Catholic school worker has won an employment tribunal against her former school after she was fired for appering in a racy music video. Veronique Bonazzola was sacked from her post at the school in the south of France after she appeared in the rap video as a scantily-clad 'cougar', The Local reports. The 50-year-old school assistant also worked as a part-time actor and appeared in the video called Fontaine do Jouvence (Fountain of Youth) by the rapper Novia. Scroll down for video . Racy: Bonazzola (left) ends up in a hot tub with rapper Novia (right) with a bottle of champagne . Champagne: Bonazzola (pictured left) wore a skimpy bikini in a video for the French rapper Novia (centre) Fired: The 50-year-old Catholic school assistant was sacked after appearing in the video . Veronique Bonazzola was sacked from her post at the school in the south of France after she appeared in the rap video as a scantily-clad 'cougar' She won the 'victory against injustice' against her former employer, Collège Notre Dame de la Tramontane, who fired her after 20 years working as a classroom supervisor. The video came to light last spring when a group of upset parents complained to the school and showed them the video. In the clip, a dark-haired Bonazzola is chased by the rapper and dances suggestively with the other women before cosying up to 27-year-old Novia. The pair then celebrate by pouring champagne down her chest in a Jacuzzi. Claude Backès, director-general of the Catholic secondary school, said Bonazzola’s activity was 'incompatible with the nature of this person’s work and the rules of the institution'. Lawyer Pierre Chami said Bonazzola felt upset by the termination of her employment. 'She doesn’t understand why, after 20 . years of good and loyal service, she’s being thrown out like some . unsavoury character for a video that’s shorter than five minutes,' he . said. Watch the full video here . Bonazzola said: 'When the whole . affair broke, I got the impression that (the school’s management) were . going to burn me at the stake in the school yard.' 'They found it scandalous, but most of the parents and students supported me,' she added.Bonazzola sued her school for wrongful termination of her job. A . court in nearby Grasse ruled in her favour and criticised the school . for not making clear to Bonazzola how her acting career might affect her . day job. The school . 'never gave her the slightest warning about any possible threat that . such activities might pose to her professional obligations,' the court . said. Video: In the clip, a dark-haired Bonazzola (right) is chased by the rapper and dances suggestively with the other women before cosying up to 27-year-old Novia . Victory: Bonazzola sued her previous employer and won after a court ruled in her favour . Dancing: Catholic school employee Bonazzola dances suggestively with other women in the music video . The tribunal ruled she was sacked . 'without any real or serious cause' which could shape future cases in . France where a person's life outside work, beliefs and activities could . affect an organisation they work for. Bonazzola, . who is still unemployed, celebrated the verdict in a post on her . Facebook page, calling it 'a wonderful victory against injustice.' 'The . courts have recognized everyone’s right to do as they please with their . free time, and condemned abusive firings,' she said. 'A . massive big-up to my lawyer Mr. Chami and everyone who showed their . support. An even larger big-up to everyone who talked crap (about me)!' The school has decided not to appeal the decision. Demure: Veronique Bonazzola performing Edith Piaf's Chante L'hymme a L'amour. The video clip is a stark contrast to the bikini-clad performance in the French rap video . | Veronique Bonazzola sacked from her post at the school in south of France .
Collège Notre Dame de la Tramontane fired her after 20 years .
50-year-old Bonazzola hailed the decision as 'victory against injustice' |
179,622 | 7493a3a79283853de739eadce628d37d0c8b2d89 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The fears that Hurricane Gustav would turn into another human catastrophe on the scale of Katrina in 2005 have mercifully not been realized. The "Three Little Pigs" project aim is to try and make scenes like this a thing of the past. But it has been another untimely reminder of nature's destructive power, and a further taste of what climate scientists are predicting will be far more common spectacle as the century progresses. As Gustav blew itself out, more hurricanes -- Hanna, Ike and Josephine -- were threatening even more lives and properties. But in the face of such relentless disruption can anything be done to lessen the impact of such extreme weather events? Well, researchers at The University of Western Ontario certainly think so. Their "Three Little Pigs" project at The Insurance Research Lab for Better Homes got underway at the end of August with the aim of making houses more resilient in the face of such violent storms. CNN caught up with Professor Greg Kopp -- a civil and environmental engineer who is working on the project -- in Houma, Louisiana, where he's been surveying the damage from Hurricane Gustav. "When there are natural disasters the biggest problem seems to be with residential houses," he said. "In North America and in most parts of the world houses aren't engineered. So we are taking an engineer's eye to look at this. Wind has some peculiar effects which can be mitigated relatively easily. The motivation for this project is to make houses safer, but not cost more." Unfortunately, building a wind tunnel at a size required to test full-scale buildings just wasn't feasible. But the equipment and methods chosen by the researchers are a unique and far more efficient way of testing which replicates the pressures that occur on the surface of a building. The $7 million facility is a large movable steel hanger. The full-scale 1,900 square foot house sits inside a steel cage rigged up with 60 pressure boxes which can simulate the effects of a Category 5 hurricane (see photos). Professor Kopp has taken a leading roll in developing the pressure boxes explained how the test has been set up. "We have a bunch of air boxes on the roof -- which is made of plywood -- and then we have what are called pressure load activators," "These are kind of like vacuum cleaners -- they have a hose and are connected to the air boxes. The pressure load activators suck air out of the air box and causes a suction which wants to lift the roof". Before the experiment in the hanger could begin, researchers calculated the pressures the house would experience in a small-scale study conducted at the University's Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory -- which has over 40 years of expertise testing high-rise buildings and bridges. Once accurately recorded these results were then scaled up in preparation for the test proper. Monitored by 20 cameras, the first experiments were conducted over three days and saw the house endure ever increasing winds speeds up to a Category 3 hurricane. Initial tests have produced some unexpected results. "The thing that surprised us most is where it [the roof] failed first. It failed on the leeward side of the house. We had all expected it to fail on the windward side first," Kopp said (see video). "If you looked at the house now, the roof isn't actually connected to the walls. But you'd look at the house and say it looks ok. "Another thing was that the failures were progressive. There wasn't one real gust of wind that broke it. The damage accumulated," Kopp said. Having now understood the house's behavior under stress, Kopp and his team will now set about recreate the experiment but this time measuring the load on the nails which lifted. "These are more scientific than engineering experiments currently," Kopp said. "But we can now develop numerical models and look at other roof structures with a lot more confidence as to how these models work. Ultimately we want to try some mitigation strategies." It's still early days though and the tests are set to carry on for the next few years. "Science always takes time," Kopp said. "We want to make houses which are safer for people and to do it in a way that doesn't break the bank. It should be done in an efficient way so that it is affordable to everyone. Not just high-end houses, but for poor people too." | Canadian researchers test roof on full-scale house under hurricane conditions .
Early results reveal that leeward rather than windward side of roof failed first .
"Three Little Pigs" project aims at structural improvements that are available to all . |
119,364 | 262ec5f549c61bb8b605faf005e2b3d434ee9fac | Four new victims have come forward to make shocking claims about a vampire-obsessed trucker they say held them captive and kept them as sex slaves over an extended period of time. Timothy Jay Vafeades of Salt Lake City, Utah, has already been charged with kidnapping and abusing two women, one a relative, after he allegedly forced them to travel around the country in his truck while repeatedly having sex with him against their will. Vafeades, who wears fangs, named his truck the 'Twilight Express,' most likely in reference to the popular vampire series. Creep: Four new victims have come forward to say they were held as sex slaves by Timothy Jay Vafeades, a vampire-obsessed trucker who enjoys wearing fangs . New charges: Three of the new victims claim Vafeades used a Dremel power tool to grind down their teeth and one alleges he used an X-acto knife to give her new teeth . Now, four more woman have been identified as victims of the same alleged assaults. These new victims are making allegations very much similar to the two previous women, saying Vafeades, 54, took their cell phones and identification cards, forced them to shower and sleep naked with him, and beat them repeatedly while sexually assaulting them on a daily basis. Three of the victims also claim he used a Dremel power tool to grind off their teeth, and one alleges he took an X-acto knife to remove her teeth so she could wear false teeth. He also cut and dyed their hair and forced one woman to marry him. These new claims, which span from 1994 to as recently as 2013, come as federal prosecutors try and build up a case to use as evidence showing a pattern of behavior as they try Vafeades on charges related to his two most recent victims. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Vasfeades' attorney is trying to have almost all of this evidence thrown out as he claims his client was unlawfully detained when officers first picked him up during a traffic stop in Minnesota. Behind bars: Vafeades is already being held without bail of kidnapping and assault charges related to two other victims, one a teenage relative . Caught: He was arrested at a truck stop in Minnesota (above) in November of 2013 when officers noticed his passenger, the teenage relative, was bruised and battered . It was during that stop that officers discovered his first victim, a 19-year-old relative of the man, that they claim was bruised and battered. Shortly after he was arrested, a second woman came forward with similar claims. Vafeades is also being charged with possession of child pornography after authorities found hundreds of child porn videos and images on his computer. | Four new victims have come forward and alleged they were held captive and forced to have sex with trucker Timothy Jay Vafeades .
Vafeades, of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been charged with kidnapping and sexual assault in relation to two other victims, one a teenage relative .
The 54-year-old, who is obsessed with vampires and wears fangs, also 'used a Dremel power tool and X-actor knife to alter his victims' teeth' |
285,352 | fdc2b8733549d7f453059a509722bd85626d8dac | Authorities are investigating whether Jesse Matthew was involved in up to 10 crimes against women in Virginia, after the 31-year-old was arrested under suspicion of kidnapping still-missing college student Hannah Graham. Matthew was arrested in Texas last week after fleeing Virginia when police tried to question him in the disappearance of the 19-year-old University of Virginia student. The UVA nurses's assistant was the last person seen with Graham the night she went missing from downtown Charlottesville. Now investigators are looking into Matthew's movements over the last 12 years, focusing in on the more than six months he attended Christopher Newport University when two other young women disappeared without a trace. Scroll down for video . Serial offender? Jesse Matthew has been charged in the disappearance of University of Virginia college student Hannah Graham (right). Authorities are tracing his whereabouts for the last 12 years, believing he may have been involved in more crimes against women in the state . Arrested: Jesse Matthew was arrested in Texas last week after fleeing Virginia when police asked to question him about Graham. Seen exiting a private plane under federal guard . Matthew transferred to the Newport News school after being kicked out of Liberty University in Lynchburg in 2002 following allegations of rape. He attended CNU from January 2003 before dropping out the following October. During that time, two local women went missing and were never found again. Autumn Wind Day, 24, was last seen shopping at the Food Lion grocery store two miles from campus when she disappeared on July 24, 2003. Less than two months later, 31-year-old Sophie May Rivera went missing after leaving her home located seven miles from CNU. Matthew left the CNU football team five days after Rivera vanished, and dropped out of school a month later. Two more victims? Sophie May Rivera (left) and Autumn Wind Day (right) both went missing from Newport News, Virginia when Matthew was attending local college Christopher Newport University in 2003. Authorities there say they are reopening both cold cases. Neither woman was ever found . Local police are now reopening the two cold cases to see if Matthew may have been involved. 'While there are no indications that Jesse Matthew is connected to these two cases, both will be reviewed,' Newport News police spokesman Lou Thurston told WAVY. It's uncertain what Matthew did for the next several years. However, new forensic evidence connects him to the high-profile abduction, rape and murder of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington. Filling in the blanks: Matthew used to work as a taxi driver and a source told MailOnline that he used to give girls free rides. It's uncertain what he did between dropping out of CNU in 2003, and picking up his career as a cabbie in 2010 . Big break: Police said on Monday that there is a forensic link between the rape and murder of Morgan Harrington, 20 (left), in 2009 and the disappearance of Hannah Graham, 18 on September 13. Police are also looking into whether Matthew may have played a role in the murder of 23-year-old Cassandra Morton (right), who went missing around the same time as Morgan Harrington . Morgan disappeared in 2009 and her body was found three months later, hidden at a remote farm. DNA evidence of her killer, found on her remains, has since been linked to a 2005 rape case of a Fairfax woman who survived the attack. Eight years after dropping out of CNU, Matthew reappears in 2010 working as a taxi driver in Charlottesville. Two years later he got a position as a nurse's assistant at UVA Medical Cenewhere he was just recently fired following Graham's disappearance. In that time, he may have played a role in the death of Morgan, and also another local woman who went missing around the same time - 23-year-old Lynchburg resident Cassandra Morton. Morton's decomposing body was found in November 2009 and the homicide remains unsolved. Missing on Route 29: Five women have gone missing in and around Charlottesville, Virginia, just a few minutes' drive from the same highway in the last five years. Morgan Harrington's body was the only one every found . Authorities in Montgomery County Virginia are also reopening the double homicide of couple Heidi Childs and David Metzler, who were found shot dead in a campground near the Virginia Tech campus in August 2009. 'Our investigators will certainly follow up and look at the facts surrounding the Hannah Graham case to see if there is a connection. However, at this time we have nothing to lead us to believe that there is a connection,' Capt. Brian Wright told ABC News. Double murder: Police in Montgomery County, Virginia are looking into whether Matthew could have played a role in the murders of couple Heidi Childs and David Metzler, who were found shot dead in a campground near Virginia Tech in August 2009 . And three additional women went missing from Charlottesville around the same time Matthew moved there. Samantha Ann Clarke, 19, disappeared from Orange county in September 2010 and 19-year-old DaShad Laquinn Smith disappeared near there in November 2012, WUSA-TV reported. Alexis Murphy, 17, disappeared after leaving her home in Shipman, Virginia, in August 2013. This May, Randolph Taylor, 48, was convicted of her abduction and murder in January although her body has never been found. Another two young women, Alicia Showalter Reynolds, 25, and Anne Carolyn McDaniel, 20, were abducted and murdered in 1996 along the same Virginia corridor. Gone: Alexis Murphy, 17, is one of three women who went missing around the time Matthew returned to Charlottesville. She disappeared after leaving her home in Shipman, Virginia, in August 2013 . Mystery: DaShad Laquinn Smith, 19 (left), has not been seen since November 2012. Samantha Ann Clarke, 19 (right) vanished after leaving her home in Orange in September 2010 . | Jesse Matthew has been charged with abducting still-missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham .
Authorities across Virginia are now investigating him in up to 10 unsolved crimes against women in the state .
Two of those cases involve young women who went missing from Newport News when Matthew was attending a local college there .
Forensic evidence has connected Matthew to the 2009 kidnapping, rape and murder of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington .
Police are also looking into whether Matthew was responsible for the murder of 23-year-old Cassandra Morton, who went missing at the same time as Harrington . |
91,974 | 0250168702263980ee650aab0416b77865d36dff | A stunning luxury island which comes with six beaches, four houses and its own private runway is going up for sale for a staggering £6million. At 681 acres, Innocence Island is the largest private island in the Exuma area of the Bahamas, meaning it has plenty of space for a six-bed house complete with 360 degree panoramic views and a giant swimming pool. Wealthy jet-setters will even be able to charter flights from Miami, Atlanta and Toronto airports to the private runway, which comes with its own airport code - MYEY - and can handle small jets. Innocence Island in the Bahamas is going on sale for £6million, complete with a 3,000 sq ft, six-bed mansion, and its own airstrip (left) The stunning main building has a giant swimming pool, along with various sun decks, lookout points and outdoor dining areas . Innocence, the largest private island in the Exuma region of the Bahamas, also has pontoons jutting out into the sea which provide the perfect relaxation spot . Out on the pontoon guests can enjoy a bite to eat at the dining table or take a cocktail with them and lean against the bar looking out into the ocean . And if the owners decided to fly some friends out to the island with them and there isn't enough room left in the 3,000sq ft main house, then they can always put them up in a separate bungalow, which comes with its own meditation and yoga deck, alongside a gym. If that wasn't enough, there is another four-bedroom property on the island, which should leave plenty of room for the island's caretakers to sleep in a fourth two-bedroom home. Once there, guests will be able to chose between six gorgeous beaches to visit, along with a variety of lookout posts, sun decks, and idyllic pontoons jutting out into the sea. Guests to the island will be able to feast on some home-grown produce as tomatoes, lemons, guava and mangoes all growing wild . With 681 acres to cover visitor's legs may get tired, so they could always take a golf buggy down to one of the six beaches instead . There are six beaches dotted around Innocence Island, ensuring that any guests that get flown there will have plenty of space to relax . There will also be plenty of space for the guests to sleep. As well as the main house, there is another bungalow complete with a gym and meditation deck . And when it comes to eating, why not try some of the island's own produce, with tomatoes, mango, guava and lemons all growing wild across the landscape. Exuma is a district of the Bahamas which contains 360 islands. Since the native population were enslaved in the 16th century, the islands were completely uninhabited until the 18th century and provided a hideout and stash point for many pirates and thieves, including Captain Kidd. Innocence Island is being auctioned for a staggering £6million by Concierge Auctions, USA in New York on the 15th May 2014. There is another four-bedroom property for guests to use, which will leave plenty of space for the island's caretakers in the fourth two-bedroom bungalow . The main house has incredible 360 views out across the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas and the rest of the island . Whoever buys the island can charter flight to it from Toronto, Miami, and Atlanta, and the airstrip even has its own code - MYEY . The idyllic island measures a staggering 681 acres, which is roughly the same size as 520 American football fields . | At 681 acres Innocence island is the largest private island in the Exuma area of the Bahamas .
It comes with six beaches, a 3,000sq ft, six-bed main property, and three other houses .
