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285,509 | fdf5df8dc84ccb8e34c4e30ab71d4a7259ff748b | A former girlfriend of George Soros had her civil case against the billionaire businessman thrown out after a sudden outburst in court on Thursday. Adriana Ferreyr, 31, had filed a $50million lawsuit against the 84-year-old after the two split in 2011, saying he had given away a $1.9million apartment promised to her to girlfriend Tamiko Bolton, who is now his wife, and alleging that he also inflicted emotional damage by slapping her during a fight and having his security guards 'stalk' her. The entire suit was dismissed though by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Debra James after an incident in which Ferreyr 'lunged at her ex-boyfriend’s lawyer during a Manhattan court hearing and angrily snatched away legal papers while yelling.' Adriana Ferreyr (above) had her $50million lawsuit against ex George Soros thrown out in a Manhattan court on Thursday . This all comes almost one year to the day that Ferreyr allegedly called Soros a 'f***ing a**hole' and then lunged at him, knocking his glasses of his head during a deposition. The New York Post reports that on Thursday, Ferryr, who is currently representing herself having gone through three sets of lawyers, had been convinced by Judge James to sign 'medical release forms related to injuries she allegedly sustained from Soros.' Almost as soon as she signed them though, she had a sudden change of heart. According to a witness, she lunged at Soros' lawyer, Andrew Brettler, and 'aggressively' snatched the folder from him. 'She got angry' said a source. 'At one point she blurted out, "They’re going to get the information and reveal it to the press to embarrass me."' Ferreyr, now 31, and Soros, now 84, dated for five years, ending their relationship in 2001 . Ferreyr (above with former lawyer William Beslow) has vowed to hire a new lawyer and keep fighting the case . That is when Judge James announced; 'That’s it. Case dismissed. Your behavior is contemptuous.' Ferreyr disputes these claims though, admitting that while she was 'upset,' she had just reached across the table to get a piece of paper she signed which was unrelated to her case. She also vowed that she would hire a new lawyer and continue to fight her case. In June of last year, Soros offered Ferryr a settlement of $6.9million, which she reportedly declined. | Adriana Ferreyr, the ex-girlfriend of billionaire George Soros, had her $50million lawsuit against him throw out in court on Thursday .
This after she 'lunged at his attorney and ripped a file full of court papers out of his hands'
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Debra James called her behavior 'contemptuous' as she dismissed the case .
This all came just one year after Ferreyr allegedly called Soros a 'f***ing a**hole' at a deposition and knocked his glasses off his head .
Ferryr was suing Soros over a $1.9million apartment she claims he promised her along with alleging he inflicted emotional damage on her .
She claims she was simply 'upset' and trying to take back a paper she did not mean to sign, and would hire a new lawyer to fight her case . |
197,109 | 8b216c7f41ad25dcf69c9709cf2e633b37e4cc53 | By . Jill Reilly . A man was stunned when he looked out his flat window on Friday evening and caught a couple brazenly having sex in the building opposite him. The pair, who have yet to be identified, had not pulled the window blinds in their Nottingham city centre office and were in a full view of residents in the building. The shocked onlooker, who did not want to be named, filmed the entire encounter. Caught on camera: A stunned onlooker who did not want to be named, filmed the couple from his flat window in Nottingham city centre last Friday . He said the other residents in his building were also watching the scene unfold. He said: 'She was really good looking. 'She walked into the office and started stripping off, then she started ripping his clothes off and performed a sex act on him. 'They then started having full-blown sex over his chair and then his desk. He said that he filmed the pair for twenty minutes and the couple 'didn’t care that everyone in my building was staring at them.' Creating a scene: He said other people in his building were also watching the couple's encounter . In the video, the man's suit can be seen hanging on the chair. At one point the man looks out the window but doesn’t seem to mind or perhaps notice, the watching audience. The woman is thought to be in her late 20s and has long dark hair. The man is thought to be in his early 30s, had balding light brown hair and was wearing a suit. Friday saw temperatures soar to the mid-twenties as Britain entered a heat wave. Do you know the couple? If so contact our newsdesk on 0203 615 1937. | A stunned onlooker filmed the couple from his flat window in Nottingham city centre last Friday . |
197,255 | 8b4fa8bf64331bb7044c47b3c8d11fb0af01c3e9 | Martin Murray insists he does not fear Gennady Golovkin's power as both men made weight for their world title fight in Monte Carlo. The middleweights clash at the plush Salle des Etoile on Saturday night with Golovkin's WBA belt on the line. The Kazakhstan punching machine has stopped his last 18 opponents and has a knockout percentage of 90.32 per cent. Gennady Golovkin and Martin Murray pose for the cameras at the weigh-in ahead of Saturday's big fight . Gennady Golovkin (left) and Martin Murray square up after weighing in for their world title fight . Murray insists Golovkin's power holds no fear for him despite his fearsome knockout percentage . Martin Murray: 159.9lb . Gennady Golovkin: 158.9lb . (Weight limit: 160lb) But Murray is relishing the chance to test himself against the best in the division as hundreds of his fans from St Helens roared their man on during the weigh-in. 'His power is obviously something you have to look out for,' he said. 'He clearly hits hard. His general ring craft is very good as well. He's very good at putting you in places he wants to put you. 'It doesn't bother me that Golovkin hits hard. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer it if he hit a bit softer, but it doesn't faze me knowing that I'm going to go in there with someone who knocks everybody out. 'I know he hits hard, I know it's going to be a tough fight and I know I might get hurt. I'm ready and prepared for it, though.' Martin Murray and Gennady Golovkin looked confident as they made weight ahead of their world title clash . Golovkin has stopped each of his last 18 opponents, most recently Marco Antonio Rubio last October . Golovkin needed less than two rounds to despatch Rubio during a sell-out event in Los Angeles . | Martin Murray challenges world champion Gennady Golovkin on Saturday .
Murray tipped the scales at 159.9lb while Golovkin weighed 158.9lb .
The fight takes place at the Salle des Etoile in Monte Carlo .
Murray will be backed by 700 fans in the 1,000-capacity arena . |
21,411 | 3ccd5fd11147973fdf05a5bd6312c13d53fac3d6 | A film fanatic father has found a way to make sure his daughter is never late for school - in his Back To The Future DeLorean. Every morning Steve Wickenden takes Molly, eight, to school in an exact replica of the car that takes Marty McFly and mad scientist Doc back in time in the much-loved 1985 film. But instead of heading to 1955 Hill Valley, California, Steve and Molly drive around their home town of Deal in Kent. Scroll down for video . Outatime: Molly, eight, gets to go to school in a time machine (sort of) thanks to her movie fanatic father's obsession with the 1985 hit comedy Back To The Future . The power of love: Steve had Universal Studios in the U.S. turn his car into a replica of the time machine, and added more features himself for maximum accuracy . Uncanny: Top, Steve's car's dashboard and below, a Delorean prop used in Back To The Future III . Steve said: 'We certainly turn a few heads. There are always people waving and beeping at us when we drive past. 'There certainly isn't anyone else at the school gates with a flux capacitor,' he added, referencing the technological marvel that turns the DeLorean into a time machine. He says fellow drivers have even followed them home just to get a picture with the painstakingly-recreated motor. Time twins: Left, the car from the film and right, Steve's fully working replica, which he uses to drop Molly off at school . Classic: The quintessential 80s film still draws crowds to the cinema and special screening events to this day. Left, Michael J Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc . Fuel source: . Steve's DeLorean: Petrol . Film car: Plutonium/lightning bolt/fusion from household waste . What happens when it hits 88mph? Steve's DeLorean: Steve runs the risk of a speeding conviction . Film car: Travels back in time, resulting in hijinks and a subplot about a teenager going on a date with his own mother . Power: . Steve's DeLorean: 2.76 V6 engine . Film car: 1.21 gigawatts . Drives on: . Steve's DeLorean: Roads . Film car: 'Where we're going, we don't need roads' Classmates are desperate for a ride in the car and Molly and she wants to learn to drive in it when she turns 17. Account manager Steve's DeLorean was turned into the 80s time machine by Universal Studios in the run up to film's 25th anniversary in 2010. Steve brought the car to the UK and since then it's been serving as his family's runaround. Complete with a flux capacitor, an energy reactor and all the dials and clogs, it's in such high demand that he hires it out as wedding transport and fundraising events. The movie buff has even added extra features to make it an exact replica of the car in the original movie, so not even the biggest film buffs could tell the difference. He's invested in neon lights and a sound system to blast classic 80s hits as he drives around. And tinkering in his garage he's managed to attach a gadget to blow gas from the bumpers so it imitates the moment Marty and Doc travel back in time. His upgrades mean he thinks the car's value has soared from the £47,000 he paid for it to between £75,000 to £100,000. Steve said: 'People can't believe it when we drive it down the street. 'They wave and beep at us, we've even had a few people follow us home in their cars just for the chance of a picture with it. 'Our car is exactly the same as what you have seen Michael J Fox driving. 'The original from the film is in such a state of disrepair that it's not driveable so this as close as you can get really. 'Even though we get some funny looks, we love the car. 'My wife bought it for me as a gift and it's great that it's not just a show piece. It is road legal and we are always taking it for a spin.' 1.21 gigawatts or unleaded? In the absence of plutonium or a handy lightning strike, Steve has to fill up at the local station . Drivers have even followed the father and daughter home just to get a picture with the painstakingly-recreated motor . Proud: Molly loves her father's car and hopes to learn to drive in it. She says her classmates are desperate for a spin too. His upgrades mean he thinks the car's value has soared from the £47,000 he paid for it to between £75,000 to £100,000 . Steve admits some people give the car a funny look, but most people are delighted when they see him driving around . The movie buff has even added extra features to make it an exact replica of the car in the original movie, so not even the biggest film buffs could tell the difference . He added: 'People always think it's going to be really nippy but it's not actually that fast. 'But thanks to the time-travelling qualities, we always make sure Molly's not late for school.' Molly said: 'It's the best way to get to school and all my friends are jealous that I get such a cool lift. 'I definitely want to learn to drive in the DeLorean.' | Steve Wickenden from Deal, Kent, was bought the DeLorean as a gift by his wife .
Universal Studios turned car into a replica of the time-hopping car in the much-loved 80s classic .
He uses the painstakingly-constructed replica to take his daughter Mollie, 8, to school .
It even emits smoke and has neon lights to emulate the effects of time travel seen in the hit movie . |
209,907 | 9bd5bddc29d127dc80b8c03a57318dd9e39188df | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 17:41 EST, 26 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:45 EST, 26 March 2012 . At least three major Tory donors have been hired by David Cameron to help determine Government policy - while a fourth profited from the conflict in Libya . At least three major Tory donors have been hired by David Cameron to help determine Government policy – while a fourth profited from the conflict in Libya. The disclosures raise serious concerns that wealthy businessmen are being given privileged access to the heart of the No. 10 machine after signing hefty cheques for the Tories. Last night Stanley Fink, who has been reappointed treasurer, sent an urgent letter to donors making clear that in future ministers will have to seek permission before using policy ideas put forward by donors. ‘If any ministerial contact with a party donor prompts a request for policy advice, the minister will refer this to his or her private office who can seek guidance from the Permanent Secretary,’ he wrote. JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford was granted a ‘Thank you dinner’ by the Prime Minister and his party co- chairman Andrew Feldman in July 2010 in No. 10 two months after the general election. Sir Anthony, who has given more than £1.8million to the Tories since Mr Cameron became leader, was later asked to write a Government report on the future of manufacturing. Another dinner, this time in the Camerons’ private flat above 11 Downing Street, was held in November last year for Ian Taylor, the world’s biggest oil trader, who has given the Tories £466,000. JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford, left, who has given more than £1.8million to the Tories, was asked to write a Government report on the future of manufacturing, while Venture capitalist Adrian Beecrof, right, who has given £593,000 to the Tories since 2005 was asked to contribute to policy on the future of employment rights . Two months earlier, it had emerged that his company Vitol supplied oil to the rebels in Libya – a contract worth more than £100million. That deal was arranged by a secret oil cell in the Foreign Office set up by International Development Minister Alan Duncan, who had previously acted as a consultant to Vitol. Lord Ashcroft, who is Mr Cameron's most generous donor, having handed over £4.3million, was entertained at the Prime Minister's official country residence of Chequers in June 2010. Venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft was also asked to contribute to policy on the future of employment rights in the UK. Mr Beecroft, who has given £593,000 to the Tories since 2005, drew up controversial recommendations to allow bosses to ‘fire at will’, removing lazy and ineffectual staff, as well as changing rules on unfair dismissal to remove the burdens of tribunal cases on business. His report was championed in Downing Street by David Cameron’s chief policy guru Steve Hilton – though it was suppressed after disagreements with the Liberal Democrats. Sir Anthony Bamford’s report appears to have had more influence. He called on the Government to become champions of manufacturing and cut business taxes to support a renaissance in engineering – both of which could have benefited his company JCB. The Chancellor made cutting Corporation Tax a centrepiece of his Budget last week. Meanwhile Lord Ashcroft, who is Mr Cameron’s most generous donor, having handed over £4.3million, was entertained at the Prime Minister’s official country residence of Chequers in June 2010. A year later he was asked to head a review of the Ministry of Defence’s overseas bases. Close relationship: Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas, left, boasted that he could give donors private access to David Cameron, right . Critics believe he was also influential in persuading the Government to build a new runway on the remote island of St Helena – a £100million project of which he was the most vocal backer. It also emerged yesterday that former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer claimed that he knew in advance that the Government would veto French plans for a financial transactions tax. In an interview for financial magazine Risk, Mr Spencer said: ‘I have had it first-hand from very, very senior members of our administration who I know personally and have had good relations with for a long time, that it will be vetoed without any doubt and without any reservation at all.’ Entrainment: It also emerged that former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer claimed that he knew in advance that the Government would veto French plans for a financial transactions tax. Mr Spencer attended a lunch at Chequers, pictured, in May 2010 . Mr Spencer attended a No. 10 dinner in February this year and a lunch at Chequers in May 2010. Details of activities undertaken by donors are significant because they suggest high-level links between party backers and politicians can lead to influence over or prior knowledge of policy. The disgraced former Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas was recorded by undercover reporters saying one donor had written a paper on the subject of gay marriage for the No. 10 policy unit. He said: ‘We’ve fed that back into the party and there are some brilliant points in it and his voice has been heard. ‘If you’re unhappy about something, we will listen to you and put it into the policy committee at No. 10 – we feed all feedback to the policy committee.’ Mr Cameron’s spokesman said officials could find no trace of such a paper, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to the policy unit and the Prime Minister. This claim appears to have been entirely made up.’ The spokesman denied that there had been discussion of Government policy but admitted: ‘Of course there is going to be talk about politics in generic terms.’ Lord Fink, 54, who was made a life peer last year after a two-year stint as treasurer, was brought back because, unlike Peter Cruddas, he is seen as a safe pair of hands . The latest businessman to accept the poisoned chalice of the Tory treasurer’s role was once memorably spotted crawling on his hands and knees at the edge of a golf course lake trying to retrieve a ball which had plopped into the water. Considering Stanley Fink’s personal fortune is estimated at £118million, it might seem odd behaviour. But with donations drying up from grassroot members who are disillusioned with David Cameron’s leadership, a frugal approach may be what is required at Tory Party HQ. Fink, 54, who was made a life peer last year after a two-year stint as treasurer, was brought back because, unlike Peter Cruddas, he is seen as a safe pair of hands. He is discreet, well-liked by other Tory donors, and there has never been a hint of scandal about his business career. In his heyday in the City he was known as the ‘Godfather’ of British hedge funds, having transformed the Man Group over two decades into the world’s biggest listed hedge-fund group with assets of U.S. $88billion. He lessened his involvement in 2005, after a brain tumour was diagnosed and eventually stood down entirely, but returned to the City with another business venture in 2008. Putting political affiliations aside, he set up International Standard Asset Management, a small commodities trader, with the man who had been Tony Blair’s personal fundraiser, Lord ‘Cashpoint’ Levy. Fink is from a modest background. He was brought up in Manchester and went to Manchester Grammar School. His father was a grocer, one of his brothers trades computer parts from a garage, and the other one is a middle-manager for a car windscreen company. He has three children and met his wife Barbara 25 years ago in an old people’s home where they were both doing voluntary work. ‘In my case it was love at first sight but it was not for her. It took about six months before I plucked up the courage to ask her out,’ he said in an interview. He read law at Cambridge and his first job was as a trainee accountant with Arthur Andersen. A cerebral figure, he first became Tory treasurer after bankrolling Boris Johnson’s successful London mayoral campaign in 2008. He has given about £2.5million to the Conservative Party and has dined with the Prime Minister at Chequers. But it was as a student that he first became committed to the Tory cause. He was working in a paper factory in Bury, where he developed a new method of generating more orders. After a couple of days he was taken aside by a trade union shop steward and told this was ‘very unhelpful because he had people who weren’t able to pick orders at quite the same rate’. Fink recalled: ‘I remember thinking that was a great shame because clearly my way was better for the company. I saw a negative side of trade unions. I think that hardened my views.’ He enjoys the trappings of his success. He has a chauffeur-driven Mercedes, and a large family house in Northwood, Middlesex. He owns a chalet in the ski resort of Courchevel in France plus the luxurious hotel next door. ‘It is attached to my chalet so I get all the hotel services,’ he says. ‘It is the best of both worlds, having a private house with a Michelin chef. I go to the hotel bar and use the pool and the gym. I often go skiing with a couple of families. I like to share my good fortune with my old friends.’ With the latest scandal over funding, it could well be that Fink will have to share even more of his good fortune with the Tory Party. | Stanley Fink, has sent a letter to donors making clear ministers will have to seek permission before using policy .
ideas put forward by donors . |
36,723 | 68108ace64769614392e3d8a824d61109a6fb7a3 | A pair of Buddhist monks have been arrested for smoking crystal meth with two women in their sacred pagoda in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Police raided the room of 36-year-old Pich David, who has a history of breaking the rules, and found alcohol, condoms and a crack pipe. Buddhist monks are forbidden from taking drugs, drinking and having sex. Cambodian Buddhist monks sit at Bayon temple during the Visak Bochea in Siem Reap province . Chan Bunna, a 19-year-old monk, was also arrested, along with two male residents of the pagoda and two female market vendors, all for drug use, while the supplier was also arrested. The police raid was triggered by months of complaints from neighbours about the monks having loud parties late at night. It happened while Cambodia was celebrating the festival of the dead - Pchum Ben - a particularly holy time in the country. Rocks of crystal meth, also known as 'ice', similar to what was seized from one of the monk's rooms . When they were tested for methamphetamine, just Bunna and one of the women were found positive. David was also charged with violently resisting police officers. Slakram commune police chief Khiev Sort told the Cambodia Daily that David, of Pur Langka, has long been watched under suspicions he had been going against the Buddhist doctrine in the past. He was kicked out of the pagoda - a towered, religious building common in much of Asia - for poor behaviour in 2012, but readmitted the following year after promising to respect and follow the rules. The two monks have been defrocked, the chief monk of the pagoda, Keo Khouy, confirmed. | Pich David, 36, and Chan Bunna, 19, charged with drug use and defrocked .
Crack pipe, alcohol and condoms found in David's room in police raid .
Buddhist monks are banned from taking drugs, drinking and having sex .
Two female street vendors, two pagoda residents and supplier also arrested .
Happened in Cambodia during Pchum Ben - holy festival for the dead .
Complaints made about the monks' loud, late-night parties in the past . |
217,589 | a5b3a39f0011007d191487488035a20185e2ebcc | He's the Australian jihadist who, in between swearing to cleanse the world of infidel non-believers, apparently sees a lighter side in the Islamic State's barbaric war. Zia Abdul-Haq, a militant from Logan, south of Brisbane, who is fighting for IS in the Middle East, has purportedly posted a series of videos on YouTube with titles such as 'funny terrorist video part 1' - as well as Twitter images of militants cuddling cats, playing video games and training with assault weaponry. Terrorism experts said the often jokey social media posts proved the immaturity of some Westerners who have taken up arms fighting for the so-called 'caliphate'. Scroll down for video . Pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State (IS): Zia Abdul-Haq, from Brisbane, is pictured in a variety of social media posts. '#Mujahid crime! The cat love this young #French mujahid': Abdul-Haq posted this sarcastic caption alongside this picture of a purported French jihadist patting a small cat. Down time? Abdul-Huq captioned this image, of apparent militants wearing military fatigues, as 'jihadists having fun =)'. Their location is unknown. Abdul-Haq, who also goes by the name Abu Yusseph, has posted a number of images making light of IS's sinister reputation. A picture of a French IS fighter stroking a cat is captioned sarcastically: '#IS crime! The cat love this young mujahid (fighter)'. In another, he mocks the idea IS is cruel by showing fighters cutting up a dead animal and labelling them 'IS crimes'. Two militants are seen horsing around in Abdul-Haq's 'funny terrorist' video series, with one militant mimicking one of U.S. President Barack Obama's video greetings to the global Islamic community. But some of the material is much more chilling. 'Every #IS #mujahid needs to carry a big knife for slaughtering the enemies. It's more fun to slaughter :-)', reads one of Abdul-Haq's posts. 'May our blood become a flood to clean this world from all types of (non-believers)', said another. And while there is little evidence he has actively fought in the conflict zone, one message represented threatened Australian troops: 'Media propaganda is only to prepare the way for Australia and the West to send troops to fight , we hope to give them a good welcome'. Professor Greg Barton, from the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University, said Abdul-Haq's posts showed that many IS fighters were 'juveniles' who did not understand the gravity of what they were doing. Pretending to be Barack Obama: With his head covered by black cloth, militants are caught on camera imitating the U.S. President. The videos were posted to YouTube by an account purported to belong to Abdul-Haq. 'Funny terrorist part2': The straight to the point caption on Abdul-Haq's apparent YouTube video. Weaponry: This image of ammunition and an assault weapon is one of many pictures posted to social media by the jihadist. 'Training': The militants. Few images are posted where any of the militants' faces are evident . The Abbott government revealed last month that it feared around 60 Australians were fighting in the Middle East. 'For the most part, they're young idiots,' Prof Barton told Daily Mail Australia. 'We're dealing with young men doing foolish things, driven by peer pressure and a desire for affirmation.' He compared it to teenagers posting images on Facebook in order to attract high numbers of 'likes'. He said the militants posted jokes - and gruesome material - to get attention. 'I think it's generally true for (their) social media posts that what we see reflects a fairly juvenile mentality,' he said. 'There's not a lot of deep reflection on religious themes or agonising over moral choices'. Ali Kadri, a spokesman for the Holland Park mosque which Abdul-Haq occasionally visited for Friday prayers, told Daily Mail Australia Abdul-Haq did not appear to have an aggressive personality. 'He wasn't that kind of person. I remember him as a shy, quiet kind of person'. In recent months, the Islamic State - which is also known by the names ISIS and ISIL - has not hesitated in showing the gruesome lengths it is willing to go to in prosecuting its war. In the past month, the group's media arm has released videos depicting the beheadings of two Western journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff. Australian militants Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar also sparked international condemnation after they distributed images of themselves - and Sharrouf's seven-year-old child - brandishing the heads of decapitated Syrian fighters. Gruesome: The Islamic State have released videos of two U.S. journalists being beheaded in the past month. Khaled Sharrouf's seven-year-old son, pictured wielding a head. Abdul-Haq, who also goes under the identity of Abu Yussuph, has in recent days tweeted about how 'proud' he is to fight for the Islamic State. 'I never been part of any group / organisation in Australia or anywhere else, but I am proud to be part of #IslamicState', he said. Abdul-Haq also denied claims he was 'brainwashed' by Australian preacher Musa Cerantonio into taking up arms for the Islamic State, labelling them 'media lies'. 'No one brainwashed me,' Yusseph wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. 'Don't believe media'. Cerantonio said the allegation was unsubstantiated. Abdul-Haq did not respond to a request for an interview. In July, Cerantonio was arrested by Philippine authorities and deported to Australia, just weeks after he tweeted that he had arrived in the Middle East to join his brothers in the Islamic State. 'Al-Hamdulillah I have arrived in the land of Khilafah in Ash-Sham! May Allah honor all Muslims during this blessed time with His obedience,' he posted on Twitter at the time. On August 17, Abdul-Haq posted an image of fighters in the Middle East watching a video of Cerantonio. 'Mujahideen (warriors) in Ash-Shaam watching Musa Cerantonio's talks #IS #ISIS #jihadist #caliphate #Khilafah'. Cerantonio was approached for comment. Abdul-Haq's social media presence remains active. Preacher: Musa Cerantonio. | Zia Abdul-Haq, from Logan, south of Brisbane, makes light of the Islamic State's brutal military campaign .
His pictures, posted online, show militants playing video games, patting cats - and blood splattered on the ground .
Abdul-Haq, also known as Abu Yusseph, has also posted jokey YouTube clips with names such as 'funny terrorist video part 1'
He has pledged to 'spill the blood' of non-believers in chilling messages .
'It's more fun to slaughter :-)', he said .
Terrorism expert said posts show the 'juvenile' personalities of many Australians who are fighting in the Middle East .
As many as 60 Australians are now fighting in Iraq or Syria . |
2,818 | 084387847db8f24e5c4346428d46c44c11f16d33 | A 14-year-old boy has been left with the body of a 110-year-old in India because he has a rare disease which makes him age eight times faster than normal. Ali Hussain has seen five of his siblings die from the same condition called Progeria which is known to affect just 80 people worldwide. Two of his brothers and three of his sisters have died from the disease in Bihar, the poorest state in India. Scroll down for video . Sufferer: Ali Hussain, 14, of Bihar, India, has Progeria which makes his body age eight times faster than normal. The rare condition is known to affect only 80 people in the world, but has killed five of his siblings . Progeria causes rapid ageing and . sufferers of the genetic disease are prone to arthritis, eye problems, . heart disease and baldness. Sufferers are not expected to live much beyond the age of 14 - but despite the grim prognosis Ali has refused to give up hope. ‘I very much want to live and I hope there is medicine for my condition out there. I’m not scared of death but my parents have suffered a lot,' he said. 'I’d love to live much longer for them. I don’t want to burden them with any more pain.’ Ali’s parents Nabi Hussain Khan, 50, and Razia, 46, are first cousins and were the product of an arranged marriage 32 years ago. Illness: Ali's genetic condition effectively has the body of a 110-year-old because of the rare condition . Child victim: Ali Hussain is held by his mother Razia, 46. She has had eight children and six of them have suffered from Progeria . Their children Rehana, Iqramul, Gudiya and Rubina have all died from Progeria between the ages of 12 and 24. A fifth child, a boy who died within 24 hours of being born, is also thought to have had the rare condition. Nabia and Razia, who have had eight children in total, do have two healthy daughters - Sanjeeda, 20, who is married with two children of her own. Their youngest daughter Chanda, 10, also does not have Progeria. When their first daughter, Rehana, was born in 1983 they had no idea anything was wrong at first. It was only after her second birthday when she couldn’t eat or walk properly did they visit a doctor. But the doctor was baffled and he sent them home with some medicines. Progeria was so rare and poorly documented that most doctors had never heard of it. Family victims: Nabi Hussain Khan, 50, (left) with his wife Razia, 46, (right) and their children. Sanjeeda, now aged 20, (back, centre) does not have Progeria . Nabi Hussain Khan, 50, and his wife Razia, 46, have had eight children and six of them have suffered from Progeria. Two years later when their son Iqramul was born,and showed the same symptoms, the family went back to the doctor. But again, they were not offered any tests or possible diagnosis. Nabi, who works as a gatekeeper at a factory earning 2,000 rupees - or £20 - a month said: ‘We never heard of the word Progeria, the doctors never mentioned it. They were stabbing in the dark; they were as clueless as us. 'If a doctor had perhaps told us that our children were suffering with some kind of genetic problem and we were connected we would’ve stopped having children. But nothing was said.’ Nabi and Razia carried on having children hoping they would conceive a healthy boy or girl eventually. Their wish was granted when they had Sanjeeda. In 1995, after years visiting different doctors, a consultant in Kolkata finally diagnosed four of their children with Progeria and broke the devastating news that there was no cure for ay of them. ‘The diagnosis didn’t help,’ Nabi added. ‘People were sure there was a cure. No one in our community believed there was nothing that could be done. 'Neighbours and extended family tormented us for not getting them help, they couldn’t understand a disease with no cure.’ Life was made unbearable for the five children growing up with Progeria and they were mocked in school and called names like ‘big-eyed boy’ and ‘Patlu’ meaning skinny. Eventually they all stopped going to school. Ali, who weighs just 1st 8lbs, said: ‘None of us have had a childhood, we were confined to our homes. 'We had each other but that was it. We had no life. When we did go to school we were pushed and shoved, called names, kids tried to harm us. We can’t do much physically either; our lungs are so small we get breathless easily. Illness: Ali is fed by his mother. Progeria causes rapid ageing and sufferers of the genetic disease are prone to arthritis, eye problems, heart disease and baldness . ‘I would love to be a normal person who can play, go to school, do some sports, take some risks. Sometimes I get depressed but most of the time I make the most of the life I have.’ Ali is now the family’s only surviving Progeria sufferer. When his brother Ikramul died four years ago he was devastated. ‘Iqramul was my best friend,’ he said. ‘I was very young when my other siblings died, so it were just Ikramul and I for a long time. 'He was very strong and didn't pay any attention to the bullies. When he died I cried for weeks and couldn't eat but then I realised I’d be doing him a huge injustice if I crumbled. I have no one now, no friends, but I have to stay strong.’ Victim: Ali, 14, who weighs just 1st 8lbs, is not expected to live more than a few years longer . Ali and his parents are now supported by a Kolkata-based charity called SB Devi Charity. Pediatrician Dr Chandan Chattopadhyay, from Kolkata, introduced the family to the organisation and now they help Ali pay for his medical needs. Ali spends all of his time with his mother and sisters, Sanjeeda, 20 and Chanda, ten, and he believes there’s no one else like him in the world. But when told about the famous annual Progeria Reunion, run by the Sunshine Foundation, he would love to attend. ‘It’s very lonely living this life, especially since my siblings have gone,' he added. 'I don’t know if there’s anyone else like me. I’d like to be in the company of other people like me again. And I know my brother would be proud of me for doing so.’ | Ali Hussain, 14, has Progeria which makes his body age eight times faster than normal .
Two of his brothers and three sisters have died from the genetic disease .
His parents Nabi, 50, and Razi, 46, are first cousins .
The couple, from Bihar, northern India, also have two healthy daughters .
Progeria is so rare that it took doctors in India 10 years to diagnose Ali Hussain's oldest sibling . |
75,801 | d6f2c67519cdb0b9c055ffa181073dea72659652 | A mother killed herself the day after learning police had dropped an investigation into claims she was raped by a sex offender at an NHS clinic, an inquest heard. Kylie Payne, 23, was found dead at a mental health clinic in Norfolk, just one day after she was told that police would not be pressing charges against the man. Nurses had been told to monitor Ms Payne four times an hour but she was found dead on February 7, 2012, after being left unsupervised for 20 minutes, the hearing was told. Mother-of-one Kylie Payne, 23, was found dead at a mental health clinic in Norfolk (pictured), just one day after she was told that police would not be pressing charges against the man who she accused of raping her . The mother of one was found hanged in her room at Meadowlands in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. Norfolk Coroner's Court heard how she discovered that police had dropped charges against the man she accused of rape just a day prior, due to insufficient evidence. A police investigation had been launched after she sent a text message to her aunt, Karen Payne, on Boxing Day 2012 in which she accused a fellow patient of rape. The inquest heard how doctors became 'concerned' when she befriended the patient at the mental health unit, but did not warn her about his previous convictions because of confidentiality rules. Assistant coroner David Osborne told the inquest that the patient Ms Payne accused of rape had a history of sex offences. The inquest heard how Ms Payne told staff on Christmas Day that she had been raped by the patient and wrote a note outlining suicidal thoughts. She was put under extra observation and care workers were told to increase her supervision visits to six times per hour. Following the five-day inquest, Ms Payne's mother Sheila, 42, told the Daily Mirror: 'I was in shock when I heard she had told staff that she'd been raped. 'I was angry at the clinic. Somebody like that should never have been in the same place as vulnerable women.' Concluding the inquest last week, the jury returned a verdict of suicide and said failings of care contributed to Ms Payne's death. They also ruled that the timing of police dropping the investigation was a contributory factor in her death. Mother-of-seven Mrs Payne issued a statement through her solicitor Zak Golombeck, from law firm Slater and Gordon, in which she revealed plans to take action against Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust over her daughter's death. She added: 'I am relieved that the results of the inquest highlighted failings into the care of Kylie.' The jury returned a verdict of suicide at Norfolk Coroner's Court (pictured) and said failings of care contributed to Ms Payne's death. The jury also said the timing of police dropping the investigation factored . Since Ms Payne's death, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust has introduced new measures to stop convicted criminals being admitted to low-security units. The Trust also said that secure facilities had been changed to single sex accommodation. Meadowlands was deemed no longer fit for purpose and closed in October 2013. Jane Sayer, the Trust's director of nursing, said: 'Kylie's death was a tragedy for all concerned and we fully accept there were failings on our part. Our sincere sympathies remain with Kylie’s friends and family. 'Following Kylie’s death in 2012, we undertook a serious incident investigation, commissioned an external review of the service, and implemented the recommendations made. 'We continue to look at how we can improve the safety of vulnerable patients on an ongoing basis.' For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. | Mother Kylie Payne found dead at mental health clinic in Norfolk in 2012 .
Just discovered police had dropped case against man she accused of rape .
23-year-old was supposed to be supervised four times an hour at NHS unit .
Found hanged after being left unsupervised for 20 minutes, inquest heard .
Inquest ruled suicide verdict but said failings in care contributed to death . |
164,474 | 60aec974897f1ca64f83f34b1b9dff34cf301d2f | Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- Searchers on Monday suspended efforts to find three mountaineers still missing in Nepal after an avalanche swept down Manaslu mountain, sending climbers -- some still in their tents -- tumbling hundreds of feet down the world's eighth-highest peak. "The mission is over for now," rescue coordinator Mingma Sherpa said Monday. Rescuers think the climbers might be dead. If true, the death toll from the Sunday incident would be 11. For now, officials have confirmed eight deaths: four French citizens, one German, one Italian, one Nepali and one Spanish. Twelve climbers were injured, said Binod Singh, a Nepali police spokesman. The avalanche, which struck around 5 a.m. Sunday, was most likely caused by a piece of ice the size of six or seven football fields that fell from a glacier above the camp, said Christian Trommsdorff, vice president of the National Syndicate of High Mountain Guides in Chamonix, France. One of the survivors, Frenchman Arnaud Manel, said Monday that he was in a tent with two other people when large amounts of snow began to fall on it. He said he managed to break the icy tent open and get out, and then rolled for what he thought was about 200 meters (655 feet) in the snow. "When I stopped rolling, I was neck deep in snow," said Manel, a 42-year-old surgeon. "I was only wearing a T-shirt. I couldn't breathe." He said enough of the snow around him melted to allow him to clamber out. He said that he managed to save one friend, but that another, buried deeper in the snow, died. Another survivor, American Glen Plake, was inside his tent reading Bible verses when the avalanche swept 300 meters (985 feet) down the mountain, according to Trey Cook, the editor in chief of EpicTV.com. He spoke with Cook by satellite phone. EpicTV.com makes films about skiing, climbing and other adventure sports. Plake said that when he stopped moving, he was still in his sleeping bag, in his tent and was still wearing the headlamp he'd been using to read. Plake lost a few front teeth and suffered an eye injury, Cook said. Plake had planned to descend from the summit on skis without the aid of oxygen, according to Cook. The avalanche struck two camping areas for mountaineers, one at 6,600 meters (21,650 feet), and another about 500 meters (1,640 feet) below, according to Yograj Kadel of Simrik Air, which participated in the rescue efforts. The mountain is 8,163 meters (26,780 feet) high. Cook said Plake told him that the avalanche destroyed all 25 tents at one of the camping zones and bashed and moved 12 tents in the other. Two French expeditions were on the mountain when the avalanche struck, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. Two French climbers were among the missing, she said. Among those confirmed dead was Marti Gasull of Spain, described by the nonprofit Pro-Language Platform in Barcelona as one of the leading Catalan language activists in the country. "He had a passion for the mountains. He was committed to the Catalan culture and language and admired for his human side and his commitment to our country," the group said in a posting on its website. Kenton Cool, a mountain climber from England who reached the summit of Manaslu in 2010, told CNN that the weather during the post-monsoon season can be unsettled. His friends on the mountain told him that in the past 10 days or so, there had been "quite high levels of snow on the mountain," he said. Teams normally wait for new snow to settle before leaving camp. Cool, who said Manaslu had a "fearsome reputation," predicted that searchers will have a hard time finding some of the people still on the mountain. The area where the avalanche happened is the site of large crevasses. "It will be hard to know exactly where everyone was," he said. "It will be hard to find the bodies, let alone retrieve them." According to Nepal tourism officials, 231 foreign mountaineers from 25 teams were attempting to climb the mountain in the autumn season that ends in November. Avalanche disaster revives fears about Nepal's crowded mountains . | NEW: Rescue coordinators believe three missing climbers are dead, suspend operations .
NEW: "The mission is over for now," rescue coordinator says .
Eight people are confirmed dead in the Sunday avalanche on Manaslu .
A French survivor says he found himself "neck deep in snow" |
74,145 | d24227350d536d484845fd3679a7165215798d34 | By . Laura Cox . PUBLISHED: . 18:05 EST, 29 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:24 EST, 30 April 2013 . Her feisty Avengers alter-ego would have karate-kicked any man who dared patronise her. But it appears that when it comes to equality of the sexes, Diana Rigg is much less strident in real life. Despite being an icon to women’s rights campaigners since the Sixties, the 74-year-old actress has denied being a feminist, saying she likes it when a man displays old-fashioned courtesy. Avengers star Diana Rigg has said that she was not the feminist that everyone assumed she would be . Dame Diana also criticised women for being ‘more bitchy than men’, saying they are ‘dangerous and deeply competitive’. The actress is best known for playing catsuit-clad spy Emma Peel in Sixties TV series The Avengers. Her character was hailed by feminists for her intelligence, independence and martial arts skills. But Dame Diana denied she was a feminist icon, telling the Radio Times: ‘I was thought to be, but never was really. ‘I kept my mouth shut for the most part. It’s a question of economics. If you’re paid the same as a man, which now you are in this profession, you’re equal. If a man holds a door open for me or pulls back a chair so that this old bag can sit down, I’m delighted. Diana said that she is not a feminist and likes it when a man displays old fashioned courtesy . ‘If they [men] put an arm round a woman and say, “You look good today”, they could find themselves in the small claims court. ‘Women who moan and carp about that sort of thing are stupid. They find it belittling, but it’s just good manners.’ However, she added: ‘You can’t pat bottoms, though. You deserve to be slapped for that. It’s condescending. I wouldn’t allow it.’ She said that women are capable of being much more bitchy than men. ‘Most women won’t agree, but it’s true. I love women but am aware we’re dangerous and deeply competitive, although I gave up being competitive long ago. Feminists deny it... but basically it’s all about men and sex.’ Diana Rigg has been an icon to feminists since she starred as Emma Peel in Sixties TV show, the Avengers . Dame Diana is not the first high-profile older woman to criticise women’s rights. A month ago, Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry, 78, was chastised by broadcaster Joan Bakewell for saying feminism was a ‘dirty word’ and that she is ‘thrilled to bits’ when men offer to look after her. Dame Diana has been married and divorced twice and has one daughter, actress Rachel Stirling, 35. Her roles after The Avengers included playing a Bond girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. She was recently in Game Of Thrones. Yesterday feminist author Ellie Levenson criticised Dame Diana’s comments, saying: ‘All these older women slagging off feminism have benefited enormously from feminism so it’s a shame they hate the word so much. They’ve had education, careers, financial independence and a sex life they are in control of... like it or lump it they’re part of the feminist movement.’ | Diana Rigg said that she prefers when a man shows old fashioned courtesy .
The actress starred as feminist icon Emma Peel in the Avengers .
