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148,652 | 4c38acaed44ffb37f2be1eee599b8c5d10cce9ab | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- It all started with an acoustic guitar and a MySpace page. John Vesely, better known as Secondhand Serenade, began as a one-man acoustic act. Making a name for himself with his honest tales of love and loss, Vesely utilized the then-budding social networking empire to make his music known. Vesely's songs are an emotional roller coaster that propelled the singer through his self-produced acoustic debut "Awake" to his 2008 sophomore release "A Twist in My Story," which included a full band and production team. His third studio album, "Hear Me Now," hits stores Tuesday and will include a more upbeat, electronic feel. Returning to his roots, Vesely self-produced and recorded three new tracks for this latest album in his bedroom with his drummer Tom Breyfogle. Vesely's West Hollywood location is more than just a home. Vesely's band mates use it as a crash pad, the singer's bedroom doubles as a recording studio and his garage/laundry room was converted into the band's rehearsal space. Vesely talked with CNN from his bedroom studio about the production of his new album, the evolution of his music and maintaining his personal relationship with his fans through Twitter and Facebook. CNN: When did you begin writing material for your third album? Vesely: This writing process actually started a lot earlier than you would think. One of the songs on the album was one of the first songs I've ever written. There were a few songs -- like, for instance, a song called Nightmares, on the album ... was a song that I had written for "Awake," which was years ago, like four years ago I think. And there's a song called "Only Hope in South by Southwest," when I went right after I signed with the label, so it was well before I recorded "Twist in My Story." And some of the songs I wrote literally in the studio. ... I mean, as far as "Something More" and "You and I" and all those songs, like literally, "You and I" I wrote in February and recorded in February. That was like one of the last things we did. CNN: Your second album had a bit of a darker tone, but you've said your new album is more upbeat and reflective. Did that just come about with the writing of it? Vesely: The new album's upbeat feel definitely came along with the writing of it. All the albums have kind of spread out and become a different chapter of my personal story. ... This album is more about me personally rather than telling stories about a relationship. A lot of it is self-reflection and, you know, owning up to the fact that I wasn't a great person at some points and I'm not proud of some things I've done or some ways I've acted, and it's hard when you make mistakes and kind of brush them under the carpet, and leave them for later, and I finally wanted to deal with that in this album. It was a lot about telling people what's happened and being able to free yourself after that. Once you get that out, you can move on and be happy. I'm in a really happy place right now because I'm so focused on music, surrounded by great people and really talented musicians, and I'm kind of given a second chance now, and I want to really take that and cherish it. CNN: When you first started working with music producers on your second album, did you find you liked that better? And why did you choose to self-produce some tracks on your new album? Vesely: I definitely have always liked to do things by myself, just because I like to be a part of it. The more I do, the more it's my music, personally. Of course, working with a producer is a necessary thing when you're making music, because they're trying to put your creative thoughts together, and make it as effective as possible in a song form. ... Being able to do the three tracks on this new album on my own with my drummer Tom [Breyfogle] was a great experience because it was the first time that I'd gotten to produce something except my first album "Awake," but that was pretty much just acoustic guitar and vocals, so there's not much production going on, so to speak. CNN: "Awake" was just you and your acoustic guitar. Now you've added a full band and more production. How have your fans reacted to more production and a bigger sound? Vesely: "Something More," it's the new single, it's been out on iTunes for little bit now, and we've gotten a lot of really, really good feedback. And it makes me happy to see -- going from an acoustic background to this more electronic, rhythmic feel -- they still find the beauty and the honesty in the music, and they can appreciate it, and that's really important. But there's always people that aren't into it. For instance, some people will [give it a bad review] and say, "What's going on, what is this?" Then they'll continue, "It's not a bad song, but it's totally not Secondhand Serenade." So it's not necessarily a bad review they're giving, it's just that they can't get past the fact that I'm evolving as an artist and I'm trying to break out creatively. And that's OK; you can't please everyone because if I'd still be playing acoustic right now, everyone would be like, "OK, we get it, you're acoustic, what now?" I think the evolution's necessary, and it's natural, and I hope people can appreciate it. CNN: You've responded to feedback and sometimes criticism from your fans that you've received online. Why do you think it's important to address that? Vesely: I'm very, very personal with my fans. I Twitter like crazy and I Facebook like crazy, and I respond to them all the time, and it's something that's been important to me since the beginning cause that's pretty much how I got started. They're like part of my army, they work with me, and I can't do any of this without them. I feel it's important, rather than ignore them and be like, "Whatever, I'm still selling the album and still selling the song, and one person's opinion doesn't matter." You know one person's opinion, two people's opinions, or five people's opinions, even if it's among thousands or hundreds of thousands of opinions, it still matters. | John Vesely, better known as Secondhand Serenade, started as a one-man acoustic act .
He self-produced and recorded three new tracks for this latest album in his bedroom .
Vesely says he maintains his connection with fans via social networking . |
283,190 | fad3459331922dcb82a2c4b9da8d2594ee4e4e02 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:22 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 8 January 2014 . A shopper bit down on a hard object in his bag of peanuts only to discover it was a human tooth. Teenager Graham Calder inadvertently crunched the molar into three pieces before spitting them out. He noticed it still had the root attached. The 18-year-old was concerned it may have been his own, but after feeling around his mouth he realised it wasn't. How to lose your appetite: Pieces of a human tooth with the root still attached which Canadian teenager Graham Calder claims he found in his bag of peanuts . His girlfriend, Michaela Epp, said it looked like the tooth had been pulled right out of the gum. 'It definitely didn't look like someone's tooth had just broken off,' said the 18-year-old, who is a student at the University of Manitoba in Canada. Mr Calder claimed he found the tooth in a brand of Spanish peanuts distributed by Safeway Inc, which operates out of Calgary, it was reported by The Winnipeg Sun. He said he bought the sealed bag from a Safeway store in Osborne Village in Winnipeg while on a break from studying at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Investigation: Mr Calder claims he found the tooth in a bag of Safeway-brand Spanish peanuts . He was celebrating the New Year when he decided to tuck into the snack around 15 minutes after midnight. Miss Epp said: 'My boyfriend looked me and said "that's one way to start things".' Betty Kellsey, a spokeswoman for Safeway, said the company would properly look into the claims once the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had investigated the complaint. She added: 'Safeway is committed to industry leading food safety standards and we will co-operate fully with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in their investigation.' The CFIA has taken the bag away for testing. | Graham Calder claims he found tooth in Safeway-brand Spanish nuts .
Girlfriend said it looked like it had been pulled right out of person's gum .
Canadian food standards agency has launched an investigation . |
85,706 | f31659538d9d56ef06154b74a3bb1f7bb918dddd | By . Dan Bloom . It was a simple mission: to build a half-eagle half-horse robot. But creating Buckbeack the Hippogriff was hardly magical for the artists who airbrushed thousands of goose and chicken feathers one-by-one before piecing them together with tweezers. The animatronic beast is receiving his first makeover since a team of 20 took four months to create him for the Harry Potter films 12 years ago - and this time is proving just as challenging. Finishing touches: Val Jones tweaks Buckbeak's beak before he goes on display at the Warner Bros Studio Tour . Looking sharp: Val Jones (right), who made Buckbeak the Hippogriff, has talked about how it took a team of 20 artists four months to make his coat with thousands of hand-painted feathers from chickens and geese . Intimidating: The famously haughty animal becomes loyal to Harry Potter in the third book in the series . Star treatment: Buckbeak has his feathers buffed, preened and replenished by Val Jones . The magical creature with the wings and head of an eagle and body and tail of a horse featured in the third book of JK Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry and Hermione free the haughty Buckbeak - sentenced to death for attacking a pupil - and he helps Harry's outlaw godfather Sirius Black escape a similar fate. Cover star: Buckbeak featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . Film costume expert and 'featherologist' Val Jones, who made the original creature, has been drafted back in to recreate one of the books' most popular animals. She told MailOnline: 'Buckbeak was one of the most challenging creatures I’ve ever worked on. 'It took almost a year and a team of 20 to build three versions of him. We worked closely with mechanical engineers to replicate the exact wing movement and skeleton of a real bird. 'Each version required thousands of feathers to be sorted, dyed and then individually glued in place by hand. 'As . the Buckbeak on show [in London] is more than 12 years old now, it’s . important to refresh and replenish his coat as the glue wears and . feathers come loose when he bows.' Buckbeak’s coat consists of thousands . of real goose and chicken feathers, which were individually airbrushed . with dye and then hand-glued with a spatula onto a net underneath. The models were mechanically fitted so the wings, neck, eyes and . beak could all move. In other scenes, the Hippogriff was created digitally and the cast were given props such as a beak . on a stick with which to interact on set. Ms . Jones, who also worked on Fawkes the phoenix and Hedwig the owl, said . despite her experience Buckbeak - who is the size of a real horse - took . another three months to replenish. Loyalty: The film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban starred Daniel Radcliffe . Magical: The bird appears in Hagrid the gamekeeper's pumpkin patch but is sentenced to death for an attack . Painstaking: Ms Jones said she had to paint the feathers individually and put them in place with tweezers . Project: The magical creature has the wings and head of an eagle and body and tail and hind legs of a horse . Some of the feathers on Buckbeak's wings are even more complex, as they were made out of plastic using a mould. Ms Jones added: 'I’ve worked in the industry specialising . in fur and feathers for over 30 years working on a range of films from . 101 Dalmatians, Willow, Labyrinth, The Witches, Indiana Jones and the . Last Crusade and Babe.' The model is being re-feathered and preened for the Warner Bros Studio Tour near Watford, Hertfordshire. Holders of an £89 family ticket will be able to see Ms Jones and her team live at work from April 4 to April 27. The eight Harry Potter films grossed an estimated £4.6billion at box offices worldwide - with hundreds of millions more in DVD sales and merchandise. Birds of a feather: Ms Jones has worked on several similar creatures including Hedwig the owl . Cages: Ms Jones will be demonstrating her skills at the tourist attraction next month . | The magical creature was designed to be half-horse and half-giant eagle .
It took a year to make three models which were kitted out as animatronics .
Buckbeak will have his first 'makeover' for 12 years at London tourist show . |
135,726 | 3b9857af4668b08e97e0f5ae99aae1ca948f2578 | By . Lucy Laing . She was so incredibly fragile when she was born that any ordinary wrapping wouldn’t do. Doctors put tiny Sophia Meechan in bubble wrap to keep her alive after she was born weighing just over a pound. Her chances of survival were slim, but doctors wanted to give her the best possible chance. And now their efforts to save her have all been worthwhile as little Sophia - nicknamed ‘Bub’ by her mother after the bubble wrap that kept her alive - has just started school. Doctors wrapped Sophia in bubble wrap to keep her alive after she was born weighing just over a pound . Mother Rebecca, 39, nicknamed her 'Bub' after the bubble wrap that kept her alive . Her mother, Rebecca, 39, a forensic scientist, said: ‘It was the most emotional day when Sofia started school for the first time. ‘I kept thinking of how far she has come - from being wrapped in bubble wrap to survive - to finally being able to start school. ‘I’ve called her Bub since the day she was born, because of the bubble wrap that saved her life.’ Sophia’s battle for survival began when her mother was just 24 weeks pregnant. She went into premature labour and was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed her with an incompetent cervix. Miss Meechan, who lives in Cannock, Staffordshire, said: ‘My pregnancy had been complicated from the beginning. I started bleeding at seven weeks and thought that I was losing Sophia then. ‘She hung on until I got to 24 weeks pregnant. But then I went into labour and doctors diagnosed me with an incompetent cervix which meant I couldn’t hold my baby in my womb any longer.’ The doctors gave Miss Meechan steroid injections to try and develop her baby’s lungs. Efforts to save her have all been worthwhile as Sophia has just started school . She said: ‘I kept begging the doctors to listen to Sophia’s heartbeat to check she was still alive. I was terrified that she was going to die because she was being born so early.' Sophia was delivered by caesarian, weighing just 1Ib8. Doctors warned Miss Meechan that her baby was unlikely to survive. She . said: ‘Her head was so tiny - it was the size of a boiled egg. She just . lay there so small and fragile. I kept thinking how could something so . small possibly survive.’ She . was wrapped in bubble wrap for the first 24 hours of her life, but . doctors didn’t know if she would even survive the night. Plastic . wrapping is used by hospitals to help premature babies retain their body . heat. Sophia remained . on a life support machine for 13 weeks. She then had an operation to . close a valve in her heart, but complications meant that all her organs . started to shut down. Miss Meechan said: ‘That was the lowest point. I . really thought that I was going to lose her, after all these weeks of . fighting. The doctors told me she was struggling to survive. I had to . make a choice whether to let her go or whether to let them try a drug to . keep her alive. But it could leave her with cerebral palsy. ‘I held her and decided that I had to take the risk and let her have the drug.’ Amazingly Sophia hung on and then started to make a recovery without needing the drug. Miss Meechan added: ‘No one could quite believe it. She had been so weak, yet she started to make a recovery without needing to have the drug after all. I was so proud of her.’ During her battle for survival she had to have 15 blood transfusions and had to be resuscitated a dozen times. Sophia remained on a life support machine for 13 weeks. She then had an operation to close a valve in her heart, but complications meant that all her organs started to shut down . Miss Meechan said: 'When she put her school uniform on for the first time, I burst into tears' Sophia was eventually allowed home from hospital after five months. At 12 months she underwent laser eye surgery as her retinas hadn’t developed properly due to her early birth. Since then she has gone from strength to strength. And last month, aged four, she started school for the first time. Miss Meechan said: ‘When she put her school uniform on for the first time, I burst into tears. I couldn’t believe that my bubble wrap baby was actually starting school. She has come on such a long journey.’ Miss Meechan has written a book about Sophia’s battle for survival called ‘My Bubble Wrap Girl - Sophia’s story - which is available on Amazon. She said: ‘I wanted to give support to other mothers who may be in my position and show them that anything is possible. ‘My Bub is proof that something so tiny can survive and go on to live a normal life. She’s been through so much since the day she was born, but she’s fought through it all.’ | Sophia Meechan survived after being kept in bubble wrap .
Now four years old, she has just started school .
Mother Rebecca, 39, a forensic scientist, nicknamed her daughter 'Bub'
Miss Meechan gave birth to her when she was 24 weeks pregnant . |
238,446 | c0a2ef69d7712c32e6f1fc15d6b32e7807f5b215 | Former President Jimmy Carter lauded the decision to normalize diplomatic relations with and ease sanctions imposed on Cuba, steps he said would benefit the Cuban people and not the country's autocratic rulers. Carter said President Barack Obama's decision to change the dynamic of the U.S.-Cuba relationship "very wise and courageous" and said he hopes Congress will move to end the embargo on Cuba. "I think this is a good move, for both Cubans and Americans. I think it will be a major step forward to bring about more freedom and democracy and more respect for human rights in Cuba as well." Carter said Wednesday on CNN. "It's long overdue." Related: Historic thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations . Obama settled a landmark deal to normalize relations between the two countries in a phone call with Cuban President Raul Castro this week. The call between the two leaders capped more than a year of secret discussions to secure the release of American aid worker Alan Gross. Obama released three convicted Cuban spies, but secured the release of 53 political prisoners held in Cuba, a Cuban national who spied for the U.S. and won concessions from Castro to free up Internet access in Cuba. Carter jumped to Obama's defense following a chorus of attacks from Republicans led by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida who say Obama's decision amounted to appeasement of a totalitarian government that will lead to anything but democratization. Related: 2016 Republicans slam Cuba announcement . "It is a lifeline for the Castro regime that will allow them to become more profitable ... and allow them to become a more permanent fixture," Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, said Wednesday on CNN. "The embargo is leverage, these sanctions are leverage." Carter, who has traveled to Cuba several times and met with both Fidel and Raul Castro, called Rubio's comments "absolutely ridiculous." "[The embargo] doesn't hurt the Castro brothers, it just hurts the people of Cuba -- about 11 million of them -- who have had to suffer because of our own imposed economic sanctions," Carter said. Related: American Alan Gross freed by Cuba . Carter added that Obama's decisions to ease the trade embargo -- which will include allowing the export of telecommunications equipment to Cuba and more travel authorizations to the country -- will help open up Cuban society and foster democracy. And Carter added that Americans could also benefit if the embargo is lifted. "We're the only ones that can't go to Cuba," Carter said, referencing the ban preventing Americans from going to Cuba as tourists. | Former President Jimmy Carter has been critical of President Obama's foreign policy in the past .
But Carter said Obama's move to normalize relations with Cuba took courage and is long overdue . |
149,026 | 4cadf4868fe441f4c1b8b2cf2ccd56130ca536a9 | LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Two Pakistani television networks that transmit from Dubai in United Arab Emirates were ordered off the air Friday at the request of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, officials from the networks said. Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has been under pressure to lift a state of emergency. GEO-TV and ARY Digital offer a variety of programming, including news, entertainment, sports and music. Both networks had been banned from Pakistan's cable television system -- along with other networks, including CNN and BBC -- since Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3. This latest action prevents the two Pakistani networks from broadcasting worldwide via satellite. "This was basically our window to the world, GEO President Imran Aslan said. "In Pakistan, we've been shut down since the 3rd." The action was not wholly unexpected, but surprising nevertheless, Aslan said. "We uplink from Dubai, never having had a license to uplink from Pakistan," he said. "Dubai is a media city which seemed to be a haven and a sanctuary." Aslan said network officials have been in discussions with Pakistani government officials and "it seemed very obvious that they were going to do this. We were ready for it to a certain extent." "Eventually they decided to put their feet on the pipe, as it were." The government has made numerous demands of the network, although none of them official, Aslan said. "It's done through intermediaries," he said. "[Dulling] down the content, not having certain anchors, some of the hosts of our programs and talk shows." Musharraf's emergency order put several restrictions on the media, preventing journalists from expressing opinions prejudicial to "the ideology ... or integrity of Pakistan." Journalists are also restricted from covering suicide bombings and militant activity and could face three-year jail terms if they "ridicule" members of the government or armed forces. Almost a dozen journalists have been arrested. Musharraf has denied that his restrictions bar criticism, saying they only ask for responsibility in reporting. But last week, Pakistan expelled three print journalists for using language in an editorial that a Pakistani official called offensive to Musharraf. The editorial criticized Musharraf and the United States and Britain for continuing to support him. While many Pakistani journalists have protested the restrictions, some smaller television channels have complied with the government's restrictions. GEO and ARY have refused. "It seems most of the other channels have kowtowed in order to survive," Aslan said. Musharraf has said the emergency order improves stability and will foster peaceful parliamentary elections, which he has said he would like to see take place before January 9. The exact date will be set by Pakistan's Election Commission. Opposition leaders have accused Musharraf of declaring emergency rule to keep his hold on power and avoid an expected court ruling that would have nullified his election victory in October. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: GEO-TV president: "It seemed very obvious that they were going to do this"
Order comes on the request of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf .
GEO-TV and ARY Digital offer varied programming, including news .
Both networks transmit from the United Arab Emirates . |
252,352 | d299ff9fc59fe8a226017e872a66c795f168f0f5 | By . Will Stewart . Russian scientists are seeking to unlock the secrets of 3,500 year old Bronze Age graves where couples are buried together in a seemingly loving embrace - amid suspicions of a macabre explanation. These images show ancient burials in Staryi Tartas village in Siberia where experts have examined some 600 tombs. Dozens contain the bones of couples, facing each other, some with male and female skeletons, their hands held together seemingly for eternity. Russian scientists have uncovered the bones of dozens of couples buried facing each other in Staryi Tartas village in Siberia . 'Archeologists are struggling for explanations and believe DNA tests will provide the answers to these remarkable burials,' said The Siberian Times. One writer, Vasiliy Labetskiy, described the scenes in the graves poignantly as skeletons in 'post-mortal hugs with bony hands clasped together'. One theory is that these Andronovo burials show the start of the nuclear family, but another version that after the man died, his wife was killed and buried with him. Still another suggests that some of the couples were deliberately buried as if in a sexual act, possibly with a young woman sacrificed to play this role in the grave. Other graves at the site in Novosibirsk region in western Siberia show adults buried with children. Professor Vyacheslav Molodin, director of research of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said: 'We can fantasise a lot about all this. 'We can allege that husband died and the wife was killed to be interred with him as we see in some Scythian burials, or maybe the grave stood open for some time and they buried the other person or persons later, or maybe it was really simultaneous death. Some graves at the site in Novosibirsk region in western Siberia show adults buried with children . One writer described the scenes in the graves poignantly as skeletons in 'post-mortal hugs with bony hands clasped together' Work is underway to establish the 'kinship' of these ancient couple burials using DNA research . 'When we speak about a child and an adult, it looks more natural and understandable. 'When we speak about two adults - it is not so obvious. So we can raise quite a variety of hypotheses, but how it was in fact, we do not know yet.' Work is underway to establish the 'kinship' of these ancient couple burials using DNA research. Archeologists are struggling for explanations and believe DNA tests will provide the answers to these remarkable burials, it was reported . The graves contain the bones of couples, facing each other, some with male and female skeletons, their hands held together seemingly for eternity . 'For example, we found the burial a man and a child. What is a degree of their kinship? Are they father and son or...? The same question arises when we found a woman and a child. It should seem obvious - she is the mother. But it may not be so. She could be an aunt, or not a relative at all. To speak about this scientifically we need the tools of paleogenetics. 'We have a joint laboratory with the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, and we actively work in this direction. We do such analysis but it is quite expensive still and there are few specialists. We are also solving other questions with help of paleogenetics.' With such couple burials, Professor Lev Klein, of St Petersburg State University, has proposed they are linked to reincarnation beliefs possibly influenced by deeksha rituals in the ancient Indian sub-continent at the time when the oldest scriptures of Hinduism were composed. 'The man during his lifetime donated his body as a sacrifice to all the gods,' he wrote. 'The 'deeksha' was considered as a "second birth" and to complete this ritual the sacrificing one made a ritual sexual act of conceiving.' In other words, in death a man should perform a sexual act to impregnate a woman. 'Perhaps in the pre-Vedic period relatives of the deceased often sought to reproduce the "deeksha" posthumously, and sacrificed a woman or a girl (or a few), and simulated sexual intercourse in the grave,' he said. Professor Molodin doesn't rule out this version, yet makes clear it is only a hypothesis which needs more study. 'It is again a suggestion. As a suggestion, it could be. This idea of Klein can be extended to Siberia too, because significant part of the researchers think that Andronovo people were Iranians. 'So this hypothesis can be extended to them. But, I will repeat, it is only a hypothesis.' | The ancient burials were found in Staryi Tartas village in Siberia .
