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255,410 | d6997c1dfde636aaccb329365f20e82895f23f91 | By . Scarlett Russell . As any singleton knows, free dating services make it easy to meet men - but how do you weed out the creeps? You know, the ones who immediately send you naked selfies and expect you to reciprocate. Well, a new dating app has been created which just might help. Men are only allowed to join new dating site Wyldfire - which launches in the UK next month - if they are recommended and invited by a female member, through Facebook or by email. Scroll down for video . Going Wyld: New dating app Wyldfire allows users to invite men anonymously, through Facebook or by email . New way to date: The app works in a similar way to Tinder, where you swipe those you like and equal matches can start talking to each other . The idea is that this will create a database of eligible men, with fewer weirdos and perverts than your average dating site. The app then works in a similar way to Tinder, where you swipe those you like and equal matches can start talking to each other. True love online? Wyldfire is just one of dozens of dating apps available in the UK and US, joining the likes of Tinder, Grouper and Hinge . The app launches next month, but early access is available through the website. Wyldfire has incorporated features similar to Twitter and Instagram, to enhance your social dating network experience. For example, you can see who is trending in your area and which style of profile photo is getting the most hits. Sarah . Cardey, director of operations and marketing for Wyldfire told Ask Men: . ‘When it comes to dating apps, men will go anywhere women go, but women . won’t go unless it’s worth their time. ‘If . women are the ones creating the community and are accountable for the . type of people they let in, we feel like we could make a dating app . women can be proud of. ‘Everyone . has that one friend who they think is a great quality guy, but they . either don’t want to date themselves or want someone else they know to . date them.’ | New Wyldfire dating app promises to weed out creeps .
Launches in the UK next month .
Men can only join when recommended by female friends . |
268,731 | e819f27732eb13314262169b635cc723b863ac5d | (CNN) -- Singer-actress Pia Zadora landed in jail after she allegedly fought with her teenage son when he wouldn't go to bed early Saturday, police said. Zadora, 61, was charged with domestic violence battery and coercion for allegedly scratching 16-year-old Jordan's ear as she tried to take his cell phone when he dialed 911, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police report. Jordon told police his mother and her husband -- Las Vegas Police Det. Michael Jeffries -- were drinking alcohol in their home before the incident. The trouble began around 11 p.m. when his mother said she was tired and she ordered him to bed, the police report said. "Jordan said he told his mom he wanted to stay outside and talk because it was a weekend night," the report said. Zadora became "upset and angry" and "got the hose and started squirting everyone, insisting that Jordan go to bed and Mike Jr. leave." She then scratched her husband's face and was "punching and scratching" her 32-year-old stepson, the report said. Several hours later -- at 4:30 a.m. -- the mother and son "wrestled" over Jordan's cell phone, it said. "Pia then grabbed him from behind around his head, grabbing his eyes and face, leaving a scratch on his left ear," the report said. "Jordan got away and Pia came up and again grabbed him from behind encircling his neck in the process." When police arrived, they were not allowed inside the home, but they realized a police officer -- Jeffries -- lived there, the report said. Two officers found an unlocked door in the rear and entered, the report said. "Metro Police. Come out with your hand up," an officer announced. "What are you doing in my house?" an unknown male voice replied. "I then stated that he knew why we were there and to come out so we could talk," the reporting officer wrote. "Why don't you f--king come back here and get me!" the unknown male shouted, the report said. The police officers retreated from inside the home and waited for SWAT officers to surround the house, the report said. Zadora later told police she did not come out because she thought her husband, a detective "would take care of it." After a couple of hours of sleep -- with the SWAT officers still surrounding her house -- she said she called 911 and operators told her to go outside, which she did. Zadora's fame is partially based on her involvement in a Hollywood awards scandal in 1982. When the Hollywood Foreign Press Association gave her the Golden Globe best female newcomer award, it triggered allegations that her wealthy then-husband had influenced the selection by entertaining voters at his casino. CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report. | The trouble began when Zadora said she was tired and ordered her son to bed, police say .
She became "upset and angry" and "started squirting everyone" with a water hose, son says .
Zadora scratched her son's ear as they wrestled over his cell phone, police say .
Zadora's fame is partly based on a Hollywood awards scandal in 1982 . |
63,200 | b3851140d1cbe23f20be17e732e7abaaa17b55a5 | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . PUBLISHED: . 04:15 EST, 18 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 18 May 2012 . Accused: Police from Scotland Yard confirmed the charges . Three couples have been charged in connection with the trafficking of an Indian woman from Hyderabad to London. The three men and three women, who are from London but are of Indian and Ghanian nationality, are facing a number of charges, including sexual assault and making threats to kill the woman. The 37-year-old victim is from the southern Indian city. The six are all due to appear before magistrates in Westminster on June 7. Enkarta Balapovi, 53, a butcher of St John’s Wood, north London, faces one charge of trafficking within the UK and five counts of rape. His wife Shanaz Begum, 56, a shop worker, also of St John’s Wood, is accused of two counts of trafficking - the first into the UK and the second within Britain. Begum's son Aleemuddin Mohammed, 34, a supermarket manager from Harrow, north west London, faces a similar count of trafficking into the UK and another of sexual assault on a female. Human trafficking: The 37-year-old victim has been brought to London to Hyderabad (pictured) His 32-year-old wife Shamina Yousuf, a secretary from Edgware, also in north west London, is charged with trafficking into the country and ABH. Ghanian national Shashi Kala Obhrai, 53, an optician, of Northwood, Middlesex, is charged with trafficking within the UK, ABH and making threats to kill. Her husband Balram Kumar Obhrai, 58, a computer entrepreneur, of Northwood, Middlesex, is accused of trafficking into the UK and making threats to kill. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Four Indian and two Ghanian nationals will appear in court .
Charges include sexual assault and making threats to kill .
Woman, 37, was brought to the capital from southern Indian city of Hyderabad . |
247,474 | cc3cb0a33467582039e9f4e278faab3f06394007 | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 14:59 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:08 EST, 3 December 2013 . For most football fans, the ultimate display of loyalty to their team is a tattoo sporting the side's colours or crest. But one Newcastle United fan has taken his love for the Geordie club to new extremes. Andrew Canavan has had the club's emblem etched onto his glass eye in a bid to find a unique way to show where his loyalties lie. Die hard fan: Andrew Canavan, pictured at St James's Park, shows off his glass eye etched with the Newcastle United crest . Unusual request: Mr Canavan had to get special permission to use the club's trademarked crest . The 35-year-old spent a year trying to secure permission from Newcastle United to use their logo - a registered trademark - before finally getting the go ahead this summer. The glass eye, made by a specialist in Blackpool for just over £150, arrived at his home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, earlier this week and Andrew says he is 'over the moon' with the creation. The demolition worker plans to wear the glass eye everyday and says he has had a brilliant reaction from friends and family. However, he adds that he's had some 'grief' from rival fans for taking his love of Newcastle to the extreme. He said: 'I've had some snide comments from Sunderland fans on Facebook, but that is only to be expected. 'When some people lose an eye they are devastated, but I saw it as an opportunity to do something unique. Glass eye: Andrew had his eye removed 20 years ago when a detached retina caused bleeding from his pupil which turned his eye red . 'I have always been a Newcastle United fan. Where I come from, you don't choose what club you support, you are born into it. 'My dad was a Newcastle fan, and my granddad. 'This is the ultimate tribute to Newcastle United.' Andrew, a father-of-three, added: 'It took us ages to persuade Newcastle United to allow me to use the emblem because it is a registered trademark. 'To start with they thought I was taking the mick, but when they realised how sincere I was they said they were happy for me to go ahead.' The football fanatic's baby Delly, nineteen-months-old, has been pointing and laughing at the eye since he started wearing it on Monday. Delighted: Andrew shows the crest on his glass eye, which arrived at his Bishop Auckland home this week . He said that his step-children Chloe, who is eight, and Jay, who is six, also think the etching is 'pretty cool'. Andrew's partner Emma Tray, 30, added: 'This does not surprise me at all. It is exactly the kind of mad thing Andrew would do.' Andrew had his eye removed 20 years ago when a detached retina caused bleeding from his pupil which turned his eye red. He was told by a doctor that he could keep the eye, but he made the decision to have it removed. Andrew added: 'I jumped at the chance to have it taken out, it was doing my head in. 'I couldn't be happier with my glass eye.' A spokesperson for Newcastle United said: 'It was certainly an unusual request but one that we were more than happy to assist with.' | Football fan Andrew Canavan, 35, had his eye removed 20 years ago .
He says that he is 'over the moon' with his new sign of loyalty to his club .
Mr Canavan had to get the club's permission to use the emblem . |
209,760 | 9ba88f9d7634efad55edfb01904986b37b712925 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 05:27 EST, 28 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:03 EST, 28 November 2012 . When home owner Howard Hudson moved in next door to a plastic recycling centre he thought he had found tidy and environmentally-friendly neighbours. But the frustrated resident has instead found himself living next to a growing rubbish dump that now towers 20 feet high at the back of his garden. Cafe boss Mr Hudson, 57, moved into his . £70,000 terraced house ten years ago not realising bosses at the recycling depot . were about to expand. A garden view: Howard Hudson in his back garden with views over the V10 Polymers plastic recycling site . Home sweet home: Mr HUdson moved into his £70,000 property in Blackburn, Lancashire, ten years ago when there was still a recycling factory building next door . Aerial view: The A marker shows Mr Hudson's property next to the plastic recycling plant . But now hundreds of tonnes of plastic scrap are piled up 20 feet high behind his back wall in Blackburn, Lancashire. Mr Hudson is now urging for action from local councillors and the Environment Agency against officials at V10 Polymers. He said: 'When people are driving past they think . it is a tip - but it’s not, it’s a plastic recycling centre. But I’m not . surprised people think that it is a tip because it looks like a dumping . ground. Frustrated: Mr Hudson says the expansion of the recycling plant has made his life a misery . 'It is an absolute disgrace - it looks really awful and can’t carry on living like this. 'It used to be quiet and tidy here but not now. This is the mess that I see over my back yard wall and every morning through the bedroom window. 'Since the company has grown, residents around here have been left with noisy wagons and this eyesore. We are going to start a petition and send it to the council. I was hoping to emigrate to Gambia next year but I will never be able to sell the house. 'My son is in the building trade and he said the house has devalued by £20,000. The council needs to do something. When I moved in it was not like this. I just don’t know what to do because it’s really getting me down.' Mr Hudson has also raised concerns about the health risks posed by the rat infested tower of rubbish. He added: 'There are rats everywhere and I’ve even had to get two cats because we were getting so many of them. 'It is only a metre away from my back . yard. We have seen rats running about all over, you wouldn’t believe . the amount the cats kill. 'This is meant to be a plastic recycling centre but I don’t see much recycling going on. 'Some say its like an ocean of plastic but I would say it was worse than that - it’s like a tidal wave when you look out at it. 'Even the environmental health said that it was bad and he said that in his eyes it was illegal but they’ve said what is happening is not illegal.' Untidy: The view from Mr Hudson's back garden shows huge piles of plastic covering the V10 Polymers site . Health concerns: Mr Hudson claims the mound of plastic recycling at the plant is infested with rats and now owns two cats to help cope with the problem . Big loss: Mr Hudson claims the state of the recycling plant has devalued his property by £20,000 . Mr Hudson said the problems started when a factory was torn down on the site and replaced with the dump. He said: 'When I moved in 10 years ago it was . summer and everything was flowering and I had a reasonable view looking . out over the factory and it was fine - but not anymore. 'They found asbestos in the roof and demolished it and this started piling up. If the factory was still there it wouldn’t be like this. They wouldn’t be able to pile all this stuff up in a factory. Campaign: Mr Hudson is now asking his local council and the Environment Agency to take action against V10 Polymers . 'There was a wall behind my yard which . went straight across but they demolished that, I had to stop them . demolishing the wall in front otherwise the rubbish would have been up . to my back yard. 'I kept thinking that something would be done about it because it was getting out of hand but nothing was ever done about it. 'In winter when all the leaves have fallen and there aren’t my roses and clematis it looks really bare and all you can see is that eyesore. 'I can’t get out because no one will want to buy the house and have this in their back yard. It just seems to be getting worse. I can’t win and it’s so frustrating. 'I don’t look out of my window anymore I’m at my wits end. I have blinds so I can’t see out at that eyesore.' Neighbour Diane Hargreaves said: 'I knew V10 was there when I moved in, but cannot believe how bad it is. 'The view is dreadful and the noise from lorries, especially in the morning is terrible. I want the company or the council to do something about it. Even a wall or screen between us and the recycling site would be an improvement.' V10 Polymers which handles in excess of 5,000 tonnes of plastic scrap per year has been operating legally at the site for many years and is not controvening any planning rules. It said its recycling operations met Environment Agency and borough requirements. Manager David Holt said: 'We have controlled facilities for our waste and the items that we recycle disposed of accordingly. And as for the rats we are situated right next to the canal.' Regenerating: Mr Hudson's property is located within the Waterside regeneration area in Blackburn, Lancashire . Legal: V10 Polymers have been operating at the site for many years and is not contravening any planning laws . | Cafe boss Howard Hudson moved into the £70k property in Blackburn, Lancashire, ten years ago when there was a recycling factory next door .
The building was torn down and replaced by a mound of plastic .
'Rat infested' pile of plastic scrap now 20ft high at the back of his garden . |
8,548 | 181c7f462ec731db38705417e32ca189da642ae9 | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 07:23 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:35 EST, 27 February 2014 . Plenty of cheeses get better with age, but crumbs discovered on the necks and chests of Chinese mummies are now thought to be the world’s oldest vintage - although their taste may be questionable. The cheese dates back to 1,615BC and was essentially vacuum-packed with the bodies of the mysterious Bronze Age people who were buried in the Taklamakan Desert, making it the oldest ever recovered. While the strange discovery was made in the 1930s, scientists have only just analysed the proteins and fats in the clumps of 3,600-year-old food to reveal its age and ascertain that it is not butter or milk. Some of the mummies (pictured) were found to have unusual crumbs on their necks and chest which are now known to ancient cheese. They were preserved - complete with their felt hats - die to the dry conditions of their desert burial . Two hundred mummies were discovered in the 1930s by Swedish archaeologist in the Taklimakan Desert north of Tibet. Small River Cemetery was rediscovered in 1934 by Swedish . archaeologist Folke Bergman and then lay forgotten until it was . relocated using GPS navigation by a Chinese expedition. Archaeologists . began excavating it from 2003 to 2005. The people died around 3,600 years ago but their bodies were preserved because of the air-tight nature of their unusual graves and salty soil. The people had European features with light brown hair and have no name. They were buried in up-turned boats wrapped in animal skin to be air-tight on the top of sand dunes. The mummies are wearing felt caps with feathers, woollen capes and leather boots and were buried with precious objects including woven baskets, carved masks and a medicinal herb, as well as the cheese - which might have been intended for the afterlife. Chemists at Germany's Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics found that the cheese is a lactose-free variety that was quick to make. It might have been responsible for spreading dairy farming across Asia in the Bronze Age, the said. ‘We not only identified the product as the earliest known cheese, but we also have direct evidence of ancient technology,’ analytical chemist and study author Andrej Shevchenko told USA Today. The method of making the cheese was cheap and would have been used by common people, he said. The cheese survived because of the unusual conditions of River Cemetery Number Five in the Takalamn Desert in north western China – the final resting place of the mummies. They and the cheese were laid to rest on sand dunes near a river under large wooden boats wrapped so tightly in cow-hide that the bodies were essentially vacuum-packed. The mixture of dry desert air and salty soil preserved the mummies complete with their light brown hair, felt hats and woollen capes as well as delicate leather boots. Some of the mummies were found to have unusual crumbs on their necks and chest, which are now known to be cheese and not butter or milk. Two hundred mummies were discovered in the 1930s by a Swedish archaeologist in the Taklimakan Desert north of Tibet. The site is known as Small River Cemetery Number 5 (pictured) It is not known why the people were buried with morsels of cheese on them, but much as other civilisations buried their dead with wine and bread, the mummy’s ancestors might have provided them with cheese for the afterlife. Analysis of the cheese shows that it was made by combining milk with a mixture of bacteria and yeast, similar to that used to make kefir, which is quite similar to cottage cheese, today. This is unusual as it is thought that people first stumbled across making cheese by carrying milk in bags made of animal guts, which contained rennet that curdled the milk. As the rennet method of making cheese requires the killing of an animal, Dr Shevchenko thinks the vegetarian kefir method proved easier and cheaper for people at the time. Analysis of the ancient cheese shows that it was made by combining milk with a mixture of bacteria and yeast, similar to that used to make kefir (pictured) which is quite similar to cottage cheese, today . The fact it was so easy and quick meant that it spread the practice of dairy farming across Asia from its origins in the Middle East, according to the study, which will be published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Fragments of cheese-making strainers in Poland, dating back more than 7,000 years, and 5,000-year-old cheese making tools have previously been discovered in Denmark, proving that our ancestors were partial to a morsel of cheese or two, bioarchaeologist Oliver Craig of the University of York told the publication. But no crumbs of ancient cheese as old as that found with the mummies have been recovered. Dr Craig is however not convinced as to whether it is possible to confirm that the cheese was made like kefir as the proteins could have decayed too much to be absolutely sure. | Cheese dates back to 1,615BC and was .
essentially vacuum-packed with the bodies of the mysterious Bronze Age .
people .
Mummies were discovered in the Taklamakan Desert, China in the 1930s .
Chemists at Germany's Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics analysed cheese to find it was made in a similar way to kefir . |
220,067 | a8d488af39d82f0e6295e686d0be196f750d76e0 | (CNN) -- Former world number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Brisbane International tournament in Australia after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday's third-round victory over Bojana Jovanovski. However, the American hopes it will not stop her from competing at this month's Australian Open, an event that the 13-time grand slam champion has won five times -- a record in the post-1968 Open era. The world No. 12 sustained the injury while serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set of her clash with Jovanovski at the Pat Rafter Arena. The Serbian broke to keep the contest alive, but fourth seed Williams responded to earn a 6-2 6-4 win before the results of a scan forced her to exit the Queensland event. Serena: 'I don't love playing tennis' "I'm disappointed to have to pull out of the Brisbane International," the 30-year-old Williams told the tournament's official website. "I have been to hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn't play on. I'm going to take a couple of days off, not too many, and see how I feel. I'm still hopeful of playing the Australian Open." Williams was playing in her first event since losing to Samantha Stosur in the final of the U.S. Open in September, when she was fined $2,000 for verbally abusing the match umpire. The Michigan native has been plagued by injury in recent years, having twice undergone foot surgery after stepping on a piece of glass in July 2010 and then suffering blood clots on both lungs. "It was such an unexpected end to the tournament," she said. "I didn't expect to be getting an MRI today. I've had a great time here in Brisbane -- the tournament is great, the fans are fantastic and hopefully I'll see them again next year." Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova is guaranteed a place in the last four as a result of Williams' withdrawal, having beaten American Vania King 4-6 6-2 6-3 in the third round on Tuesday. Jovanovski's fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic reached the quarterfinals after the former world number one earned a straight-sets 6-3 6-2 win against Russian qualifier Nina Bratchikova. Jankovic next faces Italian third seed Francesca Schiavone, who defeated Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva on Tuesday. Estonia's Kaia Kanepi set up a last-eight clash with German second seed Andrea Petkovic after cruising past Russian No. 7 Anastasia Pavlyuchenko 6-0 6-3. Elsewhere on the WTA Tour, top seed Sabine Lisicki battled the elements to record a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-3 success against fellow German Mona Barthel in second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. A 90-minute rain delay disrupted the opening set, which Lisicki eventually won in a tie-break, and the world No. 15 clinched the decider in a match which saw both players surrender seven breaks of serve. Lisicki next faces compatriot Angelique Kerber, who upset fifth seed Julia Gorges 6-2 6-3 in another all-German encounter. Chinese second seed Peng Shuai crashed out of the hard-court event, losing 6-4 6-3 to the Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka. The 26-year-old Hradecka will face Peng's compatriot Zheng Jie in the last eight, after the world No. 48 eliminated Romanian eighth seed Monica Niculescu 6-0 6-2. Russian third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed American Christina McHale 6-1 6-1 to set up a clash with Italy's Sara Errani -- who beat 2010 champion and 2011 runner-up Yanina Wickmayer. The Belgian seventh seed lost 4-6 6-1 6-1 in her second match since an injury retirement at September's U.S. Open. Fourth seed Flavia Pennetta beat Britain's Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal with Russia's Elena Vesnina, who eliminated the 2010 runner-up's fellow Italian Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-4. Meanwhile, the United States' hopes of retaining the Hopman Cup ended after a 3-0 Group A loss to the Czech Republic. World No. 2 and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova got the Czechs off to the perfect start by beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-2 6-1, then Tomas Berdych defeated top-ranked American men's player Mardy Fish. World No. 7 Berdych and Kvitova made it a clean sweep for the Czechs by taking the dead doubles rubber 6-3 7-5. The result put the Czechs in a strong position to qualify for the final ahead of their last group match against Denmark on Friday. The Danish pair of world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and Frederik Nielsen lost 2-1 to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova and Grigor Dimitrov. Wozniacki defeated Pironkova 7-5 4-6 6-2 in the opening rubber, before Dimitrov leveled for Bulgaria with a 7-6 6-2 win over Nielsen. Bulgaria won the deciding doubles rubber 6-3 7-5, but both teams can still qualify for Saturday's final. | Serena Williams withdraws from the Brisbane International due to an ankle injury .
The American had earlier managed to defeat Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski 6-2 6-4 .
The 13-time grand slam champion hopes to be fit for this month's Australian Open .
Williams has won the Melbourne event five times, a record in the Open era . |
90,277 | 00292757039c4e44293652db911f7c3f9025a713 | Two Brooklyn men accused of crystal meth possession tasted victory on Tuesday after a settlement from the New York Police Department awarded them $33,000. The two plaintiffs sued the NYPD after they were arrested in Coney Island last year by officers claiming Jolly Ranchers in their possession were rocks of crystal meth. This was in spite of the fact they were leaving a candy store. Sweet: Two Brooklyn men received a settlement from the NYPD after a humiliating arrest for 'crystal meth' that was actually Jolly Ranchers . An undercover cop claimed he spotted Love Olatunjiojo, 26, and Omar Ferriera, 23, selling drugs in front of an IT'SUGAR candy store in Coney Island. Officers Jermaine Taylor and Jovanny Calderon moved in to make the arrest, conducting repeated searches of the two that turned up only Jolly Ranchers, saying it was, 'only a matter of time before they found something,’ according to the civil suit. The Daily News reports that when Jimmy Santos, 27, who was nearby with his 3-year-old daughter, came over to protest his friends' arrests, he was cuffed and 'punched in the face by an unidentified cop.' According to court documents, the officers performed field tests on pieces of Jolly Ranchers that came back positive for methamphetamine and the red and blue candies were taken into evidence. The city later told the plaintiffs' lawyer, Kenneth Smith, that no field test was conducted. The three men were held for 24 hours before an NYPD lab concluded that the Jolly Ranchers were in fact not crystal meth. Chrystal: Actual crystal meth has an appearance like broken glass or rocks, but color can be added to batches during production . In the lawsuit against the city, Olatunjiojo also claimed he was strip searched during his detainment. Smith says the city is not assigning blame to the cops, since there was no way to tell the hard candies were crystal meth. 'To my knowledge there is no evidence in the scientific literature that crystal meth looks like Jolly Ranchers or rock candy, other than from the 'Breaking Bad' show,' he told the Daily News. | Love Olatunjiojo, 26, and Omar Ferriera, 23, were in front of a candy store in Coney Island when an undercover cop says they were selling drugs .
Jimmy Santos, 27, was nearby and protested his friends' arrest, leading him to be cuffed as well .
Police claim they conducted a field test that turned up crystal meth, but city states no test was done . |
97,946 | 0a167e1b287070c1ac577400309a55d499939d2c | Tragic: Terry Hall, 13, is believed to have died on his birthday after slipping on a frozen lake . A boy found dead on his 13th birthday is believed to have slipped on a frozen lake while walking a dog he had been given as a present. Terry Hall, from Huyton, near Liverpool, is thought to have drowned as he took his new pet for a walk in a park near his home. Police were called to Stadt Moer Park after a walker spotted his body at around 1pm yesterday. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Tributes poured in on a Facebook page dedicated to the youngster, who attended Knowsley Park Centre for Learning. Friend Liam Hutton wrote: 'I miss you too much. I just can't believe it. I always cry thinking it was your birthday. 'Have a good one up there, you remember I am thinking about you.' Lucy Marshall added: 'Always had a smile on your face. Miss you.' Alicia Marie Dodd said: 'RIP Terry. I didn't really know you but I saw you around school with a big massive smile on your face. 'Shame you had to go so early, still had a lot to live for. My thoughts go out to his family+close friends!' Judy Walker, headmistress at the 13-year-old's school in Knowsley, Merseyside, said: 'Terry was an extremely popular boy who was always happy and cheerful. 'He was always keen to learn and particularly loved general knowledge and memorising interesting facts. He'll certainly be remembered for the lovely smile that he always had. 'Everyone at the school is devastated at this tragic loss of a young boy who was so full of fun and had so much potential.' A neighbour of the teenager told the Liverpool Echo: 'We are all in shock. He was such a nice lad, he'd let on to you all the time and he was just really pleasant. 'He had eight brothers and sisters and we know all the family. Everyone is devastated.' Terry is thought to have slipped on a lake in Stadt Moers Park (pictured), Merseyside, while walking a dog he is said to have been given for his birthday . Police were called to the park, near his home in Huyton, near Liverpool, after a walker spotted his body at around 1pm yesterday . Devastated classmates at Knowsley Park Centre for Learning (pictured) are being supported by specially trained staff . Pupils are being supported by specially trained staff and a book of remembrance has been opened for them to share their thoughts and memories of the teenager. A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: 'At this time there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. 'Officers are working with the coroner to establish the full circumstances of the boy's death.' | Terry Hall, 13, was found dead on his birthday in a park near his home .
Teenager is believed to have slipped on a frozen lake while walking his dog .
He is thought to have been given the pet dog as a birthday present .
Police are not treating Terry's tragic death as suspicious .
Headmistress says he will always be remembered for his 'lovely smile' |
209,242 | 9af72d92c81e9a18be473af18e0e2700af60c416 | Walking the dogs very early yesterday, I thought long and hard about Saturday’s match. The Test was there to be won and we came up short. November 8, 2014 must go down as the day this England set-up started smelling the coffee and really taking stock of where they are. England need to move on from all this team-building, pride in the shirt, old players’ names in the tunnel, tweets from fans, ‘You don’t play for England, you represent England’, all that stuff. England complain about a refereeing decision, but the time for excuses is running out . Owen Farrell runs at the All Blacks defence, but England need to start playing nuts-and-bolts rugby, and winning . VIDEO England 21-24 New Zealand highlights . These are all a given in any high-performing team and we don’t need this corporate jargon. Far too much was made of Martin Johnson’s ‘failure’. England won 10 out of 13 games in 2011 under Johnno. I’d love to know what he is making of all of this. From now on it has to be all about nuts-and-bolts rugby. We have lost the last five against New Zealand and now we have to circle the wagons, get some sulphur flying around, add some real anger into this team and concentrate on playing ruthless and world-class rugby. Winning the next match is all that matters. Create a siege mentality . It is time for the England coaching team to step up to the plate. And I mean that positively. What an opportunity for a coach. England will go head to head with a stack of good sides in the next 12 months, with hard-nosed ‘winning’ coaches who all have England in their sights. Warren Gatland and Wales, Joe Schmidt and Ireland, a new-look Scotland under Vern Cotter, Michael Cheika with Australia, Heyneke Meyer for the Boks and, of course, Steve Hansen and his All Blacks. Stuart Lancaster is about to come up against some of the best teams, and coaches, in world rugby . We may love beating them but they love beating us more, especially at Twickenham. This will only intensify as we begin celebrating a home World Cup. We do not have exclusivity over ‘pride in the shirt’. We need to create a siege mentality now. Put a kicker at No 12 . When the game develops like it did on Saturday, England badly lack a natural kicker at No 12. Kyle Eastmond was excellent in New Zealand territory for the first 20 minutes, but England’s lack of a tactical kicking game was so evident in the second half when they got pinned in their own half. I’ve been advocating this for a long time now and I see one or two commentators are beginning to back the notion! Owen Farrell kicks clear on Saturday, but England need a second option for their tactical kicking game . With Danny Cipriani out of favour, Farrell (left) could be picked to play outside George Ford (right) There is a strong argument for moving Owen Farrell to 12. In my ideal XV I’d do just that and start with Danny Cipriani at No 10. Those two in harness would give me the midfield options I am looking for. I’m not sure yet whether George Ford is ready to start at fly-half but I’d love to be proved wrong and to see Ford and Farrell being given a chance to play alongside one another for 80 minutes. Tick some more boxes . England must think seriously about the structure of the team. Keep it simple. What do we need to beat the world’s best? Firstly, a nasty, aggressive, ball-winning front five who come out on top at the set-piece. Box ticked, Graham Rowntree has done an outstanding job in this department. Secondly, a well-balanced back row with pace. Box not ticked. Billy Vunipola, for all his virtues, hasn’t got the pace for this level at present and can’t play 80 minutes. England's pack demonstrated that they could dominated at the set-piece, with the front five excellent . The back row is a problem, and Billy Vunipola lacks the pace to perform at the very highest level . We have options although for unfathomable reasons Steffon Armitage has been declared ineligible. I’d play James Haskell at No 8, Chris Robshaw at No 6 and Armitage at openside. And if we pick dangerous attacking wings, we need to use them. Box not ticked. Other than returning kicks, if Semesa Rokoduguni touched the ball in attack on Saturday, I must have missed it. Lack of caps no excuse . Everyone has to stop talking about England as this young, inexperienced side. This is not an England Development team, this is THE England XV. I applaud the selection of the debutants, even if Anthony Watson’s first cap was well overdue. But to suggest their inexperience is a definitive factor is not accurate. The likes of Dave Atwood in the second row demonstrated that inexperience is not an issue . The evidence for this is in the front five where England dominated. We had George Kruis and Dave Attwood, effectively fourth and fifth-choice second rowers, and and an unfamiliar front row – all were magnificent. What we lacked was the game plan and key selection decisions to utilise the platform the pack provided. Beware the Boklash . This week is going to be one of the toughest of Stuart Lancaster’s career. There will be a huge backlash from South Africa after losing to Ireland. My team from those available: Watson; Rokoduguni, Burrell, Farrell, Wade; Cipriani, Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Attwood, Lawes, Robshaw (c), Armitage, Haskell. The Boks will be up for it physically more than ever, so England must look to out-think and outsmart them and that needs great coaching and great selecting. Mike Brown is experiencing a dip in form and confidence — it happens — so I would go for broke and introduce Anthony Watson at full-back. Make HQ a fortress . The Twickenham crowd can still go horribly quiet and England need them to up their game if home advantage is to count for anything at the World Cup. Building an atmosphere is much more than putting white flags on seats and playing patriotic music. Are you really going to start cheering for England just because the big screen says ‘Come on England’? The Twickenham crowd may have drowned out the haka, but they were still quiet in patches . The boards flash up the message come on England, as Richie McCaw dives over for a New Zealand try . I was put out to see a huge All Blacks billboard just outside the ground, even the electronic boards in the stadium said: ‘We welcome New Zealand’. The fans have a big role to play but first they must be excited by the team. It was very flat on Saturday and as a coach you need to ask why that is. Twickenham must become a fortress, NOT the home of rugby. Life after O’Driscoll . In Ireland, the King is dead, long live the King. Brian O’Driscoll is gone but Ireland have a wonderfully gifted talisman in Jonny Sexton. That was a fantastic, totally convincing win over South Africa. Ireland are profiting from having a nailed-on half-back pairing in Sexton and Conor Murray. Jonny Sexton holds off a tackle during a game in which he showed he can be Ireland's talisman . Optimistic over Wales . Wales can still score tries against the best and if I was England that would concern me. I don’t share some people’s pessimism over Wales falling short against southern hemisphere sides. Once they secure that breakthrough win, there will be others. Wales showed they can score tries against the best teams, and that's bad news for England next year . Hail the great Scots . Scotland are alive and kicking and I expect them to give the All Blacks a good run for their money on Saturday. Don’t underestimate their win over Argentina. I enjoyed Scotland’s speed of thought and deed. The Scots are always at their best playing at pace. | England should move Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell to twelve .
Kyle Eastmond started well but England need a greater tactical kicking game .
Back row needs a shake-up, Billy Vunipola lacks the pace for this level .
England need to make Twickenham a fortress, not just the home of rugby . |
158,120 | 58749e88c533049a5c097de8be207032804ce944 | Angry: John Kirby, pictured with his daughter Amelia, is demanding answers over the mysterious death of his pet dog Wilma . First it was the muffled crack of a gunshot and then the six ‘yelps’ that told the dog owner something was terribly wrong. Now property developer John Kirby is demanding answers from a luxury hotel after his beloved whippet was mistaken for a rabbit and shot dead on its golf course. Four-year-old Wilma was killed just yards from her owner’s garden. Mr Kirby, whose £400,000 house borders the Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club near Winchester, Hampshire, heard a ‘muffled crack’ before his pet ‘whimpered in pain’ and died. The hotel chain has suspended pest control at all its British resorts. The 45-year-old property developer, whose three-year-old grandson Alfie often plays in his garden, said he regularly sees gun-toting officials looking for rabbits in the dark on the golf course - apparently to stop them digging up the greens. He said: ‘I see pest controllers out on the golf course about once a month, on a buggy, and using lamps to look for rabbits. 'I also hear the occasional gun shot. However, on this occasion, I had no idea anybody was there until I heard the crack of a gunshot, followed by Wilma yelping and whimpering in pain.’ Mr Kirby, a divorcee and father to Amelia, 21 and Buddy, 22, had returned from walking Wilma when the devastating incident happened at around 9.15pm. He said: ‘We had returned from our walk, I sat in front of the TV with the patio doors open, and the dogs were wandering in and out.’ Wilma and his other dog Buffy, a 14-year-old Bedlington cross whippet, were in the garden, which is separated by bushes and shrubs from the 14th green and 15th tee of the 18-hole golf course. Then he heard a ‘muffled crack’. He said: ‘I knew instantly what it was and I shouted out “Wilma, Wilma” but only Buffy came back. All I could hear was six yelps.’ Man's best friend: John is snapped with four-year-old whippet Wilma . Shot dead: Four-year-old whippet Wilma was killed, just yards from her owner's garden . Mr Kirby eventually found Wilma’s lifeless body, which had a gunshot wound and was covered in blood. He added: ‘She was lying dead and covered in blood beside a ditch - just a few metres from where I had been sitting. ‘A bullet had passed straight through her chest. The sight was sickening, and heartbreaking.’ He added: ‘I want to speak to the person who did it and just ask “why”? How could you mistake it for something else? ‘She was just a whippet and a really nice dog that was like a member of the family.’ Perpetrator: Wilma was shot by pest control hired by the Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club and was allegedly mistaken for a rabbit . Innocent victim: John Kirby's dog was out playing his his garden, and was found dead in the bushes to the right . A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said officers have spoken to a man in connection to the incident, but made no arrests. A . hotel spokesman said: ‘Meon Valley, a Marriott Hotel and Country Club, . is sad to confirm that an incident involving a pest controller and a . local pet dog was reported to the police during the night. ‘A full police investigation is under way and we have suspended all pest control at our UK hotels until this is complete. ‘We . are deeply sorry for the distress this unprecedented incident has . caused the dog’s owners and we will do all we can to assist the police . investigations.’ Meon Valley is a four-star hotel set in 225 wooded acres of rolling countryside on the edge of the South Downs. As . well as the 71-par 18-hole golf course, the £150-a-night hotel also . boasts a PGA-rated nine-hole course and a golf academy with a covered . driving range. There is also a heated indoor pool, fitness centre, . tennis courts and health spa. Distraught: John Kirby, pictured with his children Amelia and Buddy, who is holding his son Alfie, 3, and other dog Buffy, said his grandson often plays in the bushes where Wilma was shot . Responsible: Marriott hotels are investigation the death of Wilma, who was found shot in the chest . Demanding answers: Mr Kirby ,with his other dog Buffy, wants to know how pest control could mistake a whippet dog for something else . Mr Kirby, who has lived in the house for 40 years, said he had owned Wilma since she was an eight-week-old puppy. He said: ‘Wilma was the kindest, friendliest, most loyal pet you could imagine. She meant the world to me, my children, and grandson. ‘Returning from work I’d pull on to the driveway and see her head peering out of an upstairs window. ‘Her eyes would light up, and she’d come dashing down the stairs to welcome me in as I got to the front door.’ He said the golf club had complained about dogs running across the golf course a couple of years ago - but it was not aimed directly at him. The shooting happened at 9.15pm when it was ‘pitch black outside’ and nobody was playing on the course. He added: ‘I know the dogs should not be on the golf course and I am careful to keep an eye on them when they are in the garden. ‘They are often just messing around in the hedge on the border between our garden and the course. ‘As soon as I lose sight of them, I call them back. They are well-trained and not unruly.’ | Wilma the dog was shot by pest control on luxury hotel's golf course .
Owner John Kirby's Winchester home borders the course .
Mr Kirby heard 'muffled crack' and found Wilma shot in the chest . |
178,581 | 7332479e73b77b0a04088f4c9895cd46fbdf5a14 | This clip captures the incredible moment a car smashes into the central reservation on the A14 and drives on with parts hanging off. It starts with the white vehicle swerving across lanes and spin around in a circle after crashing into the central reservation. The car then hurtles into the hard shoulder, but almost immediately, the driver carries on weaving dangerously in and out of traffic. The incident, recorded on dash-cam footage, shows the car swerve haphazardly into the right lane on the A14 . The vehicle then veers close to the central reservation and after skimming along the edge, it crashes . A fellow motorist captured the incident on dash-cam footage in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on November 19. In the clip, he muses the driver 'must be on drugs' as he continues driving along haphazardly - despite parts of his car hanging off. The man, who did not want to be named, said: 'I was returning home from work and from nowhere I was blindsided by the car travelling a very high speed. 'I slowed down as I thought he was going to hit the vehicle in front, how he missed it I don't know. 'Once he recovered from the crash and ended up on the verge, I couldn't believe it when he got back onto the road to continue driving. 'At first, I thought he was driving up to the parking lay-by up the road but it soon became clear he wasn't sticking around and got up to very high speeds considering his car was so badly damaged. He added: 'I kept my distance but wanted to carry on filming, although when he finally swerved of the road between the two lorries, I feared I got a little too close and could have ended up getting caught up in an accident myself. 'Upon speaking to the police it seems he got back on to the road and managed to evade them, leaving the car in a village some five miles up the road.' After crashing, the car spins around in a circle and then hurtles towards the hard shoulder . A fellow motorist expressed his shock at the driver's antics in Kettering, Northamptonshire . At one point in the video, the car weaves into a neighbouring lane and almost causes another crash with a lorry, which can be heard beeping it horn after almost being hit. The white car then drives along the hard shoulder and comes to a stop. After following the white vehicle driving dangerously for several minutes after the crash, the witnesses who recorded the clip decide to report the incident to police. Others said afterwards the driver was intoxicated and at one point, got out of his car and threatened someone and later abandoned the car in a local village. Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. But despite parts of the car hanging off, the car drives on to the shock of the men who recorded the clip . The car continues to weave in and out of traffic dangerously and at one point, almost causes another crash . Police confirmed the man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving on November 19 . | Incident was caught on dashboard camera in Kettering, Northamptonshire .
Shows the driver crash and continue driving with parts hanging off .
Witnesses said the driver was intoxicated and abandoned the car later .
Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving . |
257,938 | d9d0f11ba8c6b153aee9227bf5f7c0453bdfe709 | A disgruntled woman is selling her ex-husband's Porsche for a measly $20,000 as payback for him cheating on her so she can have her own fun with men on a European jaunt. The jilted woman from Templestowe, in Melbourne's northeast, placed an advertisement titled - Ex-husbands precious Porsche 911 - on the Revenge Sales website with the justification behind her vindictive plan. 'I have been married to this unfaithful poor excuse for a human being for over 25 years and yes we are wealthy,' she firstly pointed out about the 2010 Carrera 997 model that is worth about $150,000. Woman advertises the sale of her ex-husband's 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera 997 for $20,000 for being unfaithful . The daring woman then went onto explain how she discovered her man, that she had committed to for quarter of a century, was doing the dirty. 'I had hunches that my husband was cheating so I followed him out on what he said was a 'guys poker night' to find him at a 5 star restaurant cuddling up to this young blonde woman (cliché),' the ad says. 'So to pay him back, as I have rightful ownership of his precious Porsche, I have decided to sell it for a specific price of $20,000.' And she ends the post with the clincher on how she plans to spend the money. 'I figured $20,000 is just enough for a return flight/accommodation to Europe so I can fondle with all the wealthy European men!' The jilted ex-wife plans to spend the money on a European holiday to' fondle' all of the wealthy European men . The advertisement naturally caused some colourful responses from interested buyers of both the sports car and its female owner. 'It's a bit of a ride from the east coast of the USA, but if your offer is legit, I'll be happy to make the trip, respect and pay your $20K asking price, and take you to dinner,' Greg posted. 'ill [sic] come pick it up now and ill take you too if you want but seriously ill come buy it now,' Jayden said. The lucky woman already has a place to stay in France on her European trip . 'I'm happy to give you $20000 in cash and a free accommodation in Paris, Amath offered. The ballsy move of the woman was praised by some on the revenge sales site who could empathise after going through a similar experience. 'YOU GO GIRL!!!:)YOU KICK HIS ASS.YOU ARE WOMAN,.......WE HEAR YOU ROAR;)' Ash said. 'Good on you. This would make a great present for myself as my wife I found out has been doing the same. Think I need to treat myself. Please email me,' Damien said. 'I am not rich but also went through the exact same thing with my first husband who was cheating on me with any woman that would give him the time of day,' Karen posted. 'What I can never figure out is why these men get married to be in a committed relationship if they do not plan on staying committed. 'I applaud you for hitting him where it hurts the most, which is his wallet! I wish you all the best, and the sooner you get away from this two timer, the better your life will be!!!!! :)' The ad attracted some responses by people asking out the woman while others empathised with her situation . While there were others who doubted the post was a legitimate advertisement. 'More like a bogus ad to draw crowds to this site. Try finding another Porsche or Mercedes or anything on here lol why wouldn't this be on carsales and why doesn't it have KM's or a rego plate? Surely with the unbelievable low k's it should still have number plates,' one person questioned. 'I see you removed the plates for the photos, you must know what you are doing.... I call BS on this, so many things don't add up,' Jacques says. 'Is this for real??? I suppose that you have had a heap of people chasing this up but keen to learn more,' David said. 'I walked in on my now ex wife "on the job" so to speak.' While another doubter aptly called 'Really' with the following reply. 'ya'll still think this is real / even if it was the car has been sold. STOP DREAMING! LOL.' While other people even doubted that the post was a legitimate advertisement on the Revenge Sales website . | Woman sells ex-husband's porsche for $20,000 as payback for cheating .
Ex-wife explains in ad she had 'hunches' that her man was being unfaithful .
So she followed him to a 'guys poker night' and caught him out .
Her hubby of 25 years was 'cuddling up to a young blonde' in restaurant .
She wants the money to pay for her European trip to 'fondle' European . |
124,706 | 2d2d49ace95faa05c79a486b9b850732865d0002 | John Terry will be allowed to continue as England captain, despite being told that he must appear in court next year to answer a criminal charge of using racist language on the field. To the fury of anti-racism campaigners, top officials at the Football Association stayed silent after the footballer was formally summonsed yesterday over an outburst against a black player during a Premier League clash. The multi-millionaire defender – who denies any racial abuse – also continued to enjoy the backing of his club, Chelsea. Scroll down for video . Race row: The moment Terry (in the black shirt) is accused of racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand (centre left). He denies any wrong-doing . Family man: Father-of-two Terry with wife Toni . A spokesman for campaigning group Hope Not Hate said: ‘It seems . incredible that John Terry can continue as England captain while this . charge is hanging over him. ‘Most members of an organisation facing similar charges would find . themselves suspended until the matter is resolved. He is not even facing . a football-related matter – this is a serious criminal charge which has . attracted a huge amount of attention.’ Terry learned at the end of a damp training session at Chelsea’s . training ground near Cobham, Surrey, that he will be brought before a . district judge and charged. The order for Terry to appear before a district judge relates to a . penalty box clash with QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in October. Prosecutors decided there was enough evidence, including TV images of . the incident that were beamed around the world, to put him on trial. He is accused of calling Ferdinand a ‘f****** black ****’ during the match at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium. But afterwards he told Ferdinand, whose brother Rio plays alongside . Terry for England, that the remarks had been taken out of context, . insisting he actually said: ‘Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a . black ****?’ Terry will first appear in court next February but the case is likely to . drag on for up to six months as lawyers prepare for a trial. The cloud . of suspicion will continue to hang over Terry during England’s next . clash against Holland on February 29, and may even run into England’s . preparations for next summer’s Euro 2012 tournament in Ukraine and . Poland. The maximum punishment Terry faces is a £2,500 fine, a sum he earns in . just two hours and 38 minutes on his £160,000-a-week salary. Last night, Terry, 31, said he was ‘disappointed’ with the decision and . that he hoped to clear his name ‘as quickly as possible’. He said: ‘I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends. Anton Ferdinand, on Wednesday, during his game for Queens Park Rangers against Sunderland. Accused: Chelsea defender John Terry, right, in training. Left is his manager Andre Villa-Boas who said he was supporting him . Allegations: John Terry captains England at Wembley last month as they played Sweden in a friendly, despite the racism claims hanging over him. England boss Fabio Capello said he is innocent until proven guilty . ‘I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. I have campaigned . against racism and believe there is no place for it in society.’ England manager Fabio Capello has kept Terry as England captain despite . the racism claims and said the defender should be presumed to be . innocent until proven guilty. Terry, a married father of two, has lost the captaincy once before, in . 2010, after claims that he had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of his . England team-mate Wayne Bridge, but regained it earlier this year. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said: ‘The only thing I know is that I . will be fully supportive of John Terry, whatever the outcome. He has my . full support, he has the club’s full support. We know exactly his human . values and personality. They are never in doubt.’ Terry will be charged with a racially aggravated public order charge, . accusing him of causing someone ‘harassment, alarm or distress’ under . the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The player was summonsed to appear at West London magistrates’ court on . February 1. The move will ensure a huge media circus descends on the . courthouse, which usually deals with drunks, driving offences and . teenage tearaways. Alison Saunders, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said the decision was . made after ‘careful consideration of the evidence’ and was in the . public interest. The announcement came after Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed an . eight-match ban by the Football Association for racially abusing . Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra. The FA last night declined to comment on the Terry case. Controversy: John Terry denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, brother of Rio, during the match at Loftus Road, west London, in October . Banned: Liverpool's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (centre) was yesterday banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United's French international defender Patrice Evra (left) Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | John Terry vows to fight allegations 'tooth and nail' and says 'I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone'
He will be charged with a racially aggravated public order offence .