Said women who moan about a man showing good manners are 'stupid' |
159,731 | 5a7a9ea4955ec83c72028d210b1a6ff1ddbea214 | A super PAC affiliated with the conservative Koch brothers is spending more than $1 million each in Arkansas and Iowa on a second round of television commercials that feature U.S. veterans and a mother critical of Democratic Senate candidates running in those two states, CNN has learned. The Freedom Partners Action Fund has already dedicated $1 million for an ad in Iowa and nearly $1.2 million for a commercial in Arkansas. And the GOP-friendly group plans to drop an additional $2 million in each of those states in the next six weeks to try to help the Republican Senate nominees win in November. In all, the Koch-affiliated super PAC plans to spend about $4 million in each state on TV ads, James Davis, spokesman for Freedom Partners Action Fund, told CNN. Arkansas and Iowa are two critical contests that will help determine which party controls the Senate in 2015. The latest Freedom Partners Action Fund commercial in Arkansas features six U.S. veterans speaking directly to the camera about their displeasure with Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor. Specifically, the veterans accuse Pryor of failing to help prevent medical negligence at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Freedom Partners Action Fund cites Pryor's membership on a committee to make this claim. Pryor is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the agency. Seven Democrats and six Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, sit on this subcommittee. In addition, there is a stand-alone full committee, Veterans' Affairs, that oversees the VA. Democrats' favorite bogeymen fight back . And in an attempt to tie Pryor to President Barack Obama, another veteran says in the commercial that the senator "votes with Barack Obama 90% of the time." A recent CNN/ORC Poll shows that Obama's approval rating is 33% in Arkansas. Rep. Tom Cotton, the GOP Senate nominee, is not mentioned in the ad. In Iowa, Freedom Partners Action Fund relies on "Christina," a mom from Urbandale, to criticize Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democratic nominee, as a poor example for her children to look up to as a role model. "Christina" highlights comments Braley made earlier this year that she says were disparaging to farmers, as well as missed votes as a House member. Instead, "Christina" touts GOP Senate nominee Joni Ernst, a member of the Iowa National Guard, as a person for her children to emulate. The Iowa commercial makes no reference to Obama, whose approval rating is 37% in the state, according to the latest CNN/ORC Poll. The Arkansas and Iowa ads came as the Democratic-aligned political group American Bridge launched two online ads Wednesday criticizing Charles and David Koch for using their fortune to try to influence the midterm elections. Who are the Koch brothers? | A Koch-affiliated super PAC is spending $2 million on new 2014 ads .
The group is targeting Senate races in Iowa and Arkansas .
The Democratic candidates in both states are considered vulnerable . |
114,679 | 2003451f2ac0b845f86999fe7d7531c06a7df7ae | A teen worker at Walmart is accused of using deodorant before returning it to the store's shelves. Chandler Roberts, 18, was caught on camera, twice 'selecting a stick of Old Spice deodorant,' which he proceeded to apply while in the bedding department. He then returned the toiletry item to the shelf of the South Carolina store. Chandler Robert, (pictured) 18, a teen worker at Walmart is accused of using the deodorant before returning it to the store's shelves . He is now being investigated after admitting he stole more than $1,800 in merchandise, reports the Smoking Gun. Store security noticed him taking taking milk and Oreos to the staff break room which he had not paid for and began observing him, according to a police report. When confronted about his actions, Roberts 'admitted to stealing several items,' but said he couldn't recall how much they were worth . Roberts was caught on camera, twice 'selecting a stick of Old Spice deodorant,' which he proceeded to apply while in the store's bedding department (file photo) When confronted about his actions, Roberts 'admitted to stealing several items,' but said he couldn't recall how much they were worth. He offered to return some of them and later 'returned numerous stolen items to asset protection' according to the report. Walmart calculated that the goods were worth $1,823.25. Cops did not address whether the used deodorant ended up being purchased by a customer. Police are continuing to investigate the Walmart thefts. | Chandler Roberts, 18, was caught on camera, twice 'selecting a stick of Old Spice deodorant'
He then applied it and then put it back on shelf of the South Carolina store .
Admitted stealing more than $1800 in merchandise and offered to return it . |
40,787 | 7309c6bcdc55e5c9fcc9dc01f9319be0626c0eeb | U.S. military forces targeted the Islamic extremist al-Shabab network in an operation Monday in Somalia, the Pentagon said. Spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement 'We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate.' No further details were available. Scroll down for video . al-Shabaab reportedly set off this car bomb, seen Sunday in Mogadishu . NBC News reported its sources revealed 'a military drone launched Hellfire missiles at at least two vehicles in a remote area of southern Somalia, with al-Shabaab's top leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, believed to have been the target.' The U.S. action comes after Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there. The Pentagon statement did not indicate whether the U.S. action was related to the prison attack. Somali officials said all attackers, three government soldiers and two civilians were killed. Spokesman: Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement 'We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate' (file photo) Mogadishu's Godka Jilacow prison is an interrogation center for Somalia's intelligence agency, and many suspected militants are believed to be held in underground cells there. The Somali rebel group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack that shattered a period of calm in Mogadishu after two decades of chaotic violence. The attack started when a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the prison, followed by gunmen who fought their way into the prison. According to CNN, Somalia's Information Minister H. E. Duhulow said 'These terrorists groups are against the security improvements we are currently experiencing here in Mogadishu. We say to them that these foiled attacks strengthen our forces and prove their bravery to the people of Somalia.' It was al-Shabab gunmen who attacked the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, with guns and grenades last September, killing at least 67 people. | The Pentagon said U.S. military forces targeted the Islamic extremist al-Shabab network in an operation Monday in Somalia .
A spokesman said 'We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate'
According to reports, al-Shabab head Ahmed Abdi Godane was targeted .
The action comes after Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants . |
249,362 | ceb07a4d097d3023679892e76521d243ecd8bedb | (CNN) -- One of the men killed in Monday's coal mine explosion in West Virginia knew of the danger but didn't let it bother him, his family said Tuesday. The blast at the Massey Energy Co. mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killed at least 25 miners; four others are unaccounted for, officials say. The cause of the explosion had not been determined as rescuers worked Tuesday to bore ventilation holes into the Upper Big Branch Mine. Benny Willingham, 61, a deacon in his church and the patriarch in his family, was among those killed, relatives told CNN's John Roberts. "He was a good man. I know everyone thinks that about their loved ones, but Benny truly was a wonderful man," Willingham's sister Jean told CNN. "He loved the Lord, and in church the other day, he thanked the Lord for saving his soul, and he thanked him for watching over him in the mines for over 30 years, and he said, 'If he takes me tomorrow, I've had a good life,' " she said. iReport: Are you there? Share photos, video . Her brother kept his affairs in order because of the constant risk of death, she said. Still, the accident shocked the family. "It's scary. It's just really, really scary," Willingham's granddaughter Tiffany Ellis said. "My stepdad also does this, and this is just a wake-up call to me. I've seen it happen before, but I never imagined I'd be here today, telling my story about it." She said her grandfather stepped in to help raise her after her father walked out on the family years ago. "I didn't have a dad; my grandfather filled them shoes for me," she said. "He spoiled me. Anything I wanted, his little girl got it. "He taught me everything, from learning how to tie my shoes to driving, to learning the game about boys. He was always there to listen to my problems, whenever I had them." The families of the victims are not limited to bloodlines, according to Willingham's relatives and other local residents. "It's a good community -- tight," his daughter Michelle McKinney said. "We look after each other. We support each other." "If you're from here, you're part of a coal mining family," Grace Lafferty of Harper told the Charleston Gazette newspaper. "You know a lot of people who work here. It takes your breath away, your heart drops and you have that empty feeling." "Coal mining gets in your blood," Willingham's brother-in-law Bobby said. "The camaraderie is like a sports team. There's no love like the love among workers in coal mines." After hearing news that miners may be trapped, former miner Randy Cox told the Register-Herald newspaper in Beckley, "I just got down on my knees and started praying that they were OK." Cox, of Arnett, West Virginia, mined coal for 18 years and now is disabled, the newspaper reported. "I never was in a situation like that, but I have seen roof falls," Cox said. "I'm praying for them, and I hope this turns out OK. May God be with them." CNN's Jim Kavanagh contributed to this report. | Benny Willingham, 61, kept his affairs in order, relatives say .
"If [God] takes me tomorrow, I've had a good life," he said, according to sister .
Granddaughter mourns for miner who "taught me everything"
Mining communities are close as family, local residents say . |
206,526 | 976591ee5153ed6b08f0fc33551483b71cdb672d | (Rolling Stone) -- Against Me! singer Laura Jane Grace says that coming out as transgender in a recent issue of Rolling Stone "completely ended my relationship with my father." In a new interview with MTV News, Grace is asked about her father's response to the article and says, "He tried calling, I tried calling him back, but then he wouldn't call me back. I wrote him a really long email, and I apologized and told him the way he was portrayed in the Rolling Stone article was a little harsh. I apologized for that, I apologized for not telling him in person before — that I felt like a total coward for that. I explained about gender dysphoria; I told him if he had any questions, there were books I could point him in the direction of reading. He wrote me back maybe a two or three sentence-long email that just said, 'There was something very lacking in your presentation. For now the door is open, but we'll see.' And that's it." Grace also speaks openly about her progress in transitioning from male to female and undergoing hormone replacement therapy. "I'm one day from being one month into HRT. The mental effects have been immediately like night and day; it made a world of difference in my life. I find that in a lot of situations in the past where I would have gotten frustrated or angry, I am a lot more calm and centered. I just feel at ease and like myself. Physically, I feel impatient." MTV also interviewed Grace's Against Me! bandmates, who discuss how her coming out has changed the day-to-day dynamic of the band. "I think [the band] has been happier and everyone is getting along famously," says bassist Andrew Seward. "It's a very nice, positive, family vibe on the bus and at the shows." Read the full story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | Against Me! singer Laura Jane Grace says coming ended her relationship with her father .
Grace came out as a transgender in a recent issue of Rolling Stone .
Bassist Andrew Seward said the band has been happier since Grace's coming out . |
88,669 | fba84ca439b9a2479af19899b1168c9ccef0a257 | Davos (CNN) -- Davos is a stimulating place to be, to discuss and to learn. Hopefully, by coming together, we will find ideas and solutions that will bring the world forward. In my opinion, one of our challenges is that we are about to lose a whole generation of resources because of the growing unemployment of youth. It is dangerous not to let today's youth be a part of the reshaping of the world. In 2013, according to the World Bank, 73% of the labor force between the ages 15 and 24 was without work, but available for and seeking employment. Many of the people I have admired over the last few years have been young people I have met in very different situations. They have become role models for leadership and high ethical standard. Some fantastic young people I have met have shown leadership under such hard conditions that I can picture them taking a leading position within a wide range of fields. I believe today's youth -- the ones you find at almost any school almost anywhere in the world -- are highly competent people with knowledge and experience that would be in the best interests of established leaders to utilize. Youth today live in an extreme world regarding diversity, conflict, opportunities and technical means of connecting with others. The global networks of youth are far ahead what established leaders of today had when they were young. Since 2006 I have been visiting schools and talking to students all around the world together with my fellow Young Global Leaders John Hope Bryant and Pekka Himanen. We have arranged so called Dignity Days -- which is the main activity of our organization Global Dignity. We have three goals: To spur a global conversation on dignity, to arrange Global Dignity Days at schools and promote dignity-based leadership. This year, Dignity Day will be held for more than half of the Norwegian first year high school pupils -- and in around 50 countries world wide. What strikes me during my very diverse meetings with youth around the world is how similarly they define dignity -- and how relevant it feels for most young people to discuss this issue as a core value of our time. These are some of the dignity stories we have been told: . In Jordan, a girl stood up and told how annoyed she had been when she got a visually impaired teacher. The girl was very ambitious, and thought she would get less quality training because of the teacher's disability. When the teacher later became the first visually impaired person in Jordan to earn her PhD, the student completely shifted her perspective. She realized that she was proud that this had been her teacher and that she had learned something more important from her than from any of her other teachers. In South Africa a girl told how, during the riots in 2009, her grandmother covered and hide some of the immigrants in her home, who were targets of the riots. In Norway, a Muslim student told how her friend had started to walk to and from school together with a Jewish boy who was being bullied -- to support and protect him. I particularly like this third story. It shows the genius of youth in beautiful simplicity. It hits the core of what the world's leaders have been struggling so hard over so many years to achieve. I believe youth is an important target group for positive change -- indeed the real driver of positive change. Youth find it incredibly easy to grasp the idea of dignity -- and even better: how it can be operationalized into practical action. They are truly Champions of Global Dignity. So what do we need to do to create positive change? It is not enough to merely accept the inherent dignity of all human beings. Our actions must reflect the dignity of others. In my view dignity consists of two main parts: Firstly, inherent dignity and secondly, perceived dignity -- a sort of dignity capital. We all have the ability to increase other people's dignity capital -- and thus increase our own. This is about doing all we can to become our best selves -- by making conscious decisions -- and making the best out of our resources. Take action, see potential, and give unemployed youth the opportunity to use their resources as a response to this both current and emerging challenge. Gordon Brown: Without frontiers, young people mobilize for change . Klaus Schwab: Business must help young people find jobs . Opinion: Why Europe's unemployment ills need urgent economic medicine . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. | Norway's Crown Prince Haakon: It is dangerous not to let youth help reshape the world .
He says global youth networks are far ahead what established leaders had in their youth .
Youth find it incredibly easy to operationalize dignity into practical action, he writes . |
47,926 | 87435b375149c40388642f14d38c2bd88e266fbb | Xianiezhuang Village, China (CNN) -- On most days, Zhang Huanzhi doesn't look the part of a fighter for justice. Whenever she catches a break between tending the cornfield and feeding livestock, the 67-year-old farmer from northern China goes to court. "I bike to the closest bus stop and then take a two-hour ride to the Hebei provincial high court," Zhang said, as she thrashed sorghum in her courtyard one afternoon, her disabled husband sitting nearby. "I've been doing this for the past six years -- and as long as I can still move, I'm not giving up." Her only son, Nie Shubin, was executed in 1995 -- when he was 20 -- for raping and killing a woman. A decade later, another man confessed to the same crimes. Since then Zhang has made countless journeys to the courthouse in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang -- 320 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of Beijing -- with one simple yet futile appeal: retry the case to exonerate her son. With more details emerging from domestic news coverage, many have viewed Zhang's plight -- and Nie's case -- as an egregious example of the flaws in the Chinese criminal justice system, including the use of torture, deficient due process and lax review of death sentences. Zhang is now back in the public spotlight, as the government proposes major revisions to its criminal code -- the first in 15 years -- ostensibly aimed at better protecting its citizens and preventing a recurrence of situations like what happened her son. Her fight nevertheless continues to hit a wall and even the People's Daily -- the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party -- ran a scathing commentary in September that asked: "In a case where someone was clearly wronged, why has it been so difficult to make it right?" "Rehabilitation means little to the dead, but it means a lot to his surviving family and all other citizens," it added. "We can no longer afford to let Nie's case drag on." A mother's dogged pursuit . Zhang now seals her most treasured possessions in a Ziploc bag: two old photos and several legal documents. "He was about 19 and it was taken right here in our courtyard," she recalled, pointing to the fading color prints of her shy stuttering son -- a square-faced teenager wearing a blue tank top in one picture and shirtless in the other -- beaming for the camera. Nie was taken into custody not long after the photos were taken and would never see his mother again. Zhang said local police, during their several visits to question the family and search the house, never told her why they had detained her son. Court documents cited "tips from local residents" but did not elaborate. Authorities tried Nie behind closed doors and barred the parents from the courtroom, but Nie told a lawyer hired by his family that he was beaten into a confession on his sixth day in jail. Zhang was convinced that Nie was a victim of torture, after seeing her normally healthy son walk with a limp into the courthouse before the first trial. Seven months after he was first detained, the government executed Nie in April 1995 -- without notifying his parents. After the initial shock, Zhang had to endure more agony to locate her son's remains and deal with a failed suicide attempt and subsequent half-paralysis of her husband, who was crushed by Nie's execution. Living off her husband's monthly pension of $150, Zhang learned to take care of the family by herself. Her daily routine, however, was disrupted in 2005 by a sudden influx of Chinese reporters, who revealed to her that a man named Wang Shujin had just confessed to the same crimes Nie was executed for a decade earlier. Carefully laying the contents from her Ziploc bag on a table, Zhang described each legal document as she recounted her six-year lone quest for justice: a copy of the verdict against Nie that detailed his "crimes;" a 2007 letter from the Supreme People's Court in Beijing, in which the nation's highest court instructed the Hebei high court to "process" her appeal; and most importantly, a printout of a written statement by Wang's lawyer on his client's confession. The lawyer, Zhu Aimin, confirmed to CNN that Wang has admitted to the crimes Nie was convicted of -- with corroborative details. Ironically Wang, sentenced to death for four other murder and rape cases, is now receiving a reprieve, as his connection to the Nie case has delayed the completion of his second trial. Officials from the Hebei high court in Shijiazhuang and the Supreme People's Court in Beijing never responded to CNN's requests for comment despite repeated phone calls and faxes. "The cold reality doesn't offer us ordinary people much hope -- so why do I keep pursuing?" Zhang said. "I don't want to hold anyone responsible, I don't want government compensation, and I don't want the judge to bring back my son alive -- but one thing I must have is his innocence." New law, old problems . In recent years, state media have exposed an increasing number of wrongful convictions in China. At least five death row inmates -- most reportedly tortured during police interrogation -- were set free, either because their "victims" turned up alive years after the alleged murders, or the real perpetrators were caught. Such cases could be prevented if the new Criminal Procedure Law takes effect next March as scheduled, the Chinese government has argued, because the proposed changes strengthen the rights of defense lawyers while barring the practices of forcing suspects to incriminate themselves or coercing their families to testify against them. The current draft also incorporates earlier government pronouncements, including those making evidence obtained through torture inadmissible in court and limiting the use of the death penalty. China executes more people than all other countries combined, according to the London-based Amnesty International human rights group, which estimated the figure -- considered a state secret -- to be in the thousands last year. Many lawyers and legal scholars call the revisions mere window dressing. With the government more concerned about maintaining social stability in the wake of the Arab Spring unrest, they depict an increasingly repressive environment for ordinary citizens and lawyers alike. "The authorities do whatever they want -- detention, surveillance and harassment -- it's just too arbitrary," said Zhang Sizhi, a prominent lawyer in Beijing who was once assigned by the government to defend Chairman Mao Zedong's widow. He and others note the draft law does not include the long-proposed right to silence for suspects or abolition of forced labor camps. Yet it does include a clause authorizing police to detain citizens for up to six months in certain cases without having to inform their families. One aspect the revisions largely ignore is the appeals process, experts say, leaving ordinary people -- like Zhang Huanzhi -- who are trying to overturn a court ruling trapped in the legal labyrinth. "They have nowhere to go -- who will listen to them?" said Jerome Cohen, a New York University law professor and an internationally recognized authority in Chinese law. "It requires far more reform than this draft to address these issues." During the just-ended month-long public comment period on the draft, the government received more than 72,000 responses. Cohen says enough negative feedback may prompt the authorities to shelve this version and start anew later. Back in Xianiezhuang Village, Zhang has heard about the proposed new criminal code and simply wishes the government would do whatever it takes to protect other families from the kind of anguish she has suffered. As she sat on a stool to winnow grains, her husband started wailing uncontrollably while reading a newspaper profile on her titled, "A Mother's Race Against Time." "I've talked to my son several times on his grave," she said, wiping tears. "I told him: Son, you have to fight for justice in your world and mom will keep fighting for you in mine." "He would thank me because he knows a mother can't live without her son." | Nie Shubin was executed in 1995 -- when he was 20 -- for raping and killing a woman .
His mother is seeking to exonerate him after another man confessed to the same crimes .
Authorities tried Nie Shubin behind closed doors and barred the parents from the courtroom .
Nie told a lawyer hired by his family that he was beaten into a confession on his sixth day in jail . |
24,106 | 4466b4e04d5178009e401da2b5d0f9161066868b | Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Renewed clashes in a disputed area along the Thai-Cambodian border killed at least one Thai soldier and left 11 people injured Saturday, Thailand's MCOT news agency reported. The skirmish came a day after officials said three Thai soldiers and three Cambodian soldiers were killed in fighting there. Each side blames the other for the violence, which erupted Friday near two temples in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin province. Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from nearby villages. The Cambodian defense ministry on Saturday blasted what it called Thailand's "repeated deliberate acts of aggression," including firing heavy artillery weapons and flying military planes deep into Cambodian airspace. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Cambodia's deputy prime minister said Thai troops had engaged in a "large-scale attack with many types of weapons," targeting areas around temples "deep inside Cambodian territory." Hor Namhong wrote that Thai artillery pieces fell as far as 21 kilometers (13 miles) in its territory during what he called the fifth such attack since 2008 when the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization placed Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple on its World Heritage List. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, meanwhile, said he'd send off a "protest letter" of his own, the state-run MCOT news agency reported Saturday. He disputed reports that Thai forces had used poisonous gas or flown over Cambodian territory, except for helicopters trying to airlift out wounded soldiers. "We protected our sovereignty, and our counterattack targeted the Cambodian army base to limit the area of the clash," said Kasit, who added that Thailand still wanted to settle the issues diplomatically. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told MCOT on Saturday that one recent clash began after Cambodian troops fired into Thai territory.Earlier, Thai army Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul accused Cambodia of violating an agreement not to bring weapons or post troops in the disputed area. Cambodian Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat claimed Thai troops shelled and damaged temples, and flew over Cambodian territory with spy planes, Cambodia's state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse reported. At least 10 people were killed when renewed fighting flared up in another disputed border area between the two nations in February, prompting the U.N. Security Council to issue a statement calling on both sides to implement a permanent cease-fire and "resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue." The office of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Saturday that the U.N. chief was "troubled" by the recent clashes, especially after "initial signs of progress" toward resolving their conflict peacefully. "The Secretary-General calls on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and to take immediate measures to put in place for an effective and verifiable ceasefire," the statement said. Those clashes, which lasted four days, stemmed from a longstanding conflict related to the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to the temple, which sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side. At the time, each nation accused the other of firing first, according to a statement from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Conflict over the site has taken place periodically for years. In 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled that the site was in Cambodia, adding that the structure was "an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture." But Thailand says the 1.8-square-mile (4.7-square-kilometer) area around Preah Vihear was never fully demarcated, and blames a map drawn at the beginning of the 20th century during the French occupation of Cambodia. Thaugsuban said Saturday that the border dispute must be resolved peacefully between the two parties, without the involvement of a third party. In his latest letter to the United Nations, his Cambodian counterpart Namhong accused Thailand of not being earnest in its bids to resolve the dispute peacefully, calling its neighbor's actions "a pretext for using its larger and materially more sophisticated armed forces against Cambodia." CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report. | NEW: U.N. chief is "troubled" by clashes along Thai-Cambodian border, urges talks .
NEW: Cambodia's military blasts what it calls "repeated deliberate acts of aggression"
NEW: A Thai official says Cambodia fired first, saying its forces acted in self-defense .
The tension revolves around who controls territory along the border . |
133,545 | 38b297d56b625ff12537c042727b13b5f3bfcf23 | Washington (CNN) -- The political furor escalated over President Obama's high-profile rebuke of a recent Supreme Court ruling on campaign advertising Thursday, as Democrats pounded the high court decision. Democrats rallied around Obama the day after the president committed a rare breach of political etiquette, criticizing the controversial ruling in his State of the Union address as members of the high court sat only a few feet away. That triggered something equally unusual. Justice Samuel Alito, a conservative backer of the ruling, frowned and appeared to mouth the words "not true." Alito's apparent reply was a rare flash of emotion among Supreme Court justices who typically sit stony faced and refrain from even clapping during State of the Union speeches. The actions of both men may be unprecedented, according to one longtime court observer. The court's 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, issued last week, removed long-established legal barriers preventing corporations and unions from spending unlimited sums of money to influence voters in political campaigns. Democrats fear the decision has given the traditionally pro-business GOP a powerful new advantage. "With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests -- including foreign corporations -- to spend without limit in our elections," Obama told a packed House of Representatives chamber Wednesday night. "I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people. And I'd urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems." Alito, part of the court's conservative majority, could be seen apparently frowning and quietly mouthing the words "not true." Supreme Court justices rarely express any hint of emotion or opinion during the president's State of the Union speech. On the Senate floor Thursday morning, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said the ruling "goes to the very core of our democracy and it will allow major corporations -- who should have law written to control their effect on America -- instead control America. That is not the America I grew up in." Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, ripped Alito for what he claimed was hypocrisy in preaching the virtues of judicial restraint while backing a decision overturning decades of legal precedent. "In his confirmation hearing, Justice Alito ... testified that the role of the Supreme Court is a limited role," Leahy said. "That was then when he was seeking confirmation. This is now." A spokesman for the high court had no comment when reached by CNN. Read the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC . Vice President Joe Biden, appearing Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America," argued Obama "didn't question the integrity of the court. He questioned the judgment of it." Biden called the decision "outrageous" and said "we have to correct it." Most Republicans have defended the ruling, calling it a long overdue recognition of First Amendment rights. Former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley Smith, who supports the ruling, called Obama's remarks the act of "a fairly desperate president who's trying to remake himself." In the process, Smith claimed, Obama is "willing to essentially say things that are not true." Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters he thought "calling out the Supreme Court when they're sitting right there trying to impassively listen ... was a little over the top." Lyle Denniston, a writer for the Web site Scotusblog.com who has covered the Supreme Court for five decades, told CNN he could not recall ever seeing a president rebuke the high court in such a high-profile forum. But Alito's apparent reaction, he argued, was "quite inappropriate." Obama "was talking about the consequences of the opinion," Denniston said. Once the justices issue a decision, "they really need to let the political branches or the people deal with it as they will." Jeffrey Toobin: Alito's reaction was fair . Denniston noted that Justice John Paul Stevens, the longest-serving current member of the high court, never attends State of the Union addresses. Attending such a speech, Denniston said, involves the justices in a "political circus" that can damage a justice's image of impartiality. CNN's Ted Barrett, Mark Bixler and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | Democrats rallied around Obama after his criticism of ruling during State of the Union speech .
The decision removed legal barriers on corporations' spending to influence campaigns .
Justice Samuel Alito could be seen mouthing "not true" at Obama's assertion .
Sen. Patrick Leahy on Thursday assailed the ruling on the Senate floor . |
252,359 | d2a0ab16d77a7c2a6c6eeadff52d5c582ddbffbb | An Australian father and son have been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after getting stranded in their yacht in a dangerous snowstorm off the coast of Massachusetts. Reg McGlashan, 66, and his son Jason, 37, got into trouble in stormy seas about 240km south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Sunday morning. Jason had reportedly purchased the vessel, the Sedona, on online auction site eBay, and the pair were planning to sail 16,000 kilometres to the NSW coastal town of Port Macquarie - their hometown. Scroll down for video . Reg McGlashan (left) and his son Jason (right) pictured before setting sail despite severe blizzard warnings . The McGlashans, from Port Macquarie in New South Wales, had to be rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard . The pair were stranded in their yacht in a dangerous snowstorm off the coast of Massachusetts . In an interview with local U.S. paper The Newport Daily News one week before they set sail, the pair said they were aware of the risks of their journey but thought they were well-prepared. 'We've never done anything like this. Dad's not even a sailor, but he's a quick study,' Jason McGlashan said. 'We've got plenty of food, plenty of booze, good sails and all the safety gear you could ever need, so we're going to be OK.' The pair set off on Friday despite the Coast Guard issuing warnings about severe blizzard conditions. Less than two days into their journey Jason McGlashan was forced to the call Coast Guard after their vessel lost power and its sails were torn in the storm. The pair set off on Friday despite the Coast Guard issuing warnings about severe blizzard conditions . Jason purchased the vessel, the Sedona, on online auction site eBay, and the pair were planning to sail 16,000 kilometres to the NSW coastal town of Port Macquarie . A dramatic video on the U.S. Coast Guard's website shows the two men being winched to safety from the stricken yacht into a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter by rescue workers . The rescue crews battled near hurricane-force winds, 7.6 metre waves, snow and ice . 'He requested he and his father be removed from the vessel due to the degrading weather,' the Coast Guard said in a statement. A dramatic video on the US Coast Guard's website shows the two men being winched to safety from the stricken yacht into a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter by rescue workers. The rescue crews battled near hurricane-force winds, 7.6 metre waves and ice to meet the two men in the six degree water. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer helped them into a metal rescue basket before they were hoisted to safety. 'Given the severity of this storm, this rescue was a major effort and we are all relieved it ended as it did,' said Lt. j.g. Tyler Dewechter, MH-60 pilot and public affairs officer at Air Station Cape Cod. 'We are glad we were prepared for this storm and could render aid - and also continue to urge mariners to stay safe and heed the cautions and advisories of winter storm warnings.' They were checked for cold weather injuries but none were found. Before they took off, the pair said they were aware of the risks of their journey but thought they were well-prepared . | Reg and Jason McGlashan had to be rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard .
They were stranded in their yacht in a snowstorm off Massachusetts .
Jason purchased the vessel on eBay and the pair were planning to sail 16,000 kilometres to their hometown of Port Macquarie in NSW .
Rescue crews battled snow, near hurricane-force winds and 7.6m waves . |
54,869 | 9b69046573855c92801923357b2d5716785f558d | One of the Woolwich killers decided to convert to Islam after being inspired by a hate preacher who advocates killing gays and beating women, he has revealed in a letter. Michael Adebowale, 22, said that lectures posted online by notorious firebrand cleric Sheikh Khalid Yasin taught him the ‘purpose of life’. In the note written from Belmarsh Prison, he said he made the decision to convert to Islam in 2009 – around the same time that he was serving half of a 15-month sentence for supplying heroin. Inspiration: Michael Adebowale, left, converted to Islam after listening to a sermon by Khalid Yasin, right . Victim: Adebowale helped murder Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks in May this year . The letter, which uses his prisoner number A0882CY, is dated December . 20 – the day after he was convicted of Lee Rigby’s murder. 'I have always been Muslim for nearly five years. I have always been a fairly spiritual person and most of my friends at that time were Muslims. 'So the combination of the two factors caused me to start learning more about Islam. 'The more I learnt the more interested I became which led to me listening to a lecture by Sheikh Khalid Yaseen, you may have heard of him? 'He is based in the US. The title of the lecture is called "What is the purpose of Life". After hearing this I had to conclude that the purpose of life is to acknowledge and worship the creation as Allah said in Surat Az-Zaariyat: . '"I did not create the Jinn-kind and mankind except to worship me."' Recalling . his introduction to the religion, he wrote: ‘I have been Muslim for . nearly five years. I have always been a fairly spiritual person and most . of my friends at that time were Muslims. ‘So the combination of the two factors caused me to start learning more about Islam.’ He added: ‘The more I learnt the more interested I became which led to me listening to a lecture by Sheikh Khalid Yasin. ‘The . title of this lecture is called “What is the Purpose of Life?” After . hearing this I had to conclude that the purpose of life is to . acknowledge and worship the creator.’ Yasin, who calls the . Taliban his ‘brothers’, has been given free rein to tour the world and . spread his vile views – stopping off in countries including Britain and . the US. Linked to the hardline Wahhabi branch of Islam, he has . previously denounced both Christian and Jewish beliefs as ‘filth’ and . believes there can be no such thing as gender equality. He claims that . the Koran gives men permission to ‘beat women lightly’ and thinks all . Muslims should shun anyone who does not follow their faith. He has also called homosexuality an ‘aberration’ that should be ‘punishable by death’. Guilty: Adebowale, left, and Michael Adebolajo, right, were convicted of murder earlier this month . Alienated: Adebowale's mother Juliet Obasuyi has spoken out against his horrific crimes . And DVDs of his sermons were given to would-be jihadists who were being recruited in Britain’s streets to fight in Afghanistan. Adebowale . and his accomplice Michael Adebolajo, 29, were convicted earlier this . month of murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby outside his barracks in Woolwich. Both . killers were also inspired by Anjem Choudary and Adebolajo was filmed . standing alongside the hate cleric at demonstrations. The pair, who . were brought up in Christian families, face spending the rest of their . lives behind bars when they are sentenced next year. The hand-written . letter is the first insight into the mind of Adebowale, who refused to . give evidence during the Old Bailey trial. His fragile mental . state repeatedly delayed court proceedings as his barristers claimed he . could not face the dock or make important decisions about his defence. In it, he complained that his family did not understand his views, . writing: ‘They aren’t Muslim so I never get that “click” with them. May . Allah forgive their mistakes.’ He also wrote of his . disappointment that he has been ‘ill-judged’ and offered ‘little . support’ from fellow Muslims who were appalled by the atrocity. Writing from his solitary confinement cell, he said: ‘The trial has now . come to an end and me and my brother in Islam are waiting till next . year as the case was adjourned for sentencing. Hate speech: Yasin has previously called for gay people to be put to death . Controversy: The preacher was born in New York City and converted to Islam as a teenager . ‘I have had little support as you can imagine, many people are shocked and many Muslims sadly ill-judged me, Allah help them.’ Adebowale also said he had changed his name to Ismail ‘because I knew about the Prophet Ismail from Christianity’. Adebowale and Adebolajo said they killed Mr Rigby in May in revenge for British troops being in Muslim countries. They . ran him over in a car, almost decapitated him and then dragged him into . the middle of the road and ordered onlookers to film them. Prime Minister David Cameron has now created an extremism taskforce which aims to stop radical leaders inciting hatred. | Michael Adebowale praised Khalid Yasin in prison letter to pen pal .
Says extremist preacher who advocates killing gays inspired him to convert to Islam .
Complains that he is alienated from his family because they aren't Muslim .
Also says that most Muslims have rejected him after he murdered soldier .
Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo face life in jail after being convicted of killing Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks . |
129,446 | 3350c72c2d2b5d05a19dc1a58948aa0d7d6d3fb6 | It's a full-blown festive spread of turkey with all the trimmings, beef Wellington, Christmas pudding and lashings of cocktails, all served in the comfort of your own home. Now for £4,500, a chef from the celebrity hot spot The Ivy will cook it in your kitchen for a party of up to 10 people... and your very own wait staff will wash up afterwards. Created by The Ivy’s executive chef Gary Lee, the luxury feast's menus include canapes, wine and after-dinner drinks. Christmas with The Ivy is a £4,500 per head festive package which includes a three-course Christmas dinner . The cocktail-pairing menu features five bespoke cocktails created by top mixologist Kenji Jessi . The cocktail pairing menu features five cocktails created by mixologist Kenji Jesse. The meal kicks off with a selection of canapes which include pumpkin tortellini, fish fingers, lobster tortilla, burrata cheese and grilled courgette, and Dorset crab on toast. Guests will then be served a pre-dinner cocktail of vodka, freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice and tonic water. The sumptuous spread begins with a choice of two starters: The Ivy's shellfish cocktail or seared scallops with cauliflower mousseline and maple bacon crisps. Both choices are paired with the gin-based Honey Flower cocktail. Included in the price: Table settings, crockery, cutlery, glassware and napkins are part of the package . A selection of canapes including lobster tortilla (left) and burrata and grilled courgette (right) is on offer . The main course choices are classic; opt for a festive roast Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings or Beef Wellington with wild mushrooms, wilted spinach and Madeira jus. The turkey is paired with a Bourbon cocktail while the beef is matched with a Scotch Manhattan. Dessert is either a Christmas pudding soufflé or chocolate panettone crunch bombe with mandarins, both of which are matched with the rum-based Old Fashioned. The sumptuous spread begins with a choice of two starters: The Ivy's shellfish cocktail (pictured) or seared scallops with cauliflower mousseline and maple bacon crisps . Cocktails on offer include Old Fashioned (left) and the gin-based Honey Flower cocktail (right) The dream package was devised by online shopping platform Alexander & James (A&J) which partnered with The Ivy to create the meal. The £4,500 price includes a portable bar, all spirits and mixers, garnishes, bar mats, bar accessories, table styling, one mixologist, one bar assistant, one event manager and two serving staff. The package is available until Christmas Day for up to 10 people. | Christmas with The Ivy package includes canapes, wines and cocktails .
Roast turkey, beef Wellington, lobster tortillas and shepherd's pie on menu .
Mixologist, two wait staff, a bar assistant and an event manager included . |
211,411 | 9dc06085451c1a8bc49337a87d4751cb4fd84d5a | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 10:06 EST, 9 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 9 October 2013 . Models who use sunbeds have been banned from strutting the catwalk during a city’s fashion week. Liverpool Fashion Week is enforcing a strict no-sunbed rule which will mean only models who have never used, or pledge not to use sunbeds, can be involved. The ban is part of a move to encourage young girls in the city, notorious for their permatan look, to be more aware of the dangers of skin cancer. Liverpool Fashion Week has pledged not to employ models who use sunbeds. The organisers hope this will show young people that they can look good without risking their health by using sunbeds . Half of 15 to 17-year-olds in the city say they have used sunbeds, compared to just 11 per cent nationally. Amanda Moss, organiser of Liverpool Fashion Week said: ‘The health and wellbeing of our models is of paramount importance and we're delighted to be the first fashion week that has a complete ban on sunbed-using models. ‘We want our models to look their absolute best, which means not putting themselves at risk of skin cancer or premature ageing from the sunbeds. ‘We're also aware of just how many young girls in the city are using sunbeds and we hope that by showing how gorgeous our models look at this year's Liverpool Fashion Week, we will help sunbed users in the city realise they don't need to get on the beds to look great. ‘Our girls can still have that golden glow, but they'll get it from a bottle, not from the beds.’ Former Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon, from Liverpool, has admitted using sunbeds in the past and campaigned against their use . Using a sunbed just once a month has been proven to increase the risk of malignant melanoma, but almost half of sunbed users aged 11 to 17 in the city have admitted to using them at least once every week. Models taking part in the fashion event will be made to sign a pledge agreeing to not use sunbeds during or after Liverpool Fashion Week, which runs from 14th to 19th October. Victoria Jane Davies, a 31-year-old model from Liverpool, said: ‘The “Liverpool Look” is grounded in the belief that being tanned is beautiful and so there's this constant pressure to be tanned. ‘I started using the sunbeds from a young age, once or twice a week to ensure I looked and felt good. It's only as I've got older that my skin started to show the damaging effects of the sunbeds. ‘They enhanced my lines and wrinkles and gave me more moles and freckles. As a model, I have to always have my best face forward and going on the sunbeds could have really ruined that.’ Dr Paula Grey from Liverpool City Council said: ‘We can't ignore the significant problem that Liverpool has with young people using sunbeds compared to many other parts of the country. ‘Having the city's fashion elite ban sunbeds will really help to drive awareness for the cause and engage with young people in Liverpool who look up to the models they see on catwalks.’ Liverpool council's 'The Look to Die For?' campaign is being supported by Cancer Research UK and the local NHS. | Liverpool Fashion Week is supporting Liverpool City Council's 'The Look to Die For' campaign by refusing to employ models who use sunbeds .
Half of 15 to 17-year-olds in Liverpool have used sunbeds .
Nationally, only 11 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds have used them .
