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215,399 | a2d1c2a7363f0e5b869f069a40e3890deecf8e13 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 9:38 AM on 6th October 2011 . An Oxford University student was mistaken for a suicide bomber as he jogged around the city's streets - wearing a weighted vest. Armed police stopped the Iranian man after reports of a suicide bomber, only to discover he was a jogger wearing an exercise vest. The suspect was ordered to stop running, put his hands in the air and drop everything as officers approached him. Shocked: Iranian student Goudarz Karimi said he could not believe the police response even after they realised he was not a suicide bomber . The officers carefully took off the heavily padded vest and searched it, looking for explosives and a detonator. However, they found the Oxford University PhD student was wearing a training vest loaded with weights for added resistance when running. Used by the likes of Prince Harry for his Armed Forces trek to the Arctic, the weight vest is becoming a popular exercise accessory. Mr Karimi's vest was similar to the one used by Prince Harry to train for his Armed Forces trek to the Arctic . Iranian student Goudarz Karimi said he was shocked by the police response even after they realised he was not a suicide bomber. He said he had gone out for a jog on Monday afternoon and was confronted by the armed response team in Southfield Road, East Oxford. Mr Karimi said: 'They told me "Stop! Stop! Put your hands in the air. Drop everything you have". 'The police removed my weight vest and examined it. They started asking questions: "What are you doing?" 'They said they had a report of someone walking in a bomb suit. There were police cars and the street was blocked.' The 25-year-old was then made to remove the 30kg vest so officers could check it for explosives. He said that when they realised it was an exercise vest they advised him to remove it to prevent any another call from a terrified member of the public. 'They told me I'd have to take my vest off, I didn't want to provoke anything else and that's why I put my jacket over it.' Mr Karimi said he feared his ethnic origin had sparked the concerns. 'I am 100 per cent sure that if I was blond with Caucasian skin type, nobody would have noticed and said anything about it. 'But I'm of dark skin complexion and from Iran and I'm sure that's related to it,' he said. He said officers advised him not to wear it in the street in future but Thames Valley Police dispute this. Mr Karimi, who is studying for a PhD in physiology, anatomy and genetics at Oxford University, said: 'I felt a bit like my rights were violated. The police told me to take my vest off and to go home and I don't see why I should. Mr Karimi, 25, was told to remove the 30kg vest so officers could check it for explosives in Southfield Road, East Oxford, pictured . 'The point is the first time they stopped me, they asked me not to walk there anymore. They said "maybe it's better somewhere else, like in a park". 'Then later, when I wanted to do another round of the block and I was walking near the police car, the police officer said "You've got to stop". 'I said "I've not finished my work-out" and he explicitly said "Take off your vest".' Mr Karimi said that was when he covered the vest with his coat. Superintendent Amanda Pearson, of Thames Valley Police, said: 'Police received a call from a member of the public who was concerned about a man walking in Southfield Road, with what he thought was a vest which may have contained explosives. 'Officers attended and spoke to the man, who explained he was wearing a weight vest for personal training reasons. 'The vest was checked and officers confirmed this was the case and there was no need for public alarm. 'While I appreciate that in this case being stopped and checked by the officers may have been unsettling to the gentlemen concerned, the officers were responding to a call from a member of the public who had a genuine concern and police are duty bound to investigate any calls of this nature to ensure public safety. 'In order to stop any further calls from members of the public, the gentleman was asked to put his coat on, which he agreed to do. 'There was no legal requirement for the gentleman to put on his jacket and he did not have to do so.' She added: 'The officers have to weigh up a number of factors to determine if a stop and search is proportionate, and justified, and the decision to stop and search would not be made on ethnicity alone and wasn't in this case.' | Police ordered Goudarz Karimi to put his hands in the air and drop everything .
He had to remove his 30kg vest while officers checked it for explosives . |
77,614 | dc11e36dc96f3afa19d836ce6bdfaabd23e55ef4 | (CNN) -- Wei Guoqiang has been following Chinese football for more than 20 years but reasons to celebrate have been few and far between. "It's like the Chinese saying; 'you always think your children are the most beautiful no matter how ugly they are,'" the 30-year-old education specialist told CNN in Beijing. Dogged by poor performances on the pitch and corruption scandals off it, the Chinese game has been far from beautiful. But die-hard soccer fans like Wei finally have something to cheer about. Guangzhou Evergrande, a soccer team based in the southern city of Guangzhou, became Asian champions on Saturday, beating South Korea's FC Seoul to claim China's first continental title in 23 years in a stadium packed to capacity with fans wearing the team's blood-red colors. "They are persistent and never surrender," said Wei, who watched the match on television at home. Evergrande will now play in the FIFA Club World Cup in December, pitting the team against the likes of German giants and reigning European champions Bayern Munich. Previous winners of the tournament include Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona. China last tasted international success at club level in 1990 when Liaoning lifted the trophy of the now expired Asian Club Championship. Its national team has also punched below the country's weight. Despite being one of the country's most popular sports -- President Xi Jinping is said to be a big fan -- China failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and did not enter the running for the 2018 tournament. Evergrande's rise to the top of Asian football has been fast and furious and some say it could be Asia's first "superclub." In early 2010, the team was bought by Xu Jiayin, the boss of property developer Evergrande Real Estate Group and China's 13th richest man, according to Forbes. He paid 100 million yuan ($16.4 million) for the club, shocking many as the team had recently been relegated to the second division of China's league. In 2011, they won the Chinese Super League and claimed the league title for the third time this year. Dong Jianzheng, an editor at the Chinese-language World Soccer Magazine, credits Xu's deep pockets as the main reason for the team's success. The club has spent at least 1.5 billion yuan ($250 million) in the past three years, according to The China Daily, recruiting domestic stars and foreign players like Brazilian striker Muriqui. The team is led by Marcello Lippi, who coached the Italian team that won the 2006 World Cup. "The Evergrande model is similar to Chelsea and Manchester, where they win simply because they invest," Dong told CNN. "They have a strong team and a large number of foreign players. They are good because they dare to throw in their money." But he said Evergrande's success doesn't represent the big picture. A bribery investigation that led to several players, referees and managers serving jail terms has left many fans disillusioned with the Chinese game. Rowan Simons, the author of "Bamboo Goalposts: One man's quest to teach the People's Republic of China to love football", says corruption reaches down to the sport's grassroots, which suffer from a lack of investment. "Parents will bribe the coach to get (their child) into the team, teams will bribe the referee to win the game," said Simons, who has lived and played football in China for more than 20 years. Hopes are high that Evergrande's arrival on the international soccer stage will give a much-needed boost to the country's football system. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, which runs the region's premier tournament, said that Evergrande's win would infuse new life into Chinese football and spread the game to a wider audience. "I am confident that this will benefit not only the Chinese Super League but also the national team in a big way," said Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim. But they will have a hard time convincing fans like Cui, an engineer, who spends his spare time glued to the English Premier League, Europe's UEFA Champions League and Spain's La Liga. He says he won't make the effort to watch Evergrande's FIFA Club World Cup match against Egyptian side Al Ahly in December. "The time difference is a challenge, but I still choose foreign matches because they are much more professional," he told CNN. CNN's Feng Ke reported from Beijing, Katie Hunt wrote and reported from Hong Kong . | Chinese team Guangzhou Evergrande have become Asian champions .
Hopes high that victory will give Chinese football a much-needed boost .
Chinese game has been dogged by scandals and poor performance .
They will now compete in FIFA Club World Cup in December . |
42,955 | 7925775768fb393d54f1d923d452890949fbeb01 | An experimental vaccine to protect against Ebola is safe, research has revealed. The first trial of filovirus vaccines in Africa revealed the drug generated a similar immune response in healthy Ugandan adults, as those reported in American volunteers earlier this year. It is hoped establishing the safety of the vaccines will help contain the current outbreak in West Africa, which has claimed almost 7,400 lives according to the World Health Organisation. The DNA vaccines, designed to protect against Ebola and the closely related Marburg virus, have provided a basis for the development of more potent drugs, currently being tested in the US, UK, Mali and Uganda. An experimental vaccine to protect against Ebola, pictured under the microscope, is safe, after the first trials of the DNA vaccine showed it was effective in protecting healthy adults in Uganda . The current outbreak in West Africa has killed around 7,400 people according to the WHO . Lead author, Dr Julie Ledgerwood, from the National Institues of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health said: 'This is the first study to show comparable safety and immune response of an experimental Ebola vaccine in an African population. 'This is particularly encouraging because those at greatest risk of Ebola live primarily in Africa, and diminished vaccine protection in African populations has been seen for other diseases.' Scientists from the NIAID developed the two DNA vaccines, that code for Ebola virus proteins from the Zaire and Sudan strains of the disease, and the Marburg virus protein. Immune responses against these proteins have shown to be highly protective in non-human primate models. Phase one trials carried out at the Makerere University Walter Reed programme, enlisted 108 healthy adults aged between 18 and 50 from Kampala, Uganda. The trials took place between November 2009 and April 2010. Each volunteer was randomly assigned an injection, receiving either the Ebola vaccine (30 volunteers), the Marburg vaccine (30), both vaccines (30), or the placebo (18) at the start of the study, and again at four and eight weeks later. The vaccines given separately and together were safe and stimulated an immune response in the form of neutralising antibodies, and T-cells against the virus proteins. Four weeks after the third injection, more than half of volunteers (57 per cent of 17 of 30) had an antibody response to the Ebola Zaire protein as did 14 of 30 participants who received both the Ebola and Marburg vaccines. However the antibodies were not long-lasting and returned to undetectable levels within 11 months of vaccination. The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa involves the Zaire strain. Trials carried out in Uganda in 2009 and 2010 (file picture posed by model) showed the volunteers showed similar immunse response to the vaccines designed to protect against Ebola and the closely related Marburg virus, to those US volunteers earlier this year. The vaccines have provided the basis for more potent drugs currently being trialled . Lead author, Dr Julie Ledgerwood, said: 'This is the first study to show comparable safety and immune response of an experimental Ebola vaccine in an African population' The Marburg virus is closely related to the Ebola disease and causes internal bleeding . The researchers found both DNA vaccines were well tolerated in Ugandan adults. Only one serious adverse reaction - a low white blood cell count - was reported in a Marburg vaccine only recipient, but was not thought to be vaccine-related. Dr Ledgerwood, said: 'These findings have already formed the basis of a more potent vaccine, delivered using a harmless chimpanzee cold virus, which is undergoing trials in the US, UK, Mali and Uganda in response to the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak.' Dr Saranya Sridhar, from the Jenner Institue at the University of Oxford, said: 'This study deserves to be the focal point around which the broader question of vaccine development, particularly for Africa, must be addressed. 'With the uncharitable benefit of hindsight in view of the evolving 2014 Ebola outbreak, we must ask ourselves whether a filovirus vaccine should have been in more advanced clinical development. 'The international response to the present Ebola outbreak is an exemplar of the speed and purpose with which clinical vaccine development can progress and has set the benchmark against which future vaccine development must be judged. Outbreaks of Ebola virus and Marburg virus infections have occurred sporadically since they were first detected in 1976 and 1967 respectively, and have a case fatality rate as high as 90 per cent and 80 per cent respectively. Like the Ebola virus, Marburg is a filovirus that causes internal bleeding at multiple sites with patients usually dying as a result of multiple organ failure. Currently, no effective vaccines against either virus exist. | Study found experimental vaccines were well tolerated by volunteers .
One designed to protect against Ebola and other against the Marburg virus .
They have formed the basis for new, more potent, Ebola vaccines being trialled in the US, UK, Mali and Uganda in response to the current outbreak . |
159,268 | 59e1802273a208ac652952c50696c73b00dd3298 | KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghanistan is postponing its presidential elections until August 20 due to security and logistical concerns, the country's election commission said Thursday. Afghan President Hamid Karzai's five-year term is coming to an end this year. The balloting was originally scheduled for late May, but the independent election commission laid out several reasons for the delay. Security is a factor, the commission said. It also cited a lack of trained staff, incomplete voter registration and the weather. It is difficult to campaign or distribute ballots during the rough winter months in the rugged landscape. The elections are a critical moment for Afghanistan as President Hamid Karzai's five-year term ends. He was elected in December 2004 in largely peaceful polling. But since then, the Taliban militant movement has regrouped, international troop deaths have increased and there has been an increase in terror attacks, mostly in eastern and southern Afghanistan. Afghanistan has already registered 3 million voters and is holding voter drives to register more. The United States will deploy additional troops in coming months to provide much-needed security in the run-up to the election. The country expects to hold parliamentary elections in 2010. Meanwhile on Wednesday coalition forces fighting in southern Afghanistan killed four militants, the U.S. military said. Coalition soldiers were targeting a Taliban leader in the Zabul province when militants fired on them, according to a military statement. Soldiers returned fire, killing the four militants. Soldiers then searched their compound and confiscated several assault rifles. This operation comes as the U.S. military is contemplating adding three brigades to the war effort in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that the troop build up could happen by this summer. CNN's Atia Abawi contributed to this report . | Afghan presidential elections come as President Hamid Karzai's five-year term ends .
Afghanistan has registered 3 million voters, holding voter drives to register more .
U.S. troops will deploy extra troops to provide security in run-up to the election . |
11,201 | 1fdc35e82b0c2e29206c2524fba808c07e7e48b7 | Paris (CNN) -- Former French President Jacques Chirac was found guilty Thursday on corruption charges stemming from his time as mayor of Paris and given a two-year suspended sentence, a court in the French capital announced. He was convicted of breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds and illegal use of influence, the Paris Court's press office said. Chirac did not attend the trial, which was held from September 5-23, due to his medical condition, which doctors described as a "severe" and "irreversible" neurological problem. In a statement released later Thursday, Chirac, 79, said that while he "categorically refuse(s) this ruling," he would not appeal the verdict. "Unfortunately I no longer have all the strength necessary to carry the fight for truth by myself and face of new panel of judges," Chirac said in the statement. "I also realize that what is at stake is not only the honour of a man, but the dignity of the presidential office." An aide to French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Elysee, or presidential palace, would not comment on the verdict, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. Francois Hollande, the presidential candidate from the Socialist party, said Thursday that "justice has been done, and it had to be done, so that there would be no sense of impunity." However, he said, he did have some sympathy for Chirac. "Although the sentence is severe, it is both criminal and moral, and it affects him," Hollande added, according to Le Monde. Ecologist party presidential candidate Eva Joly declared that justice has been done. "No citizen is above the law, if we want to reestablish trust in the justice system and democracy," she said in a statement on her website. She also called on Chirac to resign from France's Constitutional Council, a body that decides if proposed laws are constitutional. Chirac and other former French presidents automatically serve on the council. Jerome Karsenti, of the anti-corruption group Anticor, lauded the ruling as "a historic decision and extremely important for the future of democracy. It's a message to all politicians." Chirac was mayor of Paris, from 1977 to 1995, before he became president. He had immunity from prosecution during the 12 years he was president of France, from 1995 to 2007. He was accused -- along with the other defendants -- of using public money to pay people to work for his political party, the RPR, and to pay others to perform jobs that did not really exist. Former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe was sentenced in December 2004 for his role in the affair. After Chirac left office as president, he made it known he was available to answer any questions on the matter. He always denied wrongdoing. The city of Paris dropped a civil suit against Chirac after he and his party paid back about $3 million. Some in France praised the court's decision. "Finally, the justice of the Republic has come," said a post from Pierre-Marie Muraz on Le Monde's website. It shows that "no, we are not a banana republic, but a democracy, and proud of it!" Others were not pleased. "Who are we kidding? Let's review: Politician and union leaders have flouted the country's rules for years, enriching themselves and betraying the trust of their citizens, and when 20 years later we relax, we hand out a penalty or a suspended sentence, a certain political class and the complacent media congratulate themselves on the exemplary justice!" posted someone with the user name "pas dupe" -- which means "not fooled" in English. | Chirac has always denied wrongdoing while mayor of Paris .
The former president was accused of embezzling and misusing funds .
He was mayor from 1977 to 1995 .
Nine others were accused of corruption . |
162,618 | 5e407ae4a18e88996fb24579d37d718f72042026 | Washington (CNN) -- A long and winding road brought Sir Paul McCartney to the White House on Wednesday, where he was honored by the president of the United States and performed some of the most famous songs from his catalogue with the Beatles and after. President Barack Obama awarded McCartney the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and then, along with a little help from some of his friends, such as Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris and others, McCartney rocked the East Room of the White House. Obama noted McCartney had been involved in writing more than 200 songs that had made the charts of bestsellers, and his songs had stayed on those charts for a cumulative total of over 32 years. McCartney shook his head in wonder at that fact. "Nearly half a century since four lads from Liverpool first landed on our shores and changed everything overnight," Obama said, noting that the bass McCartney played Wednesday was the same one from when the Beatles performed on TV's Ed Sullivan Show in the 1960s. The Gershwin Prize, America's highest award for popular music, was bestowed on behalf of a grateful nation, "grateful that a young Englishman shared his dream with us," Obama said. McCartney thanked Obama for the honor and, in a short political comment, said that he and "billions" of others supported what the president was doing in the face of many challenges. Later, McCartney ended the night by saying, in reference to the prize from the Library of Congress, it was good that after the last eight years, America had a president who knew what a library was. The music for the event, which was taped for a PBS special, included unique and riveting versions of well-known songs by a variety of artists. Wonder performed "We Can Work Out It Out," starting over at one point when he couldn't find his harmonica. Costello sang "Penny Lane", noting his mother grew up near the location of the song, while Harris sang "For No One," noting it was "the sad song." McCartney performed the duet "Ebony and Ivory" with Wonder, and then ended the event with some of the most popular songs of his career, including the love ballad "Michelle" in honor of the first lady, who attended with both first daughters and the first grandmother. McCartney quipped that, given the song's title, he might be the first guest to get punched out by the president. He followed that with "Eleanor Rigby," "Let It Be" and a rousing "Hey Jude" that concluded with the first family and all the performers on stage, singing along to the well-known refrain of the title. On Tuesday, McCartney toured the Library of Congress, rehearsed for Wednesday's concert and held a news conference with reporters. They asked the former Beatle about everything from performance royalties and the role of songwriters today to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. McCartney noted that he is not a politician, but said the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a disgrace. "I think the fact that something like that can happen and the people who are to blame don't have the ability to instantly cap it and clean it up is something that's going to be addressed," he said. Obama mentioned the oil spill in his remarks Wednesday, saying the nation shared in the sorrow of people from the Gulf coast region that also has a rich musical heritage. He noted that people on the Gulf Coast were "dealing with something we have not seen before," and called the situation "heartbreaking." The president pledged the nation's commitment "to see to it that their lives and their community are made whole again." CNN's Tom Cohen contributed to this report . | NEW: Paul McCartney awarded Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song .
NEW: McCartney, Stevie Wonder, others perform famous songs in East Room .
NEW: McCartney performs love ballad "Michelle" and quips he may get punched out by president .
NEW: Obama calls McCartney most successful songwriter in history . |
138,139 | 3ea5814fcafc674a82de77e93efa3b944bbf76ad | Fort Hood, Texas (CNN) -- The call came over the radio. "Shots fired." And then, even worse: "Officer down." Billy Rhoads, chief of the Fort Hood Fire Department, grabbed a radio and donned his flak jacket. He jumped into his SUV and tore down the road. A dozen or so blocks away, at the Soldier Readiness Center, a gunman had opened fire on soldiers. Rhoads stepped from his truck. His department's motto is "Protecting those who protect us." He hoped he was not too late for that. The scene was chaotic. Wounded and dead soldiers were everywhere. "I was listening to people hollering for help, and I was trying to get in there to see what we had," Rhoads recalled three days after the November 5 attack. "I assumed that we would have maybe several victims. I had no idea, I just could not fathom what we were going to encounter." Amid all the army uniforms, one dark blue uniform stuck out. It was Fort Hood police Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who, officials say, shot the alleged gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, to end the rampage. She suffered three gunshot wounds. "I broke and ran over to her," Rhoads said. "I got over to her and began trying to talk to her." Rhoads and Munley had worked closely in the past. He considers her a friend. Army medics had fashioned a makeshift tourniquet on her leg. He bent down to comfort her. She was extremely weak and unable to speak loudly. "I just kept reminding her of her daughter and that she needed to stay with us for the baby's sake," he said. "She's a very tough cookie." Munley, 34, had served in the Army herself before becoming a police officer at Fort Hood. Her husband is a staff sergeant in the Army, and their daughter is 3 years old. Munley's neighbors have said she is so tough, she stopped burglars from entering her house last year. Said Rhoads of Munley: "The old saying that dynamite comes in small packages is very true." Emergency personnel were flooding the scene, and helicopters were en route to evacuate the injured. Rhoads, who began as a volunteer firefighter 26 years ago when he was just a teen, took over the scene as incident commander. But first, he paused for a quick prayer. "I just asked the Lord to be with me, to give me the strength and the courage I need to do my job wisely and keep my people safe." Even as the first responders worked on the dozens of wounded soldiers, they weren't certain whether there were other shooters on the post. "The thought's always there on your mind that there could be another suspect in the area," Rhoads said. As for Hasan, the fire chief says that discussing the shooting suspect is too emotional. "I saw the suspect from a distance, but I never got a look at him." Rhoads' prayers remain with the soldiers he tries to keep safe. "It's very emotional for everybody when we lose our soldiers. But when we lose them here at home like this, it takes it to a different level." He says the department has arranged for counselors to be available for the firefighters as they process all they have endured. They've received phone and text messages from fire and police departments all across the country, offering support and prayer. But the main thing his firefighters have relied on, he says, is each other. "Afterward, everyone started to console each other and talk to each other. It's a brotherhood." | Fire chief came across officer, told her she "needed to stay" for her daughter .
Chief says people were hollering all over the scene: "I had no idea"
Billy Rhoads began firefighting when he was a teen . |
262,694 | e045e4fa0b9af9c10420bd32691d21b16e13b552 | (CNN) -- The unrest spreading through North Africa and the Middle East has reached the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, according to reports from the state news agency. At least three police officers and one demonstrator have been injured in clashes, the news agency reported. The injuries occurred during an attack on a police station during protests Sunday evening, the news agency said. After three officers were injured, police fired on protesters with rubber bullets, causing one injury, the news agency said. Further protests were scheduled to take place in Bahrain on Monday, making the country the latest in a string of nations to experience popular protests that began in Tunisia. Protesters who have organized on Facebook, Twitter and with e-mails want political reforms, including a constitutional monarchy. Recently, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa offered more than $2,500 to Bahraini families, ostensibly in celebration of Monday's 10th annivesary of the adoption of the country's National Action Charter. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. | At least four people were injured in protests in Bahrain Sunday evening .
More protests are scheduled for Monday .
Bahrain's protests are the latest in a wave that began in Tunisia . |
183,076 | 7920dd51d5f440a2eeace1e560c021141dc6904b | (CNN) -- Three-time finalist Andy Roddick has been knocked out of Wimbledon after an epic five-setter against unseeded Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan on Monday. The American fifth seed, who came very close to beating Roger Federer in last year's final, went down 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7 in the fourth round at the All England Club. Lu, ranked 82 in the world, becomes Asia's first grand slam quarterfinalist since Japan's Shuzo Masuoka back in 1995. He had never previously got beyond the second round at Wimbledon in six attempts. "He had a game plan, he stuck to it, and he deserved to win more than I did," Roddick told the official Wimbledon website. Elsewhere, it was a day of serene progress for the men's top seeds with Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray all winning in straight sets. Federer remains on course for a seventh Wimbledon title after beating Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-3 6-2 6-3 in just 85 minutes to reach the quarterfinals. The Swiss world number two will face Czech 12th seed Tomas Berdych in the last eight. "I felt great. It was always going to be a tough match against Jurgen," Federer told AFP. "I think my form's good now and that's what I really care about. I know how to win here and that's a great advantage for me." World number one Nadal, taken to five sets in his two previous matches, defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4 6-2 6-2. Fourth seed Murray remains the only man yet to drop a set at the tournament after defeating Sam Querrey of the U.S. 7-5 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round. Murray will meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarters after the Frenchman overcame his compatriot Julien Benneteau in four sets. Elsewhere, third seed Novak Djokovic defeated 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in four sets. The Serb complained of sickness in the third set and had to take medication before recovering to knock out the Australian. "We both expected a long and difficult match," said Djokovic. "We played a long match here three years ago and it was something similar this time. It could have gone either way but I played the right shots at the right time." French Open finalist Robin Soderling of Sweden needed five sets to defeat Spain's ninth seed David Ferrer 6-2 5-7 6-2 3-6 7-5. | Andy Roddick loses to Yen-Hsun Lu in five sets to crash out of Wimbledon .
Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal advance to quarterfinals in straight sets .
Novak Djokovic overcomes illness to defeat Lleyton Hewitt in four sets . |
185,315 | 7c09de0605e1443af05473b4fab9b18cdc633c53 | Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) -- The owner of a Bangladeshi apparel factory where 112 people died in a fire in November 2012 has been arrested and sent to jail. Delwar Hossain, the owner and managing director of Tazreen Fashions, and his wife, Mahmuda Akther, the chairwoman, surrendered Sunday and were ordered to jail by Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Tajul Islam. The magistrate denied bail. Most of those killed at the factory were female workers. More than 200 people were injured, and nearly half of the victims were burned beyond recognition. The government supervised the taking of their DNA before burying them. In December, a Bangladeshi criminal investigation found 13 people guilty of gross negligence of safety measures. They were charged with "culpable homicide," according to a court official. There were arrest warrants issued for six people, including Hossain and Akther. The other warrants were for officials of the company. The factory makes clothes for Western retailers. Ready-made garments make up 80% of Bangladesh's $24 billion in annual exports. | Delwar Hossain and his wife, Mahmuda Akther, are arrested and jailed .
The two surrendered to a magistrate Sunday .
In November 2012, 112 people died in a fire in a garment factory outside Dhaka . |
152,880 | 519995f48f0b205acb5b59fabbae2ec18b2f316e | A 22-year-old fisherman has been sentenced to 18 months' probation after unsuccessfully trying to produce counterfeit money using three everyday items: napkins, a glue stick and an oven. Cass Alder, from Prince Edward Island, Canada, purchased a packet of table napkins emblazoned with images of his country's $100 bills and cut out the pictures of the money, a court heard. He then pasted the images to pieces of paper using glue, before briefly baking the fraudulent notes in the oven. This was to ensure the bits of napkin were firmly stuck to the paper, it was said. Then, Alder attempted to spend one of the bills at a local convenience store. However, his plan was foiled when a clerk realized that the bill was forged and contacted the police, as Alder fled the scene. Ambitious: Cass Alder, 22, has been sentenced to 18 months' probation after unsuccessfully trying to produce counterfeit money using napkins (pictured: the packet he used) emblazed with images of Canadian $100 bills . Fisherman: Alder (pictured, left, in his mug shot and, right in a Facebook photo(), from Prince Edward Island, pasted the images of the bills to pieces of paper using glue, before baking the fraudulent notes in the oven . Now, the young man, from Lennox Island, has been handed a suspended sentence for counterfeiting the $100 notes. He has also been sentenced to 60 days in jail for another fraudulent scheme. In the latter scam, Alder, who lists his job as a 'lobster fisherman' on his Facebook page, reportedly cheated H&R Block out of $5,267 of CAD (or $4,216.64 in USD) using a fraudulent tax form. Both of the charges date back to 2013, according to People magazine. At the time, drugs were said to be a 'serious issue' in Alder's life. However, during his sentencing, the former student at Charlottetown Rural High School told the court he has since turned his life around. Posing: Alder (pictured) attempted to spend one of the bills at a local convenience store. However, his plan was foiled when a clerk realized that the bill was forged and contacted the police, as the young man fled the scene . 'It took me a long time to realize I deserved better than this for myself,' said Alder, who is now in a long-term relationship and apparently has a 'strong support network' in his home community. Alder was one of several people who obtained returns they were not entitled to using the fake T4s, The Guardian reported. Half of the money was paid to the person who gave Alder the form. Alder was ordered by Chief Provincial Court Judge John Douglas to make restitution to H&R Block for half of the amount he received. The remaining half will be paid by the person behind the form. | Cass Alder, 22, of Lennox Island, Canada, purchased pack of table napkins .
Napkins were emblazoned with images of Canadian $100 bills, court heard .
Alder then cut out the pictures and stuck them to bits of paper using glue .
Finally, he baked fake notes in oven to ensure napkins were stuck to paper .
Caught out when he tried to spend money at a convenience store in 2013 .
Sentenced to 18 months of probation; jailed for 60 days for another scam . |
5,015 | 0e46e09a1c8cc910eae6e080ff02d12710445f56 | (CNN) -- A fast-moving wildfire in eastern Arizona forced the evacuation Tuesday of up to 3,000 additional people, a Red Cross official said, as crews continued to battle the blaze. Residents living in areas south of State Highway 260 and east of Greer, including South Fork and parts of Eagar, have been told to leave their homes, fire officials said. The evacuees will join the estimated 2,700 people already on the road in eastern Arizona. "We're probably in the range of between 5,500 and 5,700 people," said Mark Weldon, spokesman for the Arizona Red Cross. Fire fighters struggled Tuesday to gain the slimmest of advantages over the Wallow Fire that has already burned more than 300,000 acres. Just 10 structures have been lost. The fire produced dense plumes of smoke that were visible from space and thick enough to reduce visibility to less than a mile in some places, the National Weather Service said in an air-quality alert Tuesday. Authorities ordered the evacuations of the Arizona cities Greer and Sunrise on Monday. Meanwhile, New Mexico officials told residents in the town of Luna to be prepared to leave, according Terri Wildermuth, a spokeswoman for the Incident Management Team that is overseeing firefighting efforts. The Arizona blaze is beginning to threaten neighboring New Mexico, and spillover smoke pushed by high winds disrupted flights and prompted an air quality alert on the other side of the border, authorities said Tuesday. "I'm starting to feel like I've been chain-smoking and all my cloths smell like I've been camping," said CNN iReporter Eric Place, who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Sometimes, not like huge flakes, but little ash particles, are visible." In Arizona, the Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Blue Ridge High School in Lakeside. So far, around 75 evacuees have checked into the shelter, said Weldon, though not everyone was expected to stay overnight. More than 2,000 firefighters are engaged in the fight against the fire, along with 20 helicopters, 141 fire engines, 46 water tenders and eight bulldozers, according to officials. The blaze remained at 0% containment Tuesday night. The National Weather Service warned critical fire weather, with low humidity and high winds, would continue at least through Wednesday in Arizona. The National Interagency Fire Center said similar conditions would heighten the risk of fires across the southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, southeastern Colorado and west Texas. Some Arizonans displaced by the fire have second-guessed their decisions to leave their homes. Displaced resident Patrick Tureson told Phoenix-based CNN affiliate KNXV that life as evacuee is "horrible." "I don't have a lot of hope right now," he said. Tureson said he and his wife, Randa, received a call from fire officials Sunday night recommending they abandon their Coyote Canyon home. "We wanted to stay but ended up leaving because it was getting worse and worse," Tureson told KNXV. "That fire was headed right towards me. It's just a bad situation." The Wallow fire, which began May 29, has scorched 311,481 acres so far along the state's eastern border. Additionally, low humidity and high winds are fueling fires elsewhere in the state. That includes three separate blazes that have consumed 165,017 acres in the Coronado National Forest, one of which has been burning since May 8, according to InciWeb, an Internet state-by-state database of active wildfires and other disasters. Winds have also hampered the efforts of firefighters who've come to Arizona from across the United States to help battle the Wallow fire. That includes grounding planes that otherwise could be used to douse the flames from the air, Wildermuth said. On Monday, the size of the fire jumped 21% as it spread to more than 40,000 acres. "We had a hard day today," Joe Reinarz, an incident commander, told those attending a town hall meeting in Greer on Monday. "I don't know exactly where that fire is at this moment, because it is moving so fast." "Tomorrow, (the wind) is supposed to pick back up all through Thursday," he said. "We've got two or three days ahead ... that will try all of us." While there have been no significant injuries so far, officials and area residents complained of heavy smoke that has blanketed the area like fog. The fire has bedeviled fire crews with its unpredictable path, thanks to wind gusts that have carried burning embers up to three miles. Apache County Deputy Chief Sheriff Brannon Eagar on Monday evening urged people in the area, even if they haven't been ordered to evacuate yet, to get ready to leave. "They can't predict how fast it's going to go," Eagar said at the town hall event in Greer. "So make sure, please, you get ready. "If I can convince anybody, please go. It'll make your life so much easier," he added. "This thing is huge." CNN's Phil Gast, Dana Ford and Ben Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Officials order a partial evacuation of the Arizona town of Eagar .
NEW: The latest orders raise the number of fire evacuees to more than 5,000 .
The fire has scorched 311,481 acres in eastern Arizona so far .
Forecasters warn of an elevated fire risk Tuesday and Wednesday . |
10,493 | 1dd4c0a11bd2ae05e06616682586b38818009eb5 | Chelsea new boy Loic Remy trained at the club's Cobham training ground on Tuesday morning as the striker recovered from his international exploits with France. The former Queens Park Rangers forward will be hoping to be in contention for a place in Jose Mourinho's sqaud on Saturday as the Blues take on Swansea at Stamford Bridge. Remy could even be in line for a start on what will be his home debut as Mourinho's sweats on the fitness of star striker Diego Costa. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Loic Remy scoring for France against Spain . Ready: Loic Remy (left) stretches as he takes part in his first Chelsea training session . Blues brother: Remy signed a four-year deal with Jose Mourinho's side on the eve of transfer deadline day . The Spaniard, who has already scored four goal for Chelsea this season, left international duty with Spain kast week amid fears he had injured his hamstring. The same injury had threatened to keep Costa out of Chelsea's match against Everton last weekend, but the 25-year-old proved his fitness and then some by scoring twice in a brilliant 6-3 win for the Blues. Speaking on his competition, Remy told Chelsea's official website: 'We have two great strikers here already and I don't have a choice if I want to be in the team - I have to play at a very high level.' Star man: Diego Costa will be hoping to recover from a small hamstring injury to play against Swansea . | Loic Remy takes part in light training session at Chelsea's training ground .
Striker has returned from international duty with France .
Remy will hope to feature against Swansea on Saturday . |
86,999 | f6e7e711bc7d235ef93aa98d63909384aca94d73 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal investigators Tuesday blamed the pilot of a Southwest Airlines jet for causing the plane to skid off a runway at Chicago's Midway Airport in 2005, an accident that killed a 6-year-old boy. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, like the plane here, skidded off a Chicago runway in 2005. "The probable cause was the pilot's failure to use available reverse thrust in a timely manner to safely slow or stop the aircraft after landing which resulted in a runway overrun," the National Transportation Safety Board ruled. Southwest Airlines flight 1248 slid off a 6,500-foot runway at Midway while landing during a heavy snowstorm in December 2005. The Boeing 737-700 was still moving at 46 mph when it crashed through a barrier wall and then slid into an intersection outside the airport grounds, hitting two cars. The NTSB found the pilot and co-pilot were unfamiliar with the jet's automatic brake system, which "distracted them from thrust reverser usage during the challenging landing." The agency also found the pilot's failure to divert the flight to another airport amid reports of poor braking on the runway and tailwinds above 5 mph contributed to the accident. The accident killed Joshua Woods, 6, of Leroy, Indiana, and injured 12 others, including his parents and two younger brothers. It was the first fatal accident in the history of the Dallas-based airline. None of the 98 passengers and five crew members aboard the Baltimore-to-Chicago flight were hurt. The NTSB found Southwest failed to provide its pilots with "clear and consistent guidance and training" on company policies regarding arrival landing-distance calculations. It also said the programming and design of the aircraft's onboard computers and the airline's plan to implement new auto-brake procedures without giving pilots time to learn those procedures contributed to the accident. E-mail to a friend . CNN Correspondent Kathleen Koch contributed to this report. | National Transportation Safety Board: Pilot error caused 2005 runway accident .
Southwest Airlines jet skidded off a runway at Chicago's Midway Airport .
The incident resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy .
Pilot, co-pilot were unfamiliar with jet's automatic brake system, NTSB said . |
238,701 | c100a0e9257727541bc9558cb175a692f925c691 | Conflict: Roger Waters, 70, has been branded an antisemitic after his comments last week . The former frontman of Pink Floyd has sparked outrage after comparing Israel's government to the Nazi regime. Leading rabbis and Jewish writers have blasted Roger Waters as antisemitic for claiming the state's treatment of Palestinians is akin to the oppression of Jews between 1933 and 1946. Waters, 70, who refuses to visit or perform in Israel, said he would not have played in France or Germany during the Second World War either. 'The parallels with what went on in the 1930s in Germany are so crushingly obvious,' he told American magazine Counter Punch last week. 'There were many people that pretended that the oppression of the Jews was not going on. From 1933 until 1946. So this is not a new scenario. Except that this time, it's the Palestinian people being murdered.' He claimed Palestinians are regarded as 'sub-human', and branded the Israeli rabbinate 'bizarre'. Enraged, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has hit back at Waters, calling his comments an 'antisemitic diatribe' which outstretches any other attack on Israel and Jews. Writing in the New York Observer, Rabbi Boteach said: 'Mr Waters, the Nazis were a genocidal regime that murdered six million Jews. 'That you would have the audacity to compare Jews to monsters who murdered them shows you have no decency, you have no heart, you have no soul.' The conflict comes just months after Waters was forced to explain why he used a pig-shaped balloon decorated with a Star of David on the set of one of his concerts, seen by many to single out Judaism as an evil force. The singer, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, rebuffed his critics by claiming it was one of many religious symbols on the stage. Last night, Waters rejected his critics once again. It follows outrage earlier this year when a pig balloon marked with a Star of David formed part of Waters' set at a concert. Waters rejected claims it was a message to fans that Judaism is a force of evil . Speaking in New York, he said: ‘I do not know Rabbi Boteach, and am not prepared to get into a slanging match with him. I will say this: I have nothing against Jews or Israelis, and I am not antisemitic. ‘I deplore the policies of the Israeli government in the occupied territories and Gaza. They are immoral, inhuman and illegal. I will continue my non-violent protests as long as the government of Israel continues with these policies.’ Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said everyone was ‘entitled to an opinion and to advocate passionately for a cause’. But she added: ‘Drawing inappropriate parallels with the Holocaust insults the memory of the six million Jews – men, women and children – murdered by the Nazis. 'These kinds of attacks are commonly used as veiled antisemitism and should be exposed as such.’ | Bassist, 70, said treatment of Palestinians is same as the oppression of Jews during World War Two adding that they are treated as 'sub-human'
Refuses to play in Israel as he 'wouldn't play in occupied France either'
Rabbi blasted 'antisemitic diatribe' as one of worst attacks ever on Jews . |
247,090 | cbc1256f19dffb82595bcf04c4e8e8ecd48946f8 | Jack Monroe, pictured with her three-year-old son Jonny, has bagged herself a book deal with Penguin following the success of her Girl Called Jack blog . A single mother who has turned her 9p meals into a book deal has urged shoppers not to be put off value-brand food to make their money go further. Jack Monroe, 25, has been documenting her attempts at feeding herself and her three-year-old son Jonny on £10 a week for the past year. A 9p carrot, cumin and kidney bean burger, 30p chilli and 22p apricot curry are among the frugal and healthy recipes that have caught the attention of publisher Penguin, which has signed her up to produce a book packed with more than 100 ideas for making the most of a tight budget. Ms Monroe, from Southend, was . job-hunting and living on benefits when she started her blog following a . councillor's attack on single mothers in her local paper, which . appeared under the headline: 'Druggies, drunks and single mums are . ruining our town'. She began attending council meetings and writing about politics and budget meals on her A Girl Called Jack blog following encouragement from friends. She used a Nokia E72 phone to write and upload her posts as she does not own a computer. Since then, she has appeared on the BBC Breakfast sofa to talk about her experience. A nutritionist on the show told her that the portion sizes were too small. But Ms Monroe told MailOnline: 'I eat four times a day, have breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea and snacks. 'You could eat twice as much and still save lots of money.' Ms . Monroe shops from the value and reduced ranges at Sainsbury's, her . nearest shop, and grows her own herbs to make the most of her £10, which is what she has left . after paying bills and rent. She sang the praises of value ranges, where kidney beans and chopped tomatoes are a quarter of the price of the branded equivalents, and said shoppers shouldn't be turned off by the 'unattractive' packaging of the bottom shelf products. Local food banks also give out copies of her . recipes to help others feeding themselves on very little. Scroll down for video . Ms Monroe, 24, was invited to appear on BBC Breakfast to talk about her blog and now has a deal with Penguin books . They include . ideas for simple herb bread at 7p a portion, lemon curd sponge puddings at 24p and . posh mushroom, spinach and walnut pasta at 34p. 'Chopped tomatoes turn up in pretty . much everything', she said, while handfuls of frozen vegetables, such as . green beans and spinach, pad out meals and flour, pasta, rice and . UHT or soya milk are cupboard essentials. 'I throw things together and if they work they make it on to the blog.' Ms Monroe, who was recently hired as a trainee reporter at the Southend Echo, has criticised the Government for not understanding the difficulties of those surviving on benefits. This week, she revealed that a two thirds cut in her tax credits means she is going to downsize from her two-bed flat to a place where she will share a room with her son, to avoid having to quit her job to save money on childcare. 'It can happen to anyone,' she told The Independent. 'People quote Iain Duncan Smith’s . claim about being able to live on £53 a week all of the time, but they . don’t realise that when get that payment you have to cover everything . with it. You are not exempt from bills all of a sudden.' She told MailOnline: 'If they could spend a week with one of us, they'd see things a lot differently'. She receives emails, messages and . tweets every day from people who say her blog has helped them make savings and . cope with the shock of redundancy. 'You feel like you're the only person in the world this has happened to,' she said. But the blog has made her realise: 'You're not going through this on your own.' This bean and vegetable burger with vegetable rice, posted to her Twitter page during a Live Below the Line challenge, cost only 14p . In one blogpost, entitled Hunger Hurts, she . wrote: 'Poverty isn’t just having no heating, or not quite enough food, . or unplugging your fridge and turning your hot water off. 'It’s not a tourism trade, it’s not cool, and it’s not something that MPs on a salary of £65k a year plus expenses can understand, let alone our PM who states that we’re all in this together. 'Poverty is the sinking feeling when your small boy finishes his one Weetabix and says ‘more mummy, bread and jam please mummy’ as you’re wondering whether to take the TV or the guitar to the pawn shop first, and how to tell him that there is no bread or jam.' She has raised more than £2,500 for Oxfam through her blog by taking on a Live Below the Line challenge to feed her family for a week on only £5. Jack Monroe's book is due out next March . It was her friend's Facebook photos of his meals when he took on of the challenge last summer that prompted her to 'do it better', she said. She bought one of everything from the supermarket's value range and thought: 'Right - what can I make out of this?' Her blog readers have become an online support group, she told MailOnline. 'Every time I spoke to friends I was banging on about how awful things were. 'I was boring myself.' She refers back to the Hunger Hurts post as 'the pinnacle' of how bad things were while she was unemployed and trying to support herself and her child. 'People tell me: "Thank god it's not just me, I'm in the same situation".' Ms Monroe gave birth to her son while . she worked at a fire service call centre, but the job and relationship . with her son's father did not work out, and he was unable to support . them. She was approached for advice by Labour MP Helen Goodman, who fed herself for a week on £18 in February to experience what life would be like for her constituents in Bishop Auckland once the 'bedroom tax' came into force last month. Ms Monroe told MailOnline: 'I would say the cuts are quite draconian, though I do understand we don't have an endless pot to prop up welfare.' She called for a change in the way housing benefit is paid, criticising the way it is paid every four week in arrears rather than monthly and in advance, and highlighted the stress of having to negotiate with letting agents and landlords for their patience. She found herself in difficulties with her rent payments when she registered for housing benefit, becoming nearly three months in arrears in the eight weeks it took to process her claim. CARROT AND CORIANDER FALAFELS (23P A PORTION) Ingredients: 3tbsp vegetable oil, 1 onion, 1 can chickpeas, shake of cumin, 1 carrot, parsley, coriander, 1tbsp flour . 1. Peel and finely chop onion; grate carrot. Fry in tablespoon of oil over low heat till softened. 2. Tip into mixing bowl with chickpeas; add chopped parsley, coriander and cumin. 3. Mash till chickpeas have broken down. Oil from carrots and onion will help, but you may need more. 4. Mould into golf ball shapes with floured hands. Fry with a little more oil till golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside. Find more of Jack Monroe's budget recipes at AGirlCalledJack.com . MUSHROOM, BACON AND ALE CASSEROLE (28P A PORTION) Ingredients: 100g bacon, 1 Garlic clove, 1/2 onion, 1/2 potato, 1/2 carrot, 260ml bitter, 1 beef stock cube, 50g mushrooms . 1. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Add to a sauté pan or heavy bottomed saucepan. 2. Chop the bacon into small pieces. Add to the pan with the onion and garlic and cook over a medium-high heat, stirring constantly. 3. When the bacon is sealed, pour over the bitter (the rest of the can be used for bread) 4. Chop the potato and carrot, and slice the mushrooms, and add to the pot. Add beef stock cube, fistful of thyme, and water to cover. 5. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with mash and green veg. 'Some really simple changes would mean people won't be taking out payday loans with 3,000 per cent interest to buy food,' she said. The as-yet unnamed recipe book will be out next March. Lindsey Evans, the cookery publisher at Penguin, said: 'Jack Monroe is a fresh new voice for our times and I am so pleased that Penguin will be publishing her first cookbook. 'Not only has she managed to feed herself and her son on just £10 a week but she has done so by coming up with delicious and nutritious recipes, all within that budget. More importantly, she can now show us how we can do the same.' WATCH: JACK MONROE ON BBC BREAKFAST . | Jack Monroe has signed a deal with Penguin following her blog success .
The 25-year-old from Southend feeds herself and Jonny, three, on £10 .
The healthy and frugal meals include 30p chilli, 22p curry and 9p burgers . |
227,269 | b245aaa93dc3bc45431a33de41729913cc1f8e16 | Many animal lovers are familiar with the nuisance caused by cats interrupting their work by climbing across their papers or computer keyboard. But this is not a new phenomenon, as this extraordinary photograph of a medieval manuscript proves. The 15th-century book is marked with four pawprints, which appear to be the result of a cat jumping on to the paper. Age-old problem: This 15th-century manuscript has been damaged by a cat walking across it . The animal also seems to have stepped in ink of some kind, leading to the exceptional clarity of the marks even five or more centuries later. The picture was taken by Emir O. Filipovic, a scholar working in the Dubrovnik State Archives in Croatia. After he sent it to historian Erik Kwakkel last year, the image took on a life of its own as web users shared it as a poignant proof of how cats have been beloved pets for half a millennium. The book is part of the 'Lettere e commissioni di Levante', an official record of the activities of the Dubrovnik government throughout the Middle Ages. Clear: The animal had apparently just stepped in a pot of ink before jumping onto the book . Document: The book contains medieval records from the city of Dubrovnik, now in Croatia . These days, if a government document was disfigured by an animal it would probably be destroyed and replaced - but back then writing was such an elaborate and expensive exercise that the book could not be wasted. This week, Mr Filipovic went online to give his own interpretation of the image's success. 'You can almost picture the writer shooing the cat in a panicky fashion while trying to remove it from his desk,' he wrote. Unique: The mishap is an extraordinary glimpse into the daily life of a scribe in the Middle Ages . 'Despite his best efforts the damage was already complete and there was nothing else he could have done but turn a new leaf and continue his job. In that way this little episode was "archived" in history.' This is not the only incident of a cat vandalising a manuscript - one item in the Cologne archive features a page left half-blank because an animal had urinated on it when it was left out overnight. Cats were often allowed to live in monasteries and scriptoria because they chased away mice which might otherwise nibble at the manuscripts. | Unique document comes from Dubrovnik State Archives in Croatia .
Scriptorium pet stepped in ink then jumped on government archive book . |
205,285 | 95bfdaef9a93a4abcd0189d26b588d96282d0c26 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 18:31 EST, 14 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:37 EST, 15 September 2013 . With his sportswear, earring and back-turned baseball cap, you wouldn't think he was a fan of classical music - let alone a talented opera singer. But Maxwell Thorpe is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover. Because the shy 23-year-old, known as 'Chavarotti', has won hundreds of fans performing tear-jerking renditions of opera classics such as Nessun Dorma and Halleluja. Unlikely: Maxwell Thorpe, 23, sings on the streets of Chesterfield with his dog, Humphry . Performance: Maxwell likes to sing classics such as Nessun Dorma and Halleluja . And rather than performing in concert halls, Maxwell prefers a more down-to-earth venue - a bustling town centre. Maxwell, who is always accompanied by his loyal dog Humphry, a Shar-Pei Staffordshire terrier cross, sings outside a shopping centre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. On busy days, up to a hundred people gather to listen to his amazing voice. He has also become and internet sensation, with one clip of him singing on YouTube receiving almost 100,000 hits. Humble Maxwell, from Sheffield, admits that people are often surprised by his unlikely talent. He said: 'People stop and ask me: "where does that voice come from?"' Humble: The singer, pictured at his usual performance spot, says he just wants to share his gift with the world . Popular: Sometimes up to a hundred people stop to listen to Maxwell sing . 'I know it’s a gift and . something I have to share with people. 'I was lost for a bit and then I . came out on the streets and it’s been great.' As for his 'Chavarotti' nickname, Maxwell, who calls his style of singing 'Hip-Opera', said: . Out of the limelight: Maxwell has no plans to enter any talent competitions such as Britain's Got Talent . 'A guy took a video of me in Doncaster - he called it Chavarotti. 'It is very funny, it is a pun. The guy was sincere. There wasn't any harm meant by it.' Despite his growing popularity, Maxwell has no plans to audition for X Factor or Britain's Got Talent. He said: 'I would like to show a different way to life. 'I know that there are people who go on the shows who do have real talent - but I don’t feel that’s the way for me. 'I want to bring a whole, rounded performance - a more philosophical performance.' Maxwell says he is not interested in being on TV, like many aspiring musicians, and instead wants his singing career to grow 'organically'. He added: 'I can only improve and the more I improve the more people will see the beauty of the voice. 'It’s a gift, I can’t take any accolade from it.' The amateur singer also performs reggae and hip-hop. But he seems to have found his hit niche with opera, and following some timeout in early 2013, plans to take his talent to more market towns across the north of Britain. | Maxwell Thorpe, 23, sings classics such as Nessun Dorma and Halleluja .
Hundreds of people watch him sing in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, town centre .
Is an internet sensation, with his YouTube videos getting 100,000 hits .
Sheffield-born singer is always accompanied by his loyal dog Humphry .
Insists he'll never go on TV talent shows as its 'not the way for him' |
122,208 | 29fb0663bbc73b68c644df0c730d8a8284ce729c | By . James Rush . When the Vista Verde condo complex was first built one of its main selling points was its beautiful ocean views. Enjoying lunch on the balcony overlooking the California coastline was one of the biggest advantages of living at the Lomita complex. Now the sea views have been replaced with the sights of coffins and mourners crying after a nearby memorial park started carrying out burial services on a rooftop mausoleum just feet from the apartments. Scroll down for video . Residents at a condo complex in California have been left feeling 'upset and frustrated' after a nearby memorial park started carrying out burial services just feet from their apartments . Residents have now warned their properties could decrease in value following Green Hills Memorial Park's decision to move services to the site just 50ft from the complex. Resident Lane Mayhew, 26, told CBS Los Angeles: 'I've seen many funerals. 'They’ve brought the caskets up this way so everything comes up and down the ramp. It’s sad, it’s upsetting, it’s frustrating, it’s my home.' Matt Geier said when he first moved into the complex in 2006 he accepted that he could see and hear the services, which were then held at a distance. But he said his living conditions had changed drastically since the services had moved to just outside his apartment. He told the Daily Breeze: 'We’re sitting there eating brunch on the weekends and we have people right outside our window crying their eyes out.' Residents have now warned their properties could decrease in value following Green Bay Memorial Park's decision to start holding services on the rooftop mausoleum which lies just 50ft from some of their balconies . Ray Frew, president and CEO of Green Hills Memorial Park, told ABC7 Los Angeles that the mausoleum was built with the city's consent. He said he had 'never envisioned the level of negative response' from residents but had tried to reduce the noise of the services, put a limit on when services took place and attempted to hide the view from residents with screens. He said: 'A demand to make me stop doing funerals altogether in a cemetery, or to move a building that was constructed with full approval of the city that we are governed by, that's not a possibility.' According to WTSP.com, the memorial park has sent the residents a cease and desist letter, demanding they stop disrupting funeral services. Both parties will be attending the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission meeting on August 12. Green Hills Memorial Park was founded in 1948 and has since held services for more than 75,000 families. According to its website, the memorial park started as a partnership between business owners and members of the local community. It still operates as a not-for-profit organisation. | Residents at complex complain after nearby memorial park starts carrying out funeral services just feet away from apartments .
Memorial park built rooftop mausoleum next to Vista Verde apartment block .
Residents have now warned the value of the properties could decrease after ocean views were replaced with burial site . |
206,266 | 97042cb3dfc2f65c57dcb3e30952ee5308c3f639 | (CNN) -- Former President George W. Bush defended his administration's handling of the war in Afghanistan on Sunday, telling CNN that some NATO allies who contributed troops to the conflict "turned out not to be willing to fight." In an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley, Bush strongly refuted criticism that his administration took its "eye off the ball" in Afghanistan when he ordered troops to invade Iraq. He said he ordered American forces to overthrow Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein with the assumption that allied forces would help make up the difference in Afghanistan. "What happened in Afghanistan was that our NATO allies, some of them, turned out not to be willing to fight," Bush said. "Therefore, our assumption that we had ample troops -- U.S. and NATO troops -- turned out to be a not-true assumption. So we adjusted." The former president didn't name any countries specifically from NATO, which includes 28 nations in Europe and North America. Some 785 military personnel from NATO countries besides the United States have been killed in Afghanistan since hostilities began in October 2001, with the United Kingdom, Canada and France having the most fatalities. The comments by the 43rd U.S. president, along with those of his brother and former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, aired during a CNN special, "Bush: Two Years Later." The former president addressed a host of matters in the interview, which came days after the release of his 481-page memoir, "Decision Points," and two days ahead of the groundbreaking for his presidential library and museum on Southern Methodist University's campus in Dallas, Texas. Bush said he "felt terrible" that weapons of mass destruction were never found in Iraq, despite the administration's persistent and insistent case that Saddam Hussein had them before the invasion. But while he took responsibility for the big push on and subsequent lack of WMDs, the former president said he still thought the Iraq war was justified. "If (Saddam Hussein) was in power today, the world would be a lot worse off," he said. "I believe that a free Iraq will be transformative in the Middle East." Bush said he had no regrets, too, about his decision near the end of his second term to push the 2008 federal bailout that loaned hundreds of billions of dollars to companies including AIG, Citigroup, Bank of America and General Motors. President Barack Obama later successfully pressed to use billions more in federal funds to buttress the U.S. economy, as it struggled through what's been called "The Great Recession" marked by high unemployment and rounds of foreclosures in a percolating real estate crisis. "I set aside my free market principles and made a very difficult decision," Bush said. "I believe that those decisions ... did prevent the economy from heading into a depression." Bush said he was dismayed when his administration's efforts to efforts to change the Social Security system -- an effort to control its costs -- failed to bear fruit. In late 2004 and early 2005, his administration laid out proposals to overhaul Social Security, in part by creating individual investment accounts that would act more like a traditional 401k and replace the current collective Social Security pool. But the plan floundered under pressure from Democrats and special interest groups such as the AARP, and Congress never even saw any formal legislation, much less voted on it. "Not reforming Social Security was a huge disappointment," Bush said. Jeb Bush joined his brother for part of the CNN interview, saying he never publicly disagreed with George W. Bush when he was president and is "not going to start now." Alluding to the hyperpartisanship in Washington, the former Florida governor said there's still room for civility in politics. "I don't think you can be against everything, just because someone has a D (for Democrat) by their name and you have an R (for Republican) by your name," Jeb Bush said. George W. Bush said that he was mindful not to get involved in "name calling" as president, adding that he wasn't bothered when he was targeted. Bush said, too, that he didn't support Republicans challenging Democrats' patriotism just because they disagreed with them. "I don't remember doing that personally, and that was uncalled for if that was the case," he said. "Patriotic people disagreed with my decisions." One Democrat he has no qualms with is his Oval Office predecessor, Bill Clinton. Bush said he "genuinely liked" Clinton, whom he called one of his "buddies," in part because he's been so "gracious" to his father, George H.W. Bush. iReporter: Welcome back, President Bush . The Bush brothers both said Republicans' setbacks in recent election among Latinos -- which voted Democrat by a 2-to-1 margin -- should be a top concern for the party, with George W. Bush calling the situation "un problemo." "Part of it relates to tone," said Jeb Bush, saying some Latinos turned away from the Republican party when some of its members spoke strongly on illegal immigration. "If they don't feel welcome, they're not going to listen to the message." Jeb Bush reiterated that he would not run for president -- like his brother and father -- in 2012. The former governor also said he did not want to head the national Republican party because he wanted to achieve "some financial independence" for himself and his family. The current GOP party chief, Michael Steele, has faced persistent criticism from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, and others in recent months, even though Republicans scored big wins in the recent mid-term elections. As to speculation about Steele's future as the party's head, Jeb Bush opted not to wade into the party leadership debate, saying he was "Switzerland in relation to national Republican politics." "If I'm trying to achieve financial security for my family and I'm not running for office," Jeb Bush said. "I certainly wouldn't run for RNC chairman." Jeb Bush said that he could see either or both of his sons, Jeb and George, following their father, their uncle, their grandfather and their great-grandfather (former Sen. Prescott Bush of Connecticut) by running for political office. But George W. Bush said he didn't see his daughters, twins Jenna and Barbara, who turn 29 this month, going into politics. "They will be involved in helping improve people's lives," Bush said. "But I doubt they'll ever run for public office." As to his own future, and legacy, Bush said he was content to let his memoir and his decisions speak for themselves. "I'm not trying to shape my legacy," he said. "I'm trying to provide data points for future historians." | George W. Bush denies his administration took its "eye off the ball" in Afghanistan .
The 43rd president says some NATO allies "turned out not to be willing to fight"
Bush also affirms his support for the federal bailout of banks, insurers and carmakers .
An interview with Bush and his brother Jeb, an ex-Florida Gov., airs Sunday night on CNN . |
283,580 | fb55f848aa6184c8602c6e83274bb38ba37871f4 | Taxpayers will have to fork out a staggering half a million pounds to fix four panes of glass in the building housing MP’s offices. Private discussions have been held about how to cope with the latest - and most expensive - setback at Portcullis House, the modernist glass ‘atrium’ adjoining Parliament which opened in 2001. It has emerged that MPs have approved £488,000 for temporary repairs to the damage, almost half of which will be spent on a ‘feasibility study’. Taxpayers will have to fork out a staggering half a million pounds to fix four panes of glass in Portcullis House, the modernist glass ‘atrium’ adjoining Parliament which opened in 2001 . A permanent solution in the coming years could take the bill way past £1million. The glass structure houses the offices of some 200 MPs and their staff, modern committee rooms and a vast seating area with a canteen, restaurant and meeting area. Its’ construction ran to £235million after massive over-spending, and the building has been plagued by scandals from persistent cracks in the glass to the £400,000 cost of renting 12 decorative fig trees. But the most expensive repair to date has been approved this year, after one of the damaged panels of glass crashed to the floor nine months ago, fortunately not injuring anyone. It is understood from House of Commons sources that around £38,000 was spent on making the pane safe. Another £210,000 is being spent on a temporary replacement for it and three other cracked panes. Finally, £240,000 has been approved for a ‘feasibility study’ by construction experts to work out how much a permanent solution to the roof problems will cost. The glass structure houses the offices of some 200 MPs and their staff, modern committee rooms and a vast seating area with a canteen, restaurant and meeting area . During rainy weather last week, large red buckets had to be placed on the floor outside the staff canteen where the panels fell in March. Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee said: ‘It is astonishing to find that this problem is going to cost so much to fix. ‘A very unwelcome Christmas present for both the Parliamentary authorities and the taxpayer’. Jonathan Isaby, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Portcullis House increasingly looks like a black hole for hard-pressed taxpayers’ cash. ‘At a time when we’re trying to find savings everywhere else across government, spending a quarter of a million on a ‘feasibility study’ seems like a waste of money, especially on top of the cash already frittered away on forestry and fig trees in the building. ‘The Parliamentary Estate employs an army of maintenance officials and engineers and it shouldn’t require extra administration or bureaucracy to work out a permanent solution. ‘Politicians talk a lot about fixing the roof when it comes to the economy, but when it comes to taxpayers’ cash it needs to be done as cheaply as possible.’ Its’ construction ran to £235million after massive over-spending, and the building has been plagued by scandals from persistent cracks in the glass to the £400,000 cost of renting 12 decorative fig trees . Portcullis House was designed by award-winning architects Michael Hopkins and Partners and was opened by The Queen 13 years ago. Officials were criticised after some £13million was lost to one of the contractors which sued Parliament over a deal to supply wall and window units. Then cracks appeared almost immediately and a section had to be replaced in 2005 for £100,000. More damage was discovered in 2008 and again in 2012, apparently due to hot summer weather, and anti-shatter film had to be applied to parts of the glass to stop shards falling on staff. A report from the Parliamentary Director of Estates just after the pane crashed in March and released under Freedom of Information rules, recommended repair work straightaway. It said: ‘A design team is being assembled to fully investigate the unique structure and design of the Atrium roof and propose any necessary long term remedial measures. ‘This is likely to be a major undertaking.’ MPs on the Commons Administration committee have - after meetings with Parliament officials - been asked to approve the costly work and feasibility study. A House of Commons spokesman said: ‘In order to identify and mitigate the risk of future damage to the Portcullis House roof, a professional specialist team is currently undertaking a detailed examination of all glazed units…and will determine the nature and potential costs of any remedial measures that may be required. ‘As we are always committed to achieving value for money for the taxpayer, the investigation will also identify the most cost-effective means to maintain the roof in future. Any implementation of remedial work will follow the normal ‘business case’ process.’ | Almost half of the £488k sum has been spent on a 'feasibility study'
A permanent solution in the coming years could take the bill past £1million .
Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris said the repairs costs were ‘astonishing' |
247,396 | cc2657c812e4339a96de74b16e09f9321c44fdfd | This video footage shows the moment a young female rhinoceros named Rihanna led two pals on an escape bid from a safari park after spotting the security guard had fallen asleep. The footage shows the rhinos escaping from the front entrance of the Ramat Gan Safari Park in the city of Ramat Gan in the Tel Aviv district of western Israel after a security guard nodded off to sleep and failed to notice until too late what was happening. Although another employee of the park gave chase, it was too late to stop the white rhinos from hitting the road. The Rhinos, led by Rihanna, make a dash for it past the clueless security guard in Israel . An enquiry is now ongoing to find out why the gate to their enclosure and the gate to the facility itself had been left open. Police who got a call to say that three rhinos were on the loose said that they initially doubted it, but when they realised it was true they had stopped the animals' further escape with a roadblock. They then worked with zoo staff to stop the three rhinos travelling too far, and to drive them back to the safari park. The rhinos make a run for it after seeing their chance with the security guard sneaking in a nap . As the pesky three trot past, the security guard is awoken from his slumber and gives chase . A police spokesman said: 'We located the rhinos in the car park not far from the safari park itself.' All three white rhinos including Rihanna as well as the other two females named Keren Peles and Karnivala were returned to the park after their brief adventure without further incident. Zoo spokeswoman Sagit Horowitz said: 'Overall, the rhinos were outside about 10 minutes, in which they were in the parking lot adjacent to the entrance and did not enter the national park.' The security guard that was supposed to stop the rhinos has reportedly been relieved of his duties. Freedom is in sight for the trio and they bound towards the exit - thankfully customers weren't in yet . The security guard has reportedly lost his job as a result of letting the rhinos go . | Lead rhino called Rihanna and two others escape towards freedom .
Security guard wakes from slumber and gives forlorn chase .
Video filmed at Ramat Gan Safari Park, Tel Aviv, Israel . |
240,722 | c3a35d40edb0016547a6d558f4968d3868fda90a | By . Rebecca Camber . PUBLISHED: . 06:56 EST, 20 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:48 EST, 20 July 2012 . Calmly strolling through a busy Tube station, the man in the leather jacket could be on his way home from work, or heading out for a drink with friends. In fact, police believe he is on a mission to murder. He is the main suspect in a hunt for the gunman who blasted a Russian banker six times outside his luxury flat. German Gorbuntsov, 46, was sprayed with bullets outside his Docklands apartment by a hooded hitman in a botched assassination which left him disabled. Scroll down to see the CCTV . Wanted: The man. pictured facing the camera in a black leather jacket and blue jeans is shown on a platform at Canary Wharf tube station moments after the shooting . Scotland Yard revealed yesterday that . they were pursuing significant new leads after releasing footage of the . suspect in the shooting. CCTV images show the man casually . dressed, wearing a black jacket with its collar pulled up and blue . jeans, coolly walking through Canary Wharf station and mingling with . dozens of commuters on their way home on a Tuesday evening. Just moments earlier, Mr Gorbuntsov, . an exiled financier who was in hiding in London, was gunned down on his . doorstep after stepping out of a taxi which dropped him off at his . exclusive apartment block at 7.20pm on March 20. The 46-year-old was shot six times . with a specially modified 9mm Russian semi-automatic pistol rarely seen . in Britain, which has been described by weapons experts as a . ‘professional assassin’s weapon’. The victim collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his chest and stomach as his hooded attacker fled on foot. His mistress, Natasha Semchenkova, 36, . was seen crying hysterically and making phone calls as paramedics . battled to save Mr Gorbuntsov’s life. Astonishingly, he survived the attack because all the bullets missed vital organs. Suspects: As part of a Crimewatch appeal police . want to track down these two men, left and right, seen here on the night . of the shooting . Going out: The man, with a bag, makes his way out of Canary Wharf tube station moments before shooting . Yesterday the businessman, who is . still recovering under armed guard in hospital amid fears of another . attempt on his life, told how he came face to face with his would-be . killer. He told BBC Crimewatch: ‘The worst feeling is that guy shot me and ran away and probably very much hoped he had killed me. ‘This incident has changed my whole life.’ Mr Gorbuntsov added: ‘They found six . bullets inside me. I was badly injured and badly affected. I have . serious internal damage to my body and I still haven’t seen a single . doctor who is absolutely convinced it will be fine. ‘I will make it but I will be disabled. My future is uncertain.’ Victim: Lying surrounded by machines and cables German Gorbuntsov, is shown in his London hospital bed . Scotland Yard released CCTV images of . the suspect, described as white, 6ft tall and slim, fleeing the flats on . Byng Street wearing a dark hooded top. He is thought to have run towards the Marsh Wall area where he dumped the weapon and his blood-spattered clothing. Police found a hooded top in the . bushes nearby, along with the 9mm Makarov pistol complete with a . specially adapted silencer and a black fake leather bag that the man had . been seen carrying on CCTV moments earlier as he exited Canary Wharf . station at 7.08pm. Just after 7.30pm, the same man was seen entering the . station, this time wearing a leather jacket, but with no bag. Evidence: This Soviet military Makarov 9mm pistol was found dumped after the attack in March . Officers have also released CCTV . images thought to be of the same man wearing a hooded top in the area . the day before the shooting. Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor, . who is leading the hunt for the assassin, said: ‘The gun, a 9mm Makarov . pistol, is highly unusual and is rarely used in Britain.’ Yesterday a spokesman for Scotland . Yard said they had already received several calls following the . Crimewatch appeal on Thursday night. He added: ‘We are working on those . names now, to see if we can find anything out.’ He revealed that police already have a . full DNA profile of the attacker and they also have Russian-speaking . officers to assist the inquiry. Dumped: Pictured here is the gun, left, and hoodie, right, used by the hitmen in the attack and then chucked into bushes nearby . Attack: This is the doorway to the exclusive block of flats in Docklands where German Gorbuntsov, an exile in Britain, was shot . Detectives are liaising with their . counterparts in Moscow for the first time since Alexander Litvinenko, a . former KGB agent, was poisoned with polonium-210 in a London hotel in . 2006. Mr Gorbuntsov made a fortune in . banking and construction post-Communist Russia, but he also acquired . enemies and fled Moscow in 2010. There are several theories surrounding . the attack, including a Russian police investigation into the shooting . of Mr Gorbuntsov’s business partner, tens of millions missing from . Russia’s state railway, armed Chechen gangs and allegations of . embezzlement and the illegal takeover of a bank in neighbouring Moldova. Happy couple: German Gorbuntsov is shown with his wife Larisa Gorbuntsova on a trip to Prague in the Czech republic . Gun blast: German Gorbuntsov is pictured here being carried into ambulance after being shot in Canary Wharf . The victim believes the assassination . attempt is directly linked to his intention to provide evidence against . former associates over the 2009 shooting of a financier in Moscow and . the alleged embezzlement of billions of roubles from Russia’s state . railways. Mr Gorbuntsov is seeking asylum in Britain for both his ‘wives’ and their children. He believes it is too dangerous for his wife Larisa, 46, and their son Vladislav, 26, to return to Moscow. He is also seeking political asylum . for his long-time Russian girlfriend, with whom he was living when he . was shot, and their two-year-old son. | German Gorbunstov was shot six times and is lucky to be alive after the attack in March .
The banker and businessman fled Russia for the UK because he feared for his life .
One man covering his face with a hoodie, and another in a leather jacket seen at Canary Wharf station before and after the shooting are wanted . |
151,461 | 4fd112ce0867c80d92ae11b07db208220a9e02db | (CNN) -- The United States is sailing back into the Asia-Pacific region, but initial euphoria is being tempered by the dangerous realities of the work left to be done. Like a new college student heading off to school, it is increasingly apparent that gaining admission was the easy part: To graduate requires a full commitment, and there are a number of hurdles along the way. Already, tough decisions are being made with respect to the United States' global defense strategy, which now recognizes that costly wars with little economic return are no longer viable. Yet while the United States increasingly seeks to obtain a greater share of the Asia Pacific's economic growth, it similarly sees its military presence in the region as critical for maintaining security. Barack Obama reaffirmed this strategy at the Pentagon on Thursday, stating that "budget reductions will not come at the expense of this critical region." Importantly, the United States' strong military and diplomatic re-engagement with Asia-Pacific countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia, has not fallen on deaf ears in China. Sharing his concerns with respect to increasing international influence on domestic affairs, Hu Jintao warned in a January 1 statement, "Hostile international powers are strengthening their efforts to Westernize and divide us." Adding to the tension of the United States' newfound strategy are the political transitions that will, or are likely to occur, in 2012. The U.S. presidential election, presidential leadership change in China and South Korea, and now the volatile political transition in North Korea will encourage tough rhetoric from politicians with respect to international relations in order to appease constituencies. Strong words present a serious challenge to stability in the Asia-Pacific, particularly as the United States ramps up its military presence. The starting point in the run-up to the United States' East Asian convocation was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's October 11 article, "America's Pacific Century," published in Foreign Policy. She identified five areas for re-engaging the region, including bilateral security, deepening working relationships, multilateralism, trade and finally, human rights and democracy. The areas Clinton outlined for re-engagement are also important to Asia-Pacific states, and particularly the relatively small Southeast Asian nations. Yet while trade relations with the United States are vital for sustaining Southeast Asia's significant economic growth, the greatest gains from increased cooperation with America will come in the form of military protection. Across the region, governments are increasingly concerned with China's military might, as much as they are happy with China's economic investments. Teaming with the United States is a sensible insurance policy. But the United States' increased military presence in the region, which will include marines in Australia, naval ships in Singapore and increased military cooperation with the Philippines and Vietnam, while having the potential to lend stability, also raises the stakes as to what could go wrong. Now, more than ever, with impending political change on both sides of the Pacific, politicians are keen to assert themselves as strong on defense and as advocates of their respective national interests. One instance in which heightened regional tensions are especially evident is with the increasingly frequent spats over energy reserves in the South China Sea, an area recognized by the Philippines as the "West Philippine Sea" and by Vietnam as the "East Sea." The lack of consensus with respect to a name for the same body of water evidences how possessive governments are of this energy-rich area. Regarding their maritime claims, Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario stated in December that the United States is increasingly willing to assist the Philippines' efforts to develop a "minimum credible defense posture" with respect to the disputed territories. However, recent and planned U.S. military actions in the Asia-Pacific could be construed by China as exceeding a "minimum," and incidents such as one in October 2011, in which a Philippines naval vessel bumped into a Chinese fishing boat alleged to be encroaching on the former's territorial waters, now have a greater potential to escalate. Ultimately America needs to recognize and respect the accomplishments China has achieved in its own backyard, in spite of the country's shortfalls in winning over the trust of its neighbors. After directing its attention largely elsewhere for most of the last decade, America has pragmatically recognized that its own long-term security, whether at home or abroad, is tied closely to the Asia-Pacific region's economic progress. East Asian countries have shown they are willing to offer the United States opportunities for investment in return for security assistance. But without effective dialogue with China in particular, the risk of military escalation is much more real. The United States just exited one costly war and is ramping down another; it therefore needs to ensure it doesn't lose sight of its economic priorities in the Asia-Pacific, and the best way to do this is through more effective dialogue with China with regard to its military intentions. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrew Billo. | America is rightly focusing on Asia but it must recognize the risks, says Andre Billo .
He says Asian nations fear China's power but appreciate its investments .
U.S. is seen by these countries as a security counterweight to China, he says .
Billo: U.S. must guard against risk of an incident being escalated into war . |
83,732 | ed85fb8c6c41b84ba6f250906800d8c8f18b422a | (CNN) -- The Vatican is warning people who plan to travel to the beatification of Pope John Paul II to look out for scammers claiming to sell tickets for the ceremony. "It is very important to make as clear as possible that no tickets are needed to attend the beatification of John Paul II," said monsignor Guido Marini, master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, according to Vatican Radio. As in life, John Paul is drawing huge crowds after his death. Two million pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for the special Mass, which will be presided over by Pope Benedict XVI and take place in St. Peter's Square on May 1 -- the first Sunday after Easter. But officials became concerned after hearing about "unauthorized offers by some tour operators, especially on the Internet," asking people to pay fees for access to the event, the Catholic News Service reported. No tickets are required for the beatification Mass of Pope John Paul II, and any papal events that do require tickets are always free, the Vatican emphasized. There has been huge interest in John Paul's road to sainthood, with his beatification -- the first step in the process -- coming six years after his death. (That timetable is very fast in Vatican terms. Pope Benedict XVI dispensed with rules that normally impose a five-year waiting period before beatification can even start.) Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, the charismatic John Paul spent more than a quarter-century as the head of the Catholic Church. He spoke more than a dozen languages and visited more than 100 countries, setting an unheard-of pattern of pastoral travel. | Some tour operators are claiming to sell tickets for the beatification of John Paul II .
No tickets are needed to attend the ceremony May 1, Vatican emphasizes .
2 million pilgrims are expected to flock to St. Peter's Square for the ceremony . |
168,404 | 65d20eaa6a7c305deb6247fd73ac75804c834e92 | By . Oliver Todd . Follow @@oliver_todd . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has penned an emotional tribute message to one of the club's fans who tragically passed away this summer. Reds supporter Felix Byam Shaw, 14, followed Rodger's side across the country but sadly died on holiday in France on July 18. And the Liverpool boss is sending a Liverpool shirt addressed to Felix to his family, saying 'You Never Walked Alone' and signing off with 'Your friend..' with his signature. 'Your friend': Brendan Rodgers sent this tribute to the family of young recently passed fan Felix Byan Shaw . Home and away: Felix (left) followed Liverpool passionately and is shown here at Crystal Palace away . Felix's love for the club lasted right up until the end of his life - passing away in his favourite Liverpool jumper. Friends have set up a Facebook tribute page for Felix where well-wishers can leave messages and memories but Rodgers offered his own personal tribute on the back of one of Liverpool's new yellow away shirts. Heartfelt: Rodgers is currently on tour with Felix's beloved Liverpool in the United States . | Felix Byam Shaw fell ill on holiday and passed away before Reds tour .
Liverpool manager took time out from busy pre season schedule to sign a shirt in tribute that will be handed to Felix's family .
Friends have set up a Facebook page to pay respects to him .
Felix's beloved Liverpool face AC Milan in Charlotte on Saturday . |
209,933 | 9be2f619a213d2c18f7fe58bfd7701fbbc231203 | (CNN) -- Two aid workers for Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, have been released from captivity in Kenya, the organization said Thursday. Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut are safe and healthy, the group said in a written statement, adding that it is working to return the two Spanish women to their homes. They were abducted from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya -- one of the world's largest refugee complexes -- on October 13, 2011. Their driver was shot in the neck and taken to a hospital in stable condition. At the time of their kidnapping, Serrat, of Girona, was 40, and Thiebaut, of Madrid, was 30, the group said. As a result of the attack in which they were abducted, the MSF had to stop some crucial medical activities, the group said at the time. | Two aid workers with Doctors Without Borders have been freed, the group says .
They were abducted in October 2011 .
The kidnapping came during an attack at one of the world's largest refugee camps . |
8,606 | 184644c797a95157ad5f430ef59cc7cf1a5b0a6b | A woman had been charged with the murder of her own daughter after hitting her so hard the girl's stomach burst. 11-year-old Raasania J. Coley died as a result of blunt force trauma shortly after 9pm Friday, after officers found the girl unresponsive at home in Waukegan, Illinois. Nicholette R. Lawrence, 32, was charged with first degree murder after telling investigators she had struck the child earlier in the week. Nicholette R Lawrence, 32, from Waukegan, Illinois, told police she had struck her daughter in the stomach . The young girl was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. Lake County Coroner's office said that an autopsy determined the cause of death to be a torn stomach as a result of blunt force trauma, Fox 32 News reports. According to police, Lawrence has two other children, who also lived in the home, but there have been no allegations of abuse towards them. These children have been placed with relatives. Lawrence was charged with first-degree murder and is held at the Lake County Jail on $5 million bond. She is next due to appear in court on September 30. According to ABC News, neighbors said Raasania rarely came outside the home. 'We've been staying here for three years, we were here half of a year before I knew they had an oldest daughter,' next door neighbor Simone Allen told the news channel. Ms Allen said the few times she did see Raasania, she had a feeling something was wrong with the child. 'Every time I looked at her I just saw the hurt and pain, it was like something she wanted to say but couldn't say it,' she added. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Nicholette R Lawrence told police she had struck daughter in the stomach .
Police called to an address in Illinois where they found the girl unresponsive .
