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196,297 | 8a0b694bc4a5582097b040119833246bcdd6b312 | By . Fiona Macrae . PUBLISHED: . 19:04 EST, 6 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:08 EST, 6 November 2013 . Risk: A Cambridge University study has linked ACE inhibitors to sudden renal failure . Blood pressure drugs that are taken by millions of Britons could raise the risk of potentially deadly kidney problems, doctors fear. A study has linked ACE inhibitors and related pills to sudden renal failure, which is fatal in up to 30 per cent of cases. Researchers at Cambridge University are the first to assess the scale of the problem after concerns about the effects of the medication. At least five millions patients take the tablets, the most popular for high blood pressure, with the number rising each year. The academics compared hospital admissions for sudden kidney failure with prescribing rates for ACE (short for angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and related pills. These showed that between 2007-08 and 2010-11, there was a 52 per cent rise in admissions and a 16 per cent increase in prescriptions for the drugs. The biggest increases in admissions tended be in patients from GP surgeries which had the largest rise in prescriptions. The researchers said there was ‘strong evidence’ of a link but their project did not prove the drugs were to blame. They stressed that no patients should stop taking their tablets unless advised to do so by their doctor. However, safer prescribing of the drugs could cut kidney disease, and save money and lives, added the study. The academics calculated that 1,636 hospital admissions in the study period could have been avoided if prescriptions had stayed at 2007-08 levels. Kidney doctor Laurie Tomlinson, who co-wrote the report in the journal PLOS ONE, said some patients were anxious about the drugs. ‘I have looked after many with acute kidney injury who were taking these medications prior to becoming unwell and have often worried the drugs were doing more harm than good,’ she said. Lethal: Renal failure is fata in up to 30 per cent of ases . It is thought that the drugs make it more difficult for the kidneys to cope when a stomach bug causes diarrhoea or vomiting. A urine or chest infection may also cause problems. Lead author Dr Rupert Payne advised patients who get a bug to see their GP, who may give them blood tests and temporarily stop their tablets. ‘We are not saying these drugs are dangerous, that would be inappropriate, because there is clearly evidence they are very helpful to patients,’ he said. Dr Rebecca Sucking, a kidney specialist and adviser to charity Blood Pressure UK, said ‘overall the benefits outweigh the risks’. She added that many trials had shown the drugs ‘increase survival and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes’. The ACE inhibitors and related pills are given to heart attack patients, diabetics and otherwise healthy people whose high blood pressure puts them at risk of cardiac attacks and strokes. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said the drugs are highly effective and kidney problems are a recognised side-effect. | Popular ACE inhibitor pills have been linked to sudden renal failure .
The lethal conditions kills up to 30 per cent of those who suffer it .
Connection was unveiled by a Cambridge University study .
It found 'strong evidence' that ACE inhibitors and renal failure are linked . |
214,210 | a1683f5c2e4e246c1ecebf59c7e841ab073796e0 | A 15-year-old girl dragged another teenage by the hair and then bashed her and viciously kicked her in the face in an attack in a park which has been captured on video. The attack happened in daylight last Saturday in a suburban park in Cranebrook, which is 60km west of Sydney's central business district. During the alleged attack, the girl, dressed in jeans and a top, attacks the 16-year-old girl among a stand of gum trees in the park near Penrith, in far western Sydney, Ray Hadley reports in an interview and an exclusive video to Radio 2GB. Scroll down for video . Swift and vicious: This is the final, terrifying moment of the assault in which a 15-year-old schoolgirl brutally kicks in the face a girl, 16, from the same school in a beating which took place in a suburban park last Saturday in the far western Sydney suburb of Cranebrook . Headed for trouble: The 16-year-old girl (pictured wearing a dress) heads through the trees in the Cranebrook park followed by her assailant wearing a dark blue hoodie and lighter blue jeans moments before the confrontation . Suburban mayhem: The alleged bashing happened in daylight amid a stand of gum trees in a suburban park in Cranebrook (map, above), near Penrith in far western Sydney . About to happen: It''s seconds before the assault begins and the girl, 16, anticipating that it's about to get nasty pleads with someone to take her phone from her . Hands off: The 16-year-old holds up he hands as the younger girl marches in for the attack. The video is being filmed by a girl who is singing and then laughing her way through, while others watch on in . During the attack, filmed on a phone by a third girl who sings and laughs during the assault, the victim apparently anticipates the violence and repeatedly asks for someone to take her phone. The pair clash, the victim holding up both hands in a defensive manner, then the 15-year-old assailant knees her and pulls her down by her long blonde hair and kicks her. While the victim is lying on the ground, the younger girls delivers a direct and brutal kick in the face, and the victim emits a whimper. Still upright: the pair wrestle for a few seconds, before it becomes terribly clear that the girl in blue is stronger . Losing battle: the slightly older girl is now clearly at the mercy of the girl, 15, who has her by the hair . Down she goes: The victim is kneed and punched to the ground by the 15-year-old assailant, who then grabs the girls long blonde hair and yanks on it as the girl is pushed down . Grounded: Helpless and hurting the 16-year-old has already been kicked once in this image, but the assailant takes a few steps back before she runs in to deliver the final blow . The girl filming the attack laughs as the victims remains on the ground. The victim's aunt, Tania, told Ray Hadley her niece went to the same school as the 15-year-old. The girl who filmed the attack uploaded the video onto Facebook, after which the victim';s family reported the incident to police. Schoolgirl beating: the weekend assault on the teenage girl occurred on October 11 in Cranebrook, whihc lies near the foothills of the Blue Mountains 60km west of Sydney's central business district . In pain: Whimpering from the vicious kick that has just been delivered to her face, the poor young teenager lies on the grass as the girl filming the appalling episode laughs . Charged: The 'winner' in the terrible fight walks away from the scene. Police later interview the teen girl and charge her with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and order her to appear in the Children's Court . Police from Penrith Local Area Command have interviewed the girl and charged her with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. The teenager will appear in the NSW Children's Court next month. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | An attack by a girl, 15, on another girl, 16, has been caught on video .
The girl viciously kicks the other girl in the face in a suburban Sydney park .
The girl filming the assault sings and laughs during the entire attack .
The alleged attacker will appear in the Children's Court on assault charges . |
39,813 | 7060e3feb685bda7b5102e1cc8e9b35da37ca2a1 | Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Gen. Hahn Sung-Chu never believed North Korea could dig a tunnel that reached Seoul -- until now. Standing inside a basement of an apartment block in the heart of the capital, the former two-star general in the South Korean military says, "This is a kind of invasion, North Korean soldiers working underneath us." Hahn says residents had complained of underground vibrations, but the subway does not run beneath them. He says dowsers detected three tunnels, 13 to 16 feet (4 to 5 meters) wide at a depth of up to 39 feet (12 meters). His team drilled two bore holes to lower a camera, but before they could, they detected two underground explosions and their drill holes were blocked. Hahn is certain that North Korean soldiers were working beneath their feet, protecting the tunnel. North Korea upgrades space center for larger rockets . A history of tunnels . Four tunnels from the North have been found in all, although none since 1990. The South Korean Defense Ministry still officially looks for them as it believes there may be 20 in all, but the budget is small and tunnel hunters believe it is merely a token effort. North Korea has said the tunnels were not for invasion, but part of its mining industry. While the Defense Ministry believes there may be up to several tunnels dug under the Demilitarized Zone, it is convinced that none would reach as far as Seoul. It believes that Pyongyang would not be able to dig more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the DMZ -- the heavily fortified border -- because of the Imjin River. Seoul's northwestern boundary is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the DMZ. "To dig tunnels tens of kilometers, it must be angled properly," says Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok. "There is a huge amount of groundwater in the Korean Peninsula, so water and soil have to be removed consistently. South Korea and the U.S. have always taken aerial photographs, and we found no evidence of this." A view from a former North Korean official . But a former intelligence official from North Korea says the notion is not as far-fetched as it might sound. The military defector, who is not using his name as he still has family in the North, said North Koreans "usually pulled out soil and stones during the night so as not to be detected by the U.S. or South Korea. They dig into the ground vertically from 100 to 150 meters (328 to 492 feet) and slope upwards to South Korea so the water drains back to the North." The man says he had knowledge of the tunnel digging when he lived in the North. Saying that operations peaked in the 1980s, he believes Pyongyang would still protect the multiple tunnels it dug over many decades. "I was told the tunnels are not directly connected to the streets of Seoul because of the risk of being detected. The tunnels are connected to the sewers linked to the relevant organizations." The relevant organizations that would be targeted are the U.S. Embassy, the Blue House presidential compound and government buildings, he says. The former official says that in case of war, infantry troops would flood into the tunnels dressed in American or South Korean uniforms. The tunnels would then be blown up behind them so there would be no retreat. But in recent years, many suspected tunnels have been proved false. And concerns about Pyongyang have shifted to its nuclear ambitions and long-range ballistic missiles. Tunnel hunters do not always get much respect in South Korea. But Hahn, and others who have dedicated their time and money to the search, say the government should not ignore the threat they believe exists under their very feet. | Ex-S. Korean general suspects a North Korean tunnel is under a Seoul apartment block .
But S. Korean Defense Ministry believes tunnels can't extend beyond 6 miles from the DMZ .
A defector says tunnel operations peaked in the 1980s . |
86,560 | f5abef893a7cad73aad2c9612abf5372f0dead90 | The Today show's presenting team brought a bit of brightness to their viewers this morning, when they shared images of themselves as young children and placed them alongside pictures of their own kids, and their parents, in order to see the similarities in appearance between the different generations. Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Carson Daly, Al Roker, Tamron Hall and Natalie Morales all took part in the segment, which saw the hosts closely examining the remarkable resemblances between themselves and their family members. 'Later in life you can start to look different, but back at that certain age there's that great resemblance,' father-of-three Carson Daly noted. Scroll down for video . Like father, like son: Matt Lauer and his now-13-year-old son Jack look remarkably similar in the images, with both boys showing off the same big eyes . How things change: Matt still has the same cheeky smile, but the rest of his appearance has changed quite a bit . The generation game: Savannah Guthrie revealed an image of herself as a baby, alongside incredibly similar pictures of her newborn daughter Vale and her mother Nancy . Smile! Savannah has the same wide smile as she did when she was a baby . Inspired by The Huffington Post, which asked its readers to share comparative images of themselves and their children, the hosts kicked off with an image of Matt, 57, as a child, placed alongside a baby picture of his now-13-year-old son Jack. The group were amazed to see how similar the two looked and quickly remarked on the most obvious features. Both father and son have the same bright, big eyes and adorable pout, while even the positioning of their ears appears to be near-identical. Similarly, pictures of Savannah Guthrie at the same age as her newborn baby daughter Vale showed an uncanny resemblance between the two chubby-cheeked children. An additional image of the TV host's mother Nancy demonstrated that the family resemblance remains across three generations. Sleeping babes: The 43-year-old shared another set of pictures in which both she and Vale are just six-weeks-old . 'Get that hair!' Carson Daly shared a picture of his father, immediately prompting laughter from his co-hosts who insisted he steal his dad's slightly dated hairstyle . Family affair: Tamron Hall, 44, proved that the similarities are just as remarkable within her wider family, comparing an image of herself to pictures of her two nieces . 'This is a cheeks thing,' the 43-year-old said of the photos. 'It's a big cheeks situation.' Savannah also managed to unearth a picture of herself at just six-weeks-old, showing that even at that young age, the similarities between her and her daughter are incredibly clear to see. A picture of 60-year-old Al's son Nick, 12, was compared with a slightly grainy black and white image of his father as a child. But despite the fuzzy quality of the photo, the similarities in appearance between Al and his beloved son were clear for all to see. 'That's a handsome boy,' Al said, before Savannah added: 'That's two handsome boys.' Al's fellow host Tamron, 44, shared a beautiful picture of herself as a child, alongside two images of her Gianna and Leila. 'Handsome boys': Al Roker, now 60, and his son Nick share the same cheeky grin . 'Beautiful': Natalie Morales' co-hosts remarked how beautiful both she and her mother are . The three young girls pictured in the images could well be triplets given the remarkable similarities between them. Natalie Morales and Carson Daly opted to compare pictures of their parents with themselves as they are now, to prove that their family resemblance has managed to remain throughout their lifetimes. Carson showed a brilliant picture of his father, with his hosts remarking that the two looked 'identical', before joking that their co-host should copy his dad's slightly dated hairstyle. Meanwhile Natalie, 42, compared herself with a beautiful picture of her mother, saying: 'My mother is much younger than me in that picture.' But her co-hosts were stunned to see how similar the two looked, with Savannah noting: 'You are both so beautiful.' | Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Natalie Morales and Tamron Hall all shared photos of themselves as youngsters . |
212,061 | 9ea1280aa2a3f52d1b91f9a52f83b4f39b529c74 | Two teenage brothers were charged with murdering 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale after luring her into their house so they could steal parts from her BMX bicycle, authorities said today. Autumn, whose body was found stuffed in a household recycling bin late Monday night after she vanished over the weekend, was promised parts for her bike by the two, authorities said, but the teenagers were really plotting to steal parts from her model. The stunning development in the case came after the boys' own mother turned them in when she noticed a suspicious posting on one of her son's Facebook pages, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton said at a news conference. The brothers, aged 15 and 17, have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, disposing of a body, theft, as well as tampering with a body. Scroll down for videos . Mystery: The body of Autumn Pasquale, 12, was found in a recycling container on Monday; two teenagers were arrested in conjunction with her death today . Evidence: An investigator loads into a police van a BMX bicycle in Clayton, New Jersey, removed yesterday from the house where the body of Autumn Pasquale was found . The same? Authorities did not confirm the bike was the one belonging to Autumn, but it matched the description of the white BMX she was seen riding Saturday afternoon before she disappeared . Police also revealed they believe Autumn . was killed by strangulation, and there were no signs of sexual assault. Dalton added Autumn, who was riding her bike at the time she . disappeared was lured to the boys' house, where belongings including her . bicycle were found. Tragic end: Autumn Pasquale's body was recovered late Monday night from a recycling bin . Three teenage brothers live at the . home, neighbouring teens told the Associated Press. Neither of the two arrested were named by Dalton. The house was a place where teens frequently hung out and had parties, some neighbors said, and one of the brothers often bought and sold BMX bicycle parts, the teenagers said. Autumn's body was found around 10 . p.m. Monday in the bin just blocks from her house and from Borough Hall, . where thousands of people gathered earlier in the evening for a tearful . candlelight vigil to pray for her safe return. 'The search for Autumn is over,' Dalton said Tuesday. He called Clayton a safe community but said parents . should continue to keep close watch on their children. An autopsy released today revealed that Autumn died from 'blunt force trauma, consistent with strangulation,' Dalton said. Members of the town had spent long hours searching for Autumn. The girl's great-uncle, Paul Spadofora, thanked the community for its help in the search. The victim's parents did not attend the vigil. 'There's evil everywhere, even in the small town of Clayton,' Spadofora said. Crime scene investigators arrived shortly before 9 a.m. in the neighborhood where the body was found. Fielding questions: Clayton High school 11th-grader Jody Robinson answers a question yesterday about neighbors who live in a home where Autumn's body was found . Family ties: Paul Spadafora, left, and Mary Pasquale, right, the uncle and grandmother of Autumn Pasquale, sit together at a gathering outside town hall yesterday . Grief: People weep at the gathering outside town hall earlier yesterday as authorities revealed they believed they had found Autumn's body . But Tuesday was trash collection day, . and many residents had dragged their trash cans and recycling bins to . the curb the night before. The covered recycling bins are collected by . an automated truck that picks them up and dumps the contents into the . back. Announcement: Prosecutor Sean Dalton addresses a gathering outside town hall yesterday . Police barricaded the block, and . friends and neighbors came by to see. Some mothers said they were . keeping their kids out of school for the day. Even before the body was . found, students reported that Spirit Week had been canceled because of . the sorrow. One young man rode a bike up, sat on a porch of a home and cried, then biked away. Clayton Mayor Thomas Bianco walked to . the scene, cried, hugged a police officer and gave a brief statement to . the gathered reporters. 'You hear about it in other places but never think it would happen in our little town,' he said. Howard Kowgill, 60, who lives in town . and, like many, knows members of Autumn's family, said the discovery of . the body changes the nature of the town. 'Until they find out who did it, you don't let your kids out,' he said. Autumn . was reported missing from her home on Saturday evening, . and had been the subject of a large search over the last two days until her body was found last night. An . autopsy to further confirm the body's identity will be conducted this . morning by the Gloucester County Medical Examiner's office. Community in shock: A young girl reacts to the news Autumn's body was found and an unidentified male breaks down in grief, right, as word spread around Clayton . Scene of the crime: The map of Clayton, New Jersey shows where Autumn was last seen leaving her home on Saturday and where her body was found just a few blocks . Coming together: Residents of Clayton take part in a candlelight vigil for Autumn on Monday night, shortly before it was announced that her body had been found . Dalton said: 'This is a very sad . day for the Pasquale family. Our hearts go out to the family and to all . the residents of Clayton who stood together in support of this young . girl.' About 200 law enforcement officials and hundreds more volunteers searched for Autumn yesterday. Dalton yesterday said that 75 people had been interviewed in connection with what-was-then a missing person case. 'You hear about it in other places but never think it would happen in our little town.' Clayton Mayor Thomas Bianco . Just before 4pm yesterday, investigators entered a house behind a Franklin Township bar after a K-9 dog supposedly picked up a scent. The owner told the Daily News he got a call from police at work in Mount Laurel and was asked to come home. 'They said they wanted to search my house,' the man said. Though they left 20 minutes later with nothing, the man said he had nothing to hide but understood why he might be considered suspicious as his back window was recently broken and he is friends with a lot of young girls on Facebook because of his teenage sister. At that point on Monday afternoon, Investigators did not . have any suspects or a sure sense of whether Autumn was left on her own or was the victim of foul play. Her parents - Anthony Pasquale and Jennifer Cornwell - did not . speak at the news conference. Both wept during the evening vigil. Waiting: The community gathers near the spot where the body of the missing 12-year-old is believed to have been found in a recycling bin . Grim discovery: Gloucester County prosecutors say the body of Autumn Pasquale was found around 10pm on Monday in the bin just blocks from her house . Volunteer: John Reed spent yesterday handing out fliers to passers-by in case someone had seen Autumn . Autumn, whose 13th birthday would have been next Monday, was last . seen around 12.30pm on Saturday pedaling her white bicycle away from the . Clayton home where she lives with her father, her two siblings, her . father's girlfriend and the girlfriend's children. A . friend, DeAnna Edwards-McMillen, 11, said Autumn was at her . house on Friday night and they exchanged text messages on Saturday. She . said she received the last one at 1.22pm and didn't believe it was . intended for her. She said it read, 'don't be like that'. DeAnna . said her friend was nice and easy to be around: 'She didn't hate . people and . people didn't hate her.' DeAnna's mother, Debi McMillen, said that Autumn was often at their house and that she always went home before her 8pm curfew. The . last known communication was in a text message she sent at around 2.30pm. Mr Dalton would not say who received . the message or what it contained, but he added that there was nothing . alarming or unusual about it. It . wasn't until about 9.30pm that she was reported missing - 90 minutes . past her 8pm curfew, said Paul Spadofora, a family spokesman, the uncle . of Autumn's father and the girl's godfather. Frantic search: Autumn was reported missing from her Clayton home on Saturday evening; she had last been seen leaving the house that afternoon on her BMX bicycle . Appeal: Since Autumn went missing at the weekend, pictures and fliers have been passed around Clayton in the hope of finding her until her uncle confirmed it was her body found . SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20: Autumn Pasquale, who was a week away from her 13th birthday, was last seen riding her BMX bicycle, leaving her home in Clayton, New Jersey. Authorities – from the Gloucester County police to the FBI – joined the search. Her father, Tony Pasquale, told NBC News at the time that the disappearance was ‘not like her.’ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21: Hundreds of people gathered at a local church to hand out flyers and form search parties for the freckled blonde. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22: Hundreds more join search efforts for Autumn, spanning into Delaware and New York, according to NBC Philadelphia. After sunset, worried friends and family held a candlelit vigil to pray for her safe return. Not long after the vigil ended, authorities said that they discovered her 5ft2in body dumped in a recycling container five blocks from her home. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23: A press conference was held in the afternoon to say that two brothers, aged 15 and 17, had been arrested for Autumn’s murder. Authorities also said that the brother’s mother, spotting a suspicious post on Facebook, turned them into police. View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com. | Autumn Pasquale was last seen riding white BMX bicycle on Saturday .
Family confirmed the body was hers this morning after frantic two-day search .
Mother of two teenaged suspects turned over evidence from one son's Facebook page, police said .
Authorities said brothers lured her into house with promise of bike parts .
Autopsy revealed she suffered blunt force trauma and was likely strangled .
Stunned community held tearful candlelight vigil for Autumn last night . |
233,878 | bac7b69acdc9612d4af7e769e7d1d30a7ac58ef2 | Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- The Basque separatist group ETA's cease-fire statement is insufficient, Spain's interior minister said Monday. Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, in the government's first major reaction, said that the statement, released to media Sunday, is "very far from the minimums" that the Spanish government has laid out for the group. "The word 'truce' as a concept of limited peace to have a dialogue is dead. That's the past," Rubalcaba told Spanish state television TVE. He said the government's demand remains steadfast -- that ETA agree to unconditionally lay down its arms and end the violence forever, with a process to verify that. Rubalcaba said security forces would not let up on ETA during its unilateral cease-fire, and he said ETA called the cease-fire at a time of "extreme weakness," due to police crackdowns against the group. ETA has announced cease-fires before and broken them, notably the 2006 cease-fire that was announced as "permanent," only to be broken months later with a car bomb at Madrid's airport that killed two people. In a statement published on the website of Basque newspaper Gara on Sunday, ETA -- which is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for Basque independence in northern Spain and southwest France -- "calls on the Spanish government to agree to the the minimum democratic solutions toward a peace process." The latest cease-fire announcement was not unexpected, following weeks of calls for a new peace process by some smaller leftist Basque political parties. The cease-fire announcement also follows months of what is widely regarded as a successful police crackdown against ETA operatives in Spain and also in ETA's hideouts in neighboring France and Portugal. Police have arrested many of ETA's suspected top operatives, as well as many ETA foot soldiers, and seized bomb-making materials and weapons from hidden arms caches, virtually shutting off ETA attacks. In its cease-fire announcement Sunday, ETA said that "months ago it decided not to carry out armed offensive actions," but made no mention of what it might consider a "defensive" action. The announcement was accompanied by an ETA video which showed three apparent ETA members seated at a table in front of an ETA banner. They wore white hoods covering their faces. The hoods had eye holes, but their mouths were covered. The person in the middle apeared to do all the speaking in the ancient Basque language -- not in Spanish -- and the voice seemed to be that of a woman. ETA is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union for its campaign of car bombings and shootings. The Spanish government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero began a peace process in 2006 during the last unilateral ETA cease-fire, but after ETA's airport bomb, the government called off negotiations. Since then, officials of Zapatero's government have said they would not accept a simple cease-fire statement. Instead, they have said they will accept only a definitive statement from ETA to end its armed fight, and to announce when and where it would lay down its arms forever. Only then would the government be willing to consider leniency for some of the more than 500 ETA prisoners in jail, officials have said. The Basque region in northern Spain already has considerable home-rule authority, with its own police, parliament, taxing power and control of health and education. But ETA rejects those as partial steps, and has fought for full independence. ETA's goal is an independent Basque nation comprising the three-province Basque region and the neighboring Navarra region in Spain, along with three departments in southwest France that also have Basque roots. About three million people live in those areas now. ETA's cease-fire statement called on the international community to get involved in the Basque peace process. On Sunday, the leader of the Sinn Fein party in Northern Ireland said he supported the cease-fire. "Gerry Adams has welcomed ETA cease-fire announcement," the Sinn Fein party said on its Twitter page. While ETA has announced cease-fires before, the absence of government involvement makes Sunday's statement unique, said Luis Aizpeolea, a correspondent for the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Past announcements have come after back-channel negotiations between government officials and ETA, Aizpeolea said. But this time, it was smaller leftist Basque political parties that appeared to have pushed ETA to make the cease-fire. The most significant of those parties is Batasuna, which is outlawed because the courts have found it is not independent, but a very part of ETA. Rubalcaba, Spain's interior minister, said that if Batasuna wants to get back into local politics and run candidates in elections next year, it must either make a full and convincing break from ETA, or convince ETA itself to end its armed struggle. | Interior minister says cease-fire statement does not meet government's requirements .
Spanish government officials have said the group must agree to lay down its arms forever .
ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for independence . |
257,800 | d99ef071a84fece4a7dede8985c27025bc3ccde0 | Washington (CNN) -- Back in home districts for a week and eager to tout some accomplishments in Washington, many members of Congress are praising a newly passed bill they say protects the military. But in reality the measure to reverse most military retirement cuts is the legislative equivalent of a cocaine hit: a feel-good high that obscures current problems, makes future issues worse (for the Pentagon and taxpayers) and sends one of the best signals yet that Congress is nowhere near making the tough decisions needed to avoid the financial storm set to crash on the federal budget in just a few years. "It's what we ridicule all the time," an unhappy Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, told me as he left the final vote on the military bill Wednesday. Flake was one of just three senators who voted no, despite a chorus of criticism with the way the bill was funded. CNNMoney: Senate votes to restore military pensions . The measure rolls back a gradual 1% cut in military pensions. (It rolls back that cut for anyone who joined the military before this year.) It pays for that by tacking on one more year of across-the-board, or sequester, cuts to Medicare 10 years from now. The money may not exist . "Spend now, pay later, " Flake concluded. "It never happens." Among the hefty issues with the bill is that it pays to end a problem now with money that won't arrive for a decade. In some ways, it is like buying a house today based on income you expect to get 10 years from now. Homeowners couldn't do that, but lawmakers can because they operate in 10-year budget windows. That allows them to access money on paper now that won't be tangible for years to come. But that practice can be risky. "We don't know what the future will look like," explained Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "We don't know if the (budget assumptions) are correct; we don't know who will be in Congress; we don't know who will be president." Goldwein and the committee feel so strongly, the think tank included the idea of paying for short-term costs with money 10 years ahead in a chartbook it released last week of eight budget gimmicks. Above all, we don't know if future Congresses will rethink the sequester cuts. And based on the past two years of cuts, parts of which have already been reversed, it would be stunning if lawmakers ahead left the sequester intact all the way until 2024. Seeing it as 'fuzzy math' but voting yes anyway . There is some irony when you look at fiscal crusaders and this bill. In the House, 199 Republicans voted against the debt ceiling suspension, which would not have directly changed the amount of government spending, only whether the government could pay for that spending. Senate passes debt-ceiling bill in blow to tea party . But of those 199 anti-debt purists, only 16 voted no for the military retirement bill, even though some thought it could actually lead to increased spending because of its risky assumptions. That military retirement bill, however, had a distinct advantage: It was short-term benefit for American troops and their families, a group with undeniable political support. Some stalwart conservatives faced a tough decision. The night before the House vote on the military retirement bill, Arizona conservative Matt Salmon railed against the idea of paying for it with Medicare cuts in 10 years. "If you believe we're ever going to really do that," Salmon said surrounded by a crowd of lawmakers and reporters, "I think it's fuzzy math to be honest with you. I think any (savings) that you push over two years out, you can't really guarantee any of that. It's a concept only." He didn't trust the fund to be there in 10 years. But the next morning, Salmon voted for the measure anyway. His office posted a prominent release trumpeting his debt ceiling vote, but mentioned nothing about his decision on the military COLA. His spokeswoman did not respond to CNN's requests for an explanation of his vote. This will hurt the military . The Pentagon faces a major money problem. Health and retirement costs are skyrocketing, which have led to a jump in personnel costs of more than 50% between 2001 and 2012 alone, according to the Pentagon, and are forecast to keep skyrocketing in coming decades. Those increasing costs mean less money for things like equipment and training. So, by reversing the cost-of-living adjustment to retirees, some believe Congress just hurts troop readiness. "Compensation costs are hollowing out the Pentagon's budget," House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan wrote in a statement, "They are taking resources away from training and modernization — and putting our troops at risk. This bill takes away over $6 billion from military readiness." Ryan was one of the 16 Republicans to vote against both the military pay "fix" and the debt ceiling bill. His budget agreement with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, in December created the military pension cut, so he is directly tied to the policy. But he insisted that he is open to reforming that cut, just not in this manner. "Rather than making the tough choices, (this bill) sidesteps them," he wrote. Why do Republicans opposes unemployment benefits? So why did everyone vote for it? "I voted yes," Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said. "I didn't think the military COLA in isolation should have been included in the budget package to begin with... We can't single out the finest among us for that type of reform." When asked what he makes of other Republicans who believe the money to pay for the fix is based on "fuzzy math," the tea party conservative nodded, "I understand the viewpoint, no doubt about it." "Obviously i would have preferred my pay-for," said Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, who proposed saving money by blocking illegal immigrants from obtaining a child tax credit. That didn't win out, and she voted yes for the bill with 2024 Medicare cuts instead. "I'm just glad that we're moving forward to at least grandfather those who have sacrificed so much for the country," she said minutes after the vote. It was a question of priority, sure. Congress decided that fixing the military retirement pay was the priority. But that is not the only question. Just as prominent a question as the country faces a soaring debt forecast is how to pay for it. Congress cannot make any remotely tough choices . "We're going to have to make serious and substantial cuts across government, this is pretty small," Flake told me as he rode the elevator down from the Senate vote. "If we can't do this, then we stand no chance of addressing our debt and deficit in a meaningful way." The U.S. deficit at the moment could easily inspire false hope and make someone like Flake sound like a death-rattler. The deficit is plummeting -- still a healthy $500 billion, but down by half from its $1-trilion-plus heights. But under current policy, that positive trend won't last to see the next president. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecasts that federal deficits will start climbing again in 2016 and will be back at the $1 trillion level in eight years. What's worse, the deficit continues to grow as a share of GDP, sucking more and more potential life out of the economy. But rather than face the tough financial issues involved (entitlement costs, including health care and retirement, especially), Congress decided to reverse one of the few hard decisions it's made lately and pay for the military retirement reversal with debatable funding. "What they did here was they reversed the hardest and the most structurally significant choice in the Murray-Ryan budget agreement," Goldwein said. "That was the only real entitlement reform in the Murray-Ryan bill, and it was relatively modest. They took that tough choice and replaced it with a completely not tough choice." Goldwein says the committee has moved from pushing for deficit reforms worth trillions of dollars to hoping that lawmakers just pay for the bills they pass with honest money (no gimmicks). Which is why passage of the military COLA bill, no matter how well-intentioned for military retirees, is a blaring siren of greater problems. A Congress well-schooled in the deficit chose an easy, risky way out of what was, relative to the coming fiscal issues, a modest problem. What military families may gain for the next few years they could easily lose in either readiness or in much larger taxpayer problems ahead. "We're in a bad place right now, I think," Goldwein said. | Congress sends strong signal it can't make tough decisions on spending .
Budget analyst critical of assumptions Congress made in funding bill .
Many fiscal crusaders voted yes on bill they were critical of . |
166,185 | 62e23bc6ace8b3da28c547bd92bd55ceb7ce4591 | (CNN) -- Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen claimed his fourth Belgian Formula One Grand Prix victory in five years at Spa to end an astonishing run of 26 races without a win for the 2007 world champion. Kimi Raikkonen celebrates ending his victory drought after winning the Belgian Grand Prix. Raikkonen was hounded all the way for the majority of the race by pole-sitter Giancarlo Fisichella, who gave Force India their first points in F1 after 30 races with a second-place finish. In a chaos-filled race, British duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton crashed out on the opening lap in an accident that also accounted for the Toro Rosso of Jaime Alguersuari and Renault's Romain Grosjean. Despite Button failing to score points for the first time this season, the 29-year-old still has a 16-point world championship cushion over Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who was seventh, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is now 19 points down after he came home third. After his 18th career win, Raikkonen told reporters: "We haven't brought new parts for the last few races as we are looking at next year. But my aim was always still to win a race because we are aiming for third in the (constructors') championship. "We probably weren't the fastest in terms of lap time, but we were able to keep everybody behind us. Hopefully we can now win more." The Finn is fifth overall, 38 points behind leader Button and 17.5 adrift of fourth-placed Australian Mark Webber. Fisichella was delighted and disappointed in equal measure as he said: "It's a great result for us. "It's a great day but I was quicker than Kimi and I'm a little bit sad because maybe I could have won the race as I was keeping pace with his car." Vettel believes anything is possible now over the remaining five races as he, teammate Webber and Barrichello continue to reel in Button. "If you look at the championship it's a good result," remarked Vettel. "We lost too much ground in the first stint because of the guys ahead, but in the second and third the car was fantastic. It was a pleasure to drive. "We've managed to take points out of the Brawns, so overall a big thank you to the team and to Renault (engine providers) after all the trouble we've gone through recently. "It shows we are back." Webber finished out of the points in ninth, with the BMW Sauber pairing of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld claiming fourth and fifth respectively. Hamilton's McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen was sixth, and Nico Rosberg of Williams took the final points-scoring position in eighth. Raikkonen's teammate Luca Badoer was again last of the 14 drivers who finished the race, with the Italian continuing to struggle as stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa. His future with the Italian marque will be decided by Wednesday, the team said after Sunday's race. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso retired after 26 laps due to a problem with a front wheel on his Renault, having been third at one stage. Toyota's Jarno Trulli, who started second on the grid, also retired after 21 laps after earlier pitting for repairs. | Kimi Raikkonen claims fourth Belgian Formula One Grand Prix victory at Spa .
Giancarlo Fisichella earns Force India's first podium place by finishing second .
Jenson Button still leads driver standings despite crashing out on opening lap . |
45,255 | 7f958f7a6cc9d24eb50f6b3a897ba91b8c7cad87 | Former newspaper editor and ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson was found guilty Tuesday of conspiracy to hack phones in what is widely seen as an embarrassment for British Prime Minister David Cameron. But another of Rupert Murdoch's former newspaper chiefs, Rebekah Brooks, was unanimously cleared of all charges at the Old Bailey court in London after an eight-month trial, her lawyer said. Brooks was overcome by emotion in the courtroom as the verdicts were read out, the UK's Press Association news agency said. She left the Old Bailey accompanied by her husband, Charlie Brooks, but did not stop to speak to the waiting media. The jury went home Tuesday night without coming to a decision on charges of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office against Coulson and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman. Jurors will return at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET) Wednesday to resume deliberations. Tuesday's verdicts came three years after it was revealed that journalists on News of the World hacked the phone of then-missing teenager Milly Dowler in 2002, raising hopes that she was alive and checking messages, when in fact she had been murdered. The resulting public and political outrage led to the closure of the 168-year-old paper and the setting up of a public inquiry to examine journalistic ethics. At the time the schoolgirl's voice mail was intercepted, Brooks was editor of Britain's top-selling News of the World, and Coulson was her deputy. After Coulson succeeded her as editor, Brooks edited The Sun newspaper, and she later became chief executive of the parent company, News International. Coulson resigned as News of the World editor in 2007 after its then-royal editor, Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, were jailed for hacking into voice-mail messages left for royal aides. Coulson denied any wrongdoing and later became Cameron's director of communications. The former editor resigned from his Downing Street position in 2011 as coverage of the phone hacking scandal broadened. Cameron: Hiring Coulson 'wrong decision' Cameron, who has faced criticism for hiring Coulson, gave what he called a "full and frank apology" Tuesday in a statement to the media, saying he took "full responsibility" for his former aide's recruitment. The Prime Minister said he had decided to give the former editor "a second chance" on the basis of promises Coulson had given that he did not know about phone hacking. "I am extremely sorry that I employed him, it was the wrong decision, and I am very clear about that," Cameron said. He added that there had been no complaints about the work Coulson did for him either at Downing Street or beforehand when Cameron was leader of the opposition. Coulson's guilty verdict on the charge of conspiring to hack phones "raises important questions about David Cameron's judgment in employing him," said Matthew Ashton, an expert in politics and the media at Nottingham Trent University. "In particular what warnings did he receive beforehand, and how rigorous was the vetting and interview process? "Regardless of the verdicts, this trial has raised important questions about the relationship between the political, economic and media elites in the UK." Brooks' husband, aide also cleared . Brooks resigned as News International CEO in July 2011 amid public anger over hacking allegations, and police arrested her the following week. Brooks and Coulson were charged in 2012, together with five other journalists, with conspiracy to intercept the voice mails of high-profile figures in Britain. All seven denied wrongdoing. Brooks also faced, along with her husband and her former personal assistant, Cheryl Carter, two charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. All three were cleared of those charges, the Press Association reported. Retired managing editor Stuart Kuttner, who was cleared of conspiracy to hack phones, thanked his legal team in a statement outside court. "The diligence, the dedication and perhaps, above all, the passion of my lawyers over the past three years has been extraordinary, most remarkable -- and it is to them that I owe a huge and enduring thanks for the result, the unanimous verdict of the jury today." News UK, the UK newspaper publishing arm of Murdoch's News Corp., said in a statement: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologized for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations." The publisher said it was making changes to ensure this kind of wrongdoing did not recur and that it supported a new UK press watchdog expected to start work later this year. "Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time," the statement added. Clandestine affair . During the trial, the jury heard how a private detective working for the tabloid allegedly made more than 6,000 hacking calls in a two-year period. The Metropolitan Police estimate there were more than 1,000 victims, including royalty, politicians and celebrities. The phone of Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, was hacked 155 times, it was revealed at the trial. In November, prosecutors alleged that Coulson had a clandestine affair with Brooks from 1998-2004, which they argued showed the pair's level of trust. Referring to a letter she had written to Coulson and that was produced in court, Brooks said: "Andy and I were incredibly close at the time. He was my best friend. I think that comes across." She denied there had been a long-standing affair but acknowledged there had been periods of physical intimacy. The BBC and Guardian newspaper reported that when Coulson testified in April -- with his wife watching from the public gallery -- he said the affair "shouldn't have happened." But he denied that it meant he and Brooks had shared sensitive stories, the outlets said. In her defense, Brooks denied in court that she had ever approved phone hacking while she was News of the World editor. Asked about the practice, Brooks said: "No desk editor, no journalist ever came to me and said, 'We're working on such and such story, and we need to access their voice mails.' " She told the court she would have felt it was "a serious breach of somebody's privacy, especially if you did not have an overwhelming public interest," and of the newspaper industry's code of conduct. Get up to speed on UK phone hacking scandal . 7 amazing things we learned during the hacking trial . | Jurors in phone hacking trial retire for the night, to return Wednesday morning .
Andy Coulson found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones; jury still considering other charges .
Former newspaper chief Rebekah Brooks is cleared of all charges .
"I am extremely sorry that I employed him," PM David Cameron says of ex-aide Coulson . |
198,872 | 8d7162f146902149638994205b2cb3a8606d2313 | A 'treatment' for Ebola made from the blood of survivors of the vicious disease is being traded on the black market in West Africa, it has emerged. Health experts have warned the serums could contain other harmful infections as the World Health Organisation vowed to work with governments to stamp out the illicit trade. The 'convalescent serum' is made from survivors' blood, which contains antibodies that could help fight the virus, Bloomberg News reported. Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO said: ‘There is a danger that such serums could contain other infections and wouldn’t be administered properly.' Scroll down for video . A 'treatment' for Ebola made from the blood of survivors of the vicious disease is being traded on the black market in West Africa, it has emerged . The World Health Organisation has vowed to work with governments in the affected countries, pictured, to stamp out the illicit trade of the 'convalescent serum' Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO said: ‘There is a danger that such serums could contain other infections and wouldn’t be administered properly' The announcement comes as the WHO said new cases in West Africa are increasing faster than the capacity to manage them. More than 2,400 people have died from Ebola in recent months and almost 4,700 people have been infected, making it the largest outbreak in history. Currently, there are no approved drugs to treat Ebola, though several are in the developmental stages. Patients are given intravenous fluids, blood transfusions and antibiotics to bolster their immune systems and help fight off other infections. However, the blood of survivors contains natural antibodies that can protect against Ebola. Antibodies are produced by the body’s white blood cells and bind to foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria to neutralise them as a threat. About half of the people infected during the current outbreak have survived, providing a potential pool of donors. The WHO is developing a system where blood from survivors of the disease can be drawn out safely and re-injected into patients. It comes as Ebola survivor Dr Kent Brantly donated blood to a fellow American aid worker infected with the diesase. Dr Rick Sacra received blood transfusions from Dr Brantly shortly after he arrived at the Nebraska Medical Center last Friday. Dr Rick Sacra is receiving blood transfusions from Dr Kent Brantly, who recently recovered from Ebola . Dr. Kent Brantly (right), stands with his wife, Amber Brantly, during a press conference announcing his release from Emory Hospital on August 21, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia after his successful treatment for Ebola . This 2007 photo released by the Nebraska Medical Center shows Dr. Richard Sacra working in west Africa . Writing for the The New York Times, Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy a the University of Minnesota, said those experts are loathed to discuss their concerns in public, for fear of whipping up hysteria. Discussing the possible future course of the current outbreak, he said: 'The second possibility is one that virologists are loath to discuss openly but are definitely considering in private: that an Ebola virus could mutate to become transmissible through the air.' But the chair of the UK's Health Protection Agency, Professor David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene of Tropical Medicine, said it is impossible to predict how any virus will mutate. He said scientists across the world do not know enough about genetics to be able to say how the ebola virus will change over time. Pointing to the example of the H1N1 influenza virus that saw bird flu sweep the globe in 2009, Dr Osterholm said: 'If certain mutations occurred, it would mean that just breathing would put one at risk of contracting Ebola.' But Professor Heymann, told MailOnline: 'No one can predict what will happen with the mutation of the virus. 'I would like to see the evidence that this could become a respiratory virus. 'The virus's epidemiology is consistent with transmission via bodily secretions and excretions, which is exactly the same as other past epidemics. Dr Sacra, 51, has also been given an experimental drug and other treatments. He is close friends with 33-year-old Dr Brantly, one of the first two Americans treated for Ebola in Atlanta last month, after working in West Africa helping victims of the outbreak. 'It really meant a lot to us that he was willing to give that donation so quickly after his own recovery,' Dr Sacra's wife, Debbie, said. The transfusions are believed to help a patient fight off the Ebola virus because the survivor's blood carries antibodies for the disease. Doctors at Emory University in Atlanta and Nebraska in Lincoln, U.S. are also working on lists of survivors by blood type who could donate. Mrs Sacra said she hopes her husband's illness and the experience of other aid workers can lead to new treatments for Ebola in West Africa before the outbreak spreads. Dr Sacra was the third American aid worker with the Ebola virus to be flown to the U.S. for treatment. A fourth worker, whose identity has not yet been revealed, arrived Tuesday morning at Emory in Atlanta. Few details have been released about the fourth American Ebola patient. But the World Health Organization said a doctor who had been working in an Ebola treatment center in Sierra Leone tested positive for the disease and was to be evacuated Monday in stable condition. Mrs Sacra said she knows her husband will be eager to return to West Africa once he recovers. 'I'm sure when he gets his strength back, he'll be ready to go back to Liberia,' she said. Currently, there are no approved drugs to treat the Ebola virus, but the WHO are developinga way of safely drawing out blood from survivors so it can be re-injected into patients . | Black market for Ebola treatment has emerged in West Africa .
Convalescent serum treatment using the blood of survivors is being traded .
Blood of survivors contains antibodies that could help fight the virus .
World Health Organisation warns the serums could contain other infections .
WHO is working on a safer serum using survivor's blood .