The fashion week organisers hope their stance will show people they can look good without risking their health . |
226,770 | b1a2b9f394cfa31e304dc75d15bfe0fc8d660a1e | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 07:01 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:01 EST, 30 November 2012 . A wife-beater who stabbed his partner to death with a kitchen knife has been jailed for life. Ian Hope had repeatedly assaulted Sarah Gosling, 41, during their relationship but his final, deadly attack left her with no blood left in her body. The single stab wound, inflicted with a knife to her chest, severed an artery and led to rapid bleeding and then death. Sarah Gosling, 41, who was stabbed to death by her partner during a row at their home in February . When police asked what had happened, the 53-year-old said: 'She’s been on at me.' During a trial at Newcastle Crown Court the paramedic who attended to Miss Gosling said: 'She had no blood within her circulatory system. 'I gave her fluid through a vein and it went through her system and was just coming out of the wound as water.' The attack came just weeks after Hope split Miss Gosling’s head open with a rolling pin because she 'wouldn’t shut up'. During the trial Hope claimed the kitchen knife 'ended up in her' after she hit him with a bottle during a row as he used the weapon to prepare chicken for dinner. No remorse: Ian Hope, 53, pictured left, showed no remorse at murdering his partner Sarah Gosling, 41, right, with a knife at their home in Newcastl . But prosecutor John Elvedge QC told jurors: 'The prosecution say Sarah Gosling was the victim of a sustained attack in the course of which a number of blows were delivered by the defendant. 'At the time he stabbed her he intended to kill her or cause her serious injury.' After just an hour of deliberation, jurors found the former distribution worker guilty of murder. Hope shook his head as the jury foreman announced the guilty verdict yesterday. Judge Paul Sloan QC said Hope must serve at least 17 years behind bars before he can even apply for parole. The judge told him: 'A row erupted into violence and I am satisfied, as on previous occasions, you were the aggressor. The judge told him: 'A row erupted into violence and I am satisfied, as on previous occasions, you were the aggressor. 'You . punched her at least twice to the face, causing her injury, causing a . black eye and a gaping laceration to the inside of her bottom lip from . her lip having been forced into her teeth by the blow. 'She defended herself and hit you back, striking you on the nose, causing it to bleed. 'Perhaps . because she had the temerity to fight back and bloody your nose, you . armed yourself quite deliberately with a kitchen knife and you set about . attacking Sarah Gosling with that knife. 'She . tried to defend herself, warding off knife blows with her hand and in . the process she sustained five wounds to the back of her left hand. 'Eventually . you drove the blade into her right upper chest. Sarah Gosling collapsed . and bled to death within a short space of time.' Neighbours complained of a disturbance: The scene on Tewkesbury Road, Newcastle, after Sarah Gosling was knifed to death by her partner. Police had attended hours before the attack but left after the couple reassured them . The judge said Miss Gosling’s death has had a 'devastating' effect on her family and added: 'Their loss is immeasurable, no sentence I can impose will ease their pain.' He added that the jury clearly saw through Hope’s 'fabricated account' of what happened that night between the couple, who had met on Facebook in 2009. The court heard that just over a week before the killing, Hope had been ordered to go on a domestic violence course after cutting her head open with a rolling pin in January. A month after that attack, on . February 25, Hope rang the emergency services to say he had stabbed the . supermarket worker after an argument at their home in Tewkesbury Road, . Lemington, Newcastle. The . police had been at the house an hour before after neighbours complained . of a disturbance, but left after assurances from the couple that . everything was fine. The court heard Ms Gosling, originally from Guernsey, had suffered ten black eyes in a year at the hands of Hope. Mr . Elvedge told jurors: 'It is a fact that the defendant unlawfully . assaulted her on a number of occasions, sometimes using weapons. 'For . example, on Jan 18 2012, when he hit her with a rolling pin while she . was in bed, causing a deep laceration which required hospital treatment . by staples.' The Law Courts on Newcastle upon Tyne's Quayside, where Hope was sentenced . The court heard Miss Gosling had taken photographs of her own injuries from March 2011 until a week before her death. Mr . Elvedge added: 'Those photos show she had sustained black eyes in a . number of occasions which, say the prosecution, were deliberately and . unlawfully inflicted by the defendant.' Jamie Hill QC, defending, said Hope has summoned help immediately after the incident and showed 'regret' straight away. Following Hope’s sentencing, DCI . Christina Barrett, Northumbria Police Senior Investigating Officer, . said: 'My thoughts have been with Sarah’s family throughout this . investigation, it has been a difficult ordeal and has had a devastating . impact on them. 'Hope has shown no remorse whatsoever and has never admitted his actions, continually denying he had murdered Sarah.' Following the guilty verdict and sentence, Miss Gosling’s brother, Andrew Bernard said: 'Sarah Gosling was a mother, daughter and sister when she was robbed of her young life by Ian Hope. 'Before she met Hope she was an important part of a family with a husband, son and daughter. She had a stable life. 'Sarah’s death was completely unexpected to her mother, Jean. She remains to this day, nine months on, in denial, in shock and in mourning. 'She told me this week that she was "heartbroken" by Sarah’s death. It is of small comfort that our father David passed away quickly in 2003, for there is no doubt that as an ex-policeman, witnessing this would have crushed him. 'Being in court in the past two weeks has been the most harrowing and horrific time of my life. 'I thought I’d be able to cope with hearing the evidence, that my disgust in Ian Hope would somehow carry me through hearing about the circumstances of Sarah’s life in the North East and of her death at his hands. 'Nothing could have prepared me or Val, my wife, for hearing of the systematic and brutal way he controlled Sarah, their jealous fights, his continued goading of her using Facebook, their alcohol abuse and the violence he meted out "to shut her up". 'The verdict of murder is justice for Ian Hope. 'The pain that his killing of my sister has left us with will remain always. 'It is not lost on us the irony of the name "Hope" and this name will be a sickening reminder of what he has stolen from Sarah, her future, her children, and her wider family and friends.' | Ian Hope, 53, knifed Sarah Gosling, 41, in her chest, severing artery .
Distribution worker punched her in face causing black eye and lacerated lip .
Victim also sustained five cuts to her hand as she tried to defend herself .
He'd previously cut her head open with rolling pin and given 10 black eyes . |
20,372 | 39cc99f9914638daecad6505e7809285e4f5d75f | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- Samar Badawi, a 30-year-old mother of one, has served seven months in jail. Her crime? Disobeying her father. Badawi, 30, fell foul of Saudi Arabia's guardianship laws, which require women to gain permission from their father, husband or even adult son for many daily activities. In a case that was highlighted by Human Rights Watch, Badawi was physically abused by her father from the age of 14 after her mother died of cancer. At the age of 25, she decided to "stand up for herself" and ran away to a women's shelter. She was jailed for seven months after her father brought a "disobedience" case against her and she refused to return to his home. Badawi was released last year after an online campaign, and eventually got a ruling to transfer her guardianship to her uncle. She also successfully filed a suit against her father's refusal to allow her to marry. "I went in a broken woman," she said. "I was very hurt when I went to prison. But I came out victorious and was very proud of myself that I was able to handle those seven months. It wasn't easy." Badawi added: "When I was alone, I would remember the injustice, from my father, from the judge who was horrible to me. "I would remember my son. I would remember how even society didn't spare me -- I was insulted a lot and despite the insults, I stayed quiet, I didn't respond. In these moments I would cry." Despite her own trauma, Badawi does not call for a change in the law, but rather for better awareness. "Our laws are fair, very fair," she said. "If not for the law, I would not have been able to escape the difficult situation I was in. "The problem is that there is no legal culture here. Women here, from various backgrounds, aren't aware of their rights, there is no awareness. "That's why I wish that law would be taught in schools from an early age." Badawi was presented with an International Women of Courage award by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on March 8. Presented annually, the award recognizes women who have show exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights. Women's rights is a hot issue in Saudi Arabia, and there is a surprising range of views, from both women and men. Aside from the guardianship laws, women are not allowed to drive, an issue that grabbed headlines around the world last year when many women challenged the law by getting behind the wheel. One of those was Najla Hariri, who drove her son to school one day after her driver failed to show up for work. She continued to do so several times after that, but can no longer drive after she and her husband were both forced to sign legal pledges that she would not drive again. "What is more upsetting to me than having to sign the pledge is that my 'guardian' was summoned," she said. "I reject the whole idea of his being my 'guardian' because I'm a 47-year-old woman, I should be my own guardian." For Hariri, there is far more to campaign for than driving. "Saudi women are facing many problems -- divorced women, women in judicial limbo, women who have been abused, issues with inheritance distribution -- we have many problems. "So we started calling for the establishment of a 'personal status law' to protect these rights," she added. Hariri said the rights she wants are those already given to women in the Quran and the Sunna, the teachings of Prophet Mohammed. Also on Inside the Middle East: Saudi's new breed of artists push the limits . But not everyone agrees. Rawda Al Youssef runs a campaign called "My Guardian Knows What's Best For Me" in favor of the controversial system. She argues that Saudi women are lucky to be looked after and that guardianship reinforces the family as a foundation of society. "The relationship between men and women inside the family is a complementary relationship and not an equal relationship," said Al Youssef. "The man serves the woman and supervises her affairs inside the home and outside the home." For Al Youssef, women who campaign for more rights are a pampered minority with no real problems. "Saudi women -- specifically those who are talking about women's rights -- these come from a social class that is well-off and pampered. "Bring me a poor woman who talks about these things and I'll say ok, maybe she needs this, but those who talk about women's rights ... these are women who have everything they need and all they're missing is to be able to take their passport and travel as they want, or to drive a car. "They didn't think about the needs of the poorer class." While Al Youssef believes there is no appetite from either King Abdullah or society at large for greater women's rights, Samar Fatany is convinced of the opposite. Fatany, a radio journalist and writer on women's issues who was one of the first women employed in government 30 years ago, believes change will be inevitable, though gradual. "I think Saudi women really have a great opportunity and a window for change and progress that we really need to take advantage of," she said. "I think King Abdullah has been a great supporter of women, he has been the champion of women and as a result the whole nation has changed and given great support to women." Fatany added: "It takes an educated person to know a different way of life, that it doesn't have to be that way. "If you are a person who is isolated and this is a lifestyle that you know, it doesn't occur to you that there's another way, that you don't have to accept that. This doesn't have to do with religion. "It is not un-Islamic to drive, it's is not un-Islamic to work, it is not un-Islamic to demand for your rights." Also on Inside the Middle East: 'Victims of injustice' in post-revolution Egypt speak out . Cleric Sheikh Adnan Bahareth, who insisted on being interviewed over the phone because he did not want to appear on camera with a woman, argued that Saudi women were lucky not to have to drive. "Men are slaves for women today," he said. Sheikh Bahareth said if women could drive: "It will add more tasks on a woman's shoulder. She will have to go to the souk on her own, she will have to get the food, she will have to drive the kids to and from school. "We want to lessen these burdens on the women." | Samar Badawi served seven months in jail for disobeying her father .
Badawi says women need to be more aware of their rights .
Demanding more rights is not un-Islamic, say women campaigners .
Saudi women are lucky to be pampered and looked after, say others . |
45,687 | 80be9a6de021979dad1058aad7ea9774255c188b | Fresh from rescuing a last-minute draw against Chelsea in so-called 'Fergie Time', Manchester United players arrived punctually for the launch of a collection of watches inspired by the 1999 Treble-winning season. Manager Louis van Gaal will accept no excuses for lateness after official timepiece partner Bulova released three watches - available in silver, blue and a red version, that will be worn by players and staff. United legend Andy Cole, who was part of the historic Treble-winning team, was present for the launch - while the first team squad, including Robin van Persie, Angel di Maria and Luke Shaw but not Phil Jones, posed in their club suits under grey skies at Old Trafford. (L-R) Jonny Evans, Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie, Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling pose at Old Trafford . Manchester United's first team squad arrived sharply dressed for the launch of the Bulova Treble collection . (L-R) Smalling, Shaw and Evans looked pleased with their new watches that will be worn by players and staff . Andy Cole (right) was at the launch for watches inspired by the 1999 Treble-winning team that he was part of . Bulova are just one of 29 official commercial partners that have seen United's revenues soar . Former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson inspired the term 'Fergie Time' Van Persie throws his shirt into the stands after scoring an injury time equaliser against Chelsea . United are renowned for their exhaustive list of global partnerships, which have helped fund the club's unprecedented spending spree in the summer that saw the likes of Di Maria, Shaw and Radamel Falcao arrive . According to the club’s official website, United currently has 29 sponsors and commercial partners - including everything from diesel engine parts to potato chips. They have a world record shirt sponsorship deal with Chevrolet, worth £47million-a-year for seven years - while they also receive £17m-a-year to have their training kits sponsored by Aon. Van Persie has also been used to promote a brand of tomato juice across Asia . Former United players Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs pose with Mister Potato crisps . In the latest full-year accounts released for the club, covering the 2012-13 season, United’s commercial operation pulled in £152.5m. However that figure has grown dramatically, with estimates suggesting that figure will be closer to £190m when the next full-year results - which cover 2013-14 - are released later this month. Accounts covering the current season are expected to show commercial income closer to £240m when they are released next year. As a result, the Old Trafford commercial operation will also allow the club continue to sign elite players and pay massive wages, comparable with captain Wayne Rooney who earns £300,000 a week. Chevrolet: Principal sponsor - £47million a year . Nike: Principal sponsor - £25.4m a year . Aon: Principal sponsor - £17m a year . DHL: Logistics partner - £10m a year . bwin: Online Betting and Gaming partner - £2.4m a year . Casillero del Diablo: Official wine of Man Utd - £2m a year . Singha Beer: Official beer of Man Utd - £2m a year . DEALS WORTH £1m-2m a year . Aeroflot: Official airline . Bulova: Official timekeeping partner . Epson: Office equipment partner . Toshiba Medical Systems: Medical systems partner . Aperol Spritz: Global spirits partner . Nissin Foods Group: Global noodle partner . STC: Telecommunications partner of Man Utd for Saudi Arabia . Yanmar: Official global partner . Kansai Paint: Official paint partner . The Hong Kong Jockey Club: Official partner . TM: Telecommunications partner in Malaysia . Apollo Tyres: Tyre partner in UK and India . Globacom: Telecommunication services partner in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin . VIVA: Telecommunication services partner in Bahrain . VIVA Kuwait: Telecommunication services partner in Kuwait . Honda: Motorcycle partner in Thailand . Bakcell: Telecommunications partner for Azerbaijan . Gloops: Gaming partner in Japan . Kagome: Official partner for Japan . Truemove H: Mobile partner for Thailand . Truevisions: MUTV broadcaster for Thailand . PCCW: Telecommunications partner and broadcast partner for Hong Kong . | Manchester United players attended launch of Bulova Treble Collection .
Swiss company are one of 29 official sponsors and commercial partners .
Players including Robin van Persie, Angel di Maria and Luke Shaw were at Old Trafford to pose with watches inspired by 1999 Treble winning season . |
219,764 | a8776d4d5a3a485360878fff8707c2222fcb1bc0 | The Premier League TV tender sent out to broadcasters on Friday - which includes some Friday night games - is set to take the cost of a live PL fixture to the stratospheric height of £10million a match from the start of 2016-17. The addition of 14 extra live games per season - stripped from the ‘protected’ Saturday 3pm kick-offs - will bring in another £140m, taking the monies from the Premier League’s domestic contract over three years close to £5billion. The current deal values a PL match at £6.7m. Even with a 50 per cent increase compared to the 72 per cent rise at the last auction, the £10m-per-match figure is easily attainable - especially as arch rivals Sky and BT Sport will both break the bank for the rights to 168 games. Premier League matches could soon be shown on a Friday night . - 168 matches will be available to be shown live from 2016 - 14 more than currently. - Up to 10 of those matches will be shown live on Friday evenings. - The 168 games will be split into seven packages - five of 28 matches and two packages of 14 matches. No single buyer will be allowed to acquire more than five packages or 126 matches. - The ITT will include an auction for a free-to-air highlights package, held by the BBC's Match of the Day since 2004. - The current total value of the domestic broadcast rights deals is £3.018billion over three years. - An announcement on the 2016-19 rights is expected by early March. - A later auction will take place for 212 'near-live' matches to be accessed on-demand, and for internet-based clips. - The ITT will protect the Saturday 3pm 'closed period' where games kicking off then are not shown live. Most of the 14 extra games - though fewer than 10 - will be played on Friday nights. And the matches will be offered for sale in a beefed-up 28-game package with Monday night football. The four other 28-game sets are for Saturday and Sunday TV slots, while there are two 14-game packages consisting of midweek and Bank Holiday fixtures. But even the smaller packages remain way beyond terrestrial TV’s reach. Sky, having seen BT grab their Champions League portfolio, need to win at least four of the five super packages to retain their dominant position. ITV are sure to bid for the highlights contract, even though that format seems to have a much better fit on Match of the Day. As the BBC will prioritise retaining their MotD content, the Premier League can anticipate another huge rise on the current £180m deal. Sky Sports have the rights to 116 games this season, and than number could go up with the new deal . BT Sport caused a shock with the previous deal when they paid almost £6.5m per game in 2013 . Bruce Buck, chairman of the Premier League nominations panel, is understood to be the influential voice most in favour of promoting CEO Richard Scudamore to executive chairman. And Buck will have a good sixth sense as to when best to bring that recommendation to the 20 clubs. Bruce Buck (right) is understood to be in favour of promoting CEO Richard Scudamore . England's David Gill is a virtual certainty to be elected by UEFA as the British vice-president of FIFA, having made a U-turn to stand following pressure from UEFA president Michel Platini. But he is still expected to face competition from Scotland and Wales. Scotland FA president Campbell Ogilvie has yet to decide but is highly likely to put his name forward, while Trefor Lloyd Hughes, president of the Welsh FA, is already writing an election manifesto stressing his grass-roots football background. But certainly when Gill (above) takes his inevitable place on the FIFA executive, he will have to start dealing with the media, which currently he prefers to ignore. England's David Gill is a virtual certainty to be elected by UEFA as the British vice-president of FIFA . Nick Davies, deputy general secretary of the crisis-hit IAAF, has bizarrely hit out at journalists for writing stories about his beleaguered organisation rather than sort out a mess that includes legal adviser Habib Cisse - apparently implicated by German TV in the cover-up of serial Russian doping - refusing to stand down as a consultant despite being told to do so. Davies, rather than return calls, chose to write a letter to little-known American website LetsRun.com in which he complained about the newspaper reports that a well-known British star was on a list of 150 athletes with suspiciously high blood count levels who were said not to have been target tested. But Davies wrote himself: ‘Athletes with a red flag reading may well be guilty of doping.’ Bassett spat with BT . Former Wimbledon manager Dave Bassett wanted to return his broadcast fee to BT Sport and asked for their interview with him to be taken out of the network’s Crazy Gang documentary. Bassett has led protests about the BT programme, to be aired on Boxing Day, since being shown a preview last week. Dave Bassett (right) wanted to return his broadcast fee to BT Sport and asked for their interview with him to be taken out of the network’s Crazy Gang documentary . He took Wimbledon through the divisions to the top flight, yet BT, who have focused on the 1988 Wimbledon FA Cup-winning side managed by Bobby Gould, believe that Bassett is upset at not being one of the central figures in the film. Station chiefs say the terms and conditions Bassett signed allow them to use all the footage he was involved in. Bassett said: ‘I didn’t want anything to do with the documentary, having seen it. But I’m told I signed a disclaimer so I can do nothing about it. They certainly paid me in record time.’ | New Premier League TV licensing deal tendered to interested parties .
From 2016, 168 games will be shown live each season .
Cost of one Premier League fixture could reach £10million .
Tender also sees Premier League games played on a Friday night . |
73,777 | d130c8207cd0d3bb4fad1ab7b6d0f3684b4b1a7d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:52 EST, 2 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:51 EST, 2 May 2012 . A daughter of alleged Manhattan Madam Anna Gristina today broke her silence, claiming that if her mother were running a high-profile prostitution ring, she would be aware of it. Suzanna Pak claimed in an Anderson Cooper interview airing tomorrow that her mother was not the mastermind of a call girl service, but was in the business of providing 'discretion' for lonely - and wealthy - men. In a preview released by the Cooper's daytime chat show on Wednesday, Ms Pak, Gristina's 24-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, says she cannot believe the allegations brought against her mother. Scroll down for videos . On TV: Suzanna Pak and Gristina's husband Kelvin Gorr appear on a segment of Anderson Cooper's talk show, which will air tomorrow . Speaking out: Anna Gristina, left, was not running a prostitution ring, but a dating site for lonely men, says her 24-year-old daughter Suzanna Pak, right . Hearing: Anna Gristina, right, is shown in court with attorney Peter Gleason before she was ordered held on $2million bail . Plea: Gristina's family has launched a website to help pay her enormous $2million dollar bail, saying they cannot afford it on their own . Ms Pak told Cooper: 'Obviously, these men were looking for discretion, and that’s why they paid so much money to find somebody to talk to, to take out to dinner. To make sure… whatever the case may be.' She told the TV host that she doesn’t necessarily approve of Gristina's 'dating service,' but does not believe with what cops are accusing her of. 'I am 24 years old. I think if she had anything to hide, she would have said something to me by now. She shared with me her dating sites - her legitimate dating sites -here and there.' Last week, Gristina's husband Kelvin Gorr launched a website to . help pay off his wife's staggering $2million dollar bail, saying the family cannot afford it on their own. New York: 304 East 78th Street, the alleged Upper East Side brothel where accused Manhattan Madam Anna Gristina reportedly ran a high-class escort service . Appearance: The mother-of-four attempted . to hide from cameras when she appeared in State Supreme Court on March 6 . charged with promoting prostitution . The family created HelpAnna.org with the goal . of raising enough cash to bring Gristina home by Mother's Day. The 44-year-old Gristina, who is accused of running the upscale brothel on Manhattan's Upper East Side, was arrested in February. She is said to have raked in more than . $10million in the last 15 years. The website links to a PayPal account, where visitors can donate funds directly to Gristina's family. Her loved ones emphasize that although the crimes against her may be dubious, she hasn't been found guilty of anything but inspiring memorable headlines. Accused: Jaynie Mae Baker, Anna Gristina's alleged partner, had been on the run from police but turned herself in to face prostitution charges . 'While she waits for her case to be heard, she should be home with us. It’s not fair that she doesn’t get to be with her family during this time - she hasn’t been convicted of anything,' the site reads. The family goes on to describe . Gristina's charity work, citing the fact that her family saved three . rescue dogs and that Gristina co-owns a pot-belly pig animal rescue . program called the Pig Placement Network. The Pig Placement Network rescues pigs that are homeless or about to be slaughtered, the site says. But . beyond the injustice of the high bail, the family argues that . Gristina's treatment at Rikers Island is an 'insult to the American way . of life.' 'We need our Mom here. Without her, part of our family’s life is missing,' the family begs. Gristina, a Scottish-born ex-real estate broker . and mother of four, and co-defendant Jaynie Baker - Gristina's alleged 'fixer' - have pleaded not . guilty to a single charge of promoting prostitution. Racy: Anna Gristina poses seductively with third husband Kelvin Gorr in a photo she posted online as she boasted to . her friends back in Scotland that she was 'building an empire' in New . York . Watch videos here . | Suzanna Pak, Anna Gristina's daughter from a previous marriage, says her mother was running a dating service for wealthy men .
Gristina accused of running high-profile prostitution ring out of Upper East Side apartment .
She's currently held on $2million bail at Rikers Island .
Family has set up website to raise funds for her bail . |
69,768 | c5c217906d3daf61ad358bd24fa068b260e6b254 | An American company has invented cups, straws and drink stirrers which can detect the date rape drug. DrinkSavvy, Inc is developing the technology - which changes colour if it comes into contact with the 'predator drugs' - ready for the items to be trialled at a bar this Autumn. Inventor Michael Abramson decided to create Drink Savvy after he was 'spiked' and left unconscious until the following morning. Scroll down for videos . An American company has invented cups, straws and drink stirrers which can detect the date rape drug . The technology is designed to indicate when a liquid has been contaminated with GHB, rohypnol or ketamine - known as roofies . The items he has created included sensor strips, which change colour to alert the drinker that something is wrong with their drink. Mr Abramson developed the items in collaboration with scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and said it is relatively inexpensive. He told CBS Boston com: 'The costs will be very competitive with normal drink ware that the clubs and bars are already using so there shouldn’t be any financial disincentive not to really swap out their entire plastic cups straws and glasses for DrinkSavvy straws and glasses.' A Boston bar will trial the glasses in Autumn and Mr Abramson hopes the technology will hit the market next year. The technology is designed to indicate when a liquid has been contaminated with GHB, rohypnol or ketamine - known as roofies . Mr Abramson developed the items in collaboration with scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and said it is relatively inexpensive . Inventor Michael Abramson decided to create Drink Savvy after he was 'spiked' and left unconscious until the following morning . In a statement on his website, Mr Abramson said: 'Each year it is estimated that millions of men and women will be victimised by drug-facilitated sexual assault or date rape. 'Our number one mission is to eliminate this crime from ever being possible.' The technology is designed to indicate when a liquid has been contaminated with GHB, rohypnol or ketamine - known as roofies. The tasteless, colorless, and odorless nature of date rape drugs make them otherwise nearly impossible to detect. | DrinkSavvy, Inc developing items which changes colour if it detects drugs .
Sensor strips change colour to alert the drinker that something is wrong .
They are expected to hit the market by next year after trial this Autumn . |
233,773 | baa6e751f91124dc851e54b103c5924c0730db3a | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor and Huge Duncan Economics Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 07:19 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:33 EST, 3 December 2013 . More bricks will be made this year than at any point since the financial crash, as the economic recovery fuels a boom in house building. Factories will produce 1.73billion bricks in 2013, enough to go 9 times round the earth. Ministers say the humble brick is a key barometer of economic growth, and demand is up by 18 per cent on last year. This year 1.73billion bricks will be produced in the UK, the highest number since before the 2008 financial crash, according to the Brick Development Association . Orders for bricks are so high that kilns will be kept firing over Christmas for the first time since 2007 before the financial crash sent construction into freefall. The 1.73billion bricks manufactured in 2013 is up from the 1.46billion produced last year, and the highest since 2.39billion made in 2007. Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said the government’s flagship Help to Buy mortgage scheme had helped to persuade builders to kickstart construction across the country. The first round of the scheme, where the state guarantees mortgages for those who struggle to save a large deposit, only applied to new homes in an attempt to stimulate demand and encourage more house building. Mr Hopkins said: ‘Help to Buy has not only helped thousands of hard working families get on the housing ladder, it’s also laid the foundations for a recovery in housebuilding, and confounded the critics who claimed it would have no impact on the supply of new homes.’ He was speaking on a visit to a new Chesterton brick factory in Newcastle-under-Lyme, which has created 51 jobs. Mr Hopkins added: ‘Enough bricks will be made in 2013 to go 9 times round the earth or build 28 St Pancras stations, and I’m hoping next year we’ll make enough to reach the moon.’ Housing minister Kris Hopkins (centre) visited Chesterton brick factory, which will keep kilns fired over Christmas for the first time since 2007 . Eight out of 10 bricks manufactured in the UK are used for housebuilding, while orders for all building materials are now growing at the fastest rate for 10 years. Latest figures show that construction in the three months to September was 4.1 per cent higher than the same time in 2012. The Help to Buy scheme was extended in October to offer state-backed mortgages to people with deposits as low as 5 per cent. It is expected to inject further activity into the market among credit-worthy buyers who have particularly struggled to get on the housing ladder or move up it since the financial crisis struck because they have a lack of upfront funds. House prices surged by 6.5 per cent year-on-year in November, marking the fastest annual increase seen in more than three years, Nationwide reported today. Prices have been rising every month for the last year and the latest monthly increase of 0.6 per cent took average UK house values to £174,566. The annual increase is the strongest seen since July 2010, but Nationwide said that despite the strong pick-up in the housing market, prices are still around 6 per cent below an all-time high recorded in 2007. Yesterday, the Bank of England took the first step in putting the brakes on the surging property market as it scrapped an initiative that has had a significant part to play in encouraging mortgage lending. Boom time: House prices rose 6.5 per cent year-on-year in November, marking the fastest annual increase seen in more than three years . Governor Mark Carney said the Funding for Lending scheme (FLS) stimulus was no longer needed amid rising house prices, and it would instead be focused on helping small business borrowing, which remains muted. Funding for Lending has offered lenders access to cheap finance on condition that they pass on the benefits to borrowers, and experts yesterday said that the Bank's move could spell the "beginning of the end" for ultra-cheap mortgage deals. Fears of a looming property bubble have been growing in recent months amid a string of reports suggesting demand in the housing market far outstrips the growth in the supply of homes. London in particular has seen strong demand this year, and Land Registry figures released yesterday showed that house prices in London were up by 8.7 per cent year-on-year in October. But the market remains patchy and prices in the North East have dropped by 3.1 per cent year-on-year, the Land Registry figures showed. | Factories will produce enough bricks to go 9 times around the earth .
Demand is up 18% on last year as construction sector builds momentum .
Kilns to stay fired up over Christmas for the first time since 2007 .
Housing minister says Help to Buy scheme is fuelling demand .
House prices up by 6.5% in November, according to Nationwide . |
130,643 | 34f60bf69341acbd15959ac215033fbcbd218531 | Wasting police time: A woman called 999 because her ice cream lacked enough chocolate sprinkles . A woman dialled 999 because she was sold an ice cream without enough chocolate sprinkles and told police: 'It doesn't seem like much of an emergency - but it is'. West Midlands Police has released the audio and admitted they found the plea to the emergency services 'unbelievable' because someone in danger could have been trying to get through. The caller contacted them while arguing with the owner of an ice cream van because she was unhappy with what she was served. During the minute-long call, the indignant woman told the operator: 'It doesn't seem like much of an emergency but it is a little bit because I've ordered an ice cream and he's put bits on one side and none of the other. 'He's refusing to give me my money back and saying that I've got to take it like that.' In the minute long call, she says: 'Hello I'm sorry to ring, I know it doesn't seem much of an emergency but I'm at an ice cream van and I've ordered an ice cream, yeah? 'And the person has basically he's given me the ice cream and put the bits on one side, none on the other. 'I said can you do it properly please and he's like that "no, no" he's not doing it properly. 'I said OK fine then can I have my money back and you can keep your ice cream and he is refusing to give me the money back and saying I've got to take it like that.' At this point the frustrated 999 caller interjects and tells her: 'Its not really a police matter, it's a civil matter.' The unapologetic woman still presses the operator and asks: 'How do I deal with this?' It was the latest in a string of crank calls to the 999 services across the West Midlands Police force region in recent months. Only on Monday the force had a call from a homeowner who wanted to report a rat in her kitchen. And . last year police released a recording of a man who dialled police to . complain about a prostitute's looks after meeting her outside a hotel. Another . caller sought help from emergency operators after forgetting her . Facebook password, while a man dialled 999 to ask how to dial the 101 . non-emergency number. A . separate 'emergency' call was made by a member of public reporting a . spiritual healer as a fraud, while another asked police 'to come out to . frighten his sister.' Other bizarre calls included a man phoning to claim to have found a hair in his food at a fast food restaurant. She is then told to contact Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards to which the woman replies: 'How do I contact them then because I'm standing outside the van right now.' The call ends shortly after the call handler tells her: 'Try the internet....this is a 999 life or death emergency line.' West Midlands Police's Force Contact team tweeted from their account on Sunday: '999 call from adult female who was reporting an ice cream vendor for not putting enough chocolate sprinkles on her cone... #unbelievable' Today Chief Superintendent Jim Andronov, head of the force's Contact Centre, warned time-wasters that their calls could cost lives. He added: 'Each call often takes minutes to deal with as staff have to clarify the situation - it might not sound like much but, if someone is trying to get through to report a genuine life or death emergency, then a minute is a very long time to wait. 'I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only, for guidance this is defined as: a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened' | West Midlands Police releases 'unbelievable' audio of row by ice cream van .
She begs: 'He's refusing to give my money back. How do I deal with this?' |
79,373 | e10256a7846a7620af204bcb26132cd2ae411f43 | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 20:55 EST, 8 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:49 EST, 9 May 2013 . Victim: Frenchwoman Alexandra Blachere with a faulty implant . Women with faulty PIP breast implants are at risk of chemical exposure that causes damage to unborn babies, experts have warned. Their report disputes previous warnings by the NHS that material inside the implants was ‘not toxic or carcinogenic’. The scientists are now calling for an inquiry into the potential side effects of PIPs. Up to 47,000 British women could have received the French implants which were fraudulently filled with an industrial-grade silicone designed for mattresses. Testing has previously revealed that PIP implants were up to six times as likely to rupture as other brands. Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the group of experts called for women to be given ‘full information’ by British authorities. The consumer protection group Antidote Europe said it disagreed with a report by the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Authority (MHRA) that suggested the implants did not contain hazardous materials. The body identified dangerous levels of chemicals in the implants, with one known as D4 being deemed of ‘high concern’ by European health officials. Antidote Europe director and co-author of the report, Andre Menache, said: ‘Considering these known risks and the fact that most women receiving breast implants were of reproductive age, we would expect the MHRA and the Department of Health to fulfil its duty of care and thoroughly investigate these risks as well as provide full information to patients.’ The report says that thorough analysis of the gel within the PIP implants has yet to be carried out and also points towards possible contamination with lead, platinum and zinc during production. Faulty: A nurse holds defective breast implants manufactured by French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) The implants, made by the French company Poly Implant Prothese, were banned in March 2010 after a health scare in France. Yesterday Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said: ‘We reiterate our call for analysis to be conducted on collected samples taken “in vivo” rather than off-the-shelf, as it would also be advantageous to examine what impact body temperature and conditions have on them.’ ‘Women who had or still have PIPs and the surgeons removing them know that more research is needed to explain what they are seeing and experiencing.’ | Faulty PIP implants may pose pregnancy risk, according to experts .
Health officials say chemicals used to make them are of' high concern'
PIP implants already under fire for being more likely to rupture . |
91,542 | 01c4cd34960b2607b6fc0a2f26a4cf0846340ac5 | By . Tania Steere . An inspirational cancer sufferer who raised more than £3million has been forced to defend himself against cynical social media trolls after making a partial recovery. Terminally ill Stephen Sutton from Burntwood, Staffordshire, was able to go home from hospital on Friday after his health improved. The 19-year-old – who has raised the money for the Teenage Cancer Trust with his deeply moving blogs – welcomed the good news. But a handful of disgruntled donors claimed that they felt ‘conned’ by his recovery. Scroll down for video . Cancer sufferer Stephen Sutton's 'thumbs up' posts online have helped him raise £3million for charity . In an appalling reflection of the cynicism of social media, Stephen was forced to defend himself on Twitter yesterday, saying: ‘Sorry to disappoint you! So you know, I still have my cancer and it’s still incurable, if that makes you feel less “duped”.’ Some Twitter users questioned Stephen, with one saying: ‘I see that the almost dead teenager is now making a “recovery” since raising £3.1million. Surprise Surprise.’ Another wrote: ‘I must be a cynic to not believe #stephensstory in its entirety.’ Another user said: ‘#stephensstory err... I’d like refund please?’ And on the Birmingham Mail’s Facebook page, reader Sarah Hill said: ‘Am I the only one who thinks something is not quite right here? The 19-year-old's positive attitude has seen him amass thousands of fans around the world, including Prime Minister David Cameron and England footballer Steven Gerrard . Fighter: Sutton lost his long battle with bowel cancer on Thursday morning, aged 19 . ‘While I hope I am wrong it feels like we are being conned. ‘One minute he tweets saying he is dying and won’t see the next day, then all of a sudden he is being released to go home. As I said, I hope I am wrong but I have a strange feeling about this.’ Stephen, who has incurable bowel cancer, has won the support of hundreds of thousands of people and a host of celebrities after posting a final ‘thumbs up’ picture and a film about his bucket list of things he would like to do in the time he has left. When the teenager was told he could leave Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, he wrote: ‘After being at a point where it seemed like I’d never make it out it feels so awesome to be able to put that. The recovery I’ve undergone recently is quite remarkable. ‘This extra period I now have feels like a gift, one that I’m determined to use productively. I’ll probably be straight back to doing some crazy stuff/events/etc soon, but for now, it just feels great to be home!’ Even the Prime Minister has showed his support for Stephen, visiting him in hospital on Friday morning. David Cameron said: ‘He’s amazing, just an inspiration. ‘Anyone who watches his video on YouTube just can’t help but be impressed by his bravery and courage but also his incredible warmth and passion for life. It really is extraordinary.’ | Stephen Sutton won thousands of fans for his bravery in face of disease .
He raised £3million for Teenage Cancer Trust through his 'bucket list' posts .
The teenager was allowed home from hospital after partial recovery .
But he's mercilessly mocked online by trolls who question his illness .
He is forced to defend himself, telling them: 'My cancer is still incurable' |
219,833 | a88d0642a761f99ce7eb8eefec12c5b3b7f0e147 | By . Michael Zennie . and Associated Press Reporter . A 24-year-old pitcher in California as just been signed by the Minnesota Twins and already his story seems ready-made for a Hollywood movie. Brandon Poulson throws 100mph fastballs, he ran a 60-yard dash in 6.6 seconds in his stocking feet and has a 40-inch vertical jump. And before he was discovered by major league scouts, he was splitting his time between pitching for the Healdsburg Prune Packers in Northern California's wine country and driving a front-loader for his dad's company - John's Excavating. 'I played for the Prune Packers summer of 2013, but missed nearly three-fourths of the games because I was busy . working,' said Poulson, who didn’t make his high school baseball team as . a freshman. Flamethrower: Brandon Poulson stand 6-foot-6 and pitches at a blistering 100mph . Poulson went un-drafted and un-noticed. He was even on the verge of quitting sports. He played baseball and football in junior college, but was just about to end the dream and move back home to take over his father's business. 'It’s a great story. This kid came out of nowhere,' Twins West Coast scouting supervisor Sean Johnson said Tuesday. This week the Twins signed Poulson for $250,000 - ten times the market rate for an un-drafted pitching prospect. They sent him to their rookie league in Elizabethton, Tennessee, where the team hopes his flamethrower arm will develop into a devastating weapon for the major leagues. Poulson missed much of last season because he was working for his father . 'He's like Ivan Drago. You know that scene in Rocky IV: "Whatever he hits… he destroys." That's what he reminds me of,' Twins Elliott Strankman told Yahoo Sports. To top it all off, when asked what he planned to do with his new-found wealth, Poulson said his first major purchase will be a therapy device to help his father with his disabetes. The Twins knew about Poulson from his recent season with Academy of Art University, where he had an 8.38 ERA for the San Francisco school. Poulson played there after taking a couple of years off to work in his father’s business - 'John’s Excavating' - with the thought he’d take it over someday and leave athletics behind for good. The 6-foot-6 right-hander previously played baseball, but chose football at Santa Rosa Junior College. Poulson travelled to Minneapolis last week to undergo a physical at Target Field before returning to Northern California, then was cleared Tuesday. He was set to travel Wednesday to the Twins’ rookie club in the Appalachian League in . Poulson will sign his contract once he reports. He could pitch in a game as soon as this weekend. Until last fall, Poulson was operating heavy machinery - driving 18-wheelers, front-loaders and backhoes. All the while, he played baseball in a Sunday night men’s league, fittingly called the 'Wine Country' league. 'I went to work with my father and didn’t want to gamble with sports anymore,' Poulson said. He later changed his mind and decided to give baseball one last try, spending months retooling his delivery with Prune Packers pitching coach Caleb Balbuena. Poulson’s stats this summer: 31 strikeouts and six hits in 12.1 innings, with four saves in 12 appearances. The Twins consider him among the best athletes they have pursued: a health nut, Poulson weighs 240 pounds and ran a 6.6-second 60-yard dash. He has a 40-inch vertical leap. The San Francisco Giants wanted to sign Poulson, who also drew interest from the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies. Those teams didn’t have enough money remaining in their draft pool to match Minnesota. Poulson is going into the Twins minor league farm system in the hopes that his flamethrower arm develops into a major league-caliber weapon . 'He’s a physical specimen. He’s got the best pure arm strength I’ve ever seen,' Twins scout Elliott Strankman said. Strankman is the only member of the organization who watched Poulson pitch. It took all of 18 throws to convince him. 'We’re cautiously optimistic because we don’t want to put a bunch of pressure on the kid. He could be pretty good. This is uncharted territory for us,' he said. At Academy of Art’s scout day, only the position players were running 60-yard dashes until Poulson turned up and insisted on sprinting. He hadn’t warmed up and was wearing only socks. 'I had cold legs,' he said. 'Maybe I would have run it faster.' Strankman went to see him pitch for the Prune Packers on July 15. Poulson reached agreement on a contract two days later. This week, Poulson is headed for the minor leagues. 'I’m excited,' he said. 'I know it’s just the first step of what the real goal is, to make it in the bigs.' Poulson went 0-0 with a high ERA in 14 appearances and 19.1 innings for Academy of Art this season. He struck out 24, walked 24 and opponents hit .189 against him. The Twins, who selected shortstop Nick Gordon with the fifth overall pick in last month’s draft, had the financial flexibility to pull this off. 'It was a group effort. You just don’t see stuff like this every day,' Strankman said. 'It’s one of those great days as a scout you hope you have every five years.' | Brandon Poulson was pitching for the Healsburg Prune Packers and working for his dad's business - John's Excavating .
He had planned to quit baseball and take over his father's company before he was discovered .