Dozens of graves contain the bones of couples, facing each other .
Some were found with their hands held together seemingly for eternity .
Archeologists struggling to explain why they were buried this way .
One theory is some of the couples were buried as if in a sexual act . |
93,218 | 03ea2cbafa511ce34c0f8088bdc737a3f2e987ad | By . Tamara Cohen And Rob Davies For Daily Mail . Up to 100 Tory MPs are set to defy David Cameron by pledging to vote to leave the EU no matter how much power he manages to claw back from Brussels. Conservative Eurosceptics are planning to promise in their personal manifestos for next May’s General Election that they will vote for Britain to quit the EU in 2017’s in/out referendum. Such a move would be widely seen as a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister’s ability to win a good deal for Britain. Douglas Carswell (right with Nigel Farage) appears to be in line for a historic win in Clacton, where he sits as Tory MP . And it would echo the warning by Douglas Carswell, the former Tory MP who defected to Ukip last week, that Mr Cameron was not ‘serious’ about EU reform and wanted to recommend an ‘in’ vote. The newly elected president of the European Council, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, said at the weekend that he would support key reforms demanded by Mr Cameron, including a crackdown on benefit tourism. But that would not be enough for the 50 to 100 Tory MPs planning to bring out the rebellious manifestos, according to Eurosceptic MPs speaking to the Independent. Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood, said: ‘My election manifesto will confirm my view that we should leave the EU.’ Meanwhile, a senior Tory says the party should not even try to contest the seat where Carswell is standing next month. Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker, yesterday urged his party to ‘sit out’ the by-election in Clacton where the former Conservative MP, will now run for Ukip. It comes as up to three leading Tory Eurosceptics are reported to have started private talks about ‘non-aggression pacts’ in which Ukip would not run against them. The by-election, which a poll this weekend suggests Mr Carswell will win by a landslide, presents a severe dilemma for the Conservatives. Ploughing resources into keeping the seat would be expensive and some fear it would divert resources from other key seats to what could be a high-profile failure. Mr Evans, who described himself as ‘sort of’ a friend of Mr Carswell, told Sky News: ‘A part of me says we should sit this one out, it’s a total distraction.’ Michael Fabricant (left), a former Tory chairman who used to organise by-election campaigning, said it was his party’s ‘duty’ to fight every by-election seriously; Nigel Evans (right), the former deputy speaker, yesterday urged his party to ‘sit out’ the by-election in Clacton . He added: ‘I spent the day yesterday with 250 young Tories who feel desperately let down by Carswell. They do believe the only way we’re going to make headway is by having a referendum on Europe. ‘How are we going to do that? With the Tories and David Cameron winning in 2015. It really makes no sense to me at all.’ But Michael Fabricant, a former Tory chairman who used to organise by-election campaigning, said it was his party’s ‘duty’ to fight every by-election seriously. He proposed deals between the Conservatives and Ukip two years ago, but said the idea was no longer viable as many of Ukip’s policies, such as cuts to the NHS budget, ‘contradicted’ Conservative policies. He said: ‘We can’t say we are not going to fight it. We have to fight every by-election seriously. Conservative voters in Clacton will expect a serious campaign and we cannot disenfranchise them.’ It was claimed yesterday that MPs who want to cut ties with Brussels but are not prepared to join Ukip will defy Mr Cameron by forming their own ‘non-aggression pacts’ with the party. This could involve stripping their campaign literature of Tory logos and using quotes from Mr Farage on pamphlets — effectively running as joint candidates, the Sunday Times said. | Scores of MPs to promise to vote to leave EU in future referendum .
Comes after Douglas Carswell defected to UKIP and criticised PM .
Top Tory Michael Fabricant urges party to fight by-election 'seriously'
Three 'Eurosceptic' Tories have begun talks with Ukip, it is reported .
Some Tories could campaign using quotes from Nigel Farage on election literature and remove all Conservative logos . |
175,197 | 6ec3f4ddfe97c4583894a117ed017dfed9574220 | Paula Radcliffe has revealed her heartache at people challenging the legitimacy of her world marathon record. Her time of 2hrs 15mins and 25secs has stood since 2003, but the spectre of doping means even clean athletes are suspected of drug taking, according to Radcliffe. ‘It’s horrible,’ said the 41-year-old. ‘I get it all the time. People saying “she couldn’t have run 2.15 clean” but I know I can be totally proud. Paula Radcliffe breaks the world marathon record with a time of 2hrs 15mins and 25secs in London in 2003 . Radcliffe celebrates following her seismic achievement after the 2003 London Marathon . ‘I can’t understand how other people who have cheated can stand there and look their competitors and family in the eye. On the one hand you can say “people can say what they want because I know inside” but still, it’s not nice to have people saying that.’ Russian Liliya Shobukhova, the second fastest female marathon runner, was banned for two years for doping while Kenyan Rita Jeptoo, the fifth fastest, is awaiting the outcome of a hearing into her positive doping test. In addition, revelations in a German TV documentary last month claimed 99 per cent of Russian athletes were drugs cheats and revealed that one famous British athlete was among more than hundreds of track and field stars who had suspicious blood values that were covered up. Radcliffe admitted she was angry that these claims mean her legacy, which includes the three fastest times in the history of the women’s marathon, is doubted. Radcliffe strides out from the start line before her record-breaking feat in London that day . ‘It makes you think we have to put a system in place that protects clean athletes,’ said Radcliffe. ‘There will be some Russians athletes who are not cheating, there are a lot of Kenyan athletes out there who are not cheating and they are all being lumped together. It spoils it so we have to do something to protect them and the sport.’ Radcliffe called for the entire Russian team to be banned from international competition following the German documentary. ‘You knew that there was some kind of problem going on there but the scale and level of it was a shock,’ she said. ‘You have to be careful because it hasn’t been proven yet but that level of corruption was shocking. Radcliffe is supporting Lord Sebastian Coe (above) in his bid to become president of the IAAF . ‘The world anti-doping agency says it is going to look into it by the end of the year. I appreciate that it takes time to conduct an investigation but I think it has to be done fast.’ Radcliffe is supporting Lord Coe in his bid to become president of the IAAF and said she would like to be more involved in the fight against doping. Radcliffe was speaking to launch a scheme to encourage ordinary women to take part in the Great Manchester Run on May 10. She will soon leave for three weeks’ training in Kenya to prepare for this year’s London Marathon, which is likely to bring down the curtain on her career. Meanwhile, five Russian race walkers, including three Olympic champions, have been handed doping bans. Great Run has appointed Paula Radcliffe as its ambassador for women’s running. If you want to be one of ‘Radcliffe’s Great Runners’ and enter the Great Manchester Run visit www.greatrun.org/Manchester. | Paula Radcliffe is the current holder of the world marathon record .
Radcliffe finished with a time of 2hrs 15mins and 25secs at the 2003 event .
Revelations in a German TV documentary last month claimed 99 per cent of Russian athletes were drugs cheats .
Russian Liliya Shobukhova, the second fastest female marathon runner, was banned for two years for doping .
Radcliffe called for the entire Russian team to be banned from international competition following the German documentary . |
128,463 | 3202c9eb016de2ec671a33231a5be6853b924174 | Three lawsuits alleging sex abuse by Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who gave Sesame Street's Elmo his voice, were dismissed by a judge who ruled the accusers waited too long to sue. Clash, who was suspended and later resigned from his Sesame Street after the first allegations surfaced in November, "can go about the business of reclaiming his personal life and his professional standing," his lawyer told CNN Monday. The lawyer who filed the lawsuits vowed to "appeal the decision and continue the fight to be a voice for victims." A clerk with Manhattan District court confirmed that three lawsuits filed against Clash were dismissed on grounds that the statute of limitations had run out. Sesame Street had no immediate comment on the matter. Each accuser, all adult men, said they were courted and seduced by Clash when they were underage teenagers. Sheldon Stephens, now 24, was the first to the first to publicly claim he had a sexual relationship with Clash as a teen. Stephens called it an "adult consensual relationship" in November 2012, but filed a lawsuit in March 2013 alleging Clash threw a crystal meth sex party for him in 2004, when he was 16. Clash, who had provided the high-pitched voice of the iconic furry red Elmo since 1984, acknowledged a relationship between "two consenting adults" when Stephens' story initially emerged, but he said it otherwise was a "false and defamatory allegation." Stephens' suit, which was filed in Pennsylvania, is still pending. "We have moved to dismiss," Berger said. "I am a gay man," Clash, 52, said in a statement in November. "I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter." Clash's attorney, Michael Berger, said Monday his client "is pleased by the judge's decision." "As we have maintained all along, our goal has been to put these spurious claims behind him, so that Kevin can go about the business of reclaiming his personal life and his professional standing, which was recently recognized once again by the three Emmys he won last month," Berger said. "The judge's decision to dismiss and close the three lawsuits is an important step in that direction. Kevin is looking forward to a time in the near future when he can tell his story free of innuendo and false claims." The accusers' lawyer, Jeff Herman, called it "the first battle." "The statute of limitations is an arbitrary timeline that silences victims," Herman said. "We believe that the victims in this case are within the statute of limitations, but this ruling highlights the need for a window in New York to allow victims to have their day in court." In November, Clash issued a written statement saying: "I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart. I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization. Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately." Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, according to its website. | Kevin Clash "can go about the business of reclaiming his personal life," his lawyer says .
Accusers' lawyer vows to "appeal the decision and continue the fight"
A judge ruled that the statute of limitations had run out .
Each accuser, all adult men, said they were courted and seduced by Clash as underage teens . |
221,753 | ab0dab1207896dfb32a2a0ea6ab46d0cfef0116a | (Mashable) -- So you want to work at Facebook, one of the world's hottest companies -- what do you have to get your foot in the door and get noticed? It's not going to be easy -- you have competition. Facebook received 250,000 job applications last year and is consistently rated as one of the best places to work. And with Facebook's IPO around the corner, the competition for jobs is only going to heat up. There are plenty of ways to get noticed and stand above the crowd, though. I chatted with Thomas Arnold, head of recruiting for the social network, on what the company looks for and what it takes to get a job at Facebook. What jobs are available at Facebook? Ever since Facebook announced it was moving to a bigger office and raised $2 billion in funding, it has been ramping up its hiring. While there are many openings in legal, communications, HR, marketing, online operations, business development, IT, design, user experience and internationalization, the company is especially looking for technical talent, especially software engineers and product managers. The Facebook interview process . I actually went through the entire Facebook interview process in 2008, before I joined Mashable as an associate editor. And while it's definitely changed since I applied for a job on the company's User Operations team, the basic format has remained the same. The first step is almost always a recruiter phone-screening -- Facebook will begin exploring your resume, asking you about your previous work, especially about what you've built and what leadership roles you've had in the past. Sometimes there's a second screening, depending on the role. If you pass the screening, the company will fly you out to its Silicon Valley headquarters for a series of on-site interviews with the hiring manager (your potential future boss) and a group of your peers -- in other words, you will be interviewed by the members of the team you're hoping to join. As Arnold explained to me, these interviews are designed to determine whether you have the skills for the job and whether you're a cultural fit. The group then makes "a collective decision on whether you're a great fit" for the position. The process itself greatly varies from group to group -- expect more technical skill challenges if you're applying for an engineering job. Oh, and one extra piece of advice from me: Always put the user first in any scenario or interview question. Standing apart from the crowd . With more than a quarter of a million applicants, how does Facebook whittle down the applicant pool? "We're primarily looking for builders," Arnold says. He explains that Facebook has an entrepreneurial spirit and is a flat organization, and thus it's looking for people who can thrive in that environment. Employees need to be self-starters who don't need a lot of direction, so autonomy and self-motivation are highly valued. Builders -- especially engineers who like to build projects on their own and have cool, working products or apps they can show off -- are sought after by the Facebook team. If someone builds a unique application and/or solves a problem in a way that hasn't been done before, he's going to get Facebook's attention. Strong applicants to Facebook also "just get the social space," Arnold says. They not only understand the product, but can see the company's vision. Even more important is that they're active users of the product. This may seem like a no-brainer, but Arnold says his team finds a lot of applicants who haven't used their Facebook accounts in weeks or even months. And that is a very clear sign to Facebook that the person won't be a good fit. Finally, it's very helpful to know someone at Facebook who can vouch for you -- this was true even when I interviewed with the social network three years ago. While I got special consideration due to my unique history with Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, I still had a Facebook reference. Final thoughts . While I ultimately failed to secure a job at Facebook, you don't have to let that be the case for you. For those of you applying to non-technical roles, be sure you're active users, understand the company culture and have a resume filled with leadership and "builder" activities. It's more impressive if you launched an organization or product than if you simply took it over. For technical talent, the best thing you can do is build something. If you build a really impressive iPhone application that gains some traction, you're going to get noticed. If you are a major contributor of open source code to various projects, you're going to get noticed. In the end though, the big filter is cultural fit. There isn't really much you can do to prepare for that -- the Facebook team simply knows if you're going to mesh well with them or if you're not going to be able to keep up. And as I said before, be sure to have an employee refer you. Otherwise, you're going to have a really difficult time just getting the phone screening. © 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | The company is especially looking for technical talent .
Strong applicants to Facebook "just get the social space," Thomas Arnold says .
In the end, the big filter is cultural fit . |
104,557 | 12e8e77fe8919742fbdd9d446b30ea7cc625d58d | The Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy could help save the Union, polling experts said today. The royal couple's decision to reveal Prince George will have a sibling could stir a late swell of support for keeping the United Kingdom together with ten days until the knife-edge vote. A new poll today revealed many voters demanding an independent Scotland, or still undecided about the issue, want to keep the Queen as head of state. Within minutes of Kensington Palace's announcement today there was speculation about whether the Duchess' second pregnancy could be the boost the stuttering 'no' campaign needs and sway voters. Could the baby save the Union? The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured in Scotland in May, could influence the outcome of the independence ballot because many no voters consider themselves monarchists . Titles: The royals have strong links with Scotland and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge use their titles of the Earl and Countess of Strathearn whenever they are there (pictured on a distillery tour this summer) Support: Alex Salmond congratulated the couple today using their Scottish titles. He says the Queen will remain head of state if he wins but others in his party disagree . A YouGov poll yesterday put support for independence at 51 per cent, with the No camp on 49 per cent. The Better Together campaign has surrendered a 22-point lead in the space of a month. On the back of this the Queen held talks with David Cameron yesterday amid panic at the prospect of the end of the 300-year-old Union, and there is said to be ‘great concern’ at Buckingham Palace about the result. Experts said today that Her Majesty's worries and news of the royal baby could mark a key point in the campaign. A spokesman for ComRes told MailOnline: ‘The Queen is generally very popular in the UK and so are the young royals like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, probably more so than Prince Charles for example. ‘The royal family has not really played a part in the referendum debate until now but the Queen’s reported concerns and now Kate’s pregnancy will bring that into focus. ‘There are a number of reasons why the poll could swing back to no. It won’t be just because of the baby, but that and other issues about the royal family could influence the result’. The Queen, pictured at the Braemar Gathering in Scotland, is thought to be strongly in favour of the Union and will be in Scotland on September 18 – the day it could vote to break away from the rest of the UK. Her influence could save the Union . Leader of the 'Better Together' campaign and former British minister Alistair Darling argues with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond during the second live television debate on Scottish independence. The two sides are neck-and-neck . But a poll in The Times today found that 40 per cent of yes voters say an independent Scotland should keep the Queen. A further 14 per cent of undecided voters are also monarchists. However it also emerged that yes voters are more anti-monarchist that first thought even though Alex Salmond has pledged that the Queen would stay as head of state. But the SNP’s John Mason and others are calling for a referendum to replace the monarch after Her Majesty steps down or dies. On a recent visit Kate and William were showered with gifts for their baby son, Prince George, including this mini kilt (right) made from local Strathearn tartan . The royals have strong links with Scotland, with the Queen always spending her summers at Balmoral. A senior royal source was quoted as saying: ‘The Queen is a Unionist. Lots of people were telling us that it was going to be OK but there is now a great deal of concern.’ In May the Duchess of Cambridge – using her Scottish title the Countess of Strathearn – visited Scotland. Kate and her husband, also given the title Earl of Strathearn by the Queen on his marriage, were on a visit to the country’s oldest distillery, Glenturret, home to The Famous Grouse Experience. David Cameron, at Balmoral yesterday with the Queen, was expected to reassure her that in the closing days of the campaign he intends to make the ‘emotional argument’ about all that England and Scotland have achieved together and what ‘we can continue to achieve’. Pro-Union MPs said her presence at Balmoral would be a sign of continuity. ‘There is a strong anti-monarchy element in the Scottish National Party,’ said former defence secretary Liam Fox. ‘You can bet your bottom dollar as soon as they get independence, their next target is going to be Scotland being a republic.’ Sources have confirmed that the monarch will continue with her annual holiday at her private estate in the Highlands, on September 18. The Palace insisted that the Queen was politically neutral, but one well-placed source said: ‘You don’t have to be a genius to work out the Queen is a Unionist. Is the Pope a Catholic?’ A Palace spokesman said: ‘The referendum is a matter for the people of Scotland: the Queen remains strictly neutral on this, as she does on all political issues. The Queen has maintained a close interest in the referendum as she does with all major matters of public debate and is being kept informed by her ministers and officials in the usual way.’ | New poll reveals that many 'yes' or 'undecided' voters still want a Queen .
Pro-Union campaigners hope news of second baby could halt independence .