He will appear before magistrates on February 1 .
Multi-millionaire faces maximum £2,500 fine if convicted . |
31,202 | 58b2d467b435fbe4fa393e85ed1a3c568f4e9726 | British buyers seeking their very own French chateaux have seen property prices drop by more than 45 per cent since 2007 - with the further bonus of the collapse in the value of the Euro. Bargain hunters can a historic property in the popular Dordogne region for less than €1million - £750,000, with better value on offer in less fashionable areas. One luxury property, which is available for less than £500,000 in Bordeaux features a 16th century castle on four hectares. This four bedroom house in the Dordogne has been reduced from £1.1m to £830,000 . This 17th century chateaux near Dijon has been fully restored and is wroth in the region of £2million . The property has seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, with a small cottage for the caretaker, an apartment for the gardener and a large wine cellar. Property expert Bruno de Saint-Exupery, director of the Emile Garcin estate agency told The Times: 'You can find chateaux with 500 square metres of living room in a good condition in the perigord for €800,000 to €900,000 today. Some prices have fallen 45 per cent since 2007.' It is estimated that there are 40,000 chateaux across France and due to a reduction in property prices combined with the general weakness of the Euro, British buyers have the opportunity to secure bargains. However, experts warned that local and national property taxes could have set back the new home owner anything between £20,000 and £80,000 a year. Patrick Besse, who has 136 properties on his books said: 'They are changing hands now because the children have gone abroad or because those who have stayed in France do not have the means to pay for their upkeep.' This chateaux near Bordeaux has a 8.5 hectare vineyard and separate cottage cost £2.3 million . | French property prices have dropped by 45 per cent since 2007 .
With the collapse in the value of the Euro, British buyers are better placed .
Some refurbished properties have had £300,000 cut from their price . |
281,265 | f858a5215830df1521f75c50063481c0ce69b7fb | (CNN) -- The world is seeing sobering signs of climate change's accelerating impacts, from longer, more intense droughts to stronger storms and rising seas. Yet in contrast to the slow pace of international negotiations to combat climate change, national legislation is advancing at a startling rate, a surprise to those who ascribe to the conventional wisdom that progress has waned. Remarkably, since 1997, almost 500 climate-related laws have been passed in 66 countries covering around 88% of global greenhouse gases released by human activities. This surprising legislative momentum is happening across all continents. Encouragingly, this progress is being led by the big emerging and developing countries, such as China and Mexico, that together will represent 8 billion of the projected 9 billion people on Earth in 2050. These are the key findings of the 4th edition of the GLOBE Climate Legislation Study, released on Thursday 27 February, the only compendium of climate legislative action created by legislators from around the world, and the most comprehensive audit yet of the extent and breadth of the emerging legislative response to climate change. Our message is that we believe national legislation should be at the heart of a new international agreement to tackle climate change, and this study is proof it can be achieved in every country. While optimistic, we must also be honest. These laws are not yet enough to limit global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the level scientists say we must not breach if we are to avoid the worst risks of climate change. Yet these actions are putting into place the legal frameworks necessary to measure, report, verify and manage greenhouse gas emissions -- the cause of man-made climate change. Part of the reason for this spectacular wave of progress is changing attitudes. Previously, the debate on climate change was framed by a narrative about sharing a global burden -- with governments naturally trying to minimize their share. Now, however, countries are seeing mitigating climate change -- through clean energy and energy efficiency solutions -- and strengthening resilience to its impacts, as being firmly in the national interest. For example, 61 of the 66 countries in the GLOBE study have passed laws to promote domestic, clean sources of energy and 54 have legislated to increase energy efficiency. The former reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels, thereby mitigating exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices, increasing energy security and reducing energy poverty. The latter reduces costs and increases competitiveness. That's why the first bill U.S. Senator Markey introduced was to do both. And it's no surprise, too, that 52 out of the 66 countries covered by the study have developed legislation to improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change, some of which we are already experiencing. Opinion: Why are we still debating climate change? As the formal U.N. negotiations move towards Paris in 2015, the scheduled conclusion of negotiations on a post-2020 framework, this legislation is creating a strong foundation on which a post-2020 global agreement can be built. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that not only is the agreement in Paris dependent on national legislation in place in advance, implementation of the Paris agreement will only be effective through national laws, overseen by well-informed legislators from all sides of the political spectrum. A national "commitment" or "contribution" put forward at the U.N. will only be credible -- and durable beyond the next election -- if it is backed up by national legislation, supported by cross-party legislators, that puts in place a credible set of policies and measures to ensure effective implementation. That is why legislators must be at the center of international negotiations and policy processes, not just on climate change, but also on the full range of sustainable development issues. And it is why, on climate change, governments must immediately prioritize supporting the implementation of national legislation between now and 2015. GLOBE members recognize this and have been at the forefront of developing the legislative response to climate change. In 2008 UK members shaped and strengthened the Climate Change Act. In 2009, South Korean members passed "Green Growth" legislation. In 2013, members in Micronesia were instrumental in the passage of climate-related legislation showing the power of island voices. A comprehensive climate change law is expected to pass in Costa Rica this year, and members in China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Peru, amongst others, are developing legislation now. However, we need to do much more. And that is why, in collaboration with the World Bank and the United Nations, GLOBE is launching the "Partnership for Climate Legislation" to promote the advance of climate-related laws. Of course, the role of legislators does not end when legislation is passed. It is one thing to pass legislation and another to implement it. That is why GLOBE is equipping legislators to be as effective as possible in holding their governments to account. This is crucial if the agreement made in Paris in 2015 is to deliver. Legislators -- with their formal responsibilities on legislation and oversight - are a fundamental part of an effective strategy to tackle the world's environmental and sustainable development challenges. To maximize the chances of success, they must be at the center of all international processes and negotiations. Success in Paris to create a climate agreement, the follow-through to implement the accord, and the fate of our planet depend on our actions. | World seeing sobering signs of climate change's accelerating impacts, say politicians .
But they argue that national legislation to limit emissions is advancing .
U.N. action on climate change will only be credible if backed up by national legislation, they say .
"The fate of our planet depend on our actions," they write . |
33,663 | 5fc8801b3adb2887d7c4c1be661f09070d75ba3b | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Los Angeles prosecutors are reviewing Justin Bieber's alleged fight with a photographer last month to decide if the pop star will be charged, a spokeswoman in the prosecutor's office said Wednesday. The photographer filed a complaint with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department accusing Bieber, 18, of misdemeanor battery, a sheriff's spokesman said. He said Bieber attacked him as he was taking photos of Bieber and his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, at a Calabasas, California, shopping center, a sheriff's spokesman said. Bieber and Gomez, 19, left the shopping center before law enforcement officers arrived. The photographer complained of pain and was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, the sheriff's spokesman said. Sheriff's investigators have turned over their findings to prosecutors, Los Angeles District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said. CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | A photographer says Justin Bieber attacked him at a shopping center .
Sheriff's investigators have given their findings to prosecutors .
The photographer complained of pain and was taken to a hospital last month . |
286,280 | fef3284b3a23e5d7dc5fe3b16bfcd8829f6b2a95 | By . Emily Crane . Grisly find: The body of James Crawford, 33, was found inside his Melbourne apartment on Monday morning . A young architect is believed to have been murdered up to two weeks before his sister found his body in his Melbourne apartment. Police are waiting for autopsy results after the body of James Crawford, 33, was discovered with several stab wounds to his chest at 9.30am on Monday. His sister located the remain of Mr Crawford when she went to visit him at his Albert Park apartment after no one in the family had heard from him in weeks. Police said the 33-year-old suffered multiple blows to his chest with a sharp object and are awaiting autopsy results to identify exactly when he was killed. Mr Crawford ran a small architecture firm, Inner Arc, from his apartment above a vintage shop on Cardigan Place. He owned the building and rented out the bottom shopfront to Empire Vintage store. The young architect was the son of television producer Henry Crawford and screenwriter Sarah Darling and was the grandson of the founding patron of the National Portrait Gallery, Gordon Darling, according to the Age. Henry Crawford, who won an Emmy Award for the show A Town Like Alice, said he was in shock before flying from New Zealand to be with his family. 'It's horrid, it's a bit of a state of shock and you feel powerless,' he said. 'James is a good boy and to my knowledge, was never involved in anything shady or anything like that. It sounds to me like robbery, but I don't know.' His last contact with his son was two weeks ago via email. Suspicious death: Homicide detectives were brought in to investigate the architect's death after his body was found in his Albert Park street with stab wounds to the chest . Lynda Gardener, the owner of the vintage store below Mr Crawford's apartment, said she had not seen him in three weeks. 'It's so sad. I've known him for about five years and he's always been so pleasant,' Ms Gardener told the Herald Sun. 'He's a very private person but would always say hello.' Homicide detectives are treating the death as suspicious and yesterday doorknocked the area to speak to neighbours and nearby businesses. They said it was too early to say if Mr Crawford knew his attackers, or if it was a foiled robbery. Mr Crawford had been living in Melbourne for two years after moving to the United States to finish his interior architecture degree in Denver and an architecture degree in San Francisco. He previously attended boarding school at Geelong Grammar in Victoria and completed an information technology degree at Bond University. | James Crawford, 33, was found with multiple stab wounds to his chest .
Architect had not made contact with his family in at least two weeks .
His father said he was 'a good boy' and not involved in anything shady . |
252,731 | d310e222e47b4d103e6990c1035fe340e812c163 | Disrupted PlayStation and Xbox networks frustrated gamers much of Friday, one day after going down on one of the busiest gaming days of the year. Neither Sony or Microsoft, which own PlayStation and Xbox, respectively, have had much to say about the outages that have kept millions of its gamers from playing one another online, but there were signs Friday evening that it may soon be resolved. At 2:16 a.m Friday, Microsoft's verified @XboxSupport account tweeted "Some Xbox One users may currently be experiencing issues signing into Xbox Live," and directed users to its service website for the latest. Sony's official PlayStation support Twitter account posted at 2:30 a.m. ET, "Our engineers are continuing to work hard to resolve the network issues users have experienced today. Thanks for your continued patience." More than 14 hours later, at 5:10 p.m, it tweeted pretty much the same thing. "Update: We are working to restore full network services for all platforms -- thanks, as always, for your patience! But based on the overall sentiment expressed in the comments posted to message boards and on Twitter, the collective patience among PlayStation users is offline as well. "@AskPlayStation has been tweeting that for hours now since last night," user christopha710 posted on Sony's PlayStation 4 support forum. "I'm getting rid of this piece of trash and going back too [sic] pc gaming" "Totally not cool," allenjaelee said late Friday morning. "I've tried so many times and am unable to play." Sony hacked again? Some users talked of a possible hack. "This is so frustrating," wrote calin75. "The hackers think they're hurting Sony, but the ones that really pay for this bull crap are the innocent users." If it turns out that this was indeed a cyberattack, chances are it was done by Lizard Squad, a band of black-hat hackers who have claimed responsibility. CNN cannot confirm the identity or claims of the group, and PlayStation hasn't said anything beyond that it was working to fix the problem. For its part, Xbox spokesman Sean McCarthy told CNN that "we don't share info on the root cause of specific issues." But there is little reason to doubt their claims. In August, Lizard Squad said it took down the PlayStation Network by flooding it with illegitimate traffic, something called a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) in the video game world, resulting in millions of gamers being unable to play together online. As CNNMoney reported at the time, when John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, tweeted about those "large scale" attacks, he became a target himself -- even at 30,000 feet. "We have been receiving reports that @j_smedley's plane #362 from DFW to SAN has explosives on-board, please look into this," the group tweeted to American Airlines, resulting in the flight being diverted. Earlier this month, Sony was hit with a similar outage that Lizard Squad not only took credit for, but it promised additional "Christmas presents" would soon be coming. "Unlike Santa, we don't like giving all of our Christmas presents out on one day. This entire month will be entertaining," Lizard Squad tweeted. At 6:13 p.m. Friday, a Lizard Squad twitter handle tweeted, "ALL ATTACKS ON PSN AND XBOX HAVE STOPPED." When a CNN reporter hit refresh moments later on the Sony Entertainment Network website -- which had been down since Thursday evening -- it was back online. Microsoft's service page was still reporting 'limited service,' however. Stupid coincidence? The network downtime started just hours after Microsoft's Xbox video store started to stream the Seth Rogen comedy "The Interview." The movie was made by Sony Pictures, a sibling of Sony's PlayStation division. Sony was the victim of a massive cyberattack in late November that was widely believed to be motivated, at least in part, by North Korea's anger over "The Interview," which depicts the assassination of the country's leader Kim Jong Un. But there was no indication that Thursday's problems were in any way connected to the movie's digital release. Other participating distributors of the movie, such as YouTube, were unaffected. And PlayStation is not participating in the release. A Sony Pictures spokesman deferred to PlayStation for comment about the outage. | PlayStation, Xbox had 'network issues' well into Friday .
Hacker group 'Lizard Squad' has claimed responsibility .
Lizard Squad has a history of going after Sony .
In August, it may have managed to divert a flight carrying Sony exec . |
95,986 | 076dd8c1523e5432218aa3346dd9f658f8d32adc | A dozen people, including agents, have been held for questioning as part of an investigation into France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac's transfer to Olympique de Marseille, judicial sources said on Tuesday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, added that people close to the Marseille mob were also being held, confirming an information from French radio RTL. French forward Andre-Pierre Gignac (right) celebrates with teammate Mario Lemina at the Velodrome . OM president Vincent Labrune, as well as former presidents Pape Diouf and Jean-Claude Dasier, had earlier been held for questioning last November. Investigators are trying to figure out whether club officials took illegal commissions when Gignac was transferred from Toulouse in 2010. Marseille are second in the Ligue 1 standings one points behind Olympique Lyonnais. Marseille's French forward Gignac (left) challenges for the ball with Guingamp's midfielder Moustapha Diallo . | Andre-Pierra Gignac moved to Marseille in 2010 from Toulouse .
Agents are among those being held for questioning regarding the sale .
Sources claim people close to the Marseille mob are also being held .
Marseille are currently just one point off Ligue 1 leaders Lyon . |
29,245 | 53121069c096ed09ea7734816c61575a4b5d55fe | (CNN) -- Lori Raines and her mother were hunting for deals at post-Christmas sales in 2009 when Raines' left leg involuntarily turned inward and an excruciating pain shot through it. At first, she thought the pain was the result of a 2005 operation to fix a herniated disc in her lower back. It wasn't. As a massage therapist, yoga instructor, aspiring artist and mother, she could not afford to lose mobility. But within a couple of days, Raines was practically bedridden. She began taking a number of medicines and steroids that changed her personality, caused friends to abandon her and destroyed her marriage. But nothing stopped the pain or involuntary movement in her leg. "I lost everything," she says. Finally, eight months and about 30 doctors' opinions later, she was diagnosed with dystonia, a little-known but the third most common movement disorder. "If you have something invisible going on, then it's all subjective," the 41-year-old says. "Dystonia doesn't show up on MRIs and it doesn't show up on tests." Raines hasn't been able to work, slowly watching dystonia spread from her legs to her arms to her neck. Forced to get around on crutches or in a power chair, the former dancer is mostly confined to her Hendersonville, North Carolina, home. "You don't die from dystonia," she says. "But you want to. It's sort of like a life sentence, as opposed to a death sentence." Dystonia is often cloaked in mystery and can take years to diagnose. In most cases, dystonia's cause is unknown, and there is no cure. Patients and medical professionals agree dystonia awareness lags far behind other movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Dystonia is "characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both," according to the article "Phenomenology and classification of dystonia: A consensus update," published this year by an international panel of dystonia researchers. Dystonia can be divided into primary and secondary types, says Dr. H.A. Jinnah, director of the Dystonia Coalition and professor in the department of neurology, pediatrics and human genetics at Emory University. It is difficult to quantify exactly how many people suffer from it. Under the National Institutes of Health guidelines, Jinnah says pure or primary dystonia is identified as a rare disorder, but mixed or secondary dystonia occurs frequently. Combining the two classifications makes dystonia a common disorder, he says, "because we would have to include cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and a whole load of others." There are two common treatments for dystonia; neurotoxin injections, such as Botox, and deep brain stimulation, which requires an operation to place a neurostimulator in the brain. The stimulator sends electrical currents to parts of the brain that control muscle movement. Certain forms of dystonia have been linked to genetics, environmental or brain damage. But scientists are still trying to determine exactly what causes the disorder. "What all of us would like, and most especially our patients, is a medication so that they don't have to get injections or brain surgery," Jinnah says. "That requires that we know something about the cause." Cervical dystonia, which causes the neck and sometimes the shoulders to contract involuntarily into uncomfortable positions, is the most common form. Cris Rogers, 46, says he believes he developed cervical dystonia due to birth complications. He didn't begin experiencing symptoms until his teens and wasn't properly diagnosed until he was 36. "Even world-class orthopedists missed this diagnosis by a country mile," he says. Rogers calls having cervical dystonia a "gift" compared with other forms out there. He is able to treat it with quarterly Botox injections. "There is an emotional aspect to dystonia that people don't get," he says. "You feel hopeless." Yet there is no guarantee the Botox will always be an effective treatment. "If you have relief and the symptoms return, that is a level of pain that is hard to describe," he says. "Because you know what it is like to feel good." Rogers is a member of the Facebook page Neuronauts, a closed dystonia support group with about 650 members that Raines created in 2012. Raines says she encouraged the Neuronauts to post their stories on CNN's iReport in honor of Dystonia Awareness Month. "We are isolated as a whole," she says of the group and people who suffer from dystonia. "We have no support. We have no money. We're just trying to keep ourselves alive." Michele Weber, a mother of two who has a Ph.D. in political science, is also a Neuronauts member. Like Raines, she has multiple forms of dystonia that affect her neck, limbs and facial muscles. She began experiencing symptoms as a child and started seeking medical opinions in her 20s. But Weber says she wasn't diagnosed until her 40s. "(Dystonia) is devastating to people socially and economically," the 47-year-old says. "We're not the glamour illness. We don't have the celebrity spokesman." Weber's peers are often shocked to hear she works as a financial adviser, an "assumption" that her visible symptoms are indicative of "lesser intelligence," she says. She bucks her natural tendency to keep personal issues private because she believes raising awareness is key to advancing treatment and a cure. "Until I know that everybody is diagnosed or have adequate treatments, I'll keep being a big mouth about this," she says. Like Rogers, Weber considers herself fortunate because she has her husband's support and quality care from a doctor she trusts. Her symptoms constantly limit basic abilities such as using her hands and legs. "I am disabled -- no more, no less," she says. "All of our abilities are temporary." All three agree that the medical community's lack of understanding of dystonia contributes to the public's lack of awareness. Dystonia's wide variety of forms has caused a lag in research and treatment, says Dr. Mahlon DeLong, medical director of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and professor of neurology at Emory. "There was a period of time in the '50s, '60s and '70s when physicians thought this could be psychogenic," he says, meaning it originated in the mind. "It was a very unfortunate time." DeLong says that the medical community now understands dystonia's symptoms are not psychological and that the recent discovery of new genes creates opportunities for advancements in treatment -- and may lead eventually to finding a cure. "We're beginning to understand the molecular disturbances in the brain," he says. Identifying the genes that may be involved in dystonia will allow researchers to learn about their different mutations, Jinnah says. These findings will then enable scientists to understand better how the mutations alter patients' biochemistry and how the mutations affect the brain's normal neurological functions. But DeLong also says that not all forms of dystonia are genetic and so gene mapping is not necessarily a Rosetta stone for grasping dystonia. "I think we're on the edge of discovery and better therapy," DeLong says. "Some of the new approaches that are coming out will prove very affective for dystonia." More funding and research cannot come soon enough for Raines, who says her pain is constantly fluctuating between a four and an eight on a scale of 10. She can still drive short distances, getting out about three times a week to go grocery shopping and take her son to school. In August, she will enter her first art show since being diagnosed with dystonia. But she devotes the rest of her time to supporting and encouraging fellow Neuronauts. She says people diagnosed with dystonia need to vocalize what they are going through. "My background is all about expressiveness and being creative," she says. "The more you can express yourself, the more healthy you are on a cellular level." | Dystonia is often cloaked in mystery and difficult to diagnose .
Though it's the third most common movement disorder, few people understand it .
Dystonia's cause is mostly unknown, and there is no cure for it .
"You don't die from dystonia," one woman says, "but you want to" |
272,318 | ecb89cf075acccece6afffe2c36637a407435058 | A MILLIONAIRE’S daughter smashed into three houses in her BMW – and then told the shocked owners: ‘Do you know who my dad is? He’s rich.’ Laura Binch, 19, was drunk on champagne when she destroyed the fronts of the terrace homes while driving her luxury convertible. The crash left a safety barrier pole embedded into a sofa where one resident had been watching television. 'Arrogance': Laura Binch, 19, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Derby Crown Court, after smashing her BMW Convertible into three house fronts while over the limit . Binch has admitted dangerous driving and . was sent to a young offenders’ institution for six months by a judge . who condemned her ‘arrogance’. Her home is Hopwell Hall, a ten-bedroom period mansion in Derbyshire, . and she went to a £8,800-a-term private college. She is a keen . horse-rider who was selected for the Junior GB show jumping team in . 2011. Her father, Steve, 50, runs a property company. He made his fortune . after founding a car rental firm and was featured in the 2008 Sunday . Times Rich List, when he was said to be worth £65million. A judge heard his daughter had been drinking champagne at her home in . Ockbrook with two friends last October. She decided to drive to the . Wilmot Arms, the pub owned by her father a mile away. David Outterside, prosecuting, said she downed more champagne there and . became hostile when staff tried to stop serving her. Binch then argued . with other customers in the car park who told her not to drive. ‘She was . rude and in drink,’ said Mr Outterside. Shock: Tenant Sophie Hutchby is pictured standing amidst the wreckage of her living room in the wake of the crash last October . Damage: A court was told Binch 'showed no concern' and 'didn't apologise' after ploughing into the houses on Nottingham Road in Derbyshire last October . Binch’s father, company director Steve Binch, 50, founded Tamworth-based car rental firm Drive Assist in 1992, and was rated among Britain’s wealthiest people on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2008, when he was said to have a personal fortune of £65m.However, the firm went into administration in 2012 with the loss of 259 jobs.Binch had originally been charged with drink-driving as well as dangerous driving. But the drink-driving charge was dropped at an earlier hearing because it was considered the dangerous driving charge was sufficient to cover the nature of the incident.The decision was criticised by the judge, who commented that once a person is convicted of drink-driving, they are automatically liable for a three-year ban for a second identical offence. As her friends begged her to slow down, Binch lost control on a bend, the court heard. Her car demolished the safety barrier and smashed into the homes in Borrowash village at 1.20am. After narrowly escaping being hit by the barrier pole, Matthew Fleming stepped shaken through the hole left in his home by the BMW. Binch then tried to snatch a phone off him, saying: ‘Do you know who my dad is? He’s rich.’ Mr Outterside said: ‘She showed no remorse at the scene, she showed no concern for the householders and didn’t apologise.’ She was breathalysed and found to have 127 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80. Binch claimed she had swerved to avoid ‘something that ran into the road’. Judge John Burgess told her: ‘Whether it was the drink talking, there was a high degree of arrogance. It was a miracle nobody was seriously injured and your culpability was high.’ Martin Callery, mitigating at Derby Crown Court, said: ‘She has put her parents through the embarrassment and indignity of attending court with her. ‘She bitterly regrets this incident. Whether it was showing off, arrogance or drunken bravado, perhaps.’ The judge responded: ‘It sounds like all three to me.’ Driving ban: Binch had been drinking champagne with friends at the Wilmot Arms, her father's pub, but became hostile when staff 'stopped the tab', the court heard . Mr Callery added that Binch had planned to start work at a . talent-spotting company in London. A post on the website of Trent . College in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, which she attended, describes how she . spent much of her free time training with her horse Grangewood in . Glover. On her Twitter feed, Binch has called herself a ‘Daddy’s girl’. The court also banned her from driving for two years and ordered her to pay costs of £500. | Laura Binch smashed through safety barrier and wrecked three house fronts .
'Arrogant' 19-year-old jailed for six months after crashing BMW convertible .
Binch pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Derby Crown Court . |
3,550 | 0a47dac8558300235aa5dbecb29196351fcb2e3c | (CNN) -- At first glance the Eurovision Song Contest may seem like any old talent show. Singers perform live on TV, the public and special juries vote, and at the end of the night a star is born. But don't call this "X Factor" or "American Idol". This is reality TV on steroids. Every year around 40 nations from Spain to Azerbaijan field a musical act, each singing an original song in front of a huge television audience. As part of the European festival of kitsch, some contestants sashay across the stage in barely-there dresses, and shriek into wind machines with the force of hurricanes. Pyrotechnics, fire, and massive LED screens are de rigeur. It's a big draw. In 2013 more than 180 million viewers in 45 countries tuned in to the action. This year's final takes place on May 10 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Although officials describe Eurovision as a non-political event meant to unite Europe through song, politics inevitably colors the voting and the performances. William Lee Adams, a Eurovision expert and the editor-in-chief of Wiwibloggs.com, the popular Eurovision website, has been in Denmark for the buildup since late April. "Eurovision is about music, but it's also about identity and nation branding," he says. "The artists and their songs become symbols of the countries they represent." This year is no different. Tensions over Crimea are already coloring the perception of acts from Russia and Ukraine. During the semi-finals on May 6, some of the audience inside Copenhagen's B&W Hallerne booed the Russian act, a pair of 17-year-old twins called The Tolmachevy Sisters. "Months of frustration over Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and Putin's anti-LGBT laws have left Europeans angry," Adams says. "The booing was a release, a statement of solidarity with Ukraine and Russia's sexual minorities." It doesn't help that Russia's love song features lyrics that some see as hinting at a border incursion: "...living on the edge, closer to the crime, cross the line, one step at a time...maybe there's a day you'll be mine." In the past, Russia has relied on support from voters in the former Soviet bloc. Those votes seem less certain this year. Russia's loss could be Ukraine's gain. Mariya Yaremchuk, this year's Ukrainian act, will sing a song about love called "Tick-Tock." Her act features a man running inside a giant hamster wheel. The act is not explicitly political, but in press conferences Yaremchuk has stressed that her goal is to show that art is stronger than politics, and that music lasts longer than warring politicians. It's not all about Russia and Ukraine. During the semi-finals, the act from Poland featured women in traditional dress churning butter and washing clothes as a woman rapped about Slavic women: "Cream and butter taste so good /We will prepare for you delicious food/ Our beauty is famous all over the world/ You gotta see it for yourself and then you will know." "Poland, one of Eastern Europe's economic success stories, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the European Union," Adams says. "Their song is a brilliant parody of Polish stereotypes, and a rebuke to all those who view Poland as backwards and behind-the-times." In the past officials have disqualified songs with explicit political messages. In 2009, the Republic of Georgia was forced to pull its entry "We Don't Wanna Put In." It was a clear poke at Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the wake of the 2008 South Ossetia War. Creative license allows other songs with political messages to slip through. In 2011 the Portuguese entry, which translated as "The Struggle is the Joy," was a call for Portuguese to fight against the government's planned austerity measures. It became an anthem of protest during the financial crisis. Political leaders, particularly those in the East, see the Eurovision results as a matter of international standing. Last year, when Azerbaijan failed to give any points to its political ally Russia, the Azeri president ordered a vote recount and the foreign ministers of two countries convened a meeting in Moscow. Riding a wave of sympathy, Ukraine has emerged as one of the bookies favorites to win this year. That won't sit well with authorities in Moscow. Nor will the reality that televoters in Crimea may still be counted as Ukrainian by their mobile phone companies. "When the points are counted and the hair extensions come off, one government is going to be very disappointed," Adams says. "This isn't just a song contest. It's a battle in the war." Opinion: The soft politics of Eurovision . | The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world .
Every year around 40 nations from Spain to Azerbaijan participate in the competition .
This year tensions over Crimea could spillover into the contest .
In the past officials have disqualified songs with explicit political messages . |
206,024 | 96b23a9bc0e4b440e9844e9ef56a6bd60847f8fe | From smart glasses and invisibility cloaks to hover bikes in Star Wars, a lot of futuristic innovations dreamed up in sci-fi novels now exist. And while these gadgets might be cool, a study has revealed that people would most like to see medicine that can cure all illnesses developed in the next 100 years. Humans are also keen to let robots take care of mundane daily tasks, with wrinkle-free clothes and a robot that does the housework among the top five ‘dreams for the future.’ One pill cures all: A new study has revealed that people would most like to see medicine that can cure all illnesses developed in the next 100 years (illustrated with stock image). People are more keen on medical developments than on shiny gadgets . Two thirds of those polled hope for a cure-all pill above all over possible innovations, according to the survey of 1,000 people for Philips. One in five people claim that they would give up their computer, TV or headphones in order to see more health-related innovations. Almost two per cent of people would like to see robots doing the housework or a time machine developed in the next century, while a fifth of those surveyed simply want a cure for baldness. Self-driving cars are also among the inventions that are in demand and these are already being tested. Both Google and BMW are refining their innovations and a pilot scheme is taking place in Milton Keynes in 2017 to test a network of 100 futuristic driverless 'pods'. No need to lift a finger: Humans are also keen to let robots take care of mundane daily tasks, with wrinkle-free clothes and a robot that does the housework (illustrated) among the top five 'dreams for the future' as voted for in the survey . The study also polled people on what they thought were the top inventions of the past century. The internet and world wide web came top with over half of Britons considering it to be the most important innovation in the last 100 years. The string of intentions that make up the internet saw five of its founding fathers win the first Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering last year. Among the top five inventions were two health breakthroughs, with 40 per cent of Britons placing the most importance on keyhole surgery and 33 per cent on the pacemaker, which have transformed millions of lives. Easy rider: The licences only apply to employees of autonomous vehicle manufacturers and say that a car 'needs to be insured for at least $5,000,000 against personal injury, death, or property damage.' The rules state that test drivers must sit in the driver seat (pictured)and be capable of immediately taking control of the vehicle . ‘Surprisingly, only a quarter of respondents to the poll said that smartphones were the most meaningful innovations of the last century, while innovations that improved their health, well-being and sense of security were the ones to top the list,’ cyber-psychologist, Jacqui Taylor said. ‘The British still love technology that keeps them connected with each other, but there is a greater demand for innovation that has a positive impact on their home and family life. They want innovations to understand and address their deeper human needs.’ Consumer electronics such as mobile phones and television formed the final two inventions of the top five breakthroughs of the past century, while people are raising their expectation in the next 100 years, with just under a third of Britons keen to make use of a time machine. Wander Bruijel, head of brand at Philips UK and Ireland, said: 'Technology that keeps us connected has fundamentally changed the way we live, work and interact with one another. ‘But as some key societal trends and challenges catch up to us – such as an ageing population, a pressure on our environment, and a desire to live more happily and healthily – it’s not surprising that we are looking for innovative solutions that address those more meaningful concerns.’ Medically minded: The study polled people on what they thought were the top inventions of the past century. While the internet and email came first, keyhole surgery and pacemakers (pictured) are among the top five innovations voted for by the British public . | Survey revealed that two thirds of Britons hope for a cure-all pill above all over possible innovations in the next century .
One in five people say they would give up their computers, TV or headphones to see more health-related breakthroughs .
Britons also want house-cleaning robots and wrinkle free clothes so they can spend less of their lives doing boring chores .
The internet, pacemakers and keyhole surgery are among the most popular inventions of the past century, according to Philips' survey . |
142,278 | 44003215704775d2d28919b34ba1868d8ca7e61f | (CNN) -- Malawi welcomed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for a regional trade meeting Thursday over the objections of the International Criminal Court and human rights activists. Al-Bashir is wanted by the court in The Hague, Netherlands, for alleged war crimes. He arrived in Malawi for the annual summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Human Rights Watch had urged Malawi authorities to arrest al-Bashir or ban his entry into the country. Malawi ratified the Rome Statute, which created the court, and as such, it is obliged to arrest him. "Al-Bashir is an international fugitive wanted on charges of genocide and other heinous crimes committed in Darfur," said Elise Keppler, international justice senior counsel at Human Rights Watch. "As an International Criminal Court member, Malawi should arrest him, not host him." The court issued a warrant for al-Bashir for alleged crimes in the troubled region of Darfur in March, 2009. Human Rights Watch said a number of al-Bashir's anticipated visits to both member and non-member countries have been canceled following public outcry. However, last year, Kenya allowed al-Bashir into the country to attend the signing ceremonies for Kenya's new constitution. The government defended its decision not to arrest al-Bashir by saying Kenya's first obligation was to the African Union, not the International Criminal Court. The European Union foreign policy chief also expressed concern over the visit. "The European Union is a staunch supporter of the ICC and the fight against impunity," Catherine Ashton said in a statement Friday. "The Court is a valuable instrument of the international community to ensure that there is no impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern; genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes must not go unpunished and their prosecution must be ensured by measures at both domestic and international level." | Human Rights Watch urged Malawai to arrest Omar al-Bashir .
Sudan's president is wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur .
The International Criminal Court argues member nations are obligated to turn him in . |
273,597 | ee6c20f775bb82be62ce7239e059364e97197ae6 | By . Jill Reilly . At the end of a night of drinking many people wish they could quickly be at home in their beds rather than standing in line for a taxi. And now that dream is a reality with the creation of a studio flat in London which can transform from a mini-bar/private club into a cosy home. At just 30 square metres (323 sqft) in size and costing £625 per week, the fourth floor studio flat is one of the smallest homes ever released onto the Mayfair market - and one of the more original. Its interior design is a bar/nightclub theme - meaning its future tenant could entertain friends and family before climbing into bed only a few metres away. At just 30 square metres (323 sqft) in size the fourth floor studio flat is one of the smallest homes ever released onto the Mayfair market . The flat has a coffered ceiling with light features and a cocktail-bar shelving with wall mirrors and LED shelving . The size of a cloakroom or bathroom, the pad is designed with a cocktail bar/night-club style interior. In the corner is a black-metallic bar paneled with gold edges, complete with bar-stools. There is a coffered ceiling with light features and cocktail-bar shelving with wall mirrors and LED shelving. The flat is kitted out in Louis Vuitton style dark-wood panelled fitted cupboards and ebony coloured faux leather flooring. It even has an outside cocktail terrace complete with table and chairs. The club theme runs throughout - even the Art Nouveau style bathroom with its black and gold patterned mosaics; club lights; gold and silver feature butterflies feels like something out of Claridges rather than a small studio flat. The flat is kitted out in Louis Vuitton style dark-wood panelled fitted cupboards and ebony coloured faux leather flooring . The bar is black-metallic paneled with gold edges, complete with bar-stools. The flat is one of the smallest homes ever released onto the Mayfair market . Hidden within the bar is a hob, oven, drawers and cupboards allowing the space to convert into a kitchen, with the worktop and bar-stools providing a breakfast/dining area . The private club theme runs throughout the Mayfair home - even the lavish Art Nouveau style bathroom has black and gold patterned mosaics decorating it . The bathroom also have Deco lights; gold and silver feature butterflies feels like something out of Claridges rather than a small studio flat . But behind the cocktail-bar exterior are all the features required to convert the space into a cosy home. Hidden within the bar is a hob, oven, drawers and cupboards allowing the space to convert into a kitchen, with the worktop and bar-stools providing a breakfast/dining area. The sofa and drinks area converts into a bedroom suite for when revelers get tired and want to retire for the night. The wall paneling opens to reveal a split-built in cupboard/wardrobe with one side serving as storage for clothing and accessories and the other a fold-away utility room with a washing machine, shelving for ironing board and other domestic appliances. Although it may be one of the smallest apartments to be offered in Mayfair, it does include an outside cocktail terrace complete with table and chairs . The view from the Mayfair flat stretches across the rooftops of neighbouring properties - this could be yours if you're happy to pay £625 a week for rent . Peter Wetherell, Chief Executive of Wetherell comments: 'Whilst this might be one of the smallest homes ever released onto the Mayfair market, it is also one of the most clever interior design schemes Wetherell have been instructed to promote' Peter Wetherell, Chief Executive of Wetherell comments: 'Whilst this might be one of the smallest homes ever released onto the Mayfair market, it is also one of the most clever interior design schemes Wetherell have been instructed to promote. 'It’s a place that needs to be seen to be understood. The design is ingenious: the living space can be arranged to provide a cocktail bar/night-club style ambience, the next, it can be transformed into a cosy home with kitchen, dining area and bedroom. 'The pad is perfect as either a pied-a-terre or a cosy main home for a singleton who likes entertaining and a home rich in character and style. For someone after studio-chic this is the ultimate pad in Mayfair!' For those happy to part with $625 a week and who are looking for somewhere bigger - but less luxurious - there are a few other options. Two properties in Mayfair are going for a similar rate as Wetherell's bar-themed apartment. Although devoid of its unique bar-style interior, what the two homes lose in luxury they make up for in space. This property, located in Grosvenor Square, costs £650 per week to rent. The 56 square metre one-bedroom flat is on the sixth floor of its building block and boasts an open plan reception, bedroom and bathroom, with city views, a lift and 24 hour porter . Another option is this single-bedroom Hay Hill apartment, costing a low £580 per week. It measures 57 square metres and is located on the fifth floor just off Berkeley Square. Again, it boasts lift access and a 24 hour porter and is located close to Piccadilly . | Flat just 30 square metres (323 sqft) in size is one of the smallest apartments ever released on Mayfair market .
The sofa and drinks area, which includes bar stools and liquor shelf, converts into a bedroom suite .
Hidden within the bar is the kitchen area including hob, oven, drawers and bar stools which double as breakfast seats .
The fourth floor doors open onto an outside cocktail terrace with table and chairs, and view stretching across Mayfair . |
135,074 | 3abde6b0089d6f18e65296c3277ead590e8a55aa | By . Bianca London . Most of us have a favourite piece stashed away in our wardrobes and Cressida Bonas is clearly no exception after she stepped out in her white Frame Denim dungarees for the second time in a week. This time around, the all-in-ones got an outing at the park, where Prince Harry's former flame giggled madly as she was swung around by a friend. Later, Miss Bonas was seen relaxing in a cafe with another friend as she took a break during rehearsals for her play, There's A Monster In The Lake. Scroll down for video . Favourite: Cressida first wore the dungarees on Monday (left) and reappeared in them today (right) The play, her first since splitting from the fourth in line to the throne, made its debut during the Hay festival and is now showing at the Rosemary Branch Theatre in north London. Despite her hectic schedule, which has seen her take to the stage three times in the last 24 hours, Miss Bonas looked sprightly and fresh-faced as she enjoyed the sunshine. The 25-year-old also managed to pull off a fresh-faced look last night as she left the theatre in the following a late performance wearing a cool and casual all-black sporty outfit. Accentuating . her toned stomach, the actress wore a high-necked black crop top, which she . teamed with black joggers and her trademark scruffy white pumps. And so to bed... Cressida Bonas leaves the Rosemary Branch theatre in London after appearing in There's A Monster In The Lake, the first professional acting role for the socialite . Still looking fresh: Unlike Tuesday night, when Cressida stayed late in the pub after her performance, last night saw her head straight home for a sensible and probably much needed early night . Dancer's body: Cressida is well known for her dance talent and showed off her athletic body in a black sleeveless crop top . Unlike . Tuesday night, when Cressida stayed late in the pub after her . performance, last night saw her head straight home for a much-needed . rest. Prince . Harry's ex-girlfriend has been performing in the devilish tale at the . award-winning theatre, which is situated above a pub in Islington. Her . mother, Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, turned out for a second night to support . her daughter in her newfound acting career on Tuesday evening, but it seems that she took a night off on Wednesday. On Monday . night sisters Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe-Branson and Pandora . Cooper-Key were in the audience, along with close friends Guy Pelly and . Richard Dinan. Back to the theatre: Cressida Bonas looked casual and cool as she made her way to a matinee performance of There's A Monster In The Lake at The Rosemary Theatre, North London, yesterday . In they go: Cressida, 25, made her way to the North London theatre with a male pal, possibly a fellow thespian . Born performer: Cressida studied dance at Leeds University and acted in a production of Othello there that was so highly acclaimed it was taken on to Edinburgh Festival . Bodycon: Cressida, who is a trained dancer, showed off her athletic physique in the figure-hugging grey dress . Stylish: Cressida made her debut performance on Monday night and showed no signs of fatigue as she left the theatre after her second performance on Tuesday . The . play, which was directed by Lily Ashley, and written by Tallulah Brown, . follows the tale of an elderly man who, tired of his life in a nursing . home, enters a fantasy world where he ends up marrying the Queen of the . Woods. Cressida . plays the wolf that guards the way between the two worlds and by all . accounts showcases her comedy skills in the role. And this foray onto the stage is just the first step of what looks to be a promising acting career for the blonde. Cressida . has recently signed up to do a movie with Dame Judi Dench and Cara . Delevingne called Tulip Fever. According to Cara's Instagram account the model . has been working 15-hour days on the film. Cressida . studied dance at Leeds University and acted in a production of Othello . there which was so highly acclaimed it was taken on to Edinburgh . Festival. She also regularly goes to the theatre in London. Two . weeks ago she attended a performance of The Colby Sisters Of . Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at The Tricycle Theatre in London, in which her . sister Isabella was performing. Family support: Cressida made her way home from . the pub after a night's work on Tuesday, which saw her mother, Lady Mary-Gaye . Curzon, right, turn out for a second night to support her daughter in . her acting career . | The actress, 25, was taking a break from rehearsals for her play .
Wore her favourite white dungarees for the second time this week .
Dungarees are by LA-based label, Frame Denim .
Fourth day performing in There's A Monster In The Lake .
Aristocratic beauty is to star in film with Cara Delevingne . |
212,493 | 9f2a20f34187ba8558f077f6942e772a50922f58 | (CNN) -- In a world where people power appears to be gaining momentum, you could be forgiven for thinking this month's meeting of the rich and powerful in the Swiss ski resort of Davos is an anachronism. The World Economic Forum -- an informal meeting of executives, presidents, thinkers and stars -- once brokered history-changing encounters. Now critics say it is struggling for relevance at a time when the future is being shaped in the streets of Cairo or protest camps of Wall Street. This appears to be borne out by events of the past 12 months. Despite hosting intense meetings about Greece's debt crisis and hastily-convened talks about the evolving political situation in Egypt, the Forum's 2011 enclave seems to have little to show for itself. Davos's image problem is easy to quantify: It offers a haven for the capitalist world's elite at a time when social media has galvanized popular movements calling for greater democracy and a major rethink of the financial systems behind the global financial crisis. "It is a very undemocratic meeting," said David Roth, president of JungsozialistInnen Schweiz (Swiss Young Socialists), who is helping to organize an "Occupy Davos" igloo camp in the icy streets beyond the Forum's heavily-guarded perimeter. "It is a meeting for those who have created the crisis and they always have the same claims that, after being one of the reasons for the crisis, they think they are the solution to the crisis. We never get out of this because the same non-democratic people are making the decisions." Those involved in the World Economic Forum are clearly not unaware of such viewpoints. This year's event is titled: "The great transformation: shaping new models," and features debates on the future of capitalism, democracy, the eurozone and the Arab world. "This is not one of the easiest environments for Davos, there is so much economic uncertainty, so much resentment towards bankers and business leaders generally," said Mark Malloch-Brown, a former U.N. deputy secretary general and adviser to Forum financial talks. But he and others insist that the five-day meeting can still play an important role in a turbulent world by offering lines of communication that bypass formal diplomacy to unite radically different perspectives. "It is exactly these kinds of moments, where the official channels have clogged up in terms of finding solutions to the crisis both within Europe but more broadly at the global level, where Davos comes into its own," he added. Nevertheless, he warns, the chances of this year's Davos delegates mapping a route out of the problems such as the debt crisis threatening to tear apart the eurozone, are as slim as in 2011 when, he says, little in the way of concrete economic policy was formulated. "To be honest this year I don't see any great international initiatives," he said. "This is a very frightened, nervous and reactive global environment, so this is one of those years where Davos is much more about mood-taking; trying to find how intense or not the level of anxiety is in this strange environment, where so many of the formal business signals are going the wrong way." Marco Magnani, a researcher in political economics at Harvard University appointed as a Forum young global leader, argues that in spite of its elitist nature, Davos offers diverse face-to-face encounters in an age when people are often sequestered behind computer screens. "I don't think in those five days the world's problems get solved, but if people have good use of that time and opportunity they can prepare the ground to then have better communication with other folks and open communication channels," he said. "To have a place where you can pretty much meet everyone in person and have a conversation -- that's very meaningful." Ben Verwaayen, CEO of French telecoms giant Alcatel-Lucent and a Forum board member, also argues that although Davos "is not a negotiation," it represents a fruitful cross-cultural trade of ideas rarely seen in the closeted worlds of politics, business or academia. Says Verwaayen, the failure of numerous crisis meetings held over the past 24 months by economists and European leaders to create a solution to the eurozone problem underscores the need for the alternative dialogues hosted by Davos. "I would say it's more relevant than ever," he said. | Critics say the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos is struggling for relevance in the era of people power .