He plans to spend the bonus on a therapy device to help his father cope with his diabetes . |
214,138 | a1526e14a20fe1cf611c62ba950452bf6c20fe7d | Even when posting a cute image of himself as a baby for fans on Instagram, Lewis Hamilton has his mind on repeating 2014's Formula One world drivers' championship triumph in 2015. Hamilton turned 30 on Wednesday and told fans 'I'm going for number 3!' at the end of a heartfelt Instagram post to his followers just over two months out from the first race of the season in Australia. The Briton, who was born in Stevenage on January 7 in 1985, had one hell of a year in 2014 winning not only his second world title ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg but the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award ahead of Rory McIlroy. Lewis Hamilton posts an image of himself as a baby on Instagram to mark his 30th birthday . Capping off a massive year, Hamilton poses with his BBC Sports Personality award and his dog Roscoe . The Briton soaks up the adulation after confirming his second F1 championship in Abu Dhabi . With plenty to be thankful for, Hamilton paid tribute to his parents in a touching post on social media. 'It is hard to believe that 30 years have passed. So many great memories,' Hamilton wrote. 'I have lived my life to fullest and am grateful for the years I've had. 'I want to thank my beautiful mum for bringing me into this world lovingly, and my dad for being such a great father.' 'I hope I get to see many more years and create more memories.' Hamilton thanked his mother Carmen Lockhart 'for bringing me into this world lovingly' Hamilton also paid tribute to his father Anthony (pictured with his stepmother Linda and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger) 'for being such a great father' Hamilton is in the process of negotiating a new deal with Mercedes on his own behalf after splitting with management company XIX last year. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed he is lining up Fernando Alonso in the event of Hamilton not choosing to stay with the team which dominated 2014, but it's believed an agreement is around the corner. But his mind isn't just on business and continuing to excel on the track, he has big dreams for the world as a whole. Hamilton brought in the new year with Scherzinger and posted this composite image of their celebrations . 'I want to see us all help heal this world,' says Hamilton, who has spoken of his plans to do humanitarian work when he's finished behind the wheel. 'And I hope and pray that in the not too distant future, every child gets to live a healthy and happy life just as I have. Thank you all, my fans, for supporting me. 'We win and we lose together.' The 2015 Formula One season begins in Melbourne, Australia, on March 14. | F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985 .
Briton celebrated his 30th birthday by posting a baby photo of himself .
He paid tribute to his father and mother in a heartfelt post . |
107,463 | 1693254436714fb041c37f3609d604023e3f1ad1 | The Queen arrived at Kings Lynn station this morning by public train - but not before local police had secured the area. She was en route to Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, where the royal family traditionally spend the Christmas period. But there was no sign of the Duke of Edinburgh, with the Queen arriving accompanied only by her close protection team. Scroll down for video . Christmas holiday: The Queen arrives at Kings Lynn station en route to Sandringham . According to Buckingham Palace sources, the Duke has remained in London but will join the Queen shortly. The monarch has made a habit of taking the train to Sandringham, albeit in First Class, setting off from King's Cross station in London and arriving at Kings Lynn an hour and a half later. Her Majesty certainly appeared to be looking forward to her break, beaming broadly as she strode down the platform wearing an eau-de-nil tweed coat and one of her trademark floral headscarves. Members of the wider royal family will begin arriving next week with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall expected on Christmas Eve, along with Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile, are set to spend their first Christmas at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall but will join the rest of the royal family at Sandringham on the day itself. Sandringham has been owned by the royal family since 1862 when it was purchased by Queen Victoria at the request of her son Edward, then Prince of Wales. Alone: The Queen travelled with her close protection officers, with Prince Philip nowhere to be seen . Commuter: Her Majesty travelled to Kings Lynn on a normal commuter service, albeit in First Class . Big arrival: The Queen looks up as she arrives after a journey of approximately one and a half hours . Main line: A security guard waits for the train, which began its journey at King's Cross, to come to a stop . Since then, the house has been in continuous use by the royal family and it was there that King George VI died on the 6th February 1952. It is also from Sandringham that the Queen's annual Christmas speech is broadcast, usually uncontroversially, although this year looks set to change all that. Bookies, among them William Hill and Coral, have suspended betting on the Queen revealing abdication plans in this year's speech. Although Buckingham Palace sources have previously said the Queen will never step down, betting was halted following a flurry of surprise wagers. 'Throughout the year there has been major speculation about the Queen's future but the gamble has really caught us by surprise,' said Coral's Nicola McGeady. 'As far as we are concerned there's no smoke without fire when bets like this come through all in succession, so we have decided to be safe rather than sorry and pull the plug on the market.' On her way: The Queen will now remain at Sandringham until mid February . Looking forward to Christmas: The Queen appeared to be looking forward to her break and was all smiles . A Palace spokesperson refused to comment, but did highlight the pledges made by the Queen in her 21st birthday speech in 1947. The young Royal said: 'I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.' In her June 1953 Coronation Day speech, she also said: 'I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Although it is rare for British monarchs to step aside, with Edward VIII the only monarch to do so, the practice is considerably more common in Europe, where no less than four have stood down in the last two years. 2013 was the busiest year for abdications, with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Albert II of Belgium and Pope Benedict XVI all stepping down. Rumours: She has been plagued by abdication rumours after bets were suspended on an announcement . Speech: Bets were placed on an announcement being made during her Christmas Day speech . Playing it safe: Kings Lynn station was searched by police before the Queen's train arrived . New ruler: King Felipe of Spain is the newest European monarch after his father stepped down in June . The following Spring, King Juan-Carlos of Spain, 76, announced plans to step down on the grounds that 'I don't want my son to grow old waiting like Prince Charles'. He formally abdicated on the 18th June, making him the fourth European monarch to do so in less than a year. Despite the flurry of abdications, the Queen has always stated that she has no plans to do the same, despite being older than all of the four. One monarch who may yet do so is Denmark's Queen Margrethe, 74, who has been on the Danish throne for 42 years and has an heir, Crown Prince Frederik, of the same age as 46-year-old King Felipe. However, despite claims in an Australian magazine that an announcement is imminent, sources close to the Danish queen have said she has no intention of stepping down and described the reports as 'all lies'. Stepping up: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands ascended to the throne on the 30th April 2013 . Monarch: King Philippe of the Belgians took his throne two months after King Willem-Alexander . Next up? The Danish queen, Margrethe II, is rumoured to be stepping down in favour of Prince Frederik (right) | The Queen, 88, arrived at Kings Lynn station by commuter train today .
She travelled alone, with the Duke of Edinburgh nowhere to be seen .
Her Majesty was en route to Sandringham where she will spend Christmas .
The Queen has recently been plagued with abdication rumours .
Yesterday, betting was suspended on a Christmas speech announcement .
Monarchs to abdicate in recent years include Albert II and Juan-Carlos I . |
33,042 | 5dda1114fdf43b966e21d04ad20d162750c8a007 | ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Federal investigators trying to determine why a Delta Air Lines jet landed on a taxiway instead of the runway in Atlanta on Monday morning say the runway was illuminated, but that approach lights and a ground-based instrument that helps pilots line up with the runway were off. The pilots of the plane that landed at the Atlanta airport have been relieved from flying duties pending probes. The incident happened at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world's busiest. But it occurred shortly before dawn, when airport operations are slow. Delta Flight 60, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was cleared to land on a main runway around 6:05 a.m., but it landed instead on nearby Taxiway M, which runs parallel to the runway, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. The departure taxiway, which can be filled with aircraft during peak hours, was empty at the time, and the plane landed safely, officials said. No one was injured, and there was no damage to the taxiway. The Boeing 767 aircraft had 182 passengers and a crew of 11. The FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and Delta Air Lines are investigating. The pilots of the aircraft were placed on nonflight status, Delta said. The NTSB on Wednesday confirmed that a "check pilot" on the flight was sick, and the crew had declared a medical emergency. It was not clear what, if any, role that played in the mishap. Sources familiar with the incident say that Flight 60 originally was scheduled to land on Runway 27L (left), the active runway at that time, but was "sidestepped" to Runway 27R (right). Pilots commonly ask to be "sidestepped" to Runway 27R -- and air traffic controllers commonly offer 27R -- because it is closer to the terminal and pilots can shave minutes from a trip. In this case, it is not clear whether the pilot made the request, or the air traffic controllers made the offer. Nor is it clear why the change was made -- whether to shave time from the flight, or because of the medical emergency on the aircraft or some other reason. But after being given permission to land on Runway 27R, the plane went too far to the right, landing on Taxiway M. The runway was marked with yellow lights, while the taxiway was marked with blue lights, one person familiar with the incident said. The NTSB said the runway lights on 27R were illuminated, but a "localizer" and approach lights for the runway were off. Officials said the weather at the airport was clear, and the NTSB said the wind was calm at 10 mph. The sky was dark, with twilight still more than an hour away. The NTSB said a "check airman" was in the cockpit with the captain and first officer during the flight, but became ill and moved to the cabin for the remainder of the flight. Check airman are company pilots who watch over crew members during significant flights, such as when a first officer becomes a captain, when a pilot is making a maiden international flight, or over mountainous terrain for the first time. The NTSB said it is uncertain why the check airman was on the Delta flight. Delta spokesman Anthony Black said the airline is cooperating with the FAA and the NTSB and conducting its own investigation. The pilots of the flight have been relieved from active flying, he said. The incident came just two weeks after the FAA announced that serious runway incursions were down 50 percent this year. Close calls in 2007 at some of the busiest U.S. airports prompted the FAA to take action to reduce the risk of runway incursions and wrong runway departures. There were 24 serious runway incursions that year, eight of them involving commercial carriers. | Delta Flight 60 from Brazil landed on taxiway instead of runway in Atlanta, Georgia .
No planes were on taxiway waiting to take off; jet landed safely with no injuries .
Investigation looking at approach lights, ground-based instrument .
NTSB:"Check pilot" was sick before landing, crew declared medical emergency . |
115,093 | 2087ed2a8c5d8340f32a34e0079e8ebebc91c796 | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actress Lindsay Lohan was ordered Tuesday to serve 90 days in jail for missing alcohol counseling sessions in violation of her probation. The judge also ordered Lohan to spend 90 days in a drug and alcohol rehab program after her jail term is completed. The actress must begin serving her sentence on July 20, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel said. After Revel ruled that Lohan had violated her probation in a 2007 drunken driving conviction by missing weekly alcohol counseling sessions, Lohan began sobbing as she addressed the court. "I did do everthing that I was told to do and did the best I could," she said. Earlier, the alcohol counseling program director testified at the probation revocation hearing that Lohan missed nine alcohol counseling sessions since December, when the judge ordered her to attend weekly classes or face jail. Lohan has apparently not missed a weekly counseling session since May 20, when Revel ruled that there was "probable cause to believe [Lohan] is in violation of probation" from a 2007 drunken driving conviction. Lohan was ordered not to drink alcohol and an electronic bracelet was fitted on her leg on May 24 to detect if she did. The SCRAM bracelet measured an alcohol level of 0.03 percent in the actress' body at midnight on June 7, but reported a zero reading four hours later, Revel said during Tuesday's hearing. The alert would be a bond violation, but not a probation violation, she said. Revel said she would consider only if Lohan missed weekly alcohol counseling sessions, as Revel ordered in December. Cheryl Marshall, the director of the Right On program where Lohan has been attending counseling, testified Tuesday morning that Lohan would sometimes call ahead when she was going to miss a weekly session. A report from the program to the judge said Lohan "kept making up creative excuses" about her absences, prosecutor Danette Meyers said. Lohan's father, Michael Lohan, was in court for the hearing. The judge denied him a chance to speak, although she did accept a letter from him. Michael Lohan has been calling for the court to order his daughter into alcohol and drug rehab. | NEW: Lindsay Lohan gets 90 days in jail for missing alcohol counseling sessions .
NEW: Lohan sobs in court: "I did do everything that I was told to do and did the best I could"
Report said Lohan used "very creative excuses" for missed sessions . |
151,566 | 4ff075e0e57b08d5e32b722a6b386c84dd456274 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nine crew members aboard the French speed sailing trimaran l'Hydroptere were injured on Sunday when the boat flipped while traveling at more than 60 knots (over 110 kilometers an hour) off the southern coast of France. Capsized: French trimaran l'Hydroptere floats upside-down after flipping in high winds Sunday. The boat, which is the world's fastest yacht over one nautical mile, has been trying to claim the world outright speed sailing record, which would require an average speed of 60 miles per hour (about 52 knots or 96 kilometers per hour) over 500 meters. The current record is held by French kite surfer Alexandre Caizergues who managed an average speed of 50.57 knots. Sunday's accident occurred in heavy wind gusts of over 45 knots off Napoléon beach at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, near Marseille. View photos of the capsized boat » . A statement from the l'Hydroptere team said the nine crew members had sustained minor injuries when an unexpectedly strong squall hit the boat and capsized it. All of the crew had escaped serious injury and rescue crews on standby managed to pick them up from the water. A spokeswoman from the team told CNN it was understood the mast may have been broken, which could put the boat out of action for several months. • Read more about the intense race to become the fastest boat on the planet. The team skipper Alain Thebault and his crew had organized for the trimaran to be towed to shore and moored in Fos sur Mer, before being put in dry dock to assess the damage. The spokeswoman said conditions were too rough to remove the boat from the water on Sunday, so it was hoped this would be done Monday afternoon. Despite the injuries, the crew were delighted to have achieved speeds of more than 60 knots, as it had confirmed the boat's potential, the spokeswoman said. It was understood that no other vessels as large as l'Hydroptere had managed to pass the 60 knots barrier. Its top speed of 61 knots equates to about 112 kilometers per hour or 70 miles per hour. | French speed sailing trimaran l'Hydroptere capsized on Sunday off France .
The nine crew on board received minor injuries but all escaped serious harm .
The boat may be out of action for several months due to fears the mast broke . |
209,341 | 9b16df351e7d6bf3a78f47ff455ca617d63722b9 | New Delhi, India (CNN) -- An explosion Saturday at an eatery in the western Indian city of Pune killed at least nine people and injured 33 others, authorities said. "It appears to be a bomb blast, and bombs obviously are related to terrorism," said U.K. Bansal, special secretary for security in India's Interior Ministry. Four of the dead were not from India, he told CNN. Home Secretary G.K. Pillai told reporters that the explosives were packed in a bag noticed by a waiter at the popular eatery called the German Bakery. The explosion occurred about 7:30 p.m. local time Saturday. Rajendra Sonawane, joint police commissioner for the city, said the blast struck the German Bakery in Pune's Koregaon Park, sister network CNN-IBN reported. Initially, authorities thought a cooking gas cylinder had exploded at the bakery, but all cylinders were accounted for, according to CNN-IBN. An anti-terrorism squad is assisting in the investigation, Chandra Iyengar, home secretary for Maharashtra state, told CNN. However, he wouldn't confirm the blast as a terrorist attack. The German Bakery is frequented by tourists. It's near the Osho Ashram, a commune founded by the late Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who returned to India from the United States in the 1980s. CNN's Harmeet Singh contributed to this report. | NEW: Explosives packed in bag noticed by waiter, home secretary says .
NEW: Four of the dead not from India, security official says .
At least eight people killed and 33 injured in explosion in Pune .
Shop, known as the German Bakery, is frequented by tourists . |
141,421 | 42dd765f21497baa8c48b901a435460f474607b2 | By . Matt Barlow . Follow @@Matt_Barlow_DM . Ben Foster was informed by Roy Hodgson last week that he will start against Ecuador on Wednesday and has applauded the man-management style of the England manager. Hodgson’s inclusive approach is in contrast to the World Cup four years ago when Fabio Capello’s three goalkeepers did not know who would start the opening group game, against the United States, until shortly before the kick-off. It was Robert Green who got the nod but made an awful mistake which allowed Clint Dempsey to equalise and became the enduring image of a miserable campaign. Chance to impress: Ben Foster will start for England in their World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador . Established: Foster is the regular back-up to first-choice England goalkeeper Joe Hart . 'I knew that last week that I’d be playing this game, so I could tailor my week to get ready for it,' said Foster, the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper, who will start his first England game for nearly four years. 'It’s different for an outfield player because they do all their work separately,' he added. 'For a goalkeeper, it’s important you know you’re playing, not only for how you tailor your training and gym work, but also mentally. 'It’s the same with your clubs, if you know you are playing week in week out, you can tailor everything around. 'Roy is very good with that, very open, a very personable person. He’s more than happy to pull people and have a chat with things and explain things in a very reasonable way.' Foster was watching on television when Green allowed Dempsey’s low shot to slither through his hands in Rustenburg, South Africa, four years ago. 'I was gutted for him,' said the Albion keeper. 'He’s a fantastic guy, a really nice man. It’s a real shame. I don’t know if it was being sprung at the last minute on him. 'A World Cup is a big deal, with a lot of pressure but he dealt with it and has bounced back, promoted with QPR.' Inclusive: Foster has praised Hodgson's approach to management compared to other managers . | Ben Foster ready to start in World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador .
England No. 2 praises management style of Roy Hodgson .
Happy to play second fiddle to Joe Hart under Hodgson's expert guidance . |
127,945 | 316126279df63bec30952fc4bd2598d3957a7811 | (CNN) -- For millions in the United States, daily activities like going to work or school are accompanied by bothersome gastrointestinal problems, such as abdominal pain or constipation. You may think these symptoms are too embarrassing to discuss with anyone. But trust me, these are common problems, and you your doctor wants to hear about them! It's important to be candid with your physician about all your GI symptoms and how frequently they are occurring. You may have a chronic GI disorder such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or celiac disease. Or you may have a functional bowel disorder; two of the most common are irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). What are IBS-C and CIC? IBS-C is one of the four major subtypes of IBS, a chronic functional GI disorder that arises from an abnormal functioning of the GI tract, not from structural or biochemical abnormalities. Symptoms of IBS-C include abdominal pain or discomfort, hard and infrequent stools, and incomplete bowel movements. The cause of IBS-C is not known, but it may be related to a number of factors such as hypersensitivity of nerves in the intestines, dysfunction of brain-gut communication, or altered GI tract motility and water imbalance. CIC has similar symptoms, such as hard stools, and infrequent and incomplete bowel movements, but is usually not associated with pain. Although "idiopathic" means the cause is unknown, potential factors may include changes in water balance and motility in the colon. Who is affected by the conditions? Though estimates vary, as many as 13 million adults in the United States may suffer from IBS-C; 35 million adults may suffer from CIC. How are IBS-C and CIC treated? The first step in getting a proper diagnosis and treatment is to have an open conversation with a physician, telling him or her how you feel. Let the physician know the details of any symptoms you experience, how often and what you've tried in the past to help alleviate them. There is no cure for IBS-C or CIC, but there are ways to help manage symptoms: . Change your diet. Increasing fiber in your diet may help create softer stools that are easier to pass. Try eating more foods that are high in fiber, including fruits, vegetables, beans and bran flakes. Be careful to add fiber to your diet slowly to reduce the risk of gas and bloating. Avoid fatty foods, alcohol and caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda, which are commonly known to worsen symptoms. In addition, some people with IBS may have intolerances to certain sugars such as fructose or lactose. Limiting intake of foods containing these sugars may be helpful. Drink plenty of water. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is important to stay hydrated, which may help pass stools more easily. Increase exercise, reduce stress. Stress and anxiety can trigger symptoms of several GI conditions. Increasing exercise like walking or yoga, and learning relaxation techniques may help you deal with stressful situations. However, be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. For some, changing diet and lifestyle may not be enough. Physicians may also recommend appropriate treatment options for patients based on the nature and severity of their IBS-C and CIC symptoms. It's important that patients inform their physician about treatments that have or have not worked for them in the past. Over-the-counter products. OTC treatment options such as laxatives and stool softeners are available and approved to treat occasional constipation. These products are not intended for long-term use without supervision of a physician and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for IBS-C or CIC treatment. Prescription medication. There are prescription medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of IBS-C and CIC. GI health should be a part of your daily life. I encourage patients to speak to their doctor about their symptoms, sparing none of the nitty-gritty details. | As many as 13 million adults in the United States may suffer from IBS-C .
To get a proper diagnosis and treatment, have a conversation with your doctor .
Some people with IBS may have intolerances to certain sugars .
OTC options such as laxatives and stool softeners are not meant for long-term use . |
161,982 | 5d720e0d3835c539c583c7e3af726204263b2161 | A woman sustained 90 per cent burns after setting herself on fire outside the Bulgarian president's office in the capital of Sofia. Bystanders rushed to put out the fire after the 38-year-old set herself alight in the street, saving her life. The woman is now in critical condition after the incident, which coincided with President Rosen Plevneliev discussing the formation of a new government following an inconclusive election last month. Bystanders attempt to put out flames engulfing a 38-year-old woman after she set herself on fire in front of the Bulgarian presidency building in Sofia . According to witnesses, the woman stepped out of a car in front of the building and set herself alight after pouring a flammable liquid over her hair and body. 'The woman, a 38-year-old, was taken to hospital. She is in very serious condition,' an interior ministry spokeswoman said. A doctor at an emergency hospital in Sofia told reporters the woman, named locally as Lidia Petrova, had 90 per cent burns and remained in critical condition. The doctor said she has a record of mental illness, but did not elaborate. Serious injury: It is not yet known why the woman, named locally as Lidia Petrova, set herself on fire . Fire: The woman is now in critical condition in the hospital, after sustaining burns on 90 per cent of her body . Distress: Doctors in Sofia later told local media that the woman had a history of mental illness . The incident took place as President Plevneliev was discussing forming a government following the inconclusive October 5 snap poll in Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union. The centre-right GERB party won the vote, but lacks a majority, and is currently holding talks to form a minority government and secure outside support from a nationalist party and a centre-left faction. In the first months of 2013, Bulgaria was rocked by demonstrations which brought down the centre-right GERB government. The woman's motives remain unclear, but her action comes after seven people set themselves on fire across the country in the spring of 2013 in protest against low living standards and suspected corruption among Bulgaria's political elite. | WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES .
Bulgarian woman set herself alight outside president's office in Sofia .
She suffered 90 per cent burns, and is in a 'serious condition' in hospital .
The 38-year-old's motivation for her actions is not yet known . |
131,946 | 369c7b9f0dea275ce23545ee178b74f0d57f87e3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:43 EST, 26 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:33 EST, 27 February 2014 . A talented high school musician has died suddenly in Maine, just three days after having surgery to remove impacted wisdom teeth. Benjamin Edward LaMontagne died in his mother's arms in the early hours of Saturday after his condition started to deteriorate after the routine procedure. A cause of death for the 18-year-old has not been determined yet, but his parents, Peter and Lynn, believe it was caused by surgery complications. Tragic: Talented high school musician Benjamin Edward LaMontagne died in his mother's arms in the early hours of Saturday after his condition started to deteriorate following a routine dental procedure . If his death is found to have been caused by surgery complications, it would be a rare occurrence, according to dentists. While still grief-stricken, Benjamin's parents have repeatedly praised the efforts of first responders. 'The . emergency response, we feel, appeared like magic,' Peter LaMontagne. 'We recognized the challenges with providing emergency response on a . rural Maine island.' Benjamin's mother Lynn first called for assistance around 1am Saturday when Benjamin had stopped breathing. The teen had reportedly suffered some typical swelling and pain following the procedure and by Friday it had intensified. And by the early morning hours, he was dead. Dr . Thomas Dodson said that in 20 years of surveys at the Massachusetts . hospital he used to work at, not a single death was recorded in patients . who had wisdom teeth extracted. The dentist, who is chair of the Department of Oral . and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, . had not reviewed Benjamin's case but has decades of experience. 'I’m . trained as an epidemiologist, and I can’t say I’ve even ever read . [about a death] anywhere,' he told the Portland Press Herald. 'The best part about him was that he did his own thing, he went his own way,' said LaMontagne¿s closest friend Christian Cilley, left. 'You could either jump on the train or watch it fly by' The . Long Island, Maine community where Benjamin's family live has been left . reeling by the unexpected death of the honors student who had been . accepted at Pennsylvania's Sunderman . Conservatory of Music. The teenager, who played bass clarinet and enjoyed jazz, was a dedicated student who also enjoyed sailing and lobster fishing. 'If anybody could say they had a . complete life after 18 short years, it was Benjamin, which makes it all . the more painful to have him taken from us so soon,' Benjamin's father Peter LaMontagne told the Portland Press Herald. His school friend Christian Cilley, who would often busk with Benjamin in town, said: 'The best part about him was that he did his own thing, he went his own way.' The . 18-year-old fished for lobsters from his skiff and over the summer had . worked on a lobster boat. But music was his main passion, and he was one . of only two students to have received the merit scholarship for Sunderman Conservatory. Music teacher Julia . Frothingham, who taught Benjamin bass clarinet for six years at Cheverus . High School, said: 'I know he’s not my son, but I feel like I watched . him grow up. I’ll miss not being able to see where he goes from here.' Loss: Benjamin LaMontagne was an honors student at Cheverus High School . | Parents of Benjamin LaMontagne believe complications from operation may have caused death .
18-year-old clarinet player had been awarded scholarship to music college .
The popular high school senior's death has caused waves of grief through his Maine community . |
144,908 | 476dd8382b664a26bb42793c82dd2b0fbe3ced69 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:16 EST, 23 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:52 EST, 23 September 2012 . Keeping tabs: Scientology leader David Miscvage reportedly feared his former rival . Two private investigators claim David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology, paid them $12million over the course of 24 years to spy on his former rival, along with other enemies. The top-secret program gave Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold about $500,000 a year and sent them across the world in pursuit of Pat Broeker, who was briefly head of the church before being forced out, the men say. They are now suing the church after the paychecks stopped rolling in. The men claim the church violated a longstanding verbal contract to keep them employed for life. Mr Marrick and Mr Arnold say they did not confine their spying to the ousted former leader - they also spent time watching Mitch Daniels, a young executive of drug company Eli Lilly who went on to become Governor of Indiana and is a possible contender for the presidency in 2016 or 2020, according to the Dallas Morning News. Eli Lilly was the sole manufacturer of anti-depressant Prozac at the time, and the church is a vocal opponent of modern psychiatric drugs. They also spied on Marty Rathbun, one of Mr Miscavige's top lieutenants who left the church in 2004 and became an outspoken critic, and a former church spokesman who left in 2007. Both men became strong opponents of Mr Miscavige's leadership. The church claims it has never hiredthe investigators, and that they were working for attorneys. A spokesman said Mr . Miscavige had no knowledge of the work that the men did. The Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MailOnline. Targets: Former leader Pat Broeker, left, and former top aide Marty Rathbun, right, . were both reportedly spied on by the two private investigators . The Church of Scientology was founded in . the 1950s by American science fiction author L Ron Hubbard. When he . died in 1986, a power struggle broke out between Mr Broeker and Mr Miscavige. Wing man: Tom Cruise embraces Miscavige during the opening of a Scientology church in Madrid . Mr Broeker produced a letter from . Hubbard saying he and his wife were meant to take over the church, but Mr Miscavige claimed it was a forgery. When Mr Miscavige finally . won out and became leader, Mr Broeker was forced to leave the church. In . their lawsuit Mr Marrick and Mr Arnold claim the newly-minted leader of . the Scientology church, which boasts A-list celebrity members like Tom . Cruise and John Travolta, still thought Mr Broeker was a threat. So he hired the two to watch him, follow him and dig through his trash. They even monitored his phone calls for a short time after they were able to give him a bugged phone as a gift. The lawsuit says the practice was legal at the time. During their pursuit of Mr Broeker, the men say they followed him around the world, photographing him and filming him as he went. Mr Rathbun says he personally hired the men for Mr Miscavige when he was still a trusted aide. 'I hired these guys 24 years ago. There were only four of us who knew about it. Me, Miscavige, and those two,' he told the Morning News. Mr Marrick and Mr Arnold said they reported to Mr Miscavige's underlings for nearly two and a half decades and were paid in cash every year. | Private eyes 'also spied on future governor Mitch Daniels'
Investigators sue church over claims it broke contract to pay them for life . |
33,213 | 5e655ace39d748002e5ee1f03626d12ae0bc8454 | (CNN)What is it about winning streaks and racing drivers called Seb? First there was France's Sébastien Loeb with nine consecutive World Rally Championship titles between 2004 and 2012. Then came Germany's Sebastian Vettel who dominated Formula One for four straight seasons ending in 2013. Today, it's the turn of another Frenchman, Sébastien Ogier to leave the opposition trailing in his wake. The 31-year-old Volkswagen driver has dominated rallying over the past two seasons winning back-to-back world titles alongside co-driver and compatriot Julien Ingrassia. Ogier may have an unimpeded view at the front of the field now, but the road ahead hasn't always been so clear. "Of course it was not a straight or easy way to the top," Ogier told CNN's Human to Hero series. "It's never like that in any sport for any professional or any champion, I guess. I had to fight hard to (overcome) some difficult times but I have to say that the progression was very quick." Hurtling through narrow forest roads, up and down mountain passes and skidding around dirt tracks at speeds routinely approaching 200 kph (125 mph) is where he's happiest. But like his compatriot Loeb, Ogier was a late bloomer in the sport, only starting his career at the age of 22. "I really love rally because of the diversity of the sport. We are racing all over the world on lots of different surfaces -- we are driving on gravel, on tarmac, on snow. We always have to adapt and face very different situations. "You need to have a lot of skills of adaptation because we are always facing the unknown -- we are never quite sure what's going to happen around the next corner." Born in Gap, a small village in the foothills of the French Alps, Ogier developed a love of rallying at an early age watching competitors in the Monte Carlo Rally speed up and down the mountains near his home every January. "My childhood dream was to become a racing driver for sure, but it was really looking like an unreachable dream for me (because) I was coming from a very modest area. "My parents did their best ... but motorsport was obviously impossible to (break into) because it was too expensive," he says. His father gave him a rally kart when he was eight years old, but with no family money or sponsorship to fuel his ambitions further, Ogier got on with other things training to become a car mechanic, qualifying as ski instructor and gaining a reputation as a handy boules player too. There were forays into racing arenas, but only as a volunteer fire marshal at the Monaco Grand Prix -- a cheaper way to get a ringside seat, he says. His life would change though in 2005 when he won the Rallye Jeunes, an annual talent-spotting contest run by the French Motorsport Federation (FFSA). With the FFSA's financial backing, Ogier grabbed the opportunity with both hands, winning the Peugeot 206 Cup (a competition for aspiring rally drivers) in 2007 -- the first of many triumphs alongside co-driver Ingrassia. The pair won the Junior World Rally Championship the following year before stepping up to the World Rally Championship (WRC) proper in 2009, joining Citroen -- the home of Loeb, who had just won his fifth straight world title for the French team. Unfazed, Ogier was soon nipping at the heels of his illustrious teammate and a first podium finish in the second race of 2010 (in Mexico) was followed by a maiden WRC win in Portugal later that year. "It was for sure a great moment. I always mention every step which brought me to the top, where it was very important to my career (but) obviously the first victory is a special moment that you remember forever." Ogier secured third place overall in 2011, but the season was soured by a clash of egos with Loeb and the pair's increasingly fractious relationship came to a head in a row over team orders at the Acropolis Rally in Greece. The spat ultimately saw Ogier jump ship to Volkswagen helping the German manufacturer develop its Polo R WRC car during 2012 before returning to racing with a bang in 2013. He won nine of the 13 races, clinching his maiden world title on home soil in Strasbourg before winning a further eight races on his way to world title number two in 2014. Victory in last year's WRC was particularly satisfying after a horrific high-speed crash in Germany had threatened to derail the defense of his crown. He and Ingrassia walked away unscathed after plowing through a safety barrier -- Ogier later blamed himself for the error citing a lack of focus brought about by concerns over proposed rule changes to the sport. "That big crash I took like a wake-up call that I had really to react because I put myself in danger, Julien as well. We really had a big accident and that was really the time to react and do something," Ogier told RedBull.com at the end of last year. It was testament to his mental resolve that he bounced back so quickly, winning three of the four remaining rallies clinching the title in the final race at the GB Rally in Wales. "Second place is a first loser," he replies when asked what his motto for life might be. "I'm not the first one to say it but I've always been a fighter, a competitor whatever I was doing in life. (I don't react) the best way when I lose, so when you are like that you have to fight to become the first one." Ogier has begun 2015 where he left off last year, driving to victories at the opening two races in Monte Carlo and Sweden. The sequence extends his winning streak of rallies to four and few will be betting against the flying Frenchman making it five in a row at the next rally in Mexico in March. His rivals may hope that his recent marriage to German TV presenter Andrea Kaiser may soften his desire to win, but with most rally drivers peaking in their 30s, Ogier is perhaps just beginning a run of success that could rival Loeb's historic sequence of titles. But as he's learned from driving a car at breakneck speed, it pays to concentrate on the stretch of road immediately up ahead. "I don't have such a long plan in front of me -- I just take the year, one after each other. "For sure, I want to race a few more years but to be honest I really don't know, I always think about the future dreaming about family, children, being a normal person again." | Sébastien Ogier is the reigning world rally champion .
The Frenchman won back-to-back world titles in 2013 and 2014 .
The 31-year-old started his rallying career when he was 22 years old .
"I've always been a fighter, a competitor whatever I was doing in life," he says . |
17,308 | 3102bd78dffe905a6dc756df4765fba1e9f1d7ab | Chase Elliott became the youngest champion in NASCAR history on Saturday when he wrapped up the Nationwide Series title at Phoenix International Raceway. The 18-year-old rookie is the youngest driver to win a title in any of NASCAR's three national series. He broke the mark set by Brian Vickers, who was 20 when he won the Nationwide title in 2003. Elliott, the son of Hall of Fame inductee and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, clinched the title with his fifth-place finish at Phoenix. It moved him 52 points ahead of teammate Regan Smith with only next week's season-ending race remaining. Young winner: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship following his fifth place finish . Celebration: Chase Elliott, 18, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship making him the youngest ever winner . A high school graduate in May — his mother made him juggle school with his budding racing career — Elliott wasn't even sure he'd be racing this time last year. He had no prospects for a full-time ride in any of NASCAR's top series, and his deal to drive a Nationwide car for JR Motorsports didn't come together until January, . 'This race a year ago, we had no plans of racing Nationwide this season and was uncertain what our future was going to be," Elliott said. 'It truly has been a dream come true for me to even be competing this season.' Elliott's official celebration will have to wait until next week's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but he was greeted near the finish line by his parents and the family proudly posed for photos. 'They said just enjoy it,' Elliott said of his parents. 'This certainly has not set in for me, by any means. I am going to enjoy every bit of it until the green flag at Daytona (in February). This is a dream come true for me.' The Elliotts become the fifth father/son duo to win NASCAR national series championships. The others are Lee Petty and Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett, David Pearson and Larry Pearson, and Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Happy family: Chase Elliott, 18, celebrates his NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship with his mother Cindy Elliott, after finishing fifth at the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway . Giving thanks: Nationwide points leader Chase Elliott waves to fans during driver introductions before the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway . But this title also made Dale Earnhardt Jr. a champion car owner — something his late father accomplished when Earnhardt Jr. won Nationwide titles in 1998 and 1999 driving for his dad. The championship for JR Motorsports was the first for the organization, which is owned by Earnhardt Jr., his sister, Kelley, and Rick Hendrick. It comes in a season of turnaround for JRM, which has entered full-time entries in the Nationwide Series since 2006 but won just 12 races in its first eight seasons. JRM has nine victories this year, three by Elliott. Brad Keselowski won the race with a pass of Kyle Busch following a restart on the two-lap overtime sprint to the finish. Busch led 187 of the 206 laps but was denied the victory because Keselowski was given the final chance to catch him after a caution with one lap remaining in regulation. 'It was kind of a shame, he had the race won but the yellow came out,' said Keselowski. 'I could understand if he was upset about that.' Busch questioned the need for the caution — it was because Alex Bowman ran out of gas on the track — and wondered if it was thrown to prevent him from winning his eighth win of the season. 'It's pretty pathetic NASCAR throws these Kyle Busch cautions, it's really getting old and aggravating for us in this Nationwide Series,' Busch said. 'It's their prerogative, it's their series and they get to do what they want to and I just have to settle for second and miss our opportunity on another owner's championship this year.' Elliott Sadler was third, followed by Ty Dillon, Elliott and Erik Jones. It was Keselowski's 32nd career Nationwide victory and fifth of the season. The Team Penske entry driven by Keselowski goes into the finale with a 29-point lead over Joe Gibbs Racing in the race for the owners' championship. Winner: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, stands on the grid during the NASCAR Nationwide Series DAV 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 8 . Big win: Chase Elliott, 18, celebrates with fans after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Championship after finishing fifth in the Nationwide Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway . | Chase Elliott became the youngest champion in NASCAR history on Saturday .
The 18-year-old rookie is the youngest driver to win a title in any of NASCAR's three national series .
Elliott, the son of Hall of Fame inductee and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, clinched the title with his fifth-place finish at Phoenix. |
45,150 | 7f479892c9adfa2944941685127538a1da2c97fe | (CNN Student News) -- October 5, 2012 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . Syria; Turkey . Denver, Colorado; Toronto, Canada . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. | The daily transcript is a written version of each day's CNN Student News program .
Use this transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of stories you saw on CNN Student News . |
82,319 | e96269690a770bc141ea464850e1c9355e34079f | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:59 EST, 4 October 2013 . Two of four people who were found dead in a vehicle on a . secluded road in northern Alabama were facing child pornography and molestation . charges in Tennessee, police said. Winston County Sheriff Rick Harris said two people found . fatally shot in a vehicle on Wednesday night near Double Springs had court dates . in Tennessee the day their bodies were discovered. Authorities say the car containing the bodies was parked in . the William B. Bankhead National Forest. The area is about 60 miles northwest . of Birmingham. Remote: The bodies were found in the William B. Bankhead National Forest, near Double Springs (pictured) in Alabama, about 60 miles from Birmingham . Harris said the victims - three men and a woman - were from . Tennessee. Their identities have not yet been released. The victims' bodies were found in a white car with out-of-state . license plates and authorities say a passer-by noticed the vehicle on her way . to work. The woman called police when she noticed the car parked in the same . place on her way home. Throughout the day, Harris stressed that authorities . believed the discovery of the bodies was an isolated incident. The victims' bodies were found in a white car with out-of-state license plates . ‘No one in our area was endangered or is missing at this . point,’ he said. ‘To our knowledge, there's no one locally in our county . involved.’ Dozens of law enforcement officers were at the scene just . south of the Double Springs area Thursday and police haven't identified any . potential suspects in the slayings. ‘We spent all night processing the scene and we took the . vehicle to an indoor location to process the vehicle,’ Harris said Thursday . morning. Investigators were waiting on results of forensics testing. He said the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is assisting his agency with the . case, as well as the coroner and district attorney's office. | The victims were found on a secluded road in northern Alabama .
Two were facing child porn and molestation charges, two were implicated . |
239,298 | c1d0067cb13f2f52c60217a1858338c5ff123a2c | There can't be many levels of excitement that can be greater than three-year-old James Blakeman's when he hears the opening strains of John Williams' famous Star Wars theme. Purist fans of George Lucas's films will be delighted little James' dad Sam Blakeman, 33, is introducing his son to the legendary science-fiction franchise starting with A New Hope, the original 1977 release. 'Was there any other option?' he says. But not as pleased as Wigan-based Sam is that his young man has such fine taste. 'What's this dad?' asks James as the movie begins. Asked what he thinks it is, James thinks for a moment before saying enthusiastically, 'Storm Woopers, and the people!' He's so close to Storm Troopers we all know what he means, and Sam says the only reason he gets it wrong is 'I haven't corrected him on that one yet'. It's so cute, who can blame him? As the famous tune kicks into gear, James' reaction escalates apace with arm waving and jumping, no doubt influenced by his dad's mutual appreciation of what's to come. James most certainly approves. 'I like it!' he says. The look on the face of James Blakeman when he sees the start of Star Wars: A New Hope is priceless . 'StormWoopers,' James proclaims - he only doesn't say Stormtroopers because dad Sam hasn't told him to . 'Is it exciting?' Sam asks, and gets a repeated response in the affirmative. 'There's a space ship!' James says, becoming increasingly excited. Incredibly, James hasn't even seen the whole film yet. 'This was the first time,' Sam says. 'He has seen clips and trailers on YouTube and his sister Phoebe has seen A New Hope, so he has seen bits of it whilst she was watching. He hasn't made it through the whole film yet as his attention span can't last that long.' James jumps around and laughs with great enthusiasm as John Williams' famous score plays . James is also a massive fan of the Disney Pixar films Monsters Inc and Monsters University but Sam says 'nothing else gets such a reaction' as A New Hope, the first of six Stars Wars films by Lucas featuring the Princess Leia-led Rebel Alliance in their attempt to destroy the Death Star. But while James enjoys the Stormtroopers - sorry, StormWoopers - he's yet to be fully introduced to their evil leader Darth Vader. 'He doesn't seem that fazed by Darth Vader but again he hasn't seen much of Darth's antics yet and I'm conscious of his age not to spook him too soon,' Sam says. | Three-year-old James Blakeman is already massive Star Wars fan .
Dad Sam played him A New Hope and his reaction is priceless .