Raasania J. Coley died from torn stomach caused by blunt force trauma . |
64,733 | b7d6a53b404bdee9752f9414c0e015ff11cde714 | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 02:49 EST, 21 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:29 EST, 21 September 2013 . People earning £60,000 a year might not feel ‘particularly rich’ and should not be targeted by tax increases, said shadow Treasury chief secretary Rachel Reeves, who earns an MP's salary of £66,396 a year. She insisted Labour had ‘no plans or desire’ to increase taxes for people in that income bracket, but instead the focus would be on the ‘privileged few’ at the very top of the income scale. Ms Reeves also indicated a Labour government would ensure that the national minimum wage would rise to keep pace with prices and average earnings as the party looks set to put cost of living issues at the centre of its election campaign. Creditworthy? Ex Bank of England employee Rachel Reeves MP said those on £60,000 a year aren't rich . Ms Reeves told The Daily Telegraph: ‘I'm not going to make promises about individual tax rates, but we've shown which side we're on. Our manifesto will reflect those priorities.’ But she added: ‘The focus should be on a privileged few right at the top, and that's not people earning £50,000 or £60,000 a year. 'If you're a single-earner family in the South East on (that income), you don't feel particularly rich, and you'd be aggrieved that people earning between £150,000 and £1 million are getting a tax cut. ‘We don't have any plans or desire to increase tax on people in that band of income.’ The Liberal Democrats were forced to play down suggestions that people earning more than £50,000 would be ‘clobbered’ with tax rises after a briefing to MPs during their party conference suggested the figure. Enforcing the minimum wage and ensuring it rises in line with the cost of living look set to be part of the party's election pitch to voters, Ms Reeves indicated. ‘If it had kept pace with the FTSE 100 top pay, it would be worth almost £19 an hour,’ she said. ‘Making sure that it keeps pace with prices and average earnings will be part of our offer at the next election.’ There will be ‘more prosecutions’ and ‘employers need to know they can't get away with paying less than the minimum wage’, she added. Ms Reeves was recently branded 'boring, snoring' on Twitter by Ian Katz, the editor of Newsnight. The MP said the comment made her feel 'humiliated and frustrated' and Ian Katz was forced to issue a series of humbling public apologies. Twitter gaff: Ian Katz thought he was sending a private direct message on the social media site but it went to his followers and came to the attention of Ms Reeves . | Rachel Reeves said the focus for tax increases should be on those earning between £150k and £1m a year .
She said Labour doesn't have plans to increases taxes for those on £60k . |
78,481 | de67acf0d1ca59b9bcfd917c26a741817e22bf0d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:31 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:43 EST, 11 July 2012 . Brandishing two handguns in a California nightclub, this scantily-clad woman shows off her new acquisition - an official sheriff's badge proudly displayed on her cleavage. The image has caused uproar as the badge belongs to a Cudahy councilman at the centre of an FBI corruption probe who had been given the credentials by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Lee Baca has now decided to recall some 200 badges his department has handed out to local politicians just two weeks after the picture was released by the U.S. attorney's office in support of bribery charges against three city officials. 'Vulgar display': This picture of a woman brandishing two guns while wearing an official sheriff's badge has re-ignited the debate about the abuse of credentials handed out to civilians with no law-enforcement roles . Abused: The badge, which is similar to the official ones worn by LA County law enforcement officials (left), had been given to Cudahy councilman Osvaldo Conde (right), who has been accused by the FBI of taking bribes . The sheriff's department has long . faced criticism for dishing out badges to civilians with no . law-enforcement duties because of fears it could lead to abuse. With the same six-pointed star design, . they are very similar to the ones worn by deputies, although they read . 'City Official Los Angeles County' instead of 'deputy sheriff'. The department said the badges were handed out so civilians can pass through sheriff command posts during emergencies, but some believe they are issued as rewards for political contributions. The gun-toting woman was pictured in . the El Potrero nightclub in Cudahy wearing the badge given to Councilman . Osvaldo Conde, one of three officials accused of taking a total of . $17,000 in bribes from the owner of a medical marijuana dispensary who . wanted to open a store in the city. Under pressure: LA County Sheriff Lee Baca (pictured) is now recalling some 200 badges given to politicians, but insists the timing of the move was not linked to the release of the picture of the gun-toting woman . The practice of giving out sheriff's badges to city officials has been around since 1986, according to an internal policy memo seen by the LA Times. Law enforcement officials say the credentials are issued so civilians can pass through sheriff command posts during emergencies. But critics claims it is more to do with rewarding political contributions. The policy was reviewed in 2010, but continued despite the attorney general's concerns that it could lead to abuse three years earlier. Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore insisted the timing of the recall was coincidence and had actually been prompted by a warning by the state attorney general in 2007. The AG's opinion was that the badges had to potential for civilians to falsely pose as police officers. But when questioned by the Los Angeles Times about why it had taken more than four years to take action, he replied: 'That's a good question.' Whitmore admitted the picture was a 'vulgar display', but said he was not aware of any other incident when a badge had been misused. The LA Times reports, however, that it had been a problem in the past. One of the most notable was the case of the 'Hillside Strangler' Kenneth Bianchi who had used a county emblem to pose as a police officer when luring his victims in the 1980s. One political contributor revealed previously how they used their honorary badge to gain access to a secure area of Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. | Credentials belonged to Cudahy councilman accused of taking bribes .
Picture released as part of corruption prosecution against city officials .
LA County sheriff has since recalled some 200 badges issued to politicians .
Department has been handing out badges to politicians since 1986 . |
730 | 02215d58fe2eb677930d63bc9d168b0d00ca0e34 | (CNN) -- The civil warfare and social instability in Somalia have prompted the flight of more than 50,000 refugees to neighboring Kenya this year alone, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday. The Dadaab refugee complex is the largest of its kind in the world. Somalis are arriving at an average rate of 6,400 a month, and their presence has placed pressure on northern Kenya's Dadaab refugee complex -- bursting at the seams with three times the population it was built to hold. There are more than 281,000 Somali refugees there, and the UNHCR fears that heavy rains in Kenya will lead to flooding at the complex and pose "considerable health risks to the refugees." The International Organization of Migration has been working with the UNHCR, Kenyan authorities and non-governmental organizations to relocate refugees from Dadaab to the Kakuma camp in the northwestern part of the country. Somalia has been in turmoil for years. Clashes have raged between pro-government forces and rebel groups such as Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militia with ties to al Qaeda. And this fighting has prompted widespread displacement in the war-wracked nation. Al-Shabaab has been targeting the most prominent Western-linked entity in the capital, Mogadishu -- the African Union peacekeeping mission, the de facto military force of the weak, transitional Somali government. Fighting has forced about 250,000 Somalis out of their homes in Mogadishu since May and many of the displaced have sought refuge west of the capital in the Afgooye corridor, the U.N. agency said. Also, many Somalis have chosen to flee the country by traveling across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea to Yemen or the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Many have drowned or have gone missing in their journey. | More than 50,000 Somali refugees have entered Kenya since the beginning of 2009 .
Refugees are arriving at 6,400 every month placing strain on Kenya's Dadaab camp .
Fighting forced about 250,000 Somalis out of their homes in Mogadishu since May . |
203,157 | 93031230f56af8d0a809003da04da10ac356ebc0 | It's the perfect setting: millions of tons of dirt, plenty of space and an atmosphere that stays at a constant 58 degrees. A new underground bicycle park with miles of dirt trails, jumps and stunt courses is being built inside an abandoned limestone mine in Louisville, Kentucky, that has been recycled into a popular tourist attraction. The owners of the 320,000-square foot park say it will be the largest indoor course in the nation. Scroll down for video . Popular tourist attraction: A new underground bicycle park with miles of dirt trails, jumps and stunt courses is being built inside an abandoned limestone mine in Louisville, Kentucky . Room to ride: The owners of the 320,000-square foot park say it will be the largest indoor course in the nation . Top notch: It's pegged as the perfect setting: millions of tons of dirt, plenty of space and an atmosphere that stays a constant 58 degrees . 'We have a very large area to work with,' said Tom Tyler, who co-owns the former mine, now called the Mega Cavern. 'You can't duplicate it. Somebody would have to go out and dig rock for 40 years before they have what we've got here.' Tyler and the other owners started out using the mine's nearly one million square feet of underground space as a dumping site for dirt and rock in the early 1990s, and later as a storage site for businesses. About five years ago, they installed zip lines in a section of the mine and in recent years set up a drive-thru underground Christmas light show that draws long lines of cars during the holidays. Two decades of dumping gradually built the floor up over time, and gave the owners plenty of earth to work with. Tyler said there were requests from visitors and bikers to build a bike park in the mine. Three, two, one, lift-off! Workers have been busy sculpting the earth into jumps and ramps . In high demand: Tom Tyler, who co-owns the former mine, now called the Mega Cavern, said there were requests from visitors and bikers to build a bike park . Sheltered: Indoor bike parks like Ray's MTB in Cleveland allow bikers to ride during cold winters, and Tyler said he expects the Mega Cavern's park to be busiest in the coldest months . Geared up: Bike riders Brad Titzer, left, and Derek Fetko walk their bikes during a test run through a new underground bike park . Looking around the vast space spread over five football fields, with dirt trails unfolding in every direction under a 35-foot-high ceiling, the course has the breadth and feel of an outdoor space. Indoor bike parks like Ray's MTB in Cleveland allow bikers to ride during cold winters, and Tyler said he expects the Mega Cavern's park to be busiest in the coldest months. The difference is the trails at Ray's and other indoor parks are typically built with wood. Burlington Bike Park in Washington is all dirt but it is much smaller than the Louisville park. 'The dirt is a lot smoother for the steeper jumps, which we really like,' said Derek Fetko, a local rider who has been invited in to test out the course. Innovative business idea: Tom Tyler, center, co-owner of a new underground bike park, talks with riders Derek Fetko, left, and Nabil Imam inside the park . Still more work to do: The course is expected to be open to the public in March . Into the darkness: The Mega Cavern - approximately 100 acres - was mined from the early 1930s to the early 1970s . 'Plus being able to ride on dirt in the winter, it's just something we typically can't do here in Kentucky, because the ground freezes and thaws, it's just too messy.' Two course designers from Washington state, Joe Prisel and Jeff Perkins, were brought in and began designing the course in October. Prisel designed the Burlington course. 'We brought them in and said here's the canvas, paint it the way you would like to see it done,' Tyler said. It has long smooth stretches for take-it-easy riders, steep jumps for daredevils and plenty of rocks and other physical obstacles to ride around and on top of. The course is expected to be open to the public in March. Piled high: Over 850,000 truck loads of backfill have been delivered so far to the cave to raise the floor up to the level that it is at today . What lies above: Approximately 70per cent of the Louisville Zoo is located above the cavern . | 'We have a very large area to work with,' said Tom Tyler, who co-owns the former mine, now called the Mega Cavern .
The 320,000-square foot bike park in Louisville is set to open in March .
It's pegged as the perfect setting: millions of tons of dirt, plenty of space and an atmosphere that stays at a constant 58 degrees . |
139,231 | 4008d0499248a4babcae705f2af09c251606c47e | By . Zoe Szathmary . An Ohio woman filed a lawsuit against a Cincinnati hospital over claims that two of its employees leaked her syphilis diagnosis on Facebook. The lawsuit, obtained by WCPO, is against University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) and claims her diagnosis was shared on a Facebook group called 'Team No Hoes' in September 2013. Online commenters called the woman a 'hoe' and a 'slut,' the suit says. Lawsuit: The woman claims her diagnosis was shared on a Facebook group called 'Team No Hoes' Raphael Bradley, the father of her unborn child, pressured the woman to say why she was seeking medical treatment, but she didn't say why, the suit says. Bradley then told her he would ask UCMC employee Ryan Rawls, the mother of his other child, for the information. Rawls and a second UCMC employee posted the woman's medical information to Facebook, the suit says. The second woman's name has not yet been released. Her attorney, Mike Allen, told WCPO she has been cyberbullied since her medical information was shared online. She is seeking over $25,000 in damages. Meanwhile, UCMC says that an employee was fired over the alleged security breach. Breach: University of Cincinnati Medical Center said the employee who leaked the information has been fired . 'UC Health became aware of this incident shortly after the screenshot of this patient’s billing record appeared on Facebook, when she brought it to our attention,' the hospital said in a statement. 'We took swift action and our investigation revealed that the record had been accessed by a Financial Services employee who did not have a business reason to do so. This employee had been fully trained and acknowledged her responsibilities under law and UC Health policy, but apparently accessed the billing record through a personal motivation. The individual’s employment was terminated, and we reported the incident to federal authorities. This occurred within days of the patient making us aware of this occurrence.'The hospital also said that only one employee accessed the information and that 'We made Mr. Allen aware of these findings, but he chose to include the allegations in the Complaint that was recently filed.' | The woman filed a lawsuit against University of Cincinnati Medical Center over claims that two of its employees leaked her syphilis diagnosis on Facebook .
Ryan Rawls and a second hospital employee allegedly leaked the diagnosis to a Facebook group called 'Team No Hoes'
The woman was reportedly called a 'hoe' and a 'slut' online and is seeking over $25,000 in damages . |
184,479 | 7aeefdc460b41c6af2826f643560de2f8ffb8710 | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 12:21 EST, 10 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:22 EST, 10 August 2013 . Pixar has changed the ending to its upcoming ‘Finding Nemo’ sequel. In response to the controversy surrounding ‘Blackfish,’ a documentary about SeaWorld orcas, Pixar reportedly rewrote the ending to ‘Finding Dory,’ the much-anticipated sequel to the box office smash ‘Finding Nemo.’ The movie’s ending reportedly involved a marine park similar to SeaWorld before being modified. Finding Dory: The sequel to 'Finding Nemo' has been reworked in response to public outcry over the treatment of orcas at SeaWorld after the release of the 'Blackfish' documentary . As a result of the sometimes harsh ‘Blackfish’ … and the resulting publicity battle SeaWorld has had to fight, Pixar decided to restructure that part of the story so that the fish and mammals taken to its aquatic center have the option to leave,’ the New York Times reported. Though it’s not uncommon for movie scripts to change prior to the final cut, it is uncommon for plot changes to be made public before the premiere. The notoriously secretive Pixar is known to keep quiet about films until they are ready for release, according to the Times, which noted that this reported change is the only known part of the story line. ‘Blackfish’ has caused a raft of problems for SeaWorld since its release earlier this year. The documentary tells the tale of Tilikum, the orca who caused the 2010 death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, according to NBC News. The film then delves into how SeaWorld treats its stable of orcas, also known as killer whales, portraying the park as exploiting the giant orcas. Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the film’s director didn’t expect it to have as big an impact. ‘I don't have one end goal for this film,’ Cowperthwaite told NBC News "I didn't want the film to ever feel like it was telling you what to do or how to feel... if you were moved by it, that feeling is yours.’ Blackfish: Killer Whales swim in a tank at Seaworld in San Diego, California . The beleaguered marine park lashed out at the film Friday in a written statement. ‘Blackfish is billed as a documentary, but instead of a fair and balanced treatment of a complex subject, the film is inaccurate and misleading and, regrettably, exploits a tragedy that remains a source of deep pain for Dawn Brancheau's family, friends and colleagues,’ the statement said. ‘To promote its bias that killer whales should not be maintained in a zoological setting, the film paints a distorted picture that withholds from viewers key facts… that SeaWorld rescues, rehabilitates and returns to the wild hundreds of wild animals every year, and that SeaWorld commits millions of dollars annually to conservation and scientific research,’ the statement continued. The rebuttal was the latest in a back and forth between the filmmaker and SeaWorld, which has even seen the theme park chain release a series of objections to the film that were then posted to the documentary's website and addressed on an individual basis. Despite the bickering, Pixar has green-lit the script change. The film is due out in 2015. | The sequel originally included a marine park similar to SeaWorld .
The change was made in response to growing outcry over the treatment of orcas by SeaWorld .
The movie is scheduled to be released in 2015 . |
15,127 | 2af9655b38d672e94804e7be675b74e11484b38c | London, England (CNN) -- The governing body of world football, FIFA, has turned down the request from the Irish Football Association (FAI) to replay their deciding World Cup play-off game against France. The controversial match, that was played on Wednesday, has caused a diplomatic storm after French forward Thierry Henry admitted to illegally using his hand to set-up the goal that gave his team a 2-1 aggregate victory to seal qualification to the tournament. But despite a letter sent to FIFA by the FAI, and calls from both the Irish prime minister Brian Cowen and Irish justice minister Dermot Ahern for the game to be replayed, the sport's organizing body has refused the request. In a statement on their official Web site FIFA stated: "The result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final." Irish football officials lodged an official complaint with FIFA on Thursday and sent a letter to the French Football Federation (FFF) in a bid to get the game reconvened. The world's worst football injustices . "The governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay," FAI chief executive John Delaney told reporters. The FAI pointed to a precedent set in 2005 when a World Cup qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain was replayed after the referee was found to have committed a technical error in the application of the laws of the game. But a FIFA spokesman said the precedent did not apply because the referee in the match "saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules". Irish prime minister Cowen raised the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy at a European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, where the two leaders were meeting to vote for the next president of Europe. Cowen told the Irish Independent newspaper: "I didn't ask for a replay. I said, you know: 'What do you think?' and he said: 'Look, I understand totally the sense of disappointment that you feel about the game. I'm not trying to mix politics and sport in this respect. We just had a chat. [But] it's not going to be resolved by he and I." Mr Sarkozy, however, said he did not want to get involved: "I said to Brian Cowen, who is a friend of mine as you know, that I was sorry for them and how I was struck by the talent and vigor of the Irish team. "Now do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game or the football decision -- be they in France or in Europe," he said. "What will be done will be done. But leave me out of it, please. And to be perfectly frank with you that is the sort of answer I want to give," he added. Despite Sarkozy's comments, French finance minister Christine Lagarde said she supported moves for a replay. "I think it's very sad. I'm of course very happy that the French team will play in the World Cup, but I find it very sad that it did qualify with... you know... an act of cheating," she told RTL radio station. The game between France and Ireland was one of six play offs played on Wednesday which decided the final 32 teams heading South Africa in 2010. Video replays showed Henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play in extra-time, before he passed to William Gallas who booked his nation's place with a headed goal. The draw for next year's finals is due to be made in Cape Town on December 4. | FIFA turn down a request from the Irish Football Association (FAI) to replay their deciding World Cup play-off game against France .
FIFA: "The result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed"
French president Nicolas Sarkozy said: "I was sorry for [Ireland] but do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game"
NEW: Former Ireland captain Roy Keane accuses FAI of hyprocrisy in their appeal to FIFA . |
11,914 | 21cef19f5da1628fba52b5edc9af4613cb830f74 | During . her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Casey Batchelor was embroiled in a . love triangle with Lee Ryan and US actress Jasmine Waltz. Since leaving the show, Lee and Jasmine's relationship has gone from . strength to strength, with the pair recently holidaying together in . Thailand - and putting on some very public displays of affection. With Jasmine parading her perfectly toned physique on the sun-drenched beaches, it comes as no surprise that Casey may have been feeling a little insecure - and now we can reveal that she paid out nearly £700 for a fat-freezing treatment to help her match her love rival in the bikini body stakes. Slimming secret: Celebrity Big Brother star Casey Batchelor showed off her figure in a tiny pink bikini in Marrakesh earlier this week, and now we can reveal the secret behind her trimmed new physique . The 29-year-old model, who was feeling self-conscious about her stomach after putting on nearly a stone in weight during her time in the CBB house, wanted to shed a few inches before her recent trip to Morocco. She had a £670 hour long treatment at the LoveLite clinic in Harley Street, tweeting a picture of herself on the day of her treatment with the caption: '@LoveLiteUk having a lovely time having lipoglaze. Summer here I come :)'. Insecure: Casey felt she had put on too much weight in the Big Brother house so popped into a Harley Street clinic for a 60-minute fat-freezing treatment . Quick fix? The £670 treatment claims to freeze fat cells, which pass naturally from the body . Fans of the Lipoglaze treatment, which claims to freeze fat cells that then waste away naturally, include The Only Way Is Essex stars Ricky Rayment and Bobby Norris, as well as Made In Chelsea stars Binky Felstead, Louise Thompson and Ashley James. Since leaving the CBB . house, 5ft 4in Casey certainly hasn't been short of male attention and . was seen kissing singer Miles Kane in a nightclub last month. The bubbly brunette has also voiced her plans to design her own range of bikinis for girls with bigger cleavages. Watch this space. Big plans: Casey, pictured, left, in Morocco this week and, right, the day after she left the Big Brother house, wants to unveil a bikini range for women with bigger cleavages . | Model, 29, put on nearly a stone in Big Brother house .
Felt self-conscious about stomach so had fat-freezing treatment .
Paraded bikini body in Marrakesh earlier this week . |
164,495 | 60b6d2646956d22e2f96ca2a39c9b587bcf19445 | A baby died at just three days old of organ failure after his mother failed to control her blood sugar levels throughout her pregnancy following her struggle with her diabetes, an inquest heard. Thomas Gaskarth-Roberts was born three weeks early and had to be placed in an incubator after he was found to be 'very floppy' and didn't cry after being born. He died in Burnley General Hospital three days later. The child's mother Joanne Gaskarth is a qualified nurse with Type 1 diabetes but often forgot to provide doctors with readings of her blood sugar levels throughout her pregnancy, but said feels she is now being blamed for his death. She admitted she had struggled with her diabetes since being diagnosed at 24 and Burnley Coroners' Court heard doctors raised concerns that her levels of blood glucose were not being monitored properly throughout her pregnancy. Thomas Gaskarth-Roberts died at three days old from multiple organ failure. An inquest heard his mother Joanne, a diabetic, had failed to properly control her blood glucose which increases the risk of stillbirth and complications. His parents provided a picture of his treatment in an incubator at Burnley General Hospital . Diabetic women have an increased risk of stillbirth if they do not control their sugar levels properly. Just before Thomas' birth Miss Gaskarth's blood sugar levels were almost five times what they should have been. The inquest heard that having poor control of her diabetes meant Miss Gaskarth was four times more likely to have a stillbirth or complications with her pregnancy and doctors said this meant they would have advised her against having a child. Speaking after the inquest Miss Gaskarth said doctors should have advised her better. She said: 'I didn't get any impression that anything was wrong. Pregnancy and diabetes in someone - I have no idea about, so why wasn't I advised? I don't understand, you go to a clinic every week but it seems it its up to you - if that's right, what's the point? Miss Gaskarth said she only occasionally forgot her records, not all the time. She said: 'I offered to go home or for someone to bring it back that day. It's alright for them to say they didn't have my readings but they take an overall blood sugar every few weeks, why didn't they pick upon it? If I was so bad why wasn't anything flagged up to me? 'If they had said at any stage 'this is serious' not to be doing this, but nobody did. It has annoyed me. You go to see medical professionals because you think they are going to advise you because it's their speciality. 'Hindsight is a wonderful thing. but I feel like I'm being blamed for it all. If all the emphasis has to be on the mum why do you have to go and seek medical advice. I knew I had responsibilities but if they were saying I was so poorly and serious why was no medical doctor looking at me straight away? 'You are supposed to bring home your baby not leave them in a mortuary. I don't want to blame anyone but the emphasis seems to be blame on me.' Miss Gaskarth had admitted having diabetes had changed her life and that despite hating needles she injected herself after she found out about her condition as her blood sugar levels were twice what they should have been. Miss Gaskarth said her blood glucose levels remained controlled. She is pictured with partner Mark Roberts . The nurse, who qualified in 1999, later controlled her condition using pump therapy, an alternative to injecting herself, which released insulin into her bloodstream. This pump also recorded her blood sugar levels. The 39-year-old unexpectedly fell pregnant with Thomas in 2012, with partner Mark Roberts, now 39, a constable with Lancashire Police. Miss Gaskarth discussed her blood sugar levels at joint antenatal and diabetes clinic sessions where her readings had been a little high at between five and seven, the inquest heard. She said she would have done anything to ensure the health of her young son and added: 'I always did what they told me, I never came out thinking I had to change anything.' But the inquest heard Miss Gaskarth, who has two older children Isobel and Max, frequently failed to bring her blood sugar records to appointments over a seven month period while she was pregnant with Thomas. She told professionals her levels were well controlled and satisfactory, running at between five and seven. However discrepancies arose after retrospective readings of her glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)- a measurement which enables clinicians to get an overall picture of average blood sugar levels for the previous three months. Miss Gaskarth, told the inquest: 'Any suggestion I was fabricating blood sugar levels or making them up is nonsense.' Thomas was put on an incubator after he was born after doctors found he was floppy and didn't cry after birth . Thomas died of multiple organ failure and damage to his brain, caused by a lack of oxygen to the organ . She accepted that she had on occasions forgotten her blood sugar diary or pump meter but would offer to go and get it, yet was told to bring it the following week. 'I offered to go home and go back the same day, it's one of those things which got missed, it was just an oversight,' Miss Gaskarth told the inquest. Sean Hughes, consultant obstetrician at Preston Royal Hospital who discussed diabetic care with Miss Gaskarth said: 'The most glaring risk is if you have got poor control, the event of a stillbirth is four times the likelihood of a normal pregnancy. It's very easy to motivate women.' Dr Simon Howell a consultant physician said Ms Gaskarth's glycated haemoglobin levels were of concern. He said he had written to her GP expressing concerns that she had not been bringing her blood glucose record to appointments, and said they had 'never managed to achieve very good glucose control.' He added that he would have advised her not to get pregnant because the 'risks would be too high'. Diabetic women can be advised against having a baby if they have poor control of their condition because of the increased risks. Dr Stephen Walkinshaw a consultant in Maternal and Foetal Medicine at Liverpool Women's Hospital said Miss Gaskarth had an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - which is a recognised cause of stillbirth. Miss Gaskarth, with Thomas' father Mr Roberts, said she did everything to ensure Thomas was healthy . He added: 'Frequently she did not bring her blood glucose profile. Without this information and records it's very difficult to achieve control. Hers was rarely in the target range. Overall in my view the diabetes team did all they could. Generally her control meant it was always close to the threshold where DKA can occur.' A few weeks before Thomas was born Miss Gaskarth reported blood glucose levels of between five and seven. But when she was admitted to hospital feeling unwell they were elevated at 25. She then reported feeling ill on November 26 and phoned the hospital believing she was in the early stages of labour. Miss Gaskarth said her blood sugar levels were normal and was told to get to the hospital . Thomas was born three weeks early in December and had to be delivered using forceps. Tests showed he had high acidic levels and his blood pressure was low. He was diagnosed with high metabolic acidosis and was suffering from seizures and brain damage. Thomas died at Burnley General Hospital at 3 days . The child was placed in an incubator but died three days later from multiple organ failure and brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a narrative verdict and said: 'The problem was that the mother was a Type 1 diabetic and on her own admission said it was very difficult and a life changing illness to control and maintain. She accepted in the past she had problems controlling her diabetes. On her first check in hospital it showed worryingly high HbA1c levels. 'The levels did come down but blood sugar levels were consistently too high. It is the doctors' view they were not properly controlled for whatever reason. The case of a child dying, especially so young is very difficult to come to terms with or accept. 'My feelings do go out to Thomas' mother and father. ' Consultant obstetrician Dr Fiona Crossfill of the Womens Health for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said that after reviewing the case they would be randomly testing Type 1 diabetes patients approximately every month. She said: 'Every time I saw Joanne, she was well controlled and said they were controlled and between four and seven and I presume she said the same to other members of the team. It would not be good practice to say 'I don't believe you.' 'Most people with poor control are actually quite up front..' Every year just over 3,000 women in England with diabetes give birth – about half have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, and the other half type 1. The condition greatly increases the risk of still birth, the baby dying shortly after labour or being born with heart problems or other defects. A report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre found that babies born to women with diabetes are six times more likely to die shortly after birth than the national average. The infant mortality rate for pregnant women with diabetes is 17 per 1,000 compared with 2.8 per 1,000 for healthy women. The report, which looked at 1,700 pregnant women, also found one in ten with type 2 diabetes were taking pills to lower blood sugar. Another 5 per cent of all pregnant women with diabetes were on statins and 2.5 per cent were on high blood pressure pills. | Thomas Gaskarth-Roberts was born early at Burnley General Hospital .
His mother Joanne Gaskarth was diagnosed with diabetes at age of 24 .
The qualified nurse had struggled to control her blood sugar levels .
Miss Gaskarth said she feels she is being blamed for her son's death .
She has asked why no doctors intervened to warn her of the dangers .
Diabetic women with poor sugar control have increased risk of stillbirth .
Burnley Coroner's Court heard she failed to provide accurate recordings .
Miss Gaskarth said she did what doctors said to ensure son was healthy .
When she was admitted to hospital blood sugar was higher than normal .
Thomas suffered multiple organ failure and died at just three days old .
Doctors said they would have advised Miss Gaskarth not to get pregnant due to her poor blood sugar control, which raises risks by four times . |
182,757 | 78adf25ef14e81400cbf4c265d62b84079cc0f24 | By . Mike Dawes . Ladies' Day is as much about excited racegoers pulling on their fancy frocks and eye-catching super-sized hats as it is about the racing itself. And year in, year out, it never fails to disappoint as ladies - and celebrities, including The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Harry - flock to Ascot for one of the most hotly-anticipated events on the racing calendar. There are the inevitable runners, riders, fallers, dazzlers and, of course, fashion faux pas. But it always proves to be a treat for the eyes of those unable to make it there themselves. On the track, hot favourite Leading Light landed the feature race of the meeting, the Ascot Gold Cup. Last season's St Leger winner took the Group One prize over two-and-a-half miles from the Queen's horse and last year's champion, Estimate. VIDEO Scroll down to watch ladies get serenaded as they make their way into Royal Ascot . Welsh wonder: Singer Katherine Jenkins attends day three - Ladies Day - at Royal Ascot . Ladies Day: Racegoers descend upon Ascot as Kmberley Garner (right) poses ahead of the races . Red: Racegoer Jin Ye from China poses at Ascot on Ladies' Day on Thursday . Hats galore: The ladies show off their fancy hats as they hit Ladies' Day at Ascot . Eccentric: A racegoer wearing a flamboyant hat poses for photographers during Ladies' Day at Ascot . Vibrant: The atmosphere builds at Ascot as Ladies' Day gets into full swing . Arrived: Prince Philip and The Queen turn up for Ladies' Day at Ascot dressed accoridngly . Gentlemen: Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Harry arrive for Ladies' Day at Ascot on Thursday . Dressed up: Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Anne (right) were spotted at Ladies' Day at Ascot . Picturesque: The Queen arrives at Ascot race course on Ladies' Day at the annual event . VIDEO Gold Cup highlights . | Ladies' Day gets underway as racegoers wearing eye-catching frocks, dresses and hats descend upon Ascot .
The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Anne spotted as Ladies' Day gets into full swing . |
173,486 | 6c828900678734117f7cc153f8806105f48030cf | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 06:04 EST, 10 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:44 EST, 10 July 2013 . Cuppa: Downing Street said it had been unable to boil the kettle after being told not to turn on the taps in Number 10 . David Cameron had to go without his afternoon cuppa while MPs were forced to cross their legs as Parliament’s toilets were shut after Whitehall’s water supply was cut off. A blunder by workmen saw a hole cut in an 18-inch water pipe serving government departments, the House of Commons and Wellington Barracks as temperatures soared to almost 30 degrees. Hundreds of gallons of water surged into the road near Buckingham Palace, although royal insiders insisted their supply was unaffected. Civil servants working in Whitehall were told not to turn on taps as supplies dried up yesterday afternoon. It left the Prime Minister and his team unable to have a brew. A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘Number 10 had no water for at least two hours and the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall was also affected. ‘It meant that obviously we were unable to make a cup of tea or have a drink of water, but I think it was resolved fairly promptly.’ Supplies were affected for five hours until around 7pm, leaving some MPs forced to take refuge in Parliament's bars in search of refreshment. Tory party vice-chairman Michael Fabricant revealed on Twitter that there was a parliamentary ‘crisis in the loo department’. He added: Nearly all House of Commons loos closed owing to burst water main in Whitehall. #constipated.’ It is thought gas engineers cut through the water main in Birdcage Walk, close to the Buckingham Palace. A Palace spokeswoman said: ‘Our supplies were unaffected.’ Grim~: Tory MP Michael Fabricant revealed the realities of the water shortage in Parliament . Scorching: Water supplies were cut off as temperatures in Westminster soared to almost 30 degrees . However, the authorities are calling for an investigation to ensure there is not a repeat of the fiasco. Councillor Ed Argar, Westminster council's cabinet member for city management, said: ‘We want assurances from both utility companies involved that they will work around the clock to fix this as quickly as possible and to the highest standards. ‘Our businesses, residents and visitors cannot afford to have roads closed to traffic in the centre of London and major Government departments cannot be left without water.’ A spokesman for Thames Water said: ‘Our engineers were on the scene immediately. ‘We are now working to fix the damaged pipe, and restore normal service to all affected customers by re-routing water from other parts of our network.’ | Gas contractors cut through 18-inch water main in central London .
Toilets closed in Parliament and Number 10 unable to boil the kettle .
However Buckingham Palace says its supplies were unaffected . |
68,315 | c1c4dd3802321211c53487117d0dc365592ae3ba | What do a £1,000 holiday, nine Mars bars, juggling balls, a broken dog chew and cut-price kebabs have in common? They are all among the unusual 'thank you' gifts given to police officers in Cambridgeshire. One female officer was surprised and delighted to be given two pheasants, while other colleagues received four cans of lager, bags of crisps and even a filter for a vacuum cleaner. A list of presents received by Cambridgeshire police officers has been revealed, and it includes bizarre gifts such as a broken dog chew toy, a free holiday and home-grown potatoes (file picture) The list of presents received in recent years has been released following a Freedom of Information Act request. Some were passed on to charity, including a digital radio, food hamper and cash – but not the £1,000 voucher for a free holiday. PC Paul Huggett noted that he was given 'one broken dog chew', while a constable in Ely was given a 'small discount' at Ali's Kebabs. Swavesey Village College gave an officer a bottle of wine and in Ely a member of the public gave a female officer an 'afternoon fishing for her husband'. Tickets to the circus, horse races and a Tina Turner concert were also received, along with three cut-throat razors, lunch at Park Lane Hotel and a bag of home-grown potatoes. Chief Constable Simon Parr received a bottle of port from the Cambridge Magistrates' Association and, just before Christmas, two theatre tickets worth £15 each. A Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'The force has an open and honest gratuities and gifts policy which relies on staff and officer honesty and discretion; in-line with the College of Policing's Code of Ethics. 'All staff and officers have to register all offers or acceptances of gifts, including meals and refreshments. Singing their praises: One grateful member of the public gave an officer tickets to see Tina Turner in concert . 'The purpose of the database is to ensure there is a transparent and auditable process in place. 'In the majority of cases the gifts are small and from members of the public who want to thank officers for the service they have received. Larger gifts are fairly rare.' He added that officers can accept gifts worth less than £20 in value but anything more valuable needs prior approval from the force's Professional Standards Department. 'In all but the most exceptional circumstances gifts in excess of £50 will become the property of the relevant force,' the spokesman said. 'All cases where approval is sought for gifts over £20 will be logged in the gifts and hospitality register.' | Police officers in Cambridgeshire given a haul of bizarre gifts by the public .
'Thank you' presents include pheasants, lager cans and Tina Turner tickets .
All gifts worth more than £20 have to be approved by senior police officials . |
223,506 | ad598ad154d5c5bfd82026d81cf4c7109cd639a4 | John Obi Mikel has accused Arsenal's Olivier Giroud of elbowing him - and expressed his astonishment that referee Mark Geiger did not send him off. The Chelsea midfielder, whose Nigeria team lost 2-0 to France in the World Cup last 16 on Monday night was caught by Giroud on 29 minutes. And though referee Geiger appeared to see the foul, he failed to take any action. Scroll down for video... Caught in the act: Olivier Giroud appears to aim an elbow at John Obi Mikel during the round of 16 clash . Let off? Olivier Giroud (C) escaped with a warning after appearing to elbow John Obi Mikel (R) Battle: Olivier Giroud and John Obi Mikel compete for the ball during France's victory over Nigeria . Telling off: US referee Mark Geiger (R) speaks to the Arsenal striker after the incident . Mikel said: 'Yes I got an elbow and the referee saw it and he only gave him a warning, not even a yellow card, nothing. It was bad. We know the game – if you see it, act on it. 'The ref saw it. He did catch me, I don't know if it was too hard but the intention was definitely there. I don't think he is a dirty player. Everyone wants to win for his country. He hasn't done those sort of things before so maybe it was just one of those things in the heat of the moment . Nigeria were also upset at a succession of challenges on midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, which resulted in the Nigerian being carried of on 59 minutes after a challenge from Blaise Matuidi. Rough and ready: Nigeria were upset on Blaise Matuuidi's challenge on Ogenyi Onazi during the game . Down and out: Ogenyi Onazi was taken off on a stretcher amid fears he may have broken his ankle . VIDEO Stephen Keshi steps down . 'I thought the referee didn't help us,' said Mikel. 'There were some heavy challenges and I think Ogenyi Onazi has broken his ankle. Challenges like this are bad but it was a 50-50, he just miscaculated, he is not a dirty player.' Giroud may yet find himself the subject of FIFA disciplinary action and a ban from the quarter final on the basis of video evidence. But the Arsenal striker endured a difficult afternoon, being withdrawn on 62 minutes and seeing his replacement Antione Griezmann help to change the game, as France struck with two late goals . | France defeated Nigeria 2-0 in their World Cup round of 16 clash in Brazil .
John Obi Mikel insists Olivier Giroud should have been sent off for elbowing .
Referee Mark Geiger saw incident but only gave Arsenal striker a warning .
Nigeria also upset by challenges on Ogenyi Onazi that left him with suspected broken ankle . |
280,916 | f7e901147ab18e1e755a80d71303a6921d828722 | By . Laura Clark . PUBLISHED: . 20:43 EST, 6 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:55 EST, 7 December 2012 . Personal statements on university application forms should be scrapped because they are unfair to state school pupils, a study claimed today. The Sutton Trust education charity found state pupils are more likely to make writing errors and to struggle to draw on suitable work experience. Private school pupils are likelier to use ‘appropriate’ language in the 600-word texts and to describe prestigious job placements or other activities. Unfair: State school pupils were more likely to make errors in their personal statements, the study found . Half a million of the essays are penned every year by applicants seeking to sell themselves to their preferred universities. One private school pupil cited six high-status work placements including a stint on the trading floor of a top firm of stockbrokers and ‘most recently managing a small gastro pub’. In contrast, a state school pupil had written that ‘in the final GCSE year there was an opportunity for a group of us to manage the school lockers’. The study also warned of growing evidence that personal statements are ‘for sale’ and teenagers are paying up to £350 for statements written for them by graduates. The research, commissioned by the Sutton Trust education charity, called for the personal statement section of the UCAS application form to be radically overhauled to prevent pupils ‘exploiting school type advantages’. It said there was anecdotal evidence some pupils received so much help the statement could not be seen as their ‘own work’. Competition: More than half a million personal statements are penned every year by applicants eager to sell themselves to their chosen university . Applicants should be only be able to list a limited number of experiences - perhaps as few as one, the report said. Rather than allowing a ‘free response’, UCAS should consider inviting applicants to answer a specific question. Instead of simply listing their previous achievements, applicants should be asked to state which attributes they would bring to a course or university. Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: ‘Personal statements should be more than an excuse to highlight past advantages. ‘Applicants should outline how they might contribute to campus life, and universities should make it clear that applicants are not penalised for lacking opportunities in the past due to family circumstances.’ The study, by Dr Steven Jones, of Manchester University, analysed 309 personal statements written by teenagers with three Bs at A-levels who were applying to the same department of an elite university. He found that state school applicants appeared to receive less help in composing their statements and made three times more grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. When discussing work experience, they were more likely to mention Saturday jobs such as waitressing at KFC or stacking shelves at Aldi rather than prestigious placements. University applicants should be allowed to outline how they might contribute to campus life, the study said . One private school applicant had talked of shadowing the Indian Ambassador to the United Nations. Privately-educated pupils were also more likely to cite working in family businesses. And when it came to listing hobbies and interests, the activities described by state school students tended to ‘carry little weight in the admissions process’, the study said. It highlighted examples of private school applicants citing cordon bleu cookery courses at Anton Mosimann’s school and skiing seasons at Meribel. But one state school applicant had written about following Manchester United, adding: ‘I regularly watch Match of the Day and I enjoy the diversity of the Champions League.’ Seventy per cent of the privately-educated applicants in the study ended up being accepted by an elite university, against just 50 per cent from comprehensives and colleges. The report called for state schools to give pupils better advice and guidance in drawing up their statements. It added: ‘UCAS should consider whether the personal statement, in its current form, is an appropriate and fair indicator of applicants’ potential.’ And it said: ‘A fairer structure for the personal statement might be one that allows one activity only to be listed.’ UCAS chief executive Mary Curnock Cook, said: ‘I have every confidence in the professionalism of admissions officers - they are highly experienced in recognising social factors in the content of personal statements. ‘The personal statement is one of a number of pieces of evidence that admissions staff look at when assessing an applicant’s potential to succeed in higher education.’ | State school pupils more likely to make errors and to struggle with suitable work experience, study found .