Forum regular Mark Malloch-Brown says many now resent business leaders who attend .
But board member Ben Verwaayen says Davos dialogue is relevant part of effort to solve global problems . |
172,170 | 6ad879d477248ec556a2656cd6d1a6ade4ff0f39 | (CNN) -- With the arrival of Lollapalooza 2012, 100,000 attendees are expected to descend on Chicago's Grant Park every day this weekend. The event has been sold out for several months, with The Black Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jack White headlining in addition to an Ozzy Osbourne-led reunion of Black Sabbath. But equally important to Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell is his contingent of top DJs, which include Kaskade and Bassnectar. "We are now blowing out our dance artists. We have two electronic dance musicians headlining. One is Justice, the other Avicii," he said with genuine excitement. Dance artists are the new rock stars, and they're commanding rock star salaries. "They're making millions," Farrell said. "The agents are asking the same fees they would ask for a rock artist because they're saying, 'Look, we're as attractive as a rock artist, so why shouldn't we be making the same amount of money?'" Farrell's band, Jane's Addiction, won't be performing at Lolla this year, but on Saturday night they'll be playing an after-party at the nearby Aragon Ballroom. Although tickets sold out in five minutes, fans of the pioneering alternative group will be able to see the show via a 360-degree live webcast. Lollapalooza has grown in size, but Farrell hopes to restore some of the intimacy with after-parties -- both official and unofficial (at last count, there were 31 official after-parties listed on the Lollapalooza website). "We're taking the city, and we're filling the arteries of the city and its nightclubs and ballrooms with our Lollapalooza audience and musicians. We're taking it up a notch, and we're taking it to four in the morning," he said. "I just love that. It's not just Grant Park -- the whole city is alive!" From 1991-1997, Lollapalooza was a touring festival. It went on hiatus in 1998, returned for one year in 2003, then resurrected itself as a single location event in 2005. It has been an annual fixture in Grant Park ever since. In 2011, Farrell expanded the brand to Chile and Brazil in 2012, and will be making a big announcement about Lollapalooza's plans for expansion this Sunday. (Hint: It's not a Lollapalooza cruise.) Back in Chicago, doors have barely opened on Lollapalooza 2012, but wheeling and dealing is already in motion to secure next year's lineup. "You've got to really work at it. You've got to bring to the people something that they didn't expect, they won't forget and they've never had before. It's not easy to do that," Farrell said. "That's something you have to pull out of the ether." His dream headliner? "There are a couple of legendary rock groups that I would love to get. Most of the time, the reason that you don't get to work with them is it's their problem -- meaning they're not together, or they broke up, or they hate each other or they're not healthy." But in the meantime, Farrell already has one ace in the hole. "I already know who's going to be headlining next year," he said with a sly smile. | 100,000 attendees a day are expected to visit Lollapalooza this weekend .
The fest has grown in size, but founder Perry Farrell hopes after-parties will offer intimacy .
Headliners include The Black Keys and Jack White .
Farrell: "We're taking it up a notch, and we're taking it to four in the morning" |
131,750 | 3655ceed5d1830d534bbfa139fbdbfaa9e84668f | Don’t throw orange peel, used teabags, fish bones and over-ripe tomatoes on the compost heap. They can have some surprising beauty benefits. From improving nails and hair to deflating puffy eye bags, Mandy Francis takes a look at the foods in our diet that are actually beauty secrets . . . Scroll down for video . Broccoli leaves to beat bumpy arms . Eating plenty of dark green vegetables like broccoli leaves will help to boost skin condition . A 30mg serving of these leaves — a small handful — can provide 70 per cent of your daily vitamin A requirement — almost twice as much as is in the equivalent serving of the florets. ‘One of the first signs of a diet that is deficient in vitamin A is dry, rough skin,’ says nutrition therapist Alice Mackintosh, who specialises in treating skin conditions through diet. ‘Eating plenty of dark green vegetables like broccoli leaves, which contain both betacarotene (a protective antioxidant converted into vitamin A by the body), and omega-3 fatty acids, will help to boost skin condition.’ Used teabags to deflate puffy eyes . To make your own caffeinated eye-booster, squeeze the excess fluid out of two used teabags — black or green — and put them in the fridge for ten minutes . A U.S. study in the Eighties showed that when applied topically, caffeine — the stimulant in tea and coffee — can have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Many major skincare manufacturers now use caffeine as a significant ingredient in their eye creams to help freshen and tighten skin around the eyes. To make your own caffeinated eye-booster, squeeze the excess fluid out of two used teabags — black or green — and put them in the fridge for ten minutes. Then lie back and place the cold bags over your eyes for five minutes. Dr Adam Friedmann, consultant dermatologist at the Whittington Hospital in North London, says: ‘While more research is needed to prove caffeine will work wonders around the eyes, the combination of the cool, wet bag and powerful antioxidants in tea could help to soothe inflammation and puffiness around the eyes.’ Fish bones for strong nails . Fish bones can be a great source of calcium . ‘Don’t pick the bones out of tinned fish like salmon, pilchards and sardines,’ says Alice Mackintosh. ‘They are soft, edible and a great source of calcium.’ She adds: ‘Good calcium levels in the diet also have a positive impact on the skin. It’s an important mineral, alongside zinc, which is also found in fish bones and flesh, for keeping cell turn-over steady and consequently the complexion clear and itch-free. Avocado skin for a radiant complexion . Avocados — a good source of protective antioxidant vitamin E and heart-healthy fats — are a welcome addition to our diets, and the skin also has hidden beauty benefits. Even Victoria Beckham, who can afford top skin care experts, is said to favour homemade avocado face masks. So try this trick. Rub the inside of the skin over your face. Leave any pulp on your skin for 15 minutes then remove the residue with warm water and pat dry. Dr Adam Friedmann says: ‘Applying anything oily and vitamin-rich, such as avocado pulp, to your complexion can help to moisturise skin.’ Even Victoria Beckham, who can afford top skin care experts, is said to favour homemade avocado face masks . The fats in the avocado oil will help replenish moisturising factors in the skin. Antioxidants in the pulp have useful protective and healing qualities, too. Melon seeds ward off wrinkles . Don’t bin melon seeds, either. ‘They are an excellent source of zinc, a mineral that is vital for efficient collagen production in the body,’ says Alice Mackintosh. Collagen is a protein in the skin that helps to keep it looking plump and firm. Although collagen levels drop as we age and can be damaged by UV exposure, smoking and poor diet, they can be preserved and boosted with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Rinse the seeds and dry them with a clean cloth. Toast them in a medium oven or frying pan with a spritz of oil over a medium heat until they’ve started to brown on both sides . Rinse the seeds and dry them with a clean cloth. Toast them in a medium oven or frying pan with a spritz of oil over a medium heat until they’ve started to brown on both sides. Once cool, eat as a snack or on a salad. Cabbage leaves for a flatter tummy . Turn tough, outer cabbage leaves into sauerkraut for a flatter, less bloated stomach. ‘Sauerkraut, which is finely chopped cabbage fermented in salt with a few spices, contains up to 100 times more probiotic bacteria gram for gram than yogurt,’ says Alice Mackintosh. Probiotics develop from the bacteria on the leaves as the sauerkraut ferments. ‘Probiotic foods help to keep our digestion healthy and improve intestinal function,’ says Ms Mackintosh. Turn tough, outer cabbage leaves into sauerkraut for a flatter, less bloated stomach . Coffee grounds to rub away cellulite . Most cellulite-busting treatments contain caffeine these days, predominantly for its stimulant and diuretic effects — so why not apply used coffee grounds as a caffeine-rich scrub to your hips and thighs? Dermatologist Dr Friedmann says: ‘There’s no proof that caffeine helps to reduce cellulite, but gentle exfoliation can improve circulation and the superficial look of skin on the hips, bottom and thighs.’ But he warns that coffee grounds might be too scratchy and harsh as a scrub on their own. So you could follow the lead of actress Halle Berry who, it’s rumoured, makes a body scrub by mixing a fistful of coffee grounds with a moisturising body wash in the shower. Why not apply used coffee grounds as a caffeine-rich scrub to your hips and thighs? Rub the mixture over damp skin in circular movements, then rinse. Tatty tomatoes to protect your skin . In a study by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Newcastle, lycopene — the protective antioxidant in the red pigment of tomatoes — was shown to boost the skin’s natural sun protection factor by as much as 33 per cent when eaten daily as tomato puree. Chopping and cooking tomatoes boosts the amount of lycopene by releasing it from the cells of the fruit. So with sun damage the main cause of premature skin ageing — even in winter — it’s well worth turning your squashed, tatty tomatoes into antioxidant-rich soup or pasta sauce. ‘Don’t forget to add olive oil, too.’ says dietitian Sarah Schenker. ‘Lycopene is a fat soluable nutrient. The oil will help to release it from the fruit during the cooking process and allow the body to absorb it more readily when you eat it.’ The protective antioxidant in the red pigment of tomatoes was shown to boost the skin’s natural sun protection factor . | The antioxidant in the red pigment of tomatoes protects skin from the sun .
Eating plenty of dark green vegetables like broccoli is also good for skin .
Fish bones can be a great source of calcium .
Victoria Beckham favours avocado face masks .
Apply used coffee grounds as a caffeine-rich scrub to your hips and thighs . |
251,892 | d20501b344554dfcfc3ee8f431a13c5dc0e95818 | (CNN) -- Novak Djokovic has claimed a fourth Miami Masters title after an emphatic straight sets win over his old rival Rafael Nadal at Crandon Park. The Serb was at his ruthless best in Sunday's final wearing down the world No. 1 to win 6-3 6-3 in one hour 24 minutes. The title was Djokovic's 43rd of his career and follows his recent triumph at Indian Wells where he beat Roger Federer in three sets. It was the 40th time Djokovic and Nadal had met during their careers and while the Spaniard still has the edge overall -- 22 wins to Djokovic's 18 -- the Serb has now extended his advantage on hard courts to 14-7 against Nadal. What was expected to be a close match ended up being one-way traffic as Djokovic outplayed his opponent. Parity lasted for five games before the world No. 2 broke serve in the sixth. Realizing the danger, Nadal redoubled his efforts in the next, taking Djokovic to deuce before the Serb stepped up a gear to open up a 5-2 lead. It was too much for Nadal to recover and when the Spaniard lost his serve in the opening game of the second, the match could have slid away more easily than it did. The world No. 1 stuck at his task but in the end couldn't find a way through Djokovic's watertight defenses. Scenting victory Djokovic pounced in the ninth game, attacking Nadal's serve and setting up match two points. He completed proceedings in style getting the upper hand in a stunning final rally before collapsing in celebration. "It's been a fantastic tournament, a very enjoyable time as it always is in Miami," said Djokovic. "I played a great match, from the start to the end everything was working really well. It's always a challenge and a pleasure to play against Rafa. "Back in 2007 I won my first big title here in Miami and I have the greatest memories from this center court." Djokovic didn't drop a set (although he did have two walkovers) in winning his third Miami title in four years while Nadal is still searching for a first after finishing runner-up for a fourth time. Hingis doubles joy . There was joy for Martina Hingis earlier in the day as she won the women's double title alongside partner Sabine Lisicki from Germany. The pair overcame Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 4-6 6-4 10-5 in Sunday's final. Hingis, 33, made the most of hers and Lisicki's wild-card entry to Miami after returning to doubles action at Indian Wells earlier this month. The win is Hingis' third in the doubles at Miami -- she won in 1998 and 1999 wth Jana Novotna -- and her first for seven years. Read more: Serena seals record seventh Miami title . | Novak Djokovic seals 43rd career title with straight sets win over Rafael Nadal .
Serb produces an almost flawless performance to win 6-3 6-3 .
Martina Hingis and Sabine Lisicki win women's doubles title . |
120,364 | 27917a5385aa28a6566e1fe1e82fdcb851746fa0 | By . Mark Duell and Louise Boyle . Last updated at 9:28 PM on 30th November 2011 . Gary Giordano - the man held in Aruba . over the disappearance of missing Robyn Gardner - arrived home in the . U.S. today after he walked free from an island jail Tuesday. The 50-year-old businessman was taken . into custody four months ago after his lover vanished during a five-day . trip to the Dutch Caribbean island - but he was free to leave on . Tuesday night. Giordano arrived in Miami shortly before . noon Wednesday on an American Airlines flight accompanied by his attorney Jose Baez, who represented Casey . Anthony in her murder trail this year. Scroll down for video . Back in America: Gary Giordano arrived in Miami today after spending four months in an Aruban jail on suspicion of involvement in the death of Robyn Gardner. He could still be extradited back to the Caribbean island . Freed: Gary Giordano, right, is pictured with attorney Jose Baez, left, following his release from custody four months after his lover vanished during a five-day trip to the Dutch Caribbean island . After and before: Giordano is pictured leaving jail, left, and arriving at jail in August, right - with a lot more hair . A video of Giordano leaving jail, before he was seen in an SUV with his lawyers wearing a baseball hat, showed him with remarkably less hair than was previously seen in his mugshot and older videos. Giordano, a Gaithersburg, Md., resident denies any wrongdoing over Miss Gardner's disappearance. He was freed after a judge ruled authorities lacked . enough evidence to continue holding him. Prosecutors have appealed and . await a ruling. Giordano said nothing as he got off the plane. He, Baez and another man . and woman went into American Airlines' private club. It was unclear if . Giordano was awaiting another flight. Giordano will appear on ABC's 'Good Morning America' on Thursday to tell his side of the story. He was told investigators still consider . him a suspect, an Aruba appeals court could put him back behind bars as . early as today and the island's chief prosecutor proclaimed: 'This is . not over'. Aruban defense attorney Chris Lejuez said that his client did not plan on waiting around for Wednesday's hearing. Lejuez said he did not know Giordano's immediate destination but said it . would either be Miami, New York or home to the Washington area. Although Giordano was free to leave the island, a spokesman for the . prosecutor's office said he could be extradited back to Aruba if . necessary. Baez said Giordano, the divorced, 50-year-old owner of an employment . services business, is looking forward to returning home to spend time . with his family. Missing: Ms Gardner is said to have met Giordano on a swingers' website and they travelled together to Aruba on July 31 . Lovers: Giordano, right in Miami today, claims Robyn Gardner disappeared while they were snorkelling . Baez said on ABC's 'Good Morning America' that Giordano wants to spend . time with this children and plans on trying to 'reassemble his life' after nearly four months in jail. Mr Baez said: 'We're hoping that of . course this is the end of it. However, he's not running. So if they have . a legal basis to require him . to come back, he's going to come back.' Giordano has said that Gardner, a 35-year-old from Frederick, Maryland, . was swept out to sea while they were snorkeling in the late afternoon . Aug. 2 off the southern tip of Aruba . Jose Baez propelled himself to become one of America's most high-profile defence lawyers after the Casey Anthony murder trial. The 43-year-old led the team who successfully defended the Florida mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008. He was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in New York City and Florida with his single mother. Mr Baez ran two bikini companies then became a qualified lawyer in 2005 before the landmark Anthony case consumed all of his time. Prosecutors said they were still . trying to build a case against him and will seek his extradition if an . appeal's court ruling issues a reversal and orders the businessman back . to jail. ‘Gary Giordano is happy to be out of . prison, yet he is very uneasy,’ said his Aruban attorney, Chris Lejuez. ‘He still feels something could go wrong and he could be back in . prison.’ ‘The case does not end here,’ Aruba's solicitor general Taco Stein said. ‘Mr. Giordano will remain our prime suspect.’ Aruban law allows for pre-trial . detention while authorities investigate a crime, but it is subject to a . judge's review and the threshold of evidence necessary to hold someone . increases as time goes on. A judge ruled last week that . prosecutors had not met the requirement and ordered the release of . Giordano, who is from Gaithersburg, Maryland. The appeals court agreed to hear . prosecutors' challenge to the order at a closed hearing on Wednesday, . and authorities expect a decision later in the day. Giordano has been a suspect since . August 5, three days after reporting to police that Gardner was . apparently pulled out to sea while they were snorkelling off the . southern tip of Aruba. Her body has never been found despite . extensive searches, leaving investigators with only a circumstantial . case that a crime was even committed. Home sweet home: Gary Giordano's house in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It is unclear where he will go now, but his lawyers said if he was extradited back to Aruba he would return . ‘The prosecution conducted extensive . investigations that either confirmed his story or brought up nothing . relevant to the case,’ Mr Lejuez said. ‘Up to this moment there is no proof whatsoever that a crime has been committed or that Giordano may have committed a crime.’ ‘Up to this moment there is no proof whatsoever that a crime has been committed or that Giordano may have committed a crime' Chris Lejuez . Mr Stein added: ‘The investigation must have yielded enough evidence to draft a charge. And we are not in that position yet.’ The case has been compared to that of . Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, who disappeared on Aruba in May 2005 . on the last night of her high school graduation trip to the island. Her body was also never found and the . prime suspect was detained for months before he was eventually released . for lack of evidence. Kelly Reed, a cousin of Ms Gardner's, . said the family hopes attention to the case will generate a lead that . will help investigators resolve the case. Leaving jail: Giordano was told investigators still consider him a suspect, an Aruba appeals court could put him back behind bars as early as today . Out at last: Giordano made an emotional phone call from his hotel room after his release in Aruba . ‘Needless to say, our family is very . disappointed that even after all this time, we are no closer to finding . out what happened to our Robyn,’ the cousin said. ‘We trust that the FBI and the Aruban authorities will continue their fervent efforts to investigate her disappearance.’ 'The investigation must have yielded enough evidence to draft a charge. And we are not in that position yet' Taco Stein . Giordano, the divorced owner of an . employment services company, first drew suspicion with what . investigators felt were inconsistencies in his account of Ms Gardner's . disappearance. Later, they learned he had taken out a . $1.5million accidental death policy on her, which Mr Stein said was . viewed as a possible motive. Ms Gardner's friends and family also . had serious doubts about her disappearance, saying it was unlikely the . 35-year-old woman from Frederick, Maryland, would have gone snorkelling . anyway. The pair had gone travelling with each . other on July 31 after reportedly meeting on a swingers' website called . Adult Friend Finder and were last seen at an island bar at 4pm on . August 2. Last sighting: Ms Gardner, 35, leaves the Rum Reef Restaurant in Nanki with Giordano on August 2 . CCTV video emerged showing them having . a violent fight hours before she disappeared. He allegedly threatened . to kill his friend while grabbing her by the neck and shoving her into a . lift. 'The case does not end here. Mr. Giordano will remain our prime suspect' Taco Stein . A team of cadaver dogs from the . Netherlands were brought in at the end of September but were . unsuccessful in the search of the Dutch Caribbean island. Police also investigated a National . Enquirer report that she was buried alive in a dog’s grave dug up by her . lover who taped a plastic bag over her head. Aruban law allows authorities to hold . someone as a suspect while they investigate an alleged crime. It is . common for people to be held for months before being released without . charge. Free: Gary Giordano was released from prison in Aruba earlier this evening after being held for four months as the only suspect in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner . His American lawyer, Jose Baez, said . in the defence team was grateful for the judge's ruling and that . Giordano was 'excited to return home to his family in the United . States'. 'Needless to say, our family is very disappointed that even after all this time, we are no closer to finding out what happened to our Robyn. We trust that the FBI and the Aruban authorities will continue their fervent efforts to investigate her disappearance' Kelly Reed . Now in the U.S. he is free to file a claim to redeem the American Express travel insurance . policy he took out on Ms Gardner. American Express could not confirm . Giordano has such a policy but said anyone making such a claim would . have to produce documentation such as a death certificate and any police . reports. No claim would be paid if it turned . out there was fraud or 'anything untoward' that would void the policy, . an American Express spokesman said. Mr Stein said authorities have been . conducting active searches for Ms Gardner's body and last week sent . divers and underwater robots to search in the area where Giordano . reported her missing. They are also awaiting additional . forensic evidence, including an FBI analysis of Giordano's Blackberry. Mr Stein and investigators are not convinced by Giordano’s version of . events. See video here . | U.S. businessman landed in Miami after four months in jail in Aruba .
Robyn Gardner suspect held on Dutch Caribbean island since August .
Lawyers said he will go to Miami, New York or home to the Washington area .
His lover went missing and Giordano claims she died in snorkelling accident .
He could still be extradited back to Aruba .
Prosecutors are going to appeals court as he is still their prime suspect . |
145,533 | 48322352539f21d0ff28a6e0ddb583562fb3ca43 | By . Alan Roden . and Matt Chorley . David Cameron will today send a ‘love letter’ to Scotland as he makes a passionate plea for families across the UK to save the ‘most extraordinary country in the world’. In a major speech at the symbolic Olympic Park in London, the Prime Minister will argue that 63million people across the UK all have a ‘voice’ in this year’s historic referendum. He will urge families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to urge friends and relatives in Scotland to vote against independence, to ensure that the message till ‘ring out’ that ‘we want you to stay’. Stay: David Cameron issues a nationwide plea to people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to urge friends and family in Scotland to vote against the break up of the union . Mr Cameron will claim that victory for Alex Salmond would ‘rip the rug from under our own . reputation’. With some opinion polls suggesting that support for the break-up of Britain has increased marginally in recent weeks, Mr Cameron will also candidly admit: ‘The outcome is still up in the air.’ His speech, which comes on the same day as the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, is part of a concerted ‘lovebombing’ campaign being orchestrated from Downing Street. It echoes a Canadian tactic that helped persuade voters in Quebec to reject separation in 1995, where the ‘Yes’ movement narrowly lost a referendum after being ahead in the polls. A campaign was arranged in the rest of the country at the time to demonstrate support for a ‘United Canada’, which is widely credited with the dramatic turn-around. Mr Cameron will speak at the Olympic Park in east London, where athletes such as Jessica Ennis, Sir Chris Hoy and Mo Farrah famously contributed towards Team GB’s impressive tally of 65 medals in 2012. Scottish athletes were involved in 18 per cent of those medals, but only three were won without the assistance of competitors from elsewhere in the UK. The Prime Minister's speech at the Olympic Park aims to revive the Team GB spirit which saw Jessica Ennis take gold in the heptathlon . Andy Murray and Sir Chris Hoy celebrate winning gold at the 2012 Olympics in London . Similarly, there are 18 Scots representing Team GB in this month’s Winter Olympics, while figure skaters from Northern Ireland and England have trained in Scotland. But if the SNP wins September’s referendum, a separate Scottish team would compete for the first time at the next summer Olympics in Rio. In 2012, Alex Salmond was widely ridiculed when he coined the term ‘Scolympians’ and failed to recognise the widespread support for Team GB north of the Border. Last night, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon overlooked the SNP’s past record and accused the Prime Minister of ‘politicising’ the Olympics. In his speech, Mr Cameron will say today: ‘For me, the best thing about the Olympics wasn’t the winning - it was the red, the white, the blue. ‘It was the summer that patriotism came out of the shadows and into the sun, everyone cheering as one for Team GB. And it’s Team GB I want to talk about today: Our United Kingdom.’ Money: Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael yesterday told MPs Scotland would not be able to use the pound as its currency if it votes to break from the UK, the Government's strongest warning on the subject yet . He will add: ‘This is a decision that is squarely and solely for those in Scotland to make. ‘But my argument today is that though only 4million people can vote in this referendum, all 63million of us are profoundly affected. There are 63million of us who could wake up [the day after the referendum] on September 19 in a different country, with a different future ahead of it. ‘That’s why this speech is addressed not to the people of Scotland, but to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We would be deeply diminished without Scotland.’ Scottish National Party Leader Alex Salmond and Deputy First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon: She accused Mr Cameron of a 'shameful' bid to use the Olympics as a 'political tool' Mr Cameron will say the UK has a global reputation and is a ‘powerful brand’ around the world. ‘If we lost Scotland, if the UK changed, we would rip the rug from under our own reputation,’ he will add. The Prime Minister will also warn against ‘complacency’ and encourage people across the UK to spend the next seven months doing ‘all we can to keep our United Kingdom as one’. ‘Seven months to save the most extraordinary country in history, and we must do whatever it takes,’ he will say. ‘So to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, everyone, like me, who cares about the United Kingdom, I want to say this: you don’t have a vote, but you do have a voice.’ Similar ‘love messages’ were sent to Scotland from the House of Commons yesterday, where Tory MP Rory Stewart said the argument against independence cannot solely be about economics. ‘If a relationship is going wrong, if a marriage is going wrong, the answer cannot simply be to say 'you can't afford to break up because you are going to lose the house',’ he said. The answer has to be only one thing which is 'I love you'. ‘And the nature of that love that we express for Scotland, we in this House are struggling to express. We are not very good as politicians in talking about emotions. We have become very bad at it. ‘But we need to learn to do it because otherwise a party which is trying to reduce, that is trying to shrink, that is trying to vanish, will win.’ Speaking in advance of Mr Cameron’s speech, Deputy SNP leader Miss Sturgeon said: ‘This is a cowardly speech from a Prime Minister who uses the Olympic Park in London to give high-handed lectures against Scotland’s independence, but hasn’t the guts to come to Scotland or anywhere else to make his case in a head-to-head debate. ‘A ‘Yes’ vote will put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, and will mean we will never again have to endure Tory governments, Prime Ministers and policies we didn’t vote for.’ She added: ‘With this tawdry bid to use the Olympic Games – past and present – as a political tool, David Cameron has exposed the utter hypocrisy and double standards at the heart of the ‘No’ campaign.’ | David Cameron calls on the whole country to urge Scotland to vote No .
Recent polls suggest support for independence is growing among Scots .
Coalition source warns that break up of the union would be a 'catastrophe'
It could lead to nuclear disarmament if Britain lost its submarine bases . |
277,177 | f31b513575f3d690207508f18d200fdb27fbbd43 | They've been married since 1966 but Phil Robertson has only just bought his wife Kay a wedding ring. The under-fire Duck Dynasty star splashed out on a diamond sparkler for his long suffering wife this Christmas and granddaughter Sadie Robertson shared a picture of the happy couple on Twitter. 'After 50 years of marriage, Papaw Phil finally gave Mamaw Kay a wedding ring for Christmas (sic)', Sadie wrote. Robertson provoked outrage when homophobic comments he made in an interview with GQ magazine were made public two weeks ago. He was quoted as saying: 'It seems like, to me, a vagina - as a man - would be more desirable than a man’s anus. Scroll down for video . She only had to wait 50 years: Phil Robertson bought his wife Kay a wedding ring for Christmas, even though the couple married in 1966 . 'That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.' Comparisons he made between homosexuality and bestiality also caused offense. 'Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong… Sin becomes fine. Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there... Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.' The 67-year-old has faced condemnation from some corners, but his supporters have rallied around the embattled reality TV star, saying he has a right to free speech. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Robertson refused to back down from his controversial comments, saying that 'sexual immorality' is the 'number one' sinful act. 'I have made hundreds and hundreds of speeches and you can pick them apart and the center has always been Jesus Christ. Patriarch: Phil Robertson made his fortune manufacturing duck calls and has cemented his notoriety with a reality television show . God-fearing: Phil Robertson (center) leaves the White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, Louisiana the Sunday before Christmas . Running around: 'Miss Kay' has said her husband of more than four decades Phil Robertson, whose homophobic comments have raised ire recently, used to cheat on her with other women . ‘Do many people get up and walk out? Yeah, all the time, do I hold it against them? No. Anybody can get up and stop listening. We are all just humans on this planet.’ His family and local community have come to his defense and stood firmly behind him, and the family's $400 million empire doesn't seem in any danger of collapsing. Despite the patriarch being put on an indefinite hiatus by network A&E, the family's merchandise has been reinstated by Cracker Barrel after fans complained about its removal from shelves. In a picture of the couple taken yesterday, Kay perches on the sofa wearing a Christmas jumper, huge . smile and the large diamond rock, while her . husband reclines on the sofa pointing at the ring. While they are happily married now, Phil and Miss Kay, as his wife is known, have previously opened up about their pre-fame struggles with Robertson's alcohol problems and adultery. In the documentary The Robertsons, she said: 'The drinking got worse. And I knew then, but I didn't want to believe it - he was running around on me. 'And what I would tell my boys all the time is, “That's not your daddy. That's the devil in your daddy.” I’ve been fighting for this marriage for a long time.' Despite his past, Robertson appears to have no qualms with moralizing about other people's lifestyles. He came under fire from gay rights group GLAAD after making the homophobic comments in the January 2014 issue of GQ magazine and Duck Dynasty show bosses have put him on indefinite hiatus. Ring in: The long-awaited wedding ring looks to be a sizeable diamond . Struggle: Kay has admitted her marriage to Phil was tough before he gave up drinking and found God . Robertson, who claims to be devoutly Christian, then grouped homosexuals in with terrorists and prostitutes in a paraphrased Bible quote. He said: 'Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers - they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.' Hometown heroes: A sign in West Monroe, Louisiana, the setting for 'Duck Dynasty' in support of Phil Robertson . GLAAD hit back soon after the interview was released online, calling him a ‘stain’ on the network A&E which airs the show. Despite being put on suspension by the network, Phil has stood by his statements and his family have defended him - saying they wouldn't continue to film the show if their patriarch wasn't involved. MailOnline was given exclusive access to a bible study meeting held last Sunday at the family's church in West Monroe, Louisiana. At the meeting, Robertson spoke out about the criticism, saying: 'I will not give or back off my path'. At the small gathering, Robertson gave a speech going so far as to say that Jesus could save gay people. 'I love all men and women. I am a lover of humanity, not a hater,' he said. Robertson addressed White's Ferry Road Church . wearing his full camouflage suit for around 45 . minutes. Reality star: This undated image released by A&E shows Phil Robertson from the popular series 'Duck Dynasty.' Robertson was suspended last week for disparaging comments he made to GQ magazine about gay people . He said: ‘I have . been immoral, drunk, high. I ran with the wicked people for 28 years and . I have run with the Jesus people since and the contrast is astounding. I tell people, "You are a sinner, we all are. Do you want to hear my story before I give you the bottom line on your story?" ‘We . murder each other and we steal from one another, sex and immorality . goes ballistic. All the diseases that just so happen to follow sexual . mischief… boy there are some microbes running around now. ‘Sexual . sins are numerous and many, I have a few myself. So what is your safest . course of action? If you’re a man, find yourself a woman, marry them . and keep your sex right there. ‘You . can have fun, but one thing is for sure, as long as you are both . healthy in the first place, you are not going to catch some debilitating . illness, there is safety there. ‘Commonsense . says we are not going to procreate the human race unless we have a man . and a woman. From the beginning Jesus said, "It is a man and a woman." Adam was made and Eve was made for this reason. They left their fathers . and mothers and united to become one flesh, that’s what marriage is . all about.' The family are multimillionaires due to the success of Phil’s Duck Commander Company, which he formed in 1973 to sell the duck call he invented a year earlier. Trouble: Phil's vile comments on homosexuality have led to him being indefinitely suspended from the family's successful show Duck Dynasty . | Phil and his wife 'Miss Kay' Robertson have been married since 1966 .
His wife previously opened up about their pre-fame struggles with Robertson's alcohol problems and adultery .
Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson is sticking by controversial comments he made about homosexuality to GQ magazine .
He told MailOnline that he was simply quoting from the Bible in saying that homosexuality is a sin . |
275,959 | f18481c525f2b218784400c6d1a0575a004eb35e | By . Chris Waugh . Follow @@ChrisDHWaugh . London Welsh have completed their 22nd summer signing with the acquisition of Tongan prop Eddie Aholeilei. The newly-promoted Exiles have signed the 32-year-old front row from Australia Super 15 outfit Melbourne Rebels. The 32-year-old has six caps for Tonga and makes the switch from Super 15 side Melbourne Rebels, following swiftly on from The Exiles' capture of former All Black Piri Weepu. Ready for action: London Welsh coach Justin Burnell poses with the Aviva Premiership trophy last week . The versatile Auckland-born front-rower can feature on either side of the scrum. He joins players including Olly Barkley, Argentina prop Pablo Henn and ex-Brumbies loose-forward Lachlan McCaffrey at Welsh. London Welsh boss Justin Burnell said he had following the progress of the front row for some time. Burnell said: 'I watched him first-hand against Wales in the autumn at the Millennium Stadium. 'He's got Super 15 experience, is a very big powerful man and is another excellent addition to our squad for next season.' Aholeilei moved to Sydney as a teenager and made more 200 appearances for Manly Marlins between 2001 and 2013 before stepping up to Super 15 level with the Rebels in 2012. Aholeilei said: 'I would like to thank London Welsh for giving me this opportunity. New club: Former New Zealand scrum-half Piri Weepu has also joined London Welsh this week . Experienced: Weepu won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011 and has earned 71 caps . 'I am honoured and humbled to be heading to England to represent the club in what is undoubtedly one of the toughest domestic competitions in world rugby. 'I know London Welsh has a very proud history and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. 'The move represents a fantastic chance for me to enjoy a fresh start and for my family to experience a different country and culture.'Â . The Exiles are getting ready for their return to the Premiership at the first time of asking after seeing off Bristol over a two-legged play-off final. | Aholeilei moves from Australian Super 15 outfit Melbourne Rebels .
He follows ex-New Zealand Piri Weepu to the Kassam Stadium .
Olly Barkley, Pablo Henn and Lachlan McCaffrey have also signed .
Newly-promoted Exiles have made 22 summer signings so far . |
213,035 | 9fe0f542994bd04871a2b09dd558ef636bb2c5d1 | By . Lydia Warren . Arrest: Acquitted killer Robert Durst, pictured in a new mugshot, allegedly urinated in a Texas CVS . A millionaire real estate heir who escaped the public eye for years by crossdressing before he was accused of killing his neighbor has been arrested again for urinating in a CVS, police said. Robert Durst, who was acquitted of murder in 2003 after claiming self defense, has been arrested for allegedly urinating over $100 worth of candy at the register in a Houston drugstore on Sunday. He took the bizarre step after getting in an altercation with staff, sources told KTRK, and he was charged with a Class B misdemeanor. Durst, now 71, has been making headlines for years - first over his wife's mysterious disappearance and then over the murder of his elderly neighbor in 2001. His father, Seymour, was a New York real estate mogul who amassed billions . of dollars worth of commercial property in Manhattan. Robert, a . well-connected socialite, worked for his father's Durst . Organization for years as a developer. But he was estranged from his . family around 1994 after being passed over as heir to the company . leadership in favour of his brother Douglas. The . Houston Chronicle reported that in 2006 he finally won a $65 million . court settlement from his family, restoring a piece of his family . fortune. Scene: Durst allegedly urinated over $100 worth of candy at the register after getting into an argument with store staff at this CVS in Houston on Sunday, according to local reports . Ten years earlier, Durst had gained infamy in New York . due to the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Kathie, and many believed the real estate scion had something to do with it. He was questioned in her murder - and in the murder of her friend when the case was re-opened in 2000 - but was never charged. He has now re-married, KTRK reported, but the identity of his new wife was not released. Then in September 2001, remnants of the body of Morris . Black, Durst's next-door neighbor in the boarding house where he was . living, were found floating in the Galveston Bay in . Galveston, Texas. Questions: Durst, with his wife Kathleen Durst, was suspected to be responsible for her 1982 disappearance . A trail of blood led police back to an apartment being rented by a mute woman, . Dorothy Ciner - who was actually Durst in a dress. It emerged that Durst had gone into hiding for years, partially to escape the increasing inquiries about the death of his wife. After . spending a month on the run, Durst tried to steal a chicken . salad sandwich and a single a Band-Aid from a supermarket in . Philadelphia while wearing a blond mustache and was arrested. Durst . admitted to shooting Black and dismembering him before dumping the body parts in the Bay. But he insisted that he had acted in self defense as they struggled over a handgun and he was acquitted. Killer: Durst is pictured left in a police booking photo in 2001 after he was arrested for the murder of neighbor Morris Black, right. At the time of the killing, he had been crossdressing to conceal his real identity . Acquitted: He admitted to shooting and dismembering Black but claimed he had acted in self-defense after they argued over a gun. He was acquitted and served a year for tampering with evidence . But he was found guilty for tampering with evidence over the disposal of the body and was sentenced to five years in prison, but served just one. Despite his run-ins with the law, he still has access to his $43 million trust fund, which he has used to buy and develop real estate in New York. Just last week it was reported that Durst sold two Brooklyn buildings for $21.15 million, after buying them for $8.65 million in 2011. | Robert Durst, 71, 'got into an altercation with staff at a store in Houston and urinated over $100 worth of candy at the register'
In 1982, Durst, the son of a New York real estate mogul, hit headlines when his wife mysteriously vanished - but he was never arrested .
In 2001, he shot and dismembered his neighbor and scattered the body parts around Galveston Bay, Texas before going on the run .
He was caught a month later but claimed he had killed him in self defense and he was acquitted of murder in 2003 . |
272,057 | ec662bc7c46d9301d6477eefe5986807a65be1cc | Halfway through his term, French President Francois Hollande used a rare prime-time TV appearance Thursday to double down on his pledge not to run again if he makes no headway cutting France's stubbornly high unemployment. It was only the embattled president's second prime-time TV interview since he came to office in May 2012. Polls this week showed his popularity falling to new lows, around 12 per cent. EU Commission forecasts this week make grim reading for Hollande. France's unemployment is forecast to stay above 10 percent through 2016, compared to 9.8 per cent when Hollande came to office. Last April, when Hollande first made the pledge, unemployment was about 10.1 per cent . SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Fitted for a noose?: Hollande has promised not to run for re-election if the French jobs picture doesn't improve – and the clock is ticking . Hollande, the most unpopular French president in history, faced economic questions from four citizen panelists on Thursday . Hollande used the interview to defend his record but was hard-pressed by a panel of four regular citizens chosen by the TV channel that organized the broadcast event. One member of the panel, small business owner Karine Charbonnier, was particularly combative and took the president to task for not doing enough to help ease businesses' burden. Hollande admitted it was a 'mistake' when he promised in 2012 that the unemployment rate would decrease by the end of 2013. And he said his priority is to boost France's growth through a total of 40 billion of tax cuts for companies and a goal of cutting 50 billion euros in state spending by 2017, including 21 billion next year. 'From next year, there will be no new tax', he said. Hollande is exactly half-way through his five-year term and won't run again if unemployment doesn't improve . Hollande also promised to allow shops to open on Sunday in cities with many tourists. In a twist the TV organizers of the interview launched a Twitter hashtag, #DirectPR, to elicit questions from people following the program online. Much of the online commentary under that hashtag was harshly critical of Hollande's performance. A tweet by French daily Le Monde journalist Thomas Wieder that said 'In the newsroom we are hesitating between describing this as "a shipwreck" or "a slaughter"' was retweeted nearly 300 times. | France's 10 per cent unemployment has given Hollande a 10 per cent job approval rating .
Four ordinary citizens grilled him on jobs and the economy during a rare unscripted TV interview in prime time .
Hollande admitted it was a 'mistake' when he promised in 2012 that the unemployment rate would decrease by the end of 2013 . |
237,493 | bf5e5f17bbd15495c5745e084c18c840309c926f | (CNN) -- It's looking like Apple's next version of its iconic smartphone will be called the iPhone 5. On Tuesday, the secretive company sent e-mails to members of the media, inviting them to an "invitation-only event" in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 12. The event is widely expected to be the launch of the next iPhone, but in typically cryptic Apple fashion, the invitation reveals little about what will be announced. The tagline says only, "It's almost here." Of course, that never stops Apple obsessives from parsing the invite for clues. This time, the shadow of the number 12 reveals a not-so-subtle "5," reinforcing speculation that the new device will be called iPhone 5 instead of iPhone 4G or something else. The official announcement of the September 12 date confirms what several media outlets first reported five weeks ago, citing anonymous sources at Apple. A fall iPhone release has been considered a foregone conclusion by most observers for months. Among the device's rumored new features are a slightly larger screen, a faster processor, a smaller dock connector and possibly NFC technology that would make it easier for shoppers to make payments through their phones. iMore, the first blog to pinpoint the September 12 launch date, has also said pre-orders will begin that day and that the phone will be released nine days later, on September 21. Many pundits also expect Apple to launch a smaller version of its popular iPad tablet at a separate event, likely in October. Next week's Apple event will begin at 10 a.m. PT. CNN Tech will be liveblogging the announcement. | Apple is inviting the media to an event in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 12 .
The event is widely expected to be the launch of the next iPhone .
Among its rumored new features are a slightly larger screen and a smaller dock connector . |
198,211 | 8c90336e920ef7471816ccf915b095872e388185 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 04:49 EST, 12 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:30 EST, 12 November 2013 . An artist saw her weight drop to just 5st 7lb because she was terrified that all food was going to poison her. Samantha Brown, 27, was eventually diagnosed with an unusual form of obsessive compulsive disorder. Her chronic anxiety, an effect of an obsessive compulsion to control her food intake, caused her weight to shrink dangerously low, to the horror of her family and friends. Recovered: Samantha Brown's weight plummeted to to 5st 7lb because she thought basic foods were poisoning her. She was later diagnosed with a rare form of obsessive compulsive disorder and now weighs a healthy 9st 7lb having undergone therapy . Miss Brown was working as a freelance fashion stylist when her OCD began to manifest itself. She said: 'I was incredibly stressed, doing a job that I hated. The recession had hit and the work was drying up. 'I was working so hard to make something of my freelance career, which involved a lot of rejection. I felt as if I had no control. 'I began dictating to myself what I could and couldn’t eat. As my behaviour developed, it became an OCD, where I thought practically everything was poison. 'It was all rooted in my desire for control.' Decline: Samantha pictured while she was rapidly losing weight. Her chronic anxiety, an effect of an obsessive compulsion to control her food intake, meant she only ate Coco Pops, salt and vinegar crisps and pizza . While OCD is treated as an entirely . separate condition to eating disorders such anorexia and bulimia, it is . known that patients with OCD tend to experience eating disorders more . severely. Miss Brown, of Leicester, suspects her paranoia that food was harming her was made worse by the fact that she also suffers from ME, which causes chronic fatigue. Shrinking: Samantha says her eating habits were rooted in her desire for control . Miss Brown said: 'I didn’t want to be thin. I wasn’t avoiding eating to stay skinny. 'Instead, I was convinced that unless I restricted myself to the foods I had decided were OK, I would poison myself. 'I drew up an "allowed" list and a "forbidden" list. Before long, the "allowed" list had just three things - Coco Pops, salt and vinegar crisps, and thin-crust pizza. 'Eventually, all I could manage was Coco Pops. My mum became really concerned. She would try to tempt me with new foods like macaroni cheese, but all I could do was sob into the plate, pleading with her and warning her that it would kill me.' At her lowest ebb in the spring of 2012, Miss Brown, who is 5ft 8in, weighed just 5st 7lb. The physical and emotional exertion was so great that she contemplated suicide. She said: 'I thought I was being an enormous burden on my parents, and I didn’t know whether I would ever get better. I couldn’t see any way out.' An appointment with her GP finally put her anxieties in context and, after an intensive course of cognitive behavioural therapy, she finally began to put on weight. She said: 'I stood on the scales and the doctor said, "if you lose another half a stone, your organs are going to fail". It was a wake-up call. 'When the doctor diagnosed me with OCD I was surprised because I thought I would be described as having a simple eating disorder. 'It never occurred to me that my . behaviour - my systematic approval and disapproval of foods - was . compulsive. 'But once I heard that I had OCD, it all started to make . sense. 'He said it was rare for OCD to have . the effect it had on me, but not unknown. He had seen two other women in . a similar situation over the course of his career.' Now Miss Brown, who exhibits art all over London, weighs a healthy 9st 7lb and maintains a balanced, varied diet. She said: 'I want to help other people who are struggling with OCD issues, if only by raising awareness about the different forms the condition can take.' Well-known symptom: Sufferers of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder carry out repetitive and ritualistic actions, such as washing hands . Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety-based condition, characterised by the sufferer having uncontrolled intrusive thoughts that dictate their actions, moods and fears. The disorder is often depicted incorrectly in films and on television, where the sufferer has endearing or 'amusing' ritualistic behaviour. This depiction underplays the debilitating and often alienating nature of the condition. It affects children, adolescents and adults. The majority of sufferers display symptoms from an early age. The most well-known symptom of OCD includes the continuous and obsessive washing of hands, sometimes until the skin is irritated and feels raw. Other common symptoms include: repetitive rituals such as closing doors in a specific way, or repeatedly checking locks or appliances; hoarding; preoccupation with violent, religious or sexual thoughts; and aversion to particular numbers, words or objects. OCD sufferers can appear paranoid and even psychotic, and they can suffer emotional stress from the resulting breakdown in relationships at work and in their private lives. Worse still, many sufferers are aware that their actions appear irrational, leading to further anxiety. Suicide rates in sufferers is high, and more than 50 per cent of sufferers experience suicidal tendencies. Despite its irrational nature, OCD has been associated with above-average intelligence - both share personality traits such as high attention to detail, meticulous planning and a higher than normal sense of responsibility. People suffering from OCD can have related disorders, such as bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa, Tourette syndrome, Aspergers syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and dermatillomania (skin picking) and trichotillomania (hair pulling). Famous sufferers include: Dr Samuel Johnson, retrospectively diagnosed because of his ritualistic behaviour of counting stairs and crossing doorway thresholds in a specific way; actress Cameron Diaz, who says she is irrationally terrified by the transmission of germs - especially from doorknobs; singer Justin Timberlake, who admits that certain foods must be present in his fridge at all times; Leonardo DiCaprio, who used his childhood OCD as inspiration when he played fellow sufferer Howard Hughes in The Aviator; and footballer David Beckham, who has said he must count his clothes and arrange books and magazines in straight lines. | Samantha Brown, 27, was eventually diagnosed with unusual form of OCD .
