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146,605 | 4998fee7eb037ad6940f4a20ed2c3c91b3209a99 | (CNN Student News) -- April 28, 2010 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Washington, D.C. • Manteca, California • San Antonio, Texas . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: How long can you sit on a plane without it taking off? The government has something to say about that subject. The story's coming up in just a few minutes. I'm Carl Azuz. CNN Student News starts right now! First Up: Bank Investigation . AZUZ: First up, a hearing gets heated on Capitol Hill over one company's role in the financial crisis. Goldman Sachs is, essentially, a bank. And it's been one of the most successful companies on Wall Street for decades. Just like a lot of banks, it took a major hit from the recession and needed help from the government -- a bailout -- in order for it to stay in business. Goldman's been paying that money back. Now, some lawmakers are questioning Goldman about whether it had a role in the recession. During a Senate hearing yesterday, some of those questions got pretty tough. One senator accused Goldman of serving itself instead of its clients. Company executives insist that they did nothing wrong. That is just part of the controversy surrounding Goldman Sachs right now. Christine Romans has more for us on who and what are involved. Christine? (BEGIN VIDEO) CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Carl, this case is about the big housing crash, big money and, of course, big politics. The government agency called the Securities and Exchange Commission has charged one of the most powerful banks on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs, with fraud. The case is complicated, so before we go any further, let's look at the main characters of this story. First, the SEC, or the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is a government agency in charge of regulating Wall Street and protecting investors. Then, there's that investment bank, Goldman Sachs, one of the most profitable and revered players on Wall Street. Goldman Sachs earns money by making its own investments and by helping clients, usually other companies or pension funds or even governments, putting together their own deals. And a third character in this story, billionaire investor John Paulson. So what happened here? The SEC says that Goldman Sachs misled its clients by selling them an investment product comprised of very bad mortgages. It allegedly didn't tell the clients that the product was put together by John Paulson, the billionaire, who hand-picked the mortgages and specifically wanted the product to go south. At the end, investors lost $1 billion and Paulson made $1 billion. Well, who cares? Well, Goldman Sachs is accused of misleading those clients, and that is something that the SEC says is a problem. And Goldman Sachs denies those charges, by the way. The company said in a statement, "The SEC's charges are completely unfounded in law and fact and we will vigorously contest them and defend the firm and its reputation." John Paulson also says that his role in the deal was "appropriate and conducted in good faith." To make the story even more interesting and more complicated, the SEC is now in a little bit of hot water, too. Some Republicans have implied that the agency may have timed these charges against Goldman Sachs to help pass the financial reform legislation, a big issue on Capitol Hill these days, which all Republicans currently oppose. The Securities and Exchange Commission defends its impartiality. But investigation of the investigation is now underway. On Tuesday, executives from Goldman Sachs were on Capitol Hill to answer questions from lawmakers separately. Stay tuned for more news on this case. Carl? (END VIDEO) Web Promo . AZUZ: Thank you, Christine. In that report, you heard Ms. Romans mention "financial reform legislation." This is something we've talked about before. Congress is looking at ways to make some changes on Wall Street to try to avoid another financial crisis. The Senate is debating how to move forward on that bill. In the meantime, if you want to learn a little bit more about it, head to the Spotlight section on our home page. You will find an FAQ about the financial reform bill, how it might work, what parts of it Democrats and Republicans agree on. It's all right there in the Spotlight section at CNNStudentNews.com. Word to the Wise . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise... tarmac (noun) a road, especially an airport runway, that's paved with tar . source: www.dictionary.com . Tarmac Delay Rule . AZUZ: A new rule about how long planes can sit on the tarmac with passengers on board is scheduled to go into effect tomorrow. How long is too long? According to the U.S. government, anything over three hours. Airlines that hold planes longer than that could face a fine of up to $27,000 per passenger. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says passengers who are on delayed flights that are stuck on the tarmac "have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely." A few years ago, there were several reports of planes waiting for takeoff for more than 10 hours. That's part of what led to this new rule. Airlines have said they'll do their best to meet the rule. The head of the Air Travelers Association saying it could lead to more inconvenience for customers. He argues airlines are more likely to cancel flights to avoid fines, and he says the rule puts a time deadline on safety-related activities. U.S. Auto Makers . AZUZ: Switching gears from planes to cars. The recession hit U.S. car companies pretty hard, but things seem to be getting a little bit better. First, Ford. So far this year, the company has made over $2 billion. To compare, by this time last year, Ford had lost almost a billion and a half. The only part of the world where Ford made a profit last year was in South America. Now, it's making money in every region around the globe. But the company says keeping this pace might be hard, because the cost of the materials that Ford uses to make its vehicles is going up. Over at General Motors, plans are underway to upgrade five of the company's auto plants. The goal would be for these locations to build what GM calls a "new generation" of fuel-efficient engines. And that could lead to new jobs; about 1,600 of them, according to GM. General Motors has cut about 34,000 jobs from its work force since the end of 2008. Shoutout . MATT CHERRY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Mr. Levang's global studies class at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley, Minnesota! "Varsity" is a shortened version of what word? You know how to play it! Is it: A) Universal, B) Intravarsity, C) Verisimilitude or D) University? Three seconds on the clock -- GO! Varsity comes from university. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! GPAs & Sports . AZUZ: Some of the varsity athletes at East Union High in Manteca, California might have known that. Just like at most schools, if you want to stay on the team, you have to make the grade. But East Union has a unique and very public way of making sure students meet standards. Tim Daly of affiliate KXTV breaks down the situation. (BEGIN VIDEO) TIM DALY, KXTV REPORTER: It's the first thing you see on the school's website: the grade point averages of East Union's athletic teams. At the top is volleyball at 3.33; at the bottom, men's soccer at 2.42. All of them are expected to work in class as hard as they do on the field or court. JACKIE KETNER, EAST UNION SENIOR: It's a cut-and-dry policy: you don't have the grades, you don't play. If sports are really important to you, you're going to have your grades up. Really, to do anything at East Union you have to have your grades up, so there is an incentive to keep your grades up, which I think is good. DALY: It's not just the website. Posters all around East Union show athletes with an academic theme. Tyler Bylow, on the left, says the school's approach has athletes pushing other athletes. TYLER BYLOW, EAST UNION SENIOR: If you have a teammate in class, and you see him, you'll ask him, "What did you get on that test? Did you turn your homework in?" Stuff like that. You remind him, "You need to get that stuff turned in, because we need you on the team." DALY: East Union began putting team GPAs on the school's website last year. Now, very few teams lose players who let their GPAs drop below 2.0. JOHN ALBA, EAST UNION PRINCIPAL: The freshmen see seniors, and the seniors tell them you don't play here unless your grades are up, and so it becomes a culture. ERIC SIMONI, EAST UNION ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: There's a stigma on athletes in today's society that hey, it's okay to slide by and not take care of business in the classroom. I don't operate that way, and I think on this campus kids understand the fact that they're not going to operate that way either. DALY: But it's not just the students being pressured to keep their grades up. Their coaches are being evaluated, as well, on how many of their players remain eligible. Stay eligible, they might just end up on a poster. (END VIDEO) Before We Go . AZUZ: All right. Before we go, you might've heard of the domino effect. One Texas school is putting it in action. You may think we're showing this video just because it's a huge domino display. And in part, you're right: It is; 27,000 dominoes were involved. But the real story about this is what those dominoes represent. Dollars; one dollar for each domino. Over the past month, students at the school raised money to help out a school in Haiti that they'd partnered with a couple years back. So, you follow the effect: The students raise money, the money goes to Haiti, and helps rebuild a school that was damaged in January's earthquake. Goodbye . AZUZ: And all the dominoes fall into place. Plus, this story was a great lesson that small efforts can add up to make a big difference. We hope the rest of your day is fantastic! For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz. | Learn about the controversy surrounding a well-known Wall Street firm .
Hear arguments for and against a new rule involving airline delays .
Discover how one high school holds athletes to academic standards .
Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories . |
172,388 | 6b1895b2985acf40512e1550e56ecb501074e560 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:02 EST, 29 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:40 EST, 30 October 2012 . Disqualified: Steven Tull pictured outside Worthing Magistrates' Court . A motorcyclist who was recorded doing the highest speed in the country when he was caught travelling at 152mph on a Sussex road, was today disqualified from driving. At the time he was caught, in October last year, it was the fastest recorded speed caught on traffic cameras to date. Engineer Steven Tull, 37, of Liphook, Hampshire, was sentenced at Worthing Magistrates' Court for dangerous driving, speeding and driving without a valid test certificate. Defence lawyer Marie Lewiecki told the court that Tull lives with his wife in Hampshire but works in Oxfordshire and would struggle with his commute if he lost his licence. Judge Roderick Hine sentenced Tull to a 12-month driving disqualification - the minimum he could impose. Tull was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £620 prosecution costs. Judge Hine said: 'I know you find it hard to accept your driving was dangerous. 'The reason you were convicted of dangerous driving is what could have happened. 'You could have been involved in a fatal accident, it was an unbelievable speed. 'You could have lost control of the vehicle putting other people at risk.' Tull was caught at 1.49pm on October 16 last year travelling at 152mph on his Yamaha R1 motorbike on the A27 at Binstead in West Sussex. Prosecuting Andrew Perry told the court Tull recorded the highest speed on any camera in England in 2011. He said: 'He was driving in the presence of other traffic the behaviour of which he is unable to predict. 'He wouldn't be able to see further than a white van which he overtakes. 'The potential for an accident is very apparent even without taking into account stopping distances. 'He is ascending a hill and there is a blind crest on the top of the hill and a junction which again he cannot see. 'There is potential for conflict with . other motorists, if he comes into contact with other vehicles at that . speed it's obvious he will be in an accident and possibly a fatal one.' He added that Tull was wearing dark colours and riding a dark bike making him harder to spot. Camera technician Christopher Snell was operating the camera which caught Tull. He was on the opposite side of the dual carriageway when he saw the motorbike. First shot: Tull was recorded traveling at 139mph by camera technician Christopher Snell . And then... Tull was then spotted going at 153mph just four seconds later . He said: 'The first thing I was aware of was the sound, I could hear clearly a large motorcycle engine. 'As I looked across I was pointing with the laser and as he went past me I knew instantly without a shadow of a doubt he was travelling at more than double the speed limit. 'It was phenomenal.' Mr Snell first recorded Tull as travelling at 139mph then four seconds later at 152mph. The court heard from Mr Snell that he had seen two fatal accidents and that on the day of the incident the traffic was 'medium to light' and most cars were travelling at the recommended speed limit. Defending, Marie Lewiecki told the court that over 20 years Tull has never had a previous speeding offence. Mr Tull told the court during his evidence that he had had a 'momentary lack of discipline.' He said: 'There was no reason to keep accelerating. It was a mistake, I shouldn't have exceeded the limit.' The court heard that in interview after the speeding offence Tull admitted he had been speeding but that he didn't know how fast he was going. District Judge Hine said: 'He is approaching the bow of a hill. His evidence is that he could only see 250 metres or so. 'He would have had less than four seconds to stop. More significantly there is a van which is plainly blocking his view. He would not have known if there was a vehicle in front of that van going slowly.' He added: 'The fact that nothing happened is nothing short of good fortune. The defendent had no idea what speed he was driving at any stage. I find that incredible. 'I have raised the issue of road kill which is relevant when we are talking about country roads. If you hit an animal not only would you fly in the air and kill yourself but you could hit someone else. 'For all those reasons I find him guilty of dangerous driving.' | Engineer Steven Tull was first caught at 139mph, then just four seconds later, 152mph .
At the time he was caught - in 2011 - it was the fastest recorded speed in England .
Has been sentenced to a 12-month driving ban - the minimum disqualification . |
99,876 | 0cb1b4602f72d46c514363a6a100fa5ebd32ad0b | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has fallen victim to hacking after a sophisticated computer virus was discovered on the USB drive of one of her aides. The Reign virus, which is believed to have been developed by US and British spying agencies, was detected after one of Mrs Merkel's employees plugged her personal drive into a work laptop. The woman, who works in close contact with Mrs Merkel, had loaded a speech she was editing on to the drive, took it home to continue working on it, before returning to the office. Scroll down for video . A woman who works closely with Angela Merkel discovered the virus on her USB drive after plugging it into a government computer in order to work on a speech (file image) As she went to plug the drive back into her work computer she was sent a firewall alert saying a virus had been detected, according to Germany's Bild newspaper. She had used the same drive the day before on work computers without causing an alert. Checks on the Federal Chancellory's 200 other computers showed no more traces of the virus, and officials said it would be impossible to trace whoever put the malware there. It is also not known what, if any, information was taken. Reign allows users to take pictures of a computer screen, take control of the mouse, record passwords and restore deleted files. Staff working for the German government are prohibited from using personal drives on office computers for fear of transferring a virus, and it is not clear whether the staff member will be disciplined over the breach. The speech itself was believed to have been on European Union strategy and was almost certainly not the target of the hack, as it was due to be delivered publicly several days later. While sources at IT security firm F-Secure have previously said the Reign virus was likely created by the UK or US, it is not clear that either country was behind this attack. The virus code could have been downloaded from the internet by a third party before finding its way on to the aide's hard drive. The Reign virus allows users to take control of a computer mouse, take snapshots of the screen, record passwords and restore deleted data. Experts believe UK or U.S. spies are behind the sophisticated code . However, the discovery of the virus will still likely prove embarrassing for the US as it comes after after the country's spies were accused of bugging Mrs Merkel's phone earlier this year. Whistleblower Edward Snowden claimed in October that the American National Security Agency had been listening in on the calls of up to 35 prominent allies, including France and Germany. That lead to claims Angela Merkel's personal mobile phone was tapped, and caused Mrs Merkel to demand answers from the US government. While American authorities never acknowledged whether spying took place, Barack Obama was forced to offer Mrs Merkel an apology. Reign is known as a Trojan, a malicious piece of software which is hidden in other data and downloaded on to a laptop, tablet, or PC computer without the user knowing. According to web security firm Symantec, the virus has been around since at least 2008 and may have taken years to develop. It is highly sophisticated, can have its capabilities tailored to each target, and carefully covers its own tracks. It is extremely difficult to detect, and even once it has been detected, it is difficult to identify what exactly the code is doing. The company says it has been used for spying against governments, businesses and private individuals since 2008, and was updated some time in 2013. | Aide took USB drive home in order to work on German leader's speech .
Returned to work next day and plugged drive in when virus was found .
Virus named Reign allows users to look at screen and record passwords .
Experts say U.S. and UK made it, but were not necessarily behind attack . |
133,136 | 38235afaf8b57b4aa9a024ec7a20d25aaee71bef | By . Emma Innes . NHS Direct in England is to close at the end of March next year, it has been announced. The much-maligned service said in July it was pulling out of contracts to provide the 111 non-emergency number service due to financial problems. NHS Direct initially won 11 of the 46 regional contracts for the 111 service, covering 34 per cent of the country’s population. NHS Direct in England is to close at the end of the financial year, it has been announced . It pulled out of two services and said in July the remaining nine were ‘financially unsustainable’. The 111 service is run by different organisations in each area, including private companies and ambulance trusts, who will now take on NHS Direct’s work. In a statement, NHS Direct said its 111 staff and call centres were due to transfer to five ambulance trusts by the end of November. NHS Direct used to be paid more than £20 per call when it ran the old 0845 number, which will officially cease in March. The payment for the 111 service is around £7 to £9 per call. The statement said: ‘No patient services will be affected by the board’s decision, as we expect each of the services that NHS Direct is commissioned to provide beyond March 2014 to be transferred to other organisations, together with the staff who provide them.’ The organisation said it would launch a formal consultation with staff on Monday but ‘it is hoped that the number of redundancies arising will be kept to a minimum through transfer and redeployment of staff to other organisations’. It said the decision to close had been reached in agreement with the NHS Trust Development Authority and NHS England. The NHS Direct help line was launched by Tony Blair in Liverpool in December 1999 (pictured) Chair of NHS Direct Joanne Shaw said: ‘The closure of NHS Direct marks the end of its 15 years of continuous innovation, during which time it has led the world in remote health assessment, advice and information. ‘It is an enormous privilege to have been part of this journey, and I look back over my 10 years with NHS Direct with gratitude and respect for the staff who have created this exceptional service. ‘I look forward to seeing other organisations take forward a number of the services developed by NHS Direct, and I wish them well as they exploit the ever-growing reach and power of technology, to provide value to patients and the NHS.’ NHS Direct in Wales is unaffected by the announcement. In the West Midlands, the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust will take on NHS Direct’s work, with private firm Harmoni providing the service for the Worcester area and Staffordshire Doctors Urgent Care Ltd. The service said in July it was pulling out of contracts to provide the 111 non-emergency number service due to financial problems . The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust will take on the contract for the North West, while Somerset will be taken care of by the South West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.Plans for London and Buckinghamshire are being finalised and will be announced shortly. NHS England said its latest data showed a ‘significant improvement’ in the 111 service compared with the period just after it launched in April. Some 94.1 per cent of calls are answered within 60 seconds, 92 per cent of callers say they are satisfied with the service and 0.5 per cent of calls are abandoned, it said. Overall, 93 per cent of the population has the NHS 111 service. The four areas not covered - Cambridge and Peterborough, North Essex, Bedfordshire and Luton and Cornwall - will be up and running by February. Dame Barbara Hakin, deputy chief executive at NHS England, said: ‘NHS 111 is now a stable and improving service and we are confident it will continue to get better. ‘It is no secret that we had a tough start but I have been impressed by the way that the staff providing these services across the country have turned the situation around on behalf of the public. ‘Now NHS 111 provides a good service with high levels of public satisfaction. ‘Calls are answered promptly and more people are getting access to the service as we move to full coverage in February 2014. ‘I am confident, and the public should be too, that these new providers of NHS 111 will be able to deliver a smooth transfer and a high quality, reliable 111 service. ‘The public should not feel any detrimental effects. ‘NHS 111 is now going from strength to strength and we are determined to keep that improvement on track.’ | NHS Direct in England will close at the end of the financial year in March .
It had already said it was pulling out of contracts to provide 111 services .
This decision was made due to 'financial problems'
Ambulance trusts will take over the running of 111 services . |
67,143 | be7625d9076ad817aa01335fb1c17c7208de6c1b | (CNN) -- When one of Brazil's newly-elected congressmen rose to give their victory address, his speech was delivered with all the confidence of a political pro. "The 150,000 people who believed in me can rest assured that I will become a great politician," he told Brazil's Globo TV network. But the man elected as a federal deputy in Rio de Janeiro was anything but the stereotypical statesman. It was, in fact, Romario, one of Brazil's most feted and controversial footballing legends who helped his nation win the 1994 World Cup. The former Barcelona striker is now a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and, despite having relatively little political experience, won a seat in the country's lower congress with the sixth-highest number of votes in the city. If that was not unusual enough, Romario's former international teammate Bebeto has also completed the move from pitch to politics in the South American nation's most recent elections, securing 30,000 votes for the governing Democratic Workers' Party (PDT) and a place in Rio's state legislature. The pair are heroes for many Brazilians, with the so-called "Diabolical Duo" having helped to secure the country's fourth world title at the 1994 finals in the U.S. And they are just two of the new wave of politicians who have been elected in Brazil, including the country's newly-appointed President Dilma Rousseff. Both have said they want to improve participation in sport as well as the lot of the poor in their country, and voters seem willing to back the unconventional politicians despite their lack of experience. "Romario and Bebeto made a big number of fans during their career, and for many they are idols. They did well in the soccer fields and won many championships -- so why not give them a chance to become politicians?" said Julio Sobral, a voter from Sao Paulo. "The population are tired of the same old story: professional politicians promise lots during the campaign, then never deliver." But Mariana Menezez, another voter from Sao Paulo, disagrees and describes the situation in Brazil, where voting is compulsory and many unusual candidates are often elected, as "embarrassing for Brazilians that take the elections seriously." "Romario and Bebeto are very popular footballers, so most people don't even care about their proposals -- their popularity is enough," she said. Simon Kuper, football author and sports columnist for British newspaper The Financial Times, believes that the reason such former players are elected without any experience is because voters can relate to them in a way they cannot with career politicians. "Footballers have not historically got into politics because they are not often educated -- Romario is not educated but he is associated with the poor as he came from a poor background himself," Kuper told CNN. "Even before he decided to become a politician he had said he wanted to help the poor and many people identify with that." It is this perceived connection with the poor that perhaps explains the allure of footballers who turn to politics. Many have tried with varying degrees of success. Despite being raised in the slums of Liberia's capital Monrovia, George Weah -- a national hero following a career that saw him play for AC Milan and Chelsea, as well as becoming the first and only African winner of FIFA's World Player of the Year award -- was very nearly elected president of the African nation in 2005. George Brock, a former International editor of British newspaper The Times, thinks the political climate in developing countries like Brazil also contributes to footballers and other candidates from the world of sport being voted into office. "Some political systems have existed unchanged for decades and insist that candidates have years of experience, so it wouldn't happen as easily there," Brock told CNN. "In Brazil the political parties have been shaken up over the last few years by the victories of former president [Luiz Inacio] Lula [da Silva]. They are not as well entrenched so it allows different candidates to get in." But Brock also believes that those sports personalities can compete against more sophisticated and experienced rivals because they gained their popularity outside the political sphere. "Coming from outside the political class works as an advantage. Those that are extremely well-known have an enormous advantage as they don't have to establish themselves. "You have to show some aptitude to get there though -- lots of famous people decide they want to be involved in politics but then they realize that they aren't suited to it." Yet the career move is common among footballers. Romario and Bebeto are following in the footsteps of Pele, arguably football's greatest star, who was Brazil's Minister of Sport. Other footballers who have enjoyed notable political careers include Albert Gudmundsson, the first professional footballer from Iceland, who in the 1980s served as his country's minister of finance and minister of industry. Kaj Leo Johannesen of the Faroe Island's also succeeded in swapping football for political office. The current prime minister of the Danish autonomous region enjoyed a 15-year career as a goalkeeper from 1986 until 2001, representing his country four times. Elsewhere, Gianni Rivera, the former AC Milan and Italy player, is currently a member of the European Parliament while Tottenham Hotspur's Russian forward Roman Pavlyuchenko won a seat in regional council elections representing Vladimir Putin's United Russia party in 2008. Back in Brazil, only time will tell whether the duo of Romario and Bebeto can enjoy the same success in politics as they did on the football pitch. The ever-confident Romario certainly has every belief he will score as many goals in politics as he did for his former football teams. "I'm still learning the trade. I'm not a full politician but I was the best in my profession and was always under pressure. Now it's the same thing, but in a different area. The people can rest assured I will score a lot of goals in Brazil." | Two members of Brazil squad who won the World Cup in 1994 have moved into politics .
Ex-Barcelona striker Romario was voted into the country's congress in October elections .
Former teammate Bebeto was also elected, as a state representative for Rio de Janeiro .
Other footballers have run for office in Liberia, Iceland and France, among others . |
234,872 | bc0b3e28d1d090053966f8f520add3da6980d04d | Casablanca, Morocco (CNN) -- The bombing that ripped through a popular cafe in the Moroccan city of Marrakech apparently was set off at a distance, the state-run news agency said on Friday, citing the nation's interior minister. Maghreb Arabe Presse quoted Taib Cherqaoui as saying that preliminary investigations show that the Thursday assault was conducted by people who remotely detonated the bomb. That development would rule out suspicions of a suicide mission. "We will investigate this act of terrorism and find those responsible ... and their nationality," Cherqaoui told reporters about the attack. "We condemn it as a criminal act." Also, a French police team has been sent to Morocco to assist authorities in their probe, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday. Authorities revised the death toll from 16 to 15 in the strike, which also injured nearly two dozen people. In an address on state-run television Thursday, Cherqaoui and King Mohamed VI said the fatalities included six French nationals, five Moroccans, and four others whose nationalities were not divulged. CNN has learned that two of those slain were Russian. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at Cafe Argana in Marrakech's old city, which is designated by the United Nations cultural arm as a World Heritage Site. Tourists flock to old city in high numbers this time of the year, and it is usually packed with stalls, story-tellers and snake-charmers. World leaders moved quickly to condemn the incident. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "appalled," according to a statement from his office. "He reiterates his firm rejection of the use of indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians and maintains that no political objective justifies or is served by such heinous acts." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States "condemns in the strongest terms (Thursday's) terrorist attack," adding, "Acts of terrorism must not be tolerated wherever and whenever they occur." And French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned what he called a "barbarian terrorist attack, which nothing can justify." Juppe said French authorities will provide assistance to French nationals in Marrakech. A German tourist described a chaotic scene following the blasts. "We were walking around the souks, right around the corner from Cafe Argana," said the tourist, who was about 50 meters from the blast when it occurred. "We heard a gigantic boom, and everyone immediately starting running towards the square to see what happened." The woman, who didn't want her name used, told CNN the top floor and terrace of the cafe were "ripped apart" by the blast, which caused hundreds of people to run from the area. CNN's Mitra Mobasherat and journalist Martin Jay contributed to this report . | NEW: Death toll is revised downward to 15 .
NEW: Bomb is remotely detonated, interior minister said.
NEW: French police are to help Moroccans in the investigation . |
279,534 | f621285ae85b7f0aa117076bfb7c4a1c88e90d78 | The younger generation is becoming more and more social media savy, some even starting to cash in on the 'selfie' craze. Sydney schoolgirl, Indy Clinton has got the attention of a number of Aussie companies, who are willing to pay the 17 year old big bucks to post on her Instagram account, which has gone global. With over 50,000 followers, the teenager sends out 'selfie' pics of her Palm Beach lifestyle, at the beach with friends, family, food and pictures with her dog, of course all looking very glamorous. Indy Clinton (pictured) has over 50,000 followers on her Instagram account which has attracted the attention of Aussie companies . The Sydney schoolgirl, Indy Clinton (pictured with a friend) post 'pics of her lifestyle at Palm Beach, with friends, food and of her dog . The 17 year old can be offered sometimes up to $750 for a post on her Instagram account which has gone global . Ms Clinton (pictured) started posting photos at the age of 15 and before she knew it her followers started to grow and grow . The Daily Telegraph says the Loreto Kirribilli HSC student can get up to $750 per Instagram post and has been asked to attend photo shoots and even become a charity ambassador. Ms Clinton started posting photos at the age of 15 and before she knew it, her followers started to grow and grow. 'I'm the youngest of five and I know lots of people, so it grew quickly,' she told the Daily Telegraph. It's then she started getting offers from clothing companies who wanted her to wear their products and then post that picture online. Indy Clinton (pictured) has got the attention of a number of Aussie companies who want to pay her to post on her Instagram account . The teenager says healthy, positive posts especially at the beach get a lot of hits . Being beautiful also helps the Sydney Schoolgirl with getting more followers which is now more than 50,000 . 'Dad suggest I charge for posts, so I started asking for $50 per post,' she said . 'Dad suggested I charge for posts, so I started asking for $50 per post,' she said. And eventually the teen reaped the benefits of her Instagram success where she started to charge hundreds of dollars for each posts, including pictures of her in Surf Dive N Ski's wetsuits. As for whether her social media success has come as a surprise to the beach loving schoolgirl, yes it has but she puts down her recent status to be the 'quintessential Aussie girl'. Indy Clinton, 17, says she's the quintessential Aussie girl . The 17 year old posts a lot of playful 'selfies' with friends . Indy Clinton (pictured) has grabbed the attention of Aussie companies who want to pay her to post on her Instagram account . Ms Clinton (pictured) started posting photos at the age of 15 and before she knew it her followers started to grow and grow . With over 50,000 followers, the teenager sends out 'selfie' pics and shots of her Palm Beach lifestyle . Her Instagram account where she posts pictures of her lifestyle at Palm Beach has gone global . The 17 year old has started to cash in from her 'selfies' Indy Clinton (pictured) is reaping the benefits of 'selfies' on Instagram . | Schoolgirl, Indy Clinton, 17, is being offered up to $750 per post on her Instagram account .
She has more than 50,000 followers and her profile has gone global .
Ms Clinton posts 'selfie' pictures of her lifestyle at Palm Beach .
She describes herself as the quintessential Aussie girl . |
135,875 | 3bc5c4468b9e362a026f1385cc730880d20c00db | (CNN) -- Yemeni officials on Tuesday downplayed rumors that next month's presidential elections in Yemen would be delayed, the same day U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faulted the Yemeni president for failing to fulfill his commitment to leave the country. Any delay in the elections are unacceptable by all standards, senior officials in Vice President Abdurabu Hadi's office said. The statement comes after Yemen's foreign minister hinted that presidential elections could be delayed due to the rising tension in the country. "I am among those who hope that (the presidential election) will take place in the planned manner," Abubakr al-Qirbi said in an interview on al-Arabiya TV on Tuesday. "But unfortunately, there are a couple of events relating to security, and if they are not solved ... it will be difficult to run the elections on February 21." Hadi's office called Qirbi's comments unnecessary. Yahya al-Arasi, media officer for the vice president, told CNN that elections are essential for Yemen and the vice president has no plans to delay elections under any circumstance. "It's unrealistic and unacceptable to delay the presidential elections," al-Arasi said. He added, "If elections are delayed, Yemen will again start from step one, and the unexpected would take place." CNN contacted Qirbi's office and they assured that his comments come independently and not in favor of any certain political faction in the country. Hadi is expected to win the country's February 21 elections. Qirbi's announcement also raised fears within opposition groups that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is again using tactics to stay in power. Under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered deal, Saleh has agreed to step down as president on February 21 in exchange for immunity from prosecution. "We regret that the president has thus far failed to comply with his own commitments to leave the country and to permit elections to go forward, that could give the people a chance to be heard and be represented," Secretary of State Clinton told reporters. Speaking in the Ivory Coast, she also addressed why what happens in Yemen is significant to regional stability. "We remain focused on the threat posed by al Qaeda in Yemen, and we'll continue to work with our partners there and elsewhere to ensure that al Qaeda does not gain a foothold in the Arabian Peninsula through actions that would undermine the stability of Yemen and the region," she said. Meanwhile, Mohammed Abu Lahoum, president of the opposition Justice and Building party said any call for delaying the elections is unwise. He said that delaying the presidential elections would only deepen the Yemeni crisis. "Delaying the presidential elections is completely against the GCC power transfer and will delay any sort of stability to Yemen," said Abu Lahoum. Analysts are worried that Saleh is seeking to delay the elections to buy him more time in power. "The GCC power transfer signing was delayed six times in 2011, and Saleh benefited the most from the delays. For Saleh, it's never really over," said Ali Abdul Jabbar, director of the Sana'a based Dar Ashraf Reaserch Center. Abdul Jabbar said that Saleh was hoping to control Yemen indirectly after stepping down from power, but the tension between him and Hadi made that impossible. "Saleh will do all that in his power to derail the elections for as long as he can. He has everything to lose," he said. The U.N.-backed power transition plan was signed in November and designed after more than a year of political and economic unrest. The election planned for net month will put an end to Saleh's 33 years in power. | NEW: Clinton says the Yemeni president has "failed to comply with his own commitments"
The foreign minister had hinted at an election delay .
Some accuse President Saleh of delaying power transfer . |
37,046 | 69058a40b0e65c7acaef4eefb0f9593ee195f15f | By . Ken Foxe . PUBLISHED: . 20:14 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:59 EST, 5 January 2013 . Funds: Clare Daly used cash to pay for household charge fight . A blunder by Oireachtas officials who omitted a single word from the guidelines for claiming expenses means that TDs are allowed to claim for travel across the length and breadth of the country. In July, Socialist TDs Joe Higgins, Clare Daly and Joan Collins came under intense pressure to pay back expenses they had used to fund their nationwide campaign against the household charge. The Oireachtas even issued a press release insisting such expenses could only be used for travel within a politician’s constituency, not outside – and that they would have to return the money. However, legal advice from the Attorney General passed on to red-faced Oireachtas officials confirmed that the TDs could in fact claim for travel outside Dublin. And it was all because of a mistake made by the Oireachtas when it prepared guidelines on expenses. Under the expenses regime in place in 2010, it was made specifically clear that travel claims covered only a TD’s constituency. However, when new booklets were prepared following the election of March 2011, the word ‘constituency’ had accidentally been omitted. Internal emails obtained by the Irish Mail on Sunday reveal how the error was only spotted after controversy arose over the Socialist TDs. Deputy Higgins had faced calls to pay back in excess of €1,000 while a number of other TDs including Ms Daly and Ms Collins also admitted they had used their expenses to pay for travel outside of their constituencies. An email from Oireachtas staff member Cliona O’Rourke outlined how the problem had only cropped up when a new travel and accommodation allowance was being introduced for politicians. It said: ‘As all legislation and regulations... had specified travel as constituency travel, the information booklet, issued to members in March 2010, specified that “other travel” was constituency travel. ‘However, subsequent booklets – including those that issued to the new members after the election quoted the regulation directly and referred to “travel expenses which the member is obliged to incur in the performance of his or her duties”. Pressure: TD Joan Collins, left, was told to pay back cash she had claimed while Joe Higgins, right, was furious at press coverage he described as 'malicious' ‘The fact that the regulation excluded the word “constituency” when referring to travel has, in our view, raised a legal issue which may have to be clarified by the Attorney General.’ Ms O’Rourke said the Oireachtas believed that their intention had been clear and that the payment was meant only to cover constituency travel. She said: ‘Notwithstanding that fact, however, the regulation does not specify that position exactly.’ The Houses of the Oireachtas then sought legal advice and were told the regulation did only cover constituency travel. They issued a press release saying so, heaping further pressure on the TDs involved to reimburse the money. Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins was furious and wrote to Minister Brendan Howlin saying he had been the victim of ‘malicious’ coverage in the press. He wrote: ‘It is not fair that certain media interests can use a lack of clarity to launch gratuitous and malicious attacks on [individuals] for their own reasons.’ Separately, however, the Oireachtas had also sought assistance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, who asked the Attorney General Máire Whelan for her advice. The Department said Ms Whelan’s opinion was that the Oireachtas’ position was untenable because the word constituency was ‘not explicitly stated’. The Houses of the Oireachtas said that they had taken the view that non-constituency travel was already covered by the €41,000 ‘leader’s allowance’ that is paid to each Independent TD every year. The travel and accommodation allowance can be claimed by all TDs and ranges from €12,000 for Dublin-based politicians to €37,850 for those furthest away from the Dáil. The allowances are to be cut under changes announced by Minister Howlin in the Budget, with lower rates applying to Senators. | Word 'constituency' omitted from revised guidelines in 2011 .
Attorney General says TD could claim for travel outside Dublin . |
131,352 | 35dbdd72ebee509ba9051ffb1a245552c08bb765 | Hormone replacement therapy raises women's risk of getting brain a tumour by 30 per cent, according to researchers. Women who take medication to relieve the symptoms of the menopause could therefore be putting themselves in danger of cancer and other illnesses. For those who use HRT over a period of time, the risk of developing a tumour is as high as 70 per cent. Danger: Hormone replacement therapy could raise the danger of breast cancer by 30 per cent . Scientists from the Danish Cancer Research Centre found a link between post-menopausal hormone treatment and meningioma, the most common type of brain tumour, according to The Sun. 'Long-term HRT use, particularly of combined oestrogen-progestogen, may increase the risk of meningioma,' researchers from the centre said. HRT raises the risk of the tumour by 30 per cent, while women who use the medication for a decade or more have a two-thirds risk of developing meningioma. While 85 per cent of tumours are benign and do not develop into a cancer, meningioma can cause other damaging symptoms. Tumour sufferers are prone to headaches, hearing loss and even seizures. Cancer risk: Most tumours are benign but some can be deadly if they turn out to be malignant . The new research could explain why women are more likely to get brain tumours than men. It also appears that meningiomas have become more common over the past few years, which could be due to the increasing popularity of HRT. Hormones such as oestrogen are prescribed to middle-aged women to alleviate symptoms of the menopause such as hot flushes and joint pain. However, HRT has previously been linked to an increased risk of serious conditions such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes. Cancer Research UK recommends that women use HRT for as short a time as possible to minimise the possibility of adverse side effects. | Hormone replacement could cause meningioma in menopausal women .
Those using HRT for a decade have a 70% chance of developing a tumour .
Most are benign but 15% are malignant and all have damaging side effects . |
170,868 | 692628f2742680fa6c4fc8505390cc5c1a775c5b | As the refereeing fraternity comes under increasing pressure, Sportsmail reveals the shocking disparity between the wages earned by Premier League officials and those who work more in the Football League. Select Group referees — operating mostly in the Premier League — are believed to earn a basic salary of around £65,000 per year, while they also receive fees in excess of £1,000 per game in the top flight. If they were to officiate 38 games in a season, it would bring their overall pay to more than £100,000. Referees on the National Group — operating in the Football League — are not on contracts and are paid in the region of £380 a match. They sign up to the National Group on the equivalent of a freelance basis. If they were to officiate the 46 games in a Football League season, they would receive £17,480. Top Premier League referees like Phil Dowd (centre) can earn up to £100,000 per year in wages . Referees lower down the football food chain earn far less, with potential earnings of around £17,000 per year . Assistant referees on the National List are paid as little as £185 per match while fourth officials receive £110. So an assistant referee in the Championship would receive only £8,510 for a 46-game season but no retainer in the summer months. In many cases, it will be less because assistant referees are not guaranteed a game in the Football League every week and will also combine fourth-official duties and officiating in non-League games. One assistant estimated that his yearly earnings would be closer to £5,000. There is also no sliding scale between the Championship and League Two and Sportsmail’s calculations demonstrate that there could, in theory, be an £80,000 gap in pay between refereeing regularly in the Premier League and the Championship. Football League officials tend to work on a freelance basis meaning it is harder to get regular work . The Select Group and National Group fall under the jurisdiction of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The organisation declined to comment on the chasm in wages but they take the view that the rates differ between contracted workers and freelance employers as they would in any other industry. It means that most National Group officials have a job and referee as a hobby and one source admitted that there have been occasions when they have seen officials ‘extremely tired’ after working a five-day week and then refereeing. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) refused to comment on the huge wage disparity . The lower pay in the Football League is thought to be one reason why there are so few good referees coming through the system. It is also hard to dislodge the top-flight referees, who are determined to stay where they earn the big money. The Football League say it is an ongoing debate as to whether more officials should be made professional. The wage discrepancy represents a fresh blow to the credibility of the PGMOL after a festive period that saw a litany of errors by Premier League referees. It led Sportsmail columnist Graham Poll to call for the sacking of Mike Riley, the head of the PGMOL. The PGMOL has been under fire from critics following a string of refereeing errors over the festive period . | Sportsmail reveals the huge wage disparity between football referees .
Top Premier League officials can potentially earn up to £100,00 per year .
Football League referees earn a measly £380 per match on equivalent of a freelance basis . |
201,726 | 912a6581728a46043b7ea839420f907195adc9cb | By . David Mccormack . The family of a mentally-ill man shot dead by Texas police are demanding a federal investigation into the death after releasing home security video footage showing their son's final moments. Deputies were called to the Houston home last November after Michael Blair, 26, a paranoid schizophrenic, locked himself in the bathroom and threatened to commit suicide. An altercation followed between two officers and Blair, before he was shot eleven times. Scroll down for video . The family of Michael Blair, a mentally-ill man shot dead by Texas police, are demanding a federal investigation into the death after releasing home security video footage showing their son's final moments . Michael Blair's family have now released disturbing home security video footage of the moments leading up to his him being shot eleven times . The officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation and a grand jury, but Blair’s family have now released disturbing home security video footage of the shocking incident, reports ABC7. The footage shows the two officers trying to coax Blair out of the bathroom, but when they manage to open the door, they see that he has a knife. ‘He’s got a knife! He’s got a knife!’ one cop yells. ‘Stay down! Stay down!’ Blair then shuts the door, but the officers kick it back open. 'I do not want to shoot you,' one deputy tells him. 'I do not want to shoot you.' The officers ordered Blair to drop the knife an estimated 50 times and then one of the officers fired a Taser at him. Deputies were called to the Houston home last November after Michael Blair, 26, a paranoid schizophrenic, locked himself in the bathroom and threatened to commit suicide . 'Keep Tasing, keep Tasing,' one deputy tells his partner. 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' Then suddenly the man stands up and appears to lunge towards the officers. The deputy holding a firearm then shots Blair 11 times in quick succession. In the background Blair's mom can be heard crying: 'You killed him!' Blair's family, who hadn't previously shared the tape with investigators, released the footage on Monday and said that they intended to hand a copy over to the U.S. Attorney's Office. They insist that the officers didn't have to shoot the mentally-ill man and are demanding a federal civil rights investigation. 'All that we're asking is that someone recognize what we recognize. That was brutality,' said Blair's mother, Kimberly Blair Olaniyi. 'These cases are always lied. And truths are not told. And so that tape was held until they would finish their "investigation,"' said Quanell X, a community activist who is helping the family. | Michael Blair, 26, a paranoid schizophrenic, was shot eleven times by officers in Houston, Texas .
His mom had called the cops after he locked himself in the bathroom and threatened to commit suicide .
The officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation and a grand jury .
Blair's family have now released disturbing home security video footage of the shocking incident .
They are demanding a federal civil rights investigation . |
263,435 | e1338d20b56bbb9563b8209411ef2e1f07bcded2 | Luke Shaw has called on Manchester United’s fringe players to step forward and help Louis van Gaal find a way out of an injury crisis which has deepened during the international break. Daley Blind, David de Gea and Michael Carrick have all been injured since leaving for international duty two weeks ago. Blind has damaged knee ligaments, De Gea dislocated a finger and Carrick hurt his groin. Angel di Maria has had scans on his foot after clashing with United winger Nani - who is at Sporting Lisbon on loan for the season - during Argentina’s game against Portugal at Old Trafford. Luke Shaw says Manchester United's fringe players will have to lift the club from its injury crisis . Shaw had an injury scare of his own while impressing at left back for England in the win over Scotland . United boss Louis van Gaal in a buoyant mood as Argentina took on Portugal at Old Trafford on Tuesday . The Argentinian playmaker hopes to be fit to face Arsenal on Saturday, as does Shaw, who came off 66 minutes into England’s win in Scotland as a precaution after feeling the muscle tighten in his left hamstring. ‘We know we’ve picked up a lot of injuries, especially in defence, where it’s always changing each time,’ said Shaw. ‘We’ve obviously picked up another injury with Daley Blind but we’ve got to deal with that and try to get around this week and go firing into the game on Saturday. ‘I think it’s time for people to step up, those who are not getting game time and who are frustrated on the bench can come in for a massive game like Arsenal that everyone will want to play in. Everyone will be working hard and focusing on this weekend and come the game, we’ll be ready to go.’ Daley Blind suffered a knee injury as Holland took on Latvia in their Euro 2016 Group A qualifier . David de Gea hurt a finger during training with the Spain national team during the international break . Shaw impressed at left back, winning his fourth cap in the 3-1 win against the Scots before he was replaced by Kieran Gibbs. ‘I picked up a few knocks during the game and my left hamstring, which I hurt at the start of the season, I could feel a little bit,’ said Shaw. ‘We had a discussion at half time over whether to bring me off then but it was a game I didn’t want to come off in, so I played on and then Roy decided to sub me. We’ll have to see. I’m hoping to be fit.’ The 19-year-old defender will be anxious to play against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and further cement his place in the United side, after his £31million summer transfer from Southampton. The hamstring problem disrupted his start to the campaign, but he has since forced his way into the team after responding well to Van Gaal’s fitness demands. Michael Carrick (right) is another United casualty of the past fortnight after picking up a groin complaint . Argentina's United winger Angel di Maria had scans on his foot after a clash with on-loan Portuguese Nani . ‘The fitness side was something me and him talked about,’ said Shaw. ‘But I feel really good at the moment, really fit. It was all about getting a run of games and that’s something I’ve had. Hopefully I can keep getting a run of games and keep improving. ‘It was a frustrating time picking up that injury but the toughest thing was getting back into the team. Now I’ve had a run of games and I’m feeling really good. Hopefully I can show people why United have bought me.’ United defenders Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Rafael and Jonny Evans have all been out but Chris Smalling will return to boost Van Gaal’s options after serving his suspension for the red card at Manchester City. Shaw is keen to cement his place in the Manchester United starting XI after finding fitness . Chris Smalling (left, celebrating with England and United skipper Wayne Rooney) returns from suspension . ‘We can’t turn a corner without picking up an injury,’ said Smalling. ‘I’ve been out with injuries, too, and a lot of the defenders have. It’s not easy and it’s hard to pick up momentum. Hopefully, we’ll have a strong team for Saturday.’ It doesn’t help their defensive headaches, but Nani, who has more than four years left on his Old Trafford contract, claims his United career may not be over despite his loan move. ‘It’s a possibility that I might come back to Manchester United,’ said the Portuguese winger after completing 90 minutes in his country’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford. ‘Why not? Let’s see what they say. It will be more difficult in January, but you never know. Coming back is something eventually we have to discuss. At the moment I am focused on my job at Sporting Lisbon where I am doing well.’ VIDEO Man Utd injury problems continue . | Luke Shaw called on Man United's fringe players to take their chance .
Louis van Gaal's squad has been further decimated this international break .
Daley Blind, David de Gea and Michael Carrick have now been injured .
Angel di Maria had scans on his foot after playing with Argentina .