James calls Stormtroopers 'StormWoopers' but only because his father is yet to correct him on the difference . |
72,481 | cd739a41498f9bf0a0140abc43e922e2d4210265 | Multiple people have been found dead inside a suburban home on Wednesday morning, police said. The bodies were found in Westminster, Colorado, after a distraught woman called 911 to report a disturbance in the home before hanging up. Cmdr. Terrance O'Neill said the Adams County Sheriff's Office won't release details about how many people were killed until it gets a warrant and can do a full search of the home. The bodies were found in Westminster, Colorado, on Wednesday after a distraught woman called 911 to report a disturbance in the home . Authorities would not comment on how the people had died at the home. Deputies were looking for a man described as a person of interest who was seen leaving the modest, single-level residence. Outside the home later on Wednesday, investigators had placed at least a dozen markers typically used to flag evidence, such as gunshots, in the driveway and street. MailOnline was awaiting comment from the Adams County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver with a population of around 100,000 people. Police laid out dozens of markers around the home which are typically used to flag evidence in a case . Law enforcement officers stand at the front door of a house where police are investigating the slayings of multiple people found inside the home . Crime scene investigators cordoned off the quiet suburban street on Wednesday morning after multiple bodies were found in a home . | The bodies were found in Westminster, Colorado, after a distraught woman called 911 and hung up .
Authorities would not comment on how the people had died at the home .
Deputies were looking for a man described as a person of interest who was seen leaving the modest, single-level residence . |
247,217 | cbf0726f643188fb391d31147501eb08efc53c3d | By . Sarah Dean . The man who jumped on to a policeman's shoulder and launched himself on-stage with The Beatles in 1964 has revealed the moment he shook John Lennon's hand before Paul McCartney told police to 'let him go'. Brent McAuslan shot to fame when he escaped from the packed crowd at Melbourne's Festival Hall to shake hands with his idol John Lennon in front of thousands. The Beatles had just finished their final song of the night, Long Tall Sally, when the 19-year-old Australian broke through security to reach the Fab Four. Idol: Brent McAuslan shot to fame when he jumped from the packed crowd at Melbourne's Festival Hall to shake hands with John Lennon . Lennon held out his hand to the Mr McAuslan, and asked: 'How are you, cobber?' But seconds later police dashed on stage to grab him. The lifelong Beatles fan escaped without arrest thanks to one man - Sir Paul McCartney. Mr McAuslan, who is now 50 and living on the Gold Coast, told the Herald Sun he was trapped against a wall by police after the incident. The hand that touched Lennon: Mr McAuslan is now 50 but is still contacted about the day he stormed the stage . Super fan: He hugged John Lennon before police grabbed him from the stage . Famous: His brave efforts were captured on film and shown around the world . But as the band came off stage, Macca told them to let him go. 'I think the cops thought I made them look stupid,' Mr McAuslan said. 'Then when Paul told them to let me go, it was like Moses parting the waters. They just let me go back into the crowd.' In an interview posted on YouTube by Laura Scheirich, which includes footage of the incident, Mr McAuslan jokes: 'I wish I was as fit now as I was then.' He explains how he diverted the police's attention by asking a pretty girl to run up to the stage ahead of him and distract the cops. And when he surprisingly made it on to the stage, he claims he didn't feel like he was doing anything wrong. Fab Four: The Beatles sent Melbourne into a spin in the sixties . 'I felt connected with him, I didn't feel like I was invading,' he recounts. Beatlemania took over Australia for two delirious weeks when the band arrived Down Under in in June 1964. Five thousand screaming fans greeted the band at Essendon Airport, Melbourne. Another 200,000 people watched their motorcade into the city, with streets cordoned off and fans hanging from trees just to get a glimpse of the biggest band in the world. Forty thousand people paid up to 37 shillings (about $3.70) to see The Beatles' Melbourne shows. They played six concerts at Festival Hall (two a night, at 6pm and 8.45pm) and performed 10 songs in just 27 minutes. | Brent McAuslan jumped on to the stage at Melbourne's Festival Hall .
Dashed past police to shake hands with John Lennon in 1964 .
Paul told cops to 'let him go' after they trapped him against a wall . |
156,184 | 55e0f5a8fcb362126b9cf75cd72cf4afcb762e5e | (CNN) -- "Seinfeld" had nothing to say -- and that was its genius. Other groundbreaking series make a point of stressing their inventiveness, practically shouting, "Look at me!" "Seinfeld," on the other hand, blissfully took a Festivus pole to sitcom conventions, with unsympathetic characters, defiantly provincial New York interests and intricate plotting mechanisms -- and never called attention to itself. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, there was so much right about the show that it eventually became TV's No. 1 program and one of the most lauded sitcoms ever. In the 25 years since "Seinfeld" premiered on July 5, 1989, as "The Seinfeld Chronicles," it has worked its way into pop culture -- its catchphrases still repeated, its plots still recounted, its shocking revelations about writer John Cheever and pitcher Roger McDowell still gasped about. But enough yada yada yada. Here are five things that made nothing into everything: . 1. No hugging, no learning. In general, pre-"Seinfeld" sitcoms included heartwarming laughs, sympathetic "aws" and lessons learned. But there were no social niceties for Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer. The quartet was so narcissistic that, when George's fiancée, Susan, died after licking defective wedding invitation envelopes in the seventh season, George and the gang shrugged and continued with their lives. Few sitcoms have dared to follow in its coldhearted footsteps, but there are exceptions, such as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "Community" and "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." (New York magazine's Matt Zoller Seitz makes the point that "Seinfeld" also paved the way for our recent bounty of coldhearted dramas.) The new, new TV golden age . 2. Four in one. Pre-"Seinfeld," most sitcoms were classic cases of simplicity: one major plot, perhaps one minor plot, play them out in 22 minutes and turn on the applause sign. "Seinfeld" sometimes had four plots -- one for each primary character -- and would put them together so Jerry's girlfriend with the real breasts (Teri Hatcher) would cross paths with Elaine in a steam room. Or aspiring hand model George would burn himself with the iron being used to smooth out Jerry's puffy shirt. In those days, not many serialized dramas would dare attempt such plot juggling, never mind comedies. It's still more the exception than the rule. 3. New York, New York. "Seinfeld" made the Big Apple the center of the sitcom universe. Suddenly it seemed like half of NBC's schedule was making ends meet in Manhattan -- "Friends," "Caroline in the City," "Mad About You," "The Single Guy," "Will & Grace" -- while ABC and CBS added to the mix with such shows as "The King of Queens," "Spin City" and "The Nanny." New York was so prominent on '90s TV schedules that one ABC show, "It's Like, You Know" (created by "Seinfeld" writer and producer Peter Mehlman), made hay out of the concept of a New Yorker transplanted to Los Angeles. (Incidentally, for all its New Yorkiness, "Seinfeld" was shot at a studio in L.A.) 4. Heavy meta. Other sitcoms had been self-referential -- George Burns and Garry Shandling regularly broke the fourth wall in their programs -- but Jerry and his pals took meta-ness to a whole new level. Season four, in fact, was literally about a show within a show as Jerry and George pitched NBC "a show about nothing" called "Jerry" that bore eerie similarities to "Seinfeld." However, for all of "Seinfeld's" quotation marks, it often used real people and brand names. There really is a J. Peterman catalog, New York's American League baseball team really is the Yankees and those are real cereal brands on Jerry's shelf. However, Vandelay Industries is still fictional -- we think. 5. Sponge-worthy catchphrases. Few shows have produced as many popular quotations as "Seinfeld." You're probably reciting them now: "No soup for you." "Master of your domain." "Yada yada." "Shrinkage." "Look to the cookie." You can leave more of them in the comments ... unless you're a low-talker. In that case, you'll have to speak up. See more comedy content at CNN Comedy. CNN's Joan Yeam contributed to this story. CNN's Todd Leopold is no relation to occasional "Seinfeld" writer Tom Leopold, though sometimes he wishes he was. | "The Seinfeld Chronicles," the "Seinfeld" pilot, aired July 5, 1989 .
Sitcom routinely broke with convention .
Show is considered one of best sitcoms in TV history . |
224,291 | ae6ddc991fb171f4a04f7c8a5f5f6f77d210e5e6 | (CNN) -- A father and daughter weren't going to just sit there when they discovered their home was being burglarized. Kevin Smith, a plastic surgeon from Houston, was just arriving home from a business trip on Friday when he and his daughter saw a group of apparent thieves pulling out of their driveway in a red pickup. His 22-year-old daughter, Alana, immediately worried over the whereabouts of her sister, who she left at home when she went to pick up her father from the airport. They called her sister Kara's cell phone while sitting in their car, but there was no answer. Fearing the worst, father and daughter took off in pursuit of the suspects' truck -- something authorities say you should never do. "I locked eyes on them, and their eyes were terrified. I knew that they had done something terrible," Alana said in an interview with CNN. "I didn't know what happened to my sister, and I didn't know if she was OK. My instinct was this was my only chance to get these guys." Kevin Smith recorded the chase on his cell phone while his daughter drove their car after the suspects. But he captured more than just a speedy car chase down their neighborhood road. The driver of the pickup noticed the pair trailing behind, and put the truck into reverse, crashing into the father and daughter's vehicle. The suspects then threw their car into reverse again, smashing into the pair's Audi sedan a second time. In the cell phone video, Alana can be heard asking her father, "Dad, now what do I do?" after the car turns off during one of the collisions. He tells her to turn the car back on. "I wasn't scared. I just wanted to catch them," she said. They chased the truck for several more miles until the suspects turned their vehicle around and aimed it right at the father and daughter. "It was just like in the movies," Kevin Smith said. "It was really eerie. At the end of this road, you see the truck turn around and you see the red truck popped out of the dust and head right turn towards us." The truck smashed into their Audi, sending the would-be robbers and the father and daughter into a nearby ditch. The father then called the police. Minutes later, authorities arrived on the scene, arresting two of the three men, who now are facing criminal charges. The Houston Police Department did not provide additional information. "I'm proud of my daughter," Kevin Smith said. "As a father, you really don't know how you raised your kid until they get older and you see how they can handle themselves. I don't want her to be cavalier, but I want her to know I am proud." He believes the suspects may be responsible for a series of burglaries that have been plaguing his south Houston neighborhood. "I'm tired of these people taking advantage of us. We're not going to tolerate it anymore in our neighborhood," he said. As for Kara, the daughter who was left at home, she was at the gym during the incident and wasn't able to answer her cellphone while she was working out. Alana, who is going to law school in the fall, says the whole experience was unprecedented, but she feels blessed and fortunate that she and her sister are alright. "I needed to do this for my neighborhood and my family," she said. Smith suffered no injuries after the incident, and his daughter was released later from the hospital after being checked in for whiplash. Their car suffered front and back-end damage, and they were able to retrieve the television, laptops and a myriad of other possession that were stolen from their home. CNN's Ryan Sloane and Carma Hassan contributed to this story. | A father and daughter discovered that their Houston home was being burglarized .
They followed the suspects in a car chase that almost turned deadly .
They captured video of the dramatic car chase . |
173,969 | 6d1f6cdb8817b8212dc53a92157d1c3de4d029f3 | Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The Thai parliament elected the nation's first female prime minister Friday, with more than half the lawmakers backing her vote. Yingluck Shinawatra has to be proclaimed by the nation's king before she can officially take office. If King Bhumibol Adulyadej proclaims her, she will be the 28th prime minister in Thai history. Yingluck won 296 votes in the nearly 500-member parliament. "The first thing I want to do is help people on their economic situation," she said last month. Yingluck is the younger sister of one of Thailand's most polarizing political figures, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. He left the country two years later after being convicted on conflict of interest charges -- accusations he denies. Yingluck's critics worry she will do her brother's bidding -- something she has denied. "There is a lot more hard work to do in the future for the well-being of our sisters and brothers, the people of Thailand," she said last month. "There are many things to accomplish to make reconciliation possible, paving the way for a solid foundation for a flourishing nation." Tensions between the Democratic Party and the Pheu Thai party, which reflect deep divisions within Thai society, erupted last year, leading to a military crackdown. More than 90 people were killed and hundreds were injured. After the riots, the Thai government pledged to work toward national reconciliation to heal class and political divisions, though the divide between the two groups remains wide. CNN's Licia Yee contribute to this report . | Yingluck Shinawatra has to be proclaimed by the nation's king .
If King Bhumibol Adulyadej proclaims her, she will be the 28th prime minister in Thai history .
Yingluck is the younger sister of one of Thailand's most polarizing political figures . |
12,079 | 22474143156d6a7680d0d80e75952df056d65d05 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 03:35 EST, 20 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:50 EST, 25 October 2012 . A fireworks organiser has been charged with manslaughter over a crash on the M5 motorway described as one of the worst on British roads. Geoffrey Counsell, 50, from Somerset, will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court next month accused of seven counts of manslaughter. Anthony and Pamela Adams, Maggie and Michael Barton, Malcolm Beacham, Terry Brice and Kye Thomas died and 51 people were injured in the collision between 34 vehicles on the M5, near Taunton, on November 4, 2011. Scroll down for video . Geoffrey Counsell, 50, from Somerset, will face magistrates in Bristol next month charged with manslaughter over a road accident on the M5 . Seven people died and 51 were injured in the collision between 34 vehicles on the northbound carriageway . Counsell was operating a fireworks display at the nearby Taunton Rugby Club at the time of the smash on the northbound carriageway. Avon and Somerset Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, said in a joint statement: 'Since the collision we have worked closely together to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the collision and to carefully consider all the evidence. 'Having considered the evidence in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Geoffrey Counsell, the provider of the fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club on the night of the collision, with manslaughter. Counsell was operating a fireworks display at the nearby Taunton Rugby Club, pictured, at the time of the collision . 'The charges are due to his failings in the planning and operation of the display. Avon and Somerset Police and the Crown Prosecution Service said the charges are due to Counsell's failings in the planning and operation of the fireworks display . 'It was clear from the investigation carried out by Avon and Somerset Police that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute for driver error and therefore no action will be taken against any motorists. 'The CPS also considered the culpability of Taunton Rugby Club and reached the conclusion that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.'Counsell will face magistrates on November 12.Lorry drivers Terry Brice, from Patchway, south Gloucestershire, and Kye Thomas, from Gunnislake, Cornwall, died in the crash. Father and daughter Michael and Maggie Barton, from Windsor, Berkshire, grandparents Anthony and Pamela Adams, from Newport, south Wales, and battle re-enactor Malcolm Beacham, from Woolavington, near Bridgwater, were also killed in the pile-up.Among those badly injured in the crash was Emma Barton, 19, who woke from a five-day coma to discover she had been orphaned. Her wheelchair-bound father Michael, 67, and 30-year-old sister Maggie died. An earlier version of this article stated that Geoffrey Counsell operated the fireworks display at Bridgwater Carnival. We are happy to clarify that this was not the case and the display took place at Taunton Rugby Club and was not in any way connected with Bridgwater Carnival. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Geoffrey Counsell, 50, from Somerset, will appear at Bristol Magistrates Court next month accused of seven counts of manslaughter .
Counsell was operating fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club at the time of the smash on the M5 last November .
Collision described as one of the worst British motorway crashes in memory . |
221,307 | aa7ade4603fb28d3cfa0d9c76ebd0f979188fcea | By . Lydia Warren . The daughter-in-law of Nike's co-founder has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old member of the track team she coaches. Melissa Bowerman, 43, was arrested at her home in Fossil, Oregon on Monday after police received a tip earlier this month that she'd been involved with an inappropriate relationship with a student. Bowerman's husband, 76-year-old Jon Bowerman, the son of late Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, told The Oregonian he is shocked by her arrest but that she has his support. 'She's still my wife, I still love her and still will no matter how this thing turns out,' he said. Shame: Melissa Bowerman, left, allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old boy on the track team she coaches. She is the daughter-in-law of late Nike founder Bill Bowerman, pictured right . The arrest comes two years after she . was dismissed as a volunteer track coach at another school in Oregon for . taking a 17-year-old student to the prom. She had insisted . there had been no inappropriate relations in that case and that they simply . danced to a few slow songs but mostly played ping pong and foosball. At . the time, she said she went to the prom with the teenager because he . felt bad that he had no date and had been struggling in English class. Gilliam . County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt, who had received a complaint from a . chaperone, said he found no evidence that Melissa Bowerman broke the . law in the 2012 incident. Still, she was dismissed and moved to coach at Madras High School. After staff kept a close eye on her, she was promoted to head coach, the Oregonian reported. But after receiving a tip earlier . this summer that she might have had a relationship with one of the . runners, police launched an investigation and identified the boy. Married woman: Bowerman has been married to the Nike founder's son, Jon, for six years. They were previously forced to leave a coaching position after she went to prom with a student . New allegations: The latest accusations claim she sexually abused a teenage student at Madras High School in Oregon, pictured, where she has been a track coach for two years . Her . husband of six years said police served a search warrant at their home . in Fossil on Monday and searched his wife's computers, cameras and other . belongings. He was not home at the time. He said he has not been able to speak with . his wife since she was arrested. While he said that everyone should have . learned from her previous dismissal, he added that she still has his support. Melissa . Bowerman faces charges of second-degree sexual abuse, luring a minor, . online sexual corruption of a child in the second degree and . contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor. She is being held in the Jefferson County Jail in Madras and will be arraigned on Tuesday. Police have said they are concerned there may be other victims in the current investigation. Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman coached track at the University of Oregon from 1949 to 1972, winning four national titles. His relationship with track great Steve Prefontaine has been featured in two films. | Melissa Bowerman was arrested at her Oregon home on Monday after police learned 'she'd had an inappropriate relationship with a student'
Bowerman was dismissed from another school two years ago for taking a 17-year-old student to the prom but no criminal charges were filed .
Her husband, 76, said he was shocked about her arrest but still loves her .
His father was the late Bill Bowerman, who founded Nike . |
197,030 | 8b04ca88101c313efb562bf6dc27704e9a94053b | (CNN) -- We have all succumbed to city noise: A 5 a.m. call to prayer courtesy of a mosque after a lengthy flight, a late-night New York bar crowd living it up in the wee hours, a raucous Carnival scene in Rio during an important business trip. Whatever the scenario, even the loftiest skyscraper accommodations can't always escape the din. Thankfully, the age of ultra-quiet hotels -- tranquil urban cocoons that are ideal for guests in search of an escape or simply a space to rest and concentrate -- is upon us. The party hotels of the 1990s gave rise to the sleep-friendly accommodations of the 2000s, which prioritized high-end amenities for comfort. Money-saving hotel tips . But there is a more scientific approach that involves innovations you don't necessarily see, like triple-paned windows, extra-thick walls and cork floor layers. The true measure of a hotel room's soundproofing is evaluated by how well it deflects its cacophonous surroundings. Yet few major booking sites offer visitors the opportunity to single out quiet hotels in notoriously noisy cities like Cairo and Tokyo, relying instead on user-generated feedback. This is where brand recognition comes in. Soundproofing styles have become proprietary secrets among hoteliers. Lavish hotel breakfasts start the day out right . All Four Seasons hotels must meet the approval of an acoustics consultant. Some properties rely on white-noise removal systems, like the Sound+Sleep machines found in rooms at several Fairmont properties, including the Heritage Place in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square. Others, such as the Tribeca Grand in New York, outsource soundproofing to companies like K.R. Moeller Associates, which has installed LogiSon sound-masking devices in rooms. "In the J.D. Power Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index, guest-room noise has repeatedly topped the list of complaints," says Niklas Moeller, K.R. Moeller Associates vice president. "But noise complaints are rarely resolved to the guest's satisfaction, and new approaches are definitely needed that tackle the problem from a different angle." Technology aside, one of those angles can be as simple as choosing a quiet neighborhood, like those where several of our top choices reside. Consider it the ultimate do-not-disturb sign. Departures: Memorable hotel arrivals . Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador . Quito is home to hundreds of colonial churches, many with bell towers that clang and echo across the bowl-shaped valley in which the city sits. Finding a soundless refuge for a mid-afternoon nap or business briefing can be tricky, but the double- and triple-glazed windows in the 31 rooms at Casa Gangotena, a converted 1920s mansion that opened in 2012 in the city's Plaza San Francisco, make it easier. Luxury Rooms and the garden-view Junior Suite are the quietest, but thick Egyptian marble and dense leather also help absorb noise in the plaza-facing accommodations. The Tokyo Station Hotel . This Tokyo landmark hotel, which closed for six years during an extensive renovation before reopening in October 2012, resides in the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building, which was designed by Meiji-period architect Kingo Tatsuno. It sits near the Shinkansen bullet-train lines of Tokyo Station, but not a sound is heard from the plush goose-down-swaddled beds in each room. Two layers of double-paned windows and thick blackout curtains keep out the Marunouchi street noise, while steel-framed concrete walls, exterior brick-wall claddings and rubber seismic-isolation units allow guests to put Tokyo on mute as they listen to the clink of ice cubes in Schott Zwiesel Tritan crystal glasses filled with Hibiki Japanese whiskey. The Dorchester, London . Draft-free windows and soundproofed walls constructed with reinforced concrete and terracotta tiles were part of what made this property such a bastion of tranquility when it first opened in 1931. Several renovations later, guest rooms feature solid mahogany doors, dense triple curtains and thick luxurious fabrics, all of which absorb sound. Triple-glazed windows in bedrooms and suites facing busy Park Lane block any additional noises. Departures: World's top walking cities . Green T. House Living, Beijing . China's buzzy, crane-lined capital city sees new skyscraping hotels climb high nearly every month. But situated in a lush walled garden in the suburbs of Beijing, the Green T. House bucks the city's sky-rise tendencies. Its 9,000-square-foot Bath House Residence (which sleeps eight guests) is inspired by a Tang Dynasty emperor's bathhouse and is flanked with nearly inch-thick glass windows. It is also home to an open fireplace and a large, granite spoon-shaped bath, which is filled with green tea at night. Peninsula, Shanghai . This elegant Shanghai newcomer is a favorite of visiting noise-sensitive musicians because of its intensely soundproofed rooms, each -- whether facing the interior gardens of the former British consulate or the bustling Bund -- featuring thick curtains and triple-glazed windows. The property takes things a step further by adding discreet bed-and-bath-side buttons, which dim the lights and activate the do-not-disturb function on the phone and doorbell, and a signature valet box that allows housekeeping to quietly pick up and deliver shoes, laundry and dry cleaning without entering. Departures: 10 outdoor dining destinations . Hôtel de Nell, Paris . Location, as we know, can make all the difference. And while many luxury hotels in Paris are adjacent to the sirens and traffic of the Champs-Élysées, this Design Hotel newcomer is nestled on the especially quiet Rue du Conservatoire in the Ninth Arrondissement. It features triple-glazed windows, weighty 175-pound doors, wood floors topped with thick carpets, dense velvet blinds and wood ceilings with micro holes that absorb noise. The Prestige Room's Japanese tubs made of marble and Oregon myrtle wood are an excellent way to capitalize on the silence. Departures: Top Italian hotel suites . Hôtel Americano, New York . Hôtel Americano, Mexican hotelier Grupo Habita's first foray into New York, ditched its usual Latin party hotel atmosphere for a relaxing "urban ryokan" vibe on a quiet side street in Chelsea's extreme west end. Some of the property's 56 rooms feature double-glazed windows, deep soaking tubs, hanging fireplaces and low platform beds placed inside large wooden cubbies that create a thick sound shield. The rooftop pool doubles as a hot tub in the winter. Departures: Las Vegas boutique hotels . © 2010 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. | Triple-paned windows, extra-thick walls and cork floor layers keep sound out .
Soundproofing styles have become proprietary secrets among hoteliers .
Four Seasons hotels must meet the approval of an acoustics consultant .
Consider choosing a quiet neighborhood as the ultimate do-not-disturb sign . |
194,763 | 881b7bf5aedc5e5e67157f463ec41bdfa322f72b | Jimmy Savile was implicated in the Haut de la Garenne children's home scandal, according to the former head of the Jersey child abuse investigation . Lenny Harper said he now has 'no reason to doubt' that Savile indecently assaulted girls at the Jersey children's home which came under intense scrutiny in 2008. His comments came on the day that the BBC's director general, George Entwistle, ordered a belated inquiry into the abuse scandal and offered an apology to Savile's victims. Jersey's former Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper outside the former Haut de la Garenne children's home where Sir Jimmy Savile is alleged to have indecently assaulted a girl . Harper, the States of Jersey police detective who led a three-year child abuse probe, told the Guardian that Savile's name came up in the initial police inquiry four years ago. However, he added that there were no specific allegations of abuse against the BBC presenter at the time. Mr Harper, who has since retired from the force, added: 'There definitely wasn't enough even to question him at the time, but in light of all the evidence that has come out then I'm not surprised because it fits perfectly the profile of what was going on.' The institution was subject to a huge police investigation after allegations of historic child abuse at the home. A solicitor who acted for victims also . told the Guardian that some former Haut de la Garenne residents, both . women and men, now claim they were assaulted by Savile in the 1970s. Alan . Collins, a solicitor for several Haut de la Garenne victims, said 'a . handful' of former residents have now made abuse allegations about . Savile. He said Savile's . name was mentioned several times during the police investigation of 2008 . but the evidence did not seem to stack up at the time. Implicated: Sir Jimmy Savile relaxing at his flat in Leeds. Since his death he has been linked to the notorious children's home scandal in Jersey . The late DJ and television presenter surrounded by girls at a Radio 1 event near his home in Leeds in 2000 . The late presenter on his programme Jim'll Fix It. Lenny Harper says he has 'no reason to doubt' he was involved in indecent assault . Police on the island confirmed last . week that Savile was investigated as part of the 2008 inquiry into abuse . at the children's home. It followed claims from a former Haut de la Garenne resident that Savile was involved in an indecent assault in the 1970s. The BBC entertainer, who died last October aged 84, was never charged with any abuse offences. Mr Entwistle . yesterday admitted knowing about the Newsnight investigation into Savile when . he ploughed ahead with eulogies showering tributes on the presenter. He . expressed ‘deep regret’ over ‘these awful allegations’ as he announced . his U-turn on Radio 4, having previously insisted that no BBC inquiry . was necessary. Newsnight's . film was shelved, and instead viewers and listeners were treated to a . series of programmes lavishing praise on Savile after his death. Apology: BBC director-general George Entwistle expressed 'deep regret' over 'these awful allegations' as he announced his U-turn on Radio 4, having previously insisted that no BBC inquiry was necessary . Investigations: Detectives are to probe whether Sir Jimmy Savile ran a wider sex ring at the BBC after two women named a former corporation employee as being his accomplice . Nationwide inquiry: Staff at the BBC have been urged to come forward with information about Jimmy Savile's alleged reign of abuse as police forces across the country receive more allegations . At least seven police forces are now examining claims he raped and molested schoolgirls during four decades as a radio and TV presenter. Detectives will also probe whether Savile ran a wider sex ring at the BBC after two women named a former corporation employee as being his accomplice. Both women have reported their claims to police. A week ago, the corporation insisted it had ‘no evidence' of any abuse, but yesterday Mr Entwistle told Radio 4 he wanted to apologise to women victims ‘on behalf of the organisation …for what they've had to endure here'. Presenter Evan Davies asked him why the BBC ran a eulogy on Savile after evidence of abuse surfaced during the Newsnight inquiry. Mr Entwistle, who was the BBC's Head of Vision at the time, said: ‘I didn't know what had become of that investigation, I didn't know what discoveries, if any, that they had.' Last week it was announced that Savile could be posthumously stripped of his knighthood in a virtually unprecedented move, if the extraordinary claims that he sexually abused young girls are found to be true. The TV host was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 1990 - an award which followed the OBE he was given for services to charity and broadcasting in 1971. But a Cabinet Office source said that a knighthood could be removed after an individual’s death if they are officially censured by a professional body or convicted of a criminal offence. The calls for him to be stripped of his knighthood were backed by a 65-year-old woman, who claimed she became pregnant after the presenter raped her when she was a virgin aged 16. | Lenny Harper's comments came as the BBC ordered a belated inquiry .
Mr Harper said: 'It fits perfectly the profile of what was going on' |
25,492 | 482be2f7d7e2683ccc231c5c28d718841cbc294f | By . Mark Prigg . A study from the University of Washington that polled 127 Snapchat users ages 18 and over found that 60 percent of respondents used Snapchat primarily to send 'funny content' Snapchat may have a reputation as a sexting app for teens, but in reality, you're far more likely to find cat pictures and selfies, researchers have found. A study from the University of Washington polled 127 Snapchat users ages 18 and over. It found that 60% of respondents used Snapchat primarily to send 'funny content,' while the second most popular type of 'snap' is a selfie. Fourteen percent of those surveyed said they'd previously sent sexts over Snapchat, but just 1.6 percent said they do so regularly. Snapchat, which allows people to exchange messages that self-destruct seconds after they're viewed, has attracted an estimated 82 million users, most of whom are between ages 13 and 25. The survey also found that many users did not care about relative insecurity of pictures sent using the app. 'We surveyed 127 adult Snapchatusers, finding that security is not a major concern for the majority of these respondents,' the researchers wrote. 'We learn that most do not use Snapchat to sendsensitive content (although up to 25% may do so experimentally), that taking screenshots is not generally a violation of the sender's trust but instead common and expected, that most respondents understand that messages can be recovered, and that security and privacy concerns are overshadowed by other influences on how and why respondents choose to use or not use Snapchat.' University of Washington researchers found that 60 percent of respondents used Snapchat primarily to send 'funny content,' while the second most popular type of message is a selfie . Snapchat, which allows people to exchange messages that self-destruct seconds after they're viewed, has attracted an estimated 82 million users, most of whom are between ages 13 and 25. At the end of 2013 it was estimated that Snapchat had over 26 million users in the US alone, with many others around the world.And in a survey of American college students in February, 77% said they used Snapchat on a daily basis.But the company still apparently holds only 5% of the 'selfie' market, with this move perhaps an attempt to keep them in the game. The team also found the majority of users tried the app because they thought it would be fun - rather than actually wanting to send salacious material. 'Respondents more commonly respond that they use Snapchat because it is fun, not because of its implied or actual security properties. 'Indeed, most respondents understand that Snapchat's message destruction is insecure, but they do not send sensitive messages (such as sexual or legally questionable content) more commonly because they don't produce such content than because they don't trust Snapchat or their friends.' A majority of respondents in the UW study (53 percent) had screen shots taken of their messages at some point, and slightly fewer (47 percent) had taken screen shots themselves. Five people admitted to using a separate camera to photograph a message, which prevents the sender from knowing his or her photo was captured. However, most people didn't seem to mind that their 'snaps' were saved. Snapchat Chief executive officer (CEO) Evan Spiegel: Researchers say the firm's product is used for 'fun' messages rather than sexting . When asked how they reacted to having a screen shot taken of their message, respondents "more commonly chose answer choices indicating neutral ('didn't care') or positive ('thought it was funny') reactions," according to the report. Despite the relative infrequency of sexting among the survey's sample of users, the researchers found that Snapchat has a reputation for illicit messages that was discouraging some from downloading the app. Among the 61 people who started the survey but failed to complete it because they hadn't used Snapchat, several expressed concerns about the 'additional connotations' of the app. Snapchat 'has a bad reputation (for sexting),' said one. Another said it 'seems useful for only inappropriate content.' The researchers alos said they believed that there was a market for a more secure chat app. 'Nevertheless, we observe that a non-negligible fraction (but not a majority) of respondents adapt their behavior in response to Snapchat's weak security properties, and thus conclude that these users may still have a use for a more secure messaging application in addition to the more casual, fun-focused Snapchat. | 60 per cent of users said they used Snapchat for 'fun content'
Fourteen per cent of those surveyed said they'd previously sent sexts over Snapchat .
Just 1.6 percent said they do so regularly . |
227,518 | b29900b2a07b1d30115f1d51085e98b20cc50585 | Footage of strangers kissing seems to be in vogue at the moment. The First Kiss, in which artist Tatia Pilieva asks 20 complete strangers to lock lips on screen, set social media sites ablaze last week. But back in 1872, one pioneering English photographer was ahead of the trend when he filmed what is thought to be the first ever footage of a couple kissing. Scroll down for video... Due to social conventions of the time, the kiss is between two female models as photographer Eadweard Muybridge was unable to film naked men in the same frame as naked women. ‘While the Victorians were extremely sexually prudish by modern standards and commonly considered male homosexuality a serious threat to their society they believed women had little or no sex drive,’ states Muybride Online archive. ‘The Kiss’, like most of the image sequences in the Muybride Online archive, was produced some time between 1872 and 1885 - significantly before the invention of the motion picture camera. Due to social conventions of the time, the kiss is between two female models as Eadweard Muybridge was unable to film naked men in the same frame . Eadweard Muybridge's biographical details are just as intriguing as his work. Born Edward Muggeridge in 1830 at Kingston upon Thames, he was unsatisfied with life in this small English town, and by 1850 he had left to make his fortune in the U.S. His most famous work began in 1872, when he was hired by Leland Stanford to photograph horses. But the photographer became distracted when he found that his young wife had taken a lover. Muybridge . shot and killed the man, called Major Harry Larkyns, . after learning that he may have fathered their seven-month-old son.When Muybridge stood trial, he did not deny the killing, but he was nonetheless acquitted. It was created using banks of still cameras firing in sequence. Essentially, every one of Muybridge’s plates is a film first, according to the archive. In the 1870s, details of how objects move were unknown. Without film, the human eye was unable to understand details of fast motion. For the Kingston-born photographer, nudity was crucial so that viewers could clearly see how the body moved in his series of photographs. And it wasn’t just human activity that the photographer captured. In 1872, Muybride was hired by Leland Stanford, later the founder of Stanford University, to photograph horses. Stanford reputedly had made a bet that for a moment, all four of a racehorse's hooves are off the ground simultaneously, and he hired Muybridge to take the pictures to prove him right. The photographers own biographical details are just as intriguing as his work. Muybridge shot and killed his wife’s lover, a man called Major Harry Larkyns, after learning that he may have fathered their seven-month-old son. When Muybridge stood trial, he did not deny the killing, but he was nonetheless acquitted. Muybridge spent the rest of his career improving his technique, lecturing, and publishing. At the end of his life, Muybridge returned from the U.S to England, where he died in 1904. Eadweard Muybridge's most famous work began in 1872 when he was hired by Leland Stanford to photograph horses. Stanford reputedly had made a bet that for a moment, all four of a racehorse's hooves are off the ground simultaneously . The 'First Kiss': What happens when strangers lock lips . | The footage was captured by English photographer Eadweard Muybridge .
It was created using banks of still cameras firing in sequence .
Muybridge used two female models as social convention at the time stated that he couldn't film naked men in the same frame as women . |
2,336 | 06d4d7e47cb757687f3fcbee440629c9da5356f9 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- China has launched a terrorism crackdown one day after a series of explosions in an open-air market killed dozens in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, the country's state news agency, Xinhua said Friday. Without any details, the report said authorities had undertaken a "one-year crackdown on violent terrorist activities" in the volatile region after blasts in the heavily policed city of Urumqi killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 90, according to state media. The number of dead does not include the attackers. The state news agency reported Friday that five attackers were responsible for the blasts; four were killed in the explosions, and a fifth was arrested Thursday. They were identified through DNA testing, Xinhua said. In Urumqi, authorities tightened security checks at entry ports in an attempt to curb weapons smuggling, including inspections of individuals, luggage, transport facilities and postal deliveries at land border crossings, Xinhua reported Friday. After visiting the injured and the scene of the explosions, Guo Shengkun, minister of public security, called for severe punishment for those responsible, state media said. President Xi Jinping also called for the terrorists behind it to be "severely" punished. Two SUVs slammed into shoppers gathered at the market in Urumqi at 7:50 a.m. Thursday, and explosives were flung out of the vehicles, Xinhua said. The vehicles then exploded, according to the news agency. Some of the photos circulating on social media suggested a hellish scene, with bodies strewn on the ground amid burning wreckage. Others showed flames and smoke billowing out of the end of a tree-lined street guarded by police. 'An enormous sound' "I heard an enormous sound, then I looked out from my balcony," said a resident of a building near the explosion who would only give his surname, Shan. He told CNN that trees obscured much of his view of the scene, but that he "could see there was chaos, with people injured." Many of the victims caught in the blasts were elderly people who regularly visited the morning market, Xinhua reported. "It's mainly people coming to trade vegetables, especially the elderly who get up early and buy vegetables to cook," Shan said. The U.S. government condemned the attack. "This is a despicable and outrageous act of violence against innocent civilians, and the United States resolutely opposes all forms of terrorism," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. String of recent attacks . Chinese authorities have stepped up security measures in Xinjiang in recent months amid a series of attacks within the region and in other major Chinese cities. On Wednesday, Xinhua reported that 39 people had been sentenced to prison in the past two months for "inciting violence" in Xinjiang. But Thursday's devastating blasts suggest the government is facing a foe determined to wreak havoc. The market attack comes less than a month after an explosion hit a train station in Urumqi, killing three people and wounding 79 others. The April 30 blast occurred just after Xi had wrapped up a visit to the region. Ethnic tensions . Chinese officials have linked a mass knife attack in March that killed 29 people at a train station in the southwestern city of Kunming to Islamic separatists from Xinjiang. They have also blamed separatists for an October attack in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in which a car rammed into a pedestrian bridge and burst into flames, killing two tourists and the three occupants of the vehicle. The knife-wielding assailants in the Kunming attack and the people in the car that hit Tiananmen were identified as Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Muslim ethnic group from Xinjiang. Ethnic tensions between Uyghurs and Han Chinese people, millions of whom have migrated to resource-rich Xinjiang in recent decades, have repeatedly boiled over into deadly riots and clashes with authorities in recent years. Some Uyghurs have expressed resentment over harsh treatment from Chinese security forces and Han people taking the lion's share of economic opportunities in Xinjiang. The Han are the predominant ethnic group in China, making up more than 90% of the overall population. Shift in targets . The pattern of ethnic violence in the region goes back decades, according to James Leibold, an expert in ethnic relations in China at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. "But what's new, and what I think is significant, is that we have a shift in target," Leibold said. "We have a targeting of innocent civilians, places where innocent civilians gather -- an attempt to maim innocent civilians in large numbers." The other change is that the violence has "seeped outside" the borders of Xinjiang into other parts of China, he said. It remains unclear who is behind the recent high-profile attacks. Chinese officials have pointed to a murky separatist group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which they have blamed for violent acts in the past. East Turkestan is the name used by many Uyghur groups to refer to Xinjiang. But analysts are divided about the extent of the that group's activities and its links to global terrorist networks such as al Qaeda. "Generally, the government response is to blame terrorists without providing many details," Leibold said. "So I suspect it's going to be very difficult to get to the bottom of this incident like previous ones." Q&A: Xinjiang and tensions in China's restive far west . | State news agency: China begins "one-year crackdown on violent terrorist activities"
The report offers no details of the crackdown, but authorities tighten security at entry ports .
Thursday's explosions killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 90, state media say . |
60,738 | ac9c2b30819230c7d46f786d33dc9a94974a9ba7 | (CNN) -- The ability to live completely off the grid is now a reality courtesy of solar homes, known as Earthships. The U-shaped buildings utilize local resources such as the sun and are made entirely of natural and recycled materials. The future of city living may be to not need the city at all. "An Earthship is the name we have given a building or vessel that we use to live on this planet that is absolutely independent of all public and municipal utilities," explains Michael Reynolds, founder of Earthship Biotecture, who developed the concept. In the mountains of New Mexico, USA, Reynolds has built 15 cliff-top homes which, as well as providing a view, were designed to prove that the Earthships could be built anywhere. At their core are walls made from old tires, bottles, and tin cans mixed with concrete, so your home leftovers are creating new homes. Even sewage isn't spared and is used in indoor and outdoor treatment cells for food production and landscaping. Leftover 'gray' water is also used to flush toilets. "We were accused of running sewage through the living room," says Reynolds. "That was scary to people but when you see the pictures of what it looks like, it's no longer scary if you understand it." Most modern amenities such as plumbing, heating, power and even internet are provided in a self-sufficient way to change the face of remote living. The use of a design known as the 'stack effect' in their construction uses natural ventilation to regulate internal temperatures for comfort. "A lot of people think off-the-grid living is like living in some kind of teepee or something," says Reynolds. "This is a pretty damn nice house." The Earthships range in price from $250,000 to $1.5 million. But remote deserts are not the only modus operandi, as Reynolds' company has also built 75 homes across the city of Taos, New Mexico and his designs have gone global. Earthships have been built across the USA, entered Europe, and relief projects are being developed in Malawi, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Philippines, and New Zealand. Fundraising is taking place for a self-sustaining music school on Easter Island, one of the most remote locations in the world. But the spread of these ships has not been plain sailing, as their radical design breaks most architectural rules. Reynolds has battled with local governments about the Earthships meeting structural codes. However, his fights are being won as hundreds of people now live, or use, these uniquely designed buildings around the world. The company's next goal is to expand from remote living to more self-sufficient cities which would be more affordable and sustainable to build -- an Earthship city. "If some government or corporation was getting ready to do a city for ten thousand people, they'd spend ten years putting in infrastructure to support that city's power and sewage," concludes Reynolds. "We don't need that: if I had a thousand acres somewhere, and funding, I could start building a city tomorrow." | Earthships are self-sustainable buildings independent of all utilities .