Ebola victim Rick Sacra has recently been treated with blood from survivor . |
149,762 | 4da3f65c1522384d0fce3cfaa5f618cee2cf743b | (CNN) -- Hunger strikes marked the start of the Hong Kong school year as students, parents, and teachers protested against what they perceive as Beijing-led interference in the public school curriculum. Thousands of protesters dressed in black gathered outside the government headquarters Monday ahead of a 5:00 p.m. deadline for the government to drop the "Moral and National Education" subject or face further protests. Hong Kongers have decried the subject as an attempt to "brainwash" impressionable young minds with pro-mainland-Chinese propaganda. Amid no response from the government, the Civil Alliance against National Education -- a coalition of concern groups -- declared that plans were underway to organize city-wide student strikes and teacher boycotts of the subject. Organizers also called for demonstrators to return to the headquarters every evening in a kind of "Occupy" movement, adapted from the global protest against socioeconomic injustice. In a tactic uncommon in Hong Kong protests, by Monday evening, 13 protesters had joined a hunger strike outside the government headquarters, initiated by three teenagers Thursday who have since dropped out due to health concerns. Camped in tents, the mix of students, teachers, and scholars have vowed to remain there until the government withdraws the subject. A parent participating in the hunger strike, Linda Wong, told CNN: "I want to safeguard for my child the environment in Hong Kong in the future, so my son can learn and think independently." From Taiwan, Tiananmen activist Wang Dan posted on his Weibo microblogging account that he would engage in a 24-hour hunger strike to "support Hong Kong's opposition movement against educational brainwashing." While the city's embattled leader, Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, stayed clear of Monday's protest, the territory's Chief Secretary Carrie Lam addressed the crowd, urging broad discussion via the government consultation committee. "There is no topic that the committee cannot discuss with committee members and other parties," Lam said. "After discussions, according to the findings, we can bring independent and pertinent opinions to the government." Alliance members have previously declined the government's invitation to join the committee. Leung has said that there is a lot of room for compromise between keeping the subject and throwing it out. "It's very hard for the government to take any concrete action," said Waiman Lam, an assistant professor specializing in civil society and social movements at the University of Hong Kong. "The Hong Kong government is trapped between the Beijing government and the Hong Kong community," she explained. "I think most likely the government will not take any concrete action except reiterating that the officials are ready to talk to the protesters; please join our committee and continue discussions." The national education issue has been roiling the city for several months, most notably with a mass street protest on July 29 attended by 90,000 people (police cited 32,000), sparked by the dissemination of a set of government guidelines for teaching the subject. Another mass protest took place outside government headquarters on Saturday, where organizers reported 40,000 participants while the police estimated a turnout of 8,100. While the detailed content of the subject has not been determined, guidelines in a booklet called "The China Model" distributed to schools by the government's National Education Services Centre in July were widely interpreted as a basis for how the subject would be taught. The contents of the booklet inflamed longstanding fears of Beijing's encroachment into Hong Kong's affairs and freedoms by stating that China's ruling party is "progressive, selfless and united," and ignoring major events such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The centre has denied accusations that the subject promotes "brainwashing." "Hong Kong's future and China's future are inseparable," said centre director Wong Chi Man."We will never be independent so we should learn to think the same way as China. Teachers should lead our children to think about Hong Kong's future." "In the background, there's a huge mistrust between the central government and the Hong Kong population in general," said Lam. "The demonstrations and the concerns about the national education reflect the continuing anxiety of the Hong Kong people toward the mainland's politics and growing influence on Hong Kong affairs," echoed Peter Cheung, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong's Department of Politics and Public Administration, who spoke to CNN after the July 29 protest. The uproar over the national education subject is reflective of anxieties being aggravated by the new government under Leung, which Cheung said "lacks legitimacy in the eyes of many people." "C.Y. Leung without a doubt reflects a much more pro-Beijing background. If the curriculum was introduced by a more neutral administration, the issue may play out differently," he said. The subject is due to be introduced this academic year in primary schools and next year in secondary schools. Each has a three-year period in which to roll out the subject in their classrooms. In Hong Kong, primary and secondary schooling comprises twelve years of government-funded education. A survey of more than 600 schools conducted by an alliance member, National Education Parents' Concern Group, found that only six planned to implement the program in the first year. Of the others, 155 said they would introduce it but not in the first year, 118 said they wouldn't introduce it at all and 198 said they hadn't yet decided what to do. Another 181 declined to respond. "It's the duty of every teacher, practically of every citizen to teach national education," said Leung Kee-Cheong, the principal of the Fresh Fish Traders' School, a primary school teaching the subject this school year. "You should teach your children that they are Chinese, you should teach your children how China has developed, its history and culture. While you are doing this, you can criticize and speak of the good parts and the bad parts." Lam said it remains to be seen how the protests will escalate and that government action "will depend on the bargaining power of the opposition." "The question in how much social support (the protesters) can draw in," Lam said, in regard to whether student strikes can be feasibly carried out. "If the government doesn't think these secondary students can constitute a political force opposing the government, including the policy itself, then can the students draw sufficient support from the community? So it really depends on the consolidation of the alliance." "It seems that among the secondary school students, the extent of mobilization is not limited, but not extensive enough to call for a Hong-Kong-wide school strike," she added. "So I think the government has also done such calculations." Tim Schwarz and Vivian Kam contributed to the report. | Protesters threatening student strikes, teacher boycotts if government does not drop Chinese civic education subject .
Residents have decried subject as attempt to "brainwash" impressionable young minds with pro-China propaganda .
16 protestors have participated in hunger strikes outside government headquarters .
Government is urging discussion, rather than keeping subject or throwing it out . |
142,254 | 43f7926431049e8c6824fb80ed7c6ea7e224b255 | (CNN) -- Hours after a security breach forced the closure of a terminal at the Newark, New Jersey, airport Sunday, authorities were still searching for a man who went the wrong way through a checkpoint exit. The incident happened at about 5:20 p.m. at Terminal C, when an individual walked from the public side to the secure "sterile" side for passengers who had cleared screening, according to the Transportation Security Administration. No flights were allowed to leave from Terminal C Sunday evening and thousands of other travelers who had reached the sterile area after going through checkpoints were moved back to the public area to be re-screened, the TSA said. Authorities are reviewing video from airport cameras. They are not sure whether the man was once on the sterile side and went back, or if he never went through screening, TSA spokeswoman Anne Davis said. Watch more about the situation in Newark . The incident caused arrival delays and mainly affected Continental Airlines, which is the airport's largest tenant. CNN's Alina Cho, who arrived at the airport Saturday night on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, described the hectic scene: "For the people who are hoping to fly out of Newark this evening, there is not a lot of movement." She said many passengers who had already boarded outgoing flights had to get off planes to be re-screened. "I just saw one woman pleading with a gate agent, saying that she had two small children and a heart condition -- that she simply could not take this," Cho said. "But of course, there will be no exceptions." Flying Continental? Important company notice . Newark Liberty International Airport, which is about 15 miles from Manhattan, is the second-largest hub for Continental. The airport handles about 35 million passengers a year. CNN's Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt contributed to this report. | TSA: Man walks through wrong side of checkpoint exit .
Police seek the individual, who walked from the public side to the sterile side .
No flights allowed to leave from Terminal C Sunday evening .
Incident causes arrival delays and mainly affected Continental Airlines . |
34,241 | 614d48982eee24238ba67428e7190a7dfd20ee38 | Four schoolgirls have been left orphaned after a village butcher killed his estranged wife before leaping to his death from a multi-storey car park. Oliver Ruse, 37, was left ‘heartbroken’ after his wife Debbie left him and their four children and moved abroad. He is understood to have been upset further when she came back and requested access to their daughters and demanded half the family business, which was founded by his great-great-grandfather. Oliver Ruse - the village butcher in Long Melford, Suffolk - is suspected of having killed his wife before taking his own life yesterday . Mr Ruse's wife Deborah was found dead at the cottage she had been renting since the couple's recent split . Mr Ruse’s body was found at the bottom of a six-storey car park in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Police discovered his wife’s body a few hours later on Thursday afternoon when they went to her rented cottage 13 miles away in the village of Long Melford. Officers refused to reveal the cause of her death yesterday. Post-mortem examinations are due to take place over the weekend. The couple’s daughters, aged eight, 11, 12, and 16, were being comforted by family members last night. A family friend, who asked not to be named, said Mr Ruse had been on anti-depressants since his wife’s return, adding: ‘Nobody can quite believe that he did something so terrible. The whole village is in deep shock.’ Another friend said: ‘She [Mrs Ruse] came back and demanded half the business. Times are hard and it was just the last straw. Ollie was also a devoted father and he dreaded the thought of her becoming involved with the kids again.’ Another villager said: ‘He had custody of the kids and lived for his kids. He made sure they were always smartly dressed for school.’ Devastated friends and relatives said Mr Ruse loved his family and was a 'lovely man' Police stood outside Deborah Ruse's cottage after her body was found inside following her husband's death . Mr Ruse’s stepmother, Sheelagh – who married Oliver’s father Henry, 71, after his first wife died of leukaemia – said: ‘Everyone’s devastated. ‘Oliver was a very gentle man and bent over backwards to please Debbie. I don’t know what happened – a breakdown or something. I think he was still in love with her. He didn’t want her to leave him.’ The couple had met after Zambia-born Mrs Ruse, 39, had moved to the UK to study law. They married in 1998 but split up around two years ago and she moved to Brazil. Companies House files show that she remained a 49 per cent shareholder in the family business. There were conflicting explanations for the split. Some villagers claimed she had met a man through the internet. Others said she was a devout Christian who went to Rio as a missionary before returning two months ago. A family friend said: ‘Oliver did everything to accommodate his wife and treated her like a queen. When she got involved in a happy-clappy church, he got embroiled in it as well. Mr Ruse was the fifth generation of his family to run the village butchers, where flowers were placed today . The butcher fell to his death from the Parkway multi-storey car park in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk . When she walked out, he got a phone call from her at Heathrow, saying that she was about to fly to Brazil.’ Her rented two-bedroom cottage was 400 yards from Ruse & Son, which was founded by Mr Ruse’s great-great-grandfather in 1860. The fifth generation of his family to control the business, he began working there in 1998 and took it over from his father in 2007. The firm supplies a number of upmarket outlets and featured in the Jamie Oliver documentary, Jamie Saves Our Bacon. Curtains were drawn at the 16th century house in the village where Mr Ruse lived with his daughters. Suffolk Police confirmed that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. | Village butcher Oliver Ruse suspected of having killed his wife, Deborah .
He is then thought to have thrown himself from a multi-story car park .
The couple - who have four young daughters - had recently split up .
Family say they are devastated but will rally around to look after girls .
Police investigations continue into deaths, so far treated as 'unexplained'
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here . |
165,272 | 61b4d46fc7df676cbbf05c03ddc4c6a2b898dba0 | Thousands of over-55s will be unable to access new pension freedoms in April because there are still gaping holes in the Government’s policy, it is claimed. Britain’s insurers say neither they nor the Government will be ready when the radical reforms are introduced in just six weeks’ time. In a startling admission, the industry body for pensions firms say ‘critical pieces of the jigsaw’ will not be in place when the changes ‘go live’ on April 6. Chancellor George Osborne, pictured, announced last March that over-55s would be allowed to use their pension pots how they liked from this April, instead of being forced to buy an annuity . Last March, Chancellor George Osborne made the surprise announcement that over-55s would be able to withdraw their pension and spend it as they wished, rather than being forced to buy an annuity. It followed criticism that annuities, a guaranteed income for life, had become poor value for money. Under the plans, people should be able to dip into their pension whenever they like, with 25 per cent of any withdrawal tax-free. But the Association of British Insurers will use its annual conference today to say missing details mean it is ‘impossible’ to say the new freedoms will be available on time. The ABI pointed out that the Government’s guidance service, which offers free information on the reforms, still had no phone number just 40 days before the rules change, meaning there is nowhere for pension providers to direct people to if they did not have internet access. Insurers also have little information on how the guidance, called Pension Wise, will work and how consultations will be logged so insurers know what had been discussed with customers. Pensions expert Dr Ros Altman, pictured, feared some pension firms would not allow customers to switch to a flexible income drawdown scheme . Providers are also still waiting for ‘critical rules’ from the Financial Conduct Authority on what information they must give to customers before allowing them to withdraw their cash. But critics have also accused insurers themselves of ‘dragging their feet’ and failing to adapt to the reforms quickly enough. Pensions’ expert and government advisor Ros Altmann, said: ‘The fact that Pension Wise is not yet fully operational should not stop pension firms from helping their customers to benefit from the freedoms. ‘Some firms are moving with the times whereas too many others are just staying with the status quo which has suited them so well for so long but has not necessarily been in customer interests.’ The uncertainty will raise fresh doubts over how many people will actually be able to use their pension like a bank account, as has been suggested by ministers. Dr Altmann said she feared many pension firms would not allow their customers to switch to a flexible income drawdown schemes, forcing customers to move. Millions are stuck in older schemes that will not let them swap. These savers may incur exit fees worth up to a fifth of their pension pot if they move to a more flexible company. Others will be forced to wait while their provider decides if it will accommodate the reforms. Many pension firms have already admitted they will not make the changes by April, if at all. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘We have already seen firms announce new products for April 2015, launched the first arm of the guidance service – the Pension Wise website – and are on course to meet demand for face to face and telephone guidance in April.’ | George Osborne announced major pension rule changes last March .
Over 55s will no longer have to buy an annuity with their lump sum in April .
Pension experts believe 'critical pieces of the jigsaw' are still missing . |
44,902 | 7e8d6ee63dd02e6774e43a8f3edebf3eaa87ac67 | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A crowd of about 10,000 came to Dodger Stadium on Saturday, but they weren't there for a baseball game. Job seeker Eric Clardy, right, shakes hands with recruiter Raul Mendez from L.A. County Probation Department. While the Dodgers were in Arizona for spring training, more than 80 employers set up employment booths in the parking lot just beyond the center field fence. To those who turned out, finding a job would be a home run. Participating companies included Coca-Cola, Lowe's and Union Bank. And government agencies including the FBI, the Social Security Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers were there, too. All had one thing in common: They were hiring. And that was music to the ears of 30-year-old Eric Clardy. It has been a rough couple of years for Clardy. He was laid off from his job as a loan processor when the real estate market started to tank. Then, after finding work as a project manager for a plumbing company, layoffs struck again. "It's kind of like, get the job now so you can pay your bills, then start towards the career that you really want," he said. Clardy said his goal is to make contact with at least 10 potential employers a day via phone, letters and the Internet. Being unemployed is hard work, too. Watch how Clardy goes about trying to find a job » . "It was a scramble," Clardy said. "I was selling insurance, doing temp jobs, going to job fairs." The city of Los Angeles and the California Employment Development Department organized Saturday's event, which they said drew about 10,000 people. Earlier this month, a two-day job fair to fill some 500 part-time jobs at the stadium during baseball season drew about 7,000 applicants. California's unemployment rate is 10.1 percent, a full 2 percentage points higher than the national rate. The state's Employment Development office estimates that nearly a half-million state residents have lost their jobs in the past year. "We are not seeing as many job opportunities as we saw a year ago," said Gloria Bratton Moore, who runs the state-funded Work Source job center in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, she said, "There are jobs available." But at Dodger Stadium, it was clear that competition for those available jobs is stiff. Applicants were often stacked four and five people deep in front of employer tables, and there was little chance for most of the 10,000 job seekers to make much of an impression. But organizers worked hard to pump up any flagging spirits. "Yes we can. Yes we can," Los Angeles School Board member Monica Garcia chanted over a loudspeaker. State lawmaker Kevin deLeon told the crowd that they are among the nation's hardest-hit in this economic downturn, but he exhorted them to not give up. "We will get out of this economic funk," he said. "We will recover soon. We've got to have hope." Garcia and deLeon's comments echoed the campaign slogans of President Obama, who recently won approval of a nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package. Recruiters from the government agencies present at the job fair said that money will start creating jobs within the next few months. The Army Corps of Engineers told applicants that it is hiring for a wide variety of positions, including those for engineers, heavy-equipment operators and environmental field workers. The Commerce Department is adding more than 1 million jobs in preparation of the 2010 census, and other federal agencies are hiring as well. All of that was good news to Clardy, who left resumes and filled out applications at a number of the 80 booths cluttering the stadium's parking lot. But he remained realistic about this day's activities leading directly to a job. "It seemed like a couple of years ago, the job fair was really your first interview," he said. "Now it doesn't seem like that. Some companies are not even taking resumes at the job fairs anymore." | Eighty employers set up booths in parking lot of Dodger Stadium .
Thousands vie for time with representatives from companies, government agencies .
California's unemployment rate of 10.2 percent is higher than nation's .
Head of state-funded job center in Los Angeles: "There are jobs available" |
210,655 | 9cd754d970b2530875b63416bc76d74005291eb9 | Puyallup, Washington (CNN) -- Funeral services for the sons of Josh Powell are scheduled for early Saturday afternoon in Puyallup, Washington, where authorities say Powell set his house on fire, killing all three of them. Services for 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center and will be open to the public, according to Anne Bremner, an attorney for the Cox family. Powell was a suspect in the 2009 disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox-Powell. His two sons died Sunday along with Powell in what police believe was a murder-suicide. A social worker brought the boys to Powell's home for a court-ordered supervised visit, authorities said. But as they approached the door, Powell pushed the social worker back, took the boys inside and locked the door. "He blew up the house and the kids!" the social worker shouted in a 911 call released late Tuesday by Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Powell took the children and slammed the door in her face, she said. "I thought it was a mistake. I kept knocking and then I called 911." The powerful blast shook houses, with debris landing on lawns blocks away. Minutes before he wounded his two young sons with a hatchet and set his house ablaze, Powell left a last voicemail to family members. "I am not able to live without my sons, and I'm not able to go on anymore," he said, according to ABC News, which obtained the voice mail. "I'm sorry to everyone I've hurt. Goodbye." Investigators found the hatchet they believe was used on the boys in Powell's Graham, Washington, home, said Troyer. Authorities believe Powell set an explosive fire there after wounding the boys Sunday afternoon. Autopsies showed his sons suffered "chop" injuries to their necks, but both boys and their father died from inhaling carbon monoxide, the county medical examiner's office said. Before dousing his home with gasoline and setting it ablaze, Powell gave toys and books to charity and sent multiple goodbye e-mails. That evidence suggests that Powell planned the deaths for some time, Troyer said -- "I believe this was intentional." It was a gruesome development in a saga that began two years ago in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City, Utah, when 28-year-old Cox-Powell disappeared. Nancy Grace interviews Susan Cox-Powell's sister . The farewell e-mails Powell sent included one to his attorney, saying simply: "I'm sorry. Goodbye." He also sent e-mails to his pastor and others just minutes before the fire, giving instructions on how to handle his end-of-life business, according to Troyer. The sheriff's department has copies of some of the e-mails sent to the attorney, family and friends, in which he said "he couldn't live with what was going on," Troyer said. The spokesman added that authorities found two 5-gallon cans of gasoline in the home, one of which appeared to have been lit right next to the bodies, which were found together in the same room. The deaths of Powell and the children could mean Cox-Powell's disappearance might never be solved. Still, the case remains open and investigators vowed to pursue it until the point of closure. Follow a timeline of the case . "I promised the Coxes I wasn't giving up, and I'm still not because we want to get some closure here," West Valley City, Utah, Police Chief Buzz Nielsen said Monday. "The case is still active; we're not closing the case. We still got things that have not been resolved." Cox-Powell's sister, Denise Cox, told CNN on Tuesday she had been told by her family that Powell could be arrested within a few weeks and that authorities were attempting to build a case against him despite the lack of a body. "We were all excited that something was going to happen," she said, adding the family was hoping that a deal could be made or Powell could be coerced to divulge his wife's whereabouts. In the meantime, Powell, who had not been arrested or charged, was embroiled in an ugly custody dispute with the Cox family. In recent months, the children had started opening up and talking about what happened the night their mother disappeared, members of the Cox family said. "They basically kept saying how they went on a vacation in the desert, and camping ... they stopped at some place, and Mommy and Daddy left, and only Daddy came back," Judy Cox, Susan Cox-Powell's mother, told NBC's "Today" on Tuesday. Chuck Cox, Susan Cox-Powell's father, told "Today" that the younger boy, Braden, had drawn a picture of the family's minivan. Asked who was in the minivan, the child told his teachers "that was his daddy, Charlie and himself, and that Mommy was in the trunk," he said. But, Cox told ABC's "Good Morning America," the boys' remarks were inconsistent. "When I would say, 'Well, Daddy said Mommy stayed home' (from the camping trip), then they would go back to, 'I don't remember,'" a rehearsed, you know, a coached statement," he said. Authorities believe that by setting the fire, Powell not only killed his children -- he eliminated evidence in his wife's disappearance. "Those boys were evidence. Those boys were going to be evidence against him," Troyer said. "You're looking at somebody who's willing to kill their own kids ... killing your wife isn't that much of a stretch from there." Asked whether she believes Powell's motive was the custody battle or remarks made by the children, Judy Cox told "Today" she felt it was both. "He was feeling cornered," she said. "... Basically, he didn't like us, and he wanted to get the kids away from us so much," she said. "It really bothered him that the boys were showing such affection to Chuck." According to investigators, Powell had said the last time he saw his wife was the night he and his sons -- then ages 2 and 4 -- left to go camping after midnight in freezing weather. Cox-Powell's sister eventually reported her missing. A month later, Powell and his children moved from Utah to Washington. The double homicide and suicide on Sunday came days after a judge refused Powell's petition to regain custody of his children. The judge instead ordered Powell undergo psychological evaluations -- an order that came after authorities turned up child pornography in the home Powell shared with his father, Steven Powell. As part of the investigation into Cox-Powell's disappearance, a search of the home was conducted last year. During the search, investigators "discovered numerous images and recordings of adult and juvenile females," according to a statement released by the Pierce County sheriff's department. Steven Powell was subsequently charged with 14 counts of voyeurism and one count of possessing images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to court documents. He remained jailed and on suicide watch on Tuesday, Troyer said. After the arrest of Powell's father, custody of his sons went to the Coxes, according to Washington state court records. Powell maintained in court documents filed last week that he established his own home after his father's arrest and had "consistently proven my fitness as a stable and loving parent under close supervision by (child welfare caseworkers)." The Coxes said they were concerned about Powell's having visitation, but noted that several previous visitations were uneventful. However, they were worried about the first visitation after the court's ruling, Chuck Cox said on "Today." "We knew that if he was cornered and felt like there was no way out, that he was capable of this," he said of Powell. The couple had communicated their concerns to police and child welfare workers, he said. "I understand they have a lot of people and they deal with a lot of people who exaggerate the threat -- cry wolf, if you will," he said. But, given the circumstances, "We felt they should have taken more care." CNN's Thelma Gutierrez, Ashley Hayes, Tina Burnside, Sara Weisfeldt and HLN's Alexis Weed and Phil Rosenbaum contributed to this report. | NEW: "He blew up the house and kids!" shouts the social worker who dropped them off .
Service will be open to the public, says an attorney .
"We knew ... he was capable of this," missing woman's father says .
Josh Powell was a suspect in the 2009 disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox-Powell . |
237,960 | bfffcc7a365475a5a8a10c6bc602fbf9dfb93a59 | Plenty of us enjoyed pinging rubber bands at unsuspecting school friends as children, but now one man has taken inspiration from his youth to create what he believes to be the ultimate office weapon. The Rubber Band Machine Gun is able to fire 672 rubber bands up to 26 feet (eight metres) at a rate of 14 shots a second from its 16 barrels. While such a weapon could no doubt inflict pain on a human target, the design student behind the toy is trying to raise money so that he can sell his wooden contraption to the public later this year. Scroll down for video . The rubber band machine gun (pictured) is able to fire 672 rubber bands up to 26 feet (eight metres) at a rate of 14 shots a second from its 16 barrels . The gun is powered by five AA batteries and can be reloaded with more ammunition in minutes. Design student Alex Shpetniy, 18, based his contraption on the Gatling gun - one of the world's first rapid-fire weapons. Originally invented by Richard Gatling, the forerunner to the modern machine gun is known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat. Mr Shpetniy spent a year developing the toy - which he believes is the world’s most advanced rubber band gun - using skills he honed building model airplanes. The Ukrainian student is raising funds on Kickstarter and has attracted $70,000 of pledges more than the $5,000 he set out to gather, demonstrating the demand for such a DIY weapon. The gun is expected to go on sale this year for $140 (around £80). The rubber band machine gun, invented by design student Alex Shpetniy, is powered by five AA batteries and can be reloaded with more ammunition in minutes . String is wound onto the drum of the gun, passing through cuts in the barrels . Then up to 672 rubber bands are stretched over the string and the 16 barrels. An electric motor powered by five AA batteries reels off the string. This pulls off the rubber bands one by one, releasing them into flight with a range of up to 26 feet or eight metres. 'Everyone loved having rubber band fights as kids and now children of all ages can enjoy practising their shooting skills with a Rubber Band Machine Gun,’ Mr Shpetniy said. He explained that the automatic machine gun is made from birch plywood and cut out using a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, which allows a user to enter a design using a computer that is then cut out using a router. The gun comes in three colours: original birch, burnt wood and black. Mr Shpetniy . said: ‘With my Rubber Band Gun Machine everyone can feel like Rambo, . launching a rubber storm, and throwing a pound of rubber bands into . their opponent.’ The automatic machine gun is made from birch plywood and cut out using a CNC (computer numerical control) machine that allows a person to enter a computer design that cut out using a router. It comes in three colours: original birch, burnt wood and black . He explained that he had the idea to make a machine gun that fired rubber bands, after seeing more simple rubber band guns on the internet. ‘I am experienced in working with wood so I quickly set about making the first prototypes. ‘String is wound onto the drum, passing through cuts in the barrels, then rubber bands are stretched over the string. Alex Shpetniy, 18 based his contraption on the Gatling gun (illustrated) which was one of the world's first rapid-fire weapons. Invented by Richard Gatling, it is known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat . String is wound onto the drum of the gun, passing through cuts in the barrels. Then up to 672 rubber bands are stretched over the string and the 16 barrels. An electric motor powered by five AA batteries reels off the string, which pulls off the rubber bands one by one, releasing them into flight . ‘The electric motor reels off the string pulling off rubber bands one by one, releasing them into flight. ‘I have spent the last year developing the gun and the last stage of it was to invent the "fast charger" which means you can reload the rubber bands very quickly.' He claims there is nothing else like it on the market. | The rubber band machine gun is able to .
fire 672 rubber bands up to 26 feet (eight metres) at a rate of 14 shots .
a second from its 16 barrels .
It was created by an 18-year-old Ukranian design student who was inspired by the working of the Gatling gun - an early rapid-fire weapon .
The gun is set to go on sale early this year for around $140 (£85) and comes in three colours . |
258,171 | da21457a9db9f80020081b125f691dcc061a5b28 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 06:18 EST, 2 December 2011 . Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane and his pregnant wife Rebecca Gayheart had a lucky escape last night when strong winds sent a tree crashing down on their Beverly Hills home. Gayheart, 40, was reportedly putting their toddler daughter Billie to bed when the eucalyptus tree was blown down shortly after 8pm on Wednesday evening. Neighbours said nobody was injured but the house was one of many damaged as toppling trees crushed trucks and hundreds of thousands lost power in California yesterday during major storms. Crash landing: A eucalyptus tree crashed down on the Beverly Hills home of Hollywood couple Eric Dane and his pregnant wife Rebecca Gayheart last night after Los Angeles was battered by strong winds . Bump in the night: Rebecca was spotted out and about in Los Angeles today accompanied by a friend . Morning after: Eric emerges from his house after last night's drama . Los Angeles firemen attended the scene and a truck was seen parked outside the property, . located on N. Beverly Drive. The home is registered to Dane, 39, and his actress wife Gayheart. Neighbours would not confirm if . the couple lived there, but resident Susan Smith told KTLA that the . 'very pregnant lady' of the house was upstairs putting her baby to sleep . when the tree went down. Ms Smith said: 'We all came running . out of the house. Thank God we're all okay. We know there are a lot of . live wires out there. These winds that came today were unbelievable.' The tree snapped at the base and also caused substantial damage to a parked car. Call . 911: The Los Angeles Fire Department attended the scene and shut down . power after electrical cables were also brought down in the blast . Lucky escape: The winds brought chaos to California, bringing down trees, electrical cables and delaying flights . Dane and wife Gayheart, pictured in November last year in Los Angeles . 'Everything else can be fixed, and they're okay,' Ms Smith added. Firefighters shut off the power supply . after arriving to the scene while water and power . officials assessed the damage to wire and cordoned off the area. Gayheart is heavily pregnant with her second child with Dane. The couple announced the news in July. Dane is best know for his role as Dr McSteamy in ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. More than 250,000 people in Southern California were without electricity this morning and about 26,000 more in the Santa Cruz . Mountains of Northern California. San Francisco was spared any blackouts . but thousands elsewhere in the Bay area were in the dark. In Southern California, 23 flights were . diverted and several delayed starting yesterday at Los Angeles . International airport because of severe crosswinds and debris on . runways, officials said. Winds sweeping down through canyons . created gusts of up to 80 mph through the night, with a 97 mph gust . recorded last night at Whitaker Peak in Los Angeles County. High wind warnings and wind advisories are in effect for parts of California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming. In Southern California, high winds blew over at least six semitrailers before dawn on highways below the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, said California Highway Patrol Officer Mario Lopez. One trucker was taken to a hospital. Northeast of Los Angeles, foothill communities were hard hit as the winds swept down the San Gabriel Mountains. A 97mph gust was recorded Wednesday night at Whitaker Peak in Los Angeles. Other damage: Keith Curo stops to look over the damage caused by a fallen tree at a Shell petrol station on the corner of North San Gabriel Avenue and East Colorado Boulevard on Thursday in Pasadena, California . Crushed: A van parked in the Highland Park section of Los Angeles and another car are shown damaged by trees on Thursday as high winds up to 60mph tore through the area . Stop: Binder Lopez rides his bike under a fallen traffic signal caused by high winds at the corner of Lake Avenue and Claremont Street on Thursday in Pasadena, California . Hard work: City workers cut the felled tree into pieces to remove it from the gas station . Cleaning up: Workers cut apart a tree that damaged a gasoline station during a high wind storm in Pasadena . Precipitation: This Weather Channel map shows how some rain is forecast for the U.S. West Coast . Pasadena closed schools and libraries and . declared a local emergency, the first since 2004. The storm system was expected to bring similar, but less ferocious conditions as far away as Wyoming and New Mexico. The front will bring blustery weather to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Indiana, meteorologists said. But high winds should begin to leave most of the West Coast on Friday. Higher areas could see up to a foot of snow - and western Wyoming will see snow showers. High temperatures will only get up to the 40s in most areas, apart from California where they could still reach 60F. Forty people were evacuated from an apartment building after a tree . collapsed, smashing part of the roof. Two house fires, possibly from downed power lines, critically . burned one person, seriously injured three others and forced seven . others to flee. There have been hundreds of reports of wires down. Overnight, a falling tree collapsed the canopy of a petrol station, but . an employee shut off the pumps and no fuel spilled. Another tree toppled . onto a car, trapping the driver, who was taken to a hospital. Along Huntington Drive, a major, six-lane thoroughfare that carries . traffic into downtown Los Angeles, nearly every traffic light was dark . across a distance of more than 10 miles. Chilly: This forecast map shows how temperatures will drop to as low as 44F on the West side of the U.S. Damaged: People walk past a Christmas tree lot struck by a high wind storm in Pasadena, California . Stuck: A car is pictured under a tree branch that had broken off following a wind storm in Pasadena . Morning after: Neighbours inspect a tree that crashed in to an apartment complex in Pasadena . Crushed: The van sits crushed under a fallen tree in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles . Broken pavement: Residents look at slabs of the broken concrete pavement and uprooted eucalyptus trees after a heavy wind storm in the morning at Highland Park . Uprooted: A man looks at uprooted trees which have fallen on cars after the heavy wind storm . | Major storm knocks out electricity supply to 300,000 people across California .
Pregnant wife of Grey's Anatomy star was 'putting toddler daughter to bed' |
222,256 | abb638823c6e889c4b7c1ce95a9bcde8e2a52053 | Two tries from Thomas Waldrom saw Exeter stun champions Northampton 24-18 at a wet Franklin's Gardens. With six players on international duty and another two injured, a well-drilled Exeter led 21-6 at the break and held off a second half Northampton comeback to record their first Aviva Premiership win at the Gardens. Exeter shocked the champions after just 90 seconds by opening the scoring with a try from Luke Cowan-Dickie. Don Armand of Exeter Chiefs escapes the grasp of Mike Haywood of Northampton Saints . Teimana Harrison and Alex Waller of Northampton Saints tackle Kai Horstmann of Exeter Chiefs . The visitors won their own kick-off and almost - and probably should have - scored through Jack Nowell, but the England winger was just hauled short by Tom Collins and Ben Foden, forcing Collins to limp off. The Chiefs had a penalty anyway and when they kicked to the corner hooker Cowan-Dickie was on the end of the lineout drive. Gareth Steenson converted before Stephen Myler pulled Saints to within one point with two penalties but Exeter peppered the home side with long kicks to keep them pinned in their half. A strong and quick defence saw Saints stuck, save for a clever lineout move that saw Luther Burrell, back from the thumb injury that kept him out of England’s opening autumn international defeat, charge up to the Chief’s 22, but his chip was smothered by white shirts. The suffocating Exeter defence got its reward when Waldrom intercepted Mike Haywood’s pass on halfway, and despite Lee Dickson catching him five metres short the big number eight slid over for a try converted by Steenson. Jamie Elliott of Northampton Saints is tackled by Thomas Waldrom of Exeter Chiefs . Mike Haywood of Northampton Saints receives medical treatment during the Premiership clash . Northampton thought they had their opening try when Samu Manoa ghosted out of ruck on his 10 metre line to sprint clear. He reached with 15 metres of the try-line and passed inside to Dickson but the scrum-half was caught by opposite number Will Chudley. Dickson’s offload went to ground and Haywood knocked on trying to pick it up with the line in sight. Exeter thought they had a third try just before the break but the TMO ruled there was no obvious grounding by Phil Dollman. But it mattered not as Waldrom picked up from the ensuing five metre scrum to charge over for his second try. Steenson converted to give Exeter a commanding lead at the break. A Remembrance Day ceremony was held before the game at Franklins Gardens . The visitors could have killed the game off straight after the interval when flanker Don Armand broke through from a lineout on Saints’ 10-metre line, but a penalty ended the attack. Exeter players punched the air when they saw off a lineout drive minutes later and with 26 minutes to go Steenson added a penalty to make it 24-6. But the pressure was building and Saints finally got their first try thanks to the pace and great hands of James Wilson as he passed inside to send Tom Stephenson. From five metres in from the touch, Myler made it 24-13 with 20 minutes left. Ten minutes later and relentless pressure saw Jamie Elliott wriggle over in the left corner, but Myler missed the touchline conversion to leave Northampton six points behind. Steenson missed with a drop goal with five minutes to go, but the Chiefs held out for a famous win. | Thomas Waldron scored two tries in Exeter's 24-18 win at Northampton .
Chiefs scored try in just 90 seconds through Luke Cowan-Dickie . |
117,899 | 243b6e56651da3bb0d23e574bf3a929672107175 | By . Sami Mokbel . Follow @@SamiMokbel81_DM . Queens Park Rangers will hold a key summer strategy meeting on Friday, with a potential permanent move for Ravel Morrison a key point of discussion. Co-owner Tony Fernandes will head the meeting, which will also include manager Harry Redknapp and chief executive Phil Beard. Rangers are interested in taking Morrison, who joined on loan from West Ham in January, on a full-time deal ahead of next season. Talent: A potential permanent move for Ravel Morrison will be a key point of discussion during QPR's summer strategy meeting on Friday . All smiles: QPR's co-owner Tony Fernandes , pictured celebrating Saturday's play-off win, will head the summer strategy meeting . The former . Manchester United forward has 12 months left on his deal at Upton Park . and the Hammers could look to sell the youngster this summer rather than . lose him for nothing next year.And if the price is right, QPR are likely to move for the England hopeful. The futures of the club’s current players will also be decided in Friday’s meeting. Big-earners . such as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Jenas, Bobby Zamora, Stephane . Mbia and Andy Johnson are all out of contract this summer. Likewise, . players like Loic Remy, Esteban Granero and Adel Taarabt are all due to . return to Loftus Road following loan spells away. Remy is set to leave this summer, while Granero and Taarabt are unlikely to feature in Redknapp’s plans for next season. Changes: QPR manager Harry Redknapp knows he has work to do to keep his club in the Premier League . Toon: French striker Loic Remy is unlikely to return to QPR after his loan spell at Newcastle . Sales: Both Esteban Granero (left) and Adel Taarabt (right) are unlikely to return at the end of their loan spells . | QPR will discuss potential Ravel Morrison transfer at summer strategy meeting next Friday .
Co-owner Tony Fernandes will head meeting which will also include manager Harry Redknapp .
Morrison played for QPR on loan from West Ham for part of last season .
Loic Remy, Adel Taarabt and Esteban Granero unlikely to stay at Loftus Road following returns from loan spells . |
106,915 | 15eacadb46ee3b04794d68034046d96bfb33f697 | Coleen Rooney was heartbroken last night after the death of her ‘special angel’ sister at the age of just 14. Rosie McLoughlin died in the early hours of yesterday. She had faced a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities. Coleen had been on holiday in Barbados with her younger brothers, Joe and Anthony, but cut short the trip when she heard that Rosie’s condition had deteriorated. Rosie McLoughlin suffered from the brain disorder Rett Syndrome - which also affects development . Loving: Coleen had been on holiday in Barbados . with her younger brothers, Joe and Anthony, but cut short the trip when . she heard that Rosie’s condition had deteriorated . Twitter: Coleen thanked her 913,000 followers for their kind words following Rosie's death . A statement last night from the . McLoughlins said: ‘Sadly our special angel Rosie, our much-loved . daughter and sister, went to Heaven at 2.50 this morning at home where . she was surrounded by her loving family. ‘Rosie was just 14 years old and . fought a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome. Throughout her life she . brought so much love and happiness to all our family and everyone who . knew and met her. ‘She was such a strong little girl . and an inspiration to us all. We shall cherish for ever the memories we . have shared and the love she showed us each and every day of her life. As a family we are heartbroken but we are blessed to have had her in our . lives.’ 'Sadly our special angel Rosie, our . much-loved daughter and sister, went to heaven at 2.50am this morning at . home, where she was surrounded by her loving family. 'Rosie was just 14 years old, and fought a life-long battle with Rett syndrome. Throughout her life she brought so much love and happiness to all our family and everyone who knew and met her. 'She . was such a strong little girl and an inspiration to us all. We shall . cherish forever the memories we have shared and the love she showed us . each and every day of her life. 'As a family we are heartbroken, but we are blessed to have had her in our lives. 'The . family would like to thank everyone involved in Rosie's life for their . love and support and for their messages of heartfelt condolence today. 'We . would also like to thank the many doctors, consultants, nurses, helpers . and friends who all worked so hard and tirelessly to help make Rosie's . life better. In particular, we thank everyone at Alder Hey Hospital and . Claire House Children's Hospice. 'There will be no further statements from the family at this time.' Coleen, 26, was said to idolise her . adopted sister and chose Rosie as chief bridesmaid when she married . Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney in 2008. Last night she took to Twitter to express her sorrow, writing: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken to have lost our angel Rosie. ‘So glad we ended our holiday short, . due to her deteriorating & we was able to spend the last few days . together with her and our family! Sleep tight Rosie Mc x. We love you . more than words can say x.’ Rosie was originally taken in as a . foster child by Coleen’s parents, bricklayer Tony and Colette, a former . nursery nurse, when she was two. Although they were aware she was . disabled they did not know the full extent of her condition, which has . no cure. In an exclusive article for The Mail . on Sunday in 2006, Coleen wrote: ‘When Rosie arrived she could crawl, . and even though she couldn’t use her hands that much she would handle . toys on her play mat and she could eat. ‘But over a period of time she . stopped crawling and lost what use of her hands she had. Then she . started having problems swallowing her food. ‘It took pretty much a year for Rosie . to be diagnosed and, looking back, I can see how much Mum pushed to . find out what was wrong with her and to try to do what was best for . her.’ It was a heartfelt and moving tribute . to her sister who, she said, ‘can’t talk to us but you can tell when . she’s happy – she laughs and giggles and her eyes sparkle’. The Rooneys now have a three-year-old . son, Kai, and their second son is due in May. Because Rosie was . adopted, there is no chance of Coleen passing Rosie’s genetic condition . on to her unborn child. Her mother Colette has said: ‘Coleen . idolises Rosie and Rosie idolises Coleen . . . when Coleen walks into . the room Rosie’s eyes light up.’ Coleen made a TV documentary about . the funding of children’s hospices to raise awareness of places such as . Claire House in Liverpool, where Rosie stayed two nights a week. In last night’s statement the family thanked staff at Claire House, and also Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Family: The couple (pictured left and right with Rosie) reportedly told guests at their . wedding that instead of gifts they wanted donations to Claire House . Children's Hospice and Alder Hey Children's Hospital . Close: The family pictured at the Manchester United Vs Sunderland Match at Old Trafford. Coleen is accompanied by her parents Tony and Colette, Rosie and her son Kai . Rett syndrome is a rare and incurable genetic disorder that causes severe physical and mental disability. Affecting about 1 in every 12,000 girls – and only much more rarely seen in boys – it is usually diagnosed in early childhood when infants fail to develop normally or begin losing basic skills they have already learned. Sufferers can live to the age of 40 but about 95 per cent survive only until they are 25. The condition involves a mutation in a specific gene which affects the way the brain develops and prevents other genes from working in the correct way. Initially symptoms can be vague, but include speech problems and losing the use of the hands. Some children stop using eye contact and lose interest in toys. A period of rapid degeneration follows which can last several months. Children will usually need round-the-clock care and will be unable to do even the simplest tasks on their own. Many will be unable to walk, talk or focus and some will develop symptoms not unlike autism. A third stage, where symptoms plateau, can then last for many years. Some will remain in this state for the rest of their lives. Many will suffer regular seizures and severe motor problems but their condition will not deteriorate. There is no cure, and treatment involves managing the symptoms. Medication may be needed for breathing problems and motor difficulties, and anti-epileptic drugs may be used to control seizures. Those at risk of dying from the syndrome will usually have experienced severe seizures, swallowing difficulties and greatly reduced mobility. Other sufferers can die from pneumonia. Because the condition is so rare – and because the majority of sufferers do not go on to have children – it is not known if it is hereditary. However, it is thought the chances of parents having a second child with the condition are about one per cent. | Coleen cut her Barbados holiday short to be with Rosie as her health deteriorated this week .
Rosie suffered with Rett Syndrome, a brain disorder which affects development and hits one girl in 12,000 .
The teenager, who was adopted by Mrs Rooney's family aged two, was said to have idolised her pregnant sister Coleen . |
172,335 | 6b0817099acf1332d1adb1c84a5ab1e6b6b9f5a7 | By . Emma Glanfield . Warm weather is forecast across Britain today meaning continuous sunshine could be on the way for the next 40 days – if British folklore is to be believed. Many will welcome the fact the Met Office is forecasting bright sunshine and temperatures of 25C, as superstition states that if the sun shines on July 15, it will continue to do so for the next 40 days. However, the St Swithun’s Day folklore also states that if it rains today, it will continue to do so for 40 days – although most of Britain doesn’t have to worry as forecasters say there is a ‘very slim chance’ of scattered showers across the country today. Temperatures were expected to reach 25C across many parts of the country yesterday before soaring to the late twenties on Thursday and Friday making Britain hotter than some European holiday destinations including Ibiza, Nice and Barcelona. Pictured: Eight-year-old Poppy Mae Priest relaxes in the sun at Bournemouth this afternoon . Pictured: Charlotte Finch, six, makes a splash at Bournemouth beach . Temperatures could rise to a sweltering 30C in many parts of the country on Thursday and Friday, including in the south east which is set to enjoy some of the warmest weather in the UK over the next few days. Sun-seekers enjoyed the sunshine in Bournemouth today, including Talia Jade Rahl, one (left), and Charlotte Finch, six (right) Despite experts warning yesterday that . rain could dampen St Swithun’s Day, forecasters today said temperatures . would soar to 25C and continue rising towards the weekend. Most . places across the UK will remain fine and dry today, including in . Manchester, Birmingham, London, Newcastle and Exeter - where the chance . of rain is less than five per cent. Met . Office forecaster Dan Williams said there was a ‘very low possibility’ of rain today, and said as a whole the UK would see ‘mostly dry’ conditions with ‘plenty of cloud around but sunny spells’. Wednesday also looks promising, with the bulk of England and Wales likely to remain dry and sunny. It . will herald the start of another hot spell in Britain, where . temperatures could exceed those in popular European holiday destinations . such as Barcelona, Ibiza and Nice. Temperatures . will start to rise from Thursday, peaking on Friday when the 30C . barrier could be reached for the first time this year, with the most . likely location somewhere to the north-west of London. Heather Welby, of Portishead, (left) and Gaye Senior-Smith (right), of Bristol, enjoy the sun on St Swithun's Day in the University of Bristol Botanic Garden . Forecasters say there is is a 'very good chance' the hottest day of the year so far could be surpassed by Friday. The hottest day of 2014 so far was July 4, when 28.7C (83.7F) was detected in Norfolk and Essex. Pictured: One lady cycles past cattle on Midsummer Common in Cambridge, where the sun peeped through the grey clouds . However, the balmy conditions towards the end of the week – which could see the hottest day of the year so far surpassed – could bring ‘thundery’ rain. Mr Williams said there was a chance heavy showers could develop in parts of the UK on Thursday before it clears later in the afternoon. However, despite the blip, temperatures are expected to rise to a sweltering 30C in many parts of the country on Thursday and Friday, including in the south east which is set to enjoy some of the warmest weather in the UK over the next few days. Mr Williams said there was a very good chance the hottest day of the year so far could be surpassed by Friday. The hottest day of 2014 so far was July 4, when 28.7C (83.7F) was detected in Norfolk and Essex. However, despite the ‘hot and humid’ weather, forecasters have warned the conditions could be uncomfortable for some as it will feel muggy instead of fresh. Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said ‘thundery downpours’ could give brief respite from the hot and sticky weather on Friday and Saturday. She said: ‘Most people won't enjoy these conditions. It can be difficult sleeping during the hot humid nights. ‘Although it probably is shorts and T-shirt weather, you will need a brolly at the same time.’ Many will be relieved it stayed dry to coincide with the folklore of St Swithun's Day. While legend states that rain on July 15 means it will rain for the next 40 days, it also says that if it remains dry for the day, the country will be in for 40 days of sun. Pictured: Ellie Wimshurt, 22, wanders through Barley Wood Walled Garden in Somerset . Despite the 'hot and humid' weather over the next few days, forecasters have warned the conditions could be uncomfortable for some people as it will feel muggy and sticky instead of fresh. Pictured: Ken Roberts cuts daisies at Somerset Flower Farm in Wrington, Somerset where temperatures reached up to 25C today . The conditions, which should ease when a band of fresher air sweeps in on Sunday, are not expected to trigger the Met Office's official threshold for a heatwave. For those looking forward to the next wave of warm weather, many will be relieved that it is expected to stay dry today to coincide with the folklore of St Swithun’s Day. While the legend states that rain on July 15 means it will rain for the next 40 days, it also says that if it remains dry for the day, the country will be in for 40 days of sunshine. The British folklore dates back to c.800, when St Swithun was a Saxon bishop at Winchester Cathedral. As he lay on his deathbed he asked to be buried outside where he would be trodden on and rained on. His wishes were followed for nine years, then on July 15, 971, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a shrine inside the cathedral. This week's warm weather heralds the start of another hot spell in Britain, where temperatures could exceed those in popular European holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Ibiza and Nice. Pictured: A man enjoys a walk through Midsummer Common in Cambridge this afternoon as the sun makes a break through the clouds . According to legend, the removal was accompanied by ferocious and violent rain storms which lasted 40 days and nights and were said to indicate the saint's displeasure at being moved. The story soon became British folklore and ever since the weather patterns on July 15 have been closely followed by the superstitious. The folklore’s rhyme reads: 'St Swithin’s day if thou dost rain, For 40 days it will remain. St Swithin’s day if thou be fair, For 40 days ’twill rain no more.' However, the Met Office has routinely said there is no ‘scientific evidence’ supporting the folklore and said numerous studies have been carried out on past weather observations, with none proving the legend to be true. It also said that since the start of records in 1861, there has been neither 40 dry or 40 wet days following the corresponding weather on St Swithun's Day. While it is unlikely that any one location will see rain fall every day for the next 40, there is some element of truth to weather patterns continuing. By this point in the summer, the jet stream is usually set in a pattern which tends to last until the end of August. The jet stream is a fast-flowing current of air located around four to seven miles up in the atmosphere. It tends to steer the areas of high and low pressure around the globe and marks a boundary between cold air to the north and warmer air to the south. If it is sitting to the north of the UK, then warm air tends to invade from the south, usually associated with high pressure building in from the Azores, leading to fine and settled weather for the British Isles. However, should the jet stream sit across the UK or to the south, then cooler air from the north is dragged down and low pressure systems move across the country from the Atlantic, leading to unsettled weather. So far, the jet stream is pointing directly towards the British Isles, indicating unsettled weather. | British folklore states that if conditions are fair on St Swithun's Day then the sun will continue to shine for 40 days .