Sutton Trust also warned some teenagers pay up to £350 for a graduate to write their personal statement . |
245,220 | c963bd3052fe250f06d17932a45eae3410c8d125 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:10 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:16 EST, 18 July 2013 . Emma Roberts was pictured looking distraught on Tuesday as she clung to boyfriend Evan Peters after news broke of domestic violence arrest earlier this month. The 22-year-old actress sobbed and appeared visibly distressed as she clung to Peters, who is standing by her and refusing to press charges following the incident in which he is reported to have been left with a bloody nose and bite mark. The pictures emerged as new revelations were made about the 'extreme' nature of the couple's 'passionate' romance. Scroll down for video... Having a cry: Emma Roberts was spotted sobbing as her boyfriend Evan Peters comforted her in New Orleans on Wednesday . Bear hug: Evan gave his girlfriend a big embrace as she cried on his shoulder . 'Emma is very dramatic,' one source told Us Weekly of the actress, adding that she tends to get 'wound up' during arguments. 'They will not break up,' the source added. 'When they are good, they are crazy in love.' And a second source explained: 'Their romance is pretty extreme. They just behave in a way that's very passionate.' It was awful! The 22-year-old held her hand to her head as she told Evan, 26, what had upset her . Still stylish: Emma wore skinny jeans and a black-and-grey T-shirt paired with beige booties . Emma was taken into custody on July 7th in Montreal after getting into a . fight with her beau. The . two, who have been together since spring 2012, were said to be hitting . each other when police responded to a report of a disturbance. Emma was arrested because Evan had obvious physical . injuries, a source told TMZ. Exhausted: All the crying must have been emotionally draining for Emma as she collapsed against Evan . Devoted partner: Evan gently played with Emma's hair as she spoke with someone one the phone . However, the couple, who are currently filming season three of American Horror Story in New Orleans, are not letting the incident affect their relationship. And they couldn't have made that clearer as they clung together on Tuesday. Emma was spotted leaning her head on her boyfriend's shoulder as her tenderly held and kissed her. All safe now: Evan cradled Emma as she nestled against his chest . At one point Emma held her hand to her head as she tearfully talked to him. The . Aquamarine star, who wore skinny jeans and a black-and-white T-shirt, . even collapsed against Evan's body, her head nestled against his chest . as he pulled her close. And it appears that Evans may not have been the only victim of the disturbance. For Emma appeared to have some battle . wounds of her own as the star was seen with bruises on her legs on . Friday, five days after the arrest. What an ordeal: Emma was seen loading her suitcase off the luggage carousel after tweeting that she had 'the worst travel experience' when her flight was canceled . A tad unwieldy: The star's suitcase was very large compared to her small frame . The niece of Julia Roberts has kept . mum on her arrest and avoided the topic on her Twitter page, but her . representative has issued a statement on the matter. 'It was an unfortunate incident and misunderstanding,' her representative has told Entertainment Tonight. 'Ms Roberts was released after questioning and the couple are working together to move past it, ' the statement added. She's no diva: Emma was seen loading her own luggage onto her trolley, including a backpack with a green juice peeking out . Not a happy camper: Emma looked gloomy as she made her way through the airport . Battle scars: Emma, pictured on July 12 five days after her arrest, appeared to have some wounds of her own following the fight, which left Evan with a bloody nose and a rumoured bite mark . | Roberts arrested in Vancouver on July 7th after hotel guests reported 'fight'
The 22-year-old appeared distraught as news broke of the incident .
Sources revealed her relationship with Peters is 'extremely passionate'
American Horror Story star Peters has refused to press charges . |
231,271 | b7702209c5b64101698d773e086283598a6899ee | Care home boss Victoria Phillips (pictured) was jailed for a year after admitting stealing £5,000 - including money meant for elderly residents . A care home manager who stole money meant to pay for vulnerable residents' haircuts and gifts donated to staff, was behind bars today. Victoria Phillips was jailed for a year after she helped herself to nearly £5,000 while running Alfreton Residential Home in Prenton, Merseyside. Liverpool Crown Court heard that she breached the trust placed in her to target vulnerable residents who could 'ill-afford to lose what they did.' Phillips, who forged documentation to try and cover her tracks, stole donations to the home, money for residents' haircuts and 'thank you' gifts to staff. She admitted 12 counts of theft totaling £4,821 between October, 2009, and October last year. Judge Mark Brown said: 'It's clear that these offences involved the breach of a high degree of trust, given in particular the important position of responsibility that you had within the home. 'In one instance, you stole a relatively significant amount of money from the bank account of an elderly resident. 'On one occasion, you pocketed money that had been donated to the home by well-meaning individuals who no doubt wished to improve the conditions in which residents were living. 'On other occasions, you pocketed relative small amounts of cash intended as thank you presents to members of staff for the good work that they had performed. 'There were occasions when you pocketed small amounts of money that were set aside for sundries, such as residents having their hair attended to.' The judge said Phillips, who pleaded guilty to theft, committed 'mean and nasty offences' over a significant period of time. He added: 'In effect, you were stealing from elderly residents, elderly victims, who could possibly ill-afford to lose what they did and people whom the public would expect would be cared for properly. You as a manager had the duty to ensure that was the position'. Phillips admitted 12 counts of theft while working at at Alfreton Residential Home, in Prenton, Merseyside . Eleven of the charges involved sums of money that ranged from £50 to £2,000 and belonged to various named people. During September, 2012, she also took £900 belonging to the care home. Phillips resigned in October last year. John Ballam, defending, said mum-of-one Phillips acted out of 'need rather than greed' after enduring financial struggles. He said she was in thrall to a violent ex-husband and was 'fearful' of telling him of their money issues. He said: 'She has ex- pressed considerable re-morse and shame. She was a caring person, she would like to think she still is, but she committed very nasty offences against these people and she thoroughly regrets that.' | Victoria Phillips was the manager of Alfreton Residential Home in Prenton .
Stole donations to home, money for haircuts and thank you gifts to staff .
Phillips pocketed a total of £4,821 and forged documents to cover up thefts .
She admitted 12 counts of theft and was jailed for a year by a judge .
Judge Mark Brown branded her offences 'mean and nasty' |
195,665 | 8942b4897f2a09c62d5c84410d06257cdb074453 | Levignac, France (CNN) -- It's an unusual setting for one of the world's most modern aircraft -- a provincial French village with 19th-century charm, every two weeks Levignac hosts a nocturnal procession of huge A380 parts on their way to the Airbus assembly line. Raising his hands as high and wide as he can, local resident Jerry Ridge explains what it's like to see the convoy of six individual parts that, when put together, form the largest passenger aircraft in the world. "When you see it in pieces, coming through a little village on the back of trucks, it looks bigger than the complete item," he says. "It's taller than the buildings." Watch video: Tracking the A380 night convoy . Five years since its first commercial flight the double-decker plane is now a regular sight at most hub airports around the world. Accommodating such a big bird wasn't easy -- runways and taxiways were widened and strengthened, along with specially designed aircraft stands and extra baggage belts to cope with the suitcases of more than 500 passengers on a single flight. See also: 'Superjumbo' A380 marks five years in the sky . Different parts of the plane are made all over Europe -- the rear fuselage in Hamburg, Germany, the wings in Broughton, near Liverpool, England, the forward and middle fuselages in Saint Nazaire, France and the horizontal tailplane in Cadiz, Spain. Everything apart from the tail fin and the nose cone is far too big to fly to the final assembly line at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, southern France. So Airbus created a whole new method to move them. These key components are loaded onto specially designed ships that sail 2,000km in total across the continent to the delivery point at a harbor in Paulliac, 600km south of Paris. The aeronautical cargo is then transported on modified barges along the Garonne River to Langon, where they are transferred onto trucks. It's a journey that takes four days including the night convoy to the finish line. The component parts sit in sequence at a holding area in L'Isle Jourdain 11km away, where a team briefing is held for the 53-man crew, 31 vehicles and 18 security-staff motorcade before the final leg of this mammoth journey squeezing through the little village of Levignac. I could tell you that the A380 is 18 meters wider and 5 meters longer than a Boeing 747, that it has a wingspan of 79.8 meters and its tailfin alone is 24 meters high. But no matter what the numbers say or how often you see an A380 on the ground or in the air, the most impressive way to get some perspective on the size and scale of the Superjumbo is to see it out of context -- unpainted, just its green protective coating, in individual parts, moving down the main street of a small French village, towering over roof tops and tree tops alike. It's a fortnightly ritual for the locals and a midnight treat for tourists -- and with the manufacturing serial number in full view it takes planespotting to a whole new level. The convoy I joined -- MSN 121 -- will become a British Airways A380. This was a paradise for aviation geeks, to be face to face with the Superjumbo. First to appear were each of the wings. Laying on their sides, they looked like prehistoric creatures emerging from the darkness, stepping into the flood of light from the lamposts that lined the street. Next up, the horizontal tailplane, then the three sections of the fuselage. Slow and steady, in single file the parts crawl by. It's over far too quickly. For first-timers like me, it was hard to stop watching one part of the plane and focus my attention on another. It was a natural reaction to want to walk along with the convoy, escorting the parts. Seeing the plane in its basic primary form, it felt like everyone gathered along Rue de la Republique was a part of the production process. At 2am, six pieces, all in a row, are safely delivered outside the Airbus hangar to wait their turn to be put together, just like a kit of parts. The first stage is the structural assembly where the sections are fitted, including the landing gear. Each part requires precision and patience; it takes 13,000 rivets to join the three sections of the fuselage together and 4,000 rivets just to attach the wings to the body. Watch video: Inside the A380 assembly line . The easiest way to identify who the planes belong to is by looking at the tail fins -- the only part at this stage that's painted in the airline livery. Then there is the next stage of the production process where the onboard equipment is installed and the engines fitted. The planes then make it outside in one piece for pressure and fuel testing. Each airline has its own "build manager" to inspect and support every stage of the assembly. "We're looking at the looming, all the ducting before the bulk heads go in," said James Lewis, who started as a maintenance engineer with British Airways 25 years ago. "It's very detailed in some places but it's also a general walk around using the eye, a torch if you need to." He added: "To see an aircraft start in its composite building blocks and slowly turn into an aircraft, it's a fascinating experience and a learning experience." After the fuel testing is complete, the plane was due to fly to Hamburg to be painted and fitted with the cabin interiors. This whole process takes eight months from final assembly until the keys are handed over and delivered. Once one plane is ticked off the list, they start the process all over again. Walking through the hangar of the final assembly line and catching a glimpse of one of the 1,500 engineers that work there, it's almost as if the Airbus headquarters was in Lilliput, taking care of the plane that Gulliver could have traveled in. | Every fortnight huge A380 parts driven through the streets of Levignac .
A380 parts made at different sites around Europe .
Most parts are transported by ships, barge and trucks .
Locals, tourists and planespotters watch the parade of A380 parts . |
215,388 | a2cde2d0d80a1710dfca730896715db88eefc80a | By . A. Greg . A 68-year-old woman who was arrested for having sex in public in a Florida retirement village has been sentenced to six months prison. Margaret 'Peggy' Klemm, 68, had sex with 49-year-old David Bobilya at the pavilion at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square at around 10:30pm on June 2. The pair were arrested for public indecency just days after Klemm was given probation in court for drunk driving in a golf court in the retirement village. Tearful: Peggy Klemm mouthed, 'I love you' to her husband of 50 years after she was sentenced . Harsh sentence: Klemm cries at her sentencing hearing as she's given six months jail time for her public indiscretion . Harsh sentence: Klemm cares for her husband who lost his leg to cancer and the pair have been putting her legal fees on credit cards, says their son . Supportive: Peggy Klemm's husband of 50 years Frank Klemm says his wife is a 'super woman' who deserves a 'second chance' The Smoking Gun . reports that when investigators arrived at the scene, a popular spot . for nightly entertainment, Klemm had her shirt pulled down and wasn't . wearing any pants. Bobilya's pants and underwear were pulled down all the way to his ankles. Police . say that Klemm and Bobilya both seemed to be intoxicated but that they . followed police officers' orders and put their clothing back on. Klemm pleaded guilty in a plea deal. Her attorney said her sentence could have been up to one year in jail. As she was sentenced, a tearful Klemm mouthed 'I love you' to her husband of 50 years Frank Klemm. 'She is a super woman as far as I'm concerned,' Frank Klemm told Click Orlando following the hearing. 'And she deserves a second chance. That's all I have to say.' The mother of four and grandmother of 14 cares for her husband, who lost a leg to cancer. Bobilya is also serving a six-month sentence on the same charges. Retirement village romp: Margaret Ann Klemm, 68, had sex with 49-year-old David Bobilya in a public square . Mother and grandmother: Peggy Klemm must serve six months for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct . David Bobilya, 49, was arrested along with Klemm for allegedly having sex in public . The duo 'had sex' at Lake Sumter Landing--one of The Villages's three squares (pictured) Beloved: Klemm is a mother of four surviving children and 14 grandchildren . In The Villages local newspaper, many letters to the editor have protested the harshness of Klemm's sentence. Her son, Steve Klemm, wrote a heartfelt letter in defense of his mother. 'She’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,' he wrote on July 19, describing his mother's impoverished childhood and the hardships she's endured. 'She’s the one that carried her son, David, for 9 months and then had to bury him soon after... She’s the one who’s cared for her husband who lost his entire leg to cancer 25 years ago. She’s the one who cut back on living expenses, worked as a caregiver to the elderly, and saved her pennies to help pay for a home in The Villages, Florida. It was her “dream come true.” Peggy’s husband is paying legal fees with a credit card and hoping he can bring her home soon.' Klemm received credit for time served and has 135 days left in jail.video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player . | Margaret 'Peggy' Klemm, 68, has been sentenced to six months prison for having sex in public at her retirement village .
Community residents called police and reported .
seeing Klemm and David Bobilya, 49, engaging in sexual activity .
When investigators arrived at the scene, Klemm had her shirt pulled down and wasn't wearing any pants and Bobilya was also half-naked .
Four days before the incident Klemm just finished settling a DUI charge for drunk driving in a golf cart .
As she was sentenced she mouthed 'I love you' to her husband of 50 years, Frank Klemm .
The mother-of-four and grandmother-of-14 cares for her husband who lost his leg to cancer . |
33,194 | 5e5b9ad24e276a95ce9ae31da60e60de1066a27b | Washington (CNN) -- About a dozen demonstrators used metal poles, wire cables, and rappelling gear to hoist a large banner high in the air within sight of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. It called for a tax on billionaires to help pay for funding to fight AIDS. Police arrested nine people, all charged with taking part in an illegal demonstration, U.S. Capitol Police Lt.. Kimberly Schneider told CNN. The rally was organized by a group called Housing Works, which describes itself as "a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS." Opinion: Save lives, end the HIV stigma . In a statement sent to CNN timed with the demonstration, the group said it was protesting "the federal ban on funding syringe exchange programs and the dearth of funds for HIV/AIDS treatments, while Wall Street continues to make exorbitant profits and the war on women's reproductive rights still wages on." At least two women were among those detained by police. Fire department personnel responding to the scene near the Capitol Reflecting Pool at first seemed puzzled about how to take down the poles, which had been fashioned into tripod supports at least 20 feet high. They were lashed together and spaced apart, and supported two protestors who held lines that suspended their banner. Emergency equipment on hand included a rubber rescue boat, extension ladders and stretchers, but it was a team with large bolt cutters that moved in first. As a fireman snapped one cable, one of the demonstrators suspended from the structure shouted for them to stop. "That's going to hurt someone," he told authorities. "We know what we're doing." He explained that to cut another cable would cause both structures to collapse, sending both people tumbling to the ground. The demonstrators then agreed to come down on their own, using their rappelling gear to slowly descend. Once free of the apparatus, U.S. Capitol police placed them in plastic handcuffs and loaded them into detention vans. Gay, bisexual black men at high risk for HIV . | Demonstrators erect a banner near the Capitol Reflecting Pool .
They want a tax on billionaires to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS .
Taking down the structure they erected takes cooperation . |
284,104 | fc1618e56595bb38ea948d475f7cf2a27ce0d56a | (CNN) -- Tom Perkins, a well-known venture capitalist, got himself in hot water when he compared the "progressive war on the 1%" with Nazis' treatment of Jews in World War II. Although Perkins apologized for his comments, he stood by his main point that anger at the rich is a wrong and dangerous attitude. It's easy to dismiss Perkins' sentiment as nothing more than the ill-advised ravings of a cantankerous, thin-skinned old man. But it also illustrates just how bizarre things have gotten for some wealthy people, who find themselves in a new socially constructed category and on the wrong side of a resurgent but elusive political ideal, facing off against mesmerizing populist adversaries. How can the "1%" make the best of the situation they're in and reduce the likelihood of more embarrassing Perkins-like incidents? Here's my advice. First, remember that the 1% is an almost meaningless moniker for a multifarious bunch of people who differ greatly in political leaning, wealth, occupation and ethics. Yes, you are luckier, better educated and perhaps a little bit smarter than the rest, but that hardly makes you a monolithic class. And while there are certainly scoundrels, sociopaths, wealth addicts and Ayn Rand-devotees in your midst, these bad apples are far from the norm despite the attention they garner. You're really just like everybody else, only richer. However, as "welfare moms," "urban youth" and "unionized teachers" have long since discovered, resistance is futile once a pejorative new category bursts onto the scene. And you'll only make things worse by trying to introduce something better (Perkins tried "successful 1%," which is even more objectionable because it implies the "unsuccessful 99%"). So you're stuck with the 1% label. But rather than wax nostalgic for the honorific categories of yesteryear - "global elite," "electronic herd" and "mass affluent" -- try to remember that "sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you" while waiting calmly for the rhetorical storm to pass. And please don't succumb to self-pity for suffering the indignity of guilt by association; name-calling is nothing like stop-and-frisk, job discrimination or profiling. Toughen up! Second, for all the easy talk about reducing inequality, its corollary -- equality -- is the most complex and controversial social ideal. Is it equality of opportunity or income? At a moment in time or across generations? Why is it important over and above the goal of helping those at the bottom? But what makes equality difficult to define philosophically makes it expedient politically, because its vagueness and complexity allow it to be offered as a panacea for almost any problem. Just accept that while it's possible to be pro-gun or pro-choice, it's impossible to be pro-inequality. And when cornered at a cocktail party, please don't ask opponents to tell you what equality really means or to offer a coherent explanation of its causes and effects. Equality is the zeitgeist for a period when many people feel under pressure and shafted by a system that they think you represent. If you sympathize, show it. If you don't, keep your mouth shut. Third, you need a grass-roots strategy for dealing with Elizabeth Warren, Bill de Blasio and the other emerging populist rock stars. It simply won't do to continue relying on the octogenarian trinity -- Warren Buffett, George Soros and John Bogle -- to be your friendly faces. Nor can the job be outsourced to Third Way staffers or lefty celebrities. To meet the populist media challenge will take some courage by a younger generation of 1% Democrats with charisma and a willingness to seek common ground with the populists even though by doing so they'll be viewed by many friends and colleagues as traitors to their class. Rather than put your head in the sand or stay safely in the limousine, get out there and make your case in the street, on TV, in bars and on the Internet. But be realistic, for in the current environment the best you can do may be to get yourselves thought of as humble, competent people on a level with dentists. Finally, be invigorated by this moment in the spotlight! You have status to engage politically simply by virtue of your membership in a category - the 1% - that did not even exist until 2011. But political winds are fickle and may soon blow you off the stage. As Oscar Wilde said, "the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John MacIntosh. | Prominent venture capitalist compares war on the 1% with Nazi treatment of Jews .
John MacIntosh: How can the 1% avoid embarrassing Perkins-like incidents?
He says while you can be pro-gun or pro-choice, it's impossible to be pro-inequality .
MacIntosh: If you sympathize with 99%, show it; if you don't, better to keep quiet . |
98,148 | 0a5cd3ab3225fac181316539df071323be6536ae | By . Mirza Khurram Nawaz . PUBLISHED: . 18:58 EST, 13 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:06 EST, 15 October 2012 . Speaking out: Shazia Razman, 14, was shot twice at the same time as her best friend Malala Yousafzai (inset) who is now in hospital . The best friend of the 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban yesterday vowed to defy the extremists again and return to school with her. Shazia Ramzan watched in horror as classmate Malala Yousafzai was shot beside her on their school bus, before the gunman turned and shot her too. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, brave Shazia, also 14, who was hit in the shoulder and hand, said: ‘She will recover and we will go back to school and study together again.’ As Shazia sat up in her hospital bed, . Malala was yesterday still critically ill in a hospital in Rawalpindi, . Pakistan, after being shot by the Taliban gunman as she travelled home . on a school bus in Mingora in the strife-torn Swat Valley on Tuesday. Malala, . who from the age of 11 defied the Taliban to write a blog for the BBC . championing education for girls, was targeted by the extremists, who . believe girls should be kept at home and barred from school. In hospital in Peshawar, Shazia said Malala had told classmates she might be a target but refused to hide from the Taliban. She . also described the callous way the gunman shot Malala in the head and . then turned his gun on her and another of Malala’s classmates before . fleeing. Support: Afghan students show their support for Malala who was shot on the school bus by Taliban extremists . ‘Malala told us she had been threatened by the extremists,’ she said. ‘She said she had been speaking too much against mujahideen [Taliban] and they might do something to her.’ Describing Tuesday’s attack, she said: ‘It was just a normal school day. We were coming home after our second-term exams. The bus was taking the usual route. ‘Then it suddenly stopped and two men confronted us. They asked, “Which one of you is Malala?” Some of the girls started to talk and then one of the men opened fire. All the girls started crying and shouting. Malala was hit in the head and fell to the floor unconscious. There was blood everywhere. I was in total shock. ‘Then the man with the gun fired at me and another girl and ran away. We were all just so traumatised and shocked. Everything happened so quickly. Solidarity: People light candles to pray for the recovery of Malala Yousafzai in Lahore, Pakistan. Her best friend has vowed that they will return to school . ‘The bus driver raced us to hospital. It was chaotic because everyone was screaming and crying and Malala was lying on the floor in front of me.’ Shazia had been hit by two bullets. By yesterday, however, she was well enough to walk around her bed in the Combined Military Hospital. The third girl had comparatively minor injuries. Target: Malala had been told extremists wanted to harm her after she spoke out against them . Explaining the build-up to the attack, Shazia said: ‘Malala would talk to us about the dangers she was facing but refused to change the way she lived. She just said the extremists might do something to her because she had spoken out against them so much and they might want to harm her. ‘She knew something might happen but she never let it affect her. She refused to be anything other than a normal schoolgirl.’ Shazia said she was disgusted with the men who carried out the attack. ‘We don’t know who they were but I am sure they were the people Malala had been warned about,’ she said. As she prepared to go home to her family, Shazia said her greatest wish was to return to school with Malala – even though the Taliban has threatened to return and kill Malala. ‘With the grace of God, I am completely all right now. Malala will recover soon too, I hope. We will go back to school and study together again. ‘I am praying for Malala and praying she can join her school friends again as soon as possible. The whole nation is praying for her and I am sure she will make a full recovery.’ Shazia’s father Muhammad Ramzan, 50, who runs a bakery in Mingora, said he was horrified by the attack. ‘We have never been enemies with anyone,’ he said. ‘I don’t know who did this. Malala was outspoken and she had told her classmates something like this could happen but we never imagined it would happen in this way.’ Injured: Hospital staff assists Malala at the Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital in the Swat Valley . Malala’s uncle Mehmood-ul-Hassan Yousafzai said her condition was improving. Doctors said the next 48 hours would be critical to her recovery. Additional reporting: Simon Parry . | Shazia Ramzan was hit in the shoulder and hand on the school bus .
Malala had told her she thought she would be targeted by the Taliban . |
105,565 | 14265e339d84aa54fbc1a30724e47c3474be87c7 | A 47-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly lured and sexually assaulted a woman and teenager using an online classified for flatmate. The 23-year-old woman made contact with the man on Wednesday through the ad, seeking for a flat mate in Sydney's inner-west. After meeting in public, the man took the woman to a residence in Glebe Point Road, where it’s alleged he repeatedly sexually assaulted her. Police have arrested a man after he allegedly lured and sexually assaulted two women in Sydney's inner-west . The following day, police investigating the matter, received a report about a similar incident involving a 17-year-old girl in Glebe. Following further inquiries, detectives from Leichhardt Local Area Command arrested a man at his Broadway workplace about 9.15am on Friday. The man has been charged with nine counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Two women were allegedly lured and sexually assault via an online ad .
Police arrested a 47-year-old man at work on Friday morning .
The man has been charged with nine counts of sexual assault .
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday . |
37,270 | 6994782b4d48d7a4f0d0eadb5fd0097d352ec000 | By . John Stevens . PUBLISHED: . 19:59 EST, 14 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:59 EST, 14 June 2013 . Rowers at Cambridge University have been accused of killing three-week-old ducklings with their oars during their ‘May Bumps’ college races. The annual traditional event on the River Cam sees undergraduate crews from rival colleges trying to catch the boat ahead by bumping it. But local residents have complained that the boats have been ploughing through groups of young ducks. Sad: Student rowers at Cambridge University have been accused of killing ducklings . Lee Culley, 44, who lives in a boat on the river claims he witnessed at least two ducklings being killed during one race. He also said he has spotted other dead birds and a mother looking for her missing young.‘It was absolutely disgusting,’ he said. ‘They just sped through even though I shouted to them, warning them about the ducks. ‘They just kept on going and their blades went through the ducks and killed two. The ducks were only three weeks old. ‘Another one died the next day and the mother has none but keeps coming back to my boat looking for the brood. ‘I am worried about the other wildlife. We just don’t have that much of it left on the river because there are just too many rowers.’ The May Bumps were this year held over three days from Wednesday to yesterday (FRI). Careful: Cambridge University have said every effort is made so as to not harm wildlife . Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs, which runs the event, said: ‘Every effort is being made to mitigate disturbance to wildlife and to keep ducks and other waterfowl out of the way of racing boats. ‘Indeed, the start of the men’s second division on Wednesday night was delayed by 15 minutes while a family of ducks were guided out of harm’s way. ‘We are very sorry to hear of the incident Mr Culley apparently witnessed and will be briefing stewards to be extra vigilant. ‘The rowing community, the Cam Conservators residential boaters and Cambridge Animal Rights have met and formed the Cam River Users Group (CRUG) to discuss the issues surrounding river use and wildlife.’ ‘Bumping’ started in the 1820s as a way that crews from a number of colleges could race at the same time on the narrow river. Rather than race side-by-side, the crews are spread down a stretch of the river with one and a half boat lengths (about 90 feet) of clear water between them. The object of ‘bumping’ is to catch up and bump into the crew in front, without being caught from behind. | Residents say boats 'ploughed through' groups of young ducks .
One man says he tried to warn rowers of ducks in their path .
Cambridge University say every effort is made so as to not harm wildlife . |
101,714 | 0f19394bcb421ed12b9da09ad42ff0a459516917 | Samuel Henley, 33, who lives in Liverpool, was convicted of six counts of making indecent photos of children . A former teacher at Gordonstoun, the boarding school attended by Prince Charles, who was sacked after downloading child abuse images has been banned from the profession. Samuel Henley, 33, who lives in Liverpool, was convicted of six counts of making indecent photos of children and given a two year-conditional discharge in February. The maths teacher at the £32,000-a-year Gordonstoun, in Moray, Scotland, was also placed on the sex offenders' register. At a Fitness to Teach hearing held by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) a panel decided Henley, the son of a barrister, was unfit to teach. Henley, who now helps to run three branches of the artisan Baltic Bakehouse in Liverpool, did not attend the hearing and was removed from the teaching register. In February, Chester Crown Court heard officials at the school sacked Henley after detectives swooped on a property near Sefton Park in Liverpool, in 2010. British officers were acting on a tip from police in the Netherlands who were investigating child abuse images being shared among paedophiles on the file sharing website GigaTribe. In a statement after the fitness to teach hearing, the GTCS panel said: 'The conviction in this case is of the gravest kind. 'There has been no evidence provided about the whether the behaviour could be remedied. 'In the context of being a teacher, this conduct is not capable of being remedied. 'The behaviour is incompatible with being a registered teacher and a finding of unfitness is necessary in order to protect the public interest.' If Henley wanted to return to the classroom he would have to re-apply to the GTCS and face another hearing. The panel ruled Henley would not be able to re-apply for two years. During his time at Gordonstoun, Prince Charles has complained that he was bullied, punched as he slept and saw friends tortured with pliers and the Queen Mother pleaded for him to be moved. The independent Gordonstoun School in Elgin in Scotland sits in 200 acres and costs £32,000 a year in fees . Prince Charles (left) in 1962, arriving at King's Cross Station after returning home from school for Christmas by the night train. Prince Edward (right) is also a former pupil and was head boy at Gordonstoun in 1982 . Prince Philip (left) dressed in costume for a production of Macbeth at Gordonstoun school in July 1935 . The school, whose motto is 'there is more in you', was also attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. There are around 600 pupils aged 13-18 who each live in nine boarding houses. It was founded in 1934 by German educator Kurt Hahn and is named after the 17th century 150-acre estate owned by Sir Robert Gordon, a historian and Scottish courtier. There is no indication that any of the children depicted in Henley's stash of child pornography had any links to the school. Henley was contacted at one of his bakeries but refused to comment on the teaching ban. Gordonstoun was founded in 1934 by Dr Kurt Hahn . Dr Hahn had fled Germany in 1933 and initially started a school with three pupils . The next year pupil numbers increased and he signed a lease with the Gordon-Cumming family for the Gordonstoun estate . Today the school sits in 200 acres and has primary and secondary facilities . It is one of the last remaining full boarding schools, and houses 600 male and female pupils . Prince Charles was a pupil at the school in the 1960s . Other royal alumni include Prince Edward, who was head boy in 1982, and Zara Phillips . Prince Andrew went to the school in the 1970s and became known for his hockey skills . Prince Philip also went to Gordonstoun in the 1930s . Prince Andrew is pictured with the Queen and Prince Philip on his arrival at Gordonstoun School in Elgin . The school, pictured in 1945, has grown since it was first founded in the 1930s by German Dr Kurt Hahn . | Samuel Henley taught at independent Gordonstoun school in Scotland .
He was found with indecent images of eight year old boys on computer .
Henley, 32, admitted six charges of making indecent images of children .
He was sacked from Gordonstoun - where Prince Charles was a pupil . |
285,474 | fdeaa52ddbf6ef0f552d3b2e150593428771a862 | Though melanoma and other skin cancers are some of the most common in older people, it is extremely rare to see them in toddlers. But Matt and Michelle Prebble found out the hard way it can still occur, when their two-year-old daughter Frankie was diagnosed with a melanoma. 'Everyone was in shock,' Michelle told Daily Mail Australia. 'We saw her surgeon on a Monday and he wanted to operate the next day.' Scroll down for video . Frankie Prebble, here with dad Matt, was just two years old when she was diagnosed with a melanoma . The Cancer Council of Australia state that two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the time they are 70, but it is extremely rare for anyone under 4 to be diagnosed. What started off as a small red spot 'the size of a pin-head' on Frankie's arm last year, quickly developed into a larger mark setting off alarm bells. 'It started growing and we thought okay, this is a bit unusual', Michelle, from Perth in West Australia, said. From there a trip to the GP and a follow-up appointment with a dermatologist put Frankie on the fast-track to having surgery in April of this year. 'She had one surgery and it came back as a spitzoid melanoma,' Michelle revealed. Frankie then had to undergo a second surgery to create more of a buffer around the site where the tumor was. And although Frankie did take a little while to recover from the surgery, she's fighting fit now. Mum Michelle Prebble (left) and dad Matt (top right) were shocked by the one in five million diagnosis . The youngster had to undergo two surgeries to completely remove the melanoma and now has rigorous and regular check-ups . 'It took a couple of months for everything to settle down, her arm was quite swollen and the scar was quite red,' her mum said. Wanting to put a 'positive spin' on the experience for their daughter, Matt and Michelle Prebble named the scar her 'brave mark' and taught Frankie how to care for the sore on her own. 'She puts her own little gel on there twice a day', Michelle revealed. Following the procedures Frankie now requires regular and extensive check-ups and screenings, something she may have to undergo for the rest of her life. A check up two weeks ago put Frankie in the clear, however her parents are awaiting more tests from overseas to find out more information about the tumor. For now, the two-year-old has to undergo lymph node tests and skin scans every three months, plus has had one PET scans so far and will require another later in the year. Frankie's parents discovered a tiny red mark on her arm last year and were lucky enough to catch it early . Frankie's parents said they still have many questions about how their daughter got the disease so young . Although Frankie has healed well from her procedures the Prebbles still have 'a lot of questions hanging over our heads.' 'We want to know why a two-year-old is presented with such a diagnosis, it's obviously not sun-related as she's only two,' Michelle revealed. Frankie's surgeon was Dr Mark Lee, who works out of the St John of God Hospital in Subiaco. Dr Lee told Daily Mail Australia that patients like Frankie are 'unique and confronting' but also particularly puzzling as there must be another cause for the cancer besides sun exposure. 'There's no family history with Frankie, there's nothing that we can really put our finger on at all, it's a big mystery,' he said. Despite these rare instances, Dr Lee said the occurrence of such cancers in young people in West Australia is on the decline, and that's a positive for the nation as a whole. 'It suggests that the sun0-smart message is getting through in Australia', he said. Dr Lee also spoke to the ABC, telling them that while his young patient is cancer-free now, she will need to keep a close eye on things as she gets older. 'It doesn't mean we rest on our laurels. We still need to follow her up very closely, probably lifelong, since she's had something so early', he said. Michelle said there's no way her melanoma could have been sun-related as Frankie is so young . This weekend Matt is taking part in the Ride to Conquer Cancer and has already raised $7000 . The Prebbles were lucky to catch their daughter's melanoma early, but that's not the case for all people diagnosed with what can be a devastating disease. However the ABC reported there are six new drugs which have been approved for Australian clinical trials, described by Dr Lee as 'very exciting'. Keen to assist research in the area, Matt is taking part in the Sun Super Ride to Conquer Cancer this weekend in Perth - which entails completing a gruelling 200 kilometre bike ride. He's already raised over $7000 and hopes that some of the funds can contribute towards researching some of the rarer forms of cancer, like Frankie's. The Prebbles also shared their experience following a breakfast at the weekend, held by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in West Australia, a centre that along with Melanoma WA has been of great assistance to Frankie and Prebble family this year. The Prebbles hope the funds raised can go towards research for rare cancers like the one Frankie had . | Frankie Prebble was diagnosed with a melanoma in April of this year .
Her parents took her to the doctor when they noticed a red spot on her arm .
Frankie underwent two surgeries to remove the melanoma .
She now undergoes regularly and rigorous tests and scans .
Matt and Michelle Prebble were shocked by the rare diagnosis .
They are now raising funds to help cancer research . |
17,709 | 322d7b4754126705490c7d3196e9ec0dfd8e560a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . John Travolta's former pilot is allowed to make a case that he has no confidentiality agreement covering his employment with the actor, an appeals court ruled. Douglas Gotterba, who wants to give a revealing account of his time working for Travolta's airline company Alto, was given approval by a California court on Tuesday to make his case. Gotterba, who claims to have had more than just a business relationship with the star, has been trying to prove the agreement is invalid, after Travolta's attorney made a cease-and-desist order. Scroll down for video . Dispute: John Travolta's former pilot will be allowed to make a legal case to try to prove he is not bound by a confidentiality agreement . Claims: Former pilot Douglas Gotterba, who wants to write a book about his life, alleges that he did not sign a confidentiality agreement . The attorney, Martin Singer, threatened legal action after learning that the former employee had spoken to the National Enquirer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gotterba decided to 'tell the story of his life' including his dealings with Travolta, after being 'unwillingly thrust' into the spotlight by revelations from another former employee of the star. He spoke to the National Enquirer and also planned to write a book about his experiences with Travolta, who also has a pilot's license. Warning Gotterba 'you proceed at your peril,' Singer wrote: 'We demand that you immediately cease and desist from your wrongful course of conduct which has subjected you to enormous liability and entitles my client to seek tens of millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages,' the Wrap reported. Gotterba had worked for Travolta's Alto airlines for six years at the start of the 1980s, and when he left the company he had a written termination notice with Alto. However, the former employee and the . company are now disputing which termination agreement is valid, with . Gotterbra claiming that the final one, dated March 17, 1987, did not . contain a confidentiality clause. Tell all: Gotterba is trying to prove he is free to discuss the six years he spent working with Travolta in the 80s . Boss: Travolta, pictured in 1983, hired Gotterba for his airline company Alto . Alto, however, has said that the correct version of the agreement was a longer version signed April 3, 1987, which included clauses preventing Gotterba from discussing his time with the company. The later agreement allegedly stated: 'You hereby represent that you have not and will not disclose, communicate, use, nor permit the use of, in any fashion, any personal (i.e., those matters not customarily disclosed by Employer other than to insiders, in the case of [Atlo], or close friends in the case of Travolta), confidential or proprietary information about Employer or any principals of Employer that you obtained during your employment with Employer.' To try to prove his point, Gotterba sued Travolta and Alto to get a . judicial declaration about which agreement was valid and whether the confidentiality clause was valid. Travolta pictured at Sydney Airport in 2010. The actor is a qualified pilot who has flown Qantas jets . Lawyers for Travolta have tried to apply for legal motions to stop Gotterba . Alto has twice tried, unsuccessful, to apply for an anti-SLAPP motion to stop Gotterba's complaint. When the case was heard by the appeals court Tuesday, presiding justice Arthur Gilbert said the case was not based on Singer's 'sabre-rattling [but] the validity of the asserted termination agreements'. He added: 'Although the prelitigation letters may have triggered Gotterba's complaint and may be evidence in support of the complaint, they are not the basis of the complaint.' He ruled that to say otherwise 'would lead to the absurd result . that a person receiving a demand letter threatening legal action for . breach of contract would be precluded from seeking declaratory relief to . determine the validity of the contract.' An attorney for Travolta told The Hollywood Reporter: 'While . we believe the court should have thrown out Gotterba’s lawsuit at the . outset, ultimately, he will not prevail on his claim. 'Gotterba points to an unsigned draft agreement, which he now . claims is the controlling document in the case, yet he attached as an . exhibit to his own complaint the final version of the contract that he . signed barring his claim. We are very confident that in the end we will . prevail in the action.' | Douglas Gotterba claims he is not bound by confidentiality agreement .