Shaw suffered a scare of his own in England's win over Scotland . |
101,363 | 0ea854b267853f638aed08bcd76f7f632d8a85fb | They say you either love it or hate it and it seems after years of hate Denmark is finally ready to love Marmite again after overturning a ban on the spread. David Darlington, 49, owner of a supplier which sells British and American products to supermarkets, had a licence to stock the product approved three years after it was taken off the shelves. The savory spread was first outlawed in 2011 because it contained added vitamins, a practice which is illegal under Dutch law. A ban on Marmite has been overturned in Denmark meaning the yeast spread will be available in supermarkets for the first time in three years . However after paying £900 for a 'risk assessment' test to prove the spread isn't dangerous Mr Darlington has been granted a licence to stock Marmite. Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'I feel like it’s a victory. The Vikings have been defeated at last in the battle of Marmite. 'I hate Marmite myself, I can't stand the stuff, but I did this on the principle of the matter. I thought, how dare those b******* ban Marmite, it's a British institution. 'Plus I've had people, British, American and some Danish too, hounding me for years over this so I thought 'something's got to be done'. Mr Darlington, who is originally from Birkenhead near Liverpool, added: 'It’s a victory that the British people should have because there are those who can’t live without Marmite. 'Don't get me wrong, I won't became a millionaire from selling the stuff, but it is a travesty that we've been without it for so long.' The divisive vegetable spread was banned in under food laws passed in 2004 governing the sale of products fortified with added vitamins. British shoppers in Copenhagen (pictured) campaigned for the spread to be brought back. The battle was eventually won by David Darlington, who owns a food supplier . Until it was removed from sale in 2011, Marmite had escaped the attention of food chiefs. However it was deemed unsafe because it contained added vitamin B12. Marmite was among other products such as Australian alternative Vegemite, Horlicks, Ovaltine and Farley’s Rusks - all of which were banned. While Mr Darlington does not have any Marmite in stock now, he has promised to have it back on shelves by September 15. He has also successfully overturned a ban on American products such as Poptarts and pancake mix which use enriched flour. | Food regulators in Denmark have overturned a three-year ban on Marmite .
Supplier David Darlington hailed decision as a victory for customers .
Spread outlawed for containing added vitamins which is illegal in Denmark . |
119,016 | 25ae68fc0c054498a8bad9425a381ce66ef7b0d4 | (CNN)Politicians, journalists and conservative activists will swoop into Des Moines this weekend for a major gathering of Republicans that's widely viewed as the first cattle call this cycle for the GOP presidential race. Close to 10 potential candidates will speak at the daylong Iowa Freedom Summit on Saturday, co-hosted by the group Citizens United and Rep. Steve King, a high-profile Republican from Iowa with serious clout among social conservatives. With Iowa the first state to vote in the presidential nominating season, it's considered a must-stop for White House hopefuls on both sides of the aisle, and this weekend gives 2016 players a chance to roll out their message to core caucus-goers, strategists say. Among those expected to speak are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Notably, the top two potential contenders in the GOP race -- Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney -- are bypassing the event, both citing scheduling conflicts. Also skipping Iowa this weekend are Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who took a pass on a similar Iowa gathering of conservatives back in August, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who's holding his own retreat with donors and supporters in Miami Beach this weekend as he prepares to make a 2016 decision. Rubio and Paul, however, will join Cruz to speak at an event in Palm Springs, California, on Sunday that's hosted by a group backed by the Koch Brothers. The odd one out? One of the most highly anticipated speakers is Christie, who's considered the one-not-like-the-others at this weekend's assembly. Twice elected in a blue state, Christie's staked out more moderate and pragmatic territory on the political spectrum. He angered social conservatives when he dropped a legal challenge in 2013 against a court ruling that got rid of New Jersey's same-sex marriage ban. He also stirred up some controversy when he at first declined to offer his opinion on the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby last year, which said private companies cannot be required to pay to cover some types of contraceptives for their employees. Later, while Christie was in Iowa, the governor said he supported the ruling. When talking about social issues, Christie has largely focused on his efforts to enhance drug rehabilitation programs in his state, especially for non-violent criminals with drug convictions. "When we say we're pro-life, we need to be pro-life for the entire life. We need to stand up for the hurt and the wounded," Christie told a religious right audience at a conference organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition last summer. The governor has made five trips to Iowa in the past year, including stops to help raise money for King and Gov. Terry Branstad. With Romney and Bush soaking up much of the attention and resources among establishment Republicans, the summit will provide Christie a chance to stand out and earn points for simply showing up. "In terms of optics, I think its clear that Gov. Christie intends to run — and has every intention to speaking to as many Iowans as possible," said Nick Ryan, a Republican strategist from Iowa. "That's how you build a winning coalition — and he seems to get that." What we'll be looking for . Christie has also been mum on his views about immigration reform. Political observers will be watching to see what candidates say about the issue in Iowa this week. King, one of the GOP's most vocal and flashy opponents of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, made headlines recently when he referred to a guest at the State of the Union address as a "deportable." While King's comments on immigration have agitated even those within his party, he's still considered popular in his home state and a highly sought after name when candidates stop through Iowa. Other issues that could get frequent mention this weekend include same-sex marriage and abortion. Both topics have seen renewed attention in the last week, after the Supreme Court decided a week ago to take up same-sex marriage this year. The court will essentially decide whether states have the right to ban gay and lesbian couples from getting married. RELATED: Supreme Court gay marriage decision could have 2016 repercussions . Also on the social front, the House, in a battle that pitted Republicans against each other, passed a measure Thursday banning all taxpayer money for abortions after it failed to pass a bill that would ban so-called "late -term" abortions. This week also marked the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, and tens of thousands of anti-abortion rights activists marched in the nation's capital to bring attention to the issue. Santorum, who battled Romney late into the 2012 primary season, tweeted out photos of his family yesterday explaining why they were marching. The former senator from Pennsylvania barely won the Iowa caucuses in 2012, edging out Romney in a delayed vote count—Romney was initially declared the winner—by 34 votes. Like Christie, some Republicans have also taken on criminal justice reform and anti-poverty policies as key talking points in their platforms. We'll see how potential candidates tackle those issues this weekend, especially as the party on the national level has made efforts to appeal to a wider audience. Several of the potential candidates plan to stay longer in Iowa. Huckabee has book signings on Sunday in Cedar Rapids and Windsor Heights, Iowa, while Perry is staying until Monday and Santorum until Tuesday for multiple events throughout the state. | Potential GOP presidential candidates will gather in Iowa this weekend .
The state holds the nation's first presidential nominating contest next year . |
270,177 | e9e774d2aa3f904877805ceb8c941bc5aefdcbbb | Just a fifth of Americans believe that . humans evolved naturally over millions of years, while the vast majority . believe that God had a hand in the evolution of humans, according to . new research. According to a YouGov poll, 21 per cent of U.S. citizens believe that 'human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, and God did not directly guide this process'. Meanwhile, 79 per cent of those polled said they either believe God played a part in our existence (the largest sector at 62 per cent) or were not sure (17 per cent). Believers: The number of people who believe in pure evolution is on the rise in the U.S. but those who think God played a part still account for the vast majority - 62 per cent . A quarter of the 1,000 people . polled said they believed mankind evolved from more primitive life forms . but that 'God guided the process'. And a further 37 per cent said they believe that 'God created human beings in their present form within the last ten thousand years'. The findings in fact show a trend towards a greater proportion of Americans believing in the theory of evolution, as opposed to the theory of creationism. Eight years ago, the same poll found that only 13 per cent of Americans believed they evolved without the guidance of God; that figure rose to 15 per cent in 2008. According to the research and consulting organisation, the upward trend is also likely to continue, since young people tend to lean more towards the theory of evolution than older generations. On the rise: The YouGov poll shows that since 2004 the trend towards believing in pure evolution has been steadily rising, in part because young people tend more to lean towards this belief . In the latest survey, 31 per cent of 18-29-year-olds said they believed God played no part in their evolution. In schools, however, the nation remains divided on how to teach children of mankind's evolution. The YouGov researchers asked a second . question concerning creationism (the religious belief that the universe . was created by a supernatural force) and intelligent design, a form of . creationism that argues against natural selection, attributing evolution . instead to an intelligent cause. The poll found that 40 per cent favour teaching creationism and intelligent design, while 32 per cent opposed such teachings, and 29 per cent were not sure. Not surprisingly, the vast majority (83 . per cent) of those describing themselves as atheist were opposed to the . idea, while those who cited a religion were far more likely to support . it, particularly Mormons (76 per cent), Protestants (52 per cent) and . Roman Catholics (42 per cent). Evolution or creationism?: A declining number of Americans polled believe human beings in their present form are created by God, but what about Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, pictured attending the World War Z premiere last month in Berlin? In the political arena, the survey found that 57 per cent of Republicans favoured teaching creationism and intelligent design in public schools, versus just 30 per cent among Democrats. Meanwhile, just five per cent of Republicans supported the theory of a natural, Godless, evolution. The findings show a remarkable shift in beliefs in the U.S. since a renowned Tennessee court case 88 years ago, which charged school teacher John Scopes with teaching evolution, which was at the time against the law in the state. Divided nation: In schools, 40 per cent of those polled favoured the teaching of creationism - greater than the number who believed God created all human beings in their present form . Scopes lost the trial, according to YouGov, but the case raised the profile and support for the argument to teach evolution in schools. To read the poll results, click here. | 21% of those polled believe God played no part in mankind's evolution .
Some 25% believe God guided evolution; and 37% believe in creationism .
Proportion of Americans leaning towards pure evolution belief is rising .
Trend expected to continue - young people tend to lean towards this belief . |
84,612 | f00fc13912aa97bc0dc14dd082fc6a68a34fb8d6 | By . Associated Press Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:19 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:11 EST, 26 October 2013 . Gunman: This undated photo provided by the Ridgecrest, Calif. police shows Sergio Munoz, 39, the gunman who fatally shot a woman, injured another and then led police on a wild chase before he was killed in a shootout . A sister of a survivor in the deadly Ridgecrest, California, shooting rampage said the gunman was a heroin dealer who wanted to eliminate snitches. Dawn Meier revealed Friday that 39-year-old Sergio Munoz was friends with her brother, but shot him and his girlfriend when the brother refused to go along with the murderous plot. The girlfriend was killed in the early morning shooting. Dawn Meier said her brother, Thaddeus Meier, is recovering at a hospital. Munoz later took a man and woman hostage and led police on a lengthy car chase with the pair in his trunk. Authorities . say Munoz was killed when he stopped on the side of the road in the . Mojave Desert and began firing his gun into the trunk. Police said the hostages are in critical condition. According to his Facebook account, . Munoz worked as operator technician for the company Searles Valley . Minerals. He listed Mr Meier as a friend on the social media site. Munoz . called a Ridgecrest police officer's cell phone and said he wanted to . come to the department and shoot officers but because police had too . many guns he would 'wreak havoc' elsewhere, Kern County Sheriff Donny . Youngblood told a press conference. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Gunned down: Thaddeus Meier was one of the people who were shot by Munoz during his spree . Scene: The suspect fired at least ten times from inside his black Dodge Dart, and tried to run vehicles off the road before he was shot dead by police . At one point during the chase, which lasted more than 40 minutes, the suspect pulled over and the car's trunk popped open, revealing a man and woman inside . Nearly . two hours later, a sheriff's deputy spotted the suspect's car and a . pursuit began. The suspect fired at least ten times from inside his . black Dodge Dart, and tried to run vehicles off the road. No motorists were hurt, Youngblood said. At one point during the chase, which . lasted more than 40 minutes, Munoz pulled over and the car's trunk . popped open, revealing a man and woman inside. Gory scene: A view of the bloodied front door at a house where Munoz shot two people (left), and a picture of two bibles on the table inside the Ridgecrest home (right) Morbid: Passersby peer into the blood-spattered house where Thaddeus Meier was shot and his girlfriend killed . They appeared to shut the trunk, the sheriff said. At . the end, the man pulled over again on U.S. 395 and began shooting into . the trunk. As many as seven officers opened fire, killing him. At . the original crime scene in the city of Ridgecrest, about 150 miles . north of Los Angeles, a woman was found dead her boyfriend, later identified as Thaddeus Meier, was wounded, . Youngblood said. The suspect apparently knew all of the victims, he said. The city of about 27,000 people is adjacent to the vast Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which sprawls over more than 1,700 square miles of desert . There was some information that the suspect was using Facebook during pursuit, but it wasn't immediately clear what the postings were, Youngblood said. During his phone call, the man also said he had a package he wanted to deliver to police, the sheriff said. It was unclear if a package was found. Investigators recovered a shotgun and a handgun. A crime scene was set up along U.S. 395 at Kramer Junction, where two police helicopters landed amid numerous law enforcement vehicles. The CHP said the highway was closed from Kramer Junction for ten miles north because of the investigation. Schools in Ridgecrest were placed on lockdown as a precaution but were later reopened. The city of about 27,000 people is adjacent to the vast Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which sprawls over more than 1,700 square miles of desert. U.S. 395 runs through the western Mojave below the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada. Ridgecrest Mayor Dan Clark called the incident disturbing, especially because the small city is relatively crime free. | Suspect Sergio Munoz, 39, was shot dead in Mojave Desert .
Had man and women in the trunk held hostage .
Already killed a woman and shot her boyfriend, Thaddeus Meier .
Called police earlier and told them he wanted to shoot them . |
142,838 | 44ba302c69afe03a456ee520ed028e1df3fac8e8 | For all his many talents - raw pace, an explosive strike and a strut of arrogance - Arsenal’s strike-force requires greater replenishing than merely the return of Joel Campbell next season. Campbell appears to be a fine young player, perhaps only usurped by the magnificent Neymar among the younger players at this World Cup so far. He will prove a valuable addition to the Arsenal squad, now that the work permit issues which forced the club to loan him out to Real Betis and Olympiacos in the last two years have been resolved. VIDEO Scroll down for Paulo Wanchope: Joel Campbell wants to impress Wenger . Hard to beat: Campbell holds off future Premier League opponent, England's Phil Jones . Threat: Campbell gets to grip with Luke Shaw as Costa Rica again frustrated a big side in Group D . Campbell offers acceleration that will change the dynamics of Arsenal’s attacking thrust. His rapid flourishes will push the opposition back, force defenders to think differently. No longer should they have to rely solely on Olivier Giroud, as was the case for so much of last season. Campbell, too, seems the kind of hard-working, ball-playing footballer that will respond to the paternal qualities of Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger, and he will be encouraged by the Frenchman’s confirmation that he will be part of the squad for pre-season. Against England, Campbell demonstrated his qualities once more, nipping in before defenders Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill, mithering Luke Shaw with his direct running and providing the locals in Belo Horizonte with an ‘Ole!’ treat after one classy back-flick. In a game that was played out at the tempo of a warm-weather pre-season training camp, there were very few at all out there that flirted, even fleetingly, with inspiration. To his credit, for the sixty-sixty minutes Campbell played, he did as much as any other player to break the stranglehold of tepid mediocrity that enveloped this match, darting in behind at every opportunity, shooting from distance when the opportunity presented itself. High flyer: Campbell controls the ball in the air and looks set to be given a chance by Arsene Wenger . After that, he was rested for the knockout stages, offering a stark reminder of England’s demise as a forward with nine goals in the Greek league last season is conserved for grander occasions. This is not to belittle Campbell, who was irresistible against both Uruguay and Italy. Certainly, he can make an impact for Arsenal next season. But can he transform Wenger’s side from also-rans to title winners? That much would seem to be the stuff of fantasy and Arsenal fans must dearly hope that Arsene Wenger has greater ambitions in this transfer window. Arsenal must buy a forward of elite-standing, a game-changer, somebody that will strike fear, rather than comfort, into the defences of the continent’s finest outfits. Campbell, who has scored just eleven club goals in the last two seasons, is evidently not that man. Arsenal fans need a Mario Balotelli, not a chap they’ve only seen on the telly. In this Costa-Rica team, Campbell is the go-to player, the one that is worshipped. In this perfectly-oiled, intensely drilled side, Campbell’s ability is blended with adrenalin and a fervent national pride. When he returns to Arsenal, he will be an understudy with a point to prove. Time will tell whether he can elevate his performances on a consistent basis, but Wenger must know better than to demand too much, too soon. Star: Campbell has been tipped as player of the tournament so far by Gary Cahill's manager Jose Mourinho . New acquaintance: Campbell could end up playing alongside Smalling - who has been linked with Arsenal . | Campbell and his Costa Rica team-mates draw 0-0 with England .
Arsenal-owned forward is returning to his parent club this summer .
Campbell nipped in ahead of England's back four numerous times .
But with Costa Rica he is the superstar - with Arsenal he won't be . |
187,893 | 7f4db38d3be6e701561ed509d20cac20ae6b1069 | By . Hannah Roberts In Rome and Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 06:04 EST, 27 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:05 EST, 27 March 2013 . Amanda Knox collapsed and had to be supported by her boyfriend yesterday when she was told she would face a retrial over the murder of Meredith Kercher. The American was at home with her family in Seattle when she received a phone call at 2am telling her an Italian court had quashed her acquittal for the killing. She was shattered by the news, and turned to her lover James Terrano in an attempt to 'keep positive' despite the new development. Knox, 25, will not voluntarily return to Italy to stand trial, and is unlikely to be extradited by her native U.S. - she will therefore probably be tried in absentia. Scroll down for video . Retrial: Amanda Knox holds hands with her boyfriend James Terrano in downtown Seattle on Sunday . Questions: Meredith Kercher's sister Stephanie Kercher, left, said at her family's home in Coulsdon, Surrey: 'There are a lot of unanswered questions still'. Right, her sister before her 2007 death . 'The colour ran from her face as she heard the news,' a source told the Sun. Her lawyer phoned her family home in . the early hours of the morning after she had gathered relatives and . friends together to wait for confirmation of the court's decision. 'She hugged James and then the rest of the family,' the source said. 'They are trying to keep positive but it is hard.' Yesterday’s ruling by the supreme court in Rome means the case will be tried again next year. Judges . accepted that there were ‘contradictions’ in the case, quashing the . acquittal of Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, . 29. In a dramatic turnaround, the pair, . who both spent four years behind bars before they were cleared, were . told they must stand trial again for the murder of the 21-year-old . British student. Knox, who has rebuilt her life in her . home town of Seattle, cannot be compelled by Italian law to . appear at the retrial and might not face extradition for years, if at . all. Meredith's sister Stephanie and mother Arline welcomed the news about the retrial on Tuesday . Jailed: Knox, 25, and Sollecito, 29, spent four years in jail, but were freed on appeal in 2011 largely on the grounds DNA evidence was flawed . Her lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova said: . ‘Amanda does not intend to come back for the retrial. Her home is in . Seattle and she doesn’t need to be here.’ He added that the decision to order a . new trial was shocking. ‘She thought that the nightmare was over,’ he . said on the steps of the courthouse. ‘But she’s ready to fight.’ Within minutes of the ruling, Knox . issued a statement condemning it. The girl known worldwide by her . self-awarded nickname 'Foxy Knoxy' said: ‘It was painful to receive the . news that the Italian supreme court decided to send my case back for . revision when the prosecution’s theory of my involvement in Meredith’s . murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and . unfair. ‘I believe that any questions as to my innocence must be examined by an objective investigation and a capable prosecution. ‘The prosecution responsible for the . many discrepancies in their work must be made to answer for them, for . Raffaele’s sake, my sake, and most especially for the sake of Meredith’s . family.’ Knox and Sollecito spoke on the phone . soon after yesterday’s verdict. Sollecito’s current girlfriend Annie . Achille said: ‘They will see what can be done.’ She added that her . boyfriend, who turned 29 yesterday, is ‘destroyed’ and not talking to . anyone. Meredith Kercher, from Coulsdon, . Surrey, was in Italy as an exchange student from Leeds University. She . was found dead in 2007, in the cottage she shared with Knox in the . picturesque hilltop town of Perugia. Her throat had been slit and her . semi-naked body had been covered with a duvet. After a lengthy trial in . Perugia, Knox and Sollecito were convicted of the murder in December . 2009 and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively, . But two years later the pair were . freed after an appeal court found that the case had been botched and DNA . evidence contaminated. A third suspect, Rudy Guede, whose DNA . and bloody footprints were found all over the crime scene, is serving a . 16-year prison sentence, reduced from 30 years on appeal. Meredith’s family welcomed yesterday’s . judgment. Her sister Stephanie said: ‘We are never going to be happy . about any outcome because we have still lost Meredith but we obviously . support the decision and hope to get answers from it. There are still so . many unanswered questions. All we have ever wanted to do is do what we . can for Meredith and to find out the truth of what happened that night.’ Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were seen kissing in the wake of the murder . Knox had rejoiced after her conviction . was sensationally overturned in 2011. She fled Italy within hours, . returning home to the US, where she quickly embraced life as a free . woman. She now shares a flat with boyfriend James Terrano, a classical . guitarist, and is studying at the University of Washington in Seattle, . where she can be near her parents and three sisters. The former student is preparing for . the publication next month of a memoir for which she has been paid a . reported £2.5million. Sollecito remained in Italy and is studying . robotic surgery at the University of Verona. He has already released a . book about his experience. In it he said that he and Knox were still in . touch – he visited her earlier this year and they speak on Skype . regularly. The retrial will be held in Florence, with different judges, to avoid accusations of prejudice against the accused pair. Rudy Guede was identified by police after his bloody fingerprint was found on a cushion at the scene of the crime. The . 21-year-old Ivory Coast national had given his fingerprints when he . applied for an Italian identity card several years earlier. He was known to police as a petty thief and small time drug dealer. Guede . had arrived in Italy in 1992 as a five year-old child with his father . Roger, who left his wife behind in west Africa to seek work in Italy. But . when Guede was 15 Roger went back to Africa, leaving his son behind in . the care of a multi-millionaire Paolo Caporali who had . occasionally employed the boy in odd jobs. In . the summer of 2007, Guede rented a flat in the centre of Perugia and . became friendly with four male students who lived in the flat below Miss . Kercher and Knox. In . September and October Guede was linked to three break-ins - two in . Perugia and one in Milan. Following the murder he fled Perugia and went to Germany on a train. He was arrested there and extradited back to Italy. In . October 2008 he was sentenced to 30 years in jail for the murder and . sexual assault of Miss Kercher after opting for a fast-track trial. The day before his arrest on suspicion of Meredith Kercher's murder, Patrick Lumumba had been handing out flyers publicising a candlelit vigil in her memory. Mr Lumumba, a well-known and popular figure in Perugia for a decade, . was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is believed to be . related to murdered Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba. He arrived . in Italy legally in 1988. Married with a young child, he opened a . bar and restaurant called Le Chic on a narrow street in Perugia town . centre in August 2007. The same month that Miss Kercher arrived to begin a . short Italian course. He employed her housemate Amanda Knox to help him with promotional work, before firing her for flirting with customers. He believes Knox took her revenge by framing him for Miss Kercher's murder. Mr . Lumumba was arrested on suspicion of causing her death on November 6. He spent two weeks in prison before being able to prove that he spent . the night of the killing talking to a customer in his pub. In 2009 he sued Knox for wrongly accusing him of the crime. | Knox was comforted by boyfriend James Terrano after news of retrial .
25-year-old will not return to Italy for trial so it will take place in absentia .
Returned to U.S. after she and Raffaele Sollecito were cleared in 2011 .
Meredith, 21, was found dead in the house she and Knox shared in Perugia .
Knox and then-boyfriend Sollecito spent four years in jail for murder . |
154,916 | 54338e1e0666ceb421419d8404a88fca0937b229 | People across a wide swath of the West, from Arizona to Canada, looked up at the sky late Monday to see a cluster of weird lights followed by an orange tail streaking across the night. The lights were not a meteor or UFO, but a Chinese rocket booster that broke apart, said Maj. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command. There were no reports of damage or injuries, O'Donnell said, pointing to statistics showing there is a one in a trillion chance of being hit by space debris. Scroll down for video . Starry sky: This Monday, Febuary 23, 2015, ten second time exposure photo provided by Neil Zeller, shows a streak of light from what is believed to be a Chinese rocket burning up upon re-entry, in the atmosphere as seen from Calgary, Canada . Canadian photographer Neil Zeller was on his way home from shooting the Northern Lights when he saw the cluster of fireballs in a rural area outside of Calgary about 11pm MST. 'I'd never seen anything like it,' he said. He captured several shots of an orange streak slashed above dark trees. More than 150 people reported seeing the group of about three dozen fireballs, said Mike Hankey with the American Meteor Society. It lingered in the sky for more than a minute, showing slow movement that is a sure sign of a man-made object re-entering from space, he said. Naturally occurring meteors last just a few seconds. 'It was pretty significant - over 150 reports is a lot. It covered a real wide range,' Hankey said. The reports came from nine Western states as well as Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. Caught on camera: People from Arizona to Canada have reported seeing bright lights in the sky as the Chinese rocket burned up in the atmosphere . Eeerie imagery: Witnesses described the lights as a group of about three dozen fireballs moving slowly from south to north late Monday . Zeller, a freelance photographer, said he first thought it might be a plane crashing, and then was reminded of the 1986 Challenger explosion. He was relieved when he discovered it was a rocket booster. The rocket that launched a satellite on December 27, wasn't abnormally large, said O'Donnell. Angle of re-entry and weather conditions can make space objects look brighter from earth. Matthew Hepworth, a video producer, said he was driving south of Salt Lake City when he saw very bright orange lights that looked like a searchlight at first. He captured the bright streak on his dash-cam, an investment he made because of the meteor footage caught by such cameras in Russia in 2013. Utah-based NASA ambassador Patrick Wiggins said most such events go unnoticed. 'There are literally thousands of satellites orbiting the earth and these things fall out of the sky all of the time,' he said. 'This one just happened to be passing over some fairly large metropolitan areas and it did it at night.' Amateur shot: More than 150 people reported seeing the group of about three dozen fireballs, said Mike Hankey with the American Meteor Society . | People across a wide swath of the West, from Arizona to Canada, looked up at the sky late Monday to see a cluster of weird lights followed by an orange tail streaking across the night.
The lights were not a meteor, but a Chinese rocket booster that broke apart, said Maj. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command .
There were no reports of damage or injuries . |
115,099 | 208b845b42f8cc849b763134fde64f22bf55dc40 | By . Mark Duell . A mother who bravely confronted a gang of yobs vandalising a children’s play area was left with shocking injuries after being hit by a teenage girl. The unnamed woman, who is in her early 40s, suffered a powerful single blow from a girl believed to be aged just 14 - after she arrived at the public park to pick up her daughter in the early evening. She had challenged a group of youngsters after seeing them throw newly-installed swings up and over mountings at Leyland Park in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Injuries: The unnamed woman, who is in her early 40s, suffered a powerful single blow from a girl believed to be aged just 14 after she arrived at the public park to pick up her daughter in the early evening . The victim, who does not want to be named, was floored and left dazed after being punched by the girl - who she believes she has identified via Facebook. Because the mother has a job which involves dealing with the public face to face, she has had to take time off work and may lose income while the black bruising to her partially closed right eye subsides. She said: ‘I did what I what hope most people in their right minds would do. ‘The council has spent a lot of money, which at the end of the day is our money, doing a nice job refurbishing the park - but some of these children just love being destructive. ‘I went there to collect my daughter and could see out of the corner of my eye a group of teenage children throwing the swings over the top of the frame they are mounted on. ‘That kind of vandalism, particularly with the play equipment being so new, really annoys me and I am the type of person to challenge it. Location: She had challenged a group of youngsters after seeing them throw newly-installed swings up and over mountings at Leyland Park (pictured) in Wigan, Greater Manchester . ‘I told them to stop it and I got a barrage of effing back for my trouble. Things got quite heated and then one of the teenagers punched me, out of the blue, in the face, which sent me flying. 'I told them to stop it and I got a barrage of effing back for my trouble. Things got quite heated and then one of the teenagers punched me, out of the blue, in the face, which sent me flying' Victim . ‘As an adult you are in an awkward position when you are assaulted by a minor because your physical actions can be misinterpreted and you can then find yourself in trouble, rather than the attacker. ‘I was feeling dizzy and a bit woozy but I found the police straight away because this type of behaviour can’t be tolerated. It certainly must not be allowed to become the norm in a public park where lot of young children are playing. ‘This kind of teen gang can’t take over play areas like this without people who bring their own children up properly asking them to behave. Upset: Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell was reduced to tears after a group of young litter louts who abused and spat on him when he confronted them about their behaviour in Clapham, south London . ‘Otherwise we might as well pour all the money that has been spent on making Leyland Park such a lovely facility down the drain, for all the value for money we are getting.’ Two weeks ago Nicky Campbell wrote for the Mail about how he was reduced to tears after a group of young litter louts abused and spat on him when he confronted them about their behaviour. The Radio 5 Live presenter said the incident in Clapham, south London, left him ‘extremely upset’ after he questioned the yobs for ripping open bin bags and kicking rubbish all over his street. Campbell, 53, admitted that he had to be comforted afterwards by his wife Tina, but did not regret his actions and would probably do the same again. | Unnamed woman in early 40s suffered beating at Leyland Park in Wigan .
She had arrived at public park to pick up her daughter in early evening .
Spoke to youths after seeing them throw swings up and over mountings . |
220,524 | a9722ae0bfa8a36b4186e69c62a15596a7809750 | Phil Neville certainly caused some controversy with his comments on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night by saying he would have gone in two-footed on Tomas Rosicky for showboating. I think it was a tongue-in-cheek comment more than anything, but perhaps ‘robust challenge’ would have been a better choice of words… . There’s no doubt, though, that if you are on the receiving end of some unnecessary trickery, it winds you up. The red mist can descend and you instantly think: ‘This player’s taking the p***.’ I found that more often than not things like this would happen near the touchline. Partly because of the type of flair players who play on the wing but largely due to the proximity of the crowd. Tomas Rosicky looks one way but passes another during the build up to his spectacular goal . The Czech midfielder used the same move a number of times during Arsenal's 3-2 win against Brighton . Phil Neville made the comments on Match of the Day, but later claimed it was 'tongue in cheek' Showboating and tricks are done to impress the fans and when you’re on the touchline, you are right next to them – players love playing to the crowd. As soon as a trick comes off, you can sense the reaction straightaway. You get this ‘wahey’ from the terraces and it can feel as if everyone is laughing at you. If players started doing step-overs in front of me, I tried to home in the ball. My thoughts would be: ‘Right, you’re taking the mickey here so now you’re going to feel the full force of a big challenge.’ It was a gamble because, if they nick it past you, you end up looking foolish but it was always a good feeling if you won the ball and were able to give your opponent a bit of a clump at the same time. I would go in with one foot – using two feet always felt unnatural to me – but that didn’t mean you couldn’t be strong to make sure they stopped. Rosicky celebrates his goal while Aaron Ramsey rushes over to congratulate him . Former Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale dived too late to keep out Rosicky's perfectly executed strike . It’s especially bad if the player is only doing tricks for themselves. When Cristiano Ronaldo was a young United player, he was ridiculed for his self-indulgent skills but now he uses that talent to win games. Rosicky had a good game against Brighton but the feints were designed to dummy his opponent so he could release a pass – it was done with the team in mind. Perhaps he went a bit over the top but I don’t think it was too disrespectful. He was playing with great confidence in a game where everything was coming off for him. Whether he would have done that against City the previous week is another matter. But every player can be tempted into showing off occasionally. When Arsenal won the league against Everton, even I had a go at a few step-overs. I thought if the crowd saw me pulling off a few tricks then they knew it must be a good day! If you overstep the line, though, and over-indulge, you’ve only got yourself to blame if you’re on the end of a few strong challenges. Cristiano Ronaldo was criticised for trying too much during his early days at Manchester United . | Phil Neville said he would have two-footed Arsenal playmaker Tomas Rosicky if he had attempted a no-look pass in training .
Rosicky was in impressive form during Arsenal's 3-2 win against Brighton .
Cristiano Ronaldo was criticised for trying too much during his early days . |
62,477 | b176425aaed044df1c127afce7c967740e5ce00c | (CNN)We're in a dimly lit shebeen (pub) in Soweto sharing beer from a communal cup and the conversation is getting heated. We're discussing President Jacob Zuma's house refurbishment using more than 200 million rand of state funds -- a move being investigated by the country's anti-corruption watchdog. "Pah, he lives there in his own Hollywood, and we have nothing," spits a drinker while whacking his fly swatter furiously against the bench we're sitting on, lashing one unfortunate drinker. It's just another afternoon in Africa's most famous township -- a hotbed for political dissent since its creation in 1903 as part of the forced resettlement of black workers from Johannesburg. Soweto, now incorporated into wider Joburg, is a generally safe and culturally rich place to visit that's gone through substantial regeneration in the past few years. We're seeing it by bicycle, a far more direct way to appreciate the street life than from behind the windows of a tour bus. Our guide is local man Tshepo Mokone, from Lebo's Soweto Backpackers. The roads are good, although be warned: Soweto has hills -- but they're a great place to catch the views including of the new Soccer City stadium and Orlando Towers, which you can bungee jump from. Shebeens . Shebeens were originally a type of illegal pub, normally run by women in shacks to service men living in workers' hostels. Now they're legal and a place to while away the hours drinking umqombothi, a traditional beer made from maize, as we discover during a visit to a shebeen in the poor Soweto quarter of Mzimhlophe. With communal toilets and taps, and raw sewage running in the streets, living conditions are tough and the shebeen a kind of refuge. Tshepo explains the strategies shebeens used to employ during police raids. "The shack had no windows, so you couldn't see inside," he says. "People were told not to make any noise but that's hard after a few drinks, so if the police came they would start pretending to worship -- as if it was a church service." Another cunning plan was to dress in traditional African attire, as if the drinkers were in the midst of a Zulu ceremony. Tshepo gives an example as he dons a beaded head-dress and jewelry, much to the mirth of the assembled clientele. Other typical places to eat and drink in Soweto include The Spot, a tavern (corner of Vilakazi and Baqwa Streets); Nambitha (Vilakazi Street; +27 11 936 9128) and Sakhumzi (Vilakazi Street; +27 11 536 1379) serve upmarket township fare. Lebo's Soweto Backpackers . Owner of the first and apparently only black-run backpackers hostel in South Africa, Lebo Malepa started offering overnight accommodation at his great-grandparents' house in 1998 before officially opening the guesthouse and bike tour business in 2003. "I came into the industry because I wanted to see people getting off the [tour] bus," Lebo says. "Soweto is a great place to learn about the history of South Africa. Every person and every building has a story to tell." Set on a hill with views over the more affluent Soweto suburb of Orlando West and near the much-visited Vilakazi Street, Lebo's backpackers feels a bit like a laid-back beach hotel. There's even a sandy bar area out back where you can enjoy a beer and fried fish before setting out on a bike or walking tour. Or you can just sit around and chat with the employees, including Lebo's Swedish wife Maria who came to work for him and never left. 10823A Pooe Street, Orlando West; +27 11 936 3444 . Vilakazi Street . This buzzy road was home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, who, like Soweto, are icons of the struggle against apartheid. It's also where successful locals come to rev up their Mercs and blare out the latest kwaito (a form of South African house music) from booming speakers -- it makes our bike tires judder. You can learn about Soweto's past as a center of resistance at the Hector Pieterson memorial and museum off Vilakazi Street (8287 Khumalo St.; +27 11 536 2253), named after a 13-year-old boy shot dead by police during a peaceful student protest in 1976. Nelson Mandela lived on Vilakazi Street with his first and second wives. His house has since been turned into Mandela House Museum (8115 Orlando West; +27 11 936 7754) featuring exhibits and personal items such as the first shoes he wore as a free man. The road has some cool street art, the result of a competition among 130 local artists. The winning wall murals, sculptures and mosaics are inspired by daily township life and Soweto's history. Learn the lingo . If you want to interact with Sowetans as you peddle through the streets, you should learn a few words of the local slang. Sowetans have a wicked sense of humor and the lingo is fast, furious and funny. On being greeted by us white folk on Vilakazi Street, one guy solemnly told us: "Don't talk to me, talk to my lawyer." Take your choice of how to say hello. The common South African handshake involves the normal gesture, followed by a clasping of the thumbs and then back to a normal handshake. Variations on the ending include a slow sliding of the palms together or a snapping of your thumbs in tandem (tricky at first). In Soweto it's popular to use the Spanish greeting "hola" to say hi (the reasons why are obscure). Or the Zulu "sanibonani" for "how are you?" to which the streetwise reply is "yebo" -- "cool." A popular expression is "shap shap," meaning anything from "agreed" to "hello," "bye" or "great." If you hear someone saying it, you can be sure they're happy. In Soweto, a "kota" is a kind of local version of a burger. A quarter loaf of bread is hollowed out and filled with various delights such as chips, egg, mince and achaar (a kind of pickle salad). And if kids run up to you on your bike and plead with you to "shoot" them, they don't have a death wish but want you to take a photo of them. Boutique hotel . Kliptown is one of Soweto's oldest neighborhoods and the venue for the signing of the Freedom Charter in 1955, when thousands of activists agreed on a document that would form the basis of the country's post-apartheid Constitution. Freedom Square is a vast and impressive area of modernist architecture with an unusual monument and art gallery, shops and a bustling marketplace. You can hop off your bike and walk into Soweto Hotel on the square (+27 11 527 7300). A funky boutique hotel featuring black and white photos by the late great black South African photographer Alf Khumalo, Afro-retro decor and friendly staff, it's a great place to recover while listening to live jazz and sipping a cocktail. The hotel's founding partner Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo trained in Switzerland and worked for luxury chains abroad but returned to South Africa to launch her vision for a high quality Soweto hotel. "My vision was to start a company with a typical African flavor -- a place where we could begin to define South African hospitality," she says. | Cycling is one of the best ways to see this huge former black township .
You can drink a beer in a "shebeen," an informal bar .
Vilakazi Street has been home to two Novel Peace Prize winners -- Mandela and Desmond Tutu . |
154,729 | 53f81e75702e6e80be0d4517e6c19850b627b735 | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 04:25 EST, 1 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 1 April 2013 . The biggest shake-up of the welfare state in British history comes today as a wide range of cost-cutting austerity measures take effect for the first time. The Coalition is hoping to save billions of pounds by slashing legal aid, limiting benefits handouts and restructuring the NHS. The average family is set to be £5,000 worse-off than at the time of the last election - but Government ministers insist their reforms will make the system 'fairer'. Scroll down for video . Cost-cutting: George Osborne steps up his austerity programme today with wide-ranging benefit cuts . While critics have accused the Coalition of targeting poor families and the disabled while handing millionaires a tax cut, top officials dismiss the claims as 'shrill'. George Osborne and Iain Duncan Smith today said that their welfare changes were not 'the beginning of the end of the world'. They continued: 'In reality, we are just restoring the original principles of the welfare state: that those who can work must work, and a life on benefits must not be more attractive than working.' 'Bedroom tax' comes into effect today . Perhaps the most controversial move is the so-called 'bedroom tax', which will see social housing tenants with spare rooms docked an average of £14 a week in benefits. Around 660,000 people are set to lose some of their housing benefit from the change, which is expected to save the Government £465million a year. The charge is aimed at reducing over-crowding in social housing and directing benefits towards those who are most in need. But Labour has relentless attacked the move, with shadow chancellor Ed Balls denouncing it as 'possibly the worst, most cack-handed and massively unfair piece of policy-making I've ever seen'. Defence: Iain Duncan Smith insists the changes will make the welfare system 'fairer' for claimants and taxpayers . Legal aid cut drastically from today . Financial help in the legal system is set to be restricted to those whose household income is less than £32,000, with means-testing for all but the poorest claimants. Divorce cases, personal injury and immigration appeals will no longer be covered by legal aid, meaning that experts expect a spike in the number of plaintiffs who will represent themselves in court. The aim is to cut the £2.2billion legal aid bill by at least £350million. NHS commissioning changes today . After nearly three years of wrangling, the National Health Service faces its widest-ranging reforms ever today, with commissioning handed over to consortiums of GPs. Private companies will be allowed to compete to provide state-funded services for the first time, which ministers hope will drive down costs in the NHS. The abolition of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts is expected to save £1.4billion in the short term with savings rising to £5billion by the time of the next election in 2015. Council tax benefit cut from today . Council tax refunds for low-income households will today be transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions into the control of local councils. Officials are using the switch as an opportunity to cut the size of the benefit by 10 per cent, saving as much as half a billion pounds a year. In additions, 2.4million families will have their council tax bill raised, despite the Coalition's attempts to keep the cost of the tax down. Out of work: The changes are aimed at forcing the jobless back into employment . 50p tax rate abolished on Saturday . This weekend, high earners will find have the rate of tax charged on earnings over £100,000 cut from 50p to 45p. Mr Osborne announced the move in last year's Budget in a bid to make Britain more business-friendly, claiming the 50p rate had raised £15billion less than expected. However, Labour has denounced it as a millionaires' tax cut, with 13,000 of the super-rich saving £100,000 each. Benefit 'uprating' starts a week on Monday . Next Monday, benefits will see their annual rise - but they will be increased by just one per cent, which is lower than the rate of inflation. The Coalition has limited the rise in benefits for the next three years due to the slow rate of wages growth, claiming it is unfair for the unemployed to see their earnings rise faster than those in work. The measure is supposed to save £505million this year, with further savings for as long as it remains in place. Disability living allowance abolished next Monday . On the same day, disability living allowance will be replaced by personal independence payment. The idea is to correlate benefits payments more closely to the needs of the disabled - so they will no longer be determined by claimants' medical conditions, but by how their disability affects what they can do. But campaigners are concerned that the change will provide an excuse to limit payouts to the disabled in order to save money. Benefit cap begins on April 15 . The centrepiece of the Coalition's welfare reforms is the promise to limit each family's handouts to the average household income. The scheme will be piloted in four London boroughs from April 15, and it is set to take effect throughout the country by the end of September. No household will be entitled to receive more than £26,000 in benefits each year, although working tax credits are not included in the total. Universal credit rolls out on April 28 . Six of the main benefits payments are being integrated into a single system, starting with a trial scheme in Aston-under-Lyne from April 28. The move is supposed to simplify the process of paying and receiving benefits, and make it easier to job-seekers to find work. Criticism: Shadow chancellor Ed Balls described the 'bedroom tax' as 'cack-handed and massively unfair' Changes set to leave families £5,000 poorer overall . Overall, a family earning a total of £34,000 will have lost £4,747 this year compared to three years ago, according to think-tank the Resolution Foundation. Despite a rise in the personal income tax allowance which will save most people around £270 a year, cuts to working tax credit, child benefit and child tax credit will leave most households worse off. The allowance - the amount of money on which no tax is due - will rise from £8,105 to £9,440 in the coming tax year as part of a major Coalition policy inspired by the Liberal Democrats. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Osborne and Mr Duncan Smith said: 'Our changes will ensure that the welfare state offers the right help to those who need it, and is fair to those who pay for it. 'Of course, if you listened to the shrill voices of the Left you'd think that every change to the welfare system, and any attempt to save money, marks the beginning of the end of the world. 'In reality, we are just restoring the original principles of the welfare state: that those who can work must work, and a life on benefits must not be more attractive than working.' Ending what ministers call a 'spare room subsidy' would address the 'scandal' of a million people living in overcrowded conditions and millions more on waiting lists, they added. But shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: 'This wicked bedroom tax is going to rip neighbour from neighbour, force vulnerable people to food banks and loan sharks, and end up costing Britain more than it saves as tenants are forced to go homeless or move into the expensive private rented sector. 'It is the worst possible blend of cruelty and incompetence. The Government must think again and drop this tax now.' Pensions Minister Steve Webb insisted the highest earners had taken the biggest hit, telling ITV1's Daybreak this morning: 'We are trying to make savings but we're also trying to protect the most vulnerable. 'We're not saying you can't have a spare bedroom, what we are saying is you contribute £2 a day on average if you have that extra bedroom. Some people, yes money's tight, but will say £2 a day for a spare bedroom is worth paying, others will swap with others into smaller accommodation.' VIDEO Legal aid cuts would have left Ansells without money to support their deaf daughter . | 'Bedroom tax' introduced today will cost households £14 a week .
Massive legal aid cuts mean family law cases will not be state-funded .
Biggest NHS shake-up ever as GPs take over commissioning of care today .