Had she lost another half a stone, she may have suffered organ failure .
Says her weight loss was rooted in her desire for some control in her life .
Research has shown OCD increases the risk of suffering an eating disorder . |
275,456 | f0dc559d910152ebf4714e5b0bff524d7f0181e6 | Former Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart continued to enjoy his time off before the start of the new Bundesliga season, as he and girlfriend Sabia Boulahrouz were spotted strolling through the streets of St Tropez. The pair, who have been dating since September 2013 after Rafael split with his ex-wife Sylvie, are holidaying in the south of France before he joins up with Hamburg for pre-season training. Sabia is the former wife of Rafael's Holland team-mate Khalid Boulahrouz, who recently signed a one-year deal with Dutch side Feyenoord after leaving Brondby. All smiles: Dutch footballer Van Der Vaart and his girlfriend Sabia Boulahrouz go on a romantic walk . What's mine is yours: Sabia offers Rafael some of her ice cream as they walk through St Tropez . Rafael and . Sabia were pictured sharing an ice-cream as they walked hand-in-hand, days after they were spotted basking in the sunshine on a boat just off the coast. Van . der Vaart was expected to be named in Louis van Gaal's 23-man squad for . the World Cup until he was forced into pulling out of Holland's . preliminary squad due to a calf injury. The . experienced midfielder will be hoping he can add to his 109 caps when . he returns to the Dutch set-up under Guus Huddink after sitting out Van . Gaal's final few matches in charge of the national team. Joking around: Van der Vaart makes his girlfriend laugh while she enjoys an ice-cream on their holiday . He was . pictured in training at Hamburg's base in Germany while the World Cup . was on in Brazil, in an attempt to get back to full fitness ahead of the . new domestic season. Hamburg . narrowly avoided relegation from the Bundesliga by winning their . play-off match against Greuther Fuerth on away goals in May. All smiles: The pair share a joke together while on a boat in the south of France . Cheers: Sabia and Rafael enjoy a drink while basking in the sun on their boat in St Tropez . Enjoying the sun: Van der Vaart and Sabia Boulahrouz catch some rays in Saint Tropez . Dutch roots: The boat the couple were on is from Van der Vaart's homeland Holland . | Hamburg midfielder missed the World Cup because of a calf injury .
He has been training over the summer in a bid to be fit for new season .
Dutch playmaker is currently on holiday with girlfriend Sabia Boulahrouz .
Sabia is the ex-wife of Van der Vaart's former Holland team-mate Khalid . |
240,661 | c390862d3d9f7435ffdebe849c0383f57ae38546 | YouTube is once gain proving how lucrative it can be as yet another teenager claims to be making a living from the video site. Student Fred Pye, 17, is making more than £24,000 a year in advertising on videos of him playing Grand Theft Auto V - despite the fact he’s too young to play the game legally. Pye has amassed more than 25 million views of his YouTube clips, which offer gamers advice on playing the action-adventure series, and is earning £2,000 ($3,300) a month from the comfort of his bedroom. Student Fred Pye, 17, pictured, from Shrewsbury records himself playing Grand Theft Auto V on his Xbox - despite the fact he's too young to play the game legally. Since 2012 he has amassed more than 25 million views for his YouTube clips and earns more than £2,000 ($3,300) a month from advertising . In two years, Pye's YouTube channel NoughtPointFourLive has gained over 138,000 subscribers and receives almost 2.5 million unique visitors each month. His videos guide gamers through the levels of the game, which comes with an 18 certificate due to scenes of violence and torture. Pye, who is studying advanced maths, history, English and politics at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, said: ‘I set up the YouTube page around two-and-a-half years ago, it was just for fun really and I started putting up videos of Call of Duty. ‘My friends thought it was quite funny . and took the mickey a bit, as you would expect, but my views just kept . growing and growing. Pye said he accidentally turned his love for video games into lucrative money-spinner after he started uploading videos as a hobby in 2012. His YouTube channel NoughtPointFourLive now has over 138,000 subscribers and receives almost 2.5 million unique visitors each month . Pye said his videos, still pictured, offer help, but also save players time trying to work out where certain objects are hidden in the game, or how to make more money, similar to a walkthrough. Walkthroughs are typically written articles that guide people through levels of a game . ‘When Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) came out, it revolutionised the gaming world; the graphics and everything about it was just so much better than anything before. ‘Rockstar, the company behind GTA obviously made it a huge success and as the game was so popular I thought I may as well start making videos on that game, which I did.’ Pye continued that his videos offer help, but also save other players time trying to work out where certain objects are hidden in the game, or how to make more money, similar to a walkthrough. Walkthroughs are typically written articles that guide people through levels of a game. The top five most viewed YouTube . channels, as of February 2014 based on page views. As adverts are priced . depending on a number of factors, including popularity, earnings can be . higher for accounts with fewer page views. 1. Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg's PewDiePie (pictured above): . Estimated Monthly Earnings: £83,500 ($138,000) - £834,600 ($1.4million) Estimated Yearly Earnings: £1million ($1.6million) - £10million ($16.6million) 2. DisneyCollectorBR: . Estimated Monthly Earnings: £51,300 ($85,300) - £512,800 ($852,600) Estimated Yearly Earnings: £615,000 ($1million) - £6.2M ($10.3million) 3. Stampylonghead: . Estimated Monthly Earnings: £53,100 ($88,300) - £531,000 ($882,800) Estimated Yearly Earnings: £637,200 (£1.06million) - £6.4million (£10.6million) 4. Machinima: . Estimated Monthly Earnings: £14,500 ($24,100) - £145,100 ($241,000) Estimated Yearly Earnings: £174,000 ($289,000) - £1.7million ($2.8million) 5. Katy Perry VEVO: . Estimated Monthly Earnings: £68,900 ($114,500) - £688,600 ($1.1million) Estimated Yearly Earnings: £826,300 ($1.4 million) - £8.3million ($13.8million) Source: Social Blade . ‘I have had a great response from people online, most people just keep thanking me for helping them out and helping them to complete the game quicker,’ continued Pye. ‘It can be a bit time consuming as it takes around three hours per video, but I think it’s worth it as the more views I get, the more sponsorship I get.’ Pye admitted that it can be difficult to balance his college work with recording the videos, but said his parents are very supportive because they know his coursework takes priority. Joseph Garrett, 23, pictured, earns a living by filming himself playing Minecraft from his bedroom before uploading the clips to YouTube . GTA V takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos and sees players take on the role of one of three underworld characters building up a criminal empire. The game was released on 17 September last year and made £480million ($800million) in worldwide revenue in just 24 hours. Pye said he is planning to take a gap year when he graduates but insisted he will not be pushing his channel to one side. ‘I won’t be just stopping when I go on my gap year, I will probably put more videos on the channel than ever because I will have more time on my hands. ‘Hopefully I can be successful in this and do it for life, that would be just great, it is every gamers dream to be able to play and get paid and that’s what I am doing.’ Pye is the latest YouTube star to make money from filming themselves playing games online. University graduate from Portsmouth Joseph Garrett, 23, earns a living by filming himself playing Minecraft and uploading the clips to YouTube. His channel now has more than 1.9 million subscribers, receives in excess of 5 million hits a day and is voted one of the top 10 most viewed channels worldwide - pulling more hits than One Direction and Justin Bieber. Garrett began playing Minecraft and uploading his videos 18 months ago and when his channel Stampylonghead reached 10,000 subscribers he quit his job at a local pub to manage the channel full time. | Student Fred Pye records himself playing Grand Theft Auto V on his Xbox .
Since 2012 he has amassed over 25 million views of his YouTube clips .
His channel NoughtPointFourLive has more than 138,000 subscribers .
As a result of advertising, Pye earns more than £2,000 ($3,300) a month .
Pye splits his time between his Grand Theft Auto V clips and his studies .
The 17-year-old is studying advanced maths, history, English and politics at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College . |
119,867 | 26effb1e15f379ac62666aaa3c809244c215f415 | Click here for all the heat maps and statistics that matter in Sportsmail's brilliant Match Zone . There was a moment before kick-off when Nigel Pearson let it be known to the officials that he thought Swansea’s goals were too big and a measuring tape was brought out. Had he called for a bricklayer, it’s unlikely that he would have improved the result. Not with finishing as sharp as Wilfried Bony’s and moves as slick and quick as the two that made his goals. Wilfried Bony finishes off his first goal to give Swansea a 1-0 lead over Leicester at the Liberty Stadium . Bony acknowledges team-mate Gylfi Sigurdsson (left) after a slick interchange between the pair led to the opening goal . Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Rangel 7, Fernandez 6, Williams 7, Taylor 6; Ki 6, Shelvey 6.5; Routledge 6 (Dyer 82), Sigurdsson 7.5 (Carroll 58, 6), Montero 7; Bony 8 (Gomis 82) Subs not used: Tremmel, Emnes, Bartley, Shephard . Leicester (4-4-2): Schmeichel 5; De Laet 5, Morgan 7, Moore 6.5, Konchesky 6.5; Mahrez 6, Hammond 6 (King 67, 6), Drinkwater 6 (Cambiasso 67, 6), Vardy 6 (James 67, 6); Nugent 5, Ulloa 5 . Subs not used: Smith, Schlupp, Wasilewski, Wood . Referee: Mike Jones 7 . Att: 20,259 . MOM: Wilfried Bony . Even with all the possession Leicester managed — 51 per cent, which is no small achievement in these parts — they rarely looked like scoring. When Esteban Cambiasso had an open goal in stoppage time, he hit the post. It’s why Pearson puffed out his cheeks as he considered a fourth game without victory since that remarkable toppling of Manchester United last month. It’s why Garry Monk afforded himself a big grin after a week of big statements and mild controversy. While the past six days had been spent absorbing the fallout of his claim that Stoke’s Victor Moses cheated and his assertion that referees are not fair to Swansea, this was merely a convincing win with no incident worth complaining about. ‘It’s quite boring,’ Monk joked. Pearson was rather more subdued. ‘We didn’t perform as well as we should have done,’ he said. ‘We didn’t manage the ball well enough. You can ill afford to make too many unforced errors. It made it a frustrating afternoon for the players. ‘The bottom line is our baseline performance has to be better. The work ethic we have has always been exceptionally good and here I didn’t feel we really gave as much as we could do to stay in the game. That is the biggest disappointment.’ And on the goal posts? ‘The goalkeepers felt they were a bit high (in the warm-up),’ Pearson said. ‘I thought it was in everyone’s best interest, bearing in mind the controversy Garry has had to deal with this week, to get it checked. It was quite light-hearted.’ The rest of his day was quite heavy going. His tactic appeared to be sit, stifle and ambush, and two thirds of the plan were occasionally effectively. But with no obvious proficiency for getting the ball from back to front, Leicester spent most of the first half inviting pressure. Diving Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel is given no chance as Bony's strike is put away clinically from the top of the box . Bony laps up the adulation from Swans fans after his opening goal in their Premier League clash with Leicester on Saturday . The build up to Swansea's first goal on Sportsmail's Match Zone as Sigurdsson and Bony execute a one-two to perfection at the end . MINS PLD KM MILES . Swansea City 111.1 69.0 . Sung-Yueng Ki 90 11.9 7.4 . Angel Rangel 90 11.2 6.9 . Jonjo Shelvey 90 11.1 6.9 . Leicester City 114.4 71.1 . Riyad Mahrez 90 11.8 7.3 . David Nugent 90 11.8 7.3 . Leonardo Ulloa 90 11.1 6.9 . Swansea took the lead in the 34th minute. The goal was a brilliant blur. Angel Rangel took possession on the right and fed a ball to Bony, whose backheel inside Liam Moore found Sigurdsson. The Iceland forward returned a pass to Bony and the striker scored in his third successive match. Now, Leicester needed to attack and Swansea needed to avoid giving away a lead for a third straight game. The Leicester rush was instant and within two minutes of the second half they hit the bar, albeit directly from a Liam Moore throw, so it wouldn’t have counted. In the 57th minute Bony got his second after another move dominated by the excellence of Sigurdsson and the finishing of the Ivorian. Jefferson Montero rolled the ball to Sigurdsson, who threaded a quite brilliant pass back to the winger. Montero squared and Bony notched his 20th career Premier League goal. Monk concluded: 'It was about getting three points as we could feel that little bit of pressure on us within the crowd and amongst the players. 'It was never going to be easy, especially when Leicester threw caution to the wind, and we could have controlled the ball a bit better in the second half, but I thought we deserved it. 'We limited them to shots from distance which is credit to the shape we've been working on and how hard defensively we've been working. 'Three goals we've conceded in the last two games - two against Newcastle and the second one against Stoke - has not been the standard we've set but we got back to that to keep a clean sheet.' Jefferson Montero (right) beat Ritchie De Laet (left) continuously down the left side with his immense pace . Swansea's Ashley Williams slides in to dispossess Leicester's Leonardo Ulloa as the Argentinean striker speeds down the right wing . Marshalling the left side of defence Williams clatters into David Nugent and the ball during Swansea's win at home on Saturday . Jonjo Shelvy, who rattled the crossbar from long-range, gives Leicester's Riyad Mahrez a hard time at the Liberty . Mahrez fires a left-footed shot from inside the box in Leicester's loss to now sixth-placed Swansea . Bony guides his second goal into the back of the net from close range to give Swansea a comfortable 2-0 lead . Bony shows an image on his shirt (left) after scoring Swansea's first goal before doing a dance for the fans after slotting his second (right) Bony is replaced late in the match but there's no handshake between the winning manager and his strike . Jonjo Shelvey nearly made it three with a 20-yard drive against the bar and Paul Konchesky went to ground to stop Wayne Routledge. The winger went down, Monk’s arms went up, but no whistle, no controversy. ‘I am very pleased with the three points, a deserved win,’ Monk said. ‘There was a little bit of pressure on us to get the win but I am very pleased to get two very well worked goals against a determined side.’ | Wilfried Bony scored in the 34th minute to give Swansea the lead at the Liberty Stadium .
The Ivory Coast striker doubled the advantage in the 57th minute with a tap in from close range .
Swansea move to sixth on the Premier League table between Arsenal in fourth and Liverpool in seventh . |
284,324 | fc5ebbef99e913d7b1c46d8775fd758c7800012b | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:47 EST, 20 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:53 EST, 20 January 2014 . Six people were killed in two separate triple fatal car accidents in Ohio Sunday, including two young girls, age 8 and 11. Police say the 11-year-old was ejected from the back of an SUV carrying two adults and seven children, only three of whom were properly restrained. Addisyn Benzel, 11, was thrown from the cargo area of the vehicle after a driver of a car heading the other direction crossed over the center line on a roadway in Columbiana County, about 40 miles south of Youngstown, said Ohio Highway Patrol Staff Lieutenant Anne Ralston. The driver of the SUV, 39-year-old James Nign and his 27-year-old wife, Meghann Nign, were also killed in the accident around 11am Sunday. Tragic: This head-on crash in northeast Ohio claimed the lives of the driver, passenger and an 11-year-old girl riding in the back Sunday . Horror: Tragedy struck again when three others were killed when this car smashed into a tree . Six other children in the Chevy Equinox, including a 6-year-old sitting on Meghann Nign's lap, were taken to area hospitals, police said, but their conditions were unknown Sunday night. Highway Patrol said that none of the three who were killed were wearing seat belts. Three children, ages 9 months to 4 years old, were in child safety seats, but two other 11-year-old victims were not wearing seatbelts. Ralston said the driver of the Jeep Cherokee that struck the Nign's car, Rachel Lindesmith, 31, of Hanoverton, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, along with her 9-month-old son. Lindesmith was wearing her seatbelt and her son was in a child safety seat, police said. Ralston said an investigation is ongoing and Lindesmith has not been charged. In the second fatal car accident, three people were killed after a car ran off the road and crashed into a tree in central Ohio Sunday night. James and Meghann Nign (left) were killed when their SUV was hit head-on by an SUV driven by Rachel Lindesmith, 31 (right). An 11-year-old girl in the Nigns' SUV also died. Ms Lindesmith was injured by survived . Seven children were riding in this SUV when it was hit. Police say only three of them were properly restrained . The Ohio Highway Patrol said that three people in the car died at the scene on state route 229 in Delaware County, 40 miles north of Columbus. Video from WBNS-10TV in Columbus shows snow blown onto the roadway where the crash occurred. Driver James W. Wyatt III, 33, died along with his sister, Elizabeth Wyatt, 28, and her daughter, Isabella Zinsmaster, 8, according to Highway Patrol Sgt. Robert Curry. Elizabeth Wyatt and her daughter were sitting in the back seat of the car and all three lived in Marion, Curry said. The front-seat passenger, Jessica Wray, 22, of Alexandria, Virginia, was James Wyatt's fiance, Curry said. She was listed in critical condition at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. | A head-on crash in northeast Ohio claimed the lives of the driver, his wife and an 11-year-old girl who was thrown from the SUV .
Addisyn Benzel was one of seven children in the SUV when it was hit - only three of them properly restrained .
Second crash outside Columbus killed the driver, his sister and her 8-year-old daughter .
Driver lost control of the vehicle in a snow bank and hit a tree . |
7,524 | 154efc355864e2ec5b2a52a79e21dc8ef60947d6 | (CNN) -- One week ago, the chief of Pakistan's Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, told graduating cadets in the city of Abbottabad that the "back of terrorism" in Pakistan had been broken, thanks to the sacrifices of Pakistan's soldiers. Kayani was speaking at the "passing out parade" at the prestigious Kakul military academy in Abbottabad, the West Point of Pakistan. At that very moment, the man who had dragged Pakistan into the "War on Terror" a decade earlier was, it transpires, just a mile or two away, living in apparent comfort behind the high walls of a very private compound. Osama bin Laden, who had declared war on Pakistan, had apparently been living for months in a city that had made its name as a military garrison. Abbottabad, pronounced AHB-tah-bahd, is some 60 miles by winding mountainous roads north of Pakistan's capital. Surrounded by green hills, it is renowned for its trees and parks. It's a popular retirement place for officers in the Pakistani army, partly because of its military academy, but also because of its agreeable climate. During British rule, the Imperial Gazeteer of India described it as "picturesquely situated," 4,120 feet above sea level. Abbottabad sits on the Karakoram Highway, an engineering marvel that links Pakistan with China through the Himalayas. Before much of Pakistan became off-limits to most foreign tourists, it was also a popular spot for those on their way to and from the Swat valley and the foothills of the Himalayas. But despite its military traditions, its hockey fields and golf courses, Abbottabad and neighboring districts are also familiar territory to al Qaeda and other extremist groups. In January this year, Pakistani security forces stormed a modest house in the city and seized Umar Patek, an Indonesian linked to al Qaeda who had a $1 million bounty on his head under the FBI's Rewards for Justice program. He had allegedly helped build the bombs used in the 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 200 people. Patek -- a key leader in the Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya -- had rented a room in the house of a retired accountant in Abbottabad after arriving in Pakistan some months earlier on a forged visa. He is now being held (after treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during his arrest) pending a decision on his extradition. Patek's arrest followed that of a Pakistani in Abbottabad called Tahir Shehzad, an alleged al Qaeda facilitator who had been under surveillance for some time, according to Pakistani media reports. Shehzad had allegedly gone to Lahore to meet two French militants who were planning to travel to North Waziristan with Patek. So Abbottabad emerges as something of a way station for al Qaeda and associated groups. Geographically, that makes sense. As the crow flies, the city is just over 100 miles from the border with Kunar province in Afghanistan, an area where al Qaeda has kept a foothold since 9/11. Even with poor roads and mountainous terrain in between, the journey can be completed in a day. It is even closer to the restive tribal territories. In the past two years, the Pakistani army in this area has been preoccupied with reversing the gains of the Pakistani Taliban, rather than chasing down the remnants of al Qaeda or launching the offensive against militants in North Waziristan that Washington has long demanded. The area to the north of Abbottabad saw a surge in Taliban activity two years ago, as the Taliban sought to extend their influence from the tribal areas that border Afghanistan into what was North West Frontier Province, now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The town of Buner, just 30 miles from Abbottabad and 60 miles from Islamabad, fell to the Taliban early in 2009. They also established a training camp close to the town of Mansehr, a few miles from Abbottabad. The Pakistani military has since gradually reasserted control over the area, expelling the Taliban from the Swat Valley, but at a bloody cost. Clashes continue sporadically in the area, and an attack on the offices of the charity World Vision last year in Mansehr resulted in six of the non-governmental organization's workers being shot dead. To the east of Abbottabad is Pakistani Kashmir, its forested hills hosting training camps for several groups committed to "liberating" Indian Kashmir. So it is a city close to the front lines of several of South Asia's insurgencies and terror campaigns. Like much of the region, Abbottabad has long been a theater of sectarian and religious rivalry. Back in the mid-19th century a British officer named Maj. James Abbott brought peace to an area that saw violent confrontations between its Sikh and Muslim populations. Abbott's contribution was recognized when the town was named after him. He even wrote a poem about the place that would bear his name: . "I remember the day when I first came here . And smelt the sweet Abbottabad air ..." | Abbottabad is home to Pakistan's equivalent of West Point .
It is on a key road, and is something of a way station for terrorist groups .
Other wanted terrorist leaders have been found in the city . |
251,990 | d22617f51ddc7d0391ba210a973d64cc9f8db9e0 | By . Snejana Farberov . A New York City police officer who was seen on video punching an Occupy Wall Street protester in the face in 2011 has been awarded a tax-free disability pension of $120,000 a year for the injuries he sustained in the melee. Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona made headlines when he drove a fist into Felix Rivera-Pitre's face during a chaotic demonstration in Manhattan’s Financial District on October 14, 2011. Police accused Rivera-Pitre, who is HIV positive, of being the aggressor in the confrontation, which started when the former dancer allegedly tried to elbow the cop in the face. Scroll down for video . One-percenter: NYPD Inspector Cardona, seen in this October 14, 2011 photo, hitting protester Felix Rivera-Pitre (green shirt) during an Occupy Wall Street has been awarded a tax-free disability pension of $120,000 a year for his injuries . Difference of opinions: The NYPD accused Rivera-Pitre of provoking Johnny Cardona by trying to elbow him in the face, but the protester insisted that all he did was give the officer 'a look' Footage from the protest shows Cardona pursuing Rivera-Pitre and then taking a swing at him, causing the passerby to crumple to the ground. However, Roy Richter, director of the Captains Endowment Association, claimed that a video shot from a different angle that day shows Cardona in a headlock and being trampled. According to the official, the deputy inspector suffered serious back injuries and required a hip replacement surgery and operations on both his knees, the New York Daily News reported. The Daily News reported that earlier this week, the NYPD pension board signed off on a disability pension for Cardona, which is three quarters tax-free and amounts to about $120,000 a year. One-time deal: Rivera-Pitre, seen in the center during an Occupy march in September 2012, sued the NYPD and received a $55,000 settlement . Rivera-Pitre said the cop's punch tore the earring from his left ear, leaving the HIV-positive man bleeding on the ground . Rivera-Pitre has sued the NYPD and received a one-time settlement of $55,000. The man's attorney, Ron Kuby, was scandalized to learn of Cardona's pension. ‘What’s his disability?’ he asked the Daily News. ‘He hurt his fist when he punched Occupy Wall Street protesters? If he went out on a psychological disability that would have been appropriate.’ Speaking to Gothamist after the clash with police, Rivera-Pitre said that he was walking on William Street during the protest and 'shot the cop a look,' which angered the officer, later identified as Cardona, causing him to lunge at him. The fire in his belly: Rivera-Pitre, an artist and former dancer, continued participating in the Occupy movement after the 2011 incident . Cardona’s punch tore out the earring from Rivera-Pitre's left ear, leaving the HIV-positive man bleeding on the ground. However, then-37-year-old Rivera-Pitre was able to escape thanks to the reigning commotion and avoided being arrested. | Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona, 50, claimed he suffered severe injuries that required multiple surgeries in October 14, 2011, protest .
Cardona was photographed punching Felix Rivera-Pitre, an HIV-positive artist and activist .
The protester sued NYPD and received one-time $55,000 settlement . |
227,231 | b23d873e6d659fb889744433cedb1a2ac9b9454b | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 07:30 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:44 EST, 18 February 2013 . A wildlife photographer hoping to capture images of the elusive bobcat was horrified when she eventually found one - in the jaws of an alligator. Despite her shock, professional photographer Jamie Felton managed to capture the moment in a nature centre in Florida on her camera. The brutal collection of images show the alligator in its most lethal state as it rips apart the bobcat - normally around twice the size of a domestic cat. Scroll down for video . Overpowered: The bobcat makes a desperate bid to escape but is overpowered by the much bigger alligator . Alligators' diet consists mainly of fish and birds but they've been known to attack deer, dogs, Florida panthers and black bears if they hungry enough. Ms Felton had spent several months visiting the nature centre to photograph the bobcats and was heartbroken to see one of them being killed by an alligator. Ms Felton, 53, said: 'As I walked on the boardwalk, someone told me a alligator had caught an otter. 'I've gotten used to alligators eating turtles and birds but was surprised to hear it had caught an otter. 'As I rounded the corner the alligator jumped out of the water with an entire bobcat in his jaws. 'I wanted to cry, I may have shed a tear or two, but I took the pictures anyway. 'That's what happens when your a nature photographer, you take the pictures no matter what.' Oblivious: A bobcat leans down for a drink of water at a lake in a Florida nature reserve . Action: An alligator bursts up out of the water and pulls the bobcat underneath with its jaws . Ms Felton usually photographs birds but also has developed a passion for capturing images of bobcats. She said: 'I take a lot of bird . photos but I am also always eager to take any animal photos especially . bobcats, when I can find them.' Ms Felton managed to spend much of last year following a particular family of bobcats at the Florida nature reserve. She continued: 'Bobcats are usually quite elusive but . I've been lucky and have been able to watch a family of bobcats quite . often throughout 2012. 'I watched the young ones grow from blue eyed kittens into almost adults and fell in love with them.' Trapped: The bobcat - which is normally around twice the size of a domestic cat - is wedge between the jaws of the alligator . Ms Felton spends time trying to protect the bobcats by not revealing their location for poachers to see and encouraging others to do the same. She said: 'I've become very attached to this family of bobcats and have even written a children's book about them which I am in the process of illustrating with my photography. 'It took me weeks to recover and come to terms with what I had seen, but that's nature and how it works. 'Since then I have spotted most members of the bobcat family - I can tell them apart by their facial markings.' And Ms Felton believes it may be the father of the family who was caught by the alligator. Rare pictures: Wildlife photographer Jamie Felton captured these images while visiting the nature reserve to photograph a family of bobcats . She added: 'I have a feeling it was the father cat. He is one of the two I have not seen. 'He may have been wounded by a new male in an attempt to take his territory and breed with the female. 'That would have made him an easy target. 'I've also seen the bobcats go to the waters edge for a drink or to chase a duck. 'Since alligators can stay submerged under water for up to two hours, it's not hard to imagine how they might surprise a bobcat that way. 'Nobody saw it happen so we can only make an educated guess as to how an alligator could possibly catch a bobcat, but now we know one thing for sure, it definitely can be done.' Up close: Ms Felton has spent several months following the bobcat family and believes the alligator killed the father of the pack . | Wildlife photographer Jamie Felton took images at Florida nature reserve .
Bobcats are around twice the size as a domestic cat .
Alligators' diet consist mainly of fish but they can attack dogs and bears . |
231,998 | b861ad0565dab6905e234a7375bd17191b6df609 | (Tribune Media Services) -- Be forewarned, Ireland is seductive. Traditions are strong and stress is a foreign word. I fell in love with the friendliest land this side of Sicily. It all happened in a Gaeltacht. As you explore the lush Dingle Peninsula, you'll see how the Emerald Isle got its name. Gaeltachts are national parks for the traditional culture, where the government protects the old Irish ways. Shaded green on many maps, these regions brighten the west coast of the Emerald Isle. Gaeltacht means a place where Gaelic (or Irish) is spoken. But the Irish culture is more than just the language. You'll find it tilling the rocky fields, singing in the pubs, and lingering in the pride of the small-town preschool that brags "All Gaelic." The Dingle Peninsula -- green, rugged, and untouched -- is my favorite Gaeltacht. While the big tour buses clog the neighboring Ring of Kerry before heading east to kiss the Blarney Stone, in Dingle it still feels like the fish and the farm actually matter. Fishing boats still sail from Dingle, and a nostalgic whiff of peat scents its nighttime air, offering visitors an escape into pure Ireland. For 30 years my Irish dreams have been set here, on this sparse but lush peninsula where locals are fond of saying, "The next parish is Boston." Of the peninsula's 10,000 residents, 1,500 live in Dingle Town. Its few streets, lined with ramshackle but gaily painted shops and pubs, run up from a rain-stung harbor, home to a friendly dolphin. You'll see teenagers -- already working on ruddy beer-glow cheeks -- roll kegs up the streets and into the pubs in preparation for another night of music and craic (fun conversation and atmosphere). The Dingle Peninsula is worth exploring by bike or car. It's 10 miles wide and runs 40 miles from Tralee to Slea Head. The top of its mountainous spine is Mount Brandon, at 3,130 feet, the second-tallest mountain in Ireland. While only tiny villages lie west of Dingle Town, the peninsula is home to 500,000 sheep. The weather on this distant tip of Ireland is often misty, foggy, and rainy. But don't complain -- as locals will explain, there is no bad weather ... only inappropriate clothing. Leaving Dingle Town by car or bike, it becomes clear that the peninsula is an open-air museum. It's littered with monuments reminding visitors that the town has been the choice of Bronze Age settlers, Dark Age monks, English landlords, and Hollywood directors ("Ryan's Daughter," and "Far and Away"). The Milestone B&B decorates its front yard not with a pink flamingo, but with an ancient pillar stone -- one of more than 2,000 stony pieces in the puzzle of prehistoric life here. Near the red, two-room schoolhouse, a street sign warns Taisteal go Mall -- Slow Down. Near the playground, students hide out in circular remains of a late Stone Age ring fort. In 500 B.C. it was a petty Celtic chieftain's headquarters, a stone-and-earth stockade filled with little stone houses. Many of these ring forts survived the centuries because of superstitious beliefs that they were "fairy forts." The wet sod of Dingle is soaked with medieval history. In the darkest depths of the Dark Ages, when literate life almost died in Europe, peace-loving, bookwormish monks fled the chaos of barbarian raids on the continent. They sailed to this drizzly fringe of the known world and lived their monastic lives in lonely stone igloos or "beehive huts," which you'll see dotting the landscape. Several groups of these mysterious huts, called clochans, line the road. Built without mortar by seventh-century monks, these huts take you back. Climb into one. You're all alone, surrounded by dank mist and the realization that it was these monks who kept literacy alive in Europe. To give you an idea of their importance, Charlemagne, who ruled much of Europe in the year 800, imported Irish monks to be his scribes. Rounding Slea Head, the point in Europe closest to America, the rugged coastline offers smashing views of deadly black-rock cliffs and the distant Blasket Islands. The crashing surf races in like white horses, while longhaired sheep graze peacefully on the green hillside. Study the highest fields, untouched since the planting of 1845, when the potatoes never matured and rotted in the ground. The great famine of that year, through starvation or emigration, nearly halved Ireland's population. Because its endearing people have endured so much, Ireland is called "The Terrible Beauty." Take your time at the Gallaras Oratory, circa A.D. 800, the sightseeing highlight of your peninsula tour. One of Ireland's best-preserved early Christian churches, its shape is reminiscent of an upturned boat. Its watertight dry-stone walls have sheltered travelers and pilgrims for 1,200 years. From the Oratory, continue up the rugged one-lane road to the crest of the hill and then coast back to Dingle Town -- hungry, thirsty, and ready for a pint. Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. E-mail him at [email protected], or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009, Edmonds, Wash. 98020. Copyright 2009 RICK STEVES, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. | Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows .
His TV series, "Rick Steves' Europe," airs on PBS stations .
Steves' company, Europe Through the Back Door, conducts European tours . |
11,283 | 201a83866446856dc3c7759525e90927e8fcee3d | Cristiano Ronaldo has had quite a career. From Sporting Lisbon, to Manchester United, to the very top at Real Madrid. To celebrate his third Ballon d'Or title, and second in a row, one Ronaldo fan has created a flipbook animation of his most memorable moments, shown while walking through the streets of Manchester to Madrid. Beginning outside Old Trafford, Ronaldo's home between 2003 and 2009, the creator heads south to London, all the while replaying highlights of his best moments in Manchester red. The flipbook animation begins outside Old Trafford in Manchester, eventually moving to the Bernabeu . Ronaldo is seen lifting one of his three Ballon d'Or trophies as the creator travels south to London . Ronaldo's famous free-kick against Portsmouth in January 2008 is illustrated in the flipbook . Walking through the capital, Ronaldo's famous free-kick against Portsmouth in January 2008 flips by. On to a plane, the next chapter of Ronaldo's career is seen. An £80 million move to Los Blancos. The video shows all of Ronaldo's best and most important goals, detailing why he has been crowned the world player of the year for two seasons running. And at 29, he is in his prime, with 35 goals in 30 matches in all competitions this season. As the flipbook arrives at the Bernabeu, it appears there is plenty still to come from the man staking a claim as the best to have ever played the game. Moving away from England, the creator boards a plane to Madrid, where Ronaldo's later career is shown . The video finishes inside the Bernabeu, where Ronaldo now calls home at the age of 29 . Ronaldo roars after picking up his third Ballon d'Or at the gala event in Switzerland on Monday evening . Richard Swarbrick hand painted the amazing moments from Cristiano Ronaldo's career . Subscribe to Swarbrick . Twitter | Facebook . For business enquiries contact Danny Fleet . Thank you to Honours for kindly letting Copa90 use their music. Listen to more of their wicked tracks. Twitter | Facebook . For business enquiries contact Jonny Simon . | Cristiano Ronaldo won his third Ballon d'Or title on Monday evening .
One fan of the Real Madrid man has created a flipbook animation .
The clip shows his career from Manchester United to Real Madrid .
In the background, the creator travels from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu . |
234,785 | bbf269a73b3d7a210a66ede338c0b597324bd3f5 | Police shifted their search and a northeastern Pennsylvania school district tightened security Monday after the fugitive suspect in a deadly police ambush was possibly spotted near one of its campuses. A woman out for a walk Friday night saw a rifle-toting man with a mud-covered face near Pocono Mountain East High School in Swiftwater. State police believe the man was Eric Frein, 31, who has eluded capture despite an intense month-long manhunt in the Pocono Mountains. Authorities had been searching for Frein in the woods around his parents' home in Canadensis, but shifted their primary search area five or six miles to the southwest after Friday night's sighting. A Pennsylvania State Trooper patrols along a closed section of Lower Swiftwater Road on Saturday, October 18, 2014, during a massive manhunt for killer Eric Frein . Manhunt: An armed state trooper searches the woods near Lower Swiftwater Road . FBI agents in bulletproof vests and helmets prepare to patrol the woods in Swiftwater . Lt. Col. George Bivens said police have put a 'tremendous amount of pressure on him' and likely forced him to move. The high school — Frein's alma mater — and all other schools in the Pocono Mountain School District were open Monday, but took extra precautions in light of the fugitive's sighting. Additional officers from the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department were stationed at the district's Swiftwater campus to supplement the lone police officer who normally patrols that location, which, in addition to the high school, includes a junior high and elementary school. Pennsylvania State Police did not recommend that schools close, district spokeswoman Wendy Frable said. 'We would not bring the students in if we did not have reassurance from police they felt the campus was safe,' she said Monday. The district will not have attendance figures until Monday afternoon, but anticipates that some students will have stayed home, she said. Prepared: Frein (right) has been described as a survivalist and 'gun enthusiast' with a grudge against law enforcement officials . Ambushed: Frein is accused of murdering Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson (left) and the shooting of Trooper Alex Douglass September 12 . Bivens said Saturday that authorities do not make a recommendation about whether to close schools, but provide as much information as possible to school officials so they can make their own decision. Schools closed for several days early in the search because state police had closed roads and buses were unable to provide transportation. Frein, 31, is charged with opening fire outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks on September 12, killing State Trooper Cpl. Bryon Dickson and seriously wounding Trooper Alex Douglass. State police have said they believe the self-taught survivalist and gun enthusiast has a hatred of law enforcement and wants to target police, not the general public. Marked man: Frein, 31, was reportedly spotted next to a Pennsylvania school last Friday . Cause for concern: A concerned-looking woman talks with a Pennsylvania State Trooper, as a section of Lower Swiftwater Road was closed on Saturday . State police said Monday that blood reportedly found at two homes in the search area is not linked to Frein. DNA testing ruled out any link to Frein in blood droplets found on a covered porch in the area. Material found on a back door at a second home near the first turned out not to be human blood. Police believe Frein could be breaking into vacant cabins or vacation homes to look for food or take shelter from the elements. | Police are focusing their search on area near Pocono Mountain East High School in Swiftwater .
A woman spotted rifle-toting man with a mud-covered face near the school Friday .
Eric Frein, 31, is wanted in the September 12 ambush that killed one state trooper and injured another .
DNA tests shows blood droplets found at two homes in the search area did not belong to Frein, and it was not human blood . |
112,006 | 1c7455d69d911085c8fc26079d6e328e4ad659b0 | Tiger Woods will be looking to prove he can still be the force he once was against two of golf's young rising stars when the Phoenix Open gets under way on Thursday in Arizona. Woods will be making yet another comeback from injury at TPC Scottsdale in his first event of the 2015 season and first tournament since he finished joint last at the Hero World Challenge in December. He will play the first two days paired with 21-year-old world No 9 Jordan Spieth and 15th-ranked Patrick Reed, 24 - the two players who probably left Gleneagles with the most credit after the United States' third straight Ryder Cup loss last year. Tiger Woods will compete in his first tournament of the year at the Phoenix Open in Arizona . Woods says he is driving better than ever and feels confident in his technique . Woods was all smiles as he addressed the media after a practice round in Scottsdale on Tuesday . Woods could not compete in Scotland as he continued to recover from the effects of back surgery, but the 39-year-old is confident those problems are behind him. And Woods also believes his driving, which was notably erratic even at his peak and has been put in the shade by the game's new big-hitters, is as strong as when he last played this event 14 years ago. 'My driving has come around a lot faster,' he told a press conference. 'I'm a lot longer than I thought I ever could be again. My speed is way back up, and that's fun. I'm touching numbers that I did 15 years ago, so that's cool.' He added: 'I'm driving it. It felt great, driving my ball.' Woods' disappointing week at the Hero World Challenge was notable for his poor chipping, and the 14-time major winner feels he has now adjusted to his new methods with swing consultant Chris Como. Woods says he has adjusted to a new chipping technique after working with new coach Chris Como . Woods gestures as he goes around the TPC Scottsdale during a practice round . 'I was caught between techniques, between my old release pattern and body movement when I was working with Sean (Foley) and then my new release pattern,' he added. 'We had to basically just hit thousands upon thousands upon thousands of chips and just get it out of there, and now it's better.' Woods was clearly more relaxed facing the media in the desert than he often is and, while he seemed confident, he admitted he had some obstacles to overcome over the 7,152-yard lay-out. 'I think I need to work on a little bit here, getting the speed of these greens, because in your head, you assume hard greens with a lot of spring to them are going to be fast, but they're not fast,' he said. 'They spring, but they putt slow. So I need to do some work to try to overcome the mental hurdle to make sure I can hit the putts hard, even though I know coming into the greens I have to throw the ball straight up in the air, play for a big hop, chips, play for two big hops before the ball starts thinking about stopping.' Patrick Reed (in action at the Humana Challenge) will partner Woods at the Phoenix Open . Robert Allenby will play in his first tournament since his alleged kidnapping and beating in Hawaii . Woods may be the main attraction at TPC Scottsdale, but he will have competition from a strong field including world No 4 Bubba Watson, last week's Humana Challenge winner Bill Haas and FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel. Defending champion Kevin Stadler will not be playing due to a wrist injury, but Robert Allenby returns to action following his alleged kidnapping and beating in Hawaii, and the notoriously raucous crowds will be backing Arizona State alumnus Phil Mickelson. Jamie Donaldson and Francesco Molinari lead the European charge, with Scottish duo Martin Laird and Russell Knox, England's Brian Davis and Irish veteran Padraig Harrington also in the field. | Tiger Woods to play in first tournament of 2015 at Phoenix Open in Arizona .
Woods says work with swing consultant Chris Como is paying off .
Woods to play with world No 9 Jordan Spieth and world No 15 Patrick Reed . |
166,674 | 6384a53d0d7572d5cf3707d453bb1fdda5d9b2b6 | By . Jessica Satherley . and Martin Robinson . Updated: . 08:16 EST, 22 September 2011 . David Cameron has been accused of sending mixed messages after launching a new publicly-funded international marketing campaign claiming the UK is 'GREAT' - despite regularly saying that Britain's society and economy is broken. The Prime Minister wants to dispel negativity linked to the country's ongoing economic problems and move away from the anarchic images that were beamed around the globe during last month’s English riots. More than £500,000 has been spent on the new GREAT campaign and a series of posters will be used across the world centred around the 2012 London Olympics to promote Britain the brand. Its aim is to attract an extra billion pounds of inward investment and trade over the next year, giving a lift to an economy that has barely grown during the last 12 months. GREAT campaign: The Government has spent £510,000 developing the GREAT campaign, which will flag up Britain as a place to visit and do business . Mr Cameron is in New York where he is to address the United Nations General Assembly. He said last night: 'We want to extend an invitation to the world to take a fresh look at everything we have to offer. 'Britain today is simply a great place to visit, study and work. A great place to invest and do business.' But only last month, as law and order broke down in cities across England he said: 'In my very first act as leader, I signalled my personal priority: to mend our broken society – that passion is stronger today than ever. 'Social problems that have been festering for decades have exploded in our face. 'The broken society is back at the top of my political agenda.' Critics have said that the Prime Minister should not ignore the riots, and that the campaign may not be suitable could be deemed as 'bragging' by other countries. Mark Leonard, the director for the European Council on Foreign Relations, credited with launching the notion of 'Cool Britannia' told the Daily Telegraph: 'My worry about this campaign is that it comes when David Cameron is speaking about broken society, broken economy, and all of the domestic debates are about how nothing works here,' said Mr Leonard. 'It is slightly ludicrous to go to New York and talk about how Britain is great, because that's not the message they've been getting from British media or British politicians.' GREAT idea: The Government marketing campaign aims to dispel the . negative images of Britain beamed around the globe during last month's . riots . Dave Trott, the creative Director of CST Advertising, which produced the 'Enjoy England' campaign in 2009, 'I don't think anyone pays any attention anyway. 'London should be marketed as "the most exciting city in the world right now because it is out of control". The Government should use the riots as a 'selling point', he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Of course. That's what we've got. Don't deny it. Don't pretend we're Switzerland or Singapore. No amount of pretending we're not that will change that.' Meanwhile Patrick Barwise, emeritus professor of management and marketing at the London Business School told The Times: 'I would certainly be cautious before putting money into a campaign like this because it could be interpreted as bragging. 'The intended effect is for people to think "British people are the most talented in the world. That's wonderful, I'll come." But the alternative is they will think: "Says who? I'm from the United States and I think we're better." Ministers claim this is not a rebranding exercise, but in fact a chance to put the record straight. GREAT business plan: Its aim is to attract an extra billion pounds of inward investment and trade over the next year, giving a lift to an economy that has barely grown during the past year . ‘It is not about rebranding Britain, we . have one of the strongest brands in the world,’ Jeremy Hunt, Secretary . of State for Culture, Media and Sport, told reporters yesterday. ‘It is about using that brand to create more exports, more inward investment, more trade, more foreign tourists and also to make sure that we can put the record straight after some of the terrible events that happened this summer, which created a negative image,’ he added. ‘It’s based on something that isn’t new - the idea of putting great back into Britain is something that has been around for a very long time, but we think this is the moment to use it next year.’ But an economist suggested a billion pounds was a tiny amount in terms of the overall economy. ‘When GDP is in the trillions, a billion is not a great deal,’ said Scott Corfe, economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research. In 2009, foreign companies invested £46 billion in the UK, a decrease of £3.2 billion from the previous year and the smallest flow of inward direct investment since 2004, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed. The government said the bulk of the billion pounds is expected to come from exports. The billion pounds will go some way to delivering a return on the £9.3 billion it will cost to stage the Games. The government, backed by the Foreign Office and UK Trade and Investment, will host a global investment conference in London on the eve of the Olympics and set up a British business embassy to showcase the country’s innovations, creativity and entrepreneurship. GREAT entertainment: The campaign aims to show off what's great about Britain - from music to shopping - and Downing Street has unveiled a series of postcards that promote these, which will be handed out at business events . Politicians also hope the Olympics and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee next year, to mark 60 years of her reign, will boost tourism, attracting an additional four million visitors, aided by a further billion pounds of free publicity. The campaign comes at a time when a cash-strapped Conservative-led coalition government looks to the private sector to boost growth, as it embarks on an austerity package to eliminate a record budget deficit. The country also has to overcome the damage to its image caused by this summer’s riots in which cars and buildings were burnt and shops looted in London and other English cities. GREAT ambition: The campaign comes at a time when a cash-strapped Conservative-led coalition government looks to the private sector to boost growth . | Prime Minister says economy and society are broken following recession and riots in English cities .