Buckingham Palace said to be 'worried' about chances of end of Union . |
183,895 | 7a3441519f677db7dd5d64c53d8a5926440aa138 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 14:43 EST, 1 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:38 EST, 2 December 2012 . Violent clashes which saw riot police fire tear gas at protestors marred the first day in office of Mexico's new president. Demonstrators opposed to Enrique Pena Nieto fought violent battles with police this morning as the new President took the oath of office in Mexico City. Before Pena Nieto's motorcade arrived this morning, hundreds banged on the tall steel security barriers . around Congress and threw rocks, bottle rockets and firecrackers at police. Scroll down for video . Violence: A protestor holds a rock during clashes with police outside the steel security barriers around the National Congress, where the swearing in of new Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took place . Battle: Police officers try to contain rioters outside of the Congress building before the inauguration ceremony . Anger: Protesters opposed to the new president clashed with tear gas-wielding police. This demonstrator lights up spray outside the steel security barriers around the National Congress . Horrific: A police officer who was bleeding from the face was taken for medical treatment and one person was also left seriously injured . Police responded by spraying tear gas . from a truck and used fire extinguishers on flames from Molotov . cocktails. One group of . protesters rammed and dented the barrier with a large garbage-style . truck before being driven off by police water cannons. 'We're . against the oppression, the imposition of a person,' said Alejandro, . 25, a student and protester who didn't want to give his last name for . fear of reprisals. 'He gave groceries, money and a lot more so people . would vote for him.' At least two were injured, one gravely, . police said, and a police officer who was bleeding from the face was . taken for medical treatment. Following the swearing in of Pena Nieto it brought the old ruling party back to . power after a 12-year hiatus. Inside the . congressional chamber he swore to protect the constitution and . laws of the land. The chamber erupted in cheers, with congress members chanting 'President!' and 'Mexico!' In charge: Mexico's new President Enrique Pena Nieto waves after taking oath in congress in Mexico City today . Fury: At least two people were injured in the clashes, one seriously. Police are pictured spraying tear gas at the angry crowd . Not happy: Before Pena Nieto's motorcade arrived this morning, hundreds banged on the tall steel security barriers around Congress, threw rocks, bottle rockets and firecrackers at police . Dangerous: A demonstrator throws stones at a line of riot police during the protest . Leftist congress members inside the . chamber gave protest speeches and hung banners, including a giant one . reading, 'Imposition consummated. Mexico mourns.' 'One word sums up Dec. 1: The . restoration. The return to the past,' said Congressman Ricardo Monreal . of the Citizens Movement party. Pena . Nieto had taken over at midnight in a symbolic ceremony after . campaigning as the new face of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or . PRI, repentant and reconstructed after being voted out of the . presidency in 2000. The PRI ruled for 71 years with a mix of populist . handouts, graft and rigged elections. Before the swearing in, leftist congressmen inside the chambers demanded to know what was going on in the crowds and urged police to use restraint. Congressman Rafael Huerta of the Labor Party urged the new government to protect the people. Another banner read: 'You're giving up a seat bathed in blood,' referring to outgoing President Felipe Calderon's attack on organised crime and the deaths of 60,000 people in that offensive by some counts. Wounded: A seriously injured man is carried by demonstrators after he was hit with a tear gas canister reportedly shot by riot police . Violent: This protestor wields a chain at a passing police vehicle . Mess: One group of protesters rammed and dented the barrier around Congress with a large garbage-style truck before being driven off by police water cannons . Concerned: Before the swearing in, leftist congressmen inside the chambers demanded to know what was going on in the crowds and urged police to use restraint . Despite the protests, the swearing-in . atmosphere at Congress was far less chaotic than six years ago, when . Calderon security unit literally had to muscle him past blockades and . protesters to get him into Congress so he could take the oath of office . after a razor-thin, disputed victory over a leftist candidate. Calderon had worked hard for a smooth transition after his experience. After . the oath-taking, the new president headed to deliver an inaugural . speech at the historic National Palace in the city's downtown. Pena . Nieto also planned a luncheon for invited guests, including U.S. Vice . President Joe Biden, Prince Felipe of Spain and Colombian President Juan . Manuel Santos. Pena Nieto has promised to govern democratically with transparency. But his first moves even before the inauguration showed a solid link to the past. In announcing his Cabinet on Friday, he turned to the old guard as well as new technocrats to run his administration. 'I don't think there is any such thing as a `new PRI,"' said Rodrigo Aguilera, the Mexico analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit. 'There is a new generation of PRI members, but they don't represent any fundamentally different outlook.' Pena Nieto has pledged to make economic growth and job creation the centerpiece of his administration, with campaign manager and long-time confidant Luis Videgaray the point person. Videgaray, a 44-year-old economist with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,will lead the treasury department. Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, a 48-year-old former state governor who is known as a political operator and deal maker, has been named secretary of the interior, a post that will play a key role in security matters. Pena Nieto has also promised to push for reforms that could bring major new private investment into Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, the crucial but struggling state-owned oil industry. Such changes that have been blocked for decades by nationalist suspicion of foreign meddling in the oil business. | Demonstrators opposed to Enrique Pena .
Nieto fought violent battles with police this morning as the new .
President took the oath of office .
Hundreds banged on tall steel security barriers .
around Congress and threw rocks, bottle rockets and firecrackers at police . |
108,836 | 18529b2626ad5fe70127e370d3dbe49c47b84c39 | Bells tolled in celebration and teachers halted lessons midday as President Raul Castro told his country that Cuba was restoring relations with the U.S. after more than a half-century of hostility. Wearing his military uniform with its five-star insignia, the 83-year-old leader said the two countries would work to resolve their differences 'without renouncing a single one of our principles.' Havana residents gathered around television sets in homes, schools and businesses to hear the historic national broadcast, which coincided with a statement by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. Scroll down for video . A group of Cuban students march through the capital of Havana to celebrate the easing of political tensions . Banners and flags supporting the recently-released 'Cuban Five' were carried by the group. The group of Cuban spies, jailed by the U.S. in 1998, are supported widely across the country . A carload of locals wave posters adorned with the faces of the 'Cuban Five' along the streets of Havana . At the University of San Geronimo in the capital's historic center, the announcement drew ringing from the bell tower. Throughout the capital, there was a sense of euphoria as word spread. 'For the Cuban people, I think this is like a shot of oxygen, a wish-come-true, because with this, we have overcome our differences,' said Carlos Gonzalez, a 32-year-old IT specialist. 'It is an advance that will open the road to a better future for the two countries.' Guillermo Delgado, a 72-year-old retiree, welcomed the announcement as 'a victory for Cuba because it was achieved without conceding basic principles.' Yoani Sanchez, a renowned Cuban blogger critical of the government, however, said the development came with a price. A large crowd spills out into the streets of the nation's capital following the historic announcement . U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro agreed by phone to a prisoner exchange, whereby the two countries would release respectively imprisoned Cold War spies. Pictured are the throngs of people celebrating the news in Cuba . Castro, she wrote, had made a 'bargaining chip' of Alan Gross, the U.S. aid worker who was released from prison Wednesday while the U.S. freed three Cubans held as spies. 'In this way, the Castro regime has managed to get its way,' she wrote in a blog post. 'It has managed to exchange a peaceful man, embarked on the humanitarian adventure of providing Internet connectivity to a group of Cubans, for intelligence agents that caused significant damage and sorrow with their actions.' Fidel and Raul Castro led the 1959 rebellion that toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. The U.S. initially recognized the new government but broke relations in 1961 after Cuba veered sharply to the left and nationalized U.S.-owned businesses. Cuban MPs break down in tears as they watch a broadcast showing President Raul Castro's announcement . Students watch a live, nationally broadcast speech by Cuba's President Raul Castro about the country's restoration of relations with the U.S. on a TV at a school in Havana . As Cuba turned toward the Soviet Union, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo that has remained in place since 1962. Particularly since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Cubans have confronted severe shortages of oil, food and consumer goods, forcing them to ration everything from beans to powdered milk. The Cuban government blames most of its economic travails on the embargo, while Washington has traditionally blamed Cuba's Communist economic policies. | Cubans take to the streets to celebrate the restoration of relations with U.S.
Residents were glued to television sets to watch the announcement .
Many Cuban locals believe it signals the start of a better standard of living . |
161,274 | 5c7adc719577794cb2db67f858476b2182448b69 | By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 04:39 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:35 EST, 19 July 2013 . In her black and white dress and chic patent shoes, Sarah Ferguson cut an elegant figure as she joined her daughters for a night out at exclusive nightclub LouLou's. The former Duchess of York has made no secret of her penchant for parties and is regularly spotted out on the town with her girls. Fergie and her daughters began the night at Club 45 before heading to exclusive nightclub, LouLou's, which is owned by Robin Birley. Family fun: Princess Beatrice joined her mother and sister Princess Eugenie for a night out at LouLou's . Low key: Eugenie plumped for a simple look while Beatrice and her mother both opted for monochrome . Flame-haired Beatrice, who recently won a spot on Vogue.com's best-dressed list, chose a stylish all-black ensemble for the family's night out - clearly a favourite of hers as she was wearing it for the second night in a row.. Although the young Royal once more wore her quilted leather skirt, black top and sparkly Anya Hindmarch bag, she did at least exchange her sky-high court shoes for a pair of zebra ballet pumps. Beatrice has been looking super . stylish of late and using date nights with her boyfriend and nights on . the town to put her new-found fashion choices to the test. Her . and her sister Eugenie's new look is down to the ‘Mary Poppins’ of the . style world, Sarah Hogan, who was brought in by the Duchess of York to . be her daughters’ fashion mentor. Hogan's influence could also be seen in Eugenie's choice, which included a figure-flattering khaki V-neck dress which she teamed with a tan leather shoulder bag and a pair of black canvas espadrilles. Stylish: Princess Beatrice showed why Vogue.com has seen fit to add her to its annual best-dressed list . Love: The sisters and their mother were joined by Eugenie's 27-year-old boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank . Risque: Princess Beatrice spent the early part of the night in burlesque nightclub, Cirque du Soir . The younger York princess was accompanied by her bartender boyfriend, 27-year-old Jack Brooksbank. Loulou's is a favourite Royal hangout and is owned by Mark Birley - oldest son of Lady Annabel Goldsmith and half-brother to Richmond MP Zac. Along with the York sisters, Pippa Middleton is regularly spotted drinking at the private establishment, and the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William were often seen leaving the club before a certain Royal baby got in the way. Earlier this month, socialite and activist Jemima Khan was spotted leaving the club on the arm of a mystery man. What would Dave say? Princess Beatrice wore the same outfit for a night out on Wednesday . Getting it right: Princess Beatrice has become increasingly stylish over the last few months . | Sarah Ferguson joined her daughters for a night at a Mayfair club .
LouLou's is a favourite Royal hangout and is owned by Robin Birley .
Other fans of the club include the Cambridges and Pippa Middleton .
Princess Beatrice wore the same outfit for the second night in a row . |
140,636 | 41db0d051d947ce15290847d4f95c61a93ff4382 | (CNN) -- Regulators this week demanded General Motors answer, under oath, 107 questions designed to find out when it first knew that some cars contained dangerously faulty ignition switches and what the company did about it. A letter this week from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to GM follows the company's decision in recent weeks to recall more than 1.36 million cars over the problem. The switches may unintentionally move from the "run" position to the "accessory" or "off" positions, resulting in a loss of power and limiting brakes, steering and airbags. GM said it is aware of 31 crashes and 13 deaths that may be linked to the problem in vehicles from the 2003-07 model years. NHTSA's action comes amid criticism that GM and safety regulators were too slow to initiate a recall after signs of trouble surfaced a decade ago. GM last month issued an unusual public apology and executed sizable recalls in two stages. It also provided NHTSA with a five-page chronology that began with GM's discovery in 2004 of an incident involving a Chevrolet Cobalt that lost engine power. The chronology runs through the beginning of this year. But on Tuesday, NHTSA asked the company to fill in the blanks. It sent GM a letter demanding the manufacturer answer 107 questions by April 3. Failure to do so would expose GM to a potential $35 million fine, the maximum allowed. The auto industry and NHTSA, at times, have over the years been accused by advocates of moving too slowly or not aggressively enough to address certain safety concerns. The issue came to a head last decade over motorist complaints around unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The Japanese manufacturer wound up issuing massive recalls, paying record fines, defending itself in huge lawsuits, and overhauling how it deals with U.S. regulators. Since that multi-year investigation, the industry has been quicker to identify problems in many cases and issue recalls, and NHTSA has made improvements in how it handles those matters. Still, not all issues are resolved without controversy. In its letter to GM, NHTSA demands a list of documents and records, including engineering drawings, field reports, consumer complaints, lawsuits against GM, and transcripts of deposition testimony by any GM employee, former employee, consultant or expert witness. It also seeks internal emails and records about the company's deliberations about the problem. GM spokesman Alan Adler said the company has been in contact with NHTSA about the request. "We always cooperate and we fully intend to do everything they're asking by the time they're asking," he said. "The intent is to comply with their date." GM's new chief executive, Mary Barra, has said the company acted "without hesitation" and that it went "well beyond" the recommendation of technical experts. But in its chronology, GM said some company engineers knew of the problem with the switch 10 years ago. Barra said the problems were first brought to the attention of her team "a few weeks ago" and that she led a committee that acted immediately when informed about the problem. In the company's apology, GM North American President Alan Batey admitted in a statement last month: "The process employed to examine this phenomenon was not as robust as it should have been." Even that acknowledgment is the subject of a NHTSA question -- Describe in detail the ways in which GM's process "was not as robust as it should have been" and GM's plans, if any, to change its process." On Thursday, former NHTSA administrator and longtime safety advocate Joan Claybrook asked GM to be forthcoming when notifying car owners about a recall. "It is imperative that GM's letter to owners be a true safety alert, emphasizing the real possibility of death or severe injury," she wrote in a letter to the company. The recall includes the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR, Pontiac's G5 and Solstice, and Saturn's Sky and Ion. GM said dealers will replace the ignition switch to prevent "unintentional or inadvertent key movement." Until that is performed, vehicle owners should use only the ignition key with nothing else on the key ring, GM said. CNN Money's Chris Isidore and Peter Valdes-Dapena contributed to this report. | No. 1 U.S. automaker recalled 1.36 million cars over faulty ignition switch .
Company says 31 crashes and 13 deaths may be linked to the problem .
Safety regulators have asked GM to answer specific questions about defect .
Critics say GM and regulators were too slow over the years to take action . |
230,218 | b61e959e2db2f8578192e12b84f8e06e6d4597ab | It would be some people’s idea of a nightmare: a camera in the corner of the sitting room monitoring their family’s every movement. But experts at the Ideal Home Show predict this is the way many of us will live in future. Their vision of the ‘ideal smart home’ includes a small camera, housed in a pale wooden casing that would not look out of place on a mantelpiece. Withings say their home HD camera will allow family members to interact via tablet or PC when away from home, but campaigners say it could be used by controlling partners to keep an eye on one another . The £169.95 gadget can be used to film family life and stream HD footage to users’ tablet devices or mobile phones, even when they are away from home. Withings, the company which makes the ‘home camera’, boasts that its wide-angle lens means ‘no corner will go unseen’, even at night. When the sun sets, the camera automatically goes into Night Vision mode, ‘using an infrared mechanical filter to see through the darkness’. It will also record sound, monitor air quality and send users alerts when it detects sound or movement. According to Withings, this constant monitoring device will ‘facilitate family interactions’, by capturing moments together that some family members would not normally see. But privacy campaigners drew comparisons with Big Brother – the authoritarian state which watches people’s every move in 1984, the dystopian novel by George Orwell. Other gadgets featuring at the Ideal Home Show include the Pantelligent frying pan which links to a smartphone and tells you how long to cook food for . Controlling partners could constantly use it to monitor family members. Renate Samson, of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: ‘This is keeping an eye on people, not interacting with them. There is no privacy in your own home, from your own family.’ Other gadgets in the Ideal Home Show’s vision of the future are less controversial. People in flats too small for a dining table could try the Picture Table, a pack away table that can be turned into a framed mirror and hung on the wall. The Pantelligent frying pan sends information to the users’ tablet or mobile phone, telling them how much longer to cook their food. The Ideal Home Show opens on March 20 at the Olympia London exhibition centre. | Withings home HD camera boasts 'wide angle' lens to cover entire room .
Campaigners warn it will help controlling partners spy on one another .
Other new gadgets include frying pan which tells you when food is ready . |
59,143 | a7e00d57cd268dcecd24583505ce5de27c7ed38f | As Apple's antitrust case enters its final stages, a former engineer has revealed the firm deliberately blocked rivals' music from its iPods (pictured) As Apple's billion-dollar antitrust case enters its final stages, a former engineer has revealed the tech giant deliberately blocked rivals' music from its iPods. Rod Schultz, who worked as a senior software engineer at Apple between 2006 and 2008, said he worked on a project 'intended to block 100 per cent of non-iTunes clients.' The project was also set up to 'keep out third-party players' that competed with Apple's iPod, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mr Schultz was subpoenaed by the prosecution to prove Apple restricted rival music on its iPods, which ultimately pushed up the prices of the devices. Apple is accused of abusing its monopoly position in the digital music player market, and only earlier this month lawyers claimed the firm deliberately deleted rivals' song from iPods. The case went to trial in California last month, after being filed a decade ago. Plaintiffs are claiming Apple's restrictive software froze out competitors and allowed it to sell iPods at inflated prices. They are seeking $350 million (£224m) in damages, which could be tripled if the jury finds Apple broke federal anti-trust law. Apple stopped using the particular software in question in 2009, which means the lawsuit only covers iPod models bought between September 2006 and March 2009. Mr Schultz, who worked on Digital Rights Management (DRM), security and data encryption for iTunes and iPods during this time at the firm, said he was an 'unwilling witness' and was not happy about discussing his work, codenamed Candy. Apple, and Mr Schultz, claimed the aim of the project was to improve iTunes and protect its users from malware and other threats caused by downloading non-iTunes music. They added it was not the firm's intention to stifle competition. Earlier in the trial, the prosecution told the court that Apple deleted songs from iPods that had been bought from rival music stores. Each time an Apple user with non-iTunes music tried to sync their devices, between 2007 and 2009, the tech firm urged them to restore the players to factory settings. Apple is accused of abusing its monopoly position in the digital music player market, and only earlier this week lawyers claimed the firm deliberately deleted rivals' song from iPods. The case went to trial in California last month, after being filed a decade ago . Plaintiffs claim Apple's restrictive software froze out competitors and allowed to sell iPods at inflated prices. Apple stopped using the particular software in question in 2009, which means the lawsuit only covers iPod models bought between September 2006 and March 2009. A timeline of Apple releases is pictured . Apple is accused of abusing its monopoly position in the digital music player market, and only earlier this week lawyers claimed the firm deliberately deleted rivals' song from iPods. The case went to trial in California this month, after being filed a decade ago. Plaintiffs are claiming that Apple's restrictive software froze out competitors and allowed Apple to sell iPods at inflated prices. They are seeking $350 million (£224m) in damages, which could be tripled if the jury finds Apple broke federal anti-trust law. Apple stopped using the particular software in question in 2009, which means the lawsuit only covers iPod models bought between September 2006 and March 2009. Earlier in the trial, the prosecution told the court that Apple deleted songs from iPods that had been bought from rival music stores. Each time an Apple user with non-iTunes music tried to sync their devices, between 2007 and 2009, the tech firm urged them to restore the players to factory settings. And the lawyers claimed this was a deliberate move to wipe the rival files, and cause the users' music libraries to 'blow up.' But Apple insisted the move was a legitimate security measure. And the lawyers claimed this was a deliberate move to wipe the rival files, and cause the users' music libraries to 'blow up.' But Apple insisted the move was a legitimate security measure. The court case was almost dismissed earlier this month when the judge disqualified one of the claimants because her iPod wasn't bought during the time period detailed in the case. The other claimant withdrew her claims. But 65-year-old Massachusetts business consultant Barbara Bennet read about the floundering case online and volunteered to represent consumers in the suit. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has repeatedly shown impatience with the attorneys for not doing a better job of vetting the original named claimant in the case, who are supposed to represent the 'class of affected consumers'. 'We shouldn't have been here in the first place,' Rogers said as attorneys on both sides debated how to proceed Tuesday morning. A video testimony of late Apple boss Steve Jobs was played earlier in the trial, filmed six months before his death in 2011. In the testimony, Mr Jobs defended the software and said: 'We were very scared' of the prospect that hackers could break Apple's security system. He added that this might jeopardise Apple's contracts with music recording companies that didn't want their songs to be pirated. 'We would get nasty emails from the labels,' he added. Judge Rogers said she plans to send the case to the jury for deliberations early next week. A video testimony of late Apple boss Steve Jobs (pictured) was played earlier in the trial. In the testimony, Mr Jobs defended the software and said: 'We were very scared' of the prospect hackers could break Apple's security system because it might jeopardise Apple's contracts with music recording companies . | Rod Schultz worked as an engineer at Apple between 2006 and 2008 .
He said he worked on a project 'to block 100% of non-iTunes clients'
Project was also set up to 'keep out third-party' iPod competitors .
Mr Schultz was subpoenaed by the prosecution to prove Apple restricted rival music on its iPods and pushed up the prices of the devices .
Apple insists the move was a legitimate security measure to protect users .
Lawsuit was filed a decade ago and covers September 2006 to March 2009 .
Claimants are seeking $350 million (£223 million) in damages, which could be tripled under antitrust laws . |
186,375 | 7d725124f6031c0abb596219ebc0ca41d3dfdb3d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:54 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 2 October 2013 . A Manhattan skyscraper was evacuated after a fake grenade was sent to the office of retired U.S. General David Petraeus. The former CIA director's secretary opened a box around midday yesterday and discovered what she thought was a real explosive. She contacted police who later said the grenade was a 'novelty item' sent by a friend of Petraeus. A fake grenade was sent to the Solow Building in New York (left), which houses the office of former U.S. General David Petraeus . The 50-storey Solow Building on 58th Street was evacuated and the street shut down between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It is unclear if Petraeus was in the building at the time, according to NY1. His office has not replied to calls for comment. Petraeus was recently harassed by an angry mob of students as he walked to his first day of teaching at City University of New York's (CUNY) Macaulay honors college. Petraeus took a teaching job at CUNY after resigning from his position at the helm of the CIA last year following revelations he had an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell (above) Students surrounded the four-star . general on a sidewalk and yelled 'War criminal!' and 'You have blood all . over you!' according to a video of the confrontation that was posted on . YouTube. He took the teaching job after resigning from his position at the helm of the CIA last year following revelations he had an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Petraeus has said he has decided to forgo the offered $200,000 salary and take a token salary of $1, according to reports . The salary sparked outrage among faculty routinely seen picketing through the streets of the city demanding higher wages and better health insurance. | Incident at Solow Building on 58th Street; nearby street shut down .