Hollywood actor's ex-employee is planning to write tell-all book . |
76,835 | d9eeb664a9b41449fe2c8ca54c5a5fe7e98e7f45 | Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Simon Mignolet are seen on a mad dash to make it to the red carpet in time in an amusing new advert featuring the Liverpool trio. The players are seen in the changing room getting dressed after a game when Henderson receives a text telling him they are running late. They run into a car park where a Liverpool supporter is peacefully reading his newspaper in a Reliant Robin, only for the club's vice-captain Henderson to disturb him by knocking on the window to ask for a lift. VIDEO - Scroll down to watch the advert starring Henderson, Sterling and Mignolet . Jodran Henderson (right) in the advert with Raheem Sterling (centre) and Simon Mignolet (left) Liverpool vice captain Henderson fronts Liverpool's new advert which will be released on Friday . Alongside Sterling (centre) and Mignolet (left) they race against time to make it to an event . Henderson, Sterling and Mignolet ask a Liverpool fan in a car park to give them a lift to where they need to go . The Liverpool fan agrees to give them a lift but the car does not start with them inside . But the car does not start when the three join the driver inside, resulting in the players pushing it down the ramps and around the turns of a multi-story car park, before the driver eventually gets them to the red carpet on time. Henderson, Sterling and Mignolet will hope that their visit to Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday will be less stressful. But Selhurst Park has not been a happy stomping ground for Brendan Rodgers' side. Sterling (left), Henderson (centre) and Mignolet (right) pictured as they prepare to film the advert . The car does not start properly, meaning the three players have to get out and push it through the car park . Eventually the car gets going and the fan starts driving the three players to where they need to fgo . Liverpool midfielder Henderson (right) points to where he needs the driver to take them . And Henderson (centre), Sterling and Mignolet manage to make it to their red carpet event in time . Liverpool have announced a partnership with Nivea which the advert is in relation to . They infamously surrendered a three goal advantage by conceding three times in nine minutes to all but end their title hopes last season. And when they faced Palace in November this season, they took the lead in the second minute through Rickie Lambert before the London side went on the rampage at ended up winning the match 3-1. The advert, released as part of Liverpool's Nivea Men partnership announced on Thursday, will be broadcast from Friday onwards. | Vice-captain Jordan Henderson fronts an amusing new Liverpool advert .
His team-mates Raheem Sterling and Simon Mignolet also feature .
The three get a lift in a Reliant Robin from a supporter to the red carpet . |
50,793 | 8fb7ac9d44cc7584e7738599a248fb6182aa46bd | When Beth Garvey and boyfriend Alex Troth went to see Dippy the dinosaur at the Natural History Museum they decided the perfect way to enjoy the experience would be to dress up as animals themselves. The teenage couple from Swindon in Wiltshire donned dinosaur and Pokemon onesies for the visit to the London museum. But they were soon deterred from making an exhibition of themselves and were told they would have to change before they were allowed in. Staff told Miss Garvey, 17 and Mr Troth, 18, to remove the costumes as they made their way into the museum because they visitors in fancy dress had caused problems in the past. Beth Garvey (left) and boyfriend Alex Troth were told to remove their Pokemon and dinosaur onesies when they visited the Natural History Museum in London and were told they would need to be stored in bags . The pair were forced to remove their onesies and store them in bags, which staff then insisted on searching to check nothing was concealed inside the outfits. 'We got pulled aside in front of everyone first, then they told us we had to take them off,' Miss Garvey said. 'Luckily we had clothes on underneath but a lot of people don't. 'They said it was classed as a costume and we couldn't wear that in the museum. We said, no it was pyjamas, you sell them yourselves. 'They were insistent it was a costume and asked if we were celebrating someone's birthday which was why we were wearing them. I was gobsmacked.' Both said they decided to wear onesies - Miss Garvey wearing a onesie depicting Pokemon character Umbreon- for the college trip after they were told to wear something comfortable. The teenage couple had planned to visit the museum's famous Dippy the dinosaur exhibit in the Central Hall . Both claimed they had worn the costumes for comfort and did not understand why they were asked to change . They travelled to London, by train, without any questions and made their way to the museum, in South Kensington, in December. Miss Garvey said she also found having to have their bags searched in front of everyone humiliating. The pair's onesies were later stored behind a desk . She added: 'They made us stand there, in front of everyone, we felt like we have done something really, really wrong. 'Then they took our onesies from us and put them behind the desk, giving us this ticket we could use to collect them when we were done at the museum at the end of the day. 'All for an item of clothing which they sell in their own shop. 'It was very strange, they didn't have any signs, I checked the website when I got back to see if I'd missed something. 'There was nothing about any other forms of clothing on, it just said you could take anything as long as it was not threatening.' A spokesman for the museum said there was no particular dress code for entry to the museum, but the duty manager has responsibility for deciding who is allowed inside. He said: 'We have in the past had visitors in costumes cause disturbances in the building, which affected other people's experience at the museum. 'After their onesies were put in the cloakroom Ms Garvey and her partner continued their visit and we offered complimentary tickets in recompense for the inconvenience and embarrassment they felt.' | Beth Garvey and Alex Troth visited the Natural History Museum in London .
Teenagers decided to wear a Pokemon and dinosaur onesie for the visit .
But they were told by staff they would have to remove costumes to enter .
Pair put onesies in their bags and these were then also searched by staff .
Museum said they had suffered problems with fancy dressers before . |
3,287 | 097f112f0659f109da337dd5048d155e0b0d5c20 | The most boring calendar for 2015 has hit the shelves - featuring the post boxes of Wales. Self-confessed 'dull man' Kevin Beresford from Redditch, Worcestershire, came up with the idea to celebrate post boxes which stand in the cities, mountains and valleys of Wales. It follows his 2014 calendar which featured the telephone boxes of Wales which became a best seller. The post box calender follows Kevin Beresford's 2014 best seller about the best phone boxes in Wales . Self-confessed 'dull man' Kevin Beresford said that the post office boxes 'things of beauty' and of historical importance . Mr Beresford, 62, said: 'People may think post boxes are a bit dull but I they are things of great beauty and of historical importance. 'You might think that all post boxes are the same but there are over 400 different types. 'The calendar has pictures of post boxes mounted on poles, set into walls, and pillar boxes standing alone on city streets, at the seaside and amongst flower beds on country lanes.' Mr Beresford visited some of the most important and well-known post boxes in Wales. And his favourite is a Victorian box in the village of Laugharne, West Wales, which he claims was used by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Kevin said: 'People thought my phone box calendar for this year was a bit dull but it became a best seller. 'I think of myself as an artist - the works of some of our greatest artists have celebrated every-day mundane things like Andy Warhol's can of soup or Tracy Emin's unmade bed. 'It might make me a bit dull but I love things post boxes - I see them as crimson iconic receptacles. 'And I am recording a slice of British history which is fast disappearing. 'People aren't using post boxes and telephone kiosks theses days because of emails and mobile phones.' Kevin has appeared in a calendar himself - he was Mr January in one featuring Britain's most dull men. He has previously published calendars called the Best of Britain's roundabouts and the Best of Britain's prisons. Kevin said: 'I live in Redditch which must be the most boring town in Britain and I've been married and divorced three times. 'I think you can probably guess why.' | Kevin Beresford said post boxes aren't boring 'are things of great beauty and of historical importance'
He has previously published calendars celebrating the Britain's best roundabouts and prisons.
Mr Beresford has featured as Mr January in a calender showcasing Britain's dullest men . |
266,068 | e49c6122efaf535cc696728daf92b60c208083b9 | Hugo Lloris has revealed how the France players used footballs as missiles in an attempt to knock the drone that flew over their training ground last week from the sky. Speaking after the French opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over an over-physical Honduras, the France captain spoke of this extraordinary incident that brought one of their training sessions to a halt. ‘It’s a good invention,’ Lloris said with a smile. ‘It looked like a little helicopter. Very small and it flew well. It’s a good object for journalists, yes?VIDEO: Scroll down for France fans in Sao Paulo enjoy 3-0 World Cup win over Honduras . Clapper: Hugo Lloris acknowledges the fans after France's 3-0 victory over Honduras on Sunday . Missiles: The drone flew over their training ground during a session last week . ‘We heard it and then we saw it. We didn’t see anyone controlling. Maybe they were behind the stand or the hotel. But there was nothing we could do to stop it – maybe kick the ball at it. But it’s a big challenge to hit it.’ On Saturday Didier Deschamps said the matter – something the France coach described as an invasion of their privacy – was now being investigated by FIFA. Curiously, a FIFA spokesperson has said they have not received an official complaint from the French federation. In the same Deschamps press conference a Honduran journalist insisted his country was not responsible for the small, unmanned aircraft that was presumably armed with a camera. ‘No?’ said Deschamps with more than a hint of suspicion. If Honduras were responsible – and they continue to vehemently deny it – it did not do them much good here in Porto Alegre. Was Lloris concerned on privacy grounds? ‘Players can do nothing about that,’ he said with a shrug. ‘We can’t have control of the drone. Maybe the guy is from the hotel just behind the stand and you can’t see him. Maybe with a good job of the security we can find him!’ Brace yourself: Karim Benzema scored two as France beat Honduras in their opening game on Sunday . Harmonious: Didier Deschamps has created a seemingly more harmonious France camp than before . 2002: France 0-1 Senegal . 2006: France 0-0 Switzerland . 2010: France 0-0 Uruguay . If Karim Benzema was among those who launched a football at the drone, he proved more accurate against Honduras. This World Cup has so far seen the big-name forwards make an early impact and Benzema was no exception, the Real Madrid striker scoring twice on his World Cup debut. ‘He had a really good season with Real Madrid, winning the Champions League final,’ said Lloris. ‘That has given him good confidence. He played well during the preparation games and he was in excellent condition to play today. Fumble: Honduras' goalkeeper Noel Valladares spills the ball over the line to give France a 2-0 lead . Goal-line technology: The ball was ruled in after the decision was taken to video replay for the first time at a World Cup . 'He showed that, scoring two, maybe three depending on the FIFA goal-line decision, and it was important for him and for the team to start well because he is a decisive player for France. Maybe he is our key player and he showed it today. ‘When you play for Real Madrid you have to be a special player. He is still young but he is an excellent player. He has a big talent and for him this competition is the perfect platform to show who he is to everyone. 'This was his first game at the World Cup after being left out four years ago. For all players the World Cup only comes every four years and when you have the chance to play you have to take it. 'You have to enjoy the possibility to play at your best level and do everything for the team. That’s what every player did today.’ Seeing red: Wilson Palacios was sent off just before half time after a second bookable offence for flooring Paul Pogba in the area . Lucky: But the Juventus midfielder could perhaps consider himself fortunate for not being sent off himself for an incident with the same player earlier . Lloris said the France players should be more than happy with the manner of their performance against physically aggressive opponents who were reduced to 10 men before half-time thanks to the dismissal of Wilson Palacios. ‘It’s a good start,’ said Lloris. ‘We expected that kind of game and we had a good control. It was a tough game physically because Honduras play very hard, very strong. But we stayed very calm and played our own game. We created some chances and we scored. ‘We have to stay calm because it’s just the first game. We have two more strong games against Switzerland and Ecuador, so it was important to get the three points today to put us in a good position with good confidence. I think the next game will be decisive for us. ‘I don’t want to compare to four years ago. But for me and everyone it was really important to start well this time and come into the competition with a good performance and a good result.’ | French players used footballs as missiles to try and knock down a drone that flew over their training ground .
Coach Didier Deschamps described the incident as an invasion of privacy .
Les Bleus beat Honduras 3-0 in their opening World Cup game on Sunday .
Karim Benzema scored twice in a match that also saw Stoke midfielder Wilson Palacios sent off for the losing side . |
275,282 | f0a24d814a7bddabcf00e5efc66f1fff5eaa81fa | By . Simon Jones . West Ham have stepped ahead of Valencia in their efforts to sign Anderlecht's Cheikhou Kouyate. The 24-year-old can play in defence or midfield and has been pondering offers from both clubs after bids of £7million were accepted. Manager Sam Allardyce was instructed by Hammers co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan to provide more entertainment next season. Target: Cheikhou Kouyate of Anderlecht is wanted by West Ham and Valencia . As a consequence Teddy Sheringham has returned to Upton Park as an attacking coach, while Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate has arrived on a three-year contract from Velez Sarsfield. But Allardyce is also keen to shore up his defence in order to push up the Premier League next season. Manchester City defenders Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon have also been linked. On the move: Micah Richards is expected to leave Man City this summer . Wanted: Joleon Lescott has been linked with a move to West Ham . | West Ham and Valencia battling it out for signature of Cheikhou Kouyate .
Anderlecht and Senegal player can slot into defence or midfield .
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce keen to strengthen his squad this summer . |
230,223 | b61fb30aa1079ab9202856be7860f7d9ba40d758 | PUBLISHED: . 06:00 EST, 12 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:01 EST, 12 March 2013 . Accused: Andrei Lugovoi takes the polygraph test . A former KGB agent suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko has told a press conference that he will no longer assist the UK-based inquest into the spy's death. Andrei Lugovoy, who is now a Russian politician, told a conference in Moscow hosted by Russian news agency Interfax that he could not receive 'justice' in Britain. According to Interfax, Lugovoy told the . press conference: 'I have no hope to get justice in the UK. I finally . lost faith in the possibility of an impartial investigation of the case . in England. I have to say that I'm out of the coroner's investigation . and I will not participate in it.' Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in November 2006 after he was poisoned with polonium-210 while drinking tea at a London meeting - allegedly with Lugovoy, who denies all involvement. Poisoned: Alexander Litvinenko at London's University College Hospital shortly before his death in 2006 . While attempts to extradite Lugovoy . to the UK have been rejected by the Russians, it was thought he might . have provided video-link evidence to the inquest in London.The prime . suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko will ask a British judge . to allow lie-detector evidence to be admitted at the inquest into the . death of the Russian dissident. Andrei Lugovoi, who is accused of . poisoning Mr Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 at a London . hotel in 2006, says the results of the polygraph test he took in Russia . earlier this year prove he was not involved. The Crown Prosecution Service has . named Mr Lugovoi as the prime suspect in the case and is seeking his . extradition to the UK to face trial. But the former Russian intelligence . officer has refused to surrender himself to British justice and has . agreed only to provide video evidence to the inquest next year. He has asked his lawyers to challenge . rules which prevent lie-detector evidence being admitted in court . because it is considered unreliable. It has been claimed that Lugovoy and another former KGB agent, Dmitry Kovtun, poisoned Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in London's Grosvenor Square. Lugovoi said charges against him were part of a smear campaign by Kremlin foes and British secret services aimed at discrediting Russia . A previous hearing was told that Mr Litvinenko had been hired by MI6 for a number of years and was working with the Spanish secret service investigating the Russian mafia shortly before his death. He was said to regularly meet with an MI6 handler, named only as Martin, in central London and was paid by both the British and Spanish secret services into a joint bank account he held with his wife. Last month, coroner Sir Robert Owen ruled that sensitive evidence alleged to expose Mr Litvinenko's ties to MI6 will be examined in secret. His family have urged the Government to reveal the documents but Foreign Secretary William Hague has argued that the disclosure could pose a risk to national security. The nature of the evidence contained within the files remains unclear but lawyers for the Litvinenko family claim the documents could point towards Russian state involvement. The inquest is due to formally open on May 1, more than six years after Mr Litvinenko was killed. A spokesman for the inquest said: "It is too early to say whether Mr Lugovoy will be called to give evidence and, if he is, how it would be given." | Andrei Lugovoi says he will no longer assist coroner .
Took a polygraph test in Russia earlier this year . |
206,492 | 9757e5219ae8a1a24161dac1f7b404212e5cc387 | (CNN) -- Actor Wendell Pierce's biggest role today is running the Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp., which is hard at work trying to rebuild the New Orleans neighborhood devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Pierce was one of the stars of HBO's "The Wire" and most recently played a jazz trombone player in "Treme," HBO's look at New Orleans after Katrina. He talked to CNN about what it's like trying to revive "the Park." Pontchartrain Park was featured in Soledad O'Brien's "CNN In America's New Orleans Rising." CNN: Tell me about the neighborhood where you grew up. WENDELL PIERCE: Pontchartrain Park started in 1952 as a result of the civil rights movement. It was the only place where blacks were allowed during segregation to purchase post-World War II homes. Two hundred acres were given over to a golf course, with 1,000 homes around it, multidenominational churches, a university and schools. We refer to it as "the Park," but I've described it as the black Mayberry. Although separate but equal, my parents' generation created something that was bucolic. It was great. It was an incubator for talent. ... It was not only an idyllic place to grow up, there were also high expectations. It was expected that everyone would go to college. In the middle of it was this wonderful golf course created by Joseph Bartholomew, who did most of the golf courses in New Orleans but couldn't play on any of them. CNN: What was it like when you first saw Pontchartrain Park after Katrina? PIERCE: It was devastation. We thought the neighborhood would never come back. And then I realized there was too much history. It was one of the most stable neighborhoods in the United States: 90 percent home ownership, less than 10 percent poverty in a city with 80 percent, no crime. I put out a call to action to people in my generation. Too many people suffered and protested and worked too hard to create Pontchartrain Park. We're not going to let this one incident destroy it. CNN: How is your initiative to bring it back going? PIERCE: It's going great. Some movement is happening with transfer of properties to us. We stand in line to get something like 250 properties, and we are up to 20 or 25 now. We put up our model homes, which are geothermal and solar. We have 200 people in line to purchase homes, and that's before any marketing. Getting the [rebuilding] money is what's holding it up. We have the properties, the homes; we have people qualified with the bank, and we are still trying to access the money. That's the last difficult step. The money to assist people comes through the state. But they keep changing the rules and the qualifications and the goal-lines all the time. So it isn't appropriated. That's because the state is hostile to the city and is trying to reappropriate the money to other parts of the state and not to the city of New Orleans. That's the political fight that you have to constantly have. Three billion dollars has been appropriated [to rebuild after Katrina] and hasn't been spent in five years and that's because there's an agenda supported by many that don't want people to move back. CNN: What are the conditions in New Orleans now? PIERCE: Right now in New Orleans, it's worse than the week of the storm. We're talking about people who own their property and who didn't receive any insurance. My parents had Allstate insurance, and they got $400 after paying premiums for 50 years. It was criminal, a criminal action. So you have people who own their property, like my parents did, whose insurance policies were not recognized. And there's $3 billion to assist them to get back in their homes, and the state is not doing anything to help them out. Why hasn't it been used? Because it's a concerted effort to reappropriate the money and keep the poor and black people out. Let's put it this way. There is no large-scale redevelopment plan by any governmental entity in Louisiana, five years after Katrina. The only large-scale thing they did was to destroy public housing and get rid of a large population of minority people and the poor. There are no large-scale initiatives. Mine is one of the largest. We plan to do 550 [homes in the Park]; compare that with the fact there are 30,000 to 50,000 blighted properties here. There is a concerted effort to redistrict the city, a concerted effort to keep thousands of people out, change the demographics of the city and hope people give up on a mass scale. In times of crisis like this, we see the best and the worst of people. It's a reminder we are not far off from the days when the ugliest aspects of the country were made into law, so it can so easily go right back into it. CNN: So who's moving into Pontchartrain Park? PIERCE: We have everyone imaginable; we have elderly, we have young couples trying to get in, we have 80-year-olds trying to get back into their properties. This is a close-knit community. Who's moving in? Look in the mirror, and that's who's in Pontchartrain Park. No matter who you are, young or old, it's a diverse group of people, a predominantly African-American community that's been stable ever since it was constructed. Meet some residents of Pontchartrain Park . CNN: The government's not rebuilding New Orleans. Do you think grass-roots groups will bring New Orleans back? PIERCE: While the government does not have a plan, it is the citizens who came to government and worked with them to lead them to reconstituting the neighborhoods. The Lower 9th and St. Bernard neighborhoods were harder hit; they have further to go. This is happening all over the city. That's the saddest part. What surprised me the most [when I began this] was the lack of skill and competence on the government's part to know how to put this together, and how strong the effort to stop people from moving back to New Orleans is. CNN: What do you mean when you talk about "onesies and twosies"? PIERCE: It's no good to build one or two houses in a city that has 50,000 blighted properties. Like, this church group says "We're doing three houses right here," a business group says it's doing two houses there, then "I'm a contractor; I've got three houses over here." We need large-scale development. My group is not put together to do a hundred houses. Our goal is 7,000 in the city, about 550 in the Park. CNN: Did the HBO show "Treme" capture the real New Orleans? PIERCE: Well -- you can't tell all the stories; there are so many, so you can't please everybody -- but there is an authenticity to our show. It's true and real. Of all the shows about the city, this comes the closest to being authentic. CNN: You play a jazz musician in "Treme" and do lots of numbers. Do you really play the trombone? PIERCE: Yes, I do play the trombone, but I play very poorly, so they turn my mic off, and my sound double plays. But I learned every song, and I'm getting better! | Wendell Pierce grew up in Pontchartrain Park, an idyllic community ruined by Katrina .
He runs initiative to rebuild community but frustrated with government inaction .
Pierce says holdup in funding housing is effort to keep poor, minorities from returning .
Pierce: "There is a concerted effort ... to change the demographics of the city" |
281,951 | f93f45281152ba03b113e05c9b78279382dd5229 | (PEOPLE.com) -- Four years ago, Matthew McConaughey's relationship with Brazilian model Camila Alves was revealed to PEOPLE in a 2007 cover story. "She likes roughing it," a source said at the time. "She doesn't complain when they go hiking for 10 days without clean clothes or a shower." On Christmas Day, McConaughey's longtime love -- and mother of his two children, Levi, 3, and Vida, who turns 2 in January -- became his fiancé. "just asked camila to marry me," the actor, 42, wrote on his WhoSay account. "merry Christmas." Their road to engagement took nearly five years -- the couple met in 2006 -- but now that the question has been popped, PEOPLE takes a look at their show-stopping, not to mention sexy, romance. 'The Right Woman' When he was crowned PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 2005, McConaughey said he'd get married one day -- when "I'm with the right woman and it's the right time." A year later, he was facing engagement rumors. "Everyone is convinced he'll be with her for a long time, if not forever," a source close to the actor told PEOPLE in October 2007 about the actor's relationship with the down-to-earth beauty, now 29. A month before, they had moved into a $1.1 million modular home in Malibu. They already had mystery matching rings. The couple continued to step out together. "They were laughing the entire time," said an onlooker who glimpsed McConaughey and Alves at a Japanese restaurant in November 2007. "What a great couple." Baby on the Way . Their relationship quickly went from sexy to serious: In early 2008, McConaughey told his fans that he was starting a family with Alves. That summer, they welcomed their first son, Levi. "He's a man -- he's my man -- and we're a family," Alves gushed months later. "He's the best dad he can be -- 100 percent hands-on." McConaughey called his leading lady "the love of my life." However, marriage wasn't on McConaughey's mind. "It's just not something I plan on doing right now, and that I feel like I need to do right now," he told reporters in April 2009 while promoting his romantic comedy, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past." "It's not an institution I'm against at all. I'm actually for it, believe in it and have seen it actually be very, very healthy for many relationships." Kissing and Telling . The couple rung in the New Year with a new baby in 2010: daughter Vida. And with an acting career and a family life to balance, the actor was taking his romance with Alves to new heights. "We went up to 3,000 feet and I had on hiking shoes and I was all set up and ready to go," he said in February 2011 about a trip with his ladylove to French Polynesia. "[Alves] was wearing Havaianas sandals and a white skirt. I came down to the bottom of that hill afterward and had blood on me, [all] muddy ... and that girl didn't have a speck of dust on her." The bachelor-turned-family man told PEOPLE in March 2011 that he was learning Portuguese, Alves's native language that she grew up speaking in Brazil. And perhaps his favorite word in Portuguese sheds some light on the romance between him and his now-fiancé. "Beijos," is his favorite expression, he said, which translates to "kisses" in English. See the full article at PEOPLE.com . © 2011 People and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves met in 2006 .
In early 2008, McConaughey told fans he was starting a family with Alves .
In March, the actor said he was learning Portuguese, Alves's native language . |
195,520 | 8913aadc4df515fd318871fa34241bbd2fd4d44a | By . Mario Ledwith . When Sean Conway took to the sea, hoping to become the first person to swim the entire length of Britain, his friends told him that the challenge would kill him. Three million strokes later, and weighing a stone lighter, the weather-beaten adventurer managed to paddle across the finish line today. The 32-year-old expected to steadily creep 1,000 miles northwards over an arduous two months when he left Land’s End in Cornwall on June 30. Scroll down for video . Record: Sean Conway, 32, arriving at John O'Groats after the first ever 1,000-mile swim up Britain . Celebration: He finishes after swallowing more than 50 litres of seawater and plummeting in weight . But the warnings of his friends almost rang true, as the swimmer was forced to battle the elements over a torturous four months. He faced a string of hazards along the way, swallowing more than 50 litres of seawater, battling bouts of seasickness and experiencing severe weight loss from the physical exertion of swimming ten miles every day. The list of hazards even resulted in the swimmer growing a ‘ridiculous beard’ in a bid to deter jellyfish after being stung ten times on the face. Mr Conway, from Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, had to eat pureed food during breaks from swimming as his jaw was too cold to chew. Adventurer: The record-breaking swim is the latest of Mr Conway's adventures. He climbed Kilimanjaro dressed as a penguin and cycled 16,000 miles through six continents in 116 days with a fractured spine . Tough: Mr Conway described himself as a 'nutter' but said the experience was 'a dream come true' But arriving at John O’Groats – the British mainland’s most northerly point – the swimmer broke into tears as he sealed his place in the record books . He had spent just 90 days of the 136 swimming, with the remainder on dry land due to bad weather hampering his effort. Each time he left the water – sleeping in a yacht or onshore accommodation – his coordinates were mapped and his support boat returned to the same spot to resume the swim when it was safe to do so. Speaking after exiting the water the self-confessed ‘nutter’ described the experience as a ‘dream come true’. Vision: Zimbabwe-born Mr Conway has fantasised about reaching the harbour - staring at photos for motivation . Emerging: Crowds gathered to see the swimmer clamber out of the waves after 136 days journeying . Bad weather: Some of the days he was forced to get on dry land to recuperate during horrific storms . Sting-protection: Mr Conway 'had to grow this ridiculous beard' in the two months he was at sea . Although his feat will not be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, due partly to him wearing a wet suit and occasionally using flippers, he does not mind. ‘I didn’t do it for the record books,’ he said yesterday. ‘I did it for different reasons – for me, and to prove it can be done, and that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it. ‘The hardest part was trying to deal with the weather, the cold, and jellyfish in the face. I had to grow this ridiculous beard to stop the stings. ‘Guinness felt it was too difficult to attempt, and they probably did not want to be associated with it, but I have proved a lot of doubters wrong – though I’m not sorry it’s over!’ Journey: Marching out into the Cornish sea two months ago, Mr Conway did not know what he faced . Start: Setting off from Sennen Cove Bay at the start of the Speedo Swimming Britain Challenge . Exhausted: He was met at the finish by Babette, his mother, 60, who said: 'He has a strong will and mind' He was met at the finish of his ordeal by his mother Babette, 60, who said: ‘I’m so proud of him. This is his biggest adventure – he has a strong will and a strong mind.’ After tasting his first endurance event at the age of ten, when he swam a mile across a lake, the adventurer went on to climb Kilimanjaro dressed as a penguin and cycled 16,000 miles through six continents in 116 days, much of it with a fractured spine. Mr Conway, who was born in Zimbabwe, revealed that he had been fantasising about swimming into the harbour, even keeping a picture on his computer to visualise the scene. In a toast, he said: 'The hardest part was trying to deal with the weather, the cold, and jellyfish in the face' Almost conceded: 'Just a week ago I thought I might have to give up and finish next summer,' he said . Team support: Mr Conway's team embrace him as he struggles to stand on dry land . He said: ‘I’ve been dreaming of swimming into the John O’Groats harbour for a very long time. ‘I had a screengrab of the harbour on my laptop and I’ve been looking at it for ages. To finally be here and be warm and dry and on land is a good feeling. ‘Just a week ago I thought I might have to give up and finish the attempt next summer, with the bad weather, but we had a few good weather windows and I was able to finish it.’ | 32-year-old became first person to swim the 1,000-mile coast of Britain .
He was stung by jellyfish ten times leaving his jaw too numb to eat .
Set off on June 30 clean-shaven, arrived today exhausted and bearded . |
202,198 | 91c48411dfbbd437933b406d9591a238663e78a2 | (CNN) -- San Francisco residents who like to relax around town naked will have to keep their pants on. The city's Board of Supervisors approved a public nudity ban Tuesday in a 6-5 vote. As soon as the measure passed, some protesters inside City Hall tore off their clothes. Authorities draped them in blue blankets and led them away. Supervisor Scott Wiener, who introduced the ordinance, disputed claims that the measure violates freedom of expression. "We're a city that believes in freedom, and we've always believed in freedom and free expression," Wiener told CNN affilite KGO. "But taking your pants off at Castro and Market and displaying your genitals to everyone, that's not free expression." But some nudists have filed a lawsuit claiming the ban violates their First Amendment rights. "Is the First Amendment more powerful and more important than the passions of an intolerant mob and the ambitions of one or more city supervisors? We would contend that it is, and that's what our case is based upon," the nudists' attorney, Christina DiEdoardo, told KGO. The ban does not apply at "permitted parades, fairs and festivals." Otherwise, those caught naked in public could face fines of $100 to $500, depending on the number of prior offenses. A person who violates the ordinance three times in a year could also face one year in jail. CNN's Melissa Gray contributed to this report. | The ban does not apply at permitted parades, fairs or festivals .
KGO: Nudists file a lawsuit claiming the ban violates First Amendment rights .
Ordinance sponsor: Displaying your genitals is not free expression .
Fines range from up to $100 to $500; repeat offenders could face a year in jail . |
67,248 | bec6007e20da415e7f0dc27183eee42b6dd85b5e | (CNN) -- Thick, handsome mustaches have long been prized by men throughout the Middle East as symbols of masculine virility, wisdom and maturity. But not all mustaches are created equal, and in recent years, increasing numbers of Middle Eastern men have been going under the knife to attain the perfect specimen. Turkish plastic surgeon Selahattin Tulunay says the number of mustache implants he performs has boomed in the last few years. He now performs 50-60 of the procedures a month, on patients who hail mostly from the Middle East and travel to Turkey as medical tourists. He said his patients generally want thick mustaches as they felt they would make them look mature and dignified. "For some men who look young and junior, they think (a mustache) is a must to look senior ... more professional and wise," he said. "They think it is prestigious." Pierre Bouhanna is a Paris-based surgeon who, for the past five years, has been performing increasing numbers of mustache implants. He says the majority of his patients come from the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey, with men traveling to France to have the surgery performed. More from Inside the Middle East: Paris Hilton whips up a storm in Mecca . "My impression is more and more they want to establish their male aspect," he said. "They want a strong mustache." Both surgeons use a technique -- follicular unit extraction -- in which groups of hairs are taken from areas of dense hair growth to be implanted in the mustache area. Bouhanna said the patients were generally aged between 30 and 50, and were able to fly home the day after they had the procedure, which costs about $7,000 (€5,500) and is performed under local anesthetic. They are able to wash the next day, had to abstain from shaving for 15 days, and could expect to see full results after six months. Tulunay said some of his patients had specific looks in mind. "They have some celebrities as role models," he said -- Turkish singer and actor Ibrahim Tatlises had a look that many wished to emulate. Politicians in the region had also sought out his services to boost their appeal to voters. Andrew Hammond, a Saudi Arabia-based journalist and author on Arab popular culture, said the mustache has a long history in the region. "Having a mustache was always a big thing, ever since the Ottoman time," he said. "Most Arab leaders have mustaches, or some form of facial hair. I think culturally it suggests masculinity, wisdom and experience. " More from Inside the Middle East: Fast-food-loving Kuwaitis fight fat with stomach stapling . Saddam Hussein's bushy whiskers were among the world's most recognizable, but all of Iraq's presidents before and since have also sported mustaches, as did Nasser and Sadat of Egypt (and the kings and sultans before them), Turkey's Erdogan (and the two prime ministers before him), Syria's Assad (and his father before him). Christa Salamandra, an associate professor of anthropology at City University of New York, said that "traditionally, a luxurious mustache was a symbol of high social status," and had figured heavily in matters of personal honor in the Arab world. Men swore on their mustaches in sayings and folk tales, used them as collateral for loans and guarantees for promises, and sometimes even shaved their opponents' lips as a punishment. The notion of a man's personal honor being bound up with his mustache appears to have survived into more recent times in some areas. In 2008, militants in Gaza abducted a Fatah opponent and shaved off his mustache to dishonor him, while in 2003, in the lead up to the Second Gulf War, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri -- a senior aide to Hussein and, like the rest of the former Iraqi leader's inner circle, himself mustachioed -- created headlines when he yelled "Curse be upon your mustache!" at a Kuwaiti counterpart at an emergency summit of Islamic states. Visitors to the region, too, have long seen a value in growing a mustache to help earn respect. The American diplomat Joel Barlow, who in 1795 was posted as U.S. consul to Algiers, wrote to his wife that he had grown a thick black mustache, which gave him "the air of a tiger," and had proved useful in his work in the region. More than 200 years later, a unit of American Marines in Iraq's Sunni stronghold of Fallujah attempted to follow his example in 2004, growing mustaches in an attempt to help them win local sympathies. In Turkey, different styles of mustache carry their own political nuances. According to one research paper, mustaches with drooping sides signify a conservative, nationalist bent, left-wingers favor mustaches like Stalin, while a "political religious" mustache is carefully groomed, with "cleanliness as its guiding principle." Jenny Soffel contribued to this story. | Cosmetic surgeons say mustache implants are proving popular .
The biggest demand for the surgery is from Middle Eastern men .
Many travel from the region to Turkey or France for the procedure .
Mustaches have long been prized in the Middle East as a symbol of virility . |
224,221 | ae54044f74fd156f15ab6aedfaad6abe9303f4b0 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 06:58 EST, 24 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:24 EST, 24 February 2013 . Levi-Blu collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday at his home in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham . The parents of an 18-month-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of his murder. Levi-Blu collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday at his home in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. Paramedics took the child to hospital after they were called to the address at 4.53am. Police initially arrested Levi's parents - Danielle Cassin, 25, and 29-year-old Marcus Piper - on charges of wilful neglect. But on Friday the pair were re-arrested on suspicion of the toddler's murder. They have since been released on bail while police carry out their investigation. The boy's grandmother Angela Cassin, 46, was too upset to talk from her home, saying: 'It's all too raw at the moment - we can't get our heads around what is going on.' But in a Facebook post on Friday she wrote: 'it is with the greatest sadness that i write this....our special baby levi died of internal injuries and it is being classed as murder ...HEARTBROKEN.' Daughter Danielle replied in a lengthy post: 'I lost my baby and have been carted off like a criminal I cant grieve my heart is broken he was my baby and nobody wants justice more than me.' Touching floral tributes were also left at the parent's one -bedroomed flat yesterday afternoon. One read: 'RIP baby boy, sleep tight now never gonna be forgotten. All our love always and forever. Sophie and Bobby xxxxx'. While another poignantly said: 'Gone but never forgotten. Always in our heart and thoughts.' Neighbour Jenny Jones, 21, added: "She seemed to adore that child and I can't imagine she would ever want to hurt him. Everybody around her is just shocked to the very core." A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed they had launched a murder probe into the death. 'We were called by the ambulance service to an address in Nightingale Avenue at Castle Bromwich just before 5am on Wednesday, February 20, following a report of a child who had collapsed,' said the spokesman. 'The child, a boy aged 18 months, was treated by the ambulance service but unfortunately died. But on Friday the pair were re-arrested on suspicion of the toddler's murder. They have since been released on bail while police carry out their investigation . Neighbours were last night deeply shocked by the news, and a memorial page of Facebook was flooded with messages . A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed they had launched a murder probe into the death . 'The death is being treated as . suspicious. In a lengthy Facebook post, which had little punctuation, Daniele Cassin wrote: 'I lost my baby and have been carted off like a criminal i cant grieve my heart is broken he was my baby and nobody wants justice more than me . 'yes i was arrested i woke up at 5 oclock in the morning to find my baby dead and dont no what happened to him but i will fight to find out . 'i love that boy with all my heart and anybody who knows us know that he was my life and he has been snatched from me anyone who thinks any different obviously does not no me i miss my baby sooo much and its bad enough being carted away and not being able to take him a teddy because he shouldnt be alone . 'people are acting like i done something wrong i did everything as a mother i could i didnt no there was anything wrong with him otherwise i would of sought him help as far as i knew he was just sick . 'i took the cover he got sick on to my moms to check it was ok because i love my son and anyone who doubts me will not be welcome to my sons funeral . 'my son knows his mommy loves him and would never hurt him its killing me and as i was a good mother it will be me making funeral decisions . 'of course i am open to ideas from my family and my mom it will be me who will make the desicions for the last thing i get to do for my beautiful angel so people need to show some respect and realise i lost MY baby xxx' 'Two people were initially arrested on Wednesday on suspicion . of wilful neglect, a 25-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man. Both were . subsequently arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder. 'The pair have . since been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.' A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that they had dealt with the tragedy. 'We can confirm we were called to the address at 4.53am on Wednesday,' he said. 'A paramedic area support officer in a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance crew attended. 'An 18-month-old child was taken to hospital.' The death of the youngster has shocked his community. One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'Everybody is shocked. Round here, it is a very close-knit community. 'Little Levi should never have died. It's wrong. Everyone is so angry. 'He lived with his parents. I don't think they have any other children.' A police spokesman said the force could not comment on any previous contact with the family. Last night a Facebook memorial page to Levi had already received hundreds of tributes to the youngster. One, from Lorraine Dobson, reads: 'God bless this poor little mite. He never harmed a hair on anyone's head. So innocent. May the angels guide you and protect you. Always in our thoughts. Sleep tight xxxx. Last night a Facebook memorial page to Levi had already received hundreds of tributes to the youngster . Paramedics took the child to hospital after they were called to the address at Nightingale Avenue in Castle Bromwich at 4.53am . Another, from Abigail Gregory, states: 'Levi-Blu, so sad to have lost such a wonderful little boy. You will never be forgotten. 'You are always in our hearts. Love you forever. RlP little man xxx.' A third, from Sophie Willis, reads: 'RIP little man, was only last summer me and auntie Nikki took you and Harvey out for the day. Too precious for this world and now a beautiful angel. Sleep easy little man xx.' Levi's family did not respond to attempts to contact them. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Levi-Blu collapsed at his home in Birmingham on Wednesday .
Parents Danielle Cassin, 25, and Marcus Piper, 29 originally arrested on charges of wilful neglect .