Then he backs bid to attract an extra billion pounds in trade and investment with 'bragging' billboard drive . |
95,248 | 066597c42af433c35b1cccaf1654fa4199823f88 | By . Chris Pleasance . A dog-walker accidentally killed six pets after locking them in the back of a hot truck for 45 minutes then lied and said the animals had been stolen. Emma Paulsen sparked a week-long hunt for the dogs - Buddy, Teemo, Oscar, Mia, Molly and Salty - after saying they had been taken from her truck when she left for ten minutes to use a bathroom. But last week Paulsen confessed to pet investigators that the animals, including her own dog, died after she locked them in her pickup for 45 minutes. Emma Paulsen, a dog walker, has admitted killing six animals, inlcuing Molly (pictured) a German shepherd-blue heeler cross, after locking them in the back of her truck for 45 minutes on a hot day . Paulsen dumped the dogs' bodies in a ditch then lied to owners, telling them their pets had been stolen, sparking a week-long hunt (pictured, pit bull Mia, left, and Poodle-Bouvier mix Teemo, right) She now faces a fine of $75,000 (£44,500) or up to two years in prison. The SPCA, which is leading the . investigation, will recommend that authorities pursue animal cruelty . charges, said Marcie Moriarty, the organisation’s chief prevention and . enforcement officer. Paulsen reported the dogs missing on May 13 after taking them for a walk in a park in Brookswood, British Colombia. Speaking to the Globe and Mail Alesha MacLellan, co-owner of Petsearchers Canada, said: 'From the get-go, the story didn’t make a whole lot of sense. 'The washrooms were in sight of where the truck was parked. I’m trying to grasp how someone could so quickly retrieve six dogs that they do not know and get them into another vehicle without anyone seeing. It seemed far-fetched.' In fact, the . animals had died of heat exhaustion. In an attempt to cover up her crime, . Paulsen dumped the bodies in a nearby ditch and claimed the animals had . been stolen. Petsearch Canada added: 'Emma disclosed that all six dogs were in the back of . her vehicle with the side vent windows open and water available, as she . had done hundreds of times. 'All six dogs . perished from heatstroke. Upon arriving and Emma seeing . her beloved charges deceased, she went into a blind panic at the . thought of notifying the families and the possible repercussions. 'In a . complete state of shock and panic, Emma made a desperate attempt to . cover up what had happened and concocted a story to explain the loss of . the dogs.' Paulsen told pet detectives the truth, and now faces up to two years in jail after the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommended pressing charges (pictured, Rottweiler-husky mix Oscar) Writing on a Facebook page dedicated to the dogs, Jenn Ortner, who owned Boston terrier Buddy (pictured) said she was 'devastated and heartbroken' adding 'the tears just won't stop' The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the dogs’ deaths last week and said that they were still investigating, adding that no charges had yet been filed. Prosecutors will have the final say on whether to charge the dog walker, Moriarty added. Writing on a Facebook page, Jenn Myers Ortner, who owned black and white Boston terrier Buddy, said: 'These dogs were our worlds and now we are all devastated and heartbroken. 'I am not sure if we will ever truly mend from this. The tears just won't stop.' | Emma Paulsen was looking after six dogs including her own pet, Salty .
All died of heatstroke after she locked them in pickup truck for 45 minutes .
Paulsen dumped bodies in ditch and told owners the pets had been stolen .
After a week-long search she admitted her crime to pet investigators .
She now faces up to two years in jail on animal cruelty charges . |
94,275 | 052d9a69278e90229146b3485cbb6b82c65dc7f1 | Venice, Italy (CNN) -- Their stare is blank and unblinking; they stand rigid and dumb. Passers-by look on bemused as a child attempts to clamber up one of their backs. It's no harm, they are after all just a pair of concrete cows, painted white with cute little black spots. The question is: what do these rock-solid ungulates have to do with the future of architecture? The answer: more than you imagine. The setting is Venice. I'm here for the 14th Architecture Biennale, directed on this occasion by Rem Koolhaas -- the Dutch, Pritzker prize-winning powerhouse who, over 40 years, has built notable structures everywhere from Texas to Taipei. This, while maintaining a side-line in serious academia, publishing, journalism and, for good measure, a place on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people. We meet under dappled light in a quiet corner of the Giardini -- a sloping, lovingly tended park, split by a canal and dotted with "national pavilions" -- miniature exhibition spaces built by each participating country at various intervals since 1893. Sat in a fresh white shirt without so much as a bead of sweat on his tanned, furrow-less brow, Koolhaas appears remarkably calm for a man who's just spent the last four years managing this colossal undertaking, often referred to as the "Olympics of Architecture." "What's unique about the Biennale is that it's based around these national pavilions... so you end up with a global tour of ideas," he says. There are 65 contributing nations this year -- a jump from 55 in 2012 -- including a refreshing dose of non-western first-timers like Mozambique, the Dominican Republic and Morocco. But what are they showing, exactly? "Architecture should be open to everything. My whole life has been dedicated to expanding the boundaries of architecture - never considering it a single entity ... Events like the Biennale help to open new possibilities precisely by showing us something other than buildings alone," explains Koolhaas, whose slim, long physique is at odds with the weighty seriousness of his character. Read more: Astonishing origami exhibit displays dance of art and science . This brings us back to those concrete cows. Guarding the entrance to the neoclassic British pavilion, like quaint, toothless lions, the cows are on loan from Milton Keynes -- the last of the post-war British New Towns -- where they've been serving as unofficial mascots since the mid-70s. They're the opening gambit of an exhibition that includes a poem by William Blake, a portion of a David Hockney painting and snippets from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange; much of it infused around electric indigo depictions of the UK's most iconic housing estates. For a sentimental Brit like me, it's an exhilarating kaleidoscope of cultural reference points. To echo Koolhaas, it's also a bold reminder that architecture is -- or at least should be - about a great deal more than blueprints, digital renderings and scale models. "We must accept that it's part of a broader culture," says Dutch architectural historian Wouter Vanstiphout, who co-curated the exhibit alongside British architect Sam Jacob. The pair contend that culture -- from the romantic traditions of the late 19th century, to the sci-fi visions and imagined utopias popular right through the 20th -- has had a significant influence on British architecture over the last 100 years. Read more: 7 of the world's most beguiling bus stops . "These images and ideas have shaped the way we live. So what we've really made is an argument -- an argument that the world is something you can change with a fired-up imagination," says Jacob, in what for a moment feels like a rousing call-to-arms. Like all the national pavilions, the British exhibit is a response to a specific theme, set by Koolhaas, titled "Absorbing Modernity, 1914-2014." Explaining the idea behind this theme, Koolhaas argues (in fact, he tells me it's more of a "provocation") that modern forces -- particularly those of globalism and advancing technology -- have led to a uniform "international" architecture (glass towers, square blocks and so on) at the expense of more distinctive, traditional styles worldwide. And so it is that as you stroll from pavilion to pavilion, you encounter all manner of colorful explorations riffing on this idea -- mostly characterized, in fact, by each nation's attempt to show how they are the exception to the rule. Outside the Romanian pavilion, for instance, a small plantation of old-fashioned alarm clocks stand like black sunflowers on long, rigid stalks. It's an eerily surreal reference to factory life, the clockwork operations of workers, and a precursor to an exploration of the factory as the distinguishing symbol of modernity in Romania. Over in the Dominican Republic, the floor is smothered in a brilliant bright, multi-colored carpet -- conjuring a sense of the Caribbean nation's vibrant spirit. In contrast, the thrust of the exhibit dwells on the pre-eminence of concrete which, after the catastrophic San Zenon hurricane of 1930, was obligatory for all new construction. Read more: World's most stylish supercars take a luxury road trip . In this sense, a natural disaster thrust a new mode of architecture onto the island. The result, claim curators Laboratorio de Arquitectura Dominicana, was a distinctive form of modernism -- adapted to the tropical climate with a healthy twist of Dominican flair. Inside the German pavilion there's a full-size partial replica of the Kanzlerbungalow (Chancellor's Bungalow) in Bonn -- built by architect Sep Ruf in 1964. The Kanzlerbungalow was ubiquitous in the West German media during the tenure of the Bonn Republic, and functioned as the "nation's living room." Its airy, forward-looking 60s modernism is worlds apart from the formal grandeur of the pavilion itself, which was built during the era of the German Reich. The result is not only a visceral dialogue between two generations of German architectural history, but a statement about the role of politics in shaping the country's national style. A hop, skip and jump and we're in the Russian pavilion -- where the curators have turned the ornate building into a spoof international trade fair. In a playful, tongue-in-cheek turn, 20 fictional companies have set up shop across rows of mock sales stands -- most with a dedicated agent -- offering commercial, distinctly Russian-themed solutions to the problems of contemporary architecture. Read more: Inside the world's biggest furniture fair . A man from "Estetika Ltd" tries to sell me some ornamental gold decorations -- with an unmistakably Russian diagonal lattice shape - to fix on the front of my building, making it "instantly Russian." Nearby there's "PrefabCorp" - a hypothetical merger of all existing Russian prefabricated housing suppliers, and "Ark-Stroy" -- a booth selling above-ground bunkers based on Russian social housing blocks, designed for post-apocalyptic living. "Trade fairs are the ultimate symbol of modernity" explains co-curator Anton Kalgaev, as he guides me past a series of garish corporate logos. "They all look exactly the same -- they operate by the most universal language you can imagine." There's a great sense of theater here, and underneath is a well-considered comment on both the state of modern architecture and the means by which new ideas are communicated and sold. As Kalgaev says, "the advantage of using this commercial language to display our exhibit is that it explains complicated things in a very easy way." The Russian pavilion is perhaps the most direct response to Koolhaas' theme -- distilling key aspects of the country's architectural identity into discreet elements. By transforming them into commodities, they also show how facets of our past must be repackaged in a commercial framework in order to survive modernity. Looking back to when he first conceived the idea for this Biennale, Koolhaas says that he was struck by how easy it was, when looking at a series of buildings from a 100 years ago, to identify them by nation. Read more: China's crop of outrageous new hotel designs . Looking at a series of glass towers from around the world today, he says, "Everyone would agree that there are enormous similarities between them and that it would be reasonably hard to identify any of these in terms of national architecture." If we are to succeed in finding an antidote to the generic, then looking to our own societies must surely be a critical first step. The Biennale succeeds because it places people -- our history, culture and even our bodies -- at the very heart of its thinking. It may not have all the answers, but it's certainly asking all the right questions. | The Venice Biennale has been described as the Olympics of Architecture .
65 nations have contributed to this year's showcase .
Director Rem Koolhaas has dedicated his life to expanding the boundaries of architecture . |
113,623 | 1e9c6e72bb0a5c97994044a8f731a0615b29d443 | A prominent Philadelphia businessman and philanthropist was among seven people killed Saturday when their private plane crashed on takeoff in Massachusetts. Lewis Katz had purchased the parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and CNN affiliate philly.com just days before the crash. He was 72. "It is with an incomprehensible amount of grief and the heaviest of hearts that my sister and I announce the loss of our beloved dad," Drew Katz said in a statement Sunday. "My father was my best friend. He taught me everything. He never forgot where and how he grew up, and he worked tirelessly to support his community in countless ways that were seen and unseen." Katz was formerly the principal owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the NHL's New Jersey Devils. He was a shareholder of the Nets, the New York Yankees and the YES Network at the time of his death. "The New York Yankees are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Lewis Katz " managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. "Lewis was a minority owner of the Yankees and a valued, long-time friend and colleague to so many of us within the organization. He will forever be remembered." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Lewis -- who took the Nets to the franchise's first ever visit to the NBA finals in 2002-2003 -- "a trusted friend and valued member of the NBA family." "All of us at the NBA were extremely saddened to learn of the tragic, sudden death of former Nets owner Lewis Katz. He was a visionary businessman who touched the lives of so many with his tireless pursuit of innovation and enterprise, as well as his deep commitment to his family, friends and community." Silver said in a statement Sunday. Katz, who was an attorney in addition to his business ventures, was also a prolific philanthropist. His alma mater, Temple University, announced that it would rename the medical school in his honor after a $25 million gift in 2013. Two buildings at Pennsylvania State University -- where Katz went to law school -- also bear his name. Katz was also active in his native Camden, New Jersey, where he founded two charter schools and supported a number of charities as well as youth, educational, religious and civic causes. Katz flew to Massachusetts earlier Saturday to attend a fund-raising event at the Boston-area home of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. She said she had dinner with him Saturday evening before he left for his flight back to Atlantic City, New Jersey. "He was a force of nature," Goodwin said of her friend of 20 years in a statement. "So deep was his commitment to education reform that he flew to Concord to support my son Michael's Concord River institute. Afterward we all went to dinner, where we talked at length about our shared passions for sports and journalism, politics and history. But the last thing he said to me upon leaving for the plane was that most of all what we shared was our love and pride for our children. I have lost a great friend, his family has lost a great father and grandfather, and the country has lost a great man." Luke Schiada, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said the Gulfstream IV with two pilots, one flight attendant and four passengers attempted to take off at 9:40 p.m. Saturday from Hanscom Field, about 20 miles northwest of Boston. Only the plane never got airborne, according to Schiada: It crashed through a chain-link fence and went down an embankment before winding up in a gully approximately 2,000 feet from the end of the paved runway surface. He said a "significant post-crash fire" consumed much of the plane. The NTSB announced Monday that the plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder had been recovered. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan identified the plane's pilot as 52-year-old James McDowell of Georgetown, Delaware, the co-pilot as 45-year-old Michael De Vries of Marlton, New Jersey; and the flight attendant as Teresa Benhoff, 48, of Easton, Maryland. The three passengers traveling with Katz were also identified by Ryan's office Monday as New Jersey residents Susan Asbell, 68, Marcella Dalsey, 59, and Anne Leeds, 74. All three were his close associates, according to philly.com. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell told CNN that Katz had invited him to the event and that he would have been on the doomed flight had it not been for a previous commitment. "You feel a loss like this on so many different areas," he said. "We lost one of our best civic leaders (and) our greatest philanthropist." Rendell also said that he lost his close friend. "Life will never be as much fun without Lewis." | Philadelphia newspaper and sports mogul Lew Katz among 7 killed in crash Saturday night .
The Gulfstream jet failed to get airborne; crashed through fence and into a gully .
Katz was attending an event at the Boston-area home of famed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin . |
15,024 | 2aa8761d836df56b44d414a4cadc47737edec4d6 | By . Ben Nagle for MailOnline . Louis van Gaal's old coach Barry Hughes has claimed that the current Manchester United boss would have been better suited to a teaching role than one in the cut-throat world of football management. Welshman Hughes, who coached van Gaal at Sparta Rotterdam in the early 1980s, has admitted his surprise at seeing the Dutchman rise up the managerial ladder. 'Louis wasn't one I had marked down for a career in management... not for a minute. 'I always thought he would go back to teaching. I never believed he would stay in the game. I didn't look at him and think, "he's got something special, he could be a decent manager,"' Hughes told The Sunday People. Youthful: A younger-looking Louis van Gaal during his coaching days in Holland . Learning the ropes: van Gaal (right) with Spitz Kohn (left) during Lisbon v Ajax in September, 1988 . Despite Hughes' initial doubt at van Gaal's managerial capabilities, the former Netherlands coach has been in coaching for 28 years, the last 23 of which he has held a top European position. Upon leaving Sparta Rotterdam in 1986, the club at which he played for the majority of his career, van Gaal had a short playing spell at AZ Alkmaar, before becoming assistant manager. He then joined Ajax in the same role, before becoming the club's manager in 1991. From there, the Dutchman has managed his country in two separate spells, been in charge of Barcelona twice, Bayern Munich once, and now holds the top role at Manchester United. Before and after: van Gaal has come a long way since his playing days, pictured (left) in 1985 . Hughes though, maintains that it came out of the blue, and that he had never spoken to van Gaal about the possibility of coaching, despite working with him in the lead-up to the birth of his management career. 'When I managed him, I never had a discussion with him about coaching. He didn't come in and ask me about anything. Dick Advocaat...would ask questions as to why we did certain sessions - but never Louis.' Hughes, the former Welsh international footballer who made a name for himself after discovering Ruud Gullit as a 15-year-old at Haarlem, began coaching in the Netherlands in 1966, and crossed paths with van Gaal in 1978 when he joined Sparta Rotterdam. At the time, van Gaal was playing football semi-professionally, while juggling a side job as a PE teacher. Little did either of them know that 36 years later, he would be in charge at Old Trafford. Old friend: Barry Hughes, famous for discovering Ruud Gullit aged 15, coached van Gaal at Rotterdam . Big spender: Since his arrival in Manchester, van Gaal (right) has brought together a squad worth £379m . | Barry Hughes worked with van Gaal at Rotterdam in the early 1980s .
The now Man United manager was working part-time as a PE teacher .
The Welshman said he never spoke to van Gaal about coaching .
Louis van Gaal has since managed Bayern Munich and Barcelona .
He was in charge of the Netherlands national team before joining Manchester United after the World Cup this summer . |
222,677 | ac43f34ad521e9e159ff0624ff31e510bbccbc91 | It's a country known for it's relaxed way of life - so much so, that citizens fiercely treasure the siesta tradition of napping during the day. And now researchers believe that they have found a reason for Spain's sleepy stereotype - the country is in the wrong timezone, forcing its residents to rise an hour earlier than they they should. A new parliamentary report blames the fact that Spain is stuck in Central European time - which means running one hour ahead of daylight - for everything from low work productivity to gender gaps. The document by a parliamentary commission said that 'Spain for more than 71 years has not been in the correct time zone' The time zone is unusual because the Mediterranean country sits in the middle of the Western European time zone, the one that Portugal, Morocco and Britain belong to, the BBC reported. The report argues that Spaniards' sleeping patterns are based around the 'artificial' time zone, but their work hours follow the daylight time. So citizens will work until the daylight begins to end, despite going to work an hour earlier, the Washington Post reported. The report's authors recommend that the government move Spain's daylight hours to accord with the Western European time zone - which could see an improvement in work productivity and stress levels. The report argues that Spaniards' sleeping patterns are based around the 'artificial' time zone, but their work hours follow the daylight time . The document by a parliamentary . commission said that 'Spain for more than 71 years has not been in the . correct time zone', the BBC reported. The reason for the country's peculiar time zone compared to their neighbours occured in 1942, the Spanish dictator General Franco moved Spain onto Central European Time to follow Nazi Germany. Unlike the UK, which changes its clocks twice a year, Spain sticks to one time. In the past American researchers have studied the impact of daylight saving on a person's health - and discovered that moving the clocks backwards and forwards can wreak havoc on the body. In 2012 they found that the abrupt change to a person's daily schedule increased the risk of having a heart attack by 10 per cent. This impact isn't felt on the Sunday morning as most people adapt their weekend schedule and rise a little later. However, the risk peaks on Monday when workers have to get up at a set time to get to the office. When the clocks go back in October the risk of heart attack decreases by 10 per cent. 'Exactly why this happens is not known but there are several theories,' said Professor Martin Young at the time. 'Sleep deprivation, the body's circadian clock and immune responses all can come into play when considering reasons that changing the time by an hour can be detrimental to someone's health.' | Spain is in Western European time zone but follows Central European zone .
Time zone changed in 1942, the Spanish dictator General Franco moved Spain onto Central European Time to follow Nazi Germany .
Parliamentary report argues government should change zone . |
228,985 | b47f4d9531a263b81df54540b1c0f8cb877af28e | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan must start serving a 30-day jail term next week after admitting that she violated her probation on a necklace theft conviction, a Los Angeles County judge ordered Wednesday. "It's possible she could be booked in and booked out" the same day, Los Angeles County Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore said Wednesday afternoon. "It depends on the fluctuations of the day, what's going on in the jail," Whitmore said. After that, the actress must work at least 12 days a month at the county morgue until she completes the 53 remaining days on her court-ordered community service and she must attend 18 psychotherapy sessions, Judge Stephanie Sautner told her. If Lohan misses any of those goals, she will be returned to jail for another 270 days, the judge ruled. "This is what we really call putting the keys to the jail in the defendant's hands," Sautner told Lohan. The actress, who admitted violating her probation during a hearing Wednesday, must report to the Los Angeles County jail by November 9, the judge said. "You are not to get house arrest or early release, except for that required by the law," Sautner said. Whitmore said that the early release program is part of the law, meaning Lohan would likely get out quickly due to overcrowding. When Sautner sentenced Lohan to 120 days in jail last May, she ended up serving 35 days of home confinement instead, due to jail overcrowding and state rules that give prisoners credit for good behavior. It was not immediately clear how many days Lohan will actually serve this month, if she ends up getting credit for good behavior. Prosecutors said Lohan missed 12 of 20 scheduled workdays at a downtown Los Angeles women's center, part of the court-ordered community service imposed in May when she pleaded guilty to stealing a necklace from a Venice, California, jewelry store. Lohan, 25, was already on probation for two drunken driving convictions from 2007. She also canceled 14 of 19 scheduled appointments for court-ordered psychotherapy, they said. "From what I see of you, you need a structure," Sautner told Lohan Wednesday, instructing her to return to court each month, starting December 14, to show she is complying with the schedule. If the actress stays on track, her probation would be eased on March 29, 2012, Sautner said. If she doesn't keep up with the requirements, she will serve the additional 270 days behind bars, the judge said. The full sentence imposed Wednesday was 150 days for the necklace theft probation violation and 150 days for violating probation on the 2007 drunk driving conviction in Beverly Hills. While the original sentence included 360 hours of community service at a downtown Los Angeles women's center, the judge said she did not want to put the Skid Row charity through the pain of Lohan again. When the judge called The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, the charity refused to take Lohan on as a worker "saying you were a bad example," Sautner said. But Lohan seemed to find a good fit with her work at the Los Angeles County morgue, where Deputy Chief Coroner Ed Winter said she worked four days in the past two weeks cleaning up. Lohan reports for morgue duty . "So, the morgue is willing to keep you," the judge said. All of her community service work has been transferred there, she said. Two weeks ago, the actress' father, Michael Lohan, told HLN's "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" program that his daughter shouldn't be in jail, but in rehab. Last week, Michael Lohan was arrested twice in two days for violating a court order to stay away from his former girlfriend. CNN learned Wednesday that he is now in an "administrative confinement" cell in the infirmary section of Orient Road jail in Tampa, Florida, where he's awaiting trial. Michael Lohan arrested . Lindsay Lohan's legal woes, which began four years ago with two drunk driving arrests, have been compounded by her failure to attend counseling classes, and alcohol and drug test failures. Her probation is scheduled to end within a year unless Lohan breaks any laws before then. It has been extended several times because of violations, including the failed alcohol and drug tests."It's possible she could be booked in and booked out" the same day." CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | NEW: Lohan could be booked in and out the same day, sheriff's spokesman says .
If she violates probation again, she must serve another 270 days in jail .
The judge said she cannot be released on home confinement .
"The morgue is willing to keep you," the judge says . |
186,041 | 7cf06d12ae38e1ce23ef83cfd5a208afeb688a8e | Washington (CNN) -- Apparently, Chris Christie didn't get the memo. "Wednesday night is the restart of this campaign, and I think you're going to see those numbers start to move right back in the other direction," the Republican New Jersey governor said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Christie raises the bar for debate . Note to Gov. Christie: No, no, no, no, no. Standard operating procedure for pre-debate chatter is to lower expectations for your guy by raising expectations for the other guy. The way Mitt Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, did on Fox: . "President Obama is a very -- he's a very gifted speaker. ... The man's been on the national stage for many years, he's an experienced debater." And because this is a bipartisanly accepted strategy, Obama's guy David Plouffe did it too: . "We have expected all along that Gov. Romney will have a good night. He has prepared more than any candidate in history. And he has shown himself to be a very, very good debater through the years." Obama campaign: Don't expect zingers . Further, governor, since you are supporting the candidate who is running behind (You are supporting him, right?), then you also need to lower the stakes for Wednesday's first of three presidential debates. As John McCain told me: "Frankly, I can't remember the last time there was one of these comments that grabbed everybody's attention because, frankly, the candidates are too well-prepared. They're well-scripted." What does Romney need to do to change the race? And as Ryan did (obviously he got the memo): . "I don't think one event is going to make or break this campaign." But definitely, Gov. Christie, definitely not the way you did: . "And I'm telling you, Thursday morning, you're all going to be scratching your heads and saying, 'Wow, we have a barn-burner now for the next 33 days.' " What questions would you like to ask the candidates? Share a short video question. Because the thing is, when you say that, Plouffe says stuff like this: . "They expect to come out of this with the race fundamentally changed. Now, what does that mean? If it's going to fundamentally change, that means in seven or 10 days from now you'll see states like Ohio tied, the state of Iowa tied, because that's what really matters here." You know what they say, governor -- there's no heavier burden than great expectations. On the other hand, you may be onto something: Actually believing (you do, right?) and saying out loud (which you did) that you think your guy will do great. Talk to you Thursday morning? -- CC . | Both sides have played low-expectations game about Wednesday's debate .
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defies GOP, predicts debate will be game-changer for Romney .
Christie's prediction sets high expectations for Romney, who is running behind . |
122,596 | 2a7302fb4e1bfc66dd70c26d96d2abf34e96089c | (This Old House) -- There are countless varieties of tomatoes available, each of which differs from the others in taste, the size, shape and ripening time of the fruit. "There's only two things money can't buy. That's true love and homegrown tomatoes," songwriter Guy Clark says. When deciding what to grow, choose varieties proven to perform well in your area. Talk to neighbors and check with your extension service to learn the local favorites. And, if you're a novice grower, choose at least a few varieties designated as All-America Selections winners. This nonprofit group tests new varieties all across the country and awards only those with outstanding growth and flavor. Their logo appears with plant descriptions in most catalogs. It's always a good idea to experiment with a few plants of several varieties to determine the ideal tomatoes for your garden and taste buds. What's more, growing different varieties is an insurance policy of sorts -- a disease that strikes one variety might not harm the others. These are the qualities to consider when selecting tomatoes for your garden: . Growing basics . Start with healthy plants. Whether homegrown or store-bought, plants should be short and stocky (6 to 10 inches tall). Avoid plants with blossoms or fruit. You'll pay more for plants in individual 4-inch pots, but they usually have larger root systems than those growing in cell packs. As a result, they will grow faster after transplanting. Choose the right site . Tomatoes grow best in full sun (at least 8 hours daily) and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Work a couple inches of compost or decomposed manure into the upper 6 inches of soil prior to planting. If a soil test shows the pH is below 6.0, apply lime. This Old House: Testing soil . Plant right . Set plants in the garden after the danger of frost and when the soil temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. (Experienced gardeners sometimes plant earlier and shelter plants to protect them from cold and frost.) Space plants 1 ½ to 3 feet apart (closer for determinate varieties, which spread less). Wide spacing assures good air circulation, which discourages diseases. Plant seedlings in the ground deeper than they were growing in their pots so the lowest leaves are just above the soil level. Roots will grow along the length of the buried stem, resulting in stronger plants. And, don't forget to water freshly planted seedlings. Most experts recommend fertilizing at planting time. But go easy on the fertilizer. In this case, less is best because too much nitrogen fertilizer results in vigorous vines with few tomatoes. The recommendation from Clemson University Extension is fairly standard: Pour about 1 pint of starter solution (2 tablespoons of 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 fertilizer per gallon of water) around each plant. This Old House: Organic lawn care . Support plants . Stake or cage indeterminate plants (which develop long stems) at the time of transplanting. This keeps vines and tomatoes off the ground so the fruits will be larger, cleaner and less apt to rot. Supported plants are also easier to care for and tomatoes are easier to harvest. The most common method is to support each plant with a single sturdy stake, 6 to 8 feet tall and at least 1 inch thick. Drive the stake into the ground, about 4 inches from the plant. As the plant grows, attach its stems to the stake using commercial tomato ties, strips of soft fabric or old panty hose. Leave a little slack around the stems. The general idea with staking is to limit the vines to a couple of main stems, which requires regular pruning. Supporting tomatoes in wire cylinders or cages is also popular. This method requires more work initially, but there's no need to prune or train the plant. Give them TLC . Tomatoes aren't one of those crops you can plant and forget. Check soil moisture and give plants 1 to 1 ½ inches of water weekly, if not supplied by rain. Try not to splash water on leaves. About a month after planting -- once the soil has really warmed up -- apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch, such as weed-free straw. If you mulch too soon, the soil will stay cool, delaying the harvest. This Old House: Mulching a tomato garden . If plants are staked, regularly pinch off the small suckers that sprout between the leafy branches and main stems. Don't cut a knife can spread disease. Give all plants a boost during the growing season by applying a 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 fertilizer according to package directions. The best times to fertilize are when fruits are about golf ball-size and again when the first tomatoes are ripe. And speaking of ripe, pick tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored. Taste one while it's still warm from the sun and you'll know why tomatoes rank No. 1 with home gardeners. Get 2 Free Trial Issues . COPYRIGHT © 2009 THIS OLD HOUSE VENTURES, INC. | All-America Selections tests new tomato varieties all across the country .
Tomatoes grow best in full sun and well-drained soil rich in organic matter .
Wide spaces between plants assure air circulation and discourage diseases .
Tomato plants need 1 to 1 ½ inches of water weekly, if not supplied by rain . |
116,157 | 21ee736f7a909bdb7d1b6860b7e047d53c52c59d | By . Ruth Styles . Once a rare sight, spotting a tattoo on a female ankle or shoulder has become an ubiquitous part of modern life. But as this stunning collection of photographs shows, getting inked isn't quite the modern phenomenon it's often thought to be. There's Pam Nash, a noted tattoo champion of the 1930s, having extra flowers added to the Japanese garden adorning her back, a Danish tattooist creating a delicate rose on a client's thigh and a 1930s film fan admiring the portrait of actor Gary Cooper etched onto her shoulder. The man responsible, hugely popular London tattooist George Burchett, also features in a photograph dating from 1936 which shows him creating a snake on a female client's leg. Film fan: A woman admires the fabulously detailed portrait of movie star Gary Cooper etched on her shoulder by 1930s tattooist, George Burnett . Intricate: This 1930s tattoo enthusiast boasts a body covered in a mix of religious scenes, dragons and flowers . Flirty: A heavily tattooed woman shows off her full body etchings while flirtatiously twirling her skirt . Portrait of an artist: Tattooist George Burchett, who also created the portrait of Gary Cooper on a client, works on a pattern encircling a client's thigh . But not every image is an innocent one. Poignantly, one portrait shows London prostitute Margaret McGowan who was found murdered in a Kensington car park on the 25th November, 1965. Her killer, a serial murderer dubbed Jack the Stripper, was never caught. Other colourful images show a tattooist creating a bluebird on a female client's breast, while another shows a woman covered from head to toe in markings flirtatiously twirling her skirt. While tattoos are a relatively recent phenomenon in Europe and the USA, body art has long been part of Polynesian culture and has also been found on the mummified remains of Ancient Egyptian priests and priestesses. Although tattoos first made an appearance in the woad etchings of Iron Age Britons, they didn't reappear in Western culture until the 19th century and the first recorded body art craze which originated in Victorian high society. Popularised by 19th century explorers returning home to the UK full of tales about the weird and wonderful tattooed women they saw on their travels, tattoos swiftly became the accessory of choice for upper class women. Such was the intensity of the craze for body art during the Victorian period, even Queen Victoria is believed to have had one in the form of a Bengal tiger fighting with a python. Oriental: Tattooist Les Skuse at work on champion tattoo lady, Pam Nash, who boasted a fabulously elaborate large Japanese scene across her back . Tragic: Margaret McGowan was found dead in a Kensington car park in 1964. Her murderer, a serial killer dubbed Jack the Stripper, was never found . Delicate: A tattooist working in 1960s Denmark creates a wonderfully detailed image of rose on a female client's thigh . Intimate: A young woman has a linear tattoo of a horse and jockey on her breast in this photograph dating from the 1930s . Elaborate: A tattooist created a detailed Chinese dragon design on the breast and stomach of a glamorous female client in the 1960s . Wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill's mother Jennie also had a serpent tattoo, although hers was rebelliously visible and inked bracelet style around her wrist. Sadly, tattoos didn't equal control for many Victorian women, some of whom were tattooed against their will and press-ganged into work as circus attractions. Others became tattoo artists themselves, including American Maud Wagner, the first known woman tattooist, who in 1904 traded a date with her tattooist husband-to-be for an apprenticeship and British tattooist Justine Knight who opened her London business in 1921. But while tattoos remained popular during the 1920s, their popularity waned in the wake of the Great Depression and the Second World War. Left to languish in the fashion wilderness for nearly 40 years, the tattoo next staged a comeback in the 1970s, when they were claimed by the nascent feminist movement before becoming part of the body-conscious beautifying of the 1980s and then gaining mainstream status in the 1990s. Detailed: A tattooist creates a pretty bluebird on the chest of a female client in a photo that dates from February 1965 . Painted lady: Tattooist Les Skuse at work on tattoo enthusiast Pam Nash next to a life-sized sketch that shows how the tattoos will look when complete . | The photographs date between 1920 and 1970 and feature some of the top tattooists of the age at work .
Others show off the intricately detailed tattoos adorning 'tattoo champions' such as Pam Nash .
One poignant photo is a portrait of tragic London prostitute Margaret McGowan who was murdered in 1964 .
Although tattooing has existed in the UK since the Iron Age, it didn't become widely popular until the Victorian era . |
253,728 | d469406b043cd2dd1050764be09971143bb74d98 | By . Tom Kelly . PUBLISHED: . 14:07 EST, 21 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:26 EST, 21 January 2013 . Given her mother’s willingness to take on the law for a worthy cause, it’s little surprise Chrissie Hynde’s daughter has inherited something of a fighting spirit. But it seems even fearless rock stars get a little anxious when their offspring are the ones doing the protesting. Pretenders singer Chrissie, who was once arrested over her animal rights campaigning, has been fretting about whether daughter Natalie is ‘warm enough’ since she joined a group protesting against a new road. The 28-year-old has swapped her comfortable flat for a snow-covered treehouse 15ft off the ground to try to prevent the development tearing through a beauty spot. Activist Nathalie Hynde, daughter of singer Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and Ray Davies of The Kinks, sits in a tree house during a protest . Natalie is opposed to the construction of the £94million road. (Right picture) Natalie (left) and mother Chrissie Hynde at the UK premiere of Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten . Miss Hynde, whose father is Ray Davies of The Kinks, said her 61-year-old mother was ‘delighted’ to see her taking a stand, but added: ‘She’s my mother so of course she’s anxious about my health and worried that I’m keeping warm enough. ‘She’s concerned about things like pneumonia, because it is bitterly cold. But she’s confident that I know what I’m doing and sensible. She knows that we all take very good precautions to make sure we stay healthy.’ Miss Hynde said her decision to join the protest group was in part because of the ‘inspiration’ of her mother, who was arrested in 2000 for protesting about animal rights outside a New York branch of the Gap clothing chain. Miss Hynde said: ‘She’s been a great influence on me, and one of the reasons we are so opposed to this road is because of the impact it will have on animals in the area. ‘This is a wildlife haven and the road will destroy much of that. Miss Hynde has joined protestors who say the construction of the road will destroy the unspoilt Combe Haven Valley . No-frills: Natalie Hynde faces a spartan existence at the makeshift camp, which stands in the path of the proposed road . Plan: The proposed route of the new road between Bexhill and Hastings . ‘But I have also found my own way. My main concern is climate change and the increased damage this will do to the planet by increasing emissions. ‘We should be encouraging people to drive less, not more.’ Miss Hynde moved to St Leonards-On-Sea in East Sussex last year, and joined protesters trying to protect the nearby Combe Haven Valley beauty spot just after Christmas. Developers plan to build a link road that will connect Bexhill with Hastings, concreting over a swathe of ancient forest and rolling farmland in the process. Medhurst said: 'I try to dig an oval-shaped hole which will hopefully support itself, it was perfected by the Vietnamese in the Vietnam War, and I'm willing to risk my life' The Mail reported last week how many of those taking part in the protest are in their 50s and 60s and choosing to take up activism rather than wind down to retirement. Miss Hynde’s fellow protesters include 58-year-old grandmother Hilda Stewart and Simon ‘Sitting Bull’ Medhurst, who dug a tunnel underneath the road building site in a bid to stop the development. The group sleep in treehouses made from tarpaulin and cargo netting, huddling under muddy sleeping bags at night. Miss Hynde said: ‘We all work together and have had great support from locals who have brought us wonderful vegan meals that we heat up over a fire in the evening. Of course, I have to be realistic and say that ultimately we are unlikely to win this battle against the road. ‘The main thing is to make a stand and make it as hard as we possibly can for those building it.’ Many observers say the Combe Haven Valley fight has rekindled memories of the ‘tree people’ of the 1990s, when dreadlocked protester Daniel Hooper – known as ‘Swampy’ – briefly became a minor national celebrity. Progress: Work is going on around the protesters to clear a path for the road . | Natalie Hynde is one of fifty activists protesting a new .
road in East Sussex .
They live in tree huts and .
dug tunnels along the route of planned link road .
One protester said he was prepared to live in a tunnel for a month to prevent work being carried out . |
19,840 | 38589c105d42e7bbf8e1f370f0c97b1943543388 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 09:43 EST, 2 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:23 EST, 7 November 2012 . Just enjoyed a 'Diet Coke' break? You'll be pleased to hear that you won't need to do any exercise to work off that fizzy drink. However, according to a newly launched exercise calculator you'll need to go for a half-hour brisk walk if you want to work off the calories from a standard 330ml can. The Work It Out Calculator has been launched by the Coca-Cola company and matches all of its popular drinks with how long it would take to burn the calories off through various forms of exercise. So while a 144 calorie can of Sprite could be worked off in an 18 minute Zumba class, it would take 47 minutes of ballroom dancing, or - if you could face it - 73 minutes of ironing. Helpful advice or cynical PR ploy? The Coca-Cola calculator lists calories but not the sugar content of each drink . It reveals that 'healthier' vitamin drinks such as Glaceau Vitamin Water Essential would still require a 13minute cycle ride or vacuuming for 19 minutes. But if household chores fill you with . dread, Coca-Cola reminds readers that: 'Great music can put the fun . into vacuuming. Crank up a fast-paced tune and burn some calories while . you clean!' The . calculator also doesn't mention just how much sugar is in it's 'full-fat . products'. A can of coke contains 39g or nine teaspoons of sugar, which . is close to half of a woman's recommended daily allowance of 90g. A can of Diet Coke contains 0.5 calories so doesn't require exercise to work off, however normal Coca-Cola is a different matter (see table above right) The company launched the calculator after it commissioned a survey that revealed over a third of Britons admit they don't have the time to be as active as they like, with motivation (32 per cent) cited as a key barrier. Coca-Cola GB said: 'We want to help . people understand how they can enjoy our drinks as part of a healthful . balanced diet, whilst communicating the importance of an active . lifestyle.' The move will be seen by many as a cynical PR stunt to promote Coca-Cola as a healthy-brand. However, many will doubtless be keen to learn how much jogging they need to do tonight after downing a can of Fanta (12 minutes, in case you're wondering). The company has faced criticism in the past for not responding to health concerns. In June, UK campaigners called for a ban on a colouring linked to cancer which has been found in Coca-Cola sold in Britain. Glaceau Vitamin Water can be worked off doing chores . Coca-Cola . has recently switched to a new manufacturing process in America to . bring down the level of the chemical, 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), which gives coke its distinctive colour. More... 23st bride-to-be drops eight stone in eight months... and fits into size 10 wedding dress . Just an hour and half of exercise a week can keep dementia away - and preserve your memory . But this precaution has not yet been . taken in other countries such as Britain, where product sales top £1.1billion a year. Health authorities in California are so . concerned that they have passed a law that requires any can of drink . containing a 4-MI reading of 30mcg or more to carry a health warning. If . this safety assessment was applied in Britain, all cans of Coke would . have to carry a warning. Coca-Cola strenuously denies there is any human health risk from 4-MI. | Calculator details how long it would take to burn off various Coca-Cola drinks through different sports and chores, such as housework .
But it doesn't mention how much sugar is in each drink . |
66,020 | bb651b3a5986bcde8630160e24af0fe32fbaa3c5 | By . Amlan Chakraborty . Keisuke Honda believes Japan have the potential to pull off a huge upset in Brazil and win the World Cup. The AC Milan player is central to coach Alberto Zaccheroni's attacking plans and is one of the surviving members of Japan's 2010 World Cup campaign, when they advanced to the knockout stage only for the second time. 'I am very eager to surprise the world so we just (have to) believe in our style and ourselves. We will see at the World Cup,' the 27-year-old told Kyodo news agency when asked to reassert his earlier claim that Japan could go all the way. Dream: Keisuke Honda believes Japan have the potential to pull off a huge upset and win the World Cup . Putting the miles in: Japan are currently training in Florida before flying out to Brazil next week . 'At this moment, we just need to progress. I don't want to look back (over the last four years). I think the most important thing is how we spend time over the next two weeks, how we make a good atmosphere. 'We can do that. We have experienced players who can make it (a good atmosphere) and I am one of them so I have to do a lot of things in the next two weeks.' The bleach-blond player also said he would approach the World Cup as if it was his last. 'The World Cup only comes around once every four years and for every player in the squad there is no guarantee that there will be another World Cup. I intend to challenge as though this one is the last for me.' Japan, now training in Florida, face Ivory Coast in their Group C opener on June 14 in Recife before meeting Greece (June 19) and Colombia (June 24). Looking sharp: Honda, only 27, said he would approach this World Cup as if it was his last . | AC Milan playmaker is bullish ahead of the finals in Brazil .
Japan are at a training camp in Florida before flying out .
They face Ivory Coast, Greece and Columbia in Group C . |
257,849 | d9afe5914b76b90415743cb17d63e83ab81306e1 | Ryan Seacrest has been a fixture on the red carpet and on the small screen for years but now he's landed hosting deals on all four major networks and is successfully expanding his ever-growing lifestyle brand. The American Idol host turned 'every show' host signed a deal with CBS on Tuesday to host a show called Fashion Rocks. Seacrest already has deals to host New Year’s Rockin' Eve with ABC, American Idol with FOX, and has a long running deal with NBC. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest (pictured here hosting American Idol in May) signed a deal with CBS on Tuesday marking an affiliation with all four major networks . CNN reports that CBS was one of the only English speaking networks left Seacrest didn't have a deal with yet. The Hollywood Reporter states that NBC also extended Seacrest's deal with them for one more year. 'This new deal will include hosting and producing 2015 Live from the Red Carpet events for E! contributing to E! News, as well as hosting and producing specials for E! and NBC,' said a network spokeswoman. The Hollywood Reporter said that rumours circulated claiming Ryan would stop hosting shows on the red carpet but such is not the case. Ryan reportedly felt as though he'd outgrown hosting the red carpet shows and that he wanted to move on to other ventures. 'I felt like I had been there for a long time, and I wanted to think about whether or not it fit into the full scope of what my focus was going to be in the years to come,' he told The Hollywood Reporter. How's my hair?: Ryan signed a deal to host the CBS show Fashion Rocks and along with the title as host, Seacrest will have his own fashion line at Macy's . What are missing from Ryan's new deal are offers to host NBC News' Today show or to host a show on NBC Sports. Seacrest has expressed interest in both the news and sports divisions and said that he's been conversing with NBC sports about possibly covering the Olympics in Rio in 2016. The Today Show is a less likely position for Ryan as he has a morning radio schedule that keeps him in LA while the NBC show broadcasts out of New York. One of the reasons Seacrest decided to continue his red carpet reporting is because of his long standing friendship with NBCU executives Steve Burke and Bonnie Hammer. 'They've been very good to me,' Seacrest told The Hollywood Reporter. The deal to host Fashion Rocks on CBS was born out of a similar friendship with CBS' music and specials chief Jack Sussman, Richard Beckman of Three Lions Entertainment, and producer Don Mischer. Ryan Seacrest has spoken highly of the chemistry he has with his fellow American Idol hosts Billy Ray Cyrus (left), Jennifer Lopez (second left), and Harry Connick Jr (far right) Not only will Seacrest get hosting credits from his new wardrobe driven show, Macy's Department Store will sell a collection in Seacrest's name which will add more to his lifestyle brand. 'I'm certainly not a designer, but I do enjoy the process of picking out a great suit and putting a tie with it, and then adding cufflinks and the tie clip,' he told the Hollywood Reporter. 'This is a chance to curate some cool, classic styles that start with suits and accessories but could eventually grow into other lifestyle opportunities, he added. Seacrest is reportedly planning a live radio broadcast from Herald Square in Manhattan just before Fashion Week to promote his Macy's lifestyle line as well. Not only is Seacrest hosting on all the big networks, he's investing in companies like the YouTube event group called DigiTour, the marketing company Civic Entertainment Group, along with start-ups like Pinterest, Flightcar, and TYPO. Despite moving forward on all fronts Seacrest still loves hosting the music competition American Idol and says that those types of competitions are 'part of his DNA.' He's commended the strong relationship and chemistry he has with his fellow Idol hosts Billy ray Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. Seacrest is also still committed to his $25 million radio deal with Clear Channel. Seacrest has called his routine morning radio deal, 'the engine that drives everything else.' | Ryan Seacrest signed a deal with CBS on Tuesday to host a show called Fashion Rocks .