Ministers insist system will be 'fairer' but Labour denounces cuts . |
210,207 | 9c3aff38984a6dbafe05c8820d3b50c74926a336 | (Mental Floss) -- Being a product of the Delaware school system, I can't help but love Quakers. My middle and junior high schools were located on a Meeting House Lane. Pacifism, abolitionism and tolerance have always seemed like good ideas to me. And I'm a total sucker for Quaker Oats packaging. Richard Nixon married Patricia in a 1940 Quaker ceremony at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. But the fact is, aside from William Penn and Betsy Ross, I really don't know that many famous Quakers. So I decided to look 'em up. Here's what I found... 1. Richard Nixon . People made such a big deal about Kennedy being a Catholic. So it's interesting to note that old Milhous Nixon was born and raised Quaker. His strict mother instilled conservative Quaker values in him (no swearing, drinking or dancing). When he couldn't afford to go to Harvard (despite earning a scholarship there), he attended Whittier- a local Quaker college where he became class President, started a frat, practiced with the football team, and even spent his Sundays teaching Sunday school to little tykes. 2. Daniel Boone . American settler, hunter, and folk hero Daniel Boone was born and raised Quaker. In fact, his family emigrated to the U.S. from England partially for that reason. What's more interesting, however, is why the Boone family didn't stay within the fold. Apparently, Danny's sister Sarah made waves in the community when she married a non-Quaker. That, in itself, might not have caused a controversy. The fact that she was visibly pregnant at the time did. The family publicly apologized for their daughter's behavior. But after their son Israel also married a non-Quaker, the Boone's became a famiglia non grata and up and moved to Carolina. 3. Joan Baez . If you're wondering how folk singer Joan Baez's religion might have played into her development as a political activist, you might want to take a look at her father's life choices. Albert Baez converted to Quakerism when Joan was a youngster, and despite being a co-inventor of the X-ray microscope and a well-known physicist, he refused to work on the atomic bomb project in Los Alamos, and also turned down lucrative job offers from defense contractors during the Cold War. 4. John Cadbury . If you love Cadbury's chocolates, you definitely owe a note of thanks to the Society of Friends. As a young man, Cadbury hoped to pursue a career in medicine or law. But because Quakers were discriminated against by all of the major universities at the time, John decided to focus on business. Believing that alcohol only exacerbated society's ills, Cadbury decided to focus on a happy alternative: chocolate and drinking cocoas. In addition to his views on temperance, Cadbury was also a bit of an activist. He led a campaign to stop the use of boys as chimney sweeps, and he founded an organization to prevent animal cruelty. 5. James Dean . Sent off to be raised by his father's sister in Fairmount, Indiana, James Dean was raised Quaker. And though the faith may not have played the biggest role in his life or career (there are tales that it was through befriending a Methodist reverend that he was encouraged to pursue his loves of bullfighting, car racing and theater), today he's buried in a Quaker cemetery. 6. Edward R. Murrow . Born in North Carolina to Quaker parents. Amazingly, for the first 6 years of his life, the famed reporter grew up in a log cabin without plumbing or electricity. His parents, who farmed for a living, made only a few hundred dollars a year, at least until they picked up and moved to Washington state. 7. Piers Anthony . While agnostic today, best-selling science fiction author Piers Anthony grew up in a fairly devout family. During the Spanish Civil War his parents left young Piers and his sister to their grandparents care, and then went to "fight" in Spain. In his own words, "my parents were helping to keep those devastated children alive, by importing food and milk and feeding them on a regular basis. It was worthy work, and I don't fault it, but there was a personal cost." 8. Judi Dench . The award-winning actress converted to Quakerism after attending a Friends school. According to Quakernet, she was first attracted to the faith because she loved the school uniforms. 9. Annie Oakley . The sharp-shooting female who was rumored to split playing cards edge-wise, then shoot through them a few times before they hit the ground, grew up a dirt-poor Quaker. In fact, her early skill with the gun came from having to hunt food for her impoverished family. 10. Bonnie Raitt . In her own words, "I grew up... in a Quaker family, and for me being Quaker was a political calling rather than a religious one." 11. Joseph Lister . The British surgeon who promoted cleanliness and sterility (and for whom Listerine mouthwash is named) grew up in a wealthy Quaker family. Of course, this didn't stop him from being discriminated against. In fact, Lister studied medicine at the University of London precisely because it was one of the only institutions at the time which accepted Quakers. 12. David Byrne . According to TalkingHeads.net, the musician to-be was regularly encouraged by his mother's "tolerant Quaker philosophies." That, along with the constant drone of Scottish and American folk music in the house, supposedly played a large role in his eventual career choice. 13. Cassius Coolidge . I really only included "Cash" Coolidge because I have a fondness for his Dogs Playing Poker prints (one used to hang over my puppy's sleeping cushion in my old house). Still, it's pretty interesting to know that the painter was born to abolitionist Quakers in upstate New York, and that he's oft-credited with creating Comic Foregrounds, or those novelty photo scenes you pay $2 to stick your head into, to make your body look muscle-bound at the beach. E-mail to a friend . For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com . Entire contents of this article copyright, Mental Floss LLC. All rights reserved. | President Richard Nixon was raised as a Quaker .
Judi Dench, Bonnie Raitt and James Dean among Quaker entertainers .
Journalist Edward R. Murrow born to Quaker parents . |
137,548 | 3de17446296c3d9f6a011fbc94b982d58bc3f0dd | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 04:24 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:35 EST, 14 October 2013 . Bravery: American John Riordon risked his life to save his Vietnamese co-workers . An American banker risked his life to save his Vietnamese colleagues just days before communist Vietcong guerrillas took control of Saigon. John Riordon rescued over 100 of his colleagues as terrifying rumours spread of a civilian massacre, by pretending they were his wives and children on evacuation forms. They now live prosperous lives as American citizens with children who are doctors and lawyers, and with grandchildren. The tale of bravery began after Mr Riordon was posted as an assistant manager to Citibank in Saigon in 1975. He developed a close relationship with his 34 co-workers and their families and hosted barbecues at his villa. But . that April, just three weeks before Saigon fell - now known as Ho Chi . Minh City - Mr Riordan was ordered by Citibank in New York to burn all . the important files and leave immediately. Reliving . the traumatic time, he told CBS News: 'They said, "John, we've . chartered a 747 Pan Am that's coming in. And we want to take all of your . staff and leave the bank and get out to this plane.'" Mr . Riordan realised that the bank's 34 Vietnamese employees, tellers, . secretaries, accountants would be left in a dangerous situation once he . left - there were rumours of reprisals by the Viet Cong against anyone . working for the Americans. He attempted to draw up a plan with his Citibank bosses in Hong Kong to . evacuate them including trying to send in helicopters and even an oil . tanker. But . after exhausting all possible options, including asking the U.S . government for help, the team were told in no uncertain terms that if . they tried to carry out a daring rescue mission they would be fired. But . then Mr Riordon's immediate boss, Mike McTighe, a former US marine told . told him that one of the pair needed to go back to help. Reunited: Mr Riordon with his his co-workers and their families who he helped rescue from Saigon . Determined: Faced with the prospect of losing his job or saving his friends, Mr Riordon caught the last commercial flight in Saigon in a desperate rescue mission . Faced with the prospect of losing . his job or saving his friends, Mr Riordon caught the last commercial . flight in Saigon in a desperate rescue mission. He . then set about formulating a plan just 11 days before the fall, moving . his former co-workers and their families - 105 in total - into his villa . and another one nearby. Four . days later Mr Riordon was told by a CIA agent that now the only way to . escape Vietnam was on a U.S. military cargo plane that was evacuating . Americans and their dependents. Mr . Riordon reminisced: 'He says, "The evacuation has been begun. Take your . family and go out to the airport and process them through." 'And . I said, 'Well, I don't have a family.' And he said, "Just create a wife . and children, no matter who they are, and go out there and sign the . documents." ' Determined . to try to save the group Mr Riordon took a bank van to an airfield and . filled out a form certifying on a U.S. government document that he had a . Vietnamese wife and 14 children - even though on closer inspection some . of the children were actually older than him. Fall: North Vietnamese soldiers running past destroyed aircraft on the tarmac of Saigon's Tan Son Nhat airport after Communist troops shelled the airport. Several hours later Saigon fell into the the hands of the Communist troops, marking an end to the Vietnam war . Capture: A 30 April 1975 photo shows a line of captured US-backed South Vietnamese Army soldiers, escorted by Vietnamese communist soldiers, as they walk on a Saigon street after the city fell into the hands of the communist troops . Evacuation: The last U.S. Marine helicopter lifts off from the landing pad atop the U.S. Embassy during the evacuation of Saigon . After signing a ceasefire, the last American troops left Vietnam in March 1973, almost 58,000 are dead, and over 1,000 are missing in action. Some 150,000 Americans were seriously wounded. But the unrest continues as southern and northern forces are accused each other of breaking the terms of the truce and fighting continues. The north make progressive gains and the south's defences weaken as the US withdraws aid - Hanoi launches an offensive to gain control of the whole country. The south Vietnamese army crumble faster than expected and millions of refugees fled towards Saigon. On 21 April, the South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigns and flees to Taiwan. Six days later the city was surrounded and on 29 April the US ordered the helicopter evacuation of 7,000 American administrators and South Vietnamese from the city. Refugees battled to join the exodus. The following day, NVA tanks drove unopposed into central Saigon. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. A Vietnamese man, left, is punched by an American while trying to board the last helicopter . He then went and picked the group up and they were flown out of the country to safety. Over . the next four days as fear gripped the city, John repeated this ruse 10 times, filling out papers with . groups of six or eight. The . women and children were all transported out safely, but it was even . more risky to help the husbands that were left behind as they were more . of a target. Mr Riordon managed to get them all fake adoption papers as his sons and they took a U.S. embassy evacuation bus to the airport. But they were terrified when the bus . was stopped at a checkpoint and a Vietnamese police officer stepped on . the bus to carry out an inspection. A . Vietnamese women jumped up and shoved a bag containing a bribe into his . hands and the bus moved on to airport safely. The group were one of . the last to fly out of Saigon - after that the only method of escape were . the helicopters at the U.S. embassy. Later . that week the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army took over and raised . their flag over the South Vietnamese presidential palace . The fall of Saigon, two years after American troops left Vietnam, is seen by many as the final day of the Vietnam war. The Citibank employees were flown out to either Guam or the Philippines and then all reunited at Camp Pendleton in California. Despite defying his company's orders on his return Mr Riordon was hailed a hero and given a bonus. Citibank also spent a million dollars to resettle all the employees, giving them and many of the spouses, jobs. Recently Mr Riordon and his 'family' met up in Long Island - his 'children' call him 'Papa.' Chi . Vu, one of the women he saved told CBS: 'He's so kind, you know, to . stay behind and take-- took us out. He did so much for us. Saved my kids . and my husband.' Tens . of tens of thousands of South Vietnamese civilians associated with the . southern regime were evacuated in the days preceding the capture of . Saigon. The evacuation culminated in Operation Frequent Wind, which was the largest helicopter evacuation in history. | John Riordon rescued over 100 of his Vietnamese colleagues .
Saved them just days before the fall of Saigon in April 1975 .
Riordon pretended over 100 people were his family to get them to safety .
They now live prosperous lives with their children as American citizens . |
20,770 | 3aec09a5a3dce5f221c393603d195f5515d95876 | (CNN) -- Muslim Moro National Liberation Front rebels were holding at least 180 hostages in Zamboanga on the Philippine island of Mindanao as troops continued to pour into the embattled city, Philippine state media said Wednesday. There are also reports that the breakaway group seized between 30 and 37 additional hostages in the city Wednesday morning, said PNA, the state news agency. Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas had earlier told a news conference that about 100 hostages were in the hands of the MNLF rebel forces in Zamboanga. Roxas said almost 13,000 people had been evacuated amid fighting between government armed forces and an estimated 300 armed Muslim rebels in blockaded areas of the city. "The situation continues to be contained," Roxas said. "Government forces continue to come in and adopt a nonaggressive stance," he said, adding that the government's policy was to show restraint during the siege. Read more: Philippine rebels agree to wealth-sharing deal . He confirmed that five hostages were released Tuesday in exchange for food and that the death toll had climbed from six to seven after one of the wounded died overnight. He said 36 people had been injured in the siege. Rebels, he said, had also fired on security forces and government aircraft with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. "We continue to condemn these acts," Roxas said. Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., a military spokesman, said the military was doing everything it could to prevent the violence from spilling over to other parts of the country, PNA reported. He said government forces and the rebels had a sporadic firefight in the Barangay Santa Catalina area Wednesday afternoon. Tutaan also said two rebel fighters were killed and one injured after a reported firefight in Barangay Canelar, the news agency reported. Fire department authorities told reporters that firefighters had been fired on in Santa Barbara, an area in Zamboanga held by the rebels, but there were no reports of injuries. Zamboanga's mayor, Isabelle Climaco Salazar, said in a Facebook post that a curfew would be in place overnight and that public and private schools would remain closed Thursday. Only government offices providing front-line services will operate Thursday, she said. The mayor also urged citizens to report security concerns to authorities rather than posting them on social media "to stop undue panic." She said incidents involving the MNLF were occurring only in the Talon-Talon, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, Kasanyangan, Canela and Mampang areas. The MNLF, a separatist movement founded in 1971 by Nur Misuari with the aim of establishing an autonomous region for Muslims in this mainly Catholic country, signed a peace deal with the central government in Manila in 1996, though some of its members have broken away to continue a violent campaign. Under the terms of the 1996 agreement, Misuari was named as governor of an expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or ARMM. He served until 2001. Last month, Misuari issued a "declaration of independence" for the Moro nation -- referring to Mindanao's indigenous Muslim population -- after complaining that the MNLF had been left out of a recent wealth-sharing agreement with an another insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, which has fought for decades to set up an independent Islamic state on the resource-rich island of Mindanao. CNN's Kathy Quiano and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report. | NEW: MNLF rebels are believed to be holding at least 180 hostages, state media reports .
Philippine troops continue a tense standoff with Muslim rebels in Zamboanga .
Authorities say almost 13,000 people have been evacuated as a result of the fighting .
For decades, separatists have fought for independent Islamic state on Mindanao island . |
150,860 | 4f09b2b5fb8e29e75dbab886671d050250eb33be | Washington (CNN) -- A federal court challenge to a new Arizona law aimed at curbing illegal immigration isn't out of the question, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday. Holder said that the Justice Department was working with the Department of Homeland Security to "decide exactly how we are going to react to it." "We are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of a court challenge," Holder told reporters during questions at a news conference, at which he had announced a settlement with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over its marketing of an anti-psychotic drug. "I think that [Arizona's] law is an unfortunate one," he said. "I think that it is, I fear, subject to potential abuse. And I'm very concerned about the wedge that it could draw between communities that law enforcement is supposed to serve and those of us in law enforcement. " Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who served as Arizona's governor until she took the position with the Obama administration, told a Senate panel Tuesday that she has "deep concerns" with the law. Napolitano said she fears it would siphon away resources that would otherwise be used to pursue individuals who commit major crimes while in the country illegally. "I think these kinds of laws are not value-added to law enforcement," she told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "There's a reason most law enforcement groups ... oppose them." They put an "undue barrier" between victims of crime and law enforcement officials, she said. Napolitano, who served as Arizona's governor before joining President Obama's Cabinet, refused to offer an opinion on the constitutionality of the law. The new law requires Arizona police to determine whether people are in the United States legally if there is a reason to suspect they aren't. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed the controversial legislation into law Friday. Supporters say it is needed to control illegal immigration. The law, scheduled to go into effect 90 days after the close of the state's legislative session, would require immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times. Currently, officers can check someone's immigration status only if that person is suspected in another crime. Critics say the law could foster racial profiling and prompt businesses, conventions and tourists to stay away from the state. The bill has prompted rallies by opponents and supporters, and some prominent politicians in Washington and Arizona have criticized the measure. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, a Democrat, has said he'll file a lawsuit to block the law. Last week, Obama called the legislation "misguided" and said the federal government must act on the immigration issue. "Our failure to act responsible at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe," he said. Napolitano told the Judiciary Committee members that the "passage of laws like [Arizona's] at the state level indicate the need to move forward with comprehensive immigration reform." But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, blamed federal authorities for undermining the push for comprehensive immigration reform by failing to more effectively secure the Mexican border. "Our borders are broken ... [and] there's a war going on" with drug cartels in Mexico that is spilling over into the United States, he argued. "Good people are so afraid of an out-of-control border that they had to resort to a law [in Arizona] that I think is unconstitutional," he said. The federal government has to prove "that we can secure our borders" before Congress can pass an immigration reform bill. Over the weekend, Graham withdrew his support for what had been a bipartisan plan to pass climate change legislation because, he claimed, Democrats were trying to ram through a polarizing immigration reform bill. Some political observers have said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, is trying to push a reform plan in order to boost his standing among Hispanic voters and bolster his re-election prospects in November. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, acknowledged Tuesday that congressional Democrats are divided over how to proceed with an immigration reform bill. He also said House members are expecting the Senate to take the lead in crafting a proposal. "In part, of course, what the people of Arizona are saying is that the feds haven't done their job. I think they're right," he said. But Hoyer criticized the new state law, arguing that it is "very inconsistent with past practices in America. ... We don't go around asking people for I.D. cards." He said it is "very difficult to see how that's going to be carried out in a way that's consistent with the civil liberties of citizens." Napolitano acknowledged that more work has to be done along the southern border, but she also expressed frustration with GOP arguments on border security. She claimed that the overall situation has improved and questioned whether the goal of "securing the border" could ever be fully reached. Napolitano declined to provide a direct answer when asked whether the Arizona law could negatively impact race relations. But "if this law goes into effect," she warned, "there are a lot of questions about what the real impact on the street will be." CNN's Alan Silverleib, Deirdre Walsh and Alexander Mooney contributed to this report. | NEW: Attorney General Eric Holder says federal court challenge is possible .
Homeland Security secretary says Justice Department reviewing measure .
Former Arizona governor says she fears siphoning of resources .
Law requires immigrants to carry their papers at all times . |
57,617 | a34d41543cdac551da46a023a6887e7095c26b52 | Zola Tongo, 34, who is serving an 18-year term, was giving evidence in the trial of Shrien Dewani, who is accused of arranging the murder of his wife . The taxi driver who is in jail for the murder of newlywed Anni Dewani in South Africa claims he fitted child locks on his car to prevent her escaping, a South African court has been told. Zola Tongo, 34, who is serving an 18-year term, was giving evidence in the trial of Shrien Dewani, a bisexual entrepreneur from Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol. Dewani has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnap, robbery with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy to commit these crimes and defeating the ends of justice at Western Cape High Court in Cape Town. Dewani claims the couple were hijacked as Tongo was driving them through Gugulethu township in his minibus on November 13. He was released unharmed and Anni was driven away. She was found shot dead in the abandoned minibus the next morning. It is alleged he arranged the murder of his wife through Tonga. The information concerning the child locks, which prevent a passenger in the rear of the car from leaving, was not in Tongo's original statement, and the driver told the court he had only just remembered it. Dewani's defence lawyer Francois van Zyl said: 'You engaged the child locks.' Tongo said: 'Correct' Van Zyl added: 'That means the accused wouldn't be able to get out.' Tongo added: 'Correct. But I knew they (the gunmen) would do nothing to the accused person.' The court also heard it was 'strange' the taxi driver did not ask Dewani when he would be paid for killing the businessman's wife. Van Zyl had tried to find out what arrangements Tongo allegedly made with his client regarding a 5,000 rand (£283) payment for Anni Dewani's murder on Saturday November 13 2010. Dewani (pictured left in court) was released unharmed and Anni was driven away. She was found shot dead in the abandoned minibus the next morning . According to the prosecution, Dewani's secret gay life and the reputation of his family motivated him to order the contract killing of his new bride, Anni, 28, pictured above, during their honeymoon to South Africa . Tongo said during cross-examination he and Dewani spoke about his commission the day the couple landed in Cape Town, and was told the murder needed to happen the next day. He said he could not remember discussing how he would be paid, which Mr Van Zyl said he found strange because Tongo had described the payment as important. He added he did not know how long Dewani would be in the country. Mr van Zyl said: 'For all you knew, he could have left Cape Town on Sunday morning. You made no arrangements with him as to when and how you would be paid.' After more questions, it was revealed Tongo did not ask about the alleged commission when he and Dewani were sitting together at the Cape Grace Hotel on Sunday morning, hours before Anni's body was found. Tongo said he did not ask because the hotel was busy. The information concerning the child locks, which prevent a passenger in the rear of the car (pictured) from leaving, was apparently not in Tongo's original statement . Mr van Zyl asked Tongo if he tried to get in contact with Dewani before he left the country the following Tuesday. Tongo said he did not. Mr van Zyl said it was only through coincidence that the pair spoke, when Tongo phoned a police officer to complain about journalists bothering him. Tongo did not realise Dewani was in the officer's company. Dewani asked the officer if he could speak to Tongo over the phone. Asked again why Tongo did not try to get hold of Dewani, he eventually said he did not have his contact number. When it was pointed out to him that nothing prevented him from phoning Dewani's hotel, Tongo said he had not thought of that. The prosecution alleges Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking in return for 15,000 rand (£847). Anni Dewani's body was found in Tongo's abandoned shuttle taxi in Khayelitsha on Sunday November 14, 2010. Middleman Monde Mbolombo, a hotel receptionist, was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against his accomplices. Xolile Mngeni is serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni, but died in prison from a brain tumour on October 18. Mziwamadoda Qwabe is serving a 25-year jail term. | Zola Tongo, 34, was giving evidence in trial of Shrien Dewani in Cape Town .
Says he installed locks to stop murder victim Anni Dewani from escaping .
The 28-year-old's body was found in Tongo's abandoned shuttle taxi . |
170,280 | 6867b865a5717e513394ca134e685e6346a600ab | By . Tim Shipman . UPDATED: . 05:16 EST, 13 January 2012 . U-turn: Prime Minister David Cameron has signalled a climbdown in plans to cut child benefit for families where one parent earns more than £42, 375 . David Cameron has signalled there will be a government climbdown over cuts in child benefit for higher rate taxpayers. The Prime Minister said he would try to tackle the unfairness of the plans which will strip child benefit from any family that has just one person earning over £42,375. The plans will cost 1.8million families at least £1,000 a year. The change – due to come into force in April 2013 – has been criticised because couples who both earn just under the threshold will keep the benefit, even if their combined income is substantially more than couples with just one higher rate taxpayer. Mr Cameron yesterday said he wants to get rid of the ‘cliff edge’ where the benefit drops to nothing as soon as one earner tops £42,375. The Prime Minister’s intervention is significant with just three months to go before the Budget since it shows he is determined to water down the plans. However, Treasury sources last night indicated that there is every chance that a change will not be announced in March’s Budget statement even though that risks angering Mr Cameron. The Chancellor could make the move in his autumn statement this year or in the Budget next year before the changes come into force. In an interview with Parliament’s House Magazine, the Prime Minister indicated there could be measures to provide transitional relief for those hit by the plans. He said: ‘Some people say that’s the unfairness of it: that you lose the child benefit if you have a higher rate taxpayer in the family. ‘Two people below the level keep the benefit. So, there’s a threshold, a cliff-edge issue. ‘We always said we would look at the steepness of the curve, we always said we would look at the way it’s implemented and that remains the case, but again I don’t want to impinge on the Chancellor’s Budget.’ Tory MPs are privately urging the Chancellor George Osborne to act in March’s budget in order to spare some families from the pain. Downing Street aides are concerned that the policy has contributed to a fall in support for the Coalition among women voters. Child Benefit, which is usually paid . to a child’s mother, is worth £20.30 a week for the eldest child, and . £13.40 for each subsequent child. About 7.8million families were paid child benefit in 2009-10 at a cost of just under £12billion. Cabinet tussle: The Treasury, led by Chancellor George Osborne, is resisting calls from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to means test Child Benefit as part of the Government's universal benefit . One way of tackling the ‘cliff edge’ drop would be to gradually reduce child benefit payments over time. Alternatively, the payments could first be taken away from second or third children to reduce costs. Other ministers want to see parents of truants and rioters stripped of the payments. The Treasury is resisting a suggestion from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith that child benefit should be means tested as part of the Government’s universal benefit – a move that would automatically end the penalisation of families with one higher rate taxpayer. Mr Cameron said he would not abandon . the plans altogether since he wants the middle classes to shoulder their . share of the burden for paying down the deficit. The . proposals will save £2.5billion a year and the Liberal Democrats have . indicated that any changes would have to raise the same amount of money . for Treasury coffers. He said: ‘If we want to make sure that everyone makes a contribution to dealing with the deficit, that’s why we had to look at measures like taking child benefit away from higher-rate taxpayers. ‘If you look at which parts of the country are most affected by the deficit reduction programme, those in the middle are not the most affected. ‘I know that many middle income families do feel squeezed because inflation has been so high. But actually in terms of making the deficit reduction measures fall fairly, I think it was necessary to make sure that top rate taxpayers were making a contribution.’ | Plans will see it stopped for families where one parent earns over £42,375 .
But Mr Cameron says he wants to get rid of the 'cliff edge' |
199,610 | 8e64f0e3a20ed4bb63c288ea2fa6a8b794833c20 | (CNN) -- The family of a woman who died three years ago wants to know whether she is the victim of a suspect accused of locking up four people in a Philadelphia basement. Maxine Lee, who died in 2008 in Norfolk, Virginia. was a roommate of Linda Weston, the accused ringleader of a group charged with locking up four mentally disabled adults in an apartment's boiler room. "I want police to re-open this. I do," her sister, Tracey Lee, told CNN. Lee said her family believes she died under suspicious circumstances. The suspects are charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, criminal trespass, and conspiracy. The alleged victims were discovered severely malnourished, without food, and left with buckets to go to the bathroom. A landlord discovered them and called police. Maxine Lee died after disappearing several years earlier. She had last worked as a security guard after jobs with the post office and the IRS, her family told CNN. Her relatives didn't know what happened to her until they got a call in November 2008 from Virginia police saying Maxine was dead. She rushed to Norfolk from Philadelphia to get whatever information she could from police. "I was surprised that they weren't at all supportive," Lee said. Lee said police told her they couldn't find Weston or another man who had been in the apartment. When she asked about whether they had any of her sister's belongings, she said police "printed me a map to find her house on my own." "I felt like I was a reporter trying to find out what happened," Lee added. Lee says she was taken to identify her sister's body. "Her hair was falling out," she said. She was told her sister died of acute bacterial meningitis with a contributing factor of malnutrition. Her manner of death is listed as "natural causes." Tracey Lee says her family was devastated. She was frustrated police said they couldn't find the people living with her sister. When she heard Weston's name in connection with the bruised, malnourished, allegedly mistreated disabled woman and three men imprisoned in a basement, she immediately recognized the name. "I said 'it can't be. It can't be.' I was distraught," Lee said. After hearing about Weston's charges, Tracey Lee wonders whether her sister could be another possible victim of Weston's. "I think she played a role (in her sister's death). "Maxine probably went days without water. And if she was so sick, why didn't she take her to the ER?" she said. Norfolk Police tell CNN they're looking at Maxine Lee's case again but haven't formally re-opened it. Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers says they're aware of Maxine Lee's death and her connection to Weston. They've set up a task force to investigate every aspect of the Philadelphia case, looking for more people who might have been victimized by Weston and her co-defendants. Investigators found about 50 different identification cards among Weston's belongings. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told CNN on Monday that Weston had IDs for about 50 people in her possession: "Social Security information, power of attorney information, those kinds of things." "We're looking at everything," Evers said. 'Are these people dead, alive?" He says they have to track down each person and look for any connections to Weston and her three co-defendants. Police say Weston's motive may have been befriending needy victims and eventually ripping off their Social Security checks. The case continued to develop Friday when CNN uncovered new information that shows the Philadelphia case was not the first time Weston has drawn scrutiny for possible Social Security fraud. The Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General confirmed to CNN that it investigated Weston in 2009 for continuing to collect benefits for her roommate, Maxine Lee, after she died of acute meningitis. When the administration finally cut off benefits, Weston appeared at a Philadelphia office seeking to have the benefits reinstated, the Office of Inspector General said in a statement to CNN. The money -- totaling less then $3,000 -- was repaid to the Social Security Administration, the inspector general said. The acknowledgment by the inspector general's office has raised questions about why the Social Security Administration allowed Weston, a convicted murderer, to serve as a "representative payee" for a Social Security recipient. Under Social Security Administration policy, certain individuals convicted of criminal offenses are prohibited from serving as representative payees. The Social Security Administration is reviewing its handling of Weston. After initially asking for questions for comment in writing from CNN, a spokeswoman for the administration declined to provide details of the Weston case, including whether Weston was the representative payee for any of the people found in captivity in Philadelphia. "We are very concerned about this situation. As this is an ongoing investigation, we can't provide you any details at this time," spokeswoman Kia Green said. As for Tracey Lee and her mother, they plan to attend Monday's first public court appearance for Weston and the three other defendants in Philadelphia. "I plan on getting up early and sitting in the first row, " Mary Lee said. CNN's Mike Ahlers and Sarah Hoye contributed to this report. | Maxine Lee, 39, died in 2008 in Norfolk, Virginia .
She was a roommate of Linda Weston, the alleged ringleader of a group of suspects .
The group is charged with locking up four mentally disabled adults in an apartment's boiler room . |
144,170 | 466f040c3c9c1a1697fb58f682c6f592a0ddd78d | By . Sally Lee . Corra Connell has been living with the most devastating mystery for the last eight years. The 30-year-old, from Geelong, Victoria, cannot move her legs, cannot use her arms and can only communicate through slow speech. Doctors are baffled and have been unable to provide a diagnosis. But the most heartbreaking part of Corra's battle is that her illness prevents her from showing the simplest maternal instincts to her one and only child. Corra Connell eight years ago (left) before a mysterious illness took over her body. Doctors haven't been able to diagnose her condition . The 30-year-old is now bedridden and feeds through a tube her mother's home in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne . It all began prior to Corra's pregnancy when she began suffering from an unusually high heart rate and blurred vision, Corra's mother and carer Jen Connell said. 'It just came out of the blue and there weren't many signs leading up to it,' Ms Connell explained. 'But then five months into her pregnancy all she saw was fog and couldn't see.' Upon visiting the eye specialist, Corra was told this was more than just her vision and was referred to a neurologist. There were still no answers and after her daughter Kyra was born, the condition progressed to her legs. 'Corra's legs were very fatigued so she was constantly leaning on something or someone but she couldn't make it very far,' Ms Connell said. 'So I had to be with her all the time and then she had to move back in with me when Kya was about three years old.' Corra is the mother to eight-year-old daughter Kya (right). They are both hopeful that Corra will overcome this illness . Just a day after her 30th birthday, Corra was taken to hospital in a critical condition . Then tremors started in Corra's hands. 'She couldn't sit up right, she lost control and just couldn't support herself,' Ms Connell said. 'So I would have to hold her up when she went to the toilet and she started using a wheel chair. But then we had to get one especially made for her because her chin would drop down. 'I'm virtually Corra's arms, legs and voice.' While Corra still has reflexes in her body, she has been completely bedridden for the past year and feeds through a tube as she's unable to swallow. The young mother reached a critical moment on May 31, just a day after her 30th birthday. 'She was at the edge of life or death,' Ms Connell said. Corra was taken to hospital as she had been suffering from pneumonia. 'The doctors just told us there was nothing left for them to do,' Ms Connell said. 'They were telling us to be prepared. We even spoke with palliative care.' Corra's condition has progressively become worse as she is now unable to use her legs, her arms and can only communicate through slow speech . Corra had to move back in with her mother Jen Connell when Kya was three-years-old . But Corra proved them wrong. 'She's always been strong and always believed that this isn't permanent,' Ms Connell said. 'We're just waiting for someone to open the door with an answer.' While Ms Connell is a full-time carer, she tells of a mother's heartache as she's seen her second youngest daughter deteriorate each day. 'The difficulty for me is to watch her deteriorate little by little and lose her independence,' she said. 'She was a very good singer, great dancer and she was very social and outgoing. She played netball and was very active. Incredibly contrasting from her life now.' Even the simple things in life have become part of Corra's every day struggle. 'I have to scratch her head when it's itchy or if something is in her eye I have to get it out for her,' Ms Connell said. 'But the heartbreaking thing is that she can't raise her daughter and she watches life go on. It's difficult to see that she's losing her place in life.' Jen Connell (right) has been with her daughter every step of the way . Kya is waiting for the day her mum overcomes her illness and finally gets out of bed . Corra is determined to overcome her illness so she can become the mother she's always wanted to be for Kya . Incredibly, Corra remains positive despite living with the mysterious illness which has completely taken over her life. 'The doctors told us they have no answers,' Ms Connell said. 'They just hit a wall. 'But Corra is so good with dealing with it all. So she's my strength.' And her motivation is to finally be the mother she's always wanted to be for eight-year-old daughter Kya. 'She's a beautiful girl and she's grown up very quickly,' Ms Connell said. 'But she's just hanging out for the day her mum gets out of bed. The saddest thing is that Corra can’t easily give her own daughter a hug.' Ms Connell says they all truly believe that Corra will overcome the illness. 'Corra strongly believes that this is a journey she has to be on because there's a reason for everything and there's a purpose for what she's going through,' Ms Connell said. 'Whatever this is, it will just run its course. I don't think Corra's condition is terminal. 'So we are just waiting for a miracle.' ‘It’s often assumed that with our . increased understanding of medicine and progress with genome sequencing, a diagnosis will simply pop up,' Alastair Kent OBE, director of Genetic Alliance UK told MailOnline. The charity, along with its sub-section called SWAN UK - Syndromes Without A Name - offers support and information to families of children with undiagnosed conditions. Mr Kent added: 'However it is surprisingly difficult in many cases to make a diagnosis – we estimate that in the UK alone, there are at least 5,000 families who have a child with an undiagnosed condition. ‘It can be incredibly frustrating and stressful – these people often have a cocktail of difficult problems and their lives are hanging by a thread. They have also been through countless tests which often conclude there are ‘no abnormalities’. ‘That doesn’t mean there’s nothing wrong – it means we don’t understand the significance of these results. Sometimes you get a lot of data but not a huge amount of information. For a diagnosis, you need a previous example to compare it with. Without that, how do you know it’s the same thing? ‘Rare diseases - often caused by . extremely rare genetic mutation - are defined as medical . conditions affecting fewer than 1 in 2,000 people (this is the number the EU uses). The National Institues of Health in the U.S has recently established the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) to help diagnose rare and new diseases and treat those with rare disorders. Dr Eric Green, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, told NBC News: ‘To date, researchers have discovered the . genomic bases of more than 5,000 rare genetic disorders, but we are . still on the hunt for the cause of an additional 2,000-3,000 . single-gene, also called Mendelian, disorders.’ | Doctors have told Corra Connell that they have no answers for her .
It started prior to her pregnancy eight years ago when she began getting high heart rates and blurred vision .
After the birth of daughter Kya, Corra hasn't been able to use her legs .
She also suffers from tremors in her hands, chronic pain in both arms and slow speech .
The 30-year-old is now bedridden and completely reliant on her mother Jen . |
269,714 | e95475663613bef9b4ccc4b01c9104b70250e005 | By . Becky Barrow . and Rob Davies . Business Secretary Vince Cable says headhunters should submit all-women shortlists of candidates for top jobs to solve Britain¿s chronic shortage of female executives . Headhunters should submit all-women shortlists of candidates for top jobs to solve Britain’s chronic shortage of female executives, Vince Cable said yesterday. Just one in five top jobs in the FTSE index of the UK’s 100 biggest public companies are held by women. Yesterday the Business Secretary slammed Glencore Xstrata, the mining giant, for failing to have even a single woman in its boardroom. It is the only company left in the FTSE 100 to still be an all-male club, but has finally pledged to sold the problem by hiring a female director by the end of the year. Speaking to Woman’s Hour on Radio 4, Mr Cable said the lack of women at Glencore is ‘a bit of a disgrace, to be frank’. Later, when asked about headhunters being able to put forward all-women shortlists, he said: ‘You know, we’d like to see that happening.’ Under the Government’s voluntary code, 25 per cent of directors in the FTSE 100 should be women by 2015. When Lord Mervyn Davies established the code in 2011, the figure was just 12.5 per cent, but the latest figures show it has jumped to 20.7 per cent. The attitude of some senior men to female colleagues offers an insight into why so many women are being held back in their careers, and doing jobs which are beneath them. Just four years ago, there were 21 companies in the FTSE 100 which had no women in their boardroom, compared to only one today. Simon Murray, the former Glencore chairman, said in 2011: ‘Women are quite as intelligent as men. ‘They have a tendency not to be so involved quite often and they’re not so ambitious in business as men because they’ve better things to do. In March, a report, commissioned by the Government, said all shortlists should include the name of at least one ¿strongly recommended woman¿. File picture . ‘Quite often they like bringing up their children and all sorts of other things. ‘All these things have unintended consequences. Pregnant ladies have nine months off. ‘Do you think that means that when I rush out, what I’m absolutely desperate to have is young women who are about to get married in my company, and that I really need them on board because I know they’re going to get pregnant and they’re going to go off for nine months?’ Mr Cable said the changes at Glencore are ‘long overdue’, but went onto criticise the firm for the fact that it has ‘consistently failed to act’. He said: ‘The vast majority of Britain’s top companies have got the message that a diverse top management team is good for business. ‘It is simply not credible that one company cannot find any suitable women.’ In March, a report, commissioned by the Government, said all shortlists should include the name of at least one ‘strongly recommended woman’. The report, written by the headhunter Charlotte Sweeney, also called for further investigation into the legality of putting forward women-only shortlists for jobs. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is currently investigating the ‘legality’ of such lists, already used by the Labour party for selecting new MPs. The commission expects to publish its guidance this summer. | Cable also blasts mining company for having no women in boardroom .
Glencore Xstrata is the only FTSE 100 company without a female exec . |
244,581 | c886688cc64502389653d5ca4ec57579b689a628 | (CNN) -- The powerful winter storm that moved across the United States this week, dropping record-breaking snow and spinning dangerous tornadoes on Christmas, isn't over yet. It dumped more snow on the Northeast on Thursday and left behind bitterly cold weather, especially in the South. While the Northeast is used to dealing with heavy snow in late December, some parts of the country haven't seen this kind of weather in decades. Canadians were preparing for the white stuff, too. "If you are in Atlantic Canada ... you are just getting going. If you are in New York City the cold air is coming down the Hudson (River)," CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said. "If you are off to the east, you're still going to get snow in Maine on up into New Brunswick. And that snow could be heavy at times. We're talking about another foot in some spots." Send us your photos and video of ice, snow, storms and sleet. Residents of Little Rock, Arkansas, awoke to a frosty 20-degree morning after Tuesday's record-breaking 9 inches of snow -- the highest Christmas snowfall in 86 years. To navigate the treacherous roads, the Arkansas National Guard deployed four-wheel-drive ambulances to help those needing medical attention in the state's hardest-hit counties. More than 134,000 customers were without power Thursday. The heavy snow and ice overwhelmed trees across Arkansas, where forests cover half the land. "It was very quiet and still outside, except for the crashing of trees in the nearby forest as they succumbed to the weight of a quarter-inch of ice and 10 inches of snow," said Lanny Sutton, who lives in Cabot, outside Little Rock. "The snow is beginning to melt. It's coming off the trees now. We have three trees in the yard with at least two or three limbs broken off each one." Since it swept across the country this week, the storm has killed 10 people, including two children in Arkansas and an 81-year-old Alabama man. He died Thursday of injuries he suffered when a tree fell on his house in Georgiana on Christmas, an official with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency said. A 42-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman in Evansville, Indiana, died Wednesday after wrecking the scooter they were on and being hit by a truck, Police Sgt. Karen Kajmowicz said. In Pennsylvania, a motorist who stepped out of his car and was apparently going to the aid of a stranded drive was stuck and killed by another vehicle on Interstate 78 in Lehigh County, authorities said. As the storm moves across the Northeast, it will deliver plenty of snow in northern New England through Friday, including upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible in central Maine, leading to hazardous roads, forecasters said. In addition, "Strong winds will cause blowing snow to create potentially even taller snowdrifts," Schneider said. "Travelers across New England need to pay close attention to changing weather conditions and low visibility." Caleb Clark, a CNN iReporter in Brattleboro in southern Vermont, called it a 'classic snowstorm.' " "(It is) a nice and fluffy New England snow, not too dangerous and you could walk around without mittens," he said. Clark measured 6 inches of snow -- with more falling -- on top of his car just after 1 p.m. The storm left thousands of passengers stranded after flight cancellations. On Thursday, more than 700 flights were scrubbed, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. The site, which doesn't distinguish between flights canceled for weather and those called off because of mechanical reasons, said airlines canceled more than 1,700 flights Wednesday. Greyhound nixed six routes in the Northeast because of Thursday's snow. Winter storm strands travelers . Here's the damage that the winter storm has brought so far: . Traffic nightmares . The storm triggered multivehicle pileups and other traffic nightmares across in the Midwest. In Ohio, nursing student Carrie Winger saw the aftermath of a fatal wreck in Cincinnati on Wednesday, which left one woman dead. She said she shared a photo of the crash site with CNN iReport to warn other drivers to slow down. "We saw folks driving too fast and too close repeatedly the entire trip today," Winger said. "As soon as we passed this, people were speeding again. They apparently did not realize they had just passed a very immediate and very close encounter of a fatality. It could have been them." Even drivers in the Northeast had a tough time navigating the icy conditions. Jim DeMarino said a normally four-hour drive from Pittsburgh to northern Virginia took eight hours Wednesday, the day after Christmas. DeMarino, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia, submitted photos of what he called a "tricky drive" along highways that were "scattered with abandoned, crashed and disabled vehicles." Tornadoes in Alabama, Mississippi . The same weather system that dumped heavy snow in the Midwest and Northeast spawned as many as 30 tornadoes on Christmas -- some with wind speeds over 100 mph -- across the Southeast. Several of Tuesday's powerful twisters struck Alabama. In Mobile County, David Saraceno spotted something ominous as he sped down Interstate 165 on Tuesday. He was traveling with his wife and 1-year-old daughter to visit family when he saw a tornado on the side of the road. His wife videotaped it. "It looked like it was about two miles away from us," Saraceno said. "I put the pedal to the floor to try and get out of harm's way, but it seemed to be getting closer and closer." Panicked, Saraceno got off the interstate near the town of Chickasaw, drove in a different direction and then turned around to go home. "We drove right back into a path of destruction," he said. "It appeared that the tornado turned and came over the interstate about three minutes away from where we would have been if I did not get off the interstate. We saw a roof that must have blown off a house. Cars were pulled to the side of the road. There was a lady whose windows were shattered. It was too close for comfort." Winter wonderland in Dallas . For others, the winter storm system brought a rare white Christmas. In Dallas, some residents had to change from short sleeves to winter coats Tuesday, as temperatures plummeted from the 60s to the low 20s in one day. "We knew it was going to be a white Christmas in Dallas this year as per the weather advisory, but were not aware it will turn out to be so beautiful and freezing cold," Shail Bhatt said. It's not often that Dallas gets more snow than Chicago, but that's what happened this week. "Sometimes we wear shorts on Christmas in Texas," said Chris Purcell, who told CNN there's still plenty of snow on the ground. "We built a snowman and went (sledding) and had a snowball fight ... all the basics." CNN's Daphne Sashin contributed to this report. | NEW: Weather responsible for 10 deaths, authorities say .
NEW: Some areas might see another foot of snow .
Storm has left thousands of passengers stranded after flight cancellations .
It also triggered multicar pileups and other traffic nightmares across Midwest . |
40,974 | 738448815bcc62dc4c7ae1945583ec297f49db86 | HOUSTON, Texas -- Six-year-old Valentin Marroquin went from being apparently healthy one moment to battling leukemia the next. As his mother Rosario Marroquin started searching for answers, she kept coming back to their Houston, Texas, neighborhood, and the stench that often envelops it. Valentin Marroquin of Houston, Texas, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of six. "We're the stinky neighborhood," she said. "But we've gotten so used to it that we don't know that's just how we smell." The Marroquin family lives in the Manchester area of Houston, next to the Houston ship channel, the largest petrochemical complex in the United States. Day after day, oil refineries and petrochemical companies pump hazardous pollutants, including known cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and 1-3 butadiene, into the air. "I'm not ignorant," Rosario told CNN. "Kids get sick in the country in the fresh air, but this had something to do with it." See the source of the smell they fear » . No one can say for certain that Valentin's illness was caused by the air he breathed, but earlier this year, the University of Texas released a study showing that children who live within two miles of the ship channel have a 56 percent greater chance of getting leukemia than kids living elsewhere. It's the first study showing an association between the channel's air quality and childhood leukemia. The health risks from the shipping canal are not limited to cancer. The chemicals in the air can cause other serious health problems, such as respiratory diseases and birth defects. Tom McGarity, a professor of environmental law at the University of Texas, believes such conditions are allowed to persist because 90 percent of the people who call the ship channel home are Hispanic and many of them are poor. "If these plants were omitting these kinds of levels in River Oaks, it wouldn't be happening, I promise," he said. River Oaks is one of the more affluent communities in Houston. The connection between poverty and poor environmental conditions is not limited to Texas. In many of the countries visited for CNN's "Planet in Peril" documentary, such as Cambodia, Thailand, Madagascar, Chad, China and Brazil, it is the poor and disenfranchised who bear the brunt of environmental burdens. A similar dynamic plays out in the United States, where class and very often race can determine where one lives. In 2005, for example, The Associated Press reported blacks were 79 percent more likely than whites to live in neighborhoods where industrial pollution was suspected of posing the greatest health danger. "It's really mind-boggling that we could kind of write off, you know, a whole section of our society," said Majora Carter, founder of the Sustainable South Bronx, which fights what Carter calls "environmental racism" in New York and around the country. "No one should have to bear the brunt of environmental burdens and not enjoy any environmental benefits, and right now race and class ... really determine the good things like parks and trees or the bad stuff like waste facilities and power plants," she said. Michael Honeycutt, chief toxicologist for the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, says progress has been made in reducing toxins around the Houston Ship Channel. There is "one third less pollution in the Houston Ship Channel this year, compared to last year, because of our approach of bringing companies in, telling them what we want," Honeycutt said. "And we're seeing those reductions." "Our job is to protect human health and the environment," he said. "What's happened is it's issues of timing -- what's a safe level, what's not a safe level." Honeycut said scientists are generating new data all the time and that certain emissions or areas formerly thought to be safe may no longer appear to be. Houston Mayor Bill White has pledged to reduce the level of air toxins for communities along the ship channel. "We will have both the political and legal battle with the industry until we get widespread agreement to do so," White said. A Rice University study released in 2006 showed that Houston has a higher concentration of benzene and 1-3 butadiene than anywhere else in the United States. The annual average of 1-3 butadiene, a carcinogen, was at least 20 times higher than any other city in America. Companies in the ship channel told CNN they've started voluntarily limiting their emissions. They also point out that they haven't broken any laws. There are no laws in either Texas or at the federal level that limit the amount of hazardous air pollutants these companies pump into the air. There is an effort under way to get a law passed in Texas, but Professor McGarity said it's going to be an uphill battle because the oil and chemical industry has deep roots in Texas. "That's going to be reflected at the top among the political appointees who are more part of this, shall we say 'Wild West' culture, where anything goes," he said. Now 10 years old, Valentin's cancer is in remission, and he and his family still live in the neighborhood they think poisoned him, but they are speaking out about their experience. The Maroquins say they haven't left because they can't afford to go anywhere else. "When you're sitting out there, when you're watching them playing, you think, is it going to happen?" Rosario asks. "Are they breathing it now?" E-mail to a friend . | "Stinky neighborhood" in Houston is near huge petrochemical complex .
Located near the Houston ship channel, it has a high rate of leukemia .
Its residents are mostly Hispanic and mostly poor .