The first Earthships were designed in New Mexico, in and near the city of Taos .
Walls are made from recycled tires, tin cans and bottles .
The price of each one ranges from $250,000 to $1.5 million . |
51,918 | 930a0f0f2865d27e3b7d91792c3d1d4e481286c2 | A mother who home-schools her ten children in Montgomery, Alabama, has opened up about how six of them began their college degrees by the age of 12. Those of the Harding siblings who have already graduated from college have gone on to become a doctor, an architect, a spacecraft designer and a master's student. Another two - 12 and 14-years-old - are still finishing up their degrees. But despite the Hardings' incredible achievements at such young ages, their parents - Mona Lisa and Kip - insist they are a family of 'average folks' who simply find and cultivate their children's passions early on. Smart family: Six of the ten Harding siblings started college by the age of 12, thanks to their parents' home-schooling, which lets them focus on their passions. The remaining four children are ten and under . Hannah was the first to take her college entrance exams - at the young age of 12. 'I didn't expect to pass,' the 24-yead-old told Today.com. 'So I started crying, because I was thinking, "Now what?"' She passed the exam and, at just 17, became Auburn University Montgomery's youngest ever graduate, obtaining a BS in mathematics. Hannah went on to get master's degrees in math and mechanical engineering, and she was designing spacecraft by the age of 22. The other Harding siblings, spurred . on by their parents' encouragement and their older sister's success, . were quick to follow suit. Seth, 12, is the latest to begin at college. At seven, he announced that he wanted to be a . military archaeologist. He is now a freshman at Faulkner University, where he studies the Middle Ages. Eldest: Hannah, now 24, was the first Harding sibling to apply to college at the age of 12. She went on to get master's degrees in math and mechanical engineering, and was designing spacecrafts by 22 . Breaking records: Heath, now 16, was the youngest student ever to graduate from Huntingdon College at 15. He's now studying for his master's in computer science, which he will complete before his 17th birthday . Just down the hall is Seth's 14-year-old brother Keith, a college senior with a passion for music who is studying finite mathematics. His ambitious younger sister Katrinnah, ten, plans on taking her college exams next year. Still, despite the exceptional talents . of her brood, Mona Lisa - who studied to become a nurse before staying . at home to educate her kids - said: 'I don't have any brilliant . children. I'm not brilliant.' 'I don't have any brilliant children. I'm not brilliant. We're just average folks' The mother-of-ten also explained that her husband, who flew helicopters in the army and didn't graduate college until 25, is not brilliant either. 'We're just average . folks,' she insists. People who know them, however, would beg to differ. Seth's assistant professor Grover Plunkett, for instance, said of the 12-year-old, who lives at home rather than in a dorm: 'He's got the highest average in the . class.' Accelerated learning: Seth, 12, is a freshman at Faulkner University where he studies the Middle Ages. 'He has the highest average in his class,' said his assistant professor . Following their passions: Rosannah (left), now 20, became a fully fledged architect at 18. Her older sister Serennah, 22, (right) is training to be one of the youngest physicians in American history . But the Harding children insist they are not geniuses. Instead, they credit their . achievements to home-schooling, as well as a concentrated focus on their . passions, which their parents taught them to hone in on from an early age. 'By the time you get down to number five, number six, they just think learning seems normal,' Mona Lisa said of her children. 'They're taking college classes, but socially, they are just teenagers' 'We find out what their passions are, what they really like to study, and we accelerate them gradually.' For Serenneh, that passion was medicine. The 22-year-old is currently on her way to becoming a Navy doctor - which will make her one of the youngest physicians in American history. Younger sister Rosannah, now 20, became a fully-fledged architect at the age of 18. And Heath, who graduated . from Huntingdon College at 15, will have completed his master's in . computer science just after his 17th birthday. Support system: Ten-year-old Katrinnah (right), who gets some study help from older sister Hannah (left), plans on taking her college entrance exams next year . Up and coming: The younger Harding kids - ten, seven, five, and three-years old - are also being home-schooled by their parents . 'It makes you wonder,' Wesley Jimmerson, Seth's college friend, mused. 'Are they advanced, or are we just really behind?' In . fact, Mona Lisa and Kip are convinced that all children have the . capacity to learn at the rate theirs have. The couple have written a . book to illustrate their teaching method and launched a website detailing their unique approach. The book, called College By 12, is said to feature 'lots of tips of how you can simplify your homeschooling', as well as 'testimonies of how God has worked in our lives'. College may sound like too much pressure for the pre-teens to handle, but the Harding parents insist their kids are thriving, not suffering. 'All our children would have to tells us . is, "You know, this isn't fun any more,"' says Mona Lisa says. 'And . we'd do something about that.' Understanding: Their mother Mona Lisa insists her children don't feel too much pressure to succeed. 'All [they] would have to tells us is, "You know, this isn't fun any more," and we'd do something about that,' she said . Work and play: Their father says they still have time to be normal kids. 'The expectation is that you're going to have a fun day,' he said of his children. 'Not that you're going to come home with A's' Kip agrees with his wife: 'The expectation is that you're . going to have a fun day,' he said as he watched his children play in the backyard. 'Not . that you're going to come home with A's.' Indeed, the couple insists that despite their accelerated eduction, the children have led normal lives. 'We didn't limit their experience,' said Mona Lisa. 'They're taking college classes, but socially, they are just teenagers.' Their remaining children are seven-year-old Mariannah, Lorennah, five, and Thunder James, three, all of whom are being home-schooled, too. | Mona Lisa and Kip Harding from Montgomery, Alabama, home-school all ten of their kids - six of whom started college by the age of 12 .
The remaining four children are ten and under and also aim to go to college early . |
284,046 | fc008cf3e09c866bee48baf466bd3a97e1f09ea8 | To most of us, Katie Piper is the brave acid attack victim turned M&S model, dedicated philanthropist and, in recent years, something of a national treasure. But to fans of Channel 4 show Bodyshockers, she's also a presenting pro who manages to keep a straight face even when confronted with the most bizarre of body modifications and DIY tattoo disasters. To those watching as Rodrigo Alves, a flight attendant who has spent £125,000 on surgery, attempts to drum up some sympathy for his cosmetic surgery 'addiction', Piper's sympathetic approach can seem bizarre. Scroll down for video . Unflappable: Katie Piper manages to keep a straight face even when confronted with the most bizarre of looks . After all, here is a woman whose body was modified, if you can call it that, without her having any say in it, chatting to people about their uniformly self-inflicted woes. But Piper, 31, who has done more than most to raise awareness about the plight of acid attack victims, says these people are deserving of a fair hearing - even if that isn't apparent at first. 'We have all done things we regret,' explains the mother-of-one. 'But in most cases we can simply wash out that hair dye or take out those earrings. 'I actually feel really sorry for people like these because whether their appearance was an accident or intentional, it’s horrible to feel trapped in a body that doesn't reflect who you are.' This season of Bodyshockers has so far included Lee, a father of five from Grimsby who got a DIY tattoo on his face using printer ink while drunk and Joel Miggler, a German model who had his cheeks pierced and stretched in the name of art. The latter, says Piper, is one of the few who did make her do a double take. 'He had these holes in his face the size of coke cans,' she exclaims. All change: Stars of this series of Bodyshockers include Callum (left) and Ken lookalike Rodrigo Alves . Distressing: Father-of-five Lee attempted to remove his tattoos using a cheese grater . Proud: By contrast, Callum is so proud of his inkings, he's planning to tattoo the rest of his family . 'He did it all in the name of art but it was just so impractical for talking and eating and swallowing.' Equally shocking in Piper's eyes are the people who have been left so traumatised by their youthful mistakes, they've gone to extreme lengths to fix things. One such person was Lee, who resorted to scrubbing off his tattoos using a cheese grater but was left with scabs all over his face, and a man named Ernesto who took razor blades to his ears. 'He had had ear stretchers as a teenager and had been left with all this gaping flesh,' she explains. 'He had attempted to do a DIY reversal and cut into his own flesh with razor blades he had found in the bathroom - that really did shock me.' Perhaps more shocking though, are those people who say they adore their unusual new look - however bizarre and painful the methods used to achieve it. One is Savannah who won't be dissuaded from her quest to get beach ball sized breasts while a contributor from last year's series is Cherrelle who spent £3,000 on having holes punched in her cheeks in a bid to get dimples like Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's. Others, such as Callum, a tattoo fan from Scotland, have transformed themselves completely by getting tattooed from head-to-toe - something that Piper says is down to wanting to stand out. 'The alternative and underground scene is becoming a lot more popular and people are having to find new ways to shock,' she explains. 'People tell me it’s quite addictive - not the actual procedures themselves but the attention that they get and in that sense, I think it is quite an adrenaline rush.' Not quite so thrilled are those who get inkings done under the influence - something that is becoming increasingly common. Those to do so include Stefan Owen, 20, from Gloucestershire, who appeared on last year's show with an arm that bore the legend: 'Barry is a T**t' and Holly Aston, also 20 but from Birmingham, who discovered friends had inked a penis on her shoulder during a drunken party. 'People should absolutely not get tattoos while under the influence,' says an animated Piper. 'It is such a bad idea. Oh dear: Holly Aston, 20, from Birmingham, woke up to discover friends had tattooed a penis on her shoulder . New mother: Piper says she would be horrified if baby Belle Elizabeth (pictured) got a tattoo in future . 'To make the sort of decision that has such an invasive and permanent result when you are drunk is obviously never going to end well. 'You would never be allowed to have an operation in that state so why tattoos?' Unsurprisingly, with so many bad examples to choose from, Piper says she would be aghast if her 11-month-old daughter Belle Elizabeth tried to get a tattoo of her own one day. 'If she wanted extreme surgery I would be disappointed and would wonder what I had done wrong,' says a horrified Piper. 'I have always tried to teach her that looks aren’t important.' But, she continues, 'if she wanted a tattoo, I would try and remember that I don’t own her body and she is free to make her own decisions. 'I bet she gets Bodyshockers tattooed across her forehead just to get me back. That’s always the way - if children are told not to do something they rebel and do it anyway.' If the colourful cast of characters who appear weekly on Bodyshockers are any indication, so, it seems, do adults. | Katie Piper, 31, presents Bodyshockers, a show about weird surgery .
Tattoos done under the influence and bizarre body modification feature .
Piper says people should be more understanding of those who have them .
Nevertheless, says she doesn't want daughter Belle Elizabeth to get one .
Katie Piper presents Bodyshockers, tonight at 10pm on Channel 4 . |
214,747 | a206956acc980b65d154ec5126d03ea78b48188f | By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 17 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:53 EST, 17 January 2014 . Australia admitted yesterday that its naval ships had illegally entered Indonesian waters apparently to turn back asylum seeker boats - thrusting the already-fractured relations between the two countries to a crisis point. Learning about the incursion into Indonesian waters, Jakarta immediately demanded that the right-wing government of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott suspend its tough policy of turning away boats carrying desperate asylum-seekers. Relations between the two countries are now at their lowest point in a decade, following revelations by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden last year that in 2009 Australian government agents had tried to listen in to phone calls made by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Australian navy ship HMAS Adelaide escorts asylum seeker boats off the coast of Christmas Island . Asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran cry as Indonesian officers force them to leave an Australian vessel. Asylum seekers from Middle Eastern countries often travel thousands of miles in rickety boats to seek refuge . In a statement issued last night, Indonesia said it deplored the Indian Ocean breaches and would ramp up its own patrols in areas where the Australian navy had intruded. Observers feared last night that this could result in physical clashes between Australian and Indonesian vessels. The crisis erupted after Immigration Minister Scott Morrison admitted yesterday (Fri) that Australian navy vessels had entered Indonesian waters while conducting border protection operations - believed to mean stopping people seeking asylum by 'gatecrashing' Australian territory. Jakarta responded immediately, declaring that 'the government of Indonesia deplores and rejects the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Australian vessels. An Australian army quick moving rubber boat, preparing for an operation at sea to stop a Norwegian tanker (background) with asylum seekers aboard from docking on their shores . Asylum seekers bound for Australia are evacuated by Indonesian authorities from a tanker in Merak Port. Many of the asylum seekers come from countries like Afghanistan and Iran . 'The government of Indonesia underlines that any of such violation of whatever basis constitutes a serious matter in bilateral relations of the two countries.' In what was conceived as a threat that physical action might be taken should Australian vessels continue to violate Indonesian waters, Jakarta said that it had the 'right to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international laws and the charter of the United nations.' Jakarta said it rejected Tony Abbott's recently-introduced polity to turn away Australian-bound boats carrying asylum-seekers who have made their way from countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, stopping off in Indonesia before boarding fishing boats to sail to Australian islands. The latest crisis comes in the wake of claims by a group of asylum seekers who were turned back to Indonesia that Australian naval ships had fired guns across the bows of their boat - a claim that Canberra has denied. Australian Prime MinisterTony Abbott has had a strict and long standing policy on asylum-seekers and immigration, but has only recently instituted a policy to turn boats away . The influx of refugees has been a source of tragedy in recent years, when in 2010, a boat full of asylum seekers bound for Australia crashed onto the rocks on Christmas Island. The survivors were rescued by a tanker, only to be turned away when they reached Indonesia . Almost as soon as those allegations had died down came the admission by Australia that its navy vessels had encroached into Indonesian waters to stop asylum-seeker boats from sailing on to Australian territory. Immigration Minister Mr Morrison admitted that there had been a 'number of incursions' by Australian vessels into Indonesian waters during what is known as Operationa Sovereign Borders. But it is not known whether the navy ships were at the time turning back asylum seeker boats or were there for other reasons. 'This was done unintentionally and without knowledge or sanction by the Australian government,' said Mr Morrison. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has now apologised to Jakarta - and Mr Morrison said a more formal apology would be passed to the Indonesian government. | Australian navy ships have been deployed in Indonesian waters .
Illegal activity pushed tensions between countries to 'crisis point'
Demands that Australian asylum-seeker policy be suspended .
Relations fractured due to 2009 Australian spying revelations .
Indonesia say they will ramp up naval presence in their waters .
Australia denies firing over the bow of asylum seeker boats .
Minister says other missions happened without government knowledge . |
276,071 | f1b14d2c95858fa43124b5005d1d3bb2a96a4ec7 | Rapper Gucci Mane will serve 39 months in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to a federal firearms charge. The plea agreement worked out with prosecutors saves Gucci Mane, 33, whose real name is Radric Davis, considerable time behind bars. He was facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon after a pair of September incidents in which he reportedly showed a gun and threatened police. Both came on the same week that Atlantic Records reportedly dropped his recording contract. "On September 12, 2013, Davis, who was a felon at the time, was found in possession of a firearm," a federal prosecutor's news release said. "Then, just two days later, on September 14th, he again possessed a firearm different from the earlier gun. On both occasions, Davis displayed the loaded firearm, acted erratically, and made threats to individuals, including police and his attorney." Davis has had numerous brushes with the law. In 2012, Davis was arrested for hitting a man over the head with a champagne bottle at an Atlanta nightclub. The man told police the incident occurred after he tried to strike up a conversation with the rapper. In 2010, he was arrested in Atlanta for violating a number of traffic laws, but the charges were dismissed. In 2005, Davis was charged with murder in the shooting death of a man, but the charge was dropped because of insufficient evidence. "The criminal history of the defendant, Radric Davis shows a complete and utter disregard for the lives of others as well as for their personal pursuits," Aladino Ortiz with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Tuesday. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28. | Rapper pleads guilty to a federal firearms charge .
Prosecutor: Charges stem from two September incidents involving different guns .
Gucci Mane was arrested in 2012 and accused of hitting a man with a bottle .
Sentencing is scheduled for July 28 . |
199,627 | 8e6b27aaaf3821fc75bc1546142617a77eef1af7 | A Muslim convict found with an ISIS flag at a jail on the Isle of Wight plotted to take a prison officer hostage and make a violent escape. The inmate, who is believed to have become radicalised inside the Parkhurst site, was found with detailed plans of the jail. An internal prison service security bulletin said the convict had been moved into isolation immediately after the discovery. The convict at a prison on the Isle of Wight was found with a home-made ISIS flag (file picture) and was plotting to kidnap a prison officer in a bid to make an escape . The weekly bulletin of the National Offender Management Service, seen by the BBC, says that 'acting on intelligence a prisoner's cell was searched. 'Detailed escape plans involving taking a member of staff hostage were discovered.' The report adds that movement at the prison was restricted 'whilst the accommodation and his associates were searched'. The inmate had drawn a black ISIS flag on a piece of material in his cell at the Category B prison, it is understood. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Vigilant staff found a very basic description of the inside of the prison during a cell search at HMP Isle of Wight. 'This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of our robust security measures. The prisoner is now in segregation.' The inmate at the Parkhurst site of Isle of Wight Prison was found with plans of the inside of the jail . The Sunday People reported that the plotter was not known to the security services and that the man had only recently converted to Islam. Previous prison officer kidnap plots, such as one at Belmarsh in 2010, have involved plans to behead the hostage. However, it is thought that the Parkhurst plan was an attempt to escape, rather than to harm. The Home Office said it would not comment on individual cases. Isle of Wight prison was formed in 2009 as a merger of the Parkhurst and Albany sites. | Inmate at Parkhurst Prison was found with a black ISIS flag in his cell .
Convict was plotting to kidnap a prison officer in a bid to make an escape .
The prisoner is believed to have been radicalised inside the Category B jail .
The Ministry of Justice say the offender has been put in isolation . |
150,530 | 4e9bf0dace9da1b1b928a76b171bf594c8497d9d | (CNN) -- Zach Johnson denied Tiger Woods a sixth tournament victory in 2013 in a dramatic climax to the World Golf Challenge at the Sherwood Country Club in California on Sunday. The 2007 Masters champion secured the $1 million first prize at the first extra playoff hole, but it was his heroics moments earlier on the final regulation hole that left the crowds gasping. He and Woods were tied for the lead on 13-under par as they headed down the 72nd hole, but when Johnson dumped his approach into the water his hopes looked to have sunk with his ball. But incredibly the Georgia native holed his fourth shot from the drop zone 65 yards out to claim an unlikely par and complete a four-under round of 68. Woods, who had earlier led by four shots with eight to play, also made a meal of par at the 18th putting his second shot into greenside bunker before getting up and down to finish with a round of 70. When the players returned to the play the 18th again in the playoff, it was Woods who blinked first, finding sand again with his approach while Johnson found the left side of the green. Johnson two-putted for par but Woods, who played out to five feet saw his putt lip out, handing Johnson his second title of the year. America's Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar finished tied for third on nine under with Graeme McDowell the highest placed European player. The Northern Irishman finished in sixth place on five-under par while his compatriot Rory McIlroy, who won his first tournament of the year at the Australian Open last weekend, ended up down in 11th in the 18-man field. Brilliant Bjorn wins in Sun City . Thomas Bjorn produced a stunning final round of 65 to claim a two-shot win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City on Sunday. The Dane's victory was sealed when he produced two eagles on the back nine at the Gary Player Country Club to finish on 20-under par, two shots ahead of overnight leader Jamie Donaldson from Wales and Spain's Sergio Garcia. "This is right up there with the best days of my career," Bjorn said, EuropeanTour.com reported. "You never forget your first victory, and then my win against Tiger in Dubai when I went toe-to-toe with him for four days and came out top was special, but winning here in the way that I did against a field of this quality is up there. "I knew I had to shoot something low and then see what Jamie was doing. It turned out that it was Sergio and every time I saw a leaderboard he was making birdies. I am very proud of the way I played today - it's a very special day in my career." | Zach Johnson wins at first extra hole to deny Woods a sixth win in 2013 .
Johnson holes out from 65 yards at 72nd hole for par to force playoff .
Thomas Bjorn wins the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa by two strokes . |
160,653 | 5bb0ff889815c04d921a4be735098c5f2bb22aff | The waiting is over, the World Cup is finally here. But after 84 years, how much is really new? What can we expect that we have not seen in some form or other in football’s greatest competition? Here, Sportsmail lists 10 things you will - or might - see at this World Cup for the first time… . Scroll down for video . Best yet? This summer's tournament promises to be the most colourful and intriguing World Cup in history . 1) Signs that the Brazilians have stopped trying . There was a time, not so long ago, that a Brazilian footballer’s name carried with it mystique and meaning. Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Socrates, Zico, Garrincha – the Little Bird. Flair by name and deed. Step forward the class of 2014, step forward Fred and, er, Bernard. There’s a chap named Victor on their bench as well. Truth be told, little Bernard is a real dazzler and is believed to be on the radars of Tottenham and Arsenal. If the name doesn’t get pulses racing, Shakhtar Donetsk’s £30m valuation might. Ear we go: Fred is set to lead Brazil's line when they kick off the tournament against Croatia . 2) Shaving foam on the pitch . It’s . 1974, Brazil have a free-kick 25 yards from Zaire’s goal. The referee’s . whistle blows and from the Zaire wall Mwepu Ilunga comes charging, . kicking away the stationary ball. Forty years later, the gently . simmering issue of encroachment might finally have been dealt with. Referees will use vanishing spray in the World Cup for the first time . this summer, drawing a foamy circle around the ball and a line 10 yards . away to keep that pesky wall at bay. We are informed the spray is . non-toxic, water-based and designed to fade from the pitch after a . minute. Making their mark: Referees will spray foam on the pitch to indicate how far defensive walls should retreat . 3) Big Head the turtle . There’s a turtle sanctuary north of Salvador where Big Head the loggerhead is channelling the cosmos (probably) to make predictions for each game. It’s a bit like that octopus in South Africa, but a turtle. The 25-year-old is predicting the results by choosing one of three fish, with a fish representing each of the teams in a given fixture and a third fish representing a draw. Big Head initially appeared to back Brazil-Croatia to end in a draw, but slowly turned away and crawled purposefully, menacingly to the Brazilian fish, which he devoured. Confident: Big Head the turtle says Brazil are going to win the World Cup . 4) Goal-line technology . Soon there will be nothing to gripe about or dissect and football can be at peace. This World Cup ought to signal the end of goal-line controversies. German company GoalControl has focussed seven high-speed cameras on each goalmouth from the roofs of all 12 stadiums. If a ball crosses the line, the referee's watch will vibrate and the word ‘GOAL’ will appear on his screen within a second. Within five seconds of this happening in an England match, TV pictures will cut away to Frank Lampard’s reaction. No goal: Mistakes such as the one which saw Frank Lampard's goal against Germany in 2010 not awarded should be a thing of the past with goal-line technology introduced . 5) England win a penalty shootout . In a world where turtles predict football results, stranger things have happened. However, the numbers actually indicate England are less likely to win a shootout in the World Cup than elsewhere, with all three of their previous attempts ending in defeat with a conversion rate of only 50 per cent (seven scored, seven missed). If you factor in the European Championships, where England beat Spain in 1996, England have won one of six shootouts, with a 68 per cent conversion rate (21 scored, 10 missed). This time, of course, they have Steve Peters strengthening the minds and training sessions where they have kicked penalties into open nets. Cue second-round pandemonium when England knock out Colombia on penalties and Joe Hart, dandruff free, holds Peters aloft, while players mimic their inner chimps in the background. Despair: Chris Waddle (right) is comforted by Lothar Matthaus after missing a penalty in England's defeat to West Germany in 1990 . 6) An African team reaches the semi-final. Maybe . It’s never happened before, with the quarter-finals previously claiming Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana in 2010. The draw has not offered any glaring opportunities to do better this time, with only Ivory Coast in Group C and Nigeria in Group F holding realistic chances of progression from the first round. Nigeria might fancy their second-round chances against the winners or runners up of a modest Group E, while Ivory Coast would take on a side from England’s group. Super Eagles: Can Shola Ameobi (left) help inspire Nigeria in Brazil? 7) The world loves Belgium . Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Coutois, Jan Vertonghen, Daniel van Buyten, Eden Hazard etc. Belgium are no longer only the hipster’s choice. They have an easy group but will likely face either Germany or Cristiano Ronaldo in the second round. Red alert: Belgium are the outside bet of many punters . 8) A Wayne Rooney goal . Eight years after his first attempt, and four years after Nike’s ‘Write the Future’ campaign hinted he might end up in a caravan, Rooney is yet to do at a World Cup that thing strikers are meant to do. This time, with pressure and expectation at an all-time low, can he do it? Or is his move into a Lunar Quasar drawing closer? Mountain to climb: Wayne Rooney has never scored a goal at the World Cup finals . 9) The voice of reason . After England’s impressive run to the quarter-finals, the glow fades and radio debate analyses what went wrong. After some discussion on the merits of playing at least three passes in the control zone, it is quickly agreed that passion was the problem. Overpaid players don't want it enough. Passion play: Can Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney succeed where they have failed in previous tournaments? 10) Rio in Rio . Rio Ferdinand has made enough forays into television for his transition into pundit to be nothing too out of the ordinary. However, unlike Rio’s World Cup Wind-Ups, it’s unlikely that he’ll be teaming up with the Policia Ferderal to ‘Merk Nev’. He tweeted on Thursday that he will be kicking off his World Cup by watching Brazil-Croatia at the home of Fabio and Rafael. On the ball: Rio Ferdinand will be on the sofa as part of the BBC punditry team . | England will win a penalty shootout .
Wayne Rooney will finally score a World Cup goal .
And an African team will reach the semi-finals . |
181,356 | 76c64277bae8a32f06cb0615d25cc06366ff24a3 | By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 02:02 EST, 9 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:06 EST, 9 November 2013 . A 14-year-old who was arrested on suspicion of raping an 8-year-old girl on Thursday is the younger brother of another minor who was conivcted earlier this year of raping two teenage women. The teen was arrested on Thursday after an 8-year-old girl showed up to a Red Lion Inn & Suites in Kent, Washington wearing only a t-shirt and socks, saying a boy she recognized from her neighborhood raped her. The 14-year-old has not yet been named because he is a minor and police have not formally charged him yet. Charges are expected by next Wednesday. Older bother: Police sketches show a rendering of convicted rapist Chrisean Cressel ,the older brother of the 14-year-old boy arrested this week on a separate rape charge . While they have different last names, the 14-year-old is the younger brother of convicted rapist Chrisean Cressel who was 15 when he raped two young women on consecutive nights in October 2011. Cressel plead guilty to both first-degree rape counts and was convicted this past January. He is serving an indeterminate prison sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Cressel's younger brother is accused of seeking out the 8-year-old and luring her 'under false pretenses' to a wooded area to 'show her a surprise'. Finding help: The 8-year-old victim showed up to a Red Lion Inn wearing just a t-shirt and socks, asking for help after the attack . Student: The unnamed 14-year-old was a student at Kent Meridian High School . When they got there he raped her and seems to have brutally beat her. Police believe she was beaten unconscious after she suffered a concussion and abrasions in the attack. 'This is definitely outside the norm, by far,' King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Michael Mohandeson told the Seattle Times. Prosecutors had similar things to say about Cressel's crime. He raped a 19-year-old woman and 17-year-old girl on back to back nights in October 2011 after following them from their bus stops. He threatened to shoot both. 'It is extremely rare to see an offender this young become a predatory serial rapist,' King County Posecutor Dan Sattenberg said when Cressel was sentenced. | A 14-year-old boy in Kent, Washington was arrested this week after allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl .
Though they have different last names, the boy is the younger brother of convicted rapist Chrisean Cressel .
Cressel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison earlier this year after raping two teenage women on back to back nights in October 2011 when he was 15-years-old . |
233,786 | baaca665fb031940d52c8d1d35b2ca2cb166e5ff | NEW YORK (CNN) -- A group of Catholic activists gathered in front of a Manhattan cathedral Tuesday for the latest protest over a Vatican reprimand of America's largest organization of Catholic nuns. About two dozen parishioners and former clergy gathered in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, protesting last month's controversial report from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the church's doctrinal watchdog. Following a years-long "doctrinal assessment" investigation of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious -- which represents 80% of the Catholic nuns in United States -- the report found "serious doctrinal problems" and called for major reforms. It accused the LCWR of sponsoring "certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith in some of the programs and presentations." "The sisters are wonderful people who work very hard, and yes, they do care about the poor, and they do care about social concerns, and the congregation of the dogma of the faith has come down on them really hard," said Eileen Sammon, one of the protesters gathered outside St. Patrick's. "It is unfair, unjust, unconscionable, and I'm here to support them." Sheila Peiffer, with The Nun Justice Project, a Catholic activist organization, organized a petition to rally support for sisters nationwide. "I would like to see the Vatican rescind the mandate, but i think that would be doubtful judging from past actions," she said, "but we always believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and peace. Peace and reconciliation is everyone's goal." Last week, crowds gathered in Cincinnati in a similar protest. While praising the group's work on social justice issues, the Holy See blamed it for remaining "silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States." "Further, issues of crucial importance to the life of Church and society, such as the Church's Biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes Church teaching," the report said. It also noted public statements from nuns that opposed Catholic bishops. The LCWR disagreed with the bishops' conference's position on the Affordable Care Act, which they supported and the bishops did not. The church called the LCWR's position "grave and a matter of serious concern. " CNN's Chris Boyette, Eric Marrapodi and Patrick Feeney contributed to this report. | Catholic activists gathered in front of a Manhattan cathedral Tuesday .
They were protesting a Vatican reprimand of America's largest organization of Catholic nuns .
The church accused the organization of sponsoring "certain radical feminist themes"
Last week, crowds gathered in Cincinnati in a similar protest . |
42,341 | 776be385a7b7c9dbaea49cc9ca2ad26402e32117 | (CNN) -- The backdrop to countless movies and television shows, Los Angeles has been reproduced on film more times than any other city on the planet. The L.A. metropolis spreads over nearly 500 square miles. But just like the movie sets that went up in flames last year at Universal Studios, the Tinseltown glamour is often no more than a flimsy facade. Behind the myth of Hollywood lies a swirling melting pot of a place where nearly half of people speak Spanish and where, for every rising star, there's at least a hundred wannabes waiting tables or entertaining tourists on Venice Beach. At once a Lalaland filled with dreamers, Los Angeles has also been scene to some of the worst race riots in American history: a paradoxical place that spawned both Charlie Chaplin and Gangsta Rap. These days, aside from the smog -- an ever present in a city plagued with so many cars and so little rainfall -- the atmosphere is less toxic than two decades ago when the city was awash with crack cocaine and guns. Watch Wolfgang Puck take CNN on a tour of L.A. » . Schemes to gentrify the downtown and other areas, such as the construction of the Hollywood and Highland complex that includes the Kodak Theater -- home to the Oscars since 2002 -- have gone some way to revitalizing the inner city. In any case, in a city with an estimated population of 3.8 million sprawling over a metropolis nearly 500 square miles in size, it's easy to avoid the sharper edges if you want to. Not that that's so surprising. After all, where better to detune from reality than in a town whose success is entirely founded on our appetite for escapism. And from its world class art galleries to the unashamed schmaltz of Disneyland and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it offers escapism for all tastes. The Los Angeles story started in the late nineteenth century when Midwesterners attracted by the promise of a warm, dry climate followed the railroad west. The boom times risked coming to a premature halt at the turn of the century due to water shortages, but the smart engineering and dark maneuverings of the city water department (maneuverings that helped inspire the classic film noir, Chinatown) resulted in the construction of water aqueducts that ensured the city's continued growth. See pictures of Wolfgang Puck's Los Angeles . In the end though, light was the natural resource that mattered most. From the 1920s onwards, the motion picture industry grew into a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the abundance of clear, blue skies to help light the movie moguls sets. By the time the Golden Age of Hollywood came to an end, the boom town had morphed into a sprawling urban center and the lure of the limelight had earned the city the tag it retains to this day, that of "entertainment capital of the world." In the early nineties, the story lost its luster somewhat when years of marginalization suffered by African Americans found a rallying point in the Rodney King beating. Despite a video that appeared to show police violently attacking King, the accused officers were acquitted. The verdict led to rioting in which 53 people died and large areas went up in flames. The city is certainly no angel, it's true. Even so, whether it's tattooed bodybuilders rollerblading Santa Monica Boulevard, a Marilyn Monroe look alike blowing kisses outside Grauman's Chinese Theater or a blood red sunset dropping into the Pacific, Los Angeles is a place with a rare ability to beguile and bemuse in equal measure. | Los Angeles is known as "the entertainment capital of the world"
Since the railroad came west it has grown to a metropolis of 3.8 million .
The city has seen racial tensions, notably race riots in the early 90s . |
280,981 | f7fcfc4afbfbe9aacb24a49cef44220ca6c6bf57 | The change has already been dubbed Chloe's Law after Justice Secretary Chris Grayling made reference to the case of Chloe Madeley (pictured) Internet trolls who subject victims to vile abuse are to be jailed for up to two years under a tough Government crackdown. Harsher sentences are to be introduced following a series of shocking, high-profile cases, including rape threats made against model Chloe Madeley last week. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling revealed to The Mail on Sunday that the maximum six month sentence for internet abuse will be quadrupled. Miss Madeley, who was targeted after her mother Judy Finnigan made controversial remarks about the footballer and convicted rapist Ched Evans, last night welcomed the move, saying that the most sickening comments amounted to ‘online terrorism’. The tougher new legislation is already being dubbed ‘Chloe’s Law’ after her public stance against the disturbing messages. Mr Grayling said: ‘These internet trolls are cowards who are poisoning our national life. ‘No one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media. That is why we are determined to quadruple the current six-month sentence. ‘As the terrible case of Chloe Madeley showed last week, people are being abused online in the most crude and degrading fashion. ‘This is a law to combat cruelty – and marks our determination to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob. We must send out a clear message: if you troll you risk being behind bars for two years.’ Currently, offenders who subject their victims to sexually offensive, verbally abusive or threatening material on the internet can only be prosecuted in magistrates courts under the Malicious Communications Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of six months. But the planned changes will allow magistrates to pass on serious cases to the crown courts, where offenders would face a maximum sentence of 24 months. Miss Madeley, 27, was targeted with what she described as ‘extremely chilling and cowardly’ threats after she defended her mother for suggesting on a TV panel show that Mr Evans’s offence was less serious because he had not physically harmed the teenager he attacked. Last night Miss Madeley said it was right for Mr Grayling to update the ten-year-old law, since it pre-dates Twitter. She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The current law obviously needs to be reviewed. It needs to be accepted that physical threats should not fall under the “freedom of speech” umbrella. 'It should be seen as online terrorism and it should be illegal.’ Scroll down for video . The change comes after model Chloe Madeley, daughter of TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan (right) received rape threats on Twitter . The 27-year-old was abused online after her mother Judy Finnigan made comments on the case of Ched Evans during an episode of Loose Women . Sheffield United fans chanted their support for Ched Evans yesterday after he was released from prison having served half his sentence for rape. Some sections of the United supporters chanted: ‘Super Ched, Super Ched. He can do what he wants’ as the League One team visited Bradford. The fans’ show of support follows reports Evans was to be offered a two-year £500,000 contract by his former club – although United insist they have made no such decision. Judy Finnigan’s comments on Evans’s case led to the trolling of her daughter Chloe. Sky Sports News presenter Charlie Webster said she would quit her role as a ‘patron’ of Sheffield United if the club were to re-sign Evans. Webster told Radio 5 Live: ‘You will have young people cheering him on when he scores a goal. Not under my name.’ West Ham vice-chairman and Apprentice star Karren Brady agreed, saying there is ‘no place anywhere in football’ for Evans. Former Welsh international Evans, 25, was released last week after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman. Her remarks come after her father, TV presenter Richard Madeley, warned the trolls: ‘Prosecution awaits you.’ The changes will be made as an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill currently going through Parliament. They would also give the police more time to collect enough evidence to enable successful prosecutions to be brought. Earlier this month, 63-year-old Brenda Leyland, who subjected the family of missing Madeleine McCann to online abuse, was found dead in a hotel after being confronted outside her home by a Sky News reporter. Mrs Leyland was one of a number of trolls who compounded Gerry and Kate McCann’s distress by abusing them on social media. One tweet read: ‘#mccann To Kate and Gerry, you will be hated by millions for the rest of your miserable, evil, conniving lives, have a nice day!’ Mr McCann commented at the time: ‘Clearly something needs to be done about the abuse on the internet. I think we probably need more people charged.’ Miss Madeley explained last week why she had gone public with the threats, saying: ‘I always ignore the disgusting troll tweets I get because I honestly do not want to give them any attention. Kate and Gerry McCann have been abused on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook over the disappearance of their daughter in 2007 . ‘But the tweet in question took it to another level and I wanted to stand up against it. ‘There is a line where rationality ends and criminality begins. The person who threatened me crossed that line.’ Dr Az Hakeem, consultant psychiatrist at The Priory Hospital, Roehampton, south-west London, told The Mail on Sunday: 'The sadistic pleasure derived by trolling may have an addictive quality to it and the sense of power for the troll may be difficult to resist. 'The most useful intervention is to be reminded that the emotional pain inflicted is real and that they are not able to hide behind apparent anonymity, and to be held legally accountable for the actions for which they have mental capacity and intend to make.' He said that the illusion of anonymity 'facilitates for some callous and wounding attacks upon people which for the Intranet troll provides sadistic pleasure combined with the false reassurance that the attack is 'not really real' due to the lack of real face to face contact of the 'hit and run' style of encounter, often hidden behind the camouflage of the screen name.' The move by Mr Grayling follows the announcement he would include a measure in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill to make it an offence to post so-called ‘revenge pornography’ online, which would also carry a maximum jail term of two years. | Maximum six month sentence for internet trolls to be quadrupled .
Comes after model Chloe Madeley received rape threats on Twitter .
Model's mother Judy Finnigan had shared view on release of Ched Evans .
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said trolls 'poisoned our national life' |
6,698 | 1305048095fc338061e24c0fe1de38078b657421 | Business magnate Donald Trump has suggested he may be about to throw a lifeline to the bankrupt Atlantic City casino that shut its doors early this morning. Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino became the fourth casino to go belly-up in the city this year when its last few gamblers left the blackjack table at 6am. But Mr Trump hinted that this may not be the end of the line for the resort. The real estate mogul took to social media to say he is considering buying back into both Trump Plaza and the beleaguered Trump Taj Mahal. Scroll down for video . Mr Trump hinted that this may not be the end of the line for Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino . Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino became the fourth casino to go belly-up in the city this year when its last few gamblers left the blackjack table at 6am this morning . He tweeted: 'I left Atlantic City years ago, good timing. Now I may buy back in, at much lower price, to save Plaza & Taj. They were run badly by funds!' The businessman opened Trump Plaza in 1984, when he described it as the finest building in Atlantic City - and possibly the nation. But he cut ties several years ago, and last month filed a lawsuit to get his name taken off of it. Despite its prime location at the heart of the Boardwalk, gamblers have been abandoning Trump Plaza - which has seen better days - for newer, ritzier casinos for years. Its owners, Trump Entertainment Resorts, allowed the casino to deteriorate, particularly after a sale for the bargain-basement price of $20 million to a California firm fell through last year. Business magnate Donald Trump has hinted that he might be planning to save Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino . Mr Trump cut ties with the casino several years ago and last month filed a lawsuit to get his name taken off of it . A lightly populated gambling floor of the Trump Plaza before it became the fourth casino to close in Atlantic City . The parent company has threatened to shutter the Trump Taj Mahal Casino resort in November, which has also been on a steady decline in recent years. Showing some nostalgia for the old days, Mr Trump tweeted: 'It is so sad to see what has happened to Atlantic City. So many bad decisions by the pols over the years - airport, convention center, etc.' He added: 'Does anybody notice that Atlantic City lost its magic after I left years ago. I had the big boxing, introduced UFC (ask Dana),the best shows.' Jim Redmond, 60, from Montreal adores Atlantic City and regularly stayed at Trump Plaza. He noted that the hotel and casino's decline was steady over the last seven years. 'It did slip every year,' he said. 'This year they had no bedspreads and they totally gave up on the ice machines. Burned-out: What remains of the lights in the illuminated facade of Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino . 'This year the Plaza bar was closed and the 24 hour cafe closed at 2 p.m. The higher-end restaurants were closed. 'It was so sad to see it get a little worse every year. They really seemed to give up about five years ago.' Atlantic City began the year with 12 casinos. It now has eight. Dealer Ruth Hardrick worked at Trump Plaza for 26 of its 30 years, but is now without a job. She is one of the roughly 8,000 Atlantic City casino workers have lost their jobs this year, and another 3,000 could join them if Trump Taj Mahal also goes under. 'What's the next step? Where do we go from here?' she asked. 'It's happening all over. A lot of us are in the same boat. You think something will come along (to save the casino). And it didn't.' Illuminated letters of the casino's name on the building's front and back facades burned out and were never replaced. Visitors to the Miss America pageant last week at Boardwalk Hall next door saw a neon sign proclaiming 'Trump Plaz Hotel & Cas.' On the Boardwalk side, the sign read, 'U Laza.' Many restaurants on the first and third floors have been shut down for months. Along an escalator leading to them, fake plastic plants were either missing or stolen from row after row of trays. A self-serve kiosk to redeem player's club points near the parking garage was disconnected and covered in dust. So far this year, Trump Plaza has taken in just $36.8 million from gamblers. The figure is down 31.5 per cent from the same period last year, and about the same amount as the Borgata casino wins during an average two-week period. Trump Plaza is a mere shadow of the casino Mr Trump remembers from Atlantic city's heyday . Trump Entertainment Resorts, allowed the casino to deteriorate, particularly after a sale for the bargain-basement price of $20 million to a California firm fell through last year . Things have changed since Mr Trump opened the casino in the summer of 1984. At the time he described it as the finest building in Atlantic City - and possibly the nation . Despite its prime location at the heart of the Boardwalk, gamblers have been abandoning Trump Plaza - which has seen many better days - for newer, ritzier casinos for years . | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino is fourth casino to shut in the city this year .