The pair were re-arrested on suspicion of the toddler's murder on Friday . |
207,319 | 986c60a386c93bc2e1883e2bf219b5d53a6deba5 | The Australia team will be battling their emotions and ‘inner demons’ when they play the first Test since the death of Phillip Hughes. The Aussies take on India tomorrow in a rescheduled first Test at Hughes’s adopted home ground, the Adelaide Oval, in what is sure to be an emotional atmosphere. Players will wear Hughes’s Baggy Green No 408 on their shirts, as well as black armbands. Australia will take on India in the first of a four-Test series beginning on Tuesday in Adelaide . The Australians will wear a shirt with the number 408, Phillip Hughes' Test number, as well as black armbands . The Adelaide Oval will host the first Test of the Australian summer and first since Phillip Hughes died . Shane Watson (left) faces a short ball in the nets in Adelaide, while David Warner (right) also practices . They will line up on the outfield before the first day’s play, in front of a giant 408 painted on the grass, to watch a video tribute to their former team-mate, which will be followed by 63 seconds of applause — the score on which Hughes was unbeaten when he was fatally injured by a bouncer during a domestic Sheffield Shield match just under two weeks ago. All-rounder Shane Watson is one of four members of the Test squad who were on the outfield at the Sydney Cricket Ground at the time Hughes was struck while playing for South Australia. He is confident all squad members will be physically and emotionally ready to play but he spoke honestly and openly about the impact Hughes’s death has had on him since returning to training two days after the 25-year-old’s funeral. ‘Mentally, it’s been the most challenging couple of days I’ve had to go through in my career, after seeing what happened over the past week, trying to process everything that happened, especially being there at the SCG. ‘The first couple of sessions were tough, especially the first one. A few things flooded into my head as soon as I went out to bat… I thought I’d processed quite well over the previous week. ‘This has been as important a four days’ lead up to a Test match that I have ever been involved in because there are a lot of inner demons that we’ve had to find our way through.’ Australia's players have been training in Adelaide over the last few days after attending Hughes' funeral . Captain Michael Clarke looks set to play after struggling with back and hamstring injuries . Peter Siddle (left) and Ryan Harris (right) compete for the ball during a training drill . For Watson, one of those demons involves facing up to top quality, aggressive, fast bowling — something he has done without a second thought for 52 Tests and 178 ODIs since his international debut in 2002. Suddenly, having witnessed close up what happened to Hughes, he has been struggling to put thoughts of the risks to one side when it comes to his own batting. ‘It’s been a big challenge to try to put the memories that are very much in the front of my mind — very recent — to move them back a bit in my mind and trust what I do as a batsman. I know everyone’s going to be in the same boat. ‘Bowling is a hell of a lot easier than batting because you have to make sure you hold your nerve while guys are steaming in.’ Watson admitted to feeling apprehensive about facing bouncers in the nets over the past couple of days, but said it got easier the more he batted — hence why he stayed in the nets half an hour longer than anyone else yesterday. ‘There was initially (some apprehension), no doubt. But I’ve got more comfortable with just reacting to what I see and trusting my skill. He added: ‘You know that if at any stage you get a ball and you get unlucky and it hits you in the wrong spot it can cause some serious damage. Harris tries his luck at punting an Australian Rules football during practice at the Adelaide Oval . Mitchell Johnson (left) bowls in the nets as Warner (right) practices his catching . 'I knew I had to confront it from day one when I went in, and every day that I’ve gone in I’ve felt more comfortable.’ Captain Michael Clarke looks set to lead Australia after coming through a fitness test over the weekend. 'He batted with purpose in the nets yesterday, having been struggling with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. His inclusion will give added poignancy to the opening day of the Test match after being such a figure of support for the Hughes family and delivering the most heartfelt and tearful of tributes. Given the emotional burden Clarke has shouldered, he has been excused from the captain’s traditional eve-of-Test press conference. That job has gone to Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s chief aggressor with the ball, who roughed up the England batsmen during the last Ashes series. Clarke inspects the wicket at the Adelaide Oval a couple of days before the first Test against India . Warner draws a crowd as he bats in the nets at the Adelaide Oval . There has been an international debate over the use of the bouncer in the wake of Hughes’s death but Watson is in no doubt that the Aussies will go hard at India. ‘We’ve played our best cricket when we are aggressive. Aggressive with bat and ball but especially with the ball, as we were during the last Ashes series. That’s not going to change because that’s when we are at our absolute best.’ Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said he hoped the Test will be an opportunity for supporters to pay tribute to Hughes. India will be the opposition for Australia in a four-Test series that will begin on Tuesday . MS Dhoni could play in the first Test having flown to Adelaide after recovering from a fractured thumb . India batsman Shikhar Dhawan looks on after breaking his bat during a net session . ‘Soon after arriving in Adelaide Phillip became a crowd favourite,’ he said. ‘This is an opportunity for those who embraced him so fondly to say their goodbye.’ When the 63 seconds of applause bursts out at the Adelaide Oval it will be hard to avoid the thought that his score that day at the SCG would surely have seen him recalled to the Test squad for the start of this series. Perhaps, instead, this Test will signify the start of a healing process for those players who were closest to Hughes. As silent mourning is replaced by ringing applause, a group of men will begin the hardest game of cricket they are likely to play in their lives. | Australia's first Test against India begins in Adelaide on Tuesday .
Test will be Australia's first match since the death of Phillip Hughes .
Batsman died after being hit on the head by a bouncer .
Shane Watson says Australia will continue to play aggressive cricket . |
259,350 | dbbb63f756e1c3fc4dc274571621f16a494155cd | BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) -- Raid Israel to capture soldiers, battle tanks in the valleys of southern Lebanon and launch Katyusha rockets at Israeli towns -- a new Hezbollah computer game puts players on the frontline of war with the Jewish state. Some 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon in last year's conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. "Special Force 2" is based on last year's 34-day conflict between the Lebanese guerrilla group and Israel. "This game presents the culture of the resistance to children: that occupation must be resisted and that land and the nation must be guarded," Hezbollah media official Sheikh Ali Daher said. But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev responded by saying: ''It should come as a surprise to no one that Hezbollah teaches children that hatred and violence are positive attributes.'' Designed by Hezbollah computer experts, players of "Special Force 2" take the role of a Hezbollah fighter, or Mujahid. Weapons and points are accumulated by killing Israeli soldiers. The game, launched on Thursday, recreates key phases of the conflict, which was triggered when Hezbollah forces raided northern Israel and captured two soldiers, saying they wanted to negotiate a prisoner swap. Hezbollah takes huge pride in its military performance in the war, which killed 158 Israelis, mainly soldiers. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Lebanon. Israel says Hezbollah was weakened in the conflict, in which the group was forced out of its strongholds along the Israeli border and an expanded international peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon under a U.N.-brokered cease-fire. Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group backed by Iran and Syria, declared the outcome of the conflict a "divine victory." "Through this game the child can build an idea of some of ... the most prominent battles and the idea that this enemy can be defeated," Daher said. The game retails at about $10 in Lebanon and is produced by volunteers. Hezbollah is expecting strong demand for the game at home and abroad. Hundreds of copies have been reserved in advance in Lebanon. The 3-D game forces players to think and use their resources wisely, reflecting the way Hezbollah fights, Daher said. "The features which are the secret of resistance's victory in the south have moved to this game so that the child can understand that fighting the enemy does not only require the gun. "It requires readiness, supplies, armament, attentiveness, tactics." E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Hezbollah is releasing "Special Force 2," a game based on the 2006 conflict .
Game recreates key phases of the war, "presents the culture of the resistance"
Israel says it is no shock Hezbollah would teach children hatred and violence . |
105,168 | 13a63c1b54ab40ae7fd4516e92d52671ed91fd9e | (CNN) -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that "Hurt Locker" producer Nicolas Chartier will not be allowed to attend the March 7 awards show because of an e-mail that has been deemed in violation of the Academy's campaigning standards. "Chartier had recently disseminated an e-mail to certain Academy voters and other film industry figures in which he solicited votes for his own picture and disparaged one of the other contending films," the Academy said in a statement Tuesday evening. According to the Los Angeles Times, Chartier's e-mail asked the message recipients to spread the word about the Iraq war movie so that the independent feature would win, "and not a $500M film," which many have interpreted as a slight against James Cameron's box-office blockbuster "Avatar." To the Academy, Chartier's appeal to voters and industry insiders crossed the line by "casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film," which, according to the Academy's statement, is against the organization's rules. Late Monday, the Academy decided that it would rescind only Chartier's invitation, "stopping short" of pulling "The Hurt Locker" out of the running altogether. If the film wins, remaining producers Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal and Greg Shapiro will accept the award. Chartier would receive his Oscar statuette later. | Nicolas Chartier won't be allowed to attend ceremony .
Academy rescinded invitation to Chartier because of e-mail campaign .
E-mail, sent to Oscar voters and others, was considered negative toward another film .
If "Hurt Locker" wins best picture, Chartier will receive statuette after March 7 . |
265,921 | e46dfec601cc94e8167188c01c6f1236da3f341a | Former Newcastle favourite Steve Harper has called on the club’s fans to give rookie goalkeeper Jak Alnwick a rousing welcome when he makes his full home debut in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby. The 21-year-old has been passed fit for the visit of Sunderland after injuring his shoulder during Wednesday’s 4-0 defeat at Spurs. Alnwick was to blame for two of the home goals but Harper feels criticism is the last thing the young stopper needs ahead of such a mammoth match. Steve Harper has called on the club’s fans to give their support to young keeper Jak Alnwick . Alnwick has been passed fit despite injurying his shoulder during the 4-0 defeat against Tottenham . ‘Rather than criticism, Jak Alnwick needs a proper Geordie reception when he runs out to give him a lift,’ said Hull keeper Harper, who made 199 appearances for the Magpies. ‘Get behind the young lad by singing his name to pick him up and watch him grow in response to it.’ Had Alnwick been injured, Newcastle would have made an application to the Premier League to sign a goalkeeper on an emergency loan deal. But midfielder Moussa Sissoko says the squad have every faith in the academy graduate. ‘It (mistake at Spurs) was nothing,’ he said. ‘We are not worried about it – anybody can make a mistake in a game. It’s okay, we have to forget about this. Jak is strong, he will be fine for Sunday.’ Stand-in keeper Alnwick injured his shoulder in Wednesday night’s Capital One Cup defeat at Tottenham . Newcastle lost 4-0 against Tottenham as Alnwick had a game to forget, gifting two of the goals on Wednesday . Meanwhile, Sissoko has made a point of assuring fans that the players are aware of the fixture’s importance, despite having lost the last three. ‘We know Sunday is a big game for us and for the city,’ he said. ‘You have to forget the 4-0 defeat against Tottenham and try to be ready for the Sunderland match because it is massive for us. ‘We know that we haven’t been good enough in the recent games against them. ‘I can assure the supporters we know what it means. Every player is ready.’ | Newcastle United face Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday .
Young goalkeeper Jak Alnwick will again play due to injuries .
Steve Harper has called on fans to get behind Alnwick .
The Hull City keeper says he desperately needs support, not criticism .
Alnwick was at fault for two goals against Tottenham on Wednesday . |
212,672 | 9f63909882e1a7b77b39f8cef2baa5146eb5027c | Homs, Syria (CNN) -- A freelance cameraman who visited Homs recently put together a video that provides a rare glimpse of life in the embattled city and an even rarer close-up of the opposition movement in Syria. At the headquarters of the government secret police, the cameraman -- who uses the name Mani to avoid retribution by the government if he returns -- finds himself in the thick of a battle. Some 200 members of the Free Syrian Army, made of military defectors, are involved in the attack. They explode a bomb below a rooftop position, where government snipers are trapped. In the video, portions of which CNN aired Friday, the opposition appears organized, their members communicating by walkie-talkie and engaging in fierce fighting. Casualties are taken via minibus to a makeshift field hospital, where they are placed on thin mats on the floor. "My eye! My eye!" shouts one man whose eye had been targeted by a bullet. Mani's camera follows opposition fighters as they enter the government building, where room-to-room and stairwell-to-stairwell fighting ensues. Finally, as bullets continue to fly, the opposition fighters make off with boxes of ammunition so they can return to fight another day. After 20 hours, 15 opposition fighters have been killed, 40 wounded. The next day, the building is gutted by local residents. Not all the battles are so bloody. Mani says they are sometimes able to persuade government forces to cede ground without firing a shot. "They always try, first, to make negotiations work," Mani says. "They talk with the officer, they talk with the soldiers, and they offer them either to defect, either to surrender, and leave the checkpoint. And sometimes it works." Civilian volunteers are plentiful; more and more, they are being joined by defectors from government forces, Mani says. Across Homs, some estimates put the FSA strength at more than 1,000. Each neighborhood has its own command, but they sometimes combine forces to improve their odds against the much larger and better-armed government forces. Some soldiers who don't desert nevertheless sell their weapons or ammunition to the opposition, the cameraman adds. "There are many people who are in favor of them, who feel they are in favor of the opposition," Mani says. Down one street, his camera shows a long line of residents lined up outside a bakery for bread. "Because of the snipers, people are taking more than they need," says the man who is handing out the loaves. "That's why it's crowded." Two days earlier, in a nearby district, hundreds of residents fill the streets to mourn the deaths of 138 people in overnight shelling by government forces. Without enough coffins to go around, many of the dead are wrapped in white shrouds. "Shelling people is what cowards and scoundrels do," the imam says. "Be careful of gathering in public." "We are going to heaven!" the crowd chants, their fists pumping the air. "There are millions of us!" Mani comes upon a woman just as she learns that her son has been fatally shot by a sniper. "He is my son! My rock!" she wails. "I have no man! He is my man!" Her son, a former supporter of the regime, bears a tattoo on his chest that says "Assad." Next to that is the entry point for the bullet. A couple of blocks away, the shelling that has pockmarked much of the city has spared a district where many residents belong to the Alawite sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs. Homs is now a patchwork divided along sectarian lines. CNN's Nic Robertson contributed to this report. | Cameraman gives a rare glimpse of fighting in the city of Homs .
"My eye! my eye!" shouts a wounded man .
Estimates put military defectors' strength at more than 1,000 in Homs . |
145,685 | 4861dfb7bfd3b77b2000bda38d4003b030183633 | By . Toni Jones . PUBLISHED: . 09:39 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 5 June 2013 . First it was her man, now she's after her job ... it doesn't look like Made In Chelsea girl Lucy Watson will be making friends with co-star Louise Thompson anytime soon.22 year-old Lucy was spotted on a photo shoot for British fashion label Gorgeous Couture in Ibiza this weekend. The stunning brunette from Fulham has replaced Louise, her arch rival in the reality show, as the face of the luxury fashion brand. Lucy Watson has been revealed as the face of fashion label Gorgeous Couture . Sneaking away from the Channel 4 cameras for a weekend the TV star was seen posing on the rooftop of the boutique hotel Es Vive in bright body con dresses and a nude swimsuit with gladiator heels. Lucy joined Made In Chelsea last season and immediately ruffled feathers with her 'take me as I am' attitude. She revels in her reputation as the show's mean girl and has been seeing bad boy Spencer Matthews, Louise's ex-boyfriend, since the beginning of the second series. She first asked for his number when he was with long term love Louise, and so news that she has now replaced her as the celebrity face of the brand is bound to smart. The reality TV star was snapped on a shoot for the Manchester-based brand in Ibiza . The Made in Chelsea star has replaced show rival Louise Thompson who modelled for the brand last year . The Gorgeous Couture shoot is Lucy's first fashion campaign and she had a full glam squad on hand to primp her, including two make-up artists, one hairdresser and a celebrity stylist. She tweeted a picture of her hair and make-up to her 260,000 Twitter followers saying: 'In hair and make-up for @GorgeousCouture new collection!' before posing in up to 20 different outfits at various locations around the party island. Viewers of the show are used to . diva-ish behaviour from the leggy socialite, and it doesn't look like she was working too hard as she also found time to tweet envy-inducing pictures of her poolside lunch and developing tan lines. Lucy tweeted this image on herself from the set of the fashion shoot in Ibiza . The photoshoot took place at boutique hotel Es Vive in Figueretas . The leggy socialite had a full entourage on hand to primp her including two make-up artists, one hairdresser, two assistants and a celebrity stylist . Lucy refused alcohol during lunch instead sticking to a healthy-looking smoothie, and boyfriend Spencer was nowhere to be seen as she chatted to the crew . The campaign images are due to be . released later this summer and insiders on the shoot claim that the . pictures will be much sexier and glossier than Louise's 2012 shoot. Petite Louise probably isn't too . worried though as she has just been snapped up as the face of Theo Paphitis's . lingerie and swimwear brand Boux Avenue. The Chelsea girl posed in the brand's summer collection aboard Theo's luxury yacht, tweeting snaps of her and new love Andy Jordan. Lucy is dating show bad boy, and Louise's ex, Spencer Matthews . Tough job: Lucy tweeted pictures of her tan lines and healthy lunch from the pool at the Es Vive hotel . Celebrity favourite: Gorgeous Couture is a boutique fashion brand that specialises in glamorous evening wear . | 22-year-old has replaced show nemesis Louise as face of Gorgeous Couture .
The reality star was snapped on a shoot in Ibiza .
Posed in bodycon dresses and a retro swimsuit .
Louise is new face of lingerie brand Boux Avenue . |
51,375 | 9175868b042fbb32cb062f4d2acf36d721d68b2b | Liverpool's new signing Alberto Moreno returned to Sevilla to say his farewells on Wednesday. At a formal press conference, the £12million left-back thanked Sevilla for their role in his development and vowed to one day return to the place he described as 'the club of his life'. Moreno told Inside Spanish Football: 'I want to offer my thanks to everyone at the club. The president, the board of directors and all the managers I’ve worked with, through the youth system and especially, I want to thank Unai Emery, who gave me the opportunity to be with the first-team and for always showing confidence in me. VIDEO Scroll down for Unai Emery signals the end of Alberto Moreno's stay at Sevilla . Emotional: Liverpool new boy Alberto Moreno breaks down in tears after saying his goodbyes to his former side . Fond farewell: Moreno touches the Europa League trophy on his way out of the press conference . 'I also say farewell to the great fans of this club. I have always been comfortable with them and they have treated me superbly. It’s always painful leaving the club where I’ve always been and I hope to return one day. 'I arrived here in 2004. Sevilla is the club which has given me everything, helping me grow as a player and a person. This isn’t a goodbye, but rather a farewell. I hope to be back here one day. 'I never imagined it would be as painful as this, but it’s true that when you start to say goodbye to your team-mates and all the people around the club, it hurts, but I leave to keep growing as a player.' Teary-eyed: Moreno was extremely emotional during Sevilla's Super Cup match against Real Madrid . Mixed emotions: Moreno is looking forward to his adventure at Liverpool despite leaving his beloved Sevilla . VIDEO I wish Moreno all the best - Emery . Moreno was photographed breaking down in tears at the end of the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, which was the day he learned that his move to Liverpool was completed. 'I found out that morning, the same day as the game. Emery spoke to me and told me everything was pretty much done and I wasn’t going to play. I felt awful, because I was psyched up about playing and I really wanted to play. 'I felt a sense of joy, because I knew I was joining a massive club, where I’ll keep growing and improving, but I left feeling sad at the same time, because I’ve left the club of my life, that I love. So, I felt both sad and joyful.' | Alberto Moreno completed a £12m move to Liverpool last week .
The full back thanked Sevilla for helping him seal a move to a 'massive club'
Moreno wants to return to Sevilla at some stage during his career . |
172,561 | 6b50aff8766cdd9188416b87a5a4a89e8d142a5a | By . Katy Winter . Milky Pin-Ups is a photo series of old-fashioned, 50s-style glamour girls - dressed entirely in dairy produce. The incredible fluid shots are the work of photographer Jaroslav Wieczorkiewicz, who specialises in working with liquid. Unbelievably they are not created . using any tricks or computer imagery - each girl is actually covered in . pints and pints of milk to create the shots. Dream Girl: Milk pin ups, created by Jaroslav Wieczorkiewicz, in which dairy produce is used to create the 'dresses' The photos are based on the pin ups popular in the 1950's and have a fun flirty feel to them . Each picture is the result of numerous different shots layered together . ‘We work with specific light and pretty normal cameras,’ Jaroslav explains, ‘there is no magic behind it.’ The rather messy shoots see a model, clad only in bikini bottoms, having a jug of milk poured over parts of her body by an assistant as Jaroslav captures the movement of the liquid using fast exposure. Each photograph takes about 200 frames and the milk is poured onto different areas of the models body for each one, captured mid-flow by the camera. These individual shots are then amalgamated using Photoshop into a single image, creating the illusion that the girl is wearing a single milk dress. The individual frames are simply layered - but not altered or 'filled in' in any way . Jaroslav who also works with other liquids, says there is no magic behind the pictures, just hard work . With each picture requiring around 200 frames, we can only imagine the amount of mess left after a shoot . The series of photographs is soon to become a calendar . The individual frames are simply layered in Photoshop and not altered or ‘filled in’ in any way. ‘It’s tiring work but worth it, I want to stay true to the process,’ Jaroslav tells Mail Online. Originally from Poland, Jaroslav is now based in London and has founded the AurumLight Studio, which specialises in conceptual photography, limited calendars and advertising. His use of unusual effects in his photography has seen him begin to tour the world offering seminars on the techniques he uses to achieve his amazing photographs. Lighting For Liquid Series - AurumLight from Aurum Light / Jaroslav on Vimeo. | Amazing shots are not digitally altered, simply layered individual pictures .
Work of Polish born, London based photographer Jaroslav Wieczorkiewiz .
Each image requires around 200 frames .
Model is covered in pints of milk, captured in fast exposure shots .
1950's inspired photo set is set to become a calender . |
137,549 | 3de18f35796379a84e6a9adb9d371030abb8f370 | (CNN)Whenever ISIS carries out a new atrocity, whether it's beheading a group of Egyptian Christians or enslaving Yazidi women in Iraq or burning its victims alive, the big question most people have is: Why on Earth is ISIS doing this? What could possibly be the point? Adding to your list of enemies is never a sound strategy, yet ISIS' ferocious campaign against the Shia, Kurds, Yazidis, Christians, and Muslims who don't precisely share its views has united every ethnic and religious group in Syria and Iraq against them. ISIS is even at war with its most natural ally, al Qaeda in Syria. The Nazis and the Khmer Rouge went to great lengths to hide their crimes against humanity. Instead, ISIS posts its many crimes on social media for global distribution with seemingly no thoughts for the consequences. ISIS' beheading of the American journalist James Foley in mid-August galvanized much of the Western world against the group and led to an intensified U.S.-led air campaign against ISIS, which, according to U.S. military officials, has killed at least 6,000 of its fighters. The burning to death by ISIS of the Jordanian pilot, Muath al-Kaseasbeh, galvanized much of the Arab world against the group and has brought Jordan into the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS in a much more aggressive manner. The beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya by an ISIS affiliate led Egypt's air force on Monday to drop bombs on ISIS positions in eastern Libya. Former CIA director Robert Gates is reported to have kept a maxim on his desk that read, "As a general rule, the way to achieve complete strategic surprise is to commit an act that makes no sense or is even self-destructive." ISIS keeps surprising the world and its actions do indeed seem to make no sense or are self-destructive. So what is going on here? A key window into understanding ISIS is its English language "in-flight magazine" Dabiq. Last week the seventh issue of Dabiq was released, and a close reading of it helps explains ISIS' world view. The mistake some make when viewing ISIS is to see it as a rational actor. Instead, as the magazine documents, its ideology is that of an apocalyptic cult that believes that we are living in the end times and that ISIS' actions are hastening the moment when this will happen. The name of the Dabiq magazine itself helps us understand ISIS' worldview. The Syrian town of Dabiq is where the Prophet Mohammed is supposed to have predicted that the armies of Islam and "Rome" would meet for the final battle that will precede the end of time and the triumph of true Islam. In the recent issue of Dabiq it states: "As the world progresses towards al-Malhamah al-Kubrā, ('the Great Battle' to be held at Dabiq) the option to stand on the sidelines as a mere observer is being lost." In other words, in its logic, you are either on the side of ISIS or you are on the side of the Crusaders and infidels. When American aid worker Peter Kassig was murdered by ISIS in November, "Jihadi John" -- the masked British murderer who has appeared in so many ISIS videos -- said of Kassig: "We bury the first crusader in Dabiq, eagerly waiting for the rest of your armies to arrive." In other words, ISIS wants a Western ground force to invade Syria, as that will confirm the prophecy about Dabiq. We live in an increasingly secularized world, so it's sometimes difficult to take seriously the deeply held religious beliefs of others. For many of us the idea that the end of times will come with a battle between "Rome" and Islam at the obscure Syrian town of Dabiq is as absurd as the belief that the Mayans had that their human sacrifices could influence future events. But for ISIS, the Dabiq prophecy is deadly serious. Members of ISIS believe that they are the vanguard fighting a religious war, which Allah has determined will be won by the forces of true Islam. This is the conclusion of an important forthcoming new book about ISIS by terrorism experts J.M. Berger and Jessica Stern who write that ISIS, like many other "violent apocalyptic groups, tend to see themselves as participating in a cosmic war between good and evil, in which moral rules do not apply." This also similar to the conclusion of an excellent new cover story about ISIS in the Atlantic magazine by Graeme Wood who writes, "Virtually every major decision and law promulgated by the Islamic State (another name for ISIS) adheres to what it calls, in its press and pronouncements, and on its billboards, license plates, stationery, and coins, 'the Prophetic methodology,' which means following the prophecy and example of Muhammad, in punctilious detail. Muslims can reject the Islamic State; nearly all do. But pretending that it isn't actually a religious, millenarian group, with theology that must be understood to be combated, has already led the United States to underestimate it." Amen to that. ISIS members devoutly believe that they are fighting in a cosmic war in which they are on the side of good, which allows them to kill anyone they perceive to be standing in their way with no compunction. This is, of course, a serious delusion, but serious it is. | The group's atrocities have angered Americans, Jordanians and Egyptians .
Bergen: ISIS actions only make sense if you realize that its aim is the apocalypse. |
189,862 | 81d8a733e4833c5047149caa6985c12296efe16c | A suburban mother is behind bars following a string of suspected bank heists with her boyfriend. Elizabeth Kenneally from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is being held in Bucks County Prison after CCTV footage allegedly showed her robbing three high-street branches with Christopher LeBlanc, 40, the son of a former mayor. The 25-year-old, who has a two-year-old son, went missing on October 15 prompting her family and local authorities to hand out fliers and start a campaign on social media to track her down. Arrested: Mother-of-one Elizabeth Kenneally, 25, from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is being held in Bucks County Prison after CCTV footage allegedly showed her robbing a number of bank branches . Caught: She was reported missing by her family in October and was arrested on November 4 in a Delaware motel with Christopher LeBlanc, 40 . However Kenneally, who has a history of drug addiction and mental health problems, then told her local newspaper, The Mercury, that she wasn't missing and simply did not want to come home. The mother-of-one was arrested on November 4 in a Delaware motel just hours a after a suspected bank heist in Chester County. She was initially held on state charges, but is now facing federal charges relating to three robberies, according to Philly.com. According to the indictment filed on Tuesday in Philadelphia's federal courthouse, Kenneally and LeBlanc robbed the Citizens Bank in Audubon Township on October 28th, a PNC Bank in East Goshen on October 31st, and a Citizens Bank in West Goshen on November 4th for a total take of nearly $5,400. Delaware Online, reported that Kenneally, who has a 'Never Lose Hope' tattoo across her chest, faces charges in Pennsylvania of criminal conspiracy, robbery, theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property. Concern: Kenneally's mother Susan Puzio Bossley started a campaign on Facebook in a bid to track her daughter down. She told authorities that she has a history of drug addition and mental health problems . A federal grand jury has now charged her with three additional felony charges of bank robbery. While Kenneally was presumed missing, her concerned mother Susan Puzio Bossley, wrote on Facebook about her daughters troubles. 'My daughter needs help,' Bossley wrote on Oct. 20 on Facebook. 'So many families have someone that suffers, whether from drugs, depression, alcoholism, but some may not experience it first hand and don't understand.' She added that her grandson is in the care of her sister, Kenneally's auntie. | Elizabeth Kenneally from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, left home in October .
Her family reported the 25-year-old, who has a two-year-old son, missing .
She resurfaced when CCTV allegedly captured her robbing a bank .
Kenneally was taken into custody with Christopher LeBlanc in November .
Her mother says she has problems with drug addiction and mental illness . |
129,425 | 3349b46d02a974b0f3ceafb3f6f8b16d358e772a | FIFA will not be taking action against Arjen Robben after he admitted diving during Holland's 2-1 win over Mexico. Robben reportedly apologised for diving on one occasion in the game - but not for the decisive penalty in stoppage time which he said was 'definitely a foul'. FIFA head of media Delia Fischer said the disciplinary committee would only look retrospectively at 'serious infringements' of fair play rules - diving only carries a yellow card sanction - and that Robben would face no action. VIDEO Scroll down to make up your mind of Arjen Robben's alleged dive against Mexico . Training: Arjen Robben (far left) trains with his Holland team-mates and is to make a statement afterwards . Not enough sleep? Robben yawns during training after admitting to diving during the Mexico win . Admission: Arjen Robben has confessed to diving during the first half of Holland's victory over Mexico . Adamant: Robben, though, says he was fouled by Rafael Marquez for the 93rd-minute penalty . Turning point: Robben's left foot is clipped by the boot of Mexico defender Rafael Marquez . Tumble: Robben goes over and the Portuguese referee awards a penalty deep into injury time . Outraged: Mexico coach Miguel Herrera remonstrates with officials and Dutch players at full time . 'Out of four matches we had three where the refereeing was disastrous and this was the worst,' said Herrerra. 'Robben . did three dives for penalties that didn’t exist. He had to be . cautioned. 'If you do that to the guy who tries to cheat, then he can’t . cheat again. 'Robben . should have got a second card. If you don’t do anything as a referee, . the player carries on. 'He knows he won’t be expelled from the pitch so . he carries on. 'But then when they send a referee from the same confederation where they have a team, this is what happens. 'The referee gave a penalty that was invented by him. The least we can hope is that this gentleman goes home just like us.’ She . told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: 'Simulation is not something . we want to see on the field of play but the referees are trained to . identify these simulations and punish them by showing yellow cards. 'The disciplinary committee will look into serious infringements. 'We appeal to the spirit of fair play which is the over-arching message we have.' It comes after the . Dutch FA claim Robben's confession to diving in the World Cup has . been misinterpreted, and say the Holland winger admitted he was . 'falling too easily'. The . Dutch FA said: 'KNVB is unpleasantly surprised by publications in the . media about the Dutch penalty in the match versus Mexico. 'Media have interpreted statements from Robben in a Dutch post match interview completely wrong. 'In a studio interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, the forward stated that the decision of the referee to give a penalty in the second half of the game was perfectly right. 'However, in the same interview Robben referred to two situations earlier in the match (first half), when he was brought down. Flashpoint: Mexico skipper Marquez (left) fouls Robben inside the penalty box in the 93rd minute . Decider: Marquez appeals after Robben goes down for the late penalty that won Holland the game . 'The . striker stated that in one of those situations he should have been . granted a penalty, but that in the other case he was falling too easily. 'Later today Arjen Robben will make a statement in a press conference after the training of the Netherlands team in Rio.' Training at Estadio Gavea started at 11.30am, and Wesley Sneijder will join Robben in the media conference. Robben . remains adamant his 93rd-minute penalty was genuine, but admitted going . to ground too easily earlier in the match during an interview. 'I . must apologise,' said Robben. 'The one (at the end) was a penalty, but . the other one was a dive in the first half. I shouldn't be doing that. That’s awful.’ VIDEO Dutch part rumbles on . Last minute: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar wheels away in celebration after putting his penalty away . Winner: Huntelaar celebrates scoring the dramatic and controversial late goal for the Dutch . Class: Huntelaar gives the corner flag a karate kick after his winning goal . Angry: Mexico boss Herrera was not happy with the referee's decision to award Robben a penalty . | FIFA say they will only look retrospectively at 'serious infringements'
They add 'referees are trained to identify these simulations'
Dutch FA say Arjen Robben's confession to diving were interpreted 'completely wrong' after Holland's 2-1 win over Mexico .
Robben admitted trying to fool referee Pedro Proenca: 'The one (at the end) was a penalty, but the other one was a dive in the first half'
Holland were awarded a penalty in 93rd minute for a foul on Robben .
Klaas Jan Huntelaar converted late spot-kick to progress to quarter-final .
Mexico manager Miguel Herrera branded Robben a 'cheat' |
84,609 | f00d79e4b44c98932f2bedcfd5879b27ea116033 | By . Freya Noble . Australian mothers, wives and sisters may not have served on the frontline, but they played a crucial role back home - often as they were dealing with the tragedy and grief of loved ones lost on the European battlefields. 'Australia was unusual, close to unique, among combatants in the war in that women had the vote', historian and University of Melbourne researcher Professor Stuart Macintyre told Daily Mail Australia. The politicians at the time paid a great deal of attention to the women's opinion as they had the potential to seriously influence the conscription laws, and many were against conscription all together. Scroll down for video . Australian women played a crucial role back home while their husbands and sons were fighting in WWI . They showed their support and patriotism by volunteering with charities to raise funds for the soldiers . Women knitted socks and balaclavas to send overseas to the men on the front line . 'There was a lot of concern that the women would be reluctant to vote if their sons and husbands were being sent away,' Professor Macintyre said. 'The issue with gender and women featured more prominently in Australia's role in the war that it did in other countries.' 60,000 Australian lives were lost in battle, which meant one in ten men who was sent overseas never returned home. Hundreds of thousands more came back as casualties of war, with serious physical and debilitating mental scars. 'The [initial] rush to enlist was in light of they thought it would be a war that would be over so quickly.' Professor Macintyre said. Little did they know the battle would continue for years. In Australia because women had the vote they played a key role in deciding conscription laws, pictured here at a recruiting march . The female population was divided on conscription, and some in favour took part in processions . Wives, mothers and sisters had a heavy burden taking on the roles of the men and living with the fear, and often horrific reality, of losing loved ones . Women are seen here packing chests full of donated items to send overseas . The local press would report on the proceedings of the war, but their information was often delayed by days. Ministers of religion were the ones burdened with delivering the news of a death of a soldier to his loved ones. Australian historian and widely-published intellect Professor Stuart Macintyre told of the way gender played a key role for Australian women in WWI . Professor Macintyre told of the fear and heartbreak those mothers and wives experienced, always in wait for bad news. 'If the minister or priest turned up in your street, there would be a sort of foreboding', he said. Women would stand at the front of their houses, waiting, and praying that the letter was not coming their direction. Back home, the Australian mothers and wives played a very different roles to their counterparts around the world. While it was common for women to assume different roles in absence of the men, Australian women had less opportunity to actively participate in the war. Professor Macintyre revealed: 'There were many patriotic women who wanted to play a part but found it difficult to do so.' Unlike in WWII where women had the chance to carry rifles, during WWI mothers and wives fell into 'comfort' roles. They worked for charities in volunteer roles - collecting funds for soldier's relief, and knitted socks and balaclavas to send to the troops. ANZAC biscuits and tobacco were also gifted to those fighting. As they didn't have the opportunity to actively participate in the war, women found other ways to throw their support behind the troops . Wives and mothers assumed what were known as comfort roles during WWI while looking after the household and children . More than 60,000 Australian men lost their lives during battle, pictured here are soldiers in Liverpool, NSW before they departed . Women enjoyed a greater sense of autonomy within society while scores of men were on the battlefields . In the home the women stepped up into traditionally male roles, and had a greater sense of autonomy within society. 'In many households women took the dual role of mother and head of the household in the absence of men', Professor Macintyre said. However when, or if, the men returned, there was a strong push towards restoring traditional gender roles. Professor Macintyre, who is one of Australia's most influential public intellectuals, whose most widely known work is the History of Wars, which focuses on various aspects of war history in Australia but also worldwide. However they were expected to move back in to traditional gender roles once, or if, the men returned . One in ten soldiers, seen here cleaning their rifles in the trenches, never made it home . The Red Cross was one of the charities which many women volunteered for . Post-war, despite the expectation for women to assume their gendered roles, some war widows would not have that opportunity and would be raising their children as single parents. Small towns were left with gaping holes in their populations when men didn’t return and people often lost many men from the one family. There were also the husbands and sons who returned from battle so damaged that they simply couldn't cope with the demons from war and were unable to care for themselves, let alone their offspring. Many men who returned suffered deep physical and mental scars from the war . Reunions were held at the end of the war, like this one in Georgetown, South Australia . | One in ten Australian men never returned home from battle .
Women back home assumed traditionally male roles in the house .
Volunteered their time to collect donations and knit socks for soldiers .
Australian women's influence over conscription laws was unique . |
24,882 | 468074d80884c1d6b9faf340b98d0f99110260e4 | Sean O'Brien remains in contention to end an injury-plagued 14 months by making a comeback for the Irish Wolfhounds against England Saxons. O'Brien has not featured for Ireland since damaging his shoulder in the 24-22 autumn Test defeat to New Zealand in November 2013. The 27-year-old was closing in on a playing return after surgery when an infection forced a second operation on the same shoulder. Sean O'Brien (left) has not played for Ireland since the 24-22 defeat to New Zealand in November 2013 . O'Brien could yet face the Saxons in Cork on Friday night, while Ireland remain confident both Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan will be fit to open the Six Nations in Italy on February 7. 'Sean trained fully today (Tuesday), trained last week in Leinster and has taken part in all the sessions,' said Irish Wolfhounds coach Richie Murphy. 'There is a possibility that he will be available this week.' While flanker O'Brien could still feature in Cork, his Leinster team-mate Cian Healy's chances now appear remote. Ireland scrum halves Conor Murray (left) and Eoin Reddan are both expected to be fit for the Italy clash . The destructive loosehead prop has battled hamstring problems since September, but like O'Brien, is targeting a Test return during the Six Nations. British and Irish Lions scrum-half Murray continues to battle disc problems in his neck, but Ireland's skills coach Murphy still tipped him to feature at the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday week. Leinster half-back Reddan damaged knee ligaments in Saturday's 20-20 Champions Cup draw at Wasps, but Ireland bosses now believe his injury is not as severe as anticipated. 'Both guys look like they'll be fit,' said Murphy of Murray and Reddan's chances of facing Italy. 'Eoin's knee injury is not as bad as first feared, in the last 24 hours he's seen a massive improvement. 'We are hoping that both of those guys will be ready for next week and if they're not it opens up an opportunity for Isaac Boss and Kieron Marmion to come in. 'Cian (Healy is a little further behind Sean (O'Brien), but is doing pretty well.' Leinster loosehead prop Cian Healy has been battling hamstring problems since September . Murphy revealed Ireland expect Lions fly-half Johnny Sexton to be available for the second round of Six Nations action against France in Dublin on February 14. Sexton is forced to sit out the Italy clash while he completes a 12-week stand-down period enforced by club Racing Metro after four concussions in 12 months. Sexton's absence leaves Leinster's Ian Madigan and Munster's Ian Keatley vying for the starting berth in Rome, with Paddy Jackson also sidelined after elbow surgery. Murphy hinted that Madigan may be handed the fly-half reins for Friday's Wolfhounds match, having featured mainly at centre for Leinster this term. 'He is very nearly ready to go,' said Murphy of Sexton. 'Obviously he picked up that injury in France so his club looked after that. Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton is expected to return in time for the game against France at the Aviva Stadium . 'He's not taking contacts, he can't take contact until the three months is up and that would be the week of the French match. 'Until that time it looks like he is going to be out, but he trained today, did all the handling stuff, all the non-contact training and all the fitness work, so he's looking very fit and very fresh. 'You'd fancy that because he's been doing all the handling, all the kicking, all that kind of stuff, the contact stuff will fall into place that week.' Murphy admitted Madigan not featuring regularly at fly-half is 'definitely an issue' for Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt. The 25-year-old may now start at 10 against the Saxons to ease him through to the Six Nations opener in Rome. 'It's definitely an issue,' said Murphy of Madigan's limited club time at fly-half. 'When he has played there this year he has been pretty good. 'Joe (Schmidt) will have to make a decision on that later in the week. 'The Saxons match might be an opportunity for Ian Madigan to get a little bit of game time at 10. 'Ian Keatley has played loads of rugby at 10; we kind of know where he is.' | Sean O'Brien has not played for Ireland since November 2013 .