One of the two-bed bungalows is fitted with a meditation and yoga deck along with a gym . |
177,357 | 7196ff5b909dde74fc03d38fdd94384a804e0212 | England look certain to lose their bowling coach as David Saker weighs up numerous offers to return to his native Australia. Saker, highly regarded for his role with the fast bowlers over the last five years, could even head for home ahead of the end of his contract in September. Sportsmail understands Saker has been offered three of the glut of coaching vacancies that have appeared in Australian cricket at the same time as he was considering ending his time in England. David Saker (left), seen here with England coach Peter Moores, is set to return to his native Australia . It is believed Saker has various offers on the table across the various forms of the game in Australia . That means he will choose between his two options in the Big Bash Twenty20 competition or a job in state cricket, either with Queensland or South Australia, rather than extend his role with England beyond this summer’s Ashes. The latest of the many vacancies emerged on Wednesday when Melbourne Stars did not renew the contract of coach Greg Shipperd, a job that would appeal to Saker. Saker, 48, has unquestionably played a big role in England’s successes after succeeding Ottis Gibson ahead of the World Twenty20 triumph in 2010. He has developed a strong relationship with bowlers like Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad with his emphasis on man-management and the psychology of bowling rather than any obsession with technique or bio-mechanics. Saker keeps a close eye on England fast bowler Steven Finn during the 2014 series with India . Saker with former England coach Andy Flower during a match in Chelmsford in July 2013 . Yet it has not all been plain sailing for the former Victoria fast bowler and he accepted his share of the blame for the flawed strategy of concentrating on the height of Chris Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and Steven Finn for the last Ashes. Finn’s technique collapsed under Saker’s watch but it would be extremely harsh to blame the Australian for all Finn’s problems when they appeared to stem from his habit of knocking the stumps with his right knee. It seems certain that Saker will remain with England for the World Cup but whether he stays beyond it is now doubtful even though his family are settled in the Midlands. Who comes in next for England is intriguing. Middlesex’s Richard Johnson has his supporters but it is more likely that Gibson, who was back working with the fast bowlers at their pre-tour training camp in South Africa, will be asked to return to the post having left his job with the West Indies. Meanwhile, Australia coach Darren Lehmann said today he is ‘sick’ of the speculation about the fitness and leadership of injured captain Michael Clarke. But Lehmann suggested that Clarke is on course to make Australia’s deadline of their second World Cup match, against Bangladesh, to prove his fitness and may even feature in their first one against England in Melbourne. Australia coach Darren Lehmann says he was 'sick' of the speculation surrounding captain Michael Clarke . Michael Clarke is on course to return for Australia's second World Cup match, against Bangladesh . ‘I’m sick of it and I’m looking forward to him coming back,’ said Lehmann as Clarke stepped up his campaign to prove his fitness. ‘He’s captain of Australia, the second most important position here after the Prime Minister, and we need our captain back and playing well.’ There have been strong suggestions here that Clarke is at loggerheads with chief selector Rod Marsh and has even fallen out with a team who now prefer the methods of stand-in Test captain Steve Smith. Clarke played for his club side Western Suburbs against Gordon as he continued his recovery from injury . But Lehmann said: ‘We all get on, that’s the great thing. From our point of view we want our captain fit for the most important tournament in four years. We’ve got the World Cup, a tour of West Indies and then the Ashes and we want him back because he captains this team very well.’ It seems certain that George Bailey, captain of the one-day team in Clarke’s absence, would be axed from the World Cup if Clarke proves his fitness in time. | England bowling coach David Saker expected to return to Australia .
48-year-old has been offered at least three coaching roles back home .
His options include roles with Big Bash teams or a job in state cricket .
Saker has played a big role in developing England's fast bowlers .
Meanwhile, Darren Lehmann has hit back at Michael Clarke speculation .
Clarke is on course to return against Bangladesh at World Cup . |
245,537 | c9ce62d60a456325bb6d0fb852177df228b2cb82 | Ahead of this week's Capital One Cup fourth-round action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture involving the Premier League clubs, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for West Brom's trip to Championship side Bournemouth... Bournemouth vs West Brom (Goldsands Stadium) Kick-off: Tuesday 7.45pm . Odds (subject to change): . Bournemouth 6/4 . Draw 23/10 . West Brom 7/4 . Referee: Paul Tierney . Managers: Eddie Howe (Bournemouth), Alan Irvine (West Brom) Head-to-head League Cup record: Bournemouth wins 0, draws 0, West Brom wins 2 . Team news . Bournemouth . Bournemouth will be without Harry Arter and Steve Cook due to suspension after they picked up their fifth bookings of the season against Birmingham in the 8-0 win at the weekend. However, Eddie Howe is boosted by the return of striker Yann Kermorgant after he served a three-match ban. Marc Pugh celebrates the second of his three goals against Birmingham in Bournemouth's 8-0 win . West Brom . Strikers Victor Anichebe and Brown Ideye could start for West Brom at Bournemouth with head coach Alan Irvine likely to make several changes. Anichebe scored after coming off the substitutes' bench to help the Baggies to a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday while £10million summer buy Ideye is fit again after an ankle problem. Boaz Myhill could start in goal while Gareth McAuley, Cristian Gamboa and Youssouf Mulumbu may be recalled. Winger Silvestre Varela is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from groin surgery, Jonas Olsson is struggling with an Achilles problem while Claudio Yacob is in his native Argentina due to family illness. Provisional squad: Foster, Myhill, Pocognoli, Gamboa, Dawson, Lescott, McAuley, Davidson, Wisdom, Baird, Morrison, O'Neil, Mulumbu, Brunt, Blanco, Sessegnon, Samaras, Ideye, Berahino. Victor Anichebe (centre) is set to start for West Brom against Bournemouth on Tuesday night . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Dan Gosling has scored four goals in three League Cup games this season. Chris Brunt has assisted three goals in his last three appearances in this competition. West Brom have won four of their last five against Bournemouth in all competitions (L1); a run that includes both previous League Cup meetings between the sides. This is only the third time that Bournemouth have reached this stage of the League Cup; they lost both previous Round 4 games (0-1 v York in 1961/62, 1-2 v Stoke in 1963/64). The Cherries have not won in 12 League Cup games against top-flight sides (D3 L9), though they did eliminate then-Premier League Blackburn Rovers on penalties in September 2004. West Brom have scored exactly four goals in three of their last five League Cup away games. | Bournemouth face West Brom at Goldsands Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm)
Championship side Bournemouth beat Birmingham 8-0 on Saturday .
Marc Pugh scored hat-trick with Tokelo Rantie bagging a brace .
Victor Anichebe and Brown Ideye could start for West Brom .
The Baggies drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in their last League game . |
235,291 | bc986fa33d2967c33c0a107d49176f438a3b9084 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 06:23 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:50 EST, 29 November 2013 . It's been hailed as an architectural masterstroke and symbol of China's explosion onto the world stage of global travel. But Shenzhen International Airport's brand-new terminal has a problem: nobody seems to want to go there. The £612million travel hub opened at 6am yesterday with much fanfare as a Shenzhen Airlines flight took off to next-door Mongolia. Smiling staff handed out commemorative model planes to passengers on the flight as dozens of golf carts circulated the lounge to give free rides for anyone in need. But despite claims on its website that tourists can be spirited away to far-flung locations including Sydney, Dubai and Cologne, no airlines actually appear to offer services to or from any of these cities, The Independent reported. Vast: The £612million travel hub opened at 6am yesterday with much fanfare as a Shenzhen Airlines flight took off to next-door Mongolia . Quiet: Despite claims on its website that tourists can be spirited away to far-flung locations including Sydney, Dubai and Cologne, no airlines actually appear to offer services to or from any of these cities . In reality, flights only seem to go to regional destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The only US destination is Anchorage in Alaska - and those flights are all cargo deliveries by UPS and Federal Express - while there is only one direct flight to Europe from Chongqing, and that’s Finnair’s service to Helsinki. Unlike the largest Chinese cities, Shenzhen does not allow a visa-free stopover. Local travel: In reality, flights only seem to go to regional destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore . Eco-port: The terminal resembles a giant white aeroplane covered in a perforated, honeycomb-like skin of metal and glass that admits maximum sunlight, reducing energy consumption while rainwater is recycled in toilets and used to water indoor plants . Hi-tech: Designed by the Rome-based architect Studio Fuksas, Shenzhen Bao¿an International Airport covers a staggering 4.3 million square feet and is capable of handling 45 million passengers a year . Solar powered: It is also the first airport in China to feature a 10-megawatt solar power plant, which cranks out enough power to support 10,000 US households per month . 'One has to wonder who will fly here from outside China, given the choice of flights to Hong Kong and to Macau, both actively promoted in the UK, both nearby and both visa-free,' Neil Taylor, whose travel firm Regent Holidays pioneered travel to China, told the paper. 'Shenzhen had its appeal as a small village when China first opened up in the late 1970s, but tour operators will find it hard to promote now.' Designed by the Rome-based architect Studio Fuksas, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport covers a staggering 4.3 million square feet (400,000 sq m) and is capable of handling 45 million passengers a year. Among it’s tourist attractions is a former Soviet aircraft carrier (complete with fighter jets) called Minsk World. Another is Dapeng Fortress, a battle site during the 19th-century Opium Wars against the 'British colonial invaders'. Re-usable toilet water: The airport's design reduces energy consumption while rainwater is recycled in toilets and used to water indoor plants . Boom years: The airport's lack of commercial interest is in stark contrast to other travel hubs in China where, in the first 10 months of 2013, passenger traffic rose 11 per cent to 297.6 million . Foreign interest: The boom is in part down to the industrialization of domestic travel but also thanks to increased interest from overseas . The terminal resembles a giant white aeroplane covered in a perforated, honeycomb-like skin of metal and glass that admits maximum sunlight, reducing energy consumption while rainwater is recycled in toilets and used to water indoor plants. Features also include stylised white “trees” that serve as air-conditioning vents. It is also the first airport in China to feature a 10-megawatt solar power plant, which cranks out enough power to support 10,000 US households per month. The airport's lack of commercial interest is in stark contrast to other travel hubs in China where, in . the first 10 months of 2013, passenger traffic rose 11 per cent . to 297.6 million. Tree vents: Features also include stylised white 'trees' that serve as air-conditioning vents. Secondary city: But foreign interest mostly concerns the country's major cities and the expected surge of connections from Europe to large 'secondary cities' in China has not materialised . This is in part down to the industrialization of . domestic travel but also thanks to increased interest from overseas. Last week the French airline, Aigle Azur, announced a new link from Paris Orly to Beijing while British Airways this year added a link from Heathrow to Chengdu. But foreign interest mostly concerns the country's major cities and tthe expected surge of connections from Europe to large 'secondary cities' in China has not materialised, reported the Independent. | Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport's Terminal 3 opened yesterday with much fanfare and a flight to Mongolia .
It cost £612m, covers a staggering 4.3million square feet and can handle 45million passengers a year .
Designed by the Rome-based architect Studio Fuksas, it looks like vast white, honeycomb aeroplane .
It is also China's first airport with a 10-megawatt solar power plant that could power 10,000 US homes .
Also a Soviet aviation museum, Minsk World, and another about Britain's 'colonialist invasion' of the Opium Wars .
But the only European airline with flights from the airport is Finnair with one trip to capital Helsinki .
And the only flights to the US are cargo planes to Anchorage in Alaska . |
252,618 | d2ec0aad62f618ed8def8ce3da94f80eb3e5a603 | X Factor judges as well at The Saturdays, Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones have sketched designs for charity . Part of Hallmark and Daybreak's 'Text Santa' campaign . Pack of six is £1.99 . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 11:05 EST, 23 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 23 November 2012 . They are better known for sitting on the X Factor panel and judging hopeful popstars on their vocal abilities. But now, the judges themselves have been given the chance to show off their own talent, and both Gary Barlow and Tulisa have proven that there is more artistic flair to them than simply belting out a few high notes. Both singers have sketched cute Christmas card designs which feature in a bespoke pack of six alongside designs from The Saturdays, Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden, and Daybreak's Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones. Gary Barlow's card features a magical flying Santa and accompanying message opening up about his favourite Christmas memories . Tulisa shows off her artistic and domestic talents with her festive card featuring Christmas lunch . Hallmark, the card and gift . specialists, has joined forces with ITV1’s Daybreak to produce its . official ‘Text Santa’ charity Christmas cards with the celebrities. Each card comes complete with a special joyeaux message from . each of the celebrities themselves. The . message from Gary Barlow, featured with his magical flying Santa Christmas card design, . reads: 'When I was a little boy, I remember looking out of my window on a . snowy Christmas Eve and seeing Santa riding his sleigh! 'It was the best . Christmas present ever to see Santa, so my card is all about the magic . and bubbling excitement of Santa and Christmas Eve! Ho Ho Ho Merry . Christmas!' The Saturdays combined their creative talents and sketched a Saturday night Santa . The Saturdays’ opted for a groovy break dancing ‘Saturday night Santa’ while Tulisa’s feasting Santa tucking into a Christmas banquet proved that the 24-year-old has more than a few talents up her sleeve. Emmerdale’s Matthew Wolfenden sketched ‘Santadale’, with Santa and his sheep-come reindeer lost in the Yorkshire Dales and Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones’ presenter Santa and snowman sidekick is reminiscent of their TV roles. Speaking about the card collection Lorraine and Aled said: 'Christmas . brings back all those memories of being cosy at home and getting . everyone together for a good old celebration! 'This year whilst we are at . home with our friends and families we are leaving the presenting on the . Daybreak sofa to these two special guests! Have a magical Christmas and a . wonderful New Year! Love from Lorraine and Aled xx' Lorraine and Aled's hilarious sketch shows who will be replacing them on the Daybreak sofa over the festive season . Matthew Wolfenden's festive take on Emmerdale (L) and (R) the competition winner's cute design . The celebrities all put pen to paper to show off their art skills together with . competition winner, six-year-old Demi Holmes who won a nationwide ‘Sketch Santa’ competition (set up by ITV1 . Daybreak and Hallmark) by creating a card that captured exactly what . Christmas meant to her. Now, . Demi’s winning card will be sold alongside the five celeb-designed . creations to create a charity card six-pack. The pack is available today . in Hallmark stores, at www.hallmark.co.uk and from the 27th in Asda . stores. They will cost from £1.99 with at least 50p going to the ‘Text . Santa’ appeal, which in turn supports six worthy charities. | X Factor judges as well at The Saturdays, Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones have sketched designs for charity .
Part of Hallmark and Daybreak's 'Text Santa' campaign .
Pack of six is £1.99 . |
147,588 | 4ad66fb8d5df7322bcb2acc46d6c44542b7e83c1 | The sexual abuse of a 13-year-old Boy Scout by an adult volunteer was part of a 'sordid history of child sexual abuse' within the organization that has been documented internally for nearly a century, the victim's attorney said Monday in his opening statement at a civil trial in California. The Scout, now 20, has sued the Boy Scouts of America and a local scouting council for punitive damages after being molested by a volunteer leader in 2007. He claims in his negligence lawsuit that the Scouts failed to educate, train and warn parents and adult volunteers about the dangers of sex abuse. His attorney, Tim Hale, won the right to draw from more than 30 years of 'perversion' files kept by the Scouts as evidence at trial to support those allegations. The files cleared for use by Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Donna D. Geck include 16 years of documents — from 1991 to 2007— that have never been seen before. Sick: Former Boy Scout leader Al Stein who pleaded no contest to felony child endangerment in 2009. Previously sealed Boy Scouts 'perversion' files spanning 16 years could soon be in the public eye as part of a negligence lawsuit set for trial Monday . Hale told the jury that when they deliberate they will receive a CD of 100,000 pages of files to review and will be the first people in the U.S. outside Scout leadership and attorneys to see the documents. Hale said in his opening remarks that the Scouts recorded between 9,000 and 10,000 such files between 1920 and 2007. An attorney for the Scouts put the number at 7,500; the discrepancy wasn't explained. 'The Boy Scouts of America has a long and sordid history of child sexual abuse committed against young Scouts . committed by Scout leaders and that timeline goes back, the files show, until at least the 1920s,' he said. 'What has not been going on is notice to the public and notice to (the plaintiff) and his parents,' the lawyer added. The plaintiff in the lawsuit testified later in the day that he suffered a bruise and a laceration in the assault at a Christmas tree lot and still suffers from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He returned to the lot with a hidden tape recorder several days later to try to get a confession and was partially successful, he said, when the volunteer asked the teen if he had told his mother. 'It was a 13-year-old's word over a Scout leader, an adult,' said the victim, who remained composed on the stand. 'He was someone people looked up to.' Acknowledgement: The organization acknowledges mistakes in the way sex abuse allegations were handled in the past but now has a robust child protection program, attorney Nicholas Heldt said . The plaintiff later quit his beloved game of baseball, stopped hanging out with friends and stayed in his room. He eventually began home schooling because he saw the volunteer sitting in a car outside his high school about five times as the criminal case proceeded. 'I felt scared. I felt like he was coming after me,' the victim told jurors, adding that he threw up once in public when he unexpectedly saw the man. The victim's name is being used in court, but The Associated Press does not generally name victims of sexual abuse. An attorney for the Boy Scouts said in his opening statement that the 'perversion' files were created to keep children safe by maintaining a master list of people ineligible to volunteer with the Scouts. The organization acknowledges mistakes in the way sex abuse allegations were handled in the past but now has a robust child protection program, attorney Nicholas Heldt said. From 2003 to 2007, a key period for the lawsuit, only 27 adult volunteers were kicked out annually for sexually abusing Scouts, although there were at least 1.5 million volunteers nationally, he said. When the plaintiff was abused, the youth protection training worked because the boy recognized the abuse, resisted and told his mother, Heldt said. She, in turn, told local Scout leaders who informed law enforcement. 'This case is about training and whether training would have made a difference,' he told jurors. 'I think this is a case in which the one instance of sexual abuse against (the plaintiff) could not have been prevented, and it wasn't prevented,' he said. 'But the training program may have helped prevent the second or the third instance of sexual abuse.' The records allowed by the judge could reveal how much the national organization has improved its efforts to protect children and report abuse after several high-profile cases sparked the youth protection policy in the late 1980s. Previous large verdicts against the Scouts focused on cases where alleged abuse occurred before the policy was put in place. In 2012, the Oregon Supreme Court ordered the Scouts to make public a trove of files from 1965 to 1985. The records showed that more than one-third of abuse allegations never were reported to police and that even when authorities were told, little was done most of the time. The current lawsuit alleges that Scouts volunteer Al Stein, now 37, pulled down the plaintiff's pants when he was 13 and fondled him while the two worked in the Christmas tree lot. Stein pleaded no contest to felony child endangerment in 2009 and was sentenced to probation. He served time in prison after authorities discovered photos of naked children on his cellphone. Under the judge's ruling, records that Hale does not use in open court will remain sealed. After trial, the plaintiff's counsel and other interested parties can petition the court for the release of all the files. | A former boy scout filed a lawsuit in California after a troop leader sexually abused him at the age of 13 .
In the course of the trial, public files will be released to the public that show how the organization has dealt with the issue of sex abuse .