Businessman tweeted that he might buy back in - at a much lower price .
Claimed casino was a victim of bad decisions since he cut ties . |
141,157 | 4285dcab38752318d36da61b722e60ca21f4d360 | Lin Chen pictured enjoying a cigarette as he walked the streets of London this week . His was supposed to be the case that showed Britain would no longer let criminals use the Human Rights Act to dodge deportation. But this violent Chinese burglar has still not been told to leave the country – despite judges saying he should be booted out last Monday. The Daily Mail found Lin Chen – released from jail half-way through a five-year sentence for tying up and threatening to kill two women – enjoying a cigarette as he walked the streets of London. He said he had no idea he was set to be deported under a tough new regime, despite attending two appointments with immigration officials since last Monday’s judgment. When told of the latest ruling, Chen said he had no plans to leave the new three-bedroom semi in North London he shares with his Chinese wife and their son, six, and daughter, three. He is now seeking legal aid for a six-figure fight to stay put – even though his father-in-law had the cash to settle a £200,000 debt while he was in jail. The greying Chen – who claims to be 28 – was amazed to be told he faces deportation. ‘Every Wednesday I have to report to the big immigration centre [in Croydon, south London],’ he said. ‘They didn’t tell me anything about me being deported last week, or this week. ‘My lawyer told me it would cost £100,000 to appeal to the European courts. I’m going to try to get legal aid. I’ve got no money now.’ Asked why he could not take his wife and children to China as judges suggested, Chen said: ‘My children are British citizens. In China, I didn’t have a house or anything, and everything has changed since I was there. What job could I do there? ‘Here, I can work in a kitchen, be a driver ... anything is easy because I’ve lived here for a long time.’ Chen was not keen to dwell on the two counts of robbery he pleaded guilty to in 2010. He entered the home of two sleeping women in the middle of the night, tied them up and terrorised them into telling him their PINs – but after one victim escaped her restraints and called the police, officers caught Chen hiding in the toilet. Claiming he made ‘about £200’ in the robbery, Chen said: ‘I don’t understand the law here. I do something wrong – I’m guilty, I go to jail. ‘I owed somebody money, and they said they wanted to kill me, so I made a mistake. They [his victims] left the door open, that’s how I got in. But I’ve done my sentence. Since then I’ve done nothing wrong.’ Originally from the bustling province of Fujian on the south-eastern coast of China, Chen came to England in 2002 when he claimed to be 16 – but social services decided he was at least two years older. Denied asylum in August of that year, he stayed on illegally. His wife, who came to Britain as an accountancy student in 2001, had their son in 2007, and Chen was duly granted ‘indefinite leave to remain’. It was Home Secretary Theresa May who said when Chen was jailed in 2010 that he would have to be deported upon release. Yet when that time came – just halfway through his sentence – Chen battled to stay, invoking the Human Rights Act’s ‘right to a family life’. A first hearing by immigration judges ruled in his favour – but two years later, the Court of Appeal said he should be kicked out after the Home Secretary changed the law to force judges to only consider the right to a family life in ‘exceptional cases’. Home Secretary Theresa May changed the law to force judges to only consider the 'right to a family life' deportation clause in exceptional circumstances . Following a law change, the Court of Appeal (pictured) said Chen should be kicked out of the country . Mrs May said last week: ‘I welcome this judgment, which sends out a clear message to foreign nationals who break the law that they face deportation and can no longer exploit the system to stay in the UK.’ Her new laws have slashed the number of grounds on which foreign criminals can challenge rulings from 17 to four, as well as banning them from continually bringing up ‘new evidence’ to keep their cases dragging on. A Home Office spokesman said last night that Chen was free on immigration bail pending any appeal he may make against deportation. A government source added: ‘Lin Chen is not on a fast plane to China because he’s still got several appeal routes – and it’s difficult to say how long he’s got to try them.’ The National Audit Office warned last week that each foreign criminal costs the taxpayer an average of £70,000 a year, adding up to a total bill of about £1billion a year. | Lin Chen photographed still wandering the streets of London this week .
Chen was imprisoned for tying up and threatening to kill two women .
When approached, he was surprised to hear he was facing deportation .
He said he plans to use legal aid to fight the courts for the right to stay . |
172,933 | 6bcea6defa6c1636a26083b88d454d2228815ef4 | By . Dominic Prince . and Jo Knowsley . PUBLISHED: . 17:08 EST, 15 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:08 EST, 15 February 2014 . Parents struggling with the spiralling cost of private education are signing deals which give Britain’s leading public schools a share of the family home in return for deferring fee payments. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that parents are so desperate to keep their children in top schools, they allow them to take a ‘charge’ on the house as a guarantee against unpaid fees. It means the school allows the child to remain in education but claims the fees when the family’s house is eventually sold. Millfield School in Somerset, which charges up to £30,385 a year, is one school taking a 'charge' out of parents' properties in order to cover fee payments . In extreme circumstances, the school could force the sale of the house to recover the debt. The headmaster of a leading South London day-school, who did not want to be named, told The Mail on Sunday that taking charges on homes had become common practice. Schools including Millfield in Somerset, whose former pupils include Lily Allen and model Sophie Dahl, King’s School Canterbury, where Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe and children’s author Michael Morpurgo were educated, and Saint Felix in Southwold, Suffolk, have all agreed deals to take charges over parents’ properties. Millfield charges up to £30,385 a year, King’s up to £32,235 and Saint Felix up to £24,420. Millfield has at least one charge over a West Country property which is currently for sale at £1.3 million. Bursar Mark Suddaby said: ‘We understand that school fees are a major financial commitment for parents and that financial situations can change. Taking a charge on homes is the last resort.’ He added that there were no recorded cases in the past five years of the school forcing the sale of a house to recover an unpaid debt. John Jackson, a governor at the school, said: ‘Public schools do take out legal charges on occasions but this is only done when parents are in real difficulty. ‘It allows the parents to pay the fees later while the school can be content that the parents can’t disappear without paying.’ Mark Taylor, bursar at King’s School Canterbury, confirmed that the school held charges over several properties. At Saint Felix, a floating charge against parents’ property has been enshrined as part of its ‘affordability packages’ offered to help parents pay the fees. The King's School, Canterbury, which charges up to £32,235 a year, is also accepting charges. They allow the school to take part of the value of a house when it is sold . School governor John Whyte said: ‘We have had this system in place for four or five years and I would say it has been successful. We only have a handful of legal charges against property – probably about four or five. ‘It all started when a couple of parents got into hardship when the recession hit and we felt it was important to be as fair and flexible as possible. ‘We only take out legal charges if the loan is more of a long-term agreement that requires more security, as we give some parents the option to take eight years to pay back the fees. ‘It is usually the whole fees amount that parents borrow. ‘The middle class have been squeezed over the past five years and I would say that all independent schools are having to look at ways to make it easier for parents to pay the fees. ‘I think we have to use all the weapons in our armoury to make paying the fees as flexible as possible for parents who have come to us with problems.’ Mike Lower, general secretary of the Independent Schools Bursars Association, said that it was not known how widespread the practice had become. ‘At a time of recession parents will struggle more to pay their fees, so it is only logical to estimate this is happening more often,’ he said. Since 2000, private school fees have more than doubled, with pupil numbers dropping from 514,531 in 2009 to 508,472 in 2012. | Private schools are placing 'charges' on parents homes .
Charge allows the school to take a portion of sale value to cover fees .
In extreme cases schools can force parents to sell the family home .
Millfield school, Somerset, The King's School, Canterbury, and Saint Felix in Southwold, Suffolk, have all agreed deals with parents . |
28,501 | 50db67a1979df55e0dbe4590d3b5fdb2d28146c0 | Liverpool may be forced to sack Brendan Rodgers if results do not improve dramatically, according to Anfield legend Steve Nicol. Rodgers has made a point of saying that some defeats ‘can be the making’ of you but there is no doubt the criticism of his team, results and himself will be stinging him. Take this from Nicol, whose medals in a 13-year Anfield career include a European Cup. Brendan Rodgers has come under intense pressure following a run of dismal results . Steve Nicol won a raft of trophies at Liverpool and is pictured during the one that got away at Anfield in 1989 . Rodgers speaks to his players as Liverpool crash out of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw with Basle . ‘If things don’t change then ultimately Brendan will pay the price,’ said Nicol. ‘If this team keeps performing the way they are, I don’t think they’ll have another option. We are not even halfway through and most people don’t expect Liverpool to get into the top four. ‘You wonder where this team are going. He has tried to add to the squad to make it better. Somehow it has turned the other way. Steven Gerrard looks downcast after what could be his final game in the Champions League . A Liverpool supporter makes his feelings clear as the Anfield club are knocked out of the Champions League . Raheem Sterling (centre) walks off the pitch as Liverpool contemplate Thursday night in the Europa League . 'The team are completely rudderless. They don’t look to have any imagination going forward and defensively they look at odds. This is a desperate time for Liverpool.’ The reaction to Liverpool's elimination from the Champions League on social media and radio phone-ins saw some supporters ask for him to be removed, less than seven months after being named LMA Manager of the Year, but there is no chance owners FSG will dispense with him soon after giving him a new contract. What they do expect, is to be back in the top four come May. If Rodgers is to achieve that, he needs to get results. Fast. | Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League after draw with Basle .
Brendan Rodgers has come under increasing pressure after poor results .
Reds manager will 'pay the price' if things don't improve, says Steve Nicol . |
177,396 | 71a429037b3b333380ff0085f8e2bcfe3077f15f | By . Steph Cockroft . Harry Smith, 18, from Tangmere, West Sussex, had held his licence for about seven weeks when he crashed into a car, killing a 16-year-old and paralysing another . A boy racer has been jailed for four years after causing a crash which killed a 16-year-old girl passenger and paralysed another. Harry Smith, 18, killed 16-year-old Jasmine Elkasmi, . from Bognor Regis, after losing control of his Vauxhall Corsa in September last year. Smith, from Tangmere, West Sussex, had passed his test just weeks earlier and had also received a warning from police about his driving hours before the crash. The court also heard that traces of alcohol and the main chemical found in cannabis were found in Smith's blood stream after the incident. The crash, which took place on the A285 at Halnaker, near Chichester, West Sussex, left a second 16-year-old passenger paralysed from the waist down. A third teenager needed surgery for facial and dental injuries. Smith, who had received two police warnings since passing his driving test seven weeks earlier, has now been jailed for four years. The maximum available sentence for causing death by dangerous driving, as set by Parliament, is 14 years. But offenders are entitled to a reduction of up to one third if they plead guilty. The guidelines for the sentence for the crime will also depend on the seriousness of the event. Smith pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Christopher Parker QC also disqualified him from driving for four years and ordered him to take an extended re-test before ever holding a licence again. For determinate prison sentences, the law . states that the offender should normally serve half in prison and half . on licence in the community, meaning he could be released in two years. Judge Parker said: 'That death and those injuries are the unwarranted consequence . of your terrible foolishness in the face of not one, but two warnings.' The court heard that the incident unfolded when Smith overturned his Vauxhall Corsa at around 6.45am. Jasmine Elkasmi, 16, died from her injuries after Smith's Vauxhall Corsa crashed into her. Two other teenagers with whom she was travelling also sustained life-changing injuries . At the time, Smith had spent hours driving and was likely to be suffering from fatigue, the court heard. Traces of tetrahydrocannabinol, the main chemical in cannabis, was found in his blood, although the court heard it was not enough to conclude he was under the influence at the time of the crash. He also had a small amount of alcohol in his blood, but was still within the legal limit. Jasmine died of her injuries in hospital a short time after the crash. After the hearing, Sergeant Paul Wood, of the Arundel road policing unit, said: 'Smith was 17 at the time of the collision and he had only held his driving licence for about seven weeks. 'He had been stopped by police before the collision on a number of occasions due to the manner of his driving and he had been issued with a section 59 warning, which meant that if he had been stopped again, his vehicle would have been seized. 'A girl died as a result of his dangerous driving and two other girls were left with serious injuries, one of them life-changing.' None of the victims’ families wished to comment after the sentencing. | Harry Smith, 18, from Tangmere, had been warned twice about his driving .
One warning came hours before the fatal crash at Halkaner, near Chichester .
Jasmine Elkasmi, 16, was killed after Smith's Vauxhall Corsa flipped on road .
Another teen was paralysed from waist down - a third needed facial surgery .
Smith jailed for four years - maximum term for death by dangerous driving is 14 . |
29,667 | 545befab509b2fc12bfc309bd19e2ffd6171a2d5 | (CNN) -- Drug kingpin Benjamin Arellano Felix, one of the leaders of the major Tijuana cartel, was extradited to the United States on Friday, Mexico's attorney general's office said. Arellano Felix was one of seven brothers who ran the cartel until he and the majority of the leadership was arrested. The Tijuana cartel, also known as the Arellano Felix Organization, was weakened as a result, but is still considered one of Mexico's major drug trafficking operations. He had been convicted of organized crime activities in Mexico and was serving several sentences in prison. He is wanted in the United States on two indictments for conspiracy, money laundering, drug trafficking, operating a drug smuggling organization, and murder. The Tijuana cartel, during its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, controlled the flow of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs into the United States through Tijuana and Mexicali, the Mexican attorney general's office said. One of the strategies that Mexican President Felipe Calderon has employed in his fight against the drug cartels has been sending traffickers to face justice in the United States. In Mexico, even convicted traffickers have been known to communicate freely and control their organizations from inside prison. Being tried in the United States is thought to be a deterrent. In addition to trafficking drugs, the cartel under Arellano Felix's leadership ran a network of bribes, spies and killings, the attorney general's office said. He was considered the brains and accountant for the organization, the agency said. Arellano Felix was arrested in 2002 in the city of Puebla. Extradition processes against him began in 2007. The handover to U.S. marshals happened Friday at a hangar at the international airport in the city of Toluca, Mexico. | Benjamin Arellano Felix is wanted in the United States .
He was a leader of the Tijuana cartel . |
114,825 | 202e7907c1665c3c03c5733a19c3fd9ddaa15c82 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:01 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:02 EST, 6 August 2013 . Paul Gascoigne's family are rallying round the struggling star after he was spared jail for assaulting a rail guard. The former England international was pictured looking relaxed as he strolled through London's Covent Garden with his ex-wife Sheryl and 17-year-old son Regan. On Monday, Gascoigne, 46, was handed a £1,245 fine after the drunken row at Stevenage train station in Hertfordshire on July 4. Reunited: Paul Gascoigne, left, was seen strolling around Covent Garden in London with his wife Sheryl, centre, and son Regan, right, days before his hearing . Support: Gascoigne's wife Sheryl, right, was called to the incident at Stevenage train station to try and calm him down but the star was eventually arrested by police . But days before the court case the family were seen shopping together in the capital. Dressed in a white shirt and jeans, Gascoigne looked thin but otherwise in good health. Earlier this week magistrates heard how the ex-Rangers . and Spurs star grabbed guard Jack Sherrington, 23, around the throat and . called him a 'c***'. Staff managed to contact his former wife Sheryl who arrived at the scene but Gascoigne was arrested. Appearance: Former England star Paul Gascoigne arrives at Stevenage Magistrates' Court . Gascoigne was charged with assault and being drunk and disorderly but a third charge of assault against Sheryl was dropped. The pair split in 1998 after a . tumultuous two-year marriage but Sheryl has recently been helping . Gascoigne battle his long-term addiction to alcohol. His family had hoped he was on the mend after he was discharged from a rehab clinic in the US in March. But last month he was found drunk on a Newcastle to London train. Magistrates . heard how he had been visiting his ill father, when a ticket inspector . on the train from Newcastle to London found him drunk. Gascoigne . got off at Stevenage, where station guard Jack Sherrington tried to . help him into a wheelchair as he was struggling to walk. Elaine . McMillan, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant was abusive towards Mr . Sherrington, using the c-word repeatedly and he ended up grabbing hold . of Mr Sherrington effectively in the neck area.’ Gascoigne’s . ex-wife Sheryl, his stepdaughter Bianca and son Regan were called to . the station, where he was arrested for drunk and disorderly and assault . at around 10.30pm. Miss McMillan said that Regan, 17, who works as a model, became upset as he watched his father get arrested. After sentencing: Gascoigne started drinking again because he was worried about his sick father, who is seriously ill with a heart condition, the court was told . Arrived: Gascoigne was in such a state after falling off the wagon again that station staff were forced to call his ex-wife Sheryl (pictured), 47, to try and calm him down, Stevenage Magistrates' Court heard . Gavin Harris, defending, said that . Gascoigne had been drinking due to stress caused by worry for his father . and ‘acute physical pain’ resulting from a recent hip operation. He said he had not actually had much . to drink, but the effect was worse as he had not drunk in a long time. ‘Mr Gascoigne is remorseful and apologises for his actions,’ he added. Magistrate Carolyn Marsh said that it . was a ‘serious matter’, and fined Gascoigne a total of £1,245 including . £100 in compensation to Mr Sherrington, who said: ‘I sincerely hope he . gets the help that he needs in the future.’ The court also heard that Gascoigne was receiving 'one to one' treatment for his alcoholism, which was continuing. After sentencing, Gascoigne left the court and was driven away in a grey Porsche. In a statement released through British Transport Police, Mr Sherrington, from Peterborough, said: 'I am grateful for and welcome Mr Gascoigne's decision to plead guilty today. Incident: The ex-footballer was arrested after officers were called to Stevenage station (pictured) on July 4 . Fined: Gascoigne was later pictured leaving Stevenage Magistrates' Court in Hertfordshire in a grey Porsche . 'I am told that since the incident he has offered his apologies for his behaviour, and I fully accept them. 'In differing ways this has not been easy for either of us and I sincerely hope he gets the help that he needs in the future. 'With the conclusion of the case, and . Mr Gascoigne's sentencing, I now consider this matter closed. I will . not be conducting any interviews at this time and ask for my privacy in . this regard to be respected.' Mr Harris said outside court: 'Mr . Gascoigne has asked me to say a few words on his behalf. He wants to . publicly apologise for his actions that evening. He now wishes to be . left alone to carry on with his recovery.' Happier times: Paul Gascoigne is pictured with Sheryl at a Lazio football match against Roma in Italy in 1994 . Family: Paul Gascoigne celebrated his 46th birthday at Royal Windsor Racecourse in May. He is pictured with daughter Bianca (left), her mother Sheryl (centre right) and his son Regan (right) 'Mr Gascoigne wants to publicly . apologise for his actions that evening. He now wishes to be left alone . to carry on with his recovery' The footballer also played for . Rangers, Lazio, Middlesborough and Everton. He was capped 57 times by . England and scored 10 goals. In April, Gascoigne thanked the . Premier League stars and celebrity friends who saved his life after . funding his latest stint in rehab at the Cottonwood clinic in Arizona. Speaking on Alan Carr's chat show . Chatty Man, he thanked Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, and footballers Wayne . Rooney and Steven Gerrard - among others - for stepping in to pay the . £7,500 a week cost. They had clubbed together to help . fund his treatment after he suffered a public meltdown at a charity . event in Northampton in January. Goal: Paul Gascoigne shoots past Andy Goram of Scotland as he scores for England in a 2-0 win at Euro 1996 . Tears: Gascoigne is remembered for crying during the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup against West Germany . By TOM WHITE, PRESS ASSOCIATION . Widely regarded as one of the most gifted English footballers of his generation, Paul Gascoigne has long fought an all-consuming battle with alcoholism. Known for his genius on the pitch, his chaotic life has been dogged by a constant tendency to self destruct. While he enjoyed many highs on the pitch, there have also been many lows, including struggling with mental illness, bulimia, panic attacks, addictions and domestic violence. This came to a head when earlier this year he was placed in intensive care in a hospital in the US while he was being treated for alcoholism during a rehabilitation programme. At the time he was said to be close to death and it was reported that he was revived a number of times. At first, his antics in bars and clubs across Europe had looked like the result of the overblown enthusiasm and thirst for the high life which rapidly became his off-the-pitch trademark. But the excesses that have marred his life for so long eventually led to his exclusion from the England World Cup squad in 1998. Other high profile alcoholism incidents included being sacked from managing Kettering Town FC in 2005 after he was accused of being drunk at games and appearing at the scene of the stand-off between the police and gunman Raoul Moat in 2010. Arriving at the scene in Rothbury, Northumberland, Gazza claimed he was a friend of Moat and said he had brought him 'a can of lager, some chicken, fishing rod, a Newcastle shirt and a dressing gown'. He was also sectioned under the Mental Health Act twice in the space of six months in 2008 and admitted in his autobiography to headbutting his wife Sheryl and throwing her to the floor. Known for his genius on the pitch, his chaotic life has been dogged by a constant tendency to self destruct . First thrust into the national consciousness after a number of brilliant performances at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he quickly became a household name. From there he would play for such teams as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, and Rangers and became loved by fans as a talented joker. Born in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, on May 27 1967, he also starred in midfield for Terry Venables' England side during Euro 96, the highlight being his magical goal against Scotland. He is also remembered for crying after being booked in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup against West Germany, as he knew the booking meant he would be suspended for the final if England got there. | Gascoigne, 46, called guard a 'c***' before grabbing him around throat .
Stevenage station staff forced to call his ex-wife Sheryl to calm him down .
Pleaded guilty to assault and being drunk and fined £1,245 by magistrates .
Family looked relaxed as they shopped in central London before the case . |
88,465 | fb138594cdac6dd6aedf5e1e62dd780e6282c197 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 12:11 EST, 15 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 15 August 2013 . A massive multimillion degree gas cloud has been discovered in a galaxy 60 million light years from Earth. The cloud is likely to have been caused by a huge drawn-out collision between a dwarf galaxy and a much larger galaxy - and this collision could continue for another 50 million years. If this is confirmed, it will be the first time such a collision has been detected in X-rays, and could help unlock the secrets of how galaxies grow. An image combining X-rays and optical light shows the scene of this collision. The impact between the dwarf galaxy and the spiral galaxy caused a shock wave - akin to a sonic boom on Earth - that generated hot gas with a temperature of about 6 million degrees . The impact between the dwarf galaxy and the spiral galaxy caused a shock wave - similar to a sonic boom on Earth - that generated hot gas with a temperature of about six million degrees. The observations, made using Nasa's Chandra X-ray Observatory, show the hot gas has a comet-like appearance, caused by the motion of the dwarf galaxy. Astronomers believe star formation may have been triggered by the shock wave, producing bright, massive stars. Earlier this week, Nasa detected in X-rays a planet outside our solar system pass in front of its parent star. The . image was taken of a planet in HD 189733- a system which is 63 . light-years from Earth - using Chandra and the . European Space Agency’s XMM Newton Observatory. Up . until now, exoplanets had only been observed passing in front of their . parent stars using optical light in a process known as transiting. The . planet, known as HD 189733b, is a hot Jupiter, meaning it is similar in . size to Jupiter in our solar system but in very close orbit around its . star.It is more than 30 times closer to its star than Earth is to the sun and orbits its star once every 2.2 days. The observations, made using Nasa's Chandra X-ray Observatory (pictured), could be the first time such a collision has been detected in X-rays . The mass of the entire gas cloud is unknown because the two dimensional image can’t show whether the hot gas is concentrated in a thin pancake or distributed over a large, spherical region. The X-ray image shows the hot gas has a comet-like appearance, caused by the motion of the dwarf galaxy . If the gas is a pancake, the mass is equivalent to forty thousand suns. If it is spread out uniformly, the mass could be much larger, about three million times as massive as the sun. According to Nasa, the hot gas should continue to glow in X-rays for tens to hundreds of millions of years. They believe searching for large regions of hot gas in galaxies might be a way to estimate the frequency of collisions with dwarf galaxies and to understand how important such events are to galaxy growth. An alternative explanation is that the hot gas cloud could have been produced by supernovas and hot winds from large numbers of massive stars. However, Nasa claims this is unlikely because of the lack of evidence of expected radio, infrared, or optical features. Optical data from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope reveals the spiral galaxy in blue and white . | Potential collision was discovered in a galaxy 60 million light years away .
The resulting cloud is thought to have a temperature of six million degrees .
Nasa estimates it could be three million times as massive as the sun . |
32,904 | 5d788ec362a874cc113c2204b06fae82d1d70ea7 | By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 14:26 EST, 22 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:56 EST, 23 May 2012 . A first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will become queen even if she is born before new laws have been passed, Nick Clegg said yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister revealed that the new rules were effectively already in place, and had been since a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia, last October. The 16 countries who share the British monarch as head of state agreed to change the current 300-year-old law which gives male heirs priority in the Royal line of succession. Annoucement: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day - a first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will become queen even if she is born before new laws have been passed, Nick Clegg said yesterday . Speaking in the Commons, Mr Clegg said: “If the birds and bees were to deliver that blessing to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and indeed the nation, then that little girl would be covered by the provisions of these changes of the rules of succession because they operate from the time of the declaration of the Commonwealth summit last October. ‘It is very important to remember that the rules are de facto in place, even though they have yet to be implemented through legislation in the way that I have described.’ Birth: Speaking in the Commons, Mr Clegg said that the girl 'would be covered by the provisions of these changes of the rules of succession' A source close to Mr Clegg said the change in rules was needed now because it would take too long to wait for each of the 16 Commonwealth countries affected to pass a new law. Mr Clegg’s comments came after a question from Tory MP Helen Grant. The MP for Maidstone and The Weald said: ‘If the birds and the bees of the very romantic Isle of Anglesey were to conspire and bless our future King of England and his wife with the patter of tiny feet before this law was enacted, and if that royal baby turned out to be a little girl, would she succeed to the throne?’ The rule change was given fresh urgency by the marriage of William and Kate - as it could have provoked a constitutional crisis if their first child is a girl. But there are fears that the change could fuel the republican movement in Australia, where campaigners could use the opportunity to amend legislation to oust the Queen. The current law of male primogeniture only allows Elizabeth II to be queen because she did not have any brothers. Rules: The current law of male primogeniture only allows Elizabeth II, pictured at the Chelsea Flower Show, to be queen because she did not have any brothers . It also means that the Princess Royal, the Queen’s second born, is just tenth in line to the throne behind her younger brothers Andrew (fourth) and Edward (seventh). In Japan, the Chrysanthemum Throne was rocked by a public backlash over succession laws favouring men when Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako had a girl, Aiko, Princess Toshi. The 15 other countries where Elizabeth II is queen are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Soloman Islands, Tuvalu, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis. The Commonwealth leaders also agreed to overturn the 1701 Act of Settlement, which means that only the Protestant heirs of the Electress Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James I, can become king or queen. The law was brought in following the Glorious Revolution - when a Dutch invasion helped overthrow a Papist king - so that a Catholic could never sit on our throne again. | Revealed that the new rules were effectively already in place, and had been since a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia, last October .
The 16 countries who share the British monarch as head of state agreed to change the current 300-year-old law which gives male heirs priority . |
166,553 | 635d4e9cda74513d35d69f2818e1300cb157aa36 | By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . Two former Chris Christie appointees have met with federal prosecutors about the 'Bridgegate' fiasco, adding new fuel to the fire just weeks after a report commissioned by the New Jersey governor appeared to clear his name. Former Port Authority official David Wildstein and former Christie chief counsel Charlie McKenna have both begun the process of disentangling themselves from scandal swirling around the Republican governor, according to liberal bloggers at Esquire magazine and the online legal publication Main Justice. U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, the New Jersey prosecutor who succeeded Christie in that office, has begun presenting evidence to a grand jury. Longtime Christie press secretary Michael Drewniak has been in and out of those proceedings. Wildstein put himself at the center of a plot to snarl traffic in a New Jersey town last September by giving the order to choke off traffic lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge – in apparent retaliation for a Democratic mayor's failure to endorse Christie's re-election bid. Scroll down for video . David Wildstein (C), former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Director of Interstate Capital Projects and an ally of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, is apparently baring his 'Bridgegate' soul to a federal prosecutor . Chris Christie, already parlaying his NJ governorship into a presidential trial balloon, is betting that a recent report clearing his name will withstand the scrutiny of Paul Fishman -- a tough US Attorney who got his old job when he moved to the state capitol . Michael Drewniak (C), the Christie press secretary who has worked with him since his days as a prosecutor, has reportedly talked to a federal grand jury about the Bridgegate scandal . He would later claim the closure of several bridge on-ramp lanes during back-to-school week was part of a traffic study, intended to determine if the rest of the bridge would move faster once lanes dedicated to the town of Fort Lee were repurposed, . Wildstein has claimed he told Christie about the lane closures – while they were in place – when the two spoke at a 9/11 memorial service in Manhattan. Christie has insisted he knew nothing until later when media outlets began asking questions. But the Port Authority bigwig – a former Christie schoolmate assigned to a position created just for him – met last week with prosecutors to tell his side of the story. McKenna was the governor's chief legal adviser while the plot was taking shape, and likely has inside information about any role of the governor's office had in coordinating the stories of officials connected to the scandal. Wildstein and fired Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly, for instance, participated in the infamous email exchange that launched the investigation. 'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,' Kelly wrote him. 'Got it,' he replied. Wildstein refused to testify before an investigative committee controlled by Democrats in the New Jersey legislature. So has Kelly. Christie fired her publicly in January. But Bill Baroni, another Port Authority higher-up, did testify in the fall, weeks before surrendering his job. Baroni stuck to he 'traffic study' story in a performance that Wildstein later said McKenna praised. Scene of the crime? The rightmost lanes into this George Washington Bridge entry plaza, normally reserved for traffic entering from the town of Fort Lee, N.J., were repurposed for general traffic during a week in September, bringing traffic in that town to a screeching halt . No love lost: US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Paul Fishman is looking into whether his old rival Chris Christie played a role in the George Washington bridge fiasco . Alleged ringleader: Former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly has refused to testify without a grant of immunity . As Christie prepares for what observers expect to be a tumultuous presidential run in 2016, his former underlings may be positioning themselves to cut deals with the government. Kelly and Wildstein have both said through their attorneys that they would share what they know if they were promised immunity from prosecution. There has been no sign that their wishes have been granted, but Wildstein's cooperation may point in that direction. His attorney Alan Zegas did not respond to a phone message seeking comment. Fishman, by all accounts a methodical and skilled federal prosecutor, reportedly holds no special place in his heart for the New Jersey governor who had the job before him. According to multiple witnesses at Christie's going-away party in the U.S. Attorney's office, Fishman – angry at Christie for taking so many skilled lawyers with him to the governor's office – threw a copy of a New Jersey directory of lawyers at his feet, saying he should consult it before embarking on his next recruiting binge. The Esquire writer whose scoop re-energized the Bridgegate story late on Monday is another anti-Christie partisan. Scott Raab wrote on Esquire.com that the March report clearing Christie 'is a steaming pile of crap, a classic Christie smear job, designed to reach the only result that might spare his political life.' 'Now that David Wildstein’s talking, his days as governor are numbered -- in weeks and months, not years,' a gleeful Raab predicted. | David Wildstein, the Port Authority figure at the center of the George Washington Bridge scandal, has met with the US Attorney's investigators .
So has Charlie McKenna, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former chief legal counsel and a longtime confidante .
The 'Bridgegate' plot was an apparent effort to stymie traffic entering the George Washington Bridge as political payback against a Democratic mayor .
US Attorney Paul Fishman, who succeeded Christie in the job, is probing the governor and his staff; Christie says he knows nothing .
Christie's job and presidential ambitions hang in the balance as former aides weigh testifying and he waits to see if their memories clash with his . |
114,464 | 1fb54fd17f57250226506e4b6831c3817ed4ef9d | Officer Darren Wilson recently married another member of the Ferguson Police Department, a source close to Wilson said. According to a St. Louis County marriage license, Wilson on October 24 married Barbara Lynn Spradling, with whom he shares a home in St. Louis. Sparse information was available from the marriage license and application. Wilson, 28, is nine years younger than his wife and had a previous marriage end in divorce, dissolution or annulment, the application says. This was Spradling's first marriage. Municipal Judge Christopher Graville performed the service in Oakland, about 15 miles south of Ferguson, the marriage license says. Wilson's shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown is being investigated by a St. Louis County grand jury that will decide whether the officer will face charges. He is on paid administrative leave. What happens to Officer Wilson? A six-year veteran of the Ferguson Police Department, Wilson has not been seen in public since Brown's killing set off racial tensions in the St. Louis suburb and beyond. | Darren Wilson married another Ferguson police officer, a source and documents say .
Document: Before his marriage, he shared a home with now-wife Barbara Spradling .
The October 24 wedding was Spradling's first marriage and Wilson's second . |
5,722 | 1041805969836a12ec393a93af3ab6fa7145e0b8 | By . Annabel Fenwick Elliott for MailOnline . MTV reality star Diem Brown is out of hospital and has opened up about the shock hysterectomy she underwent ten days ago. Ms Brown, 32, collapsed earlier this month while filming a new reality show and was airlifted to a New York City hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with colon cancer after finding multiple tumors in her colon, uterus and stomach lining. 'When I came to, they told me that they couldn't save my uterus,' she tells People. 'That was a blow. Might sound silly to most, but it's what made me still feel like a woman and gave me hope for a future. I felt empty ... gutted.' Heartbreaking: Diem Brown, pictured in July, was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, and underwent an emergency hysterectomy, which she describes as being a 'blow' to her womanhood . She's also had to come to terms with the colostomy bag she's just had fitted. Still, once Ms Brown's medical team told her just how 'touch and go' the surgery had been, she says she gained a better 'perspective.' 'I might not have the ability to ever carry a child and I have this damn bag for the time being – but I'm alive,' she says. After the emergency hysterectomy, the star - who found fame on MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge back in 2006 - underwent a second operation three days later due to an infection in her abdomen. 'I might not have the ability to ever carry a child and I have this damn bag for the time being – but I'm alive' Speaking to the publication last week when she was still in hospital, Ms Brown's sister said: 'Hopefully in the next few weeks she'll be well enough to start chemo. 'She's on a lot of medication but every once and awhile you'll see her spirit, the light back in her eyes.' Battles: Ms Brown, pictured last year, was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 23, after which she had one ovary, several lymph nodes and part of her fallopian tube removed . Sharing her story: After her second ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2012, Ms Brown published a powerful video documenting her hair loss (pictured) Ms Brown was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 23; after which she had one ovary, several lymph nodes and part of her fallopian tube removed. After seven years of being all-clear, the cancer returned in 2012; this time taking her second ovary. Just beforehand, she had her eggs frozen in a desperate attempt to hang onto her dreams of pregnancy and childbirth. After her second cancer diagnosis, Ms Brown uploaded a powerful video documenting her hair loss after chemotherapy sessions. Emotionally-charged: She said of the video, 'I started recording my bi-nightly brushing of my hair ritual in order to show others what really goes on behind closed doors' She wrote on her People.com blog: 'I was curious about the hair-loss process. I wanted to see how the hair falling out actually happened. Like, how fast did it happen? What does it feel like when it comes out? What does it look like while it's falling out? 'At my two-and-a-half week mark after my carbo/taxol chemo infusion treatment, I started recording my bi-nightly brushing of my hair ritual in order to show others what really goes on behind closed doors.' Ms Brown, who regularly speaks publicly of her illness, is also the founder of MedGift; a gift registry for sick patients. | Ms Brown had already lost both ovaries and part of one fallopian tube to ovarian cancer in 2005 and 2012 .
The 32-year-old froze her eggs in hopes that she could one day carry a child .
She was diagnosed with colon cancer August 17 and fitted with a colostomy bag . |
144,364 | 46b1ef70f801a59403921369ebde0703905254af | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 15:12 EST, 12 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:12 EST, 12 July 2012 . The son: Andrew Cane is being sought in connection with the death of a his 63-year-old mother Linda . Police are on the hunt for a 30-year-old man suspected of murdering his mother in her home. The body of Linda Sheard, 63, was discovered by members of her family in her home near Brixington, Exmouth last night. Her son Andrew Cane, who had recently moved in with her, is being sought by police in connection with her death. A blue Honda Civic, believed to have been used by Cane, was found abandoned next to the A4 near Bristol today. It had been abandoned next to the A4, Devon and Cornwall Police said. A police spokesman said Cane could be ‘anywhere in the country’. Divorcee Linda was found dead in her £250,000 property on Wednesday evening just after 7pm. It is understood that her son moved into her home some months ago and worked as a roofer at the same Exmouth firm where Mrs Sheard had worked for a number of years. A neighbour in the small . cul-de-sac where Mrs Sheard has lived for the past six years described . Cane as a 'quiet bloke who never seemed much trouble'. The neighbour also said he knew Andrew's dad, Michael Cane ‘an ex-copper’. Mrs Sheard had previously lived in Blandford Forum, Dorset, before moving to Exeter and bought her home in Exmouth in 2006. Police and a truck from the firm where both mother and son worked are pictured outside of Linda Sheard's house where she was found last night . Police watched mourners leaving flowers at the house the victim shared with her 30-year-old son Andrew . Work colleagues of Linda Sheard arrive to leave flowers at the scene. It has been reported that her son Andrew Cane worked for the same firm . It is believed her former husband moved to West Yorkshire when the couple split up more than six years ago. A post mortem examination is to be carried out to find the exact cause of death. Anyone with information or who may have spotted Andrew Cane is asked to contact police. A forensic officer is leaving the scene in Brixington where flowers have been left in memory of the 63-year-old . | Andrew Cane is suspected of murdering his mother Linda .
A car, which police believe was driven by the 30-year-old was found abandoned off the A4 .