The Lions flanker injured his shoulder in the 24-22 defeat to New Zealand .
The Irish management remain confident both Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan will be fit for the Six Nations opener in Italy on February 7 . |
167,762 | 64fc26fe57f0f14dfbec2aefafa66d7660c37fcf | By . Pa Reporter . Oriol Riera's first goal in English football gave Wigan Athletic their first Sky Bet Championship victory of the season, beating rock-bottom Blackpool 1-0 at the DW Stadium. The scoreline was hugely flattering to the Seasiders, who were on the back foot for virtually the whole game and offered very little going forward. But Wigan could not take advantage of a number of carefully-crafted chances - and another inspired display from Callum McManaman - and were rather hanging on at the death. Match-winner: Oriol Riera's first goal for Wigan was enough to give them all three points against Blackpool . The winning goal was a worthy one, Riera taking his time before finding the bottom corner with his left foot. Wigan: Carson, Taylor, Ramis, Riera (Fortune 71) Huws (Tavernier 78), McManaman (Waghorn 70), McArthur, Boyce, Cowie, Perch, Kiernan. Subs Not Used: Caldwell,Espinoza,Barnett,Al Habsi. Booked: McArthur,Huws. Blackpool: Lewis, McMahon, Clarke, Rentmeister (Miller 45), Daniels, J Oriol, Perkins, Lundstram, Zenjov (Ranger 66), Zoko (Cywka), Delfouneso. Subs Not Used: Oriol,MacKenzie,Dielna,Parish. Booked: Perkins,Clarke,Zenjov. Goals: Riera 35 . Referee: Carl Boyeson . Att: 12,113 . But Wigan were nearly punished for their profligacy in the second half when Blackpool substitute Nile Ranger fluffed his lines with the goal gaping. Blackpool were nearly ahead inside two minutes, when a dangerous free-kick came in from the right and Donervon Daniels headed wide from close range. Wigan were quickly into their stride, though, and feeding McManaman as much as possible down the right. David Perkins picked up an early yellow card for hauling down the young forward, and Wigan nearly took the lead moments later. James Perch's cross from the right found Riera, who headed over from a good position. An Emyr Huws cross then found skipper Emmerson Boyce, who volleyed over from 10 yards. The home side squandered a gilt-edged opportunity on the 20-minute mark when Riera did extremely well down the right and crossed into the corridor of uncertainty. Wigan would not have wanted the chance to fall to anyway but the in-form McManaman, but this time he sliced his effort from eight yards well wide of the mark. McManaman was lucky to escape in one piece when Peter Clarke went flying in on him on the near touchline and was perhaps fortunate to be given only a yellow card. But Wigan were not to be denied and they took the lead 11 minutes before the break. Another cross from the right caused all the damage, and Andrew Taylor teed up Riera who found the bottom corner with his left foot. Riera was almost in again moments later but, after some clever footwork, his shot was blocked. Wigan came close to doubling their advantage just before half-time, and again McManaman was heavily involved. Euphoria: Riera wheels away in delight after putting his side 1-0 up against Blackpool at the DW Stadium . Perch's cross from the right looked inch-perfect for McManaman to tap in, only for Daniels to somehow get in between his opponent and the goal to clear off the line. There was still time for McManaman to fire inches past the far post, before Wigan were given a huge warning on the stroke of half-time when John Lundstram had a shot that was deflected just past the post. The second half started in much the same vein, with McManaman causing all sorts of trouble down the right and Blackpool desperately trying to get to grips with him. He beat three men on one run before firing straight at the goalkeeper - before Blackpool almost levelled completely against the run of play. The cross from the left was inviting but substitute Ranger poked over from inside the six-yard box. After being totally dominant for the entire game, Wigan then dropped further and further back to protect what they had, which saw the visitors encouraged to think there might still be something in it for them. But Blackpool could not find the quality necessary to take advantage of Wigan nerves and remain pointless in the table. | Summer recruit Riera scored the only goal of the game at the DW Stadium .
It was the Spaniard's first goal for his new club .
Wigan recorded their first league win of the season as a result .
Blackpool remain rock bottom after four straight league defeats . |
206,041 | 96b7995367676c39a06328589a5e27c40c16e783 | (CNN) -- Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou apologized again today for the slow response to Typhoon Morakot and said he plans sweeping changes to the country's rescue agencies and may punish some government officials. Taiwan President Ma ying-jeou speaking at a press conference in Taipei. "We will try our best to do a better job in the rescue work that has been criticized for being too slow," said Ma. "There are things that we have to correct and we also will be responsible for whatever mistakes or neglect that government officials have made." Morakot hit the island August 8, dropping 102 inches of rain. The storm killed at least 123 people in Taiwan before it roared on to mainland China the next day. But more than 300 people could be dead as rescuers have struggled to locate many who were missing in remote mountainous areas of southern Taiwan. Ma said he will evaluate the rescue process and may punish some government officials by early September. Ma apologized last week for the rescue effort as he traveled around the typhoon-battered island. He said heavy rain grounded rescue helicopters in the first few days after the storm hit, delaying relief efforts. He said Tuesday that he will make changes to Taiwan's fire departments and army to emphasize rescue and recovery training. | Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou apologized again for response to Typhoon Morakot .
Ma is planning sweeping changes and may punish some government officials .
More than 300 people feared dead as rescuers struggle to find missing persons . |
79,945 | e29dbe7b03f1a1f1c67d0fabe31622eaafd33948 | By . Francesca Infante . PUBLISHED: . 17:30 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:22 EST, 10 May 2013 . Food buffs will tell you that poached salmon and black truffles is lost without a chilled French chablis. But would they have a clue if you asked them which wine was best paired with a Big Mac and large fries? Motivated by the idea that every meal can be special, a team of experts has developed a guide that matches some of the nation’s favourite snacks and takeaway meals with their perfect wine. Experts say the perfect wine can be found for any meal, including takeaways . The researchers promise to make every . meal ‘a memorable experience’ by listing the best wine to go with . anything from a fish finger sandwich to Marmite on toast. Tesco surveyed 20,000 people to find 14 of our favourite meals and match them with wines. For . example, the experts said Scotch eggs should be teamed with a Swartland . chenin blanc, whose ‘round peachy texture works beautifully with the . soft texture and rich flavour of the egg’. A . McDonalds Big Mac meal is best accompanied by a zinfandel because its . ‘plummy sweet fruit characters pair well with the sweet flavours’ of the . chips and burger. After-dinner favourites haven’t been . forgotten, with the guide saying that Ben & Jerry’s Phish ice cream . should be matched with Yellow Tail shiraz or a dessert semillon. Laura Jewell, one of only 301 Masters of Wine worldwide, said the project was aimed at demystifying the process of choosing good wine. Experts chose a rose for KFC and chablis or sauvignon blanc to complement fish and chips . She said: ‘There is a lot of . stuffiness when it comes to food and wine matching and we are well aware . that the majority of the advice given does not correspond with what . people are actually eating on a daily basis.’ She added that the project was inspired by customers ‘becoming much more adventurous and international’ in their tastes. Also on her team was Davy Zyw, who developed his skills as a sommelier at top London restaurant Le Gavroche before joining Tesco. He said: ‘Finding interesting wine matches to dishes is great fun. ‘Just as you would add a squeeze of lemon to your fish, so too should wine be considered an accompaniment. Wine can turn a simple dish into a memorable experience.’ | Experts have named perfect wines for basics like Marmite on toast .
Suggest chablis suits fish and chips while sausages rolls go with cava . |
246,053 | ca795c6489afb869407f4af6b6700963235550c4 | Fresh from his round of golf with President Obama on Sunday, Tiger Woods chose to be complimentary yesterday when asked about the course skills of the most powerful man in the world. The notorious philanderer and Mr. Obama played out a 'boy's weekend' over the President's Day weekend at the Floridian Yacht and Golf Club and Woods was quizzed at a press conference after a practice round at the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship in Arizona. 'He’s got amazing touch,' said Woods. 'He can certainly chip and putt. If he ever spent — after these four years — spent more time playing the game of golf, I’m sure he could get to where he’s a pretty good stick.,' said the world's number two golfer somewhat diplomatically. Mutual appreciation society: President Obama with Tiger Woods at the White House in 2009 - the pair have praised each others golfing abilities . Asked if the president and Woods had squared up against each other over 18-holes, the 14-time major winner revealed that Mr. Obama had been his partner in a foursome against U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. 'He was my partner, and as I said, we won,' said a smiling Woods. 'Playing with Mr. President was pretty cool,' Woods said. 'He’s just a wonderful person to be around. We won.' Quizzed further on the leader of the free world's golfing abilities, Woods praised the president's fitness. 'He’s a pretty good athlete, and we all know he played a lot of hoops,' said Woods. He sounded surprised to learn that Obama played left-handed, and when asked to describe the president's best shot, Woods said that ';he hit a few.'' 'He’s a lefty, but to see him out hitting shots — he hit it well, and we didn’t play under the easiest conditions.' Back in the swing of things: President Obama waves in the doorway of Air Force One as he departs from Palm Beach International Airport on Monday . Back to business: Obama jogs up the stairs of . Air Force One upon his departure from Florida heading for D.C. (left) as . an aide carries on the golf back of Obama's friend Eric Whitaker . Bags of fun: An aide heaves several golf bags up the stairs of Air Force One . Pushed on how he got the invitation, Woods said: 'He calls up and says, 'Hey Tiger you wanna play?' 'Obviously there is a process that's involved, and I was invited to play, and it was an invitation that certainly you don't turn down, especially [since] he's an avid golfer, and so am I. 'So we went out there and we had just a great round of golf with Ron and Jim, and it was a good day.' The traveling pool of journalists who follow the President's every move were reportedly furious after being shut out of his round of golf and not being allowed on to the club grounds on Sunday. It has long been a White House tradition that pool reporters cover the President's rounds of golf and even have the opportunity for a few questions on the course. The President waved as he jogged up the steps of Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday evening while a White House aide heaved golf clubs and large bags on board. Home again: President Barack Obama waves to members of the media as walks across the South Lawn of the White House following his arrival on Marine One helicopter on Monday night . When he landed back in Washington and walked across the White House lawn, several frustrated reporters collectively shouted to the President to ask if he had beaten Tiger Woods. He did not respond. The outrage over the lack of transparency comes as much of the bill for the pricey trip will be paid for by tax payers, yet President Obama did not feel it appropriate to even release one photo of his time out on the course. The President played with the notorious philanderer on Sunday after getting a private lesson from Woods' former coach the day before. However the only inside reports about the rounds came from a golf journalist who happened to be in the clubhouse at the time. 'Speaking on behalf of the White House Correspondents Association, I can say a broad cross section of our members from print, radio, online and TV have today expressed extreme frustration to me about having absolutely no access to the President of the United States this entire weekend,' Fox News reporter Ed Henry said. On the course: CNN was the only network to air footage of President Obama during one of his golf outings, but it does not appear to be whilet he played with Tiger Woods . Using his lessons: Obama spent three days in Florida over the President's Day weekend . One last round: President Obama (seen in the white cap) played an estimated five or six rounds in three days . 'There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency.' $943,687.50: estimated cost of a trip for Air Force One from Chicago to West Palm Beach and then back to Washington, D.C.$13,500: Cost to rent out three four-bedroom guest cottages at The Floridian for three nights$24,000: Cost of an eight-hour private golf lesson with famed instructor Butch Harmon$1,800: Greens fees for three guests for two rounds of golf$1,600: Cost of four caddies for two rounds of golf$4,620: Cost of 20 rooms at the Port St. Lucie Holiday Inn for traveling press and security detail based on the government day rate . TOTAL: $989,207 . The President's deputy press secretary Josh Earnest responded to the pool's concerns by simply saying that they were previously told about the level of access- or lack thereof- that they should expect from the weekend. ABC News reported that in 2012, it cost $179,750 per flight hour to run Air Force One. Using that rate- even though it is likely higher now since gas prices have risen- the cost of the flights to Florida and back to Washington on Monday totaled $943,687.50. He rented out all three of the four-bedroom guest cottages on the grounds of The Floridian for the whole of the long weekend, as well about 20 hotel rooms from the nearby Holiday Inn- which is about 20 minutes drive from the course- for his traveling entourage of press and security. Expectantly, their price differentials are significant, as one night in a guest cottage costs $1,500 while the Holiday Inn told MailOnline that they charged the government a day rate of $77 per room. On top of the logistical expenses, . the whole point of the trip was to relax on the golf course, which . involves a whole host of expenses in itself. Guest greens fees at The Floridian are $300 per person, and each player hires a caddy who costs $200 per round. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama(R) chat after completing the first hole during a golf game at Joint Base Andrews, MD, September 24, 2011 . For three guests to play two rounds of golf over the weekend, greens fees come to $1,800 and the caddies fees for the foursome total $1,600. Another personal expense that Mr Obama racked up came from the eight hour one-on-one lesson with golf pro Mr Harmon. Since those lessons typically cost $3,000, that means that Mr Obama's bill came to a tidy $24,000 after his intensive session on Saturday. During his stay, the President never left the grounds of the golf club, meaning that his transportation and security costs were kept to a minimum. A spokesman for the nearby police department said that they had not been asked by the Secret Service to provide any additional security. While this is the first time that the President has played golf with Woods- who has won the most titles in the storied sport- it is not the first time that they have met. The disgraced golfer did a reading at one of President Obama's inaugural festivities in 2009 and followed that up with a visit to the White House. In David Maraniss's 2012 biography of President Obama he especially looked at his enduring love affair with basketball. Traveling to Punahou, an elite prep school in Hawaii to discover what his classmates made of his skills, Maraniss discovered that he wasn't that good: . 'If Obama was . unhappy about his playing time, the truth is he had to work exceedingly . hard just to make the team. He made it more because of his intense . passion for the game -- his will -- than anything else. …The reality was . that Barry, as skilled and intelligent a player as he was, could not . stand out in this group. He had good court sense and an ability to slash . to the basket, but was an unreliable outside shooter and not much of a . jumper...'Decades . later, a story emerged that his nickname was Barry O’Bomber, playing . off his last name and a propensity to fire away from long range, but few . team members recalled that nickname… and said the real gunner was Darin . Maurer, who was better than Obama but barely got more playing time…'He . loved basketball so much, I think a lot of things have been blown out . of proportion,” said [former teammate Alan] Lum. … [W]hen it came down . to playing time, he [Barry] wasn’t one of the five best.” In fact, Lum . and other teammates pointed out, Barry was only occasionally considered . one of the top eight…'Obama…was . also among the most earthbound – he could not jump high enough to dunk . the ball. “Barry’s lack of ups was obvious,” recalled [former player . Tom] Topolinski. In fact, [coach Chris] McLachlin coined a phrase for the phenomenon: Barry Obama, famous for his no-jump jump shot! | Obama played at exclusive Florida course on Sunday with Tiger Woods .
Woods revealed the president had an 'amazing touch' |
279,515 | f618dcecc9f587fc119d121b52407642b2fa59bb | New York (CNN) -- On a chilly Saturday afternoon, a man with all the time in the world stands outside the bus he calls home. While he takes in a view of the Brooklyn Bridge, Bob Votruba boasts he lives on 84 square feet of pure luxury. "It's a cherished spot for me," he says, "something that is a little sacred." Votruba, 58, a retired father of three, is in the middle of a 10-year journey to spread kindness across the country. So far he's logged almost 60,000 miles on a school bus he bought and has lived in for four years. His Boston terrier, Bogart, keeps him company. The bus advertises his mission in giant letters painted on one side, "One Million Acts of Kindness." It's a goal, he says, a person under 30 can realistically meet if he or she makes it a point to be kind to someone every day. "It's a constant reminder that I have chosen this path to be as kind as I can in every possible way," he says. The impact of Virginia Tech shootings . Votruba says he felt compelled to champion kindness after learning a gunman had killed 32 people on April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech. He had begun a period of introspection, realizing he wasn't satisfied with his lifestyle, which he considered "cushy." His construction business had become just a job, and he felt unfulfilled with the direction of his life, especially with his kids headed off to college. "It seemed like there was a higher meaning in going forward with life," he says. "That's when Virginia Tech happened." Votruba drove to Virginia Tech the week of the shootings and talked to people about their experiences dealing with the tragedy. It wasn't just one conversation that affected him but the range of emotions he saw that week, which, he says, motivated him to change his life. He returned to his home near Cleveland, and the single father told his children that he planned to sell all his belongings and drive to university campuses across the country to talk about kindness. Daughter Lizzie, 23, says she and her siblings were taken aback but not surprised. They always said Dad was kind. "It was a different step than most people take in their life," his 25-year-old son, Peter, says. "I was proud that he left and he was going to do something he felt was right and needed to do." Reminders . April 16 -- the date is as familiar to Bob Votruba as it is to anyone the Virginia Tech shootings personally affected. Meeting recently with the Chamber of Commerce in Chesterland, Ohio, he told the group what that day meant, but Votruba says he was saddened to see a crowd of blank faces. "That's how these events end up being lost in the public memory," he says. "The Boston bombings (were) on April 15, and there was so much coverage on April 16, April 17 and April 18. Here was an event that was so big six years ago that hardly got a mention." Votruba says we live in a "Post-it note" society, where people need constant reminders to love and care for one another. He sets at least four alarms each day to remind him to think about others and what he can do to spread kindness. Small gestures can help folks get into the habit of being kind, he says. "If you want to say a prayer, or a moment of silence," he says, that's what you should do. "Whatever you need to do to honor someone." On the road . Votruba made good on his vow to sell his home and belongings, taking an early retirement to embark on his journey of kindness. He funds it with his savings and retirement checks but also accepts small donations. "It's all a buck here, 20 bucks there, that sort of thing," he says. He drives to places where the weather is nice, visiting elementary schools and senior centers to drop off fliers announcing his mission. Those organizations will call him up (sometimes up to a year later) and ask him to come give a talk. A couple of years ago, he added a bike to his travels and has ridden it nearly 18,000 miles to spark up conversations with the people he encounters about issues such as domestic violence and child abuse. He placed two stickers on the back of his bike telling people what they should do: "Be a man. Don't raise a hand. Stop domestic violence," and "Stop childhood sexual abuse now." By the handlebars, a big black-and-white sign reads: "Boys should never hit girls," a message to which the children respond. "These are issues as I'm driving across the country I'm hearing so much," he says. "I'm having firsthand conversations with people losing loved ones because of suicide. I've had adults break down and cry 30 to 40 years later because of something that happened in high school." Votruba likes to hand out "kindness certificates," so people can frame a visual reminder of the mission of his trip. Wake up and smile. Hold the door for someone. Let everybody go through traffic. These are the things Votruba says he does when he's on the road and recommends for others. A living memorial . On this trip to Brooklyn, a dozen people from places as far away as Australia stopped by his bus to read the messages people left behind. "There is a sense of wonder that turns him into a joy," says Sister Claire Young, who lives in Vero Beach, Florida. "You come outside and say hello to him, and he's just so thrilled to see you. What can be better?" There is no heat inside Votruba's bus -- or air conditioning for that matter -- but the walls are filled with more than 400 messages, written by children and adults who stop by and chat. It's a living memorial, he says, of the people who took the time to write on it. But it also speaks to the future, when days are long and he needs a reminder to keep going. He likes the simplicity of one note that a 3-year-old left with the help of his mother: "Just be nice." And the wisdom of a 92-year-old man who was married for 60 years: "Tell your love, you love her every day." Even on a cold day, Votruba says, "it warms the soul." | Bob Votruba has traveled nearly 60,000 miles across the U.S. to talk about kindness .
After the tragedy of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, he decided to change course .
He rides with his Boston terrier, Bogart, as company and sometimes bikes .
He gives himself reminders each day to be kind and gives assignments to others . |
229,948 | b5c560f7dca25543b3cc86481ddeae38a6f17998 | Guilty: Thomas Dunkley has been found guilty of murdering ex-WBA light-middleweight boxer Shaun Cummins . A carer who murdered a former boxing champion and dismembered his body with a chainsaw before storing the parts in freezers at his home, was today sentenced to life in prison. Thomas Dunkley, 29, killed Shaun Cummins, 45, before stealing more than £25,000 from the ex-WBA light-middleweight and storing his body parts in freezers at his bungalow. Mr Cummins who was nicknamed ‘The Guvnor’ had received a £400,000 payout in 2004 following a road accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. Leicester Crown Court heard . debt-ridden Dunkley had given up his job to look after Mr Cummins - but, . after two years, still hadn’t received a penny in return. Jurors were told he spent over . £10,000 of Mr Cummins’ cash after the killing ‘without a care in the . world’, splashing out on a new car and clothes. He also transferred £15,000 from a trust fund set up for the former sportsman. But Dunkley was arrested when a . suspicious nurse who used to visit Mr Cummins at his home told police . she hadn’t seen him for days - and officers forced their way in before . making the grim discovery. Mr Cummins’ body had been cut into . ten pieces and wrapped in binliners sealed with duct tape, then stored . in three separate freezers - one of which Dunkley had bought . specifically for the task. The court heard that when interviewed . by detectives, he claimed Mr Cummins had died of natural causes and . admitted cutting up his body - but said he could not explain why. Dunkley was told he must serve a least 34 years before he can apply for parole. Judge Mrs Justice Dobbs told him: 'In . my judgement this was a murder for gain. The dismemberment of the body . was a grotesque act, violating Mr Cummins as a person, and his dignity . in death.' Scroll down for video . Death: Thomas Dunkley, 29, allegedly murdered Shaun Cummins, . 45, then stole more than £25,000 from the ex-WBA light-middleweight . boxer and stored his body parts at his bungalow . Gruesome: The dismembered body of Shaun Cummin was found by police at his home in Saffron Lance, Leicestershire . The court heard that because of the dismemberment, it was impossible to say how he had died. Dunkley, of no fixed address, denied murder but admitted preventing a lawful burial by cutting Mr Cummins’ body up. He has also pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud, relating to accessing Mr Cummins’ funds after his death. Mr Cummins, who also worked as a . bodyguard for the boyband Blue before his accident, retired from boxing . in 1995 with a record of 22 wins, six defeats and a draw. He became the Inter-continental Light . Middleweight champion in 1992 by defeating Steve Foster, then . successfully defended his title a year later against Mickey Hughes. William Harbage QC, prosecuting, said Dunkley, 29, and Mr Cummins met in 2007 through a mutual friend who ran a boxing club. He told the hearing that initially, Dunkley was simply ‘someone for MrCummins to play computer games with’. Former boxer: Shaun Cummins (right) on the attack against Tony Velinor (left) 23 years ago in January 1990 . But Mr Harbage added: 'In the last . two years of his life, Thomas Dunkley effectively became his full-time . carer. By August 2012, he was a continuous presence at his home.' The court heard Mr Cummins, who was virtually bed-ridden, received daily visits from community nurses. But Mr Harbage said Dunkley was . constantly on standby with to change the bedsheets, take delivery of . medication, and run other errands. He was also trusted to deal with . financial transactions, as well as the handling of blank cheques from a . trust fund set up after Mr Cummins’ accident. It still held a balance of . £44,000 at the time of his death. Flowers in tribute: Police made the gruesome find on September 12 last year after concerned nurses who cared for the paraplegic contacted the police . Mr Harbage told the jury: “It appears no payment was made to Thomas Dunkley for his time. 'He owed £16,500 to creditors, and at . the time, his personal debts were increasing. It appears he had been . hoping there would be some financial recompense, either through a direct . payment or a share in the profits of a business venture Mr Cummins had . embarked on.” However, Mr Harbage said it was . accepted Mr Cummins could be ‘strong-willed and overbearing’, and ‘took . advantage’ of Dunkley, who felt ‘bullied’. The court heard that in the days . before the alleged killing, Dunkley told a mutual friend that he ‘had . had enough of Mr Cummins and was getting away from him because he had . wrecked his life over the past couple of years.’ He said: “In this case, we point to . the background of bullying, the attraction of the defendant in helping . himself to the remaining financial resources of Mr Cummins, and the . desire to break free from the man who had made his life a misery. 'It may be any one of these motives or a combination that caused Thomas Dunkley to act as he did.' Mr Harbage said that apart from . Dunkley, the last person to see Mr Cummins alive was a community nurse . on September 1 last year. He added that it was impossible to . say when he died - but it was ‘most likely’ to have been either later . that day, or the following day. The jury heard that on September 1, . Dunkley carried out a number of internet searches including ‘what . happens when you are stabbed in the stomach’, ‘how long does it take to . die after being stabbed’, and ‘what is the fastest way for a human to bleed to death’. And 24 hours later, Mr Harbage said . he ‘intercepted’ community nurses outside the bungalow, falsely telling . them Mr Cummins had been admitted to hospital. The court heard that by September 4, . Dunkley began using Mr Cummins’ bank accounts. In total, he either spent . or withdrew a total of £10,819. It was claimed that by September 6, . Dunkley had decided to cut up Mr Cummins’ body, which had started to . decompose, and store it in freezers ‘while he worked out what to do’. Mr Harbage said he bought a chainsaw . and incinerator, as well as overalls, dust sheets, binliners, duct tape, . a face mask and goggles. Investigation: Dunkley allegedly dismembered the body after killing Mr Cummins and placed the parts in bin bags before sealing them with duct tape and putting them in the freezer at his home in Leicester (pictured) The prosecutor added that neighbours . saw smoke and noticed a ‘horrible smell’ in the air as Dunkley burned . items in the back garden. He also bought a chest freezer as the . two already in the house weren’t big enough to store Mr Cummins’ body - . a fact he later admitted to the police. Jurors were told Dunkley was then . seen over the next few days by a several witnesses ‘without a care in . the world’ as he shopped for clothes. But by September 12 a community nurse . realised she hadn’t seen Mr Cummins for days - and, after quizzing . Dunkley about his whereabouts, alerted the police. Mr Harbage said Dunkley watched from a parked car as officers arrived to search the bungalow - then ‘fled’ Leicester. He was arrested at Wooley Edge services on the M1 near Wakefield in Yorkshire the next day. Dunkley denied murder between September 1 and 9 last year. He was also convicted of using Mr Cummins credit card and taking out a payday loan in his name in the months before his death. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Thomas Dunkley murdered ex WBA light-middleweight Shaun Cummins .
He stored the body parts in bin bags at the former boxer's bungalow .
He must serve a least 34 years before he can apply for parole .
Cummins had received a £400,000 payout in 2004 following a road accident . |
232,889 | b984ccc77339b1d533bff2a28966a4bd37be0986 | By . Amanda Williams . Coronation Street star Barbara Knox's daughter has been banned from the roads for two years after she was arrested for drink driving . The daughter of Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox - who plays Rita Tanner - has been banned from the roads for two years after she was arrested for drink driving. Maxine Ashcroft, 56, was stopped by police while driving home a relative - believed to be Ms Knox - from a family gathering in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. The veteran ITV star, 80, later arrived at the police station and was arrested herself on suspicion of drink driving. She has been bailed pending further inquiries. Ashcroft was arrested after a member of the public following the Jaguar reported to police they thought the driver was under the influence of alcohol, Macclesfield magistrates heard. Shortly after, police stopped Ashcroft in Knutsford, Cheshire on the evening of March 10. She was said to have smelt of 'intoxicants' and a roadside test was returned positive. The defendant was taken to Middlewich police station and gave a breathalyser reading of 97 microgrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - three times the legal limit of 35mg. Today Ashcroft, of Kencot, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to drink driving. Representing her, Nick 'Mr Loophole' Freeman, told the court: 'She is thoroughly contrite and ashamed. 'She has let herself down and her family down. She accepts full responsibility for her actions. She is the author of her own misfortune. 'She made a terrible error of judgment which is going to have terrible consequences for her. This was a classic case of alcohol anaesthatising good sense.' Mr Freeman appealed to the magistrates to . lessen the length of the ban due to the circumstances of his client. The divorcee had recently moved from Cheshire to a rural location where . the nearest shop was six miles away. Mr Freeman said: 'I don't like to use the word recluse but literally her driving licence is her lifeblood. 'She does not have anyone to drive for her. Scroll down for video . Maxine Ashcroft, 56, was stopped by police while driving home a relative - believed to be Ms Knox - from a family gathering in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. The veteran ITV star, 80, later arrived at the police station and was arrested herself on suspicion of drink driving . 'She has no friends there. She literally would not have a life.' The court heard she had 'close family ties' with her parents who she saw on a regular basis who 'she cares for as a daughter and is trying to look after them as much as possible'. Sentencing her, chairman of the bench Graham Hall told her: 'Miss Ashcroft, I do not think you need me to tell you how serious this is and how foolish and dangerous this act was.' He said the bench had considered a community sentence to go alongside the ban but imposed a fine instead after they took into account her remorse, her personal circumstances and her good character. Ashcroft was fined £960 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £96. Knox was not present at court. Actress: Mrs Knox is one of the longest serving actresses in soap opera history . Barbara Knox is one of the . longest-serving soap actors of all time, having played Rita Tanner on . ITV's Coronation Street for nearly 42 years. The . Oldham-born actress starting acting as an amateur while working in a . variety of a day jobs, but later became a full-time theatre actress and . then transitioned to television. She . made her first appearance on Coronation Street in 1964, playing Rita . Bates in just a single episode, before taking up the role permanently in . May 1972. The . character was originally known as Rita Littlewood, but later took the . surnames Bates, Fairclough, Sullivan and Tanner as she went through a . series of husbands. Rita . was the owner of the Kabin, the local corner shop, and has been through . a series of dramatic incidents including a nervous breakdown, carbon . monoxide poisoning and a building explosion. Mrs . Knox, 80, was previously said to be the highest paid member of the . soap's cast, on a contract reported to be worth £260,000 a year. She has twice been married and divorced, and is the mother of three children. She was awarded the OBE in 2010. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Maxine Ashcroft, 56, stopped by police in March while driving relative .
Star, 80, later arrived at station and arrested on suspicion of drink driving .
Veteran ITV actress has been bailed pending further police inquiries .
Ashcroft has been banned for two years and ordered to pay fine . |
183,876 | 7a2d1f556000f0ebeff6ed132fa6c2c4ba97375b | Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- Dignitaries, a red carpet and a child with a bouquet of flowers greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he landed at Istanbul airport in Turkey on Monday. It was perhaps the warmest welcome he has received in weeks. Ahmadinejad's trip to attend a United Nations summit of the world's poorest countries is his first overseas journey since a public spat erupted between himself and Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Where in the world is Ahmadinejad? Top officials and media outlets close to Khamenei have mounted a campaign of criticism targeting Ahmadinejad, while several of his top aides have reportedly been arrested. The reported arrest of presidential palace prayer leader Abbas Amirifar on charges of "sorcery" is perhaps the best sign of how serious the political feud in Tehran has gotten. Amirifar produced a controversial film predicting the imminent return of the Shiite saint Mehdi, a messianic prediction that Ahmadinejad often refers to in his speeches. On Sunday, Ahmadinejad denied reports that Amirifar had been accused of "sorcery." According to Iran's state-run Press TV agency, Ahmadinejad said: "Those who accuse the government of being influenced by superstitions are 'joking.'" But as recently as last Friday, the crowd at the state-sanctioned prayer service in Tehran chanted "death to opponents of the supreme leader." Long-time observers of Persian politics saw the chant, which was broadcast on state radio, as a warning to the embattled president. Much of the public criticism has also targeted Ahmadinejad's brother-in-law and chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. "There's been no question that President Ahmadinejad has been damaged in this apparent power struggle with Iran's supreme leader," said Scott Peterson, Istanbul-based journalist and author of "Let the Swords Encircle Me." "What is not yet clear is how much damage has been done, and how it will affect Ahmadinejad's final two years in office," he said. "The scale of Ahmadinejad's political problems are made clear by the charges of sorcery and religious deviation that have been leveled against his chief of staff and some of the closest aides to him," Peterson said. "Normally such charges in the Islamic Republic would be considered apostasy and can be seen as a serious challenge to Iran's religious system." The surprisingly public power struggle at the highest levels of Iranian government erupted on April 17, when Ahmadinejad fired Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi. Supreme Leader Khamenei vetoed the move. For more than a week, Ahmadinejad retreated from the public eye, reportedly refusing to show up for work. Finally, on May 1, he attended a meeting of his cabinet. But Moslehi was conspicuously absent, reportedly due to a scheduling conflict. There are signs that Ahmadinejad may have capitulated in his disagreement with Khamenei. Sunday, Ahmadinejad appeared at cabinet meeting for the first time in a month with the disputed intelligence minister, Press TV reported. And the Islamic Republic News Agency published a series of photos on Sunday, showing Ahmadinejad seated at the left hand of Supreme Leader Khamenei at a ceremony commemorating the death of the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The president swore allegiance to the leader and stressed his dedication to the principle of Velayat-e-Faqih, or Guardianship of the Supreme Jurisprudence, which forms the bedrock of Iran's Shiite theocratic rule. And the president's office published the following curt statement on its website Saturday: "Regarding the false accusations and rumors about President Ahmadinejad that certain news sites have published, this news is wrong and it's hereby rejected. Obviously, the official views, opinions, and news about the dear president, is published by the official site, www.president.ir, and all other media is not reliable." | President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appears to be battling Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei .
Media close to the supreme leader have been criticizing the president .
"There been no question" that Ahmadinejad has been damaged, an analyst says .
He may be backing down, signs suggest . |
85,232 | f1bbc19340005f7d473eb75df08ab70054d45118 | By . Vanessa Allen and Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 04:32 EST, 26 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:20 EST, 26 December 2012 . Walkers and holidaymakers were warned of a risk of landslides yesterday as the wet weather was forecast to continue into the new year. With many areas already saturated, the prospect of more heavy showers means there may be further flooding in the next week. The South-West of England remains the worst affected and forecasters have warned of 'dangerous conditions' in coastal areas. In St Ives Cambridgeshire some residents awoke to find small boats in their back gardens after the Great Ouse burst its banks . The water levels were so deep home-owners were trapped indoors, with the only way out by boat . Toppled: A woman was rescued from a flooded car in Danbury, pictured, as Essex County Fire & Rescue Service were called to the aid of more than 100 motorists over Christmas . Frightening: More heavy rain left roads impassable in Essex, pictured, where four flood warnings are in force . Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were called to over 100 incidents of motorists with cars stuck in floodwater . River rapids: Lock gates overflowed near Danbury as downpours pushed flood defences to breaking point . We're going to a need a bigger boat: Only those with barges and ships appear to be safe this Christmas, with seven inches of rain expected by Saturday . 'We have had such heavy and persistent . rainfall over the past few days and weeks that there is a danger of . landslides and rockfalls along the coast, even on coastal paths,' said a . Met Office spokesman. Families heading out for a Christmas . walk were urged to 'take care' and warned: 'Do not get too close to the . cliff edge or walk under the cliff face along the beach and remember . coastal paths could be impacted too.' Many coastal paths in the South-West . have been closed over the past few weeks, and train services have also . been disrupted by small coastal landslides. The latest warning was . issued following advice from the British Geological Survey monitoring . centre. The worst hit areas of the South-West . can expect up to two-and-a-half inches of rain by Saturday night. However, for the most part forecasters expect heavy showers rather than . the prolonged downpours that have caused the worst of the recent . flooding chaos. A Met Office spokesman said: 'There are going to be . short bursts of showery rain followed by drier spells. Time for a paddle: A canoeist makes his way down Worcester racecourse after the River Severn was measured at 5.25 metres, its highest since 2008 . Alternative route: Many chose to ditch their usual modes of transport today, with Midland rail services and Tube lines affected by the flooding . Ocean spray: Walkers brave the waves lashing the Cobb at Lyme Regis today, A man-made sea wall has been holding back the tide in the spot since 1313, with the present structure built in 1824 . The Boxing Day walk did not hold quite the same charm as usual for these families in Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire . But walking seemed to be the only way to get around the village, which was one of many flooded across the region . The picturesque village was flooded after the nearby River Great Ouse broke its banks . 'This unsettled pattern will continue all the way through to the New Year period.' Yesterday afternoon there were 120 . flood warnings and 228 flood alerts still in place around the country, . mainly across the South-West, Midlands and South-East. Last night firemen were pumping two . feet of flood water from an electricity sub-station which powers 40,000 . homes in the Reading area. It was not expected to be shut down. Ice . warnings compound the festive freeze for the east coast of Scotland and . the Shetland, on what is on track to be the wettest year on record. And . in St Ives Cambridgeshire some residents awoke to find small boats in . their back gardens after the Great Ouse burst its banks. Forecasters said around 0.8ins . (20mm) of rain is expected across the south-west of England and south . Wales today, and the wet weather looks set to continue until the new . year, with as much as three inches (80mm) falling in north-west . England and north Wales on Saturday alone. Flooding is set to worsen across parts of England and Wales, causing the 'dangerous conditions'. Many . coastal paths have been closed over the last few weeks along the South . West and train services have been disrupted by small coastal . landslides. But there's much more to come... A glorious start to Boxing Day in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as the sun rises in an amber sky . Golden morning: Rustling grasses glitter in the breeze at dawn, with Christmas over for another year . Wild for Christmas: Fundraisers dressed as animals plunge into the cold North Sea for the annual Boxing Day dip in Saltburn, Cleveland . Surf's up! A dog and diver wear bright red antlers as they lap up the last of the festive spirit . | Flooding expected across Britain, with 394 warnings and alerts out .
Boxing Day walkers warned of landslides on coastlines and rail tracks .
The South West, Midlands and Anglia at biggest risk from floods .
Seven inches to fall by Saturday on already saturated ground . |
187,855 | 7f421900e6f9eb1508aaad14e06fa80eec243f0f | A series of ritual killings of young women in the West African nation of Cameroon has caused panic in the capital city Yaounde. Families are now refusing to let their daughters go out after a spate of gruesome killings of young girls who were abducted by the drivers of motorcycle taxis before being murdered and dismembered. Police have found 18 mutilated bodies on the streets of the capital in the past two weeks, five of them outside a nursery school, and all are believed to be linked to occult rituals. Capital distress: Another five mutilated corpses were found on the streets of Yaounde, Cameroon, this weekend, taking the two-week death toll to 18 (file photo) In some parts of the country traditional healers believe that body parts including eyes, genitals, breasts and tongues have mystical powers, with many believing they bring riches and other good fortune. Others believe that performing a human sacrifice will bring good luck. Ritual killings were common in Cameroon until the 1970s but as education spread, the number of murders decreased. Now families fear the practice is coming back, with the latest wave of killings causing near-hysteria in the capital city. This week, the sister of a 17-year-old girl whose corpse was found on Friday outside a nursery school, minus the genitals, tongue, eyes, hair and breasts, wrote to Cameroon President Paul Biya demanding action to prevent further killings. Deborah Ngoh Tonye Epouse Mvaebeme said her sister, Michele Mbala Mvogo, a student at the government bilingual High School Yaounde was abducted three days before her body was found outside a nursery school. She accused the city's commonly-used motorcycle taxi drivers of facilitating the murder, and said the government had failed to do enough to protect the victims, who were from the poverty-stricken neighbourhoods of Mimboman and Biteng. Terror town: The population of Yauonde is calling for the police and President Paul Biya to take action over the recent killings in the capital . One local said: 'The moto-taxi . drivers are the assassins' accomplices, and their targets are girls aged . 16-25 who get the taxis after nightfall. For a large sum of money, . these girls are delivered to men in the suburbs who do the rest.' The head of a Mimboman nursery school told afrik.com how she found one of the bodies outside her school. She said: 'It was a strong smell of rotting that drew my attention, so I decided to do a tour of the school. 'That's how I found, behind one . classroom, a body of a young girl in an advanced state of decomposition, . with her underwear placed on her feet, before my very eyes.' Families in the neighbourhood are . said to be in a state of hysteria, banning their girls from taking . motorbike taxis and keeping them indoors after dark. Communication minister Tchiroma . Bakary said: 'Ritual sacrifices with a demoniac connotation are . unacceptable and intolerable, and the government will do all it can to . put a stop to it.' Ngoh Tonye, whose sister was murdered, told CNN: 'There is laxity in the forces in ensuring security in the capital.' The bodies of the five most recent victims were identified yesterday, according to a State security official who said most of the victims were high school students aged 15-26. Two men have been arrested in connection with the killings but so far no charges have been brought. The Cameroon capital, which has a . population of just over two million, is in a state of distress with . families staying behind locked doors as soon as darkness falls. Police . warn pedestrians to walk in groups at all times and have cracked down . on local bars frequented by criminals, shutting them down in the dozens. Vigilante . groups of young men guard the streets at night and hunt for the . killers, as the people of Yaounde say the police are not doing enough to . keep the city safe. The new wave of gruesome killings in the . capital has also seen dozens of complaints about mutilated corpses in . the mortuaries of Yaounde's public hospitals, according to Health . Minister Andre Mama Fouda. | Victims abducted by motorbike taxi drivers and dumped by nursery school .