Seacrest already has deals to host New .
Year’s Rockin' Eve with ABC, American Idol with FOX, and has a long .
running deal with NBC .
Seacrest has said he wants to stop hosting red carpet shows but will continue because the networks have 'been good' to him . |
241,551 | c4a4caf37408398d7aef78fb93809c9c9178e185 | By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 11:47 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:07 EST, 25 May 2013 . A little girl's trip to Disney World didn't turned out as magical as she expected when she was sent crashing to the ground after being hit by a dancer. Melissa Browning said her four-year-old daughter was dancing alongside Disney characters in a costumed parade at the Magical Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, during a family trip. As her parents filmed her enjoying herself, one of the official dancers with the parade accidentally smashes her in the head with his hand. Scroll down to video . Bam; Video shot by Melissa Browning at Disney World shows her four year old daughter being sent flying backwards and crashing the ground after being hit by a parade dancer . Video shot by Melissa shows her four year old daughter being sent flying backwards and crashing the ground. The dancer, dressed in a bright shirt and white trousers, swings his arm back catching the young girl directly in the face. Nearby him is a Donald Duck character dancing with a group of children. The camera suddenly goes out of focus as Melissa rushes to comfort her daughter and she can be heard saying: 'Oh my God.' Melissa told WKMG TV that the dancer apologized, before continuing with the parade. The child was reportedly knocked out in the incident, according to the station. Bam: Video shot by Melissa Browning at Disney World shows her four year old daughter being sent flying backwards and crashing the ground after being hit by a parade dancer . But she said Disney failed to get in touch with her after she emailed them about the incident. She said her daughter was left with a bruising around her eye for several days. Melissa posted the video on YouTube with the warning: 'Don't let your little ones dance in Disney parades.' She wrote:'I was very worried when it happened though. She had a purple eye for a few days. No Disney did not respond to the accident or to my email later. The dancer did apologize but then kept dancing so we were a very stunned and surprised.' Melissa said the family returned to their home in Louisiana the same day of the incident. A spokesman for Disney has not made any comment. | The four-year-old girl was sent flying by dancer, who apologized but continued in the parade in Orlando, Florida . |
119,766 | 26bc487c7dfbada0ccfd045fa879eb2e299c68db | (CNN) -- We are still learning key details about Aaron Alexis, the man named as the shooter in this week's horrific mass killing at the Washington Navy Yard. So far there is a record of at least two prior incidents in which Alexis fired a gun under circumstances that should have brought criminal charges. His time as a Navy reservist was checkered with accounts of insubordination and disorderly conduct. He was reportedly seeking treatment for mental illness (he was hearing voices and having problems sleeping). More importantly from the perspective of risk for violence, a former roommate reported that Alexis was a heavy drinker. While much of the focus has been on how a person with this background obtained clearance to work at a military facility, a similar question could be asked about how he could legally buy a firearm in Virginia and allegedly obtain a permit to carry loaded firearms in Texas. Opinion: Gun control is not the answer . The gun lobby and other opponents to stronger gun laws like to talk about the rights of "law-abiding gun owners," but the policies in place in most states allow individuals with backgrounds far worse than that of Alexis to own legally as many firearms as they can afford and carry loaded firearms most anywhere. To appease the gun lobby, lawmakers have created an environment where individuals with numerous convictions for misdemeanor crimes involving violence, firearm misuse, illegal drugs and alcohol abuse, and who have previously been subject to restraining orders for domestic violence, can legally arm themselves to the teeth. Several states have stricter standards for legal possession of handguns than federal law, and states such as New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts give law enforcement some discretion in determining who should legally be able to buy and carry handguns. My colleagues and I published a study last year where we found that in states with the weakest standards (similar to federal standards), nearly one-third of state prison inmates incarcerated for crimes committed with guns would have been prohibited from possessing firearms when committing their most recent offense if their states had standards for legal gun possession similar to those in place in high-standards states. With reasonable regulations such as background checks for all gun sales and proper regulation of gun dealers, many of these inmates would not have had guns to use in crime. Opinion: What could have prevented Navy Yard carnage? In order to reduce significantly the gun violence that occurs every day in communities across the United States, we must focus on the issues that matter the most where there is broad consensus. Public opinion surveys show large majorities of gun owners support stronger standards for legal gun ownership and policies designed to keep guns from prohibited persons, including universal background checks and stronger regulation and oversight of gun dealers. We can't say for sure whether such policies would have prevented the recent mass shootings that have gripped our nation, but they would reduce a significant number of shootings that don't receive national news attention, though they are no less devastating to the individuals, families and communities. Unfortunately, the gun debate in the United States has been just that -- a debate. Instead of engaging in the all too familiar, polarizing discussions that have characterized gun policy, let's act upon the things we all agree upon -- keeping guns from people who shouldn't have them. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Daniel W. Webster. | Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis had background of violent incidents, misconduct .
Daniel Webster: How could someone like Alexis legally buy and carry loaded firearms?
He says to appease gun lobby, policies have low standards for possession of guns .
Webster: Stronger standards for legal gun ownership could help reduce horrific shootings . |
10,030 | 1c73ff48b26139600dd1113ef30a17a9a5ccafb3 | Russell Slade's position as Leyton Orient boss remains tenuous after admitting he wants to better himself, days after an approach from Cardiff City. Slade saw his side knocked out of the Capital One Cup to Sheffield United last night thanks to Michael Higdon's early header, and if it was to be his last match in charge at The Matchroom Stadium, the goal marked a disappointing end to a four-and-a-half year project. Cardiff's approach was rejected, but Slade admitted he is frustrated not to be in the Championship after Orient came so close in the play-offs. Michael Higdon heads Sheffield United into an early lead . The Sheffield United striker runs off to celebrate with his team-mates . Leyton Orient: Woods 6; Cuthbert 5 (Pritchard 12, 6), Baudry 5, Clarke 5, Omozusi 6; Petrasso 7 (Cox 62), James 5, Vincelot 6, McAnuff 6; Mooney 6 (Henderson 68), Simpson 6 . Subs not used: Grainger, Batt, Bartley, Dagnall . Booked: James, Baudry . Sheffield United: Howard 6; Alcock 6, McGahey 7, Collins 7, Harris 6; Wallace 8 (Doyle 67), McGinn 7, Reed 6; Flynn 7, Higdon 7 (Porter 77), Murphy 7 . Subs not used: Turner, Scougall, McNulty, Davies, McEvely . Goals: Higdon (2) Booked: Murphy, Flynn . Attendance: 3,223 . Man of the match: Wallace (Sheffield United) He said: 'Everybody wants to better themselves, when you've been in League One a few years and came so close in May to getting ourselves in the Championship, it's frustrating. 'It's a big club, and it will be a big job for somebody. 'I love this football club. I've had four-and-a-half years, 230 odd games.' Slade's comments after Orient's win at Scunthorpe on Saturday - that he felt 'proud' to be linked with the Cardiff job - were sure to unsettle. Sheffield United duly took advantage on the pitch. They were given joy down the left twice in the opening two minutes, and scored at the second attempt. Higdon's hold up play allowed Jamie Murphy free, and his perfect cross was headed past Gary Woods by the man who started the move. Chances were sparse, but Elliot Omozusi hit the post for Orient with a deflected effort, before Stephen McGinn pulled his effort just wide at the other end. As Sheffield United embark on another cup run, Orient are still looking for their first home win of the season. Slade's future is uncertain, but Orient owner Franceso Bechetti's programme notes were telling, revealing he had been asked by a lawyer to allow Slade to transfer to Cardiff, a request he rejected. Few would begrudge Slade a move up a division when his job seemed at risk a fortnight ago due to a slow start to the League One campaign. Managers Russell Slade and Nigel Clough give their instructions from the touchline . Jobi McAnuff (left) and Stephen McGinn do battle in the midfield . Sheffield United's Stephen McGinn takes at shot at Orient's goal . | Nightmare start for Leyton Orient as Michael Higdon heads only goal after two minutes .
Sheffield United hold on to qualify for round four .
Speculation over Orient manager Russell Slade's future with Cardiff keen to appoint him as new manager . |
43,778 | 7b82cdb591baaadc1000fb12db900c5672918edc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 8 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:10 EST, 9 June 2012 . The horse that was set to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years has been scratched the day before the Belmont Stakes and retired with a swollen tendon. I'll Have Another – the winner of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes – will not race in the 2012 Belmont Stakes, according to his trainer, Doug O'Neill. 'I’ll Have Another is officially out of the Belmont,' O'Neill said on the Dan Patrick Show this morning. 'It’s not tragic, but it’s a huge disappointment.' Scroll down for video . Problems: I'll Have Another is tended to after a bath at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y on June 7. I'll Have Another's bid for a Triple Crown ended with the shocking news that the colt was out of the Belmont Stakes due to a swollen left front tendon . Triumphant: Mario Gutierrez, sits atop I'll Have Another in the winners circle after winning the 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville Kentucky, on May 5, 2012 . The three-year-old colt, who was aiming . to become the twelfth horse to win the Triple Crown, has got tendonitis in . his left front leg, according to O'Neill. 'He’s not 100 percent, and I ain’t taking any chances,' he said, according to CBS. Asked if I'll Have Another has raced his last race, he said: 'If I had to wager . I would say yes.' During a New York Racing Association press conference at 1:00pm today, O'Neill said: '"It's been an incredible ride, an incredible run,' but 'it was unanimous to retire him'. Dennis O'Neill, brother of trainer Doug O'Neill, said the heavy 4-5 betting favorite galloped early Friday morning and after a veterinary scan, his tendon seemed 'kind of tender.' He added to The Associated Press: 'We're very, very bummed out, but we'll be back next year. Sad: Trainer Doug O'Neil walks with I'll Have Another during a press conference outside of barn two on June 8, 2012 in Elmont, New York . Loving: Trainer Doug O'Neil pats I'll Have Another after the news that the three-year-old colt has been scratched from the 2012 Belmont Stakes during a press conference . 'He looked fine, he actually looked . fine again this morning, we were just precautionary taking a look at it. Just a bummer, real, real bummer. 1978: Affirmed . 1977: Seattle Slew . 1973: Secretariat . 1948: Citation . 1946: Assault . 1943: Count Fleet . 1941: Whirlaway . 1937: War Admiral . 1935: Omaha . 1930: Gallant Fox . 1919: Sir Barton . 'The horse looks fine. Looking at it, . you would never think anything is wrong. He looks great. He's sound. He . went great this morning. He looks super and you just can't take a . chance. He's too valuable of a horse and we love him to death like all . of them. 'You wouldn't run a horse if you think something might happen.' 'It's devastating. I . thought this was going to be one of the greatest races in history, and I . wanted the opportunity to be part of it,' said Dale Romans, trainer of . second favorite Dullahan. 'But this is bigger than that. This is . terrible news.' It was the first time since 1936 that the Derby and Preakness winner didn't run in the Belmont. That year, it was Bold Venture and in 1932, Burgoo King skipped the race. I'll Have Another came out of a losing effort in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September with shin problems and took the rest of the year off. Today: I'll Have Another, left, with exercise rider Jonny Garcia, accompanied by stablemate Lava Man, trains at Belmont Park, on Friday, June 8, 2012, in Elmont, N.Y . Fast: Triple Crown Hopeful I'll Have Another gallops with exercise rider Jonny Garcia during a morning workout at Belmont Park on June 7, 2012 in Elmont, New York . He returned to racing in February, . and won the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, putting the colt firmly . on the Triple Crown trail. 07/03/11: 1st - Maiden Special Weight . 08/07/11: 2nd - Best Pal Stakes . 09/05/11: 6th - Hopeful Stakes . 02/04/12: 1st - Robert B. Lewis Stakes . 04/07/12: 1st - Santa Anita Derby-G1 . 05/05/12: 1st - Kentucky Derby . 05/19/12: 1st - Preakness Stakes . Doug . O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam immediately gave I'll Have Another two . months off leading up to the Santa Anita Derby, which he won by a nose . on April 12. He followed . with victories in the Kentucky Derby on May 5 and the Preakness two . weeks later to set up a highly anticipated bid to become racing's first . Triple Crown winner in 34 years. Doug O'Neill said the decision to . bring I'll Have Another to the track shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Friday . was to avoid congestion around the detention barn housing the 12 horses . entered for the Belmont. The colt jogged and then galloped around the 1½-mile oval accompanied by stable pony Lava Man. 'It's . been very hectic the last few days, so we thought we would take him out . when it's quieter,' O'Neill said in a statement released by the New . York Racing Association. Preparation: Doug O'Neill, trainer for I'll Have Another, leaves a barn after training at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on Friday, June 8, 2012. He described the Triple Crown hopeful as 'fit and ready to go' Scratched: Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another at Barn 2 following workouts at Belmont Park on Friday, June 8, 2012 in Elmont, N.Y . Injured: Kentucky Derby, and Preakness winner I'll Have Another is ridden by exercise trainer Humberto Gomez at Belmont Park on May 21, 2012 in Elmont, New York . 'The detention barn setup with all 12 of the horses going out at the same time has been a little bit hectic.' When horses return from their morning . exercise, they are walked around the barn area to cool down and then . bathed before being led back to their stalls. 'The simple thing of just trying to find a place to bathe your horse has been kind of congested,' O'Neill had said. 'We thought we would come out early, . and it would be quieter. Hopefully he will be back resting in his stall . when 8:30 rolls around and a lot of the hectic activity starts. We want . to get him in the quietest frame of mind leading up to the biggest race . of his life.' O'Neill had declared his colt 'fit and ready to go.' 'We are just trying to let him bring as much energy to the table tomorrow as possible,' he added. 'We . thought giving him an easy day the day before would be a good move. He . stayed with coach Lava Man just to keep everything off-speed. I was very . pleased with it. Perfect. We are ready to roll.' Watch video here . | I'll Have Another was to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978 .
The three-year-old colt is out because of a swollen left front tendon . |
140,698 | 41eea5f0acc5c7f76bc21968234c4a7dcc284eaf | Killed: Former mechanic Ross Waters (pictured) led police in a 110mph chase along two motorways . A father-to-be was killed as he ran across a motorway after telling his fiancée 'it ends tonight' during a 110mph police chase, an inquest heard. Former mechanic Ross Waters, 33, sparked the 30-mile pursuit after a heated row with two friends at the home he shared with Laura Swarbrick in Blackpool, Lancashire. He tried to follow them home and rammed their car outside a police station before escaping onto the motorway, evading tyre spikes and a police roadblock before continuing, fatally, on foot. An inquest in Preston, Lancashire, heard Mr Waters had been suffering the effects of a devastating brain injury he had received in a 2004 car crash. The incident had left him unable to remember his family, where he lived or what he liked to eat. After he met Ms Swarbrick they moved in together in Blackpool. She fell pregnant with his child, and they were due to marry. But on November 10 last year, events took a fatal turn after Mr Waters had a row with his fiancée's visiting friend Carl Noblet and his wife Tammy. The couple left to go home at around 8.30pm and spotted Mr Waters tailgating them in his Ford Focus Sport, they told the inquest. Mr Noblet said: 'At first it was close enough that I couldn’t see its headlights. Obviously when a car is that close it’s a little weird. 'I didn’t know who it was. Then the car backed off enough to see the number plate and it was Ross Waters’ car. 'When I realised it was him I decided to keep driving and not go to my home because I wanted to avoid confrontation. I travelled around for a while and he continued to follow.' Mrs Noblet then received a warning text message from Mr Waters' fiancée. 'It said "Ross is in the car behind you. He is threatening to ram you off the road."', Mr Noblet said. 'I told Tammy to phone 999 and then we went to the police station, but he drove into the rear driver’s side of my car.' Pleading: Fiancée Laura Swarbrick (left arriving at the inquest) told the hearing she spoke to Mr Waters (right) 'the whole time' on the phone. She added: 'He kept repeating "it ends tonight," "enough is enough"' Fatal night: How the chase unfolded, first within Blackpool and then for 30 miles down the M55 and the M6 . Mr Noblet jumped out of his car in a bid to restrain Mr Waters, but the passenger door was locked - prompting the former mechanic to try and mow down Mr Noblet's wife. She was thrown onto the bonnet as Mr Waters continued driving, and only rolled off when he turned right at a junction. Mrs Noblet told the inquest jury: 'I stopped and screamed to Carl to get the kids. I heard an engine and lights and that is all I remember apart from screaming. 'I remember seeing his face when I was on the bonnet. I was looking at him and still on the phone to the police. But when I came off the car it’s a daze.' Officers inside the nearby South Shore police station heard the commotion and gave chase, scrambling the force helicopter. Danger: Mr Waters' mother Heather (left) told the inquest her son suffered a devastating brain injury in 2004 which left him unable to remember his family. PC Gary Holliday (right) was almost hit in the motorway chase . They tried to stop Mr Waters as he returned home but he escaped - jumping a red light before driving onto the M55 and then the M6 towards Wigan. For the entire chase he was on the phone to his fiancée, who said he was 'very agitated' and 'worked-up'. She told the inquest: 'I was trying to diffuse the situation and was on the phone to him whole time - even when he hit Tammy. I heard the screams from Tammy. 'He was saying that he knew he was in trouble, "enough was enough" and he could not handle prison. 'I said I would wait for him if he went to prison. After that was a running commentary of speed, what he had done and what he was doing. Ms Swarbrick told the inquest: 'He was screaming. I was screaming. I had been begging him to stop' 'I know Ross, he would just disappear and deal with his anger in a sense. For him it could have been in any forms. Because of the argument which occurred I just though he was disappearing. 'I took [the argument] to be about our relationship. He knew he was in trouble. He was screaming. I was screaming.” 'He kept repeating "it ends tonight," "enough is enough." I had been begging him to stop.' Police tried to lay tyre spikes in the carriageway but Mr Waters veered across two lanes to avoid them, running over traffic cones and driving at motorway patrol officer Gary Holliday. 'I heard an extremely loud bang,' PC Holliday said. 'My partner was screaming at me to get out of the way. 'We were showered with debris. I ran back toward the police car. I described the sensation as standing on a platform when a very fast train comes past.' PC Glen Hilton added: 'It passed within a second of Gary clearing the carriageway. I said to Gary: "I think he has just tried to kill you."' Officers then tried in vain to stop Mr Waters using a rolling block involving several patrol cars. But when one patrol car pulled out in front, Mr Waters clipped the back of it - sending the car careering into a field. Sgt Tracey Ward, who was in the car, said: 'We felt we were airborne for what felt like ages but probably only a few seconds. At that point I didn’t know whether we were going to die or not.' By this point his car was left with just three fully working wheels, and one bare metal rim. Police pulled back and allowed the force helicopter to track the Focus, which Mr Waters eventually stopped near the M6 Charnock Richard services, just north of Wigan. He tried to run across all six lanes of traffic - but was fatally hit by a passing Mitsubishi 4x4 on the opposite carriageway. He suffered multiple injuries and died instantly, the inquest heard. His final words to his fiancée were: 'I have stopped. Are you happy?' The inquest continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Former mechanic Ross Waters led Blackpool officers in 30-mile chase .
It began with row between 33-year-old Waters and fiancée's friends .
He rammed them, then drove onto M55 and M6, evading two roadblocks .
Mr Waters continued on foot but was killed instantly by passing driver .
Inquest jury heard Waters had suffered devastating brain injury in 2004 . |
227,675 | b2cbf891aa037ccae8dc6aca87bd38032616a13d | By . Sara Smyth . PUBLISHED: . 07:04 EST, 5 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 9 May 2013 . A 72-year-old amateur gardener has spent three years and £20,000 building Britain's biggest water-powered cuckoo clock - which is the size of a house. Richard Pim designed and built the 25ft tall clock, complete with a 3ft wooden cuckoo which pops out every hour and chimes with a huge pipe organ. It is powered by a complex system of cantilevers, counterweights and pulleys which convert energy from a passing stream. Mr Pim, who is a retired hydrogeologist used his experience to design and . build the wooden structure at his water gardens in Herefordshire. Giant achievement: It took a total of three years and about £20,000 to complete the unique clock . Proud owner: 72-year-old Richard Pim masterminded the project, and built most of the 25-ft tall clock by himself . Wake-up call: This 3ft painted cuckoo is a scaled-up version of the birds that were designed for the original cuckoo clocks made in Germany's Black Forest . He said: 'I think it's quite fun and rather beautiful. I wanted to make something that made people laugh. 'It took a while to build, but I did almost all the work myself. 'I had a local carpenter and local machinists help me with some of the frame and the metalworking though." Mr Pim's knowledge of complex water-powered structures comes from a long career spent bringing water to arid farmlands in Saudi Arabia and Nepal. He drafted in an organ-maker to help build the complicated mechanism that makes the bird cuckoo. The house uses pipes and bellows to create compressed air to pump through a music box, tuned to mimic the call of the bird. He said: 'It's gaining a few minutes every day at the moment. 'The warmer weather causes the wood to warp slightly and makes the water flow differently through the system of pipes and tanks. Picturesque: At almost 7m tall the cuckoo clock should be an eyesore. But the structure's quaint design and floral surroundings look like a fairytale scene . No need for a watch: Richard Pim and his wife Sally will only have to glance out of the window to see the time in their back garden . Sweet sounds: The organ pipes and music box used to generate the distinctive cuckoo call every hour. Mr Pim had help from a specialist organ-maker to build the clock's mechanism . 'But no-one's setting their watches by it.' The . clock is one of the attractions at . Westonbury Mill Water Gardens, a three-and-a-half acre visitor garden. Mr Pim owns a granite tower with gargoyles modelled after his own head, and an igloo built out of glass bottles. His wife Sally said: 'Three years to build the clock is . astonishing. I think it's amazing what Richard does, astonishing.' Mr Pim . said: 'I'm going to keep on making them until I can't any more, I . think. It's something I enjoy very much and it keeps me very busy, and . happy. 'A garden needs some action. It's a great thing for kids to come and see the mechanism - to see how engineering really works.' Hard graft: Mr Pim had some help from local carpenters to complete his mammoth project, but did most of the work himself . In the running?: The largest cuckoo clock in the world is said to be in Ohio. The world's biggest free-hanging cuckoo clock is in Germany . | 72-year-old Richard Pim constructed 25ft cuckoo clock in his back garden .
Britain's biggest water-powered clock features 3ft tall cuckoo .
Herefordshire garden also features an igloo made of glass bottles and gargoyles modelled after the owner . |
275,074 | f055e3e1c7a7413f73581ed12e3f9ca4a89ebf95 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 13:20 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:44 EST, 19 June 2013 . A thirst for alcohol among China's middle classes is driving demand in the global spirits market, it has been revealed. Almost 28billion litres of spirits were drunk globally last year - an increase of 2 per cent - although this was a far smaller rise than 2011, when volumes went up by 7 per cent, figures showed. The amount of spirits being consumed in domestic markets across the Asia-Pacific region grew by 3 per cent last year - and China now accounts for 38 per cent of all spirits drunk in the world. Compared: Almost 28billion litres of spirits were drunk globally last year - an increase of 2 per cent - although this was a far smaller rise than 2011, when volumes went up by 7 per cent, figures revealed . Way ahead: Vodka is the most popular of these thanks to its extreme popularity in Russia, where 2billion litres were drunk in 2012 - equivalent to 14 litres for every person in the country . The Chinese national liquor, Baijiu, accounts for almost 100 per cent of all spirits consumed there – and the country is therefore not even in rankings for the best-known globally consumed spirits. Vodka is the most popular of these thanks to its extreme popularity in Russia, where 2billion litres were drunk in 2012 - equivalent to 14 litres for every person in the country, reported The Economist. But the growth in Asia last year - almost 450million litres of spirits - was bigger than the size of the entire German market, according to figures from the International Wine & Spirit Research group. Seven of the top ten growth markets for spirits are from the Asia-Pacific region - and India now accounts for 10 per cent of all spirits drunk globally, the research also found. Whisky: Mature European markets such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy were among the largest-declining markets, with their falls being attributed to tax increases and struggling economies . Rum split: The largest-growing categories in 2012 all have Asian countries as their top growth markets . Not on the list: The Chinese national liquor, Baijiu, accounts for almost 100 per cent of all spirits consumed there - and the country therefore is not even in rankings for the best-known globally consumed spirits . But mature European markets such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy were among the largest-declining markets, with their fall being attributed to tax increases and struggling economies. 'Despite a slowdown in the economic growth of some Asian markets, wealth is still rising and a new generation of consumers emerging' International Wine & Spirit Research . The largest-growing categories in 2012 all have Asian countries as their top growth markets. The report from the IWSR said: ‘Despite a slowdown in the economic growth of some Asian markets, wealth is still rising and a new generation of consumers emerging. ‘The IMF has cut its growth rate forecast for China and although the spirits market has slowed, it is still experiencing strong growth, particularly compared with Western markets.’ | Almost 28billion litres of spirits drunk globally last year - up 2% on 2011 .
Amount of spirits being consumed in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 3% .
Research shows China now accounts for 38% of all spirits drunk globally .
Fourteen litres of vodka in Russia are drunk for every person in country . |
268,723 | e8153dae433e70c2b0ccf66f2aeb797634cdaabf | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:41 EST, 17 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:45 EST, 17 June 2013 . Suck in those guts, American Airlines passengers - things are about to get a little tight. The airline has announced that it plans to join several other major air travel providers by putting additional seats in some of its planes in an attempt to boost revenue. According to the airline, seats will be added to its Boeing 737s and MD-80s, which make up roughly 60-percent of its entire fleet. Feeling the squeeze: American Airlines plans to put additional seats in some its planes in an attempt to boost revenue . 'Although we expect to add seats to the 737 and MD-80 fleets, we are . evaluating the right number of seats and the impact on revenue and cost . while retaining our Main Cabin Extra product,' the airline said in a . statement obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Currently, American Airlines' coach seats are 17 inches wide and offer roughly 28 inches of leg room. Those dimensions likely will have to change to fit the additional seats - as the price for consumers, of course, will likely stay the same, despite the tighter fit. By adding seats to its planes, American Airlines might also be forced to add additional flight attendants to each flight in order to meet the Federal Aviation Administration's requirement of one flight attendant per 50 seats. American Airlines executives Donald Carty (left) Michael Gunn demonstrate the current coach seating in American jet . Last year, the airline announced that it planned to instal 10 additional seats on its Boeing 777s in order to install lie-flat seats in business class. Those seats will begin to be added next year. In efforts to squeeze as much revenue out of each flight as possible, other airlines have started installing seats with thinner back cushions, which allows the airlines to put more seats in each cabin. It's unclear how many seats the airline - which is expected to merge with U.S. Airways in coming months after coming out of bankruptcy - will add to its planes. Flying high: other airlines have also taken measures to add additional seats to their planes . | American Airlines will add seats to its Boeing 737s and MD-80s .
The airline is expected to merge with U.S. Airways in coming months . |
105,345 | 13d81d6efbdd2fdcde75e2e1297adecbad95ba96 | A florist is being sued by the Washington State Attorney General for refusing to sell flowers for a gay wedding, it emerged today. A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday on behalf of Attorney General Bob Ferguson against Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington. The row emerged last month when Stutzman refused to sell flowers to longtime customers Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed for their wedding in September. Row: A legal fight has broken out over Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington, after the owner refused to provide flowers for a gay couple's wedding . She told the couple she would not provide them with her service 'because of [her] relationship with Jesus Christ'. Ferguson, who had written to the florist asking her to change her stance two weeks ago, says she is violating the state's Consumer Protection Act, which bars any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. 'As Attorney General, it is my job to enforce the laws of the state of Washington,' Ferguson said in a statement. 'Under the Consumer Protection Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation. If a business provides a product or service to opposite-sex couples for their weddings, then it must provide same sex couples the same product or service.' Stutzman on the other hand has won the backing of several groups and has set up a fighting fund to pay for her legal case. The small business' Facebook page has become a hotbed of debate on gay marriage and a group has been set up calling for the shop to boycotted. On the page Stutzman posted: 'To those who have and do support us, we want to thank you for all your concern and phone calls. Many have requested a place to send financial support to help with legal defense. We have set up a deposit only account with our local Key Bank.' It goes on to provide the bank details. In a statement posted at the time of the refusal, Stutzman refused to back down on what she called 'her conviction'. Offended: Robert Ingersoll says he felt compelled to complain to the Attorney General over Baronnelle Stutzman's refusal to provide his wedding flowers . 'This customer has been in many times and purchased flowers from us,' she wrote. 'When it came to doing his wedding, I said, 'I could not do it because of my relationship with Jesus Christ.' He thanked me and said, 'He respected my opinion.' We talked and gave each other a hug and he left. 'Since that day, we have received many comments on same sex marriages. I believe, biblically, that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is my conviction, yours may be different.' 'I have hired all walks of people in different circumstances, and had the privilege of working with some very talented people that happen to be gay.' 'I’m sure there are many places you can purchase flowers, if you choose not to purchase them from Arlene’s, because of your beliefs, then I certainly understand.' Lawyers on her behalf wrote to the Attorney General making clear she would fight his stance. 'Discrimination is not the issue. Although gay marriage may be legal in Washington for the time being, the concept offends...Ms Stutzman and many others in Washington,' the letter said. Intervention: Attorney General Bob Ferguson, pictured, has filed a lawsuit against Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington . The very same day the legal bid was launched a worker left the florist in objection to her boss' stance. Eryn Hugo, who had worked there for a . year and a half told the Tri-City Herald: 'Some things are more important than money, and I felt making a stand by . quitting -- just not doing something completely against my beliefs -- . was very important to me.' Ferguson wants a permanent injunction against the florist forcing her to comply - possibly leaving her with a $2,000 fine. Ingersoll said it was a difficult decision to raise the issue with the Attorney General but the couple ultimately felt it was the right thing to do. Ingersoll told the Herald: 'It really hurt because it was somebody I knew. We laid awake all night. It was eating at our souls. There was never a question she'd be the one to do our flowers. She does amazing work.' 'We're both passionate about seeing people succeed and that nobody should be hurt or in pain.' 'This is one of those things -- it's very hurtful. I probably haven't felt this much pain since I was in high school and people called me names, and I'm 42.' 'People are going to hate us,' he added. 'That is sad and makes me unhappy. I know people are going to come out of the woodwork and going to be hateful. I don't say hateful things. I'm not that kind of person.' | Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington, after the owner refused to supply flowers for a gay wedding .
Florist Barronelle Stutzman refused to work on the September wedding of Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed .
She said her stance was based on her 'relationship with Jesus Christ'
Ingersoll said they were sad to notify the authorities about the florist but they felt bullied and discriminated against .
Attorney General says the move is a breach of the state's Consumer Protection Act, which bars any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation . |
142,112 | 43c5df90444e42ab7d4306d624ab3720a07f507e | By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 15:39 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:39 EST, 29 October 2013 . Indonesian police made a shocking discovery during a murder investigation at a luxury villa when they stumbled over an illegal private zoo. Officers had been called to the home in the Sukaraia district of Bogar, in west Java, after a security guard confessed to a colleague that he had cut a young woman's throat after she spurred his advances and buried her body in the grounds. Instead, they found the zoo containing an endangered Sumatran tiger, several types of monkeys and a liger - a lion-tiger crossbreed. Liger, liger: The investigation into an alleged murder at a luxury villa in Indonesia saw officers stumble upon an illegal zoo housing a liger - a half lion/half tiger . The bizarre set of circumstances were still being investigated last night as police in Indonesia searched for the owner of the villa where the young murder victim is believed to have been living, possibly as an employee. Detectives went to the villa, after one of the security guards, named as 31-year-old Slamet Pujiharto, confessed to another guard that he had murdered the woman, known only as Eneng, 28, because she had resisted his sexual advances. After his arrest, Pujiharto was reported by the Jakarta Globe as confessing: ‘I asked her to have sex with me and she refused. ‘When I forced her, she scraped my face, which upset me. So I ran and took a knife and then slashed her throat with it four times.’ The guard, who said his role at the zoo was to also feed the animals, said that after the murder he had buried the woman’s body in the villa grounds. Clues in the claws: Police are investigation the murder and are hunting the owner of the villa where an endangered Sumatran tiger was part of the menagerie . Monkey business: The zoo was also home to a javan langur, left, and two siamang monkeys, right . It is believed that the murder victim and the guard were both employed at the villa which housed several peacocks as well as the rare predators and monkeys . His confession led to police raiding the property - and they were astonished to find animals there that most officers had never seen in their lives. They included a critically-endangered Sumatran tiger, a Java gibbon, a langur monkey, a dusky leaf monkey, two siamang apes three Java peacocks - and the liger. Now police are hunting for the owner, who was not at the villa when detectives arrived. But he, or she, is expected to be charged with keeping an illegal zoo. ‘Sancturaries that get permits to breed wild animals are conservation institutions like registered zoos, safari parks or breeding centres,’ an official of the Bogar Natural Resources Conservation Centre, told the Jakarta Globe. The major concern was for the Sumatran tiger, whose species is critically endangered with only an estimated 400 to 500 existing in the wild. We bought a zoo: The villa is located in the Sukaraia district of Bogor (pictured) on west Java . But vets said the villa’s Sumatran tiger was ‘healthy enough,’ and would be moved to other zoos with the rest of the animals - all except the liger. ‘The presence of a new animal is not due to a natural cause and it exists because of human intervention,’ said the official. ‘There are no regulations on it, so we are suggesting that the liger be terminated.’ His comments have outraged animal lovers throughout Indonesia. ‘Is there no zoological garden which could care for this liger instead of terminating it?’ asked one writer. ‘Don’t kill the liger - it’s innocent,’ said another. Yet another writer said the suggestion that the liger would be put down was ‘a weird attitude for a conservationist. The “go” solution is to kill it?…If anything, take the liger and put it in a zoo.’ | Zoo discovered after guard admitted to murdering woman in Indonesian villa .
She rejected his sexual advances so he cut her throat and buried her body .
Police found several endangered animals in Java home, including a liger .
A liger is a lion-tiger cross and is one of the world's most rare animals . |
273,910 | eeca72f484d9b004e0dd318fb8a2f5ce6ffac093 | Former X Factor contestant Simone Battle was struggling with financial problems when she took her life, according to reports. The 25-year-old G.R.L. singer was found hanged in the closet of her West Hollywood apartment on Friday morning. The Los Angeles county coroner ruled her death a suicide. Friends and family have told authorities that Battle had been 'depressed over money issues', TMZ reported on Tuesday. The family said they didn't understand her money struggles because she was enjoying success with the girl group, including a collaboration with Pitbull, and had just finished a tour overseas. The group also performed on ABC's 'Good Morning America' last month. Loss: Simone Battle, 25, took her life in her Hollywood home last week after struggling with money woes, according to her family. Her breakout was in 2011's X Factor, right, where she made the final 17 . The family also reportedly told police that Battle had been worried she would never make it big. Battle, who was a finalist on the X Factor in 2011, was last seen alive at 3.45am on Friday - about four hours before her body was found, according to Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter. Her father Anthony Battle, who found her body, said his daughter had never showed any sign of depression, and said that they texted every day. 'She will be greatly missed and loved,' her father told MailOnline. 'She was an exuberant person and a very loved person.' Star: Battle, pictured center, was a member of the girl group G.R.L. From left: Lauren Bennett, Natasha Slayton, Battle, Emmalyn Estrada and Paula von Oppen at the Maxim Hot 100 event in California last June . Successful: Simone is pictured chatting on Good Morning America last month with her bandmates . Battle posted this picture of herself in Florida two months ago . Battle first started singing professionally after her breakout on the U.S. version of the X Factor in 2011. She made it to the top 17 and was mentored by judge Simon Cowell. At the time of her death, Battle was in the girl group G.R.L., which was initially organized as a re-boot of The Pussycat Dolls. But they decided to go by a new name. The remaining members issued a statement about her death on Saturday via Twitter. 'Words cannot express the depth of our loss,' they wrote. 'Simone's incredible talent was only surpassed by the size of her heart. We will carry her memory with us in everything we do.' Battle's record company and management issued a joint statement on her passing. Family: Battle (center) pictured with her mother Donna Morgan (left) and father Anthony Battle (right) at Wango Tango is Los Angeles this past May. Her father said the family was shocked by her death . 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Simone Battle of G.R.L.' the statement from Reign Deer Entertainment, Kemosabe Records, RCA Records and Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin said. 'Simone was an exceptional young talent and human being, and we are all devastated to learn of her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this time.' Simon Cowell, her X Factor mentor, added on Twitter: 'I am so sad to hear about the news Simone Battle has passed away. She was such a fun nice person. It's such a loss. Rest in peace Simone.' Friend and fellow-musician Derek Butler initially broke the news on Instagram. • For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here . • For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here . | Simone Battle was found dead early Friday her Los Angeles apartment .
Her boyfriend last saw her alive four hours before she was found hanged .
Her family reportedly said she was worried about never making it big and that she had money concerns - which they did not understand . |
117,378 | 23944e765b730f3446cd4b775f12db4c84a60709 | The BBC has submitted its live coverage of the police raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s home for a top television journalism award . The BBC has submitted its controversial live coverage of the police raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s home for a top television journalism award. Despite the continuing fallout from the story, the Corporation has entered its footage for Scoop of the Year at the Royal Television Society’s prestigious Television Journalism Awards next month. A source was quoted as saying: ‘It was a good story and it was important to stand by our journalism. Notwithstanding the controversy, when we came to assess the best scoops of the year this was definitely up there.’ The BBC has faced the threat of legal action from the singer since it screened live footage, shot from a helicopter, of the raid at his £3.5million Berkshire residence last August – and stationed reporters at the house’s gates even before police arrived. Sir Cliff, 74, vigorously denies an allegation of sexual abuse of a boy under 16 at a Christian rally in 1985. No charges have been brought. His lawyer Gideon Benaim said the BBC report led to ‘immeasurable harm to our client and was both premature and disproportionate’. Tony Hall, the BBC’s Director- General, faced a grilling by MPs after it emerged that its journalists had been tipped off about the raid by South Yorkshire Police. A report into the affair by the Home Affairs Select Committee, published in October, said South Yorkshire Police had been ‘utterly inept’ but added that the Corporation was ‘well within its rights’ to run the story. As a result of being tipped off, TV reporters were able to film live aerial shots of the raid on Sir Cliff’s home on August 14. A camera in a helicopter zoomed in on officers through windows as they searched the star’s belongings, while journalists reported live from his gates. After the broadcast, the BBC received hundreds of complaints from viewers, with many saying that the coverage made the singer look guilty. Tip off: Reporters waited at Sir Cliff's gates for police to arrive for the raid in August last year . At the time of the select committee’s report in October, Lord Hall said that if a news editor or other senior figure had been informed of the sensitivity of the investigation, ‘we would not have run the story’. The report claimed that a BBC reporter, Dan Johnson, threatened to break the story prematurely unless he was granted ‘inside access’ to the police raid. Keith Vaz MP, the committee’s chairman, commented: ‘South Yorkshire Police’s handling of this situation was utterly inept. ‘No British citizen should have to watch their home being raided by the police live on television. Sir Cliff Richard has suffered enormous and irreparable damage to his reputation and he is owed an apology.’ The singer was interviewed under caution by police ten days after the raid. He has described the allegation as ‘completely false’ and has been supported by a host of celebrities including Cilla Black, who said last summer that she was ‘absolutely positive’ that he was innocent. The Royal Television Awards will take place on February 18. Last night a BBC spokesman refused to comment. | BBC screened live footage of the raid on Sir Cliff Richard's home in August .
Corporation has faced the threat of legal action from the 74-year-old singer .
But the BBC has entered footage for Scoop of the Year at top TV awards .
Sir Cliff vigorously denies an allegation of sexual abuse of a boy under 16 .
His lawyer Gideon Benaim said BBC report led to ‘immeasurable harm to our client' |
159,035 | 59936af43a013032f6c898af73f4dc7cfb9e9fe6 | Washington (CNN)He ousted Egypt's first democratically elected president in a coup, crushed political dissent, let foreign journalists languish in jail and just jabbed the U.S. by greeting Vladimir Putin as a hero. Yet Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is fast becoming the favorite Middle East strongman of American conservatives and Republican presidential hopefuls. Jeb Bush says he can't understand why the White House has told Sisi "you're not on our team" as jihadism spreads like wildfire through the Middle East. Ted Cruz, another GOP 2016 pretender has also praised him, and key conservative media figures are lionizing Sisi. The rush of affection for the former Army Chief contrasts with the strained relationship between Sisi and the White House, reflected in the Obama administration's decision not to publicly back air strikes by Egypt on a common enemy -- ISIS -- in Libya this week. It's also the latest manifestation of the decades-long tussle between the U.S. and Egypt, which pits a push for human rights and democracy against the yearning for a stable pro-U.S. partner in a chaotic region, whatever the character of its regime. The spur for the conservative infatuation for Sisi was a speech in January in which the Egyptian leader warned Islam was being "torn" and "destroyed" by extremism. "It's inconceivable that the thinking that we hold most sacred should cause the entire Islamic world to be a source of anxiety, danger, killing and destruction for the rest of the world," said Sisi. Sisi spoke in a highly symbolic venue, the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, one of the most vaulted seats of learning in the Muslim world. "It's antagonizing the entire world! Does this mean that 1.6 billion people (Muslims) should want to kill the rest of the world's inhabitants -- that is 7 billion -- so that they themselves may live? Impossible!" On the face of it, Sisi's speech was a call to cleanse Islam of extremist thought and elements which groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda have used to justify jihad. It continues to impress conservatives in the United States amid a fierce political debate about how to contain ISIS's march across the region. "He gave this incredible speech about Muslim extremism, and saying it's the responsibility of the Arab world to step up to fight this; that the first risks are for countries like Egypt," Bush said in Chicago on Wednesday. It's no coincidence that Republicans are praising the speech's blunt message at the same time as they are accusing President Barack Obama of falling prey to political correctness in his unwillingness to state the U.S. is at war with radical Islam. That comparison is also frequently being made on conservative talk radio. Cruz also praised Sisi on Fox News on Wednesday. "What would be far better to see was the kind of courage that was demonstrated just a few weeks ago by President al-Sisi in Cairo," Cruz said. "Why don't we see the president of the United States demonstrating that same courage, just to speak the truth, about the face of evil we are facing right now?" Cruz asked. Mike Huckabee, another potential Republican presidential contender, said "thank God for President al-Sisi in Egypt" in an interview with NewsMax TV. Southern Baptist leader Richard Land wrote in The Christian Post that the Sisi speech could be as historically resonant as Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech or president John Kennedy's declaration : "Ich bin ein Berliner." Conservative commentator George Will said on Fox News Sunday last month that Sisi may deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. But are U.S. political figures ripping a speech redolent with Egyptian political overtones out of context to back up their own positions? Professor Nathan Brown of George Washington University said that Sisi's remarks were not that unusual and that a number of Arab leaders have previously given similar speeches to limited effect. "It is standard stuff," he said. And Sisi's record toward political opponents and extremists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, which formed Egypt's first democratic government until it was ousted by his army amid mass protests in 2013, paints a different picture of the Egyptian leader. "The way that Sisi represents dealing with them is not through abstract theological arguments but through a severe security and political response," said Brown, who is also with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "That is what he represents. That part of the message gets lost." The State Department and rights groups fault Egypt for the removal of a civilian government, using lethal force to disburse MB protests, and for killing hundreds of protestors nationwide and say discrimination against Christians and Jews in Egypt remains widespread. Some analysts interpreted Sisi's speech as a way to justify the exclusion from politics of Islamist elements from political life in Egypt following his landslide win in an election last year in which the Brotherhood was banned. Since the election, the Obama administration has tried to carefully restore ties with Egypt on the grounds that it remains a vital strategic partner. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Cairo in September and Obama met Sisi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last year. Close intelligence cooperation continues behind the scenes. But relations have remained strained. After the coup the U.S. temporarily held up a tranch of $500 million in military aid to Egypt and an order of attack helicopters. Reconciliation has been made more difficult by the detention in Egypt of foreign journalists. The spectacle of Putin getting a warm welcome from Sisi in a visit last week did not go unnoticed in Washington, and was an apparent sign from the Cairo government that if the U.S. does not take better care of its friends, Egypt will look elsewhere. The Pentagon, meanwhile, said it was not even told in advance about Egyptian air strikes this week on ISIS targets in Libya in revenge for the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian workers by an ISIS-affiliated group. "It's a complex relationship that we have with Egypt," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. ISIS's swift spread in the Arab world has some realists in Washington considering whether it's time to re-emphasise the stability dimension of the U.S. relationship with Cairo. Bush suggested as much on Wednesday, in remarks that were especially noteworthy because the second term administration of his brother, George W. Bush, angered the government of then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak by issuing a call for democracy in the Arab world as part of its Freedom Agenda. Jeb Bush asked Wednesday: "Is (Sisi) a little "L" liberal democrat that believes in freedom like we do?" "No, he isn't. But I think we have to be practical," Bush said in the first foreign policy speech of his putative presidential campaign which could augur another turn in the roller coaster US-Egypt relationship. "We have to balance our belief in liberty with a belief that security and engagement will create the possibilities for the Egyptians to garner more freedom. " | Republicans praise tough Egyptian line on radical Islam .