Professor says poor bear brunt of environmental burdens . |
202,760 | 92873f5caf50b9221bae7126354b263b00e32640 | (CNN) -- Three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police officers became the first department fatalities since 1995 Saturday morning while responding to a domestic dispute call, Police Chief Nathan Harper said. Law enforcement from several jurisdictions respond to a shooting standoff at Pittsburgh home Saturday. "We have never had to lose three officers in the line of duty at one time at one call," Harper said. Suspect Richard Poplawski surrendered around 11 a.m. outside the Stanton Heights home he shares with his mother after a standoff that lasted nearly four hours and left two more officers injured. Wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with an AK-47, a long rifle and a pistol, Poplawski fired about 100 rounds during the standoff, Harper said. Watch officers respond at the scene » . Poplawski was taken into custody after surrendering to law enforcement. He is expected to face charges of homicide, aggravated assault and other related offenses, Harper said. Officer Paul Sciullo III was the first to approach the home after responding to the scene around 7:05 a.m. He was shot in the head as he entered the doorway. When Officer Stephen Mayhle tried to help his fellow officer, he too was shot in the head, Harper said. Officer Eric Kelly, who rushed to the scene on his way home after finishing his shift, was fatally shot as he attempted to assist his fallen colleagues, Harper said. The shootings triggered a standoff between Poplawski, who was shooting from his bedroom window, and law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions, Harper said. Poplawski opened fire at an Army SWAT vehicle that arrived around 8:30 a.m., preventing them and medics from reaching the wounded policemen. Officer Timothy McManaway also was shot in the hand, the chief said. Another officer, Brian Jones, broke his leg while trying to get over a fence while securing the rear of the house, he said. Some neighbors were evacuated during the standoff. Neighbors reported that the family had caused trouble before and Harper said police had responded to calls from the home two or three times. | NEW: Suspect was wearing bulletproof vest, armed with AK-47, police chief says .
NEW: Third officer killed was on his way home after finishing shift .
Officers were responding to domestic call in Stanton Heights area of Pittsburgh .
Two more officers were injured in the nearly four-hour standoff that ensued . |
234,120 | bb15979d58f3ec44dea50f81559c38d97661afac | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 05:37 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:36 EST, 10 May 2013 . London Zoo has launching an urgent worldwide appeal to find a female mate for the last remaining males of a critically endangered fish species. The Mangarahara cichlid (Ptychochromis insolitus) is believed to be extinct in the wild, due to the introduction of dams drying up its habitat of the Mangarahara River in Madagascar. London Zoo has two of the critically endangered animals, believed to be the only ones left in public collections - but both are male. London Zoo has two of the critically endangered animals - but both are male . Now, the zoo is searching for a mate to save the species, which keepers describe as 'gorgeously ugly'. The Curator of the Aquarium at ZSL . London Zoo, Brian Zimmerman, along with colleagues at Zurich Zoo in . Switzerland set about trying to find other Mangaraharan cichlids in zoos . around the world – using international zoo and aquarium associations to . reach as many experts and aquarists as possible, but had no luck . finding surviving females. The . team at ZSL London Zoo are now launching a desperate appeal for private . aquarium owners, fish collectors, and hobbyists to come forward if they . have or know of any females in existence, so that a vital conservation . breeding programme can be started for the species. Launching . the appeal, ZSL London Zoo’s Brian Zimmerman said: 'The Mangarahara . cichlid is shockingly and devastatingly facing extinction; its wild . habitat no longer exists and as far as we can tell, only three males . remain of this entire species.' The zoos two males are both 12. The Mangarahara cichlid (Ptychochromis insolitus) is believed to be extinct in the wild, due to the introduction of dams drying up its habitat of the Mangarahara River in Madagascar . Have you seen this fish? A rare picture of the female Mangarahara cichlid experts are hunting for . 'It might be too late for their wild counterparts, but if we can find a female, it’s not too late for the species. 'Here at ZSL London Zoo we have two healthy males, as well as the facilities and expertise to make a real difference. 'We are urgently appealing to anyone who owns or knows someone who may own these critically endangered fish, which are silver in colour with an orange-tipped tail, so that we can start a breeding programme here at the Zoo to bring them back from the brink of extinction.' ZSL London Zoo is asking anyone with information about the cichlids to email the team at [email protected] . | Mangarahara cichlid believed to be extinct in the wild .
London Zoo has two specimens - but both are male .
Worldwide appeal launched today to save the species . |
230,612 | b6a1b292f905076fdec27bd09a9f8884fceea7bb | (CNN) -- Five million dollars in five years. That's what CNN Hero Razia Jan's foundation is setting out to raise for its girls' school in Afghanistan. The group will begin rolling out its first-ever large-scale fundraising campaign in January. "It will create a fund so that the girls in Deh'Subz can go to school for free as long as the school exists," said Patti Quigley, executive director of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation. "This will have a huge impact on their future. It would be like investing in a girl for 13 years with one donation." The funds will also help the group create a two-year program for the school's graduates to get certified in teaching, midwifery, computer training or tailoring. A year ago, building a campaign of this magnitude would not have been possible for the group. With only Quigley and Jan handling the bulk of the work, they had little time to focus on the foundation's long-term plan. This year, however, they were able to make significant changes thanks to a special training program created by the Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide. Last December, Jan and other top 10 Heroes from previous years, along with members from their organizations, attended the three-day intensive training designed to help the Heroes' nonprofits build a strong, sustainable foundation for long-term success. Annenberg provided the training -- known as Alchemy -- for free. "We're here as a foundation to invest in visionary leaders so they can improve the quality of life for everyone, and these Heroes embody that perfectly," said Sylia Obagi, director of operations for the Annenberg Foundation. The Heroes underwent a condensed version of the foundation's multiple Alchemy trainings, which typically take place over 13 months. Annenberg, which has trained more than 700 organizations, tailored the program for the Heroes, who often start small and lack background in running a nonprofit. "Getting the (CNN) attention internationally, they're given a gift that cannot be allowed to go by the wayside," Obagi said. "Alchemy helps the Heroes leverage the affirmation and public attention of their work to benefit their organizations and put them on a path towards greater sustainability." David Puckett, who travels to Mexico to provide prosthetic and orthotic care to people in need, translated what he learned at Alchemy into more consistent financial support for his group. "(It) has broadened my view on how to cultivate and sustain relationships with donors," said Puckett, whose group in the first quarter of 2013 raised almost as much as its 2012 annual budget. "I have learned that sharing our mission's vision is not just about telling the story, but that it needs to go more in depth by telling the story with passion in order to involve the potential donor." On the last day of the program, the trainers had one-on-one sessions with each organization and helped them develop a customized plan, prioritize their goals and commit to taking necessary actions toward achieving them. After the training, participants worked for 90 days to implement specific goals. Each Hero then had a follow-up phone call with a trainer to review their progress. Obagi said the trainers specifically commented about the "exceptional motivation" they experienced with the Heroes and that they worked very hard achieving many of the goals. "When we compare them with the regular Alchemy group, they're completing their goals at higher rates," she said. "The steps they're taking, and the partnership they've developed with their board, are moving their organizations in the right direction." Taryn Davis said Alchemy played a strong role in her group's growth this year. She and her American Widow Project nearly tripled the number of workshops and retreats they held for military widows in previous years. "The training gave us the confidence to know that we can take big leaps," Davis said. "They made us be open in our strong suits and our weaknesses. Hearing from other Heroes that their struggles were similar to ours really helped me and our team realize they're not just an issue in our organization." Carolyn LeCroy expanded her organization internationally this year, which she attributes to a lot of what she learned at Alchemy. Her Messages Project, which helps children stay connected to their incarcerated parents through video messages, recently filmed messages with mothers in a Malawi prison and delivered them to their children. "The trainers, speakers and interaction, with the feedback we received, made this one of the best trainings I know I have been to," LeCroy said. "We walked away with stuff that was usable and practical. ... It not only showed us what we could improve on, but how to do it." For Scott Strode's group, which provides free athletic activities and a supportive community for ex-addicts in Colorado, the training helped them bring on new board members with the experience and background needed to scale the program into new communities. "In the spring and early summer, we'll be opening in Orange County, and we've tried to do it very thoughtfully," he said. "Without the training, we may have run at a lot of different opportunities and spread ourselves thin." In addition to the invaluable guidance, many participants were able to build friendships and network with fellow Heroes. "Just being in a room with present and past Heroes who are making a difference was an honor," said Marie Da Silva, whose school in Malawi provides free education for AIDS orphans. "Apart from working nonstop, we had many laughs and an opportunity to meet each other on a personal level, knowing more about each other's work from their hearts." This year, Annenberg is again providing its free Alchemy training as part of the award package for the Top 10 Heroes. Along with a group of past Heroes, they will attend the seminar next month at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The group will be treated to a special evening event under the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which is on display at the Science Center, and an astronaut will address the Heroes. "The kind of vision, aspiration and dreams the individuals who built the shuttle have to have embodies what the Heroes represent as well," Obagi said. "It will be a fabulous night of inspiration that makes us rethink the importance of community service and how to give back, and how rewarding it is when we do." | The Annenberg Foundation is focusing on supporting leaders in their philanthropy .
It customized a special training program for CNN Heroes past and present .
"The training gave us the confidence to know that we can take big leaps," one Hero said . |
28,862 | 51f08f04a240d95a2d75f894095570317ecdfd85 | Kumar Sangakkara reached 12,000 Test runs but bowlers were otherwise dominant on day one of the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Wellington. A total of 15 wickets fell on a green track at the Basin Reserve - four of them to Nuwan Pradeep - as the hosts were bowled out for 221 before Sri Lanka slipped to 78 for five, Doug Bracewell taking three for 23. Sangakkara, though, stood firm on 33 not out having become the fastest player, and the first from his country, to break the 12,000 barrier. He is only the fifth man to achieve the feat. Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (left) is clapped off by New Zealand players after reaching 12,000 Test runs . Sangakkara became the quickest player ever to reach 12,000 Test runs, and the first ever Sri Lankan . But it was a day for the bowlers at Wellington as 15 wickets fell on the first day of the second Test . New Zealand made a steady start after being put in, openers Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford putting on 31 in seven overs before the former was caught behind off Suranga Lakmal. Kane Williamson was the lynchpin of the innings with 69, adding 31 with Rutherford who then gave wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene his second catch. Williamson and Ross Taylor put on 79 before Taylor (35) chopped on to become Pradeep's second victim. Brendon McCullum, who before the match had been presented with the freedom of the city of Wellington, failed to celebrate as he slashed his second ball from Lakmal on to the stumps. New Zealand bowler Jimmy Neesham (right) leapfrogs the wickets but knocks off the bails . Williamson's half-century arrived with an unconvincing edge short of first slip which bounced away to the boundary. It was his eighth four in 75 balls. But he lost further partners in Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling before becoming the seventh man out as he went in similar fashion to McCullum and Taylor, bowled off the inside edge. Tim Southee became Pradeep's fourth victim and Bracewell was last man out after an enterprising last-wicket stand of 26 with Trent Boult. Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne edged Boult to slip and Kusal Silva joined the ranks of batsmen playing on, though in unfortunate fashion as a defensive push at Bracewell came off the toe end, bounced up and looped onto the top of his stumps. Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara bats during day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand . But Sangakkara tucked Boult through the leg side for two to reach his landmark, joining only Indian pair Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis. The scoreless Lahiru Thirimanne almost immediately fended Bracewell to McCullum at short cover and Angelo Mathews made 15 before edging Southee to keeper Watling. Jayawardene joined Sangakkara to see Sri Lanka through to the close, making six before falling in the final over to end the day's play. Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimanne (left), Dinesh Chandimal (centre) and Dimuth Karunaratne celebrate a wicket . | New Zealand were bowled out for 221 in first innings at Wellington .
Sri Lanka closed on 78 for five at end of first day of second Test .
Kumar Sangakkara reached 12,000 Test runs, the first Sri Lankan to do so .
A total of 15 wickets fell on a green track at the Basin Reserve .
Nuwan Pradeep took four wickets for Sri Lanka as New Zealand struggled . |
269,461 | e909cc5c1f315c63b4c7a6c164e919f5f61d6563 | (CNN) -- It has been more than a year since the United States government withdrew its ambassador to Syria and closed its embassy in Damascus. On Thursday, that ambassador returned to the region along with a U.S. delegation, touring a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey to bring more attention to the growing humanitarian crisis. As the civil war has intensified in Syria, hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and other neighboring countries. Ambassador Robert Ford gave an exclusive interview to CNN's Ivan Watson and described what the U.S. is doing to help the refugees and the Syrian opposition. Ivan Watson: The U.S. has given $210 million in aid (to Syria), but I think that there is a perception problem because no one can actually point at what that help is. So people conclude there is no help. Robert Ford: The assistance is going in. It's things like tents, it's things like blankets, it's things like medical equipment, but it doesn't come in big boxes with an American flag on it because we don't want the people who are delivering it to be targeted by the Syrian regime. The regime is going after and killing people who are delivering supplies. You see them bombing even bakeries and bread lines. So we're doing that, in part, to be discrete. The needs are gigantic. So even though a great deal of American materials and other countries' materials are arriving, the needs are still greater. And that's why we're going to Kuwait to talk to the United Nations and to talk to other countries about how we can talk together to provide additional assistance. Watson: The head of the Syrian National Coalition, which the U.S. government has backed, came out with a statement very critical of the international community, saying we need $3 billion if you want us to have any say on events on the ground inside Syria. Where is that money? Ford: (Sheikh Ahmed) Moaz al-Khatib is a good leader, and we think highly of him and we have recognized his (coalition) as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. And, of course, he wants to get as many resources as possible because of the humanitarian conditions that I was just talking about. Especially the ones inside Syria. But we also, at the same time, have to build up those (aid) networks I was talking about. In some cases, they start out with just a few people. We don't need just a few people, we need hundreds of people, thousands of people on the inside of Syria organized to bring these things in. And so step by step, the Syrians, Moaz al-Khatib and his organization, need to build that capacity. We can help build it, we can do training and things like that. But in the end, Syrians have to take a leadership role in this. Watson: Is Washington giving money to the Syrian National Coalition? Ford: We absolutely are assisting the (coalition), with everything from training to, in some cases, limited amount of cash assistance so that they can buy everything ranging from computers to telephones to radios. Frankly, if not for the American assistance in many cases, the activists inside Syria wouldn't be in contact with the outside world. It's American help that keeps them in contact with the outside world. Watson: But, how much assistance has this coalition gotten from the U.S.? Ford: So far, we've allocated directly to the coalition in the neighborhood of $35 million worth of different kinds of equipment and assistance. And over the next few weeks, couple of months, we'll probably provide another $15 million worth of material assistance. Watson: Washington recently blacklisted Jabhat al-Nusra, the Nusra Front, calling it a terrorist organization even though inside Syria, it has attracted a lot of respect for its victories and for comparative lack of corruption compared to many rebel groups. How has blacklisting the Nusra Front helped the Syrian opposition? Ford: We blacklisted the Nusra Front because of its intimate links with al Qaeda in Iraq, an organization with whom we have direct experience, which is responsible for the killings of thousands of Iraqis, hundreds of Americans. We know what al Qaeda in Iraq did and is still doing, and we don't want it to start doing that in Syria -- which is why we highlighted its incredibly pernicious role. I think one of the things that our classification of Nusra as a terrorist group did is it set off an alarm for the other elements of the Free Syrian Army. There was a meeting of the Free Syrian Army to set up a unified command, (and) Nusra Front was not in that meeting -- which we think is the right thing to do. As Syrians themselves understand that Nusra has a sectarian agenda, as they understand better that Nusra is anti-democratic and will seek to impose its very strict interpretation of Islam on Syria -- which historically is a relatively moderate country in terms of its religious practices -- as Syrians understand that better, I think they will more and more reject the Nusra Front itself. Watson: But I've seen the opposite. As I go into Syria, I hear more and more support and respect for the Nusra Front, and more and more criticism for the U.S. government each time I go back. Ford: I think that people, Ivan, are still understanding what Nusra is. I have heard criticism from the Nusra Front from people like Moaz al-Khatib who, in Marrakesh (Morocco) in his speech, said he rejected the kind of ideology which backs up Nusra. ... We have heard that from the senior commander of the Free Syrian Army as well. And so the more people understand inside Syria what Nusra is and represents, I think they will agree that is not the group on which to depend for freedom in Syria. Watson: Do you think the U.S. government could have done more? Ford: I think the Syrians, as I said, are the ones who will bring the answer to the problem -- just as in Iraq, Iraqis brought the solution to the Iraq crisis, to the Iraq war. The Americans can help, and we helped in Iraq, but ultimately it wasn't the Americans. Despite our help, it was Iraqis. In Syria, again, it has to be Syrians who find their way forward. Twenty-three million Syrians need to find their way forward. We can help, and we are helping: $210 million in humanitarian assistance, $50 million to help the political opposition get organized for the day after (Bashar) al-Assad goes. These are important bits of help. But ultimately, it's not the American help. It's the Syrians themselves. | The U.S. ambassador to Syria says the U.S. has provided $210 million in humanitarian aid .
The assistance has to be discrete, he said, to protect workers from being targeted .
Washington has also provided $35 million worth of assistance to Syria's political opposition .
Ambassador: We can help, but it's up to Syrians to find their way forward . |
255,126 | d63c8b9e5f15daf581bfe343f7d84b62026f7679 | (CNN) -- Women spend every day juggling bosses and birthday parties, dates and diapers, but when was the last time you had a day to do what you want to do, obligation-free? How about four? Enter Campowerment, a retreat for women to, as they put it, "escape, unwind and reignite your flame; to renew and re-energize, however you choose to do it." Translation: Me time. Big-time. It was founded by Tammi Fuller, an Emmy award-winning TV producer, who calls camp her "happy place" and dreams of being a camp director full time. Campowerment offers a variety of activities for body, mind and spirit. "We go out of our way not to make it spiritual," Fuller says, "because there are so many retreats like that. It's all there, but it happens naturally. We say it's a life-changing weekend for some people, but what that is is different for everyone. Some people don't even know what they need when they get there. "That's what we hear, 'I didn't even know how badly I needed it.'" The camps are held in Malibu, California, and Ocala, Florida, with an upcoming session being planned in New York next year. The four-day weekend costs $975 for all lodging, meals, snacks, alcohol and activities. Let me get a few things out of the way: I didn't pay to attend. I was at camp as reporter invited by the organizer. Although I loved summer camp as a kid, these days I'm not what you'd call a joiner. My emotions run deep, but I don't typically share them with just anybody. And I fantasize about chucking my life and living like a hippie, but for now I enjoy both privacy and luxury of all varieties. My approach to the weekend was to think of it as a very cool work assignment, and the limited cell reception would give me an excuse not to check e-mail. I didn't expect to love it and I certainly didn't expect to be changed by it. But then the alchemy of being in nature with a group of amazing women kicks in. I met women who loved summer camp as a kid, and wanted to relive the days of youth; moms who celebrated a milestone birthday away from the stress of daily life and others who just wanted a getaway. Our days were filled with yoga and fitness, parenting and relationship workshops, life coaching, healthy cooking demonstrations, energy healing, journaling, astrology and palm reading, fashion and style advice, as well as sing-alongs, s'more roasting, a sex toy party and happy hour featuring vodka-soaked gummy worms. You're participating in activities (or not -- everything is optional) that push you out of your comfort zone physically and emotionally, and supporting one another in the process. Before I knew it, all of my defenses melted and gave way to deep bonding. In fact, I was so present that, with apologies to my editor, I kinda forgot I was there to write. "It was so nice to just be with other women and share our stories," says Selena Long, 40, a stay-at-home mother of two from of Scottsdale, Arizona. "It made me a happier person. I felt renewed and like I am not alone." "It was amazing to see strong friendships form after only three days," says Jill Brody Sundahl, 45, an entertainment marketing consultant from Studio City, California. "I was more open with sharing feelings than I thought I might be with complete strangers." The idea for Campowerment started in 2001 when Fuller's friend invited her over for wine and chocolate with four other women, none of whom knew anyone but the hostess. "Apparently we were all bitching and moaning to her about the same things," Fuller recalls. "We were working too hard, we were not working out enough, we were all making more money than our men, we were giving our kids too much and not taking anything for ourselves, we were taking care of our aging parents, we were trying to figure out 'What's this spiritual thing?' and if there's really a god and everything happens for a reason, why the hell am I so miserable? "Because we didn't know each other, it was the theory of sitting next to the stranger on an airplane: We started to talk about things like guilt and relationships and sex and stuff that is normally off-limits in your world. It was a place to share common experiences; to go and dump in a safe space. There was unconditional acceptance and no judgment at all." The group's meetings eventually grew longer, and their lives more intertwined. The gatherings were so therapeutic, the women decided to share their stories in the hope that it would have the same effect on others. They also organized retreats, originally dubbed Camp Bombshell. Fuller refined the program over the years. The April Campowerment session I attended was the 19th camp she's produced, and every camp lineup is different. At ours, a reading led by Mary Ann Zoellner, co-author of "Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us," found a roomful of mothers laughing for an hour straight in both recognition and relief as they shared stories of their own so-called s--tty parenting. One woman sometimes keeps her kids up past their bedtime so she can sleep late, one lies about dead batteries -- even on toys that don't run on them -- when she doesn't feel like dealing. Another accidentally left her sleeping infant upstairs when she and her husband went to a movie for the first time after the baby was born. "It made me realize there are so many moms out there like me and we aren't s--tty, but truly great moms who aren't perfect," Sundahl says. "It was highly amusing and it felt good to laugh from the belly," says Tina Ryder, 42, a daycare business owner, from Scottsdale, Arizona. The centerpiece of the Campowerment experience is the ropes course, which involves traversing an elevated balance beam and swinging off Tarzan-style when you reach the other side, or climbing a 35-foot telephone poll and jumping off onto a trapeze, AKA the "leap of faith." "I loved the 'leap of faith,'" Long says. "It was scary, emotional and invigorating. So freeing." "We've got these hot coaches offering encouragement," Fuller says. "You don't realize you're about to be transformed because you just think, I just have to get across that beam or to the top of that pole. But when you get to the top, all of a sudden, you're raw. You're standing looking at the ocean. You're so proud of yourself and can't believe you did it." That's when the coaches start asking you questions: What do you love about your life? What do you want to leave behind? What's not working for you? What are you afraid of? "Who thinks about that?!" Fuller says. "Now you're standing on the top of the world with people on the ground cheering for you. There's something magical that happens from the unconditional support you're getting from people that 48 hours before you never even knew that bonds everybody instantly. Everybody is so happy for each other." Before Campowerment, I was perfectly content for my thrills with poles to take place at sea level. See, I mistook the "leap of faith" for a physical adventure that I wasn't particularly interested in, but would be mad at myself for skipping. Instead, it was an unexpected confrontation with -- and then triumph over -- my limiting beliefs. My brain tried every excuse to keep me from reaching the top, all of which basically boiled down to: What if you try and you fail? It's a recurring negative thought that has prevented me from taking other risks in my life. Through sheer force of will that this time be different, and the encouragement from the women below, I reached the top with a new outlook on life: The view is breathtaking, and you're supported even if you fail. "I did the swing and it was fun and all, but the ladies who did the pole brought me to tears every time," Ryder says. "I felt like I was going through all their emotions with them -- with my feet firmly on the ground -- and fighting for them to overcome whatever challenge they were struggling through." "The leap of faith was a game changer for me," says Alison Manzardo, a 40-year-old mother of two. "I have never done anything like that before. It was a raw fear that I pushed through. I felt supported and found a courage that I didn't know existed." Of course, Fuller did. "We didn't just pull the experts off the street," she says. "I spent months building this team. They're well-heeled in what they do, but more importantly, I've been helped personally by them and I just want to share with people the stuff that's helped me. "I'm a 53-year-old single mother, workaholic, camp-obsessed person," she says. "I'm every woman. I'm 10 pounds overweight, I'm struggling to juggle my life, I want more in the way of money, I want more love, I want to be able to share and have joy every day, I want to have children who contribute to the planet, I want more out of my life." Now, at least for one weekend at a time, we can. | Campowerment retreat draws women to a grown-up version of summer camp .
Activities include archery, yoga and the "leap of faith," a jump from a 35-foot pole .
Also: s'more roasting, happy hour sing-alongs, a sex toy party .
Camper: "It was so nice to just be with other women and share our stories" |
172,722 | 6b876fdbf2421eb6fd3afed4346e53f55de06ade | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 82nd birthday Saturday with a parade and military ceremony known as "Trooping the Color." Britain's Queen Elizabeth attends the Derby Festival at Epson Downs horse race course on June 7. The queen's birthday is actually April 21, but she officially celebrates it every year on a Saturday in June when good weather is more likely, according to Buckingham Palace. During the ceremony, which is open to the public, the queen inspects the troops. They then march past the queen, who rides in a carriage back to the palace. The Royal Air Force then conducts a colorful fly-past over Buckingham Palace while the queen and her family watch from the balcony. The queen has attended Trooping the Color every year of her reign except for one -- 1955, when a national rail strike canceled the event, the palace says. The ceremony gets its name from a tradition where colors of the battalion were carried, or "trooped," down the ranks so they could be seen and recognized by the soldiers, Buckingham Palace says. | Queen's April birthday is celebrated in June to enjoy good weather .
Parade, military ceremony will mark royal birthday .
Troop inspection, flyover by Royal Air Force, part of ceremonies . |
256,109 | d784b596a14663709a0a1367ab05910d52829ddd | (CNN) -- Days of heavy rain have led to flooding in southwestern England and parts of Wales and at least one fatality, British authorities said Sunday. The UK Environment Agency posted a severe flood alert for the town of Helston, in the southwestern county of Cornwall, where the River Cober was rising over its banks, and warned towns across England and Wales to prepare for more high water. In Exeter, in neighboring Devon, a woman was killed when a tree fell on her Saturday night, the Devon and Cornwall Police Service reported. The Environment Agency said more than 800 properties have flooded since Wednesday. And the Met Office, the UK's national weather service, said more rain is forecast for the area -- but the wettest weather will be in the north. "We can expect between 30 and 40 millimeters (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches) of rain falling in many areas and up to 70 millimeters (2 3/4 inches) of rain in parts of northeast England, continuing the risk of further flooding and travel disruption," forecaster Eddy Carroll said in a news release. On Twitter, Prime Minister David Cameron called the scenes of flooding "shocking" and said his government would make sure "everything is being done to help." The region has seen four days of non-stop rainfall that has capped months of heavy precipitation, including the wettest April-June period on record. More than 225 areas stretching from Cornwall through the Midlands region to the northeastern coast were under flood warnings Sunday afternoon as the latest system moved through, the Environment Agency said. Officials warned residents to use the daylight to prepare for more flooding Sunday and into the early hours of Monday. CNN's Susannah Palk and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: More rain, flooding forecast for Sunday .
Flood alerts posted across England and Wales after days of rain .
A falling tree kills a woman in southwestern England .
Cameron pledges help for the stricken region . |
255,157 | d647d523723f6b528fb91e2427374eb38edc9c78 | A Louisiana man who wears a tinfoil helmet to stop signals entering his head was arrested after threatening to torch four high schools. Shane Kersey, 35, was tracked to a friend's house in Lafitte by detectives after he left a message making the threat at four Westbank schools. Sherriff's spokesman Colonel John Fortunato says the phone threats to burn down the schools were received early Wednesday morning. The threats led to lockdowns and the evacuation of one school, reports WWL. Threat: Louisiana man Shane Kersey, wearing his tinfoil hat, threatened to burn down four schools. Police tracked his phone and arrested him . 'Upon reviewing the numerous recordings left on Fisher High and Marrero Academy's phone answering systems, our investigators were able to determine a phone number from where the calls originated,' Fortunato said. 'Shortly thereafter, our investigators called the phone number and in turn were greeted by a subject who identified himself as Shane Kersey. 'When questioned relative to the threatening phone calls at the schools, Kersey admitted making the phone calls to four schools this morning, two in Jefferson Parish and two in Plaquemines Parish.' He told officers he was at friend's home in Gretna, where he was then arrested. Fortunato says Kersey told investigators: 'The foil wrapped around his head secured by a baseball cap was there to prevent microwave signals from entering his head.' Authorities say a search found no threatening devices at the schools. The Marerro Academy in Louisiana, one of four schools Kersey left messages at threatening arson . According to police, Kersey has an extensive criminal record with multiple arrests for possession of narcotics, simple burglary, aggravated battery, criminal trespassing, theft, illegal possession of a weapon and numerous traffic offences. Kersey was charged with two counts of terrorising, along with being a fugitive from Plaquemines Parish on a burglary warrant. A notice on Marrero Academy's website read: 'A threatening call was recorded by our answering machine at 5:56 A.M. The proper authorities were notified, including the fire department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. 'As per our crisis plan, all carpool and bus students were diverted from campus. Out of an abundance of caution the school was locked down, giving the authorities time to complete an assessment. 'After we received clearance, the bus students returned and normal school operations resumed. All precautions were taken because the safety of our Marrero Academy students is of utmost importance.' | Shane Kersey, 35, phoned the schools and threatened to torch them .
Police tracked his phone and he confessed .
When arrested he was wearing a tin foil hat to deflect microwave signals . |
153,338 | 521ff5b15f66050dec8c82262ffca1da9ce47d3e | British families are still poorer than they were six years ago - and the economy is not growing as fast as first thought, official figures revealed this morning. The Office for National Statistics this morning revised down its economic growth estimates for five of the last six quarters. It means the economy is just 2.6 per cent bigger than at the same time last year, down from a previous estimate of 3 per cent. But the ONS said despite the economic growth people are still poorer than they were at the time of the economic crash. People's disposable income has remained 'flat' since 2012 'and remains 5.6 per cent below pre-economic downturn levels', the ONS said . People's disposable income has remained 'flat' since 2012 'and remains 5.6 per cent below pre-economic downturn levels', the ONS said. It also revealed that GDP per head – measuring the nation's wealth divided by the number of people in the country – was 1.8 per cent below 2008. Shabana Mahmood, Labour's Shadow Treasury Minister, said the new figures were 'concerning'. She said: 'Growth has been revised down for five of the last six quarters, exports continue to disappoint and business investment fell in the last quarter. 'The Chancellor has totally failed to rebalance the economy as he promised. And working people are still not feeling the recovery with wages sluggish and average earnings in real terms down £1600 a year since 2010.' She added: 'Labour's economic plan will ensure we earn our way to rising living standards for all, not just a few. Alongside sensible spending cuts and ensuring those with the broadest shoulders make a greater contribution, that's the way to get the deficit down in a tough but balanced way.' The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew 0.6 per cent in the first three months of the year - and for the second quarter it was 0.8 per cent, down from 0.9 per cent. Third-quarter growth was unchanged at 0.7% though it saw the best growth in household spending for four years. But business investment narrowed at its sharpest rate in five years. The changes mean the recovery is not as far advanced as previously thought. The latest figures took into account new information covering trade data, government spending and other parts of the economy. The recovery is not as far advanced as previously thought, with the economy now 2.9 per cent bigger than it was before the recession, rather than 3.4 per cent . The latest figures, while disappointing, show that Britain is outperforming the rest of Europe - but still lagging behind the US . Household spending in the third quarter grew by 0.9 per cent, its strongest rate since the second quarter of 2010. But business investment fell by 1.4 per cent, revised down from a previous estimate that it shrunk by 0.7 per cent. The new figure was the worst performance since the second quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, the UK current account deficit widened to £27 billion in the third quarter, equal to a record 6 per cent of GDP. | Office for National Statistics revises down economic growth estimates .
But disposable incomes have remained 'flat' since 2012, figures show .
People's are 5.6% poorer than at the time of the 2008 crash, the ONS said .
Official figures also revealed that GDP per head is 1.8% below 2008 . |
163,080 | 5ee1c51d48d54ed3ede24e40405cbf3099639a74 | A high-rolling poker player who duped two major banks in a £750million fraud so he could fund a Champagne lifestyle has been ordered to pay back just £3million. Flamboyant fraudster Achilleas Kallakis, 46, conned lenders into advancing enormous loans to buy 16 landmark properties across the UK during the property boom. The buildings included the £225m headquarters of the Daily Telegraph in London and a £100m Home Office building in Croydon. Kallakis - the nephew of a Greek shipping magnate - teamed up with 'prolific forger' Alexander Williams, also 46, to swindle the Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of Scotland. Fraudster Achilleas Kallakis, 46, pictured left, team up with Alexander Williams, pictured right, to carry out a £750m fraud during the property boom - but the pair have been ordered to pay back less than £3.5m . The pair operated out of a Mayfair office as the Pacific Group of Companies and duped lenders into advancing loans totalling £766m on the back of forged or false documents. Dubbed 'The Don' after winning $1m in a poker game, Kallakis then blew millions of pounds on an extravagant lifestyle. The father-of-four - who called himself 'his excellency' and claimed to be a San Marino ambassador - bought a private jet for £27m, a helicopter for £5.2m and a luxury yacht which was moored in Monaco. He also owned a fleet of chauffeur driven Bentleys, a villa in Mykonos and a sought-after property in Brompton Square, Chelsea. Last year, Kallakis, from Chelsea, was jailed for seven years after being convicted of two counts of conspiracy to defraud banks. Williams, from Fulham was locked up for five years. But today Kallakis was ordered to pay just £3.25m of the money he obtained during the elaborate scam. Dubbed 'The Don' after winning $1m in a poker game, Kallakis blew millions of pounds on an extravagant lifestyle . He has now been ordered to pay £3.25m within six months, or serve a default sentence of seven years imprisonment . If he does not pay the money within six months, he will serve a default sentence of seven years in jail the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said. Williams had received a confiscation order of £477,474.25 earlier this month, payable within six months. He will be jailed for three years if the amount is not paid. From 2003 to 2008 the pair used forged documents from fictitious Hong Kong based property developer SHKP, sham legal letters and bogus guarantees to apply for loans on high value commercial property. As well as purchasing the Daily Telegraph building in Buckingham Palace Road for £225m, they also bought a 23-storey building in Vauxhall, south London, for £75million. The property portfolio also included several sought-after properties in Mayfair and Knightsbridge - two of the most affluent areas in London - as well as buildings in Sussex, Liverpool and Reading. St James Square was one of the 16 properties Kallakis acquired during his five-year spending spree . Another property in central London, left, and the Home Office building in Croydon, south London, right, were another two of the properties Kallakis bought through fraudulent bank loans . The Telegraph Media Group headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road was bought for a reported £225million by Kallakis during the scam . The fake guarantees, said to cover the rental income from the buildings, led to increased valuations and generated a £77m surplus. A further £114m put up by AIB and due to be paid in in reverse premiums - incentives for SHKP - was also plundered by Kallakis and Williams. They also duped the Bank of Scotland into parting with £26million in 2007 for the conversion of a ferry into a luxury yacht. The banks eventually lost nearly £60million when the scam collapsed. Following a retrial lasting almost four months, both were jailed and disqualified from acting as company directors. Kallakis and Williams were convicted in 1995 of selling bogus titles to wealthy Americans including current US congressman for the Louisiana 7th District, Charles Boustany. Their victims were attracted by the ultimate step in upward mobility and believed they would receive priority on the Queen's social list. Kallakis bought a private jet for £27m, pictured right, and also owned a fleet of Bentleys, left (file pics) He owned a villa in Mykonos, pictured, as well as property in Brompton Square, Chelsea, and Monaco, where he is said to have been a member of Prince Albert's charitable foundation (file pic) Police then tracked the pair, who travelled by Concorde, through their BA Airmiles. They were fined and sentenced to 160 hours of community service. Both Kallakis and Williams changed their names after the peerage fraud - Kallakis was formerly known as Stefanos Kollakis, while Alexander was previously called Martin Lewis. Williams had also been convicted in February 1993 of using the names of dead people to obtain British passports. Mark Thompson, head of the SFO's proceeds of crime division, said today: 'The SFO is committed to ensuring that fraudsters do not retain the benefit of their crimes. 'Following a lengthy and challenging confiscation investigation by the proceeds of crime division, the court has made a substantial order against Mr Kallakis. We will take steps to make sure the order is satisfied within the period set by the court but if he does not pay, he faces a further lengthy term of imprisonment.' | Achilleas Kallakis, 46, fooled bankers into giving him loans to buy properties .
Alexander Williams helped forge financial guarantees from fictitious investor .
Bought lavish buildings in Mayfair and Knightsbridge during property boom .
Owned £27m private jet, £5m helicopter and superyacht moored in Monaco .
Kallakis jailed for seven years and Williams for five years in January 2013 .
Dubbed The Don, he was regular in casino circle as high-stakes poker player .
Today Kallakis was ordered to pay back £3.25m - Williams must pay £477,000 . |
32,476 | 5c546d8d0e6ac20efe2ba4ee18ba452d6825b72a | (CNN) -- Cruz first. Carson second. Sound familiar? If it does, it's because for the second year in a row, the duo clinched the top two spots for the presidential choice vote in the buzzy Values Voter Summit straw poll. Last year, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas beat Dr. Ben Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon and Fox News contributor, by a whopping 29%. On Saturday, Cruz beat Carson just by 5%. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania rounded out the top four, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul tied for fifth place with 7% of the vote. To further the case that not much has changed, this year's results for the vice presidential choice also mimicked last year's, with Carson coming in first and Cruz coming in second. In a small twist, Jindal beat out Rep. Michelle Bachman for the third place title. She and Santorum took the fourth and fifth place spots in the race this year. Poll participants at the Values Voter Summit were also asked to rank their top three most important issues. To little surprise amongst the conservative crowd, protecting religious liberty was deemed the most important issue by an overwhelming margin, while abortion and national security followed as the next most important issues. Announcing the results, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a conservative public policy and lobbying organization that sponsors the Summit, noted that participation was up this year from last, likely due to the upcoming midterm election. "It actually shows that there is more engagement of core conservatives in the process when they have a reason to be," Perkins said. "The evidence here is quite clear, that when conservatives have someone who will speak clearly, concisely -- a conservative message that embraces all elements of conservatism -- they gain enthusiastic support." Voters were also allowed to write-in candidates that they thought were deserving of a vote if they weren't included in the list of 24 elected officials selected. Notable write-ins included Christian evangelist and missionary Franklin Graham for President. The Values Voter Summit is holding its 9th annual political conference in Washington through Sunday. The meeting draws thousands of conservative politicians and activists nationwide to hear speeches from featured guests and vote in the annual straw poll. | At the annual Values Voter Summit, Ted Cruz won the straw poll .
The results were similar to a year ago .
Cruz got the most votes, followed by Dr. Ben Carson . |
281,849 | f91a988cbae23ce823b9e329f142545aa2e8dd3b | Sam Burgess scored his first Aviva Premiership try for Bath as the title contenders brushed off Recreation Ground visitors Wasps in bonus point fashion. Former rugby league star Burgess struck 45 minutes into the contest, which highlighted his most effective performance since he entered the union code as a second-half substitute against Harlequins six weeks ago. The high-profile union convert proved a prominent figure in attack and defence as Bath triumphed 39-26 on the back of further tries from flanker Francois Louw, wings Semesa Rokoduguni and Matt Banahan, plus substitute Ollie Devoto, while fly-half George Ford kicked 14 points. Sam Burgess celebrates his first Aviva Premiership try for Bath in their win over Wasps . Burgess crosses in the 45th minute as second-placed Bath triumph 39-26 over the play-off hopefuls . Burgess gave his most complete performance in rugby union to date in attack and defence . Burgess shows a left-handed fend that made him such a menace for rugby league defences before his switch . Play-off challengers Wasps collected a losing bonus point, which had looked unlikely when they trailed 39-12. Late scores by Ben Jacobs and Alex Lozowski added to earlier touchdowns from Alapati Leiua and number eight Nathan Hughes, while Lozowski booted two conversions and Andy Goode one. Bath's latest league win meant they moved just one point behind leaders Northampton following Saints' 20-7 loss against Sale Sharks on Saturday. And it gave them just the lift they required after last Sunday's defeat at Leicester before resuming European Champions Cup business with a crunch pool clash in Toulouse next weekend. Bath showed a number of changes from the side beaten by Leicester at Welford Road six days ago, including starts for centre Jonathan Joseph, prop Nick Auterac and number eight Leroy Houston. Semesa Rokoduguni (left) speeds away from Wasps' Josh Bassett to run in Bath's opening try at The Rec . Rokoduguni's fellow winger also got on the board with this try which Joe Simpson couldn't prevent . Wasps were forced into a late switch when wing Sailosi Tagicakibau was sidelined by a strained hamstring, so Josh Bassett was promoted to the starting line-up. Burgess was prominent during the initial flurries, twice making ground in midfield as the home side looked to start strongly against opponents who had moved impressively into play-off contention. Burgess also shone through a couple of crunching early tackles, announcing his presence in no uncertain terms just three weeks before a possible run-out for England Saxons against Irish Wolfhounds in Cork. And Bath's momentum was rewarded after 11 minutes when they breached Wasps' defence following sustained pressure, with Louw bouncing off a would-be tackler and touching down bethween the posts for a try that Ford converted. Wasps' early problems were not helped by flanker Sam Jones going off injured - he was replaced by Ashley Johnson - and Bath continued to dominate the territorial battle, helped chiefly by centre Jonathan Joseph's creativity. England fly-half George Ford kicked 14 points as Bath went within one point of the Premiership lead . Bath secure an uncontested line-out in their high-scoring victory over Wasps on Saturday . But Wasps pounced from their first notable attack after Jacobs' strong midfield run left the Bath defence in disarray, and he linked impressively with Hughes, who delivered a scoring pass to Leiua. It was a wake-up call for the home side, yet they responded through a Ford penalty 12 minutes before half-time, and then delivered a stunning try from deep inside their own half. Turnover possession found its way to full-back Anthony Watson, whose angled run stretched Wasps, and then Ford sent Rokoduguni sprinting away on a 50-metre break. Rokoduguni just made it to the line, appearing to suffer a hamstring injury as he neared Wasps' line. Ford converted, but the England wing was then forced off and Olly Woodburn took over from him as the interval approached. Alapati Leuia scored the first of Wasps' four tries to earn the now Coventry based side a losing bonus point . Wasps could not establish any momentum following Leiua's try and a second Ford penalty opened up a 15-point advantage at the break, leaving Bath firmly in charge of the contest. Bath were in no mood to take their foot off the accelerator immediately after half-time, and more sustained pressure resulted in the impressive Ford sending Burgess over from close range. Hughes replied with a try for Wasps shortly afterwards, yet Bath were not to be diverted from their quest for a five-point maximum, which arrived midway through the second period through a trademark power-packed Banahan score. Wasps just could not cope with wave after wave of Bath attacks, and Devoto added another touchdown - Ford converted from the touchline - but the visitors finished strongly through tries Jacobs and Lozowski that said a great deal about their character. | Rugby league convert Sam Burgess gave best performance so far .
Francois Louw, Semesa Rokoduguni, Matt Banahan and Ollie Devoto also scored tries for the hosts as England fly-half George Ford kicked 14 points .
Wasps collected a losing bonus point after scoring four tries of their own .
Bath are one point behind Premiership leaders Northampton Saints . |
204,734 | 950f65ee975137268551f609671a795da7c2b999 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 10:10 EST, 1 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:51 EST, 1 October 2012 . Determined: Belinda Clayton from Binchester, wanted to join the 'weigh-less scheme' after it was recommended by a friend . A grandmother-of-two was turned down by an NHS weight-loss programme - because she was ‘too fat’. Belinda Clayton, who weighs 16 stones and wears a size 20, tried to apply for a weight-loss scheme through her GP but was stunned to be told it was only for the 'moderately overweight.' The 61-year-old, who suffers fatigue due to M.E, described her rejection from the scheme like a ‘slap in the face with a fish.’ Mrs Clayton from, Binchester, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said: 'I was told about ‘Change 4 Life’ by a friend about a month ago. She said that she loved it and it was so successful. 'I went to my GP in Bishop Auckland and we filled in the form and weighed me and he faxed it through and said they would be in touch. 'They rang me up and initially the lady from ‘Change 4 Life’ was quite chatty and encouraging. 'Then she said that my BMI is too high. She said they only offered the scheme for people with a BMI between 30-35 and that mine was too high. 'I said "so that means I’m too fat for your scheme?". She kept trying to get me to do an exercise scheme, but in the end I said "you can’t help me" and she said "no, we can’t".' To add insult to injury, Belinda found out her BMI, according to the NHS website, is 35.07 - which meant she was only just outside the limit for help. Belinda was not told her BMI, but learned afterwards that it was just outside the limit for help. She said: 'The lady did say it was a very close, but 35.07 sounds pretty incredible, especially given that I have long-standing health issues. 'It’s getting so silly now that it’s almost making me laugh. But it’s so frustrating, at the end of the day it was a scheme that I really wanted to be a part of. 'I still think it’s a good scheme. This is ludicrous though, it’s absolutely bonkers. 'It’s some criteria that’s been fixed so firmly, it’s just red tape. The girl I spoke to was so rigid it was like talking to a brick wall.' The 12-week course, Mrs Clayton wanted to join includes group sessions with advice on subjects from diet to activity and changing old behaviours. It is part of the local PCT's contribution to the Change 4 Life programme organised by the Department of Health. Brenda, a mother-of-three was a healthy nine stone and a size twelve when she was younger. However she was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid in her early 40s and little by little the weight began to creep on. The weigh-less scheme is part of the Government's Change 4 Life initiative. However, it is only available to those with a BMI of 30-35 . Brenda, a retired social worker, said: 'I was very fit and we had horses and things so I was on the go all the time. 'Then when I got to my 40s I came down with an over-active thyroid. I started gaining weight in my early 40s. 'I’ve never eaten to excess, if I had eaten what I wanted to I would be the size of a house. 'I don’t eat vast quantities of takeaways or anything like that, I have Weetabix and berries for breakfast and quite often salmon and salad for dinner. 'Everybody has indulgences, my weakness is ice cream but I just don’t buy it anymore, if it’s not in the house I can’t eat it. 'I stopped smoking seven years ago and that didn’t help with my weight either.' In 2001, after suffering a bout of pancreatitis and undergoing a gall bladder operation, Belinda was diagnosed with ME. She said: 'I fell ill with flu in January 2000, and I just never recovered. I was really quite ill for a year, I went to hospital and ended up with pancreatitis. 'It wasn’t until 2001 that I was diagnosed with ME. It’s like being a car that’s run out of petrol - everything just grinds to a halt. 'But I’ve learnt to live with it now, if I feel myself getting tired I know when to pull back. 'I’ve been trying to lose weight quietly for years - but with my ME it’s hard to do strenuous exercise. Mrs Clayton says she struggles with her weight as she also has M.E, which can cause periods of fatigue. However, she tries to eat as healthily as possible . 'I can only do gently exercise, I walk my dog and swim twice a week. Life can be difficult, I do think to some minor extent that I comfort eat. 'If I have a really bad day with the ME I tend to get a sweet tooth and I’ll eat something like bread and jam when perhaps I shouldn’t.' When she heard of ‘Change 4 Life,’ Belinda, who also suffers from a vitamin D deficiency, thought she had found the answer to her problems. She said: 'I’m dyslexic and I didn’t want to have to count points or anything like that. 'I was enthusiastic about ‘Change 4 Life,’ I had built myself up to do it, I was enthusiastic about it, it felt like something I could do.' But after being turned away from the NHS programme Belinda now feels let down and disappointed. Feeling excluded: Mrs Clayton said not allowing her to join the group was 'bonkers' She said: 'At the time I was quite cross, it’s bloody ridiculous, it’s meant to be a scheme to help overweight people but it’s only for thin people. 'I felt quite let down by the NHS, what a bloody stupid scheme. It’s nonsense. 'In a way it’s quite funny, it’s just so silly, but on another level it’s very annoying. 'I thought if I could lose 2 stone then I could get down a dress size and feel better, but now I feel like I’ve been slapped across the face with a herring.' Belinda is now planning to try out Slimming World to lose some weight. A spokesman for NHS County Durham and Darlington PCT said: 'The Primary Care Trust’s Weigh Less Scheme is a pilot scheme and has very clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, which is well documented in professional guidance and patient leaflets. 'This is to ensure that the service offers support to the most appropriate people who would like to lose weight and become more active and we would be delighted to support anyone who wishes to set themselves lifestyle goals through the Health Trainer service. 'Services available include a free County Durham Health Trainer service, free four-week Cook4Life courses to support healthy eating behaviours, a GP Exercise on Referral Service that offers structured and supervised support to people to become more active, Get Active Get Cycling activities, Swimming, Walking for Health and much more.' | Belinda Clayton applied to weight-loss scheme through her GP but was told she was too heavy to take part .