Girls as young as 15 found in capital Yaounde with different organs cut off .
Families living in terror after 18 women aged 15-26 murdered in a fortnight .
Sister of one victim writes to President Biya accusing him of inaction . |
111,662 | 1bfe7c48d1bc0175cc237152608bf1b151b0df6f | By . Ian Drury, Defence Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 16:30 EST, 18 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:26 EST, 18 February 2014 . Success: Sapper Poloko Hiri, 33, from Botswana, has won a crucial legal battle to stay in this country . An ‘exemplary’ British Army soldier threatened with deportation because of a £100 speeding fine has won a crucial legal battle to stay in this country. Sapper Poloko Hiri, 33, from Botswana, served four years in the UK military. But Home Office bureaucrats rejected his application for citizenship, claiming his driving offence was a sign of ‘bad character’. UK Border Agency officials ruled the serviceman should be bracketed with murderers, rapists and drug dealers and ordered him to quit Britain. Spr Hiri faced certain arrest, prosecution and up to 25 years in jail back in Botswana because enlisting in a foreign army is a criminal offence. But today, a High Court judge ordered Home Secretary Theresa May to ‘reconsider’ the decision, insisting it was ‘legally-flawed’. In a damning ruling, Mrs Justice Lang said the UKBA had carried out an ‘inadequate’ assessment of the soldier’s character and had merely resorted to ‘inflexibly... ticking boxes on a form’. She said officials should not just look at previous criminal convictions when deciding immigration cases. Spr Hiri, of Limehouse, east London, who is currently studying a law degree after leaving the Army, spoke last night of his relief at the judgement. He said: ‘I’m just glad this is all over. I’m so happy. I made a misjudgement when I was speeding and I still feel like an idiot that I put a lot of people in a difficult situation, including the Home Office which had to make a tough decision. 'Exemplary' soldier: Home Office bureaucrats rejected Spr Hiri's application for citizenship because of a £100 speeding fine - claiming it was a sign of 'bad character'. Above, the soldier is pictured in Canada in 2011 . ‘I couldn’t have gone back to Botswana - I wouldn’t have been anywhere. I now want to get on with my life, finish my law degree and be a good citizen of the UK.’ His case has left the Government accused once again of ‘betraying’ the military, following round after round of spending cuts. Spr Hiri’s supporters had pointed out the UKBA’s decision was at odds with the Government’s pledge to uphold the Military Covenant, society’s duty of care to servicemen. Appeal: But today, a High Court judge ordered Home Secretary Theresa May (pictured) to 'reconsider' the decision, insisting it was 'legally-flawed' The ex-soldier, who has a two-year-old daughter in the UK with his ex-girlfriend, enlisted as a Commonwealth serviceman in the Royal Engineers in August 2008. He was eager to fulfil his dream of being a soldier but was too old to join the Botswana Defence Force. Spr Hiri joined 73 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 21 Engineer Regiment and completed exercises in the UK and Canada. In August 2011, he gave 12 months notice he wanted to leave the Army to take a degree - a move supported by commanders. He applied for British citizenship in April 2012 ahead of his Army leaving date. But the UKBA rejected his bid because he had received a £100 fine and five penalty points for speeding on the M1 after leaving Ripon Barracks for his Easter leave. He had been doing 81mph in a temporary 50mph roadworks zone at 1.30am in November 2011. He asked for the decision to be reconsidered by UKBA officials refused to budge, prompting him to launch a Judicial Review. In the High Court in London yesterday, Mrs Justice Lang ruled the Home Office decision ‘legally-flawed’ because it had not considered ‘all aspects’ of his character and background. She said: ‘Plainly, criminal convictions are relevant to the assessment of character, but they are likely to vary greatly in significance, depending upon the nature of the offence and the length of time which has elapsed since its commission, as well as any pattern of repeat offending. Claims: In a damning ruling, Mrs Justice Lang said the UK Border Agency had carried out an 'inadequate' assessment of the soldier's character and had merely resorted to 'inflexibly... ticking boxes on a form' ‘A policy on the way in which criminal convictions will normally be considered by caseworkers... should not be applied mechanistically and inflexibly. ‘There has to be a comprehensive assessment of each applicant’s character, as an individual, which involves an exercise of judgment, not just ticking boxes on a form. ‘This was not an adequate assessment of the claimant’s [Spr Hiri’s] character, as required by law.’ Dr Hugh Milroy, chief executive of charity Veterans Aid, which campaigned for Spr Hiri, said: ‘If Poloko were good enough to carry a weapon for this country, then surely he is good enough to be a citizen.’ His former officer commanding, Major Chloe Plimmer, told the court that Spr Hiri was and ‘intelligent, motivated and hard-working soldier’ with an ‘exemplary record of conduct’. She said: ‘To see that he has been denied British citizenship for what is deemed as “bad character” directly contradicts his performance as a serving soldier. ‘It appears that one moment’s act of misjudgment has defined and tarnished his otherwise good character. The offence was a foolish mistake but it is not a reflection of his character.' | Sapper Poloko Hiri, from Botswana, served four years in the British military .
Home Office rejected his application for citizenship following speeding fine .
Claimed offence was sign of 'bad character' and ordered him to leave UK .
Spr Hiri faced certain arrest and up to 25 years in jail under Botswana law .
But High Court judge has ordered Home Secretary to 'reconsider' decision .
Mrs Justice Lang said UK Border Agency 'inadequately' assessed Spr Hiri .
Soldier has spoken of his relief at judgement - declaring: 'I'm so happy' |
251,614 | d1b019291eef8ed05fe12e74c38c729e5e51c64a | By . Riath Al-Samarrai for MailOnline . Follow @@riathalsam . Swansea City have signed Tottenham’s Tom Carroll on loan for the remainder of the season. The England Under 21 midfielder will be available for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League fixture against Burnley. Swansea manager Garry Monk was keen to strengthen his midfield options with knee injuries currently keeping out the vastly influential Leon Briton, out for three-to-four weeks, as well as Jay Fulton. Loan star: Tom Carroll has joined Swansea City on a season-long loan from Tottenham . The 22-year-old has made 23 appearances for Tottenham. He enjoyed his best spell under Andre Villas-Boas, where he featured 14 times in the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. Last season, Carroll featured in both legs of Spurs’ Europa League victories over Dinamo Tbilisi before joining Queens Park Rangers on loan, making 26 appearances as the London club won the Championship play-off final. Swansea manager Garry Monk believes he has more quality to call on this season - but admits he does need extra bodies to bolster his squad. Monk drafted in Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lukasz Fabianski, Bafetimbi Gomis, Jefferson Montero and Marvin Emnes over the summer and on Wednesday captured Argentina defender Federico Fernandez from Napoli for a fee understood to be around the £8million mark. Gaining experience: Carroll spent last season on loan at QPR in the Championship . But Swansea were also depleted as Ben Davies and Michel Vorm left for Tottenham, loan signing Jonathan de Guzman headed for Napoli and the Spanish quartet of Michu, Pablo Hernandez, Chico Flores and Alejandro Pozuelo were among the other players who left. 'It is different to last season. We had 25-26 senior professionals last season and now I have five or six of the Under 21s in my squad,' Monk said ahead of newly-promoted Burnley's trip to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. 'So in terms of that there is a big difference, but in terms of the players we can bring on, it is better. 'There were players we have got rid of from last season and the players we have brought in I believe are better players. 'That is how I feel, but in terms of numbers of senior professionals we do need two or three players. 'We are in a very tough league that gets better every year and you have to add quality every year and get a group that is good together. 'It has been a mammoth effort from everyone involved this summer to put these things in place on the budget we have, but at this moment we have worked it well.' Monk points to the signing of Fernandez as a symbol of the shrewd business Swansea have done this summer, the 25-year-old centre-half having been a World Cup starter for Argentina in Brazil before injury struck. Incoming: Swansea completed the £8million signing of Federico Fernandez during the week from Napoli . 'He is an Argentina international, has played at a very high level with Napoli and was highly considered over there,' Monk said. 'It's important we try and improve the quality all the time and he fits our profile. 'He is a good ball-playing centre-half, he is a good size and suits the way we play. Hopefully he can adapt as quick as possible and offer us the quality he obviously possesses. 'The Premier League is an eye-opener for everyone, but you don't play for the sides he has played for without being physical. 'Coming through in Argentina is very physical, they are a tough people naturally and he should suit us well. 'It's now about getting him up to full fitness as he had an extended break after the World Cup, more than some of our other players like Ki (Sung-yeung) and (Wilfried) Bony, as they reached the final.' Swansea shocked Manchester United on the opening day of the season to win a league match at Old Trafford for the first time in their history. Sign when you're winning: Swansea boss Garry Monk still wants to add players to his squad despite Gylfi Sigurdsson's (above) strike helping the Jacks to a 2-1 win at Manchester United on the opening day . Since then Monk has spent the week telling his players not to underestimate Burnley opponents who lost their opening game 3-1 at home to Chelsea. 'There is a concern which is why I've stressed to them, I'm conscious we know how important it is to follow up,' Monk said. 'There's no guarantees but if we can get preparations as best as possible it gives you a chance of delivering a performance you're happy with and can win a game. 'Burnley will be a hard working team. They are together, work for each other and can be a threat. 'I watched the Chelsea game, they started well and got their goal but this is the difference at this level when you come up against players of their standards. 'There is always a chance they can turn it on and play their best which they did, but I thought Burnley did very well.' | Tom Carroll has joined Swansea City on season-long loan from Tottenham .
England Under 21 midfielder is available for clash with Burnley .
Swans boss Garry Monk claims he still needs 'two or three' players . |
282,850 | fa6019cbf11e7d34f321d3f3c25a1d2a68782a99 | Crowded by sign-wielding supporters, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich made what's expected to be his final speech before he heads to Colorado to start a 14-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction. "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do," he told the crowd. "But this is the law and we follow the law." Blagojevich was convicted of corruption in June 2011 after a jury returned 17 guilty verdicts against him. Among other allegations, he was accused of trying to profit as he considered whom to appoint to take Barack Obama's open Senate seat. Blagojevich called his impending prison stint a "dark and hard journey," and said he should have been more humble. "We are so grateful and will never ever forget your kindness to us," he told the crowd, which occasionally chanted slogans such as "Free our Governor." His wife, Patti, remained cinched under his arm, squeezing back tears as the former governor spoke outside his Chicago home. "This, as bad as it is, is part of a long and hard journey that will only get worse before it gets better," Blagojevich said, telling his wife that he loved her. His prison stint begins Thursday. "Governor Blagojevich has always stood up and stood tall. He hasn't hid. And he has truly enjoyed being out in public. He never considered 'sneaking' out of Chicago and miss an opportunity to say goodbye," his spokesman Glenn Selig said earlier. "It's difficult to put into words the challenges he and his family now face. But he draws strength from the incredible support he continues to receive from the people of Illinois and beyond." Blagojevich's past statements have been noteworthy for their bluster, such as a defiant news conference in April 2010 when he called his accusers "liars" and "cowards" and directly challenged a prosecutor. Blagojevich also accused U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of hiding taped evidence that would prove his innocence during that news conference. "I challenge Mr. Fitzgerald... Why don't you show up in court tomorrow and explain to everybody, explain to the whole world why you don't want the tapes that you made played in court?" Blagojevich said to reporters at the time. "I'll be in court tomorrow. I hope you're man enough to show up," he added, referring to Fitzgerald. Prosecutors said court-authorized wiretaps caught Blagojevich offering Obama's Senate seat in exchange for personal gain, including a job with a nonprofit or union organization, corporate board posts for his wife, campaign contributions or a post in Obama's administration. He expressed frustration, according to prosecutors, that Obama transition officials were "not willing to give me anything except appreciation." "I've got this thing and it's (expletive) golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for (expletive) nothing. I'm not gonna do it," prosecutors quoted Blagojevich as saying. Blagojevich also considered appointing himself to the post, mulling whether he might be better off being indicted as a senator rather than governor, and saying contacts he would make in the federal job would benefit him later, according to prosecutors. Aside from the charges of trying to sell the Senate seat, prosecutors also accused Blagojevich of using his position to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and his campaign in exchange for jobs, contracts and appointments to state boards to supporters. They accused Blagojevich of accelerating the scheme in 2008 to accumulate funds before a new state ethics law would have limited his ability to raise money from people and companies that were doing business with the state. Despite months of professing his innocence in impromptu news conferences, on Twitter and even on Donald Trump's show "Celebrity Apprentice," the ousted Illinois governor did not take the stand in his own defense during his trial. | Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says goodbye .
"This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do," he tells crowd of supporters .
On Thursday he begins serving a 14-year sentence on a corruption conviction . |
12,761 | 242a79e95c93576fc1364aa7e034f4399af00feb | By . Rachel Rounds . PUBLISHED: . 16:20 EST, 16 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:22 EST, 16 October 2013 . This morning I woke up alone again, as I do every morning. I nipped down to the kitchen to make a plate of hot buttered toast and brought it back to bed, where I switched on the radio, lay back and tucked in, happily scattering crumbs all over the sheets. My husband Tom and I hadn't had an argument, nor is our sex life a thing of the past. Quite the reverse. Ever since my husband and I decided to sleep in separate bedrooms five years ago, our marriage has been happier and more fulfilling than ever. 'Best thing I ever did': Rachel is highly pleased with the restorative effects sleeping in a separate bedroom to her husband has had . As I listened to Tom's footsteps in the hallway, I smiled mischievously as I recalled our wonderful 'date' in his bedroom yesterday evening, which ended with a kiss goodnight before I tiptoed back to my own boudoir. I've always believed that deciding to sleep alone was the best thing I ever did. And this week I learned that I am in some very good royal company. In an interview, Princess Michael of Kent revealed that she and her husband sleep in separate bedrooms so they are 'fresher' for each other. Since they've been married for 35 years, they're clearly doing something right. Sharing a marital bed is a peculiarly British thing. Continentals are far less keen, and America's National Association of Home Builders says 60 per cent of new homes are likely to have dual master bedrooms by 2015. So why do it? Well, please understand, I love my husband dearly and the physical attraction between us remains as strong as the day we met. But between his snoring and my fidgeting, we just could not get along while we were sharing a duvet. Tom and I met in 2001 when I was a political correspondent for GMTV and he worked at the Ministry of Defence. Reinvigorated relationship: Rachel, pictured here with Tom at their wedding, thinks their marriage is happier and more fulfilling than ever . Although he's 23 years older than me, I fell for him instantly. Born in Fiji, he joined the RAF at 17, flew all over the world and fought in two wars - a definite Alpha male, with dark skin, a deep voice and one infuriating habit. Like 40 per cent of the men in this country, Tom snores - very loudly, every night, without fail. Only last week, a survey revealed that more than half of all couples find snoring the most annoying habit in bed, and one in ten of us would rather sleep with a pet than our partner. For me, sleepless nights became a fact of life. But Tom was so lovely in every other way that I felt compelled to try to turn a deaf ear to a habit he couldn't really help. This went on for four years until 2005 when Tom and I separated. He already had three children from his first marriage and, at 57, was adamant he didn't want to start another family. I desperately wanted a child, so we split. We were apart for just over one miserable year before Tom managed to woo me back with the promise that we would marry and start a family. I was delighted - but I didn't feel the same way about his snoring. Our first few weeks back together were heaven by day, hell-on-earth by night. 'Night after glorious night, I go to sleep and stay asleep.' Ear plugs, anti-snoring sprays and nasal strips made zero impact. So I made Tom consult his doctor, who told him that his sonorous habit was thanks to some boxing he had done as a young man that had left him with a deviated septum. On the basis that it would be painful and might not even work, he firmly declined the suggested surgery - and my thoughts turned murderous. On a short break to Spain soon afterwards, things became so bad that I woke Tom and yelled at him: 'If you don't stop snoring, I am going to punch you really, really hard. Please go and sleep in the bathroom.' Tom argued that since I was the only person affected, I was the one who should sleep in the bathroom. And so it was that I took myself off to a cold, tiled floor, next to a dripping tap, too exhausted to fight any longer. Once we got home, I just told Tom straight: 'I want to sleep in the spare room.' Much to my amazement, he greeted the idea warmly. 'Thank goodness for that!' he said. 'I had been trying to think of a way to tell you that your fidgeting and getting up to the loo so many times in the night is driving me insane.' Good night's sleep: Now Rachel doesn't have to be pestered by Tom's annoying nocturnal habits . And so, five years ago, I moved into the spare room. I go to bed early with a hot-water bottle (even in summer, as I have the coldest feet) and read a book. I eat chocolate and crisps in bed and get crumbs everywhere - a habit Tom can't stand. Night after glorious night, I go to sleep and stay asleep. By contrast Tom goes to bed very late and watches television with the windows open, even in winter. Friends say we're missing out on those spontaneous moments of intimacy and early-morning cuddles. But, in reality, people wake up with morning breath and flatulence, not in a romantic embrace. Intimacy may feel like it's 'on tap' when you share the same bed, but in my experience, couples who know they can do it any time actually end up doing it very little. But when you have separate beds, you make time for each other out of desire, not out of habit. After our son, Tanoa, was born in September 2012, he slept in my room because I was breastfeeding. Now, each night Tom and I take turns to have the baby monitor in our room and get up if he wakes. Since he has slept 11 hours a night since he was six months old, that's never been an issue. In fact, our sleeping arrangements are so stress-free all round, that I have been recommending it as a foolproof way of reinvigorating a relationship. After all, there's not much that can't be improved by the restorative power of a really good night's sleep. | Rachel was unable to sleep because of her husband's deafening snore .
Fed up, she decided to try out the spare room - and she never left!
Sleeping alone means she gets a good night's sleep .
But it also means her relationship with her husband has been reinvigorated . |
163,289 | 5f261e97e621153d3f15bb0033b333eaba040bc2 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 02:24 EST, 25 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:01 EST, 25 February 2013 . Oscar's aunt Micki Pistorius is a top criminal profiler, it has emerged . The aunt of alleged murderer Oscar Pistorius is one of South Africa's criminal profilers, it has been revealed. Micki Pistorius, 52, is the author of . 'Profiling Serial Killers and other crimes in South Africa' and spent . six years in the country's police department as founder of an . investigative psychology unit. During her role, she was involved in more than 30 serial killer cases and helped train nearly 200 detectives in the investigation of serial homicides. She regularly attended court with the . rest of the Pistorius family during his bail hearing last week, but has . not made any public comment about his case as yet. A prosecution lawyer confirmed to The . Independent yesterday that Dr Pistorius will not be consulted about her nephew's . psychology due to her family ties - although the issue is likely to be discussed in court. The athlete has been accused of . having 'a propensity for violence' during his bail hearing but . magistrate Desmond Nair said he was not satisfied this had been proven. In her book 'Catch Me A Killer', Dr Pistorius claimed to have extra-sensory powers of perception which . she called 'cryptesthesia'. She has also made controversial . comments about killers saying: 'Serial killers are not monsters; they . are human beings with tortured souls. I will never condone what they do, . but I can understand them.' Yesterday a picture emerged which is believed to be the last image of Reeva Steenkamp alive before she was allegedly murdered by Oscar Pistorius. The 29-year-old is pictured grinning broadly behind the wheel of her car - just hours later she was dead. The picture is taken from CCTV footage that shows the model arriving at the luxury housing complex where Pistorius lived. CCTV: The video stills apparently show 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp looking happy as she pulled up at the star's home in Pretoria, reported the respected South African investigative programme Carte Blanche . On camera: Miss Steenkamp was pictured on a . camera pulling into the guarded entrance of the Silver Woods estate in . her Mini Cooper car just before 6pm on the day before Valentine's Day . Miss Steenkamp is seen grinning as . security guards let her drive her Mini Cooper into the Silver Woods . estate on the outskirts of Pretoria just before 6pm. Ten minutes later, Paralympic . champion Pistorius is also shown arriving in his white BMW. He uses a . lane that is further away from the CCTV camera and it does not capture . his facial expression. The 30 seconds of footage was broadcast on South African television last night. According to police, soon after the . recording was taken the couple started arguing so loudly that his . neighbours heard them ‘shouting and screaming’. Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is at home after being granted bail following a gruelling four-day hearing . Then, in the early hours of . Valentine’s Day, Pistorius allegedly took out his gun and shot Miss . Steenkamp in the head, hip and arm as she hid in the bathroom. Pistorius, 26, claims he mistook her for an intruder. The television channel also . broadcast a brief interview with Miss Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and . June, from their home in Port Elizabeth. In it, Mr Steenkamp said: ‘It’s only . Oscar [and] Reeva that know the true story. All I want is that he must . just come out with the honest truth.’ Mrs Steenkamp added: ‘We can’t come to terms with this. This is going to be for ever.’ Oscar’s uncle, Arnold Pistorius, . said yesterday that Oscar being released on bail was ‘only the beginning . of a long road to prove that . . . [he] never intended to harm Reeva’. Video: I-LINE FILMS . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | 52-year-old spent six years in police investigative psychology unit .
Regularly attended court with Pistorius family during bail hearing .
Cannot be consulted by prosecution for her nephew's case due to family ties . |
181,369 | 76cb8220aaa99d368f41d10fcc598fef795298c0 | They won't be walking down the aisle after all. Robin Wright, 48, and Ben Foster, 34, have ended their 10-month engagement, according to a Wednesday report from UsWeekly. 'She got swept up in the engagement last Christmas, but then their schedules got crazy and she realized it wasn't the right decision,' a source told the publication. Scroll down for video . No wedding bells for these two: Robin Wright has ended her 10-month engagement to actor Ben Foster, who she is seen with here in January, according to a Wednesday report from UsWeekly . The couple's age difference - she is 14 years older - turned out to be a major issue. The ex-wife of Sean Penn (who is now dating Charlize Theron) felt as if Ben was just 'too immature' a source added. 'The gap just ended up being too much,' an insider revealed. 'Ben was kind of immature. She couldn't deal with him anymore.' The loves of her life: The 48-year-old star with Dylan Penn (left) and Hopper Penn (right) at the Emmy Awards at LA Live in 2013 . Once in step: Robin and Sean, pictured at the NYC premiere of The Interpreter in 2005, were married from 1996 to 2010 . And the couple - they met on set of their 2011 film Rampart - were also working in separate cities, which created an emotional distance. Robin was shooting the Netflix show House of Cards in Baltimore while Ben was in London doing A Streetcar Named Desire on stage. During her downtime, Wright liked to visit her children - Dylan, 23, and Hopper Jack, 21 (their father is Penn) - in Los Angeles. Her hit series: The blonde beauty with Kevin Spacey (center) and Michel Gill (far left) in House Of Cards, which has been filming in Baltimore . Before Sean, who she wed in 1996 and divorced in 2010, Robin was married to Dane Witherspoon. Meanwhile, Penn (who was once wed to Madonna) just returned from South Africa where he directed his 39-year-old love Theron in the love story The Last Face. Javier Bardem and Jean Reno also star. In August model Dylan, who used to date Robert Pattinson, said of her father and the bombshell: 'They're a great couple. They're both very happy and, yeah, I love it.' They seem to be on solid ground: Penn, 54, with Charlize, 39, landing at LAX airport after finishing shooting The Last Face in South Africa . She added, 'They're both extremely strong personalities and they're very intelligent, so conversation lasts between them.' In February Robin broke her silence on her divorce from Sean. The Forrest Gump star told a British paper, 'Divorce in and of itself, and with children, is devastating. Worse than that. 'One of the reasons why we got back together and broke up so much was trying to keep the family together. If you've got kids, it's a family, and you try again, and you try again. We did that for a long time.' | Robin, 48, became engaged to Ben, 34, in December after a year of dating .
She ended the engagement because she found him 'too immature'
They lived in separate cities as she shot House Of Cards in Baltimore and he performed A Streetcar Named Desire on stage in London .
The actors met on the set of their 2011 film Rampart about police officers .
The blonde beauty was married to Sean Penn, 54, for 14 years . |
169,624 | 678379e00a701726341135616f78a06b001460f4 | It was a day of peculiar reunions as Manchester United’s players returned to the club’s Carrington training ground for their first ball-playing sessions of pre-season on Monday morning. In the absence of newly appointed manager Louis van Gaal, assistant coach Ryan Giggs assumed responsibilities on the training field, but it was the make-up of the playing staff, rather than coaching staff, that was causing near jaw-ache among the chattering classes at the club’s AON Training Complex. All those players who did not appear at the World Cup in Brazil returned late last week for the usual rigorous medical testing to assess how their fitness had been maintained in the close season. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Bebe scores another brilliant goal for Pacos de Ferreira . In charge: Ryan Giggs took Manchester United's first pre-season training in the absence of Louis van Gaal . International pedigree: Van Gaal will join up with United after Holland's World Cup campaign is over . First-team returnees included new signing Ander Herrera, Jonny Evans, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley and Rafael Da Silva. However, there was also much consternation as several loanees returned to the club - including cast-offs such as the Portuguese winger Bebe and the Brazilian midfielder Anderson - with their tails firmly between their legs. Bebe was signed in a bizarre £7million . deal in the summer of 2011 - despite Sir Alex Ferguson later admitting . he had not seen the winger play - and the 23-year-old is still yet to . start a Barclays Premier League match four years later. Flop: £7million Bebe (left) was one of the players who reported to United's pre-season training on Monday . Change of scene: Anderson spent the second half of last season on loan to Serie A outfit Fiorentina . He was the one player immediately . written off by David Moyes last summer and it is understood that Louis . van Gaal will adopt the same approach towards a player with one year . left on a five-year contract. United will loan Bebe out for a third . consecutive season or sell him on a permanent deal if they can find a . buyer. Anderson, for his part, became a source . of frustration for Moyes over his perceived lack of fitness, evidenced . by the damning statistic that he has completed ninety minutes of Premier . League football on only 18% of the 104 appearances he has made in a . seven-year spell of fluctuating form at Old Trafford. He endured a stuttering loan spell at . Fiorentina in the second half of last season and United may encounter . trouble as they attempt to recoup in excess of £20m for the player . signed by Sir Alex Ferguson on the recommendation of his brother, . Martin, who said: ‘Alex, he’s better than (Wayne) Rooney.’ Familiar sight: Anderson has only completed 18% of the 104 Premier League appearances he has started . There was, however, excitement to see the return of several young and talented players to the club, including Wilfried Zaha from Cardiff, who is hoping to be granted a clean slate by Van Gaal after being frozen out by Moyes over his perceived failure to grasp the immaculate standards expected of a Manchester United player on the training ground. Nick Powell, who Sportsmail understands who would have been promoted into the first-team pool had Ferguson remained in charge last season, has also returned after a campaign with Wigan Athletic, along with 21-year-old forward Jesse Lingard from Brighton and Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez, who struggled to make an impact on loan at Real Zaragoza last season. Assistant manager Ryan Giggs is believed to have pencilled in meetings with every player for this week and he will advise Van Gaal over the right course of action with United’s young players, although any decision will ultimately be rubber-stamped the Dutchman. On the ball: Wilfried Zaha will hope to impress United's this season after being loaned out last campaign . Up for the challenge: Nick Powell (left) has returned to United after an impressive loan spell at Wigan . VIDEO Van Gaal will rebuild United - Yorke . | Manchester United players returned to their first ball-playing pre-season sessions on Monday .
Bebe and Anderson were involved at the AON Training Complex .
Bebe is yet to start a Premier League game for United despite joining for £7million four years ago .
Anderson has only completed 18% of the 104 Premier League games he has started for the Red Devils during a seven-year speall .
Ryan Giggs took charge in the absence of Louis van Gaal - who is away on World Cup duty with Holland . |
87,086 | f720f12a6e940af2cb71fcee28f8ea982050f42d | (CNN) -- A plane crash in Sudan has killed 32 people, including four ministers and other top government officials, state media reported Sunday. Engineer Ghazi al-Sadiq, minister of guidance and endowments, died when the private plane he was on went down in the Sudanese mountains due to dust causing poor visibility, state media said. Also killed in the crash were three state ministers and three major generals. The plane, a Ukrainian-made Antonov, according to state radio, crashed near Talodi near the border with the new nation of South Sudan. There were no survivors. The officials were traveling to the border state of South Kordofan for festivities marking Eid, the celebration of the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. State media said the officials were on their way to "bring Eid to different regions." Are you there? Share your images, videos and stories. Flames from engine ground flight in Newark . Potential FAA cuts would create big hassles for fliers . Man: Airline treated me like a pedophile . | Minister of endowments, 31 others killed in Sudan airplane crash .
The plane crashes because of poor visibility caused by dust .
State media: All aboard died . |
163,883 | 5fef498ff0ca4e9a4e3aa4bd26e6d19f3dd6d96c | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 13:13 EST, 5 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:12 EST, 5 September 2013 . An Indian author, who wrote a bestselling memoir about life under the Taliban, has been shot by militants in Afghanistan. Suspected Taliban militants broke into Sushmita Banerjee's home late last night in Paktika province. Provincial police chief general Dawlat Khan Zadran said they tied up her husband before taking Ms Banerjee, 49, outside and shooting her. Sushmita Banerjee was shot dead by militants who broke into her Afghanistan home on Thursday night . Her body was then left near a religious school, the BBC reported. Ms Banerjee was known for her memoir, A Kabuliwala's Bengali Wife, a bestseller in India. It tells the story of her marriage to Afghan businessman husband, Jaanbaz Khan, and their move to his country before she fled back to her native India. Ms Banerjee's memoir was made into the 2003 film Escape From Taliban . The book was made into a 2003 Bollywood film called Escape From The Taliban. She moved to Afghanistan in 1989 but escaped in 1995 after the Taliban's rise to power and restriction of women's rights. In the book, Ms Banerjee described fleeing to neighbouring Pakistan but being forcibly brought back to the Afghanistan capital Kabul by her brothers-in-law. She eventually tunnelled out of the house before being assisted by the Indian Embassy. The BBC reports the Taliban has denied murdering Ms Banerjee, who was also known locally as Sayed Kamala. No group has claimed responsibility. According to local reports, Ms Banerjee and her husband had only recently moved back to Afghanistan. She had been reportedly working as a health worker and filming the lives of women that she met. The killing of Ms Banerjee is the latest in a string of attacks on prominent women in Afghanistan, adding to fears women's rights will recede even further in the country after US-led foreign forces leave. | Sushmita Banerjee shot outside her home before her body was dumped .
Militants broke into the home in Paktika province and tied up her husband .
Ms Banerjee, 49, wrote bestselling memoir A Kabuliwala's Bengali Wife .
It was turned into a Bollywood film in 2003 called Escape From The Taliban . |
13,870 | 2752ca369e240be018b1fd0c59b13949992758a8 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 13:31 EST, 29 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:32 EST, 29 January 2014 . Remnants of Neanderthal DNA in the genes of non-African modern humans are linked to a range of health problems and behaviours including type 2 diabetes and smoking . If you are a hairy diabetic who smokes and suffers from stomach cramps, blame your Neanderthal ancestry. Remnants of Neanderthal DNA in the genes of non-African modern humans are linked to a range of health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, lupus and biliary cirrhosis, a study has shown. They are also associated with smoking and thick hair, as well as tough skin and nails. Between two per cent and four per cent of the genome, or genetic code map, of Europeans and Asians is believed to be a legacy of interbreeding between ancient Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The two were separate human subspecies who co-existed on Earth for thousands of years until the Neanderthals became extinct around 30,000 years ago. Indigenous people from sub-Saharan Africa, whose ancestors did not migrate out of the continent to breed with Eurasian Neanderthals, carry little or no Neanderthal DNA. A new DNA comparison study has now shone a spotlight on important aspects of Neanderthal inheritance. Scientists compared genetic variants in the DNA of 846 people of non-African heritage, 176 people from sub-Saharan Africa, and the toe bone of a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal woman. A near-complete reconstruction of the Neanderthal’s genome was published last year. The team identified some areas of the modern non-African genetic code that were rich in Neanderthal DNA while others looked like Neanderthal-free zones. A number of variants inherited from Neanderthals were linked to diseases, especially autoimmune disorders. Crohn’s, which causes inflammation of the gut, lupus and the liver disease biliary cirrhosis are all problems triggered by an over-zealous immune system. In addition, one genetic variant, or ‘allele’, was associated with smoking, specifically in Europeans. Professor David Reich, from Harvard Medical School in the U.S., who led the study reported in the journal Nature, said: ‘Now that we can estimate the probability that a particular genetic variant arose from Neanderthals, we can begin to understand how that inherited DNA affects us. ‘We may also learn more about what Neanderthals themselves were like.’ Between two per cent and four per cent of the genome, or genetic code map, of Europeans and Asians is believed to be a legacy of interbreeding between ancient Homo sapiens and Neanderthals . Among the discoveries was the fact that Neanderthal ancestry could be seen in genes for keratin filaments, a fibrous protein that lends toughness to skin, hair and nails. This may have helped provide the newcomers from Africa thicker insulation against the cold European climate. ‘It’s tempting to think that Neanderthals were already adapted to the non-African environment and provided this genetic benefit to (modern) humans,’ Professor Reich said. The ‘desert’ regions that contained far less Neanderthal DNA than average were associated with male fertility. DNA from a Neanderthal woman's 50,000-year-old toe bone shows she was highly inbred. Scientists from the University of California discovered that her parents were either half-siblings who shared the same mother, an uncle and niece, an aunt and nephew, or a grandparent and grandchild. Alternatively, they may have been double first cousins - offspring of two siblings and their siblings. The inbreeding may have been the result of Neanderthal population groups being very small, experts believe. Analysis of the DNA also revealed evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals, Denisovans - a Neanderthal sister group from Siberia - and early modern humans. They may hold clues to why the Neanderthals and Denisovans died out while modern humans survived. This suggests that the two sub-species were sufficiently far apart to put them ‘at the edge of biological incompatibility’, according to the professor. Ancient modern human and Neanderthal populations apparently found it hard to breed successfully after 500,000 years of evolutionary separation. A number of DNA variants inherited from Neanderthals are linked to diseases such as diabetes, Crohn's disease and lupus . The team is following up the research by testing for Neanderthal mutations in a biobank containing genetic data from half a million Britons. Professor Chris Stringer, a leading expert in human origins at London’s Natural History Museum, said the findings added a new twist to the debate over how early modern humans related to Neanderthals and Denisovans, another subspecies cousin from Siberia. He did not think it undermined current thinking about our ancestors’ African origins. ‘The genetic data also show there are thousands of DNA changes that are unique to Homo sapiens, and these distinctions are likely to have accumulated during the several hundred thousand years since Homo sapiens separated from the Neanderthal and Denisovan lineages as they evolved in Africa and Eurasia, respectively,’ he said. ‘Our genetic heritage is still largely from a recent African origin, despite the interbreeding with other human populations that undoubtedly occurred.’ A parallel study in the journal Science suggests that up to a fifth of the Neanderthal genome may have survived in modern human populations. This was despite the fact that the proportion of Neanderthal DNA in any one individual is low, around two per cent to four per cent. The U.S. scientists, from the University of Washington, Seattle, compared ancient and modern DNA sequences in 600 present-day humans from Europe and East Asia. | Remnants of Neanderthal DNA in the genes of non-African modern humans are linked to a range of health problems including diabetes and Crohn's .
They are also associated with thick hair and tough skin and nails .
Between 2% and 4% of the human genome is thought to be the legacy of interbreeding between ancient Homo sapiens and Neanderthals . |
190,914 | 83392b4f608623726fd3a82d218301d9e0c39616 | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 12:58 EST, 28 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:43 EST, 29 October 2013 . A nine-week-old baby has become Britain's youngest ever beauty queen. Ella Oliver's mother Jenny, 27, entered her into the Miss Natural Sparkle UK contest before she was even born. Mother-of-three Jenny, from Blackpool, was seven months pregnant - and knew she was carrying a girl - when she sat down to register her unborn baby into the competition. Ella Oliver has become Britain's youngest ever beauty queen despite being just nine weeks old . Ella was born by caesarean on July 23 weighing 7lb 7oz and just 68 days later her doting mother dressed her up and carried her down the catwalk to be judged. Jenny wanted Ella to follow in the footsteps of sister Jess, seven, who takes to the stage kitted out with make-up, wash-off fake tan and press-on nails. Former child minder Jenny, who paid £10 to enter Ella, said: 'I didn't put any make-up on Ella because she is too young for that, so she was natural. 'She wore a really pretty pink dress and head band, she even smiled for the judges. 'She didn't have to do a talent or show confidence because she can't walk or talk so I think it was judged on cuteness. 'I don't know if Ella wants to do pageants but I don't think it will damage her. Jenny Oliver registered Ella into the Miss Natural Sparkle UK contest after discovering she was having a girl . 'She doesn't know what she's doing so it won't affect her at that age. 'If she tells me when she is older she doesn't want to do that's fine and that's her choice.' Pint-sized Ella was crowned with her first sash and tiara. Despite coming under fire from fellow parents, Jenny and mechanic husband Steve, 29, will continue to chaperone their daughters to pageants across the country. They have already been to 10 different contests and spent more than £2,000 pounds on dresses, shoes, travel, hotels and accessories in the past three years on Jess. Jenny, who also has a son Stephen, six, added: 'Three years ago Jess watched Baby Beauty Queens on BBC3 and said she wanted to do something like that. 'I didn't know anything about pageants so researched it a bit. 'I entered a contest by sending a photo of Jess to the organiser out of curiosity. Jenny wanted Ella to follow in the footsteps of sister Jess, seven, who already competes . 'We didn't hear anything for ages but then one day we got a phone call offered her a place. 'That was the start of our pageant life. 'Jess didn't win but she really enjoyed it and said she wanted to do more. 'When she was a toddler she used to play with mud and dirt but as she got older she became more girly - you won't find her in a tracksuit now. 'I remember going to parents evening afterwards and the teacher said she couldn't believe the difference in confidence in her. 'I told her about the pageant and I can only presume that had made her change from being such a shy reserved girl. Seven-year-old Jess has enjoyed taking part in pageants since watching Baby Beauty Queens . 'I hope Ella will gain as much confidence as Jess through pageants.' Leanne Woodall, Miss Natural Sparkle organiser, said: 'Because beauty pageants are a family event and the whole family like to be involved we decided to introduce just one round for newborns this year. 'Parents dressed their babies up in little dresses or suits. 'It was judged on cute factor and Ella won. We thought she looked adorable in a little pink dress and head band. 'She was presented with a sash and crown. It's something nice for her family to keep and show her when she is older.' | Ella Oliver, nine weeks, entered into the Miss Natural Sparkle UK contest .
Mother Jenny, 27, from Blackpool, signed her up before she was even born . |
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