The attorney for a victim claiming to have been abused at 13 says 'perversion files' stretch back to the 1920s . |
191,681 | 8436b4dd04dc2197078556180b9fb383c3f44072 | Set free: Monsignor William Lynn was released from prison Thursday after winning an appeal of his landmark conviction in the priest-abuse scandal . A Roman Catholic priest who won an appeal of his landmark conviction in the priest-abuse scandal left state prison today after 18 months behind bars. Monsignor William Lynn left the prison in Waymart in northeastern Pennsylvania, prison spokeswoman Terri Fazio said, and was being taking by the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office to a city jail, where he would be fitted with an electronic monitoring device. After that, he'll be released, probably to the custody of a family member, one of his lawyers said. The attorney, Thomas Bergstrom, declined to say where in Philadelphia his client will live while prosecutors appeal the Superior Court ruling. Lynn, 62, was the first U.S. church official ever charged for hiding complaints that priests were molesting children. He was the point person for those complaints in Philadelphia from 1992-2004. Prosecutors charged him with felony child endangerment. But the appeals court said the law that existed at the time didn't cover people who don't directly supervise children. Lynn's lawyers, including Jeffrey Lindy and Alan Tauber, had made that argument even before his 2011 indictment, but Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina sent the case to trial. Lynn was sprung from the Waymart prison just hours after the Roman Catholic Church helped him post 10 per cent of his $250,000 bail. District Attorney Williams criticized the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for putting up the money for Lynn's bail. Outraged: District Attorney Williams criticized the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for paying 10 per cent of Lynn's $250,000 bail . ‘It is disgusting that they would pay to free this man,’ Williams said at a news conference Tuesday, Philly.com reported. Williams, who described himself as a practising Catholic and former altar boy, said he was 'shocked and overwhelmed' by the decision of the church to help bail out Lynn. The prosecutor has vowed to appeal the Superior Court decision by next month's deadline. ‘William Lynn is no patsy. He is no fall guy,’ Williams said. ‘He is a cold, calculating man who endangered the welfare of countless children for decades by moving known predators throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.’ The Philadelphia archdiocese has been in the crosshairs of city prosecutors since 2002, when the priest-abuse scandal broke in Boston. Lynn, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua and other church officials — accompanied by lawyers — were grilled for days by an earlier grand jury that issued a damning report in 2005 but concluded that no charges could be filed. Lynn (left) leaves Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center for a lunch break on March 26, 2012 in Philadelphia during his trial on covering up pedophile abuses . Prosecutors tried again under District Attorney Seth Williams, who charged three priests with new sexual assault allegations in 2011 and Lynn with protecting the accused predators by hiding complaints in secret files. Bevilacqua, by then frail and elderly, was a potential witness in Lynn's case but died before trial. By that time, his mild-mannered successor, Cardinal Anthony Rigali, had been replaced in Philadelphia by dynamic Archbishop Charles Chaput. Chaput has twice visited Lynn in prison and has said that no one person should become the scapegoat for the abuse crisis. Bergstrom, his attorney, said Lynn has become just that. ‘There's clearly some reason to believe that that's what happened here,’ Bergstrom said. Public outcry: Bob Hoatson, of West Orange, N.J., and with Road to Recovery, demonstrates outside the criminal justice center December 30 . Lynn, at his July 2012 sentencing, told Sarmina he tried his best to address the festering sex-abuse problem. He also voiced regret over his climb up the archdiocesan hierarchy. ‘I am a parish priest. I should have stayed [one],’ Lynn said. Sarmina acknowledged that Lynn sometimes sent accused priests for therapy, but she said he ultimately protected the church's reputation over the souls of children. She sentenced him to three-to-six years in prison. Lynn's conviction stems from the transfer of accused priest Edward Avery to a new parish, where he was later accused of raping a former altar boy in the church sacristy. Defense: Lynn's attorney Thomas Bergstrom (left) said his client (right) has become a scapegoat for the sex abuse crisis . Avery pleaded guilty and is serving 2 1/2- to five years in prison, although he denied the assault when called to testify at Lynn's trial. Lynn remains a priest in good standing with the church, and could return to ministry. He last served as pastor of St. Joseph's in Downingtown, an affluent suburban parish whose members supported Lynn at his trial. A spokesman for the archdiocese did not immediately return a phone message Thursday. | Monsignor William Lynn, 62, oversaw hundreds of priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese .
Archdiocese helped pay 10 per cent of Lynn's $250,000 bail .
His attorney said today: 'He's been in prison 18 months for a crime he didn't commit...it's incredible' |
216,960 | a4e5692eaea5fcc5e503ecd660fa772454d2ac83 | By . Laura Collins . PUBLISHED: . 12:13 EST, 2 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:23 EST, 2 November 2012 . Rumour after rumour was swirling and stoking the hopes and frustrations of the crowd - there would be gas in two hours, in five hours, in six hours. But once it gets here the question is how long will it last? Last night people were fighting over the dwindling fuel left, but by this morning that desperation had turned into simply finding it - or even the promise of it. At Ozone Park, Queens, New York that ripple of a rumour that a truck was on its way was all that it took. And after two hours of driving past closed gas stations patrolled by police waving angry drivers by it is easy to understand why. Patience: People wait in line for fuel at a Shell Oil station in Fort Lee, New Jersey . By 7.30am the cars were lined up around two blocks. By 10.30am there were more than 100, engines stilled, drivers out, waiting. On the forecourt 50 people were huddled holding their gas cans, water bottles, as many containers they could carry or load onto a trolley. They want fuel and they want answers. For Tiffany Adams a worker for New York City Transport it was the second day of searching and waiting - and she was not alone: 'I drove all down Atlantic Avenue yesterday and every gas station was closed. I've got two kids, a four-year-old and a seven year old. We've got no power, CONED is doing nothing, telling us nothing.' Out of gas: A police officer moves a car that is out of gas, trying to position it so it can fill up, at a gas station in Brooklyn today . Heated: Tempers flared at the Gulf station at Flatbush Avenue and Kings Highway, as customers suspected the gas station attendant was pumping gas for a man that cut in line . Desperate: Last night people were fighting over the dwindling fuel left, but by this morning that desperation had turned into simply finding it - or even the promise of it . Her anger was echoed by others standing by. 'It's all about Manhattan,' said one. 'The mayor's doing a horrible job,' came another and within moments the anger that lies so close to the surface right now bubbled up. People tweeted . asking for information on open gas stations, others tweeted when they . found them or moment by moment as they closed. A Facebook site was set . up to track what was open, what was closed, when gas was perhaps being . delivered, how long the queue to get it. Earl Lucas, 72, had seen something like it before, in the seventies he said when there was, as he put it, 'a real gas shortage.' 'People are angry because the gas is there they just can't get it. Do you know how to get it? Can you use your influence to get some? Wait in line: Queues of people and of cars snake around the block waiting for fuel in this gas station in Newark, N.J. Call for order: A New York City Police officer speaks to a customer at a Hess fuelling station in Brooklyn, New York Harbor as the fuel crisis grips the New York area . 'There were five trucks came in here from a Catholic charity and they got straight through and filled up. Some people can get it.' This is how it starts - the rumours of special treatment, apocryphal or true no-one in this queue really knows but they feed the resentment and frustration offering someone or some group to blame. However united these people may be in a common need the reality is that if that need can't be met for all, camaraderie will swiftly give way to something altogether more ugly. It already has elsewhere. The police know it, that's why they are here and the crowd know it - they can feel it. 'People are getting killed for gas,' shouted one guy. | Tempers begin to flair in queues at gas stations across New York and New Jersey as worried drivers fear it will run out .
Drivers complain that NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg is 'doing a horrible job'
Anger over some drivers using 'privilege' to jump queues .
One motorist: 'The fuel is there, we just can't get it' |
91,490 | 01b035be8206c79a0eab6656f9d37c983de82aed | MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (CNN) -- Uruguay became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex couples to adopt children after the Senate voted to approve a bill modifying the country's adoption statute. "It is a right for the boys and the girls, not a right for the adults," Sen. Margarita Percovich said after the vote on Wednesday. "It streamlines the adoption process and does not discriminate." The expected Senate approval followed the lower chamber of Congress' passage of the bill last month. The law will pave the way for gays and lesbians to start a family, Daniel Alonso, a resident of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, told CNN. "You have plans to form a family, to adopt. When you have a law that protects you, it makes you want to have a child," he said. "You feel part of society." The adoption measure would be the most recent of progressive laws passed with the backing of President Tabare Vazquez. Last year, lawmakers approved a measure allowing children aged 12 or older to change their names, a measure aimed at transgender or transsexual youths. Uruguay also authorized same-sex civil unions last year, setting the stage for the current adoption law. The measure was not without opponents among conservatives and the clergy. Last month, Archbishop Nicolas Cotugno of Montevideo, released a statement warning of consequences for society should the law pass, the Catholic News Agency reported. "The adoption of children by homosexual couples is not a question of religion, philosophy or sociology. It has to do with respect for human nature itself," he said, according to CNA. "To accept the adoption of children by homosexual couples is to go against human nature itself, and consequently, it is to go against the fundamental rights of the human being as a person." Journalist Dario Klein contributed to this report. | NEW: Expected Senate approval follows passage of bill by the lower chamber .
NEW: Law paves way for gays, lesbians to start a family, Montevideo resident says .
Lawmakers already approved measure letting children 12 or older to change names .
Measure was not without opponents from conservatives and clergy . |
53,872 | 98c31464a9052c1ccddc9cbb71c2529f3fba6f4d | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Italy's prime minister vowed Sunday that his country will continue supporting Afghanistan even after combat troops pull out. "It is important that the relationship between Afghanistan and the international community is modified to reflect the new conditions, but that it doesn't stop," Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said Sunday in a joint news conference with Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. NATO leaders are on a timetable to withdraw all of the alliance's combat troops from Afghanistan in 2014. "It will be a presence based less on military contributions," Monti said. "It will be a presence based far more on economic cooperation, it will be cooperation on the exploration and use of Afghanistan's important mineral resources and it will be a cooperation, as it already is in this phase, of institution-building to make Afghanistan an ever more solid country." Monti met with Karzai after visiting Italian forces on a surprise trip to Herat, Afghanistan, where Italy's troops there are based. About 4,000 Italian troops are stationed in Afghanistan, according to a tally published by NATO's International Security Assistance Force on October 8. At least 49 Italian troops have died in the Afghan war, according to a CNN tally. Sunday is Italy's Armed Forces Day, which commemorates the end of World War I and honors Italian troops. CNN's Alexander Felton contributed to this report. | The Italian prime minister makes a surprise visit to Afghanistan .
Italian combat troops are scheduled to withdraw in 2014 .
"It is important that the relationship...doesn't stop" after troops pull out, he says .
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti meets with troops, Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai . |
157,972 | 583c621d1b5207921adabb2f6bf10f22efd0daf2 | By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 06:14 EST, 25 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:09 EST, 25 May 2012 . A British businesswoman accused of having drunken sex in a taxi in Dubai has been fired. Rebecca Blake, 29, wept after she was told to clear her desk by embarrassed bosses at recruitment firm Manpower Professional. She spoke tearfully on her mobile phone as she left the company's headquarters, carrying a box of her belongings under her arm. Fired: A tearful Rebecca Blake emerges from the building, carrying a box under her arm . Miss Blake, from Croydon, south London, and Irish welder Conor McRedmond were arrested earlier this month after an all-day drinking binge. The pair were held for five days and accused of having sex outside marriage and being drunk in a public place – both criminal offences in the strict Islamic state. Miss Blake, who has hired publicist Max Clifford, faces up to three years in jail if convicted. She denies the allegations. Shocked: A tearful Miss Blake weeps after bosses told her to clear her desk . Mr Clifford's office confirmed that she had been 'let go' from her job. Miss Blake, a recruitment consultant, met Mr McRedmond at The Irish Village, a hotel bar where patrons pay £10 a head for an all-you-can-drink brunch event. After drinking for 12 hours, the pair hailed a cab towards Dubai Marina. Minutes later they were spotted in a passionate embrace by the driver in his rear view mirror, according to police reports. Incensed by their behaviour, the driver stopped and complained to police in a patrol car parked nearby. When he returned with an officer, they saw Miss Blake having sex on the back seat of the cab with Mr McRedmond, it is alleged. Upset: Miss Blake, who worked as a recruitment consultant, has denied the allegations against her . Leaving: Miss Blake, who denies the allegations, faces up to three years in jail if convicted . A source said: ‘They were completely drunk, started kissing and then got carried away. That’s when they started having sex. ‘When the police officer went over, he found the woman was completely naked and they were having sex on the back seat.’ After their arrest the pair were taken to the nearby Jebel Ali police station and held in custody from May 4 to May 9. Rebecca Blake, 29, pictured, and Conor McRedmond were arrested after an all-day drinking binge . Police took DNA samples to provide evidence that they had had sex and had been drinking. Officers are waiting for the results to come back from the forensic laboratory before they send the pair to court. They were released on bail only when two separate friends acted as guarantors and handed over their passports. Miss Blake was bailed after a surety was paid by company manager Rowley Rees Brown, 42, a friend who lives in Dubai. She claimed she had not been arrested on suspicion of having sex and insisted she had been alone in the back of the cab. In an interview, she is reported to have said: ‘I have no idea where these sex allegations have come from because none were put to me by the authorities. 'I was arrested for having a bottle of beer in the back of a cab, not having sex. That is all. I was alone in the vehicle.’ Mr McRedmond, who is thought to work for an engineering firm, also denies the charges. Those convicted of having sex outside marriage face a sentence of between one month and three years under Dubai law. Consumption of alcohol is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to £340. Foreigners jailed in Dubai are deported immediately after completing their sentences. Strict Islamic state: Briton Rebecca Black and Irishman Conor McRedmond are said to have engaged in a drunken tryst after leaving a bar in Dubai . Foreigners jailed in Dubai are deported immediately after completing their sentences. The case highlights the difficulties faced by more than 100,000 Britons who live in Dubai. Officials in the Gulf state have prosecuted several Britons for indecent behaviour over the past five years. The case highlights the difficulties faced by more than 100,000 Britons who live in Dubai. Officials in the Gulf state have prosecuted several Britons for indecent behaviour over the past five years. In 2008, Vince Acors, of Bromley, Kent, and Michelle Palmer, of Oakham, Rutland, were given three-month jail terms for having sex on Jumeirah Beach. They claimed they had simply been ‘kissing and cuddling’ and the sentences were suspended on appeal. In 2010, estate agent Charlotte Adams and Ayman Najafi were jailed for one month by a Dubai court for kissing and fondling each other in a restaurant – a breach of strict decency laws. | Recruitment consultant Rebecca Blake was told to clear her desk after being arrested in Dubai .
Miss Blake and Irish welder Conor McRedmond were detained for five days after a drinking binge . |
194,123 | 87474a5367d361b55b7e134fdf2db23e3406716b | Editor's note: Leonard Pitts Jr., a columnist for The Miami Herald, won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary and is the author of a new novel, "Before I Forget" and "Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood." Leonard Pitts says we know what it takes to improve the performance of African-American students. (CNN) -- Back in 1972, on an episode of "All in the Family," Gloria posed the following riddle to Archie and Meathead. Father and son go driving. There's an accident. The father is killed instantly, the son is rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The surgeon walks in, takes one look at the patient and says, "I can't operate on this boy. He's my son." The answer to the apparent paradox eluded Archie, Meathead and the guys down at Kelsey's bar for the balance of the half hour. They floated theories involving stepfathers, sons-in-law, priests, adoptions and returns from the dead. All of which Archie apparently found more believable than the true answer which was, of course, that the surgeon was the boy's mother. "If that's the answer," he spouted, "that's the dumbest riddle I ever hoid!" Thirty-seven years later it is, perhaps, difficult to appreciate why this riddle ever was a riddle, how so apparent an answer could have stymied Archie, Meathead and, I would wager, the vast majority of the viewing audience. The riddle speaks volumes not just about how the world has changed in four decades, but also about how unconscious expectations can blind us to the obvious. In 1972, one expected a man when one heard the word "surgeon." Much as, in 2009, one expects a white kid when one hears the word "scholar." People will deny this, will say all the right and politic things. But the disclaimers will be as thin and transparent as Saran Wrap. Black, white and otherwise, we are all socialized by the same forces and all carry, by and large, the same unconscious assumptions. One of which is that a certain level of achievement is black and another is white. This is what you are hearing when a black kid speaks standard English and another black kid chides him for "talking white." This is what George W. Bush was alluding to when he decried "the soft bigotry of low expectations." And this is what we need to address forthrightly if we ever hope to close the so-called achievement gap that looms between black kids and white ones. In 2007 and 2008, I traveled the country for a series of columns called "What Works," aimed at profiling programs that addressed that gap. I traveled between big programs and small ones, from the Harlem Children's Zone, which encompasses 90 square blocks of holistic education, family counseling, medical care and tutoring in New York City, to the Freedom Project in Sunflower County, Mississippi, which offers field trips, martial arts and academic enrichment in a rural county where the median income is $25,000 a year and the teen pregnancy rate is said to be 25 percent. I toured Self Enhancement Inc. in Portland, Oregon, a KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) School in Gaston, North Carolina, the East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia, and many others. In all these places, I saw black kids -- well-spoken, clean-cut and noon-sun bright -- making a lie out of other peoples' expectations. Over the course of 13 months, common themes began to emerge whenever I would ask why kids such as these were doing such wondrous work in these places and substandard work elsewhere. We have more power to fire bad teachers and reward good ones, they said. We require parental involvement. We have a longer school day and a longer school year. We mentor children that need it. We counsel children and families that need it. We are invested in them and make sure they know it. Most of all, they spoke of the simple power of expectation: making it a conscious point to look for greatness in black kids in whom people had not thought to look for it before. What I came to understand in those interviews is that we already know the secret to improving academic performance for African-American children. What is missing is the will to do so. And that, I think, is because where they are concerned, we have other expectations. I asked Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, how he justifies asking for money to uplift poor kids in Harlem. His response struck me: "Someone's yelling at me because I'm spending $3,500 a year on `Alfred.' 'Alfred' is 8. OK, Alfred turns 18. No one thinks anything about locking him up for 10 years at $60,000 a year." But then, we expect Alfred to be locked up, don't we? Expect it so blithely that we will not challenge the expectation even when it works against our own economic self-interest. Canada, after all, presents a rather stark choice: invest a smaller amount early and produce a citizen who pays taxes and contributes to the system or pay a much larger amount later for the upkeep of a citizen who consumes tax monies and contributes nothing. That we consistently choose the latter says something about how we assess the educability, the salvageability, of African-American kids. Thirteen months of interviewing young scholars left me more impatient than ever with a culture that writes off black kids because they are black kids. Somewhere between the 13-year-old in rural Mississippi who wants to go to Harvard and the second-graders in Harlem studying Vincent Van Gogh, I ceased being surprised and started being angry that what I saw was still the exception and not the rule. Everywhere I went, there were black kids excelling. And at some point, you say to yourself: well, of course. What did you expect? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Leonard Pitts Jr. | Leonard Pitts Jr.: Unconscious expectations can blind us to the obvious .
He says many people expect black students to perform more poorly .
Programs have demonstrated that investing in children's education pays off .