Forecasters predict Britain will bask in some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far towards end of the week .
Many parts of the UK are set to enjoy temperatures of 25C today before mercury soars to 30C on Thursday and Friday .
UK is set to be hotter than some European holiday destinations over next few days including Ibiza, Barcelona and Nice .
South east will be among warmest places in the country - but forecasters warn conditions will be muggy and humid . |
212,221 | 9ed006556150c58f416d0e872ae7dca5b23263c2 | (CNN) -- Jodi Arias and her legal team began fighting for her life Tuesday when a new jury heard opening arguments on whether she should receive a life or death sentence for her murder conviction. It's been a long legal journey for Arias, 34, whom a jury found guilty last year of first-degree murder in the gruesome killing of ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, 30. This week's court proceeding in Arizona is a retrial of the penalty phase. In 2013, the same jury that convicted her became deadlocked later on whether she should be executed for the 2008 murder of Alexander, who was stabbed 29 times, shot in the face and had his neck slit from ear to ear. The impasse came when the jury voted 8-4 in favor of the death penalty for Arias, a source with knowledge of the jury's vote said at the time. "The tale of this relationship is one of infinite sadness," Arias's lawyer, Kirk Nurmi, told the jury onTuesday. "The story of this relationship is one of tragedy, friendship, spirituality, lust, passion, forbidden sex, abuse and violence." Nurmi said Arias went through an abusive childhood and developed a personality disorder early in life but had never committed a crime before the killing. She also suffered emotional abuse at the hands of Alexander, he said. She is very remorseful and is punishing herself, he said. The only appropriate sentence is life in prison, Nurmi concluded. The prosecutor in the case, Juan Martinez, cast doubt on Arias's feelings toward Alexander, saying "she loved him so much that after she slaughtered him she showed up at his memorial service." Martinez described the brutality of the slaying, telling the jury that Arias stabbed Alexander first in the chest while he was nude in the shower, then continued to stab him in the back when he was already bleeding and leaning over the bathroom sink. After making his opening argument, Martinez called police officers as the first witnesses. They showed the jury photos of the bloody scene in the bathroom. A death penalty requires a unanimous vote by the 12 jurors, and during the penalty retrial, a similar 12-0 vote will be required if Arias is to die by lethal injection, said Jerry Cobb, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. During the retrial, if all 12 jurors can't vote for death, then Arias will be eligible for one of two life sentences: life without the possibility of release or life with the possibility of release after 25 calendar years, Cobb said. That means Arias and her legal team will need to persuade only one of the 12 jurors to vote against the death penalty for her to be spared from execution, Cobb said. The judge swore in six men and 12 women as jurors for the penalty phase. Nobody knows, not even the jurors, which of them will be the 12 to actually make a decision about Arias's life. Graphic testimony expected . The 12 jurors and eight alternates are expected to hear evidence for three to six weeks, Cobb said. That testimony won't rehash whether Arias committed murder. That's already been decided. Rather, the jury will hear evidence from the prosecution on why a death sentence is warranted and from the defense on how Arias' background and relationship with Alexander pose mitigations favoring a life sentence, Cobb said. Nevertheless, the testimony is expected to be gruesome and grisly because prosecutors must show the murder was done in a "cruel, depraved or heinous" manner, among other factors, Cobb said. "The state will be arguing and building on that theme," Cobb said. Arias' legal team is arguing that life is "the appropriate penalty" for the convicted murderer for a number of reasons, according to court papers they filed this month. Her legal team notes that Arias has no prior criminal history. She was only 27 when she killed Alexander and has since been remorseful, according to court papers. She also has a psychological makeup that "impaired her ability to cope with the tumultuous relationship she had with Mr. Alexander," court papers said. No live telecast until verdict . Unlike the 2013 trial, the penalty retrial won't be televised live. Rather, Judge Sherry Stephens, who will preside over the retrial as she did in the 2013 trial, has ruled that while TV cameras will be permitted in the retrial, no video can be aired until a verdict has been rendered. The judge's decision came after the defense argued that live TV coverage would keep their witnesses from testifying. The 2013 trial was sensational, attracting a media circus and a national audience riveted by themes of sex, violence and 18 days of testimony by Arias, who detailed what she called an abusive relationship with Alexander but claimed she remembered nothing of his killing. Public fascination . The trial also featured phone sex conversations between Arias and her boyfriend as well as video of her interrogation by police. The public also became fascinated with Arias because she took the stand in her defense. More recently, she sought to act as her own attorney in the penalty phase retrial and was initially granted permission in August. But Arias changed her mind in September. During last year's trial, jurors and the public saw Arias on video making a number of declarations to police investigating the murder. "I'm not a murderer," she told detectives. "If I killed Travis, I would beg for the death penalty." The police video also showed her doing bizarre behavior when left alone in a police room: she began stretching and doing handstands. In another police interview, Arias blamed Alexander's killing on intruders. "They didn't discuss much, they just argued," Arias told a detective. "About what?" the detective said. "About whether or not to kill me." "For what reason?" "Because I'm a witness," Arias said on video. Then came a moment of high courtroom drama: the packed gallery sat in stunned disbelief when Arias took the stand in her defense. "Did you kill Travis Alexander on June 4th, 2008?" the attorney asked her. "Yes, I did," she said. "Why?" "Um, the simple answer is that he attacked me, and I defended myself," Arias said. But the jury didn't buy it and convicted her of first-degree murder. | NEW: Defense lawyer says Arias had abusive childhood, personality disorder .
NEW: Prosecutor describes the bloody slaying in a bathroom .
A 12-0 vote by jury is required to execute Arias by lethal injection .
This means Arias' lawyers need to convince only one juror to support a life sentence . |
181,186 | 768d71880b9823ee43d044d118042b845dd8c445 | By . Richard Arrowsmith for MailOnline . Gareth Barry has praised teammate Steven Naismith for helping Everton overcome the loss of injured Ross Barkley at the beginning of this season. The Scotland international has arguably been the Toffees best player in the opening stages of this campaign, scoring in each of his first three games against Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea. Barry has credited the 27-year-old for his goals and a relentless work ethic that he claims few players can rival. Hot streak: Steven Naismith has scored in each of his first three Premier League games . Patriot games:Naismith celebrates after Ikechi Anya scores against Germany in Euro 2016 qualifier . Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the former England international said: 'He knows his role and is a very clever player. 'He is doing exactly what is asked of him and his work rate is second to none. There are not many players out there that puts in the shift he does. 'Not only that, he is scoring goals and helping the team. He is doing both brilliantly.' Grafter: Gareth Barry (bottom) claims that there are few players who work as hard as Naismith . Crock star: Ross Barkley was ruled out with ligament damage on the eve of the Premier League . Naismith's form has mean't the loss of Barkley, who suffered medial ligament damage on the eve of the Premier League, has not been so sorely felt. 'We said at the time that it would be somebody else's chance if Ross is going to be out for a little bit,' said Barry. 'Whether Naisy was going to play anyhow against Leicester nobody will know, but he has taken that chance.' | Gareth Barry has praised Steven Naismith's work ethic this season .
Scotland international has scored in opening three Premier League games .
Naismith's from has eased Toffees loss of Ross Barkley through injury . |
134,822 | 3a6481d74a2be8c51e06bf2b1f72314448f194c5 | (CNN) -- It's been 145 years since Abraham Lincoln appeared on a ballot, but admiration for the man who saved the union and sparked the end of slavery is as strong as ever, according to a new survey. Abraham Lincoln, seen in an 1861 photo, tops the list of former presidents in a new survey of historians. Lincoln finished first in a ranking by historians of the 42 former White House occupants. The survey was released over Presidents Day weekend. The news wasn't quite as good for the latest addition to the nation's most exclusive fraternity: George W. Bush finished 36th in the survey, narrowly edging out the likes of historical also-rans Millard Fillmore, Warren Harding and Franklin Pierce. James Buchanan -- the man who watched helplessly as the nation lurched toward civil war in the 1850s -- finished last. "As much as is possible, we created a poll that was non-partisan, judicious and fair-minded," said Rice University professor Douglas Brinkley, who helped organize the survey of 65 historians for cable television network C-SPAN. The survey -- which asked participants to rank each president on 10 qualities of leadership ranging from public persuasion and economic management to international relations and moral authority -- was the network's second since 2000. See which presidents ranked highest and lowest » . The hero of Springfield, Illinois, finished first nine years ago as well. "It's fitting that for the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln that he remains at the top of these presidential rankings," Brinkley said. "Lincoln continues to rank at the top in all categories because he is perceived to embody the nation's avowed core values: integrity, moderation, persistence in the pursuit of honorable goals, respect for human rights, compassion," Howard University's Edna Medford added. Founding father George Washington finished second in the new survey, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman, in that order. Bill Clinton registered the greatest gain among recent presidents, jumping from 21st to 15th in the survey. Ronald Reagan edged forward from 11th to 10th overall, while George H.W. Bush moved up from 20th to 18th. The prize for the greatest jump in approval from historians over the last nine years, however, went to a president who has often sat near the bottom of such rankings: Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War general jumped 10 notches, from 33rd to 23rd. Grant has traditionally received poor marks for corruption among people in his administration and the failed postwar reconstruction effort he presided over. But the nation's 18th president may be getting a bounce from all of the recent attention focused on Lincoln, Medford said. "Grant won the war for Lincoln," she noted during an appearance on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal." "A new look at the totality of his career may be improving his presidential stature," she said. "Bill Clinton and Ulysses S. Grant aren't often mentioned in the same sentence -- until now," historian Richard Norton Smith said. "Participants in the latest [survey] have boosted each man significantly higher than in the original survey conducted in 2000. All of which goes to show two things: the fluidity with which presidential reputations are judged, and the difficulty of assessing any president who has only just recently left office." In his final news conference before stepping down last month, George W. Bush made it clear he wasn't concerned with poor initial judgments of his presidency. "There is no such thing as short-term history," Bush said. "I don't think you can possibly get the full breadth of an administration until time has passed." The survey's participants ranked Bush 41st on international relations and 40th on economic management -- ahead of only Herbert Hoover. | 65 historians ranked former presidents on various leadership qualities .
Abraham Lincoln ranked highest, as he did in similar survey done in 2000 .
James Buchanan, who watched as nation lurched toward civil war, came in last .
George W. Bush ranks 36th among the 42 former presidents . |
150,078 | 4e09e86fbba62009629892cb0312bef5e914f49d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Pictured at just two days old, these three gorgeous white lion cubs are already proving quite a handful for their doting mother. The playful youngsters were barely able to open their eyes, but were already busy exploring their enclosure at the privately-owned Zoo Safari in Borysewo, central Poland. Their mother, the white lioness Azira, certainly looked like she had her paws full as her newborns clambered over her back getting up to all sorts of mischief. Mother's pride: White lion Azira is pictured with her three beautiful new-born cubs . Mane attraction: The newborn lions are set to become major celebrities at Zoo Safari in Borysewo, central Poland . Born on January 28, they are set to . become a major attraction at the privately owned zoo as there are . believed to be less than fifty white lions in the world. White lions are native to only the Greater Timbavati region of South Africa, an area characterised by white sandy riverbeds and long grass scorched pale by the sun. They are regarded as sacred animals by the people of that region, but after Europeans 'discovered' them in the 1970s, many were taken from the wild to captive breeding and hunting operations, according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust. These removals, along with lion culling and trophy hunting of male lions, depleted the gene pool and the animals have been technically extinct in the wild for the past 12 years. Nuzzle: Doting mother Azira tends to one of her newborns . Squeaker: One of the little cubs, its eyes barely open, yelps for attention . Curious: An adventurous cub clambers on the back of its mother white lioness Azira at the Polish zoo . In their natural habitat, white lions . are regarded as 'apex predators', able to hunt successfully in day and . night and take down prey as large as giraffes. Despite . their rarity, white lions are not yet classified as endangered because . biologists still regard them as ultimately the same as their tawny . equivalents. The Global . White Lion Protection Trust is campaigning for white lions to be . recognised as a subspecies of lions, so that they can be protected under . international law. However, . the genetic marker that makes white lions unique has not yet been . identified by scientists and research into the animals is ongoing. Protective: Mother lioness Azira bares her fangs . Despite their rarity, white lions are not yet classified as endangered because biologists still regard them as ultimately the same as their tawny equivalents . White lioness Azira keeps a close eye on one of her triplets. The cubs were born on January 28 . Big daddy: White lion Sahim, father of three new born cubs, is pictured in his enclosure in the privately-owned zoo . Housemate: White male tiger Aron is another resident at the privately-owned zoo in Boryszew, central Poland . | The three gorgeous cubs were born on January 28 at zoo in central Poland .
They are already proving quite a handful for doting mother Azira .
It is believed there are less than 50 white lions in the world . |
255,458 | d6a9371a15a9133b5fdc776ae16ccedcc320df02 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Suspected Taliban militants blew up a government-run school Monday in Pakistan's violence-plagued Swat Valley, bringing to 183 the number of schools destroyed since fighting began in the area six months ago, officials said. Students gather outside a destroyed school on January 17 in Kundar in Pakistan's Swat Valley. A day earlier, radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah threatened to kill more than four dozen government officials if they did not appear before him for opposing the Taliban. Local newspapers on Monday printed the list of 50 government officials and tribal elders whom Fazlullah has threatened with death. The boy's high school that was destroyed was located in Mingora, the valley's main city, said Sher Afzal Khan, an education officer for Swat. The attack occurred early Monday and no one was wounded. Swat Valley, located in North West Frontier Province, was once Pakistan's biggest tourist destination. It is situated near the Afghanistan border and about 186 miles (300 km) from the capital city of Islamabad. The valley boasted the country's only ski resort and was a draw for trout-fishing enthusiasts until it was overrun by militants, led by Fazlullah. He has launched a violent and deadly campaign to enforce Taliban-style fundamentalist Islamic laws throughout the province. The militants want to require veils for women and beards for men, and to ban music and television. The central government has long exerted little control in the area, but it launched an intense military offensive in late July to flush out militants. As retaliation for the military presence, the Taliban has carried out a series of deadly bombings, and has said the attacks will continue until the troops pull out. Elsewhere in the North West Frontier Province, a blast killed five people and wounded 15 others Monday morning, officials said. The bomb, planted on a bicycle, went off in the town of Dera Ismail Khan, said Mohammad Riaz of the province's police force. It killed shopkeepers and pedestrians, added the town's police chief, Abdul Rashid. CNN's Zein Basravi contributed to this report. | Blast targets boy's high school in Mingora, Swat Valley .
Monday attack marks 183rd school destroyed in past six months of fighting .
Hundreds of people killed in wave of violence across North West Frontier Province . |
146,897 | 49f604310a24017785b00a545b49bfe69a7555ee | A street in America has ramped up the voltage when it comes to Christmas lights and synced their bulbs to music. Sixteen neighbors living on Manning Street in Yucaipa, California, spent months preparing the impressive decorations adorning their homes and front yards. Resident Jeff Maxey uploaded an aerial video yesterday showing the lights in action, with thousands of ornaments flashing in time to Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You. Bolts of yellow, blue, red and green illuminate the night sky as the track plays. Car headlamps add to the effect as vehicles drive through the spectacle. The lights have also been rigged up to dance to dozens of other tracks including the rock track Wizards of Winter by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It is the fourth year that the people of Yucaipa have come together to put on a festive display. ‘We want everyone to enjoy the show and all the hard work we put into making this better every year,’ they said on their Facebook page. The dancing lights run from dusk to 9pm Sunday through Thursday and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Don't forget your sunglasses! Get ready for it! A street in America has ramped up the voltage when it comes to Christmas lights by syncing their bulbs to music . Team effort: Sixteen neighbors living on Manning Street in Yucaipa, California, spent months preparing the impressive decorations adorning their homes and front yards . From the air: Jeff Maxey uploaded an aerial video yesterday showing the lights in action, with thousands of ornaments flashing in time to Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You . Bring your sunglasses: Bolts of yellow, blue, red and green illuminate the night sky as the track plays . | Sixteen neighbors living on Manning Street in Yucaipa, California, spent months preparing the impressive light display .
The dancing decorations run from dusk to 9pm Sunday through Thursday and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday . |
125,140 | 2dc5eda8484197f1f58945512c84b66caf292072 | (CNN) -- Now that President Obama has set the timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, the debate has begun over its possible consequences. U.S. troops secure a street in in the southern Dura district of Baghdad, Iraq, this week. Does it provide enough time for Iraqis to forge a functioning government and an economy that benefits everyone? And if it doesn't, could a civil war be the result? The plan, as outlined in a February 27 speech by Obama, calls for most U.S. troops to leave Iraq by August 2010. A "transitional force" of 35,000 to 50,000 troops will remain in the country to assist Iraqi security forces, protect Americans and fight terrorism, Obama said. Track Obama's First 100 Days . All troops will be withdrawn by the end of 2011, a date established last year by the Bush administration and the Iraqi government. Another condition of that agreement requires U.S. troops leave Iraqi cities by June 30 this year. Obama's plan is predicated on a relative decrease in violence in Iraq and the belief that Iraqis are increasingly becoming more capable of ensuring security. Watch Iraqi reaction to Obama's plan » . With the exception of February 2009, Iraqi civilian deaths have been steadily dropping since the fall of 2007, according to statistics compiled by an Iraqi Interior Ministry official. U.S. military casualties in Iraq have also generally decreased when compared to 2006 through 2007. Casualties: The names and faces who've fallen . The U.S. military attributes the decrease in violence to three main factors: the so-called "surge" of U.S. troops, implemented at the beginning of 2007; the Sunni "Awakening" movements, in which local communities turned against al Qaeda in Iraq; and the ceasefire announced by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Yet, it's very much a question whether the disparate Iraqi groups and communities used that decrease in violence to work toward settling some thorny issues, Iraqi experts and observers said. "The surge failed," Thomas Ricks, the longtime Washington Post correspondent, said during a CNN interview on February 20. Ricks has written two books about the Iraq war: "Fiasco" and the recently published, "The Gamble." "Its purpose was to lead to a political breakthrough. It improved security but didn't achieve that larger purpose. And because of that, none of the basic questions in Iraq have been addressed." Ricks said those questions include the final form of the Iraqi government, the relationship between the main sectarian groups and how oil revenue will be shared by them. The political question . In Iraq, the year began with a round of provincial elections and will end with parliamentary elections. In between are a host of other important political events and other elections that will shape Iraq's future. "This is the critical year of decisions for Iraqis. What direction do they want to go?" said J. Scott Carpenter, an expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He served in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and the State Department. An important decision yet to be made is the form of the Iraqi government. Will it be a strong, central government, or will it be a loose confederation that will parcel out power to its various provinces and regions? Carpenter said the results from the provincial elections indicated the Iraqis preferred the former. "They said very, very clearly 'we're tired of the sectarian nonsense. We want services delivered. We want a government that functions. We're Iraqi, first and foremost.'" The stakes, however, were low in the provincial elections; the provinces have little money to spend and not much power to exercise, Carpenter said. "That's not going to be the case in the parliamentary elections," he predicted. "The question is whether or not you can have national parliamentary elections in which real competition takes place and at the end of the day, whoever loses those elections accepts those results." It is that prospect -- an embittered, defeated group that turns to violence to achieve what they couldn't in the electoral process -- that is unnerving. And there are a range of possibilities that could result in such a situation, experts say. The sectarian question . The war has fundamentally altered Iraq's political structure, with the Shiites emerging as the governing political class, Carpenter said. "That has been a huge thing for the Sunni minority to swallow. So, the digestion is going to take some time." Sunni Iraqis, especially in volatile areas such as Anbar province, will have to be incorporated into the political dialogue and provided jobs, experts say. Meanwhile, the Kurdish-Arab relationship is worsening, observers say. "During the years of warfare between Sunni and Shiite Arabs, the Kurdish issue lay dormant. But now, it has roared back to the forefront," Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, Iraq experts at the Brookings Institution, wrote in a New York Times op-ed published February 26. The issues do not involve sectarian hatred but "the cold, hard issues of land and oil and cash, as well as the distribution of power between Iraq's center and its regions and provinces," they wrote. The Kurds, who have long sought to establish a state, have operated with relative autonomy for the past few years. They also hold oil-rich regions in the northern parts of Iraq. A law detailing how oil revenue would be shared between the different groups has yet to be formally agreed on, further contributing to political tension. "There are oil revenue sharing mechanisms in place. It's that they don't have the sanction of law which is what the Kurds desperately want," Carpenter said. Observers say that accommodating the interests of these various groups while assuaging their fears has been and will be a considerable challenge. "The Kurds have ambitions of their own. The Sunnis have needs of their own. The Shiites have divisions of their own," said Simon Serfaty of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The reconciliation of those communities and the willingness to live within a single unit is still in question." There are many other questions when it comes to Iraq: What to do with the 4 million refugees displaced to some neighboring countries? Is Muqtada al Sadr sincere in his ceasefire or is he waiting for the U.S. troops to leave before he acts? What about the many Iraqis being held by coalition forces? Are the Iraq security forces truly ready to take the lead? See map of Obama's global challenges . With such questions in mind, observers and lawmakers voice a range of opinions on the impact of the "surge" and Obama's policy to withdraw troops. Some say they are confident that Iraq is edging toward stability; others are not as confident. "There are still people who predict Iraq will have a civil war, that all the surge did was kick the can down the road a couple of years. Whether that's true or not, we don't know," said Ricks, the author. Carpenter, who describes himself as an "inveterate optimist" when it comes to Iraq, says he is hopeful for a positive outcome. "Most of these groups and these leaders have looked into the abyss and not seen what they wanted to see, so have a reason for accommodation," he said. "Time is the critical factor, time for accommodation and time for political deals." Whether the 19 months of time provided by the Obama timeline is enough might be the most important question of them all. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report. | President Obama: Most U.S. troops to leave by August 2010 .
Iraqis scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in December .
Questions over political power and revenue sharing remain . |
251,576 | d1a4cd5929563cc9a615ff0c92759fb5038bd12e | (CNN) -- The death toll from the devastating tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri, last month has risen to 155, a city spokeswoman said Monday. The previous death toll, reported on Friday, was 154. The most recent death was Edmon A. Cooper, Joplin city spokeswoman Lynn Onstot said. Cooper died from injuries sustained during the May 22 tornado, Onstot said. No other details were immediately available. The Joplin tornado was the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than 60 years, according to National Weather Service records. It left a 13-mile-long trail of destruction through the southwest Missouri city, stripping the bark from trees and smashing homes into unrecognizable rubble. | The previous death toll, reported on Friday, was 154 .
The Joplin tornado was the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than 60 years . |
87,985 | f9a381187e6b7c30b618fc2553e35f91d6d42e32 | By . Emily Crane . One of Australia's finest jewellers has died after she plunged to her death from a Queensland high rise apartment block after a tough recovery from ovarian cancer. Ann Middleton, 62, died suddenly on the Gold Coast on Friday night. She had beaten ovarian cancer two years ago but spent the past two years in unbearable pain following nerve damage. Ann Middleton, 62, died suddenly on the Gold Coast on Friday night after plunging from a high rise . Dubbed Australia's Queen of Diamonds, Ms Middleton had designed jewellery for several high profile personalities including former US President Bill Clinton, Ian Thorpe and Olivia Newton John. She also raised more than $5 million for Australian charities by donating several of her designs, as well as donating a number of pieces to Olivia Newton John's charities. Ms Middleton had also collaborated with international model Jessica Hart to design a piece of a Queensland flood victims charity auction. Dubbed Australia's Queen of Diamonds, Ms Middleton had designed jewellery for several high profile personalities including former US President Bill Clinton . Her son Jaime said Ms Middleton's death would be felt around the world, the Courier Mail reports. 'She was much admired and loved by not only Australians but clients and celebrities the world over,' he said in a statement. Her friend Karen Phillips said the jewellery designer had been a true gem. Ms Middleton raised more than $5 million for Australian charities by donating several of her designs, as well as donating a number of pieces to Olivia Newton John's charities . 'She was larger than life ' she really was Australia's Queen of Diamonds – and a true shining light for so many,' Ms Phillips said. Ms Middleton's jewellery career, which spanned 40 years, saw her recognised with a number of high accolades including being named the Diamonds International Award Winner in 1994. She was also awarded the Order of Australia medal and was named the first South Australian of the year. This diamond swimsuit modeled by Samantha Harris was designed by Ms Middleton and was estimated to cost about $1 million . Ms Middleton was also the official jeweller for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Her funeral will be held in her hometown of Adelaide this week. She leaves behind her son Jamie, daughter-in-law Amy and granddaughter Charlotte. Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. The jeweller also collaborated with international model Jessica Hart to design a piece of a Queensland flood victims charity auction . | Ann Middleton, 62, died suddenly on the Gold Coast on Friday night .
She had beaten ovarian cancer two years ago but spent the past two years in excruciating pain following nerve damage .
Ms Middleton had designed jewellery for former US President Bill Clinton, Ian Thorpe and Olivia Newton John . |
187,707 | 7f1455b7cc9eeea718b0ec04ceaf070f66876427 | By . Sean Poulter and Amie Keeley . PUBLISHED: . 16:37 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:48 EST, 28 October 2013 . Most of the world may be struggling through another year of hard times, but, it seems, no one has told Harrods. The department store is making sure the country’s billionaires – the City bankers, hedge fund bosses, Russian magnates and Arab potentates – can look forward to a truly luxurious Christmas with this hamper, which at £20,000 costs as much as many young couples can afford to put down as a deposit on their first home. Aptly named The Decadence, this gift for the oligarch who has everything brings together some of the most expensive food and drink in the world. Harrods' hamper, aptly named The Decadence, costs £20,000 and includes caviar and fine wines . Harrods insists that it is worth the eye-watering price – but if you are considering getting one for Christmas morning, be aware of one glaring omission. The huge hamper does not come with a turkey. And you would need to shell out for a fairly gargantuan bird to grace a table kitted out with the contents of this gift basket. There are 25 bottles of wine and spirits, including magnums of Dom Perignon, Cristal and Taittinger champagne. The wine selection includes a 2007 Chateau Margaux red and a magnum of sweet Chateau D’Yquem 2002, both world famous. For an after dinner tipple, try the Balvenie single malt whisky, which has been aged for 30 years, or the Courvoisier Initiale Extra cognac. There is a 2kg pack of exclusive Kopi Luwak coffee, which, bizarrely, is collected from the dung of Asian palm civet cats after they have been fed a diet of coffee berries. Apparently, the cats’ digestive process improves the flavour, delivering what Harrods calls the ‘world’s finest and most expensive coffee beans’. The centrepiece of the feast is the 8kg Iberico ham, which comes with its own special carving knife. The meat, considered one of Spain’s food treasures, comes from purebred black Iberian pigs that spend their lives roaming free, foraging for a natural diet of acorns. The selection of meats also includes Capocollo di Martina Franca, an Italian salami from the hills of Apulia that is cured for up to 180 days, Iberian chorizo, Mortandella Corra from Italy, and Salame Strolghino. Established in 1824, Harrods has grown to become the most prestigious department store in Europe . There are not one, but two types of caviar, including a 125g pot of Oscietra from the prized Ossetra sturgeon, a fish that weighs up to 400 pounds and can live for 50 years. This is outdone by the even more exclusive Beluga caviar, harvested from fish in the Caspian Sea.From closer to home is a 500g royal fillet of Scottish salmon, described as ideal for a Boxing Day buffet. The hamper courts controversy with its two types of pate de foie gras with truffles, one made of duck liver and the other from goose. Animal welfare campaigners are pushing for a ban on the delicacy because it is usually produced by force-feeding birds until their livers swell to an unnatural size, taking on the soft texture that is prized by gourmets. A decent cheese board is a Christmas must and the Harrods range does not disappoint. There is a 1.15kg half baby Stilton, together with a Torta de Trujillo, made from the milk of sheep that graze freely on herbs and grasses. There is also a selection of other cheeses, including an 825g round of aged West Country farmhouse cheddar, matured for nine months. While the traditional turkey and veg have been neglected – there’s not a sprout in sight – recipients do get an ‘extra-special three-tiered Christmas cake, decorated with resplendent ribbons’, which weighs in at 9.5kg. And of course, there is an Archive Collection Christmas Pudding, inspired by recipes from Harrods’ original 1930s range. In case pantry staples such as olive oil and orange marmalade seem a little too pedestrian after all that luxury, Harrods offers them to the discerning customer liberally sprinkled with flakes of real gold. The oil alone would set you back £750. There’s even a selection of fresh fruit – to help kickstart a post-Christmas diet, perhaps. A small 68g bottle of Leonardi balsamic vinegar, which is aged for 100 years and normally costs £235, is so exclusive that each one is numbered and presented in a gift box. The luxury presentation is finished off with mini mince pies, a box of six Christmas crackers, table decorations and a Harrods slate cheese board with a glass cloche. The £20,000 hamper is delivered in a wooden presentation trunk, rather than a wicker basket.Harrods, established by Charles Henry Harrod in 1824, grew to become the largest and most prestigious department store in Europe. Today it has more than one million square feet of selling space in London’s Knightsbridge. Its motto Omnia Omnibus Ubique, or ‘all things for all people, everywhere’, is somewhat at odds with its modern devotion to providing luxury goods to the super rich. In May 2010, long-term owner Mohamed Al-Fayed sold the store to Qatar Holdings, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar, for £1.5billion. The deal was considered so momentous that it was finalised by the Qatari Prime Minister, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. Bruce Langlands, director of food at Harrods, said it has a deserved reputation for the world’s finest hampers. ‘The Decadence is a showcase of the most enticing and delectable flavours available from across the globe and carefully sourced by our team of experts and suppliers,’ he added. ‘This hamper caters to those with genuine discernment for quality; from extra virgin olive oil with 24-carat gold flakes and Beluga caviar to a selection of finest wines and champagnes.’ He stressed that cheaper options are available – for those not thinking of taking out a new mortgage for a few seasonal treats. Alternatives include a Celebration of Chocolate at £125 and The Archive Hamper at £225. | Brings together expensive food and drink from across the world .
The Decadence includes 25 bottles of wine and spirits .
Also includes a 2kg packet of Kopi Luwak coffee and two types of caviar . |
284,791 | fd05add33275e8e02f35720ed3e6b27f84747556 | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . Saab will start making cars again, two years after going to the wall. The Swedish firm will make existing models, such as the 9-3 saloon, but also start producing electric cars. It went bankrupt in late 2011 and was bought by a Chinese-Swedish investment group, National Electric Vehicle Sweden, in June 2012. Saab is to reproduce its 9 x 3 Turbo Saloon in the first batch of vehicles to be made since the company was bought in 2012 . Spokesman Mikael Oestlund said initial production levels at its factory in western Sweden will be ‘modest’ and rise if demand grows. The company is to make a petrol-powered version of the car with the aim of launching an electric version later. Mr Oestlund said: 'You can’t change or develop very much in . a year. We acquired the assets in August last year. 'Our focus has been . to get the co-operation up and running with 400 suppliers and ensure the . facilities were working.' 'We are humble and say we’ll start . the production volume with low figures and be able to increase over time . according to the market’s demand.’ Sales peaked at 133,000 cars in 2006 but slumped to 27,000 only three years later. A Sweden Airforce Arrow shaped SAAB Vigen. The company dates back to 1937 when it manufactured military aircraft . US car giant General Motors (GM) – which also owns Britain’s Vauxhall - bought a 50per cent stake and management control of the firm in 1989, before gaining full ownership in 2000 – though bosses admitted they never knew quite what to do with it. At the Detroit Motor Show in January 2008, General Motors senior executive Bob Lutz told the Daily Mail ahead of his company’s eventual sale of the Swedish car firm: ‘Saab is the GM executive wife’s vehicle of choice . 'But I don’t think it has ever made a profit in its entire history. We’ve hung onto it longer than we should have.’ American parent firm GM itself sought bankruptcy protection as the global financial crisis unfolded, forcing the US company to dispose of assets. So GM sold Saab to Dutch group Spyker, which in turn eventually sold the firm to Nevs in June last year. The new owners have said they want to focus on electric cars as they look to revive the brand. SAAB’s origins go back to 1937 when Sweden’s Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB) was founded in Trollhättan to manufacture military aircraft. At the end of the Second World War, in which neutral Sweden played no active part. SAAB diversified into cars with the first production of the two-stroke-engine Saab 92. It soon became a household name in Sweden and in the 1970s it released its first turbocharged model - the landmark Saab 99. Saabs found favour with architects, independent spirits and maverick entrepreneurs such as Virgin boss Sir Richard. Loyal enthusiasts appreciated SAAB for its aerodynamic style and quirks like placing the ignition lock between the front seats rather than on the steering column. It was the first to offer heated seating in 1971. | The company is to reproduce a 'modest' number of its popular 9-3 saloon .
Saab went bankrupt in late 2011 after inconsistent sales .
Chinese-Swedish investment group bought the company in 2012 . |
46,985 | 8458dfe63cc669ac71d79e1be395fb805b0f6ce7 | Among groups that have expressed an interest in changing the wedding laws is British Naturism, the organisation that represent naturists and campaigns to combat prejudice against outdoor nudism . Couples may be allowed to get married naked in naturist weddings under a rethink of marriage law ordered by ministers. The prospect of brides walking down the aisle of Waitrose rather than one in a church will also be on the cards in a full-scale inquiry into how and where weddings should be staged. The move to reform wedding law follows David Cameron’s introduction of same-sex marriage. The 2013 legislation that allowed gay weddings also said the Government would examine changes to the way marriages are solemnised. As a result, the wedding law review, ordered by ministers to start this week, will look at sweeping reforms which could allow weddings in the open air or in people’s homes and gardens. It will explore whether weddings may be conducted by non-religious organisations from humanists to political pressure groups. A paper published yesterday by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed that among groups that have expressed an interest in changing the wedding laws is British Naturism, the organisation that represent naturists and campaigns to combat prejudice against outdoor nudism. It said naturists could qualify to conduct weddings if the rules were changed. And, the paper said, there was concern that liberalising wedding law could bring in commercial competition, with rival private wedding companies vying to attract the custom of brides and grooms, and even supermarkets might be turned into venues for couples to take their vows. That would mean Tesco could open wedding parlours alongside its pharmacies and banks, and the Co-op could expand its funeral services into an all-round ‘match and despatch’ operation. Independent marriage support groups said it was important that people take their weddings seriously wherever they are held. Harry Benson of the Marriage Foundation, which campaigns to promote marriage, said: ‘I have no objection to people getting married jumping out of an aeroplane or on a beach as long as they mean it and the marriage is properly registered. A paper published yesterday by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling (above) said there was concern that liberalising wedding law could bring in commercial competition, with rival private wedding companies vying to attract the custom of brides and grooms . ‘But some of these ideas are just silly. I hope there will be guidance for the best man at a nude wedding on where to keep the ring.’ At the moment wedding law allows couples to have a traditional wedding in church, under rules set by the Church of England and other churches with the right to conduct the ceremonies, or a civil wedding in a register office or ‘approved premises’. Approved premises, which include stately homes, hotels and sports ground entertainment suites, have proved highly popular since they were introduced in the 1990s. Only Jews and Quakers are allowed to marry in their own homes, under laws from 1753 which released them from the requirement to be married by the Church of England. Tony Blair’s government tried to introduce a law to allow people to get married anywhere they liked in 2000, but dropped the idea in the face of the complications involved. The 2013 Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act said ministers would review whether ‘non-religious belief organisations’, like humanists, should also be able to conduct weddings. The consultation response from the Ministry of Justice yesterday said that humanists were anxious to hold weddings in the open air or at places couples find ‘meaningful’, which could mean a preferred holiday beach, the place where they met, a place where a parent’s ashes were scattered, or even a football pitch. But it said that there was a risk that criminal gangs running sham or forced marriages would move in, and that ‘inappropriate’ organisations could win the right to run marriages. ‘There was a risk that any group, including those with a cult following, could potentially qualify if they could show their purpose as the advancement of beliefs and the ethics associated with those beliefs, or could successfully have it determined that they were being discriminated against if excluded from conducting legal ceremonies,’ the paper said. It added: ‘The groups identified as a risk included political organisations, Jedi Knights, Hell’s Angels, radicalised groups and criminal gangs involved in forced marriage.’ One critic of reform, it said, feared that pressure groups would try to conduct marriages to raise funds for their cause. The Ministry of Justice paper said that the Government law reform advisers, the Law Commission, will be asked to ‘begin as soon as possible a broader review of the law concerning marriage ceremonies. ‘An independent review should be able to examine all the issues arising from the consultation alongside all other relevant matters. The Government will start to work with the Commission in January to consider the scope of such a review.’ | A wedding law review is to start this week ordered by ministers .
Paper published by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said naturists could qualify to conduct weddings if rules were changed .
Reforms could also allow people to get married jumping out of aeroplanes . |
155,686 | 553f4141e231999ec1a95e0319de7c2403b0309d | Ecstatic at discovering she was pregnant, Hannah Sanders set off to drive to her parents’ house to tell them. But just 30 minutes after finding out she was expecting her first child, the 20-year-old was killed at the wheel of her Renault Clio in a collision with a pensioner’s car. Her fiance Lee Palmer, 26, a passenger in her car, died at the scene. The couple had just collected the keys to a new flat and were looking forward to a happy future together. Hannah Sanders, 20, had only just found out she was pregnant- and had just collected the keys to a new flat with her fiancé Lee Palmer (pictured together) - when the crash occurred on the B269 in Limpsfield, Surrey . Miss Sanders, from Oxted, Surrey, only discovered she was expecting a baby half an hour before the crash . In a heartbreaking interview after the tragedy, Miss Sanders’s mother Pat, 59, and father David, 52, a construction manager, told how they discovered the pregnancy when police gave them a printout of the messages their daughter had posted on an online forum for mothers-to-be. After taking a home pregnancy test and announcing the news, her last message at 1.15pm said: ‘I still won’t be 100 per cent convinced till I have like 30 lines lol x.’ Her mother said: ‘We couldn’t believe it. Hannah was so obviously thrilled and there were so many messages of congratulations – poignantly, some were even being posted after she’d died. ‘But then as news of the deaths spread, people began posting RIP condolences.’ An inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court heard how Miss Sanders and Mr Palmer picked up the keys to their new home on the day they died – April 25 this year. It was raining when Miss Sanders lost control of her car on a corner and skidded across the road, straight into the path of a Toyota Hilux driven by Rita Heath at 1.45pm. Mrs Heath, 75, who will not face prosecution, told the inquest in Woking she saw the Clio ‘slide’ across the B269 road in Surrey, where the speed limit was 60mph, before the two vehicles crashed into each other. The fatal crash occurred in wet conditions on the B269 in Limpsfield, Surrey, on April 25 (file picture) ‘The motor came round the bend and slid across the road. I looked and thought, “My God, they are on my side of the road”.’ She said there was ‘no way’ she could have avoided the car, adding: ‘It was over in seconds.’ Assistant Surrey coroner Simon Wickens recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision in the deaths of Miss Sanders and Mr Palmer, both of whom sustained multiple injuries. Mr Wickens said: ‘Hannah was struggling to control her car at the time. It would have been a fast-moving incident. ‘There was very little more Rita Heath could do. In reality, we shall never know the reason Hannah lost control’. Speaking before the inquest, Miss Sanders’s mother said: ‘It’s tragic that she and Lee never got to tell us their wonderful news. They would have been so happy and excited. ‘Being a mum and marrying Lee was all Hannah ever wanted.’ | Hannah Sanders found out she was pregnant 30 minutes before fatal crash .
Mother-to-be, 20, was killed alongside her fiancé Lee Palmer, 26, in April .
Childhood sweethearts were returning from collecting keys to new house .
Renault Clio slid out of control and into path of oncoming car, inquest told . |
197,355 | 8b70fa38d309099aed97e3f5cf4fa787144d9b4d | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 06:18 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:41 EST, 16 July 2013 . A pair of British students have developed a new technology capable of turning anything into an iPad-style tablet computer. Dubbed the 'next big thing in home technology', the system lets people transform normal objects, such as an envelope or a fridge, into a tablet using a projector, depth camera and a PC. The pair even showcased the PhD students' technology at a research conference hosted by Google at its Californian headquarters. Scroll down for video . John Hardy and Carl Ellis from Lancaster University have created a system that lets you turn normal objects, such as an envelope or bed post, into a tablet computer. Mr Hardy, pictured, checks the temperature on his front door before leaving his house . The innovation was created by students John Hardy and Carl Ellis, both 25, from Lancaster University. The software is called Ubi Displays and . uses a projector, a depth camera and a PC to create interactive . multi-touch displays anywhere and on anything. Currently, the device, which is in a prototype phase includes all the technology in a rather bulky box that must sit opposite the object that the person wants to use as a tablet. It does not rely on any other computers or devices. The technology uses a high-tech projector to beam an image of an iPad, alarm clock, or any chosen device onto an object. A webcam see pixels in red, . green and blue along with depth and feeds details of what a person is doing and their movement back . to the user’s computer. The computer then uses their software to . work out where the user’s fingers are and what they are doing within . the projected image to carry out a user's desired task. The innovative software is called Ubi Displays and uses a projector, a depth camera and a PC to create interactive multi-touch displays anywhere and on anything, such as this fridge . This means a user could turn their bed into a high-tech interactive office and do a day’s work without getting up. The pair said they are looking to develop their work commercially and are being supported by their university. They hope that with development, the box of tricks will shrink to the size of a smartphone. A promotional video the pair have filmed for YouTube shows an alarm clock being turned off simply by the touch of a bed post and BBC news headlines running across the headboard. The pair showcased their invention at a Google research conference in America. The technology is used on a fridge, pictured . The video also shows a plain envelope being used just like an iPad. Hardy said the beauty of the software package is that it makes building interactive projected displays quick and easy. He said: 'As our lives continue to 'go digital', we need interfaces that are able to integrate our digital world with our physical lives. 'Phones in pockets or screens on desks are not necessarily the best way forward because they are very restrictive in quite a number of ways. Mr Hardy (left) and Mr Ellis (right) aim to develop their Ubi Displays technology and have created their own company . 'Playing, changing and experimenting with these designs can completely change how people use computers and how they behave as a result. 'Our technology is designed to be is quick and easy to set up and it does not require a hardcore programmer or team to develop interesting content. 'Indeed, in the physical world, being able to make a bedpost glow is in some ways a more compelling interface than a button on an iPhone app.' He believes that the technology will one day be small enough to fit inside a light bulb. The engineers said: 'What is unique about our offering is that it is not about screens any more. We can create interactive furniture, objects and pretty much anything you can dream up.' The technology is used here to show the user, through words projected onto the sideboard, that the kettle is ready . The pair of students, who have launched their own company, Hardy & Ellis Inventions, have made the beta release of their toolkit available online. Mr Hardy said: 'We are very excited by the potential we feel the toolkit and software we have developed has commercially. 'It was fantastic to be asked to go over to California to show what we have to the people at Google.' While the pair acknowledge that the combination of project and touch interaction is not a new idea, Hardy said that their offering moves the idea on 'dramatically'. Creator Hardy is pictured using the device on his bed. The students' invention means you could turn your bed into a high-tech interactive office and do a day's work without getting up. The pair said they can create engaging displays almost anywhere . 'What is unique about our offering is that it is not about screens any more. 'By leaving the world of glowing rectangles behind, we can create interactive furniture and objects; beds, sofas and pretty much anything you can dream up.' 'We can create engaging displays pretty much anywhere.' | Two PhD students from the University of Lancaster have created Ubi Displays which can turn any object into a tablet computer .
The technology uses a projector, a webcam and a PC to create interactive multi-touch displays anywhere and on anything .