Local PCT said initiative was a pilot scheme and they had restricted entry to those with a BMI of 30 to 35 - Mrs Clayton's measurement was 35.07 .
Mrs Clayton described the decision to exclude her as 'bonkers'
She will now pay for Slimming World sessions instead . |
2,068 | 0605e0e4e677d2f31f4c69eebaa47b03d602f76e | New York (CNN) -- Featuring a display of black eyes and bruises, a video of naughty Santas in New York on their worst behavior surfaced on Sunday. The Christmas-themed brawl was caught on camera at the end of a day of heavy drinking and has drawn the holiday ire of some New Yorkers. Police were alerted at 8:20 p.m. Saturday that group of eight to 10 people dressed as Santa Claus were fighting on the snow-covered corner of 17th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan's Gramercy neighborhood. By the time police arrived, the bad Santas were nowhere to be found. The New York City Police Department is looking into the incident but has no assault complaints, according to Sgt. Lee Jones. Bargoers dressed in Christmas-themed costumes descended upon hundreds of cities worldwide Saturday for the annual bar crawl known as SantaCon. In New York, thousands took to the streets dressed as elves, Santas and holiday-themed characters, as they have since 1997. In recent years, the debauchery of some of its participants has become too much -- even for some who take part in it. "It was just terrible; they were throwing up in the streets. It was really just disgusting. I just put a red suit on and have a good time," Sandy Bachom, who participated in the event last year, told CNN affiliate WABC. "I think New Yorkers generally are extremely tolerant of visitors, but when they come in such droves, and then combine that with public intoxication, it has a negative impact in our neighborhoods," state Sen. Brad Hoylman said to WABC. Despite the brouhaha, city officials are still supporting the event. "It's what makes New York New York," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at a news conference Friday. "There has been some rowdy activity by a small handful of people." However, NYPD officers were handing out fliers stressing that they would stop revelers who publicly consume alcohol. SantaCon NYC is vowing to clean up its act. "SantaCon has had growing pains," the event's organizers said in a news release on the NYC SantaCon website. "With a little elbow-grease from the elves, a little patience from the community, and just a pinch of holiday magic, SantaCon can spread joy." Santacon.info, a website that attempts to keep up with SantaCons wherever they are and assist organizers in publicizing them, maintains a list that on Saturday showed 146 locations where events would be taking place this weekend and next, from Helena, Montana, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. | A video of misbehaving Santas has some New Yorkers saying enough is enough .
Police were told a fight broke out Saturday night in Manhattan .
NYPD is looking into the incident but has no assault complaints .
New York was just one site for the worldwide holiday gatherings known as SantaCon . |
61,015 | ad526c44e775606a7691211fca4bdfa0bc1b8a9f | (CNN) -- A day after Pakistan's ambassador to the United States stepped down, Islamabad named Sherry Rehman as the new U.S. envoy. A graduate of Massachusetts' Smith College, Rehman served as the information minister in 2008 until her resignation the following year. She is also founding chair of the Jinnah Institute, a non-profit public policy organization based in Pakistan. She succeeds former ambassador, Husain Haqqani, who resigned Tuesday amid a probe into a secret offer to Washington by Pakistan's president to cut down the powers of the country's military leadership. On Tuesday, a statement from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Ambassador Husain Haqqani's resignation was necessary "so that the investigation can be carried out properly." "All concerned would be afforded sufficient and fair opportunity to present their views and the investigation shall be carried out fairly, objectively and without bias," the prime minister's statement said. Haqqani posted a Twitter message Tuesday saying the he "requested" that Gilani accept his resignation. The ambassador offered to resign last week "or participate in any inquiry that brings an end to the vilification against the democratic government of Pakistan currently being undertaken by some elements in the country." The controversy started with swirling media reports that President Asif Ali Zardari asked the U.S. government in May to help him hold on to power because he feared a military coup after the U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Last month, Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz sparked the political firestorm when he claimed in an op-ed piece for the UK-based Financial Times that a Pakistani diplomat used him to make Zardari's back-channel plea for help by delivering a secret memo to U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen, then Washington's top military official. Ijaz claimed Zardari offered a new "national security team" to take over the powers of the military leadership in exchange for Washington's assistance. Media reports in Pakistan have speculated that Haqqani played a key role in the alleged offer. Haqqani has denied the allegations, saying they are part of ongoing "smear campaigns" that have accused him of trying to undermine Pakistan's armed forces. "No memo of the kind being discussed in the media was drafted or delivered by me," Haqqani said. "I have not been named so far as having done anything wrong by anyone except through innuendo." CNN's Reza Sayah and journalist Nasir Habib contributed to this report. | Rehman served as information minister .
Haqqani resigned amid a probe into a secret offer by Pakistan's president to the U.S.
Media reports have speculated Haqqani played a key role . |
66,453 | bc8583a4341632785fb6a68f310d222f8281650d | New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Even though Hurricane Alex was headed away from the site of the massive BP oil spill Wednesday, it was affecting containment and collection efforts on multiple fronts, Coast Guard officials said. Alex, upgraded from a tropical storm late Tuesday, was causing heavy seas throughout the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. That had several major consequences: Oil skimming ships had to return to shore, containment booms were thrown asunder and efforts to burn oil on the surface and break it down through dispersants were put on hold, along with efforts to position a third ship to collect oil at the spill site. "Until the weather subsides, all we can do is have everything ready to attack and remove this oil once we have weather that's more conducive," said Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft, who delivered a briefing for the Coast Guard on Wednesday. "We've been held hostage for the last two days due to the prevailing weather," he said. Alex -- the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season -- was picking up speed and coming ashore in an unpopulated area of northeastern Mexico, some 100 miles south of the Texas border. It is a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph. But even though the center of the storm is more than 600 miles from the spill site, it is producing high seas where the oil is located, according to CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers. Winds are 15 to 20 mph at the spill site, producing waves 6 to 8 feet high, he said. That poses a problem for the skimmers,Zukunft said. "When seas get over 3 feet high, the skimmers become ineffective. They wind up gathering water and not oil," he said. More than 500 skimmers, from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, have been forced to return to shore. Also on hold: setting up another ship to contain oil at the spill site. BP has two vessels, the Discoverer Enterprise and the Q4000, that are being used to contain oil. The company had hoped to bring in a third Tuesday called the Helix Producer, which would increase total containment capability to 53,000 barrels of oil per day. But crews need seas of less than 4 feet to make a connection to a coupler below the surface, according to Zukunft. BP now is aiming to complete the job by July 7, he said. The Coast Guard official said the seas also have disrupted containment booms, meant to limit the amount of oil reaching shore. He said officials will be making an aerial survey of the situation Thursday. One thing that has not been affected -- BP's effort to drill relief wells down to the area where oil is leaking. Weather would have to be very severe to affect that, according to Zukunft, and at this point, BP said it is on track to reach the area in August. The storm also is having an impact on where the massive oil spill is flowing. Previously, some oil had been reaching Pensacola Beach in Florida, but the storm's prevailing southeast winds have drawn it more toward the environmentally sensitive Mississippi and Chandeleur sounds, off the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, Zukunft said. Myers said that's because the storm winds are moving counterclockwise in a huge arc. The strong winds are expected to blow for about three days, pushing the oil back to shore in the area where there already have been dramatic pictures of oil-drenched birds. The Coast Guard briefing came on a day of change for the service branch, as Adm. Thad Allen, who has been overseeing the cleanup effort for the government, officially retired from the Coast Guard. Allen will continue as the national incident commander for the spill, but as a civilian. The move was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who said in a statement, "I commend Adm. Allen for nearly 40 years of dedicated military service in the Coast Guard. Throughout his career, our nation has turned to Thad Allen for leadership at times of great crisis, and this is one of those times." She continued, "Thad Allen has provided excellent leadership as the national commander of our massive response to the largest environmental disaster in our nation's history, and he will continue to leverage his decades of experience in civilian duty as the national incident commander for this spill." Adm. Robert Papp was sworn in as Coast Guard commandant on May 24, when Allen left the Coast Guard's top post as previously planned, to serve solely as national incident commander on the Gulf spill. Meanwhile, authorities also were busy preparing for future storms. Planners with the Louisiana governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness this week created a hurricane evacuation plan with BP, said the office's director, Mark Cooper. The plan, applicable for the entire hurricane season -- which ends November 30 -- calls for BP's thousands of workers to leave the Louisiana coast at least 16 hours before officials begin evacuating residents. "We can't have BP blocking our roadways with equipment and personnel," said Cooper. It also designates 700 buses to be used only by disabled residents and calls for BP to be back on the scene combating the spill within 72 hours after a hurricane, said Cooper. Researchers have estimated that between 35,000 barrels (about 1.5 million gallons) and 60,000 barrels (about 2.5 million gallons) of oil are gushing into the gulf every day. CNN's Ashley Fantz and Vivian Kuo contributed to this report. | NEW: Hurricane Alex hits shore in Mexico, 100 miles south of Texas border .
CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers says winds to push oil ashore for next three days .
Heavy seas affect cleanup and containment on several fronts .
Zukunft: Skimming task forces returned to shore . |
11,124 | 1f9b6b3e77aa7c7491f9fbcde94030719d403497 | Millions of last-minute Christmas shoppers flocked to the high street today in one of the busiest retail weekends of the year. Panic Saturday saw cities across the country packed with bargain-hunters, many hoping to secure discounts of up to 75 per cent. Over 15million people - around 31 per cent of the adult population - took to the shops today, spending an average of £196 each or £1.8m every minute. Scroll down for video . Dash: 15 million people hit the high street today, like these shoppers on Oxford Street . Tight squeeze: One of the busiest high streets in the world was packed with shoppers by lunchtime . Making an exit: Oxford Circus Station was full of people both arriving and leaving the area . £1bn was be dispensed from ATMs on Friday in preparation for the big spend, the analyst predicted. Last year shoppers spent £2.8billion, according the British Retail Consortium. Speaking today, Sally Eden, head of communications for the New West End Company, which represents 600 retailers in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, said: 'It's very busy here. 'Over this week we've seen footfall steadily rising. Landmark: Retailers said they were 'very busy' on Saturday and expect similar numbers tomorrow . Big spender: Customers spent an average of £196 each while out shopping today . 'There's a sense of urgency because Christmas is coming and this is the last weekend. It's the first time many people who have been working can get to the shops. 'There's also a sense they are looking to make their money go further. Historically, there are always promotions leading up to Christmas. 'This is the last weekend and I think shoppers want more for their money. 'The retailers are working hard to do that but they won't go into full sales until Boxing Day.' Final push: Despite terrible weather, people were determined to get good deals in central London . David . Allinson, centre director at Manchester Arndale shopping centre, said . customer footfall is comparable with last year but sales are up. 'Not . surprisingly, we are very busy. This Saturday and Sunday we are . expecting 400,000 shoppers through the doors. 'We had a record footfall . for this time last year and we are matching that again,' he said. Busy: Crowds of people outside John Lewis on Oxford Street today. Parka coats and tablet devices were proving to be popular gifts . Same scene, different city: Newcastle's main shopping street was full of busy shoppers this afternoon . 'We have had queues to get into various stores today from 9am. Pandora, the specialist jewellers, have been very popular. 'Parka . coats are flying out the doors and it seems to be the year of the . tablet. Sales are strong in all categories but fashion and jewellery . seem to be selling particularly well. 'Even our grotto is fully booked today.' Tim . Walley, general manager at Birmingham's Bullring, said they had seen 200,000 customers come through the doors today, with another 100,000 expected tomorrow. Feeling festive? Crowds of shoppers pack into Eldon Square shopping centre in Newcastle . Shop 'till you drop: Festive shoppers took to the streets of central Manchester today . Last rush: Hundreds of people laden with bags swarmed the streets of Manchester . Officials at Bristol's Cabot Circus shopping centre, now in its fifth year, reported increased sales and customer numbers. Centre director Stephanie Lacey said: . 'Visitor numbers and sales are both up compared to Christmas 2012, with . some days showing footfall increases of more than 10 per cent. 'It is a positive sign that we have turned a corner. Similar optimism was expressed on the western side of the Severn Bridge where thousands of shoppers hit the streets of Cardiff. Helping out? One brave mother takes her little girl - who seems to have spotted something she wants for Christmas - to Newcastle's high street . High-tech: Two nuns, one holding an Apple Store bag, on London's Oxford Street today . Packed: There was barely space to breath on Manchester's high street this afternoon . St . David's, the Welsh capital's sprawling shopping complex, is said to . have had just over a million people visiting the centre every week of . this month. Centre director Steven Madeley said: 'Over 1.1 million customers visited us last week, spending around £2 million a day.' Toy retailer Hamleys had 'strong' sales, especially of interactive toys such as the relaunched Furby and robotic puppy Teksta. 'We are also looking forward to 2014 and . the fun starts with a new range of Lego Friends that we are launching . on Boxing Day,' a spokesman for the firm said. Brave: Shoppers on Oxford Street struggled with all their shopping this afternoon . Busy day: Shoppers spent £2.8billion on Panic Saturday last year and similar figures are expected today . It is also a bumper weekend for food retailers as households fill their fridges and freezers for the festive feasts. In the seven days before Christmas . Day, supermarket retailer Sainsbury's says it expects to sell 10 million . pigs in blankets, 68 million Brussels sprouts, 12 million Christmas . crackers and 2.7 million boxes of Christmas cards. And it said, judging by the amount of mincemeat sold, its customers could bake 19 million mince pies. The . retailer said record numbers of shoppers pre-ordered food and the most . popular time to collect orders was between 10am and 1pm on Monday. Rainy day: Two shoppers - armed with umbrellas - braved the wet weather this afternoon . Playing the sales: Marks and Spencer, Gap and House of Fraser all had huge discounts today . Retailers . will consider this weekend a last chance to turn their profits around . after the British Retail Consortium showed a 3.4 per cent annual drop in . footfall from September to November - the sharpest fall since August . last year. Retail sales . were up 0.3 per cent in November, while in October they fell 0.9 per cent, the latest . official figures from the sector show. Experts said it means that unless . a sharp rebound occurs in December, the fourth quarter will be . relatively flat. Shops have slashed prices to entice last minute bargain-hunters to make the most of the final shopping weekend before Christmas. Debenhams, . Mothercare, Gap, Argos and BHS are all slashing prices, while Marks . & Spencer has launched a last-minute 'Mega Day' of 30 per cent . clothing discounts. Festive fight: Shoppers fill the winding streets of York this afternoon . Big spenders: Shoppers in Derby. Consumers will spend £1.8million every minute today . Bargains: Many shops have slashed priced by 50 per cent to entice spending-savvy shoppers . Austin . Reed is offering 25-60 per cent off all womenswear and House of Fraser . made a 'gift of indulgence' with 50 per cent off selected lines. Analyst Nick Bubb said the M&S discounts were likely to hurt the brand, irritating loyal customers who paid full price in recent weeks. He said: 'Whether it will turn out to be worth doing that in short-term, just to try to save the CEO's job, remains to be seen, but the M&S brand will suffer long-term damage.' According to some reports, one in four stores are refusing to discount for this reason. Money at the ready: Christmas shoppers drew £1bn from ATMs on Friday, Barclaycard said . Bag a bargain: Shoppers in Derby nip out for a bit of last minute shopping today . Latest official figures from the sector showed retail sales up by 0.3 per cent in November, following an October when they fell by 0.9 per cent. Experts said that it meant unless there was a sharp rebound in December, the fourth quarter would be relatively flat. The New West End Company, representing 600 retailers across Bond Street, Oxford Street, and Regent Street, said footfall was down 9.8 per cent from last year. | 15million people, or 31 per cent of the nation, went shopping today .
Shoppers forked out roughly £1.8million every minute .
Some retailers say they had customers waiting for doors to open at 9am .
London's Oxford and Regent Streets packed with people this lunchtime .
Parka coats, jewellery and tablet devices proving popular gift choices .
Many retailers have slashed prices by 50 per cent to entice bargain hunters .
A staggering £1billion was withdrawn from ATMs on Friday, analysts show .
A similar number of shoppers are expected in stores tomorrow . |
271,998 | ec51ebb3d097463188033d4375826986ade799f5 | Big prize: Corey Knowlton is believed to be the man who paid $350,000 for the license to shoot a black rhino . The hunter who paid $350,000 at a Dallas auction on Saturday to hunt a black rhino, one of the most endangered animals on the planet, says not to judge him - he cares 'deeply' about all animals. Corey Knowlton, who has faced death threats since ponying up the cash to hunt the endangered animal, took to Facebook on Monday to respond to the mounting criticism. 'Thank you all for your comments about conservation and the current situation regarding the black rhino. I am considering all sides and concerns involved in this unique situation,' Knowlton wrote on his Facebook page. 'Please don't rush to judgment with emotionally driven criticism towards individuals on either sides of this issue. I deeply care about all of the inhabitants of this planet and I am looking forward to more educated discussion regarding the ongoing conservation effort for the black rhino.' The 'license to kill' was sold by the Dallas Safari Club in conjunction with the Namibian government, as a minister from the African country was said to be jumping up and down in elation at the result because the funds go to conservation efforts in the country. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Big game: Knowlton is an experienced hunter who takes clients on hunting excursions all over the world . Rare: Many of the animals Knowlton hunts are rare animals from exotic locations, like this ram . Conservation: Knowlton claims to love all animals on the planet and is a big supporter of conservation efforts . Mr . Knowlton is an active hunter who arranges shooting trips around the . globe, and regularly posts updates of pictures on his Facebook profile . of himself with clients and the dead animals that they kill. The . hacktivist group Anonymous has now become involved in the debate and . launched a virtual attack- which they have named as OpFunKill- on . hunters involved with the auction. 'Unspeakable . and terrible things happen every second of every day while the whole . planet is forced to watch, as these cold hearted soulless zombies cause . horrific suffering and death to animals, both common, vulnerable and . critically endangered species,' they said in a manifesto. Mr . Knowlton, a married father of two young daughters, is a part of the . Hunting Consortium and his company biography boasts that he has worked . in the hunting tourism industry for more than a decade. Endangered: An estimated 4,000 black rhinos remain in the wild, down from 70,000 in the 1960s . 'Corey Knowlton has hunted widely on 6 continents taking more than 120 species, including a Super Slam of wild sheep and the big five in Africa.' it states. He lists conservation as one of his major interests, which stays in line with the Dallas Safari Club's claims that the sale of the license helps protect the endangered species by focusing on the killing of specific, older and arguably more aggressive beasts. The animal that is listed as the target involved with this weekend's sale is Ronnie, an older bull rhino who can no longer breed. Club spokesman Steve Wagner told The Dallas Morning News that the animal was likely becoming a threat to other wildlife as he is getting more aggressive in his old age. Happy hunters: Knowlton (right) has been leading tourist hunting trips for over a decade . An . estimated 4,000 black rhinos remain in the wild, down from 70,000 in . the 1960s. Nearly 1,800 are in Namibia, according to the safari club. The Dallas Safari Club sale, which has been condemned by environmental groups, was offering the chance to shoot the rare beast as a way to raise funds for the species' conservation. While there were protesters at the event and animal rights groups have regularly spoken out against the sales of hunting licenses, the organizers were more upset that they didn't raise more money- as they were originally hoping to reach the million-dollar mark. 'It annoys me to tears,' said Hanns-Louis Lamprecht, who runs a safari company in Namibia. 'I was so angry last night. A million dollars would have lasted years, years in the conservation efforts...The fact is it could have been more — it could have been a lot more,' he told The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Safari Club hopes to raise money in order to conserve the rhino in Nambia . A beautiful series of giraffe art is on view and available for sale at the Dallas Safari Club expo in Dallas . After complaints and protests about the . sale, the FBI said earlier this week that it was investigating death . threats against members of the club. About 40 protesters held signs and chanted outside the convention center where the . auction and dinner took place. Jim . and Lauren Ries traveled from Atlanta to join the protest after their . children Carter, 12, and Olivia, 11, asked if they could campaign. 'We heard what the . Dallas Safari Club was doing and we thought it was just wrong that they . were auctioning off to kill a black rhino and we really got upset that . they were thinking this,' Carter said. The family run a nonprofit organization, One More Generation, which is dedicated to saving endangered species. The Dallas Safari Club has adopted a new definition of the ideal hunt-able male African lion as well as the rhino . 'There's less than 5,000 black rhinos . left on the planet and if our kids ever want to see . a rhino left in the wild, we can't be pulling the trigger on every one . we say is too old to breed,' Mr Ries said. Ben . Carter, executive director of the Safari Club, defended the auction. He . said all money raised will go toward rhino conservation efforts. He also said the rhino that the . winner will hunt is old, male and non breeding — and that the animal was . likely to be targeted for removal anyway because it was becoming . aggressive and threatening other wildlife. Mr Carter added that wildlife experts say culling a herd is an acceptable habitat management practice. 'In most cases, this animal is detrimental,' Mr Carter said. 'He's past his prime.' But . critics have questioned that logic. Officials from the Humane Society . and the International Fund for Animal Welfare have said that while . culling can be appropriate in abundant animal populations, all black . rhinos should be protected, given their endangered status. Critics have also said any hunting of a rhino sends a bad message to the public. This . auction is telling the world that an American will pay anything to kill . their species,' Jeffrey Flocken, North American regional director of . the Massachusetts-based IFAW, said earlier this week. 'This is, in fact, making a spectacle of killing an endangered species.' The . auction took place in downtown Dallas under tight security and behind . closed doors. Organizers hoped to at least break the previous high bid . for one of the permits in Namibia, which is $223,000. | Dallas Safari Club has sold a permit to kill old endangered black rhino .
Fellow hunter named Corey Knowlton as the winner who paid $350,000 .
Five such Namibian licenses are given out each year in an effort to have targeted killings of older, more aggressive rhinos .
Club argues 'culling the herd' is acceptable habitat management practice .
An estimated 4,000 black rhinos remain .
in the wild, down from 70,000 in the 1960s and nearly 1,800 are in Namibia . |
142,774 | 44a735f904bbef259626b975ffcd1439ef31bb2b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:07 EST, 9 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:09 EST, 12 November 2012 . A shootout between security forces and prisoners at a jail in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo has left at least 27 people dead today. It is believed the fighting began when police went to Welikoda prison to conduct a search and were attacked by inmates hurling stones. It appears inmates managed to overpower their guards and seize their weapons before taking over part of the jail. Stand-off: Inmates are pictured on the roof of Welikoda prison in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after a clash with prison guards and police . Armed: It is believed inmates, pictured on the prison roof, overpowered their guards and seized their weapons in a jail riot . Casualties: It is believed at least 27 have been killed and more injured in the gun battle today . Riot: Sri Lankan inmates threw stones and shouted out slogans from the prison roof . Police said they arrested five prisoners who had managed to escape and were searching for others. The clash led to a stand-off between . police and inmates who were . pictured on top of the roof holding rifles. Some other prisoners piled into a . three-wheeled vehicle and began driving toward a main city road before . security forces outside the prison opened fire. The vehicle stopped and . three unmoving bodies could be seen, AP has reported. Dozens of security officers then entered the prison and volleys of gunfire rang out and prisoners could be heard screaming: 'Stop shooting!' Violent clashes: Sri Lankan inmates on top of the prison roof, left, and prison guards carry an injured colleague to safety, right, during riots at the main prison in Colombo . Targeted: Sri Lankan inmates try to escape by piling into a three-wheeler as gunshots hit the vehicle outside the prison in Colombo . A Sri Lankan inmate is seen falling on to the road after being shot in a escape attempt from a prison in Colombo . Killed: At least three unmoving bodies could be seen when the vehicle stopped, AP reports . Army troops were called in later to help control the situation, which had returned to normal by Saturday morning. 'The prison is now totally under our control,' said Sri Lanka's Commissioner General of Prisons P.W. Kodippili. He said security forces had found . the bodies of 11 other inmates inside the prison premises, and that the . total number of deaths stood at 27. Kodippili declined to say how many inmates may have escaped, but said search operations were under way to find others who may have fled. The inmates had broken into the prison's two armories during the riot and taken weapons stored there, he said. The inmates opened fire at police commandos, who shot back. He said that security forces had so far recovered 76 weapons taken by the prisoners and that six more weapons were still missing. High alert: Sri Lankan security forces were called to the scene after fighting broke out between inmates and prison guards . Reinforcements: Soldiers arrive on motorbikes outside the prison in Colombo as dusk falls . Sri Lankan soldiers surround an injured inmate after clashes at a prison in the capital . Dr. Anil Jasinghe, director of the Colombo National Hospital, said the bodies of 16 inmates were at his hospital. Twenty-three inmates injured . in the clash were receiving treatment at the hospital, Dr Jasinghe . said. Thirteen police officers, four soldiers, a prison guard and a . passer-by also were being treated there for injuries. Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said five inmates who had escaped from the prison, which was the site of another riot earlier this year, were arrested. He said the had fighting begun when police commandos went to the prison to conduct a search and were attacked by inmates hurling stones. Sri Lankan officials often conduct raids inside prisons looking for narcotics and communication devices. A clash between inmates and guards at the same prison last January wounded 28 people. Those prisoners were protesting the authorities' move to curtail drug smuggling into the facility. | Police officers were conducting searches at Welikoda prison in Colombo .
Fighting broke out when officers were attacked by inmates with rocks .
Inmates pictured on prison roof with rifles during stand-off with police, who said they have arrested five escaped prisoners .
WARNING: Graphic images as 27 believed dead and 42 wounded . |
244,331 | c832c8cffc71483a2cddf6717cdec15db4cda134 | By . Mike Dawes . and Sam Webb . Sir Bradley Wiggins was denied a golden return to track cycling as he and England's pursuit team were beaten by a rampant Australia in the Commonwealth Games. Wiggins, 34, joined Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Andy Tennant in claiming silver in the 4,000m discipline at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, but there was never any chance of edging out an Australia quartet who built an immediate advantage and never looked like letting it go. ‘I’m disappointed we came second here but in hindsight we’ll look back and think this is a start point for us now,’ he said. ‘Rio is the goal and we’ve got to work back from that.’ The team's valiant efforts were watched by Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. The Countess roared on the team and covered her face when they failed to overcome the might of the Australian men's team. Scroll down for video . Runners-up: England's Sir Bradley Wiggins (left) won team pursuit silver at the Commonwealth Games . Not impressed: Wiggins immediately removes his silver medal after posing for pictures . Still smiling: Wiggins waves to the crowd inside the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome after defeat to Australia . Respect: England's cyclists applaud their Australian rivals as they step up to receive their gold medals . Rapid: The Australian team power their way around the track on their way to a convincing win . Wiggins, 34, had not taken part in any . significant international track meeting since the Beijing Olympics in . 2008, when he won two golds in China. With a . disappointing year at Team Sky behind him, having been dumped from the . Tour de France - which he won in 2012, the first Briton to do - line-up, he made a late decision to compete here. Instead . Jack Bobridge, Alex Edmondson, Glenn O'Shea and Luke Davison finished . with their English team in their sights and a winning margin in excess . of five seconds - a crushing victory. For Wiggins it represents a fourth . Commonwealth Games silver medal after a six-year hiatus from the track, . though there were signs that there is plenty more to come from both him . and his team-mates on the road to Rio 2016. Australia . had finished almost two seconds ahead of England in qualifying, though . the latter assured themselves of at least second place by besting a . talented New Zealand outfit, who cruised to bronze by chasing down . Canada. A packed Glasgow . audience showed no nationalistic bias as they roared Wiggins, Clancy, . Burke and Tennant on but it was to no avail. Glum: Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex watch the English Men's Team compete in the Team Pursuit at the Chris Hoy Velodrome. She seemed disappointed with the silver obtained by Sir Bradley Wiggins et al . The agony and the ecstasy: The Countess of Wessex covers her eyes as the Australian's triumph . Dejected: Wiggins looks glum after losing out on gold to Australia in the men's team pursuit final . Out in front: Wiggins leads the way but England couldn't cope with Australia's speed in the final . Too good: Australia's Alex Edmonson celebrates after helping his country win gold at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome . All smiles: Aussie duo Alex Edmondson and Luke Davison raise their arms in celebration at the end of the race . They slipped a second behind almost immediately as Australia attacked hard in the first couple of laps and the advantage was touching two seconds at the 1,500m mark. England sensed hope when Davison dropped out of the race soon after halfway, but instead Australia merely increased their stranglehold, adding to their lead at each split. Clancy rode himself to a standstill before pulling up late on, leaving Wiggins, Burke and Tennant to complete what had become a surprisingly one-sided outing. | Australia emerged victorious with a winning margin in excess of five seconds at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome .
Wiggins was unable to help England mount a comeback after a slow start .
Luke Davison was forced to drop out during the race .
Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Andy Tennant rode alongside Wiggins . |
210,240 | 9c49417d5fff3de41a47067c521d44574ddc9df0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . It's the unofficial yearbook for his graduating class. Renowned portrait photographer Michael Jang was a student at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s, known for its hard partying and successful graduates such as director Tim Burton and Seinfeld actor Michael Richards (aka Kramer). But before he made a name for himself, Jang kept a photographic diary of his time at 'Cal Arts', capturing the hedonism, raucous parties and self-discovery which defined the era. Now he's released the black-and-white snaps in his first-ever Instagram account, uncovering nude and drunken dancing, crowdsurfing, college campus wanderings and stolen kisses. Scroll down for video . Blast from the past: Portrait photographer Michael Jang has released a series of incredible photos he took as a student at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s . Epitome of cool: Michael Jang snapped pop icon David Bowie signing autographs for fans at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in 1972, the same year he released his album 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' 'The pictures that you see in College are from me walking around with a camera all the time - . not for my elective specifically, but rather to keep my chops together. Like doing musical scales so to speak - to be fluid. When you do street . photography, you have to sense that picture coming, before it happens; . you have to be in the right place and time,' Jang told Vice. 'I’d . walk the halls of Cal Arts and I would hear people behind closed doors . singing, dancing, and taking breaks to unwrap their blistered feet. 'The . painters were always painting, and the photographers would pack up . their gear and do their big photo-safari weekend once a week maybe, and . then come back and spend the rest of the time doing the negatives, the . contact sheets another day, work prints another day, and that was your . week or two. 'I . thought the actual way to get better at photography was taking . pictures, not doing all the darkroom stuff. It is important your first . year, but after that...'. Jang unwittingly captured a pre-Baywatch David Hasselhoff dancing while holding a plastic cup and Seinfeld's Michael Patrick wearing a flat cap with one arm around a woman. Also featured in his collection is legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, father of singer Norah Jones, who was then head of the Cal Arts music department, and even pop singer David Bowie who dropped into one of the college parties. Cal Arts was established by Walt Disney in the 1960s, and many of its graduates now work at Disney. In the moment: Michael Jang captured some of the wilder moments at Cal Art in the 1970s, including uninhibited nude dancing . Crowdsurfing: Michael Jang's black and white photos, released more than 40 years after they were taken, capture the vivacity and candidness of youth in the 1970s . Rocking good time: Michael Jang's intimate photographs captured Cal Arts students singing and dancing in Woodstock-style . Original selfie: Michael Jang (pictured) was a student at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s and took these photos as a 'visual diary' of his experience . Cutting loose: Michael Jang's intimate photos uncover moments of playful hedonism and physical freedom among liberal arts students in the 1970s . '[It] makes . me think about how being photographed is different now. Then, you most . likely never saw pictures of yourself if taken by someone else. We’re . talking film here,' Jang, who was just 20 when he took the snaps, told Nerve. 'Developing negatives, making contact sheets, then serious darkroom . time making prints. Now an image taken is instantly shared on a number . of media platforms. This has to have an effect on the way people see . themselves in regards to photography... 'At . the time they were just taken without the thought of fame or financial . gain. They are a wonderful collection and it’s a privilege to be a . viewer into that world.' Jang, now based in San Francisco, is a highly-regarded portrait photographer known for snapping cultural elites such as William Burroughs, Alice Walker and Jimi Hendrix. See more of Michael Jang's photographs at his website michaeljang.com. The Hoff: Before he made a name for himself on Baywatch (and in Germany), David Hasselhoff attended Cal Arts parties in the 1970s . Just hanging out: The fabled hedonism of the 1970s is a time today's hipsters crave but aren't sure existed . Impressive staff: Legendary sitar player and father of Norah Jones, Ravi Shankar (pictured), was chair of the music department at the California Institute of the Arts . Come down: In between moments of pure debauchery and hedonism, Michael Jang captured moments of recovery and rest such as this . A bit too much fun: Michael Jang captured some of the more gritty moments of heavy partying during the 1970s ... his flares will never be the same . Experimental: Students like Rusty Gillette (pictured) attended the California Institute of Arts in the 1970s so not to be boxed in...unless that's what they wanted . Free love: Michael Jang's black and white images capture the fabled bacchanalia of the 1970s, including the nude dancing and big hair . In the moment: Bill Douglas and two others appear to be singing in this candid shot taken by Michael Jang . Before he was famous: Before he was Kramer in hit TV show Seinfeld, Michael Richards (right) was a well-liked student at the California Institute of the Arts . Interesting point of view: In 1970, John Baldessari (pictured) and five friends burned all of the paintings he had created between 1953 and 1966 as part of a new piece, titled The Cremation Project, with the ashes baked into cookies and placed into an urn . Musical aspirations: California Institute of the Arts, or Cal Arts, is a private university in Valencia which still attracts budding artists and musicians . 'The yearbook we never had!' In the 1970s, the California Institute of the Arts was known for its big-haired students, raucous parties and very liberal parties . Au naturel: By the late '60s and '70s, having armpit hair became a political statement in the US, including among college students (pictured). Singer Patti Smith casually flashed her unshaven underarms on the cover of her 1978 album Easter . Heart melting: Michael Jang captured not only the hedonistic aspects of college life, but also the tender and intimate moments that would normally go unnoticed . How to draw the ladies: Michael Jang's photos read like an off-the-cuff yearbook capturing the candidness of youth . Free love: Michael Jang was just 20-years-old when he snapped these honest and heartfelt photographs of fellow students and friends in the 1970s . The ultimate college party: Michael Jang's black and white photos unmanicured and raw, representing the college parties as they were . | Portrait photographer Michael Jang was a student at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s .
Jang kept a photographic diary of student life and just released the snaps on Instagram .
The black and white images capture the hedonism and debauchery of college life .
'Cal Arts', set up by Walt Disney in the 1960s, was attended by director Tim Burton, Paul Reubens (aka 'Pee Wee Herman') and Seinfeld's Michael Richards . |
79,659 | e1e1219eb5f2ecaf5a1ffa19f72a004c9f64293c | By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 11:30 EST, 16 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:21 EST, 17 September 2012 . At first glance, this might look like the most expensive traffic jam in history. But the drivers of this 964-strong Ferraris convoy are in fact car-enthusiasts, who have descended upon the race circuit to smash a world record. The flash supercars, worth more than £100 million in total, are part of a world record parade of the iconic Italian carmaker. Fanatics from across Europe went to the Silverstone race circuit in Northamptonshire in the hope of beating the 2008 record of 490 set in Japan. Scroll down to watch! World record: An aerial shot of Silverstone as 964 Ferraris worth more than £100m took part in a parade of the iconic Italian carmaker . Owners from across Europe smashed the previous record held by Japan with almost twice as many Ferraris lapping the world famous racetrack on Saturday . And they smashed that figure when almost twice as many Ferraris lapped the world famous racetrack on Saturday. Ferrari today estimated the fleet of 964 cars boasted more than 500,000bhp - with models from the past 40 years taking part. There were so many Ferraris taking part that there was only 250m of road free on the 3.6 mile track. F1 ace Felipe Massa led the pack from behind the wheel of a black Ferrari 458 Spider. Speaking after setting a new World Record, Felipe Massa said: 'It was a really unforgettable experience. 'It's a great honour for me to be here for such a special event, with so many cars all brought together on one race track, which produced an unprecedented spectacle for all Prancing Horse fans.' There were a number of million-pound Ferrari Enzos in the convoy as well as the iconic Ferrari F40 - which are worth around £400,000 each. It is estimated the total value of the Italian convoy was well in excess of £100 million. Dave Whiteley, 61, a semi-retired engineer from Birmingham, drove his 1983 Ferrari 308 in the parade. Bumper-to-bumper: There were so many Ferraris taking part that there was only 250m of road free on the 3.6 mile track . F1 ace Felipe Massa led the pack from behind the wheel of a black Ferrari 458 Spider . He said: 'I've never seen so many Ferraris in one place and I've been a member of the Ferrari Owner's Club for 14 years. 'It's incredible, a lot of people appreciate Ferraris and this has made a lot of people's day. I took part in the 2007 record and then the Japanese beat it. 'Hopefully today has made it impossible for them to beat. It has been exceptional.' The record- breaking convoy took Ferrari and the Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain more than nine months to organise. Peter Everingham, secretary of the Ferrari Owners Club for the past 20 years, was at the front of the pack. He said: 'It was a unique experience to be in the course car ahead of more than 900 other Ferraris. 'It is something that might never happen again and I am so proud to have been involved in the event. 'The enthusiasm from everyone was palpable, the whole feeling was extraordinary.' In 2007, Ferrari managed to get 385 models onto Silverstone at a racing day to set a record. But this was beaten the following year when the Ferrari Owners Club in Japan achieved 490 cars at the Fuji Speedway Circuit. For every car which took part, Ferrari donated £5 to 'BEN', the automotive industry charity. | Convoy surpasses Japan's record of 490 set in 2008 .
Cars bumper-to-bumper as only 250m of road free on 3.6 mile track . |
232,325 | b8d33daf367a280d50203293cc1e13bc4a74c97a | The population of the least populous town in the United States appeared to at least double Thursday when two mysterious businessmen from Vietnam won the tiny hamlet with a bid of $900,000 at auction. About a dozen bidders gathered around the town's one business to bid on Buford, Wyoming, which consists of a gas station, a three-bedroom house and a few small outbuildings on 10 acres along Interstate 80. The bidding began at $100,000 and quickly escalated. The winning bidders were immediately whisked away by auction officials, who would not let them speak to the media. The town's only resident, Don Sammons, watched from the sidelines. He moved to Buford in 1980 with his wife and son. His wife died in 1995, and his son moved away in 2007. He had bought the town in 1990. He fought back tears as the auctioneer declared the town sold. "I don't know when it will hit me. I've lived here half my life. I'm an emotional person, and I hope I handle it in an adult manner," he said. Tonjah Andrews, a real estate broker from Cheyenne who was hired to represent the men, said she would not disclose their names. She said the men flew in from Vietnam after learning about the auction from online news stories. She would not comment on what the men plan to do with the town. Sammons bought a house in Windsor, Colorado, to be closer to his son and plans on writing a book about his 32 years in Buford. He said he'll miss his one-man town, but one thing he won't miss is the billboard with his face on it that has become a familiar sight to drivers in Interstate 80. Buford is about halfway between Laramie and Cheyenne and is the second oldest town in the state. "I can always rent one somewhere if I need to see my face," he said with a laugh. | Two businessmen from Vietnam buy the nation's least populous town .
Buford, Wyoming, sold for $900,000 .
The identities of the buyers are being kept secret .
The lot includes 10 acres, five buildings and a cell phone tower . |
157,242 | 574e0081492b6f2403f11264828c2f62a65a7478 | the Lib Dem Business Secretary attacked the Tories’ economic plans, which involve slicing another £24billion from public spending . Vince Cable has publicly denounced George Osborne’s plans to slash the budget deficit within four years, and urged his party to oppose ‘brutal’ spending cuts. In an extraordinary intervention which puts further strain on the Coalition, the Lib Dem Business Secretary attacked the Tories’ economic plans, which involve slicing another £24billion from public spending during the next Parliament. He claimed whichever party is in power next year will have to raise taxes, and even said he agreed with Labour that the next government should borrow more. Mr Cable said he ‘did not recognise’ the Chancellor’s plan to eliminate the deficit and run a surplus by 2018-19. He also said: ‘We do have differences in emphasis. The Tories would like to cut spending rather more brutally than we think is necessary or desirable.’ His attack came as his party’s leader Nick Clegg shunned the Autumn Statement yesterday. In a highly unusual move, the Deputy Prime Minister chose to stay away – and instead flew 300 miles to Penzance to talk to locals about flood defences. Senior Lib Dems have warned him that he needs to distance himself from the Tories in the run up to the General Election – though Mr Clegg insisted his decision was not a snub. Mr Cable confirmed he had asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to map out a different forecast for the Lib Dems which contained fewer spending cuts. He added ‘all parties will have to increase taxation whether they say so or not’. On eliminating the deficit, he told LBC Radio: ‘I’m not sure I recognise the figures and the dates you are talking about. The budget deficit also includes borrowing for capital investment. ‘We think if there are good capital investments … for infrastructure and the government earns a proper return for the taxpayer, we should invest in it.’ Asked if this meant he agreed with Labour’s Ed Balls, he replied: ‘We do agree with them on that particular issue, and we differ from the Tories.’ Government sources said Mr Cable had ‘erupted’ yesterday morning and told fellow Lib Dems, including Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander, that they had not signed up to the Conservatives’ spending plans beyond the general election. Mr Cable said he ‘did not recognise’ Chancellor George Osborne’s (pictured) plan to eliminate the deficit and run a surplus by 2018-19. On air, Mr Cable said the Lib Dems were committed to the deficit reduction plans until May. He denied he had ordered his civil servants not to co-operate with Treasury officials. Tory backbencher Andrew Rosindell said: ‘I don’t think any sensible person believes borrowing more money is the right approach for the country.’ Mr Alexander also distanced himself, saying: ‘It’s not the job of the Office for Budget Responsibility to set out the differences between parties.’ Mr Clegg said his decision to stay away from the Chancellor’s speech was ‘not a snub’, but ‘a nice change to get out of the Westminster bubble and say what this Autumn Statement means to people’. | Vince Cable's attack on Tories will further strain Coalition relations .
He agreed with Labour about borrowing and tax cuts .
Meanwhile, Clegg shunned Autumn statement yesterday . |
236,848 | be8f59c9fd02ded221d9f97b95c704fdf427703b | A southwest Ohio family is searching for Sasquatch no longer. The Spence family in Delhi Township, west of Cincinnati, says their 400-pound concrete statue of the mythical beast, which was reported stolen Saturday, has been found. Sixty-one-year-old Ralph Spence says his two sons bought the statue for him several years ago. They affectionately call it 'Squashy.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Found: Ralph Spence, 61, received a call from a friend saying he saw the estimated 400-pound statue nicknamed 'Squashy' in a nearby open field after it went missing on Saturday . The note: This letter was found with Ralph Spence's prized Sasquatch when it was found in a nearby open field wearing a Cincinnati Reds baseball cap and a new sweater . Though it started out as a practical joke, the statue became part of the family. They even dress it up for holidays. Spence says he received a call from a friend Tuesday who saw the statue in a nearby open field. A note found with the statue poked fun at its weight, and was signed by 'the body building bandits.' Fox reports that in the phone conversation Spence was told, 'that Sasquatch was chilling out in an open field near Pedretti and Mayhew.' 'Sasquatch is back home and appears to be in good health. During his absence, Sasquatch was given a nice sweater and Cincinnati Reds ball cap.' Spence says Squashy is 'a legend around here in the neighbourhood.' 'Sasquatch has been reunited with his owner and it feels so good,' reads an alert sent out Tuesday from Delhi Township police. Fox reports that the Spence family only paid $250 for the Sasquatch at a flea market but that it has a sentimental value that’s worth much more. Spence says he is happy to have Squashy at home safe and sound and that he never intended to press charges against the person who took Squashy. Part of the family: The Spence family dresses up the statue in different outfits for every holiday and is dressed as the Easter Bunny in this photo . Festive: A stolen Sasquatch statue its owner says became 'part of the family' and a fun addition to holidays has been found today in a nearby field unharmed . | The Spence family says their 400-pound concrete statue of the mythical beast, which was reported stolen Saturday, has been found .