Secretary discovered grenade after opening box sent to former CIA director . |
111,726 | 1c12e2d0e6b3c6c5107580200e7ccdca374c2fd7 | The judge in the Jodi Arias case denied a bid by her lawyers to stop prosecutors from seeking the death penalty . The judge in the Jodi Arias case on Wednesday denied a bid by her lawyers to stop prosecutors from seeking the death penalty. Arias was convicted in May 2013 of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, at his suburban Phoenix home. But jurors are deadlocked on whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death. A new jury was picked to decide her sentence, and her sentencing retrial is ongoing. Arias' attorneys had asked Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens to dismiss a notice by prosecutors that they are seeking the death penalty on several grounds. They alleged that authorities examining Alexander's laptop destroyed thousands of files — including files from pornographic websites — that would have been beneficial in defending Arias. They said the computer files could have helped them argue that Alexander had treated their client in a sexually humiliating manner. Arias' lawyers also asked the judge to dismiss the death penalty because three witnesses on her behalf have refused to testify in open court for fear they will be harassed. In a ruling Wednesday, Stephens denied all of the motions to take the death penalty off the table. 'Many of those motions alleged prosecutorial misconduct. The cumulative effect of those allegations does not require dismissal of the charges or the notice of intent to seek the death penalty,' Stephens wrote. 'There may have been errors made, but those errors were not so egregious that they create concerns about the integrity or fundamental fairness of the trial.' Prosecutor Juan Martinez has denied authorities mishandled computer evidence. Jodi Arias, right, listens to her attorney, Kirk Nurmi, make an objection during the sentencing retrial in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on Wednesday . Judge Sherry Stephens presides over the Jodi Arias sentencing retrial in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on Wednesday . Judge Sherry Stephens (pictured) denied all of the motions to take the death penalty off the table in the Jodi Arias case . Jodi Arias defense attorney Jennifer Willmott leaves a bench conference in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on Wednesday . Prosecutors have argued that Arias attacked Alexander in a jealous rage after he wanted to end their affair and planned a trip to Mexico with another woman. Arias has acknowledged killing Alexander, but claimed it was self-defense after he attacked her. The Arias case has been marked by secrecy since the conclusion of the first trial, where salacious and violent details about Arias and Alexander were broadcast live around the world. Since then, the judge has held one secret hearing after another and barred the broadcast of footage from the sentencing retrial until after a verdict is reached. | Arias was convicted in 2013 of murdering ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander .
Jurors deadlocked on whether she should get life in prison or death .
On Wednesday judge denied all motions to take death penalty off the table .
Sentencing retrial at Maricopa County Superior Court is ongoing . |
74,582 | d36eec6aaeeeb1d0c489a401c2668f7c1a9e7b62 | New York (CNN) -- When William Bratton was introduced Thursday as New York City police commissioner, the 66-year-old law enforcement veteran held up a children's book with the title, "Your Police." "We must always remember that whenever you see a policeman, he is your friend," said Bratton, reading a passage from a book he first checked out of the library 56 years ago. But Bratton, who served as police commissioner in the 1990s, will take the helm of the nation's largest department not only at a time of low crime rates, but also heightened tension with the public over his predecessor's controversial stop-and-frisk policy that critics say targeted minorities. Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio said the appointment reflected his goal of protecting New Yorkers while simultaneously respecting their civil liberties -- echoing one theme of a mayoral campaign that was heavily critical of stop-and-frisk. "He is going to bring police and community back together," de Blasio said Thursday. De Blasio praised his new commissioner as "the leading voice" on community policing and said he had "absolute confidence, 100% confidence" that Bratton would complete the double goals of keeping down crime and improving strained relations with the community. "In the last few years in this city we have seen an approach that has too often alienated communities, has too often led to a divide between police and community in some of our neighborhoods," said de Blasio. The stop-and-frisk policy -- in which police stop, question and frisk people they deem suspicious, even if they've committed no crime -- has been one of the most controversial policing techniques in recent time. Opponents have challenged the practice as racist and illegal. Law enforcement and other proponents say the practice helps reduce crime. In August, a federal judge in New York ordered that stop-and-frisk be altered, finding it unconstitutional in part because it unlawfully targets blacks and Latinos. The judge ordered the appointment of a monitor to develop changes in the policy as well as other reforms. A federal appeals court later blocked the ruling that deemed stop-and-frisk unconstitutional and removed the judge from the case as other appeals are heard. But de Blasio has said that his administration will drop the appeal. The Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the most vocal critics of stop-and-frisk, said he hoped the new mayor and police commissioner work with a broader cross section of the city. "When Bill Bratton served in New York City under Rudy Giuliani, we had a very distant and adversarial relationship, but when he served in Los Angeles, he and I ... worked closely on gang violence and police misconduct matters," Sharpton said. "Mr. Bratton knows of my concerns and the concerns of others about racial profiling in stop-and-frisk policing but at the same time is aware of our desire to continue the decrease of violence and crime in our community." Thomas Reppetto, an expert who has written numerous books about the nation's police departments, said Bratton practiced an aggressive form of policing -- including stop-and-frisk -- as commissioner under former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. "The wild card here is we don't know what's going to happen with this federal suit," said Reppetto, referring to the August ruling. "Are there going to be monitors? Is the police commissioner ultimately going to be responsible to a federal judge? Traditionally, the police department works best when it has a strong commissioner running it. But if there are people over him who can veto his orders, it won't work so well." Ray Kelly reflects . Bratton is credited with pioneering the NYPD's CompStat, a command and accountability system that employed real-time intelligence, rapid deployment of resources and accountability systems in police work. He also was in charge of the NYPD during the largest crime reduction in New York City's history, said a statement from de Blasio. de Blasio's counterterrorism plans . Under Bratton's leadership in the mid-1990s, felony crime in New York City fell by 39%, de Blasio said. In Los Angeles, Bratton helped bring about a 26% decline in violent crime in his first three years in the top job. By 2009, the crime rate was 54% lower than it had been during his predecessor's final year. He also was praised for improving the LAPD's relationships with the city's many diverse communities. Bratton also was chief of the New York City Transit Police and Boston police commissioner. "Bill Bratton has succeeded everywhere he's been," Reppetto said. "You never want to bet against Bill Bratton." On Thursday, Bratton talked about bringing the police and the public "together in a collaboration of mutual respect and mutual trust." "I will get it right again in New York City," Bratton said. Said Reppetto, "On the community relations front, I wouldn't underestimate that task." The biggest campaign moments of 2013 . | William Bratton returns as New York's top cop .
Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio says he and Bratton have a "shared vision" on keeping the city safe .
De Blasio credits Bratton with the largest crime reduction in city history . |
30,965 | 57fbc8bcd2d184ee7e9e81e0da64a6884fe34564 | A woman has been caught trying to smuggle $45,000 worth of cocaine into New York in the handles of her luggage, federal authorities claim. Chevelle Rusheen Nesbeth hid 2.5 pounds of the drug in the metal poles of multiple suitcases before flying from Jamaica's Montego Bay to New York's Kennedy Airport, according to a charge sheet. She has been arrested and faces federal narcotics smuggling charges. Hidden: This is the case that officers confiscated from Chevelle Rusheen Nesbeth and found 2.5lbs of cocaine . It wasn't immediately known if she had a lawyer. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Nesbeth was detained after a spot-check of luggage at arrivals on Tuesday. 'Smuggling': Nesbeth was detained in JFK Airport's arrivals lounge after flying from Montego Bay, Jamaica . Inspectors felt that each of her cases had one unusually dense handle. Nesbeth was escorted to a private search room where officers discovered a white powdery substance in the hand rails which tested positive for cocaine. 'This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try to smuggle these illegal substances,' said Robert E. Perez, director of field operations in New York. | Chevelle Rusheen Nesbeth flew from Montego Bay, was inspected at JFK .
Inspectors noticed each case had a suspiciously dense handle .
Each 'contained white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine'
Nesbeth has been charged with federal narcotics smuggling charges . |
160,628 | 5ba981f4643ba9d7e4379c7887fb86cb73adf534 | This is the heartwarming moment that US Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long met her Siberian parents for the first time after they rejected her because of her disability. The 21-year-old posted the image on Twitter with the words ‘Meet my Russian family. I love them more than words can say. My heart is so full’. Long travelled to the village of Tem in the Irkutsk region of Siberia to meet her biological parents Natalia and Oleg Valtysheva who gave her up to a grim orphanage, convinced by doctors that they could not care for their ‘crippled’ baby. 'My heart is so full': U.S. Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long (centre) was reunited with her biological parents Natalia (second from left) and Oleg Valtysheva (first from right) and her siblings (first from left and second from right) in Siberia after the couple gave her up because she was 'crippled' The couple, who are still together today and went on to have three other children, started dating when Natalia was just 16-years-old. She told the Siberian Times: ‘My little girl was born pre-term and I was told that she would be an invalid for life and that she would be unable to walk.’ 'Life changing moments': Long shared her excitement about her family reunion on Twitter with her 11,400 followers . Warmly welcomed: Long travelled to Bratsk, visiting the orphanage before meeting her family who learned of her identity after Russian journalists traced the Siberian family members down . The baby, who the couple called Tanya, . was then adopted by American couple Beth and Steve Long from the . orphanage in Bratsk and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Natalia said: 'What a worthless thing am I? I kept thinking of her all the time… but then I learned that Tanya was adopted by an American couple.’ The Siberian couple had no idea that their biological daughter gone to be a world champion swimmer until Russian journalists tracked down the couple after Long's success at the London Paralympics last year. Long said she had always known that she was adopted but had never known the true identity of her biological parents. Given away for disability: The Valtyshevas, who were teenagers when they gave birth to Long (pictured as a toddler), were convinced by doctors that they could not cope with their 'crippled' daughter . One of the most successful American Paralympians: Long (pictured at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics) has won 12 gold medals at three Paralympic Games . Growing up in America: Long (pictured as a baby, right, and as a young girl, left) was adopted by American couple Beth and Steve Long and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland . Thought of her all the time: Natalia and Oleg (pictured) did not know that Long had grown up to become a world champion Paralympic swimmer . Long, who has won 12 gold medals at . three Paralympics, was born without heels, ankles and fibulas as well as . most of the bones in her feet, a condition known as fibular hemimelia. Her legs were amputated when she was just 18-months-old and she learned . to walk with prostheses. Before she met her parents in Siberia, Long visited the orphanage in Bratsk on the trip she called ‘life changing moments’. Natalia and Oleg had their second daughter Nastya a year after Long and despite being born with a similar condition, infantile cerebral paralysis, but they decided to keep her. They also now have twins, a boy and a girl. Long's mother works as a cleaner in the village school and Oleg drives a logging truck. During their reunion, Natalia gave her daughter the local delicacy of pickled cucumbers. Long gave her mother a necklace and a Russian-language bible to Oleg, her father. Long was just 12-years-old and the youngest competitor on the U.S. Paralympic team when she won three gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Greece. She is currently the world record holder in 13 Paralympic events. | Long travelled to the Siberian village of Tem to meet her biological family for the first time .
Her biological parents were teenagers when they had Long and were convinced they could not cope with caring for her .
Long was adopted by an American couple and grew up in Baltimore .
She has won 12 gold medals at three Paralympic Games . |
128,453 | 31fd1d50db8c1612853709ba30e8c749260519cf | (CNN) -- When someone asks when the Republican Party abandoned its longstanding position as the party of family values, we will all be able to say it was shortly after 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 19, 2012, in Charleston, South Carolina. When the invited audience of 2,300 Republicans stood up and applauded Newt Gingrich's angry and defiant response to the opening question from CNN's John King about allegations leveled by the ex-wife of the former speaker of the House, it was clear that the GOP, always judgmental about marital fidelity with Democrats, threw that out of the window. The GOP's desire to beat President Barack Obama at any cost, and its unwillingness to coalesce around Mitt Romney, clearly outweighs its view on rampant adultery by one of its leading presidential candidates. Those willing to make excuses for Gingrich's cheating on his second wife, Marianne, with his current wife, Callista (he also cheated on wife No. 1 with Marianne, who later became wife No. 2) are quick to say that the Christian faith requires forgiveness. And that is absolutely right. But when has Gingrich apologized to President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore for his routine missives declaring both of them morally corrupt? When has Gingrich ever said publicly that while he was ripping others to shreds, he was doing the same to his marriage vows to forsake all others? The nation clearly was made aware of Clinton's extramarital affairs while serving in the White House with the impeachment trial. But nothing of the sort was said about Gore. Yet that didn't prevent the bombastic Gingrich from lobbing his morally bankrupt grenades towards the Clinton-Gore White House. Now we know that while he was doing that, he was deeply involved in a torrid affair with Callista, then a Capitol Hill staffer. What was amazing Thursday night is that we were in South Carolina, the Bible Belt, where evangelicals hold significant sway. Just last year, Republicans were aghast when the governor, Mark Sanford, was busted for engaging in an international extramarital affair, hiding away in Argentina and lying about his whereabouts. Details of his sordid affair made national headlines and embarrassed the state and the national party. South Carolinians were disgusted with his behavior, and the potential presidential candidate who was a darling of Bible-thumpin' social conservatives ended his tenure in shame, losing his wife in the process. So why was the GOP so quick to leap to their feet as Gingrich castigated King for even asking the question? No doubt they will say it was his denunciation of the media for asking such a tawdry question. Others will say that Newt's multiple affairs were common knowledge and since he was a declared changed man, we all should move on. But how can someone like Gingrich stand up in debates and forcefully talk about the sanctity of marriage when he has no history of believing what he is saying? How can any social conservative talk about the moral fiber needed in a presidential candidate when the man many of them love has none? It's highly likely that when the group of influential social conservatives met in Texas last weekend to coalesce around a candidate, Gingrich's rampant cheating was too much for them to overlook and that's why they settled on Rick Santorum. The GOP loves to scream from the mountaintop about family values, but when a Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana continues to sit in the U.S. Senate after it was revealed he often used an escort service, then their protestations ring hollow. And there are many other Republicans who have had to come forward, some unwillingly, to own up to their transgressions. See, when Republicans are busted for cheating on their spouses, they will quickly play the forgiveness card. Yet isn't a failure to have character and integrity at home a sign of how someone will act in the workplace? And it must gall the GOP to watch Obama often dote on his wife, and make clear that even while in the White House, his family is a top priority. Gingrich is correct in stating that many of the folks in the audience understand personal pain. But when Newt himself, and his party, has shown little concern in the past about such pain when it has affected someone in the other party, their pleas for understanding looks like shameful pandering. So to the Republican Party, your high-minded and sanctimonious positions about others not having morals and values should end. If you are willing to accept Newt Gingrich with all of his failings, then you had better open your arms for a whole lot of other sinners who have also sought God's redemption. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland S. Martin. | Gingrich's defiance to question about his ex-wife's remarks met with cheers .
Response ended GOP's standing as party of family values, Roland Martin says .
Martin: Right's lukewarmness to Romney, loathing of Obama has come to this .
If mercy is the standard, Gingrich should apologize to the Clintons, Martin says . |
28,355 | 5071e10e26bff1d816e1b03369a75fb187c79e62 | It may be king of the jungle, but when it comes to the seas, the lion has not got a chance against a crocodile. A video showing what happens when one unfortunate lion enters a reptile's den has emerged online, shot from the shores of the Sabie River in South Africa's Kruger National Park. The young male lion seems completely unaware that it is being stalked by the crocodile, and the crowd of onlookers can be heard shouting in surprise to warm the unsuspecting lion. Jaws: The lion seems completely unawares that it is being followed by a hungry crocodile . The reptile launches its attack and the big cat appears to get caught in its jaws as it is dragged under the water. But the lion emerges from the deep unscathed and returns to prowling having got the better of the crocodile. South African Nadav Ossendryver, 18, from Johannesburg, who owns the Latest Sightings website where the clip was posted, was amazed when he first saw the lion and the crocodile clash. He said: 'It was really incredible. Thousands of people share so many videos on our app, but this was one was special. 'I just thought it was amazing the way the crocodiles reacted when the lion appears. When he goes into that water, you just know something is going to happen.' To see more visit Kruger Sightings . Snap: The crocodile approaches the young male lion, and opens its jaws ready to bite . Down we go: It seems like the crocodile has won the fight as the pair disappear under the water . Miracle: The lion and the crocodile both emerge, splashing in the water as they fight it out . Pure luck: The lion somehow manages to wiggle free from the crocodile and swims away . | A lion nearly became crocodile breakfast in a South African national park .
The male swam the river, oblivious to the hungry crocodile stalking it .
The fight was caught on camera, and onlookers can be heard screaming .
Despite being dragged under the water, the lion emerges - alive . |
285,634 | fe1fe337493bed71770a2972dba596254997eae7 | (CNN) -- The Avenue Gordon Bennett in France's capital is everything you would expect of a leafy lane in a quintessentially Parisian suburb. The Serres D'Auteuil botanical gardens -- home to a myriad of rare and exotic plants -- sit alongside the center of a Gallic passion that is Roland Garros -- the site of the annual French Open. But beneath the genteel surroundings a simmering war is brewing, one that pitches fauna lovers against forehand followers and has battle lines drawn between the ornate, glass greenhouses of the gardens and the clay of the courts that welcome stars like Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki to the second grand slam of the year. Welcome to the fight to expand Roland Garros. In one corner -- the French Tennis Federation (FFT) -- which maintain the tournament has become a victim of its own success and has outgrown its current site following player complaints of cramped conditions. The FFT, as a solution, propose expanding into the botanical gardens next door, replacing greenhouses with a new arena fit to house some of the world's best tennis matches. In the other corner, campaigners and local residents who accuse the tennis body of "environmental vandalism" and who bitterly opposed to the move. Ahead of this year's tournament next month, it looks like the row is destined to be thrashed out in the French courts. The opposition to the move hardened when the FFT voted in February to keep the French Open at Roland Garros in the 16th arrondissement (district) of Paris rather than move to an alternative site. They rejected bids from three other venues in the inner and outer suburbs of the French capital, Gonesse, Versailles and Marne-la-Vallee (near Disneyland Paris) to the dismay of the anti-expansion campaigners. The Serres d'Auteuil is one of only three botanical gardens in Paris and contain a series of unique greenhouses and campaigners say the very rare plant life will be lost forever. "What the FFT is proposing is the equivalent of Wimbledon deciding to expand the All-England Club and take over Kew Gardens in the process," Agnes Popelin, who heads the campaign, told CNN. Christiane Morin Muller worked as an English speaking guide in Paris's Botanical Gardens for 18 years until she retired and said she was "very distressed and very upset" by the latest developments. "We don't have many botanical gardens in France and just three in Paris and Auteuil is the main one," she added. Under the plans, Roland Garros will grow from its current 8.5 hectare site to 13.5 hectares, with a new planned show court in the corner of the gardens. Muller said that the encroachment will destroy the character of the gardens and the expansion would not stop there. "With over 40,000 people going through this botanical garden every day for a fortnight it will be destroyed and little by little more ground will be given over to tennis," she added. The 'no' campaigners, who also include local residents worried about the introduction of night matches and floodlights, have gathered an online petition of over 40,000 signatures and have vowed to fight on. But Gilbert Ysern, the chief executive of the FFT and the man responsible for overseeing the project, told CNN that the protesters fears were groundless. "I fully respect those who disagree with us but my concern is that most of the opposition is based on a lack of information, false information or false rumors," he told CNN. "I would not have supported any project in this gorgeous place that would have destroyed ancient greenhouses," he added. His assurances over the future of the plant life cuts no ice with Popelin, or that of the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, who campaigned to keep the French Open at Roland Garros. "The mayor is promising their relocation in an other 'wonderful place', located at the floral park in the Bois de Vincennes," she said. "But there are no existing greenhouses there and none can be built because this is classified as a protected site. There are only pavilions. But the mayor and his staff cannot tell the difference between a pavilion and a greenhouse. "There is no temperature control, shade or ventilation." What is not in doubt is that the status quo was not an option with players such as Federer speaking out. "The players and the fans feel that even if it's quite a nice experience it's quite tough to live in every day. We need more room," he said last year. Ysern spoke with Federer and other leading players when drawing up his plans and found support from five-time French Open champion and World No 1 Rafael Nadal, who wants the tournament to stay at Roland Garros. "I believe we are going to meet the expectations of the players and the fans, all of those who have a strong attachment to this place," he said. But others were not so sure about the viability of the extension, with France's former World No.1 Amelie Mauresmo voicing her doubts. "I think that in Paris today we don't have the possibility to have the necessary space to develop Roland Garros," Mauresmo told Reuters. "We are the smallest of the four grand slams and I think it is important to have the chance to grow, and for the public to have more room." Mauresmo declined to be interviewed by CNN on the topic which has divided opinion in France with many such as Franck Ramella, the chief tennis correspondent of L'Equipe, having conflicting views. "It looks very strange to put a tennis court on these gardens, it doesn't suit the place. "But the tournament is for only two weeks and if you want to make room there is no other solution," he added. Popelin is adamant that power politics has played a big part in the decision. "The mayor of Paris has already lost the Olympics to London (for 2012) and couldn't be seen as playing a part in Roland Garros losing the French Open. "I am a big tennis fan and I love watching the French Open but I am passionate in my opposition of these plans." Lawmakers in the French capital must decide if they want to make changes to the local urban plan to allow the planned expansion but only the Green Party has expressed outright opposition. Popelin and her followers are not hopeful of the outcome but she says they are prepared to take legal action to protect the botanical gardens and is also speaking with representatives of the three failed bids. "I have told them not to sell their land for other projects because in perhaps two years I am convinced the French federation will change their mind on this matter," she added. But again, Ysern has a completely different view and believes that once the political and likely legal process is exhausted that work will start in late 2012 and be finished at an estimated cost nearly $340 million by 2016. "We are breaking no law here," he insists. "We are not ashamed of what we are going to do which will be in the best interests of sport and France." But even with the controversial expansion it will remain the smallest site of the for four slams, with Wimbledon just over half as big again. "I don't care about being the biggest, we have a gorgeous location in a gorgeous city and as long as we have that why should we go anywhere else?," said Ysern. "The best way to protect integrity of the tournament is to concentrate on the unique aspects of our tournament and make it even more unique." | French tennis federation want to expand French Open venue Roland Garros .