Pitts: We already know secret to improve performance, but do we have will to do it? |
113,649 | 1ea37fe3a922cab0738c7d8bad1aabacd6d595b3 | New York (CNN) -- For the first time since Tyler Clementi's death, the family of the Rutgers University freshman walked across the bridge where he took his own life. Clementi's mother, Jane, and his brother, James, were joined Sunday by anti-bullying supporters as they visited the George Washington Bridge, which connects upper Manhattan with Fort Lee, New Jersey. Clementi, 18, committed suicide in 2010 after learning his roommate, Dharun Ravi, had secretly used a webcam to stream his sexual encounter with another man. Ravi was sentenced in May 2012 to serve 30 days in jail and three years of probation, and to complete 300 hours of community service. He was released on June 19 after serving 20 days behind bars. The event Sunday was the culmination of a 37-day, 921-mile walk from Chicago to New York City to promote friendship as a way to reduce bullying. The event was organized by Friend Movement co-founders Ronnie Kroell and Elliot London. Since Tyler's death, the Clementi family has formed The Tyler Clementi Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to working with and supporting gay and lesbian youths. Kroell, 30, and London, 32, worked with The Tyler Clementi Foundation on this Friend Movement project but without any intentions of having the Clementis participating, according to London. They were shocked and honored when Jane and James decided to walk with them across bridge, a painful reminder of Tyler's death, London said. "This is a very strong woman who knows that (Tyler's) life is so important to remember and to help create more awareness," London said of Clementi's mother. "(Jane and James) were incredibly strong." As they walked over the bridge, Kroell said the sky opened up into warm sunshine and the wind went quiet. They felt Tyler was walking alongside them, he said. After crossing the bridge, Kroell, London and the Clementis met with about 75 other supporters at Fort Tryon Park to tie purple ribbons -- a symbol for anti-gay bullying awareness -- around the trunk and branches of a tree in remembrance of Tyler and other victims of bullying who have committed suicide. Kroell and London had asked participants to wear purple as well. "The reason why we chose not to stop at the bridge, but to keep walking to the end, was to show the community we can overcome these obstacles," Kroell said. Having been victims of bullying themselves, Kroell and London said they co-founded the Friend Movement to promote positive anti-bullying messages through art and media, in the wake of an increasing number of adolescent suicides committed because of bullying. They were inspired by Clementi's death and decided to spend 37 days walking from city to city, having conversations with communities and sharing stories about friendships and bullying, London said. "Everyone has something that's happened to them," London said. "It's been incredible to be an ear to listen." Kroell and London began their walk on October 5 from The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago, and now they will be flying back to their homes in Los Angeles. Kroell said they are returning as two very different people than when they left and hope to stay in touch with everyone they met along the way. "These are people that have changed our life," Kroell said. "They really touched our lives." | In 2010, a distraught Tyler Clementi, 18, jumped from the George Washington Bridge .
His roommate had secretly streamed Tyler's sexual encounter with another man .
Bridge event is culmination of Chicago-to-New York walk by anti-bullying supporters . |
168,352 | 65be4459e25cbbb29578079aeb4178150404b5ca | By . Marielle Simon for Daily Mail Australia . A naked man armed with a stick attempted to carjack three cars driving on a highway, before being chased down, tackled and secured with rope until police arrived. Witnesses have told police the 26-year-old man ran out from a bush, smashing the windscreen of a moving ute and causing it flip on Brookton Highway in Karagullen, 40km southeast of Perth. A man was found trapped in the capsized ute by another driver Phil Ferraro, who stopped to help the victim. Scroll down for video . A naked man was tackled and hogtied, after he attempted to carjack three cars and allegedly assault a woman on a highway in Western Australia . Witnesses have told police the 26-year-old man ran out from a bush, smashing the windscreen of a moving ute, causing it flip on Brookton Highway in Karagullen, 40km southeast of Perth . Mr Ferraro said the attacker continued to harass other drivers, before allegedly carjacking and assaulting a woman who also had stopped to help. 'He tried to drag the girl out of her car and carjack her, ripping at her clothes and hair,' he told Nine News. The victim in the ute then called his brother and friend for help, while the armed man ran up and down the Brookton Highway stripping off his clothes. He was eventually tackled to the ground, hogtied and held down until police arrived at the scene. Mr Ferraro said the attacker was 'going crazy', as the men held him down in a ditch and used a rope to hogtie him. The naked man was taken to Armadale Hospital and charged with 'endangering a life, health or safety of a person. He will face court later this month. A man was found trapped in the capsized ute, causing driver Phil Ferraro to stop and help the victim . Mr Ferraro said the attacker continued to harass other drivers, before allegedly carjacking and assaulting a woman who had stopped to help . The armed man was eventually tackled to the ground, hogtied and held down in a ditch until police arrived at the scene . The naked man was taken to Armadale Hospital and charged with 'endangering a life, health or safety of a person . | A 26-year-old man armed with a stick attempted to carjack three cars on a highway in Western Australia .
Witnesses say the man ran out from a bush and smashed the windscreen of a ute .
The man assaulted a woman before taking off his clothes and running down the road .
He was chased down and hogtied till police arrived on the scene . |
84,088 | ee7916c31740a75f76b31fb547163dde90a0f612 | By . Alexandra Klausner . Recent studies show that many American women have too little iodine and if pregnant, is a deficiency that may affect their child's brain development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday, iodine is essential to babies' brain development and a lack of it can hinder a child's ability to live to his or her full potential. NBC reports that in the past, the iodine problem was solved by adding iodine to table salt. Iodine deficiencies in the U.S. due to the popularity of processed foods is leaving some women with a lack of the mineral that can lower their child's IQ . Unfortunately, iodine is no longer a part of the common American diet as most of the salt consumed in the U.S. comes from processed foods, said pediatrician Dr.Jerome Paulson. Women who are vegan and who don't eat fish are also likely to have an iodine deficiency. Even though an iodine deficiency affects a child's brain, it isn't likely that it will cause a learning disability. 'The brain development issues are very subtle and are not likely to be noticed in an individual child,' Paulson explained. 'It's an issue for society as a whole when you have a large number of children who are not reaching their full potential.' Paulson said that children will appear to be normal but that they may not be the greatest they could be. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, iodine is essential to babies' brain development and taking anywhere from 150- 290 micrograms per day can higher a child's IQ . According to the New York Daily News, Whether or not a woman has an iodine deficiency doesn't dictate whether or not she should take a supplement. In fact, all pregnant mothers and women of child bearing age are urged to take a dose of the mineral. Pregnant woman should take 220 micrograms a day and breastfeeding moms should take up to 290 micrograms . In addition to taking iodine, women should also take vitamin D in their prenatal vitamin regimen. 'I think the main thing is that the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] should make sure that prenatal vitamins contain all the essential nutrients,' Garibaldi said. 'It's very important that vitamins such as Vitamin D which is useful in calcifying bones, and elements such as iodine be part of prenatal vitamins.' Pediatricians say an iodine deficiency can also increase a mother and her baby's vulnerability to tobacco and certain chemicals in drinking water. | Iodine is essential to babies' brain development and a lack .
of it can hinder a child's ability to live up to his or her full potential .
Unfortunately, iodine is no longer a .
part of the common American diet (table salt) as most of the salt consumed in the .
U.S. comes from processed foods .
In addition to iodine, pregnant women should take vitamin D . |
35,637 | 6543472a07df71612a7252b3736004878511e284 | Survivors of the Sandy Hook massacre are to pay tribute to 26 classmates and teachers who were gunned down last month by singing America the Beautiful at the Super Bowl on Sunday. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed that 26 pupils from the Newtown, Connecticut elementary school will perform in the pregame show of Super Bowl XLVII just before Alicia Keys performs the national anthem. The NFL will fly the students and their families down to New Orleans ahead of the performance which will cap a season in which the league lent its support to the devastated community. Scroll down for video: . Talented: Members of the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir, pictured, will perform at the Super Bowl on Sunday . Brave: The Sandy Hook singers, pictured here recording a version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in tribute to their classmates and teachers, will sing before the national anthem in New Orleans . Tuneful: The choir will sing America the Beautiful in the pregame show . Support: Martellus Bennett of the New York Giants holds hands with families from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut before a game earlier this season. NFL teams have been showing support for the families of victims of the massacre . Reaching out: New York Giants players greet families of Sandy Hook Elementary School before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles last month . Tribute: Some NFL players have paid personal tribute to massacre victims. Here Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans cleats show the names of the 26 victims . Since the December masssacre, NFL players have worn the school's initials on their helmets, taken part in moments of silence before games while some have paid personal tribute with messages on cleats and gloves or made charitable donations. The New York Giants also welcomed students and families onto the field during their pregame introductions before their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. That tribute came shortly after Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz paid an emotional visit to the family of 6-year-old Jack Pinto, a Cruz fan who was buried in a number 80 Giants shirt. He said after the visit: 'It was a time where I just wanted to be a positive voice, a positive light in a time where it can be very negative. It was a good time. 'They're a great family and they are really united right now at this time. It was good to see.' Poignant: Teams including The Tennessee Titans, pictured here, have held a moments silence before games in tribute to Sandy Hook massacre victims . Remembrance: Players from the New York Jets are seen bowing their heads during a minutes silence for Sandy Hook victims at a game earlier this season . Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson auctioned off his game-worn cleats on which he had written all of the victims' names. He gave the proceeds to the United Way's Sandy Hook School Support Fund. And the Houston Texans raised money for the victims. Defensive end J.J. Watt tweeted a picture of him and a handful of students on the field the Friday before Houston's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Touching: Houston Texans fans take a moment to remember the victims of a massacre at Sandy Hook earlier this season . Watt told USA Today: 'I just kind of wanted to give them as normal a day as possible, just running around, having fun, going out on the field. 'We were kicking field goals. They were trying to put it through the uprights. Just be kids. 'And to see them in a normal setting, having fun and big smiles on their faces was awesome.' A group of students recently recorded a version of Over the Rainbow with pop singer Ingrid Michaelson at the home of Connecticut residents Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, with the proceeds going to Newtown Youth Academy and the United Way of Western Connecticut. Tragic: Surviving students are led from the Newtown, Connecticut, school on December 14 after gunman Adam Lanza shot 26 children and teachers . Heartfelt: Tributes for the victims of the massacre poured in from around the world following the attack on the school last month . Sandy Hook students record Somewhere Over the Rainbow tribute record . | Pupils from the Newtown, Connecticut, Elementary school will sing at the Super Bowl XLVII pregame .
They will sing America the Beautiful before Alicia Keys sings the national anthem .
The performance will cap a season of support for massacre victims' families from the NFL . |
204,320 | 9481af6cdc52f829a0642b8941d75e80d822dd7a | By . Ashley Collman . They aren't soul mates, but ex-couple Sabrina Timms and Daniel Burdick are a perfect match in another, life-saving, way. When 35-year-old Timms, of Petaluma, California was diagnosed with double kidney failure in January 2013, Burdick got tested and turned out to be the perfect organ donor. Burdick immediately volunteered to give up one of his kidneys to the mother of his young daughter named Hope - a selfless act that required the singer-songwriter to cancel a national music tour. Perfect match: Singer-songwriter Daniel Burdick (left) is donating one of his kidneys to Sabrina Timms (right), his ex-fiancé . Still close: Burdick and Timms were engaged to be married eight years ago, but broke it off when he decided to focus on his music. Burdick is pictured above with their young daughter Hope. He and Timms remained friends and co-parent their daughter . The co-parents were engaged eight years ago, but decided to call things off when Burdick chose to focus on his music instead. Gift: When Timms was diagnosed with double kidney failure in January 2013, her ex got tested and turned out to be a perfect organ donor. They undergo transplant surgery Tuesday at noon in San Francisco. Timms is pictured above in a photo from her Facebook . 'We had a difference of opinions about what we wanted for the future,' Timms told KGO. 'I wanted to settle down.' 'And I wanted to follow my dreams,' Burdick said. 'He wanted to do his music,' Timms finished. However, the two remained friends as they worked to raise their daughter together. 'The love stills stands,' Burdick said. So when Timms' kidneys failed a year and a half ago, she started dialysis while waiting to find a donor. Burdick joined other friends and family members and underwent a test to see if he was eligible to be a donor. Timms' father and uncle were both tested and neither qualified. Finding the perfect donor is a rarity, and sometimes patients wait decades on lists to get an organ. Currently there are more than 120,00 people on donor lists across the country, and about 18 die a day waiting. Burdick decided to give up his music tour for Timms and their daughter Hope. 'That tour was my biggest dream,' he told KTVU. 'In the end, though, this is more important. She is my child's mother.' Timms hopes her unlikely story will lead others to get tested to be live donors. Music can wait: Burdick, a singer-songwriter, had to give up a national music tour in order to undergo surgery but he says it's worth it . | Sabrina Timms was diagnosed with double kidney failure in January 2013 .
Ex-fiancé and father of her daughter Hope, Daniel Burdick, got tested and turned out to be a perfect organ-donor match .
Burdick, a singer-songwriter, cancelled a national music tour to undergo surgery to donate his kidney .
The ex-couple undergo transplant surgery at noon on Tuesday . |
156,202 | 55e5fa26857c0ff55860689977519608a828b7ec | Dining in Bilbao can easily slip into a game of tapas roulette. Or perhaps that should be pintxos roulette, as that is what the diminutive plates of bar food are called in this Basque region of northern Spain. Mrs C is not a seafood connoisseur. I first convinced her to try fish a decade ago - and she has become more daring. Art and soul: The magnificent Guggenheim gallery is Bilbao's most striking landmark . But 'really fishy seafood', as she terms it, remains a challenge, which is problematic here. Delicious plates of pintxos line every bar. And it's not clear what they contain. And since most of the labels for these dishes are printed in Basque, with its excessive use of the letter x, it becomes almost impossible to tell what you are about to chow down. Still, it's hard not to love this form of dining - and harder still not to love Bilbao. Everything seems tasteful, with striking sculptures dotted here and there. Even the graffiti on the main bridge in the centre of town looks like it's been considered. We explore the back streets to the old town, and the fish market (stopping for more pintxos), before heading back to our hotel along the wide riverside path . The modern offices blend in seamlessly with the classic Spanish buildings and large parks, such as at Dona Casilda. Our hotel - the splendid Gran Domine Bilbao - is a good example of this. Every room has its own work of modern art, and it sits over the road from the Guggenheim Museum. Opened in 1997, this dazzling titanium, granite and glass shell is a must for devotees of modern art and architecture. Even before you enter, you are given a taste for the creativity/ bonkers-ness that awaits inside, in the form of the 40 ft topiary Puppy, by Jeff Koons, that sits outside. Inside hang works by Andy Warhol, Gilbert & George and Wassily Kandinsky. Hope you're hungry: The Basque region is famous for its pintxos - but it helps if you have a liking for seafood . But it's the enormous rusted 10 ft-high walls of curved metal in the main hall that really catch our imagination. They have been sculpted to form waves that merge to form mazes that you can actually get lost in. Later that day we take a trip up to the Vizcaya Bridge. This transporter suspension bridge, built in 1893, is 200 ft high and still carries half a million cars and four million people from one side to the other every year in gondolas that hang from steel cables. It's a staggering work of engineering and is a World Heritage Site. Fares start at about 35 cents - so plenty of change left over for another plate of pintxos. Kirker Holidays (020 7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com) offers three nights' B&B at the five-star Gran Hotel Domine in Bilbao from £589 per person, including return flights, private car transfers and entrance tickets to the Guggenheim, Kirker guide notes to sightseeing, and the services of the Kirker concierge. | Bilbao is a fine alternative option to Barcelona for a Spanish city break .
The largest city in the Basque Country is also famed for its food scene .
Pintxos - the Basque version of tapas - are widely available and very tasty . |
213,545 | a08d34556e19db33b20b4f622fc6f5607018370e | Steve Harmison is used to spending his winters on tour in the tropical climes of Antigua or Australia, but on Tuesday night he was instead at home sweet home getting off to the perfect start as manager of Ashington AFC with a 1-0 win over Bishop Auckland. Born in the town, Harmison played for the Woodhorn Lane club until 1996 before he decided to focus on a cricketing career that ended with 226 wickets in 63 Tests for England. But wearing the non-league club's jacket on top of a grey jumper, the former towering fast bowler took his seat in the dugout to lead his side to their first victory in six games and marched into the Northern League Challenge Cup quarter finals. Former Test cricketer Steve Harmison got off to a winning start as manager of Ashington AFC . The towering quick led his hometown club to victory over Bishop Auckland at Woodhorn Lane . Harmison was vocal in the dugout throughout the match as he provided encouragement for his team . 'I loved being back in the dressing room,' he said. 'But nobody outside of Ashington knew how threadbare we were today. 'But after tonight, going into the next few weeks, if we can do what we did out there today with a few players coming back, we'll be confident for the rest of the season.' Glen Taylor's header from Tony Stephenson's cross broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break on a chilly night at Woodhorn Lane. Marc Walton could have put Harmison's side ahead after 15 minutes, but his penalty was saved by The Bishops' keeper Stephen Richardson. Never one to back down from a tough situation in a Three Lions shirt, Harmison was vocal with his players throughout the match, a fixture in his technical area spurring them on with encouragement. 'We tried to install some belief into the players. But I always knew I had some good solid characters in the side who could stand up and lead from the front,' he said. Harmison said his side had triumphed in the Northern League Cup match despite being 'threadbare' The fast bowler, who played football for his home club, says he 'loved being back in the dressing room' It was Harmison's side who had the best of the chances in a scrappy first half. Striker Walton could have put The Colliers ahead after four minutes, but his shot drifted over the bar from close range. Walton then had a chance to put the home side ahead after winger Tony Stephenson was pulled down in the box, leaving referee Will Finnie had no choice but to point to the spot. Walton stepped up but saw his effort comfortably saved by Richardson diving to his right. On a bobbly pitch, both sides struggled to string passes together and employed the long ball option regularly but the home ground advantage and support from the 'Harmy Army' gave were regularly in chorus as they tried to spur the home side to a first win in six. And the home side almost did break the deadlock when Kyle Downey was inches away from latching onto Phil Airey's low cross. The visitors had their share of chances too in the first period. Striker Andrew Johnson had their best chance, but his effort was quickly stopped by Ashington keeper Connor Grant. Harmison, who took 226 wickets in 63 Tests for England, issues instructions to the players . Wearing The Colliers' black team jacket over a grey hoodie, Harmison was all business on the sideline . Harmison is deep in thought as Ashington battle to a 1-0 victory to go through to the next round of the cup . Harmison took the attention from the media in his stride after his switch back to his first love of football . And they began well in the second half. John Butler had a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead, but his shot drifted wide of the upright. But it was Harmison's men who went ahead 10 minutes after the restart. Stephenson's right-wing cross was met by the head of Taylor from six yards. The Two Blues continued to press in search of an equaliser, but they couldn't find a way through as the Ashington defence stood firm. Butler came close to latching on to a through-ball but Grant was quickly out again to stop the danger. The home side could have had a second, but Walton's luck in front of goal didn't get any better. He first couldn't convert a rebound from a tight angle after Kyle Oliver's long range drive. And then he couldn't latch onto Taylor's cross from the right. Ashington won their first match in six starts under Harmison as the quick offered inspiration first up . Fans tuck into some warm food on a cold winter's night at the humble non-league Woodhorn Lane ground . Harmison took to the pitch at the start of the match for his obligatory scarf above the head shot . The visitors continued to try and force the game into extra time, and had a glorious chance when Kyle Davis shot wide from a late corner. The majority of the 280 fans inside Woodhorn Lane would have been pleased to see a win, while Harmison will now focus his attentions on the league, with his side hosting Sunderland RCA in a vital relegation six-pointer on Saturday. He said: 'I think as a football club we've conducted ourselves very well with the media attention. We haven't gone and chased extra publicity or anything like that. 'But when the media have gone by next week, we'll continue and take some confidence after tonight.' | Former Test bowler Steve Harmison made debut as a football manager .