Potential 2016 GOP candidates use Sisi comments as cudgel against Obama .
Comments mark latest twist in diplomatic dance between Washington and Cairo . |
86,772 | f644f75bf8e2882933c7e9b5107f76f67ce40adb | (CNN) -- Bayern Munich extended their dream start to the Bundesliga campaign with a 3-0 thumping of Felix Magath's Wolfsburg Tuesday to make it five wins from five. Mario Mandzukic scored twice after Bastian Schweinsteiger's opener to secure an easy win for the Bavarian giants in the Allianz Arena. They have gone two points clear at the top after Eintracht Frankfurt were held 3-3 at home by two-time defending champions Borussia Dortmund. Schweinsteiger struck the post with a pair of efforts before giving Bayern a 24th minute lead. Mandzukic doubled the lead with a header in the 57th minute and rounded off the scoring eight minutes later with the fifth of the league season for the Croatian star. Dortmund were two up after goals from Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus inside the half hour mark on their travels. But second-placed Frankfurt pulled level with two goals inside two second half minutes from Stefan Aigner and Takashi Inui. Dortmund substitute Mario Goetze looked to have won it when he stabbed home for their third but Anderson salvaged a point for the home side after 73 minutes. In other matches, Schalke beat Mainz 3-0 with Jefferson Farfan opening the scoring from the spot and new boys Fortuna Dusseldorf continued their unbeaten start with a 2-0 win at Greuther Fuerth. In Italy, Serie A leaders Juventus dropped their first points of the season in a goalless draw at Fiorentina. | Bayern Munich go two points clear in Bundesliga .
Five wins from five for the Bavarian giants .
Champions Borussia Dortmund held in six-goal thriller at Eintracht Frankfurt .
Juventus held goalless at Fiorentina in Italy . |
35,482 | 64d712f7226a46541eb4f015f31619031ae0c8ae | Anyone searching for a unique gift for the in-laws this Christmas... might want to continue looking. A controversial British artist has released a new clothing range that is designed to shock - it uses double-entendres with well-known faces and objects from pop-culture and the world of celebrity. Madame Allsorts has created a couture line of dresses, tops, jackets and scarves that feature a range of outrageous prints. A controversial British artist called Madame Allsorts has released a new clothing range that is designed to shock - it uses double-entendres with well-known faces and objects from pop-culture - pictured is her Last Supper custom-made dress £850 . The Last Supper print is one of Madame Allsorts' most popular creations. The picture features some of the world's most controversial celebrities, including Kanye West, Karl Lagerfeld, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton and Terry Richardson . One of the line's most popular items is the Last Supper dress, featuring some of the most controversial celebrities of our time, including Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Terry Richardson, Kanye West, Cara Delevingne, Robin Thicke, Paris Hilton and Karl Lagerfield, Anna Wintour. There is also a 'Manipulated Reality' T-shirt and jacket featuring Kim Kardashian and Kanye West dressed up as Adam And Eve, being filmed by TV cameras. One Direction fans might have found the one piece of merchandise they don't want in their collection - there is an 'Immaculate Conception' nativity scene where Simon Cowell takes on the part of Joseph, holding a baby Jesus in the form of Harry Styles. The picture also includes an appearance from Sinitta, who has her modesty protected in the form of palm leaves - similar to her appearance in the judges' houses section of X Factor back in 2009. The 'C*** Dog' jacket retails at £395 . A scarf with the 'Manipulated Reality' print features Kim Kardashian and Kanye West dressed up as Adam And Eve, being filmed by TV cameras. It retails at £75 . For those just wanting to shock and offend without the showbiz references, Madame Allsorts has also designed a range of dresses, jackets and jumpers featuring apples in the shape of vaginas and hot-dogs shaped like penises. She said: 'Every one of my garments has a message and agenda. As I fabricate the garment, I’m capturing a moment. 'I’ve designed these collections to rally against the mainstream and shatter fashion’s narrow ideals, to celebrate difference.' The x-rated apple sweatshirt costs £60 . Madame Allsorts (pictured) says that each of the garments she designs has a message and an agenda . She continued: 'I value fashion, but for the opposite reasons of consumer society - not because it helps its wearer fit in, paying for somebody else's restrictive perspective of what’s cool. 'I do it because it helps them stand out and express their own thoughts, opinions and tastes.' To view the entire Madame Allsorts clothing collection, go to www.madameallsorts.com . 'Immaculate Conception' nativity scene where Simon Cowell takes on the part of Joseph, holding a baby Jesus in the form of Harry Styles.The picture also includes an appearance from Sinitta. The T-shirt costs £60 . The 'Sacrificial Doll' custom-made dress costs £1,240 . | Madame Allsorts has designed a clothing range that is designed to shock .
Also includes a 'Last Supper' dress, featuring Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus .
Collection: 'Rallies against mainstream and shatter fashion’s narrow ideals' |
177,956 | 725e028086d5761b8118b86181100bff7a22be60 | By . Rebecca Camber . For 118 years, it has borne witness to crimes committed throughout the land. But now the trusty pocket notebook is facing the axe as Britain’s biggest police force announces plans to roll out tablet devices to every bobby on the beat. Scotland Yard is pumping £200million into new technology which will allow officers to record crimes, check warrants and intelligence on suspects, and even order new uniforms at the touch of a button. The pilot scheme of giving 20,000 policemen iPad minis in replacement of their notebooks will be rolled out soon in Hammersmith and Fulham . Apple iPad minis will be handed to 20,000 officers in a bid to slash paperwork and get police out from their desks and back onto the streets. A pilot is launching in Spring with a trial purchase of 600 devices for officers across Hammersmith and Fulham ahead of an anticipated force-wide roll-out from autumn this year. If successful, the tablets will be handed out to every frontline officer over the next three years, making expected annual savings of 30 per cent on the current IT systems. The force will design its own apps, providing templates for recording crimes and taking witness statements, as well as giving officers access to local data such as the number of repeat victims in the area and directions to the nearest A&E department. Officers will also have an app to take evidential pictures and send victims advice directly. Richard Thwaite, the Met’s chief information officer said: ‘We want the officers out there fighting crime on the streets rather than sitting in a police station tapping on a keyboard, not solving anything. ‘Even if they are in Starbucks keying in details, then at least they are out there, visible and accessible and reassuring to the public.’ The new technology is expected to free up police time equivalent to bringing in an additional 900 officers and save £60million. The iPad mini is the smaller counterpart to the original iPad, and is intended to help officers record crimes, as well as check warrants and intelligence on suspects . But critics have questioned the huge expense at a time of unprecedented cuts to frontline officers. John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said: ‘I remember when I walked the beat with a notebook and whistle, we really have to move on from there and I hope this will be a progressive step. ‘But there will be times when the battery runs out or there is technical problems. ‘This is a lot of money when we have just gone through a massive swathe of cuts. ‘It is always preferable to maintain police officer numbers as opposed to new pieces of equipment.’ Previous mobile devices have failed to deliver anticipated savings. In 2012, the National Audit Office found that a £80million Home Office scheme to equip officers with 50,000 smartphones had produced savings of just £600,000 out of a projected £125million. In one force, officers spent nearly two hours more per shift behind their desks instead of out on the beat. Last year the Association of Chief Police Officers warned that the Met’s own smartphone purchases could end up as ‘expensive paperweights’ unless they were properly tested, pointing out that constables were unlikely to take their gloves off to use a phone at 3am in the rain. But Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is convinced it will reduce paperwork, duplication and lead to more criminals being convicted by presenting better evidence at court. He said: ‘We are going to use technology to stop crime, arrest offenders or help victims. ‘We need to keep police officers out of police stations and reduce bureaucracy. Digital policing will help us to do this.’ The Met also wants the public to be able to report crimes using their smartphones and send a text to speak to a police officer. It hopes to shift 1million of the 5million telephone calls received each year to ‘online channels’. The force is already investing heavily in computer programming to forecast where offenders will strike next. The hope with the scheme is that it will get the police out from under their desks and back on the beat by streamlining paperwork and busywork that they have to contend with on a daily basis . In a plot straight out of the Tom Cruise film Minority Report, where a ‘pre crime’ department detains murderers before they kill, police are using computer algorithms to map out where future burglaries are likely to take place. At the same time, 1,000 body-worn video cameras are being introduced across 11 boroughs and in the training unit of the Firearms Command. The cameras will mean that the actions of armed officers will be recorded and may be used as evidence. The move comes as police are trying to win back trust following the police shooting of Mark Duggan, whose death in August 2011 sparked riots across the country. Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, said: ‘By taking tough decisions on the budget and the Met Police estate, we are freeing up savings to reinvest in frontline policing and technology, so we can get more officers out on the beat and keep them mobile. ‘The public expect the police to have accurate information on-the-go, and cops deserve the best kit to help them cut crime and serve the public. The Total Technology strategy 2014-17 sets the direction for an unprecedented investment in technology - up to £200m over three years.’ ‘This strategy heralds a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise the Met and ensure it is fully equipped for the demands of 21st century policing.’ London Assembly member Baroness Jones, who is deputy chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, said: 'This is very expensive and it should be very carefully rolled out. ‘I know myself that technology can go wrong, but the concept is a good one.’ | The notebook has been a British police equipment staple for 118 years .
Now Scotland Yard is spending £200 million for new technology .
Officers will be given iPad minis in order to try and cut down on paperwork .
20,000 police officers will be given the Apple products in the pilot scheme . |
277,863 | f3f62c05ea622ba4643b7fd1a8bdace3c3cb0c7a | With a Taliban fighter looming in his sights half a mile away, the British sniper knew a clean shot would take down his enemy. What he could not have known was that the single bullet he fired would account for five more insurgents. But, incredibly, his rifle round triggered the explosive vest worn by his target, killing all those around him. Deadly: How the lance corporal from the Coldstream Guards took down six insurgents with a single shot . Lt Col Richard Slack (centre), Commander of the 9/12th Royal Lancers, and Col John Mead (right) take a last look at the frontline of the Helmand river outside Sterga 2 Observation Post . Game of table football anyone? Day to day life continues for British soldiers from 4 Scots and 9/12th Royal Lancers at the Sterga post . The record-breaking shot was fired by a Coldstream Guards marksman on one of the last missions to be carried out by British troops in Afghanistan. UK forces are preparing to leave their last frontline base in Helmand as part of their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The sniper, a lance corporal who cannot be named for security reasons, was on a mission to intercept a suspected suicide bomber. Commanders feared the insurgent was planning to blow himself up at either a UK base, an Afghan security checkpoint or a civilian target such as a school or government building. Down time: The isolated Sterga base is manned by soldiers from 4 Scots and 9/12th Royal Lancers. Located around 18miles from Camp Bastion, it allows UK forces to watch over a huge swathe of central Helmand and two key roads . Captain Ed Challis (left) and Major Guy Simpson, commanding officers of the last British frontline base outside Camp Bastion . The build-up of the Afghan army and police¿s capability is a key plank in the decision to end UK combat operations. Since January 1, the ANSF have requested British help on just one occasion in this stretch of Helmand . Some 335 soldiers from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force and 90 Afghan troops were deployed on the operation on December 14 last year. As they moved to tackle the suicide bomber, they ran into fire from a group of 20 Taliban. As they moved to tackle the suicide bomber, a massive firefight broke out with up to 20 insurgents at about 9.30am. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Slack, commanding officer of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, who was overseeing the operation at Kakaran, said: ‘The guy wearing the vest was identified by the sniper moving down a tree line and coming over a ditch. ‘He had a winter shawl on which rose up and the sniper saw he had a machine gun. He was moving to a firing position when the sniper engaged him and the guy exploded. The lack of UK operations has raised hopes presidential elections held on April 5 will be a success ¿ although commanders acknowledge the vote is likely to be blighted by Taliban attacks . Lt Col Richard Slack (pictured left), praised the sniper, saying: 'He has had a great tour of duty'. Pictured right, soldiers on the base at the Sterga 2 Observation Point . ‘There was a pause on the radio and the sniper said: “I think I’ve just shot a suicide bomber.” The rest of them were killed in the blast.’ The sniper also killed a Taliban machine gunner from a staggering 4,400ft with the first shot of his tour of duty.It is believed he was using a British-built L115A3 Long Range Rifle, the Army's most powerful sniper weapon. He was so far away the 8.59mm-calibre bullet would have taken one second to reach the target. Lt Col Slack said: ‘He has had a great tour of duty.’ Surveillance for the operation was carried out by British troops based at Sterga 2, the observation post built on high ground overlooking the Helmand River. Elections: Separately on Monday, presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah held a campaign rally in Panjshir province. Sterga 2 will operate 10 polling stations on Saturday . A police officer stands with his weapon at a checkpoint in Kabul. Some 450 UK troops have died since operations began in Afghanistan in October 2001 . Located around 18miles from Camp Bastion, it allows UK forces to watch over a huge swathe of central Helmand and two key roads, Highway One and Route 601. The isolated base is manned by a company of troops from the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. It uses powerful cameras and sophisticated radars to keep watch for signs of the Taliban trafficking guns, bomb-making equipment or rockets. The state-of-the-art cameras are attached to a surveillance balloon – dubbed the ‘white whale’ by insurgents – which can monitor activity miles away. Troops at Sterga 2 also use Desert Hawk 3 drones – controlled by a Play Station-style handset – to spy on the area.Details of any suspicious behaviour can be relayed to the Afghan National Security Forces – trained by British troops – who investigate. The build-up of the Afghan army and police’s capability is a key plank in the decision to end UK combat operations at the end of the year. And since January 1, the ANSF have requested British help on just one occasion in this stretch of Helmand. No UK operations have been carried out in the fertile ‘green zone’ – where most of the population live – since 7th Armoured Brigade, known as the Desert Rats, began their six-month tour of duty last autumn. It has raised hopes that the presidential elections on April 5 will be a success – although commanders acknowledge the vote is likely to be blighted by Taliban attacks. Sterga 2 will be able to monitor 10 polling stations in a bid to make sure civilians remain safe. Lt Col Slack – who runs the Istar Group for Task Force Helmand, which is responsible surveillance and intelligence – said Helmand was ‘absolutely unrecognisable’ from when he deployed in 2007. He said: ‘I think there is a sense of history and if the elections are delivered in a secure and transparent way, I think it is a historic moment and I’m proud to be part of it.’ British forces using helicopters to help move soldiers and their equipment to minimise the risk of road movements and the threat of IEDs . From the top: A soldier looks out from a British helicopter. Lt Col Slack, said that he will not be able to sleep properly until the last one of his soldiers is off the ground and 'back home safely' A British sniper team patrolling Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2006. The sniper that killed six Taliban with one shot was on one of the last missions carried out by UK troops in Afghanistan . Lt Col Slack, who lost one soldier Lance Corporal James Brynin, 22, of the Intelligence Corps, during his stint in charge, acknowledged the cost in lives and money during the war had been ‘heavy’. He said: ‘The price has been heavy for the Army and in particular it has been heavy for the families of those nearly 450 [dead troops], and no one is under any illusions about that. ‘I will finish my tour knowing one of our NCOs will not be coming home and that is a heavy price to pay. ‘Has it been worth it? At my level when I look at security that is here and the way the ANSF have developed I certainly think it’s been worth it. ‘But as a commanding officer I’m not going to sleep properly until the last one of my soldiers is off the ground and back home safely.’ Captain Ed Challis, who was in charge of Sterga 2, said he was not thinking of being at the last British outpost of the war. He said: ‘I’d imagine once I get back it’s something I’ll look back on and sort of realise the historical importance of it but at the moment we’re just focussing on our primary role here. Once I’ve got a beer in hand and looking back at what’s been achieved it will sink in.’ | Record-breaking shot was fired by a Coldstream Guards marksman .
Was on one of the last missions by British troops in Afghanistan .
Sniper, who cannot be named, was intercepting a suicide bomber .
Commanders feared insurgent wanted to blow himself up at a UK base . |
12,703 | 2404916090cce8e9949e22ada3d68b2bf61e43ad | David Cameron has often railed against big firms moving abroad to avoid tax, warning they must 'wake up and smell the coffee' to recognise public anger at the practice. So there must have been an awkward conversation over the Number 10 breakfast table this morning after it emerged the Prime Minister's wife Samantha works for a company which is now based in a tax haven. Luxury leather goods firm Smythson, where Mrs Cameron is a creative consultant, is owned through a holding company in Luxembourg and linked to a secretive trust in the Channel Island of Guernsey, another well-known tax haven. David Cameron's wife Samantha works for Smythson, which is has emerged is now based in Luxembourg . The store in Central London’s New Bond Street sells £2,000 python skin handbags. Mrs Cameron has been a creative consultant at the upmarket company since 2010 on a salary thought to be up to £100,000 a year . Details of Smythson's financial affairs are likely to be the source of embarrassment for Mr Cameron, who has warned customers are fed up with the perception that companies do not pay their fair share. Two years ago he took a swipe at coffee chain Starbucks, following revelations it had failed to pay corporation tax in the UK for three years. The Prime Minister insisted individuals and businesses 'must pay their fair share'. ‘Any businesses who think that they can carry on dodging that fair share or that they can keep on selling to the UK and setting up ever-more complex tax arrangements abroad to squeeze their tax bill right down - well, they need to wake up and smell the coffee because the public who buy from them have had enough,' he said in January 2013. Chancellor George Osborne unveiled a so-called ‘Google Tax’ in his recent Autumn Statement, aimed at curbing tax avoidance and stopping multi-national tech companies from channelling revenues into secretive tax havens. A Smythson leather travel set costing £185 and a Panama tote, which cost £550 . Smythson is owned and run by secretive Egypt-born Frenchman Jacques Bahbout, who bought the group for £18m in 2009 through his Italian handbag manufacturer Tivoli Group. Smythson pays several million pounds a year for Tivoli’s goods and services. Bahbout is also looking at selling a stake in the business this year to raise money to expand. Since Bahbout bought the business, the holding company Holdsmyth has paid around £1.06m in corporation tax. But £1m in dividends paid out since Bahbout bought the group may have benefited from the tax status of Guernsey and Luxembourg. Controversy over its tax affairs is likely to intensify as the company has also benefited from taxpayer-backed low-cost loans. The company previously borrowed £2m under the National Loan Guarantee Scheme, a Government initiative for the banks to provide small firms with cheap finance, and currently has a £5m credit facility which is classed as ‘state aid’. Mrs Cameron was previously creative director of the brand until 2010. She took home about £30,000 as a bonus when it was sold. The Prime Minister’s press office said it had no comment to make on the company or its tax situation. Details in the firm’s annual accounts filed at Companies House show Holdsmyth is owned by ‘a company incorporated in Luxembourg’ and is ultimately controlled by ‘Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Ltd as trustees of the Barracuda Trust, a trust settled in Guernsey’. The company did not comment on its ownership structure but a spokesman said that it has ‘ambitious’ expansion plans for the next two years. | Samantha Cameron is creative consultant at the upmarket company .
Firm is is owned through a holding company in Luxembourg .
It is also linked to a secretive trust in the Channel Island of Guernsey .
David Cameron has often criticised companies who use tax havens . |
287,012 | ffe05db12f2b5c1c8b16a40a21c2fad2790e7cd0 | (CNN) -- Spring has sprung and as far as golf fans are concerned, that means only one thing -- it's time for the Masters. Golf's first major of 2014 begins at the famed Augusta National on Thursday, this year marking the 78th installment of one of sport's most enduring contests. They are four captivating days in Georgia that never fail to throw up a myriad of storylines, sub plots and sensations. With the field as wide open as ever, CNN World Sport looks at six Masters headlines waiting to be written. Mickelson assumes Tiger's mantle . The buildup to any major championship is always dominated by Tiger Woods -- whether he is playing or not. Even Phil Mickelson has said it will be "weird" not to have Woods prowling Augusta's fairways. With the world No. 1 missing his first Masters due to a back injury, most homegrown fervor will focus on "Lefty," the man who already has three green jackets in his wardrobe. The 43-year-old has had his own fitness worries, withdrawing from two tournaments this season, but returned his best finish of the year at the Shell Houston Open just a few days ago. The only current player who can hold a candle to Mickelson in terms of Masters success is Woods, whose four Augusta titles match the feats of Arnold Palmer -- two behind the record haul of another legend of the game, Jack Nicklaus. Mickelson's most recent triumph came in 2010 and featured a shot that has gone down as one of the finest in the tournament's illustrious history. It also showcased Mickelson's game perfectly, as he launched a six-iron from pine needles behind a tree onto the 13th green, over the stream that protects the front of the green. Should Lefty find his very best this week, a fourth Masters crown is a distinct possibility. A wide open field . Trying to predict the next major champion is a futile exercise. Since the start of the 2009 season, there have been 18 different winners of the 20 major titles on offer -- and 15 of those were first-time victors. Such is the talent being stockpiled at the top of the game, the winner could come from pretty much any continent and be stationed at either end of the age spectrum. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was 22 when he won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional -- the youngest winner since 1923, when the legendary American Bobby Jones triumphed. And Mickelson clocked in at 43 years young when he secured the fifth major of his career at the 2013 British Open at Muirfield in Scotland. Talented teenagers and voracious veterans lurk at every corner of a major championship field, and of the 97 players competing, around 70 will think they have a realistic chance of winning. McIlroy's redemption? Until McIlroy is cloaked in a green jacket, the abiding memory of his Masters experience will be of a red-faced youngster slumped over his club as one of golf's greatest chokes took hold. At the tender age of 21, he went into the final round at Augusta in 2011 with a four-shot lead, and blew it in epic style. The sight of McIlroy wandering around the VIP cabins 50 yards to the left of the 10th fairway looking for his errant tee shot are now the stuff of legend. By the time he signed for an eight-over final round of 80, to sink from first place to a tie for 15th, there wasn't a right-minded spectator who didn't feel the urge to give him a consoling hug. A typically stoic interview on the 18th further endeared the youngster to viewers the world over, as he admitted he couldn't put his finger on why he had "unraveled" in such a fashion. He later said he "wasn't ready to win a major" but just a few months later, he was. At the very next major, he shot a record low U.S Open score to win at Congressional in Maryland by an emphatic eight shots. The next year he doubled his major tally, adding the U.S. PGA Championship to his trophy cabinet, but you get the feeling he won't be content until his redemption at Augusta is complete. The Asian invasion . Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters last year but how long will it be before the first Asian winner of golf's most prestigious prize? Last year's tournament was abuzz with the sight of China's Guan Tianlang striding the famous fairways at the tender age of 14, and winning the low amateur medal. The child prodigy represents a burgeoning talent pool in Asia, seeking to build on the breakthrough success made by Y.E. Yang at the 2009 U.S. PGA Championship. Not only did the Korean serve notice of Asia's arrival at the top table of golf, he did it by beating the greatest golfer of a generation -- Tiger Woods. The highest-ranked Asian player is Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who sits 26th in the world list on only his second year on the PGA Tour. Matsuyama won the leading amateur prize on his Augusta debut as a 19-year-old in 2011 and already has a top-five finish on this season's PGA Tour. His compatriot Ryo Ishikawa has a top-10 place to his name this season despite languishing in the lower reaches of the top 100, while Korean veteran K.J. Choi has been a longstanding representative of Asia at the top level. Another one to watch is Thailand's 51st-ranked Thongchai Jaidee, who has five European Tour titles to his name. The Great Scott sequel? The last person to retain the Masters crown was -- yep, you guessed it -- Woods back in 2002 but could Scott be about to double Australia's tally of wins at Augusta? No-one is ranked higher than the 33-year-old going into the tournament. In fact, only a poor final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March prevented him from returning to Georgia as world No. 1. He spoke on Tuesday of the privileges afforded to a Masters champion -- playing the course with his father Phil and hanging out in the champions' locker room. And after an arduous few years trying to land his maiden major, with his slump a the British Open in 2012 a particularly bitter pill to swallow, Scott's game has been freed up after last year's win. "It has been incredible to see the reception I get every week I play since being a Masters champion," he said in his press conference. "It has been a real buzz for me to be welcomed at all the golf courses I'm at. "This week has been something I have been really looking forward to. But as the last week came around, I also realized it would be time for me to bring the green jacket back and leave it here maybe. "So that motivated me to work harder that last week at home and try and get myself into some kind of form that can maybe go back-to-back and keep the jacket for another year." A European 2014? The last European to don the famous green jacket was Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999. It was the second time the Spaniard had triumphed at Augusta, having won the Masters in 1994. Arguably the third leg of a hat-trick of Olazabal's career highlights also came on American soil, when he masterminded what will forever be known as the "Miracle of Medinah" when serving as Europe's Ryder Cup captain. Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles matches in the Ryder Cup clash between Europe and the United States, Olazabal's men pulled off one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time to eventually triumph 14½ points to 13½. The U.S. team, led this time by veteran Tom Watson, are plotting their revenge ahead of the next clash in Scotland in October, but what better way to lay down a marker than for a European to end the continent's 14-year drought at Augusta? There are four European players in the world's top 10 and two of them -- England's Justin Rose and McIlroy -- are already major champions. Sweden's Henrik Stenson won both the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the European Tour's Race to Dubai last year, while Sergio Garcia has finished in the top five in all four major championships during his career. Don't be surprised if Europe marches off with another major honor come Sunday. And finally .... The Tiger factor . He might not be playing but that doesn't mean Woods won't still be a talking point in Masters week. Whether it is clips of his famous chip-in back in 2005, or reams of column inches detailing his four Masters wins, Tiger's absence certainly doesn't mean he'll be absent from the debate. And of course, once the green jacket has been placed on the shoulders of the winner, a popular refrain might be "What if Tiger had been playing?" | CNN World Sport takes a look at six potential storylines ahead of the 2014 Masters .
Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott dominate most of the buildup to Augusta tournament .
Could the season's first golf major throw up the Masters' first Asian winner?
Masters runs from April 10-14 at world famous Augusta National Golf Club . |
193,774 | 86d59b413afe6631451c4c6d46036dbe69d2a576 | Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- In the worst single incident for Kenyan police in living memory, 38 officers were killed in northern Kenya over the weekend by heavily armed cattle rustlers, according to injured police reservists who were on the scene. Local media reports put the number at between 37 and 42 dead. Internal Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito would not give a total figure on how many police officers had died. Read more: Attack on Sunday school leaves child dead, others wounded . The police officers were part of an operation to recover cattle belonging to the Samburu tribe that had been stolen by the Turkana tribe, according to the minister. They were ambushed in a valley when a large group of Turkana fired on police, leaving dozens dead and many injured. The Turkana and Samburu, both pastoralist groups, have frequently engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations over many years. Villages in the region are heavily fortified by residents, and it's not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles. In the most recent incident, Turkana raided the Samburu last month and took a large amount of cattle, according to the internal security ministry. Read more: Kenya military reports success in Somali fight . The Kenyan government intervened and gave an ultimatum for the Turkana to return the cattle last Friday, or it would respond with force. The Turkana did not meet the deadline, prompting the police operation that ended in tragedy. Both Turkana and Samburu leaders have frequently asked for more security in the region from the government. They say the police are outmanned and outgunned. While visiting wounded officers who had been airlifted to a Nairobi hospital, the minister said the government is addressing those complaints. Read more: Is Barack Obama still Kenya's favorite son? "The ratio of police to civilians in the country is far below the international standards, but we are looking for more resources to bring balance," he said, claiming the government is working to reconciling both communities. Some wounded police reservists recovering at the hospital weren't so sure. "Reconciliation will only work if the Turkana are forcibly removed from Samburu territory. That's the only solution," said Ledemiano Lenankani, a Samburu reservist. Lekirnyei Masianai, another reservist, agreed. "There is no room for reconciliation. I'll not put down my weapon while my community is being attacked." | The officers were trying to recover stolen cattle, a security official says .
The Turkana and Samburu tribes have engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations .
It's not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles .
The security minster says the government is trying to reconcile the two communities . |
257,346 | d90ffe17aed5432e22e848954d5715ca95134b7c | Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has hit back at Sam Allardyce's claim that his team are a long-ball side - and insists he has the facts to prove it. The United boss turned up for his press conference ahead of Wednesday's match at home to Burnley clutching four sheets of paper that he says rubbish claims Allardyce made after Sunday's draw at West Ham. The whole scene was a slightly bizarre episode that evoked memories of Rafa Benitez's press conference rant, directed at Sir Alex Ferguson, over referees in 2009. Louis van Gaal brandishes part of his dossier as he attempts to prove that United are not a long-ball side . Van Gaal looks unimpressed as he tells a packed press conference about his tactics . Van Gaal was clearly annoyed at Sam Allardyce's comments and he had the pamphlet on his desk waiting when he fielded the first question about the West Ham manager's jibe . The former Barcelona boss insisted his team only started launching balls forward after 6ft 4in Marouane Fellaini came on in the 76th minute of the draw against West Ham . The 63-year-old hands the pages of his dossier to journalists during Tuesday's press conference . The statistics quoted in the A4 pamphlet, which were put together by Van Gaal's analysts, claim West Ham sent a higher percentage of their long passes forward than United during the match. The Hammers attempted 200 passes, according to the figures, and United 343. The pamphlet said 71.1 per cent of West Ham's 'long passes' - of over 25 metres - went forward whereas United's percentage was just 49.9 per cent. Diagrams in the pamphlet claim to show United's passes went sideways or diagonally, rather than forward. This sheet suggests United had a 56 per cent success rate of their 41 'long and forward' passes during the match at West Ham. The blue arrows indicate a successful pass . West Ham made just 11 of their 32 'long and forward' passes during the match, according to boss Van Gaal . Van Gaal claims United made 49.9 per cent of 'long passes forward' in comparison to West Ham's 71 per cent . This page suggests United played 12 long passes after 76 minutes of their 1-1 draw at Upton Park on Sunday. Eight of them were successful. 'When you have 60 per cent ball possession do you think that you can do that with long balls?' Van Gaal asked. 'Yeah, long balls, in the width, to switch the play. You have to look at the data and then you will see that we did play long balls, but long balls wide, rather than to the striker. A ball to the forward striker is mainly caused long-ball play. It is not so difficult also to read that. 'You have to see the data and put the data in the right context I believe.' United's press officer, Karen Shotbolt, reacts as Van Gaal asks her to pass his dossier over to journalists at the press conference . Shotbolt looks less than impressed as the United manager continues to defend his tactics . Cheikhou Kouyate opened the scoring for West Ham in their Premier League match against Man United . Daley Blind scores a late equaliser for Man United at Upton Park to rescue a 1-1 draw for Van Gaal's side . Van Gaal, pictured leaving the Upton Park pitch at half-time, flanked by Ryan Giggs and Albert Stuivenberg . Van Gaal talks regularly about the fact that he wants his teams to play attractive football. He was clearly, therefore, annoyed at Allardyce's comments and he had the pamphlet on his desk waiting when he fielded the first question about the West Ham boss' jibe. 'Because I expected this question, I have made an interpretation of the data for this game and then I have to say that it is not a good interpretation from Big Sam,' said Van Gaal. Speaking after the match, Hammers boss Allardyce said:'’In the end we couldn’t cope with Long-ball United. It's not how you normally see United play, but it got them a goal in the end. 'You might just criticise Louis van Gaal for playing long balls as much as I’m sometimes criticised for being direct. In the end it’s paid off for them so you can’t knock it.’ The Dutchman however, insisted his team only started launching balls forward after 6ft 4in Marouane Fellaini came on in the 76th minute of the draw in east London. 'I am sorry, but we are playing ball possession play and after 70 minutes we did not succeed, in spite of many chances in the second half, then I changed my playing style. Van Gaal poses with Paddy McNair after the defender agreed an extension to his current contract . Van Gaal freely admits that Man United played more long balls when Maroruane Fellaini was introduced . United's change of tack came after 6ft 4in Fellaini was brought on in the second half, Van Gaal claimed . West Ham manager Allardyce was critical of Van Gaal's tactics following Sunday's encounter . When a colleague of mine is saying this kind of thing then, yeah, you have to see the data and you have to put the data in the right context I believe. I think the media is also coming to the match and you have a lot of opinion about me, or the game, or the players and now you say that you have no opinion. When you have 0 per cent ball possession do you think that you can do that with long balls? Yeah, long balls, in the width, to switch the play. You have to look at the data and then you will see that we did play long balls, but long balls wide, rather than to the striker. A ball to the forward striker is mainly caused by long-ball play. Because I expected this question, I have made an interpretation of the data for this game and then I have to say that it is not a good interpretation from Big Sam. It is not so difficult also to read that. I am sorry, but we are playing ball possession play and after 70 minutes we did not succeed, in spite of many chances in the second half, then I changed my playing style. Then, of course, with the quality of Fellaini we played more forward balls and we scored from that, so I think it was a very good decision of the manager. But, when you see overall the long ball, and what is the percentage of that, then West Ham have played 71 per cent of the long balls to the forwards and we 49. So, I give you this and you can see that the blue ones are the good ones because long balls are also very difficult, which is why I began with the explanation of ball possession. When you have 60 per cent ball possession you cannot play long balls. So again, they did it 71 and we 49, and I give it you, you can copy it and then maybe you can go to Big Sam and he will get a good interpretation. 'Then, of course, with the quality of Fellaini we played more forward balls and we scored from that, so I think it was a very good decision of the manager. 'But, when you see overall the long ball, and what is the percentage of that, then West Ham have played 71 per cent of the long balls to the forwards and we 49.' After reeling off the statistics, Van Gaal rose from his chair and handed the pamphlet to the reporter who asked the question about Allardyce. The United boss then asked them to analyse the last three pages, which contained diagrams which contained coloured arrows pointing in the direction of both team's passes. 'I give you this and you can see that the blue ones are the good ones because long balls are also very difficult, which is why I began with the explanation of ball possession,' the 63-year-old said. 'When you have 60 per cent ball possession you cannot play long balls. So again, they did it 71 (per cent) and we 49, and I give it to you, you can copy it and then maybe you can go to Big Sam and he will get a good interpretation.' Rafa Benitez infamously lost his cool at Sir Alex Ferguson during a press conference rant back in 2009 . In 2009, Benitez erupted during a press conference and attacked former United boss Ferguson with some similarly pre-planned 'facts'. Here are some of the best bits... Benitez said: 'I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they [Manchester United] are nervous because we are at the top of the table. 'But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start. But I have seen some facts. On 1 November, they played Hull and Mr Ferguson had a two-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine after confronting Mike Dean, the referee, for improper conduct.' 'All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens. 'And about his behaviour with referees. The Southampton manager he knows how Mr Ferguson works and how he works, he was very clear. I am not playing mind games, just facts. 'We need to know that I am talking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.' Van Gaal's delivery was calm and he only came to the brink of losing his patience once. 'What do you think?' Van Gaal snapped when first asked about Allardyce's comments, before he regained composure and reeled off his speech on why he thought the former Blackburn manager was wrong. Van Gaal's overall tactics have come in for criticism this season. United may be fourth in the Barclays Premier League, but the team lacks the energy, dynamism and flair of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. 'I think we have played attractive games and less attractive games,' Van Gaal said. 'You can always improve, you can never have a perfect match. 'I am happy with the results, but I also think we can improve which is also the process. We have talked about already from my first day, but we have to improve.' | Louis van Gaal hit back at Sam Allardyce after draw at West Ham .
Allardyce suggested Man Utd deployed long-ball tactics during game .
But Van Gaal turned up at press conference on Wednesday with four sheets of A4 paper which, he claims, rubbishes Allardyce's theory .
Van Gaal's tactics after the draw at West Ham have been widely criticised .
Manchester United host Burnley at Old Trafford on Wednesday night . |
199,177 | 8dd5c63f66e0e3acd572e425a0046dc0399be4c9 | Australian jihadist Khaled Sharrouf has warned of a terrorist attack on home soil just days after the Australian Federal Police issued a warrant for his arrest. Sharrouf, from Sydney, escaped authorities in December by using his brother Mustafa's passport to go and fight in Syria and Iraq with al-Qaeda off-shoot Islamic State. He said in a letter to Fairfax Media this week that he would have carried out an attack on Australia if he hadn't left when he did. Khaled Sharrouf sent Fairfax Media a letter from Iraq after federal police issued a warrant for his arrest . Arrest warrants were issued for Sharrouf and fellow Sydney-man Mohamed Elomar after Daily Mail Australia revealed a disturbing photo of Elomar holding up two decapitated heads for the camera in Syria. The picture was uploaded on Twitter on Friday by convicted terrorist Sharrouf. The 31-year-old demanded the release of 12 Muslim prisoners in the letter. One of the men who he called for the release of was Hyde Park rioter Ahmed Elomar. Ahmed is the brother of Mohamed Elomar - the man Sharrouf is fighting with in the Middle East. The 31-year-old demanded the release of 12 Muslim prisoners in Australia in the letter . Ahmed and Mohamed used to be champion boxers in their early twenties before they became radicalised in Sydney. Ahmed was jailed in June for two and a half years for bashing a police officer in the Hyde Park Islamic march of 2012. Sharrouf also claimed in his letter that he toyed with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and police while he was under surveillance. He wrote that he had been inspired to join the jihad because of the West's 'murderous' activities. Sharrouf previously spent time in an Australian jail for his part in a foiled plot to blow up targets in Sydney and Melbourne. Scroll down for video . Disgusting: Mohamed Elomar, who is believed to have left Australia last year to fight in Syria, is shown holding up the decapitated heads of two men . In a sickening image that Sharrouf posted on Twitter last week, Mohamed Elomar is seen smiling - with a pair of sunglasses tucked into his shirt - as he holds up two decapitated heads by the victims' hair. Another image, uploaded on Friday, shows the heads of alleged Syrian solders being impaled on metal railings. Like something out of the 18th century, the heads were left on show in a sickening display that aims to cause terror and fear. The photos were uploaded by Sharrouf, alongside disgusting tweets such as 'bucket full of heads any1 in aus want some organs please dont be shy to ask I would love to assist u with body parts [sic]'. Disturbing: Sharrouf also posted a photo of two men placing severed heads on a metal railing . Khaled Sharrouf posted the photos on Twitter alongside captions such as 'this guy lost his head!!! Lol' The convicted terrorist said he wanted to cut 'infidel throats' He directed his tweets to people in Australia and joked about organ donation . His disturbing rant continued 'few more heads how lovely bludy amazing stuff abuhafs u keep cutting those infidel throats but the last 1 is mine! [sic]' The tweets came as the nation's Director General of Security David Irvine revealed 'tens of people' had already returned to Australian shores from fighting alongside suspected terrorist organisations. Speaking to media earlier this month, Attorney-General George Brandis said engagement with the Islamic community was an important strategy 'to keep Australia free from terrorism'. 'The imams who are faith leaders, who are influential and respected opinion members in their communities, are integral to our goal to saving young men - it is almost always young men - in their communities from being radicalised,' he said. Mr Irvine added a majority of the 60 Australians they were aware of fighting with Islamic radicals were siding against the government with Al-Qaeda off-shoots. 'We have some tens of people that have already returned [from the Middle East], we have probably another 150 we're looking at here in Australia who have inclinations to support those two extremist movements,' he said. When asked if the ones who had returned to Australia were being actively monitored, Mr Irvine said 'I'm not saying anything further'. On July 14, Sharrouf fired off a tweet to the AFP and Australians, saying: 'you cowards I am running to my death I want martyrdom thats [sic] why I am blessed u rock spiders'. Just half an hour earlier, he claimed 'Australia belongs to the muslims not infidels like you' as well as boasting of his evasion of police. 'u can't stop and trust me if I wanted to attack aus I could have easily,' Sharrouf said. He also added: 'I love to slaughter [Australians] & ALLAH LOVEs when u dogs r slaughtered'. These threatening tweets are part of a more disturbing picture of Sharrouf painted by his Twitter account. Some of the content is so graphic that Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish the posts. On July 14, Sharrouf tweeted he loved to slaughter Australians to the AFP . He said it would have been easy for him to attack Australia if he wanted . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Khaled Sharrouf fled Australia for Syria in December last year .
Sent a letter to media this week saying he could have attacked Australia .
Has been taunting Australian Federal Police on social media .
Posted a photo of Mohamed Elomar holding up severed heads .
Fighting for al-Qaeda off-shoot Islamic State in the Middle East . |
259,961 | dc9d601242e4080f89204b064fe902e956e0d38d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:01 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:03 EST, 6 March 2014 . New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera picked up one more epic save six months after retiring from baseball. The legendary reliever has renovated a long-vacant historic church in suburban New York that will be the new home of his wife's ministry starting Thursday. For years, Rivera had been crediting God for his skills on the field, where he tallied a record 652 saves before retiring last season. Open for business: Former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera opens the door to his new Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope) church, Thursday, in New Rochelle . Historic site: the 107-year-old Presbyterian church was abandoned in the 1970s and was eventually bought by New Rochelle . Princely gift: Rivera bought the abandoned church building so that his wife, Clara (right), a Pentecostal minister, could expand her congregation . Now his foundation has poured about $3million into restoring the 107-year-old church for Refugio de Esperanza, or Refuge of Hope, the Pentecostal Christian congregation led by his wife, Clara. Rivera, 44, has been quiet about the project, declining to speak about it in advance of the opening. Most residents walking by earlier this week did not even know he was involved. But he briefly mentioned the opening of the church after receiving a humanitarian award from the Jackie Robinson Foundation Monday. ‘You don't do it to be recognized,’ he said. ‘You do it because it comes from the heart. You want to please the Lord.’ The handsome grey stone building had been a Presbyterian church but was abandoned in the 1970s and was eventually bought by New Rochelle, a diverse city of about 77,000 just 6 miles north of the Bronx. The church is next door to the police . and courts headquarters, and the police had used some of the space to . store evidence, said architect Jonathan Villani. Meanwhile, . his wife's congregation had been outgrowing its meeting place — the . Rivera home. Rivera told New York magazine last year, ‘We only fit like . 50 people, 60 people tops.’ Hands-on approach: Rivera's business partner said the retired Yankee was acting as a general contractor on the project and overseeing every detail . Mixed group: Rivera said his wife congregation is made up of 50-60 people of different ethnicity and various walks of life . Inaugural prayer: Ana Rivera, left, prays during the opening service at Refugio de Esperanza . ‘We have whites, we have blacks, we have Hispanics,’ he said. ‘We have all kinds. It doesn't matter. As long as you love Christ, we in it. And if you don't love him, we will work with you so we put you on the right path.’ The congregation's website says it ‘felt the need to organize a local church that would not only present the message of salvation to its attendees, but also provide programs that would meet the needs of the less fortunate in the community.’ Plans call for a ‘learning center’ that will provide education, sports and other after-school programs to children. ‘He's doing something not just for his faith but at the same time setting up a place where he can help kids,’ said Brandon Steiner, a Rivera business partner whose sports memorabilia firm is headquartered in New Rochelle. Steiner said he's never seen Rivera so focused on a project. ‘He was like the general contractor,’ Steiner said, laughing. ‘He was in there directing painters.’ The city agreed to sell the building to Rivera for $1 in return for his promise to rehabilitate it. One opponent at the time, City Councilman Louis Trangucci, said Wednesday he still feels the city should have tried to get more for the property. All smiles: The former Bronx Bomber addressed the worshipers from the alter of his wife's new church, with Edeli Zorilla, left, acting as a translator . But he said the project has only enhanced the area ‘and I support what Mariano had done with the church.’ Mayor Noam Bramson said the city did not have the money it would have taken to save the building.Villani said the church needed plenty of work: the bell tower had begun collapsing, a new front wall needed to be built and new stained glass windows installed. ‘We loved the stonework, and some of the inside beams were still in good condition,’ he said.Across the street at Kenny's Barbershop, Carlos Sanchez has been watching the renovation every day. ‘It looks a lot better,’ the barber said. He even met Rivera at the site several times. ‘He's a cool guy,’ Sanchez said. ‘And look what he's doing, a new church in the neighborhood.’ | Rivera, 44, bought the abandoned building from the City of New Rochelle for $1 and poured $3million into restoring it .