Plans have met with fierce opposition from environmental campaigners .
Expansion will take over part of an botanical gardens and adjoining sports centers .
Move to one of three alternative sites rejected by federation in vote last month . |
16,800 | 2f9d48466a87a9f57a964c5ddcf0ebd05c032386 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 08:13 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:15 EST, 9 December 2013 . A woman is set to marry the man who saved her life on their first date. Cheryl Wray, 22, had a tumour the size of a satsuma removed from her pancreas after fiancé Stephen Kittles insisted she see a doctor. He was concerned after noticing she was suffering from severe pain in her side. Cheryl Wray, 22, was diagnosed with a tumour on her pancreas after Stephen Kittles insisted that she went to see a doctor about a pain in her side . Miss Wray, of White Notley, Essex, said: . ‘I thought the pain was due to muscle strain. I was working at a . supermarket and was doing a fair amount of heavy lifting at the time. ‘Me and Stephen were in a car together when I put the seat back and involuntarily yelped out in pain. ‘He became very concerned and asked what was wrong. I told him it was probably nothing but he said, “no, you have to go to see a doctor”. ‘I didn't want to be thought of as a hypochondriac so was ready to brush it aside, but Stephen being so insistent made me change my mind and I booked an appointment.’ Miss Wray visited her GP in January 2009 and was sent for an urgent ultrasound scan. She said: ‘At first we thought it was kidney stones. Stephen came with me to the scan for support. ‘The doctor phoned me with the results before I went to work. I knew straight away that something serious was going on - the doctor doesn't usually call you directly.’ Ms Wray was not intending to see a doctor about the pain as she thought it was caused by a strained muscle she had suffered while working in a supermarket . Ms Wray (pictured with her father, Patrick, in hospital) had to have surgery to remove the precancerous tumour . The ultrasound revealed an alarming growth suggesting a cancerous or pre-cancerous tumour on her pancreas. It is rare for teenagers to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is often fatal. A month after the growth was revealed, Miss Wray and Mr Kittles, 27, became engaged during a visit to Clacton-on-Sea. She said: ‘I asked him to marry me on the beach by writing the words in the sand. He wrote “yes” and then took me to the end of the pier, where he got down on one knee and asked me back. ‘When we met, it took just two hours for me to realise I wanted to be with him. We both love Bon Jovi - especially the songs “Always” and “Thank You for Loving Me”, which has become our song.’ Ms Wray no longer has any signs of the tumour in her body but she still has to go for check ups every year . Ms Wray spent a month in hospital recovering from her operation. Picture shows her 18-inch scar . After several nervous months of further tests, Ms Wray underwent surgery just days after her 18th birthday in July 2009. She said: ‘I signed all the consent forms in a state of disbelief and shock. It was difficult to understand what was happening to me. They removed the growth, but were sufficiently worried to remove my spleen too.’ Miraculously, the growth was judged to be precancerous and there were no signs of the cancer spreading to any other part of her body. The realisation of how precarious her position had been only dawned on her as she lay in hospital for a month recovering from the operation. Ms Wray said: 'I signed all the consent forms in a state of disbelief and shock. It was difficult to understand what was happening to me. They removed the growth, but were sufficiently worried to remove my spleen too' She said: ‘It suddenly dawned on me how serious things were. The tumour had grown really quickly and had I left it any longer the surgeons probably wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. ‘I was shocked and broke down in tears, but Stephen did a really good job looking after me.’ Mr Kittles, who works at a bowling alley . in Braintree, said: ‘Looking back I'm so glad I was so insistent that . Cheryl went to the doctor. Even though we'd only just met, I was very . worried about her. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to diagnose as it rarely causes symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms do not tend to develop until the cancer is advanced. The first symptoms can include pain in the upper abdomen, unexpected weight loss and loss of appetite, jaundice, diabetes, nausea and vomiting. Source: NHS Choices . ‘It was very difficult to see Cheryl suffering through the diagnosis and the surgery, but I stayed supportive, and I always will be supportive.’ Ms Wray, who now requires annual cancer scans, said she is looking forward to enjoying a happy, healthy life with her fiancé. She said: ‘We're trying to have children and I'm on medication to help us along with that. We'll get married as soon as we can, but we don't know when that will be yet.’ Miss Wray now offers support to sufferers of pancreatic cancer on Facebook, giving encouragement and advice through her group entitled "Pancreatic Cancer-help". She said: ‘Some people feel as though they can't talk to their families and I know how hard that can be. ‘I'm here to talk to people if they want.’ | Cheryl Wray thought the pain in her side was caused by a muscle strain .
Stephen Kittles heard her yelp in pain and said she should see a doctor .
Doctors initially thought she had kidney stones but an ultrasound scan revealed a precancerous growth the size of a satsuma on her pancreas .
She had surgery to remove the growth as well as her spleen .
The tumour hadn't spread but she now has to have annual check ups . |
76,710 | d998251041160642d7eb49e8ade78bfcdaeb6776 | Detained and cuffed: Charles Belk sits on the street with his legs crossed while two officers guard him after his arrest for a crime he did not commit on Friday . A film and television producer preparing to attend an Emmy's pre-party on Friday says he was wrongly held for six hours by officers of the Beverly Hills police force who said he 'fit the description' of a black bank robber. Harvard graduate Charles Belk, 51, posted a photograph to Facebook of himself handcuffed and sitting on a curb with two officers standing over him after he was pulled over as he left a restaurant to top up a parking meter. The award-winning executive says he was swarmed on Wilshire Boulevard by officers and not told why he had been arrested and was denied a phone call before being released just before midnight when police admitted they had made a mistake. A furious Belk was booked on $100,000 bail and says he was treated with contempt by the arresting officers who only let him go when they reviewed the video and realized that the bank robbery suspect bore no resemblance to him according to KTLA. The photograph of Belk sitting indignantly on the curb, legs crossed while officers of the Beverly Hills Police Department stand guard over him has been shared almost 30,000 times on the social network. Belk, who has worked with the NAACP to produce their Image Awards and on An Evening of Stars tributes to music legends Chaka Khan and Lionel Richie, took to Facebook to express his deep disappointment and concern over his arrest. Scroll down for video . Television: Charles Belk with actor and producer Catfish Jean (left) and actor Hari Williams (center). The Harvard educated producer was arrested and booked on a $100,000 bond on Friday . 'I get that the Beverly Hills Police Department didn’t know that I was a well educated American citizen that had received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, an MBA from Indiana University … and an executive leadership certificate from Harvard Business School,' wrote Belk on Facebook. 'Hey, I was ‘tall,’ ‘bald,’ a ‘male’ and ‘black,’ so I fit the description.' Describing the distressing moment he was pulled over, Belk said 'It's one of those things that you heard about, but never think it would happen to you.' Belk, who was the Deputy Director of Olympic Village Operations for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was pulled over at around 5.20pm. 'Within minutes, I was surrounded by 6 police cars, handcuffed very tightly, fully searched for weapons, and placed back on the curb,' wrote the angry television producer. 'Within an hour, I was transported to the Beverly Hills Police Headquarters, photographed, finger printed and put under a $100,000 bail and accused of armed bank robbery and accessory to robbery of a Citibank.' The arrest of Belk is just the latest controversial and unfortunate incident in recent weeks that has occurred between police and African American men, including the choke-hold death of Eric Garner in New York City and the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Emmys: Charles Belk poses with an Emmy award last week. The producer was working at pre-Emmy parties last week when he was arrested . Worryingly, Belk said that his arrest could have turned out drastically different and alluded to the current climate of tension that exists between law enforcement and African Americans. 'The sad thing is, prior to my freedom being taken from me for an easily proven crime I did not commit, I was walking back to my car, by myself, because I needed to check my parking meter, so that I wouldn’t get a ticket and break the law,' wrote Belk. 'In fact, if it wasn’t for a text message that I was responding to, I would have actually been running up LaCienega Blvd when the first Beverly Hills Police Officer approached me. Running!' After Belk's release, the Beverly Hills Police Department attempted to clarify their treatment of Belk, who should have attended a pre-Emmy's party instead of a freezing cold jail cell on Friday evening. A statement issued on Monday claimed that officers were investigating an armed robbery at a nearby Citibank and arrested Belk beause 'he matched the physical characteristics of the second suspect and was in the area of the bank shortly after the robbery.' A witness to the robbery allegedly identified Belk as the thieves accomplice, leading to his detention. Arrest: Chalres Belk posted his detention certificate to Facebook in the aftermath of his false arrest for a bank robbery in Beverly Hills on Friday . Thanking . his lawyer for eventually securing his release, Belk thanked them saying . 'I am certain that I would still be locked up in the custody of the . Beverly Hills Police Department. 'Based . on comments made by a Beverly Hills Police Officer during my booking, . and an FBI Special Agent, it appeared that they had tried and convicted . me.' Belk said he understood officers doing their job. However, what galled him was the fact that no one had checked the video. 'Why, . at 11:59pm (approximately 6 hours later), was the video footage . reviewed only after my request to the Lead Detective for the Beverly . Hills Police Department and an FBI Agent to do so, and, after being . directly accused by another FBI Special Agent of '…going in and out of . the bank several times complaining about the ATM Machine to cause a . distraction…' thereby aiding in the armed robbery attempt of a bank that . I never heard of, or ever been to; and within 10 minutes……10 MINUTES . (sic), my lawyer was told that I was being release because it was clear . that it was not me,' wrote Belk. The Beverly Hills Police Department said that they have apologized to Belk. 'The . Beverly Hills Police Department regrets the inconvenience to Mr. Belk, . but was under obligation to thoroughly verify that he was not the . suspect before releasing him,' the statement from the police read. However, . referring to the continuing troubles nationwide, Belk said that the . 'time has come for a change in the way OUR (sic) law enforcement . officers 'serve and protect' us. | Harvard graduate Charles Belk, 51, pulled over on curb in Beverly Hills on Friday .
Claims he was handcuffed on curb without explanation and held for six hours .
Television producer was arrested on way to pay parking meter before heading to Emmy's pre-party .
Released after police reviewed surveillance video and admitted mistake . |
162,035 | 5d81e6fc02690035703e31faa7e1efd5ffe26b53 | By . Simon Tomlinson . A banker, his wife and their nine-year-old nephew have been gunned down in a drive-by shooting outside their home. Benoit Philippens, a 37-year-old director at BNP Paribas Fortis, was targeted by gunmen who were waiting near his house in the Belgian city of Vise. Mr Philippens and the boy were killed at the scene as the family pulled up on the driveway. Gunned down: Toys, flowers and a candle are placed near the home where a banker, his wife and their nine-year-old nephew were shot dead in a drive-by shooting outside their home in the Belgian city of Vise . His . wife Carol Haid, 37, who was also the boy's godmother, died of her . injuries the next day after being struck three times in the back. It is thought shots were fired with an automatic weapon from the gunmen's car before it sped off. However, a bullet hole found in the window of a nearby sports centre suggested the shooter may have been waiting on the drive or by the house, according to a judicial source. The gunmen, who struck on Friday, have not yet been traced nor has any motive been established for the shooting, it was reported by Zero Hedge which cited L'venir. Tragedy: The family were each shot several times with an automatic weapon as they pulled up on the driveway of the home (above) on Friday . The Mayor of Vise, Marcel Neven, said the killings could be linked to Mr Philippens' profession. A friend claims the banker was involved in an argument with a customer around six months ago in which he was threatened in public, according to Zero Hedge which cited the 7Dimanche newspaper. According to neighbours, the couple had been married just over a year and had lived at the house for five or six years. They said the shooting was particularly shocking because they were a normal family and that it was not linked to drugs. | Family gunned down by passing car as they pulled up on their driveway .
Husband Benoit Philippens was a director at BNP Paribas Fortis bank .
Gunmen on run and no motive found but could be linked to job, says mayor . |
258,433 | da7bcb363c4290925132bd19e3dec6faa1cac3a7 | For the world's Muslims, the festival of Eid al-Fitr is a perfect conclusion to Ramadan -- the month-long period of fasting and contemplation practiced by observers of Islam around the globe. One of the most festive periods in the religion's calendar, Eid is often commemorated with large feasts, family-time, and through charitable acts and donations. As part of CNN's series celebrating the most spectacular festivals and events across the globe, we asked our readers to share their images of Eid traditions, both past and present. In response, we discovered a rich narrative of the holiday, and customs as diverse as the people who celebrate them. For Yassir O. Nassif in Saudi Arabia, Eid means measuring his three-year-old son Mazin up for new clothes, in this case a brand new customized thobe, a traditional ankle length garment commonly worn in Gulf countries. But the holiday is not just about the outfits -- it's about the family, he says. Sweet Eid: Breaking the fast with world's tastiest treats . "We have scheduled breakfasts, lunches and dinners -- I never knew how exhausting it was on my parents until I became one myself," he said. "But I enjoyed it as a kid and would love my children to have the same pleasures. After all it's only three days, better make the best of them and make each day count!" The wearing of new clothes and looking one's best for the festivities can, for women, extend to the hennaing of hands -- a ritual captured by Laurens Meulman while visiting Agra, home of the iconic Taj Mahal in India. "The henna-painted hands of one of the women in the group caught my eye and I asked her if I could to take a photo," Meulman said. Though not Muslim herself, she says the holiday always reminds her of "good food, sweets, sharing, being with family and generosity. " In Malaysia, family preoccupied the thoughts of Dina Syazwani Sipal Anuwar, a 24-year-old teacher from Selangor who sent in an image via Instagram of her family in matching colored clothes celebrating Eid last year. The photo is particularly poignant for Dina as it was the last Eid her father, Sipal, a policeman, was able to spend with his family before he unexpectedly passed away in January. "I think it was one of the signs that father would leave us, the last Eid we could take a perfect photo as a whole family," she said. CNN Celebrates: View all Eid photos on iReport . Respect and appreciation for others was also on the mind of graphic designer Anupama Kinagi in Mumbai, India, when he captured this affectionate moment outside a mosque in the city and related a poignant custom put on by local authorities. He said that the police officer outside the mosque "especially arranges for rose flowers to greet Muslims outside on this special day," he says. "Muslims accept their wishes and thank them for their extraordinary service." Of course, after a month of fasting, food takes center stage. Libyan-American Sammi Addahoumi, currently spending his summer in the Libyan city of Benghazi, satisfies his sweet tooth with delicious sweets made in a local bakery. Kunafah are mouth-watering Arabic sweets extremely popular during Eid. It has several variations according to the part of the Middle East where it is served. All have one thing in common -- they are delicious. "Whether stacked or braided, stuffed with nuts or cream, it's always saturated for a period of time in syrup before it is ready for the public," he said. | Eid, or Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting in Islam .
We asked for readers' best Eid memories and photos via CNN iReport .
Photos showing local Eid celebrations flooded in from Trinidad and Tobago to India .
Food, family, celebration and charity were some of the most important themes . |
145,104 | 47ab33e630b37dc24584f3895e5e0e280e399619 | A prominent Muslim leader living in Britain was today sentenced to death by hanging by a Bangladesh war crimes tribunal. Chowdury Mueen-Uddin, 63, was found guilty of murdering 18 people including nine university professors, six journalists and three physicians in December 1971 with an accomplice, now living in New York. The atrocities took place during Bangladesh's war for independence from Pakistan when an estimated 3million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped. Convicted: Chowdury Mueen-Uddin, 63 (left), a founder of the Muslim Council of Britain, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing 18 people during Bangladesh's war for independence. Here he is pictured showing Prince Charles around the Markfield Islamic Foundation in Leicestershire in 2003 . Mr Uddin, former director of Muslim Spiritual Care in the NHS, and co-convicted Ashrafuzzaman Khan were tried in absentia after they refused to return to Bangladesh to face the trial. There is now a warrant for their capture. Senior judge Obaidul Hassan told a crowded court in Dhaka: ‘Justice will not be done if they are not awarded capital punishment.’ Among the activities he has been involved . in since arriving in Britain was joining the protests against Salman . Rushdie’s controversial book, The Satanic Verses, and he entertained . Prince Charles when the heir visited an Islamic centre in Leicester in . 2003. Absent: Mr Uddin, currently living in Britain, refused to attend the trial - as did his co-accused Mr Khan . He has previously denied the . charges of being involved in the abduction and murder of intellectuals and reporters - including a BBC journalist. Bangladesh, formerly a province of . eastern Pakistan, won independence after the nine-month conflict. Mr Uddin is . accused of working with an Islamic militia called Al-Badr to violently sabotage the nation's attempts to win independence. Current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, formed the nation's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2010 to try war crimes suspects. In April, the ICT made an appeal to Britain to send him to Bangaldesh to be tried alongside Mr Khan. Sanaul Huq, the Inspector-General of Bangladesh's national police force, who is co-ordinating the ICT investigation, told The Mail on Sunday: 'They abducted an eye doctor, and then gouged his eyes out before killing him and dumping his body. 'They abducted a cardiologist and cut out his heart before killing him and dumping his body. 'They kidnapped a woman journalist, and cut her breasts off before killing her. Her decomposing body was later found with her breasts cut off. 'These victims were chosen because they were leading figures in the independence movement. Mueen-Uddin was a leading figure when it comes to killing activists. This is why we want to try him in court. 'As soon as charges are made – which I can guarantee will happen in days – we will request the British Government to hand him back to Bangladesh, and we will ask Interpol for his arrest. We will use all means, diplomatic and legal, to bring him back. If we fail, we will try him in absentia.' Today's verdict brings the total number of war convicts up to 10 - with seven already awaiting hanging, and eight more on trial. The evidence presented against Mr Uddin at the tribunal includes a claim by a widow, Dolly Chaudhury, who said that he was one of three men who abducted her scholar husband on December 14, 1971. Another member of the abduction group who was caught was said to have named Mr Uddin in his confession. Mr Uddin was working as a newspaper reporter when the war broke out. Appeal: The International Crimes Tribunal said there cannot be justice without capital punishment for Mr Uddin who was supposedly a member of Al-Badr terrorist group which killed intellectuals for the Pakistani military . But he was also said to have secretly abducted and killed leading figures of the independence movement for the Pakistani military. Mr Huq says Mr Mueen-Uddin fled Bangladesh shortly after independence, and went to Britain via India, Nepal and then Pakistan, from where he caught a flight to London in the early Seventies. Over the decades, he became one of Britain's most influential Muslim leaders and is now one of the trustees of the UK's leading Islamic charity, Muslim Aid. He was one of the chief Islamic leaders who mobilised thousands of British Muslims to protest against the publication of Salman Rushdie's controversial book, The Satanic Verses, in 1989. Mr Mueen-Uddin has also met Prince Charles, including one occasion when the heir to the throne visited the East London Mosque in 2010. Devastation: An estimated three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped during the war . He has previously insisted that the war crimes charges against him were entirely politically motivated by Prime Minister Hasina's party as he was a member of the opposition. The Bangladesh government has said, however, that the trials are needed to heal the wounds of the 42-year-old conflict, which lasted for nine months. Towards its end, the bodies of intellectuals who were rounded up were found dumped in marshes and flood plains outside Dhaka with their hands bound. Mr Khan, a Dhaka University student leader during the conflict, was described by prosecutors as being the ‘chief executor’ for the Al-Badr militia. Mr Uddin did not want to comment on the sentencing today. When contacted on his mobile telephone, he hung up after saying: 'I'm not taking any calls.' | Chowdury Mueen-Uddin, 63, found guilty of murdering nine university professors, three physicians and six journalists - including a BBC reporter .