The statue nicknamed Squashy was found in a nearby field and was reportedly dressed in a Cincinnati Reds baseball cap and a sweater .
'Sasquatch has been reunited with his owner and it feels so good,' reads an alert sent out Tuesday from Delhi Township police . |
24,576 | 45abc08d6c16ce7fd3722442a0b10943c0eab061 | Along with champions Manchester City and the nationwide-supported Manchester United, the DVD review of Sunderland’s season was one of the best sellers over the summer. Why? There was, of course, the escape from relegation, manager Gus Poyet describing their four wins from the final five matches as a ‘miracle’. That run included memorable victories at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. It was also a campaign in which Sunderland completed the double over North-East rivals Newcastle for the first time since 1967. Big day out: Fabio Borini celebrates scoring the opening goal at Wembley last season in the Leugue Cup final . Memories: Poyet says his side hope to recreate the cup run from last season which inspired league survival . But amid all of that was a first cup final appearance at Wembley in 22 years. More than 40,000 fans descended on the capital for the League Cup final with Manchester City. And, despite a 3-1 defeat, it is that weekend which defined their season and triggered the record DVD sales. On Wednesday night, at Championship side Birmingham City, Sunderland begin another Capital One Cup adventure. And given the memory of that March afternoon at Wembley, Poyet will be paying this competition the utmost respect. Strong start: Sunderland picked up a point against Manchester United, and won't make many changes . ‘We will be trying to do it again (make the final),’ said the Uruguayan. ‘Normally it's one final every 20-plus years, so to do two in a row, you're asking a lot - but we will try. ‘It's incredible what people have been saying to me. They talk more about the game at Wembley that we lost, than the miracles we won. That's how much it means.’ Sunderland’s run to the final included victories over Premier League Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester United. But they also had to negotiate MK Dons and Peterborough United in the earlier rounds. And Poyet – whose side drew 1-1 with Louis van Gaal’s United in the Premier League on Sunday – will not be making sweeping changes like most top-flight managers. He went on: ‘Last year in the beginning we had some nice draws at home. I used one game against Southampton to try something different. 'Then we beat Chelsea in extra-time and we were in the semi-finals. When you're there, you take your chances. Game time: Jordi Gomez needs and deserves to play on Wednesday according to Sunderland boss Poyet . Likely to start: Billy Jones should also get a game against Birmingham after returning from injury . ‘I can promise you there are not going to be too many changes. There will be a few – there are players that need to play. Jordi Gomez needs to play and deserves to play. 'I need to play (Costel) Pantilimon as well because it's a big competition in there (the goalkeeping department). Billy Jones is back from injury and needs to play. ‘So there's going to be three or four (changes) but I'm not going to take it lightly, make 11 changes or change the system. ‘It's going to be tough, it's different, but that's the cup, it's a good thing. It's like individual finals. You need to win all the time to get through. It brings a good feeling to the team because it's a small celebration if you get through. Promising start: Winger Will Buckley impressed on the weekend and could continue in midweek . ‘I want to win, I don't want any draws. I want to get back to winning ways so we have that feeling so on Saturday we go into the game (against QPR) with a winning mentality.’ The commercial department at the Stadium of Light will be hoping Poyet is good to his word. | Sunderland reached last season's final where they lost to Manchester City .
Gus Poyet's side face Birmingham on Wednesday night in Capital One cup .
Poyet says cup runs mean as much to fans as league survival . |
248,469 | cd7ccd39b295c0eb8880c7f345b68f1e07ebd5ca | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 09:12 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:18 EST, 15 October 2013 . Murdered: The body of Janet Gilson was in the bottom of her niece's sofa four days after she was reported missing while on holiday in Hong Kong . A murdered former Salvation Army worker was found dead inside a sofa after her family noticed drops of her blood on the floor, an inquest has heard. Janet Gilson, 64, was strangled days after she arrived on holiday in Hong Kong after travelling there to visit relatives. Ms Gilson, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was missing for four days before family members spotted blood on the floor close to a sofa. They called police who found her body hidden in a hole cut out of the bottom of the piece of furniture, Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard. Ms Gilson was reported missing on March 15 2011 having arrived in the Far East 10 days earlier. But it wasn't until March 19 that her body was found at the home of her niece Julia in Lamma. A post-mortem confirmed that Ms Gilson had died of suffocation, but coroner Yvonne Blake refused to read out further details of the report because it was deemed 'too distressing' for family and friends who had attended the inquest to hear. She recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, adding: 'I understand Janet Gilson was a Salvation Army worker who did a lot of good work. 'It is very tragic her life was taken in this way.' Speaking after the inquest, Ian Payne, 55, a former Salvation Army officer from Bromley who attended with his wife Judith, paid tribute to his friend and colleague. He said: 'Janet was one of those one in a million people. 'She had a unique ability to connect with people and had a huge impact on all our lives. 'It is difficult to put into words all her good qualities. 'She was the true embodiment of what a Christian should be. 'We went to Hong Kong for the trial - in some ways today gives us a sense of closure but she will always be a part of our lives.' Grim discovery: The body of Major Gilson, 64, was found hidden at her niece's home in Lamma, the third largest island in Hong Kong, in March 2011 . Janet set up one of Russia’s first ever Salvation Army churches after travelling alone to the outskirts of Moscow and learning the language in the early 90s. Throughout her 40-year career with the Salvation Army she also worked with teenagers in England and Ireland. She had retired shortly before leaving for Hong Kong. Ahmed Fareed, reportedly the ex-husband of Ms Gilson's neice, was found guilty of the murder at the High Court in Lamma in June this year and jailed for life. The court had heard that she had been strangled with a rope and was found with a towel stuffed in her mouth and four broken ribs. Fareed, from the Maldives, was arrested at Hong Kong’s ferry harbour shortly after the murder. Following the court case, Ms Gilson’s niece, Julia, told the South China Morning Post: 'To those people that are in relationships with violent partners: I strongly urge you to get away. 'I made the mistake of believing I could help change my ex-husband, giving him many chances. 'I realise the error of that judgment now and hope that others can also learn from that.' | Janet Gilson, 64, went missing ten days after arriving in Hong Kong .
Relatives spotted the blood four days after they reported her missing .
They called police who found body in a hole cut out of bottom of the sofa .
Ahmed Fareed was jailed for life for strangling Ms Gilson with a rope .
He is reportedly the ex-husband of Ms Gilson's niece Julia . |
156,206 | 55e7519125b3ca01712ddbd686eb19e947734a5f | It could be the ultimate in male vanity - men are paying thousands of pounds in search of the perfect nipple. Plastic surgeons are creating smaller, flatter nipples for male patients. Some men have their nipples made smaller during surgery to tidy up loose skin left after extreme weight loss. Others are have it done while having their 'moobs', or male breasts, reduced. David Beckham has the 'perfect, almond-shaped nipple' according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons . But some are so worried about the state of their nipples that they go under the knife solely to have them altered. They pay up to £2,000 for this – and spend up to a fortnight recovering. The revelation come from a surgeon who has researched the shape of the ideal male nipple. Jeyaram Srinivasan, of the Royal Preston Hospital, asked 62 volunteers to study topless photos of 100 men and say which had the most desirable nipples. Some of the models were ordinary males who worked in the hospital, others were body-conscious gym goers. Both sexes plumped for symmetrical nipples that were small, flat and slightly darker than the surrounding skin. The ideal nipple is also round or almond-shaped, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons annual conference heard. In case you are wondering, David Beckham, apparently, has perfect almond-shaped nipples. Mark Wright, of The Only Way is Essex, has poster-boy round nipples. More men are opting for £2000 surgery to achieve small, flat, round nipples like Beckham's . Dr Srinivasan's study also showed that women are more put off than men by nipples that protrude. The surgeon, who does private as well as NHS work, does around 40 nipple reductions a year. Most of these are in men whose nipples seem to large after extreme weight loss or after surgery to remove their 'man boobs'. But some are in men who are simply anxious that their nipples are too big. These men are often body builders who have compared their chest to other men in the gym. Dr Srinivasan said: 'For many years, cosmetic surgery was associated with women and men wouldn't even talk about it. They thought it was too vain. 'But now, men say: "If I can have something to make me look better and I can afford it, I will do it." 'The view has changed.' Those can't afford the £2,000, or are squeamish about the 45-mintue op, have another option. The study showed that a sculpted chest can often more than make up for nasty nipples. Dr Srinivasan said: 'A well-toned torso will make people accept a nipple that is less than ideal. 'They are distracted by something more important to look at.' | More men are opting for 'moob' or nipple surgery costing up to £2,000 .
In a survey, small, symmetrical, flat nipples were voted the most attractive .
They also had to be round and darker than the surrounding skin .
David Beckham has the perfect almond-shaped nipples, surgeons said .
Mark Wright, of The Only Way is Essex, has poster-boy round nipples .
Survey found a well-toned torso will make people accept an ugly nipple . |
86,343 | f50fc354a22ad3702590a494a257384aa5486497 | (CNN) -- Enough Afghan opium to supply world demand for two years has effectively gone missing, with the Taliban suspected of stockpiling supplies in a bid to corner the market, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed. Pakistani customs officials destroy contraband narcotics on the border with Afghanistan. Afghanistan is the world's leading narcotics supplier. Earlier this month, a U.N. study revealed Afghanistan's opium production had dropped dramatically this year partly because of new aggressive drug-fighting tactics in the country. According to the UNODC report, production dipped by 10 percent this year while cultivation fell by 22 percent. However, a senior U.N. spokesman warned that this positive news should be treated with caution. "We figure the world needs around 4,000 tons of opium a year for licit and illicit purposes," Walter Kemp of the UNODC told CNN. Has enough empasis been placed on drug trafficking? "But this year around 6,900 tons was produced, with 7,700 tons delivered last year and more than 8,500 the year before that. Map showing where Afghan opium is going » . "So if the world only needs around 4,000 tons of opium and a further 1,000 is seized, where is the rest of it going?" According to Kemp, world demand for opium remains stable yet prices are not crashing, which suggests a large amount of opium is being withheld from the market. "Our guess is that around 12,000 tons of opium has been stockpiled somewhere -- not all in one place but in and around Afghanistan," he added. "So while production might be coming down -- mostly because of market reasons -- there's still a lot of product around to satisfy demand for about two years." It is unclear exactly who is responsible for this but there's growing evidence, according to the U.N., that the Taliban are becoming increasingly involved in the industry and could be sitting on huge stockpiles of opium to use as credit for financing their activities. "Farmers will be keeping small amounts back as credit for things such as a dowry or buying livestock," said Kemp. "But they won't have the means to store supplies in the kind of quantities we're talking about here. "It's probably in the hands of people with the ability to store it underground and to keep people away from it through corruption or force." Hakan Demirbuken, a research expert on the U.N.'s Afghan Opium Trade Program, said Taliban involvement in the drugs trade is not limited to taxing Afghan opium farmers and traders in return for their "protection." He told CNN: "Last year we estimated that Afghan poppy farmers earned around $730 million, while traders who take the product on to the border earned around $3.4 billion." "From this lucrative business the Taliban took around $125 million in tax. "But according to U.N. figures they need around $800 million per year for their operational needs." However, most of the trade is controlled by organized criminal groups from outside Afghanistan. Therefore Demirbuken believes groups such as the Taliban and al Qaeda will be forging links with criminal gangs in order to become more involved in the production and trafficking stages. In addition to the increased revenue greater involvement would provide, he said groups such as al Qaeda "will have noted the destabilizing effect this industry -- and the sums of money it generates -- can have on more vulnerable countries with weak governments." In October last year, the United States told NATO members that the drug trade was a threat to coalition troops because there was a direct connection between it and Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. "There is what we call a nexus of insurgency. There's a very broad range of militant groups that are combined with the criminality, with the narco-trafficking system, with corruption, that form a threat and a challenge to the future of that great country," then-U.S. commander in Afghanistan Gen. David McKiernan told reporters. As a result NATO combat forces have now been actively attacking militants, drug laboratories and buildings connected to insurgents with ties to drug lords for the first time since the start of the Afghan conflict in 2001. Meanwhile, international law enforcement organization, Interpol, believes there has been a change of tactic involving Afghanistan's opium, with much more of it being turned into heroin within the country and stockpiled or couriered out, primarily through Iran. Historically Afghanistan has been responsible only for cultivating raw opium, with the conversion into a final product taking place across the border in Pakistan or in Iran and Turkey, according to the UNODC. Producing heroin in Afghanistan makes it easier to conceal and transport than the bulkier raw opium. | Recent study revealed Afghan opium production has dropped dramatically .
U.N. says this should be treated with caution as country has been over-producing .
Taliban suspected of stockpiling large amounts of opium "as credit"
U.S. has warned of growing link between Taliban and the drug trade . |
105,131 | 139b507caf442d67dd6e9ae46967554dc832d4ae | By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . President Barack Obama plans to nominate former Proctor & Gamble executive Robert McDonald as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, as the White House seeks to shore up an agency beset by treatment delays and struggling to deal with an influx of new veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An administration official said Obama would announce McDonald’s appointment Monday. If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would succeed Eric Shinseki, the retired four-star general who resigned last month as the scope of the issues at veterans’ hospitals became apparent. In tapping McDonald for the post, Obama is signaling his desire to install a VA chief with broad management experience. High expectations: President Obama is hoping former P&G CEO Robert McDonald can reform the scandal-plagued VA . McDonald also had military experience, graduating near the top of his class from West Point and serving as a captain in the Army, primarily in the 82nd Airborne Division. The administration official insisted on anonymity in order to confirm McDonald’s appointment before the president’s announcement. Jim McNerney, Chairman and CEO of The Boeing Company, welcomed the development. 'I believe Bob McDonald is an outstanding choice for this critically important position. Following his military service, Bob spent more than three decades in business, where he rose through the ranks leading increasingly large and complex organizations by demonstrating strong management skills and by understanding and attending to the needs of hundreds of thousands of individual consumers of Procter & Gamble,' McNerney said. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a statement that he looked forward to meeting with McDonald next week to get his views on issues he views as important. Scandal: 1,700 veterans seeking treatment at the Phoenix VA hospital were at risk of being 'lost or forgotten' after being kept off the official waiting list . Among them, . Sanders said in a statement, 'The VA needs significantly improved . transparency and accountability and it needs an increased number of . doctors, nurses and other medical staff so that all eligible veterans . get high-quality health care in a timely manner.' A biography of McDonald on Procter & Gamble’s website says he led the company from 2009 to 2013. During . that time, the company website states: 'P&G realized annual sales . of over $84 billion. The company had more than 120,000 employees, 120 . plants and 200 brands in 35 categories, of which 25 brands generate over . $1 billion in sales each year.' The company’s Tide detergent, Crest toothpaste and other products can be found in 98 percent of American households. But . under McDonald’s leadership, it struggled to grow under increased . competition and global economic challenges. Critics suggested he was . having trouble getting the 150-year-old-plus company to fire on all . cylinders. Ousted: The scandal at the VA hospital led to the resignation of former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki . Investors, . including activist investor William Ackman, voiced frustration over the . company’s slow revenue growth and stagnant market share gains. Ackman, . who took a 1 percent stake in the company, pressed for the company to . streamline operations and improve results. In . a letter announcing his retirement from P&G, McDonald wrote, 'This . has been a very difficult decision for me, but I’m convinced it is what . is in the best interests of the company and you. 'During . the past year, much attention has been focused on me from several . angles, which has been a distraction that is not in our best interests,' he wrote. In a surprise move, McDonald was replaced by the man he had replaced, former P&G CEO A.G. Lafley. McDonald . has also served on the board of directors of the Xerox Corp., the . United States Steel Corp., the McKinsey Advisory Council and the Greater . Cincinnati regional initiative intended to 'grow high-potential . startups' in the Cincinnati region. McDonald . is 61. A native of Gary, Indiana, McDonald grew up in Chicago and . graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 with a . degree in engineering. He also earned an MBA from the University of Utah . in 1978. | McDonald graduated near the top of his class at West Point .
The former executive was a captain in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division .
It was revealed earlier this year that VA employees were keeping veterans off a waiting list to make it appear as though the wait time to see a doctor was shorter than it actually was .
It's been alleged that veterans died as a result of the manipulated waiting list .
McDonald replaces Eric Shinseki, who resigned from the position after the scandal at VA hospitals was revealed . |
24,382 | 452fecba46f21e822e318604bda9a3fd99d3c955 | By . Carol Driver . Kennels and catteries are so last year – instead, it’s palaces with spa facilities, and high-end hotels with outdoor balconies where owners are keeping their pampered pets. Luxury accommodation for cats and dogs is the latest trend for holidaymakers who don’t want to feel as though their fluffy friends are missing out while they are away. And, at up to £60 a night, it’s only for owners with deep pockets. Scroll down for video... Feline fine: A pampered pooch in the Kingfisher suite's four-poster bed at the Ings Luxury Cat Hotel . A la carte cat food served on fine china at Ings; and, right, a London-themed room at Balneath Wood Boutique . Ruff night?: Dogs relax on a cushioned chair at the Paw Seaons Hotel . The five-star venues offer a range of facilities – from gourmet meals, and pampering services, to four-poster beds, candlelit meals, and 42-inch TVs displaying fish swimming and birds chirping. The Ings Luxury Cat Hotel, in Yorkshire, has been overwhelmed with enquiries and is now booked up until 2015. Phil Ounsley, 45, and his wife Jo, 43, opened their unique motel for moggies after they struggled to find somewhere to put their own cat when they jetted off abroad. He said: . ‘We built our cat hotel as a place we would like to take our own cats. It appears lots of people feel the same way as we did. ‘We treat all our cats as guests. It is a purpose-built, fully featured hotel, exclusively for cats. ‘We think it is the ultimate cat holiday - a perfect home from home.’ Five-star treatment: A cat enjoying a strawberry at Ings Luxury Cat Hotel . Five-star treatment: A cat on a scratching post and a candle-lit room at The Ings Luxury Cat Hotel . Playtime!: Guests of the Paw Seasons Hotel run around on a nearby beach . Ings offers outdoor balconies, underfloor heating, double glazing, 42-inch TVs displaying fish swimming and birds chirping, bespoke climbing trees, duck down pillows, designer décor with mood lighting, a la carte menus, and VIP spa packages. A night at the extravagant hotel in Thornhill costs owners up to £36. Mr Ounsley said: ‘On Valentine’s Day, guests were treated to a candlelit meal along with a rose, treats and a romantic movie. ‘Owners are kept updated with pictures of the guests relaxing at the hotel.’ Upper-crust felines in East Sussex can enjoy the sumptuous Balneath Wood Boutique Cat Hotel.Owner . Mialee Blair, 49, said: ‘Cats are nervous by nature and don't deal well . with stress. They deserve a nice holiday, just as much as their owners. Top-notch menu: A la carte cuisine is served to cats at The Ings Luxury Hotel . A cat relaxes on a climbing frame, and, right, the menu of the day, at Ings Luxury Cat Hotel . ‘For many pet owners, the family cat is like a child, and they naturally worry about them. Owners can't enjoy their holiday if they think their cat isn't having a good time as well.’ Mrs Blair, a former vet, offers nine luxury designer suites for her guests and a range of spa packages. The hotel also has webcams in every room so owners can see their cat relaxing in the opulent surroundings. A night in the glamorous hotel in South Chailey will cost pet owners up to £26. It's . not just cats who get to relax in style while their owners are out of . the country - pampered pooches can enjoy their own boutique boarding . experience at Hayfields Luxury Dog Hotel in Northamptonshire. Buddy up! Cats sharing a bed at the popular Ings Luxury Cat Hotel . Pupular hotel: A pet pooch chilling out at Hayfields Luxury Dog Hotel . The hotel for pampered pooches costs owners up to £28 per day. Owner Nick . Amsell, 38, said: ‘We are very lucky to have a huge amount of land and . we love taking the dogs on lots of walks while they are here. ‘Recently . one of our guests, a beagle, found himself a girlfriend while walking . with her here - they were inseparable by the end of the week.’ The kennels at Hayfields boast deluxe beds and plenty of room. Mr . Amsell said: ‘Dogs are lovely creatures with simple needs. They like . fuss and affection so we try and give them lots of love all day.’ Luxury accommodation: The up to £60-a-night Ings Cat Hotel is booked until 2015 . Pet retreats: Inside the Balneath Wood Boutique Cat Hotel . Jenny Marriot, 56, of Bristol, offers a more personal service in her own home at the Paw Seasons.During most weeks over the summer Mrs Marriott has eight to ten dogs staying with her while their owners are away on holiday. The pooches have a choice of comfortable beds or comfy leather sofas to sleep on in the sitting room or the cosy study. But, at £60 a night, a stay at the Paw Seasons is reserved for an exclusive set. Mrs Marriott said: ‘When the dogs arrive here, it is like watching kids arriving at holiday camp - they all get very excited being with each other. ‘The breeds all recognise each other. We often find that the labradors will stick close together.‘We keep all the owners informed by putting pictures and videos up on our Facebook page, so they know their dogs are having a great time.’ | High-end resorts are offering a la carte menus for pampered pets .
The Ings cat hotel arranges candle-lit dinners for moggies .
Facilities offer webcams so owners can check in on pets . |
272,966 | ed8dbf49ef197ce8a917f4934f75499efe3eb39f | By . Tara Brady and Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 00:31 EST, 7 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:30 EST, 7 August 2013 . A massive fire engulfed the arrivals hall at Kenya's main international airport today, forcing the closure of East Africa's largest hub and the re-routing of all inbound flights. Dark black smoke was visible across much of Nairobi as emergency teams battled the blaze at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The blaze - which broke out on the 15th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy . bombings in Nairobi and neighbouring Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - raged for . four hours before being contained. Scroll down for video . Inferno: Black smoke billows from the international arrival unit of Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport . Blaze: The massive fire closed East Africa's largest airport and caused flights to be diverted . Closed: Dark black smoke was visible across much of Nairobi as it billowed from the airport . Stranded passengers were left standing on pavements outside the airport with their luggage in hand as the fire raged. Reporters at the scene said the fire . had gutted the international arrivals hall where passengers pass through . immigration and retrieve their luggage. Kenya Airports Authority said the airport had been closed until further notice so emergency teams could battle the fire. While there were no immediate signs . that terrorism played any role in the fire, Kenya's anti-terror police . chief, Boniface Mwaniki, said he wanted to wait for the fire to be put . out so he could inspect the scene before making any judgment. Michael Kamau, the cabinet secretary . for transport and infrastructure, said the fire began at 5am in the . immigration section of the arrivals hall. He said no injuries had been . reported. Inbound flights were diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa, he said. The Kenyan capital's airport is the busiest airport in East Africa and its closure will affect flights throughout the region. Flames: Passengers said they heard as explosions believed to be gas canisters on fire at the airport . Emergency: Stranded passengers said they were surprised the airport was not closed sooner as the fire spread . Engulfed: The blaze spread through the arrivals hall of the international airport on Wednesday morning . A British passenger, Martyn Collbeck, . said he was surprised that the airport was not shut down sooner so . emergency vehicles could respond. 'When I arrived there were one or two . fire engines parked outside the international arrivals. It spread very . fast,' said Mr Collbeck, who had been scheduled to fly to London on an . early morning KLM flight. 'There were a couple of explosions . which I think were a couple of gas canisters. I would have expected more . fire engines to respond faster.' Barry Fisher, a trade specialist who lives in Nairobi, described the scene as chaos. 'It was huge, the smoke billowing, . and it didn't seem to be stopping. There was no one stopping any traffic . going to the road to the airport. 'A number of fire trucks and . ambulances were trying to negotiate their way through the lane. They . were trying to weave their way through a solid two lanes of cars.' Raging: Images posted on Twitter show smoke and flames billowing from one of the main buildings . Diverted: Inbound flights were diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa as the fire raged . The country's largest newspaper, the . Daily Nation, reported last month that Nairobi County does not have a . single working fire engine, and that three fire engines were auctioned . off in 2009 because the county had not paid a repair bill. 'It is a disgrace of biblical . proportions that the entire Nairobi County does not have a public fire . engine in working condition,' the paper wrote in an editorial last . month. 'When (government leaders) were . debating their budgets, they did not deem it fit to set aside money . either to buy new ones or repair the old ones. But they did set aside . money to build mansions for governors, (buy) big vehicles for county . executives and other needs without a direct benefit to Kenyans.' The paper said the collapse of the . fire department means responses to disasters are in the hands of private . companies and the military. | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has been closed until further notice .
Fire gutted the international arrivals area of East Africa's largest airport .
Billowing smoke seen across Nairobi as emergency services battled blaze .
Took crews four hours to bring massive fire under control . |
124,284 | 2cab90cc895df38923aa1888dc9bc04df0501730 | A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou has apologized for using 'ignorant and offensive' remarks to introduce the brand's fall 2015 menswear show in Paris this week, after Timberland terminated its relationship with the brand. During the fashion show, Mr Touitou held up a sign that read, 'Last Ni##@$ IN PARIS,' and explained that A.P.C's collaboration with Timberland is 'a very strong ghetto signifier.' Timberland chose to 'immediately terminate' its involvement with A.P.C., including the footwear collaboration it had planned for this fall. Now, Mr Touitou has said he is 'deeply regretful' for his remarks. Timberland has terminated its relationship with A.P.C. after founder Jean Touitou (pictured) used 'offensive remarks' to introduce the brand's fall 2015 menswear show in Paris this week . 'When describing our brand's latest collaboration, I spoke recklessly using terms that were both ignorant and offensive,' he said in a statement sent to MailOnline. 'I apologize and am deeply regretful for my poor choice of words, which are in no way a reflection of my personal views.' Timberland's president, Stewart Whitney, told Racked that after the company became aware of the 'offensive remarks' made by Mr Touitou, he chose to 'immediately terminate' Timberland's involvement with the A.P.C. brand, including the footwear collaboration we had planned for this fall. 'Simply stated, this kind of language and approach is in complete contrast with our values. Timberland seeks to collaborate with designers and brands who are at the forefront of lifestyle trends; equally important, they must also share our values. 'We will not tolerate offensive language or racial slurs of any kind being associated with the Timberland brand.' According to A.P.C., Mr Touitou didn't mean to offend. In an earlier statement sent to BuzzFeed, the brand stated that Mr Touitou was simply making a reference to two moments in recent popular culture. While holding up a sign that read, 'Last Ni##@$ IN PARIS,' Mr Touitou explained that A.P.C's collaboration with Timberland is 'a very strong ghetto signifier' Yesterday Timberland chose to 'immediately terminate' its involvement A.P.C., including the footwear collaboration it had planned for this fall . 'One being the song Niggas in Paris by Kanye West and Jay Z and the second being the Bernardo Bertolucci film Last Tango in Paris. The connection was used to describe a look for the collection and was in no way intended to cause offense.' Style.com printed Mr Touitou's original remarks, revealing that he called the collection 'Last N****s in Paris' because 'it's the sweet spot when the hood—the 'hood—meets Bertolucci's movie Last Tango in Paris. So that's 'N****s in Paris' and Last N****s in Paris. 'I mean, it's nice to play with the strong signifiers. The Timberland here is a very strong ghetto signifier. In the ghetto, it is all the Timberlands, all the big chain. Not at the same time—never; it's bad taste. 'So we designed Timberlands with Timberland.' Later, Style.com asked Mr Touitou to clarify what he meant. He explained via Email: 'I made looks which are a cross-over of those two references: the Timberland shoes and the sweat pants are iconic of hip-hop, and the camel hair color coat, worn with nothing under it, is iconic of that precise movie. 'I am friends with Kanye [West, who recorded Ni**as in Paris with Jay Z], and he and I presented a joint collection at the same place, one year ago, and that this thing is only a homage to our friendship.' | A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou has apologized for using 'ignorant and offensive' remarks to introduce the brand's fall 2015 menswear show in Paris last week .
He held a sign that read, 'Last Ni##@$ IN PARIS,' and explained that A.P.C's collaboration with Timberland is 'a very strong ghetto signifier'
Timberland 'immediately terminated' its involvement with A.P.C., including the footwear collaboration it had planned for this fall . |
245,611 | c9e872a336a3ef4287c0234df4402a2debe9773c | By . Aap . and Emily Crane For Daily Mail Australia . A woman arranged for her ex-partner to be kidnapped and killed and then had sex with one of the hitmen shortly after they dumped his body in remote bushland, a court has heard. Robyn Jane Lindholm, 41, is charged with the murder of Melbourne gym owner Wayne Amey, whose body was found wedged between boulders at Mt Korong in central Victoria last December. The pair were in a relationship that had turned sour and were due in court over a property dispute on the day he disappeared. Robyn Lindholm denies murdering her ex-partner Wayne Amey, with whom she was having a property dispute . Wayne Amey's body (left) was found dumped in bushland, allegedly after Lindholm (right) organised his murder . Chief Crown Prosecutor Galvin Silbert told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday that Lindholm had engaged two men - Torsten Trabet, 45, and John Anthony Ryan, 37 - to kill Mr Amey. Two other men had repeatedly declined her requests. Mr Silbert said one of the men who refused to take part had warned Mr Amey, who subsequently went to police in August 2013 and told them of Lindholm's intent to harm him. Mr Amey was ambushed in the car park of his apartment block, where he was bashed with a baseball bat, tasered and thrown into a car boot and driven off, according to Mr Silbert. He told the court Mr Amey could be heard pleading for his life before he was stabbed a number of times and strangled. Mr Amey was ambushed in the car park of his Melbourne apartment block, allegedly by Torsten Trabert and John Anthony Ryan, who deny murder . Mr Silbert alleged that after the three dumped Mr Amey's body between two boulders and covered it with sticks and rocks, Ryan left the other two. Lindholm and Trabert then went to a secluded spot in nearby Kyneton where they had sex, before they returned to Melbourne. The court heard Mr Amey suffered stab wounds, fractured ribs and neck injuries and was wrapped in a canvas sheet with rope around his neck and his lower legs hog tied. Lindholm, Trabert and Ryan all deny murder. Lindholm and Trabert are also contesting charges of intentionally causing serious injury and assisting an offender. The committal hearing continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Robyn Lindholm, 41, is charged with murdering ex-partner Wayne Amey .
His body was found at Mt Korong in central Victoria in December last year .
The pair, whose relationship ended badly, were due in court over a property dispute the day Mr Amey disappeared .
Lindholm allegedly recruited Torsten Trabet, 45, and John Anthony Ryan, 37, to help kill Mr Amey .
All three deny murder. The committal hearing continues in Melbourne . |
57,731 | a3a032971cfc319bea80a76cbca3b946bb46145d | By . Emily Crane for Daily Mail Australia . A teenage rugby league player left paralysed after fracturing his spine was so determined to walk again he wasn't even phased when doctors told him he could spend his life in a wheelchair. Curtis Landers faced life as a quadriplegic after fracturing his c2 and c3 vertebrae carrying out a football tackle at Port Macquarie in northern NSW back in May. Just three months after he was injured, the 15-year-old astounded doctors and physiotherapists when he walked out of hospital on his own two feet. Now, Curtis can remarkably kick a football and play cricket - a feat his family never dreamed of when they saw him in a hospital bed a few months back. Scroll down for video . Curtis Landers faced life as a quadriplegic after fracturing his spine during a football game in May. He astounded doctors when he walked out of hospital on his own two feet this month with his dad Kevin . Curtis, who was so determined to walk again, said he never entertained the idea that he may be confined to a wheelchair . 'I was planning to play the season again so walking wasn’t a worry,' Curtis told 60 Minutes. 'I feel like a giant walking around… now I’ve got a second chance. It feels unreal.' Curtis was airlifted to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital immediately after the accident on May 24 to have spinal surgery. He was carrying out a routine tackle during his under 15s game for his Forster-Tuncurry Hawks team. 'I just remember laying there and not being able to get up. If you get knocked down, the first thing is to get up back to your feet. I felt pins and needles. My mate said “Are you alright?” and I said “I don’t think I’m alright”,' Curtis said. Curtis can remarkably kick a football and play cricket despite being confined to a hospital bed just three months ago . The 15-year-old was told he may never walk again after fracturing his c2 and c3 vertebrae carrying out a football tackle at Port Macquarie in northern NSW back in May . His mum, Marie Landers, said her son described his first leg movement just days after the accident as his 'party trick' His parents, Kevin and Marie, said it was the worst news they could have imagined. 'It was like a bad dream… Just wanted to wake up and see it wasn’t real,' Mrs Landers said. The image of Curtis paralysed in a hospital bed with tubes to help him breathe shocked his family and friends. 'I didn’t know when you broke your neck you couldn’t breathe and they told us about the tube and I said “How long will he have to have the tube for?” and (the doctor) said "could be two weeks, two months, two years or the rest of his life",' Mr Landers said. Neurosurgeon Jonathon Ball carried out the surgery and said Curtis' recovery was 'inspirational'. Neurosurgeon Jonathon Ball, pictured here with Curtis, carried out the surgery and said his recovery was 'inspirational' Curtis was carrying out a routine tackle during his under 15s game for his Forster-Tuncurry Hawks team when he was critically injured . 'A 15-year-old facing life as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and we weren’t even sure if he would start breathing on his own. It’s about as bad as these situations get,' Dr Ball said. 'My gut feeling was this was a bad injury and the chances of him recovering at that point were very low. As a complete quadriplegic, the chances of walking again is less than 2 or 3 percent. 'I saw very little improvement the first few days, but on the fourth day I walked in… and (Curtis) flung his legs off the bed and started lifting his arms. I said s***.' Mrs Landers said her son described his first leg movement just days after the accident as his 'party trick'. Curtis was moved to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney to undergo intense physiotherapy following his surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital . Curtis and his family have since returned to their home in Forster, north of Sydney, where he will continue his rehabilitation to ensure he can get by without a wheelchair . 'He must have lied awake at night and tried different things. We couldn’t believe it,' she said. Curtis was moved to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney to undergo intense physiotherapy and step by step he learned to walk again. 'It is astonishing, it is inspirational. Across all operations there’s a handful of patients who I remember… (Curtis) is in the handful of patients who keep me doing what I do,' Dr Ball said. Curtis and his family have since returned to their home in Forster, north of Sydney, where he will continue his rehabilitation to ensure he can get by without a wheelchair. He is now preparing to return to school. Curtis was carrying out a routine tackle during his under 15s game for his Forster-Tuncurry Hawks team when he was injured . Curtis (pictured here with Brad Fittler and Michael Ennis) has had an outpouring of support from his local community and the NRL with thousands of dollars being raised for his ongoing recovery . He has had an outpouring of support from his local community and the NRL with thousands of dollars being raised for his ongoing recovery. Curtis also met with renowned NRL player Alex McKinnon in hospital and a photo of the pair in wheelchairs was posted to the Curtis Landers: Road To Recovery Facebook page. The Knights forward was also in Royal North Shore undergoing treatment for a fractured c4 and c5 vertebrae he suffered in a tackle on March 24. | Curtis Landers fractured his c2 and c3 vertebrae carrying out a football tackle on May 24 .
Despite doctors telling the 15-year-old he would be in a wheelchair for life, Curtis walked out of hospital this month .
He has returned to his home on the NSW north coast after a three month stint in Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital .
His neurosurgeon Dr Jonathan Ball described Curtis' recovery as 'inspirational' |
115,214 | 20adfab7af34ddbe3f1613c999ab5ac59dd83294 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:28 EST, 14 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:44 EST, 15 September 2012 . Pensive: Kate looked beautiful as usual but despite an incredible show of strength, at times she looked very thoughtful about the day's events . France has draconian privacy laws but punishments for breaking them are paltry. Nevertheless, politicians, the powerful and the wealthy happily use them to hide their secrets. Experts say Closer is undoubtedly breaking French law by publishing topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge in Provence. But the magazine is likely to be willing to take the risk of a small fine in return for a huge boost in sales and revenue. The French constitution states that ‘everyone has the right to privacy’ and potentially prevents the media from disclosing intimate details about an individual’s private life as well as taking unsolicited photographs . The system allowed former president François Mitterrand to conceal the existence of his second family and daughter Mazarine up to his death. The French learned about disgraced former banker Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s sexual proclivities only when he was accused of rape in New York. And president Francois Hollande’s girlfriend, Valérie Trierweiler, who works for Paris Match, is demanding £20,000 in damages from Closer for printing pictures of her in a bikini this summer. Miss Trierweiler, 47, has already been awarded £1,200 after the highly unflattering snaps appeared in glossy French magazine VSD. Closer has branded the First Lady’s . demand as ‘the height of hypocrisy’ and magazine editor Laurence Pieau . has issued a full page statement attacking Miss Trierweiler – published . on the page after its photos of topless Kate. Professional: Despite having just heard bad news over breakfast the pair didn't let it show when they met people during a Kuala Lumper walk about today . ‘How dare she complain,’ said Miss Pieau. ‘She was on a private beach in the south of France, but in full view of the boats hired by the paparazzi. 'She must have known she was going to be photographed. And she even works for a magazine that printed them.’ Breach of privacy is a criminal offence . carrying a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a £36,000 fine for . the editor but fines sometimes amounting to a single euro are regularly . handed down. Criminal lawsuits are rare with people . generally suing through the civil courts, which can order an apology . from the publication as well as damages. Targets: Laws were reinforced in France after the constant pursuit of Hollywood star Brigitte Bardot (left), while Valerie Trierweiler, French journalist and partner of the Francois Hollande is demanding £20,000 in damages from Closer for printing pictures of her in a bikini this summer . Thomas Roussineau, who specialises in privacy law, said the photos of the Duchess were totally forbidden. ‘The castle is not the street, it is in a private place, and they are intimate pictures,’ he said. Mr Roussineau said it was likely the . magazine had weighed up the potential cost of a fine, that he suggested . would be around £24,000, against the revenue the photos would bring. ‘They will have a big revenue, and the amount of the sentence will not equal the revenue they will make,’ he added. Visit: Kate at the Kranji Memorial in Singapore as part of her and William's tour . On tour: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge . enjoying their first official engagement on their nine-day tour of Asia . at the stunning Botanic Gardens in Singapore . | Experts say Closer undoubtedly broke law with photographs .
However, they may have been willing to take the risk for a disproportionately small fine . |
239,218 | c1b588fcf600bb1370e7936c475e4da544859fc8 | (CNN) -- Bahraini authorities on Sunday explicitly tied the recent arrests of alleged "terrorist cell" members with Iran, claiming the suspects got funding from that Middle Eastern nation and had ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Basij, according to a state media report. A day earlier, a Bahrain Ministry of Interior spokesman said authorities had arrested five people for allegedly planning attacks against -- among other targets -- the interior ministry building, the King Fahad Causeway and Saudi Arabia's embassy in Manama. On Sunday, a spokesman for the public prosecution office -- which has taken over the investigation from the interior ministry -- offered new details about the alleged plotters. Much of the new information was derived from what the official Bahrain News Agency describes as "confessions made by some of the accused gangsters." The BNA report stated the alleged terrorists had connected with "militant elements in (Iran's) Revolutionary Guard" and Basij, the volunteer paramilitary group allied with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Bahrain prosecutor's spokesman claimed the suspected terrorists planning, and operations, were dependent on "foreign financing." The BNA report specifically referenced money that one suspect supposedly got during a visit to Iran. Another report, released early Monday by Iran's state-run Press TV, described the arrests and Bahraini claims as "anti-Iran political theater." "Manama has made similar allegations on a number of occasions, and every time Iran has denied all the charges," the Press TV report said. A Bahrain interior ministry spokesman had earlier said, in a statement, that Qatari security authorities initially arrested four Bahrainis who had entered Qatar from neighboring Saudi Arabia. The suspects were carrying documents and a laptop "containing sensitive security information and details about some places and vital establishments in Bahrain, as well as airline bookings to Syria," the spokesman's statement said. The suspects were also carrying a "significant" amount of U.S. and Iranian currency, the spokesman said. The Qatari Security Authority learned that the four suspects left Bahrain "after being incited by others to head to Iran," and then they passed through Qatar and Syria "to establish a group that carries out armed terrorist operations in Bahrain," the spokesman's statement said. The four defendants provided information about a fifth suspect in Bahrain, who was also arrested, Bahraini authorities said. | NEW: State-run Iranian media describes the report as "anti-Iran political theater"
Bahrain announced Saturday that 5 alleged "terrorist cell" members had been arrested .
A prosecutor's spokesman offers details Sunday to official media on the alleged plotters .
The suspects had ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Basij, the state report says . |
38,269 | 6c337a5ed8ead611c69edfe81c766edb5361f59c | Roy Keane's second autobiography was always going to be a read that opened up old wounds, unsettling former team-mates and managers alike. It didn't disappoint. The former Manchester United captain had Sir Alex Ferguson, the Class of '92 and Carlos Quieroz in his sights - among a raft of others - but also contextualised various moments of a controversial career. Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the highlights of The Second Half - released this Thursday. Aston Villa assistant manager Roy Keane is all set to release his second autobiography this week . The former Manchester United captain wrote of problems with goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel . Keane couldn't understand why Carlos Quieroz was questioning loyalty at Manchester United . Keane with a New York Yankees kit on and (right) sharing a joke with ex-goalkeeper Fabian Barthez . Sir Alex Ferguson claps the Old Trafford crowd after beating Keane's Sunderland in September 2007 . The Class of '92 . All good players but their role at the club has been exaggerated. The Class of ’92 seems to have grown its own legs. It has become a brand. It’s as if they were a team away from a team and they are not shy of plugging in to it. Paul Scholes . Scholesy was a top top player but I still don’t fall for the boy next door image. Or that he’s dead humble. He has more of an edge to him. Everyone thinks he lives in a council flat. Fighting Peter Schmeichel . I had a bust-up with Peter when we were on a preseason tour of Asia, in 1998, just after I came back from my cruciate injury. I think we were in Hong Kong. There was drink involved. There'd been a little bit of tension between us over the years, for football reasons. There was a lot of noise - Peter's a big lad. I woke up the next morning. I kind of vaguely remembered the fight. My hand was really sore and one of my fingers was bent backwards. Peter had grabbed me, I'd headbutted him. We'd been fighting for ages. Keane walking through the driving rain at Goodison Park against Everton in February 2004 . Regrets apologising to Ferguson . Does not regret his tackle on Haaland . Told Fergie 'We need f****** more' Wouldn't have missed a drugs test like Rio . Headbutted Peter Schmeichel . Class of 92 . Real Madrid regret . Ferguson wanted me to wear No 7 . Turned down Celtic this summer . Re-opens feud with Fergie . Leaving Old Trafford . It was another little hand grenade they threw at me. Not an hour later, or two hours, or after the severance negotiations - it was already written. I said to Ferguson “Can I play for somebody else?” And he said, “Yeah you can, cos we’re tearing up your contract” So I thought, “All right - I’ll get fixed up”. I knew there’d be clubs in for me when the news got out. I said, “Yeah - I think we have come to the end”. I just thought, “F****** p****” and I stood up and went “Yeah. I’m off”. That MUTV interview . It was getting a bit silly so I got the players together in the dressing room and told them it was f*****g nonsense. 'They were all going: ‘Yeah, Yeah’. Not one of them had an issue. Not one. Sir Alex Ferguson vs Brian Clough . I put Brian Clough ahead of Alex Ferguson. I think with Sir Alex Ferguson it was pure business - everything is business. If he was being nice I would think: “This is business, this”. He was driven and ruthless. That lack of warmth was his strength. Carlos Quieroz questioning his loyalty . Don’t you f****** talk to me about loyalty, Carlos. You left this club after 12 months a few years ago for the Real Madrid job. Manchester United's downturn . I look at the current players and they should be doing a lot better. Not liking a manager can never be an excuse for not going out and doing your best. Looking at what happened to David Moyes, I can only conclude that he didn’t have a strong dressing room. He had a weak dressing room. Feud with Ferguson . Keane reveals he said to Ferguson: ‘You as well gaffer. We need f****** more from you. We need a bit more, gaffer. We’re slipping behind other teams.' Keane stands over Alf-Inge Haaland after a shocking challenge in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford . Keane confronts Tottenham's Justin Edinburgh during Nottingham Forest's 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Wembley . Ferguson's relationship deteriorated with the Republic of Ireland international before he left for Celtic . Keane writes about a range of topic in his autobiographyThe Second Half . Alf-Inge Haaland . I did want to nail him and let him know what was happening. I wanted to hurt him and stand over him and go: 'Take that, you c--t.' I don't regret that. But I had no wish to injure him. Rio Ferdinand . He suffered for it and so did the team. If it had been me, and the doctor had said I had to do a drugs test, I'd have gone and done it. It wasn't something I'd have forgotten. Almost moving to Real Madrid . Michael [Kennedy - his agent] had given me a heads-up that Emilio Butragueno would be phoning, so I took my mobile phone everywhere with me. And - how's your luck - he rang me while I was sitting on the toilet. He said: "Look Roy, we'll be glad to have you." The club's board just had to sanction the deal. In hindsight, I should have said to myself: 'Go, go to Spain, live there for a year and a half, learn the language, learn the culture . Roy Keane: The Second Half, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson £20. www.orionbooks.co.uk . | Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane's new autobiography The Second Half was leaked on Monday .
Keane viewed former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as a 'f****** p****'
Aston Villa assistant manager Keane accuses Ferguson of failing to honour the terms of his contract .
Keane reveals his exit cost him £1million - a bonus written into his contract .
A training ground bust-up involving Keane, assistant boss Carlos Queiroz raised tensions at Old Trafford .