John Hardy and Carl Ellis plan on turning their innovation into a business . |
186,524 | 7d9a3264c6c2beb18f7ebf9b28f8b8e8d7bf2a7d | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Corey Haim's death is linked to an "illegal and massive prescription-drug ring," California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Friday. Brown's office is investigating "an unauthorized prescription under the former child star's name that was found during an ongoing investigation of fraudulent prescription-drug pads ordered from a vendor in San Diego." "These prescriptions are very recent, and it involves Oxycontin and we're not talking just 40 pills, more than that," Brown said in an interview Friday with CNN Radio. The announcement comes before the coroner has ruled on what killed Haim, the 1980s teen movie actor who struggled for decades with drug addiction. Haim, 38, died early Wednesday after collapsing in the Los Angeles apartment he shared with his mother, authorities said. "Corey Haim's death is yet another tragedy linked to the growing problem of prescription-drug abuse," Brown said. "This problem is increasingly linked to criminal organizations, like the illegal and massive prescription-drug ring under investigation." Brown said the ring uses stolen doctor's identities to order prescription-drug pads that are used to write counterfeit prescriptions. "The doctor whose name is printed on the form is usually unaware that his or her identity has been stolen for this purpose," Brown said. Haim got two powerful drugs from a pharmacy 11 days before his death, according to a source with knowledge of the transaction. His primary-care doctor did not know about the prescriptions and called the pharmacy two days later to find out what Haim had been given, the source said. Brown's announcement did not specify whether any of the prescription drugs found in Haim's apartment after his death were illegally obtained. Several prescription-drug bottles were taken from Haim's apartment, Los Angeles County Deputy Coroner Ed Winter said Friday. Although the bottles indicated the drugs included Vicodin, Valium and Soma, no tests have been done to confirm what they are, he said. Haim had a prescription for the muscle relaxer Soma and the narcotic pain reliever Norco filled at a pharmacy on February 26, a source with knowledge of the transaction said. Two days after Haim personally picked up the drugs, his primary-care doctor called the San Fernando Valley pharmacy to ask about the prescriptions, the source said. The doctor said that "Haim was not feeling well" and he needed to know what drugs had been prescribed for the actor, the source said. The source, who worked at the pharmacy, asked not to be identified because his employer had not authorized him to talk. Haim's manager, Mark Heaslip, and close friend Corey Feldman both said Haim began seeing an addiction specialist two weeks before his death. Tiffany Shepis, who was engaged to be married to Haim last May, said on HLN's "Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell" that he was taking large amounts of Valium and Vicodin during their yearlong relationship. "You're talking about a person that, at the time when I knew him, you know, was ingesting 40 some-odd pills a day," Shepis said. Although the autopsy showed Haim's heart was enlarged and he had fluid in his lungs, the coroner's chief investigator said a drug overdose has not been ruled out as the cause of the actor's death. "You can have somebody with an enlarged heart and some other medical conditions, but you don't know if the actual cause of death is from illegal substances, medication or heart failure," Los Angeles County Deputy Coroner Ed Winter said Friday. Heaslip said the enlarged heart was evidence that Haim's death was not caused by a drug overdose, but Winter disputed that. "There were some preliminary findings and we agreed to let the mother know what those were," Winter said. "It was explained to her that even though this is some preliminary findings that the doctor observed, there wouldn't be a final cause of death until the final toxicology tests are back." The cause of death may not be determined for another six weeks, Winter said. Feldman, a longtime friend and frequent co-star, asked Wednesday that people not "jump the gun" to conclude a drug overdose killed Haim. Heaslip, manager to both Feldman and Haim, said Haim had seemed to be winning his battle against drug abuse in the weeks before his death. Haim was "weaned down to literally zero medications" by an addiction specialist in the two weeks before his death, Heaslip said. The doctor "put him on a new line of medications," Feldman said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Wednesday. Haim's death came as his career was picking up, with Haim booking "movie after movie," Heaslip said. His latest film is set for release soon, he said. Haim's most famous role was in the 1987 movie "The Lost Boys," in which he appeared with Feldman. Haim played the role of a fresh-faced teenager whose brother becomes a vampire. In later years, the two friends, who appeared in eight movies together, struggled with drug abuse and went their separate ways. They reunited for a reality show, "The Two Coreys," in 2007, but A&E Network canceled the program after slightly more than a year. In a 2007 interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Haim and Feldman discussed their battles with drugs. Feldman told King that he had gotten clean, but it took Haim longer. Haim called himself "a chronic relapser for the rest of my life." "I think I have an addiction to pretty much everything," he said. "I mean, I have to be very careful with myself as far as that goes, which is why I have a support group around me consistently." Haim was born December 23, 1971, in Toronto, Ontario, according to a biography on his Web site. He made his first television appearance in 1982 on the Canadian series "The Edison Twins." His first film role was in the 1984 American movie "First Born." Haim also won rave reviews for his title role in the 1986 film "Lucas." Film critic Roger Ebert said of him at the time, "If he continues to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor." After "The Lost Boys," Haim and Feldman appeared in "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream." CNN's Brittany Kaplan and Jack Hannah contributed to this report. | Unauthorized prescriptions found in Haim's name during investigation, official says .
Name came up in ongoing probe of fraudulent prescription-drug pads .
No ruling on cause of death but coroner's office says drug overdose not ruled out . |
244,958 | c90ad12d7d5663bea82e31878c0f86318311387f | A one bedroom apartment has hit the New York City market for a whopping $120,000. Backing up its steep price tag, the rental boasts an unbeatable location inside the luxurious Pierre hotel on East 61st Street--the same building where a six bedroom was recently offered for $500K monthly. But before you balk at such excess: the 1,100-square-foot apartment comes with butler service, a chauffeur-driven Jaguar . 'This is the epitome of luxury,' Town Residential broker Andres Perea-Garzon told the New York Daily News. 'Not only will you enjoy sweeping park and city views from a corner suite perched above the world, you have access to the finest services available.' Scroll down for video . Hefty price tag: This 1,100-square-foot, one bedroom apartment has hit the rental market in Manhattan for a shocking $120,000 per month . Gorgeous: Renting the East 61st Street pad for a year would cost an unbelievable $1.44 million, but it comes with some seriously slick amenities . Good life: Located in the posh Pierre Hotel, the apartment comes with top notch butler services as well as access to a chauffeured Jaguar XJ . In addition to access to the Taj Royal Attaché butler services and Jaguar XJ, those services also include pet care for the most pampered of pooches. The corner unit, called the Park Suite, also features the finest of appointments, including Murano glass chandeliers, curated art and 'bespoke fabrics.' When priced by square foot, the one bedroom is even more expensive than a full floor unit that was rented for $500,000 per month in December. 'This is the epitome of luxury,' Town Residential broker Andres Perea-Garzon said. 'Not only will you enjoy sweeping park and city views from a corner suite perched above the world, you have access to the finest services available' Lavish: The Pierre (pictured at right) offers spectacular Central Park views. The apartment is, in fact, called the Park Suite and sits at the corner of the historic building . The 4,786-square-foot unit includes the two-bedroom Presidential Suite, with the option of adding two other spaces bringing it to a total of six bedrooms. Perched at 2 East 61st Street, the delicate windows look out over Central Park, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and George Washington Bridge. And if the pantry kitchen is too small for would-be renters, they can always nip down to one of the hotel's two restaurants, Sirio Ristorante and Two E Bar/Lounge. Twice-daily housekeeping, butler service and a chauffeur-driven Jaguar are also available at the touch of a button. The Pierre underwent a $100 million renovation in 2005, and is now a hotel and residence building managed by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces . | The 1,100-square-foot, 28th floor corner apartment with views of Central Park is located in The Pierre hotel .
Renting the East 61st Street pad for a year would cost $1.44 million . |
146,833 | 49e2a7da2f95e7da04ef1c7a337d505b0506c291 | Yeovil scored two late goals to finally finish off Accrington Stanley and set up a dream FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United. The League One side made hard work of their League Two opponents, but two strikes in the final five minutes won the game and earned them at least an extra £250,000 in prize and TV money. Simon Gillett volleyed in from 20-yards after a weak punch from Accrington goalkeeper Jack rose fell to him on 85 minutes and in the last minute substitute Kieffer Moore headed in to seal the win. Simon Gillett of Yeovil Town celebrates scoring his goal to make the score 1-0 as he chased by his elated team-mates . Gillett is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the opening goal and leading Yeovil into the FA up third round . Gillett opens the scoring as he volleys home after a poor punch from Accrington keeper Jack Rose . Gillett's volley evades the defenders and the keeper as he thunders Yeovil into the lead . Substitute Kieffer Moore sealed the win for Yeovil, and set up a tie with Manchester United, in the 89th minute as headed home . Gillett slides on the rain-soaked Huish Park pitch in celebration as his goal send the Yeovil fans into a frenzy . Yeovil: Steer, Moloney, Arthurworrey, Nugent, N Smith, Foley, Edwards, Ofori-Twumasi, Gillett, Eaves (Leitch-Smith 94), Hayter (Moore 69) Subs not used: Berrett , Krysiak, Davis, A Smith . Scorers: Gillett 85, Moore 89 . Accrington: Rose, Winnard, Atkinson, Aldred, Liddle, McCartan, Joyce, Proctor, Mingoia (Molyneux 67), Carver (Windass 46), Crooks . Subs not used: Gray, Naismith, Simpson, Hunt, Barry . Referee: James Linington . Attendance: 6,373 . Louis Van Gaal will now bring his players to Yeovil's Huish Park in the next round. It was clear what progression meant to both sides when the closest chance for either side in the first half was gifted by their opponents. Accrington Stanley's Tom Aldred was inches away from scoring a calamitous own goal after 12 minutes. The defender raced back towards goal to chase a long pass through and nodded the ball back to Rose, not realising his team-mate had hurtled from goal to intercept. The header wrong-footed Rose and beat the desperate Aldred to the line, only to trickle past the left post. Then just before the half-hour mark Brendan Moloney, brought in at the last minute to Yeovil's line-up after Jordan Clarke pulled out in the warm-up, under-hit a back pass to his goalkeeper, which let Accrington Stanley striker Marcus Carver in. But Yeovil stopper Jed Steer managed to steer the player wide and tip the ball off the pitch for a corner. The home side had more of the ball and should have taken the lead. Midfielder Joseph Edwards ran through on goal in the 30th minute and had two team-mates waiting in the middle for a ball across and a simple finish. Edwards went for goal instead and struck a shot straight at Rose. Yeovil continued to press and Gillett let a throw-in from the left run across his body then hit a drive towards the far right goal, only for the ball to sail narrowly past the right post with Rose beaten. Yeovil boss Gary Johnson salutes the fans with a fist-pump after watching his side progress into the third round . Accrington defender Tom Aldred almost outs the ball past his own keeper during the FA Cup second round tie at Huish Park . Yeovil's Nana Ofori-Twumasi and Shay McCartan of Accrington challenge for a high ball during Tuesday's FA Cup clash . Joe Edwards (left) literally attempts to escape the clutches of Accrington's Matt Crooks (right) as the rain buckets down . League One Yeovil stand to pocket £221,000 after setting up a glamour third round tie with Manchester United. The FA dish out £27,000 in prize money for a second-round victory, plus the club will earn a further £144,000 from BT Sport, who will broadcast United’s third round tie live. Yeovil are set to earn in the region of £50,000 inn gate receipts with the United tie almost certain to be sold out at Yeovil’s 9,565-seater stadium. Yeovil would be set to earn a staggering £1.5m from the third round tie if they can force a replay at old Trafford. The towering Tom Eaves – standing at 6ft 5ins tall – had two similar chances inside the box on the left-hand side, but he hit both hard and wide of the near post. Heavy rain which begun falling just before kick off continued to beat down turning the second half more to chance with players slipping and sliding. Shirts and shorts turned brown with mud as the two teams battled, knowing what was at stake. Yeovil pressed on and in the 53rd minute Gillett twisted and turned and got off a shot inside the box, as he slid, which was again close. Bu five minutes later at the other end a ball was swung into Yeovil's box which caused chaos, allowing Andy Proctor to get a shot away from eight yards but he fired over. The added pressure on both teams – that thought of facing Manchester United in the next round – weighed heavy and was felt in every slightly over-hit shot. Every chance on goal and defensive slip was a hero and villain waiting to happen. Yeovil's Sam Foley had plenty of time to judge his shot as the ball dropped from a height but the ball went over. At the other end Seamus McCarten made a strong run through the middle but his shot forced a top save from Steer. McCarten then hit the bar with a 20-yard shot, which came back out to Matt Crooks and with goalkeeper on the floor and only two yards out he headed wide. That was Accrington's chance – and it passed them by agonisingly. Then, with the game heading into extra time, Yeovil finished it off. Huish Park n Somerset takes a battering from a heavy rain storm as the two sides endure a nervy first half . Yeovil manager Gary Johnson issues instructions to his players from the touchline . The Yeovil mascot gets in on the celebrations after the Govers book their place in the third round . | League One Yeovil beat League Two Accrington in the FA Cup second round replay on Tuesday night .
Simon Gillett and Kieffer Moore scored late goals to set up a glamour third round tie with Manchester United .
Moments before Yeovil took the lead Accrington's Shay McCartan had struck the woodwork . |
286,269 | feef85d26ddb03b0700ffa086575cb5980c4b212 | By . Larisa Brown . and Eleanor Harding . Misleading: Yonas Admasu Kebede, pictured, claimed he was 15 - meaning he would receive free care from the state - when he was actually 20 . He claimed the taxpayer should fund his £10,000 flying lessons after his family abandoned him as a child. Now it appears that Yonas Admasu Kebede may have lied about his age to milk the public purse for tens of thousands of pounds. The failed asylum seeker pretended to be 15 years old so that he could be cared for as a destitute child – while in reality he was a grown man of almost 20. He also claimed his mother was missing and his father either dead or in prison, but the Mail’s inquiries reveal that he is still in touch with his family. They own a three-storey house in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where Mr Kebede grew up. His lies mean he has wrongly received two years of accommodation, living expenses and schooling paid for by Newcastle City Council. And because he was a so-called ‘looked-after child’, it has meant the authority has been forced to pay for his flying lessons, even though he turns 26 this month. The disclosures sparked outrage among politicians, who said the British system was too easy to exploit. Labour MP John Woodcock said: ‘This new evidence suggests Britain’s compassion has been badly abused. ‘Proving age can be hard and we must never shut the door on any child who genuinely needs help but it should not lead to well-meaning authorities being taken for a ride like this.’ Matthew Sinclair, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: ‘This whole case appears to have been a calculated scam to rip off taxpayers. The council weren’t even responsible for this man’s care, so any suggestion that we should still pay for his flying lessons is ludicrous. ‘Given the pious tone taken by Yonas Kebede’s lawyers, and the costs of their legal action, there are serious questions about where the bill for this case should fall. It certainly shouldn’t land on taxpayers’ doorsteps.’ Newcastle City Council was forced to pay £10,000 for Mr Kebede to train as a pilot after it lost a case in the Court of Appeal earlier this year. It will also pay for his living expenses, likely to total £10,000, while he lives in London for a year. His lawyers won the case by arguing that the council had a duty to pay for ‘education expenses’ after he left school because he had no parents. In touch: Mr Kebede's parents, Admasu Bedane Kedede and Tayech Getachew, are listed as friends on his Facebook page, though he claims they abandoned him . Mr Kebede claimed in an interview this week that he believed his father, Admasu Kebede Bedane, was in prison or had been killed because he was involved in politics. He insists that the £10,000 is a loan and he fully intends to pay the money back if and when he qualifies as a pilot. He said his father had abandoned him and his younger brother Abiy, 20, after their asylum claim was rejected in 2004. He also said his older brother Benyam, now 28, looked after them for three years before leaving them stranded in 2007. But on Monday, he had the pair listed as ‘friends’ on Facebook, with Benyam stating on his profile that he lives in London. Mr Kebede’s father has worked as an air traffic controller for Ethiopian Airlines and lives in a three-bedroom house worth £90,000 in a middle-class suburb of Addis Ababa. The house, which he shares with his wife Tayech Getachew, was built by Mr Bedane after his application for asylum failed in the UK. A neighbour said the couple had two vehicles – one an 11 seater minibus – and they employ a maid. The locals could not explain how Mr Bedane came into the money to build his home, which was much grander than his old one in a run-down part of town. A neighbour said: ‘He built the house himself and it only took about eight months. Now it is worth treble the price.’ Affluent area: This three-storey house was built by Mr Kebede's father - whom he claimed in an interview this week was dead or in prison . Instead of sending his three boys to the local government school where education is free, the Orthodox Christian paid about £500 a year to send them to a private school. Registration documents completed when Yonas Kebede enrolled in nursery at Miskaye Hizunan Medhanealem church school confirm his date of birth as the seventh day of the third month of 1980, which is November 17, 1987 in the UK calendar. His baptism certificate confirmed the details. His uncle, who lived just around the corner, was a pilot for Ethiopian airlines and three of Yonas’s classmates are also now pilots. His fellow classmates were the sons and daughters of middle-class parents - the majority of them working as civil servants and others as doctors or engineers. A school friend, Habte Hundesa, 25, said they had a happy childhood and were privileged to be enrolled in one of the best schools in the country. When the boys and their father left in 2004 and claimed asylum in the UK, Yonas Kebebe claimed he was aged 13, but in reality he was 16 or 17. Yonas and Abiy were granted discretionary leave to stay in the UK until November 2014, and there is no guarantee their permission will be extended. They were placed in council care and lived with a foster mother. Learn to fly: Mr Kebede posted this picture to Facebook of him in a cockpit. He paid for flying lessons with a £10,000 loan from Newcastle City Council . They applied for post-18 courses last autumn but found they were not eligible for student loans because of their immigration status. They then instructed lawyers to make a claim for the money with Newcastle City Council, which paid out £30,000 in legal fees fighting the case. The council lost, meaning it has to pay £10,000 to each brother in tuition fees and an estimated £10,000 in living expenses every year to fund their post-school education. The money has been given to them as a loan, to be repaid once they start work. Abiy Kebede is currently studying for a degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. Paul Heron, of Public Interest Lawyers, said of Yonas: ‘Our client denies that he has lied about his age. ‘If you publish the allegation in the manner you propose you will be alleging that our client has committed fraud and contempt of court, allegations of the utmost severity that our client unequivocally denies.’ A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said it would look at any evidence produced by the Daily Mail in relation to the case. | Yonas Admasu Kebede forced Newcastle City Council to pay for pilot training .
He was an asylum seeker who claimed he was abandoned by his family .
Records show he was actually 20 when he went into care rather than 15 .
That would make him ineligible for free training and living expenses .
He also said he lost touch with his family - but has them as Facebook friends .
Mr Kebede claimed his father was dead or in prison - in fact he owns a three-storey house in an affluent suburb of Addis Ababa . |
147,177 | 4a4f81066b2b07c6071a4bc1cbc416b55a3d5229 | (CNN) -- The news broke on the eve of Grammy Awards, the music industry's biggest night: The woman with the pitch-perfect voice who once reigned as the queen of pop at the awards show had died. Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday by her bodyguard on the fourth floor of an upscale Beverly Hills hotel where only hours later she was to attend a pre-Grammy bash hosted by her longtime mentor, Clive Davis. Her death, at age 48, was the final chapter of a storied career that began with the nurturing by superstar cousin Dionne Warwick, soared in the 1980s and 1990s with one record-setting achievement after another, stalled as her drug use and marriage to Bobby Brown made for tabloid fodder and was on the rebound with a highly anticipated star turn. "You're going to remember where you were when you heard the news. It's that significant. She was undoubtedly one of the greatest superstars of all time," music producer Simon Cowell said. "One of the greatest voices in our lifetime we're likely ever to hear. And to hear this news, it really, really, really upset me." Houston's voice, once described by The New York Times as "peerless," influenced and inspired a new generation of singers, from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera, and garnered a legion of fans. "Her notes soared to places most singers dream of reaching," Aguilera said. Houston seemed destined for stardom almost from the very beginning. Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to gospel great Cissy Houston, cousin to both Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin, Houston's upbringing was the embodiment of musical greatness. Grief flows at hotel where Houston died . She honed her vocal skills from a young age, singing in the church choir and taking the stage occasionally with her mother. As a teenager, she sang backup for Chaka Khan on "I'm Every Woman," a song Houston would re-record in 1992 and that would go on to become one of her biggest hits. As the story goes, Clive Davis spotted Houston in 1983 in a New York nightclub performing and signed her on the spot. Houston released her debut album, "Whitney Houston," in February 1985 to wide acclaim. Rolling Stone magazine called her "one of the most exciting new voices in years." With the release of the album, her commanding voice combined with a natural beauty and a clean-cut image made her an instant star. Fans: Whitney Houston's music spanned an era . A generation danced their way through the 1980s to a string of her hits, including the poppy "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love For You," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "The Greatest Love Of All." But it was in the 1990s that she shot into the superstar stratosphere with two songs that showcased her stunning octave range and her maturity. On January 27, 1991, while the United States was at war in the Persian Gulf, Houston performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV to a record 79 million viewers. During a time when the country seemed divided by the war, her searing, heartfelt performance seemed to unite a nation at least for a few minutes. Her rendition -- the gold standard by which all performances of the national anthem are judged -- was released as a single and reached the Top 20 on the U.S. Hot 100 Billboard. Houston's version was re-released in 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks, and proceeds from the sales were donated to charity. That was followed up by her cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" recorded for the movie "The Bodyguard," in which she also made her acting debut. Stunned celebrities mourn Whitney Houston . While the movie received mostly poor reviews, the song went onto to sell 10 million singles, winning Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal. The soundtrack was named album of the year. "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed,'" Parton said. But by the time the movie opened, Houston's clean-cut pop image had begun to tarnish with her marriage to R&B bad boy Bobby Brown. The two met in 1989 and married three years later. HLNtv.com: What about Bobbi Kristina Brown? Their relationship became tabloid fodder, with every misstep chronicled and the couple's relationship a subject of constant speculation. Brown's notorious hard-partying led him to several run-ins with the law and stints in jail. While Houston managed to maintain a successful music and movie career through the end of the 1990s, starring in "The Preacher's Wife" and "Waiting To Exhale," her behavior turned increasingly erratic amid reports of heavy drug use. By the 2000s, her career was in free fall as her album sales dropped off and her voice began to show signs of wear. The rumors were further fueled by her gaunt appearance and crass behavior on the 2005 short-lived Bravo reality show "Being Bobby Brown," which she later said in an interview she only did to try to save her marriage. The couple, who had a daughter together, divorced in 2007. Brown performed at a "New Edition" concert Saturday night in South Haven, Mississippi. "The atmosphere felt bittersweet," said iReporter Moshiu Knox, who attended the concert with his wife. "Bobby was crying during his performance and at one point had to walk off stage. ... The crowd was emotional and tears were flowing all over the arena." Video of the concert shows Brown asking the audience to pray for the couple's daughter. "If you find the time, can you say a prayer for me because I'm going to need it," he says. In an infamous interview in 2002 with ABC's Diane Sawyer, Houston admitted to using drugs but denied the use of crack. "Crack is wack," she said, quoting a line taken from Keith Haring mural painted in 1986. It was during the same interview, she told Sawyer: "The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy." Houston bounced in and out of drug rehab twice, declaring herself drug-free during a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, though an Australian tour that same year was fraught with reviews that she sounded "croaky" and, at times, appeared disoriented. Recently, Houston was working to turn around her career -- and image -- with a star turn in the upcoming movie "Sparkle,'' the remake of a 1976 film that is said to be loosely inspired by the Supremes. The night Houston died she was to be a guest of honor at Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash. "She loved music and she loved this night that celebrated music," Davis told party-goers. "Her family asked that we carry on." She would have loved that, too. People we've lost in 2012: The lives they lived . | Whitney Houston's death rocks the music industry on the eve of its biggest night .
Her death, at age 48, was the final chapter of the storied career that began in the 1980s .
Houston's career stalled as her drug use and marriage to Bobby Brown made for tabloid fodder .
She was working to turn her career around with a star turn in the upcoming film, "Sparkle" |
230,615 | b6a2f5bec09ff6f5b604d9c2537167283fa310c4 | Editor's note: Andrey Kurkov is a Ukrainian novelist born in St. Petersburg in 1961. Having graduated from the Kiev Foreign Languages Institute, he worked as a journalist, did his military service as a prison warden in Odessa, then became a cameraman, writer of screenplays and author. His books are published in English by Harvill Secker in the UK and Meville House in the U.S. The views expressed in this commentary are solely his. For two nights between the 4th and 6th of March, I barely slept. I was checking the Internet every hour to see if Russia had started war with Ukraine. Then the feeling of imminent danger was replaced by emotional fatigue. Although a war still seemed unavoidable, it didn't inspire the same fear as in the early days of the occupation of Crimea. Ukrainian volunteers started to flow towards Crimea and the Eastern border with Russia, while roads filled up with armored personnel carriers and other military vehicles. Ukraine was making an attempt to flex its military muscles, both to test the condition of the army and to reassure the population that we could protect ourselves. It became clear that since independence in 1991 neither Ukrainian presidents nor the government had taken care of the military. Nobody thought that Ukraine might need an army; it was as simple as that. Nobody thought that until this year and now it's an everyday topic. This, and a war with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeats each day that Russia doesn't plan to occupy eastern and southern Ukraine. But it would be odd if anyone believed him. Russia also didn't plan to annex Crimea. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin said that. On March 5, Putin announced to the world that "military maneuvers" were successfully completed and by March 7 all Russian soldiers, together with their equipment, would be back in their usual location, leaving Crimea alone. However, instead of the promised end of these "maneuvers," more than 10,000 Russian troops arrived in Crimea. What to do with Crimea? When it comes to the occupation of Crimea, the Ukrainian government stands firm. Something that must occupy the mind of Putin and others in the Kremlin. This position is without doubt due to the U.S. support of Ukraine. The rest of the world agrees that Crimea is Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. While Putin continues to show he is not interested in the opinion of the rest of the world, this fact will have rather serious consequences for the occupied peninsula itself. Ukrainian International Airlines stopped all its flights to the Crimean capital Simferopol and Crimean residents are now anxiously waiting for the summer holiday season. A recent law passed in Kiev about occupied territories means that Ukrainians can't enter without prior approval from the authorities. Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, who visited Crimea recently, promised 33 airplanes full of visitors from Russia each day during the summer. Under pressure from the Kremlin, Russian airlines -- the only ones now flying to the peninsula -- have slashed prices on flights. I think Russian oligarchs will soon receive an order from the Kremlin to buy holiday packages to Crimean sanitoriums and resorts for their employees. Otherwise how will the Kremlin get 8 million Russian visitors promised to Crimea this summer? And if all of Russia's citizens do decide to support Crimean hotels and resorts this summer, then who will visit the newly built super-resort of Sochi? But the summer season in Crimea only lasts a little more than three months. And after that, what? Crimea produces wine and grows fruit. They can only export it to Russia, but Russia has enough wine and fruit of its own. Putin will have no other choice but to follow Europe's example and subsidize farmers and winemakers so they don't grow anything and reduce wine production. The impact of this "acquisition" on Russia's budget looks scary. No wonder that the pre-referendum promise to quadruple pensions for Crimea's residents has been replaced with one to reconsider it starting from January 2016. Currently tram and trolleybus driver's salaries are frozen, the number of suburban trains had been cut and people are trying to figure out how to keep on living. Building a Soviet 'Jurassic Park' If the self-proclaimed Crimean government asked me the question: "How can Crimea keep on going?" I would answer that we should create some kind of theme park there. Something between Disneyland and Jurassic Park, but much bigger and more exotic. For the last 20 years Crimea has been known for its love for everything Soviet. Strictly speaking, Crimea has remained Soviet. Against the background of south Crimea's truly stunning coast, lovingly preserved Soviet monuments look very odd. My favorite one -- a big statue of Lenin in Koreiz, not far from Yalta -- has him standing on the cliff looking sternly in the direction of Turkey. There are times, when I think that Russia occupied this peninsula so that Ukrainian nationalists couldn't demolish these Soviet-era landmarks, just as they did in Kiev and central and western Ukraine. So in my eyes the only possible solution to the complex economical situation in Crimea would be the creation of a theme park of Soviet life. Considering that Putin has often said he considers the collapse of Soviet Union as his own personal tragedy, it wouldn't be too much of a risk to call the park, spread over 27,000 square kilometers, "Putinland." A simple, scary scenario . But I know that for Ukrainians this is not the right moment for jokes. Nor for me either; I look towards the near future with anxiety. My main concern is that Russia will start destabilizing southeast Ukraine before the presidential elections on May 25. Putin has already declared that he won't recognize the results of the elections, but what is even more important for him, is that these elections don't take place at all. If they don't then he can keep talking about the illegitimacy of the government, the absence of a legitimate president, and he can move further into Ukraine under the pretext of protecting the Russian-speaking population. The scenario of the Russian expansion could look very simple: May 9 will be commemorated as Victory Day -- something of an annual cult holiday for many in Russia. You can expect that this year communists and pro-Russian activists in the south and east of Ukraine will demonstrate, claiming to be commemorating victory over Nazi Germany. The gatherings will follow a familiar pattern: the occupation of local government buildings and the planting of Russian flags on their roofs. It is clear that Ukrainian authorities have got stronger and will use police and the security services to prevent this happening. Riots will start with the first victims coming from the protesters and police. At that point Russia can send in its armed "peace-keeping" forces in to bring order. I am afraid that once Russian ''peace-keepers'' enter Ukrainian territory they will not stop until they get to Kiev. That is because the Kremlin's main goal remains to put a pro-Russian government in Ukraine, the kind that will sign an agreement of friendship and cooperation and will recognize to Crimea as a Russian territory. Only when this agreement is reached can Russia finally relax and develop the Crimean peninsula legally and without the fear of political and economic sanctions from the European Union and the U.S. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrey Kurkov . | Talk of war with Russia is on everyone's mind in Ukraine, says novelist Andrey Kurkov .
Crimea may become a burden on Russia and isolated from the rest of the world .
Perhaps its best future lies in becoming a Soviet-era theme park, he jokes .
Fears that Russia will destabilize southern and eastern Ukraine before elections on May 25 . |
247,272 | cc009c013694e00b5b8f189d2526aec15dff0e1a | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 21:03 EST, 11 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:11 EST, 12 December 2012 . Cougar: A new study has found that more Victorian women had toy-boy husbands than today's women . The 'cougar' - or an older women who dates or marries a younger man - may seem like a modern phenomenon but new research shows that there were more women with toy-boy husbands in Victorian times than there are today. A study of census data by genealogy website Ancestry.co.uk also showed that there were more single mothers in 19th century Britain than there are in the UK now. The study shows that while couples with 10 or more years between them nowadays comprise eight per cent of households, that figure was almost double in the 1800s. And while there is no particular trend for either gender to be the older spouse in the 21st century, in 61 per cent of cases the woman was the older partner two centuries previously. But while the modern day cougar might prey on younger men for sport, the Victorian lady had little choice in the matter. In the 1800s high mortality rates, particularly in the workplace, resulted in a greater number of widows, who needed to remarry, often to younger partners, to support families. The study also revealed a prevalence of single-parent households during Victorian times. These days around five per cent of households are single parent families, however a look at 1841 Census results, reveals back then one in six - or 16 per cent - of homes had just one parent. But unlike today, the cause of the breakdown of most relationships was down to the high mortality rate - death from childbirth was far more common than divorce. Many modern parents might bemoan the fact that they are lumbered with their children living at home for longer - but in fact the 'boomerang generation' where adult children move back in with their parents is far from being a new thing. Modern cougars: Both Demi Moore and Caroline Flack have been labelled as cougars, but being partnered with a younger man is not a new phenomenon according to a new study . In the 1841 Census, one in seven households had at least one adult-child aged 25 or older living under their roof, while today that figure is lower at 12 per cent - despite present high unemployment driving many adults back into the family home. Same age: Despite 16 per cent of Victorian women being married to younger men, Queen Victoria was the same age as her husband Albert . One modern development researchers found was the number of non-married, cohabiting couples. During the 1800s women often got married in their teens or early twenties, while today the average woman is 30-years-old before she ties the knot. Cohabiting couples comprised around one per cent of households during the 19th century, compared to 10 per cent today. Miriam Silverman, the website's UK Content Manager, said: 'The millions of census records now online allow for the observation of fascinating social trends - including how today's non-nuclear families are far from a modern trend. 'In many ways, a married couple with 2.4 children is the real 'unconventional' household. 'Census records are the most valuable collections available for anyone looking to begin the enthralling and rewarding journey into their family history - listing the details of millions of people living in England and Wales from 1841 to 1911.' | A study by genealogy website Ancestry.co.uk shows that there were more women with toy-boy husbands in the Victorian era than today .
The research also found that there were more single mothers in the 19th century than now . |
245,703 | ca06545a7559889af9439872e4a46e57b17ac579 | By . Suzannah Hills and Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 05:40 EST, 19 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:30 EST, 19 March 2013 . A pretty blonde thief casually slings a handbag over her shoulder as she brazenly breaks into a car - not knowing the vehicle is rigged with secret cameras. The woman is one of dozens of thieves caught red-handed stealing computers and sat navs in a police sting operation. West Midlands Police has released a video of criminals being caught in the act by their 'capture car', which they parked in Birmingham city centre. Another clip shows a man pull his jacket sleeve over his hand before sneaking into an unlocked car and taking a laptop bag from the passenger seat. Scroll down to watch video . Smile for the camera: This woman was caught stealing from West Midlands Police's 'capture car' in Birmingham city centre . The footage will be shown on BBC1 tomorrow morning in the latest 'Caught Red Handed' Unknown to the thief, the computer was fitted with a tracking device which meant officers were able to catch the thief who was subsequently jailed for eight weeks. PC Simon Williams, of West Midlands Police, said: 'It's not the wisest criminal move to break into a police car, but that's exactly what many unwitting criminals are doing. 'We're making thieves think twice before breaking into cars. We want them to fear that their actions may be caught on camera and provide us with irrefutable evidence. 'Thefts from motor vehicles are usually carried out in a matter of seconds with often no witnesses or CCTV footage. 'But the capture cars enable us to trap thieves red-handed with many being arrested at the scene or shortly after thanks to the camera images.' Caught: A man in a hooded top also falls prey to the police operation . The would-be thief is joined by another man, who squeezes in from behind him . The 'capture car' is intended to make criminlas think twice when they see a car with valuables inside . The footage will be shown on BBC1 at 11am tomorrow in the latest 'Caught Red Handed' programme. The show - which is presented by Dominic Littlewood - showcases the clever tactics West Midlands Police are trapping offenders and cutting crime. PC Williams added: 'The capture cars are proving successful and helping us cut vehicle crime in the West Midlands. Despite the bright daylight, this man takes the opportunity to grab a sat nav from the police vehicle . A police officer said: 'The capture cars are proving successful and helping us cut vehicle crime in the West Midlands' 'We've seen a year-on-year reduction in thefts from vehicles since they were introduced and so far this year it's down almost eight per cent with 1,325 fewer victims since April 2012 compared to the same period last year.' Other West Midlands Police 'stings' featured include the use of covert cameras built into traffic lights to catch illegal street racers, forensic marking to trace metal thieves and 'capture houses' acting as bait to lure burglars. The force also released a video of three bungling burglars who were captured on CCTV taking more than five minutes to break into a house - before one gets stuck trying to climb through a window and falls over. Taken: This criminal reaches inside and takes a laptop bag. Little does he realise it contains a tracking device . Other West Midlands Police 'stings' featured include covert cameras built into traffic lights to catch illegal street racers and 'capture houses' acting as bait to lure burglars . Gotcha: A bearded man quickly searches the West Midland Police's car . Thefts from motor vehicles are usually carried out in a matter of seconds and often have no witnesses or CCTV footage . The teenage thieves - all dressed in hoodies in an attempt to hide their faces - can be clearly seen in the CCTV footage struggling to gain access to the property, in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, in broad-daylight. One of the burglars is then seen to fall over as he attempts to climb in through the window - and is forced to wait outside for his two accomplices. Another of the suspects gives a clear view of his face as he stares directly at the camera during the broad-daylight break-in. Caught on camera: These three bungling burglars were filmed spending more than five minutes attempting to break-in to a property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands . Smile! Despite wearing a hoodie, this thief's face can be clearly seen on CCTV footage released by police today . Despite their shambolic entry, the thieves spend another five minutes inside the house and steal a safe containing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery. Police say the offenders then fled the scene in a blue or grey Audi estate. Footage of the burglary was released by West Midlands Police today in a bid to trace the gang - who are believed to be in their late teens. Investigating officer DC John Jinks, from Wolverhampton CID, said: 'First and foremost I want to hear from anyone who recognises the men in these images, you can quite clearly see the face of one of the individuals and I'm sure someone will know who he is. Access: The first thief manages to get a window open and prepares to climb through it into the property . Success: After the first thief climbs through the window, his accomplices get ready to follow him . 'As the footage shows this burglary took some time and someone may have seen the men in the area on the day of the break-in. 'I'd also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the blue or grey Audi fleeing the scene at lunchtime on 28 February or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Pope Road area of the Scotlands on the same day.' The group forced entry to a side door of the property using a screwdriver in Redhouse Road, Tettenhall, between 1.30pm and 2pm. Anyone with information is asked to call Wolverhampton CID on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Bungling: The third teenage thief attempts to climb through the window but then falls backwards and decides to wait outside the property while his friends carry out the robbery . Now watch the video . | 'Capture car' catches criminals brazenly committing crime .
It was parked in Birmingham city centre with valuables on show .
Police swoop after thieves caught stealing sat navs and computers .
Police also release video of three bungling burglars .
The thieves spent more than five minutes trying to break-in to the property .
After finally gaining access, one falls over trying to climb through a window . |
236,575 | be357152a1b6ed5ea9eb224a5b267e354d8fac3d | NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Fort Drum soldier has been arrested in the deaths of two fellow soldiers found stabbed in an apartment near the upstate New York military base, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said. The suspect, Joshua Hunter, 20, is being held at an undisclosed location in Ohio after being charged with two counts of second degree murder, Undersheriff Tim Dowe told CNN. The sheriff's office identified the victims as Spc. Waide T. James, 20, of Cocoa, Florida, and Spc. Diego A. Valbuena, 23, of Port St. Lucie, Florida. The two men were found dead with multiple stab wounds Tuesday in an apartment at Meadowbrook Apartments in LeRay, New York, Dowe said. The complex houses mostly military families near the main entrance of Fort Drum, he said. The motive is unknown at this time, Dowe said. Sheriff's deputies were called to the apartment complex after the soldiers were reported missing for duty, but the sheriff's office could not say when that report was filed. James and Valbuena, who joined the Army in 2007, worked as motor transport operators with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, according to a Fort Drum press release. Both had served in Iraq, it said. Police and Fort Drum officials would not release information about the suspect, including his rank or relationship to the victims. CNN's Evan Buxbaum contributed to this report. | Soldier Joshua Hunter, 20, charged with two counts of second degree murder .
Two soldiers were found stabbed at apartment near Fort Drum base .
Victims identified as Spc. Waide T. James,and Spc. Diego A. Valbuena . |
239,817 | c275acae792367d113a3d3cef38a134b5f1b9243 | By . Nina Golgowski . and Rachel Quigley . Police continue to look for a possible motive in the shooting death of Gretchen Crooks, allegedly by her 13-year-old son Noah. Police responding to the Crooks home, in Osage, Iowa, on Saturday night, found the woman shot . multiple times after her teenage son - the alleged shooter - called 911. 'We're at a loss. These are good people,' sheriff Curt Younker said. Scroll down for video . Killer: Noah Crooks, left, allegedly shot his mother Gretchen, right, multiple times in her Iowa home and then called police . There was no history of domestic abuse or criminal records associated with any Crooks family members. The 13-year-old boy who allegedly . shot his 37-year-old mother dead with a hunting rifle is also facing . 'unheard of' charges that he tried to sexually abuse her. Now, authorities are saying Noah . Crooks also tried to sexually abuse his mother, which mental health . professionals say they have never encountered among juveniles. Charges filed today in Mitchell County District Court further accuse . Noah Crooks, an eighth-grader at Osage Middle School, of assault with . attempt to commit sexual abuse against his mother. Shelia Aukes, a licensed social worker . in Des Moines who works with young people on a variety of mental health . issues told the DesMoines Register: 'The victims in most sex offenses . committed by juveniles are siblings, . other juveniles or, more rare, other adults. 'A child or adolescent . sexually abusing a parent is completely out of the norm, totally unheard . of.' Weapon: A motive for the shooting has yet to be reported while the victim's husband, pictured, had a penchant for guns according to his Facebook page . Crooks is believed to have fired a .22 . calibre at his mother on Saturday at their rural home and four days . later a motive has yet to be established. The teen was said to be calm and emotionless when he called 911 reporting the shooting. 'The emotions of the young man, from . what I've been told, is his demeanour was very calm and kind of stoic. Almost like he was in shock also,' Deputy Greg Beaver told KTTC. He is currently being held at the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Waterloo and charges are expected to be filed today. He will be tried as a juvenile. Iowa law allows children ages 14 and older to face crimes in adult court. Mitchell County Sheriff Curt Younker told the DesMoines Register: 'We’re at a loss. These are good people, very responsible. It is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen.' Home: Police reported the teenager as sounding calm on the phone though perhaps in shock by what had just happened . 'We have lost our daughter. We have lost . our grandson,' Mrs Crooks' mother Beverly Brahm of Mason City told the . Albert Lea Tribune. Mrs Crooks, who was listed with her husband William Crooks as the rural Osage property owners, had worked as a nurse at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa while also studying toward her master's degree after accepted at the University of Iowa in 2009. On her Facebook page back in 2010, she praised her son, one of two sons according to Mrs Brahm, for his musical talents on the saxophone as well as his accomplishment in being accepted into a University of Iowa camp to learn Chinese. 'So proud of him!' she wrote. She had also recently published an application on her page reading: 'Click "like" if you love your son!' Mrs Crooks' death comes as the first reported murder in the city of Osage since 1898, according to KAAL-TV. Praise: The mother had praised her son on her Facebook page for his acceptance into a Chinese language camp at the University of Iowa as well as his playing of the saxophone . Arrest: The 13-year-old was taken into custody without incident and taken to the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Center where charges have not yet been filed . The . Mitchell County Sheriff's Office says their investigation is ongoing . with few further details in the killing reported such as where the . weapon came from. William . Crooks' Facebook page shows his interest in the US Concealed Carry . association as well as the Springfield Armory, a company that sells . pistols and rifles. The . State Medical Examiner’s Office as well as the Iowa Division of . Criminal Investigation are continuing their investigation as well. Her family expressed their great sadness by her death while her 35-year-old brother Jason thanked friends and family for their support. 'I just want to extend my gratitude to family and friends for their support during this time,' he told the WCF Courier. Her co-workers at Mercy Medical also released a statement obtained by the Courier, reading: . Nurse: Mrs Crooks worked as a nurse at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa while also studying toward her master's degree at the University of Iowa . Grade school: The boy's school of Osage Middle School says they're contacting students' families and offering counseling . 'Gretchen was a great nurse and leader. We, as members of her Mercy . family, continue to mourn for her and will be holding a memorial . service. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends.' Speaking of her daughter with pride, Mrs Brahm, whom she relishes knowing she was able to say 'I love you' to earlier in the day of her passing, described the 37-year-old as studying 'full time, while she was working full time,' according to the Courier. Wanting to make a difference wherever she could, Mrs Crooks previously served among a team of doctors and nurses who travelled to provide medical relief to the Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims in the Gulf in 2005. Serving as a critical care nurse, she cared for patients in a makeshift hospital. Her son, an eighth grader at Osage Middle School, the boy's school's superintendent told ABC 6 that they have since begun reaching out to the other students' homes while also offering counseling. 'It's gut-wrenching, you know?' Osage Superintendent Steve Bass told ABC. 'It's always tough in a small community when anyone dies for any reason but then you hear that a student is involved in any shape or form, it kind of goes to another level.' Watch the video here: . | Iowa police still looking for possible motive . |
53,488 | 97ba85535cf348f11f643b5a76a460900176c8d3 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 20 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:41 EST, 20 September 2013 . Of the many dramatic storylines featured in Downton Abbey to keep Sunday night viewers hooked - the most prevalent has always been what will happen to the house and whether it will stay in the family. So perhaps it is somewhat fitting that the owner of Highclere Castle, the setting for the period drama, fears the estate could be broken up and sold - because of changing inheritance laws. In an interview with The Lady magazine, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon said changes in the law of royal succession, which now allow first-born daughters to accede to the throne ahead of their younger brothers, could put estates across the country in jeopardy. Fears: The Earl of Carnarvon fears his estate - the setting for Downton Abbey - is in danger of being sold because of changing inheritance laws . He said the change, which has prompted some to argue for an abolition of male primogeniture when it comes to aristocratic titles and estates, was a step towards the French Napoleonic Code - which decreed property should be split equally among offspring. The idea has never gained traction in this country, but some in certain circles fear it may only be a matter of time before it becomes law. The Earl of Carnarvon said: 'There's obviously a reason for these things, which was to keep the place intact with the same name attached to it. 'If you go further down that road, you are going to be heading towards the Napoleonic Code, which would break up all the great British places and that would be the end of them. It would mean selling them all, which probably wouldn't be the best idea.' The concern echoes one of season one's main plotlines - when the title and inheritance of Downton when to distance cousin Matthew Crawley. The Carnarvon family have come close . to losing their 50-bedroom, 6,000 acre estate before over the past 100 years – as Lady . Carnarvon reveals in her new biography, Lady Catherine And The Real . Downton Abbey. She said: 'After doing my research, I am amazed we are still here. 'The title dies or slips to a cousin then that's it - there's no point worrying about it.' Storyline: Inheritance was a main plot in the first series of the drama - the fourth series of which is due to return to our screens this weekend . Other families have been stung in the past by such laws - including the daughters of David Carnegie, the 14th Earl of Northesk, who failed to prevent the title from passing to someone he had never met. Patrick Carnegy, 72, claimed the title based on Carnegy's descent from a junior line of the family that split off in 1654. The latter case has been used by pressure groups who are trying to seek gender equality in line with changes to the royal succession. The Countess of Clancarty, a member of one group of more 100 noble families, told The Times: 'The Northesk case shows quite clearly how ridiculous, unfair and iniquitous the current system of inheritance is. The Countess did however accept that things had moved on from the world portrayed in Downton Abbey. She added: 'In today's world these houses are not personal assets anyway. This is not our personal asset. 'It is our personal passion and our home for the time being, but it's a shared treasure. 'We can only pass it on in as good a nick as possible ad then it is up to the next generation.' | The 8th Earl of Carnarvon owns Highclere Castle - the setting for Downton .