Former director of NHS Muslim Spiritual Care was a member of Islamic militia fighting against Bangladesh's independence in December 1971 .
Judge told court: 'Justice will not be done without capital punishment' |
179,435 | 7454d79c4ff989b985d67b7aae8d8e030d84f7f5 | By . Jan Moir . PUBLISHED: . 20:17 EST, 31 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:18 EST, 31 January 2013 . After the affair: Actress Antonia de Sancha was pictured outside a cafe 20 years after her affair with Tory minister David Mellor made tabloid headlines . There she sits, fag in hand, hair cascading over her shoulders, woolly coat wrapped around her body to keep off the chill. On a winter’s day, Antonia de Sancha is having lunch outside a tapas restaurant in London. She is ready for her next beer, if not her close-up. Yet, come on. Antonia looks pretty darn good for a 51-year-old smoker. She still has that lovely skin and the pale, Modigliani face. She still looks in great shape, which is more than you could ever say about David Mellor. Then or now. Still, can it really be 20 years since she was a femme fatale, to put it politely, who famously romped with goofy Dave when he was a Tory minister in the John Major government? Have two whole decades really passed since the unlikely couple were making whoopee together? Of course, that was before Antonia burst their lurvve bubble and became the most famous kiss-and-tell merchant of her day. Their torrid cavortings were splashed all over the newspapers and TV screens for weeks afterwards. Toe-sucking, spanking, skipping about in a Chelsea football strip? Oh, Excellency, you knew how to spoil us with ministerial affairs back then. Following her revelations, there was the never-to-be-forgotten spectacle of Mellor parading his wife and children behind a garden gate, like targets on a fairground stall. All in a desperate, doomed attempt to prove his family life was intact. He was just as shameless as she was. Eventually, Mellor left the government and his wife. Meanwhile, de Sancha tried and failed to cash in on her notoriety. She took part in a documentary about mistresses; she briefly became the agony aunt of Erotic Review magazine. However, the public — unlike Mellor —remained resistant to her charms. Especially when, after ten years, she admitted the saucier details about their affair were untrue. How unforgiveable! Mellor recently complained her allegation that he insisted on wearing a Chelsea FC strip when making love would follow him to his grave. Pass me a hankie, darlings. That’s enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. Where did all this get Antonia? She apparently imported textiles and jewellery from India and Thailand for a while. At some point, her brief marriage also failed. Today, she lives in a one-bedroom flat in a down-at-heel area of London and exhibits few signs of a woman who has made a great triumph of her life. Cashing in: Antonia de Sancha became the most famous kiss-and-tell merchant of her day . The lover: David Mellor, pictured on the night he quit as Heritage Secretary in 1992, following a number of scandals, including his affair with Miss de Sancha . In contrast, look at David Mellor, who exudes the sleek, satisfied air of the rich and successful international businessman he is. He lives with his glamorous partner, Penelope, Viscountess Cobham. His life is charmed. He has shaken free from his former shame, like a dog wriggling off the raindrops following a storm. All things considered, Antonia seems to have fared less well. And that is my point. In the world of kiss and tell, short-term gain is always followed by long-term decline. The women almost always come off worse than men, many of whom seem to ultimately survive the bombshell of their indiscretion and go on to thrive, like cockroaches. Sorry: Escort Jenny Thompson says she is full of regret about her torrid past . For the kissers and tellers, however, there is only the initial, exciting firework explosion of notoriety and fame. Closely followed by nothing but ashes. Perhaps all this will be noted by Jenny Thompson, the escort girl who made public her affair with married footballer Wayne Rooney. This week she made a TV apology to his wife Coleen. The 23-year-old said she wanted to apologise about the England and Manchester United star’s infidelity with her while she was a £1,300-a-night call girl. She only embarked on this career, she says, because she was a teenage rebel. It was only later that it ‘become an addiction’. Ms Thompson has given up being an escort, become a mother and says she is full of regret about her torrid past. Asked what she would like to say to Mrs Rooney, she replied simply: ‘I’m sorry.’ Hmmmm! Is she really? If she was truly contrite, wouldn’t she want to spare Mrs Rooney further embarrassment? Wouldn’t she have the good grace to crawl under the nearest luxury rock, instead of rubbing Coleen’s nose in the scandal on a daytime TV show watched by millions? It is hard to imagine Jenny’s mischievous apology brought any comfort for Mrs Rooney. Let’s face it, she’s not mortified or humbled — she is utterly brazen. Still. Jenny is only on the telly to promote herself and to try to rehabilitate her reputation. For she is working on a book about her life, no doubt with lots of tell-all sauce about her links to Premier League stars. That’s how truly sorry she is. And while she might be the centre of attention now, all she has to do is look at Antonia de Sancha to see what the future holds. Not much glamour there! Twenty years from now, Jenny will understand the pattern. Be they footballers or politicians, powerful men will survive the attentions of their mistresses or consorts, and go on to prosper. While it is unlikely the indiscreet mistress will come out of it well. The woman almost never does. Just ask Antonia. This week, Sir David Attenborough said that if he had a torch, he would pass it to Professor Brian Cox. The legendary broadcaster has no plans to retire, but suggested that Cox should take over fronting the BBC’s natural history programmes when he does. Noooooo! Cox, who has become a household name following the success of his BBC2 series Wonders Of The Solar System, is hugely popular. He is the man credited with making physics sexy — that’s if you like your quantum theories delivered by someone with a choirboy haircut and a perma-smirk. Is he really a worthy successor to peerless David Attenborough? Enthusiasm isn’t everything. Plus the prof is always slightly too pleased with himself for comfort. And anyone who is never off TV, who made a guest appearance on stage with Gary Barlow, and who still likes to complain about the downside of fame does not my vote get. Not something Sir David would have ever done. Nor Sir Patrick Moore. Not even David Bellamy. Every blade of grass may have 3.8 billion years of history written into it — but it is still humble. She's already got the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild gong, and she’s probably going to get the Bafta, too, closely followed by a lovely, piping hot Oscar. Is it going to be a straight flush of Best Supporting Actress gongs for Anne Hathaway (above) for her role as Fantine in Les Miserables? Get your hankies at the ready, for I think it has to be a yes. How can she fail? Winner: Actress Anne Hathaway has already won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award and is hotly-tipped to take home a Bafta and an Oscar . Anne with the quivering, Malteser eyes plays a good girl forced into prostitution to care for her illegitimate child. She has to go on a starvation diet, get all her hair cut off, swop her prim needlewoman’s dress for a tart’s rags, be ravished by an army captain, get her teeth pulled out, give it the big boo hoo when she sings I Dreamed A Dream (think of Gazza crying at the Word Cup, multiply it by ten and you are almost halfway there), die, get resurrected as a ghost and do all of this in about 15 minutes of screen time. Give that woman a medal as well as a gong. She deserves it. Actor Brendan Coyle is the latest celebrity to reveal himself on Twitter. Reveal himself as a not very nice person, that is. Brendan — perhaps most famous for playing Mr Bates the valet in Downton Abbey — made several barbed remarks on Twitter about former prime minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher. As a way of establishing yourself as a political thinker, that’s on a par with spray-painting a peace sign on a wall. I mean, grow up, Brendan. No wonder that on reading his remarks, NHS consultant Roberta Knighton tweeted him to suggest the comments were beneath him. The star replied by telling her to ‘go f*** yourself’. Twice. Oaf! Coyle is the kind of Twitter celebrity who only wants followers to agree with his every tiny, gorgeous thought. He will brook no dissent. Look, if he can’t cope with the modern world of communications, he should go back to brushing dandruff off Lord Grantham’s shoulders. Or just shut up. Oooh, get him! Karl Lagerfeld is being bitchy again, claiming Michelle Obama ‘looks like a newscaster’ with her new fringe and hairstyle. Now just hold it right there, K-Lag. I won’t have a word said against FLOTUS (that’s the First Lady of the United States, for those who never watched West Wing). Bond villain look: Karl Lagerfeld has criticised Michelle Obama for her new fringe haircut . Especially not by some desiccated ogre in leather glovettes and a peroxide comb-over. What is the Chanel boss like? If he was a Bond villain, Karl would be too far-fetched. As the Child Catcher, he’s more believable. He’s not just ghastly. He’s not just wrong. He is out of touch with ordinary women who like and admire Michelle for all the right reasons. What is going on? I read that when appearing on an American chat show this week, Catherine Zeta-Jones (right) ‘easily passed for a woman much younger than 43’. Oy! There are millions of us out here who don’t think 43 is particularly old. Who would actually love to be 43 again. And not just around the hips. Meanwhile, Davina McCall complains that because she has long hair at the age of 45, her granny thinks she is a slut. Yes, the Roaring Forties are a very confusing time. | Can it be 20 years since Antonia de Sancha famously romped with goofy David Mellor?
She looks pretty darn good for a 51-year-old smoker .
Escort girl Jenny Thompson should learn - the indiscreet mistress is never likely to come out well .
Iain Duncan Smith believes higher benefits won’t solve child poverty. Let’s hope his findings won’t be howled down by partisan politics, but I’m not holding my breath. Some are accusing him of waging war on the poor. They can do nothing wrong; he can do nothing right. And in the meantime, we can’t move forward.
MRS Brown’s Boys has been the stealth comedy success of the century. Critics hate it, audiences love it. Over Christmas, it beat Miranda and everything else. It is filthy, foul-mouthed and features a man in a dress saying ‘feck’ an awful lot. It’s like a panto put on by a mad family who live at the end of the street. And it’s hilarious. |
19,037 | 35e8cec2eea3d342681b9a5d67e432ee23b4a9ef | (CNN) -- Steven Soderbergh made certain his new movie, "Che," about the life of revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, couldn't be attacked -- at least on a factual level. Steven Soderbergh hewed close to the facts in making the four-hour "Che," starring Benicio Del Toro, right. "I didn't mind someone saying, 'Well, your take on him, I don't really like,' or 'You've left these things out and included these things.' That's fine," Soderbergh said. "What I didn't want was for somebody to be able to look at a scene and say, 'That never happened.' " But he's aware that he's going to be accused of romanticizing the Argentine doctor and Marxist guerrilla who helped Cuba's Fidel Castro launch the first and only victorious socialist revolution in the Americas. He doesn't buy the criticism. "I don't have sort of a personal investment in making him look one way or another," Soderbergh said in one interview with CNN. "I picked [these periods in his life] because I was interested in the specifics of how you wage a war like this -- mostly because I don't believe you can wage a war like this anymore." In a separate interview, he added, "He killed people and he was pretty up-front about it, and he was a hard character. And the movie's kind of a process film about trying to wage a certain kind of revolution. ... I think he comes across as pretty tough." For the director, profiling Guevara meant a lot of research. Soderbergh read everything he could find on Guevara from both supporters and opponents; he wanted to make sure he correctly told the story many Cubans know by heart. Watch an extensive interview with Soderbergh: Part 1 » Part 2 » . "Che" is the kind of project that few directors besides Soderbergh might try. The director is known for varying his Hollywood productions, such as "Erin Brockovich" and "Ocean's Eleven," with quirky personal films such as "Full Frontal" and "Bubble." "Che," shot in Spanish, is a two-part biographical film that runs more than four hours overall. Part one, "The Argentine," portrays Guevara's role in the revolution that overthrew Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Part two, "Guerrilla," shows his later efforts in Africa and Bolivia. Guevara was executed in Bolivia in 1967 after trying to foment revolution in the South American country. "I have to say, it is probably one of the most difficult movies I've ever made," actor Benicio Del Toro said. "The way I felt on a Monday in [shooting] this movie is the equivalent to how I felt at the end of the week of another movie." Del Toro, who also co-produced "Che," plays Guevara in the film, and Mexican actor Demian Bichir plays Castro. Although Del Toro is well known for his Oscar-winning performance in "Traffic" (also directed by Soderbergh), Bichir is not as recognizable outside his native country. "Demian, though, was very crucial," Soderbergh said. "Because if we don't have someone who can go head to head with Benicio and feel like he's just as strong, then the movie doesn't work at all. And I was really impressed by [Bichir's] confidence. Because that's what Fidel really has more than anything, is that confidence." Soderbergh, who said he was first approached by Del Toro to do the project while making "Traffic" in 2000, is just as happy with his language choice for the Spanish-language film. He feels "Che" would not have earned respect as an English-speaking movie. "It seemed weird to make a movie about one of the most vocal anti-imperialists of the 20th century and use the language of the imperialists," he said. "That just didn't make any sense to me." Soderbergh hopes the practice of doing foreign films in English will go out of practice completely, and Del Toro agrees. The actor believes it is time the United States, Britain and Australia see movies the way the rest of the world has been seeing them for decades -- with subtitles. "I think it helps relationships," Del Toro said. "I think it's good to have movies from different cultures. And, you know, the only way you are going to understand them is [with] subtitles." Though he was born and spent part of his childhood in Puerto Rico, Del Toro -- who describes himself as "a Hollywood actor" -- said speaking Spanish in "Che" didn't come easy. "I'm lucky that I'm bilingual," he said. But Soderbergh readily admits he was greatly affected by the language barrier. Fortunately, he added, he understands enough Spanish to know when there was a problem with translation, and the rest he accepted peacefully. "I found it really pleasant to not understand the language completely, because then it becomes like music and you can tell when the notes don't sound right," he said. The cast filmed on location in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Bolivia. While Soderbergh was frustrated by the U.S. embargo on Cuba that kept him from filming in the country itself, he enjoyed working in remote places without distractions. "I like the 'man with the movie camera' aspect of going out there and getting stuff that you can't get any other way," Soderbergh said. "I got a sense that that part really did appeal to Che. That he really did love being out there with the group, doing this one thing that they were trying to do." The New Year marks the 50th anniversary of Guevara and Castro's overthrow of the U.S.-supported dictator Batista. Though realizing Cuba and its revolutionary personalities remain a subject of controversy in America, Soderbergh hopes people take a step back and look at the big picture from the perspective of history. "I think there's a lot of information, a lot of detail about both these campaigns -- Cuba and Bolivia -- that don't generally come out in the stories about these two battles," he said. "I thought it was all pretty interesting." Del Toro agreed. "Because I got this job, I learned a lot about -- more than what I knew -- about the history of Latin America, the history of Cuba, the history of the '60s," he said. "That was part of the fun of doing this movie." | Steven Soderbergh's new film a four-hour epic on Che Guevara .
Benicio Del Toro plays Guevara, Marxist guerrilla executed in 1967 .
Soderbergh doesn't mind if people disagree with film, wants facts straight . |
46,387 | 82b4e15a19fdab61d43237ba8778b5d83458f8db | (EW.com) -- Have you ever seen a Velvet Teddy Bear with rock-hard abs? American Idol alum Ruben Studdard, who beat Clay Aiken back in 2003 to earn the season 2 crown, is moving on to a new reality competition: The Biggest Loser. Studdard — nicknamed the Velvet Teddy Bear for his cuddly physique and silky-smooth vocals — is ready to change that image in the name of health. EW: 'The Biggest Loser' gains viewers, but so do Fox toons . "I've never had an issue with my weight," Studdard, 35, told People. "[But] my family has a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart-related issues — things I didn't have to deal with yet because I'm young. But I don't want to be worried at 40, and if I don't fix things now, I will be." EW: 'Biggest Loser' trainers won't scream at kid contestants . While Studdard is hardly the first celebrity to lose weight on TV — VH1′s "Celebrity Fit Club" ran for seven seasons — he is the first famous face to compete on "The Biggest Loser," which returns to NBC this fall. 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. | The Velvet Teddy Bear would like to shed more weight .
Studdard will be the first famous face on "The Biggest Loser"
He said he is doing it for his health . |
131,145 | 3597401e2d7fee0df8a3e09183483bf3b8b47a38 | (CNN) -- A Belgian football agent has stepped up his fight to prevent the sport's lawmakers from limiting the spending power of clubs, suggesting teams should be allowed to control their own finances if they pay a "luxury tax." Daniel Striani is questioning the legality of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules implemented by UEFA, European football's governing body. Striani teamed up with Jean-Louis Dupont -- the lawyer who in 1995 helped change European law and the freedom of football transfers in the landmark Bosman case -- to lodge a complaint with the European Commission in May. Now they have launched legal action in the Court of First Instance in Brussels, asking for it to "judge on alleged infringements of both EU competition law and the right to free movement (of workers, services and capital)." The duo are challenging UEFA's "break-even" rule, which dictates a football team cannot spend beyond its means. The regulation is supposed to ensure that bigger clubs do not gain an advantage by operating under huge debt guaranteed by wealthy owners. Striani claims the rule is illegal under European Union law as it is "disproportionate." He is suggesting that overspending should be allowed with certain conditions, such as if teams agree to pay a "luxury tax" or if there is a change in how revenue is shared in UEFA club competitions. "This latest legal process is supported by a growing body of economic and legal opinion which argues the UEFA rule is ineffective, illegal and disproportionate given alternative measures available," read a statement released to CNN by Striani's publicist on Thursday. The European Commission process is ongoing, with a ruling expected in 2014. Dupont was part of the legal team which represented Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman, whose successful battle to switch clubs at the end of his contract with Standard Liege changed the face of the football transfer market. Players are now allowed to move on free transfers when their deals with clubs expire. Striani works primarily with young, up-and-coming players. His two most high-profile clients are Yohan Benalouane at Parma in Italy and Denis Odoi at Belgian club Anderlecht. Malaga became the first major team to fall foul of FFP after UEFA claimed the club owed wages to players and had debts with other football sides as well as the Spanish tax authorities. UEFA hit the European Champions League quarterfinalists with a two-season ban from continental competition, which was later reduced to one season. The Spanish club's appeal against that punishment, which included a $400,000 fine, was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport this month. | A Belgian football agent has stepped up his legal challenge against UEFA .
Daniel Striani is questioning the legality of Financial Fair Play rules .
Financial Fair Play prevents football clubs from spending beyond their means .
Striani is being assisted "Bosman rule" lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont . |
79,921 | e290a0eee4a03a0640254aa66307a57b635fda1a | Austin, Texas (CNN) -- Historically, the tech industry has not been especially hospitable to women. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor released a list of the 20 leading occupations of employed women. None of them was in the technical field. That same year, only 3% of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were women, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology. From coders to venture capitalists, women remain a small minority in most tech-related businesses. This issue was a recurring theme at last week's South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin, Texas, where attendees gathered at women's-only parties and panels featured such titles as "Sausagefest: Getting More Women Into New Media & Tech." Conversations focused on the unique set of challenges women face as minorities in the tech workplace. This isolation, they said, spurs a need to gather and to collectively exchange ideas. As a result, an increasing number of groups has formed to help women find mentors and build their confidence. Tamara Hudgins is the executive director of Girl Start, an nonprofit based in Austin. The organization provides science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming for girls outside of the classroom. "Less than 12 percent of STEM jobs in America are filled by women. So for us, making sure that more girls feel that they have access to STEM jobs is critical," she said. "Having more women in the field is important for innovation." In interviews with CNN, many female developers said they felt they had to fight for respect or deal with internal issues of self-doubt to advance in their career. "As a female, there's kind of that perception that you don't have certain skills or reasoning," said Patty Cifra, a software developer for IBM in Austin. The perception goes, "You are just not as good at science as males, or else why wouldn't there be more females (in scientific fields)?" Women at SXSWi also talked about the desire to be respected in the tech workplace, not just liked. "How we have been conditioned to be maybe works fine for being the popular girl in school. But at a certain point in our professional life, being the nice one does not get us to the level of respect or responsibility that we want," said Tara Sophia Mohr, a San Francisco-based life and leadership coach for women. "We have to be more authoritative and more assertive and be OK with not being liked by everyone," she added. Laura Kilcrease, sitting in an audience at a panel on women entrepreneurs, jokingly refers to herself as the only female venture capitalist in Austin. She said a lack of assertiveness can prevent women from properly scaling their new business venture and asking for money. "Women generally want less money than they really need, and they don't show me a big business plan," Kilcrease said. "I challenge women to think about scaling their business and asking for enough funds to cover their projected growth." As conferences like SXSWi bring together thought leaders from all over the world, women here hope these discussions can help close the gender gap in tech fields. Business strategist Valeria Maltoni of Philadelphia offered a solution, broken into three parts. "Women need to become better at stating clearly what they want," she said. "We're not very good at stating clearly and consistently what our contribution is going to be and asking for our part in the project. "The second part of that is be better at self-promoting. As women, as wives, as daughters, as partners, as team members, we tend to be very good at promoting others. We tend to really suck at highlighting what we're good at," she added. "We need to find a way to be OK with the results we bring to the table and being OK with being confident in those results." Finally, she stressed the need for women to find mentors, whether those mentors are male or female. However, having a female role model can help women visualize their own future, she said. The desire to connect other like-minded women and build a community led developer Garann Means to form all-girl hack nights in Austin. Attendees come together to exchange ideas and work on projects. "If it was open to men, it would be mostly men. The fact that it's exclusive to women helps bring women out," Means said. "It's just a little easier when you know this is for you." "Being the only [female developer], you don't have role models," Cifra said. "Then you go into these groups and you see distinguished engineers at IBM that are females, and it encourages you to be like, 'Yeah, she did it. She went through the same path, and it's something that I can follow.' " "I think these organizations form because women have certain issues that don't pertain to guys," agreed Cifra. "You're more comfortable voicing these opinions to someone who is sympathetic and understanding of what you are going through." Such segregation by gender is not a popular idea to everyone in the industry. But Hudgins said they are necessary because time and time again, educators see women drop out of nonsegregated programs. Despite the bleak statistics, there was plenty of optimism in Austin. With so many people working together to increase opportunities for women in tech, many of the woman CNN interviewed at SXSW said they don't think this conversation will be happening in 10 to 15 years. "Development is becoming more social. They (men and women) are talking. They're not hiding in basements. I think that's really good for this industry," Means said. Cifra also is hopeful about the future of the industry, thanks in part to the rise of social media, which tends to attracts more women, she said. "The social computing aspect brings a lot more people," she said. "I see more and more women in the technical field." | Conversations at SXSW focus on issues women face as minorities in workplace .