Linda Shears was found dead in her home last night . |
245,974 | ca5e58a4b6d0a7be054fc0ac4492bfa89b43073f | By . Hugo Duncan . and Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 4 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:31 EST, 5 June 2013 . Food and energy prices are rising faster in Britain than anywhere else in Europe as the crippling squeeze on household finances continues, a major report said yesterday. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said food prices in April were 4.6 per cent higher than in the same month last year, while energy prices were up 2.2 per cent. The rate of inflation in the UK was far higher than elsewhere in Europe and underlined the crisis facing families as they struggle to make ends meet. Food prices in April were 4.6 per cent higher than in the same month last year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . Inflation has been above the Bank of England's 2 per cent target since late 2009 as the cost of everyday essentials such as food soars. Household energy bills have also risen sharply in recent years – eating into household budgets at a time when wages are growing only very slowly, if at all. The increasing cost of living threatens to undermine the fragile economic recovery as consumers find themselves with less to spend each month. It also puts Britain at a disadvantage to the rest of Europe and the United States. The OECD said food prices were up 3.7 per cent in Germany in April, 1.6 per cent in France and just 1 per cent in the United States. The report from the Paris-based think tank said energy prices in Britain were rising at more than four times the rate seen in Germany. In nearly a dozen European countries energy bills fell in April – including in France, Belgium, Denmark and Spain. The OECD said the overall rate of inflation in Britain slowed from 2.8 per cent in March to 2.4 per cent in April. But this was still well above the 1.2 per cent seen in Germany, 1.1 per cent in Italy and 0.7 per cent in France and the Bank of England expects inflation in Britain to rise again in the coming months. The report came just a day after the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Britain's leading economic forecaster, said the average family with two children will be £1,800 worse off by 2015 than they were in 2008. Inflation has been above the Bank of England's 2 per cent target since late 2009 as the cost of everyday essentials such as food soars . While overall shop prices fell across the country in May, as retailers slashed prices in 'desperation sales', food prices continued to outpace increases in pay with a rise of 2.4 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). It said shop price inflation in May was -0.1 per cent – the first time there has been an annual fall in three-and-a-half years, but this was driven by non-essential items. The biggest falls were seen among fashion and shoe stores, where average prices were down by some 5.7 per cent. That means a coat that was reduced from £250 to £150 in a sale in 2012, would have been cut from £250 to around £140 in May this year. The study said the average price of electrical goods was down by 5.2 per cent in May against a year ago, largely because many tablets, TVs and other devices have come down in price amid fierce competition, particularly from online retailers. There were also price falls for furniture, carpets, DIY and gardening products. Helen Dickinson, the director general of the BRC, said: 'Times remain tough, but it seems retailers are reading the market well and doing what they can to offer customers the best possible value on their shopping.' Howard Archer, economist at researchers IHS Global Insight, said consumer spending over the coming months will be 'crucial to the economy's performance'. He added: 'Inflation is still likely to rise to around 3 per cent during the summer despite dipping to 2.4 per cent in April from 2.8 per cent in March.' Energy . price tariffs are in a constant merry-go-round with suppliers . constantly battling to pinch customers - you - from each other. Shrewd consumers can take advantage of . this by doing exactly that - moving deals every six months to a year to . ensure they are on THE cheapest deal. Even moving every other year will . save you significant amounts. Suppliers offer their cheapest rates via online tariffs so if you're ready to switch, it will certainly pay to do so. If you are one of the millions of . people who have NEVER switched (i.e. stuck with your original . supplier), then you will DEFINITELY save a big chunk of cash, possibly . as much as £300 a year. Prices . are different all over the country and the cheapest supplier for you . will depend where you live. You only need to be interested in the tariff . that is going to be cheapest where you live, so do your own comparison to find the best price. | OECD said food in April was 4.6% dearer than same month last year .
Inflation above the Bank of England's 2% target since late 2009 . |
257,996 | d9e65cdeee0df768f834b94b36fa3c07a930ebaa | By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 10:05 EST, 2 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 2 March 2014 . Football star Wayne Rooney has splashed out on Botox treatment after signing a new £300,000-a-week contract, it has been claimed. Plastic surgeons speculated that the Manchester United striker, 28, who has previously had cosmetic surgery to replace his thinning hair, underwent treatment which has prompted a striking change in his appearance. Mr Rooney has appeared in recent television interview with a remarkably smooth forehead, while only a few months ago he had a much more wrinkled brow. Disappearing lines: Wayne Rooney seemed smooth-faced in a recent interview, left, despite his more furrowed appearance in October . Leading surgeons have claimed that the dramatic change in Mr Rooney's appearance between the images in October and his appearance now is 'consistent' with using the controversial treatment. However, a spokesman for Mr Rooney strongly denied the claims. If the claims turn out to be true, Mr Rooney would join male celebrities including music mogul Simon Cowell and Celebrity Big Brother winner Rylan Clark in championing the skin-smoothing product. On the pitch: Mr Rooney is pictured above playing Greek team Olympiacos in the Champions League last week . New contract: The striker has recently signed a £300,000-a-week contract with Manchester United . Taimur Shoaib, of La . Belle Forme clinic in Glasgow, told the Sunday People: 'He's got a nice . youthful, smooth appearance. With his newly-inflated salary, the cost of Botox, the trade name for Botulinum toxin, is unlikely to worry Mr Rooney. With Harley Street clinics offering treatments for £200 a time, just one week's pay could buy 1,500 treatments. The chemical decreases muscle activity in the area it is injected. It effectively paralyses the muscles, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Injections tend to be effective for between three and six months. Botox has some non-cosmetic uses, and is used to treat migraines and treat excessive sweating. 'His forehead looks very good. The changes . we see would be consistent with someone having Botox.' Meanwhile . James McDiarmid, from the McDiarmid Hall Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in . Cheltenham, Glocuestershire, said: 'In my opinion he has had Botox to . his frontalis muscles.' Mr Rooney's first cosmetic procedure - the hair transplant, was carried out in 2011. Days after having the operation he tweeted to confirm the £30,000 operation. He said: 'Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25, why not? I'm delighted with the result.' The father-of-two had a follicular transfer in which hairs are moved from donor areas – usually at the back of the head – and then replanted in bald areas. He had previously written about his hair loss in his autobiography. He admitted staring at himself in the mirror and thinking: 'Bloody hell, you're going bald and you're only a young lad.' Mr Rooney's publicists today strongly refuted the Botox claims, telling the MailOnline they are 'total rubbish.' | Manchester Utd striker, 28, had smooth forehead in recent TV appearance .
Months before he could be seen in similar situation with deep wrinkles .
Plastic surgeons say the change is 'consistent' with using Botox .
However his publicists have strongly denied the claims .
Mr Rooney has previously spent £30,000 on treatment to his thinning hair . |
32,855 | 5d52b2e6b7d1ed50e1edb9ec7a60d8474314ecbc | By . Kate Lyons . PUBLISHED: . 02:31 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:28 EST, 7 February 2014 . It was the rudest of awakenings. Supposedly sound asleep and strapped to a bed, this Japanese comedian is rocketed through the roof of a shed as dawn breaks over Mount Fuji. The elaborate joke was broadcast on a Japanese television special called Dokkiri Award (dokkiri means ‘being surprised’). If it is genuine and the 'victim' was not in on the trick, then it stands to be one of the most elaborate pranks in history. Scroll down for video . Best prank of the year: This prank saw Japanese comedian Toshiaki Kasuga flung 50 metres into the while he was sleeping . Hold on tight: Bungee cords were attached to Kasuga's bed while he slept and he was strapped into the bed so he didn't fall out when it was launched into the air . Rude awakening: People are calling the 'Bungee Bed' prank the best prank of 2014 . In a radio interview after the event, comedian Toshiaki Kasuga, claimed he was told he had to be at the base of Mt. Fuji for work early the next morning. He arrived the night before and in order to keep warm in the freezing temperatures, headed out with the crew to get drunk. Kasuga apparently then slept very soundly, because he claims not to have woken while a crew attached bungee cords to his bed and strapped him in it. The next thing he knew, he said, fireworks were exploding under his bed and he was rocketed, bed and all, through the cabin’s roof 50 metres into the air. Sweet dreams: Kasuga said he was sleeping heavily after a big night out with the crew . The comedian was told he needed to be at Mt. Fuji early in the morning so he stayed the night at this mountain cabin . In on the joke: Japan has developed a reputation for elaborate pranks, which are screened on comedy shows on television . Wake-up call: The comedian was woken up after a drunk night out by fireworks exploding under his bed . Cruel or funny? Some other famous Japanese pranks have involved actors pretending to be snipers killing off people in the street and releasing robot dinosaurs into office buildings . Japanese television is famous for its expensive, elaborate, and frequently terrifying pranks played on unsuspecting members of the public for general amusement. Previous efforts have included a fake sniper pretending to shoot everyone in the street before dragging the prank's victim into a building to tell him everyone else was acting, releasing computer-controlled robot dinosaurs into an office block, and giving a woman a teddy bear she thinks is a bomb, while everyone around her in the public square flees. However, doubts have been raised about this latest Bungee Bed prank, as viewers have wondered exactly how drunk you need to be not to notice the two giant cranes parked on either side of your cabin. Real or prank?: Doubts have been raised about whether this was a real prank or a set-up, with viewers finding it hard to believe that Kasuga didn't notice the cranes beside his cabin when he went to bed . Extraordinary lengths: What will Japanese TV producers come up with to top this elaborate prank in front of Mt. Fuji? | 'Prank of the year': Japanese prank show straps comedian into bed .
Catapaults him 50 metres in the air while he's still sleeping . |
242,859 | c6544817dd443df360476f5b58d4312bd11e254d | Since they were leaked by a hacker on Sunday, the naked photos of Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities have made headlines across the world. Now, Twitter users are making light of the scandal by posting pictures of the amusing, strange and downright embarrassing things that would be exposed to the public if their phones were hacked. The images, uploaded with the hashtag #Ifmyphonegothacked, include a man kissing a horse, a dog posing 'that time she got a bad haircut' and the Star Wars character Chewbacca playing the cello. Scroll down for video . Jake Simon was among dozens of Twitter users to make light of the hacking scandal by posting pictures of the embarrassing, funny and strange things that would be exposed to the public if their phones were hacked . One girl, using the handle @NotoriousBeep posted a still image from an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, titled 'I Married a Horse', which was broadcast in 1998. It shows a man kissing his pet horse on the mouth . The images, uploaded with the hashtag #Ifmyphonegothacked, also included Chewbacca playing the cello . Others feature a dog staring at the camera while sat on the back of its playmate, another riding on the shell of a tortoise and a woman pole dancing, with the caption 'also #HowIPaidForCollege'. One user, named Harrison, tweeted a photo of his phone's camera roll which is filled with pictures of One Direction, Justin Bieber and My Little Pony. Alongside the image and hashtag, he wrote: 'well uh this is awkward.' Meanwhile, another user, with the handle @MyNameIsBonez, uploaded a photo of an empty album titled 'Nudes', joking: 'All the nudes I've ever received would get leaked.' Another amusing photo, uploaded by the user @CountGripsnatch, shows a dog riding on the shell of a tortoise . This user uploaded a photo of an empty album, joking: 'All the nudes I've ever received would get leaked' Since they were leaked by a hacker on Sunday, the naked photos of celebrities have made headlines across the world. Above, Jaime Santos posted a number of images, including a dog dressed in a banana suit . And one girl, using the . handle @NotoriousBeep, tweeted a still image from an episode of The Jerry . Springer Show, titled 'I Married a Horse', which was broadcast in 1998. It shows a man in black sunglasses and a red top kissing his pet horse on the mouth. And it's not just non-celebrities who have been making light of the leak. Comedian Ricky Gervais yesterday tweeted an unflattering image of himself lying in the bath, with the caption: 'Anyone who retweets this leaked erotic photo of me should be ashamed of themselves.' A new wave of 'nude' celebrity photos have been leaked online following the publication of images of Lawrence and '100 other stars' on Sunday night. Above, this user posted a photo of his dog riding on the back of another . Harrison, posted a photo of his camera roll, including snaps of One Direction, Justin Bieber and My Little Pony . Twitter users Justin Rowan and Lolo Jones uploaded the above amusing images to the social-networking site . Meanwhile, actress Anna Kendrick posted an image of a phone conversation with her brother Mike, in which he told her: 'I have never been happier to not see your name on a list.' She commented: 'Don't worry bro, it would just be photos of food and other people's dogs anyway.' It comes as a new wave of 'nude' celebrity photos . have been leaked online following the publication of graphic images of Lawrence and '100 other stars' on Sunday night. Don't worry bro: The actress Anna Kendrick posted an image of a phone conversation with her brother making light of the situation . Comedian Ricky Gervais yesterday tweeted an unflattering image of himself lying in the bath, with the caption: 'Anyone who retweets this leaked erotic photo of me should be ashamed of themselves' The latest snaps allegedly feature Parks and Recreation . actress Aubrey Plaza, Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay and . American Idol Season 12 contestant Tenna Torres. A video, reportedly showing Lawrence, has also been leaked online. Although some of the 101 celebrities allegedly targeted by the hacker have admitted the photos are real, others have claimed they are . fake and many are yet to see any images appear online. | Twitter users have uploaded photos with hashtag #Ifmyphonegothacked .
Include images of man kissing horse and dogs posing in funny positions .
Also feature pictures of One Direction, Justin Bieber and My Little Pony .
Stars Ricky Gervais and Anna Kendrick have also made light of scandal .
Comes as a new wave of 'naked' celebrity photos have been leaked online .
Celebrities affected include actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton . |
154,082 | 53280ab797a89a09a1f7cf60b313057d606de248 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:29 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:10 EST, 16 May 2013 . The gallows used to hang an infamous prohibition-era gangster in one of America's last public executions have been discovered in a dusty old barn. Bootlegger Charlie Birger was hanged in the town of Benton on April 19, 1928. He famously went to his death with a grin telling the crowd who had gathered to watch: 'It's a beautiful world.' He had been sentenced to death for ordering the murder of an Illinois town's mayor and was one of the last people to be publicly hanged in the state of Illinois. Smiling on death row: This 1928 photo provided by the Franklin County Historic Preservation Society in Benton, Ill., shows bootlegging gangster Charlie Birger, center, on the gallows just before his public hanging in Benton . These are the wood and rebar pieces of the gallows that were used for the 1928 public hanging of Charlie Birger . Now, some 85 years after his death, a family has discovered the gallows used in his execution have been uncovered in a barn near the city of Grand Tower, about 50 miles from Benton. They contacted administrators of the Franklin County Jail Museum in Benton, which has many items related to Birger, including his machine guns and bullet proof vest. The location of the gallows was last . known in 1973, when they were housed in the Jackson County courthouse . basement. They were pulled out for a Fourth of July event that year but then . the courthouse lost track of their whereabouts, according to WSIL-TV. Preservationists had been trying to find them for decades, but had no luck until now. The . museum will now house the real gallows inside, while a replica of them, . which were built in 1995, will remain outside the building. Piece of history: The gallows are built for the hanging of Birger in the town of Benton on April 19, 1928 . Charlie Birger, a Russian immigrant whose real name was Shachna Itzik Birger, was executed on April 19, 1928 after spending a year in jail. According to the jail museum, he was a . well-liked 'protector,' known for tossing coins to kids and even sharing . his wealth among a few neighbors in the southern Illinois community of . Harrisburg. In the mid 1920s he famously went to . war with the Ku Klux Klan who supported supported prohibition viewing . alcohol as 'un-American'. To law enforcement, he was known for for his bootlegging business, which he ran out of a speakeasy called the Shady Rest. The business is what led him to be convicted in plotting the murder of Joseph Adams, who was the mayor of West City, Illinois. Adams . got into the middle of a turf war between Birger's gang and another group . of bootleggers and as violence escalated, Adams wound up dead. He was . allegedly shot to death at the front door of his home by two of Birgers' men. Birger was later . arrested for plotting Adams' murder. Some . say Birger's smile on the day of his hanging could have been a result of the . dosage of morphine he was provided just before he walked to the . gallows. Others claim, however, that Birger had actually declined the drugs. The last person to be publicly executed in the United States was Rainey Bethea, a young black man who had confessed to the rape and murder of a 70-year-old white woman named Lischia Edwards. An estimated 20,000 people turned out to watch as he was put to death in Owensboro, Kentucky. The two men chosen to perform the hanging were Arthur Hash, a former Louisville police officer, who offered his services for free and a farmer from Epworth, Illinois, named G. Phil Hanna. Bethea's execution, which took place on August 14, 1936 was an unmitigated disaster. It had widely been expected that the hanging would be carried out by the sheriff of Daviess County - a Mrs Florence Shoemaker Thompson. Newspapers from around the country had sent reporters expecting to cover the first ever execution of a man by a woman. Instead Hash arrived drunk, wearing a white suit and a white Panama hat. When the moment came and Hanna ordered him to pull the trigger which operated the trap door sending the convicted man to his death, the drunken Hash did not respond and a deputy was forced to do the job instead. Hanna said it was the worst display he had witnessed in 70 hangings and the ensuing media circus led to authorities stopping public hangings. Macabre show: An estimated 20,000 people turn out to witness the execution of of . 22-year old Rainey Bethea in America's last ever public hanging on . August 14, 1936 in Owensboro, Kentucky . Bill Bailey (left) was the last person to be executed by hanging in the U.S in 1996 while the last person to be publicly executed, by hanging or otherwise, in the United States was Rainey Bethea (right) in 1936 . The last person to be executed by . hanging in the U.S. was convicted murderer Ben Bailey who was put to . death in Delaware in 1996. Bailey was found guilty of the murders . of 80-year-old Gilbert Lambertson and his 73-year-old wife Clara . Lambertson, after sneaking into their farmhouse in 1979. Although originally sentenced to hang, . Bailey was given the option of lethal injection because the state of . Delaware had changed its method. But he refused saying: 'I'm not going to let them put me to sleep.' Because Delaware had not carried out a . hanging in 50 years, it had to ask advice from the state of Washington . where hangings had recently been performed. Bailey was one of only three people . to be hanged in the U.S. since 1965 - the other two were Charles Rodman . Campbell and Westley Allan Dodd. The gallows used for the execution . were dismantled in 2003, when death row inmates were no longer given the . option of choosing hanging over lethal injection. Today hanging is only permitted as a method of execution in Washington and New Hampshire. | Gallows used to execute prohibition gangster Charlie Birger .
He was sentenced to death for ordering the murder of a town mayor .
The gallows were lost in 1973 after being used for a Fourth of July event .
Preservationists had been trying to find them for decades . |
9,923 | 1c28eccb9e5d49a28ad4079652e6443e8f0ee048 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax figure of Michael Jackson on Thursday, showing the late entertainer in a pose from the concerts he had planned to hold this month. The new waxwork of Michael Jackson -- only Queen Elizabeth II has been portrayed more times by Madame Tussauds. Sculptors at the wax museum started working on the figure four months ago. They had intended to display it this month, to coincide with the start of Jackson's "This is It" comeback tour in London. The new figure is modeled on a Jackson pose from the concert poster, the museum said. It shows him "arms outstretched, pelvis thrusting and tip-toed, with his trademark trilby angled forward," the museum said. It is the 13th Jackson waxwork by Madame Tussauds, the museum said. Only Britain's Queen Elizabeth II -- who has been on the throne for almost 60 years -- has been portrayed more often. "It is extremely unusual for a personality to have been portrayed so many times," said Madame Tussauds spokeswoman Liz Edwards. "But Michael Jackson was totally unique and his iconic status made him one of the most popular stars here." The London museum has two other Jackson waxworks -- one in a pose from "Thriller" and another from his "Dangerous" album. The other 10 Jackson waxworks are in other Madame Tussauds museums around the world. The museum said it decided to proceed with the figure after Jackson's death last month "as a tribute to one of the greatest musicians of all time and to celebrate his amazing 40-year career." | Waxwork is the 13th of Jackson unveiled by the London tourist attraction .
Model had been commissioned before singer's death to coincide with London concerts .
Only Queen Elizabeth II has been portrayed more often by the museum . |
54,111 | 9955249877c9a92fc58ee3e5b71ca8925985560c | By . Simon Cable . They are two of our most celebrated actors, notably for their Shakespearean roles. But it seems that Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh haven’t always seen eye-to-eye over the Bard. The 79-year-old actress has teased Sir Kenneth, 53, for refusing to take her advice when she was directing a stage version of Much Ado About Nothing in which he appeared. Kenneth Branagh receives his Shakespeare Guild Gielgud Award from Dame Judy Dench for introducing Shakespeare to a new generation . She also claims that the actor and director stole her ideas for a film version of the play, which he directed five years later and which became a huge box office hit. Dame Judi made her debut as a director in 1988 while working for Branagh’s Renaissance Theatre Company, which was touring Britain. She directed a version of Much Ado About Nothing, which was set in the Napoleonic era and starred Sir Kenneth and Samantha Bond as the lead characters Benedick and Beatrice. However, she recalled: ‘They went to Brighton and I went down to see the show to give them notes if they needed any, which they did, and Ken Branagh left the theatre because he knew I was coming with the notes.’ She added: ‘Ken Branagh, he stole all my ideas for the film.’ The 79-year-old actress has teased Sir Kenneth, 53, for refusing to take her advice in the direction of The Bard's play . The actress, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in 1998 film Shakespeare In Love, also revealed that she didn’t enjoy the experience of being a director. Speaking at a fundraising event in London for the Acting For Others charity, Dame Judi recalled her time working for the Renaissance Theatre Company, saying: ‘It was a bit lonely. It’s hideous as the actors gang up against you.’ Sir Kenneth’s film version of Much Ado About Nothing was released in 1993 and starred the actor as Benedick with his then wife Emma Thompson as Beatrice alongside Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Kate Beckinsale. It went on to earn more than £20million in worldwide box office sales, making it one of the most financially successful Shakespeare films ever released. Sir Kenneth joined the Royal Shakespeare Company at 23 and in 1987 founded The Renaissance Theatre Company. He first found fame in the TV mini-series Fortunes Of War in 1987 before going on to star in Henry V and Frankenstein, which he also directed. He has been nominated for five Oscars and won three Baftas. He was knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2012. Dame Judi trained as a set designer before making her professional acting debut in 1957 in Hamlet at the Old Vic. She made numerous appearances on stage before taking over the role of M in the James Bond films in 1995. | Dame Judi claims that Branagh stole her ideas for film version of a play .
He .
directed Much Ado About Nothing five years later, which became a huge box office hit .
Dame Judi also claims she does not like the experience of directing . |
53,448 | 979843272f2d6ac212a1144312af68de9c54cf7c | Spain and Germany will have different objectives when they play a friendly in Vigo on Tuesday in the first meeting between the European heavyweights since Spain's 1-0 win in the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup. Vicente del Bosque's new-look side will want to show they have put their failed title defence at the 2014 World Cup firmly behind them and some fresh faces coming through will be keen to impress. Germany, meanwhile, are looking to finish off a stellar year in style after they claimed Spain's global crown with July's 1-0 win against Argentina in the World Cup final, their fourth triumph at soccer's international showpiece. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifts the 2014 World Cup after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final . Spain's tournament ended prematurely last summer after some disappointing results in the group stages . Spain are now introducing the next generation following the retirement of some of their experienced players . Del Bosque is in the process of integrating a new generation following the retirement from internationals of stalwarts like Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa as the European champions prepare for a tilt at a third straight continental title in France in two years' time. The hopes of La Roja now rest with players including midfielders Koke and Isco and forward Paco Alcacer, and there is a particular buzz around Isco after he scored a brilliant goal in Saturday's 3-0 win at home to Belarus in Euro 2016 qualification Group C. The squad still has plenty of hardened campaigners who have won every major title in the game and one of the most experienced, Sergio Ramos, said after the Belarus match the future was bright. "The team is gelling more and more as time goes by," Ramos told reporters. World Cup final goal hero Mario Gotze kisses the trophy after Germany's 1-0 victory over Argentina in July . Carles Puyol's Spain went on to lift the trophy efter ending German hopes in the 2010 edition of the tournament . "There will be better performances and worse performances but the new generation is pushing hard," added the Real Madrid centre back. "They are lads with little experience but a lot of desire and ambition. We can be positive about this national team." Germany coach Joachim Loew has insisted he and his players are not looking to avenge defeats to Spain in the final of Euro 2008 and in the last four at the 2010 World Cup. "We want to end the year by showing once again what we are capable of and if possible win the match," Loew said on Saturday. "But it is certainly not about revenge for previous games we lost in 2008 or 2010," he added. "That is not an issue for either team. We are missing a few players and the Spanish too." The Spain captain celebrates his header against the Germans which sent his side through to the final in 2010 . Germany will be looking to avenge their loss when the two teams meet for the first time since Spain's victory . | Spain meet Germany in an international friendly in Vigo on Tuesday night .
It will be the first time the 2010 world champions have played the 2014 World Cup holders since their semi-final victory four years ago .
Germany lost 1-0 thanks to a Carles Puyol goal but will be out for revenge . |
41,724 | 75a81b08b9b1edd58e62a2123e139048d0af5f2d | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 05:19 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:52 EST, 6 September 2012 . Prince Harry today attempted to put the Las Vegas scandal behind him as he went on the charm offensive - joking with athletes and spectators during his first visit to the Paralympics since the Games started. The young Royal's appearance comes hot on the heels of his first public outing in two weeks at the WellChild Awards in London after naked photos emerged from his holiday in 'Sin City'. Sources said the prince was concerned . about appearing in public after the media onslaught of the past few . weeks but appeared back on top form . today as he laughed with athletes from Great Britain and around . the world while watching Paralympic swimming. Scroll down to watch video . Smile: Prince Harry happily posed for photos with athletes from Great Britain during his first visit to the Paralympic Games . Rapt audience: Prince Harry seems to be a hit with female members of Paralympic GB . Photogenic: Two athletes inspect their photos with the Prince while Harry poses for other members of Paralympic GB . Going for gold: Prince Harry poses for a photo with British Paralympic athlete Jessica-Jane Applegate who won gold in the women's 200m freestyle . He sat next to female members of Paralympic GB at the Aquatics Centre to watch Paralympics poster girl . Ellie Simmonds qualify for the women's S6 50m freestyle final. The swimmer will be going for a hat-trick of London 2012 golds when she competes in the final later. But it appeared that the athletes were more interested in posing for photos with the prince than watching what was going on in the pool. Earlier in the day, the Prince cheered on the GB women's goalball team as they smashed their way to a 5-0 win against Denmark - securing themselves a place in the quarter-finals. Attentive: Harry talks to an Australian athlete as he sat beside Team GB to watch the morning session of the swimming competition . Prince Charming: Harry beams after being given a . mascot by an Australian Paralympic athlete, left,and the young Royal . cheerily greeting a British Paralympic athlete, right . Entertaining: Prince Harry is the centre of attention during the Paralympic swimming competition today . The game for visually impaired . athletes is played in complete silence so the players can hear the . tinkling of the bells inside the ball. Prince . Harry was obviously intrigued by the relatively new sport that was only . introduced to the Paralympic Games in Arnhem in 1980. He spent some time ahead of the start of the match examining and listening to the ball the players use. As . the game unfolded Harry, today dressed in a white, red and blue Great . Britain tracksuit top with jeans, applauded and smiled as each of the . goals was scored. On the ball: Prince Harry makes his first appearance at the Paralympic Games to watch the GB women's goalball team . Keeping an ear out: Prince Harry listens to a goalball that has tiny bells inside so visually impaired players can hear it move . The rest of the crowd took every . opportunity to cheer Paralympics GB on as loud as they could, with every . goal punctuated by huge cheers and rapturous applause. The . team were helped to victory by Anna Sharkey's hat-trick of goals, with . spectators chanting 'Sharkey, Sharkey' as she was substituted around a . minute from the end. When the match ended, Harry rose to give Britain's women a standing ovation. The team will have to wait for the remaining matches in Group C and D today before finding out who they will face in tomorrow’s last eight matches. On form: Prince Harry appeared to be in good humour as he chatted to fellow spectators at the goalball match . Victorious: Prince Harry watched the GB women's goalball team storm to a 5-0 win against Denmark . While at the Aquatics Centre, the prince also met Paralympic athlete and British military hero Derek Derenalagi. Derenalagi lost both legs and was pronounced dead after his vehicle hit an improvised device in Afghanistan in 2007. But medics then found a pulse, and Derenalagi made a remarkable recovery. He competed in the discus event at London 2012, finishing 11th. The pair laughed and joked as Harry praised his journey to the 2012 Paralympic Games. Derenalagi said: 'He (Harry) asked me about my performance last Friday and I told him that I was very proud to have competed for ParalympicsGB but a little disappointed in my performance. 'He said that he thought it was a remarkable achievement to have gone from the frontline to representing GB again at the Games, and that I have a lot to offer ParalympicsGB.' Prince Harry's Paralympic outing demonstrates the Royal is keen to put his holiday scandal behind him. The Royal Family was left reeling . last month after photographs of the prince frolicking with an unnamed . blonde in his Las Vegas hotel during a sordid game of 'strip billiards' were published on the Internet and in one British newspaper. One photograph shows Harry holding his . genitals as he cavorts with the girl while another shows the third in . line to the throne's bare bottom. Sharing a joke: Prince Harry at the Aquatic Centre with former soldier and Paralympic athlete Derek Derenalagi. Both Harry and Derek are wearing the Adidas Front Line to Start Line t-shirt, which are being sold to raise money to help injured servicemen and women such as Derek to get back into competitive sport . St James's Palace have appealed to British newspapers not to run the pictures, arguing that Harry has a reasonable expectation of privacy since he was on a private holiday. Only The Sun chose to run them arguing that the photographs - which were taken by fellow revellers with the knowledge of his police protection officers and then sold to a US celebrity gossip website - were an issue of press freedom and in the public interest. Their decision has prompted 3,600 complaints to the Press Complaints Commission but the palace has not made a decision over whether to take legal action yet. | Prince Harry makes first appearance at Paralympic Games to watch GB's women's goalball team storm to victory against Denmark .
His visit comes less than 24 hours after his first public outing in two weeks at the WellChild Awards in London last night .
The Prince has kept a low profile after he was photographed naked with a girl following a game of strip billiards in Las Vegas . |
111,526 | 1bd0977d61829dd286c877eac7c48f0b4572d4b7 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 06:35 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:54 EST, 11 November 2013 . These pictures show an enchanting 'hobbit house', complete with stained glass windows, dovecotes and turrets, built in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside. The imaginative property was built entirely by hand by artist and farmer Colin Stokes, 68, who today said he originally planned to build a rectangular hay store barn - but 'got a bit carried away'. Mr Stokes first bought the land in the 1980s with compensation money he received following an accident. Magical: Colin Stokes, 68, spent 11 years building this magical two-storey Hobbit House in Chedglow, Wiltshire . Hand-built: The farmer and artist said he started constructing the building - which features several turrets and dovecotes - from stones he found on his land . Tranquil: Mr Stokes made his barn - initially made for storing hay and grain - using dry stone walling techniques and then secured the walls with concrete on the interior . He lived in a cottage 400 yards away and farmed sheep on the land in Chedglow, Wiltshire and decided he needed a place to store hay and other supplies. Mr Stokes began building a rectangular barn by using traditional dry-stone walling techniques before securing the walls with concrete. But rather than stopping at four walls, the building - which took him 11 years to complete - began to grow until it eventually became the unusual build it is today. Mr Stokes, who now farms sheep, poultry and angora rabbits near to Moffat, Scotland, said: 'I bought some land, around 10 acres, in the 1980s when I got some money following an accident. 'There was a lot of stone lying around in the fields. I collected it up and used it to build the barn. 'I just did it bit by bit. I started small - laying all the stones up and pouring concrete down the back to secure it and it just continued to grow. 'I think I just got a bit carried away really. 'Rather than a modest barn, I started building turrets and dovecots - which were inhabited by lots of birds, including one owl that lived there the whole time I owned the land. Architecture: The build features several arches, left, plus tens of hand made windows and turrets, right, all constructed by the artist - who farmed sheep on the land . 'Organic': Mr Stokes said he did not draw any plans for the sprawling barn, which he based on a selection of buildings he had liked throughout his life . Enchanting: Through one of the entrances to the barn, left, is a spiral staircase which leads to the top of one of the dovecotes. There is also some detailed stained glass, right, that depicts two autumnal scenes including a badger on the left and a bird flying above the building on the right . 'I also had a room up the top where I would sleep during lambing season. 'I . didn't draw any plans before hand - it just grew organically. I took . inspiration from buildings that I had seen during my life that . looked like they were part of their surroundings. I like buildings to . look like they belong.' The . barn is split into several different rooms with varying levels. One . section - called 'The Hermitage' by Mr Stokes - has several stained . glass windows, all hand-made by Mr Stokes. 'The windows represent spring, summer, autumn and winter as well as earth, air, fire and water, and are just another nod to the natural world,' Mr Stokes said. However, having spent over a decade on his magical building, Mr Stokes - who said he doesn't know how the build first became known as the Hobbit House - sold up when a quarry opened nearby. Mr Stokes said: 'I don't like it when people call it the Hobbit House. I never made it to look like that. I just call it my barn. There are also apparently rumours that I had a dispute with the planning office - which is utter nonsense. I moved on because of a quarry. 'They found Forest Marble - which is in high demand - near to my land. I knew there would be lots of lorries trundling in and out constantly so I decided to give it all up. 'When I first sold up, I had dreams about it every night. A woman spends nine months carrying a child, but I spent 11 years on the barn. I felt lost without it. 'Although it was a really difficult decision, know I made the right choice. I've moved on and have done other things. Mr Stokes added that he had only been back to the building once since he left in 2000. Interior: The barn includes a place for Mr Stokes to sleep during lambing season, pictured left, and several examples of the artist's stained glass windows, right . Artistic: This picture shows another window made by Mr Stokes. With its flowers and muted tones, it is suppose to represent the spring months of the year . Unique: Mr Stokes, who calls this yellow-walled section of the build 'The Hermitage', also made several art pieces for the barn, pictured . The 'Hobbit House' has now become a frequent stop for photographers and explorers looking to capture some of the building's magic.Manchester photographer Dan Circa, 28, took this set of images after he decided to track down the quirky construction.He said: 'Normally buildings like this are built for novelty, but once upon a time this was actually someone’s home.''It felt like I was in a movie like Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, and I half expected a tiny person to ask me what I was doing in there. It has such a magical feel about it.” 'This little hobbit house was amazingly hand built by Colin many years ago his treasured animals.''He built it all on his own, stone by stone and the stained glass windows were all hand painted. 'There was not much inside the building, just an old table and benches made from logs, but it had an enchanting feel to it.'I really enjoy documenting old buildings, and being able to grab a part of history while it’s still there.' Relocation: Mr Stokes sold the land the property was built on the 2000 when a quarry was built nearby. He now lives and farms in Scotland . | Farmer and stained glass artist Colin Stokes, 68, bought 10 acres of land near Chedglow, Wiltshire in the 1980s .
Collected stones left on land before starting work on a hay store using dry stone walling techniques .
Mr Stokes then spent 11 years creating magical two-storey property and said today, 'I just got a bit carried away.'
Includes dovecots, several turrets and a selection of hand-made stained glass windows created by the artist .
Mr Stoke, who now farms in Scotland, sold land where the property is built in 2000 when a quarry was built nearby . |
182,036 | 77b2e569a0b6c63b8be824268e303923aba7ab80 | By . Talal Musa . PUBLISHED: . 12:23 EST, 29 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:33 EST, 5 November 2012 . They are some of the most critically-acclaimed movies of recent times, but now The Lord of the Rings is fast approaching gaming consoles and PCs. But what makes this latest LEGO outing stand out is its take on the beloved trilogy - staying faithful to the source material, but adding a touch of LEGO humour fans of the games know and love. Authentic: The game stays true to the much-loved trilogy but adds LEGO humour . To celebrate the game, Warner Bros Interactive have given the MailOnline an exclusive video - showcasing some of the most memorable moments from the films reimagined in an unmistakable LEGO way. LEGO The Lord of the Rings will be coming to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, the Wii and PC. Follow Talal on Twitter: @TalalMusa and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games. | Stays true to the series but adds LEGO humour .
Stunning graphics cleverly blend organic environments with scatterings of LEGO . |
281,841 | f9180fd14888416a5f62d0d0c62925ad902e5161 | (CNN) -- Just hours after fatally shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman told police investigators the shooting followed a life-and-death struggle in which the teen told him, "You're going to die tonight." Read the written statement from Zimmerman to police about what happened (PDF) The audio of the February 26 interviews, made public late Wednesday, is part of discovery items released by Zimmerman's defense team. The recordings represent the first time Zimmerman is heard giving his account in his own words. Also released were audio and video showing the techniques used by the police department in the investigation: interviews conducted in the days after the shooting, a video of a voice stress test administered to Zimmerman by police and his videotaped re-enactment of the incident for authorities. Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in Martin's February 26 shooting death. Zimmerman has said he shot Martin in self-defense, but Martin's family and civil rights activists across the country said Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, racially profiled Martin and ignored a 911 dispatcher's advice not to follow him. In an interview just after the shooting, Zimmerman told police that the struggle began when Martin "jumped out from the bushes" and punched him in the face, knocking him down. "I started screaming for help. I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe," he said. "He grabbed my head and started hitting it into the sidewalk," he said. "When he started doing that, I slid into the grass to try to get out from under him. ... I'm still yelling for help." Sanford police chief fired in wake of Trayvon Martin case . Martin, he said, put his hand over Zimmerman's mouth and nose and told him, "You're going to die tonight." "When I slid, my jacket and my shirt came up. ... I felt his hand go down my side, and I thought he was going for my firearm, so I grabbed it immediately, and as he banged my head again, I just pulled out my firearm and shot him." When he did, he said, Martin, who had been on top of him, fell away and said, "All right. You got it. You got it." In another interview, he noted Martin might have said, "You got me." More evidence to be released in Trayvon Martin case, judge rules . Zimmerman said in the audio interviews that he was driving to the grocery store that evening when he saw Martin walking in his neighborhood. He said he pulled over and called a police nonemergency number "to report a suspicious person." He noted that there had been some burglaries in the area, prompting him to start a neighborhood watch program. He said he had never seen Martin before and thought it odd that although it was raining, "he was just walking casually, not like he was trying to get out of the rain." In another police interview on February 29, three days after the shooting, Zimmerman told Sanford, Florida, homicide investigator Chris Serino he also felt the youth was suspicious because he stopped in front of a home Zimmerman had previously called about, a home that was broken into after his reporting another suspicious person. "Had this person been white, would you have felt the same way?" Serino asked. "Yes," Zimmerman replied. Prosecutors: Jail phone transcripts show Zimmerman, wife talking in code . As he spoke to the dispatcher, he told police Martin circled his vehicle, but he could not hear whether Martin said anything because his windows were up and he was on the phone. Afterward, he said, he "lost visual of (Martin)." At the same time, he said the dispatcher asked him his location. He said he wasn't sure of the name of the street he was on and got out of the vehicle to look for a street sign or an address on a home. The dispatcher asked him if he was following Martin, he said, and he replied that he was "trying to find out where he went." The dispatcher told him, "We don't need you to do that," noting an officer was en route, he said. Zimmerman said he was heading back to the vehicle when Martin jumped out, asking him, "What the f***'s your problem?" He said he told Martin, "I don't have a problem," but the youth replied, "Now you have a problem," and attacked him. He said he fell backward after being punched in the nose, and "he was whaling on my head." Zimmerman told police he yelled for help repeatedly and heard one man say he was going to call 911. "I screamed 'Help me' probably 50 times, as loud as I could," he said. Timeline of events in Trayvon Martin case . In a written statement Zimmerman gave to police, also released late Wednesday, Zimmerman said Martin told him to "shut the f*** up" during the struggle. "Each time I attempted to sit up, the suspect slammed my head into the sidewalk," he wrote. "My head felt like it was going to explode." He wrote he felt Martin "reach for my now-exposed firearm" as the teen threatened his life and cursed at him. A collection of public documents in Trayvon Martin shooting . During the videotaped voice stress test, he seemed to suggest that he wasn't sure he had hit Martin when he fired his gun, saying that he "thought that he heard the shot and he was giving up" and that he pushed Martin off of him. "Either way, I ended up on top of him, straddling him," he said, but he claimed he "felt like (Martin) was hitting me with something in his hands" so he grabbed the youth's hands to restrain him. Martin was saying something like "ah, ah," and cursing, Zimmerman said, and he told him, "Stop. Don't move." Before the voice stress test begins, Zimmerman discusses health insurance with a police officer and mentions he visited the doctor and the psychologist that day. "I think the psychologist is when it hit me the hardest," he said. However, in a February 29 interview, Serino expresses some doubt about Zimmerman's account, noting that many questions remain about the incident. "The court of public opinion is going to beat up on you a lot," Serino said. "A lot of people don't think that your injuries are consistent with getting into a life-threatening type thing." Martin, Serino said, "has no criminal record whatsoever. Good kid. Mild-mannered kid." In his possession, Serino said, "we found a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles and about $40 in cash. Not a goon." He tells Zimmerman he has received an anonymous phone call "from somebody who gave a different version of events ... more along the lines that you tried to detain him," and recounting an argument prior to the shooting. "You got any problems with black people?" Serino asked Zimmerman, who replied, "No, sir." Serino told Zimmerman authorities can't figure out what would have made Martin "snap." Zimmerman said he didn't know what might have enraged the teen. And the investigator expresses doubt that Zimmerman, who had lived in the neighborhood for three years and described himself as head of the neighborhood watch, did not know the names of the three streets in the subdivision. "To be honest with you, I have a bad memory anyway," Zimmerman said, adding that he has attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and takes medication for it. CNN's Vivian Kuo and Martin Savidge contributed to this report. | George Zimmerman tells police he was attacked by Trayvon Martin .
He says Martin "jumped out from the bushes" and punched him .
The audio and video interviews shed light on Zimmerman's account of the shooting . |
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