Fears changes in .
the law of royal succession, allowing first-born daughters to accede to the throne, could put estates .
across the country in jeopardy .
Move could be a step towards French Napoleonic Code - which allows property to be split equally among offspring, he says .
Pressure group says changes to current 'unfair' system are necessary for certain estates to stay within the family . |
11,052 | 1f686a1872ac685c3eafde1ba9a75a300be545a5 | Washington (CNN) -- President Obama threw his support behind a controversial proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque near New York's ground zero, saying Friday that "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." "That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," Obama said at a White House Iftar dinner celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The president's remarks drew praise from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who announced his support for the Islamic center last week. Bloomberg compared Obama's speech to a letter President George Washington wrote in support of a Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. "President Obama's words tonight evoked President Washington's own august reminder that 'all possess alike liberty,' " Bloomberg said in a statement. "I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion tonight," he said. To learn more about the "ground zero" mosque, see CNN's Belief Blog . Critics of the proposed Islamic center quickly denounced Obama's remarks. "President Obama is wrong," said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). "It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the President caved into political correctness." "While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque, they are abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered so much," King said in a statement. "The right and moral thing for President Obama to have done was to urge Muslim leaders to respect the families of those who died and move their mosque away from Ground Zero." What do you think about this issue? Tell us on video . Obama, who said he was speaking both as a citizen and as president, invoked the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which critics of the Islamic center cite as the main reason for preventing its construction. "We must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan," Obama said, according to his prepared remarks. "The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country." "The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable," he continued. "So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground." But Obama said one "reason that we will win this fight" against terrorism is "our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect to those who are different from us -- a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today." Repeatedly invoking the nation's founders and examples of religious tolerance from American history, the president argued that national ideals and the Constitution demanded that the project proceed. He noted that Thomas Jefferson hosted the the first Iftar dinner at the White House more than 200 years ago and said that the country had previously seen "controversies about the construction of synagogues or Catholic churches." "But time and again," he said, "the American people have demonstrated that we can work through these issues." "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable," Obama said. "The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure." The proposed Islamic center has provoked vocal opposition from some families of 9/11 victims and other groups. Nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose the plan, according to CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll released Wednesday. "Obama came out for the Islamic supremacist mosque at the hallowed ground of 911 attack," Pamela Geller, a leading foe of the Islamic center, wrote on her blog Friday night. "He has, in effect, sided with the Islamic jihadists." Muslim Americans, meanwhile, applauded the speech. "It was pitch perfect and it was cut and dry," said Eboo Patel, executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core and a Muslim adviser to the White House on faith issues. "He said that our Founding Fathers built a nation on religious freedom where people from different faiths can pray and thrive and that is that." Some Muslims said they were surprised to hear the president weigh in on the controversy. "It's such a hot potato and he's already got so much on his plate and people jumping on him for any hint of an Islamic connection," said Akbar Ahmed, an American University professor who attended Friday's White House dinner. "But he plunged in and took a very bold position." The Islamic center's leaders say they plan to build the $100 million, 13-story facility called Cordoba House three blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks. The developer, Sharif El-Gamal, describes the project as an "Islamic community center" that will include a 500-seat performing arts center, a lecture hall, a swimming pool, a gym, a culinary school, a restaurant and a prayer space for Muslims. On Wednesday, the project's developers declined an offer by New York Gov. David Paterson to relocate the project to a state-owned site. Earlier this month, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously denied landmark status for the building where the proposed Islamic center would stand, allowing the project to move forward. | NEW: Republican congressman says Obama "caved into political correctness."
NEW: Muslim who attended White House event surprised Obama touched "hot potato"
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg praises Obama's remarks .
Obama said that "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else" |
177,490 | 71bf9121fcad3f0b32d811646a9e188272f3609a | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 13:31 EST, 23 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:48 EST, 24 June 2013 . President Francois Hollande’s popularity in France is back down to a record low, according to a new opinion poll published today. The Ifop survey in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper reveals that just 26 per cent of the country is 'satisified with his dismal record.' This figure is down three percentage points on Hollande’s popularity in May, and is further confirmation that the Socialist head of state is by far the most unpopular in modern French history. French President Francois Hollande's popularity is down to a record low of 26 per cent approval . It come as a crucial by-election was contested by the conservative UMP party and the Far-Right National Front (FN). Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, 23, was hoping to clinch a third parliamentary seat for the FN after already knocking out a Socialist. Mr Bousquet-Cassange is trying to appeal to those disillusioned with the economic decline and corruption which has become endemic during Mr Hollande’s presidency. He faces a second round run-off against Jean-Louis Costes, from former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party in Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Etienne Bousquet-Cassange is trying to appeal to those disillusioned with the economic decline and corruption which has become endemic during Mr Hollande's presidency . The constituency was previously held by Jerome Cahuzac, Mr Hollande’s disgraced budget minister and tax tsar who turned out to have a secret Swiss bank account. Mr Cahuzac’s Socialist successor, Bernard Barral, was knocked out in the first round last Sunday, in which Mr Costes won 28.7 per cent of the vote and Mr Bousquet-Cassagne 26 per cent. The FN was already buoyed by reaching the second round of another by-election in March in the Oise department, north of Paris, in which the UMP candidate won by a wafer-thin margin. But the Socialists have called on their voters to form a ‘Republic front’ against the far-right candidate by voting for his conservative rival. Whatever happens, the by-election will reduce the Socialists’ parliamentary majority to just three – down from eight last year. French Jean-Louis Costes, from former President Nicolas Sarkozy¿s UMP party, faces a second round run-off for the by-election . This steady decline has also been reflected in record low popularity ratings for Mr Hollande as he battles historically high unemployment while seeking to rein in the public deficit. The Ifop poll showed the proportion of people satisfied with Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also declined 2 points to 31 percent. The Socialist government has been struggling with rising unemployment, stalled economic growth, muddled Europe policy, and a large public deficit, while Mr Hollande’s same-sex marriage law also prompted huge protests. The poll on the popularity of Mr Hollande, who was elected in May last year, was based on the views of 1,865 people aged 18 or over contacted by telephone between June 14 and June 22. | Francois Hollande’s popularity in France is back down to a record low .
Just 26 per cent of the country is 'satisified with his dismal record'
Figure is down three percentage points on Hollande’s popularity in May .
The Socialist head of state is the most unpopular in modern French history . |
173,359 | 6c5aad52a84a7c02c48382efa2bed06a33a45ae8 | (CNN) -- The man suspected of robbing banks and killing a police officer was convicted of threatening President Barack Obama in 2010, the Secret Service said Sunday. A nationwide manhunt for the suspected bank robber -- identified as 40-year-old Mario Edward Garnett by Phoenix police -- ended when a Phoenix police detective shot and killed a man after a new bank robbery on Saturday. Secret Service spokesman Max Milien said that Garnett is the same individual arrested in 2010 in Oklahoma City for threatening the President. Court records show Garnett pleaded guilty to those threats, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to get mental health care upon his release. He was not allowed to own a gun. Garnett admitted that he wrote a rant on the official White House website that included this line: "If you order a strike on Iran, I'm going to come up there and blow your brains out on national TV," the documents said. His prison term, including three years of supervised release, ended in July, records show. Garnett's last heist took place Saturday morning in Phoenix. After leaving the bank with a bag and gun, Garnett was approached by a police officer and started shooting. The officer retreated, but an undercover detective was nearby and shot Garnett in the upper body, said Phoenix police spokesman James Holmes. "This is a situation where we had a detective on the street doing a follow-up on an unrelated incident who heard a radio call. He was close by, so he responded." Holmes said. Garnett was pronounced dead near the scene. "It chills me to think what might have happened had he not responded, based on the information we have now," Holmes added. Using cell phone records, the FBI confirmed that Garnett was in the area of two other holdups. Garnett apparently started his crime spree across the country nearly a week ago when he tried to rob a bank Monday in Atlanta but failed and ended up robbing a customer at the bank's ATM. Hours later, authorities believe, Garnett robbed a bank about 300 miles away in Tupelo, Mississippi. That robbery escalated to a gunfight with police, and two officers were shot. One of those officers, Gale Stauffer, died. After hearing the news of Garnett's death, Stauffer's wife, Beth, said: "We can truly begin the healing process." Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre said Stauffer's death may be the first in the department's history. The second officer shot, Joseph Maher, is recovering in a Tupelo hospital. CNN's Alison Harding, Stephanie Goggans, Janet DiGiacomo, Scott Thompson and Adam Shivers contributed to this report. | NEW: Records show Garnett was not allowed to own a gun .
Secret Service says Garnett was arrested in 2010 for threatening the president .
Phoenix police identify suspect as 40-year-old Mario Edward Garnett .
The FBI believes Garnett shot two officers in Mississippi, tried to rob a bank in Atlanta . |
269,872 | e987f8fcd2a5bfb76ce03f93c496bc7509338cea | Thanksgiving at the Margolies house is going to be awkward this year. Marjorie Margolies, a former congresswoman and mother-in-law to former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, crashed and burned in a bid to return to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, losing her Democratic primary in a landslide. Her epic Pennsylvania loss to state Rep. Brendan Boyle came despite campaign fundraising appearances by both Bill and Hillary Clinton, who couldn't push her above a 27 per cent showing in a four-way race. Margolies has courted controversy since 1993 when, in her first and only term in Congress, she cast the deciding vote in favor of then-President Bill Clinton's tax-raising 1993 budget. Marjorie Margolies conceded the election for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, losing in a landslide despite endorsements and fundraising help from Bill and Hillary Clinton . Happy couple: Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky merged the two political families with troubled pasts, and Marc's mother's political flame-out will add new tensions . Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton turned an April fundraiser for Margolies into a mini campaign launch for herself, raising $200,000 for her son-in-law's mother but test-ballooning 2016 campaign issues at the same time . Republicans chanted 'Bye bye Marjorie' on the House floor, knowing her political life would take a hit since she had promised her constituents that she would never raise their taxes. Shortly after she lost her seat in the 1994 midterm election that swept Newt Gingrich and more than 50 other conservatives into power, she got a consolation prize in the form of a $600,000 grant for her charity, Women's Campaign International, from Bill Clinton's USAID. Part of Margolies' political baggage was linked to that charity. In 2001 after her husband, former Democratic Rep. Ed Mezvinsky, was indicted for investor fraud, Margolies lost everything – her property was liquidated to reimburse her husband's victims more than $10 million, and a judge refused to let her declare bankruptcy. She then doubled her own salary into six-figure territory, made a move to pay for a mansion for her to live in and billed it for a leased car. She also reportedly forced the charity's staffers to double as personal assistants to help her at a university where she taught. A pregnant Chelsea Clinton showed off her baby bump as she arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday; her mother-in-law lost a congressional primary bid on Tuesday . Bill and Hillary Clinton both personally headlined fundraisers for Margolies, and they appeared together in a campaign commercial made near the end of the primary run. Hillary's appearance in April, however, appeared less focused on Margolies than on herself. The candidate didn't show up, and Mrs. Clinton road-tested campaign themes for the 2016 presidential election. In contrast, the power couple made nearly a dozen appearances last year in Virginia to help former Democratic National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe win a hotly contested governor's race. A handful of other marquee November races took shape Tuesday night as Republicans seek a six-seat flip this year to retake the U.S. Senate . Kentucky . Senate . Minority Leader Mitch McConnell cruised to victory over tea party . challenger Matt Bevin, a political neophyte who never had a chance after . he was caught speaking to a pro-cockfightnig rally. McConnell . was a gracious winner: He needs to be. Facing popular state Attorney . General Alison Lundergan Grimes in November will force the five-term . incumbent to unite a fractured GOP, many of whose voters see him as a . flexible moderate with limited conservative credentials. Grimes . hopes to unseat the Republicans' most powerful senator, even if it's a . consolation prize in an otherwise dismal year for Democrats. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky wed in 2010; his mother Marjorie Margolies (L) lost her bid to return to Congress in a dramatic primary drubbing on Tuesday . Oregon Republican Monica Wehby (2nd L) won her Senate nomination despite separate domestic harassment accusations leveled against her in the past by an ex-husband and a former boyfriend; early voting by mail helped her collect support before the scandal broke . Georgia . In a hyper-competitive Senate race, businessman . David Perdue topped the field of seven Republicans and a more . conservative House member, Jack Kingston, finished a close second. The . two will meet in a July runoff for the GOP nomination. McConnell cruises: The Senate minority leader, shown voting with nis wife -- former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao -- made easy work of his tea party challenger, and then quickly called for party unity in order to hold on to his seat in November . Tea party-supported candidates Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey, both members of the House who sought to leap to the North side of the U.S. Capitol, finished at the bottom of the heap and will likely exit Congress entirely. The winner of July’s runoff election will face Democratic nominee Michelle Nunn, whose father Sam Nunn was a popular U.S. senator who often won re-elections by landslide margins. Oregon . Dr. Monica Wehby overcame late-stage accusations about past domestic disputes to capture the GOP Senate nomination. Police reports surfaced this month showing that her ex-husband and a former boyfriend both called police with claims that she had harassed them. The boyfriend, a timber company executive who later funded a super PAC attacking Wehby's main challenger, state Rep. Jason Conger, and later said he regretted blowing the whistle on her, and that his claims at the time were heat-of-passion exaggerations . Oregon voters participate heavily in early mail-in voting, raising the possibility that Wehby's victory was significantly aided by voters who cast ballots before her scandal broke in the news. But now the issue threatens to damage her chances against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley in November. | Marjorie Margolis captured just 27 per cent of votes in a Pennsylvania congressional primary, despite endorsements from the Clintons .
Her son Marc Mezvinsky is married to former first daughter Chelsea Clinton .
Margolies served one term in Congress during the 1990s but was famously bounced from office after a single term following her deciding vote in favor of Bill Clinton's 1993 national tax increase .
Key Senate primary races in Oregon, Kentucky, Georgia and elsewhere have clarified the November races that will determine who controls Congress during President Barack Obama's final two years in office . |
138,715 | 3f64bed5d811a776da44ed8e5589bc47608e73ed | (EW.com ) -- Producers announced Thursday that Lindsay Lohan will star in the West End production of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow." In the Hollywood satire, she'll be playing Karen, an ambitious and seductive secretary, in a story about two film producers trying to close a big deal. Madonna famously played the role in the 1988 original New York show. EW: See full coverage of stage . The play, directed by Lindsay Posner, will open Oct. 2 and run to Nov. 29 at the Playhouse Theatre in London. Lohan's most recent film work was 2013′s The Canyons, and her tumultuous OWN reality show, Lindsay, aired this past spring. James Franco wrote a short story about Lindsay Lohan . Officially, this will be the troubled 27-year-old star's first time performing onstage, though she made a memorable appearance at the North Shore High School Winter Talent Show, among many others. See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Lohan will play Karen in the production .
The play is directed by Lindsay Posner .
Lohan's most recent film work was 2013′s "The Canyons" |
48,552 | 8902376c2126fec9b050d142059d3d3545e599ff | A teenager nicknamed 'Baldy' by bullies was left with unsightly bald patches at the back of her head, the result of a compelling but rare disorder. May Brown, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk began pulling her own hair out at the age of 11. By the time she was 16 she had several bald patches on the top of her head. For years, the now 17-year-old tried to hide her disorder. She endured cruel taunts and bullying from classmates - who tugged at her hair and called her 'Baldy'. She is now speaking out to raise awareness of the rare condition trichotillomania, which compels her to tear out her hair. May Brown, 17, was left bald at the top of her head due to suffering trichotillomania, which caused her to pull out her own hair compulsively . She began pulling out her hair at age 11. By the age of 16 she had a bald patches on her crown (pictured left and right) and was taunted by bullies that called her 'Baldy' She hid her condition from everyone but her family for years, hiding her bald patches with hairclips, different hairstyles and hats . The rare disorder causes people to pull their hair out from their heads, as well as from their eyebrows and eyelashes. May, a student who documented her struggle in a YouTube video, said: 'I've had enough of keeping my trichotillomania a secret for so many years and felt it was time to come clean. 'At school, I was teased for my bald patches and was an easy target for bullies. I hope speaking out raises more awareness about the condition so that others 'trichers' don't suffer in silence.' May's symptoms first became apparent when she was just 9-years-old and began pulling her eyebrow hair out. She said: 'I was watching TV one day and was constantly pulling my eyebrow hair out, not realizing what the outcome would turn out like. 'When I later looked in the mirror, I had actually pulled so much out that I had no eyebrows left.' May's trichotillomania briefly stopped until she started secondary school, when she began tearing hair from her scalp. She said: 'I somehow stopped pulling up until I was 11-years-old and then began to tear hair from my head. Trichotillomania is a condition where a person feels compelled to pull their hair out. They may pull out the hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. Trichotillomania is an impulse-control disorder - a psychological condition where you are unable to stop yourself carrying out a particular action. It is not known what causes trichotillomania but there are several theories. Some experts think hair pulling is a type of addiction. The more you pull your hair out, the more you want to keep doing it. Trichotillomania may be a reflection of a mental health problem. Psychological and behavioural theories suggest that hair pulling may be a way of relieving stress or anxiety. In some cases, trichotillomania may be a form of self-harm, where you deliberately injure yourself as a way of seeking temporary relief from emotional distress. The most effective treatment is therapy to change your hair-pulling behaviour, combined with a network of emotional support. Visit your GP if you are pulling your hair out or if you notice that your child is. Source: NHS Choices . 'I used to pull during school lessons - classmates would snigger and make comments. 'Because of this, I somehow stopped myself from pulling my hair in public to not bring attention to myself. 'But I would still pull in private so that within a couple of years, I had no hair left on the top of my head. 'Anything can set my trichotillomania off - from a school essay I'm stressed about it or if I over-think during a sleepless night. A lot of the time I don't even realise I'm pulling.' The state of her hair made her an easy target for school bullies. She said: 'I was called 'Baldy' by classmates. I had many comments from bullies like "Haircut go wrong?" or sarcastic remarks such as "I really like your hair". 'I remember one point a bully tugged my hair so that they could fully see my bald patch and have the chance to mock me.' May attempted to conceal her bald patches with different hair accessories and styles. She said: 'I would wear hearbands, hair slides and hats to hide my baldness. 'I remember I used to get told off in school for always wearing the same hat. Some of my teachers were fed up with me for wearing it so much.' Until this year, May was too embarrassed to reveal her condition to her friends and family. It was only her sister and parents who were aware of her trichotillomania. But in January, the Youtube blogger - who runs the channel MayBrown21 - decided to upload a video in which she confessed to the world. The inspiring teen said: 'I decided to make a YouTube video explaining that I have trichotillomania as I wanted to tell my secret to everybody I knew. 'It was sort of a New Year's Resolution to not hide in silence anymore. She chronicled her experiences on Youtube. In January, she released a video on Youtube confessing to having the condition. She says she has received messages of support since . 'Since uploading the video, I have had so much support from everyone. I'm always receiving messages from other sufferers around the world asking for advice and telling me their Trich stories,' she said . 'Even though it was literally the hardest thing I had ever done, I thought it would be much easier to upload one video than tell people face-to-face. 'But since uploading the video, I have had so much support from everyone. I'm always receiving messages from other sufferers around the world asking for advice and telling me their trich stories.' A spokesman for Trichotillomania Support, a resource for people with the disorder, said: 'Trichotillomania can often affect shy people who are afraid or nervous to ask for help. 'It is important that sufferers know they are not alone and they should not be ashamed of asking for support. 'Any individual with the condition can call the Trichotillomania Support helpline. 'Athough it is often only in exceptional cases that people are able to stop pulling their hair altogether, there are ways in which you can learn to manage your Trichotillomania.' More information and help can be found on Trichotillomania Support's website. | May Brown, 17, began pulling out her own hair at the age of 11 .
By the age of 16 she had several bald patches at the top of her head .
She endured cruel taunts from bullies who nicknamed her 'Baldy'
Anything could set her off, from lack of sleep to stress over school work .
Tried to hide bald patches with different hairclips and hairstyles .
Eventually made a Youtube video confessing to having trichotillomania .
The rare disorder causes sufferers to pull their hair out from their head as well as their eyebrows and eyelashes .
Now wants to raise awareness of the condition and help others suffering . |
96,805 | 0894d60f2d633fc67f94e495de8b2ef58ec079ab | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:35 EST, 23 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:18 EST, 23 July 2013 . One runs London, the other runs England’s schools. But as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove emerged from a restaurant on a night out, there was only one top Tory fans wanted to be photographed with. As the pair emerged from an exclusive Mayfair eatery, Mr Johnson was mobbed by autograph hunters while Mr Gove looked on. Celebration: Education Secretary Michael Gove (left) and London Mayor Boris Johnson emerged together from Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, but tourists only wanted to have their picture taken with one of the men . Fans: As the pair made their way along the road in Mayfair, Mr Johnson was mobbed by tourists wanting their picture taken with him . As most of London was celebrating the news of the royal birth, the two senior Conservatives were on a night out at Scott’s restaurant. Mr Johnson hinted at his plan to have a drink when he congratulated Kate and William on the borth of their son. He said: 'Huge congratulations to the Duke and Duchess on the birth of their first child who will, by virtue of being born in this great city, be a Londoner through and through. 'I am sure millions of Londoners will be raising a glass today to toast this wonderful news.' Photos: The group took it in turns to pose for pictures with the Mayor of London . Smiles: The tourists appeared to be enjoying their moment with Boris more than he did . It's him: The group appeared to smile in disbelief that they were meeting Mr Johnson in the flesh . Several hours later he was seen emerging from Scott's with his trademark rucksack before heading off in search of his Marin bicycle, struggling to click his helmet on as he prepared to ride off. Both men appeared to be suffering from the heat, with Mr Gove’s tie loosened around the neck and Mr Johnson’s shirt unbuttoned in an attempt to stay cool. But as they tried to head off into the night, Mr Johnson’s celebrity status stopped them in their tracks. He was mobbed by tourists who ran down the road to meet the London Major. They took it in turns to hug and shake Mr Johnson by the hand, while posing for pictures taken on camera phones. Bagged up: A tired looking Mr Johnson appeared to struggle with his helmet, rucksack and bicycle as he left the restaurant . Wheelie pleased: Mr Johnson said he was delighted at the news of the royal baby . Slightly awkwardly, Mr Gove does not appear to have been recognised and stood nearby looking on. A recent poll suggested Mr Johnson was the second most well-known politician, with 91 per cent of people correctly naming him. Only David Cameron has a higher recognition rate at 94 per cent, according to Lord Ashcroft’s survey. Education Secretary Mr Gove is seen as one of the big stars of the coalition, pushing through major reforms of schools. But just 35 per cent said they recognised him and only 29 per cent of people correctly identified him. He was most often mixed him up with UKIP leader Nigel Farage and John Gummer, a minister in John Major’s government. | London Mayor swamped by tourists after dinner with Education Secretary .
Pair emerged looking hot and bothered from Scott's in Mayfair .
Mr Johnson had urged Londoners to 'raise a glass' to the royal baby . |
1,399 | 04009b367a9f4147a50483db11d743fd75c00886 | By . Sally Lee for Daily Mail Australia . An army major has been charged with murdering his wife following her death at the couple's country home in Wallan, Victoria. David Whitelegg was arrested shortly after police attended the home, 50km north of Melbourne, when his wife Anne was found dead at about 11.30am on Sunday. Mr Whitelegg has reportedly served in both the Australian and British armed forced, Nine News reports. David Whitelegg has been charged with murdering his wife after she was found dead on Sunday morning . Anne Whitelegg's body was found the couple's lavish country home in Wallan, Victoria . Some neighbours of Cavallo Crescent said they were shocked to hear of the suspected murder as the couple had shown no signs of trouble. However one neighbour, who did not want to be named, claimed Mr Whitelegg 'was unpleasant, difficult', the Herald Sun reports. It is believed the 53-year-old left the British Army five years ago. Anne Whitelegg, in her 50s, had been a nurse at LaTrobe Private Hospital until it closed last month. Mr Whitelegg appeared at an out of sessions hearing on Tuesday morning and was remanded in custody. He is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court later on in the day. Some neighbours of Cavallo Crescent said they were shocked to hear of the suspected murder as the couple had shown no signs of trouble . One neighbour, who did not want to be named, claimed Mr Whitelegg 'was unpleasant, difficult' The couple's country home in Wallan is 50km north of Melbourne . | Anne Whitelegg, in her 50s, was found dead in her home at Wallan - 50km north of Melbourne - on Sunday morning .
Husband and army major David Whitelegg was arrested and charged with her murder .
Some neighbours were shocked to hear of the suspected murder while others described Mr Whitelegg as 'unpleasant' and 'difficult'
Mr Whitelegg appeared at an out of sessions hearing on Tuesday morning and was remanded in custody .
The 53-year-old is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court later on in the day . |
11,284 | 201ac92e0d5cdcd6cfb309817b0aa7e1668552e4 | Diego Costa trained with Chelsea on Thursday hours after it was confirmed that he's highly likely to miss the crunch Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend. The Spain striker was charged by the FA on Wednesday evening for stamping on Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final win against Liverpool. Presuming he denies the charge, Costa will find out his fate before the game against the champions. VIDEO Scroll down for Chelsea vs Manchester City preview: Stats, facts and betting odds . Diego Costa was training with Chelsea on Thursday after being charged by the FA for stamping on Emre Can . Costa has scored 17 goals this season but looks set to miss out on the game against Manchester City . Costa took part in full training but Cesc Fabregas was a notably absentee for the Blues . Andre Schurrle was put through his paces at Cobham but looks set to leave Chelsea before February 2 . John Terry fends of Ramires (with Oscar watching on) as Chelsea play keep-ball during training . Loic Remy performs a drill in training under the watchful eye of Chris Jones and manager Jose Mourinho . That's down to the Premier League's fast-track protocol with retrospective punishment if officials miss incidents on the field of play. Michael Oliver didn't spot Costa plunging his studs into the ankle of Can at Stamford Bridge and thus the FA were able to act with the referee's blessing. Costa has since contested the charge and is set to find out his fate on Friday afternoon. Thibaut Courtois gets down to a low shot during a one-on-one goalkeeping session . Terry attempts to nip the ball away from Costa with Willian and Eden Hazard close by . Cesar Azpilicueta is set to start at left back as Manchester City arrive at Stamford Bridge this weekend . Costa shares a joke with Brazilian Oscar as Hazard laughs towards the back of the group . The 17-goal man is almost certain to watch from the stands against City; it looks that Cesc Fabregas will as well after sustaining a hamstring injury on Tuesday night. Fabregas was absent at Chelsea's Cobham training base and looks set to miss his first league game in over a month. Andre Schurrle completed training but is ready to leave the club. Chelsea want to use funds from selling the German World Cup winner in order to land Juan Cuadrado - whose arrival is imminent. | Diego Costa was present at Cobham on Thursday afternoon .
The Chelsea striker has contested his charge for violent conduct .
The Spanish striker is still likely to face a three-match ban . |
183,931 | 7a401f8388defd8fe8af0c2f720b98d7cafa0d9d | By . Sadie Whitelocks . Last updated at 8:06 PM on 12th January 2012 . Amy Francis underwent surgery to remove a cancerous kidney but died after surgeons removed the wrong organ . A widow died on an operating table after a surgeon tried to remove the wrong organ, an inquest heard today. Amy Francis, 77, underwent keyhole surgery to remove a cancerous right kidney last July. But during the operation at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, her liver ruptured as it was mistakenly pulled out and, despite desperate efforts to save her, she died of internal bleeding. Consultant urologist Dr Adam Carter, admitted to the error and highlighted that as a result of the death, a modified operating procedure had been communicated 'worldwide'. Her son Alan, 52, praised Dr Carter for his honesty and the hospital for 'owning up' early. Following the hearing he said: 'We . appreciated Mr Carter’s honesty and him coming along here today and hope . that we can put it all behind us now. 'I . think that it was the honesty that saved the hospital. If we thought . that they had not answered our questions it would have been different. 'This was an honest mistake.' Retired accountant, Mrs Francis, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and was due to be treated after she had recovered from the routine surgery. But during the operation Dr Carter allowed a trainee, who had never performed the procedure before, to locate and remove the organ. As the trainee . wasn't confident enough to remove the organ Dr Carter was forced to . take over, and during the changeover confusion occurred. When he attempted to remove the kidney he was immediately told by the anesthetist that the patient’s blood pressure was dropping and he realised his mistake. Consultant urologist Dr Adam Carter, admitted to the fatal error during an operation performed at the Royal Gwent Hospital . Two senior surgeons were called to the scene and every effort was made to save Mrs Francis, but they were unsuccessful. David Bowen, the coroner for Gwent, said: 'Whilst undergoing keyhole surgery . for the necessary removal of the cancerous kidney, Mrs Francis’s . liver was ruptured when it was mistakenly and unintentionally identified . as the kidney and was catastrophically torn and damaged, resulting in . death.' Dr Carter said he had carried out the procedure 20 times since the death without a problem. Son Alan said before the inquest finished: 'We accept the decision and we also accept that Mr Carter and his team acted in good faith to prolong my mother’s life. 'We also appreciated his honesty and wish him well for the future and hope he goes on to do other successful operations.' Over the last 40 years, the number of cases of kidney cancer has doubled in men and risen by 130 per cent in women, a trend which is believed to be linked to rising obesity figures. There were 3638 new cases diagnosed in men and 2118 new cases diagnosed in woman in England during 2007. | Amy Francis underwent surgery for kidney cancer .
Trainee loses confidence during operation .
Liver ruptures causing death .
Hospital admits to error . |
179,492 | 746a7656b076b0c52d9ae10c449ff2a1614ef10e | Now this is how you guarantee that your guests have a memorable hotel stay. When one guest checked in to the Hotel Indigo San Antonio Riverwalk during a business trip to Texas, the bored traveller decided to have a little fun with the hotel staff. Sarah Kovacs Grzywacz received a text, which she believed to be automated, when she first arrived, asking if she needed anything during her stay. Business traveller Sarah Kovacz Grzywacz asked hotel concierge for an image of Nicolas Cage for her room . Bored during her business conference, Sarah Kovacs Grzywacz responded to the hotel's text - with one particularly odd request. 'I got this text when I checked into the Hotel Indigo San Antonio Riverwalk basically letting me know if I needed anything,' Grzywacz explained to Viral Nova. 'I asked for a framed picture of Nic Cage in Con Air. When I got an affirmative response, I thought it was auto generated and went about my day.' After the Hotel Indigo San Antonio Riverwalk staff obliged, Grzywacz continued their interaction, asking for another photo of Nic (along with bath towels) to be placed in the bathroom . When she arrived home around 6pm, sadly, no photograph of the Hollywood actor had been delivered . But hotel concierge Ramon delivered on his promise and delivered a film still of the actor along with a Post-It note that read, 'Sweet dreams! Enjoy!' Amused, Grzywacz made another strange request. This time, she asked for a photo of the actor in Moonstruck to be attached to her bathroom mirror. She also asked for some bath towels. But the dedicated staff delivered the requested image and towels soon after - along with a personalised note . Her final request? An image of Nic Cage in his hit film 8MM to be attached next to the television . The hotel staff once again delivered - taping a printed out photo of the actor to the side of the TV . When she returned back at 8pm and found that her request had not been completed, she sent a follow up text. The hotel staff was apologetic and quickly delivered her towels, along with a photo of the star and a note that said: 'Sorry I'm late! - Nick.' For her last trick, Grzywacz asked for one final image of the Hollywood actor to be delivered to her room - a photo of the actor in 8MM to be taped to the television screen. 'Good choice!' Ramon replied and the image soon appeared in her hotel room. Grzywacz then uploaded these hilarious images and texts on Imgur, which have since gone viral . A little something extra! The concierge even attached one final - non-requested - image to the door . Grzywacz went on to share the photos of the attentive staff's dedication on her Imgur account, which have since gone viral. While many hotels offer services of concierges who claim to be willing to do whatever it takes, Ramon's hilarious responses show an entirely new level of commitment to ensuring guest satisfaction. Consider us booked in. | Sarah Kovacs Grzywacz had many strange requests during her hotel stay .
She was visiting the Hotel Indigo San Antonio Riverwalk on business .
Asked concierge for several photos of Nicolas Cage to be put in her room .
The attentive staff happily obliged, even providing personalised notes . |
280,714 | f7a8c12412972b27c0b45bc3bddc93faaca830b3 | (CNN) -- The shocking scenes that unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday have added another name to the list of respectable but otherwise unremarkable towns forever scarred by tragedy. Communities like Aurora, Columbine and Newtown have found themselves on the front line of a deeply emotional debate about the right to bear arms -- something that is enshrined in America's constitution. While some view the death of 20 children as proof that radical gun control reform in the U.S. is needed, others believe the solution to the problem of gun violence is not better regulations but more guns. The result is America often struggles to find a common voice that satisfies those who totally oppose guns and those who fundamentally believe in their right of self-defense. Yet gun violence is not an exclusively American issue. From Scotland to Tasmania, communities not too dissimilar to Newtown have experienced the same unspeakable horrors. But in some cases, those massacres have been a catalyst for important changes in gun control laws. We look at some of those experiences and their effects. Britain . Despite relatively limited gun ownership and availability, Britain has experienced several mass shootings in the past 25 years. On August 19, 1987, 27-year-old Michael Ryan went on a bloody rampage for several hours in the southern English town of Hungerford, Berkshire armed with a pistol, hand grenade and an automatic rifle. He murdered 16 people and wounded over a dozen others, before he shot himself after being tracked down in a college building in the town. In the wake of the Hungerford massacre, Britain introduced new legislation -- Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 -- making registration mandatory for owning shotguns and banning semi-automatic and pump-action weapons. Nine years later, on March 13, 1996, 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton burst into a school in the picturesque town of Dunblane in central Scotland and embarked on a terrifying shooting spree that left 16 five and six-year-old children and their teacher dead. The former scoutmaster turned one of the four pistols he was carrying on himself. The following year, a new law -- Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 -- was passed effectively banning the private ownership of all handguns in the UK. This followed a highly successful public campaign in the months after Dunblane that included a petition being handed to the government with almost 750,000 signatures, according to British media reports. Britain was shaken by another massacre in June 2010 when a lone gunman, named as Derrick Byrd, killed 12 people and injured almost 30 others after a near four-hour shooting spree in rural Cumbria, northern England. After a huge manhunt, the body of the 52-year-old taxi driver was found alongside two powerful rifles, one equipped with a telescopic sight. He had taken his own life. Police were investigating 30 crime scenes at one point. The tragedy again raised questions about the effectiveness of Britain's gun laws after it was revealed Byrd was licensed to carry firearms. The licensing application process involves being vetted by police as well as the applicant's doctor to assess their fitness to own a weapon. Finland . Finland enjoys a strong tradition of hunting and has a high proportion of gun ownership, with 1.5 million firearms owned in a nation of more than five million people, according to government figures. Gun control has also been more relaxed here. Until recently anyone aged 15 and over was able to apply for a gun license if they offered a valid reason such as membership of a gun club. Though gun crime is rare, the country has suffered two major incidents at schools in recent years. On November 7, 2007, a teenager opened fire with a handgun at his high school in the southern Finnish town of Tuusula, killing eight people before fatally turning the gun on himself. Police said all of 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen's victims had multiple gunshot wounds, most to the upper body and head. Some 69 shells and more than 320 unused bullets were found at the scene. Auvinen, who had no criminal record, obtained a license for the weapon the previous month and regularly practiced sharp-shooting as a hobby at a local range, police said. The authorities said Auvinen, who police later described as lonely and antisocial, had posted a series of videos on YouTube featuring guns, with some hinting at the massacre at Jokela High School itself. The following year, on September 23, the country was numbed by news of another mass shooting. Over the course of 90 minutes, 10 people were fatally shot as Matti Juhani Saari, wearing a ski mask and black fatigues, rampaged through a campus at Kauhajoki city's School of Hospitality in southwestern Finland. The 22-year-old later died in hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Chillingly, police revealed Saari had been questioned days before the shooting about a video posted on the internet showing him firing a gun, though no action was taken because he was licensed and had not broken the law. In the wake of the shootings, the Finnish government moved to issue new guidelines on the use of firearms, particularly handguns and revolvers. New applicants for handgun licenses are now required to show they've been active members of a gun club for one year and be vetted by their doctor and police. The minimum age for purchasing licenses of short barrel weapons has been raised to 20 -- 18 for hunting rifles. Permits are now valid for a period of five years before being reviewed. Australia . In one of his first acts as leader, Prime Minister John Howard announced major reforms to Australia's gun control laws just 12 days after 35 people died at the hands of a lone gunman wielding a military-style semi-automatic rifle at a popular tourist spot in Tasmania on April 28, 1996. In the wave of public revulsion against what became known as the Port Arthur massacre, the move for stricter gun controls was led by Howard, who had taken office just seven weeks earlier and who, in the first few hours after the tragedy, declared himself horrified "at this shocking and senseless act." He took his anti-gun campaign around the country, at one stage addressing a hostile pro-gun rally wearing a bullet-proof vest. He also oversaw a successful gun "buy-back" scheme that took some 650,000 guns out of circulation. Australia's eight states and territories got behind legislation that addressed mass shootings: High calibre rifles and shotguns were banned, licensing was tightened and remaining firearms were registered to uniform national standards -- an accomplishment regarded by many in the country as Howard's enduring legacy. Australia has been compared to the United States for its "frontier mentality." But unlike the U.S., there is no constitutional right to bear arms, gun ownership is markedly lower and American-style gun culture has taken hold in only a few pockets of Australian society -- most notably among the crime gangs operating in the two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. Norway . July 22, 2011 will live long in the memory of all Norwegians after the carnage that unfolded that day. After detonating a bomb outside the prime minister's office in Oslo, killing eight people, Anders Behring Breivik took a ferry to Utoya Island and embarked on a shooting spree that took the lives of another 69 people attending a youth camp. Authorities said Breivik roamed the island shooting at campers, before members of an elite Norwegian police unit took him into custody. In August this year, Breivik, who boasted of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway, was judged to be sane at the time and sentenced to 21 years in prison after being charged with voluntary homicide and committing acts of terror. An independent report into the worst atrocity on Norwegian soil since World War II blamed a series of intelligence and planning failures for delaying the police arrival on the island by 30 minutes. Despite ownership and the type of ammunition permitted for use being tightly regulated, the report also criticized Norway's gun controls as "inadequate." It called for a total ban on semi-automatic weapons of the type Breivik purchased with relative ease. Like Finland, Norway has a high number of guns in circulation with hunting a national pastime. According to the Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City," there are almost 32 firearms per 100 people in Norway. This compares to 88.82 per 100 in the United States. CNN's Richard Allen Greene and journalist Geoff Hiscock contributed to this report. | Communities like Aurora, Columbine, Newtown on front line of gun control debate .
The right to bear arms is enshrined in the constitution of the United States .
Gun controls have been tightened across globe after massacres such as Dunblane .
Wave of public revulsion against Port Arthur massacre led to stricter controls in Australia . |
218,217 | a682499bf635eff1ac4cc461dbe9f0869fc68140 | He revealed in a recent interview that his relationship with Bo Bruce was a publicity stunt to earn her more votes on The Voice. But now a source close to the singer has hit back at The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue, insisting Bo will 'never forgive him' for making their relationship seem less than it was. In the interview with Daily Mail reporter Spencer Bright last week, Danny had said: ‘I didn’t deny or confirm the . speculation. I found it funny. By not saying anything, it created its . own buzz. I thought I’d use it, and help Bo get publicity.' Anything but just publicity: Bo Bruce has been left devastated by Danny O'Donoghue's claims that their relationship was entirely for publicity . However, Bo has been left devastated and 'emotionally exhausted' by the interview, which she sees as further indication that Danny never really cared about her. The source exclusively told MailOnline: 'Bo and Danny's relationship was real and not a publicity stunt, despite Danny's claim that it was. 'Danny asked Bo to lie about it and never . admit it, but she was disgusted that he claimed it was just for . publicity. That was when they fell out for good... and she will never . forgive him for it.' 'Creating a buzz': Danny and Bo first sparked romance rumours on The Voice . Emotionally exhausted: The source also claims Danny wanted nothing to do with promotion of the single they wrote together, Alive . According to the source, Bo and Danny's relationship came to an end when he attempted to win back his ex Irma Mali - who banned him from having any more to do with Bo. The source added: 'They are no longer friends and he . abandoned Bo whilst trying to win back his ex, who made him promise not . to associate himself with Bo.' While Bo and Danny worked together on the single Alive, from Bo's album Before I Go To Sleep, the source claims that aside from writing the track together, Danny refused to have anything else to do with the song after the pair fell out following their split. Banned: Danny's ex Irma Mali is said to have told him not to see Bo anymore when he was trying to win her back . The source said: 'Apart from the co-write of Alive last . year and one tweet about her album that bandmate Glenn tweeted for him . earlier this year, Danny has refused to support Bo. 'He did not help Bo . promote the single Alive because they couldn't be seen together or . talk about their work together, which Bo feels totally jeopardised the . promo campaign for the single and possibly her career.' MailOnline has contacted a Danny for a response. Moving on: Bo, seen here performing in July, is doing her best to focus on her music and the release of her album Before I Go To Sleep . | Danny said in an interview last week that he had let rumours of a relationship continue to boost publicity for her on The Voice .
A source told MailOnline that Bo was left devastated by the interview because he denied their romance .
Also claimed Danny has not supported Bo during the release of Alive, the single they wrote together . |
67,812 | c05bfa1041bae465aaf3f24bdd445fbf7e1eb9e6 | President Obama made time for beer and billiards in Colorado, but won't go near a humanitarian crisis in Texas, a disgusted Democratic member of Congress from the Lone Star State said Wednesday. Rep. Henry Cuellar crossed his party to say he is 'very very upset' with Obama for choosing a photo op with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper over a chance to see firsthand how his administration is handling a flood of young illegal immigrants who have trekked to the U.S. from three Central American countries. 'He's so close to the border. And let me say this: when I saw, and I hate to use the word bizarre, but under the circumstances, when he is shown playing pool in Colorado, drinking a beer, and he can't even go 242 miles to the Texas border?' Cuellar added that the federal government is 'holding some of the young kids from the border' at Lackland Air Force Base. 'He could at least make that trip to San Antonio,' he said. Scroll down for video . 'That's some tasty beer!' President Barack Obama has a beer at Wynkoop Brewing Co. with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday . Eye on the prize! Obama plays pool with Gov. John Hickenlooper keeping watch . 'He either can roll up his sleeves and go down to the border, or he can just look aloof and detached and not go to the border – send surrogates down there – and say that he's got everything under control.' 'It Just floored me,' a visibly perturbed Cuellar told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, 'because if he’s saying he's too busy to go down to the border, but you have time to drink a beer, play pool – the optics and the appearance just mean he's not paying attention to this humanitarian crisis.' Cuellar told Fox News on Wednesday morning that the White House has already pressured him to keep quiet. Obama will be in Texas on Wednesday afternoon and evening for Democratic Party fundraisers in Dallas and Austin. It's as close to the crisis as he's traveled since the human deluge became a public scandal. During the first speech of his two-day trip, Obama didn't mention the border situation, saying only that his flavor of 'immigration reform' is 'supported by a majority of Americans.' MailOnline was first to report last week that the president would steer clear of the state's besieged border with Mexico. Arizona Democratic Rep Raúl Grijalva said Tuesday on the same network that that the Southwest U.S. border 'deserved a presidential visit.' I think a visit by the president is reaffirming that the borderlands along the southwest border are vital and important to this nation,' he said, 'so I think a visit would be important and very symbolic.' 'This issue isn't going to go away ... while he's in Austin and Dallas,' Grijalva insisted. Humanitarian disaster: Young girls and boys are trapped in detention facilities after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border -- tens of thousands have descended on Texas and Arizona since last year . This child, not that child: Obama hugged a young girl in Denver but has no plans to see thousands of less fortunate children massed on the U.S. border a few hundred miles south of his Texas travel swing . Buzzfeed on Wednesday quoted unnamed Democratic members of Congress who called Obama's failure to see the border crisis firsthand 'confusing,' 'baffling' and 'a little offensive.' Washington Post scribe Ruth Marcus added on MSNBC that 'it's a little bit weird, because it seems like he is already in a hole, and he's keeping on digging.' Obama is behind the eight ball not only because of his casual game of pool with the Colorado governor, but also because of Republicans' claims that his 2012 immigration policy shift created the humanitarian disaster. He declared a two-year moratorium that summer on deporting illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Another two-year delay was announced last month. Reports have swirled during the spring and summer that opportunistic human smugglers misinterpreted the policy to make Central Americans believe their own children could escape endemic violence and poverty by making a dangerous trip to the north. Rep. Henry Cuellar has bucked his party by insisting that President Obama should visit the border to see the humanitarian mess firsthand . As if a thank-you for the inspiration to come to America, some illegal immigrant children have reportedly been entering the U.S. wearing Obama-themed sneakers featuring 'Yes We Can' artwork and the president's face. Online commentator Dennis Michael Lynch first published the photos on Facebook, later adding on his website that they came from someone affiliated with U.S. Border Patrol. 'These pictures were taken from a friend who works at the processing center in South Texas,' read a note that Lynch said he received with the images. 'These are being worn by an illegal who will soon be released into the general public.' Laughing it off: Obama smiled and laughed as someone in the Denver crowd asked if he wanted a hit of marijuana . 'For people who may think this is a fake picture, notice the shoe laces. We make everyone remove their laces.' A few Democrats are publicly sticking up for the White House, most notably the far-left Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who said on CNN that a White House request for $3.7 billion in supplemental funding was the best course. 'The president knows Texas very well. I’m very confident he’s attending to serious issues by putting forth the supplemental,' she said. 'He’s going to meeting with local officials, some of whom I’ve already spoken to. We have been to the border, many of us. His cabinet members have been to the border. I think we will see that visit as time proceeds.' Obama will meet with 'local elected officials and faith leaders' about the border crisis in Dallas before his first political fundraising engagement on Wednesday, according to the White House. As that meeting began, the White House hastily announced that Obama would deliver public remarks less than an hour later about the border crisis. He will also make time for a private sit-down with Texas Gov. Rick Perry. NBC News reported, however, that Obama's handlers said he would 'get in the way' of Border Patrol efforts if he went. 'It's a no-win situation in some ways,' network White House correspondent Kristin Welker said Wednesday. 'If he goes there, what does he do? Does he give a speech? Does he meet with the children?' Republicans in Congress continue to point out a connection between America's porous southern border and Obama's repeated demands for 'comprehensive immigration reform.' Hanging out with Sarah Jessica Parker? Obama yukked it up with well-wishers in Denver, including a man wearing a horse-head costume . Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith said Tuesday that Obama's $3.7 billion request should go unanswered until his administration spends its existing budget to secure the border. 'This isn’t a funding problem,' Smith said on Capitol Hill. 'It’s an enforcement problem. Rather than enforce our nation’s immigration laws, the president has chosen to ignore them. Instead he continues to call for massive amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.' Obama, he said, 'has no one to blame but himself for the current crisis on the southern border. He granted amnesty to illegal immigrant minors by promising not to deport those brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. 'As a result, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants are now flooding across the border.' Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn added on CNN that for a fraction of the White House's request, Congress could repatriate each of the illegal immigrant children – in style. 'Look, for $8 million, we can put them all on a first-class seat back to their homes,' he said on the Crossfire program. 'That's $8 million. That's a first-class seat, one way, to each of their homes.' | When the president touches down in Texas for two Democratic fundraisers, he won't go near the U.S.-Mexico border .