Less than 12% of (science and tech) jobs in U.S. filled by women, nonprofit director says .
Women at SXSW hope these discussions could close the gender gap in the industry . |
168,998 | 66a30eed2ecfe83359243f5c53d835d56db44739 | By . Associated Press . As he sat in a crippled airliner, Ron May braced his head between his legs and prayed for his wife, who was seven months' pregnant with their first child. Everyone on the jet feared they were about to die. That was back on July 19, 1989, when May was a passenger aboard United Flight 232. The DC-10 was traveling from Denver to Chicago when it lost all hydraulic power after the rear engine exploded. The crew used the remaining two engines to steer a winding course to Sioux City, where the massive plane crash-landed, cartwheeling down the runway and bursting into flames before breaking apart in a cornfield. Of the 296 people on board, 184 survived. Most couldn't believe it. 'We're upside down and I'm alive,' May, now a 55-year-old Chicago pastor, recalled of the landing. 'Everything was chaos.' Survivor Ron May, 55, braced his head between his legs and prayed for his wife, who was seven months' pregnant with their first child while on board . Never forget: from left, Sioux City Fire Chief Bob Hamilton (retired), 185th commander Col. Dennis Swanstrom (retired), United Airlines Head Flight Attendant Jan Brown (retired), and United Airlines pilot Capt. Al Haynes speak during a panel discussion about the crash on Friday . Survivor: Jan Brown, the lead flight attendant on Flight 232, has led an unsuccessful campaign to get the Federal Aviation Administration to end the practice of allowing children under the age of 2 to travel on a parent's lap without a ticketed seat because of a child that died in the crash . Catastrophe: In this July 19, 1989 file photo guardsman Dennis Nielsen carries passenger Spencer Bailey away from the wreckage of United Airlines Flight 232 . A quarter of a century later, the flight is considered one of the most impressive life-saving efforts in aviation history. At the time, Capt. Al Haynes was hailed in much the same way as US Airways pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who safely ditched his Airbus A320 into the Hudson River in New York in 2009. The legacy of the crash lives on. It changed the way planes were designed, ensuring more backup systems to prevent the kind of catastrophic hydraulic failure that made Flight 232 almost impossible to control. It also drew attention to the need for emergency preparedness. And the efforts of the crew were remembered in movies and books. This weekend, survivors will gather for 25th anniversary memorial events at the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation in Sioux City. Still, some of the safety changes sought by survivors have not happened. Jan Brown, the lead flight attendant on Flight 232, has led an unsuccessful campaign to get the Federal Aviation Administration to end the practice of allowing children under the age of 2 to travel on a parent's lap without a ticketed seat. She is haunted by the memory of a 22-month-old lap child who died in the crash. 'It's heart-wrenching after 25 years,' said Brown, now 73. 'How truly pathetic that you can still take a lap child, the most vulnerable of our population, and risk flying with them on our lap.' Before she left her role as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board earlier this year, Deborah Hersman lamented that the rules for lap children had not been changed since the crash. In a statement, an FAA spokeswoman said the agency recommends that parents secure infants in seats, but said that if they are forced to buy an extra ticket, parents may eschew flying for driving, which could be more dangerous. According to data on the U.S. Department of Transportation website, there have been no preventable infant deaths on planes in 17 years. The terror on Flight 232 unfolded over more than 40 minutes. At about 3:15 p.m., an engine on the DC-10 aircraft exploded and chunks of metal ripped apart all three of the jet's hydraulic systems. The plane lost all hydraulic fluid, shutting down the systems that controlled the plane's altitude and direction. Aid: This file photo shows emergency workers treating injured passengers from United Airlines Flight 232 . Reunion: United Airlines pilot Capt. Al Haynes and flight Attendant Susan White Callender hold hands after a news conference about the plane crash . Crash: Search crews walk past the wreckage of the United Airlines flight 232 20 July 1989 in Sioux City, after its crash at Sioux City Airport . Haynes sought to steer using the two remaining engines. He was aided by instructional pilot Dennis Fitch, who just happened to be traveling on the flight as a passenger. Fitch sat on the floor of the cockpit. The crew knew the plane was in grave danger. 'The potential was that we could all go straight down,' Brown said. Haynes navigated toward Sioux City. According to the recordings from the cockpit, he said to the crew: 'We're not gonna make the runway, fellas. We're gonna have to ditch this son of a (expletive) and hope for the best.' As the pilots tried to bring the plane down at the Sioux City airport, the right wing plowed into the ground, sending the jet into a cartwheel and tearing it apart as it skidded across the pavement into a cornfield. 'It was complete chaos. Bodies thrown about the plane. Others were thrown from their chairs. There was smoke and fire and debris,' said Jerry Schemmel, 54, of Littleton, Colorado. Crash site: The plane crash killed 112 people . Ruins: Search crews investigate the wreckage of the United Airlines flight 232 20 July 1989 in Sioux City after the crash . Debris: A cranes lift the tail section of United Airlines Flight 232 onto a truck in this July 2 1989 file photo . Survivors struggled to get out of the wreckage, emerging into the cool green Iowa cornfield. Schemmel tried to help people out and then went back in for a baby he heard crying. The crash, captured on video and viewed in news broadcasts, was the subject of extensive review. An analysis by the NTSB found that the airline failed to detect a crack in a fan disk in one of the engines during an inspection process, which ultimately led to the engine failure. Soon after, DC-10 planes were modified with a shut-off valve to prevent the loss of all hydraulic fluid in future. The emergency response in Sioux City was also as a model for other cities to match. County authorities had disaster plans in place and had drilled for such situations. They quickly mobilized huge numbers of medical and rescue personnel, bringing in ambulances from more than 28 agencies across a 60-mile radius. For survivors, the legacy of the crash is complicated, given the many lives lost. Schemmel said he will attend the memorial services this weekend, but then hopes to finally put Flight 232 behind him. 'I think as much as anything, it will be good for my family. Our son, who is 15, is going to come along,' he said. 'After this weekend, it will be a chapter we can close.' Record: National transportation Safety Board official Thomas Jackey displays the cockpit voice recorder (L) and the flight data recorder (R) at a 1989 news conference . | On July 19, 1989 United Flight 232 was traveling from Denver .
to Chicago when it lost all hydraulic power after the rear engine .
exploded .
Of the 296 people on board, 184 survived .
A quarter of a century later, the flight is considered one of the most impressive life-saving efforts in aviation history .
Survivor Ron May, 55, braced his head between his legs and prayed for his wife, who was seven months' pregnant with their first child while on board .
This weekend, survivors will gather for .
25th anniversary memorial events at the Mid America Museum of Aviation .
and Transportation in Sioux City . |
4,452 | 0cd753e89bd0864d0cfb3fa61b0928a3bae86785 | Mexico City (CNN) -- A clandestine mass grave found near Mexico City may hold the answer to what befell 12 youths who were kidnapped from a bar in the capital back in May. Federal investigators swarmed a ranch east of Mexico City on Thursday, where they confirmed that at least seven bodies had been found, and that two arrests were made near the location. A lawyer representing the families of five of the missing, however, told CNNMexico that he received a call from a source who said the bodies of the youths may be found there. The lawyer did not reveal his source. The apparent kidnapping of the 12 youths from an after-hours club called Heavens shocked residents of Mexico City, who for the most part have been spared from the violence seen in other areas. The lawyer, Ricardo Martinez, said his source told him there were 13 bodies found at the ranch, possibly in two mass graves, one that held the remains of the males, and the other, the females. Mexico City's attorney general on Thursday said there was one grave so far that was being investigated. Officials have not confirmed the identities of the bodies, and CNN could not independently confirm the claims of the attorney. Martinez said that a suspect in the disappearance of the youths led authorities to the ranch. Families of missing haunted by mystery . Mexico City Attorney General Rodolfo Rios said investigators were taking DNA samples to identify the remains, which could take several days. The site where the bodies are found is the town of Tlalmanalco, in the state of Mexico, about 30 miles east of Mexico City, the state-run Notimex news agency reported. Local, state and federal police were all at the scene. A gang was involved in the mass disappearance, officials have said. The May 26 incident at the after-hours bar jolted the capital city, given it took place in daylight on a Sunday morning. Video footage shows a gang of about 17 people arriving in eight vehicles at the fashionable Zona Rosa district, according to authorities. The owner of the bar, a co-owner and two bar employees have been arrested in the case. CNNMexico's Veronica Diaz and Juan Pablo Mayorga contributed to this report. | Authorities have found a clandestine mass grave near Mexico City .
A lawyer believes the bodies could be linked to a bar disappearance .
12 youths were disappeared from a Mexico City bar in May .
Officials say it could take days to identify the bodies . |
276,573 | f25130931c8cfad6a197c663b323c4e32ad015c9 | (CNN) -- More than three years ago, the outgoing U.S. ambassador in Zimbabwe, Christopher W. Dell, wrote a valedictory note about the government of President Robert Mugabe. It was titled simply "The End is Nigh." His advice to the U.S. State Department: "Stay the course and prepare for change" in the southern African nation. Today, President Mugabe is still in place, though he now heads an uneasy power-sharing government with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The cable, dated July 2007, is one of thousands obtained by WikiLeaks, some of which were published Sunday in The New York Times and four European newspapers that had advance access to the documents. Dell goes on to characterize Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, as "a brilliant tactician" who is "more clever and more ruthless than any other politician in Zimbabwe." He also believes Mugabe is "hampered by several factors: his ego and belief in his own infallibility." He notes that contacts within the ruling party, the ZANU-PF, are desperately seeking reform but acknowledge that it won't happen while the "Old Man" is still there. Mugabe has been in power in Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980. Once one of Africa's wealthier nations, with a thriving agricultural sector, it has deteriorated into economic and social turmoil. In 2007, the same year the cable was written, Zimbabwe had the highest inflation rate in the world at 66,212 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund. Fuel and food shortages prompted Dell to say "for the first time the president is under intensifying pressure simultaneously on the economic, political and international fronts" and that Mugabe was "running out of options." He says it up to the U.S. "once again, to take the lead, to say and do the hard things." He admits in 2007 that Mugabe will "not wake up one morning a changed man, resolved to set right all he has wrought. He will not go quietly nor without a fight. He will cling to power at all costs." Dell added: "Mugabe and his henchman are like bullies everywhere: if they can intimidate, you they will. But they're not used to someone standing up to them and fighting back." According to the cable, Dell said the "optimal outcome ... is a genuinely free and fair election, under international supervision." Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, had been trying to mediate in Zimbabwe and had, according to Dell, "the best, albeit very slim, hope of getting there." When considering possible Mugabe successors, Dell is less than impressed with the options. He calls the MDC "far from ideal" and is "convinced that had we [the U.S.] had different partners, we could have achieved more already." He goes on to lament that the current leadership would "require massive hand-holding and assistance should they ever come to power." Morgan Tsvangirai, prime minister and MDC head, is characterized by Dell as a "brave, committed man" with "star quality." However, Dell criticizes Tsvangarai as being "not readily open to advice, indecisive and with questionable judgment in selecting those around him." Perhaps most tellingly Dell says of the MDC leader: "Zimbabwe needs him, but should not rely on his executive abilities to lead the country's recovery." Last week, Tsvangirai took President Mugabe to court, claiming he was making unilateral decisions regarding important Cabinet and judicial appointments in violation of the power sharing arrangement. | WikiLeaks releases 2007 cable from outgoing U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe .
Christopher W. Dell likens President Robert Mugabe to a bully, predicts change .
Dell wasn't optimistic about Morgan Tsvangirai and other leadership options .
Inflation and turmoil have plagued the southern African nation for decades . |
99,640 | 0c621457bcc5bd036bcaa47b62cc32d93eee65f2 | Proving that bigger is definitely better is P&O Cruises, who have taken delivery of the largest ever cruise ship for the British market. The liner which can hold 3,647 passengers will boast £1 million worth of art, nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied, including a 936-seat theatre, four pools, and 13 places to eat. The colossal vessel will leave Italy and arrive in Southampton on Friday March 6. Before her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on Saturday 14 March, she will be officially named on Tuesday 10 March. Scroll down for video . Queen of the ocean: The Britannia will be named in an official ceremony on Tuesday 10 March, and make her maiden voyage on Saturday 14 March . The spectacular three-tier atrium on the Britannia. Guests can enjoy nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied, including a 936-seat theatre, four pools, and 13 places to eat . Cosy cabin: A Superior Deluxe cabin on board the P&O liner. In total there are 1,837 cabins on board, and 15 passenger decks . The 141,000 ton cruise ship will feature a 1,837 cabins, a three-tiered atrium, a library and a sports centre. Adults can relax in the Oasis Spa & The Retreat, whilst the children enjoy the extensive facilities, including four age group areas, a night nursery and outdoor splash area for teens. For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the largest amount of shops in a fleet at 660 sqm. The stunning Blue Bar room on board the 141,000 ton cruise ship. The luxury liner also include a library and Oasis Spa & The Retreat . The handover saw P&O finally take possession of the grand cruise ship, just days before it is set to be unveiled to the public . Queen of British baking Mary Berry will allow people to learn from her 60 years in baking, on the 12-night British Isles cruise to the Mediterranean, departing July 6 . Unique to the cruise is the opportunity to hone your skills in the kitchen alongside your relaxing cruise. Great British Bake-off judge Mary Berry will lead a list of 10 celebrity chefs offering up classes on the ocean, as well as hosting chef's table dinners, book signings and Q&A sessions. She will be featured on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin and prices to learn from her 60 years in baking start from £1,149pp. Celebrity chef and master patissier Eric Lanlard owns a cake boutique in London called Cake Boy and will join a line-up of 'food heroes' who will be on board the ship during certain sailings . The artistic decor in the atrium of the Britannia. The ship will also hold £1 million worth of artwork . For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the large amount of shops . While the weather wasn't ideal for a swim, the pools on deck will offer respite from the heat on summer Mediterranean cruises . Mary Berry will be on board to share her culinary skills on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin . NATHAN OUTLAW- Cruise B503, a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise departing March 28. From £1,549pp: Four Michelin stars in total, two at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac, Cornwall, and one each at Outlaw's Fish Kitchen, Port isaac and Outlaw's at The Capital, Knightsbridge. PIERRE KOFFMANN - Cruise B510, a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing June 13 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,449 per person: Legendary French-born chef who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann’s at The Berkeley. MARY BERRY - Cruise B513, a 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 with Theo Randall and James Martin. From £1,149pp: Television chef, Great British Bake-Off judge and prolific food writer for 60 years cooking experience. THEO RANDALL - Cruise B153 (as above): Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane. LAWRENCE KEOGH - Cruise B514, a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise departing July 18. From £799pp: Head chef at the Wolseley restaurant in London. JAMES TANNER - Cruise B516, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing August 8. From £949pp: Co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth, and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Kent. VIVEK SINGH - Cruise B517, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing August 15. From £1,999pp: Modern Indian chef with three London restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. DANIEL GALMICHE - Cruise B519, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing September 5. From £799pp: Michelin-starred Executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire, a pioneer of modern French cuisine and TV chef. ANTONIO CARLUCCIO – Cruise B523, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing October 9 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,149pp: Beloved chef , food writer and owner of Carluccio's chain of restaurants. PAUL RANKIN - Cruise B524, a 14 night Portugal & Caribbean cruise departing October 23 with Eric Lanlard. From £1,139pp: Celebrity chef from County Down. The handover ceremony of P&O cruises took place on Sunday February 22, in Italy’s Trieste, and was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman, David Dingle, senior executives from P&O Cruises, as well as senior teams from the shipyard Fincantieri, where Britannia was built. The ceremony involved exchanging of flags, and the P&O Cruises flag was hoisted in place. Stars to attend the prestigious event included cheese expert Charlie Turnball, TV wine expert Olly Smith, and master patissier Eric Lanlard, along with some of the P&O Cruise Food Heroes. Cheese expert Charlie Turnball outside his delicatessen in Shaftsbury, Dorset attended the handover ceremony on February 22 in Italy . | The luxury liner can hold 3,647 passengers, has four pools and a theatre .
She will take her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on March 14 .
Guests can enjoy the spa, library and £1 million worth of art . |
135,885 | 3bcaf89fc29d4988bbbda2860ea468f0c273e8b9 | Lea-Ann Ellison, the Los Angeles fitness enthusiast who triggered outrage last September when she posted photos of herself on Facebook lifting heavy weights just two weeks before her due date, has once again hit back at her 'haters'. The 35-year-old mother of three, who gave birth to her youngest son four months ago, is back in the gym and says she, and little Skyler, are doing 'great'. 'I started back at CrossFit three weeks after my son was born,' she tells MailOnline. 'I did not go very hard as my body was still healing but I was so happy to be back to my program.' No mommy tummy here! LA native Lea-Ann Ellison hits back at critics of her exercise regime and displays her post-baby body a mere four months after the birth to little Skyler, pictured . The trim blonde proudly reveals her post-baby body in a new series of photos with son Skyler, and there's not a hint of a mommy tummy to be seen. 'I know, for me, that keeping strong and fit during pregnancy, and eating a diet full of fresh organic food has been key to my success in gaining my figure back,' she remarks. 'And no sugar! Sugar will keep a mommy tummy on a lady forever!' According to MuscleTech.com, CrossFit entails 'an aggressive yet well-rounded pursuit of general, overall fitness in the ten recognized domains, as opposed to the bodybuilding ideology of pursuing perfect muscle symmetry, size and cuts.' Ms Ellinson sparked controversy when photos emerged of her lifting what appear to be heavy weights while eight months pregnant . Ms Ellison says that when she fell pregnant, she received the go-ahead to continue with her workout 'immediately' from her health providers. 'This is something I have been doing for many years and to discontinue would have been a disservice to my body and my unborn baby,' she explains. In response to harsh critics commenting on a TMZ article yesterday, the fitness queen took to her Facebook fan page, writing: 'I hope to inspire other ladies to be healthy and fit while pregnant and after. If you don't like it, sit your ass on a couch and eat a donut.' Picture of health: The CrossFit fanatic credits her regime, coupled with a healthy organic diet and no sugar, with helping her snap back into shape so quickly . She continued by revealing that she now works out twice a week, without a trainer so she can spend more time with her kids, and that: 'What seems dangerous and impossible for some is a walk in the park for others'. But some were less than complimentary of Ms Ellison's approach. 'While what she did may not have harmed HER unborn child, it was completely unnecessary, with unpredictable results,' wrote one commenter. 'Going to this extreme sends the wrong message to expecting mothers,' mused another. Back in the game: Ms Ellinson says she hopes to 'inspire other ladies to be healthy and fit while pregnant and after' Ms Ellinson claims that the negative comments have 'no effect' on her at all. 'For a self confident person like myself it's like dust in the wind,' she remarks, adding that she simply feels 'sad' for individuals who aren't educated on the matter. And to her credit, she does seem to have more fans than critics. Many who responded to the TMZ story mentioned that that the new mother looked 'great' and was an 'inspiration.' 'I can't believe we're at the point of attacking people who strive for a healthier life for themselves as well as their children,' mused one. Baby weight! The keen mother ups the intensity of her walking lunges by strapping her adorable 13lb baby son to her chest . Another argued that people had chosen the wrong target to bash, writing: 'Why aren't we focusing more on moms who do drugs and other detrimental things?' Ms Ellison, who has declared she wants to be a 'Hot Mom', gave birth to Skyler last November in her home using a birthing pool, with no pain medication at all. 'I think what a woman's body is capable of is extraordinary and I choose to be present and in control for the whole process by not using drugs,' she explains, admitting that she has 'always loved the birth process' and, miraculously, doesn't find it difficult 'at all'. Tender moment: Skyler was born at home at in a birthing pool, with no pain medication and his mother claims to 'love the process' The tough cookie says she that kept exercising right up until she gave birth. 'Five days before Skyler was born, I completed 40 pull ups without assistance!' she reveals, adding that she did have to decrease her weights and 'scale back' on some aspects of her workout. The feisty mother regularly takes to her Facebook page to document her fearless regimen. 'No excuses! 400 meters of walking lunges is no joke. Then strap on a 13 pound baby. Holy mother,' she posted in January, almost two months from the day since giving birth. Ms Ellison first made headlines back in September when she posted a series of bold photos in which she is appears to be straining to pick up a heavy weight bar and lifting dumbbells above her head, all whilst sporting a huge pregnancy bump. What critics? Ms Ellington receives fan mail every day from woman who admire her approach . While many supported her decision to maintain her strenuous fitness regime, others were horrified. 'She is very selfish for endangering a life for her own personal gains and achievements. This is not a proud picture to post,' one respondent posted, as others labeled the photos 'sickening' and 'worrying'. Andrea Nitz, a personal trainer at CrossFit Brand X, in Ramona, California has published an article for the The Crossfit Journal, addressing the question of whether the regime is safe for expectant mothers. 'As many studies have shown, it’s not bad for our babies. It is actually very good for the kid,' Ms Nitz writes. She goes on to speak from personal experience, writing: 'I have seen for myself that babies born to CrossFitting moms have a number of similar traits that make for a smoother transition to life outside the womb.' And she may be right, if Ms Ellison's photos of her healthy-looking, bouncing baby boy are anything to go by. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists however, warns against undertaking strenuous exercise during pregnancy, saying: 'It has been reported that pregnant women whose occupations require repetitive, strenuous, physical work (e.g. lifting) have a tendency to deliver earlier and have small-for-gestational-age infant.' Most medical guidelines fall somewhere in between on their advice. The Mayo Clinic warns that although a woman's 'tolerance to strenuous exercise will decrease' as the pregnancy progresses, it's perfectly safe in most cases. 'Regular exercise can help you stay in . shape, better cope with the physical changes of pregnancy and build . stamina for the challenges ahead' In fact, according to a study last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in four women in the U.S. are obese when they become pregnant, and the ill effects of this can be far more potentially dangerous to an unborn child. Complications for an obese expectant mother may include high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and potential extra difficulties during labor and birth. 'Regular exercise can help you stay in shape, better cope with the physical changes of pregnancy and build stamina for the challenges ahead,' the Mayo Clinic states. For Ms Ellinson, it's been a rewarding journey and she's thrilled to have picked up many fans and new friends along the way. 'I receive fan mail every day from women saying thank you for leading the way. It has been very wonderful to see such a positive result of such an unexpected popularity,' she concludes. | Lea-Ann Ellison is keen fan of 'aggressive but well-rounded' CrossFit regime which involves weights and heavy lifting . |
156,124 | 55d0a024a7ce9cd9b657cbedfcfc4bf815de3eca | (CNN) -- Adam Levine has a new title. "Sexiest Man Alive," according to People magazine. It's the first time the Maroon 5 frontman and coach on NBC's "The Voice" has been named the magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive." "As a musician, you have fantasies that you want to win Grammys, but I didn't really think that this was on the table," the singer told People. "I was just amazed and stunned and it almost seemed like they were kidding, but they weren't, so that's cool." In the People interview, Levine credited yoga and spinning with helping him keep up his stamina -- and physique. The magazine hits newsstands Friday. Adam Levine engaged to model Behati Prinsloo . Levine: Obviously, I don't really hate America . | Adam Levine is the lead singer of Maroon 5 .