Church will be used by Clara Rivera's Pentecostal congregation Refugio de Esperanza . |
230,107 | b5f61bf117cc39c8da33214140d19dbe87e7137c | Besiktas boss Slaven Bilic will be banned from the touchline when the Turks face Arsenal in London in the second leg of their Champions League play-off next week. Bilic was dismissed from the touchline in the final seconds of the first leg, a stormy goalless draw in Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium. He hoped it would not incur a ban, since it was at the very end of the match, he apologised immediately and his disciplinary record has been good, but UEFA have confirmed that the automatic one-ban suspension will stand. Trouble: Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic (right) has been handed a minimum one-game suspension by UEFA . You're off! Bilic was sent to the stands as his side drew 0-0 with Arsenal in their Champions League play-off . Their Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will decide on the full extent of the final sanction when they meet next week. It comes as a considerable blow for Besiktas as Bilic is such an influential figure during games, constantly on the touchline, directing his players and motivating. The former West Ham and Everton defender became agitated during the second half as tackles started to fly in from both teams and Aaron Ramsey was sent off for two yellow cards. Missing: Bilic, who will watch his side from the stands at the Emirates next week, talks with ref Milorad Mazic . Still friends: Bilic (right) admits he apologised to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger (left) after being sent off . He was warned by the Serbian referee Milorad Mazic but continued to berate the fourth official and exploded furiously when the game was halted with Besiktas on the attack so that Mathieu Flamini could receive treatment after being hit by the ball. After the game, Bilic said: 'I have apologised. It was a big game for us, right. I just wasn't happy with some of the decisions. After the game I apologised to the referee and to Mr Wenger. No hard feelings or whatever. I made a mistake. 'Maybe I over-reacted in that situation when he stopped the game when the ball hit Flamini in the stomach and we were in a good position, two against one... But nothing serious happened in that moment or after the game.' Down the tunnel: Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss the second leg after being sent off in Turkey . VIDEO Ramsey red card unbelievable - Wenger . He added that he hoped to avoid a ban. 'I'm not used to this kind of situation,' said Bilic. 'I had 60 or 70 games with Croatia, but this is only the second time I've been asked to leave the dug-out. I don't know the rules... but I see no reason for me not to be in the dug-out in London, really. If that was a reason, many coaches would be missing from the dug-out.' The UEFA ban will stand firm. He will be allowed into the Emirates Stadium to watch the second-leg but he will be denied access to his squad, which will keep him out of the dressing room before the game and at half-time. Ramsey will also serve an automatic one-match ban for his red card. UEFA are still considering the incident reported by Wenger, that a bottle was thrown in his direction from the crowd after the game. | Bilic was sent to the stands during his side's 0-0 draw with Arsenal .
The ex-Croatia boss was punished for an outburst on the touchline .
He had hoped his sending off wouldn't affect his availability at the Emirates .
But he will now be forced to watch from the stands in London next week .
Bilic faces a minimum one-match ban but his final punishment will be decided by UEFA next week . |
48,154 | 87f12df52dfdee0cc383023f1492f89f7776c1bc | New York (CNN) -- A young concert-goer is seen in a video rubbing white power on his gums. He starts sweating profusely before plunging into crazed drug trip that ends with him alone under the glare flashing lights. The words "Don't miss the moment" appear across a black background: "Be present. Avoid the risks." That's the message of an anti-drug public service announcement that concert-goers at New York City's annual Electric Zoo music festival will be required to watch in order to gain entry to the event later this month. Last summer's Electric Zoo festival gained national attention when several people were sickened and two people died after overdosing on the drug MDMA, either in ecstasy pills or its "pure" powder or crystal form, also known as "molly." The popular festival was cut short as a result of the deaths. "Our message to concertgoers is simple: The Electric Zoo experience is exceptional and worth being present for," Made Event founders Laura De Palma and Mike Bindra said in a joint statement. "Molly can cause you to not only miss the moment, alienate your friends and have an overall adverse and unpleasant experience ... but can also make you sick and can even be fatal. Fans will experience how great it is to 'Come To Life' at one of our concerts from lights, sounds and crowds." Federal authorities last month arrested an upstate New York man on drug charges in connection with the sale of molly to concert-goers -- including one who died -- at the festival on Randall's Island last August. MDMA is believed to have caused both of the deaths at the music festival, which was attended by more than 130,000 people, in late August 2013. Police identified the two victims as Jeffrey Russ, 23, and Olivia Rotondo, 20. There's something (potentially dangerous) about molly . On August 30, 2013, near the end of a concert at Electric Zoo, Russ told his friends he wasn't feeling well, according to court documents. He collapsed and suffered a seizure. When Russ arrived at Harlem Hospital Center, his heart was beating rapidly and his temperature was about 108 degrees Fahrenheit, court papers said. Russ was pronounced dead at 3:21 a.m. on August 31. The pills found on Russ contained MDMA and methylone, according to court documents. The medical examiner ruled that Russ died from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of [MDMA] and methylone with hyperthermia." Ticket buyers at this year's festival on Randalls Island Aug. 29-31 will be required to to watch a two-minute video about MDMA this year. "Fans will experience how great it is to 'Come To Life' at one of our concerts from lights, sounds and crowds," De Palma and Bindra said in the statement. The two-minute film "The Molly" was created, written and produced by "Dexter" creator/writer James Manos, Jr., and his daughter Ellie Manos, 19. On social media, the reaction to the video has been mixed. Culture and music website Flavorwire.com tweeted: "Electric Zoo's 'The Molly' PSA Won't Stop Drug Use at EDM Festivals -- But It's Still Better Than 'Just Say No.'" One commenter on Electric Zoo's Facebook page said: "You guys had the chance to provide some real information that could have actually saved lives but instead shoved some DARE drivel down everyone's throat. Congrats." Another commenter, referring to the young man in the video, said, "That guy is tweakin so hard lmaoooo." New York man arrested for supplying drug in Electric Zoo festival death . Dozens hospitalized during Avicii concert in Boston . Teen raped on lawn at Keith Urban concert, police say . | Electric Zoo concert-goers will be required to watch anti-drug video at this month's event .
Last year, deaths of two Electric Zoo attendees believed to be linked to MDMA .
Electric Zoo promoters agreed to city's recommendation that the festival be canceled last summer . |
30,003 | 55461373100d4a36ff0097bdc676dfb02250c960 | Responsible for looking after his mate's boat while he was on holidays, the last thing that Peter Estephan expected to see was the cruiser coasting along Sydney waters. Mr Estephan was driving over Tom Ugly's Bridge near Sans Souci, southern Sydney, at 12.50pm on Wednesday when he spotted his friend's $1.8 million boat cruising along St George's river - even though the owner was overseas. The coincidental timing saw Mr Estephan thwart a joyride on the 52ft motor cruiser by three adults and one teenager who have been charged over the incident. Two men, a women, and a teenager were charged for taking Allan's $1.8 million boat (pictured) on a joyride . The last thing that Peter Estephan (pictured) expected to see was his mate's almost two million dollar cruiser, which he was responsible for looking after, coasting along Sydney waters . 'Funnily enough, I'd left work early yesterday and was driving home over the bridge and had a look on the left and said, 'S***, that's Allan's boat',' he told Fairfax media. Mr Estephan called Allan's brother, who said he hadn't taken the boat. He then called the St George Motor Boat Club marina manager, Mark Norden, who then called a local boat salesman, who thought he had seen a couple of young girls take it out for a ride. The entire time Mr Estephan was driving around keeping his eye on the boat which was heading towards Captain Cook Bridge. Eventually, he convinced Mr Norden to get a small runabout and the pair jumped in and chased the boat down the Georges River - just as the owner, named only as Allan, called from overseas to confirm the boat was definitely stolen. 'Everyone was saying, "Relax, who's going to steal a boat?",' he said. Peter Estephan was driving over Tom Ugly's Bridge (pictured) near Sans Souci, southern Sydney, at 12.50pm on Wednesday when he spotted Allan's $1.8 million boat cruising along St George's river . Botany Bay Water police were then contacted and chased down the motor cruiser which was 'being driven erratically and at speed' along the river towards the Captain Cook Bridge. The officers managed to catch up to the boat and board it where they allegedly discovered two men, a woman and a teenage girl inside but no one in control at the helm. The stolen boat was returned to the wharf with only minor graffiti damage and the four people were arrested and taken to St George Police Station. Mr Estephan is relieved he followed his gut instincts. 'I wasn't gonna stop, I just knew something was wrong,' Mr Estephan said. 'I suppose I'm a bit of mental case.' He has now gained the nicknames of 'Water Rats' and 'Miami Vice'. But, rather than let the newfound glory go to his head, Mr Estephan and his son spent the next day repairing and polishing the boat before Allan returns from holiday. Two men aged, 20 and 24, were charged with being carried in conveyance while the younger man was also charged with destroy or damage property. A 20-year-old woman was charged with being carried in conveyance and granted conditional bail to appear in Kogarah Local Court on October 14. A 16-year-old girl was charged with take and drive conveyance and be carried in conveyance and will appear in a children's court on October 14. | Three adults and a teen took a $1.8 million boat for a joyride in Sydney .
A mate of the boat owner, Peter Estephan, spotted the 52ft motor cruiser .
Mr Estephan and another mate chased the boat in a small runabout .
Police found the culprits with no one at the helm on St Georges river .
The four joyriders were all charged over the incident . |
250,395 | d00eb4a9aca9e9442622c26400e77b0b0dcfe1c4 | (CNN) -- When Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the turkey gorge is over, you'll probably open up your refrigerator and find all sorts of tinfoil-wrapped casseroles and a lingering eau de sage. What's a severely yammed out but unwasteful eater to do? That's where Melissa d'Arabian comes in. D'Arabian is the winner of season 5 of "The Next Food Network Star" and host of the Food Network show "Ten Dollar Dinners." She gives us her five tips for Thanksgiving leftovers. 1. Freeze while fresh . Why wait until your turkey has aged two extra days until you realize that you are in over your Thanksgiving head? On Thanksgiving Day, as you are cleaning up after dinner, immediately cube up half the remaining turkey and package it up into quart-sized freezer bags, about a cup or two each portion, depending on the size of your family. Label and freeze, and now you'll have the freshest leftover possible that becomes an easy ingredient in the freezer just waiting to have a second life a month or two down the road in another recipe: pasta, soup, savory pies, omelets, etc. 2. Tired of turkey? Trick your tastebuds . My Saturday strategy for the turkey I still have around? Go ethnic or regional with these creative ideas. Think Thai (turkey pad Thai, for instance), Mexican (turkey taquitos) or Southern BBQ (pulled-turkey sandwiches). A whole different flavor profile will break the mold on Thanksgiving flavors, and you'll fool your palate into thinking your dish is a fresh new idea, not a recycled leftover. 3. Turkey's gone, but what about all the rest? Repurpose your sides . We all have side dishes that we make out of tradition, but that aren't eaten quite as much as we would hope. The result is leftover overload! Cranberry sauce is a major culprit in my house. The solution? Think of cranberry sauce simply as a tart fruit, and use as you would use any other. Make a yogurt parfait, or toss with apple slices and make a cobbler or crumble, or heat up and pour on vanilla ice cream and top with toasted pecans for a sundae. You can even make a fantastic sweet-heat salsa (perfect with my turkey taquitos, above). The other major leftover is the (in)famous yams. One idea: think breakfast! Make a delicious maple-yam compound butter and serve with scones or waffles. Turn sweetened yams into a filling for empanadas, or make cinnamon bran muffins with them. On the savory side, try swirling some yams into your leftover mashed potatoes for a delicious marbled potato side dish. (I know; I didn't give you any ideas for stuffing. But if you have stuffing leftovers, you need a new recipe. I'm just saying.) 4. Ingredients are leftovers too, so scan the fridge . Remember one of my cardinal rules of saving grocery dollars: Wasted food is the most expensive food you buy, no matter how cheap it was at the store. So, be sure to check your refrigerator for lurking ingredients on their last legs so that you can leverage all your leftovers instead of tossing them. Use that leftover heavy cream you bought for mashed potatoes to make a quick homemade spicy butterscotch pudding. Use half a sour cream container to make your mom's crazy Jell-o salad. Find a way to use up the other half (those taquitos bail us out yet again!). A good general strategy is to check your refrigerator weekly (ideally just before menu planning or grocery shopping), and pull any 'must-use' ingredients front and center of the fridge so you don't forget about them. 5. Feel good about less . Sometime between Halloween and the New Year, do a major purge of stuff you don't need and donate it. And if you are feeling the squeeze of the economy as we head into the holidays, volunteer at a homeless shelter, food bank or soup kitchen. There is nothing like helping those who are less fortunate than you to make you feel grateful for what you do have, which will curb overbuying (and overcooking) and keep the holidays focused on what matters: the people in your life. And while it's too late to change how much food you bought for this year, maybe next year this strategy will have you just buying slightly less. But this year, it will make us grateful for having leftovers at all, even if we don't turn them all into a taquito. | Food Network host Melissa d'Arabian offers Thanksgiving leftover tips .
Freeze your turkey right after Thanksgiving .
Add a little bit of ethnic flair (think taquitos)
Turn leftover ingredients into a new dish . |
31,734 | 5a44c1c905df9c2caed9cb709339be9e6062a0f2 | Died in desperate battle to save ambassador: Agent Sean Smith . A month ago today, computer expert Sean Smith was killed in the U.S. compound in Benghazi alongside ambassador Chris Stevens. In the weeks that followed, his grieving mother Pat met with many high-ranking officials, including President Obama, who promised her she would hear the truth about her son's death, however painful it might be. But last night Pat Smith launched a scathing attack on the White House administration, saying she had been kept in the dark about what happened to her only child. Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN last night, she told how she cried on Obama's shoulder and how: 'Everyone of them, all the big shots over there told me - they promised me, they promised me that they would tell me what happened. 'I told them, please don't give me any baloney that comes through with this political stuff. 'I don't want political stuff. You can keep your political, just tell me the truth - what happened. 'And I still don't know. In fact, today I just heard something more that he died of smoke inhalation. 'I look at TV and I see bloody hand prints on walls, thinking: 'My God, is that my son's? I don't know if he was shot. I don't know - I don't know. 'They haven't told me anything. They are still studying it. And the things that they are telling me are just outright lies.' Scroll down for video: . Tragedy: Pat Smith, whose son Sean was killed in the embassy attack a month ago, still does not know how he died . Mrs Smith was not the only mother frustrated at the distortion surrounding the events at the embassy on September 11. Barbara, mother of Former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, who was also killed in the attack, also asked Mitt Romney to stop invoking her . son's name on the campaign trail. She said: 'I don't trust Romney - he shouldn't make my son's death part of his political agenda.' Mrs Smith did not wish to speak politics - but just wanted the truth. Killed: Ambassador Chris Stevens died following smoke inhalation . She said: 'He was my only child. And he was good, he was good at what he did, he'd loved it. 'I begged them to tell me what happened. 'I said I want to know all the details, all of the details no matter what it is, and I'll make up my own mind on it.' She continued: 'And everyone of them, all the big shots over there told me that - they promised me, they promised me that they would tell me what happened. As soon as they figured it out. 'No one, not one person has ever, ever gotten back to me other than media people and the gaming people [her son was an avid computer game player]. Asked who told her she would be contacted, she replied: 'Obama told me. Hillary promised me. Joe Biden - Joe Biden is a pleasure. He was a real sweetheart. 'But he also told - they all told me that - they promised me. 'And I told them please, tell me what happened. Just tell me what happened. 'I told them, please don't give me any baloney that comes through with this political stuff. I don't want political stuff. 'You can keep your political, just tell me the truth. What happened. And I still don't know. In fact, today I just heard something more that he died of smoke inhalation. 'I don't even know if that's true or not. No, I don't. I don't know where. I look at TV and I see bloody hand prints on walls, thinking, my God, is that my son's? 'I don't know if he was shot. I don't know -- I don't know. They haven't told me anything. They are still studying it. And the things that they are telling me are just outright lies. '[Secretary of Defense] Leon Panetta actually took my face in his hands like this and he said: "Trust me. I will tell you what happened". Haven: Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith were hiding in a safe room which later filled with diesel smoke . Heroic: Former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods, right, and Glen Doherty, left, were killed in a mortar attack . Attack: Four U.S. citizens died in the raid on the consulate in Benghazi, including Mr Stevens . Inferno: Armed attackers dumped jerry cans of diesel fuel in the building and set ablaze part of the exterior of the consulate's exterior . Promise of answers: Obama speaking in Columbus, Ohio, this week . She added: 'And so far, he's told me nothing. Nothing at all. And I want to know. 'I told him, if it's such a secret thing, fine, take me in another room, whisper in my ear what happened so that I know, and we'll go from there. 'But no. No, they - you know, they treat me like - at first I was so proud because they were treating me so nice when I went to that reception. 'They all came up to me and talked to me and everything. I cried on Obama's shoulder. And he - then he'd kind of look off into the distance. 'So that was worthless to me. I want to know, for God's sakes. Or for Allah's sake or whoever's sake is there. 'I told Obama personally, I said, look, I had him for his first 17 years and then he went into the service, then you got him. 'And - I won't say it the way I said it - but I said you screwed up, you didn't do a good job, I lost my son. And they said, we'll get back to you. We - I promise, I promise you. I will get back to you. Cooper told Smith that the administration could at least keep her apprised of the investigation, and she agreed, saying: 'That would be so nice. That would at least acknowledge that I have a right to know something, something other than, we're checking up on it, or trust me. 'I like that one the best of all. Trust me. I will let you know. 'Well, I don't trust you anymore. I don't trust you anymore. You - I'm not going to say lied to me, but you didn't tell me and you knew.' The State Department says it never concluded that the attack was simply a protest gone awry. Meanwhile . the investigating committee's chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., . has accused the State Department of turning aside pleas from its . diplomats in Libya to increase security in the months and weeks before . the attack. One scheduled . witness, Eric Nordstrom, the former chief security officer for U.S. diplomats in Libya, told the committee his pleas for more security were . ignored. Department . officials were asked about the administration's initial - and since . retracted - explanation linking the violence to protests over an . American-made anti-Muslim video circulating on the Internet. One official responded 'that was not our conclusion' and called it a question for 'others' to answer, without specifying to whom he was referring. The burn-out wreckage following the fires within the U.S. Consulate . The . officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't . authorized to speak publicly on the matter, and provided no evidence . that might suggest a case of spontaneous violence or angry protests that . went too far. Republican presidential candidate . Mitt Romney and Republican lawmakers have increasingly sharpened their . criticism of the administration's initial explanation of the attack. They said they never accepted the original explanation. It . was a top administration diplomatic official, United Nations Ambassador . Susan Rice, who gave a series of interviews five days after the attack . that wrongly described the attack as spontaneous. She . said that the administration believed the violence was unplanned and . that extremists with heavier weapons 'hijacked' the protest against the . anti-Islamic video. Governor Mitt Romney pointed the finger at Obama's administration for wrongly describing the attack as 'spontaneous' She did . qualify her remarks to say that was the best information she had at the . time. Rice since has denied trying to mislead Congress. A . concurrent CIA memo obtained by The Associated Press cited intelligence . suggesting the demonstrations in Benghazi 'were spontaneously inspired . by the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo' and 'evolved into a direct . assault' on the diplomatic posts by 'extremists'. Nordstrom, . the former security official in Libya, addressed the diplomatic . security issue in an October 1 email to a congressional investigator. He . said his requests for more security were blocked by a department policy . to 'normalise operations and reduce security resources'. A . memo on Tuesday by the Oversight Committee's Democratic staff provided . details of Nordstrom's interview with the panel's investigators. In . that interview, Nordstrom said he sent two cables to State Department . headquarters in March 2012 and July 2012 requesting additional . diplomatic security agents for Benghazi, but he received no responses. He . stated that Charlene Lamb, the deputy assistant secretary for . international programs, wanted to keep the number of U.S. security . personnel in Benghazi artificially low. He . said Lamb believed the Benghazi facilities did not need any diplomatic . security special agents because there was a residential safe haven to . fall back to in an emergency. Nordstrom's . October 1 memo to the congressional investigator said: 'You will note . that there were a number of incidents that targeted diplomatic missions . and underscored the GoL's (government of Libya) inability to secure and . protect diplomatic missions. 'This . was a significant part of (the diplomatic) post's and my argument for . maintaining continued DS (diplomatic security) and DOD (Department of . Defense) security assets into Sept/Oct. 2012 - the GoL was overwhelmed . and could not guarantee our protection. 'Sadly, that point was reaffirmed on Sept. 11, 2012, in Benghazi.' | Pat Smith told CNN the White House had not contacted following the first expressions of sympathy .
Her only son Sean was killed in the September 11 attack which killed ambassador Chris Stevens .
Obama administration originally said assault stemmed from protests against anti-Islam video but then backtracked saying terrorists responsible . |
44,343 | 7d0bdad25c86e827aabc2a37ca1c8a264dab56c7 | (CNN) -- On September 11, 2001, when thousands of innocent men and women lost their lives, tens of thousands more came to their assistance. We as a nation saw greater acts of heroism than we could have imagined: First responders from all over New York and all over the country came to ground zero to save lives, provide proper burial for lives that were lost and assist in the enormous effort to clean up and recover from that devastating attack on our nation. Tragically, in the nine years since the attack, more than 30,000 responders and survivors from across the country have had to be medically treated because of their exposure to ground zero toxins. They are waiting for Congress to pass legislation to ensure that they can continue to get the care they need. Our 9/11 heroes didn't think twice that day. Bound by duty, a love of our nation and their fellow Americans, they joined hand in hand with heroes from every corner of America to come to our rescue. Now, it's long past time we came to theirs. Nine years ago, no one could have imagined that our nation would ignore our duty to the 9/11 heroes. Nine years ago, no one could have imagined that our country would leave these heroes behind. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would finally provide monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center responders and community members who are suffering, and for those who traveled to ground zero from all across America. The legislation would establish the World Trade Center Health Program within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to provide permanent medical monitoring and treatment for WTC-related conditions to responders and community members. The program administrator will establish a nationwide network of providers so that eligible individuals who live outside of the New York area can reasonably access monitoring and treatment benefits where they live. These eligible individuals are included in the caps on the number of participants in the responder and community programs. One often overlooked aspect of the legislation is its level of accountability and transparency for the disbursement funds. It will terminate the six billing systems created in the chaotic aftermath of September 11, and establish a third-party administrator, who will set reasonable rates, track expenditures and enforce eligibility requirements. And the legislation reopens the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to cover economic damages and losses for individuals who became ill after the original December 22, 2003 deadline. The bottom line is that this should not be a partisan fight. We have an undeniable, moral obligation to provide our 9/11 heroes with all the care they need. Heroes like NYPD Officer Robert Helmke, who died from Stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer caused by inhaling and swallowing toxins at ground zero. He was 43. Robert worked many tours of duty at ground zero. He ate food and unknowingly inhaled toxic substances while working. At no time while working at ground zero was he instructed to wear a breathing apparatus, nor was he told that the air was unhealthy. Stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer is a form of cancer in the upper GI tract, and it is very rare to see it in a man so young. He was told that treatment would not cure him, only help him live longer. In his own words, he reacted to his diagnosis: "Talk about crushing news! My wife and I sat in the car and cried, and I asked her what did I ever do to deserve this. "On July 11th, 2006, I had major surgery to remove two tumorous parts of my small colon and have radiation on the large tumor in my liver. Before my surgery, I had four chemotherapy treatments, and was in the emergency room three times to be treated for dehydration before finally having to go on an all-liquid diet and intravenous feeding. "I have a wife, Greta, and two young children, Garrett and Amelia, who have seen my health worsen since participating in the WTC recovery. My favorite things in life are slowly being taken away from me. My work, food, helping others and caring for my family." Officer Helmke died on July 28, 2007. And the longer we delay this bill, the more heroes like Officer Helmke we risk losing. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this bill in September and now it's time to keep our promise to 9/11 heroes and pass this bill in the U.S. Senate. We can't afford to wait any longer. I'm urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what they know is right and support this legislation. Republican leaders from around the country have stepped forward, including former Republican presidential candidates. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, "This is something that most Americans want. Something that Republicans like me want. These are people, after all, who were hurt and harmed because of the worst attack in the history of this country. They're entitled to more consideration than this." And former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said, "Every Republican should vote for this bill." The men and women who lived through and came to our rescue on 9/11 were not Democrats or Republicans or independents. They were Americans first and foremost, and so were the people they saved. It's time for us in Congress to honor their sacrifices by coming together as Americans and keeping our promise to provide them with the care they need to save their lives. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Kirsten Gillibrand. | Kirsten Gillibrand: Thousands lost lives on 9/11, and tens of thousands came to help .
First responders from all over New York and the U.S. came to ground zero, she says .
Gillibrand: 30,000 responders have been medically treated after exposure to toxins .
Pass bill, she says, to provide monitoring and treatment for conditions . |
129,480 | 335ceb0d270edccb93b33ccc47c8d68d611f1cbd | (CNN) -- Space shuttle Discovery launched early Monday to deliver spare parts and science experiments to the international space station. Discovery launched at 6:21 a.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida . Discovery, with its crew of seven astronauts, is carrying supplies and science equipment for the international space station's laboratories. The 13-day mission includes three planned spacewalks, replacing an ammonia tank assembly and retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station's exterior. Discovery is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Wednesday, and return to Earth on April 18 at 8:35 a.m. ET. After this mission, there are only three shuttle missions remaining before the space shuttle fleet is retired. iReport: Did you watch the launch? Share your photos and video . NASA said Discovery's mission will mark the first time four women have been in space at one time: Three women -- mission specialists Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Naoko Yamazaki -- comprise part of the Discovery's crew, while NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson is already at the space station. The launch comes three days after Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-18, carrying Dyson and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko, blasted off to the International Space Station from a Kazakhstan facility. The space station, which orbits the Earth at a height of some 250 miles, is due to be finished next year and is about 90 percent complete. | Discovery launches on mission to international space station .
Shuttle is carrying supplies, equipment to the space station .
Three spacewalks planned during 13-day mission .
Marks first time four women have been in space at one time . |
39,576 | 6fc2f7a82adcdebb9fe5fc2e50f9392522cc4050 | By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 08:46 EST, 28 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:42 EST, 29 July 2013 . Anthony Weiner brazenly spent more than $45,000 from his Congressional campaign funds to hire private detectives to investigate his own lie that his Twitter account was hacked in 2011, it has been revealed. Weiner paid T&M Protection Services with his campaign donors' funds and ordered the investigators to track down the 'hackers' who 'broke into his Twitter account' and sent lewd photos. Weiner's story about his account being hacked was, of course, a lie and he knew it at the time. For a week and a half, he maintained that he did not send the suggestive pictures posted to his Twitter account in May 2011. Bonding: Anthony Weiner takes his son Jordan for a walk in New York today . Family time: Weiner hit New York's streets today with son Jordan . The New York Daily News . reports that Weiner hired the private investigators in an attempt to . cover his tracks - spending $43,100 from his campaign warchest on a wild . goose chase. He also . paid law firm BakerHostetler to investigate the matter - though the . exact amount spent on the bogus hunt. He paid the firm more than $93,000 . for legal services between January 2010 and December 2012, but not all . of that money went to the sexting investigation. 'They’ll be looking into whether someone had my password,' he explained to CNN at the time. He . insisted that the investigators would get to the bottom of the matter . and figure out who had attempted to besmirch Weiner's good name. Disgrace: Anthony Weiner used his campaign money to pay for a bogus investigation into whether his Twitter account was hacked . Weiner had been mounting a successful campaign for New York City mayor - with wife Huma Abedin by his side - until new sexting allegations emerged . Within days, though, more sexts from the New York Congressman emerged - along with women who said he had sent them the explicit images - despite his beautiful wife Huma Abedin being pregnant with the couple's son. Weiner's story quickly eroded. First . he conceded that the pictures might be of him - but he maintained that . he hadn't sent them. Then, . finally - a week and a half after the first message emerged - he . admitted that he had sexted with six women before and after he got . married. He resigned on June 16, bowing to intense pressure from House . Democrats. After two years in relative seclusion, Weiner reemerged this spring as a leading candidate for mayor of New York. It appears that bid is falling flat, as well. Anthony Weiner is back on Twitter - despite the fact that his social media account resulted in him being forced out of Congress . Last week, it emerged that he had sent sexually explicit messages to Sydney Leathers, a 23-year-old Indiana woman, well after he resigned from Congress and sought therapy. He kept up the relationship with the woman until last year - even as he was preparing to mount his comeback and re-enter public life. The New York Times reports that Weiner's campaign manager Danny Kedem quit the weekend - seeking to distance himself from Weiner's failing candidacy. Weiner, for his part, has vowed to stick with the campaign - despite mounting pressure for him to pull out. | Weiner hired T&M Protection Services to check out his bogus claims that his account had been hacked .
Days later, Weiner admitted that he had sent the pictures himself .
Weiner's mayoral campaign manager quit over the weekend . |
9,914 | 1c22e55eeb7f5ecdf36a27a483cbb8dbc518163c | Saracens will open their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign by renewing hostilities with Clermont Auvergne, the French side they trounced to reach last term’s Heineken Cup final. The north London club will help launch an intriguing opening weekend for the inaugural European competition to replace the now-defunct Heineken Cup. Clermont will be seeking revenge for Saracens’ 46-6 Twickenham hammering in last term’s European semi-final showdown at Twickenham. Scroll down for European Rugby Champions TV Schedule . Rematch: Saracens will play Clermont in a repeat of last year's Heineken Cup semi-final . Mark McCall’s men - beaten Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership finalists last season - will host Clermont on October 18 in the opening European weekend. Reigning European champions and French Top 14 winners Toulon will start their Pool Three battles by hosting Welsh region the Scarlets at Stade Mayol. Current Premiership champions Northampton Saints will make the trip to Racing Metro in Pool Five when the 20th season of European competition gets under way. Guinness Pro12 title holders Leinster will entertain Wasps in round one, the London club having qualified through the new play-off system at the end of last term. On the road: Premiership champions Northampton Saints travel to Racing Metro for their first game . Harlequins’ Twickenham Stoop showdown with Castres on Friday, October 17 will kick-start the new season’s European action, with all 20 games in rounds one and two broadcast live on either BT Sport or Sky Sports. Gloucester will open the European Rugby Challenge Cup proceedings by hosting Brive at Kingsholm on Thursday, October 16. 17 October . Harlequins v Castres Olympique, kick-off 7.45pm BT Sport . 18 October . Sale Sharks v Munster, kick-off 1pm Sky Sports . Saracens v Clermont Auvergne, kick-off 3.15pm BT Sport . Glasgow Warriors v Bath, kick-off 3.15pm BT Sport . Racing Metro 92 v Northampton Saints, kcik-off 6.15pm Sky Sports . Leicester Tigers v Ulster, kick-off 7.45pm BT Sport . 19 October . Ospreys v Benetton Treviso, kick-off 1pm Sky Sports . Toulouse v Montpelier, kick-off 2pm Sky Sports . Toulon v Scarlets, kick-off 4.15pm Sky Sports . Leinster v Wasps, kick-off 5.15pm BT Sport . 24 October . Munster v Saracens, kick-off 7.45pm BT Sport . 25 October . Ulster v Toulon, kick-off 1pm Sky Sports . Bath v Toulouse, kick-off 3.15pm BT Sport . Northampton Saints v Ospreys, kick-off 5.15pm Sky Sports . Montpellier v Glasgow Warriors, kick-off 6.15pm Sky Sports . Scarlets v Leicester Tigers, kick-off 7.45pm BT Sport . 26 October . Castres Olympique v Leinster, kick-off 2pm Sky Sports . Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks, kick-off 4.15pm Sky Sports . Wasps v Harlequins, kick-off 5.15pm BT Sport . Benetton Treviso v Racing Metro, kick-off 6.15pm BT Sport . Italian sides Rovigo and Calvisano, Georgian outfit Tblisi Caucasians and Romanians Bucharest Wolves can all still win through to the new-look Challenge Cup. The two-legged Challenge Cup Qualification Play-offs will be held next month, with Rovigo taking on Caucasians and Calvisano meeting Bucharest. The inaugural Champions Cup is the product of more than two years of political wrangling between the English, French and Celtic nations. Au revoir: Jonny Wilkinson celebrates victory with Toulon in the last game before the competition was changed . European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the new governing body that handles tournament administration, with meritocratic qualification and enhanced TV rights deals two of the chief results of the new format. EPCR has set up headquarters in Neuchatel, Switzerland. European Rugby Cup (ERC), the body that ran the Heineken Cup, has been commissioned to run the new competition while EPCR continues to lay its foundations in Switzerland. Despite the stay of execution ERC is still expected to be wound up in time, though could well run the new-look European set-up for the duration of the coming campaign. CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | European Rugby Champions Cup replaces the Heineken Cup for first time .
Last year's finalists Saracens face a rematch against Clermont Auvergne .
Premiership champions Northampton Saints travel to Racing Metro .
European champions Toulon host Welsh regional side The Starlets . |
74,333 | d2c7d65680d46114e22d14a508fbca64fc9ff099 | Andy Murray has gained a fiancee but lost two of his key lieutenants with his life set to change on different fronts. Before it emerged that he was engaged to long-time girlfriend Kim Sears, he announced a distinctly inharmonious separation from two other constants in his life over recent years — assistant coach Dani Vallverdu and fitness trainer Jez Green. Decidedly less romantic it may be, but the latter development will have more immediate impact on a career that the Scot hopes still has five seasons to run. Andy Murray (centre), pictured with mother Judy (left) and Andy Ireland (second right) in 2012, has split with longstanding assistant coach Dani Vallverdu (second left) and physical trainer Jez Green (right) The Scot suffered a dreadful finish match of the season as he was smashed by Roger Federer . Murray's decision to bring in Amelie Mauresmo as his coach is said to have brought about tensions . The departure of Vallverdu and Green distances him further from the glory of the Ivan Lendl era and cements his relationship with Amelie Mauresmo. Lendl, who guided Murray to the US Open, Wimbledon and Olympic titles, last night told Sportsmail: ‘As you know, I think very highly of Dani and Jez and their work.’ With their exit, officially described as ‘mutual’ but inevitably more complicated than that, the 27-year-old Scot has reaffirmed his faith in Mauresmo. A brief statement brought to an end Vallverdu’s five and Green’s seven years of solid service. ‘We sat down at the end of the season and decided a change would be best for all of us,’ said Murray, who flew yesterday to Manila to begin his lucrative stint in the inaugural International Tennis Premier League. ‘My off-season training and Australian Open preparations have already begun and I am very excited for the new year. I thank Jez and Dani for all their hard work over the years and wish them the best for the future.’ Vallverdu (right) chats to Murray during a training session at Roland Garros in Paris in June 2012 . Murray plays a shot during his match with Kei Nishikori of Japan during the ATP World Tour Finals . Green (front row, second right) and Vallverdu (second left, front row) watch Murray in 2012 . That may be true as far as it goes, but the reasons behind the split lie in the growing influence of Mauresmo and the differences of opinion in the camp that have developed since her arrival. It is known that Murray’s long-time friend Vallverdu has not enjoyed working with the 35-year-old Frenchwoman. Both Vallverdu and Green only discovered that Mauresmo’s appointment was on the cards when they read Sportsmail’s exclusive revelation during the French Open that the groundbreaking move was imminent. Their upset at being kept out of the loop became more clear after Murray lost in this summer’s Wimbledon quarter-final, although things appeared to have settled down thereafter. In recent weeks when he went on a tear through Asia and Europe to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Finals, Murray went out of his way to give credit to Vallverdu (the Venezuelan was there through Asia, while Mauresmo was absent). But after Murray’s 6-0, 6-1 defeat by Roger Federer in the Tour Finals, Vallverdu is said to have made it clear he was unhappy. He had been in charge since Lendl walked out in March and was effectively demoted when Mauresmo came on board. Ivan Lendl (centre), Green and Vallverdu were all key to Murray's success in the majors and Olympics . Murray has always been ruthless when making coaching changes. In his senior career he has gone through Mark Petchey, American Brad Gilbert, Miles Maclagan and former Spanish star Alex Corretja. Murray and Green are said to have disagreed about training. Green wanted to stick with the uncompromising routines of old that turned Murray into a super-athlete, while the player is said to favour a more nuanced approach as he heads into his late twenties. I understand that the trainer recently undertook some work with the hugely promising 17-year-old German Alexander Zverev, and that has also been a source of friction between the pair. While Murray is now set to work more full time with his London-based trainer, Matt Little, he is likely to bring in a replacement for Vallverdu to work under Mauresmo. Roger Federer (left) talks to Andy Murray during a match at the Australian Open in January 2013 . Many former top players are privately sceptical about whether she can take him on (but anxious about saying it publicly for fear of being accused of sexism). In the final analysis, to finish ranked sixth in a season returning from back surgery is a fine effort, but since he and Mauresmo teamed up the only sign of his Wimbledon-winning form has come in the first two sets of the US Open quarter-final against Novak Djokovic. Otherwise Murray has had to rely on his fighting instincts to beat lesser players and scoop his three ATP titles since late September. He insists that only next season can the partnership be judged, and Mauresmo will have to instil in him a more dynamic and aggressive style if he is to seriously challenge the top three once again. | Andy Murray has made some changes to his backroom staff .
Scot has dispensed of services of assistant coach Dani Vallverdu .
Physical trainer Jez Green will also leave the 27-year-old's staff .
Vallverdu had been with Murray for fives years and Green seven .
A rift is said to have arisen after Amelie Mauresmo became Murray's coach . |
32,246 | 5bbab8a9e9189c0464c22e7ff5cea02456576968 | A trainee dietician chowed down four stuffed Chipotle burritos in three minutes - something, hopefully, he would never advise his patients to do. Matt Stonie, 21, from California, who is currently studying towards a degree in nutrition, filmed himself pulling off the stunt as part of his sideline career in competitive eating. In his YouTube video - which has been watched more than one million times - he explains that he will be devouring four wraps which stack up to around 3,700 calories. Scroll down for video . Gut-busting: Matt Stonie, a trainee dietician from California, chowed down four stuffed Chipotle burritos in three minutes - the meal totaled around 3,700 calories . Healthy appetite: The 21-year-old filmed himself pulling off the stunt as part of his sideline career in competitive eating - he is currently ranked second in the world . Challenge complete: At two minutes 59 seconds, Mr Stonie wipes his mouth and forehead in seeming exhaustion - he washed down his giant meal with a large cup of Diet Coke . Mr Stonie said that he opted for two chicken burritos and two steak, each stuffed with white rice, black beans, sour cream and salsa. To wash it all down, he plumped for a large Diet Coke. His check came to $34.23 before tax and tip. In the film, simply titled 4 Chipotle Burritos & A Diet Coke, he is seen using his hands to shovel each wrap into his mouth, being careful to remove the aluminum wrapping beforehand. Just as the clock signals the second minute he finally tucks into the last burrito. Then, at two minutes 59 seconds, he finishes the last mouthful, wiping his mouth and forehead in seeming exhaustion. One viewer who watched Mr Stonie's video exclaims in the comment section: 'Dude, my stomach hurts from just watching.' Enough to feed a family: Mr Stonie opted for two chicken burritos and two steak . Quite a mouthful: Each was stuffed with white rice, black beans, sour cream and salsa . Shoveling it in: Mr Stonie, nicknamed 'Megatoad', is the second ranked competitive eater in the world and one of the youngest members of the Major League Eating organization . Another adds:' Damn lol [sic] I can barely finish one burrito.' Mr Stonie, nicknamed 'Megatoad', is the second ranked competitive eater in the world and one of the youngest members of the Major League Eating organization. According to his Major League Eating biography, his 5ft 6in frame weighs a slight 120lbs. Many fans question how he doesn't get fat demolishing such huge portion sizes but Mr Stonie maintains a strict diet and exercise schedule when he's not competitive eating. His records include demolishing a 5.5lb birthday cake in eight minutes 59 seconds at his own 21st birthday party and devoring 10.5lbs of frozen yogurt in six minutes. Mr Stonie’s burrito feat was a personal challenge and not part of a competition. Recently he also polished off 12 Cinnabon rolls - totaling more than 11,000 calories - in just under ten minutes just for 'high jinks'. 'I feel like hell,' he said after eating the iced pastries. | Matt Stonie, 21, consumed around 3,700 calories in one sitting . |
126,962 | 301da869208549c69ab708ebd7d50f5f52251dba | Reza Barati was murdered during a riot at Manus Island detention centre in February . Papua New Guinea police have arrested two men and reportedly charged them with the murder of an Iranian asylum seeker on Manus Island earlier this year. Reza Barati, 23, was violently killed and suffered severe head trauma during a brutal riot at the island's detention centre in February. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Operations Jim Andrews said one suspect, Joshua Kaluvia, was arrested on Monday in Kimbe, the capital of West New Britain. Another man, 28-year-old Manus Island resident Louie Efi was arrested in July. 'These two suspects will shed more light on the violence and killing and hopefully assist in the arrest of more suspects involved in the February violence and death,' Mr Andrews said in a statement on Tuesday. The ABC report that both of the men have now been charged with murder. Mr Andrews told ABC they are still searching for three more men believed to be involved. Both men are believed to have worked for G4S - the company that managed security at the detention centre when Mr Barati was killed. Mr Andrews said the police intelligence network showed that Kaluvia had fled from Manus to PNG's second largest city, Lae, before travelling throughout the highland provinces of Chimbu and Mount Hagen. Kaluvia then made the trip across across to Kimbe, where he was arrested. According to police arrangements to transfer the suspect to Port Moresby are underway as the investigation into Barati's killing continues. Scroll down for video . Two men - believed to have worked for the company who manage security on the island - have been arrested . Security company G4S says it has not been contacted by police about the arrests. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said he was aware of reports of the arrest of the two men, although that had not been formally confirmed by the PNG government. 'I do welcome those reports and that news. We have been working very closely with the PNG government and those authorities and we have made sure that we were doing everything at our end to assist,' he told Sky News. Mr Morrison said the justice process would now have to follow. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said he was yet to be formally notified of the arrests by the PNG government, while Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for Manus Island detention centre to be closed . 'We have confidence in that as we said we had confidence in the PNG police to go and do the job,' he said. Meantime, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for the Manus facility to be closed. 'Reza Barati was murdered by the very people who were employed to care for him and keep him safe. This cannot be allowed to happen again,' she said in a statement. An independent review by former secretary of the Attorney-General's department, Robert Cornwall, was told a PNG employee of the Salvation Army had led the brutal bashing of Mr Barati. But PNG Police announced in May they believed two PNG workers and two expats were responsible for Mr Barati's death. | Reza Barati was killed during a violent riot at Manus Island detention centre .
He died from head injuries sustained in February of this year .
Two men have now been arrested over the murder .
Joshua Kaluvia was arrested on Tuesday, Louie Efi was arrested in July .
Both men are believed to have worked for the centre's security company . |
100,628 | 0da27dfe0175881af525af5f2d55ddddfabd4df3 | For any woman who adores wearing heels, Hofit Golan, the Israeli-born socialite who has graced countless red carpets from Cannes to New York, offers a cautionary tale. Bizarre as it may sound, the 33-year-old’s partying came to an abrupt halt after an accident in a nightclub involving her stilettos. And Hofit’s recovery is just as remarkable. After a year of sticking to conventional treatment with only limited success, it took a controversial holistic therapy to see her back on track – and in heels again. Hofit Golan broke her tibia in three places and suffered a broken foot when a man landed on her in a nightclub . Hofit, wearing her customary designer clothes and Louboutin shoes, was enjoying a night out at risque London club The Box in November 2011 when an admirer tapped her on the shoulder. Hofit turned awkwardly and the man suddenly lost his footing, sending them both crashing to the floor. ‘It was pretty horrendous,’ recalls Hofit. ‘All I remember was having most of his weight on my knee and hearing something tear. I knew immediately I was in serious trouble.’ She was rushed to University College Hospital where it was revealed she had broken her tibia in three places, suffered a broken foot and torn ligaments in her arm. She spent the next three months with her leg in a cast. ‘I was in a wheelchair at first, and then on crutches with a moon boot. It wasn’t a great Christmas,’ Hofit recalls. In fact, 2012 wasn’t great either. Despite physiotherapy, Hofit’s foot would not heal completely. ‘The bone was out of alignment and I was experiencing shoulder and neck pain,’ she says. With her right foot still swollen, the socialite had to buy her favourite Louboutins in the next size up. ‘Shoes have always been an expensive habit, but I didn’t expect to have to buy second pairs,’ she laughs. It was only when she visited little-known clinic Villa Medica that her health improved rapidly . It was only when she visited a little-known clinic in Germany that spring that Hofit’s health improved rapidly. Villa Medica is one of the few centres in the world to offer Fresh Cell Therapy (FCT), a controversial technique that uses injections of embryonic stem cells from animals. The clinic claims success with diseases such as Parkinson’s. While human stem cells have been used in conventional treatments such as bone marrow transplants since the 1960s, the use of animal cells is unregulated. There is no scientific evidence to prove they are either safe or effective. Sam Oussedik, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at University College Hospital London, says: ‘The length of time it takes for a serious fracture to heal depends on many factors but you are looking at three to four months rather than weeks. ‘Treatments using anything other than human stem cells have no scientific evidence of working. It is difficult to say what may make a subject feel better. If I were to inject 100 patients with water, 50 would say they felt better afterwards.’ However, Hofit says the £15,000 FCT treatment enabled her to make a full recovery. On the first day she was given blood tests, then a bespoke vitamin drip for an hour alongside oxygen therapy. The next day she was given a series of FCT injections in her lower back, right foot and affected joints. One side effect was extreme tiredness and she says she slept afterwards for ‘a day and a half.’ When she awoke, Hofit conducted her own test – involving her old shoes. ‘They were the same Louboutins I wore on the night of the accident. I kept them on for two days without any pain or swelling to my right foot or leg – that’s when I knew the treatment had worked.’ A year on she remains pain-free and has resumed her party lifestyle. Has any doubt crept in the treatment might be harmful? ‘Never,’ she says. ‘It felt an instinctive way for the body to heal and the results I’ve had are proof of how well FCT works.’ | Hofit Golan broke her tibia and foot in a nightclub accident in 2011 .
She had a year of sticking to conventional treatment with limited success .
So took controversial holistic therapy at the Villa Medica clinic in Germany .
One of the few centres in the world to offer Fresh Cell Therapy .
It is a controversial technique that uses injection of embryonic stem cells from animals . |
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