Some Democrats complain that Obama drank beer and shot pool with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper but will make no time for a border visit .
Obama aides, however, insist that the president might 'get in the way' if he traveled to the Rio Grande River valley .
One Texas Democratic congressman says the White House has already warned him to dial back his criticisms .
Some illegal immigrants are showing up at the border wearing Obama-themed sneakers featuring 'Yes We Can' artwork and the president's photo .
Obama never mentioned the border crisis during a speech Wednesday in Denver . |
107,810 | 16fb2e50e19e1737f744d608f6ca91f4a7119cd5 | By . Olivia Williams . PUBLISHED: . 03:08 EST, 6 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:20 EST, 6 June 2013 . In egalitarian Sweden, not even a soon-to-be-married princess can get away with breaking the traffic rules. Princess Madeleine, 30, allegedly tried to dodge a fine for driving in the bus lane near the palace in Stockholm by claiming royal immunity. The princess managed to convince the officer who pulled her over on Tuesday that her car had special permission to use bus lanes. Royal bride: Sweden's Princess Madeleine faces a driving fine just a few days before her wedding . Lars Lindholm, who heads Stockholm's traffic unit, told the Aftonbladet newspaper: . 'The policeman who stopped her felt an uncertainty around the immunity . laws, and whether they applied to the whole royal family. 'Or if there . could be an exception for cars from the Royal Court driving in the . public lanes' She now faces a fine of 1,000 krona (£100) on the basis that only her father, the king of Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf, has immunity in such cases. However, according to the Aftonbladet newspaper, the controversy is not yet over. Royal . Court spokesman Bertil Ternert argued that even though Madeleine . herself does not have immunity, her royal car has special permission to . use the public transit lanes. Celebration: Stockholm will be hosting the Princess's wedding to financier Christopher O'Neill on Saturday . Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren declined to comment. The princess, who is fourth in line to the Swedish throne, is also reportedly responsible for some of the 15 parking tickets that royal cars were issued in 2007. Her fine comes four days ahead of her wedding to New York banker Christopher O'Neill. On Friday, the eve of the wedding day, guests including the Earl and Countess of Wessexwill gather for a glittering dinner at Stockholm's Grand Hotel. On Saturday, Princess Madeleine will marry at the Royal Chapel in Stockholm, followed by a 21-gun salute. | Princess Madeleine claimed immunity when she stopped near her palace .
She was later fined £100, days before her wedding in Stockholm . |
98,589 | 0af3ff96fb9da3ff49d3c7a61e16f48749691cd5 | (CNN)What does one buy a woman who's worth an estimated $500 million and reportedly owns a sixth of the planet's land surface? Tip -- make it something equine related. Given her well-known love of horses, it's perhaps fitting -- some might say unimaginative -- that the majority of gifts presented to Queen Elizabeth II from world leaders last year revolved her favorite four-legged animals. Dog lovers look away now -- Her Majesty's iconic pet corgis didn't even get a look in. Included in the 2014 list of gifts was a mounted sculpture of a white horse from France's President Francois Hollande; a bronze sculpture of a horse's head from the Emir of Qatar; and another bronze statuette of the famous Irish thoroughbred, Arkle from the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, along with a book of the same name. A dressage crop from the governor general of Canada, David Johnston, and a boot scraper from Felsted School in the east of England can also be put to good use at Her Majesty's stud farm on the royal Sandringham Estate. Among the more peculiar gifts given to the Queen was a miniature seven-inch throne from the "Game of Thrones" TV series, during a visit to Northern Ireland in June. However, it's far from the most outlandish present bestowed upon the monarch. During her 62-year-long reign, the Queen has received a jaguar from Brazil, two giant turtles from the Seychelles, an elephant from Cameroon, and several horses -- most notably a beloved black mare called "Burmese" from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Indeed, the Queen rode "Burmese" at the traditional Trooping the Color parade for 18 consecutive years, and in 2005 unveiled a bronze statue of herself atop the horse outside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Canada. But what happens to the many gifts Her Majesty receives throughout the year that aren't to her taste? Live animals are donated to London Zoo, perishable items such as food and flowers are given to local hospices, and all other presents which don't go on display in the royal residencies are stored at the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle, a Clarence House spokesperson told CNN. Some items are even loaned to galleries, such as a Maori canoe given by the New Zealand government which is now on display at the British Museum. When it comes to royal presents, the Queen's great-grandson Prince George recorded the largest haul in 2014. During a tour of Australia and New Zealand with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the toddler received a surfboard, skateboard, possum skin cloak, and more soft toys than other children would get in a lifetime of Christmases. Fittingly, the previous year Prince George also received a teddy wearing the same silk jacket as those worn by the Queen's jockeys, from promotional group Great British Racing. Will the young prince also inherit a love of horse racing passed down through the centuries? Indeed, legend has it Queen Victoria became so excited while watching a race at Ascot one time, that she broke the window of the Royal Box in a rush to see the finish. Queen Elizabeth II was more contained than her great great grandmother -- though still visibly delighted -- when her own horse "Estimate" won Britain's prestigious Gold Cup race in 2013. So what would one buy for the horse racing-mad monarch, that hasn't been bought before? "The ultimate gift would be a 'nomination' to Galileo or Frankel, the two most expensive stallions in the world," said Nick Attenborough from Great British Racing, of the chance to mate a mare with some of the most prized stallions on the planet. "A mare mating with Frankel, including a live foal guarantee, would cost someone £125,000 ($187,000)." At that price, it's a gift fit for a Queen. Feature: Queen's horseman tames... zebra? Culture: Driftwood transformed into equine art . | List of gifts received by royal family in 2014 released .
Queen given mostly 'horsey' presents from world leaders .
Last year's quirky gifts included a miniature "Game of Thrones" throne .
Prince George takes home surfboard, possum skin cloak from Antipodean trip . |
17,081 | 30615c0386ea4d320f66e8896b3156b438a29301 | PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 18 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:45 EST, 18 November 2013 . Shocking photographs have emerged of suspected criminal with their head and mouths taped shut by Chinese police in order to prevent them concocting alibis. Officers who arrested this group in Guangdong province, in southwest China, sealed their mouths with extra powerful adhesive sticky tape to prevent them from talking to each other. A police spokesman said the move would . stop people being quizzed by detectives with the story all worked out . along the lines of 'I didn't do it... honestly'. Gagged: A suspect arrested in Guangdong province, in southwest China, has his mouth taped shut to prevent him from talking to other people . Holding pen: The tape in meant to prevent the suspects from conferring with each other while they are held in a cell before questioning . In total 23 members of the criminal gang in Huizhou were seized in gambling dens in the city earlier this month. A police spokesman said: 'It is the . easiest and most effective way of making sure they don't talk to one . another before we could get them in the cells. 'It . is our experience in situations like this that they jaw away to get . their stories straight, work out their alibis and cover one another's . backs. 'This way they are all dumb until we can question them individually, and each of them doesn't know what the other has said.' Clampdown: Police arrested a total of 23 members of the criminal gang in Huizhou were seized in gambling dens in the city . Shackled: One of the men arrested by police in Guangdong province, in southwest China, has the tape removed from his mouth but is still chained as he awaits questioning . Probe: Detectives investigating illegal gambling collect evidence seized during a series of raides . According to police, the taped up men shown here are suspected of committing over 100 robberies and thefts in the region in recent months. They were arrested after a major surveillance operation on the mah-jong clubs where they hung out during the day. 'We can't help it if people think we are infringing on human rights by doing this,' added a police spokesman. 'It's up to them what they think, but actually we think more of the human rights of their victims and their desire to live in peace without criminals preying on them.' | Police arrested 23 people during crackdown on illegal gambling dens .
Officers taped suspects' mouths to prevent conferring before interview .
Suspects who were gagged 'committed over 100 robberies', police say .
Authorities in Guangdong province, southwest China, defended the tactics . |
49,133 | 8ac275cb2f97f95a33d733a440652c0f9dfd5fd6 | Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The U.S. Secret Service is looking into a controversial column by an Atlanta Jewish newspaper publisher that mulled the assassination of an American president. Andrew Adler, owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, wrote a January 13 column about the threat of Iran to Israel. He posed three options for the Jewish state to counter the Iranian regime. One of them called for a "hit on a president in order to preserve Israel's existence." "Give the go-ahead for U.S. based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place and forcefully dictate that the United States' policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies." U.S. Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie told CNN Saturday, "We are aware of it. We are taking the appropriate investigative steps." Adler could not be reached for comment, but the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a wire service for Jewish newspapers in North America, quoted Adler on Friday as saying "I very much regret it. I wish I hadn't made reference to it at all." Adler -- who said he's gotten a lot of flak for the column -- said he would issue an apology in the next edition of the weekly newspaper, the JTA reported. The column, titled "What would you do?" doesn't mention President Barack Obama's name, but U.S. Jewish groups that strongly denounced the column read the words as a reference to Obama himself. The column also refers to the administration's "never ending 'Alice in Wonderland' belief that diplomacy is the answer," an apparent dig at the Obama White House's foreign policy efforts at dialogue with such countries as Iran. "The suggestion by anyone, in this case a Jewish newspaper publisher, that Israel should consider assassinating President Obama is shocking beyond belief," said Dov Wilker, director of the American Jewish Committee in Atlanta. "While we acknowledge Mr. Adler's apology, we are flabbergasted that he could ever say such a thing in the first place. How could he even conceive of such a twisted idea?" said Wilker. "Mr. Adler surely owes immediate apologies to President Obama, as well as to the State of Israel and his readership, the Atlanta Jewish community." The White House declined to comment Saturday on the column. Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Adler's "lack of judgment as a publisher, editor and columnist raises serious questions as to whether he's fit to run a newspaper." "There is absolutely no excuse, no justification, no rationalization for this kind of rhetoric. It doesn't even belong in fiction. These are irresponsible and extremist words. It is outrageous and beyond the pale. An apology cannot possibly repair the damage. "Irresponsible rhetoric metastasizes into more dangerous rhetoric. The ideas expressed in Mr. Adler's column reflect some of the extremist rhetoric that unfortunately exists -- even in some segments of our community -- that maliciously labels President Obama as an 'enemy of the Jewish people,'" Foxman said. Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper called the remarks "irresponsible and reprehensible" and said they "must be publicly condemned by Jewish leaders across the ideological and political spectrum." "We take small comfort from the apology — what a shanda!" Cooper said, using the Yiddish word for something shameful or scandalous. JTA also quoted Opher Aviran, the Israeli consul-general in Atlanta as saying he was "appalled at this deranged and morally repugnant assertion. We condemn such calls in the strongest possible terms." The Atlanta Jewish Times, a weekly focused on the Atlanta Jewish community, was founded in 1925 as the Southern Israelite. | Atlanta Jewish Times piece suggests Israel kill U.S. president "to preserve Israel's existence"
U.S. Jewish groups slam column; writer reportedly issues apology .
"We are taking the appropriate investigative steps," Secret Service says . |
62,442 | b15be9d2625f22af5b0d45df23ef12beba082c7b | New York City developers have begun working to turn a desolate railroad storage yard in Manhattan into a upscale new neighborhood filled with office skyscrapers, modern apartment towers and a slew of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Developers, realtors and local officials on Tuesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for Hudson Yards’ first office tower -- a 48-story building scheduled to be finished by 2015. The $15 billion, 26-acre project on the far west side of Midtown Manhattan will eventually include an arts building and a public square, developers say. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the property, is leasing the land to developers for $1 billion. Scroll down for video . Artist rendering: The Hudson Yards redevelopment project as it will be seen from those looking northeast on the Hudson River . Thankful proponent: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the long anticipated and controversial Hudson Yards project . ‘This is the future of New York,’ said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a big proponent of the Hudson Yards project. The city rezoned 60 blocks to accommodate the project, approved $106 million in property tax exemptions and issued $3 billion in bonds to pay for an extension of the 7 train subway that now goes to Times Square. The completion of Hudson Yards will take about a dozen years, developers and officials say. The project entails the construction of an $800 million platform to cover the existing railroad tracks. The new office tower in the works will not require that platform. For several years the Bloomberg administration has made efforts to revitalize the area, which was the focal point of an unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Developer Stephen Ross, chairman of the privately-owned real estate giant Related Companies, compared the Hudson Yards project to the creation of the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center and other iconic New York structures. Related has tentative deals in place . for two new tenants to occupy the first tower, making the Kohn Pedersen . Fox-designed skyscraper more than 80 per cent committed to occupants, . Ross said as construction began. He declined to name the new tenants. Artist rendering: The Hudson Yards project will involve the transformation of the largest undeveloped property in Manhattan from a railroad storage yard into a posh new neighborhood . Artist rendering: This undated rendering shows Hudson Yards as it will be seen looking west from Midtown Manhattan . Lots of land: The desolate railroad storage yard where construction is underway is the largest undeveloped property in Manhattan . U.S. luxury handbag producer Coach had previously agreed to relocate its headquarters to the new building, which will reach 47 stories and include 1.7 million square feet (158,000 square meters) of space, Bloomberg News reports. Related is also planning to build its own 13.3 million-square-foot complex in Hudson Yards. New York City's commercial real estate market had been severely impacted by the great recession, and some projects, including towers planned at the World Trade Center site, have struggled to find tenants. Mayor Bloomberg said that Tuesday’s groundbreaking shows that ‘we are moving forward’ ‘even in this challenging economy.’ The project will create an estimated 23,000 construction jobs and space for more than 40,000 people to live or work, the mayor said. But as with most big development projects, Hudson Yards also has its share of opponents and skeptics. Kathleen Treat, who chairs the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, recently called the project 'Hong Kong on the Hudson,' a reference to the densely populated city in Asia with people living in clustered high-rises. Others, including Columbia Business School real estate professor Lynne Sagalyn, have questioned whether there will be enough tenants to make the project viable in the long run. The city had previously planned to build a new stadium for the New York Jets in the same location, but the proposal caused ongoing disagreement among residents, businesspeople and politicians, and the 'West side Stadium' fell short of state approval. Smiling faces: Mayor Bloomberg, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Related Cos. Chairman Stephen Ross and other officials celebrated Tuesday's groundbreaking for Hudson Yards' first office tower . Artist rendering: This rendering shows the neighborhood in development as it would be viewed from the Highline in Midtown Manhattan . | Developers, realtors and local officials on Tuesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for Hudson Yards’
first office tower -- a 48-story building scheduled to be finished by .
2015 .
The project will create an estimated 23,000 construction jobs and space for more than 40,000 people to live or work, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said .
The completion of Hudson Yards will take .
about a dozen years .
It entails the construction of an .
$800 million platform to cover the existing rail tracks . |
236,001 | bd8631385b5ff091422371f929d9da81622b18e5 | By . Graham Smith . Labour unions in recession-hit Greece are holding another general strike against the country's harsh austerity program, as European leaders beset by the debt crisis gather for a summit meeting in Brussels. Today's strike - the 20th national stoppage since the debt crisis erupted two years ago - comes as EU leaders meet in Brussels. It has closed down public services and severely hampered most forms of transport with even taxi drivers joining in for nine hours. Shopkeepers in Athens and other cities are also closing for the day. It is the second general strike in less than a month. Scroll down to see protestors clash with police . Wall of fire: Riot police are engulfed in flame by a petrol bomb thrown by protesters. Greek trade unions have called a 24-hour general strike to oppose new austerity measures. Flare-up: Protesters throw petrol bombs against riot police in Athens today during a 24-hour general strike . Towering inferno: A street is set ablaze as tensions increase in Greece. Greek workers walked off the job for the second time in three weeks on Thursday . A molotov cocktail explodes after being thrown at riot police. Today's strike has closed down public services and severely hampered most forms of transport . A demonstrator kicks riot police. Today's general strike is the second in less than a month . The 24-hour shutdown has stopped all rail . and ferry services, while a walkout by air traffic controllers is . grounding flights for three hours. Schools and tax offices are closed . all day, state hospitals are functioning on emergency staffing and bank . services are also disrupted. Athens . police are already dealing with rioting, as once again the . protests have turned violent with masked anarchists fighting police. Plumes of smoke rise into the sky outside a hotel as pitched battles take place outside. Protesters had broken through a police line outside the buildings on central Syntagma Square . Furious: A demonstrator wearing a gas mask hurls a petrol bomb during clashes in front of the Greek Parliament. Dozens of others look on . Armed and dangerous: A masked rioter is pictured by the press moments before hurling a molotov cocktail. Bins were removed from streets to stop them being set alight . Local councils in traditional riot hotspots yesterday removed . rubbish bins from the streets, as rioters usually set them on fire. Unions organised two separate marches in central Athens. Demonstrators' ire is focusing on new belt-tightening for 2013-14, demanded by bailout creditors to release a desperately needed new rescue loan payment. The city has seen hundreds of anti-austerity protests - many violent - over the past three years, since Greece revealed it had been misreporting key deficit figures and sank into an economic gloom so deep it has been likened to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Terrifying: A riot officer tries to avoid catching fire. Greek police fired teargas to disperse anti-austerity protesters hurling stones and petrol bombs . On fire: A policeman feels the heat as his boot catches ablaze. Unrest has ignited after five years of recession . Athens police are used to dealing with rioters in the last year. Today, once again, the protests have turned violent with masked anarchists fighting police . Caught in the middle: A man gestures as riot police and a demonstrator clash behind him . Made little difference: Local councils in traditional riot hotspots yesterday removed rubbish bins from the streets, as rioters usually set them on fire . By ALLAN HALL . A leading German think-tank has warned that a . euro exit by Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy would cost the world £14trillion and trigger the worst recession ever known. Given . that the UK's national debt is £1.4trillion, the size of the cut in . global GDP is truly colossal and would create suffering on a scale never . before seen. A Greek euro exit alone would be manageable, but . must be avoided to forestall a domino effect, said Economic research . group Prognos in a study commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation. The . researchers didn't just calculate the losses of creditors who had lent . money to the crisis-hit nations, they included the likely impact of a . euro collapse on economic growth in the 42 most important industrial and . emerging economies constituting 90 per cent of the global economy. 'In . their overall assessment, the authors of the study come to the . conclusion that an isolated exit of Greece and an insolvency of this . euro-zone country might well be something that the EU could cope with . from a merely economic point of view,' the Bertelsmann Foundation said. 'At . the same time, however, it is extremely difficult to assess if and to . what extent this might trigger a wave of further euro-zone exits in . Europe's south. 'If so, the implications for the global economy could be . devastating.' The country is clinging to solvency with the help of two massive international bailouts worth a total 240billion euros. To secure them, it committed to drastic spending cuts, tax hikes and reforms, aimed to cure years of profligate government spending. But while significantly reducing budget deficits, the measures accelerated a recession that after five years is closer to a depression. The protests in Greece come as German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for stronger central powers to intervene when EU member states break budget rules. Speaking ahead of a summit at Brussels, she rebuffed demands for the quick creation of a pan-European bank supervisor. In a speech to the lower house of parliament, Mrs Merkel put herself on a collision course with French Socialist President Francois Hollande and others, who are reluctant to cede sovereignty over fiscal policy and want the European Central Bank (ECB) to get new watchdog powers by the end of the year. Voicing support Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble's idea of a European 'currency commissioner', she said: 'We are of the opinion - and I speak for the whole German government on this - that we could go a step further by giving Europe real rights of intervention in national budgets.' On banking supervision, she said . quality must come before speed, reiterating her view that rushing to . meet a January 2013 target date for giving the ECB new powers was a . recipe for disaster. Mrs Merkel also made clear that . funnelling aid directly to European banks from the bloc's new rescue . mechanism, the ESM, could not happen until the new supervisory body was . fully operational. The urgency of the situation is clear . - by the end of next year, the Greek economy is expected to have shrunk . by about a quarter from 2008 levels. And with one in four workers out . of a job, Greece has the worst unemployment rate in the 27-nation . European Union. Difficult times: Greece is clinging to solvency with the help of two massive international bailouts worth a total 240billion euros . More peaceful: Members of trade union congresses of the private and public sector demonstrate against the new austerity package . Not a fan: A protestor holds a poster depicting Angela Merkel as no better than Adolf Hitler . Mrs Merkel today called for stronger central powers to intervene when EU member states break budget rules . China's . economic growth tumbled to the lowest in more than three years in the . latest quarter, but retail sales and investment improved in a possible . sign a painful slump might be stabilising. The world's . second-largest economy grew 7.4 per cent in the three months ending in . September, data showed today. That was down from the previous . quarter's 7.6 per cent and the lowest since the first quarter of 2009. Retail . sales rose 14.4 per cent, a small acceleration over the first half of . the year, and investment in industrial assets and some other indicators . also showed small improvements. Sheng . Laiyun, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, said: 'Judging from the third quarter . figures, we can see a clear sign of steady economic growth. 'There is a smaller margin of decline and some major . indicators have been growing faster.' Analysts expect China's . economic growth to rebound late this year or early next year but say a . recovery is likely to be too weak to drive global growth without . improvement in the U.S. and Europe. 'In general, we're going from bad to worse,' said 85-year-old pensioner Giorgos Ierodimos. 'Salaries are being reduced, pensions are being reduced, everything is getting more expensive, from food to health care to hospitals, medicines, everything. So how will people live? How will we live?' The country's four-month-old coalition government is negotiating a new austerity package with debt inspectors from the EU, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB). The idea is to save 11billion euros in spending - largely on pensions and health care - and raise an extra 2.5billion euros through taxes. After more than a month-and-a-half of arguing, a deal seems close. On Wednesday, the EU, IMF and ECB troika said there was agreement on 'most of the core measures needed to restore the momentum of reform' and that the rest of the issues should be resolved in coming days. Athens hopes to get the next loan installment around mid-November, shortly after which it will run out of cash. That would probably force Greece to default on its mountain of debt and potentially abandon the 17-strong eurozone. Unions say the cost of securing the money is too high. Ilias Iliopoulos, secretary-general of the ADEDY civil servant union, said: 'What people can shoulder new measures, when approximately 70 per cent of it is caught between poverty and destitution? It is absolutely impossible. 'On the noteworthy day of the summit in Brussels, we want to tell the leaders of the European Union "That's enough. We can't take any more." 'This is not worthy of Europe. It is a policy of exploitation, of profiteers and loan sharks.' | Anti-austerity protests turn violent again as masked anarchists fight police .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for stronger central powers to intervene when EU member states break budget rules .
European leaders to gather for summit meeting in Brussels later . |
163,604 | 5f8e55888bdc48257fe9a1f71ecc980af02965b3 | (CNN) -- "Can you possibly let me have, at any rate, five hundred dollars to keep us out of the poor house?" These are not the words you expect to hear from a man who designed one of the world's most famous golf courses. Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the brains behind Augusta National's revered contours and curves -- elegantly showcased each year by the Masters -- died pleading poverty in 1934 and begging for his fee. He never even saw his finished work before his death, which came less than three months before the first Masters tournament was held. "I have been reduced to playing golf with four clubs," he wrote in a letter to Augusta National, recorded in "The Making of the Masters," a book by David Owen commissioned by the club. "I am at the end of my tether, no-one has paid me a cent since last June, we have mortgaged everything we have and have not yet been able to pay the nursing expenses of my wife's operation." MacKenzie, a physician turned golf architect, had embarked on a pilgrimage that had taken him from a modest town in northern England to the pacific coast in California. His journey incorporated a stint in the Boer War, which influenced his underpinning principles of course design, and saw his work evolve during the boom and bust years of the 1920s. By the time he was enlisted to build a championship course for all of America by its biggest sports star of the age, MacKenzie was the preeminent golf architect of his time. Bobby Jones had won the grand slam as an amateur in 1930 -- capturing all four major tournaments in the calendar year -- before he stunned the public by announcing his retirement aged just 28. He determined to construct an exclusive golf course in the sun-blushed south of the United States that would offer him twin benefits: sanctuary from his fame and a healthy stream of income. But though Jones declared himself delighted with the finished product, and its architect trumpeted Augusta as his finest creation, MacKenzie was almost destitute by the time he died. He halved his fee to $5,000 in a bid to be paid quickly, but clawed back just $2,000, with several other golf courses also slow to settle their debts. It was symptomatic of the financial difficulties Augusta encountered in its fledgling years, exacerbated by the Great Depression, a fact that seems inconceivable given the club's towering strength in the present day. "Augusta struggled a lot in the early years and found it very hard to attract members they wanted," Adam Lawrence, editor of Golf Course Architecture magazine, told CNN. "They were really struggling for money. MacKenzie didn't get full payment paid for his work at Augusta -- until he died he was writing letters asking perhaps they could send part of the fee. "MacKenzie divorced his first wife and was living what would appear to be an expensive lifestyle in California. He was basically bankrupt when he died. "There were a lot of golf architects from that time who were the same. Most seemed to be terrible businessmen and there were a few bad habits like too much booze flying around." Humble beginnings . MacKenzie's portrait still watches over the course where his maverick design ideas were first put into practice over 100 years ago. Despite the odd tweak, Alwoodley Golf Club -- just outside the city of Leeds in the north of England -- still boasts many of the original characteristics conceived by the Scot. As Nick Leefe, secretary of the Alister MacKenzie Society, told CNN, the physician's long-held affection for the game even permeated some of his diagnoses. "How frequently have I, with great difficulty, persuaded patients who were never off my doorstep to take up golf, and how rarely, if ever, have I seen them in my consulting rooms again!" MacKenzie is reported to have proclaimed. This love of golf sparked an interest in course architecture after a period serving during the Second Boer War, between the British and the South African Republic, at the turn of the 20th century. "The attitude of the Boers towards camouflage got him interested in disguise and trickery," Leefe explains. "People suggest this is the reason he came back after the war and took an interest in golf design." When a group of businessman joined together in 1907 to build Alwoodley, MacKenzie presented his designs and had them rubber-stamped by Harry Colt -- another famed architect of the age who worked as a consultant on the project. MacKenzie's fundamental belief was that a good golf course should provide a stern test for a good player but not prove impossible for average players. Also included in his manifesto was an insistence that a player should be required to utilize a variety of shots to prosper and that every hole should have a different character where possible. Among the more eccentric attributes listed was the suggestion that though the course should be sufficiently undulating, there should be no hill climbing, and that a complete absence of irritation caused by looking for lost balls was preferable. "Alwoodley is very proud indeed because we have the original MacKenzie design and we are very proud to introduce people to it," Leefe says. "MacKenzie was a pioneer and went on to become one of the best known architects of his time. He's become much more famous after his death and the golfing public have realized what great courses he's made. "There are a lot of the original MacKenzie characteristics on show at Alwoodley. We try our best when we restore the course or renovate course to keep to the original design of which we have a copy." Augusta National . MacKenzie had carved a formidable reputation for himself by the time he left for the United States in 1926. But it was his work on the Californian coast that would pique the interest of Bobby Jones and lead to his most memorable tender -- designing Augusta National. Many believe MacKenzie's true masterpiece to be Cypress Point, which he designed to complement its proximity to the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline. By the time Jones had completed his first round on the Monterey Peninsula he vowed to employ MacKenzie to build his very own course. It seemed the logical choice, given how closely their vision for the ideal golf course was. "We believe that no good golf hole exists that does not afford a proper and convenient solution to the average golfer and the short player, as well as to the more powerful and accurate expert," Jones was reported as saying. But by the time $100,000 had been spent transforming an Augusta fruit plantation into a golf course, the political and financial landscape had changed dramatically thanks to the stock market crash of 1929. The exuberant flourishes on show via a series of elaborate bunkers at Cypress Point and another of MacKenzie's fabled courses -- Royal Melbourne in Australia -- gave way to a more modest design in which contour was king. "Originally, Augusta was light on bunkers -- it has many more today than it used to have," says Lawrence. "Augusta was one of the very last things MacKenzie did before he died and it seems he was moving away from those flashy bunkers. "He was working in a style that was appropriate of the era of depression when Augusta was built. It wasn't about sand or water -- what defined it were the contours of the land. "You can take a flag stick and put in a flat area and it's a very easy golf hole; you can put it behind a little hump and it's an almost impossible golf hole." The genius of Augusta . In those early years of struggle, the notion of Augusta preparing to host the 78th installment of the Masters in 2014 would have seemed quite fanciful. As Owen reports in "The Making of the Masters," let alone having the funds to pay MacKenzie for his design, the club could barely cover its staff's $200 weekly wage bill in the early 1930s. The idea to create a yearly tournament, initially called the Augusta National Invitational Tournament, helped stave off the threat of financial ruin and generated plenty of interest when Jones came out of retirement to play in the first one. But what really catapulted the club into the public's consciousness was Gene Sarazen's "shot heard around the world" during the 1935 event. The American was trailing the leaders by three shots when his double eagle on the par-five 15th hole helped him cut the deficit with one stroke, paving the way for his eventual win in a playoff. That landmark moment is testament to the principals upon which MacKenzie's design was built. Various tweaks over the years have stripped many of his original features from the course, most of them dictated by the modern player's ability to hit the ball over a hundred yards further than their predecessors. But as Owen wrote: "MacKenzie's and Jones' ideas about golf course design continue to define the Masters in ways that modern golf fans may not fully appreciate." The pair's commitment to break from the culture of golf design at the time -- which penalized poor shots harshly -- has engendered some of the greatest finishes in major golf. As Owen makes clear, the plentiful birdie and eagle opportunities down the closing stretch discourage any conservatism, as anyone in with a sniff of winning charges for the finish line. But it's not just at Augusta that MacKenzie's legacy is felt -- an estimated 100 clubs as far afield as Buenos Aires and Blackpool have been touch by his hand. "MacKenzie is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in terms of the evolution of golf course design," Lawrence says. "Augusta, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne are three courses that would typically be in the top 10 in the world in most rankings, and the fact all three courses have MacKenzie's footprint is pretty impressive." MacKenzie may be long gone, but he lives on in the soul of golf courses the world over. Explore: Augusta interactive . | Alister MacKenzie, a physician turned golf architect, designed famed Augusta National course .
The Scot was enlisted to help by Bobby Jones, a multiple golf champion of the 1920s .
MacKenzie never received full payment for his work and died before first Masters was held .
Many of his design principles still permeate the course despite many changes over the years . |
7,299 | 14ad25b8836536c9a83a610182972b7aefaf8ae0 | Muslims around the world are celebrating Islam's biggest holiday with prayers, gifts, traditional visits with family and friends, and feasts. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in accordance with God’s will, though in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, cattle, camels and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings, divide the meat into three equal portions and give some of it to the poor. Scroll down for video . Palestinians from Gaza City pray inside the Dome of the Rock during their visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem . It was the first time since 2007 that Muslim worshippers from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, Islam's third holiest site . The visit to Islam’s third holiest site was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the three-day holiday of Eid al-Adha . The holiday held special significance for 500 elderly Gazans as they prayed at the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time since 2007 that Muslims from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, which is considered Islam's third holiest site. The rare visit was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the holiday – a month after a ceasefire ended a two-month war – and the elderly Gazans were allowed to stay for several hours before they were driven back to the Gaza border. Many hadn't visited the shrine in decades and they kissed the ground as they entered the sprawling plaza. Umm Dallaleh Fayyad, a woman in a black abaya and a vibrant blue headscarf, told Agence France-Presse: 'I haven't been here for 35 years. Everything has changed. It's like being in paradise.' Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son . A camel is led behind a rickshaw after it was bought at a market to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Lahore, Pakistan . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage, with parents often buying new clothes for their children. Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday. Sunday marked the start of festivities for Iraqi Shiites and the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million. Pakistan will celebrate on Monday. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead . Palestinian women, who live in the Gaza Strip and were given permission to travel to Jerusalem's Old City, pray in front of the Dome of the Rock . Indian Muslim women wear brightly coloured clothing as they offer special prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, goats, cattle and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings . Meat from slaughtered animals must be divided into three equal portions with one of the portions being given to the poor . In Iraq, cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prayed at his headquarters in Baghdad. Indian Muslim women wore brightly coloured outfits as they offered prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad. In Semarang, Indonesia, mostly women and children queued up to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque. Children play with toy guns during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in the narrow streets of Sanaa, Yemen . Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage . Mostly women and children queued to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque in Semarang, Indonesia . Saturday marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Eid al-Adha coincides with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur once every 33 years based on their lunar calendars. Yom Kippur is Judaism's Day of Atonement, when devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their transgressions and refrain from eating and drinking, attending intense prayer services in synagogues. The holiday began at sunset Friday and ended Saturday night. Indian Muslims offer special prayers from the terrace of a house near the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . This weekend marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prays at his headquarters in Baghdad . Sunday marked the start of festivities for the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million . | Eid al-Adha commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son .
In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter four-legged animals that are halal .
Meat is divided into three equal portions, with one of the portions being given to the poor .
Hundreds of elderly Gazans were granted rare access to Dome of the Rock, Islam's third holiest site .
Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon .
Some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday, others will celebrate on Monday . |
221,409 | aa9db6ef761091928c8b15939f277689c755e254 | By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 21:43 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:38 EST, 18 October 2013 . An off-duty police officer shot dead while tackling a psychotic gunman has been named the bravest officer in England and Wales. Pc Ian Dibell, 41, was hit at point blank range as he tried to stop Peter Reeve, 64, gunning down his neighbours. Just minutes earlier the paranoid gunman fired seven times at his neighbour and his girlfriend in the communal hallway of their home. Pc Ian Dibell, left, who has been posthumously given a national bravery award . after he was shot dead when he tried to wrestle a weapon from deranged . gunman Peter Reeve, right . The Essex officer’s self-sacrifice was honoured at the Police Bravery Awards, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales. Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May joined dozens of police officers at the annual event in Central London. Among them were frontline officers who tackled armed robbers, rescued people from burning buildings and dived in freezing water to save drowning children. Mr Cameron said it is ‘humbling’ to read the extraordinary acts of heroism undertaken by officers in the line of duty. ‘Every single day, around our country, the police put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe,’ he said. ‘Without the rule of law, there is no freedom worth its name – and it is right that we recognise the work of those who do so much to uphold it.’ ‘Britain’s police are the best in the world, ordinary men and women who do extraordinary things.’ Theresa May honoured Pc Dibell at the London event . The awards come during a tense week . for relations between the police and the Government amid further . fall-out from ‘Plebgate’ Andrew Mitchell affair. Mr Cameron said his Tory party . colleague, who rowed with officers at the gates of Downing Street . deserves an apology over his treatment by three senior police . representatives. Pc Dibell was killed in an extraordinary confrontation a short distance from his home in Clacton, Essex, in July last year. The . officer walked out of his home to see Reeve chasing his neighbour in . his car while firing a pistol at him through the windscreen. Grabbing his warrant card to put himself on duty, Pc Dibell ran towards the car and dived through the driver’s side window. Witnesses . described hearing a loud bang before the officer fell to the road, . clutching his chest. He died at the scene from his injuries. Reeve then ran over his neighbour – who escaped with minor injuries – and crashed his car before travelling to a village graveyard where he turned the gun on himself. Mrs May said: ‘Ian Dibell’s death is a reminder not just of the bravery police officers show on a daily basis, but also the depth of their commitment to public service. ‘Pc Dibell was off-duty when he stepped in to help a neighbour in distress. He could have walked away, but he chose to put himself in harm’s way. ‘His bravery, and that shown by thousands of his colleagues up and down the country, is yet another reminder that we have the best police officers in the world.’ Steve Williams, who leads the Police Federation, said: ‘For every act of courage and bravery recognised here today there are hundreds more that occur in our communities every day that go unrecognised. ‘Officers put others’ lives before their own. Sadly, as our winner’s story highlights, this can have tragic consequences. ‘Pc Ian Dibell was a valiant team player, his bravery on that fateful day typifies his whole life – always putting others before himself.’ :: Merseyside Pcs Nathan Jackman and Peter Stevens who tackled a violent knifeman after he attacked a man and a woman. :: Off-duty Pc Sara Widdrington, from North Yorkshire, who fearlessly tackled a gunman in a local store while shopping with her son. :: West Midlands Pcs Stephen Fletcher and Rory Stuart-Knill who were ambushed by a masked gang of up to 40 people armed with petrol bombs during the 2011 riots. :: Pc Martin Bentley, of Norfolk who pursued and caught a violent armed wife-beater despite being stabbed. :: Pc Alun Morgan, of Dyfed Powys Police, who dived into freezing quarry waters to rescue a drowning 15-year-old boy. :: Pc Nicholas French, of Gloucestershire, who single-handedly tackled a man armed with a knife who was trying to kill his wife in a garage. :: Met Pcs Stephen Barker, Thomas Harding, Shumal Haque, Alastair Hinchliff and Andrew Robb who suffered horrific injuries when they confronted a deranged knifeman in a butcher. | Pc Ian Dibell died while tackling gunman who was shooting his neighbours .
Prime Minister and Home Secretary attend annual event in London .
David Cameron describes national bravery awards as 'humbling' |
269,320 | e8d93e6817961816d482c88c4277e830db08ed2e | Americans are steadfastly opposed to sending U.S. ground troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria, but an overwhelming number of people continue to support the U.S.-led airstrikes against the terrorist group, a new CNN/ORC International poll shows. While fewer than four in 10 Americans favor sending U.S. ground troops into a combat situation against ISIS, there is a widespread belief that such an action is inevitable, according to the poll. Only 24% of Americans do not think the United States will send combat troops to battle ISIS, while 36% say it is likely and another 39% say it is somewhat likely. Count House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, as one of those people. Boehner said Sunday it may take U.S. boots on the ground to defeat ISIS, as he questioned President Barack Obama's plan -- which includes airstrikes, training and equipping the Iraqi Army and moderate Syrian rebels -- to defeat the terrorist network. "Listen, the President doesn't want to do that," Boehner said in an interview on ABC's "This Week." "If I were the President, I probably wouldn't have talked about what I wouldn't do. And maybe, maybe we can get enough of these forces trained and get them on the battlefield, but somebody's boots have to be there." Boehner later added that the United States might have "no choice" but to put U.S. soldiers on the ground. "These are barbarians," Boehner said of ISIS in the ABC interview. "They intend to kill us, and if we don't destroy them first, we're going to pay the price." But Obama, in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS, continued to emphasize that U.S. combat troops will not be put on the ground, saying that the situation in the region is not a military problem, rather a political problem that leaders of those countries -- specifically Iraq -- need to address. "This is not America against ISIL," Obama said in the interview that aired on '60 Minutes.'" This is America leading the international community to assist a country with whom we have a security partnership with, to make sure that they -- are able to take care of their business." Even though Obama has said he will not place combat troops in the region, the United States does have military advisers on the ground training and helping the Iraqi army strategically as it battle ISIS. ISIS fighter says U.S. airstrikes aren't effective . The formation of the international coalition of countries working with the United States to destroy ISIS is what appears to be giving Obama a boost of support from the American public for military action against ISIS. Seventy-three percent of Americans back the joint U.S. and ally airstrikes, but support drops to 50% if the mission had been undertaken solely by the United States. Americans have a weary eye about one piece of the plan to defeat ISIS: arming the moderate Syrian rebels. While Congress approved legislation before it left for the campaign trail to allow for the arming and training of the rebels, only 42% of Americans favor this action, and 54% oppose it. Still, there is an undeniable belief among Americans that ISIS poses some level of threat to the United States, with 45% describing it as "very serious," 23% saying it is "fairly serious" and 23% noting that it is "somewhat serious." Since the President addressed the nation on September 10 to outline his plan to defeat ISIS, Americans appear more confident in his ability to address the situation. A CNN/ORC poll conducted before his speech showed that 37% of Americans approved of how he was handling ISIS, but this number has now increased to 45%. Overall, 46% of Americans approve of how he is handling the general topic of terrorism, up five points from the CNN/ORC poll conducted earlier this month. Overall, the President's approval rating remains constant from the previous CNN/ORC poll. Earlier this month, 43% of Americans approved of how he was handling his job, while the new CNN/ORC poll shows that it ticked up one point to 44%. Keating Holland, CNN's polling director, notes that only 40% of Americans believe the United States is at war with ISIS, which "may explain why ... his job rating doesn't reflect a 'rally effect' that previous presidents have experienced during wartime." In terms of the general mood of the country, 50% of Americans say things are going well, while 49% say it is going badly. On the five major general themes, Obama rates under 50%: terrorism, 46%; ISIS, 45%; foreign affairs, 42%; economy, 42%; health care 42% -- more signs that Obama could be more hurtful than helpful to vulnerable Democrats seeking reelection in November. The poll was conducted for CNN by ORC International, which interviewed 1,055 adult Americans, by telephone between September 25 and September 28. The sampling error is +/-3 percentage points. | Fewer than four in 10 Americans favor sending U.S. ground troops in fight ISIS .
73% percent of Americans back the joint U.S. and ally airstrikes in Iraq, Syria .
House Speaker John Boehner says it may eventually take U.S. troops to defeat ISIS . |
100,191 | 0d181e24892fed886d8ac357b47e81c8a9d15911 | Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- Italy's coast guard says at least 1,623 migrants have landed on the tiny island of Lampedusa over a 24-hour period. According to a coast guard statement released Tuesday, at least seven boats believed to have taken off from Tunisia landed on the Italian island with more than 400 passengers. The rest of the people were rescued at sea by Italian maritime patrols. Sailors at the Tunisian fishing port of Zarzis said they have seen a spike in the number of boats full of migrants departing on the dangerous 16- to 24-hour journey to Lampedusa, about 100 kilometers (62 miles, or 54 nautical miles) away. "Yesterday, seven boats left here for Lampedusa," Faisal Jebnoun said Monday as he pulled seaweed and other debris from his net after a long day fishing for squid. "The youth are crazy," Jebnoun added. "They all think they'll find a better life in Italy, and they don't even speak Italian!" Italy has seen a surge in migrants from Tunisia since the North African country experienced a revolution in January that threw longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power. Lampedusa is often a favored target since it is one of the southernmost European points in the Mediterranean Sea. At one point, said Souei Abdesslem, president of the Blue-fish Union in Zarzis, so many young Tunisians were anxious to smuggle themselves to Europe that fishermen began sleeping in their boats to prevent them from being stolen for the hazardous passage across the Mediterranean. The Italian coast guard reported that it had rescued five passengers Sunday night who said their boat sank, with 35 other passengers still missing. Dozens of passengers from a Tunisian boat are believed to have died in January after it collided with a Tunisian coast guard vessel on a similar journey. Coast guard spokesman Cosimo Nicastro said he expects that the recent surge of migrants will decrease because of forecasts of stormy weather in the days ahead. | At least 1,623 landed on the island over a 24-hour period .
Fishing port of Zarzis is about 100 kilometers from island of Lampedusa .
Italy has seen a surge of migrants since revolution overthrew Tunisian president .