He led hometown club Ashington AFC to 1-0 win over Bishop Auckland .
Harmison's side are through the third round of Northern League Cup .
The manager said he 'loved being back in the dressing room' |
247,774 | cc9e32f857d2674970d2bed4c5d23a7c12106a5b | GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The number of confirmed swine flu cases across the globe kept rising Friday, but some signs of hope emerged in the battle against the worldwide outbreak. Tourists sunbathe wearing surgical masks in the popular Mexican resort of Acapulco. The World Health Organization said Friday that the number of confirmed cases stood at 367 worldwide, including 141 in the United States and 156 in Mexico. Thirteen countries have confirmed cases, the organization said. Meanwhile, researchers worked to develop a vaccine for swine flu, which is also known as 2009 H1N1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes to have a vaccine to manufacturers within a month, said Michael Shaw, lab team leader for the H1N1 response at the CDC. "We're doing the best we can as fast as we can," he said. Yet it would take four to six months from the time the appropriate strain is identified before the first doses become available, said Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research. "Of course we would like to have a vaccine tomorrow. We would have wanted to have it yesterday," she said. "It's a long journey." She said there is "no doubt" that a vaccine can be made "in a relatively short period of time." The steps involved in producing a vaccine involve isolating a strain of the virus, which has already been done, and tweaking it so manufacturers can make a vaccine, Kieny said. The tweaked virus will be shipped to manufacturers, who will fine-tune it. Then come more tests before national regulatory agencies decide whether to approve a vaccine. As researchers work, at least one politician at the epicenter of the outbreak expressed optimism Friday. Authorities in Mexico are "beginning to see evidence that the [virus] might be letting up, and the number of people who have been hospitalized has leveled out in regards to people who are contagious, at least as of yesterday," Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard told reporters. Watch how Mexican authorities are dealing with the outbreak » . "We do have a problem, but I say this so that we know where we are as a city after we have done all we have done, and in what direction we are heading and how much we have progressed. And what I can say is that we are heading in the right direction." The WHO said Mexico has 156 confirmed cases and nine deaths. Mexican authorities say they have confirmed 16 deaths and at least 358 cases, and they suspect more than 150 deaths may have been caused by the flu. Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta demystify pandemics » . The CDC gave the following state-by-state breakdown of the 141 confirmed H1N1 cases in the United States: Arizona, 4; California, 13; Colorado, 2; Delaware, 4; Illinois, 3; Indiana, 3; Kansas, 2; Kentucky, 1; Massachusetts, 2; Michigan, 2; Minnesota, 1; Nebraska, 1; Nevada, 1; New Jersey, 5; New York, 50; Ohio, 1; South Carolina, 16; Texas, 28; and Virginia, 2. See where cases have been confirmed » . One death in the United States has been attributed to swine flu -- a toddler from Mexico whose family brought him to Texas for medical treatment. In a Cabinet meeting, President Obama on Friday praised the "extraordinary" government response to the virus but emphasized that "we also need to prepare for the long term." "Since we know that these kinds of threats can emerge at any moment, even if it turns out that the H1N1 is relatively mild on the front end, it could come back in a more virulent form during the actual flu season, and that's why we are investing in our public health infrastructure." Go behind the scenes at the CDC » . He said there are indications from Mexico that "relatively young, healthy people" have died rather than people whose immune systems are compromised, and "that's why we're taking it seriously." "So I just want everybody to be clear that this is why this is a cause for concern, but not alarm. We are essentially ensuring that, in the worst-case scenario, we can manage this appropriately, government working with businesses and individuals, the private sector, and containing an outbreak, and that we can, ultimately, get through this." In addition to the confirmed H1N1 cases in Mexico and the United States, Canada has 34; Spain has 13; United Kingdom has 8; New Zealand and Germany each have 4; Israel has 2; Austria, China, Denmark, Netherlands and Switzerland each have one, according to the WHO. Learn about the virus » . Hong Kong health officials said a patient who is being treated there arrived from Mexico on a China Eastern Airlines flight that stopped in Shanghai. Denmark did not provide further details. An additional 230 cases are being investigated in the United Kingdom, and Spain has 84 suspected cases. Australia, which has had no confirmed cases, was investigating 114. View images of responses in U.S. and worldwide » . The effects in Mexico reflect the fear and concern across the globe, including in the United States, where schools and parents are taking precautions in academics, graduations and sports because of the flu. For example, 22 students Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania who just returned from from a five-week trip to Mexico City will get their diplomas at a separate ceremony when they graduate Saturday. Texas school officials have postponed all interscholastic sports until at least May 11. And Alabama has stopped such competitions until at least Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Education said Friday that 433 public and nonpublic schools in 17 states had been closed because of the flu outbreak. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan noted in a news conference that the number is less than 1 percent of the nation's approximate 100,000 schools. Earlier Friday, United Flight 903 was diverted to Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday after a female passenger started complaining of "flu-like" symptoms on a Munich-to-Washington flight, Logan Airport spokesman Phil Orendella said. CDC officials at a news conference Friday were asked to compare the strain with the deadly 1918 virus. "What we have found by looking very carefully at the sequences of the new H1N1 virus is that we do not see the markers for virulence that were seen in the 1918 virus," said Nancy Cox, chief of the CDC's Influenza Division. However, she added, "We know there's a great deal that we do not yet understand about the virulence of the 1918 virus or other influenza viruses that have a more severe clinical picture in humans." CNN's Karl Penhaul, Diana Magnay, Jake Perez, Saeed Ahmed, Umaro Djau and Nicole Saidi contributed to this report. | NEW: Mexican government says 16 people have died from virus .
Virus has spread to 13 countries, with hardest-hit areas in the West .
U.S. Education Department says outbreak has closed 433 schools in 17 states .
Vaccine could be made "in a relatively short period of time," official says . |
249,531 | cef027e05e9d7a75bb6df661c5a7cd8f3759d57e | (CNN) -- The Israel Defense Forces called off a raid after one of its combat soldiers posted information about the operation, including the time and place, on Facebook, the IDF said Wednesday. "On Wednesday, we are cleaning up (the village). Today - arrest. On Thursday, God willing, we will be home," the soldier, who was not identified, posted on the social networking site, according to IDF. The post was removed after other soldiers in the company saw it online and reported it to their commanders, IDF said. "The division commander decided to cancel the operation out of concern that the information had reached hostile groups and would harm IDF forces," it said. The soldier was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment and was removed from his battalion and all combat postings, IDF said. His combat certificate also was revoked. IDF soldiers are prohibited from posting classified information online, including photographs of military interests. | Soldier posted details about pending raid on Facebook, Israeli military says .
Commander canceled operation, fearing enemies might have learned about it .
Soldier sentenced to 10 days imprisonment, removed from his battalion . |
18,992 | 35c0725bc0c20b92ec772c61690c15043444126c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:02 EST, 27 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:33 EST, 27 November 2012 . A convicted cop killer is hoping to avoid the death penalty by using the increasingly common defense that he isn’t smart enough to face execution for his brutal crimes. Ronell Wilson, now 30, was convicted of the 2003 murder of detectives Rodney Andrews and James Nemorin during an undercover sting in the New York borough of Staten Island. On Monday lawyers for Wilson began trying to convince a federal judge to uphold an appeals court's decision to overturn his death sentence. Too dumb to die? Wilson's Facebook pages includes inspirational quotes and this photo of him proudly displaying a Bloods gang tattoo on his toned bicep . Wilson pictured left in his 2003 mugshot and right in his current Facebook profile image . With an IQ of just under 70, defense attorneys say Wilson is mildly retarded and therefore should receive life in prison, rather than the death penalty. Prosecutors however plan to use letters, phone calls and emails sent by Wilson as evidence that he is at least smart enough to function - and to know right from wrong. Wilson’s Facebook page, which includes quotes from several acclaimed intellectuals including civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., author Ralph Ellison and industrialist Henry Ford, will also be used to counter claims that he is mentally retarded. Wilson, who joined Facebook a year ago, cites some of his likes as vocabulary and writing, while his page also includes a photo of him proudly displaying a Bloods gang tattoo on his toned bicep. In a procedure expected to last three weeks, the judge will examine Wilson’s complete educational history, as well as a formal IQ score and adaptive function tests. If he scores low enough, it could save his life. Convicted murderer Wilson has posted a famous quote from famous African-American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on his Facebook page . Wilson's Facebook page also included quotes from industrialist Henry Ford and author Ralph Ellison . The judge will also consider if a . mentally handicap person would be capable of understanding the . inspirational quotes posted on his page. In . January Wilson posted this by thoughtful remark by Rev. King: ‘True . compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar . . . It understands . that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.’ From ‘Invisible Man’ author Ellison, he quoted: ‘It takes a deeper commitment 2 change and an even deeper commitment 2 grow.’ ‘Coming . 2gether is a beginning; Keepin 2gether is a process; Working 2gether is . a success,’ is a remark originally made by Henry Ford, founder of Ford . Motors. Wilson was convicted of murdering detectives James Nemorin, left, and Rodney Andrews, right, during a 2003 undercover sting in the New York borough of Staten Island . Wilson does not have access to the internet from his cell on Death Row in Terre Haute, Ind., or at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he’s currently detained, so an outsider helps update his page. But Wilson does send emails that are posted to the page, reports the New York Post. Wilson is the latest of many killers to employ the low IQ defense, also known as the Atkins defense. The ‘not smart enough’ argument has been increasingly made on behalf of death row inmates since a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in Atkins v. Virginia, that held executing mentally retarded individuals violates the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments. | Ronell Wilson was convicted in 2003 of murdering two detectives .
His lawyers now want to convince a judge that he shouldn't face the death penalty because he 'wasn't smart enough to know what he was doing'
The low IQ defense is increasingly made on behalf of death row inmates .
Yet his Facebook page includes inspirational quotes from noted thinkers . |
119,628 | 268edf1164fa44aec5be78f553ca8702cb3da45f | By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 08:23 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:00 EST, 31 January 2014 . Pacifiers which feature a miniature moustache are being recalled over fears that babies could choke on them, while strollers being withdrawn because of concerns it could amputate fingers. Britax is recalling approximately 216,000 B-Agile strollers after eight reports, including one partial fingertip amputation, one broken finger, and several severe lacerations. Around 200,000 Fred & Friends pacifiers, which feature fake moustaches, volume controls, and panic buttons, are also being recalled after fears that the small parts could fall off and cause babies to choke. Fred & Friends are recalling the Chill Baby novelty pacifiers over fears that babies could break off the small parts and then choke on them . There are also concerns that the breathing holes in the front of the pacifiers are too small. The majority, 187,000, were bought in the U.S., with the rest being sold in Canada. While no injuries have so far been reported, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advised parents to stop using the products immediately. The same advice is being given to owners of The B-Agile, B-Agile Double and BOB Motion single strollers. Britax customers are being told that the injuries, which have all happened to adults, have occurred because of a hinge on the right hand side of the stroller which could become dangerous if the fold release button was being pressed and at the same time as pulling the fold release strap. According to the Washington Post, Fred & Friends has received one report of the knob on the volume pacifier coming off. At the same time the pacifiers are being recalled (left), owners of Britax's B-Agile strollers (right) are being given repair kits to fix a problem with a hinge which can cause amputations, broken fingers and lacerations . Consumers can return the pacifiers for a $12 refund by calling (855) 346-6372 or going online at fredandfriends.com. Britax is offering consumers who bought its strollers from May 2011 to June 2013 a free repair kit by calling (866) 204-1665, or visiting www.britaxusa.com or www.bobgear.com. Last June, Fred & Friends recalled nearly 57,000 baby rattles that also posed a choking risk. Britax have enjoyed a surge in popularity after William and Kate were pictured carrying Prince George out of hospital this summer in one of their car seats. | Britax are giving B-Agile stroller owners free repair kits after eight reports, including one partially amputated fingertip .
Accidents happen while pressing hinge release while pulling release strap .
Fred & Friends pacifiers are also being recalled over choking fears . |
36,586 | 67a8a02578c89117eec07b72bf47b51c3773bf42 | Ronaldinho rolled back the years to score an outstanding free-kick for Queretaro during his new side's encounter against Atlas on Tuesday evening. The Brazilian forward curled the ball into the top corner from 19 yards in a similar fashion to what he became accustomed to doing while he was at Barcelona and AC Milan. Ronaldinho, who has now scored two goals in three games for Mexican outfit Queretaro, had a pretty eventful night as he was approached by a supporter during the encounter. Ronaldinho steps up to bend the ball into the net from 19 yards against Mexican outfit Atlas . Ronaldinho steps up to bend the ball into the net from 19 yards against Mexican outfit Atlas . A fan ran onto the pitch to greet the 34-year-old before asking Ronaldinho to sign his Brazil shirt. Ronaldinho duly obliged by stopping to print his autograph onto the pitch invader's top. Queretaro went onto lose the match at Atlas' Estadio Jalisco, despite Ronaldinho's late stoppage time goal, leaving the Mexican side seventh in the table with four wins from 11 games. Ronaldinho signed his autograph onto a pitch invader's Brazil top during the second half of Tuesday's match . Referee Erim Ramirez had to stop the game before the pitch invader was marched off by security . Ronaldinho has scored two goals in his first three games for Mexican outfit Queretaro . | The Brazilian playmaker scored from 19 yards during his side's defeat .
Ronaldinho has netted two goals in three games for Queretaro .
A fan raced onto the pitch to ask for Ronaldinho's autograph . |
150,599 | 4eaeec08efcf71a9afff08dda2e41786e7fd6151 | By . James Rush . Lawyers for the last British prisoner in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre have filed a motion for his release after a medical evaluation diagnosed him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other 'psychiatric symptoms'. Shaker Aamer has been imprisoned at the U.S. naval base in Cuba for 12 years, despite twice being cleared for release. The father-of-four, from Battersea, south London, was arrested by Afghan militias working for the Americans shortly after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Shaker Aamer (pictured with two of his children) has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following a medical evaluation at Guantanamo Bay . He has now been diagnosed with PTSD following an assessment by Dr Emily Keram at the prison. The doctor said Mr Aamer had 'additional psychiatric symptoms related to his current confinement... which also gravely diminish his mental health.' She said Mr Aamer also showed evidence of paranoia and depression during the five day evaluation. 'The length, uncertainty and stress of Mr Aamer's confinement has caused significant disruptions in his... ability to function,' she said. 'He is profoundly aware of what he has lost.' She concludes: 'The chronic and severe psychiatric symptoms described above have gravely diminished Mr Aamer’s mental health. 'In order to maximize his prognosis, Mr Aamer requires psychiatric treatment, as well as reintegration into his family and society and minimization his re-exposure to trauma and reminders of trauma.' The medical evaluation, requested by Mr Aamer's legal team, including Clive Stafford Smith, the director of legal action charity Reprieve, also detailed physical disorders, including severe oedema, debilitating headaches, asthma and chronic urinary retention. Mr Aamer, who has never seen his youngest son as he was born after his capture in Afghanistan, has previously said his only desire is to be reunited with his family in London. Aamer has been imprisoned at the naval base in Cuba for 12 years, despite twice being cleared for release . Mr Aamer's lawyers filed a motion in a court in Washington D.C. yesterday requesting his immediate release in light of the report's findings. Mr Stafford Smith also sent a copy of the report to Foreign Secretary William Hague, requesting an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in support of the motion. Mr Stafford Smith said: 'This desperate news about Shaker's mental and physical state comes on top of twelve years of abuse, and it's hardly surprising to learn from an independent doctor that he is suffering severe PTSD in Guantanamo. 'Shaker has described himself as a rusty old car that is falling apart. There is no reason he should not have come home to his wife and kids when he was cleared, seven years ago.' Mr Aamer's legal team filed a motion in a court in Washington D.C. yesterday seeking his release on the basis of the report's findings. Pictured are detainees at Camp Delta at the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in July 2004 . A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'Mr Aamer’s case remains a high priority for the UK Government and we continue to make clear to the US that we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency.' According to the BBC, the U.S. has reportedly only cleared him for transfer to Saudi Arabia. In July last year, comedian Frankie Boyle went on a hunger strike in solidarity with Mr Aamer in a bid to provoke debate about his human rights. Boyle was among a number of people who were taking it in turns to go for a week without eating to show support for Mr Aamer, who is a legal, permanent resident of the UK and is married to a British national. In October it was reported Guantanamo Bay prisoner Ibrahim Idris was to be released after being deemed severely mentally ill. Guards keep watch inside a cell block at Camp 5 maximum security facility, at Guantanamo Bay, in 2007. Mr Aamer was arrested by Afghan militias working for the Americans shortly after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan . US District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a release order for Mr Idris, a native of Sudan who had been held as an enemy combatant but not formally charged. He had spent much of his time at a psychiatric ward on the US naval base since he arrived more than 11 years earlier. The decision came after the laywers for the US Department of Justice filed court papers indicating the government would no longer oppose his release. The filing did not specifically say why the government decided to drop its objection. Idris' lawyers had repeatedly argued his illness was so severe he could not pose a security threat. | Shaker Aamer diagnosed with PTSD following medical evaluation at prison .
Legal team have now filed an urgent motion for his release following report .