Keane regrets apologising to Ferguson and Queiroz after the bust-up . |
49,482 | 8bd8d3c122ccb8458f178b79d131ca17b4175e43 | By . Madlen Davies for MailOnline . For little Jacob Madgin simple tasks like preparing food, taking a bath or passing a dog in the street can leave him literally scared stiff. The four-year-old's entire body will become rigid if he is shocked, causing him to suffer seizures and spasms. Jacob, from Wallsend in North Tyneside has the rare condition hyperekplexia, also known as 'startle disease'. The inherited condition, which is thought to affect only 70 families worldwide, can cause Jacob to stop breathing and choke. Lesley Madgin, 48, has to watch four year old son Jacob constantly as he could choke or stop breathing due to 'startle disease', which causes his body to become rigid when he becomes shocked . Everyday occurrences like taking a bath, preparing food or seeing a dog in the street can trigger the condition, making it impossible to know when Jacob could have a serious episode . Jacob is unable to alert others to what is happening, as the condition leaves him unable to cough or shout as his throat goes into spasm. His mother Lesley Madgin, 48, said everyday occurrences like taking a bath, preparing food or passing a dog on the street can cause Jacob to spasm and seize up. She said: ‘You never know what might trigger Jacob’s condition. When I was opening a box of blueberries the noise of the plastic as I opened the lid set him off. ‘In the past it used to be animals as he could not go passed a dog without going into spasm, but now he’s fine with dogs. 'Another time he asked to have a ride on a pony but as he approached the pony his whole body went stiff.' Anything can set off Jacob’s condition and the unpredictably of the illness makes it almost impossible to know when he will have a serious episode. Hyperkplexia - also known as startle disease - is a rare neurological disorder which causes sufferers to react in an exaggerated way when startled. They become rigid and unable to move, and sometimes stop breathing, which can prove fatal. The main symptoms of the condition include stiffness that can prevent the person from moving. It can cause them to fall, stiffly, like a log, without loss of consciousness. When a baby startles, it may be accompanied by non-epileptic seizures with increased stiffness and twitching. Simple activities, such as having a bath, can trigger the condition. There is no cure for the illness but medication can help to ease the symptoms. Mrs Madgin, a teaching assistant, said the condition means she worries about her son constantly. She said: ‘I’d love to wrap him up in cotton wool but I try to treat him as I would any child, although it’s difficult to cut the apron ties as I worry about him all the time.’ Jacob was born naturally five days early, weighing a healthy 7lb 10lbs. But within 32 hours Mrs Madgkin and her husband Allan, 56, a nursing assistant, knew something was wrong with their son noticing he was ‘twitchy and upset'. Jacob had to be fed through a tube because every time the family tried breast or bottle feeding he would spasm as his nose touched a teat. It was not until he was eight-months-old that experts made an official diagnoses, following a number of tests and examinations. Now the family try to avoid anything that might scare Jacob - even water being splashed on him. Mrs Madgin has to watch her son constantly so he doesn’t choke, and worries that as a child he is oblivious to the danger presented by his seizures and spasms. She said: ‘When Jacob was initially diagnosed I felt OK about it because we were told that the most difficult time would be the first year of his life and I felt it could be worse. ‘But it’s a very difficult condition to manage and I have to watch him all the time as he can choke on anything. ‘It is sad that he has this hereditary condition and I do worry that he will get teased as he gets older. 'We just have to take it one day at a time, but Jacob has not got an awareness of danger and that makes it even worse.’ Despite his rare condition, parents say Jacob Madgin is a 'quick, bright and intelligent' boy who has a great sense of humour and is loved by everyone . Although there is no cure for the illness, Jacob takes medication to relax his muscles . Tomorrow Jacob will start his first day at school in Wallsend, North Tyneside, and he will get one-to-one support to make sure he’s safe and well. Mrs Madgin said: ‘Jacob has a brilliant sense of humour and he’s a fantastic, funny boy that everybody loves. 'He attracts people wherever he goes and he’s always smiling. He is a very quick, bright and intelligent boy.’ Both Mr and Mrs Madgin carry the faulty gene that causes hyperekplexia, but fortunately their eldest son, Josh, seven, did not inherit the illness. Jacob is monitored by consultants at the Great North Children’s Hospital, based at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, and takes medication to relax his muscles. Children’s charity Action Medical Research has funded studies looking at the genes that cause the condition and Mrs Madgin is keen to raise awareness to the rare disease. Dr Caroline Johnston, research evaluation manager at Action Medical Research said: ‘Although the symptoms of startle disease often fade by the time babies reach their first birthday, they can continue throughout childhood and into adulthood, with some children experiencing severe breathing problems and others having learning difficulties.' Both Mr and Mrs Madgin carry the faulty gene that causes hyperekplexia, but fortunately their eldest son, Josh, seven (pictured right) did not inherit the illness . 'Startle disease' is so rare that it is thought to affect just 70 families worldwide. Charity Action Medical Research is looking into the genes which cause the condition . She added that further research could lead to a new genetic test to identify babies with ‘startle disease’. She said: ‘Action has funded research looking at the genes which cause startle disease in the hope of giving more babies access to a full diagnosis. ‘The research could lead to a new genetic test for babies and children. If diagnosed correctly, babies can be treated with drugs that help reduce the unwanted startle reaction and also reduce muscle stiffness.’ Action Medical Research has launched a new ‘Bear Miles for Breakthroughs’ appeal featuring Paddington. To donate visit www.action.org.uk/bearmiles . | Jacob Madgin, 4, has rare condition hyperekplexia or 'startle disease'
Startle disease is thought to affect only 70 families worldwide .
Condition causes his entire body to become rigid if he becomes shocked .
Can be triggered by everyday occurrences like opening food or seeing a dog .
Suffers spasms and can stop breathing or choke as his throat seizes up .
Treatment includes drugs that help relax his muscles .
Action Medical Research charity is researching genes that cause disease .
Charity said genetic test to identify babies with condition could be developed . |
254,134 | d4ecdd1dd8abf2e41a6aae6f86976e7cb6450079 | By . Sam Peters . Jimmy Anderson stands on the brink of greatness. Burnley’s favourite son will begin the final Test of the series against India at The Oval on Friday needing eight more scalps to become England’s leading wicket taker of all-time. The man the 32-year-old is aiming to overtake? Only Sir Ian Botham. Already England’s leading international wicket taker in all formats with 649 — of which 376 have come in Tests — Anderson has morphed from a tearaway young fast bowler, whose early career performances veered from the sublime to the ordinary, into one of the most consistent swing bowlers of all-time. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Cook salutes victorious England effort . Top man: Jimmy Anderson will be gunning for Sir Ian Botham's record as he sits just eight wickets off him . His fiercely competitive nature has landed him in hot water on occasions — most notably the recent verbal spat with Indian batsman Ravi Jadeja — but he will undoubtedly be remembered, when his career does come to an end, as one of England’s greatest. ‘James was always extremely competitive,’ said his dad, Michael. ‘I wouldn’t say he had a win-at-all-costs approach but he was extremely competitive, yes. The whole family are. We’ve all played a lot of sport. ‘Even at the age of 10 or 11, if I beat him at golf wouldn’t speak to me for a couple of days after that. When he was around 15 or 16 he grew between six and nine inches in a year, put on a couple of yards of pace over the winter and had a few lads hopping around in the nets. ‘I remember batting against him in the nets around that time and one day deciding “I don’t think I fancy that any more”. It was around that time we started to think there might be something special there.’ It was around that time the young Burnley Cricket Club fast bowler began attracting the attention of Lancashire’s selectors. Former England all-rounder Mike Watkinson was then the coach and he recalls what marked the quickie out from the rest. VIDEO Cook salutes victorious England effort . Wheeling away: Anderson goes on a celebration run after the wicket of Virat Kohli at Old Trafford on Saturday . ‘He was a quiet lad, potentially shy, very respectful,’ Watkinson said. ‘He always worked hard and was very determined. He was perhaps a little bit nervous of the environment he found himself in but he has an inner strength and confidence. ‘He had some pace and the ability to swing the ball consistently. There was a snap and a quirkiness to his action which made him slightly unpredictable and batsman always seemed to be rushed when they faced him.’ After breaking into the England one-day side as a 20-year-old in late 2002, the same year he made his first-class debut, Anderson excelled at the World Cup in 2003, taking a hat-trick against Pakistan. He took five for 73 on his Test debut against Pakistan the following year but struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting XI, with world-class fast bowlers Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff forming England’s pace attack during the fabled 2005 series as Anderson carried the drinks. A stress fracture of his back the following year gave him the chance to tweak his action and to make important strength and conditioning improvements to improve his core strength and ensure it did not become a recurring nightmare. ‘When Jimmy came on the scene he was able to offer something to English cricket that we didn’t really have then,’ said his former Lancashire team-mate and his friend, Luke Sutton. ‘He was 90mph bowler with an unusual action who was young and exciting. He was different. ‘But it hasn’t all gone perfectly for him. Growing up when you’re on the international scene is tough because if you have a loss of form everybody sees it. Then obviously he had his stress fracture in 2006 and at that point his international career was really in the balance. But from then on he hasn’t really looked back. ‘However longer he plays for will largely come down to fitness. But if he remains fit then he’ll be taking wickets. If he plays for another two or three years he could achieve a level in cricket that very few people have got to in the history of the game. Real greatness.’ Multitalented: Anderson had a good go with the bat too as England dominated in the fourth Test . With more overs already under his belt than any bowler in English history, it is inevitable Anderson will have rubbed a few batsmen up the wrong way. He has worked on his mental approach to the game with England psychologist Mark Bawden, calling himself Jimmy on the field, and James off it. ‘When any sportsman plays he has an arousal state he needs to get to in order to perform at his best. If he pushes past it he won’t perform and if he doesn’t reach it he won’t perform,’ said Watkinson. ‘Some people need to get themselves revved up to a particular level. We play the game to rules with parameters for behaviour and we all know what is acceptable and unacceptable. You get out there and play hard and get on with it. We’ve never had any issues with Jimmy at all. He’s a very determined cricketer who gives you a very hard battle when you play against him.’ His combative, in-your-face on-field persona is at odds with his off-field image as a quiet, reserved man with a dry sense of humour. ‘He’s got lots of sides to his personality,’ Sutton adds. ‘He’s a very quiet guy but he’s got a very funny side to him. He’s always after a practical joke or a laugh. His favourite impression is Cliff Richard meets Luke Sutton. I find it very difficult to have a conversation with him without him breaking into that at some point.’ Next week at The Oval, his dad Michael and mum, Catherine, will be in the crowd desperate for their son to succeed. ‘I’m proud of what he’s done and what he’s achieved,’ Michael added. ‘It’s unbelievable for us really. ‘We just sit there and watch. Even now after 11 years of him playing for England you so sometimes look around and think ‘that’s our little boy out there playing for England.’ Huge influence: Anderson has been a big player during his 11-year England career and wants more records . | Final Test of series with India sees him eight wickets from a record total .
Anderson is already England's leading wicket taker in all formats .
He was once a tearaway but will be remember as one of England's greatest .
His Dad Michael says he has always been competitive but was quiet .
Anderson has achieve a lot in his 11-year England career .
His parents will be in the Oval crowd to watch him from next Friday . |
261,034 | de158c981e6ac4d0c979e068145e2e46d0424ad4 | (CNN) -- A computer problem that grounded United Airlines flights across the country has been repaired, the airline announced early Saturday. The Chicago-based airline blamed the computer malfunction on "a network connectivity issue" Friday night. The problem, "was resolved through troubleshooting procedures and restored at midnight," wrote United Airlines spokesman Charles Hobart in an e-mail to CNN. "The airline issued a waiver policy permitting customers on affected flights to cancel or rebook their itineraries without penalty," Hobart said. "United apologizes for the disruption caused to travelers at affected airports and is re-accommodating travelers where necessary." The computer malfunction brought United's system of scheduling departures, reservations and processing passengers to a halt at airports across the United States. The problem left passengers stranded for hours in grounded planes, airport lobbies and security lines. Michael Goldenthal, who was on an airplane at O'Hare when the problem occurred, said it became apparent something was wrong as the flight was taxiing. "We were on the runway when the pilot came on the P.A. and said they had lost contact with the company computer system which measured the weight of the plane," Goldenthal said. Goldenthal said the aircraft taxied around for nearly an hour and then returned to the gate for additional fuel. But passengers were not allowed to get off. Long lines of people could be seen at airports in cities across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. Many passengers sat on the floor as they waited. Chris Hou and his wife, Jennifer, became stranded at Los Angeles International Airport while waiting on a connecting flight to Denver. "We're pretty easy going people. We travel a lot. We understand that problems happen," Chris Hou told CNN. "I just think there would be a little more information. All they say is 'we have a computer problem.' By the time you get to hour three, it gets a little frustrating." Hou told CNN less than a hour later that he and his wife were about to board a plane to Denver. CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report . | NEW: Airline spokesman says "network connectivity issue" is to blame .
NEW: United allows passengers to book new flights without penalty .
Outage shuts down departures, reservation system for several hours .
Problem creates long lines of stranded passengers in U.S. airports . |
199,027 | 8da9af4db0cc2240ed1d14eff9463f449129cbfe | A controversial goal helped Roma to a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A on Tuesday, highlighting the need for goal-line technology. Davide Astori's header in the 17th minute hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down near visiting goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. The goal-line official ruled that the ball did not entirely cross the line but after protests from Roma the referee overruled him, sparking outrage from Udinese. Replays were inconclusive. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Davide Astori's controversial goal . Davide Astori (centre) celebrates with his Roma team-mates after scoring the winner against Udinese . Astori rises high to head the ball towards goal as the Udinese defence watch on . The ball heads towards goal from Astori's header during the Serie A match . Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis has the ball in his hands after it bounces as Roma players appeal . Replays show that the ball may not have entirely crossed the line of the Udinese goal . Karnezis catches the ball in his hands but the referee overrules the goal-line official's decision . 'The goal-line official told me it wasn't a goal but it's the referee who decides and I think he saw it correctly,' Astori said. Roma moved provisionally level with leader Juventus, who are hosting Inter Milan later in the day as the Italian league returned to full action after the winter break. The win also put Roma nine points ahead of third-place Lazio ahead of Sunday's Rome derby. Udinese remained in the middle of the table, 17 points behind. Francesco Totti, Roma's 38-year-old captain, set up the goal with a free kick that Astori met in the center of the area at the Stadio Friuli. Totti was up against Antonio Di Natale in a matchup of the league's two top active career scorers. Totti is second all-time with 237 goals in 571 appearances and Di Natale is seventh on the list with 201 in 404 matches. Silvio Piola, who won the 1938 World Cup with Italy, has the record of 274 goals. Di Natale provided a perfect ball for Gabriel Silva in the 27th but the Brazilian couldn't find the target. Roma forward Adem Ljajic was carried off on stretcher in the 83rd following a hard tackle by Giovanni Pasquale. Roma's Francesco Totti (left) controls the ball as Udinese's Allan gives chase . Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale fires the ball towards goal during the Serie A match on Monday . Roma players celebrate at the end of the match as they claim a crucial 1-0 victory at Udinese . Udinese protested for a penalty when Urby Emanuelson made contact with Panagiotis Kone inside the area in the 85th but the referee ruled to play on, resulting in more protests from the hosts and a management member on Udinese's bench being sent off. Goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis stopped solid chances from Emanuelson and Alessandro Florenzi in injury time but Udinese couldn't produce any serious opportunities at the other end. However, the match will be remembered for the controversy surrounding the goal, bolstering Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio's desire to install instant replay for next season. Goal-line technology was used at last year's World Cup but hasn't yet been approved for Serie A. Also later, fourth-place Napoli were visiting struggling Cesena and AC Milan were facing Sassuolo at the San Siro. On Monday, Lazio beat Sampdoria 3-0. | Roma claimed a 1-0 win at Udinese in the Serie A match on Tuesday .
Davide Astori scored the winner with a header in the 17th minute .
The referee overruled the goal-line official who said that the ball did not entirely cross the line . |
281,693 | f8e892b93b8cb3ab43190b89394161efa3fb92e6 | By . Ap and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:38 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:15 EST, 25 October 2013 . Firefighters have put out a blaze at the Macy's flagship store in New York City. The New York Fire Department said in a Twitter post at about 9:30 . p.m. Friday that the two-alarm fire burning in the basement of the . iconic department store on 34th Street in Manhattan was under control. Fire officials did not respond to repeated calls for more details. A . spokeswoman for Macy's said people in the building were moved out of . harm's way. Blaze: Authorities say the fire started in the basement of the midtown Macy's about 8:15 p.m. Friday . Debris: Fire officials cleared all the people out of the store. There are no reported injuries . More than a dozen fire trucks responded to the scene. A stretch of . sidewalk on Seventh Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets was shut down . on the west side of the store and crowds of onlookers had gathered to . watch. The well-known department store has over 1 million square-feet of retail space. The store made headlines earlier Friday when actor Robert Brown, an African-American, alleged that he was the victim of an unlawful stop-and-search while shopping at the 34th Street store. Brown was briefly detained at the store as police told him 'that his identification was false and that he could not afford to make such an expensive purchase. Investigation: Fire officials will now try to determine what caused the blaze . Huge: the retail giant has more than a million square feet of retail space in its flagship Manhattan store . Under control: Officials say the blaze is under control and then there were no injuries . Brown believes his detention was racially motivated, and has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme court. A cause of the blaze currently is under investigation. | The New York Fire Department announced the blaze in a Twitter post at about 9:30 .
p.m.
Nobody appears to be injured .
The cause of the blaze currently is under investigation . |
250,288 | cfeec997012878a6b93ccdfeccd8e006d755da9d | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 13:28 EST, 14 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:15 EST, 15 June 2013 . They may look like a group of sporty men heading for a round of golf in their brightly coloured tank tops and plus fours. But this gang of rowdy golfers are being hunted by British Transport Police after subjecting a family to a drunken 'barrage of abuse and vile language' on a train journey. The men had been challenged over their rowdy behaviour and bad language by the women, three generations of the same family, who were making their way back to Wales from a weekend away in London. Wanted: CCTV images of two of the men dressed as golfers who British Transport Police want to speak to after a family were subjected to a 'barrage of abuse' on a train between Cardiff and Bridgend . 'Vile language': The group of men are said to have been loud and abusive from the moment they boarded the train at Cardiff Central station . Officers have today issued CCTV pictures . of the group of colourfully dressed men travelling between Cardiff and . Bridgend on May 18. Seargeant Nick Brown of British Transport Police said: 'Three women were travelling home from a weekend away in London when a group of men, all aged in their early 20s, boarded the service at Cardiff Central. 'As soon as they entered the carriage, the men - all of whom appeared to be drunk - became abusive and were shouting loudly. 'When challenged over their behaviour and . asked to mind their language, the men subjected all three victims to a . barrage of abuse and vile language.' Abuse: The men, all aged in their 20s, all appeared to be drunk according to police . Intimidating: When the men were challenged by three female passengers traveling home from London they subjected them to 'vile' abuse . Sgt Brown added: 'This was an extremely distressing and intimidating experience for the victims, who were three generations of the same family simply making their way home after what had been a pleasant weekend away. 'Passengers and staff have the right to go about their business without being subjected to abusive behaviour of this type. 'I would like to appeal to the public to . come forward with any information they may have in relation to this . incident, and particularly anyone who recognises the men in the CCTV . images.' Hunt: Police hope that members of the public will be able to help them identify the men involved . The incident happened on a First Great Western Train at around 9pm. Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040 quoting background reference B6/WCA of 14/06/2013. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Three female members of the same family were abused on a train .
They challenged a group of rowdy men dressed as golfers .
Police say that the men all 'appeared to be drunk' at the time .
British Transport Police have issued CCTV images of the wanted men . |
38,873 | 6de0d82d0281a1611c63601b4d4d3d02ccb6cd8e | By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 00:23 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:35 EST, 16 January 2014 . Police in Philadelphia suspect that the pungent trail left by the Swiss cheese pervert has led them to the door of a man arrested twice in the past for exhibiting the same unusual fromage fetish. Sources at the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit have indicated that Chris Pagano is the 'subject' of their investigation and added that is was 'possible' an arrest would be made after several women came forward to give statements believed to be about the Norristown resident. This comes as unearthed court documents and a mugshot from 2009 reveal that Pagano, 41, was arrested after he allegedly 'removed a large block of cheese from his pocket' and asked a woman on the street if it would be alright to give her '$20 to rub the Swiss cheese on his penis.' However, Pagano has denied that he is the man who has been driving around the Mayfair area of Philadelphia in recent weeks propositioning women to pleasure him with slices of cheese. Double arrest: This is Chris Pagano - who was arrested in 2006 (left) and 2009 (right) for allegedly propositioning women on the street to pleasure him with blocks of Swiss cheese. Pagano has been linked to Philadelphia's Swiss Cheese Pervert . At the time of his 2009 arrest, Pagano pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct but a solicitation charge against him was dismissed. A reporter from The Philadelphia Magazine traveled to Pagano's home on Wednesday morning to ask him if he was indeed the now infamous Swiss cheese pervert who has been terrorizing the Mayfair suburb of the city in recent weeks. Pictured by at least two victims, the fetishist has been described as an overweight man in his 40s who drives around in his car approaching women with his genitals exposed. According to his victims, he then dangles a large slice of Swiss cheese over his penis and offers to pay the women to perform sexual acts on him using the snack. Pagano, who is believed to be married, flatly denied being the Swiss cheese pervert, saying, 'I don't know what you're talking about. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Sometimes people confuse me with somebody else.' However, the picture used by Pagano on his Facebook - which has now been set to private - and the pictured attached to an OkCupid profile message sent to a woman asking her to indulge his cheese craving are the same. More-so, mugshots have emerged of Pagano from arrests in 2006 and 2009 after separate incidents both involving cheese according to law enforcement sources who spoke to Philadelphia Magazine. Cheesy: The Mayfair Town Watch warned women of the 'Swiss Cheese Pervert,' pictured, on its Facebook page Saturday . An affidavit of probable cause given to the Norristown Police Department outlines a report of attempted sexual assault. A woman - who is not being identified - said that she was approached by a man approximately just after midnight and asked if she would have sex with him. 'The male removed a large block of cheese from his pocket and told [Ms. Doe] that he would pay her $20 to rub the swiss cheese on his penis. '[Ms. Doe] became alarmed and fled on foot toward her residence. The male offered [Ms. Doe] more money as she fled the area.' In the affidavit the woman 'identified Christopher Pagano as the person that asked her to place cheese on his penis.' Going back three years to 2006, Pagano was again arrested and charged with solicitation and disorderly conduct according to the Philadelphia Magazine. The Norristown Police Department was unable to confirm that cheese was involved in this incident, however detective James Angelucci, who worked the 2006 and 2009 case said that he thought it was. 'I was working the 2006 detail as well,' said Angelucci. 'And I believe cheese was on the menu, but I’m not completely sure. If my memory serves me, it was Swiss.' The Mayfair Town Watch warned local ladies of the lurking man on its Facebook page Saturday, and Philadelphia Police Department has confirmed the Special Victims Unit is investigating the curious case after several women filed reports describing a man with a 'major sexual cheese fetish.' 'I understand that people may think this is funny, but this is no laughing matter,' Milt Martelack, the town watch's senior adviser, told the Philadelphia Daily News. 'We've had a couple individuals reach out to us. We're taking this matter very seriously, and we're working vigorously with police to get this guy off the streets.' The 'Swiss Cheese Pervert' is heavyset and white and drives a silver or black sedan. Victim: A woman tweeted this picture of the 'Swiss Cheese Pervert' with the comment 'I met this dude a few weeks ago' #creep . The bizarre case shocked many residents but Gabby Chest, from nearby Bridesburg, recognized the fetish straight away and made her own report to police. In July 2012, when she was just 19, she set up a profile on dating site OkCupid and within days had an inbox from a 'really strange guy' with a very specific request. 'He said he was looking for someone to perform masturbation on him with cheese,' Ms Chest told the Daily News. 'He kept saying how strong his urges were and how desperate he was to find someone to help him with them.' She added: 'There's no doubt it was him; it looked exactly like the picture on his profile. I was scared and shocked. I never thought the guys you see on those sites would be so close to me.' In the message, the man called 'Chris' explained he developed the fetish after struggling to find women and start relationships as a young man because he was overweight and always judged on his looks. 'So I developed this fetish to help me deal with my sexual urges,' he wrote. 'I found that women tend to like dairy products, and settled on cheese to represent the girl. thus I started having sex with cheese.' Another woman, commenting on a Phillymag.com story, shared an OKCupid message her sister received from 'Chris' some four years ago, which was even more shocking. 'I love the way Swiss cheese feels against my penis. Either as slices of Swiss cheese being wrapped around my penis or a chunk of Swiss cheese being rubbed against my penis,' he wrote. Swiss is best: 'I tried many different kinds of cheese, like American, Provolone, chez whiz, jack, and cheddar, but settled on Swiss as the best,' 'Chris' wrote in an OKCupid message to a 19-year-old girl (stock photo) 'I love even more when a woman uses the Swiss cheese to pleasure me. Or simply wraps Swiss cheese slices around my penis and allows me to hang out with her as I wear the cheese.' He explained that he prefers having sex with cheese over traditional sex and jokes 'I am lucky I never became a rapist,' suggesting this was an alternative to his fromage infatuation. Chis went on: 'I tried many different kinds of cheese, like American, Provolone, chez whiz, jack, and cheddar, but settled on Swiss as the best. First and foremost, if ever a picture of cheese is used, most of the time they use a representation of Swiss cheese. But also because of it's eye patterns, texture, and the way it feels against my penis.' While he didn't offer Ms Chest cash in exchange for the sexual favor, so as not to suggest she was a prostitute, he did offer this young woman $50 if she'd pleasure him using his preferred method. He described in the expansive letter, however, that when he was younger he had far more stamina for cheese sex. 'I was able to wrap and wear a good 1 ½ pounds of Swiss cheese against my penis, and wear the Swiss cheese for hours at a time, before I would climax from just having the Swiss cheese on my penis,' Chris wrote. But in a strange twist, he insists he doesn't like Swiss cheese, only mozzarella, and would never consumer the cheese he has used on himself. 'One last note, I do not like cheese, except for mozzarella, and that is the one cheese I have never used on myself,' he explained. 'So no I do not eat the cheese after I am done using it for pleasure, it is discarded. I am always asked that question.' | Police sources in Philadelphia have said that 41-year-old Chris Pagano is a 'subject' in their investigation of the city's now notorious 'Swiss Cheese Pervert'
Pagano was arrested in 2006 and 2009 for allegedly propositioning women with Swiss cheese on the streets of Norristown, Philadelphia .
In recent weeks the city has been disturbed by an overweight man in his 40s approaching women while driving his car with his genitals exposed, holding a slice of cheese .
Several women have reported the disturbing encounters .
At least two other women have received messages they believe were from the same man on OKCupid describing how being unpopular with women drove him to have sex with cheese .
He offered to pay $50 for a woman to pleasure him with a slice .
He is believed to be married . |
187,354 | 7ea6d7f3879f1e6a8f47d2b7509164c121b5b5cf | A third of all women murdered in the U.S. are killed by male partners, a study has revealed. The further south couples live the more likely women are to be victims of domestic violence. The Violence Policy Center records which states have the highest number of cases in which one man kills one woman and found that in 2012 Alaska had the highest rate of domestic homicide. Southern domestic homicide: A third of women murdered in the United States are done so by their significant other, most of whom live in the south and are allowed to carry a gun . A recorded total of 2.57 women were killed in Alaska for every 100,000. Over half of all women who were killed by intimate males between 2001 to 20012 in the United States were killed using a gun, not surprisingly in states with lenient gun policies. Between 2003 and 2012 Nevada had the highest domestic homicide rate of 2.447 women killed per every 100,000. Nevada's rate recently dropped to 1.83. The Huffington Post reports that the numbers of women abused by their partners compared to the number of men is vastly unequal which stifles the myth that men and women abuse alike. Still problem: Since the Violence Against Women Act was passed in 1994, domestic violence rates have fallen 64 per cent but an average of three women is still killed every day . In 2010, 85 per cent of domestic abuse victims were women and 15 per cent were men. Between 2003 and 2012 34 per cent of domestic homicides had female victims compared to only 2.5 per cent males. Over 18,000 women have been killed by male intimate partners since 2003. Southern states including Alaska have a tendency to have more lenient gun control laws, something that may indicate the higher numbers of domestic homicide in the Southern states. According to the website NRA-ILA, a permit to carry a concealed gun is not required in Alaska. Nor is a permit required to purchase a handgun in the state of Alaska. Since the Violence Against Women Act was passed in 1994, domestic violence rates have fallen 64 per cent but an average of three women is still killed every day. | At least one third of all victims of homicide are women killed by male significant others .
Over half of all women who were killed by male partners between 2001 to 20012 in the United States were shot with a gun .
Alaska has the highest rate of domestic homicide at 2.57 women for every 100,000 . |
227,916 | b321d1dcd89eccf44dba04b876d57c9be0a0c393 | By . Sara Malm . Defense giants Lockheed Martin is stopping all donations of the Boy Scouts of America as a result of the organizations continued ban on homosexual leaders. The company said is will no longer support any nonprofit organizations that do not align with its commitment to diversity or corporate policies on equality. Aerospace manufacturer Lockheed follows companies such as UPS Inc., Merck & Co. and computer-chip maker Intel in withdrawing support for the Boy Scouts over its anti-gay policy in the past two years. Boy scout ban: Lockheed Martin is ceasing all financial support for the Boy Scouts over its continued ban on homosexual Scout leaders . Lockheed Martin, based in Bethesda, Maryland, has not disclosed how much it has contributed to the Boy Scouts over the years. ‘We believe engaging with and funding an organization that openly discriminates is in conflict with our policies,’ Lockheed Martin spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Thursday. ‘While we applaud the mission of the Boy Scouts and the good things they do in our communities, their policies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and religious affiliation conflict with Lockheed Martin policies.’ This year, the Boy Scouts of America revised its policy to allow homosexual young men to participate in Scouting, however, it maintained the ban on gay leaders. The change drew criticism from both side, as several of the century-old organisation's sponsors are relatively conservative denominations - notably the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Southern Baptist churches. Making a stand: Lockheed Martin follows companies such as UPS and Intel in withdrawing support for the Boy Scouts of America over its anti-gay policy . Voice for equality: Lockheed Martin, who introduced the 100th F-35 fighter in Fort Worth, Texas, last Friday, has pulled its donations as Boy Scouts of America did not follow the company's commitment to diversity . The Boy Scouts's overall 'traditional youth membership' - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers - is now about 2.6 million, compared with more than 4 million in peak years of the past. It also has about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers. Of the more than 100,000 Scouting units in the U.S., 70 per cent are chartered by religious institutions. Other companies who have made pro-equality statements have found themselves banned by organizations claiming to be 'supporting marriage' Cookie brand Oreo found themselves boycotted by anti-gay campaigners after a photograph of a rainbow stacked cookie was posted onto to company Facebook page during Pride month. General Mills, who owns household staple brands such as Betty Crocker, Cheerios and Green Giant, found themselves boycotter by the National organization for Marriage when they opposed the Minnestota Marriage Amendment. Levi's upset Republican groups in 1992 when they pulled their funding over the Boy Scouts's 'Three Gs' rule, which welcomed anyone as long as they are not 'gay, godless or a girl'. Clothing chain American Apparel saw a Washington, D.C. store vandalized by anti-LGBT protestors when they put a 'Legalize Gay' t-shirt in their window in 2009. They responded by promising tshirts to all gay rights groups in the state. Source: Huffington Post . Mr Johndroe said Lockheed Martin was pleased to see the Boy Scouts revise its membership policy but opposes the continued ban on gay leadership. The company's review of its philanthropy came at the end of the year as it reevaluates priorities for 2014, he said. ‘We're taking a close look at all nonprofit organizations we support to ensure they align with our company's core values,’ Johndroe said. Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts, said Lockheed Martin was not a national sponsor but has had a positive impact by supporting Scouting in local communities. ‘We respect the company's right to express its own opinion and appreciate its recognition that Scouting is a valuable organization,’ he said in an email. ‘Scouting believes that good people can personally disagree on this topic and still work together to accomplish the common good.’ As well as the lifting of the man on gay members, the recent appointment of a new Boy Scouts of America president has been hailed as a step in the right direction. In October, the Boy Scouts of America announced that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates will serve as its next president to lead its national executive board for two years. Gates was an Eagle Scout. As defense secretary under President Barack Obama, Gates helped change the military's ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ policy banning openly gay soldiers. He also served under President George W. Bush. Gay-rights groups have praised the appointment of Gates and called on him to push the organization to end discrimination against gay adults. | Defense company pulls Boy Scouts donations over anti-gay policy .
Lockheed Martin joins UPS and Intel in stopping support over rule .
Boy Scouts of America allows gay members, but not leaders . |
131,173 | 359eb13c40b3d317bcd9447bdeb38b4db381c0a3 | (CNN) -- Christian Karembeu knows what it takes to win the World Cup -- and the former France midfielder is tipping today's generation to shine brightly in Brazil's football showpiece this year. Part of the French team which won the trophy on home soil in 1998, Karembeu is confident the current crop can spring a surprise when the tournament starts in June. Forget that France had to qualify through the playoffs and endured a disastrous tournament in South Africa in 2010, Karembeu is adamant Les Bleus can succeed this time around. "I believe in our chance. I think Didier Deschamps is building a new team," he told CNN, referring to the France coach, who captained that 1998 World Cup-winning team. "I know when he starts something he always tries to reach his dream, his goal -- and I know his goal is to win." Four years ago, French football was riddled by infighting, unrest and a national manager with a penchant for astrology. The nadir in South Africa, where France failed to qualify from the group stage and the squad tore itself apart over a dispute between coach Raymond Domenech and striker Nicolas Anelka, left scars which took some time to heal. Anelka's tirade at Domenech resulted in his expulsion from the squad while his fellow teammates boycotted training to register their disgust. Captain Patrice Evra was involved in an altercation with fitness coach Robert Duverne and the players sulked on the team coach as the watching world gazed on in astonishment. Evra was dropped for the final group game and subsequently suspended after the tournament along with Franck Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan, while Anelka subsequently retired from international level after receiving an 18-match ban. Fast-forward to today and things are looking far more optimistic for Deschamps' side, albeit after a tricky qualification campaign which included a dramatic second-leg playoff victory over Ukraine in November to seal a place in Brazil. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, France emerged with a 3-0 win in Paris -- and was even more impressive in a 2-0 friendly win over Netherlands in Paris this month. France is 22/1 to win the World Cup but will be confident of progressing from a group which includes Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras. "Brazil knows that we can challenge and be an outsider," Karembeu added. "I know many countries are afraid of us and because of what we've demonstrated in the two games against Ukraine and Holland. "We are a team which can play, score and of course step up to claim victory." While France has several talented players including Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, it is not expected to challenge the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain or Germany. It is 16 years since Karembeu was part of the team which won the competition on home soil by defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France. That side, which included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Marcel Desailly and Youri Djorkaeff, was viewed as representing a new France -- a microcosm of the kaleidoscope of color which had become interwoven with the country's society. This was a team which brought players together from all different backgrounds, whether it be Lilian Thuram, who was born in Guadaloupe, Karembeu from New Caledonia, or Desailly -- who hails from Ghana. Under the guidance of coach Aime Jacquet, that generation of French players was lauded as an example of how successful multiculturalism could be. Even now, Karembeu gets emotional when he speaks of the success he enjoyed with that group of players. "I was in Paris yesterday and still there are still too many emotions going around," he said Thursday at CNN's London bureau, as part of his role in FIFA's World Cup Trophy Tour. "For us it was like a big revolution. We made France recognize its own communities, its differences, and the mix of cultures. "We won a big fight because it made us as one. I think when you win a big trophy or big event like that, you don't think about sport. "We think about social matters, integration, education and happiness when you are celebrating." | Christian Karembeu tips France to spring a surprise at World Cup .
Karembeu was part of French team which won the title in 1998 .
Former midfielder says that national team helped unify France .
He won the European Champions League ttwice with Real Madrid . |
12,913 | 24959a531f3f3b5db65f821e87eb1a62e2b0e5ae | By . Rob Cooper . UPDATED: . 20:36 EST, 24 January 2012 . One of Jamie Oliver's apprentice chefs has been found dead in a garden close to his home three months after he vanished. The remains of Kevin Boyle, 26, were found in Coulsdon, south . London, just before the celebrity was due to make a missing person . appeal on This Morning on ITV on Monday. Kevin had cooked for the Prince of Wales, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Oprah Winfrey after training with the celebrity chef on the Channel 4 series Jamie's Kitchen. Tragic: Jamie Oliver with his trainee Kevin Boyle when he was 17 at the opening of Jamie's Fifteen restaurant in Hoxton . Jamie Oliver said yesterday that he was 'deeply saddened' to learn that his apprentice's body had been found. The death is being treated as unexplained, although a post-mortem examination is due to take place in Croydon today. Jamie, 36, said last night: 'I'm deeply saddened by this tragic . news. I am proud to have been able to call Kevin a friend for 10 years . and he was also a constant supporter of Fifteen and all the apprentices . and graduates who came after him through the course. 'I last saw him in September 2011 at . the graduation ceremony for the ninth group of apprentices and he was on . good form which makes this news even harder to take. 'My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly difficult time.' Tragic: Kevin, who had not been seen since October, was found dead in a garden in Coulsdon, south London, on Sunday. He may have been there for up to three months . Appeal: Friends launched a missing person website for the chef and Jamie Oliver made an emotional public appeal . He had been due to say on ITV's this morning: 'Kevin's one of life's givers, he's a great lad. If you've seen him please, please get in contact.' It is believed Kevin may have been dead in . the garden for up to three months after he vanished last October. He was . last spotted on CCTV at Purley railway station, South London. After he went missing Jamie Oliver had made a national appeal for information. Family and friends set up a missing person website for the chef who was described as 'depressed'. Crystal Palace supporter Kevin appeared in the final episodes of Jamie's Kitchen in 2002 after being recruited as one of 15 budding chefs when someone else dropped out. He beat more than 1,500 competitors to secure his place in the final group set up for unemployed young people. The chef went on to work at various top restaurants including Fifteen in Shoreditch, London, and most recently Vinocteca in Clerkenwell, London. He studied at Croydon College and Lancaster University. He was also a regular attender at Purley Baptist Church. The body was found on Sunday afternoon by a resident living near to the scene. Celebrity restaurant: Kevin, 26, had worked at Jamie's restaurant Fifteen in centreal London after being recruited as one of 15 trainees in 2002 on Channel 4's Jamie's Kitchen . Top chef: Kevin had most recently been working at Vinocteca in Clerkenwell, London. Over the years he had cooked for Tony Blair, the Prince of Wales and Oprah Winfrey . Double tragedy: Christopher Pethick, 20, another of Jamie Oliver's trainee chefs, was found hanged in 2008 . Kevin's friend Peter Fosdike went on the missing person website that had been set up for him: . '(Kevin) was witty, intelligent and quick to laugh, but also deeply . sensitive, compassionate and rebuking of the injustices of this . world. 'A world that he helped to change for those around him, the . greater loss is to those whose lives he did not touch.' A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: 'The death is being treated as unexplained at this stage. A post-mortem is due to be held at Croydon mortuary today. 'The deceased is believed to be Kevin . Boyle, a 26-year-old man who was reported missing from Purley, however . we await formal identification. His next of kin have been informed.' The chef's family were yesterday too upset to speak about the tragedy. It is the second tragic death to hit Jamie Oliver's apprentice chefs. In 2008, Christopher Pethick, 20, was found hanged a few miles from the Fifteen restaurant in Watergate Bay, Cornwall. He dropped out of the course in 2006 after two months with severe depression. | Jamie Oliver pays tribute to 'my friend Kevin Boyle' and says he is 'deeply saddened' by the tragic news .
Chef was due to make emotional appeal for missing Kevin, 26, on ITV's This Morning but body was discovered hours later .
Kevin was a trainee on Jamie's Kitchen on Channel 4 in 2002 .
Second trainee chef tragedy to hit Jamie Oliver: Christopher Pethick, 20, found hanged in 2008 . |
123,954 | 2c3c10c2fdafa0fb1eeabf2cee951c74968cfbd0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:32 EST, 7 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:19 EST, 7 November 2013 . A 27-year-old cheerleading coach has been arrested for allegedly having a 10-month sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Nicole Kurowski, from Reading, Pennsylvania, allegedly exchanged thousands of text messages with the boy including ones reading, 'I love you,' and photos of an explicit nature. The messages indicated that the pair even had sexual contact during school hours at Tulpehocken High School, where Kurowski also taught physical education, authorities said. Pennsylvania State Police launched an investigation after the school district received a tip by email that the pair had engaged in a sexual relationship between October 2012 to August 2013. Arrest: Nicole Kurowski, a 27-year-old physical education teacher and cheerleading coach, allegedly had sexual relationship with school senior and exchanged thousands of text messages with him . 'Affair': Kurowski allegedly continued the affair with the teenager for 10 months until August this year and they allegedly had sexual contact with during school hours. It is not known if she had a boyfriend . Dr. Edward J. Albert, Tulpehocken . School District superintendent, said he was alerted to the alleged . relationship on September 2. 'I . got the tip and I immediately got on the phone with the school board . president and our solicitor,' Albert told the Reading Eagle. 'I take . this matter very seriously.' Albert also contacted state police and District Attorney John T. Adams that day. During the course of the investigation, police uncovered thousands of text messages and dozens of pictures, authorities told the Reading Eagle. The messages revealed a sexual relationship, they said. Authorities said the pair had daily conversations during and after school, and troopers said a few instances of indecent contact occurred during school hours. School: An investigation was launched after the school district superintendent received an email tip . The two met on several occasions at the school as well as at an apartment complex and the Reading Expo Center, allegedly aware that they had to keep the relationship quiet. Following the investigation, Kurowski surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. She was charged with institutional sexual assault and released on $25,000 unsecured bail. Kurowski, who had worked at the school for two years, was initially suspended with pay but now that she has been charged, she is no longer being paid. | Nicole Kurowski, a teacher at Tulpehocken High School in Pennsylvania, 'exchanged thousands of texts and dozens of pictures with student'
They 'exchanged "I love you" messages'
Relationship 'continued between October 2012 until August 2013 and they even had sexual contact during school hours' |
66,074 | bb8924a6a7883b0266644f6f480fae957f577f81 | Forget walking, learning how to crawl can prove equally difficult as this adorable new video shows. Don Swift from Atlanta filmed his six-month-old daughter Harper attempting to move on all fours for the first time. As the smiley tot continually falls flat on her belly and shuffles along the carpet, her trusty companion, Savannah the dog, watches on. Finally, when Harper reaches the black Labrador, she gets a reward for her difficult traverse - an affectionate kiss on the nose. To date the YouTube video of Harper and Savannah's bonding has been watched more than 450,000 times. Many viewers have praised the dog's gentle temperament. 'I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,' one fan said. Harper's parents said the incident 'melted' their hearts. 'Labradors are the best family dog ever!' Mr Swift added. Struggle: Forget walking, learning how to crawl can prove equally difficult as this adorable new video shows . On the prowl: Don Swift from Atlanta filmed his six-month-old daughter Harper attempting to move on fours . Adventure: As the smiley tot continually falls flat on her belly and shuffles along the carpet, her trusty companion Savannah the dog watches on . Baby's best friend: Finally, when she reaches the black Labrador, she gets a reward for her difficult traverse - an affectionate kiss on the nose . Fame: To date the video of Harper and Savannah's bonding has been watched more than 450,000 times . Perfect companion: Many viewers have praised the dog's gentle temperament . Nose-to-nose: 'I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,' one fan said . Cherished memory: Harper's parents said the incident 'melted' their hearts . | Don Swift from Atlanta filmed his six-month-old daughter Harper attempting to move on all fours .
The smiley tot shuffles along the carpet with her trusty companion, Savannah the dog, watching on .
When Harper reaches the black Labrador, she gets a reward for her difficult traverse - an affectionate kiss on the nose . |
48,968 | 8a40c56237be2250cb0371c03ca1d18ccad068c1 | (CNN) -- A widespread outbreak of severe weather across the Deep South may be one for the record books, as the National Weather Service received reports of more than 150 tornadoes. "This could be one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in the nation's history by the time it's over," CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris said. The unofficial number of twisters reported Wednesday by the Storm Prediction Center was 151. The same system continued to spin off tornadoes early Thursday. The long-term average for confirmed tornadoes in April is 116. "It was certainly a rare day that there were so many tornadoes that caused so much damage in populated areas," CNN Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras said. An official count is not immediately available, but Jeras said she expects that the numbers will reveal a historic April with a record number of twisters. Authorities were still assessing damage from the storms early Thursday, and it could be days before officials establish how many tornadoes hit. Several meteorological conditions combined Wednesday to create a particularly dangerous mix, Morris said. A storm system that brought severe weather to parts of the South Plains earlier this week headed east, a cold front was moving across the Deep South and upper levels of the atmosphere were conducive for severe storms. "It is tornado season, but an intensive event like this only will occur maybe once or twice a year," Morris said. "It's very rare to have all these ingredients come together." The deadly phenomena can be spawned from rotating thunderstorms called supercells, which can stretch across areas as large as entire counties. A tornado can form when a mesocyclone -- a rotating column of air -- is created within a super cell storm and is stretched to create a funnel-like structure that can reach speeds of up to several hundred miles per hour. "Almost like when you pull the drain in your tub," said CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers. "The entire storm spins and is focused and angled down." "When you have a storm all by itself like we saw yesterday, that's when you get this structure," he added. The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history occurred in April 1974, when 148 twisters touched down in 13 states over a 16-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. The agency said 330 people died and 5,484 were injured in a path of damage that covered more than 2,500 miles. That month saw a total of 267 tornadoes -- the largest number recorded since 1950, according to the weather agency. By early Thursday, authorities said hundreds of people had been killed as storms swept through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. And dramatic images of massive funnel clouds and flattened buildings left little doubt about the storms' strength. "The storms are just amazingly explosive and they're covering a very large area," said Greg Carbin with the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. With the latest outbreak, April may turn out to be a historic month for tornadoes, he said. "We may finish out April with more than 300 tornadoes," Carbin said. "It looks like it will be a record-breaker as far as sheer numbers go. The numbers for April are definitely on a record pace." CNN's Ed Payne contributed to this report. | NEW: Tornadoes can be spawned from rotating thunderstorms called supercells .