Numbers expected to decrease amid forecasts of stormy weather . |
115,223 | 20b0f7fb8fb7259bb39101a65f52938ebfd640ba | By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 19:39 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:23 EST, 2 November 2013 . The parents of a schoolgirl who died when she was knocked over in her school playground have called for a nationwide ban on the game of British bulldogs. Freya James, aged eight, was hurt when a pupil hurled into her playing the rough, tag-based game in her playground. She fell onto an ornamental feature made from a railway sleeper. Tragedy: Freya James, eight, died after allegedly bumping into another child in the playground at Trafalgar School in Twickenham, Middlesex . Despite her serious stomach injury, staff at her primary school then made her walk up to six metres to a first aid room, it is claimed. Freya, who had a ruptured liver, was rushed to hospital after the lunchtime incident in February. She died two hours later without her family having the chance to say goodbye. Yesterday her parents Nick and Anekke James, from Twickenham, Middlesex, blamed the fast-moving playground game for her death. Mr James, 42, said : ‘I hope our daughter’s death will lead to a more widespread ban.’ The businessman, who runs a cabinet making firm, described their daughter as ‘an Angel loved by everybody’ in the days after her death. Yesterday he said: ‘When you go through the sequence of events, you’ve got a boy running at high speed in a crowded playground and you’ve got a wooden sleeper serving no purpose. ‘Freya was also made to walk five or six metres to a first aid room - despite holding her abdomen when teachers found her on the ground. ‘We need to know if that caused more serious damage. There are a lot of questions that need answering.’ The family claim that staff at Trafalgar Junior School in Twickenham never apologised nor accepted responsibility. In a statement in February, the family said: ‘She was a bundle of energy from the time she woke up to the time she went to bed. She was so strong and determined in everything she did and always tried to help those that struggled. Too rough: Parents Nick and Anneke James have condemned the rough game played at Trafalgar Junior School in Twickenham, west London (pictured) ‘Our princess has gone but we know her spirit and her memories will always be with us. Our lives have been absolutely shattered. ‘Our hearts, bodies and souls are aching constantly and we are left with scars that will never heal.’ Dean Rogers, chairman of governors at the school, said: ‘This has been a horrendously difficult period for the staff as well as the children at the school. But we still couldn’t possibly comprehend what it has been like for Nick and Anekke. ‘We understand they feel angry and need answers and the inquest will hopefully give them those. ‘Ahead of the hearing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.’ Headmaster Neil Meehan said after the accident: ‘Our thoughts are with the parents and family of the pupil during this very sad time and we are working with educational psychologists to support pupils and staff at the school as necessary.’ Other primary schools have already banned children from playing rough playground games. In March this year Queensbridge Primary School in Hackney, east London, came under criticism from parents for banning children from playing tag, because the game was ‘too rough’. Lionel Hives, a father with children at the school, said at the time:‘All the evidence suggests exercise in the playground is an important part of children’s ability to focus on schoolwork for the rest of the day. We should be encouraging exercise, not curtailing it.’ Headteacher Sarah Bailey insisted the ban was needed because children ‘played it too roughly’. In 2009 Wood End primary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, were banned from playing football in the playground. The school told them: ‘Unfortunately, several pupils have been hit in the face by a football. ‘Therefore, due to health and safety reasons, football will no longer be allowed on the infant playground at break and lunch times due to restricted space.’ | Freya James, 8, was knocked over playing British Bulldog in the courtyard of Trafalgar Junior School in Twickenham, west London .
She was rushed to hospital but died two hours later from a ruptured liver .
Parents Nick and Anekke blamed her death on the 'rough', tag-based game . |
270,000 | e9ae9c44faf7285781334c90876d23665c138acf | This is the horrifying moment a deer careered into a road and smashed into a car's windshield as it tried to escape a pack of baying wild dogs. The animal hit the screen of a car being driven by Artem Kourikov, 32, on a highway near Tomsk in Russia, before bouncing off into the road. The animal then found its feet and ran off into the undergrowth apparently unscathed - thus escaping falling prey to the hungry pack. Scroll down for video . This is the horrifying moment a deer careered into a road just before it smashed into a car's windshield as it tried to escape a pack of baying wild dogs . Mr Kourikov, who was travelling with his girlfriend Natalya Loukanova, 29, said: 'There was this sudden movement to the right, the undergrowth parted and this sudden shape appeared in front of my car. 'It was over in a split second - it was a deer which had landed on the glass. 'It smashed it completely. 'As quickly as it was on the car bonnet it was off again. 'It sort of bounced over the roof onto the road, found its feet and ran off into the undergrowth on the other side. It seemed unhurt, it was certainly able to put on a burst of speed. The terrified animal ran into the pathway of a car being driven by Artem Kourikov, 32, on a highway near Tomsk in Russia . With no time to stop or swerve Mr Kourikov had no choice but to hit the creature . The impact completely shattered the windscreen of the car - but miraculously Mr Artem Kourikov, his girlfriend Natalya Loukanova, and the deer, were all unscathed. The animal bounded off into the undergrowth - escaping the pack of hungry animals which had been chasing it . 'The wild dogs that had been all up for the hunt and were slavering at the mouth seemed to have lost interest. 'I guess they thought they had their prey in their sights and then it was gone. The traffic going up and down the highway put them off the chase. 'They sniffed the air for a bit, barked a little bit, and then turned around and headed back the way they had come. So if nothing else, our impromptu meeting with the deer saved it from the dogs.' An estimated 1,500 people across Russia die in accidents involving deer or moose every year. Last week a bus collided with a moose on a busy road in neighbouring Ukraine with the creature's antler's smashing through the wind shield and becoming embedded in the driver's cockpit. | Animal bounced into car driven by Artem Kourikov, in Tomsk, Russia .
Bounced over roof onto road, found its feet and ran off into undergrowth .
The pack of dogs gave up their chase, and the deer managed to escape . |
88,621 | fb887900000565a29bd765a85f092a2aac69bc31 | It may be the catch of the season for America's baseball fans. But it wasn't any of the players' brilliant catch. Instead, it was that of grandmother Virginia Smith who was watching the San Francisco Giants vs. CO Rockies game in the stands Tuesday night. A video has gone viral and the pensioner has become a star performer on TV shows across the west coast of the US. Scroll down for video... Here it is: Virginia Smith catches the ball in her own glove she takes to watch games in California . The Santa Rosa resident in California . has been playing softball for 39 years, but she stole the show from top . fit players as she made the easy catch. She . was well prepared, because she has been carrying the same glove to . every game she has attended over the years. But this was the first time . she had caught a foul ball. The . ball was hit by 40-year-old Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who no . doubt got a shock as he watched the pensioner reach out for the ball. About to get the surprise of his life: The ball was hit by 40-year-old Rockies first baseman Todd Helton . High five: fellow baseball fans at the San Francisco Giants vs. Co Rockies game are impressed . And a hug from family and friends after catching the foul ball - Virginia Smith was attending Tuesday's game to celebrate her daughter's birthday . In her younger days, Virginia played shortstop and second base in softball. Now she is in demand among baseball experts and broadcasters and she is featured online worldwide. She was attending Tuesday's game to celebrate her daughter’s birthday - some present! | California pensioner .
has been playing softball for 39 years .
The .
ball was hit by 40-year-old Rockies first baseman Todd Helton .
She was attending Tuesday's game to celebrate her daughter’s birthday . |
56,910 | a13698424bea11fba05f6ff823a299fe879dde49 | By . James Tozer . A mother who took her five-year-old daughter to have a tick removed by a doctor was sent away to see a vet instead. Paula Binns, 26, took Lilyanna to her local surgery after finding the tiny parasite while plaiting the girl’s hair. But the GP tried unsuccessfully to remove the tick by hand and then said that Miss Binns needed to take her daughter to a vet. Paula Binns claims her GP advised she take her five-year-old daughter Lilyanna to a local vets practice to have a tick removed . When the family contacted a vet’s . practice, they were told it did not treat humans but could supply a tick . removal tool. Lilyanna’s discomfort was eventually relieved by a . neighbour who sterilised tweezers and extracted the parasite. Yesterday . Miss Binns, from Walkden, Salford, said: ‘My daughter’s a human being, . not an animal – it’s a shocking way to treat a little girl.’ Miss Binns spotted the tick last week after the youngster had been doing cartwheels on grassland. Aware . that removing the blood-sucking creature by hand can spread infections . such as Lyme disease, she took Lilyanna to Gill Medical Centre in . Manchester. Ms Binns has made a formal complaint to the doctors' surgery in Walkden, Greater Manchester . ‘When we first . went in she told me Lilyanna just had a scab, not a tick. She didn’t . believe me,’ the mother-of-two said. ‘But she had another look and . spotted the tick. Then she tried to pull it out with her fingers, but I . told her that that wouldn’t work. ‘She . Googled it and eventually told me there was nothing she could do. The . doctor kept saying, “It’s really stuck in there” and Lilyanna started to . panic and burst into tears … she thought something was seriously wrong . with her. ‘The only option [the GP] gave us was to take her to the vets. That’s not normal though, you can’t just say that to people.’ Lilyanna’s . stepfather Chris Hargreaves, 28, called Pet Medics where their Labrador . is registered, only to be told: ‘Sorry, we can’t do anything with . humans.’ The couple, who have an 18-month-old son, Bradley, complained to the surgery and are considering moving to another. Miss . Binns added: ‘I could have tried to take it out myself, but instead I . tried to do the right thing and take Lilyanna to see a professional who I . thought would know what they were doing. I’m disgusted they could try . to send a child to a vet.’ Kate . Armitage, manager of Gill Medical Centre, said its GPs consult the . website of charity Lyme Disease Action when dealing with ticks, adding: . ‘In the event a patient has a tick still attached we advise it should . only be removed using a specialist tick removal device.’ The . charity’s Sue Ockwell said vets can often supply removal kits ‘so as . far as we’re concerned the medical practice hasn’t done anything wrong’. But Louise O’Dwyer, . clinical director of Pet Medics, said she had never heard of their vets . treating children with ticks. She added: ‘I’d certainly be shocked if a . doctor told me to see a vet about a child’s medical condition.’ Guidance . from Public Health England advises that ticks – which can be as small . as a poppy seed – should be removed as soon as possible without . squeezing or crushing the creatures, and to see a doctor if symptoms . develop. The parasites can be spread from long grass or contact with . pets between spring and autumn. Because their bites do not cause . itchiness they can remain on the skin, sucking the person’s blood, for . days before falling off. Experts suggest using insect repellent and tucking trousers into socks when camping or hiking during warmer months. Ticks feed on the blood of humans and animals, and can pass on the debilitating Lyme disease . Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are tiny arachnids found in woodland areas. The parasites feed on the blood of humans and animals. Their bites often go unnoticed, leaving the tick to remain for several days gorging on blood, before dropping off. The longer the tick is left in place, the higher the risk of it passing on the infection. Lyme disease can affect a person's skin, joints, heart and nervous system.What are the symptoms?The earliest and most common symptom is a pink or red circular rash around the bite site. It can develop three to 30 days after a person is bitten. The rash is described as being similar to a bull's-eye on a dart board. An infected person may also suffer flu-like symptoms, including tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain. If left untreated, further symptoms, including muscle pain and temporary paralysis of the facial muscles, can develop months or even years later. In its late stages the disease can trigger symptoms similar to fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Lyme disease is not contagious but is the most common tick-borne infection in Europe and North America. Public Health England estimates there are between 2,000 and 3,000 cases in England and Wales each year. Most tick bites happen in late spring, early summer and the autumn - the times when people are most likely to be outside, hiking or camping. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease. The best way to avoid it, is to avoid being bitten. Experts advise people walking in woodland areas wear long-sleeved clothes, tuck trousers into socks, use insect repellent, and importanly check for ticks when they return home. What to do if you find a tick: . If you do find a tick they can be removed by gently gripping the parasite as close to the skin as possible, preferrably using fine-toothed tweezers, and pulling steadily from the skin.Never use a lit cigarette end, a match head or essential oils to force the tick out.Source: NHS Choices . | Paula Binns took five-year-old Lilyanna to the GP after noticing the tiny parasite on her head while she plaited her hair .
She has made a formal complaint claiming the doctor at the practice in Walkden told her to seek advice from a vet instead .
26-year-old said the family contacted a vet who said they could not help .
A neighbour eventually removed the tick using tweezers .
Blood-sucking parasites can infect humans with debilitating Lyme disease . |
139,253 | 400c97de3d8655cd99b36b421f40e4427d7daaba | (CNN) -- Less than two weeks after he partied with classmates in a college dorm, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev now lives in drastically different surroundings. The 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect is locked inside a 10-by-10-foot cell with a steel door, a slot for food and an observation window, a prison spokesman said Sunday. Tsarnaev is able to speak and has been interacting with staff at the Federal Medical Center Devens, spokesman John Colautti said. Medical professionals at the prison medical facility, which currently houses 1,044 inmates, are making regular rounds to check on Tsarnaev, Colautti said, and Tsarnaev has spoken with staff there about managing his health. The spokesman said he could not comment on whether Tsarnaev was speaking with investigators. He referred questions on Tsarnaev's medical condition to the FBI, saying the facility does not assign medical condition rankings like civilian hospitals. Tsarnaev is in an area of the facility where there's extra security, he said. On Friday, authorities said Tsarnaev had been transferred from Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to the prison facility, which is about 40 miles west of the city. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction for his alleged role in the April 15 bombings that killed three people and injured more than 260 near the marathon's finish line. Tsarnaev was captured April 19 after a nearly 24-hour manhunt. His brother, Tamerlan, died after a gun battle with police. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had what appeared to be gunshot wounds to his head, neck, legs and hand when he was captured, according to the criminal complaint accusing him in the marathon blasts. Tsarnaev has been less talkative since authorities read him his Miranda rights three days after his capture. But the information the teenager gave investigators in two sessions of questioning has produced good leads, a U.S. law enforcement official said. FBI: Search of dump tied to suspect ends . Since the pair of blasts turned celebratory cheers into screams of horror at the Boston Marathon's finish line, investigators have kept working -- interviewing people and searching for evidence, even when it meant sifting through trash -- to find out why. One of the most recent focuses of the probe was a landfill in New Bedford, Massachusetts, adjacent to the town where Tsarnaev attended school at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Authorities finished combing the dump for clues that may shed light on the bloody attack on Friday, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller, who wouldn't say whether they found anything. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation had said investigators were looking for Tsarnaev's laptop computer. Tsarnaev led authorities to look there, the source said, and others who may have knowledge of the computer's whereabouts or may have played a role in disposing of it also provided leads that prompted the search. Eimiller, the FBI spokeswoman, said the investigation remains open, with interviews and the search for evidence continuing. Officials: 2011 wiretap reveals talk of jihad . In the past few days, Russian authorities turned over an intercepted conversation from 2011 between one of the Tsarnaev brothers in the United States and their mother in Dagestan, Russia, according to an official with knowledge of the investigation. The wiretapped communication discussed jihad, but the conversation was vague, according to two U.S. officials. It's unclear why the Russians were eavesdropping on the mother or for how long. One of the officials declined to say whether that wiretap information could have made a difference in ultimately uncovering a future attack on the United States. Tom Fuentes, a CNN contributor and former FBI assistant director, said the FBI would have found that information helpful when the Russians asked U.S. investigators to look into Tamerlan Tsarnaev for a possible shift toward increasing Islamic extremism in 2011. Family in Russia . The brothers' mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, said Friday that she and her husband had left their home in Dagestan for another part of Russia. Their father, Anzor Tsarnaev, had said he'd planned to travel to the United States, but that trip has been delayed indefinitely for health reasons. The mother has said she will not return to the United States, where she is wanted on felony charges of shoplifting and destruction of property. The family lived in Massachusetts before Zubeidat Tsarnaev jumped bail after her arrest on the charges in 2012. The parents moved to Dagestan, a semiautonomous republic in southern Russia that year. Zubeidat Tsarnaev has denied the reality of the bombing. She believes it was fake. She said she has seen a video pushing the wild idea, and that there was no blood, that paint was used instead. Botched hijacking thwarts plans to head to New York . Three days after the marathon attack, and hours after authorities released images of the two suspects, they spontaneously decided to go to New York's Times Square to blow up their six remaining explosives, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told investigators. But a botched carjacking spoiled the impromptu road trip, said Tsarnaev, whose account was outlined by New York's police commissioner. Before forcing their way into a vehicle the night of April 18, the brothers fatally shot a campus police officer at MIT, police said. The vehicle they subsequently hijacked, a Mercedes sport utility vehicle, ran low on fuel, and they stopped at a service station, where the vehicle's owner escaped. Shortly thereafter, police picked up the trail of the SUV and pursued it. Authorities say the men threw bombs out the vehicle's window at them. The gun battle and Tamerlan Tsarnaev's death followed. CNN's Tim Lister, Ben Brumfield, Ashleigh Banfield, Paula Newton, Drew Griffin, Dave Alsup, Carol Cratty, Brian Todd and Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is inside a 10-by-10-foot cell with a steel door and a slot for food .
He is able to speak and has been interacting with prison staff, a spokesman says .
The FBI searches a landfill near the suspect's college campus .
As part of investigation, Russian officials hand over wiretap of call discussing jihad . |
178,894 | 73a182981e81faf6909a288670988323a391440f | A blogger who claimed the murder of soldier Lee Rigby was a hoax aimed at stirring up anti-Islam hatred was arrested in a 2am raid yesterday. Christopher Spivey, 51, a tattoo artist from Rochford, Essex, was arrested on suspicion of harassment via social media after police raided his home and took away computer equipment. Mr Spivey claimed in internet articles that he spent hours researching . footage of Mr Rigby’s killing and the aftermath to 'prove' that the British . establishment had faked the murder to incite hatred towards Muslims. Twisted theory: Christopher Spivey, left, wrote articles on the internet claiming that the murder of Lee Rigby, right, who was run down and then hacked to death in Woolwich, London, last May, was a hoax . It is unclear whether the arrest was made in relation to these articles or another separate case, or cases, of alleged harassment. In a rambling post uploaded to his blog on Tuesday, Mr Spivey claims that there are eight seconds of footage 'missing' from the CCTV footage that captured the death of Drummer Rigby, who was run down and then hacked to death in Woolwich, London, in May last year. He goes on to discuss his theory in extensive detail, sharing 'calculations' that he has made of the speed that the car was travelling at when it hit Lee Rigby. This logic, among other suggestions, shows that the brutal murder was in fact a 'hoax', he claims. Police involved in the investigation would neither confirm nor deny whether the . alleged harassment was connected to Lee Rigby’s mother Lyn Rigby and . stepfather Ian Rigby, who live in Middleton, Manchester. Among Mr Spivey’s online supporters are David Icke, the former footballer and BBC Grandstand presenter who has become known for his conspiracy theories. Mr . Spivey was being held in custody yesterday in Southend, Essex after his arrest, which came about when officers from Essex Police acted on a referral from Greater Manchester Police. He has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries until September 5. An Essex Police spokeswoman said: 'A 51-year-old man from Rochford was arrested by Essex Police on suspicion of harassment in the early hours of Wednesday, July 30. 'Hoax': Christopher Spivey uploaded a rambling blog post on the day before his arrest that offered his skewed take on how the events on 22 May last year unfolded, focusing on CCTV stills like the one pictured . 'He is at Southend Police Station helping officers with their enquires. 'The arrest relates to an allegation of harassment via social media which has been referred to Essex Police by Greater Manchester Police.' Fans took to his blog to speculate on the reasons they thought surrounded the arrest. A message posted on the website yesterday claimed Mr Spivey was 'illegally' arrested. One said: 'They might charge him over the Woolwich hoax.' Another added: 'If the official Woolwich narrative was true, why would they need to bother a grandad, young mother and her baby at 2 o’clock in the morning?' Mr Spivey was also recently critical of Lib Dem deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, portraying him as Hitler on his Facebook page. Killers Michael Adebowale, 23, and Michael Adebolajo, 29 were both sentenced to life in February for the brutal murder of Lee Rigby. Adebolajo received a while life term while Adebowale will serve a minimum of 45 years. The pair ran 25-year-old Fusilier Rigby down in a car before attacking him with a meat cleaver and knives in a frenzied attack. Both pleaded not guilty and claimed to be 'soldiers of Allah' and motivated by the plight of Muslims . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Christopher Spivey, 51, was arrested at his home in Rochford, Essex .
Claimed in internet articles that Lee Rigby's brutal murder was faked .
Rambling post uploaded day before his arrest discusses his theory in detail .
Unclear whether arrest relates to posts or other alleged harassment . |
105,602 | 142f24c930d2c63854eac8f01f48fc2374964058 | He has been crowned 'His Royal Cuteness' – and no wonder. In these new pictures, taken as Prince George prepares to celebrate his last Christmas as an only child, the 17-month-old looks more adorable than ever. Looking remarkably like his father William when he, too, was a toddler, George grins for the cameras, showing off the dimples he has inherited from his mother and more than a hint of his mischievous character. Scroll down for video . Prince George dressed in an adorable jumper in a picture taken at a courtyard in Kensington Palace last month . George is obviously enjoying himself - here he is captured flashing a cheeky grin during the photography session . Prince William recently revealed George loves to play with his parents' iPad. Here he is pictured grimacing at the camera . The charming series of photographs, taken in a courtyard at Kensington Palace at the end of last month, has just been released by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They are the first official pictures of George since his first birthday in July. According to an aide, the pictures were taken by one of the couple's staff members, who happens to be a former professional photographer. George is dressed in a traditional white collared shirt and a navy woollen tank top featuring an appropriate guardsman design. The jumper is believed to be from Cath Kidston – and cost £20. The young Prince's outfit is completed by Rachel Riley blue shorts (£49) and his favourite navy Early Days shoes (£29). No doubt getting George to sit still would have taken some effort on the part of the mystery photographer, although he appears to be quite the performer in front of the lens. William and Kate, who are expecting their second baby in April, have both spoken of their son's energetic character and how he tears around Kensington Palace just like William used to do. The Duke has described his son as 'a little bit of a rascal'. The couple do not release an official Christmas card but have distributed the latest pictures, according to aides, to thank the media for allowing Prince George to grow up 'without intrusion'. The Cath Kidston tank top worn by Prince George had sold out before his official Christmas photographs were released - but may go on sale again. The blue sleeveless jumper, decorated with marching guardsmen complete with bearskins and red tunics, sold out about three weeks ago and is no longer available, a spokesman for the brand said. But it will 'possibly' be brought back following the release of the festive pictures. The Cath Kidston spokesman said last night: 'We'll see how the demand goes. It's something we can look into. We didn't know it (the tank top) had made the cut until this evening.' He indicated that there may be talks this week with the brand's production team about making the item available again. It does not currently appear on the brand's website but two other tank tops for boys - one featuring the image of a police car and the other featuring the image of a dog - are discounted and are both priced at £18, having originally been £28 and £32 respectively. Earlier this year, George's great-grandmother the Queen met designer Cath Kidston, famous for her floral prints, during a tour of the Terminal 2 building at Heathrow. Kidston has received an MBE for creating a thriving worldwide business and helping to kick-start the trend for vintage chic. The business, which was founded in 1993, has 160 stores including a flagship store next to the Ritz hotel in central London. He may only be 16 months old but George has become a fashion trendsetter with the 'George effect' ensuring his outfits sell out in record time. Within days of being born, the term was coined after the swaddling blanket he wore in his car seat as he left hospital became a hit. Sales of the printed white aden + anais cloth rose by 600 per cent in the week that followed. In May, George topped a poll to be named most stylish child, winning 23 per cent of the vote. The prince is following in his mother's footsteps. The Duchess of Cambridge's impact on fashion was dubbed the 'Kate effect' for boosting sales of the clothes she has worn. George appeared in red striped dungarees - the £39.99 Stripes Short Overall by Spanish children's wear label Neck & Neck - to watch the Duke of Cambridge play polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire on Father's Day. They sold out within 24 hours. The dungarees he wore to a New Zealand play date for his first official engagement proved equally sought after. The £75 classic tailored dungarees with a sail boat smocked design on the front panel were by Rachel Riley, a British luxury children's brand based in Marylebone. Riley said the royal endorsement was like hitting the jackpot for her business. During his overseas tour to New Zealand and Australia, the prince wore a white smocked romper with Peter Pan collar and sail boat decoration by Les Petites Abeilles - strikingly similar to the traditional romper suit William was seen in as a toddler in the Eighties. A furry kangaroo backpack William was seen carrying for his son while in Sydney also sold out soon after. The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George as he and Prince William look on while visiting the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in July . Prince William has revealed his son loves to play games on his parents' iPad. Here he is pictured at a zoo in Sydney (left) and as he travelled through New Zealand's Wellington Airport (right) in April . Prince George plays with a group of children during a parents group meeting at Government House, New Zealand . This year will be Prince George's final Christmas as an only child, with the Duchess having recently announced she is pregnant with her second child. Here Prince George is pictured at the Natural History Museum (left) in July and with his mother in Canberra, Australia (right) in April . Since his birth, the couple have sheltered their son from the limelight and have appealed to the media for privacy, which has been respected. The Duke and Duchess will be at Sandringham in Norfolk with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family for the traditional Christmas celebrations, before a planned 'second' Christmas with Kate's family at Anmer Hall, a couple of miles away. Sources say the couple are 'enormously excited' about Christmas while Kate's sister Pippa has apparently planned party games for Prince George. A spokesman for the couple said yesterday: 'They release pictures when it feels appropriate and to mark milestones in Prince George's life.' Doesn't that face - and that top - look familiar? Princess Diana carries Prince William through Aberdeen Airport when William was just 16 months old in 1983 . Prince William (pictured) playing in the garden of Kensington Palace in June, 1984 - exactly nine days before his second birthday. He looks remarkably like his son George, who is now aged 17 months . | The Duke and Duchess release charming photos of Prince George during a photo shoot at Kensington Palace .
George grins and laughs for the camera as he poses for the pictures on Palace courtyard steps .
In the pictures, he wears a collared shirt, a jumper with a soldier guardsman design and blue shorts .
The photographs were taken by a royal staff member who is also a former professional photographer . |
207,335 | 987167adb4bbf52191967890a37fa95be6dcc904 | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 07:45 EST, 24 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:11 EST, 25 October 2013 . A 16-year-old was barred from playing school sports after posting a tweet that said he would ‘drill’ his opponents. Tyson Leon, a keen football player and wrestler at Shakopee High School in Minnesota, wrote in August this year: ‘Im boutta drill my “teammates” on Monday.' The school district interrupted this as a direct threat to his teammates and he was suspended from playing sport. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Victory: Tyson Leon talks to KARE 11 News after a federal judge ruled that he should be reinstated into his school's sports teams . A letter sent to Leon said that ‘threatening to harm members of the football team’ was one of the reasons for his punishment, along with swearing at the football coach, damaging a door and having previous suspensions for poor conduct in sports. However, the student insisted that his tweet was merely a statement of intent about tackling his opponents hard during the practice session and was a well-known football term. He has now been reinstated in the football team after the matter was put before a federal judge, who ruled in Leon’s favour. His attorney, Meg Kane, said that his rights to freedom of speech, privacy and his right to be free from unlawful seizure had all been violated, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. After the hearing, Leon, who hopes to win a college wrestling scholarship, told KARE 11 News: ‘Justice was on my side today. I’m happy that the judge was able to see that it was wrong what they were doing.' And he later tweeted: ‘I just want to thank everyone who has been supporting me and have been corner during this time in my life.’ | Shakopee High student Tyson Leon, 16, took the matter to a federal court .
Leon insisted he was merely saying he would tackle his opponents hard .
His attorney argued that his right to freedom of speech had been violated .
The judge ruled in Leon's favour and he's now back on the sports teams . |
212,671 | 9f6373e639d160b56f1c70a2c3090b00f7d36c7b | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 21:40 EST, 24 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:20 EST, 25 April 2013 . A massive catering operation that served up thousands of pounds of meat to feed the builders who made the famous Giza pyramids has been unearthed in Egypt, it emerged today. Archaeologists found the ancient remains at a site believed to have been a village used to house workers about 1,300ft south of the Sphinx. It is thought the workers, who occupied the site for around 35 years, were building the pyramid of pharaoh Menkaure, the third and last pyramid on the Giza plateau. The site, which has been studied for several decades, is also known by its Arabic name, Heit el-Ghurab, and is sometimes called 'the Lost City of the Pyramid Builders'. Catering operation: The site known as the Old Kingdom Corral, with the Giza pyramids in the distance. Researchers note that it was large enough to hold 55 cattle with feeding pens . The Great Sphinx and one of the pyramids at Giza, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Cairo, Egypt . So far, researchers have discovered a nearby cemetery with bodies of pyramid builders, a corral with possible slaughter areas on the southern edge of the workers' town and piles of animal bones. Based on animal bone findings, nutritional data, and other discoveries at this workers' town site, the archaeologists estimate that an average of more than 4,000lbs of cattle, sheep and goat meat were slaughtered every day to feed the pyramid builders. This meat-rich diet, along with the apparent availability of medical care, shown by skeletons found with healed bones, show the workers enjoyed relatively good conditions. Richard Redding, chief research officer . at Ancient Egypt Research Associates, a group that has been . excavating and studying the workers' town site for about 25 years, told LiveScience the builders were looked after. He said: 'People were taken care of, and they were well fed when they were down there working, so there would have been an attractiveness to that. 'They probably got a much better diet than they got in their village.' The site believed to have been a village used to house workers about 1,300ft south of the Sphinx . Redding estimates he has identified about 25,000 sheep and goats, 8,000 cattle and 1,000 pig bones, he wrote in a paper published in the book Proceedings of the 10th Meeting of the ICAZ Working Group - Archaeozoology of southwest Asia and adjacent Areas. Around 10,000 workers helped build the Menkaure pyramid, with a smaller work force present year-round to cut stones and complete preparation and survey work, the AERA team estimates. This smaller work force would have ramped up for a few months starting around July of each year. Redding, who is also a research scientist . at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology and a member of the faculty at the . University of Michigan, added: 'What they would do is, for about four or five months a year, they would bring in a big work force to move blocks, and they would do nothing but move blocks.' The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to remain largely intact. It is thought to have been built as a tomb for an ancient Egyptian pharaoh over a period of around 20 years up to 2560BCE. The . pyramid was originally covered by highly polished white casing stones . that formed a smooth outer surface, but centuries of erosion mean the . structure's stepped underlying core is visible today. It is thought to be made up of around 2.3million limestone blocks believed to have been transported from nearby quarries. Originally towering at 481ft, the Great Pyramid was the world's tallest man-made structure for over 3,800 years. Today . it stands at 455ft tall, and is dwarfed by the 2,717ft Burj Khalifa in . Dubai, which currently holds the title of world's tallest building. The workers would need at least 45 to 50 grams of protein a day, Redding said. Half of this protein would likely come from fish, beans, lentils and other non-meat sources, while the other half would come from sheep, goat and cattle, he estimated. Milk and cheese were probably not consumed due to transportation problems and the cattle's low milk yield during that time, Redding said. Redding estimates that around 11 cattle and 37 sheep or goats were consumed each day in addition to supplying workers with grain, beer and other products. It is estimated that in order to maintain this level of slaughter, the ancient Egyptians would have needed a herd of 21,900 cattle and 54,750 sheep and goats just to keep up regular delivery to the Giza workers. A settlement located adjacent to the workers' town, dubbed 'eastern town,' wasn't as rigidly planned as workers' town, and its residents were eating a considerable number of pigs, the researchers found. Evidence also suggested the people in eastern town were trading with people in workers' town for hippo-tusk fragments. These findings suggest that the residents of the eastern town were not as directly involved in pyramid building and had a special relationship with the pyramid workers. 'They were not provisioned; they were not given their meat and food every day,' like those in the workers' town were, Redding said. 'It's more of a typical urban farming settlement, and there was a symbiotic relationship between the two - probably. 'What we think now is - and this is something we're going to be coming out with in the next little while - is that, more likely, it was a large portion of the work force, the more skilled laborers [living at workers' town], and that there were temporary camps up by the pyramids where the temporary workers who came in would be housed,' he said. 'They probably (didn’t) need much in the way of housing; they would need more shade than anything else. They wouldn't need any kind of warmth because it wouldn't be winter.' Future studies will look for the remains of the workers' towns of Khufu and Khafre, the two other pharaohs who built pyramids at Giza. A dump area, investigated in the 1950s, may hold them; seal impressions found at the dump have the rulers' names on them. 'What we think was going on was that Menkaure came along, he establishes his reign, he leveled that whole area and he took all the levelling debris, took it to the top of the hill and threw it over the back in a big dump,' Redding said. 'That dump on the back side of the ridge may represent a remnant of Khufu and Khafre's construction's town,' Redding said, adding that he hopes new excavations will begin on the dump in the next year or two. | Cattle, sheep and goat meat served up every day to feed builders .
Remains found at a site about 1,300ft south of the Sphinx .
It is thought the workers were building pyramid of pharaoh Menkaure . |
57,433 | a2bf112c19870f21c3ad840aa953dbcd30c86e07 | A Hong Kong court on Monday said it would wait for psychological reports on a British banker who has been charged with the gruesome killings of two Indonesian women at his apartment. Prosecutors have requested the assessments of Rurik Jutting, a 29-year-old former employee of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, to establish whether he is fit to enter a plea to the two counts of murder he faces. In a court appearance last week, Jutting didn't enter a plea to the charges. On Monday, the court adjourned the case until November 24 to allow time for the psychological reports to be carried out. The grisly deaths of the two women shocked many residents of Hong Kong, where the violent crime rate is low for a city of its size. Body found in suitcase . Jutting is accused of killing Sumarti Ningsih, 25, whose decomposing body was discovered inside a suitcase on the balcony of his high-rise apartment in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. The other woman, Seneng Mujiasih, 29, was found on the floor of the one-bedroom apartment with her throat slashed. Police say Jutting called them to the apartment early on November 1. They say Mujiasih had been killed that day, and Ningish five days earlier. Sumarti's father has called for his daughter's killer to be executed, but Hong Kong doesn't impose the death penalty. 'Just an ordinary woman' The two victims' bodies are expected to be sent back to Indonesia on Tuesday, according to the Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body. The Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong wasn't immediately available for comment on the repatriation of the women's remains. Around 200 people attended a vigil for the women Sunday in the city. "Sumarti Ningsih is just an ordinary woman from Indonesia," said a woman named Jumiati, who identified herself as the victim's cousin. "Like me and many others, she was forced to work abroad to feed her poor family and make her dream come true," Jumiati said in a statement. | The court adjourns the case for two weeks, pending the psychological reports .
Rurik Jutting, a 29-year-old British banker, faces two charges of murder .
The bodies of two Indonesian women were found in his upscale apartment .
"She was forced to work abroad to feed her poor family," says the cousin of one victim . |
102,563 | 102aa68bff297bbb55e5be3bb65a66d915b61cd9 | (CNN) -- "It could have been the secret to my success or the secret to my demise," a wistful Serena Williams says of her 2013 season. The irresistible force in women's tennis is talking about her record-breaking year, one in which she vowed to play more than she ever had done previously. It was a decision that paid huge dividends. Not only did her victories at the French Open and U.S. Open take her grand slam tally to 17, she also successfully defended her season-ending WTA Championships crown. She claimed 11 titles in 2013 -- the best return in the women's game for 16 years -- adding $12.3 million in prize money to what has become a very healthy bank balance over the years. Far from slowing down, Williams has a new spring in her step at the age of 32. Her 17 major titles mean she is just one behind Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and within sight of Steffi Graf, out in front on 22 grand slam titles in the post-1968 Open era. "It is getting exciting," Williams told CNN. "I have four grand slams next year to try and at least catch up with Martina and Chrissy so it will be really exciting. "Hopefully I can do it but really being here 17 is fun, obviously I want more and I never want to stop until I reach my goals. "I'm excited about just looking forward to the possibilities of next year. "I started with 15 and this year I'm starting with 17 (next year) so hopefully I can win a couple -- one, two or three, who knows? Any would be good for me." Serena's career has been transformed since she teamed up with coach Patrick Moratoglou after a demoralizing first round defeat at the 2012 French Open. Having tumbled to 175 in the world after a series of injury-hit seasons, he helped Serena roar back to the top of the game; if and when Serena breaks 18, his pride will be immeasurable too. "Martina and Chris, they are legends, so to have Serena part of this small group means a lot," Frenchman Moratoglou said. "It means a lot to her too that she's only one grand slam away to reach them and then maybe to overtake them it's an option that you can really think about it. "There will be a lot of emotion when she'll be close to winning the next grand slam and sitting next to those great champions, but she can make it. "Steffi is a bit far away still. I think it's too early to speak about Steffi -- she has 22 -- so (Serena) has to win five more and six more to overtake Steffi so that's a long way. "I think it's important not to look at the mountain when you want to climb it, just the next step." Moratoglou is from the school of thought that a defeat, however painful, can provide an important reality check and provoke an elite athlete into a drive to ensure it isn't repeated. That pivotal reverse to Virginie Razzano at the French Open last year spurred Williams on to a spike in form and another shock grand slam exit -- to Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon this year -- acted as a similar catalyst. "It was definitely motivating -- I definitely learnt a lot from that match," Williams explains of her defeat to the German in round four. "It wasn't good that I lost but it was good that I was able to learn from that loss and I was able to do better and I won some matches because of that loss so I guess it helped me out." And though Serena is quick to pay tribute to her team from agent to coach, hitting partner to physio, she also revealed that she still leans on the support of her mum, who was with her during her triumphant WTA Championships campaign, and dad to help her game. She said: "I called my dad every match at the U.S. Open from the third round on, he really helped me in that tournament, and he really helped me behind the scenes to win some matches. "I was really happy to have the support and have his help and so yeah I definitely rely on my dad and my dad for a lot of coaching." | Serena Williams tells CNN 2013 season was make or break for her career .
World No. 1 decided to pack her schedule and had her most successful year .
Williams won the French Open, U.S. Open and season finale WTA Championships .
Serena hoping to draw level with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 slams . |
101,315 | 0e9a09cde483a07a3d798d3ba452b3dde3416985 | A Melbourne author is going to extreme lengths to get a better understanding of his characters to pen his novels from taking part in military training - which saw him kidnapped and tortured by electrocution - to scaling rooftops in Russia. Nathan Farrugia, 31, has written three thriller books by drawing from his wild and sometimes unbelievable experiences. He wrote his first book when he was 10 years old but did not become serious about writing until he completed a stint in the Australian Army and studied film and television. Melbourne-based Nathan Farrugia, 31, puts himself in life-threatening scenarios to understand his characters . Pictured here scaling rooftops in Russia, Mr Farrugia immerses himself in the worlds of his novels. He has written three thriller books . Farrugia said he was not a 'professional' writer until 2012 when his first book, The Chimera Vector, was published. Soon The Seraphim Sequence and The Phoenix Variant followed. As part of his research for these novels and upcoming ones, Farrugia decided to take an escape and evasion course in November 2012 in Texas. During the week-long course, which is taken by U.S. Navy Seals and Special Forces, the author learned how to escape capture, pick locks, steal a car and how to disguise himself from Tony Mendez - the CIA agent Ben Affleck portrayed in biopic Argo. At the end of the week, he had to apply the skills he had acquired, except for stealing a car because they still 'had to operate within in law'. 'I was tied up in a motel in Houston in Texas with the heat turned up and Mexican television on in the background,' Farrugia told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was hooded and then waterboarded [a form of torture] and electrocuted - not too much but just enough to experience it - to experience the mental side of it and learning not to panic.' Part of the course included the use of paper clips and other tools that could be concealed and used to escape captivity . Farrugia said he went on these adventures to be able to get inside of his characters' heads and understand how they would get out of certain situations . In June, Farrugia met someone who took him onto the rooftops of Saint Petersbergt in Russia . Another scenario involved him being taped up, handcuffed and hooded as well as being tied up to two other people on a bed where they had five minutes to escape while concealing paper clips and other tools they could use to free themselves on their bodies. Farrugia said he went on these adventures to be able to get inside of his characters' heads and understand how they would get out of certain situations. 'My characters are more intelligent and more trained than I am and using skills to outwit each other and that's a major challenge,' he said. 'You can get around that by just looking stuff up but... it only takes you so far. 'It's good to experience all the different things and skills these characters know and put myself in their shoes and learn as much as I can. The novel writer says you can only get so far by researching scenarios from a computer or office . Two years ago, he met an urban explorer who took him underground to explore New York City's abandoned subway stations . 'And it has taken me to some different places and learn very different things.' More recently in June, Farrugia met a guy who was keen to show him a different view of Saint Petersberg in Russia, but he did not know it would mean risking his life. 'There are official tours where they take to buildings and they are not dangerous at all, whereas he took us all the way up and knew the ones that were unlocked and you could get in,' Farrugia said. 'He took us up fire escapes. They were quite steep and high and they went all the way up, almost to the roof. 'He jumps off them like in parkour movies and we waited for him to open a window for us. 'But he poked his head over the edge and dropped down an electrical cord and said: "Come on up." 'I thought "This could be it" because the cord was not dangling directly over the fire escapes, so if we fell, we would fall to the ground. It was very nerve-wracking.' Apart from being illegal, the venture was highly dangerous because the subways were still active . Mr Farrugia decsribed the experience as terrifying: 'I hoped he got the timing right. But we got there before the next train came' But this is not the only close shave, Farrugia has had. Two years ago, he met an urban explorer who took him underground to explore New York City's abandoned subway stations. 'It's not legal to do this. Another urban explorer popped out of a manhole once and people called police because they thought he was a terrorist,' Farrugia said. What made it so dangerous was the fact the railway lines, he and the explorer were walking along were still active. 'The tunnels are narrow so there's nowhere to get away from trains,' he said. 'We would climb down from the platform then basically run through the tunnel. 'I was terrified because I hoped he got the timing right. But we got there before the next train came.' To find out more about Nathan Farrugia and his novels, visit his website. | Melbourne-based Nathan Farrugia, 31, is an author of three thriller novels .
He puts himself in life-threatening scenarios to understand his characters .
The author has learned how to escape capture, pick locks and steal cars .
He has climbed rooftops in Russia and explored underground New York . |
205,886 | 96861ec02bc374f1221d4087e181a6e69297e96d | A stunning late, long-range strike by Johann Gudmundsson earned 10-man Charlton a 1-1 draw against Cardiff in a pulsating clash at The Valley. Tom Adeyemi gave the visitors an early lead before Callum Harriott was shown a red card for a high tackle on Craig Noone. Charlton felt the visitors should also have been reduced for 10 men, but Sean Morrison was shown just a yellow after he pulled down George Tucudean when through on goal. However Charlton kept fighting and Gudmundsson levelled two minutes before full-time. Johann Gudmundsson celebrates in front of the Charlton fans after scoring a late equaliser . It was a slow start from Charlton as Cardiff snapped into the early tackles and denied them any time on the ball. The pressure soon told and home goalkeeper Neil Etheridge had to act swiftly to gather a Peter Whittingham corner just as Kenwyne Jones was about to pounce. The opening goal arrived on 11 minutes. Aron Gunnarsson launched a long throw into the box and Sean Morrison rose well and flicked on at the near post before Adeyemi placed his header expertly beyond Etheridge. Just two minutes later and the same tactic almost worked again. Gunnarsson's throw into the danger zone was half-cleared and Adeyemi fizzed a right-footed half-volley narrowly over from 20-yards. The Addicks pressed forward but rarely troubled David Marshall in the Cardiff goal. Harriott, Charlton's pacey winger, had some joy down the right against Declan John but when he wriggled free and powered towards the box his cross was well intercepted by Ben Turner. Callum Harriott protests his innocence after being shown a red card for his tackle on Craig Noone . Charlton: Etheridge, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Gomez, Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Harriott, Cousins, Tucudean. Subs: Wilson, Bulot, Vetokele, Onyewu, Fox, Pope, Ahearne-Grant. Cardiff: Marshall, Brayford, Sean Morrison, Turner, John, Gunnarsson, Adeyemi, Whittingham, Noone, Le Fondre, Jones. Subs: Da Silva, Connolly, Ralls, Moore, Harris, Ecuele Manga, Macheda. Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire) It was Harriott's final contribution. On 32 minutes his ill-timed tackle on Noone was late and high. Noone crumpled to the floor in agony and referee Mick Russell quickly flashed his red card. Charlton responded well and created their best chance of the game on 38 minutes. Yoni Buyens played a clever ball into the box and Charlton's Romanian striker George Tucudean fired in a powerful near post volley that Marshall was forced to beat away for a corner. The hosts created the first opening of the second half on 52 minutes. Buyens picked-out Gudmundsson in the box who turned well but shot straight at Marshall. Charlton, playing with 10-men, continued to press. The impressive Gudmundsson whipped in a corner and Tucudean's near post flick rattled the outside of Marshall's post. Peter Whittingham holds off Charlton's Jordan Cousins during a strong first half for Cardiff . Then came the controversy. On 63 minutes Morrison, the Cardiff defender, hauled down Tucudean who was through on goal. This crowd chanted for a red but the referee issued a relieved looking Morrison a yellow. To add to the agony, Gudmundsson cracked the post from the resultant free kick. Marshall then denied Gudmundsson with a fine save on 70 minutes before Morrison cleared off the line after Tucudean's close-range flick from Jordan Cousin's shot had beaten Marshall. However Charlton gave it one last push and with two minutes left were rewarded. Gudmundsson picked up the ball 30-yards out and for once Cardiff's defence failed to get tight. The Icelander took aim and lashed home a superb left-footed effort into the top corner. And it could have been even worse for Cardiff had Igor Vetokele not skied an effort way over the bar when he was clean through on goal with the very last kick of the game. Russell Slade looks on as his Cardiff side relinquished a lead against 10 men on Boxing Day . | Tom Adeyemi puts Cardiff City ahead in 12th minute at The Valley .
Charlton reduced to 10 men when Callum Harriott is sent off after half hour .