Mr Aamer has been imprisoned at base for 12 years despite twice being cleared for release . |
271,028 | eb107cbbcbb3dbc2c19916dd2fd2116622fe70dd | Treavor Eimers says his father had moved from Michigan to Key West to live out his days enjoying the beach, but his retirement came to an abrupt and tragic end during a routine traffic stop last year. Charles Eimers, a retired 61-year-old autoworker, died in police custody after being arrested outside a Pizza Hut in Key West last Thanksgiving. 'He was murdered by those officers,' his son told CBS This Morning. Scroll down for video . Seeking justice: Treavor Eimers (left) claims his 61-year-old father, Charles Eimers (right), was asphyxiated by police officers after he was pulled over for a traffic violation last Thanksgiving . Eimers was pulled over November 28, 2013, outside a Pizza Hut on North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West for reckless driving . What followed Mr Eimers' sudden passing was a series of conflicting reports from law enforcement officials, paramedics and the hospital, leading Treavor Eimers to suspect that there might be a cover-up afoot. Charles Eimers' deadly encounter with Key West police November 28 was caught on video recorded by a passerby, which shows the man emerging from his car on his own and then surrendering by laying face-down on the beach. The footage shows a group of more than a dozen officers surrounding the prostrate man and forming a wall around him. In a police report, the 13 officers wrote that Eimers was pulled over outside the Pizza Hut on North Roosevelt Boulevard for reckless driving, but he fled the scene. The documents stated that the 61-year-old man was charged with resisting an officer with violence. But a report filed by paramedics who responded to the scene stated that a police officer told EMT workers that Eimers ran from his car and then collapsed unconscious on the beach. Evidence: This cell phone video shot by a passerby shows Eimers emerging from his car (left) and then laying face-down on the beach as 13 police officers descend on him with their guns drawn . Conflicting stories: Officers wrote in their reports that the 61-year-old man violently resisted arrest, but an EMT claimed that one of the cops told him Eimers collapsed unconscious on the beach . Then again, hospital records obtained by CBS indicated that the 61-year-old retiree 'was found without a pulse by police' and later passed away from lack of oxygen to the brain. But the eyewitness video shot with a cell phone clearly shows Charles Eimers walking by himself and calmly surrendering to armed police officers. The man was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center and placed on life support, but according to Treavor Eimers, he was not notified about his father's hospitalization until four days later in violation of standing police procedures. After the son ordered his father taken off the respirator, he says he was certain that a medical examiner would evaluate his body under a state law requiring an autopsy on anyone who dies in police custody. Close call: After his son took Eimers off life support, his body was supposed to be autopsied, but instead it was taken directly to this funeral home and nearly cremated . But instead of sending his remains to the medical examiner's office, police shipped Charles Eimers directly to a funeral home where the deceased narrowly avoided cremation. Monroe County Medical Examiner E. Hunt Scheuerman eventually autopsied Eimers' body, concluding in his preliminary report released to Miami Herald last month that the 61-year-old Michigan transplant suffered 10 broken ribs and bruises on both his wrists from the handcuffs. ‘I believe that my father was asphyxiated on the beach in Key West by the officers involved that day,’ said Eimers’ son, a former critical care nurse. The Key West site TheBluePaper.com, which has been following the case, reported that Eimers' tissue samples have been destroyed. In the week after the arrest, some of the 13 officers involved in the case submitted additional reports stating that the 61-year-old violently struggled to get free. Treavor Eimers said his father's record was far from spotless, with multiple run-ins with the law in the 1990s on charges of domestic abuse and theft, but he cannot understand how a simple traffic stop could have resulted in his death. Checkered past: Charles Eimers, a 20-year veteran of Michigan's automotive industry, had had several run-ins with the law in the 90s on theft and domestic abuse charges . Both the Key West Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcing have been investigating the Eimers case over the past six months. ‘We want to be able to provide answers to the Eimers family. We want to provide answers to this community. And we want the police officers who are involved to be able to move on from this situation as well.’ Key West Police Chief Donald Lee Jr told CBS. However, Eimers' family and other critics of the law enforcement officials handing the case have pointed to a possible conflict of interest stemming from the fact that lead investigator, Kathy Smith, is the ex-wife of Captain Scott Smith, the supervisor of the arresting officers. | Charles Eimers, 61, was pronounced dead from lack of oxygen to the brain four days after he was arrested November 28 on a Key West beach .
Video caught Eimers getting out of his car and lying face-down as he surrendered to police, but officers wrote the retiree violently resisted arrest .
Eimers' body was nearly cremated before autopsy in violation of state law . |
249,135 | ce606ce68c0eb6319932443b73ce8c5d8ca05ef5 | By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 20:55 EST, 23 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:05 EST, 24 August 2013 . A 38-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of a teenage girl who was found strangled in a pond 20 years ago. Jason Tibbs has been charged with murdering 16-year-old Rayna Rison in La Porte, Indiana, in March 1993. Rison's disappearance on March 26, 1993, garnered widespread attention. It was featured on "America's Most Wanted" and it inspired former Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley to offer a $25,000 reward for her safe return. Rayna's family said they were relieved to learn of the arrest has given them some closure after 20 years of wondering how her body came to be body dumped in a pond. Suspect: Jason Tibbs has been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Rayna Rison in 1993 . 'We've been stuck in the "'Who did this . and why?" for 20 years,' Rayna's sister, Wendy Hakes told ABC News. 'Now we know who did this. We just have to figure out the why.' After two decades, a prison confession led police to Tibbs when an inmate described seeing him remove a body from the trunk of his car, according to NWI. Rayna was reported missing by her father, Bernie Rison, after she failed to come home after her shift at an animal shelter. The day after she went missing, Rayna's car was found in a rural area several miles from her home. A week later, her new boyfriend's high school letter jacket, which she had been wearing, was found hanging from a tree. It was a month before fishermen found Rayna's body in a pond a few miles from where her car was found. Prosecutors initially charged her brother-in-law, Ray McCarty, with killing her. Three years before her death, he pleaded guilty to molesting her and was given a three-year suspended sentence that included 100 hours of community service, mandatory counseling and three years of probation. A newly elected prosecutor dropped the charge against McCarty the following year after determining there was insufficient evidence linking him to Rayna's murder. Despite the high-profile case attracting attention across the U.S. and being featured on America's Most Wanted at the time, there were no other leads. Tibbs, who went to school with Rayna, had dated the teenager and the couple remained good friends up until her death, according to NWI. He had been a person of interest early on in the investigation, according to court documents, after his ring was found in Rayna's car and letters found in her bedroom from him said he would 'go to almost any extreme' to date her again. Relief: Rayna's parents Ben and Karen Rison, and her sister Wendy with a picture of the murdered teenager . Ms Hake told ABC News: 'He wasn't interested in school. He was interested in doing other things that weren't necessarily productive for society. He liked to get in trouble.' The case was reopened about five years ago, by La Porte police. An inmate, who was 14 at the time of the murder, confessed in 2008 to seeing Tibbs drive into a barn with another man, Eric Freeman. Rickey Hammons said they had a body in the trunk of his car but he didn't report seeing it because he had been smoking drugs in the barn at the time and feared he would get into trouble. Then, two months ago, Freeman told police he saw Tibbs strangle Rayna after they had an argument, according to court documents. Despite knowing the identity of the alleged murderer for 20 years, Freeman will not be prosecuted because of a plea deal he made for his testimony. While the arrest may answer some questions for the victim's family, they said it will do nothing to ease the pain of losing Rayna. Shock: Ben Rison and Wendy Hakes say the family is reeling after being told a suspect has been arrested . The teenager's mother, Karen Rison, said: 'I don't believe there will ever be closure because nothing can bring her back.' Her father, Ben, added: 'We're still kind of reeling. It's going to take time . to absorb all of this.' Tibbs has been charged with murder and non-negligent manslaughter, according to What's New La Porte. He is due back in court on September 13. Judge Tom Alevizos entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Tibbs and ordered him to be held without bond. | 16-year-old Rayna Rison was found strangled in a pond in 1993 .
Jason Tibbs charged with murder after inmate tips off police . |
228,864 | b4568628de6f8badb3068f53f72374361eca91ae | By . Beth Stebner . UPDATED: . 11:32 EST, 28 February 2012 . In her first network television interview since she was bitten by an 85-pound Argentinian Mastiff, Denver news anchor Kyle Dyer told the Today show that she made a mistake in leaning into the dog's face. 'I got too close,' Ms Dyer told the Today show's Ann Curry, pointing at the prominent scars on her nose and lips. ‘I think everybody has learned what to . do around dogs. I thought I was a dog person,’ she said. Ms Dyer had to . undergo two major reconstructive surgeries and 90 stitches, and may have more surgeries in her future. Scroll down for video (Warning: Graphic content) Healing process: TV anchor Kyle Dyer admitted on the Today show that she got too close to the 85-pound dog that bit her face . Terrible wound: Dyer underwent two surgeries and had more than 90 stitches to repair the damage . Evidence: When Ann Curry asked if Dyer thought she had made a mistake, Dyer pointed to her face and asked, 'What do you think?' The Today show’s Ann Curry asked Ms Dyer this morning if she thought she made a mistake in leaning near the dog’s face, looking back with 20/20 hindsight. ‘What do you think?’ Ms Dyer asked, pointing to her heavily scarred face. ’I got too close.’ ‘It was just the perfect storm,’ she said on the show. ‘We think we know what dogs are saying but we don’t really know.’ The animal lover told Ms Curry that she’s kept a healthy attitude toward the incident, joking that she’d have to slather on the lip liner to get back her cupid’s bow. ‘I’ll have to work (it) really well,’ she laughed. ‘It was a bad morning, but ever since I got in good hands…I knew it was all going to work out,’ Ms Dyer said. ‘I just feel a lot of love.’ Maximus the mastiff was quarantined for ten days and then released to his owner, which is protocol after a bite. In good form: TV anchor Kyle Dyer has had two surgeries since she was attacked by a Mastiff February 8 but looks to be healing quickly . Battle scar: A V-shaped scar can be seen on the anchor's top lip, as well as bite marks on her nose and lower lip . Ms Dyer . of Denver’s KUSA-TV gave her first interview two weeks after the attack, bravely showing . scars on her face, which include a V-shaped scar on her upper lip where . skin had to be grafted. The . anchor told the Denver Post that the first thoughts that went through . her mind after the Argentine Mastiff bit her was: ‘I’m bleeding, and it . had to be on television!’ Despite the painful weeks of recovery, two surgeries, and the long road ahead, Ms Dyer said she feels lucky and calls the attack ‘a fluke.’ ‘It could have been so much worse,’ she said. She was bitten in the face during a live taping of her show February 8. ‘It may seem like a superficial business, but the people out there in Colorado are not superficial,’ she told the Post. She said she’s received an outpouring of support from people who have also been bitten by dogs and who are wishing for a speedy recovery. ‘I just keep reading those letters and know that I’m going to heal. I’m going to be better than ever,’ she said. The news of the attack spread like wildfire around the world. Ms Dyer said she personally witnessed the breadth of the news by way of her niece, who lives in Lithuania. On TV: Kyle Dyer, right, had knelt down to pet Max when he attacked. He is seen here with his owner, Michael Robinson, and the firefighter that rescued him . Attack: In a flash, Max bares his teeth and lashes out at Ms Dyers face. Animal control officers called it a 'pretty major bite.' Ferocious: Though immediate reports said that he was not properly vaccinated, the owners of the dog have put out a statement saying that he was up-to-date with all of his shots . She said her niece read about the attack in the town’s local newspaper. ‘There’s so many different learning things that have come out of this,’ she said. She was injured February 8 while doing an on-air segment with the dog’s owner and a fire-fighter who had rescued the Mastiff from an icy pond in suburban Lakewood the day before. She was petting the dog’s head seconds before it bit her.’ 'I know that I’m going to heal. I’m going to be better than ever.' -Anchor Kyle Dyer . Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the anchor wrote on her Facebook page that her mouth was stitched shut so the graft over her lips could receive better blood circulation. While more surgeries may be in her future, Ms Dyer won’t know for certain until this summer, as doctors asses her progress. Ms Dyer, who had been working at the Denver station for over 15 years, underwent reconstructive surgery and over 70 stitches after the attack. She said she harbours no ill will toward the dog. ‘It was just an accident,’ she said, saying that she’s glad he is back with his owners. Part of the team: Ms Dyer (left) has been . working for the station for over 15 years, many of which she has . co-anchored with Gary Shapiro (right) Struggle: Max the dog was filmed swimming around in an icy pool, unable to escape . A number of viewers expressed . concern that the dog would be euthanized as a result of the incident, . which was something they appeared angry about. 'It was clearly human fault. Why should the animal be blamed for both the owner an kyle's mistake? Argentine mastiffs, also known as the . Argentine Dogo, are known as big-game hunters and historically have . gone after wild boars and pumas. While they are now used as pets, they were bred from a rather violent group of dogs. Because of the dogs' violent nature, several areas have banned the breed, including Aurora, Colorado. Aurora borders Denver, where the broadcast took place. The . animal is also banned in New York City public housing, and laws in the . UK allow police to take the dogs away from their owners and prosecute . them. Hope he isn't put down, it would be a crime,' wrote Bruno Naletto. Brendan Flynn echoed that sentiment, writing: 'Lord knows 9News will hear from all of us and alot more if Max is put down.' Unless the dog has rabies - which it is not showing signs of - it will not be put down. Even if the vaccinations are current, the owners will definitely face two charges from Denver Animal Care and Control: a penalty for having the dog bite someone and a second penalty for having the dog off its leash at the time. 'While we normally walk Max on-leash, we understand that by letting him off-leash in an open area away from anyone was still a mistake. We will never walk him off-leash in public areas after this,' the Robinsons said in their statement. Max was brought into the studio after the station's news chopper captured . video footage of a firefighter rescuing Max from a freezing pond Monday . after he fell through the ice and couldn't make it out. 'I know that she is a great journalist . who loves happy stories - this was a happy story,' her co-anchor Gary . Shapiro said in a note to fans. 'Kyle was glad she got assigned to it, because she loves animals,' Mr Shapiro said. Though she is out of the hospital, her recovery is just beginning. Ms Dyer, who is married and has children, is expected to take several weeks to return to work. 'She's . doing well, and will make a recovery, and we're all thinking about her . and her family,' said 9News vice president Patti Dennis. 'Kyle- . of all people!- is the biggest dog lover and even yesterday we were . talking about how, as dog lovers, we think every dog belongs to us. 'Kyle will be back in a period of weeks- probably several but she will be back.' Watch video here (Warning: Graphic content) Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Local TV anchor Kyle Dyer says she feels lucky and attack 'could have been so much worse'
Told the Today show that she 'got too close' to large dog .
Was gracious for outpouring of support; does not blame dog or his family .
Dog back with family after 10 day quarantine .
Was petting Argentinian Mastiff on show February 8 when he snapped and bit her in the face . |
42,504 | 77d5f66397adefa47b7f83c5fed6ce95705b66e1 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 03:13 EST, 27 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:01 EST, 27 June 2012 . Before it got so serious: Tim O'Leary in his now notorious bushy England wig picks up a woman in traditional Ukrainian dress in Donetsk , ahead of England's earlier match against Ukraine . The cheeky England fan who dropped . his pants in a last-ditch bid to put off Italy's winning penalty scorer . on Sunday has himself been exposed as a millionaire city high flyer. Tim . O'Leary had been sitting behind the goal watching the drama unfold in . an England goalkeeper's kit and red and white bushy wig when he realised . his time to represent his country had come. The . 35-year-old patriot stood with his trousers down and arms crossed and . sternly tried to catch the eye of Alessandro Diamanti at the crucial . moment he stepped up to take the shot. Speaking to the Mail Online today, he said: 'I just did it. I didn't think about it, it just happened in the spur of the moment. I was so desperate for England to win. 'I would have done anything for them. 'I don't think he (winning penalty taker Diamanti) spotted what I was doing.' Speaking from the gates of his luxurious five-bedroomed mansion house in leafy Surrey, he added: 'Roy Hodgson is a great choice as England manager. 'I'm a Fulham fan as well. He did a great job for us and he's got the England players playing as a team. 'We did as well as we could. The team looked like they were pulling in the same direction, which was the complete opposite to South Africa. 'This time lost on penalties and were undefeated in the tournament. 'Penalties are 90 per cent psychological and 10 per cent skill. 'I thought England's best player was my neighbour John Terry. He was top class.' Mr O'Leary said he and a friend had to sprint from one end of Kiev's Olympic Stadium to the other so he could watch the dramatic spot kicks from behind the goal. Scroll down for video . Rude: Cheeky: The England fan drops his trousers as he tries to put Alessandro Diamanti as he takes the final penalty during last night's shootout . Mr O'Leary, who owns a £6million . Surrey home near England’s John Terry, owns a trading company in the . City of London. He said his wife, Klara, who is eight-months pregnant . with twins, watched his antics from home which she found 'very, very . funny'. Diamanti gave Italy a 4-2 shootout win, sending them through to the semi-finals of Euro 2012. The supporter next to him appeared to also be dropping his trousers. The England team flew home on Monday after their dramatic penalties defeat. But they were given a somewhat low-key homecoming after no England fans turned up at Luton Airport to welcome them back. Six policemen who had been drafted in to deal with crowds were not needed and simply watched the squad arrive at the airport. But the team seemed in surprisingly . good spirits despite their loss. The poor welcome home party was in . marked contrast to the squad’s . departure to Euro 2012 nearly three weeks ago when fans waved and . cheered as they left. Before the tournament, expectations for the England team had been low, . but after wins in the initial stages fans had started to imagine a win . may be possible. About 6,000 England fans jetted out to watch the defeat in Kiev and . despite initial fears of racism and violence there were no major . problems. David Cameron said the players had made 'the country proud' with their performances at the tournament. Rude: Cheeky: The England fan drops his trousers as he tries to put Alessandro Diamanti as he takes the final penalty during last night's shootout . The Italian Job: Alessandro Diamanti holds his nerve and scores the penalty - despite the best efforts of the England fan to put him off . Victory for Italy: Alessandro Diamanti celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out last night to take the Italians through to the semi-finals where they will play Germany . The . Prime Minister said he watched the game but joked that as it wore on . there was a feeling that it would probably end on penalties. Ashley . Young and Ashley Cole missed the crucial spotkicks as England bowed out . of the competition. Italy will play Germany in the semi-finals tomorrow. Mr Cameron said Roy Hodgson’s men had put on a 'great display' by going through the group stages. Eliminated: We might have guessed that England's match with Italy was always going to come down to penalties . So close: Ashley Young's penalty crashes against the bar in the dramatic shoot-out . Despair: Ashley Young falls to the ground after missing a goalscoring chance and sums up how every England fan is feeling . He . said: 'I watched the match and I thought England showed a lot of heart, . and a lot of spirit and a lot of dogged determination, as you’d expect. 'There . were some brilliant individual performances and a real team effort but . sadly, as has happened before, you sort of felt as you were watching . that it will probably end on penalties and you knew how penalties may . probably end.' 'We haven't blown people away but we stuck together, fought hard and gave every inch of effort. It's a knockout: Ashley Cole has his crucial spotkick saved - leaving the Italians the task of scoring their final penalty to secure a semi-final spot . 'However, at times we have found it difficult to keep the ball. The possession stats speak for themselves. 'It tells you that moving forward as a nation, we do need to try and improve with the ball.' The shootout was watched by more than 23 million people - the highest peak TV audience for eight years. Mr Cameron said he was not convinced . by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s claim that he prepared for the . game by watching movies instead of studying England’s penalty-takers. 'I think he was concentrating a bit harder than that,' he said. Happy and glorious? England fans sing the national anthem before the quarter-final . Heartbreak: An England fan at the game . 'But . I would like to congratulate the team and the manager and all who . worked so hard with them and for them to put on a great display. 'They made the country proud to go through the group stage in the way that they did.' England . captain Steven Gerrard has vowed to lead the country to the 2014 . World Cup in Brazil after the penalty shootout heartbreak. 'We have given a good account of ourselves,' he said after the game. Overnight . viewing figures showed the BBC1 coverage of the Euro 2012 quarter-final . hit its height at 10.20pm with 23.2 million watching the deciding . shoot-out. An average . audience of 17.4 million watched the coverage, with its extra-time and . penalty climax - the highest audience of the tournament so far. The match, which saw England packed off home, drew three-quarters of all TV viewers during England’s penalty agony. It is the highest peak on any UK channel for eight years, since Euro 2004’s England v Portugal match - a game which similarly saw hopes dashed on penalties. England’s previous match in Euro 2012 - a 1-0 victory over Ukraine - drew a 16.1 million average audience. | Tim O'Leary had to sprint from one end of Kiev's Olympic Stadium to the other so he could watch the dramatic spot kicks from behind the goal .