Authorities are assessing damage from the storms .
CNN meteorologist: "It is very rare to have all these ingredients come together"
The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history occurred in April 1974 . |
108,017 | 17454605aae3ac909dc1c180cea40f86fba5fd5d | By . Joel Christie . It was said to have been a double celebration - not only Mother's Day but a fifth birthday party their only daughter. But a family of five were killed on Sunday in a horrific car crash in San Bernadino County, after a van crashed into them, overturned, and landed on top of their car. The driver of the van - who is said to have swerved into the left-hand side and hit the Honda sedan, which was stationary at a stop sign in Hesperia - escaped with only minor injuries. Relatives of the victims - a 25-year-old mother, her husband, two sons, 9 and 2, and daughter, 4 - said they were on their way to Disneyland, which is a about a one hour and 20 minute drive away in Arnaheim, according to CBS LA. Scroll down for video . Tragedy: A family of five were killed when a van landed ontop of their car in Hesperia, California, on Sunday. They were heading to Disneyland for the day . The adult male and the eldest son, 9, managed to make it out of the wreck, but died after being transported to hospital . The driver of the van made it out with only minor injuries and was treated at the scene. No arrests have been made . The girl, whose birthday they were celebrating at the theme park, would have been five on Monday. 'I’ve been to scenes where families have suffered great loss (but) all at once, in such a violent manner, is very rare,' sheriff’s Sgt. Doug Hubbard told KTLA. The collision occurred just before 7.00 am at Main Street and Balsam Avenue in Hesperia, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said. Investigators determined that the van was traveling eastbound on Main Street when it went into westbound lanes, collided with a Honda sedan that was stopped at a stop sign, and landed on top of the car. Horrific: It wasn't until after the van was removed from on top of the car that the body of the two-year-old boy was found . Crushed: The family were driving to Disneyland in Arnaheim for the day when the crash occurred. They were stopped at a stop sign . The husband and the nine-year-old son made it out of the vehicle and were transported to hospital, but were later pronounced dead. The mother and her daughter were trapped inside the car and pronounced dead at the scene. Tragically, it wasn't until the van was lifted off the car, hours after the crash, that authorities found the body of the two-year-old. Tributes: A man lights candles by a cross erected by people in the area. Five candles were placed at the site to remember the family that was lost . None of the victims have been identified, pending notification of their next of kind. No arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing. | Crash occurred about 7am Sunday in Hesperia, California .
Mother, 25, husband and three children - two sons, 9 and 2, and daughter, 4 - were reportedly traveling to Disneyland for the day .
They were stationary at a stop sign when the van hit them, overturned and landed on top of the car .
All five died, but the driver of the van had only minor injuries .
No arrests have been made . |
16,881 | 2fd408f4004d3383b7f7869e302d867550e10adc | The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched a space probe on a mission to collect a sample from a distant asteroid. The launch of the Hayabusa-2 probe took place early Wednesday local time from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center, JAXA said on its website. The agency said its target was an asteroid called "1999 JU3." The mission was to land on the asteroid and use instruments to draw samples from it that could shed light on "the origin and evolution of the solar system," the agency said. The mission is a successor to the Hayabusa probe, which was launched in 2003 and returned to Earth in 2010, but failed to successfully drop a lander on its target asteroid. "1999 JU3" was a "C-type" asteroid, a "more primordial body" than the asteroid targeted by the Hayabusa 2's predecessor, said JAXA, and as such it was expected to contain more organic or hydrated material for study. "We expect to clarify the origin of life by analyzing samples acquired from a primordial celestial body such as a C-type asteroid to study organic matter and water in the solar system," JAXA said in a statement. | Japan's space agency has launched a probe to a distant asteroid .
Its mission is to take samples that could shed light on the origin of the solar system .
It is a successor to a probe that completed a seven-year mission in 2010 . |
209,101 | 9ac8f498d1902dd9487dc94e31300c662dc453f7 | Novak Djokovic sealed a semi-final spot and clinched the year-end world No 1 ranking as the Serb defeated Tomas Berdych at the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday. Djokovic took just 68 minutes to beat Berdych 6-2, 6-2 and finish top of Group A to book a semi-final against Kei Nishikori, which will be played on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old also will now finish the year at the top of the world rankings for the third time in four years. Novak Djokovic has sealed a semi-final spot at the ATP World Tour Finals after beating Tomas Berdych . The victory means that Djokovic will also end the year as world No 1 for the third time in four years . Djokovic waits for the world No 1 award with Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Carlos Moya and Mats WIlander . Novak Djokovic has won the group. 1. If Stan Wawrinka beats Marin Cilic, then Wawrinka qualifies in second position. 2. If Marin Cilic beats Stan Wawrinka but loses three or more games, then Wawrinka qualifies in second place. 3. If Marin Cilic beats Stan Wawrinka and loses only one or two games, then Cilic qualifies in second place. Djokovic said: 'It's a great deal of happiness knowing that what I've been through the entire season in order to get to where I am and finish the year as No. 1. It's one of the ultimate challenges in this sport.' World No 7 Berdych made a nervy start and was instantly broken before receiving a loud cheer as he finally claimed the seventh point of the match. But Djokovic was ruthless and went 3-0 up with a double break in nine minutes before wrapping up the set to guarantee progression to the last four. Berdych had three game points at 40-0 in the opening game of the second set but the Czech repeatedly misfired with his groundstrokes to gift Djokovic the break. Djokovic beat Berdych 6-2, 6-2 to set up a semi-final clash with Japanese star Kei Nishikori . World No 7 Berdych made a nervy start and was instantly broken by the imperious Djokovic . Djokovic then won five of the next seven games as he cruised to his 30th consecutive win indoors and then celebrated securing the year-end No 1 ranking with coach Boris Becker and the rest of his camp. Stan Wawrinka will seal second spot in Group A and a semi-final against compatriot Roger Federer if he can win at least three games against US Open champion Marin Cilic on Friday night. | World No 1 Novak Djokovic beat Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-2 in London .
He ends the year top of the world rankings for third time in four years .
Djokovic will face Kei Nishikori in the semi final on Saturday afternoon .
Roger Federer will face Stan Wawrinka or Marin Cilic in the other semi .
Murray was humiliated 6-0, 6-1 in his final ATP World Tour Finals match . |
196,020 | 89b0b1ea542ba16020047ac21c721c7b02e296ca | By . Travelmail Reporter . A bog in Birmingham might not be the most obvious choice for a beauty spot but it is one of the unexpected delights listed in the new top 50 most inspiring hidden urban gems in the UK. Alongside the bog, other secret top spots included are a former custard factory, a concrete tower block and a brewery. The unusual list has been created in a bid to reconnect people with their home cities and discover new places of inspiration. Life on the water: Houseboats in Little Venice on the Regent's Canal, London make the Top 50 . Brewing up a storm: The centre for contemporary art and learning in the HQ of the former Tetley Brewery makes the grade . Blue green dream: The Science Garden outside the Think Tank Science Museum at Millennium Point, Birmingham . Research shows 87 per cent of people admit not taking advantage of what is around them in their home town or city, with a further 43 per cent acknowledging they are missing out on what their cities have to offer. In response to the study, American Express compile the list of hidden gems in . partnership with a collective of some of the nation's most influential . bloggers and their communities. Melissa Weber at American Express said: 'The cities we live in are brimming with potential, but we only appreciate a fraction of what they have to offer. 'That's why we've called on people to share their personal places, hideaways and havens in the city to create maps of the UK's most inspirational spaces, so that everyone can discover something new to love about their city.' Hidden gem: Mosely Bog is said to have inspired J R Tolkien's vision of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy . Glasgow's quirky street art: A mural of a man hailing a taxi suspended from balloons in Mitchell Street is one of many in Glasgow city centre . Tranquil and beautiful: Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, London is another top tip . 1 Moseley Bog, Birmingham - an often forgotten nature reserve, it is . said to have inspired J R Tolkien's vision for The Lord Of The Rings . trilogy . 2 Trellick Tower, London - A Grade II listed brutalist-style block of flats designed by architect Erno Goldfinger . 3 Holbeck Cemetery, Leeds - contains the oldest surviving secular building in the city, Cad Beeston Manor . 4 Hockley Flyover, Birmingham - an outstanding example of brutalist . modernist architecture, the open space underneath plays host to . creatives who gather to share street art, dance and artistic expression . 5 The Greenway, London - a footpath and cycleway constructed on the embankment containing the Northern Outfall Sewer . 6 Media City, Manchester - waterfront centre for digital creativity, learning and leisure, overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal . 7 Millennium Point Science Garden, Birmingham - a park full of giant . exhibits themes around the areas of 'Energise', 'Mechanise' and . 'Mobilse' 8 Broomielaw, Mitchell Street and Ingram Street, Glasgow - Locations for Glasgow's quirky street art . 9 The Tetley, Leeds - the new centre for contemporary art and learning, situated in the art deco HQ of the former Tetley Brewery . 10 Lee Valley Regional Park, London - a long linear green space in London with a number of major reservoirs and rivers and canals . Digital creativity: The MediaCity complex at Salford Quays, Manchester gets a mention . Severndroog Castle in Oxleas Woods on Shooters Hill is an 18th century castle which has reopened to the public after a lengthy, painstaking restoration project . Urban meeets acqua: Royal Victoria Dock in London as seen from the air . Kensington Palace and Gardens in London is included on the list although it's not exactly a 'hidden' gem... 11 Trinity Bridge, Manchester - a bridge designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava . 12 Severndroog Castle, London - A triangular-shaped 18th Century Gothic-style folly in the woodland in the borough of Greenwich . 13 Little Venice, London - An area of the canal system in Maida Vale, famed for bustling shops and restaurants . 14 Thomas Street, Manchester - situated in the city's centre of alternative and bohemian culture, the Northern Quarter . 15 Kensington Palace Gardens, London - adjoining Kensington Palace, the gardens are one of the Royal Parks of London . 16 Alfred Waterhouse university precinct, Manchester - Victorian . Gothic-revival in style, the courtyard also contains a piece of ice-age . rock which travelled from the Lakes District to Manchester via a glacier . 17 Royal Victoria Dock, London - the largest of three docks in the Royal . Docks in the East End, credited with significant shipping heritage . 18 University Edible Garden, Leeds - a sustainability garden in the centre . of the university, passers-by can help themselves to the home-grown . produce . 19 Camberwell New Cemetery, London - established in 1901, the . cemetery also contains a listed building, noted for its stained glass . window . 20 Postman's Park, London - opened in 1880, the park contains memorials . to ordinary people who died whilst saving the lives of others . Unusual: The Custard Factory is the focal point of Birmingham's arts and media quarter in rapidly regenerating Digbeth . Greenwich Royal Observatory is name-checked as an urban gem to savour . Trellick Tower, left, designed by Erno Goldfinger, in North Kensington, and (right) the Golden Jubilee Bridge offers great views over the Thames in London . 21 . Warstone Cemetery Catacombs, Birmingham - an eerie two tiers of . catacombs located in a now closed cemetery in the city's Jewellery . Quarter . 22 Holbeck Viaducts, Leeds - home to the Slung Low alternative theatre company . 23 . St. Mary's Secret Garden, London - a horticultural project in Hackney . containing natural woodland, food growing area, herb and sensory garden . and an area of herbaceous borders . 24 Trinity Church, Leeds - home to a community arts centre which hosts live bands . 25 Kentish Town City Farm, London - an inner city farm since the 1970s . 26 Denmark Street, London - also known as 'Tin Pan Alley' after the street's association with popular music . 27 St Nicholas Garden at Provand's Lordship, Glasgow - a unique 15th Century garden space . 28 Hillhead, Glasgow - the heart of Glasgow's fashionable West End . 29 St George's Field, Leeds - a former cemetery which is now within the campus of the University of Leeds . 30 . Angel Meadows, Manchester - a tranquil green space which has a history . linked to the industrial revolution, the area saw a huge regeneration in . the early 2000s . 31 . Japanese Garden, Birmingham - a courtyard garden containing elements of . several styles, it forms part of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens . 32 Peckham Library, London - a library and community building which won the Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2000 . 33 Oxford Road Station, Manchester - built in 1960, the laminated wood structure is Grade II listed . 34 Temple Works, Leeds - the only Glade I listed building in Holbeck, the former flax mill is now an arts centre . 35 . Stevenson Square, Manchester - situated in a conservation area, the . square hosts an officially sanctioned changing street art exhibition by . some of the best street artists in the North . 36 . Custard Factory, Birmingham - home to a community of artistic and media . businesses situated on the redeveloped site of the Bird's Custard . factory in the Digbeth area of the city . 37 . Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow - a public square, and home to the . Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art and the humours Duke of Wellington statue, . often spotted with a traffic cone on his head . 38 The Guinea Gardens, Edgbaston - a collection of Victorian gardens which are over 100 years old . 39 The Square and Oasis Market, Birmingham - a Camden-inspired mecca of unique ships, entertainment and atmosphere . 40 . Victoria Gardens, Leeds - home to the city's Speakers' Corner, the . gardens are next to the Henry Moore Institute and Leeds City Art Gallery . Parliament Hill in London is another top gem in the capital that was voted for by bloggers . Temple Works in Leeds - the only Glade I listed building in Holbeck, the former flax mill is now an arts centre . St John's Lodge Gardens is a quiet, almost secret, garden tucked away in a corner of Regent's Park . 41 . Sackville Gardens, Manchester - a small and peaceful green space in the . city which contains a life-size statue of inventor Alan Turing . 42 . Royal Observatory, London - an important site in the history of . astronomy and navigation, situated on a hill in Greenwick Park . 43 St John's Lodge Gardens, London - a quiet, almost secret garden tucked away in a corner of Regent's Park . 44 . Harbour on the River Clyde, Glasgow - a lively and bustling harbour, . where the Search and Rescue teams can often be spotted in action . 45 Horsenden Hill, London - ancient woodland, hills and open spaces in the Borough of Ealing, dating back to the Iron Age . 46 Kyoto Garden, London - a Japanese garden set within Holland Park, donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991 . 47 . Godlee Observatory, Manchester - an old astronomical observatory, it . was gifted to the city in 1902 and offers exceptional views of . Manchester . 48 . Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges, London - a railway bridge . flanked by pedestrian bridges which connect Waterloo and Embankment, and . offers some of the best views over the Thames . 49 Isabella Plantation, London - an ornamental woodland garden full of exotic plants, tucked away in Richmond Park . 50 Parliament Hill, London - an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath, London . | List of top urban locations released by American Express .
The Top 50 includes a 'brutalist' block of flats and some former factories .
Selection was compiled to help people discover inspiration around the UK . |
252,308 | d28a8993343b71de40652830e2c34cc99a7f24dd | Those looking for greater happiness and satisfaction in life should head to northern Europe, but steer clear of Egypt and countries worst hit by the eurozone crisis, according to the 2013 World Happiness Report released Monday by Columbia University's Earth Institute. Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the world's happiest countries, according to the survey of 156 countries. Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Benin and Togo -- all nations in Sub-Saharan Africa -- are the least satisfied with their lives, the report said. The United States came in at number 17 in the world in terms of overall happiness, but it still lags behind Canada (6), Australia (10), Israel (11) the United Arab Emirates (14) and Mexico (16), according to the Earth Institute. The report ranks the United Kingdom as the 22nd happiest country in the world. Other major nations included Germany (26), Japan (43), Russia (68) and China (93). Life's ups and downs . The global survey was conducted between 2010 and 2012 and follows the Earth Institute's first rankings released last year. While "the world has become a slightly happier and more generous place over the past five years," economic and political upheavals have resulted in greatly reduced levels of well being for some nations, the report said. Rankings for Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain fell dramatically because of the impact of the eurozone crisis, while Egypt, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia registered large falls in the wake of recent political and civil turmoil. Egypt had the greatest fall in happiness levels. On a scale of 1 to 10 -- with 10 rated as happiest -- Egypt averaged 4.3 in 2012, compared to 5.4 in 2007. "We expect, and find, that these losses are far greater than would follow simply from lower incomes," the report said, noting that the greatest single factor reducing happiness levels in these countries was a reduction in people's perceived "freedom to make key life choices." Angola, Zimbabwe and Albania experienced the largest increases across all the countries surveyed. "On a regional basis, by far the largest gains in life evaluations in terms of the prevalence and size of the increases have been in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in Sub-Saharan Africa", the report said. Reduced levels of corruption also contributed to the rise. Governments seeking to improve the happiness of their populations should spend a higher proportion of their health budgets on mental illness, which is the single biggest "determinant of misery" in countries assessed, the study authors said. "People can be unhappy for many reasons -- from poverty to unemployment to family breakdown to physical illness," the report said. "But in any particular society, chronic mental illness is a highly influential cause of misery. "If we want a happier world, we need a completely new deal on mental health." Gross National Happiness . The 2013 World Happiness Report comes on the back of a growing global movement calling for governments and policy makers to reduce their emphasis on achieving economic growth and focus on policies that can improve people's overall well-being. An idea first proposed in 1972 by Bhutan's former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the concept of "happiness economics" has now gained traction in many countries across the world, including the UK, Germany and South Korea. The UN first encouraged member countries to measure and use the happiness of their people to guide public policies in July 2011. "It is important to balance economic measures of societal progress with measures of subjective well-being to ensure that economic progress leads to broad improvements across life domains, not just greater economic capacity," the report said. | Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the world's happiest countries .
Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Benin and Togo are the least satisfied with their lives .
The United States ranked 17th, while the UK was 22nd of the 156 nations surveyed .
Egypt had the greatest fall of happiness levels in the past five years, the report said . |
129,760 | 33bf56864edf8478bccca0693ade8679e15a7124 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Service for HBO GO subscribers went down Sunday night during one of the most anticipated premieres this year: Game of Thrones. Less than a month after subscribers took to Twitter to vent over its crash during the finale of True Detective, the latest debacle is also causing a stir online. HBO GO acknowledged the problem on Twitter, advising subscribers that they were working on the problem, and instructing them to 'send a raven.' HBO GO and do something else: Those waiting for the latest in the saga of the Mother of Dragons were sorely disappointed when HBO GO crashed . People gathered around televisions and computers to watch the season four premiere of the fantasy show, but many were greeted with 'fatal error' messages. Many on Twitter conveyed the horror of the situation. 'In an apartment full of disgruntled gays, @hbogo I will never forgive you for this,' tweeted one. Error message: HBO GO subscribers were greeted with this message when they tried to watch the show . Waiting, waiting: Other frustrated users had this screen . The premium cable service blamed the technical difficulties on 'excessive volume' and promised to provide the episode on HBO on Demand shortly.Game of Thrones-themed jokes abounded on the Twitter, and many also noted that HBO GO's servers are likely overburdened due to millenials using their parents HBO accounts rather than purchasing subscriptions of their own. 'Why don't you guys write letters to HBO complaining about how HBO Go is down? Or I mean, get your mom, the HBO subscriber, to write a letter,' tweeted one Twitter user.HBO told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement later Sunday night: 'HBO GO did experience issues due to overwhelming demand around the premiere of Game of Thrones. The service has returned to several platforms and we are working hard towards full recovery, which we expect soon.' According to the HBO Twitter account, full service has now been restored. | HBO GO crashed during Game of Thrones premiere .
The premium cable network has restored service to some platforms .
Subscribers experienced similar angst when the network crashed during the finale of True Detective last month .
As of 1:21am, full service had been restored . |
217,926 | a624ee6c2b7c00c52e0d062b5e8f7daaadae1cad | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:02 EST, 9 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:53 EST, 9 January 2014 . Britain’s oldest fire station closed today amid emotional scenes, sparking a campaign to save the building from being immediately converted to luxury flats. Firefighters on Green Watch were in tears as they walked out of the Clerkenwell station near King's Cross in Central London for the last time. The station is one of 10 in the capital which closed to make millions of pounds of savings. Tears: Fireman Alex Badcock (centre) is comforted by colleagues as he is overcome with emotion after completing the last ever shift at Clerkenwell fire station in London . Emotional: A photograph of London Mayor Boris Johnson (lef) looks down from a fire engine as Fireman Christian McClean comforts colleague Alex Badcock (right) after they both finished the last ever shift . Historic moment: Firefighters were in tears as they walked out of the Clerkenwell station for the last time . Shutting: The station is one of 10 in the capital which closed to make millions of pounds of savings . Supporters clapped as the firemen and . women left, in civilian clothes, saying they had been told by their . bosses they could not wear their uniforms. The . London brigade is also cutting 552 firefighter jobs and reducing the . number of fire engines by 14 to help meet budget savings of £45million . over the next two years. The Clerkenwell station is more than 140 years old, and opponents of the closure believe it will be converted into luxury flats. Local . Labour councillor Paul Convery revealed that efforts will be made to . have the historic building listed as an asset of community value in a . bid to prevent its immediate redevelopment. Alex Badcock, who has worked at the station for 29 years, broke down as he left the building. Changes: The brigade is also cutting 552 firefighter jobs and reducing the number of fire engines by 14 . Goodbye: Fireman Christian McClean (left) and colleague Ricky Cooper after they both finished the last shift . Inside: Clerkenwell fire station - which is more than 140 years old - is empty of fire engines after its closure . On the road: The final two remaining fire engines leave Clerkenwell fire station in London as it closes . He said: ‘This is a sad, sad day. Boris Johnson (London's Mayor) doesn't know what he's doing.’ 'This is a . sad, sad day' Alex Badcock, . firefighter . James . Cleverly, chairman of the capital's fire authority, said: ‘Londoners . will continue to receive one of the fastest emergency response times in . the world from the London Fire Brigade. ‘If . you dial 999 and need a fire engine, we still aim to have one with you . within six minutes and a second, if needed, within eight. ‘The brigade is faced with significant . budget cuts which mean that changes to the service are inevitable and . we are able to make those changes without compulsory redundancies. ‘The . firefighters based at the stations closing will now transfer to other . stations and continue the excellent work they do to prevent fires, which . is vital in changing the behaviours that start fires in the first . place.’ Unhappy: Protesters outside Clerkenwell fire station. The station is more than 140 years old, and opponents of the closure believe it will be converted into luxury flats. Making their point: Emily Thornberry (centre), Labour MP for Islington, stands alongside other protesters at the fire station . Hand over mouth: Alex Badcock, who has worked at the station for 29 years, broke down as he left the building . Paul Embery, London . regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: ‘Boris . Johnson will have blood on his hands. It will be only a matter of time . before someone dies because a fire engine did not get to them in time. 'You cannot close 10 fire stations and slash nearly 600 firefighter jobs without compromising public safety' Paul Embery, Fire Brigades Union . ‘You cannot close 10 fire stations and slash nearly 600 firefighter jobs without compromising public safety. These stations have protected generations of Londoners, and they are as necessary now as they ever were.’ The London brigade said the number of fires in the capital has fallen by 50 per cent in the last decade. The fire stations closing are at Belsize, Bow, Clerkenwell, Downham, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster and Woolwich. A legal challenge to the closures, mounted by seven London boroughs last year, failed so the cuts will go ahead, leaving 102 fire stations and 155 engines. | Firefighters on Green Watch leave Clerkenwell station near King's Cross .
Station is one of 10 in London which closed to make millions of savings .
Supporters clapped as the firemen and women left in civilian clothes .
Opponents of station's closure believe it will be converted into flats . |
116,829 | 22cfe9048fb2f8465189afc3e02ea021bc732b4c | By . Simon Jones . Leicester City are making a move for Feyenoord’s £8million-rated striker Graziano Pelle. The Italian scored 23 goals in 28 games last season and has been watched by a host of Premier League scouts with QPR, West Brom, Stoke and Everton among those to have taken a closer look. Wanted: Leicester City are set to make a move for Feyernoord striker Graziano Pelle . Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has been frustrated in his efforts to sign Leonardo Ulloa from Brighton. The Championship side, who have announced Sami Hyypia as their new boss, have been asking £8million for the Argentine as they look to build a promotion chasing side for next season. Pearson has concerns up front with David Nugent yet to sign a new deal and wants a striker who can handle the physical side of the Premier League also. Predator: Graziano Pelle scored 23 goals in 28 appearances for Feyrnoord last season . Pelle is 6ft 4ins yet mobile and would relish the chance to move to England. He is chasing wages of around £3million a year but may be willing to take a cut to get the right move. The overall deal may still be too rich for Leicester but talks are expected over the coming days. | Leicester City are set to make a move for Feyenoord's Graziano Pelle .
Pelle scored 23 goals in 28 games for Feyenoord last season .
QPR, West Brom, Stoke and Everton have all scouted the Italian .
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has moved for Pelle after being frustrated in his efforts to sign Brighton's Leonardo Ulloa - who want £8million . |
98,481 | 0acd010966165bb4a2b9f3d5a57ef5ecd07a9ad7 | (CNN) -- Warning: This article contains potential spoilers for the upcoming issue of "Batman." He's one of the most famous villains in pop culture for a reason. The Joker, Batman's archenemy, has been terrorizing the Dark Knight and his allies over these past few months in a number of "Batman" comic books, and it's all coming to a head in Wednesday's issue of "Batman" #17 (published by DC Comics, which is owned by Time Warner, as is CNN). The book's writer, Scott Snyder, promises an ending that is sure to shock Bat-fans to their cores. The crossover story's title, "Death of the Family," recalls a 25-year-old story -- called "A Death in the Family" -- in which the second Robin, Jason Todd, was brutally murdered by The Joker (after a poll in which fans voted by phone as to whether the Boy Wonder should live or die). Snyder is mum as to whether Batman and all of his friends will survive this encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime, but he did speak to CNN.com about what readers can expect. CNN: What themes did you aim to explore with "Death of the Family?" Scott Snyder: The story came to me after I had my second kid. You sometimes wish that you didn't have to worry about your kids all the time. Batman has all these allies, this "family." Bruce Wayne has to sometimes wish that he wouldn't have to worry about Robin, Nightwing or Batgirl. Who to take that wish and twist it into a nightmare but The Joker? He says, "I will take care of that, I will kill them." Batman would say he never wished for that. The Joker would tell Batman, "Yes, you wished that, you just don't want to admit it." The Joker in this story is a devil's tongue. He makes you frightened of yourself, which the best villains in literature do. For my story, The Joker sees himself as serving Batman. Historically, the court jester was the only one who could deliver terrible news to the king. He sees Batman as this wonderfully twisted Bat-king. He sees himself as making him a tougher, stronger king. He sees Batman as deep down wanting to be the protector of Gotham, but his allies are his "false court." CNN: Aside from the reference to "A Death in the Family," what is the meaning of the title? Snyder: We wanted it to echo that horrible moment in Batman's life. We wanted Joker for the first time ever to come after the Batman family with this murderous mission in mind. He usually does it to get at Batman. He says he's coming after them to bring out Batman's worst nightmare for the first time ever. This is The Joker's war on Batman and even more so, on his family. CNN: Why the changes to The Joker's appearance? Snyder: The way he looks now came about in "Detective Comics" #1 (in 2011). The writer on that book, Tony S. Daniel, wanted to take The Joker outside of Gotham for a while, to create new bad guys. We thought that would be a great place in which to leave him. We decided this would work thematically for this story. In "Batman" #17 you'll learn why he did it, why he had his face cut off and strapped back on. This final issue will bring everything crashing down. CNN: Why is Joker such a threat? What is his biggest weakness? Snyder: The Joker is my favorite villain in literature in general. My folks have embarrassing Halloween pictures of me dressed as The Joker. Down at its core, he's scary in and of himself. Clowns are scary, but he's physically scary and capable of doing horrifying things. He scares Batman about himself. He makes Batman afraid there's a hint of madness in him. He tries to make Batman believe the madness is true. "You're as crazy as me, you belong in Arkham." He feels that Batman deep down wants this to happen. Exposing the scariest things about ourselves, the scariest things we have in our hearts, and to laugh at them -- in its purest and most vicious form, that's what a great and monstrous villain does. His weakness is he doesn't see things coming outside of Batman. If Batman didn't care and didn't look for him, it would hurt The Joker in a way he's not expecting. It's a vicious cycle. There's an Achilles heel in his own obsession with Batman. CNN: Does any villain come in second to The Joker in your mind? Snyder: Each one represents a different weakness or fear Batman has for himself. The Riddler -- who I'm about to use in a big way in 2013 -- is a manifestation of Batman's fear that he's not smart enough, he's not able to solve the puzzle in time to save the city. Riddler keeps him as sharp as he can be. All of these villains figure in "Batman" #16 and #17 too. Joker sees them representing some facet of Batman's psychology. Two-Face is kind of the nightmare of Batman's life. Will you become this horrifying version of yourself, like Two-Face? Each represents some deep fear in the rich and complicated personality that is Bruce Wayne. Riddler, Two-Face, Ivy -- all of these characters will figure into Batman in the coming year. CNN: So how big and dramatic is this finale? How much of an impact will it have on Batman and DC Comics' current universe? Snyder: It has a big impact on the whole mythology of Batman, and certainly with the stories coming afterward, it will have a big effect on many of the books -- emotional and lasting effects I don't want to give away. CNN: It feels like the stakes are being raised in superhero comics more and more in recent years, with more dramatic changes. Why do you think this is? Snyder: It's not so much to make the books as dramatic as possible or to be shocking, but to try to tell the best story you can that feels organic. It's not been a marching order. (My editors) say, write this character as if you had just one chance to write him; proceed that way. What if I had these six issues, what would I do to tell this story? It's exciting to have that opportunity. | "Batman" #17 arrives this week and wraps up a surprising storyline .
Batman's final showdown with The Joker recalls Robin's murder 25 years ago .
CNN.com has the exclusive first look at this shocking issue .
Writer Scott Snyder says the story came to him soon after he had his second child . |
264,723 | e2e06b3d76ca8323f6a39cfd7a6fdf324ccbe875 | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- "The Last Beekeeper" will change the way you see honeybees. A scene from "The Last Beekeeper," premiering this weekend on the Planet Green cable channel. You may find yourself rescuing a tiny bee you see struggling in a puddle of water. Instead of fearing its sting, you may think about the role honeybees play in putting food on your table. The documentary, which premieres Saturday on the cable channel Planet Green, explores the "intimate relationship" between humans and bees through the eyes of three struggling American beekeepers. "You suddenly realize that even though they look like insects, when you really look at them they take on these personalities," said producer Fenton Bailey. Apiarists -- the professional title for bee scientists -- estimate that one out of every three bites of food you eat is directly or indirectly pollinated by honeybees. Alarming headlines two years ago about the mysterious disappearance of honeybees prompted filmmakers to follow beekeepers from South Carolina, Montana, and Washington as they traveled with their colonies to pollinate California's massive almond crop. Director Jeremy Simmons said they wanted to show "more than what was in the paper" about the mystery. "There is a really powerful connection between a human being and a bee because we've tended bees for thousand of years," Bailey said. "It's such an old tradition and bees are incredibly sophisticated, evolved creatures." The cameras rolled as these beekeepers faced "colony collapse disorder," a still unexplained phenomenon which scientists estimate has wiped out almost a third of the domestic honeybee hives in the United States. Nomadic beekeepers truck their bee colonies across the country, following the pollination seasons for almonds, apples, cotton and other crops dependent on their insects. Nicole Ulibarri, who inherited her father's Montana beekeeping business last year, said it's a roller coaster ride for both the bees and the beekeepers. "You can have a high this month and all of the sudden you can run into something, and the bees start starving to death," Ulibarri said. Bees are loaded on trucks in January for a cross-country ride to California to pollinate almonds for a few weeks. Their next stop may be Washington state apple orchards for the spring pollination. The changes interrupt their natural rhythms, Ulibarri said. "It's like putting you on a strict diet and that's all I feed you for the next month," she said. "And I pick you up and I shake your house and I take you down the road, which is pretty stressful, and then I move you to a new location, and, guess what, for the next six weeks, now, I've changed your temperature and now I'm only going to give you watermelon. You get sick." The travel also exposes the bees to a variety of pesticides, adding to their stress, she said. And mites, believed to have been brought in by bees that were imported to replace lost hives, are also a problem, she said. The film does not offer an answer to what's killing the honeybees. But Ulibarri said researchers are "getting real close" to identifying a virus as the main culprit. In one poignant moment in the documentary, the cameras capture one of the beekeepers breaking down in tears after lying to his wife to hide the fact that he lost most of his bees. "It's a tragedy, that silent moment in the bee yard when you realize you are surrounded by death," Simmons said. "It's a very powerful, very sad moment." Along with the loss of their livestock, American beekeepers face tough competition from less expensive imported honey -- especially from China and Argentina, Ulibarri said. She planned to sell her bees after last year's disappointing year, but the prices being offered for them was "literally nothing." But this year has been better, with fewer lost colonies, she said. "Bees really become a part of us, we learn so much all the time," she said. "One really neat thing, when you're around enough hives, as soon as you open it, you can hear from the energy of the hive how they are doing. They are the voice of mother nature." | "The Last Beekeeper" documentary premieres Saturday on the Planet Green channel .
Filmmakers follow beekeepers from South Carolina, Montana, and Washington .
The film was inspired by headlines about the global disappearance of honeybees .
One of every three bites of food we eat may be pollinated by honeybees . |
151,436 | 4fc8cac3573a39d9ea203ef8cbf0ae5f6dc75b08 | Fans have been standing in queues for days, anxious to get their hands on Apple's latest iPhone. So what do one group of fans do the moment they get the iPhone in their hands? Why, tear it down into little pieces, of course! However, this is standard practice for the iFixit team, who always deconstruct products to figure out the value and provenance of the components inside. The insides of a phone can be quite revealing to tech fans. You can see if corners have been shaved, or no expense spared on the components inside. You can even divulge information . about Apple's relationships with suppliers - for instance, arch-rival . Samsung seems more absent than first expected. Scroll down for video . Inside the iPhone: Despite the luxury exterior of Apple's new device, the insides are much more like a computer . This is what your £500 will get you: The iPhone was completely disassembled by the iFixit team - before they put it back together again . Apple is notorious for keeping its products sealed, not even allowing users to change the battery. However, the teardown found that while users still need special screwdrivers to open the phone, it was far easier to repair than previous models. iFixit said: 'This iPhone may be the most repairable iPhone we've seen in a while.' At least some of the processors . inside the iPhone 5 have not come from Samsung, instead coming from . relatively-unknown company Elpida. Perhaps this is because of the frosty . relationships between the two companies - coming on the back of a . billion-dollar lawsuit successfully won by Apple. Or instead it may just be Apple sharing the demand for the phone by using a range of suppliers. From the images, it also seems that . Steve Jobs's mantra that a device should be as beautiful within as it is . on the surface still holds true. The iFixit team have awarded the iPhone a . '7 out of 10' for repairability, as - despite Apple's insistence on . phones being repaired in-shop - all the components are easily accessible . and easy to re-assemble. iFixit's iPhone was purchased in Australia - the first country to sell iPhone 5s - within the first hour of trading. Inside the iPhone: iFixit.com opened their phone as soon as they purchased it, to let the tech world know about the internals of APple's new device . Getting an iPhone 5 is no easy task, as Apple prefers to keep their electronics sealed. DIY experts need to buy special Apple screwdrivers to open the unit. Once inside, users then need a special suction device to remove the screen. The . team then rushed home to tear the phone apart, with their own pair of . Apple's propriety screw-drivers at hand as Apple does not like users . opening phones themselves. After unscrewing the back-cover, the team use a suction cap to lift the screen from the rear housing. This is a step-up from previous models, which required more work to remove the screen. The team say the move means the iPhone 5 is likely to be far easier to repair than previous handsets. iFixit said: 'Compare this to the . iPhone 4s, where it took 38 steps to isolate the display assembly, and . this iPhone may be the most repairable iPhone we've seen in a while.' Removing . the screen unveils the newly designed battery which is of a longer . design and, at 3.8V, contains a fraction more than the 3.7V found on the . iPhone 4S. As other components - from audio . chips to power modules to radio antennas - we can see that the iPhone . contains many chips from the same companies which supply the vast . majority of smartphone makers. Qualcomm, . Texas Instruments and Broadcom all have components tucked inside, . suggesting they will do well from Apple's latest release. Apple is believed to have used three different manufacturers to make screens, so suppliers could vary from handset to handset. It is believed the firm made the move to ensure delays from one supplier could not impact iPhone 5 delivery dates. However, it was reported in recent week that one supplier, Sharp, had fallen behind of shipments. However, Apple appeared to be able to meet demand. The interior also reveal one of Apple's trademarks - a neat, tidy design. When the firm was set up, co-founder Steve Wozniak was renowned for his ability to create clean designs using far fewer components than the competition. The firm even used to sign the interior of the first machines to make engineers feel part of the product. Now, sadly that has ended - but the tradition of clean, simple design has survived - even though most of this will always remain hidden to most fans. What a sucker: Once the screws are removed from the iPhone, the iFixit team can lift the screen off . iFixit was founded in 2003 by Luke Soules and Kyle Wiens, after a night frustrating night pulling an old iBook laptop apart. They realised that few tech products came with an instruction manual on how to dis-assemble a device and re-assemble it. Companies . do not like consumers 'tearing down' products which, as a starting . point, will invalidate a warranty and - worst case - could lead to . injury due to faulty electrical parts. But . tinkerers and tweakers always like to get hands-on with their kit, so . Luke and Kyle began 'tearing down' new products, in a bid to build . guides for those who want a 'how-to'. Speaking of their iBook experience: 'We tinkered. We fiddled. We broke some tabs and lost a few screws. But we fixed it! Tweaking out the errors: The iFixit team, seen here pulling out the camera components of the iPhone 5, help regular users make hardware fixes for themselves . Household repairs: The website has expanded to deal with a range of household items . 'We attempted to fix some other . laptops but had trouble finding parts. So we bought a broken computer on . eBay and stole parts from it. Then we decided to start selling the . parts ourselves, and iFixit was born. 'For . the first time, it was easy for someone with no technical background or . experience to take apart a Mac. Our step-by-step instructions were . enabling people to repair Macs they wouldn't have been able to repair on . their own.' 'We thought . the instructions would be useful to our customers - and they were. But . it turned out that they were useful to a lot of other people as well. 'From . New York to Alaska, Tibet to the Faroe Islands, people have used our . guides to fix their stuff. They saved money, they kept their Macs out of . landfills, and they did it completely by themselves.' Now, everytime a popular device comes . out - in particular, the iPhone range - Luke and Kyle are on the spot, . frequently within the first hour or two, and ready to tear a device to . pieces to be the first to see inside the coveted and jealously-guarded . machines. So next time you . hear something rattling in your phone, or the screen starts going wrong, . then if you are confident with a screwdriver, consider visiting iFixit - . but be warned: if you pour coffee all over your iPhone, you will need a . miracle to bring it back to life. Standard components: The display connector is held firmly to the logic board by a few simple Phillips screw . Bespoke and standard: Apple has their own 'A6 processor' on-board, while Qualcomm, who supply HTC among others, supply the phone antenna chip . 'This contact connects the metal frame around the front-facing camera to . the frame around the rear-facing camera. Maybe this frame is some kind . of an antenna? Only time will tell. There are all kinds of metal-to-metal contacts inside the iPhone 5. Spring contacts make for easy repairs, but mandate careful attention to . cleaning all the parts before reassembly. Inside the iPhone: 'Spring contacts make for easy repairs, but mandate careful attention to cleaning all the parts before reassembly' Finger oils can get in the way of these metal contacts and cause frustrating component failures. Speaking of antennas, a 'spudger' easily pries one end of an antenna connector off of the logic board near the battery. In . the iPhone 4S, this antenna location was reserved for the cellular . antenna. We won't know for sure what this antenna's purpose is until we . uncover more.' iFixit has published teardown guide for all of Apple's main competitors, from the latest Blackberry to Samsung's Galaxy S3. The images below reveal the different approaches other manufacturers use. The Samsung Galaxy S3, the iPhone 5's arch rival. It uses a plastic casing which users can take off themselves tho change the battery. RIM's Blackberry 9650, showing the larger number of components and bigger motherboard. iFixit has also taken apart previous iPhones, including the 4S, seen here laid bare. The design is similar to the iPhone 5. See video review from ifixit here: . | iFixit team disassembles new iPhone in order to figure out who makes the components .
Sony, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm provide parts of the phone - but Samsung seems conspicuously absent .
Steve Jobs's mantra to make it as 'beautiful' within as on the surface is alive and well . |
223,056 | acc34cab6481f85b67a7034219de61f288ffdd99 | Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly were quietly going over a scene from the new musical Memphis before a rehearsal. Out of the corner of my eye I saw cast member Mark Carroll suddenly loom over them with a club, and proceed to pretend to beat them. It’s a moment of racial ugliness in Memphis, which won a Tony for best musical on Broadway four years ago, that shocks to the core. ‘The first time I did that scene, I must say I felt pretty sick inside,’ said Knight, who plays would-be singer Felicia Farr, ‘that people did that to each other, with no sense of guilt or shame.’ Beverley Knight stars as aspiring singer Felicia Farr in new musical Memphis, set in segregated Tennessee . The show is set in segregated Tennessee and focuses on Huey Calhoun, a white DJ, played by Donnelly, who introduces the ‘devil’s music’ (rhythm and blues — or any music with a pulse) to the ‘white folks’ in the Fifties and early Sixties. Calhoun is loosely based on the late DJ Dewey Phillips, who launched R&B on his audience with a delivery like an express train. The reason for the beating in the show is that Huey and Felicia are dating. ‘Black and white romance was illegal then,’ Donnelly said. Knight said she had visited Memphis. ‘Segregation is over, but they still preserve the whites-only water fountain — and the blacks-only one.’ The singer was a sensation in the musical The Bodyguard before taking on Memphis, created by David Bryan, Joe DiPietro and director Christopher Ashley. The show is set in segregated Tennessee and focuses on Huey Calhoun, a white DJ, played by Killian Donnelly (left), who introduces the ‘devil’s music' The original songs and energy of the cast are exciting. I had some misgivings when I saw the show in New York, but it has been worked on since then. Donnelly and Knight make an electrifying duo. He has a special routine to protect his voice, and has been contracted to do seven out of eight performances each week. She will do six and drinks lashings of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, a black sweet Chinese tea, to keep her voice in tip-top condition for when previews start at the Shaftesbury Theatre on October 9. Katie can't wait to be the Carole singer . Oh! Carole! Actress Katie Brayben has been chosen to give voice to Carole King in the West End. The team behind the Broadway hit Beautiful have selected Ms Brayben, currently portraying Diana, Princess of Wales in the satirical play King Charles III, to play the singer/songwriter in a musical that charts her journey from Brooklyn schoolgirl to artist behind some of some of the world’s most beloved tunes — Will You Love Me Tomorrow, for starters. She wrote that one with first husband Gerry Goffin, along with Take Good Care Of My Baby, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. In between writing many of those heartfelt numbers, though, Goffin cheated on her and took large amounts of drugs. Katie Brayben has been chosen to give voice to American singer Carole King in the West End . Songs written by King, Goffin, Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann and Neil Sedaka are woven around a story that eventually makes King the heroine of an edgy drama. And there’s not a number in Beautiful that you won’t know. Brayben has appeared in straight plays and musicals before and is a casting coup for the part. She plays the piano and cello, and writes and performs her own compositions. Her parents are folk and blues singers Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke, so there was always music in the family, what with her sister Jo Burke being a folk singer, too. ‘I’ve never known a project where I say: “I love that song! I love that song . . . and that one!” Brayben said, as we went through the King catalogue, which encompasses hits such as You’ve Got A Friend. ‘She’s such a wonderful songwriter, and the numbers have these beautiful melodies. They speak to people,’ Brayben said. One of Brayben’s friends told her she was a ‘natural’ for the show, and urged her to audition. At that time, the producers hadn’t decided whether to bring over Jessie Mueller, who created the role on Broadway. But Paul Blake and Mike Bosner, two of the main producers, told me that finally, they and director Marc Bruni decided to find an actress here. ‘It’s a star-making role,’ Blake explained — a view I share. Brayben is being allowed to leave King Charles III early to prepare for rehearsals that start in late December. Her spare time has been spent studying King’s concerts on YouTube, listening to her recordings and reading her autobiography. King studied Brayben, too; watching videos of the actress’s auditions and giving her blessing to the casting. Previews for Beautiful begin at the Aldwych Theatre on February 10, with an official first night on February 24. Alan Morrissey has been cast as Goffin, and Glynis Barber will play King’s mother. Lorna Want and Gary Trainor also co-star. The cast of the latest movie based on Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice spent little time researching etiquette and manners of the period. Instead, their focus was on martial arts and fight training. In Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, the latest iteration of Austen’s classic, the Bennet sisters are under attack from the flesh-eating un-dead, who pop up at the most inconvenient times. Actress-model Suki Waterhouse told me the cast, including Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet and Sam Riley as Mr Darcy, spent several days learning how to use a sword. ‘We have to know how to kill the zombies,’ she said. ‘You can’t just give them a little shove.’ The cast will wear period dress in the film, and much of Austen’s prose will be kept intact. ‘The zombie stuff is woven through the original text,’ Waterhouse explained. She joins the cast on set today, with director Burr Steers overseeing the mayhem. Waterhouse, 22, already knows how to box, and her father, a black belt, let her attend the karate classes he gave at a leisure centre when she was younger. The model has made a good fist of her fledgling thespian career. She fights on the side of the good guys in the film Insurgent, follow-up to Divergent. She also appears in Love, Rosie, which goes on release here on October 22. ‘That film gave me the proper itch to pursue acting as a career,’ she told me, noting that although she takes acting classes, ‘the best thing for me is to watch and observe’ other actors. Suki has been stepping out with Bradley Cooper, but when I asked her if rumours the pair were engaged were true, she replied, simply: ‘No, we’re not.’ | Beverley Knight plays aspiring singer Felicia Farr in new musical Memphis .
Show is set in segregated Tennessee in the Fifties and early Sixties .
She revealed how a racially motivated attack in the show made her feel ill .
Memphis won a Tony for best musical on Broadway four years ago . |
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