Johann Gudmundsson equalises with two minutes to play . |
90,263 | 002360f910e8b59949ff31b49af0a7b8126593d3 | (CNN) -- What's Hawaii without palm trees? That's a question the island state hopes it won't have to answer as it attempts to stave off an invasion by the coconut rhinoceros beetle, an unwanted visitor that's already done extensive damage on the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Big, hungry and hard to kill, the coconut rhino beetle bores into the tops of coconut palms, eating growing tissues, drinking the sap, ripping into the bases of fronds and exposing the plant to disease. Then it crawls off to breed, preferably in piles of mulch or trash. Adults can grow up to two inches long and live to the ripe old age of three months. "This beetle is really tough, and most of the pesticides that are legal for use in Hawaii do not work on it," said Darcy Oishi, the state Agriculture Department official in charge of containing the beetle. The first specimens in Hawaii turned up on a golf course on the military's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, outside Honolulu, in December. About 500 pheromone-baited traps have been deployed within a one-mile radius of the site; authorities have urged the public to look out for the beetle and clear away any debris that might make for a beetle's love nest. Other alternatives under consideration include possibly releasing a fungus or a virus known to attack the insect in its native habitat in tropical Asia, Oishi said. Not known how they reached Hawaii . The source of the infestation on Oahu is unclear so far. Oishi said there's no evidence they stowed away aboard a military ship or plane. And since Honolulu's international airport is located just across a highway from the golf course, they might have reached Hawaii via civilian aircraft. "What we have found is one major breeding site and a few minor breeding sites, all in close proximity to each other, and we are currently working with the Navy and the USDA plant protection and quarantine service to deal with the issue," Oishi said. So far, scientists have found a relatively small population of several thousand. An uncontrolled infestation would pose a "tremendous" economic risks to the state, he said. "Do people want to go to a Hawaii that is without palm trees?" Oishi asked. The coconut is no longer a cash crop on Hawaii, "but it's super-important as an ornamental plant." Islanders still eat its meat, drink its milk and the husks and fibers have a variety of uses in native Hawaiian cultural practices. And the beetles might not stop at the palms: They could also attack valuable crops and ornamental plants, he said. The coconut rhino beetle has been turning up across the Pacific islands since the 1940s. In 2007, it reached Guam, probably in a shipment of construction material from Asia, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Efforts to wipe them out have been unsuccessful, said Aubrey Moore, a University of Guam entomologist who is advising Hawaii on what has and hasn't worked there. "Eradication isn't impossible, but it's highly improbable at this time," Moore said. "So now we're trying to learn how to live with it. And the same thing will happen in Hawaii if they don't start doing something right away." "We can expect to lose about 50% of our coconut palms when it's all over, and that's looking really sad," he said. Tackling a problem before it blossoms . But Hawaii has some advantages that Guam didn't -- including plenty of natural beetle predators such as birds. Most of Guam's avian life was wiped out by another invasive species, the brown tree snake, which arrived around 1950. Birds, rats and mongoose, which were introduced to Hawaii in a 19th century attempt to control rats, are already attacking the rhino beetles, Moore said. Ants and other beetle species may also help by eating the rhino beetle's larvae. And Oahu is bigger than Guam, which is located about 1,500 miles south of Japan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The smaller the island, the more susceptible to damage from invaders, Moore said. "They have significant resources that we never had," he said. "The USDA's taking this very seriously, and they have a big group of people there." But the one breeding site identified so far on Hawaii is "pumping out adults like crazy." Faced with a fast-breeding, invasive menace, Hawaiian officials are also discussing whether to resort to more advanced biological control mechanisms. Growers in countries such as the Philippines, where coconuts are still a cash crop, use sawdust laced with a fungus that attacks the coconut rhino beetle in traps and breeding sites; a Malaysian virus that attacks them has been used to control the population in Samoa and Fiji. But neither measure has been approved by U.S. regulators. Oishi said those steps are being studied in Hawaii, but will require extensive studies under "very contained conditions." Then they would have to be approved by both state and federal agencies, which will require their own environmental assessments. In the meantime, the battle against the beetles -- a grubby struggle, fought tree-to-tree and mulch heap-to-mulch heap -- will grind on. "We will have to be monitoring this project for at least a year, probably more along the lines of three years," Oishi said. Lionfish infestation in Atlantic Ocean a growing epidemic . 'Crazy ants' a threat in the U.S. 18-foot invasive python found in Florida . | Destructive beetle that kills coconut palms found in Hawaii .
The coconut rhino beetle has done extensive damage on Guam since 2007 .
It poses a "tremendous" economic risk to Hawaii if it isn't controlled, official says . |
258,240 | da36de11d4ed2fef1e13c761ef0e1f66dd58c628 | (CNN) -- Motorsport's ruling body has officially approved a host of Formula One team name changes for the 2012 season. Team Lotus, Lotus Renault and Virgin were all given permission to alter their names following a meeting of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile's F1 commission in Geneva last week. CNN-sponsored Lotus will now be known as Caterham F1 from next year onwards, while Virgin will be renamed Marussia F1. Russian carmaker Marussia Motors purchased a significant stake in Virgin in November 2010, and has had its logo present on the car throughout the 2011 season. Renault will also undergo changes ahead of next year's campaign, changing the team's chassis name to Lotus. The announcements mark the end of a two-year spell which has seen two teams race using the legendary name. "We are very pleased that our chassis name change has been approved," team principal Eric Boullier told Renault's official website. "We have said all along that, in the interests of the sport, it is important that we remove any ambiguity on this matter. It is also important that there are clearly identifiable teams on the grid. "It is the start of another chapter for Enstone (the team's HQ), but not a whole new beginning. The team's history and experience will allow us to take up this challenge with a controlled and swift process. We're very much looking forward to 2012." Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has already retained the 2011 world drivers' championship, with the Britain-based Austrian team having also clinched the constructors' title for the second year in a row. The penultimate race of the campaign is on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, before the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on November 27. | The FIA has approved a number of name changes ahead of 2012 F1 season .
CNN-sponsored Team Lotus will be renamed Caterham F1 next year .
Virgin Racing to be renamed Marussia F1 for 2012 campaign .
Lotus Renault to change the team's chassis name to Lotus . |
34,761 | 62ca4518529a879e000b510c71f53a750e872936 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A teenager in Upstate New York was airlifted to a Massachusetts hospital earlier this week after he accidentally cut off his arm while cleaning a pasta-maker at the Italian restaurant where he works. Authorities say the incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, when 17-year-old Brett Bouchard was cleaning the pasta-maker at Violi's Restaurant in Massena, New York, which sits right on the Canadian border. Other employees told reporters that his right arm was severed at the elbow. 'Horrific' accident: Brett Bouchard's arm was severed when a spaghetti-maker was turned on as he was cleaning it . Bouchard was rushed to Massena Memorial Hospital before being air-lifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, about 350 miles away. According to the Watertown Daily Times, a supervisor at Massena Memorial tried to have Bouchard taken to the Fletcher Allen Health Center in Burlington, Vermont - which is more than 200 miles closer to Massena than Massachusetts General - but the hospital would not accept Bouchard. As of Sunday morning, Bouchard was listed as being in critical condition. Bouchard had reportedly worked at Violi's Italian restaurant for a little over a year . It's unclear whether doctors were able to reattach his arm. 'We’re all still in shock. One of our employees severed his arm last . night,' Ross Violi, who owns the restaurant with his brother Dominic, told the paper. Restaurant employees are still trying to figure out how the machine was turned on while Bouchard was cleaning it. Bouchard was forced to be airlifted to a hospital 300 miles away after he was turned away from a much closer hospital . A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it's unclear whether the agency will investigate the incident. 'We are still awaiting word on whether or not an inspection will take . place,' agency spokesman Andre J. Bowser said, explaining that the . nearest OSHA office is in Syracuse, which is roughly three hours away by car. Mia Violi, a manager at the restaurant, has started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Bouchard's medical treatment and travel expenses for his family. 'A hardworking, young man had part of his arm severed in half while working. We would like to raise money to help with medical expenses and travel expenses for his family. If you can help, please do. Brett is an amazing young man and deserves any help. Thank you so much,' she wrote on the page. | 17-year-old Brett Bouchard was cleaning the pasta-maker when it somehow turned on and cut off his arm .
Bouchard was airlifted to a Boston hospital about 350 miles away .
He remains in critical condition and it's unclear whether doctors were able to reattach his arm . |
88,934 | fc643a089a816413f14c6a8d6d0ccf7a5e32b47d | By . John Stevens . Last updated at 5:50 PM on 12th August 2011 . Wheeled into a court hearing, hands and arms cuffed and wearing a bright yellow jump suit, stripper Lee Grace Dougherty had little to smile about as she faced potential attempted murder and first-degree assault charges yesterday. But the 29-year-old who is accused along with her two brothers of a three-state crime spree showed off her ability to pose, perhaps garnered from her time as a hardcore pornography model, as she made her first court appearance yesterday. Swinging her hair back and laughing in front of the cameras, the former topless dancer looked like she was still performing as she appeared by video link. Scroll down for video . Beaming: Lee Grace Dougherty seemed to be practising her posing skills learnt from her time as a hardcore porn model as she attended a court hearing yesterday . The oldest of the trio of heavily armed siblings, Dougherty, who had become America's most wanted woman, was captured in Colorado on Wednesday after a 20 mile car chase with speeds of up to 120 mph and subsequent shoot out. Speaking out for the first time, Dougherty's fiancé Brendon Bookman said that she had admitted making mistakes. 'She just said, “Honey, your girlfriend really screwed up”,' he told Good Morning America of a phone call she made from jail. 'Considering what she has allegedly gone through, was lucid and coherent and sounded pretty normal.' As the three made attended their court appearance from jail, it emerged that just days before the gang allegedly robbed a Georgia bank last week that Dougherty had stripped for a hardcore photo shoot. In chains: Lee Grace Dougherty is wheeled to the hearing held by vida link from Pueblo County Sheriff's Office detention center . Accused: Brothers Ryan, left, and Dylan Dougherty are accused of going on a three-state crime spree . A source connected to the erotic shoots, which had been going on over the past six weeks, told TMZ that she posed for some photos as recently as July 29, less than a week before the robbery. Police documents released at the hearing revealed for the first time that Dougherty had admitted she pointed a machine pistol at a Colorado police officer before he shot her. 'I pointed the gun at the cop... I deserved to get shot,' Lee Grace Dougherty told an agent with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, according to an arrest affidavit. '[I]nstantly, I let go of the gun... The pain was all through my body.' Dougherty, who briefly danced at a topless club in Cocoa Beach, Florida, sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to her right thigh and was still in a wheelchair yesterday. Lover: Dougherty's fiance Brendon Bookman said she told him, 'Honey, your girlfriend really screwed up' She waived her right to remain silent . and spoke to detectives following the high-speed chase and shootout on . Wednesday that ended with a car crash and her arrest, along with . brothers Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, and Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26. The . siblings were wanted for what authorities say was a crime spree in . which they were accused of shooting at a Florida police officer and . robbing a bank in Georgia. They . were ordered held on $1.2 million bond each by a Colorado judge on . Thursday and face potential attempted murder and first-degree assault . charges against a peace officer, Bobbi Griffin, district administrator . for the 10th Judicial District, said in a written statement. The . affidavit described a harrowing high-speed chase, as the Subaru Impreza . driven by Ryan Dougherty weaved in and out of traffic through . construction zones and highway shoulders at speeds reaching 120 miles . per hour, while Dylan Dougherty Stanley fired an AK-47 at pursuing . officers. Crash: Police say the Dougherty gang went off the road during a high-speed chase on this Colorado highway, before Lee-Grace Dougherty jumped out and fired at them . End of the line: The Dougherty gang was captured after their speeding car went off the highway in Colorado as they were being pursued by police . Path of destruction: Map shows the route of the Dougherty gang from their Southeast crime spree to their eventual capture in Colorado . Lee Dougherty told investigators that the fugitives shot at police, but 'we weren't trying to hurt anyone, we just wanted them to get back.' Lee and Ryan Dougherty were arrested . after fleeing the scene on foot when the vehicle swerved to avoid stop . sticks and crashed into a highway median, the affidavit said. Dylan Dougherty Stanley remained in the wrecked vehicle, where he was arrested. Police said they recovered two assault rifles, a submachine gun and a handgun from the car. Kevin . Doll, a spokesman for the Pasco County, Florida Sheriff's Office, said . the agency sent two detectives to Colorado to try to interview the . suspects. Dangerous beauty: Lee-Grace Dougherty was a Florida stripper before joining her brothers on a family crime spree that ended in Colorado. Caught: Lee Grace Dougherty has worked as a topless dancer and pornography model . Dylan Dougherty Stanley has charges pending against him in Pasco County of failure to register as a sex offender, grand theft auto and parole violation, Mr Doll said. The trio could also face federal bank robbery charges. The siblings were spotted in Colorado on Tuesday, and were arrested a day later after the chase and shootout near Walsenburg, Colorado. Their next court appearance in Colorado is scheduled for August 15. Watch the video . | Former stripper and pornography model beams as she attends hearing .
Lee Grace Dougherty and two brothers face potential attempted murder and first-degree assault charges .
Behind bars on $1.25 million bond .
29-year-old tells fiancé, 'Honey, your girlfriend really screwed up'
Revealed that Dougherty posed for hardcore pornography shoots days before she went on the run .
Gang captured after a 20-mile, 100mph chase on Colorado Highway .
Tells police she 'deserved to get shot' as she was hit while trying to escape . |
192,652 | 856355284f6d1105699c07692a65396a01d2d804 | Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesian Muslims have been praying in the wrong direction, the country's highest Islamic authority has said. The Indonesian Ulema Council told the country's Muslim populace in March to turn west when they offered their daily prayers. Muslims are supposed to face the Kaaba, the religion's most sacred site in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. At the time, the council said that the direction of Kaaba from Indonesia laid to the west. Turns out, it didn't. Africa did. So, on Friday, the council issued a new edict: face northwest. "After the first fatwa (edict) a few months ago that stated that the praying direction is west, we have announced that the correct direction for praying is indeed northwest, and we have issued a new fatwa (edict) to correct it," said Ma'ruf Amin, the head of fatwa division in the Indonesian Ulema Council. "This is important because facing west will mean that people were facing Africa when they pray," he said. Amin said the new edict does not mean that mosques in the country will need to be torn down. "They (those praying inside) just need to adjust their praying direction slightly," he said. Some residents of the world's most populous Muslim country took the change in stride. "I don't really worry about the praying direction," said Riza Irwansyah, an office worker in Jakarta. "The important thing is I prayed to Allah and I believe He will listen, no matter which way I'm facing." | Earlier edict from Islamic council had Muslims facing west, where Africa lays .
New edict corrects direction to northwest .
Muslims are supposed to face the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia when they pray . |
165,353 | 61d366b43c1d3e8fe22aaeddbc0ecf81ff13d947 | (CNN) -- Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins -- a contender for the National League's most valuable player award -- will apparently sit out the rest of the season after a pitched ball struck him in the face. The impact shattered bones and caused tooth damage, according to the team. The ball, thrown by Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers, hit Stanton during an at-bat in the fifth inning of Thursday night's game in Milwaukee. It appeared to strike him on the left cheek, just below his eye. Stanton fell to the ground, bleeding, and was taken from the field on a stretcher. The team later said on Twitter he'd suffered facial cuts, broken bones and tooth damage. Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Stanton would be out for the rest of the year. "It's devastating for us. Devastating," he told reporters in a Fox Sports Florida video posted on the team's website. "I mean, for his season to end like that, that's not good." Fiers, who hit another player after Stanton -- sparking a bench-clearing altercation -- was apologetic on Twitter: . Stanton, who has a .288 batting average, leads the National League with 37 home runs and 105 RBIs. | A pitch hits Giancarlo Stanton in the face .
Stanton has "facial fractures & dental damage," his team, the Miami Marlins, tweets .
Pitcher Mike Fiers tweets that he is " deeply sorry about what happened"
Stanton has been frequently named as a contender for NL most valuable player . |
243,354 | c6f31ccd8555b1c54d43cad45a8d5995e56aa8ee | By . Leslie Larson . PUBLISHED: . 10:06 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:07 EST, 5 October 2012 . A young couple who lost their unborn son after they were hit by a drunk driver were awarded a $1.7 million settlement on . Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina by the restaurant that served the . inebriated customer excessive amounts of alcohol before he got behind . the wheel. The victims, Matt and Meredith Eastridge, hope this legal victory will prevent future tragedies but said that no amount of money could ever make up for their loss. The Eastridges say that fateful day, October 29, 2010, changed their lives forever and as they grieve for the son they never knew - they have a new found joy with the arrival of a baby girl this year. Injured: Matt and Meredith Eastridge (pictured in 2010) suffered severe injuries and spent nearly 60 days in the hospital after the tragic car crash . Our Angel: The Eastridges lost their unborn son, Elijah Dean, in the crash on October 29 . Meredith Eastridge was six months pregnant when she and her husband drove to pick up their other vehicle, that had been towed, from an impound lot around 12:30am on a Thursday in October 2010. The pair saw a speeding Volvo coming towards them and in a flash, everything in their life would change. The driver, David Canter Huffman, was going 100 mph when he crossed the center line and hit the Eastridges head-on in their Toyota RAV4. The impact flipped their SUV and it was knocked back 25 feet. The driver: David Canter Huffman had a blood-alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit on Oct. 29, 2010. The 25-year-old died in the crash . Huffman had a blood-alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the collision. The 25-year-old driver died in the crash. Both Matt and Meredith were severely injured and they lost their son. The couple, who married in April . 2009, were hospitalized for several months. They underwent several . surgeries and had to relearn how to complete basic tasks. '10/28/10 . changed my life forever, life is simply too short to never really . live,' Matt Eastridge, who runs an online marketing company in . Charlotte, wrote on his Facebook profile. 'Carpe Diem my friends, for tomorrow is far short of a guarantee,' he added. But in the aftermath of the tragedy, . details emerged about Huffman's movements before he landed behind the . wheel of his car and the couple brought a case against the bar where he . had been before he went out on the road. One day at a time: The couple pushed forward, celebrating Christmas with their families in 2010, after the accident turned their lives upside down . Moving forward: The couple (pictured drinking sparkling grape juice for New Year's 2011) underwent multiple surgeries and had to relearn how to complete basic tasks . Before . the crash, Huffman had stopped by Eddie’s Place Restaurant and Bar, in . south Charlotte, to unwind at the end of the day and surveillance video . shows the man downing shots with the bar's owner, according to The Charlotte Observer. He . had been served at least eight drinks, according to the restaurant, but . an attorney for the Eastridges estimate it was closer to 15 drinks. Huffman was clearly drunk and even walked into a chair as he tried to move about, footage showed. An . attorney for the restaurant, Rick Pinto, said the restaurant's . employees had arranged for Huffman to catch a ride with someone but in . his altered mental state, he went to his own car instead. Expectant mom: Nearly two years after the tragedy, Meredith and Matt prepared to welcome a baby girl . Joy comes in the morning: In April 2012, the couple celebrated the birth of a baby girl, Sloane Isabella . A jury awarded the couple a $1.7 . million settlement, which Matt Eastridge said he hopes will deter . restaurants and bars from serving customers too much alcohol. North . Carolina has legislation, dubbed a 'dram shop' law, that allows victims . to sue establishments that provide alcohol to someone who is noticeably . intoxicated. Meanwhile the Eastridges are still remembering their unborn child, they named Elijah Dean. They have set up a fundraising page . for supporters. Proceeds will go to Mothers Against Drunk Driving . (MADD) in addition to helping fund a mission trip for Matt to take in . memory of Elijah. Proud papa: Matt Eastridge (pictured with baby Sloane) said after the accident he learned 'life is simply too short to never really live' Picking up the pieces: Matt and Meredith on a date night in September (left) and Meredith with their baby girl . They also became parents this April, welcoming a baby girl they have named Sloane Isabella. 'We're so blessed to have a healthy/beautiful miracle to share our lives with now,' the proud father posted on Facebook after the birth. Though they are physically recovering and moving forward, Matt told the Observer that no amount of money could ever erase the pain they still feel. 'My wife and I would give every dollar we got, and everything else we owned to be able to spend one day with our son.' | Meredith Eastridge was six months pregnant in October 2010, when a drunk driver crashed into her vehicle head on .
Meredith lost her baby and she and husband Matt were both severely injured .
David Canter Huffman, 25, who had a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit, died in the crash .
Huffman consumed between eight and 15 drinks in two hours at Eddie’s Place Restaurant and Bar in Charlotte, NC .
'My wife and I would give every dollar we got ... to spend one day with our son,' Matt Eastridge said . |
241,137 | c42cbb3b868d972d9cd3908c0972d43143e8c0df | Bradford City have branded their FA Cup television snub 'absolutely ridiculous' after missing out on a £250,000 payday. The League One side pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history when they came from two goals down to win 4-2 at Premier League leaders Chelsea in the fourth round. They were rewarded with a home tie against the winners of Sunderland and Fulham's replay but TV chiefs at the BBC and BT Sport have chosen not to screen their fifth-round game. Mark Yeates beats the Chelsea defence and slots home past Petr Cech to make it 4-2 to Bradford . Yeates celebrates scoring the winning goal as his Bradford team-mates enjoy the moment . West Brom vs West Ham . Crystal Palace vs Liverpool or Bolton . Aston Villa vs Leicester . Arsenal vs Middlesbrough . Preston or Sheffield United vs Cambridge or Manchester United . The club’s official Twitter feed simply posted ‘#nomagic’, while Bradford joint-chairman Mark Lawn said: ‘BBC and BT Sport have let themselves down with this. They’ve really shot themselves in the foot. We’ve scored the most goals of any club in the FA Cup this season, we’ve just pulled off the biggest shock in history and they don’t come and get us. It’s absolutely ridiculous. ‘I’ve had calls from everywhere since we beat Chelsea. I was talking to Radio Ulster in Northern Ireland and to Radio Cumbria — everyone wants to know about what we’ve achieved. ‘The whole world is looking at us at the moment and the TV broadcasters don’t put us on. You’ve got to wonder if the people who decide these things actually know about football.’ Instead, the West Bromwich v West Ham tie, Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton, Aston Villa v Leicester, Arsenal v Middlesbrough and Preston or Sheffield United v Cambridge or Manchester United will be shown live from February 14-16. Lawn added: ‘Who picks these games? West Brom v West Ham, is that really what the FA Cup is all about? They all promote the FA Cup’s magic and romance, but where’s the magic gone now? How can they justify it? It’s a disgrace.’ Bantams joint-chairman Mark Lawn has blasted the television snub, calling it absolutely ridiculous . Bradford manager Phil Parkinson (right) and his players and staff celebrate their third goal . Bradford's players celebrate in front of their travelling fans after the full-time whistle . He said the club felt further aggrieved over losing the windfall they would have received through television revenue. ‘That goes to the Premier League clubs, because they really need the money, don’t they?’ he added, sarcastically. The BBC said they had considered the draw carefully before choosing the fixtures to show live and hope to present Football Focus from Valley Parade. A BBC spokesman said: ‘TV match selections have to be decided before the outcome of replays and for that reason we have selected what we believe to be the best fixtures, given all the potential scenarios.’ A BT Sport spokesman said: ‘We aim to cover the teams and stories that appeal to as wide a number of fans as possible, while staying true to the traditions of the competition. ‘Fixture selection is a complex process involving multiple parties including broadcasters, clubs, the FA and local authorities.’ | Bradford City beat Chelsea 4-2 in the FA Cup fourth round .
The Bantams will face either Fulham or Sunderland in the fifth round .
But the game will not be shown on either BBC or BT Sport .
Club officials described the snub as 'absolutely ridiculous' |
44,354 | 7d173d0978bfc75c6758e399b90b9f6c2dbad957 | (CNN) -- A 1-year-old girl who became seriously ill on a sailboat hundreds of miles off Mexico was on a U.S. Navy frigate Sunday and in stable condition, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Her parents thanked those who played a part in their rescue. "We are very thankful to be safe and well. We also appreciate all the concern, thoughts and prayers of everyone back home for the health of our daughter Lyra. She is doing well now, and her medical condition continues to improve," Eric and Charlotte Kaufman said in a statement. They defended themselves against critics who question their decision to sail with their family. "Please know that this is how our family has lived for seven years, and when we departed on this journey more than a year ago, we were then and remain today confident that we prepared as well as any sailing crew could," they wrote. "The ocean is one of the greatest forces of nature, and it always has the potential to overcome those who live on or near it. "We are proud of our choices and our preparation, and while we are disappointed that we lost our sailboat and our home, we remain grateful for those who came to our aid and those family and friends who continue to encourage and support us." On Thursday morning, the Coast Guard received a distress call about the girl, who was on the Rebel Heart -- a Hans Christian 36 boat -- with her parents and sister about 900 miles from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The sailboat did not have steering or communication abilities. Members of an Air National Guard unit operating out of Moffett Federal Airfield in the San Francisco Bay Area were dispatched, according to a spokesman. Four members of the 129th Rescue Wing parachuted into the ocean, inflated a motorized boat and reached the 36-foot sailboat, said 2nd Lt. Roderick B. Bersamina. The crew of the USS Vandegrift picked up the family and the four rescuers. "Flight doctor says baby is stable after transfer; aircraft & air crews in Cabo are prepared,alert & evaluating all options," the 129th Rescue Wing wrote on its Twitter page Sunday. Officials said they can't give details about the illness, but said "the family is in good spirits." The family will stay aboard the Vandegrift as it sails back to San Diego. They are expected to arrive either Wednesday or Thursday, according to 129th Rescue Wing Group Commander Col. Hernando Polo. Maj. Mark Bomann said the baby is stable. "We've been quite pleased with her status. The family is exhausted, as one can imagine, but they're out of any imminent danger or harm, which is what you'd worry about in a boat that may have problems," he told reporters. According to their blogs, Eric Kaufman and his wife, Charlotte, had plans to cross the Pacific and left Mexico some two weeks ago with their daughters Cora, 3, and 1-year-old Lyra. The family lives in San Diego. They left there in 2012 and were slowly making their way around the world. In one of her earlier blog posts, dated October 2012, Charlotte said that she and her husband had done a ton of research and would never purposefully put their family in harm's way. She wrote that they traveled with a satellite phone. "Also remember that it is far, far more dangerous to drive every day on the freeway than it is to sail from San Diego to Mexico, or even around the world," Charlotte wrote. Italian navy rescues 730 migrants in overcrowded boats off Sicily . CNN's Janet DiGiacomo, John Newsome and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this story . | NEW: Girl's parents thank rescuers, say daughter is doing well .
NEW: They defend their decision to sail with their family .
A baby who became sick 900 miles off the Pacific coast of Mexico has been rescued .
She and her family are aboard a U.S. Navy ship as it heads to San Diego . |
460 | 01561a338967af4c691f179d46d4fbbba997af99 | Harry Redknapp claimed QPR will fight to the end after Charlie Austin’s stunning double against Aston Villa lifted them off the bottom for the table. Austin scored in each half to pile the misery on Paul Lambert’s side and they are now without a goal in a staggering 531 minutes of football in the Barclays Premier League. Austin’s two goals at Loftus Road has given Rangers hope ahead of the weekend’s trip to Chelsea. Harry Redknapp (right) saw his side move off the bottom of the table following victory over Aston Villa . Charlie Austin drills in his second goal on 69 minutes to secure a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa . Redknapp said: ‘It was a great result. We played well against Liverpool, Stoke, Hull and Sunderland and we worked hard again. ‘They were two great finishes for Charlie. I couldn’t be more pleased. He’s a fantastic lad, an absolutely smashing boy. ‘He’s come from non-league, played at Poole Town, Hungerford, god knows hwere he has been around the lower divisions. And now he is scoring goals in the Premier league, it’s great for him. ‘It is always important to get the points. I have no need to deflect the result, as I was supposed to have done. ‘Part of a football club is having good lads, but they can’t all play. As long as you have a good dressing room and good professionals you’ve got a good chance of winning games. Austin opened the scoring with a stunning half volley finish in the 17th minute of the clash at Loftus Road . Austin celebrates his opening goal in front of Hoops fans as QPR move off the foot of the table . ‘Rio Ferdinand was shouting and hollering and said I have never been so nervous and I said "wait until you become a manager, Rio" which he will do one day. ‘Then you’ll find out how you feel. And he was doing that during the game. He wants the team to win.’ Redknapp claimed his row with Adel Taarabt is over and revealed that the winger, recovering from a sore throat, will play in a reserve team game on Tuesday. The QPR chief said: ‘He’s working hard this week with the fitness coaches and the reserves have a game tomorrow so he will get a game into him. ‘It’s finished. He can still play a part in the future if he gets himself fit. That’s all I ask people to do is come in and train and be thankful for being a professional footballer. ‘Work hard, god gave them a fantastic talent, I just hope you don’t waste it. He’s a fantastic talent. Bobby Zamora races to congratulate his strike partner after setting him up with a cushioned header . Redknapp keeps his composure as dropped Rio Ferdinand takes his place on the bench behind . ‘I just want him to get himself fit to run around like the boys tonight. I don’t want our team to be out-worked. ‘If you get out-worked you don’t win football matches. The stats now show we out-worked Liverpool and Im sure they will show we did the same against Villa.’ Redknapp also paid tribute to his defence after they kept a clean sheet for the first time since their victory over Sunderland. The Rangers boss added: ‘I thought Richard Dunne was man of the match. It was a good performance all round.’ | QPR defeated Aston Villa 2-0 at Loftus Road to lift them off the bottom of their Premier League table .
Charlie Austin scored the opening goal with a stunning half volley from Bobby Zamora's knock down .
Austin doubled the lead shortly after the second half by nipping in to score his fourth goal of the season . |
2,268 | 06a0bd80f6ccf863459c8779187e96fa880aa098 | By . John Greechan . Click here to see the final leaderboard from Royal Liverpool . It was certainly a respectable defence from a champion who enjoyed his victory as much as any of his illustrious predecessors. If Phil Mickelson could not quite muster the game needed to retain the Claret Jug, the fact that he did more than just hang around for four days – almost cracking the top 20 – meant a great deal. As for how it felt to be leaving Hoylake knowing that someone else had just taken his crown? Well, in true Californian style, the ultra-positive Mickelson merely sees it as the ideal motivation to reclaim the title he values so dearly – when The Open returns to the Home of Golf in 12 months’ time. Asked for the exact location of the empty spot where the trophy had spent the last year, Mickelson laughed as he said: ‘My heart … Yeah, I just kind of carried it around. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Phil Mickelson: My game's not far off where it needs to be . Respectable: Phil Mickelson made a gallant defence of his Open crown to push for a top-20 place . Positive reception: The Hoylake crowd gave Mickelson warm applause as he finished his final round . Strong finish: The American left-hander ended his tournament on five-under at Hoylake . ‘It is hard to leave here without it. But it’s a good motivating factor for me, knowing how great it felt to . win this tournament – and makes me want to work harder and get ready and . prepared for St. Andrews next year. ‘I . can’t think of a better site or golf course to win any tournament ever . than St Andrews. And to have The Open back is a great opportunity. And . I’ll be working hard to try to get it back.’ Revealing . the details of a conversation with R&A chief executive Peter Dawson . at the back of the 18th green on Sunday, Lefty said: ‘He was just . thanking me - and I was thanking him for a great year. We’ve been in . touch a lot this year and he’s been terrific. ‘He’s done such a great job with the R&A. And it’s been fun representing him, the R&A and The Open Championship. ‘Coming . here, I played about as well as I could. I didn’t score quite as well . as I could, but I played about as well as I could. In looking at the . lead going into today’s round, from the way that I teed off on Thursday . and Friday, I was only a few shots off the lead. And I think that shows . that my game is not far off. ‘To win this tournament you need to not only play great golf, but you need to have a few breaks and you need to have luck.’ Under the weather: Mickelson did not do enough over his four rounds to challenge the leaderboard . While . Mickelson, who shot a 68 to finish five-under and tied 23rd for the . tournament, hopes to mount another challenge next summer in the Kingdom . of Fife, the achievement of Rory McIlroy in winning his third major . has some predicting a new era of domination by the young . Northern Irishman. Cautioning . against getting carried away, the 44-year-old said: ‘Well, you never . can discount it - we used to say there will never be another Nicklaus, . and then along came Tiger. You never want to discount the possibility of . someone coming along and dominating. ‘But . nobody has really asserted themselves week in and week out the way . Tiger did for such a long period of time. We’ll have great performances, . like Rory this week. Like Martin Kaymer at the U.S. Open, and so forth. But it’s very hard to do that week in and week out the way Tiger did. That’s why it was so impressive what he did.’ All smiles: He has vowed to return better next year for The Open at St Andrews . | Mickelson finished tied for 23rd after going in as defending champion .
The American memorably mounted a late charge on the final day in 2013 .
But the left-hander was unable to retain his title at Hoylake .
He shot a final-round 68 in a gallant push to crack the top-20 .
He described his final score of five-under-par as 'disappointing' but promised to increase his efforts to win The Open at St Andrews next year . |
251,820 | d1ef39b4dc31c41e220743b9ee3d4b3cb8b8abf4 | (CNN) -- A massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in the small Texas town of West left at least two people dead, sent dozens more seeking medical attention and prompted a widescale evacuation in the community of 2,600 people. Fire officials fear that the number of casualties could rise much higher. The blast took place at the West Fertilizer Plant, about 18 miles north of Waco. It sent a massive fireball into the sky . And the danger may not be over. Residents are being evacuated because officials are worried that another tank at the facility might explode. State troopers in gas masks were scene rushing to the area shortly after the blast, . Shortly after the explosion, more than 60 patients streamed into Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, suffering from "blast injuries, orthopedic injuries (and) a lot of lacerations," said hospital CEO Glenn Robinson. While some of the injuries are minor, others are "quite serious," he said. At least six helicopters are going to fly out those who are injured, Robinson said. Others are being transported by ambulance, and some are getting to the hospital by car, he added. Two other hospitals in the region were also assisting. As many scrambled to assist the injured, another danger seemed to emerge Wednesday night. "What we are hearing is that there is one fertilizer tank that is still intact at the plant, and there are evacuations in place to make sure everyone gets away from the area safely in case of another explosion," said Ben Stratmann, a spokesman for Texas State Sen. Brian Birdwell. Photos of the explosion -- which reportedly happened around 7:50 p.m. (8:50 p.m. ET) -- showed a huge blaze and flames leaping over the roof of a structure and a plume of smoke rising high into the air. The West Fertilizer Plant is just north of Waco. A school and a nursing home are among the buildings near the plant, CNN affiliate KWTX reported. Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he is aware of the explosion, a spokesman said, and was working to get resources into the area. Tommy Alford, who works in a convenience store about three miles from the plant, told CNN that several volunteer firefighters were at the store when they spotted smoke. Alford said the firefighters headed toward the scene and then between five and 10 minutes later, he heard a massive explosion. "It was massive; it was intense," Alford said. Chrystal Anthony, a nearby resident, said she saw the flames engulf a nursing home and an apartment complex. "It was an apartment complex that was devastated, the nursing home. The fire was close to a residential area," Anthony said. "It was like a bomb went off," said Barry Murry, a resident who lives about a mile away from the plant. "There were emergency vehicles everywhere. It has been overwhelming." West, Texas, is a community of about 2,800 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Sitting about 75 miles south of Dallas and 120 miles north of Austin, West is one of 22 incorporated communities in McLennan County. Some firefighters at the scene of a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas were concerned Wednesday night about anhydrous ammonia. What is anhydrous ammonia? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anhydrous ammonia is a pungent gas with suffocating fumes that is used as a fertilizer. When exposed to humans, it can cause serious problems. CNN's Chandler Friedman, Carma Hassan, Ed Payne, Greg Botelho contributed to this report. | Hospital is told to anticipate 100 injured, official says .
The explosion occurs at a fertilizer plant some 18 miles north of Waco, KWTX reports .
A man says he saw smoke then, a few minutes later, heard a massive explosion . |
225,706 | b044775b9d042de9efb989b82e1589123d9f0d22 | Perugia, Italy (CNN) -- Family members of Meredith Kercher said Saturday they were satisfied with the verdict that found American Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, guilty of the fatal knifing of the British student. "Ultimately we are pleased with the decision," said Lyle Kercher, Meredith Kercher's brother. "But it was not a moment of celebration. We are here because our sister was brutally murdered." The victim's sister, Stephanie Kercher, talked Friday about her family's grief. "Our lives have been on hold, really. You can't really carry on as normal," she said. "You have to take each day as it comes. It's not ever going to be the same without [Meredith]." Knox and Sollecito were found guilty of murder Friday after a lengthy, sensational trial. Knox was given a 26-year sentence; Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. Both will appeal, attorneys said. Knox and Sollecito were convicted on all charges except theft. The pair was accused of staging a theft to cover up the killing. Authorities said 300 euros (about $444) was discovered missing from Kercher's purse. The pair must pay 5 million euros ($7.4 million) to Kercher's family. In addition, Knox must pay 40,000 euros (nearly $60,000) to a man whom she falsely accused of the killing. One of Knox's sisters said Saturday that Amanda "had a rough night." Her mother, Edda Mellas, said, "She had a lot of support. The inmates and the guards were all taking great care of her. They care a lot. "Amanda, like the rest of us, is extremely disappointed -- upset about the decision," Mellas said. "We're all in shock; we're all heartened by the support" that she said residents of Perugia and other Italians had shown. "People from all over the world have been sending us messages of support all through the night," Mellas said. "We told her she's going to get out of there. It's [just] going to take a little longer." Sollecito's lawyer, Luca Maori, criticized his client's punishment -- less than the life sentence the prosecution requested but far short of exonerating Sollecito -- as making no sense. "For the grave crimes they claimed, you either sentence them to life. ... or you acquit. There is no middle way," Maori said. Public prosecutor Giuliano Mignini told CNN he feels he presented a strong case. He said about 20 magistrates worked alongside police during the investigation. However, he said that in the face of the planned appeals, clearly the conviction is not final. Learn how the murder case played out . People who disagree with the verdict should at least respect it, because so many professionals were involved in the investigation, Mignini said. "I believe, evidently, that they think there was violence. They are the deputies who establish the foundation" of charges, he said. "And they did this." The victim's mother said she believed the defendants were guilty of the slaying. "You have to go with the evidence," Arline Kercher said. Take a look at the evidence against Knox . Knox's lead defense attorney, Luciano Ghirga, said that when he met with his client Saturday morning, she was angry and continued to proclaim her innocence. He told CNN the situation has been a trying experience, and Knox hardly slept Friday night after the verdict. She was consoled by the other prisoners, who managed get her a cup of warm milk, Ghirga said. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating nearly 11 hours on the 11 counts. Jurors must submit an explanation of how they reached their decision to the judge within 90 days, and this "jury motivation" will be made public. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of life in prison. Italy does not have the death penalty. CNN's Richard Greene and Hada Messia contributed to this report. | NEW: Sentence makes no sense, co-defendant's lawyer says .
Knox, her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito sentenced for Meredith Kercher's murder .
Appeals mean convictions not final, Italian prosecutor says .
Meredith Kercher's sister: "It's not ever going to be the same" |
188,854 | 80996ad9628a89224e9c92ccce719aa86137efc1 | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 22:43 EST, 13 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:46 EST, 14 November 2012 . This is the dramatic moment a brave petrol station cashier fought off two masked robbers armed with a meat cleaver before chasing them out the shop with their own knife. The two thugs ran into the garage and threatened terrified shop worker Trude Mian, 65, with the six inch blade and another knife. One of the robbers grabbed Mrs Mian's wrist and held her at knife point as they forced her to hand over £50 from the till. But when they demanded to see the safe plucky Mrs Mian told them they would have to get past her first before getting their hands on any more money. Scroll down to watch the CCTV . Armed raid: The masked man ran into a garage with an accomplice and threatened shop worker Trude Mian, 65, with the sharp butcher's tool . Planned attack: The pair, wearing black balaclavas, burst into Knowle Garage, in Braunton, Devon, on Saturday evening shortly before the petrol station was about to close . Demanding cash: One of the men waves the six inch blade in the air while grabbing Mrs Mian's arm to force her to open the till. He then demanded to see the safe . Back at work: Trude Mian, 65, told the robbers they would have to get through her if they wanted more money . Mrs Mian, the wife of garage owner Khaliq Mian, said: 'They were shouting "give us your ******* money". 'One ran around the counter and I . tried to dial 999 but he whacked the phone several times with his meat . cleaver and then pushed me.' The robbers then demanded that Mrs Mian show them safe but she refused - telling the thugs they would have to get past her first. Mrs Mian managed to push the panic button under the counter and scared the robbers off. The grandmother added: 'Unknown to them I didn't do it properly, but the other shouted "she has pressed the alarm" and they ran out. 'He left his knife on the counter so I picked it up and ran after them. 'If the chap with the meat cleaver . should suddenly turn around, I thought I at least had something to . defend myself with "I wanted to go down fighting if I had to go down at . all".' Mrs Mian then dialled 999 and the police have now released footage of . the shocking attack. CCTV: Masked robbers threaten to chop cashier's arm off with a MEAT CLEAVER for just £50 . The man threatens the terrified attendant who escaped physically unhurt in the attack in Devon . The thugs brandished their weapons before grabbing £50 from the till and fleeing into the night . Police have released the footage as they search for the armed robbers, who left the woman traumatised . The pair, wearing black balaclavas, burst into Knowle Garage, in Braunton, Devon, on Saturday evening at 10pm. One carried the meat cleaver and the other a six inch knife, described by police as a Kitchen Devil chef's knife with an un-serrated edge, which Mrs Mian plucked off the counter. A police spokesman said the weapon was about 30cm long with a blade of around 16cm. Officers are appealing for information about the robbery which happened as the garage was about to close. Det Insp Dave Atkinson, of Barnstaple CID, said a number of vital items had been recovered, including the meat cleaver. He added: 'It is an unusual incident and a very nasty violent one, so the sooner we can lock these people up the better. 'It is a minor miracle Mrs Mian was not cut, she was very lucky.' Amazingly Mrs Mian went straight back to work on Monday, despite being exhausted from her nightmare ordeal and a lack of sleep. She said: 'I wanted to go straight back to face the demons. Everybody has been so kind -customers have been giving me flowers, it's very nice. 'The police have really been good and I think they deserve recognition for all their work.' One of the men was wearing a grey Ultramagnetic brand hooded top and the other had very dark or black clothing and dark trainers with white stripes on the sides, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. | Two masked robbers threatened cashier with meat cleaver and a knife .
Pair stole £50 from the till but grandmother Trude Mian, 65, refused to show them the safe .
The thugs fled as Mrs Mian picked up their own knife and chased them out .
Police hunting culprits of the raid at Knowle Garage, in Braunton, Devon, on Saturday evening at 10pm . |
141,111 | 427619c22541d1184fb9ffdafa1d52bf55690ac4 | By . Michael Seamark . PUBLISHED: . 18:03 EST, 19 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:26 EST, 20 September 2013 . Lord Justice Leveson's report has faced criticism from leaders of the Press who claim the inquiry and subsequent report has left all sides dissatisfied . The legal chief of The Guardian newspaper says the outcome of the Leveson Inquiry is ‘the worst of all worlds’. Gill Phillips, whose newspaper was instrumental in sparking the inquiry into media standards, says that what Lord Justice Leveson recommended has been ‘disastrous’. She describes one key Leveson recommendation, championed by lobby group Hacked Off and Labour politicians and previously backed by The Guardian, as ‘a charter for people with dodgy claims’. It was an incendiary Guardian report in 2011 – which wrongly accused News of the World journalists of deleting messages on murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s mobile phone – that provoked a public outcry. The inaccurate story brought about the closure of the Sunday tabloid and led to David Cameron establishing the inquiry under Lord Justice Leveson. But Ms Phillips says the wrangling over Press regulation following last year’s inquiry and subsequent report has left all sides dissatisfied. She said: ‘His attempt to please everybody and avoid being a dusty footnote on a shelf somewhere has led him down a road that has proved to be pretty disastrous. We don’t have anything that could be perceived as effective or credible by either side of the debate.’ Since Lord Justice Leveson’s report was published last November there has been disagreement between publishers, politicians and lobby groups over how to implement his recommendations for tougher Press regulation. The Privy Council is currently considering a Royal Charter put forward by the newspaper and magazine industry after negotiation with ministers. A rival charter, agreed over 2am pizzas by politicians and the Hacked Off lobby group, has yet to be submitted. The newspaper industry plans to launch early next year a tough new Press watchdog, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, with the power to impose fines of up to £1million for systemic wrongdoing and require editors to publish upfront corrections. But some critics of the industry, led by Hacked Off, are demanding politicians have the last say over Press regulation.Ms Phillips, the Guardian’s director of editorial legal services, dismissed the use of royal charters as a ‘medieval’ tool that had been ‘used by monarchs to circumvent Parliament’. She told the Protecting the Media conference in London this week she was opposed to any form of state involvement in regulating the Press. She cited the detention of David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, who was detained for nine hours at Heathrow last month on his way from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro carrying hard disks and memory sticks including secret files leaked by ex-CIA analyst Edward Snowden. Claims that News of the World (former editor Rebekah Brooks pictured) hacked the voicemail of murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler were made by the Guardian in 2011 but thrown out . ‘If anything demonstrates why we do not want a government regulating the Press, David Miranda is that,’ she said. ‘We live in a democratic state and they still did what they did to David Miranda for no good reason at all. It goes back to the whole debate about why we shouldn’t have the state regulating the Press.’ She also voiced concerns about one of Leveson’s key proposals – the setting up of a free arbitration service to decide damages claims against publishers. Under the Government-backed charter, the industry is obliged to set up the service that many local and regional papers fear is wide open to exploitation by ambulance-chasing lawyers. She told the conference: ‘We are creating a charter for people with dodgy claims. People will be tempted to go and try to get some money.’ | Gill Phillips claims report has left 'all sides dissatisfied'
Legal chief describes one of the report's recommendations as 'a charter for people with dodgy claims' |
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