The city trader said: 'I was just trying to do my bit. I'd do anything to see England win'
His wife, who is eight months pregnant from home found the stunt 'very, very funny' as she watched from home .
Three quarters of TV viewers were watching the shootout - the highest audience share on any channel since Portugal beat England in Euro 2004 . |
243,913 | c7b716a79d84af8fb563c79499e05cd313a1a714 | (CNN) -- A San Francisco tour guide's expletive-laced rant about Chinatown on her last day of work has angered a metropolis used to celebrating the diverse and welcoming City by the Bay. Her performance has gone viral, reaching way beyond her audience of tourists -- perhaps something she didn't expect when she played to the tourists' smart phones. "F-k your little seafood f-ing markets with your turtles and frogs inside," said the tour guide, using a microphone to shout at her tour group. "Here in America, we don't eat turtles and frogs ... you got to assimilate a little bit, Chinatown." Her tirade has already gotten more than 600,000 views on YouTube. While some tourists on her tour bus applauded, San Franciscans -- including the city's top Chinese-American elected officials -- rallied against her speech. 'Ghetto' tours of Bronx ended after outrage . They include San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and city Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, now running for state Assembly. "It was amazingly disheartening and disturbing in 2014 that someone would say something so hurtful," Chiu told CNN on Friday. "Hopefully we'll be able to use as a learning moment to build on," he said. "Not just for this tour guide and company, but for the community to say we stand up against racism and celebration of our diversity." The tour bus company and the tour guide apologized directly to Chiu, he said. In San Francisco, the tour guide's rant runs counter to the city's ethos, to say the least. The city has a long and storied history of acceptance, not just tolerance. Its residents have been on the forefront of many civil rights battles, including immigrant rights, homeless issues, "a living wage," gay rights and treatment of people with HIV and AIDS. Moreover, San Francisco's Chinatown is home to a sizable population of people of Chinese descent, and the city claims its Chinatown is the oldest in North America. San Francisco's population of 800,000 is more than one-third Asian-American, and the largest subset is people of Chinese descent (21.4%), according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Something for a tour guide to consider. | San Francisco tour guide's Chinatown tirade caught on video .
Her curse-filled tirade has gone viral on YouTube .
She ranted about noise, food choices and assimilation . |
138,712 | 3f624579c221492875accdc0daab5017fa5eadfb | Darrell Hammond will be the new Don Pardo. Hammond, the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, is returning to the show that made him famous in a new position -- that of announcer. He takes over from Don Pardo, who died in August. NBC announced Hammond's hiring in a press release. Don Pardo, voice of 'Saturday Night Live," dead at 96 . Hammond spent 14 seasons on the late-night show in the 1990s and 2000s, the longest run of any "SNL" cast member. He was best known for his impressions, including versions of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Regis Philbin and Sean Connery. Since leaving the show in 2009, Hammond has returned for several cameos. He's also appeared on such TV shows as "Damages" and movies such as "Scary Movie 5." He published a memoir, "God, If You're Not Up There, I'm F*cked," in 2011. The 40th season of "Saturday Night Live" premieres on September 27. Chris Pratt is scheduled to host. Bill Hader returns to host 'SNL' next month . See more comedy content at CNN Comedy. | Darrell Hammond was longtime "SNL" cast member .
Hammond is known for his impressions .
"Saturday Night Live" returns Sept. 27 for 40th season . |
253,093 | d392bca9ec793ee3d17b471b561e954ceae8249e | By . Oliver Todd . While England have been taking their final game in Brazil seriously enough that they wouldn't allow loyal supporters watch the players train, already-through Costa Rica have been taking a very different approach. Before the tournament this game was seen as one that England would waltz through to hopefully secure qualification but instead they face the conquerors of Italy and Uruguay's and the Group D leaders. And even the Costa Ricans seem to be in disbelief - as shown with their mad antics in training that make Roy Hodgson's team look like a joke. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Midfielder Celso Borges preview the England clash . Is this how Joe Hart does it? Ruiz messes around in goal but takes it seriously enough to don the gloves . Anyone can get a game: Wanchope - who retired seven years ago - takes the chance to play in training . Light-hearted: Ruiz shares a laugh with his team-mates as the Costa Ricans mess around at the Estadio Mineirao . Fulham flop Bryan Ruiz took a turn in goal and was later seen rolling around on the floor laughing as his team-mates messed around. Former Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope got in on the act too - the 37-year-old who retired seven years ago was taking part in the session and seemed in a pretty jovial mood with the squad knowing they are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages. It is a stark contrast to England where the camp are spreading the message that they are taking their final game seriously - despite Roy Hodgson making changes to his starting XI including bringing in Frank Lampard as captain in place of Steven Gerrard. Am I bothered? Joel Campbell looks chilled out as the Group D surprise package prepare for England . Sucker punch: Ruiz flopped with Fulham but has shown up England's stars at the World Cup . New role: Ruiz was seen in goal at the Estadio Mineirao but could be troubling England's back for on Tuesday . Top laugh: Goalkeeper Patrick Bernard celebrates scoring a goal in training - will he be so lucky against England? Jack Wilshere has spoken of ending the campaign of lows on a high - although it is the least that fans who have spent thousands of pounds following the team in Brazil could expect. While England have been worried about when Wayne Rooney would score his first World Cup goal, even Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Bernard managed to score in training on Monday. It remains to be seen what sort of side Costa Rica will put out. Coach Jorge Luis Pinto will know that a point will guarantee top spot in the group and a favourable draw but equally he may choose to rest players. The Costa Rican attitude in training seems to completely contrast with that of the English - and England fans will be wishing that things could have gone differently to leave Wayne Rooney and co in this sort of mood. Having a laugh: Ruiz enjoys himself on the floor after claiming the ball from one of his team-mates in training . City hero: Wanchope is a coach for the Costa Rica squad but even he was messing around in their training session . Chest pump: Bernard and Yeltsin Tejeda jump into each other as the Costa Ricans enjoy training . | Bryan Ruiz goes in goal for part of the session in Belo Horizonte .
Coach and former Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope gets a game .
Players roll around on the floor in low-key warm up before facing England . |
36,495 | 677375a4c69e81ab623af7c06a6b0a8d03d6350e | By . Kieran Gill . Follow @@kie1410 . Andy Carroll was nowhere . to be seen and new signing Mauro Zarate lasted just 33 minutes on his . debut as West Ham were held to a 0-0 draw by Championship outfit Ipswich Town. Sam Allardyce escaped the axe in the summer with promises to produce 'more entertaining' football, but a goalless draw does little to reassure West Ham owner, David Sullivan, who was in attendance at Portman Road. Afterwards, though, Argentinian striker Zarate tweeted about his pelvis after worrying his new fans: 'Happy to have played my first match with the team. Positive match for me, I'm glad my pubis is well.' VIDEO Scroll down to see new West Ham striker Mauro Zarate score for Velez Sarsfield . Leaving: New West Ham striker Mauro Zarate walks down the tunnel after being taken off in the second half . Battle: West Ham's Mark Noble is contested for the ball by Ipswich Town's Teddy Bishop . Not that friendly: West Ham were gearing up for their Premier League season at Ipswich . Relaxed: Sam Allardyce (fifth left) looks on from the bench during West Ham's pre-season friendly . Crikey: West Ham owner David Sullivan rubs his face during the friendly game against Ipswich . Watching on: Sullivan was in the crowd to see the 0-0 stalemate with Ipswich at Portman Road . Update: Zarate tweeted about how it was a 'positive match' and that his pelvis is doing well . IPSWICH: Gerken, Hewitt, Mings, Bishop, Clarke, Berra, Stewart, Skuse, Marriott, Nouble, Henshall . SUBS: Bialkowski, Parr, Chambers, Smith, Wyatt, Anderson, Hyam, Veseli, Tabb, Murphy, Taylor, McQueen, Lawrence, Crowe . WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Downing, Diame, Jarvis, Cole . SUBS: Adrian, O'Brien, Reid, Chambers, Page, Cullen, Poyet, Vaz Te, Nolan, Lletget, Zarate, McCallum, Spiegel, Jarney, Sadlier . REFEREE: Darren Deadman . GOALS: NONE . Sullivan was there, looking animated throughout, but co-chairman David Gold was unable to reach the ground, having turned back after a four-lorry pile up at Dartford tunnel. In his absence, though, West Ham dominated the opening exchanges with a strong starting XI. And Matt Jarvis was at the heart of the lot. The winger first fed Carlton Cole to create a chance on the turn, before Jarvis's inch-perfect cross found Cheikhou Kouyate, whose header sailed over. The 28-year-old, then, had a go himself, stretching to fashion a chance but missing the target. It was encouraging, and new boy Aaron Cresswell almost haunted his former employers on his return. The 24-year-old left goalkeeper Dean Gerken for dead with a deft job, but only saw it crash off the face of the crossbar on his old stomping ground. At half time, the expected changes were made. Among them was new signing Diego Poyet, who said he was 'glad to get another 45 minutes on the pitch'. There was also Zarate, replacing Cole, but the striker's debut was short lived to say the least. The Argentinian forward from Velez Sarsfield lasted a little more than half an hour before going off. West Ham tried to make the breakthrough in the second half but looked deflated, unable to crack Ipswich's code. Nevertheless, there were signs of encouragement from Kouyate and Co overall. The 1,920 traveling fans will return to the capital pondering whether Allardyce can deliver the 'philosophy' the board are asking for, and wondering why Carroll was not included at all. Contest: Ipswich's Frank Nouble protects the ball from James Collins on Wednesday . Pleased: Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy oversaw his team from the touchline against West Ham . West Ham United joint-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said: 'We have a very clear vision of how we want West Ham United to operate under our joint ownership. Although not everybody understands the West Ham Way, we do and we respect it as we have been supporters all our lives. We believe this is about a philosophy that is not just about the style of play, but the whole ethos that surrounds the club. 'Sam was asked to give us a detailed presentation on his vision for next season and during this he assured us that he can deliver that ethos to West Ham United and we have agreed to support him with the resources that he needs. We have mapped out a way forward with him that will ensure our much-deserving fans have more to cheer about next season. 'We should also stress, though, that while improvements do need to be made, Sam deserves credit for the job he has done thus far after securing promotion in his first year and two respectable Premier League finishes in the two years thereafter. 'We have also seen the likes of Mark Noble, James Tomkins and Winston Reid all make huge progress under his management, which in turn contributed to our impressive record of 14 clean sheets last season. 'The truly historic opportunity of a move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 forms a major part of our five-year strategy to take this club forward and, while we have a duty to make sure we stay in the Premier League, we also want to make sure the performances on the pitch will befit a team playing in such a world-renowned stadium. 'We are absolutely committed to taking West Ham United to new heights and we want to see the Club continue on an upward trajectory next season. The 2014-15 campaign is crucial to our future and we are confident that Sam has the passion, experience and determination to make sure it is a success.' West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce said: 'I look forward to taking the club forward and improving the squad for next season to try and achieve the plans we have set out in our very productive meeting last week.' | West Ham draw 0-0 with Championship side Ipswich in pre-season friendly .
No Andy Carroll in side and new signing Mauro Zarate lasts just 33 minutes .
Zarate: 'Happy to have played my first match with the team. Positive match for me, I'm glad my pubis is well'
Diego Poyet: 'Glad to get another 45 minutes on the pitch'
League Two club Stevenage held West Ham 2-2 on Saturday .
Sam Allardyce wasn't sacked but told to be 'more entertaining next season'
Big Sam told to secure top-10 finish and change philosophy at Upton Park .
West Ham finished 13th in Premier League last season . |
34,826 | 62f5953a230ba80c126966d629d78a78f2553ac1 | Real Madrid's 22-game winning streak was ended by an inspired Valencia in one of the most thrilling games of the season so far, despite Cristiano Ronaldo putting his side into the lead from the spot. Antonio Barragan got Los Che back on level terms before another defender, Nicolas Otamendi headed his side in front to stun Carlo Ancelotti's side. It handed Barcelona the chance to get back in the La Liga driving seat, but they spurned it against David Moyes' Real Sociedad and it means Madrid are top of the table by a point, with an extra game still to make up. VIDEO Scroll down to see Sportsmail's Big Match Stats as Valencia end Real Madrid's winning streak . Valencia keeper Diego Alves celebrates after helping earn a thrilling 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Mestalla . Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after opening the scoring for Real Madrid with a first-half penalty . Gareth Bale (left) heads back to the centre circle as Real Madrid see their 22-game winning streak come to an end . Valencia: Diego Alves; Barragan (Feghouli 73), Otamendi, Mustafi, Orban; Parejo, Enzo Perez, Andre Gomes; Piatti (Gaya 23), Negredo (Rodrigo 80), Alcacer. Subs not used: Vezo, Rodriguez, De Paul, Gil. Booked: Mustafi, Orban, Parejo, Perez, Gaya, Alcacer. Goals: Barragan 52, Otamendi 65. Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, James (Khedira 71); Bale (Jese 71), Benzema (Hernandez 80), Ronaldo. Subs not used: Navas, Varane, Arbeloa, Illarramendi. Booked: Ramos, Carvajal, Isco. Goal: Ronaldo pen 14. Ref: Jesus Gil Manzano. Attendance: 50,738. Valencia played with amazing intensity, continuing their revival this season under Nuno Espirito Santo and showed they are good value to get back into the Champions League. This was the scene of one of Gareth Bale's greatest triumphs, the ground where he scored that brilliant solo goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, but along with Karim Benzema he was substituted as Madrid desperately searched for an equaliser. January is usually a gruelling month in Spain because that tournament begins for La Liga sides, and this year is no different. Real face local rivals Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the cup, but Ancelotti picked his strongest available side. The last time these teams met, it took a quite brilliant Ronaldo strike to earn Real Madrid a point, the Portugal star's acrobatic backheel one of the goals of the season. Luka Modric was missing that day and injury again prevented the Croatian from playing—he is expected back in February—while Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, both injury doubts, started. There is a good feeling around Valencia this season, especially now Peter Lim is in control of the club's affairs. New €25million signing Enzo Perez was incorporated into the midfield straight away, replacing the suspended Javi Fuego. Seven thousand Valencia fans were there to greet the team bus when it arrived, and created a huge tifo reading 'Yes we can', while Lim himself visited the dressing room. The supporters weren't particularly keen on their team giving Real Madrid a guard of honour at the start of the game, to recognise their Club World Cup success, and made their feelings known. The only time Valencia have fallen at home this season was against Barcelona and even that was a barely deserved, last-minute win thanks to Sergio Busquets ramming home after a scramble in the box. Going to the Mestalla is no easy task, and Valencia made sure of it from the off, with a string of challenges that toed a fine line between hard-but-fair and brutal. Nuno's side accumulated an astonishing five bookings in the first half, including one for new boy Perez. Valencia players clap on their Real Madrid counterparts to congratulate them for their Club World Cup victory . Real Madrid record signing Bale (left) is tackled by Valencia's Lucas Orban to concede a first-half free kick . Valencia players argue with the referee after a penalty is awarded to Real Madrid for a hand ball by Alvaro Negredo . Valencia's goalkeeper Diego Alves speaks to Ronaldo before the Portuguese superstar takes his penalty . Ronaldo paid no attention to the keeper's attempts to put him off and struck his penalty cleanly . Ronaldo is congratulated by Marcelo (left) and Sergio Ramos (centre) after stroking home his penalty . France international Karim Benzema reacts after missing a first half opportunity to double Real Madrid's lead . Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo evades a tackle from Valencia's Nicolas Otamendi during the game at the Metsalla . Valencia manager Nuno Espirito Santo signals to players from the sidelines as his team chase the game in the second half . Ronaldo holds his hands to his lips after coming close to scoring his second goal of the evening . Valencia's strong starts have been notable this season, particularly when they raced into a 3-0 lead over Champions Atletico Madrid, whom they trail by a point after this game. But despite coming out all guns blazing, it was Madrid that took the lead. Alvaro Negredo handled the ball in the box after a Toni Kroos free kick had not been dealt with, and Ronaldo sent penalty expert Diego Alves the wrong way from the spot. Historically Los Che have a strong record against Real Madrid, having beaten them 42 times, more than any other side in Spanish football history. Recent years have proved more disappointing though, with the club unable to attain victory in any of the previous 10 clashes with Los Blancos. Against Barcelona, Valencia had not been able to maintain their intensity, but here they did, coming out in the second half swinging, and they got their reward. Barragan, the right-back who is out of contract in the summer, was having a marvellous game and on one of his runs forward earned some space for a shot, just outside the box. His strike deflected off Pepe and past the helpless Casillas, setting the stadium alight. And then, the unthinkable. Daniel Parejo swung the ball in from a corner kick and Nicolas Otamendi rose highest, thanks to a superhuman, hanging leap, and planted the ball far beyond Casillas to send the Valencia supporters wild. The rampaging Barragan had another chance shortly after Valencia took the lead but fired inches wide of Casillas' far post after some stunning build-up play and Andre Gomes' through-ball. Madrid hooked Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez, with Sami Khedira, Jese and Javier Hernandez thrown on in their places. They came extremely close through Isco but goalkeeper Diego Alves made an outstanding save from his header, before goalscorer Otamendi acrobatically smashed the ball off the line to prevent Ronaldo following up. He had another chance towards the end but span a header wide of the near post when he should have hit the target. The front cover of Barcelona-based newspaper Sport had read 'Liga caliente', signifying that the title race was hotting up. It was more in hope than expectation, but Valencia at a riotous Mestalla, came through. Valencia's defender Barragan (centre) celebrates after bringing the home side level in the second half . Barragan drops to his knees to celebrate bringing Valencia back on level terms with a deflected strike . Bale (right) watches as Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi gives the hosts a leader with a header from a corner . Otamendi (left ) celebrates in front of jubilant Valencia fans after giving Valencia a 2-1 lead . Manchester City loanee Alvaro Negredo (left) competes for the ball with Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos . Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo walks off at the end of the game as his side's winning run is ended . | Real Madrid saw their 22-game winning streak come to an end with a 2-1 defeat by Valencia .
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a handball by Alvaro Negredo .
Valencia defender Antonio Barragan Fernandez equalised with a deflected shot after the interval .
Nicolas Otamendi scored the winner for the home side with a bullet header from Daniel Parejo's corner .
Barcelona later missed the chance to go top of La LIga after being beaten 1-0 by David Moyes' Real Sociedad . |
108,493 | 17e47884c14376e0d709ea9701928809dad80bcb | A new film lifts the lid on history’s most extraordinary sisters; conjoined British twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. Under the scheming control of a promoter, they were exploited as freaks and became one of the hottest attractions in a travelling circus in the early 1900s. Fascinated by the pair, director Leslie Zemeckis spent years researching them for her upcoming documentary, Bound by Flesh. Scroll down for video . Double trouble: A new film lifts the lid on history¿s most extraordinary sisters; conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. Pictured here, the sisters take the American citizenship oath in the early 1900s . Must-see: A poster for the documentary, Bound by Flesh, directed by Leslie Zemeckis who spent years researching the Hilton sisters Daisy and Violet . Daisy and Violet were born to . 21-year-old maid Kate Skinner in Brighton, 1908, as the result of Kate’s . affair with one of her bosses son. The . twins were joined back-to-back at their lower spine, and Skinner was . convinced this deformity was God’s punishment for her dalliance. She . sold them off to a midwife named Mary Hilton, who adopted the girls and . promptly displayed them in a local pub touting the twin’s deformity to . make money. Reports have . said that Mary abused them both physically and mentally. After her . death in 1915, Mary's daughter Edith Hilton and her husband Meyer . Meyers, a sideshow producer, were waiting to take their own control of . the girls. Daisy and Violet photo in 1956 opening the Hilton Snack Shop in Florida, right, and a Hollywood pose, left . They took them to America, where the sisters eventually gained citizenship, and paraded them around the country, heralding them as vaudeville, sideshow performers and freaks. It wasn’t long before the sister act – the UK's first pair of conjoined twins to survive infancy – became world famous. They performed around the globe with the likes of Bob Hope and appeared in the films Freaks (1932) and Chained for Life (1950). But . in 1931, older, wiser and still not receiving a penny of their amassed . fortune from Myers, they sued their managers for their freedom in a . widely-publicized trial. As . reported in Charlotte Magazine – the local magazine for the U.S. town, . Charlotte, North Carolina where the sisters spent the last days of their . lives - they talked about their experience in an autobiography, The . Lives and Loves of the Hilton Sisters, published in 1942. Sister act: Daisy and Violet were the UK's first pair of conjoined twins to survive infancy and became world famous . They performed around the globe World famous: At the height of their fame Daisy and Violet appeared in the films Freaks (1932) and Chained for Life (1950) and performed around he U.S, where they also became citizens. Pictured here, a poster advertising one of their shows in the Texan town of San Antonio . Stars of the show: A poster advertises the twins' appearance in a show in Columbia. ¿We [were] lonely, rich girls who were really paupers living in practical slavery,¿ Daisy said in 1942, of their early life . ‘We [were] lonely, rich girls who were really paupers living in practical slavery,’ Daisy recalled. After taking their career into their own hands, the sisters attracted a string of admirers. To . avoid one of them playing the gooseberry they had a telephone booth . installed in their plush New York apartment, specially modified so that . one twin could sit inside whispering sweet nothings to her lover on the . phone, while the other sat outside reading a magazine or filing her . nails. Life on film: Director Leslie Zemeckis, pictured here, has made a documentary about the Hilton sister's life, entitled Bound by Flesh . One admirer, world . famous magician Harry Houdini, taught the sisters how to mentally . separate themselves from each other if one was to be engaging in sexual . activity. Mental Liberty, as . they called it, gave them remarkable tolerance of each other’s romantic . interludes. ‘Why, I just turn over and read a book and eat an apple,’ said Violet. In 1934, Violet . became engaged to a handsome bandleader named Maurice Lambert, but . after their application for a marriage licence had been turned down in . 21 states - all arguing it would be immoral to sanction the union of one . man and two women - Lambert lost heart and ended the relationship. To . restore their superstar status, publicity agent Terry Turner . suggested one of the twins should get married at the newly-opened . 70,000-seat Cotton Bowl sports stadium in Dallas. The groom was to be a . lifelong friend of the sisters, a dancer named Jim Moore. Violet agreed . to be Moore’s bride even though they knew he was homosexual (the . marriage was never consummated). Violet . later made the mistake of admitting it was a sham and filed for . divorce. She claimed she had been coerced into the marriage by Turner, . but loyal fans were furious to discover they had been conned. The Hilton . twins had suddenly lost their endearing innocence and their careers . never recovered. Daisy died . from a severe bout of flu in 1968, by which point the sisters were . working in a local supermarket in Charlotte. Because the twins were . attached only by skin and not organs, Violet was not in danger. But just . a few days later, Violet died, too and both bodies were found in their . hallway by their boss. Their final wish? That they should remain joined in death, in one, unusually wide coffin. Zemeckis' film is released in the U.S. on June 27, though a UK release date is to be confirmed. | Sisters were born in Brighton in 1908 with skin attached at their spines .
Their mother, a 21-year-old barmaid, thought deformity was an act of God .
She sold the twins to a midwife who touted them as local attraction .
They became world famous and died, unmarried, in North Carolina in 1968 . |
66,587 | bcddb0315a54eaa58cdb0ec37cf78e7158318e20 | A grief-stricken father, who lost his wife and newborn twin girls to tuberculosis, spoke for the first time about their deaths and revealed that his wife had never been tested for the disease. Ruben White, 30, is suing Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas over the deaths of his 25-year-old wife Vanessa and daughters Emma and Abigail. Mr White choked up as he talked about the terrible loss of his family on Thursday. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: 'I would never . wish this on anyone else. You get the sense that sometimes life is not fair. My hope is that nobody else would have to go through this.' A devastated Ruben White talks about the death of his wife Vanessa and newborn twin daughters at a press conference in Las Vegas on Thursday . Baby Abigail, one of the twins born to Ruben and Vanessa White, is shown in Summerlin Hospital, Las Vegas. She died of tuberculosis in August . Loss: Vanessa White and her newborn babies died after she contracted TB meningitis . The . twin girls were the couple's first children. Mrs White, a dental clerical worker, and her government employee husband had been married for three years at the time of her . death. Mrs White had visited the same ER in Las Vegas three times during her pregnancy with a relentless cough which caused her to bring up mucus, a high fever and delirium. She was never tested for tuberculosis, Mr White said. Mrs White gave birth prematurely in May to twin girls but her health rapidly deteriorated. TB meningitis - rare in the U.S. - is more deadly than other forms of TB. Between 1993 and 2005, the Centers for Disease Control recorded 1,649 new cases of TB meningitis. TBM is passed on through prolonged contact with an infected person. Early symptoms, like fatigue and aches and pains are often missed. Symptoms, such as vomiting, headaches, seizures and an aversion to bright lights, don't appear for several weeks. Treatment can take up to a year but in many cases patients suffer long-lasting effects due to brain-tissue damage. All of the people found to have contracted the infection are being treated with antibiotics. She watched as three-week-old Emma died on June 1 from respiratory problems. Despite rounds of heavy antibiotics, Mrs White, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, passed away on July 1. It was only when an autopsy was conducted that doctors discovered she had TB. Surviving twin Abigail was quickly diagnosed with TB and placed in isolation but died from the disease a few weeks later. Emma had never been tested for TB. Testing of family, friends and hospital . employees conducted after Mrs White's death in July found 26 people . tested positive for the infection. Two of those had the contagious form, while the rest had inactive TB. Mr White's attorney Robert Cottle said on Thursday: 'There were multiple diagnostic failures. Lives would've been saved had tuberculosis been thought of in May or June.' According to the lawyer, doctors conducted . multiple tests, but didn't pursue the possibility of TB after a nurse . screened for symptoms and ruled out the condition. He added: 'No one connected the dots in this case, and as you can see, the dots were very obvious.' A Nevada Bureau of Health Care investigation found that Summerlin Hospital didn’t take basic precautions to stop the spread of infection - but facility leaders still say they followed protocol, according to the Review-Journal. Mrs White was allowed to visit one of her twins in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit while she had a 103-fever and was not wearing a mask or gown. Mr White said on Thursday: 'We would never want to cause any harm to our babies, so we would have done whatever it took. 'There was nothing ever told to us about anything other than regular washing of your hands when going into the NICU.' The hospital issued a statement expressing sympathy for the family, but saying it took appropriate steps in the case. 'Medical experts who have . already reviewed this matter have confirmed there was no reason to . suspect that the patient had TB and an appropriate screening was . performed,' the statement said. Outbreak: Families of babies born at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas were tested for TB following the deaths of a mother and her newborn babies . Health . officials later expanded the testing to include about 140 babies and . their family members who spent time in Summerlin Hospital's neonatal . intensive care unit over the summer. The results of that round of tests, initiated in October, have not been released. Officials . with the Southern Nevada Health District said it appears that Mrs White . contracted the disease from an unpasteurized dairy product from overseas. Lawyers plan to seek damages and changes in hospital policy. One theory is that the delayed diagnosis may have come because the disease is relatively rare in the U.S. Symptoms . can often be overlooked because the first signs of infection include . gentle aches and pains, that gradually become worse after eight weeks. 'TB . can be very subtle, particularly as many doctors have not had much . experience with TB these days,' Dr William Schaffner, professor of . preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University . School of Medicine, said. The . infection is spread through prolonged contact with a patient who is at . the contagious stage, where symptoms include coughing and spluttering. Babies who may have been exposed to the . disease are unlikely to catch it, according to chief medical officer Dr . Joe Iser, but officials want widespread testing 'through an abundance of . caution'. | Vanessa White, 25, died from undiagnosed TB in July after giving birth prematurely to twin girls .
Baby Emma died in June from respiratory problems and Abigail passed away in August after being diagnosed with TB following her mother's death .
Mrs White is believed to have caught the disease from eating unpasteurized dairy from abroad . |
20,512 | 3a3625d7a8212ac8cb24a4860a536b715fb373cf | Lonely cancer patients are more likely to struggle with their treatment plans, putting their lives at risk, a charity claims. Patients without a supportive network of friends and family around them are three times more likely to fall behind with their treatment than those who aren’t lonely, according to a new study. Many patients are missing appointments, not taking their medication properly, are unable to pick up prescriptions or even refusing treatment, Macmillan Cancer Support said. Patients without a supportive network of friends and family around them are three times more likely to fall behind with their treatment than those who aren't lonely, according to a new study . Among cancer patients who are lonely in the UK: . Its poll of more than 1,000 people from across the UK who had ever been diagnosed with cancer, found that one in five have been lonely since their diagnosis. Almost a third of those who said they had been lonely said they faced at least one issue with their treatment plan compared with 11 per cent who had not felt alone. Jacqui Graves, head of health and social care at Macmillan Cancer Support said: ‘Lonely cancer patients may not have the practical support they need to get out of the house and attend their appointments, or pick up prescriptions, especially if they can’t drive or live in a remote area. ‘Or they may feel emotionally overwhelmed and too anxious to attend appointments or have treatment. We know patients who have only attended appointments because friends or family persuaded them.’ Some 20,000 lonely cancer patients in the UK are having difficulty with their treatment, the charity said. Many lonely cancer patients (illustrated with a stock image) are missing appointments, not taking their medication properly, can't pick up prescriptions or even refusing treatment, Macmillan Cancer Support said . Mabel Macartney, 61, from Cheshire, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 said: . 'None of my family or friends live near me, so although I could stay with a friend after surgery, when I was told I’d need six months of chemotherapy the only thing going through my mind was: "How am I going to cope?" 'I couldn’t ask anyone to stay with me for such a long time or afford to be off work with no one else to help pay the mortgage. So I turned the chemotherapy treatment down. 'It was a horrible situation to be in, alone with life-changing decisions to make and I know I risked the chance of the cancer returning.' One in 30 people are estimated to have skipped treatment appointments and one in 17 didn’t take medicine as they should. One in eight patients couldn’t pick up prescriptions, while one in 11 refused some type of treatment. A total of five per cent of cancer patients refused treatment all together. Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of the charity, said: ‘We already know that loneliness may be as harmful as smoking but this research shows for the first time that it is particularly toxic to cancer patients. ‘It is simply unacceptable that so many cancer patients feel emotionally alone or lack practical support to such an extent that they are missing appointments, unable to take their medicine or even refusing treatment, and that it’s putting their recovery at risk. ‘With Britain currently the loneliness capital of Europe and the cancer population set to double to four million by 2030, the problem’s only going to get worse. We need to urgently tackle it now. ‘That’s why we’re calling on health professionals to identify lonely cancer patients and make them aware of the support available so that they don’t have to go through their cancer alone.’ | Patients without support are 3 times as likely to have treatment problems .
Many miss appointments and don't pick up or take their medicine .
Macmillan Cancer Support polled 1,000 people to highlight the problem .
It estimates some 20,000 people in the UK are lonely and battling cancer . |
168,590 | 66132bab0a296f075f805301a9e8592ffc9c37d4 | (Mental Floss) -- 1. Bobby Murcer's biggest fan . Former New York Yankee Bobby Murcer warms up during Old Timers Day Yankee Stadium on July 7. Our first story has a fairy-tale middle and a horrible ending. In August of '77, Bobby Murcer of the Cubs promised to hit a home run for terminally ill fan Scott Crull. That night, Murcer hit two of them. Pretty amazing, especially when you consider Murcer only hit nine homers the whole next season. But that's not why Crull -- a 12-year-old from Calumet City, Illinois -- makes this list. Broadcasting the game nationally on ABC, Keith Jackson told the country how Murcer had fulfilled the dying boy's last wish. Eyes watered, spines tingled. There was only one problem -- nobody had ever told the boy he was dying. His parents were horrified. Weeks later, Crull passed away. 2. The good luck charmers . Every sport has its own strange traditions. I'd argue hockey's "throwing an octopus on the ice for good luck" is the weirdest. Tossing the eight-tentacled cephalopod was the brainchild of Detroit storeowners Pete & Jerry Cusimano. The date: April 15, 1952. The logic: one tentacle for each of the eight victories it took to win the Stanley Cup. Later that spring, most likely fueled by the good luck octopus, the Red Wings won the title. PETA has objected to this practice, which continues to this day. The Red Wings mascot is not a Red Wing, but Al the Octopus. 3. The John 3:16 guy . Also known as "Rainbow Man," the born-again Rollen Stewart and his John 3:16 signs were fixtures at major events in the 1970s and 80s. He brought his message to the World Series, Super Bowl, Olympics, and World Cup. He was outside Buckingham Palace when Di and Charles wed; he went to see the Pope in Alaska. But he was more religious fanatic than sports fan. According to the Los Angeles Times, Stewart planned to assassinate President Bush and candidate Clinton in 1992. And he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage at a Los Angeles Hyatt, also in 1992. By the way, chapter three, verse sixteen of the Gospel of John says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This is also printed on cups at the In-N-Out Burger. 4. The All-Star heckler . For 12 years, Maryland lawyer and Washington Bullets fan Robin Ficker was the NBA's most prominent heckler. With season tickets behind the visiting team's bench, his antics were legendary. When he reminded Frank Layden of the Jazz that "USA Today" had rated him Worst Dressed Coach, Layden had to be restrained by security. With the Bulls in town, Ficker loudly read excerpts of Maverick, coach Phil Jackson's sex-laden 1975 autobiography. During the 1993 Suns-Bulls NBA Finals, Charles Barkley (of the Suns) flew Ficker to Phoenix and bought him a ticket behind the Chicago bench. Ficker was ejected in the first quarter. The Bullets became the Wizards in 1997 and moved into the MCI Center the following season. Ficker's new seats were not in shouting distance of the visiting team, forcing him into heckling retirement. Last year he received 9.5% of the vote in a losing bid for Montgomery County Executive. 5. Kim Jong-il . That's right, the world's most feared dictator is a hoops junkie. During a 2000 visit, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented him a basketball signed by Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls are the favorite team of Kim Jong-il, who reportedly has a video library with every game Jordan ever played. At 5'3", the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army is roughly the same height as Muggsy Bogues. 6. David Letterman's Stalker . David Letterman's biggest fan was also his biggest headache. When she was arrested for stealing Dave's Porsche in 1988, Margaret Ray told police she was Mrs. Letterman. She was a frequent trespasser on Dave's estate, once camping out on his tennis court. Ray's antics made her a regular monologue target. But the jokes stopped in 1998, when Ray jumped in front of a moving train. The collective guilt spread when we learned she was schizophrenic, as were her two brothers, who also committed suicide. 7. Joe from Saddle River . A die-hard Jets, Mets and Rangers fan, Joe Benigno was a frequent caller to WFAN, New York's all-sports radio station. Benigno won the station's Fan Appreciation Day contest in 1994, earning a chance to guest-host his own show. By 1995, Joe was WFAN's overnight guy, a title he held for almost a decade. In 2004, he was deemed ready for daytime and given the 10 a.m.-1p.m. timeslot. For all the lonely and passionate talk radio callers out there, Joe gives hope. 8. Steffi Graf's biggest fanatic . Deranged and obsessed with seeing Steffi Graf return to the top of the rankings, Gunter Parche stabbed Monica Seles during a 1993 match in one of the most disturbing incidents in sports history. Almost as disturbing was his punishment. Parche received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to attend mandatory counseling. Even more shocking, I can't find footage of any of this on YouTube. Also receiving votes: John Hinckley; the fan who started the Pistons-Pacers brawl in 2004; Jeffrey Maier; The Kissing Bandit; "Butch" from Middlebury; Metallica superfan-turned-bass player Jason Newstead; and Steve Bartman. E-mail to a friend . For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com . Entire contents of this article copyright, Mental Floss LLC. All rights reserved. | "Rainbow Man," or the John 3:16 guy, is in prison .
Communist dictator is a hoops fan .
From fan to talk radio host .
How an all-star heckler lost his seat . |
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