He also serves a judge on NBC's "The Voice"
"As a musician, you have fantasies that you want to win a Grammy," he says . |
89,544 | fe419bb1bfbf2bfdd34d69b388e83069939633a1 | A Christmas tree decorated with dozens of garish bows and ribbons has been branded a 'monstrosity' by furious residents who claim it is ruining the town's upmarket vibe. Locals have condemned the tree - which was decorated by a local business owner - claiming it does not fit in with the posh market town of Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. The tree was decorated by cafe owner Andrew Allen at the mayor's request but can barely be seen beneath dozens of bows, ribbons and gaudy decorations. The Christmas tree (pictured) in the Bradford-on-Avon town centre has caused an uproar among locals . Cafe owner Andrew Allen, who decorated the tree (pictured), said he doesn't mind if some people hate it . Many have dubbed it 'blingy', and a 'monstrosity', with some claiming it looks 'like a giant party popper has exploded all over it'. James Vincent, a lifelong Bradford resident, said: 'I have never seen anything like it. 'There has always been a Christmas tree in Westbury Gardens and I believed that they wanted everyone to have white lights in the town.' Other disgruntled residents voiced their anger on local websites. One said: 'I am lucky enough to work in this delightful, quintessentially British town and when I saw the tree earlier this week, I could not believe how ghastly it looks and totally out of place. 'It looks like a giant party popper has exploded all over it. Please change the decoration before Friday.' Steve Harman added: 'The Christmas tree in Bradford-on-Avon - absolutely appalling, looks like it's been done by a committee of five-year-olds. Take all the decorations off and start again, with white lights only, in the traditional manner.' Louise Langdon wrote: 'It looks like the wind has picked up rubbish and has blown past and it's got caught in the tree.' In previous years, the Lions Club have decorated the tree. But this year, its members were only in charge of erecting it. The garish ribbons and bows on the tree (pictured) make it look like a 'monstrosity', according to locals . In previous years the Lions Club have decorated the tree (pictured), however this year they only erected it. Pictured is a close up of its gaudy decorations . Mayor John Potter has admitted the decorations (pictured) may need to be toned down in the coming days given the residents' angry reactions . Richard Bloom, from the club, said he was 'dumbstruck by the monstrosity'. He added that, when the club was in charge of the decorations, it had followed advice from Chamber of Commerce businesses to adorn trees with white lights. Despite the criticism, Mr Allen, who was asked to decorate the tree by the town's mayor John Potter, remains defiant. He spent a day-and-a-half working on the tree and said 'a look' just popped into his head and he worked from there. He added: 'We were sort of fighting against the light to finish the decorations on the top on Sunday but so far we have had a lot of positive comments because it is a bit in your face. 'I think some people will love it and I don't mind if some people hate it.' Mr Potter described the tree as a 'work of art' but admitted that, based on residents' comments, it may need to be toned down in the coming days. Have you seen a Christmas tree that looks worse? Email [email protected] . | Garish Christmas tree decorations cause fury among Bradford residents .
Local business owner decorated it with dozens of bright ribbons and bows .
Residents say it is a 'monstrosity' and looks like rubbish has stuck to it .
Cafe owner Andrew Allen says: 'I don't mind if some people hate it'
Mayor calls it a 'work of art' but has admitted it needs to be toned down . |
187,236 | 7e7d43f177d36600ff4deb607f7c092a4f442668 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:42 EST, 22 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:10 EST, 22 August 2013 . NBA star Ryan Anderson led mourners at the funeral of his girlfriend, tragic Bachelor star Gia Allemand on Thursday. The 25-year-old joined Gia's mother Donna Micheletti at the Trinity Grace Church of Chelsea in New York City for the service which took place at 11am. The digressed Ryan wore a dark suit and white shirt and placed an arm around the shoulders of one mourner while putting out a hand to steady Ms Micheletti who emerged from the church in tears. Scroll down for video . Mourning: Gina Allemand's boyfriend Ryan Anderson and her mother Donna Micheletti led mourners at her funeral service in New York City on Thursday morning, emerging from the church with Donna in tears . Tragedy: Ryan struggled to hold back his emotions with the distress etched on his face . Tragic loss: Gia Allemand passed away on August 14 in New Orleans . The group left the church all holding yellow roses while the emotional Ms Micheletti wore a black dress with a silver cross around her neck. Gia's mother and boyfriend had earlier entered the church holding hands for support. The star's father Eugene Allemand was also at the service, holding up a Kleenex to his face as he made his way inside. A car arrived bearing a floral . tribute to the 29-year-old spelling out her name in pink, while Gia's . coffin was driven to the venue in a white hearse. Gia's Bachelor co-star Jake Pavelka is also believed to have been in attendance. He earlier tweeted: 'Going 2 b an incredibly tough day. Crossfit train n NY 2 occupy my mind. Then...Find my peace w Gia. Can I ask 4 ur prayers today?' The model and actress shot to fame as a contestant on the tenth season of popular reality show The Bachelor where she became the third last contestant to be sent home by Pavelka. Gia, committed suicide at her home in New Orleans, Louisiana and was found by her long term boyfriend, New Orleans Pelicans star Ryan, on Monday August 12. She was rushed to University Hospital in New Orleans and placed on life support before passing away two days later. Gia's tragic death has left friends and family desperately searching for answers. She is reported to have been going through problems in her relationship with NBA star Ryan. - a source told People they were not living together and cited Gia's religious beliefs as the reason 'they were waiting for marriage to consummate their relationship'. Gia had also been 'hoping for a ring' from Ryan, according to another friend who saw the star weeks before her death. 'But their problems really seemed like typical relationship issues everyone has,' they added. Unsure of where her relationship was heading, Gia was even considering a move back to New York. 'You could tell she was sad about things weren't working out the way she hoped they would,' Bachelor Pad co-star Michelle Money told People. Despondent: Close family and friends saw the tragic Bachelor star be laid to rest, just over a week after her tragic suicide . Supportive arm: Ryan put his hand on Donna's shoulder as he and the group of mourners emerged after the service . Tribute: A car with a floral tribute to the tragic Bachelor star arrived at the church . TMZ has also previously reported that Gia accused Ryan of being unfaithful during a lunch date the day she died. During the car ride back to her New Orleans home, he told Gia: 'I don't love you anymore,' TMZ claim. Despite her insecurities, friends and . family of the star all reiterate that Gia 'didn't seem the type' to . take her own life and had been 'behaving normally' in the days before . her death. In fact, law enforcement officers told People that the suicide did not appear premeditated, with her . apartment well maintained, her refrigerator stocked and new clothes . found in her bedroom. Sad day: Gia's coffin is carried into the church while her mother Donna and boyfriend Ryan (left) follow . Sombre: Donna held a yellow rose as she followed the NBA star into the church . Tragic: Gia mother was in tears as she followed the eight pall bearers who carried Gia's coffin out of a white hearse . However, around . an hour before her fatal act, the star allegedly sent an email to Ryan . detailing their problems before emailing friends and family in a way . 'consistent with someone saying goodbye,' according to a responding . officer. Previous reports have suggested that Gia was on the telephone to her mother when she hanged herself. According to TMZ, Donna Micheletti told police that during the call, the phone 'had gone silent'. Ms Micheletti then tried 'in vain' to communicate with her daughter for a further ten minutes. Devastating loss: Ryan kept his head down as he headed into the church, while Gia's mother Donna cut an emotional figure . Wiping away tears: Gia's father Eugene Allemand arrived with a handkerchief in hand . Laid to rest: Gia's coffin was carried out of a white hearse before the 'beautiful service' Her boyfriend then returned home to check on Gia, but when he found her body, made a 911 call. But by the time Ryan discovered his girlfriend's body, 'she had been without oxygen for around 30 to 40 minutes.' One of Gia's neighbours, Mike . Simpson, told People that he ran to the scene after overhearing Ryan's . horrified reaction and took over speaking to the 911 operator while the NBA star performed CPR. 'He just kept yelling her name like "Why, Gia? Why?" Simpson recalled. 'He was so distraught.' Gia allegedly left a suicide note on the dining room table, leaving all of her property to her mother. Asking for prayers: Gia's Bachelor co-star Jake Pavelka tweeted he would 'find my pace with Gia' earlier on Thursday . Paying tribute: A group of mourners earlier arrived at the church . In a statement released after her death, Ryan said: 'Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out, and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile. She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed.' Ms Micheletti also posted an online tribute video and obituary for her daughter on the Papavero Funeral Home site. 'Loving girlfriend 'Petrie' of Ryan 'Snuggy' Anderson, beloved daughter and little princess of Donna Micheletti and stepdaughter of Tony Micheletti, loving sister of Dylan and Erick, most cherished granddaughter of Marie (Nonna) Coltrinari, devoted Godchild of Fred and Annemarie Coltrinari, dear cousin of Brian, Ellen, Kevin and Julie, and also survived by her dear dog Bentley,' the obituary read. Devastated: Gia had been dating NBA player Ryan Anderson for two years and had relocated from Orlando to New Orleans . Thursday's funeral was held just 24 hours after a memorial service took place at the Papavero funeral home in Maspeth, New York. The service follows a memorial for the star on Wednesday and an initial remembrance service held by her friends at the weekend. The memorial took place in New Orleans and around 50 people paid tribute as they said prayers before throwing flowers into the Mississippi River in honour of her. Devastated: Gia's father Eugene Allemand attended Wednesday's memorial to his daughter in New York at the Papavero Funeral Home site . Remembering: Friends and co-workers made their way down to the waterfront with their flowers on Saturday . | Bachelor star Jake Pavelka tweets he will be 'finding my peace with Gia' and asks for prayers on 'incredibly tough day'
Gia's father Eugene Allemand tearful as he entered church . |
191,782 | 8456a08b8e3346fd04909cf937defbdfd6911bd9 | Sara McMeen, 30, committed suicide after killing her family last week . Her father Louis McMeen shot dead his first wife 40 years ago after spending time in a mental hospital . By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 14:29 EST, 22 December 2011 . A history of violence and mental illness exists in the family of a woman who shot her three children and boyfriend before turning the gun on herself. Sara McMeen, 30, shot her children Skyler Lemke, eight, Ian Lemke, seven and ten-month-old Maggie Warren in the back yard of their home in Emington, Illinois. The body of her partner, 29-year-old Daniel Warren, was found inside the home last Friday. It emerged today that McMeen's father shot his first wife dead more than 40 years ago in front of their two-year-old son. It happened before Sara McMeen was born. Scroll down for video . Looking forward to Christmas: Ian Lemke, seven and his eight-year-old sister Skyler were shot by their mother Sara McMeen while playing in the back yard of their home in Emignton, Illinois . A happier time: Sarah McMeen, right, and Daniel Warren, left, cuttle their newborn baby Maggie. All three are now dead along with McMeen's two children from a previous relationship . A jury found Louis McMeen not guilty . by reason of insanity in the 1971 killing of Pamela Bradley McMeen. Sheriff's . officials say they may never know Sara McMeen's state of mind before . the killings but the mother of Mr Warren said she had suffered from . bi-polar disorder. Authorities were waiting until the funerals of the family have taken place before questioning relatives and friends. The four victims will be buried . today. Daniel and Maggie Warren will be laid to rest in Morris, Illinois while the . funeral of McMeen's children from a previous relationship, Skyler and Ian, . will be held in Dwight. Devastation: Mourners watch as the casket of Sara McMeen leaves the memorial home in Dwight, Illinois - authorities believe she shot her boyfriend and three children before killing herself . Young family: Sara McMeen was said to have been suffering from bi-polar disorder but was not on any medication when she reportedly shot her ten-month old baby Maggie . Around 125 mourners attended the funeral of Sara McMeen in Dwight yesterday, saying that McMeen was a 'good person who lost her way', according to NBC Chicago. Pastor Roy Leve, who attended the . funeral, said: 'The McMeen family are very faithful in their desire to . love the Lord, and I'm just here to kind of support them in their loss.' The mother of Daniel Warren said she . saw McMeen just before the shooting and that she seemed happy, despite . not being on any medication for the mood disorder. Speaking to RadarOnline,Wendy Warren . said: 'Sara and my grandbaby came by to see me just the day before it . happened. She was happy and everything. She came to collect some clothes . that I had bought for baby Maggie.' Mourners: A congregation of around 125 attended the funeral of Sara McMeen who took her own life last week in Illinois after killing her own family . Laid to rest: A hearse carrying the young mother's body drives away from the funeral home in Dwight, Illinois . Grief: Mourners leave the funeral home yesterday after a service for Sara McMeen who was described as a 'good girl' who lost her way . The ten-month-old infant McMeen . shared with Mr Warren was shot at point-blank range in front of a . horrified neighbour at their home in the tiny farm town, after police . say she shot with Skylar Lemke, eight, and Ian Lemke, seven - from her . relationship with ex-boyfriend Brad Lemke. She then turned the gun on . herself. Around 40 years ago, Miss McMeen's . father Louis McMeen took his wife, from whom he had separated, to . secluded woods in Streator, Illinois and shot her before driving . to the police station with her body and his son on his lap. Mr McMeen had been released from a psychiatric ward a month earlier and was . returned to the custody of the state being unfit to stand trial, according . to the Chicago Tribune.There were no records of when he was released. He is now believed to be living in Dwight, according to the Pontiac . Daily Leader. Adored: McMeen cares for little Maggie right after she was born. It's unclear why the 30-year-old killed her family . Mrs Warren said Sara McMeen and her son had been dating on-and-off for five years. 'They had their issues and they’d . fight but they’d get back together,' Mrs Warren said. 'They had bought . rings but they weren’t married. They were working on their issues.' She said her son had several guns in the home. 'There were three children in the . house so he never kept the bullets the same place as the weapons and he . always had them locked up,' Mrs Warren told Radar. 'He had always wanted . to be a cop but was happy working in security.' Gruesome discovery: Daniel Warren was found inside the house while the bodies of the three children were lying in the back yard of the rented home . All killed: The young family had only moved to the tiny farming town of Emington six months ago . Brad Lemke earlier told the Chicago . Tribune he was at a loss to explain why the 30-year-old mother-of-three . might have annihilated her own family. 'I don't know, I have no idea,' he said. Neighbour Annelise Fiedler said she . heard gunshots on Friday afternoon and ran outside to see McMeen . wrapping her ten-month-old daughter Maggie in a blanket on the ground in . the family's backyard. Ms Fiedler, not realising what was happening, asked McMeen whether she was alright. McMeen responded: 'No, everything is not OK,' then bent down and shot the baby at point-blank range. Tragic end: The schoolchildren in the family were said to be excited as they got off the bus because school was out for Chirstmas . Ms Fiedler said she ran for help. When she returned McMeen was dead, having apparently turned the . semi-automatic pistol on herself. The gunshots Ms Fiedler heard were likely the sounds of McMeen gunning down Mr Warren and her son Ian inside the house. In the backyard, she killed Skyler before taking the life of her infant. Ms Fiedler said she had heard her . next door neighbours fighting at least three times since they moved in . this summer. But they otherwise kept to themselves. The two school children, on the other hand, were well-known in the town of 120 people. Neighbours reported seeing them playing in the backyard and nearby park often. McMeen's mother Cynthia, who is a . school bus driver in a town 12 miles north of Emington, issued a . statement asking for privacy as the family copes with the deaths: . 'The family grieves over the loss of . their loved ones. They realize this (tragic) incident affects not only . their family, but other families as well. The family is drawing together . during this time, relying on God, and grieving. They would ask for your . prayers for all the families involved and would like their privacy to . be honoured.' Skyler and Ian Lemke, the two older children, were seen getting off a school bus an hour before they were murdered. Tiny town: Emington, Illinois, is a farm down with a population of just 100. Residents say they have never seen anything like this before . 'They were happy because it was the last day of school before Christmas break,' neighbour Ronald Groetsema said. Neighbours reported seeing the school children playing in the backyard moments before they were gunned down. The family had moved to the town of . about 100 people about 80 miles southwest of Chicago this summer and the . two older children attend school in nearby Saunemin. Livingston County Sheriff Martin . Meredith said first responders found the bodies after Livingston County . dispatchers received a call on Friday afternoon. Ronald Groetsema lives near the home . where the family was found and said he heard six to eight gunshots, then . heard a second round of four to six shots a few minutes later. Mr Groetsema's 12-year-old son got off the school bus with the children who died, he said. Residents described Emington as a . once strictly farming town that has gone through changes in the last 20 . years as young families moved in. Young said the town has become more . of a bedroom community from which people commute north to cities such as . Joliet, about 45 miles away. 'We did have an awful disaster here,' said Emington Mayor Daniel Delaney, who's been in office for 24 years. 'You never would have thought it . would happen in our town of 100 people or less. It's very sad. There . were helicopters flying over earlier. Right now it's just very, very, . very sad for us here.' Mayor Delaney said the town is not prosperous and has received help from the state. 'It's always really had a hard time. Most of the people are retired or farmers who moved into town,' he said. Emington has a post office that's . been targeted for closure and just a handful of small businesses - a . grain elevator, a dog groomer and a small beauty salon. The town, Livingston County Board member Bob Young said, had never experienced anything like Friday's shootings. 'I've lived here all my life. I . guess, 60, 70 years ago we had a bank robbery, was the other big thing, . but otherwise, nothing like this,' he said. Young said he did not know the family well. 'We've seen the kids playing at the playground and talk to them,' Mr Young said. 'We thought everything was fine.' McMeen was one of nine children. Mrs Warren said she had spoken to McMeen's family, and that they were all consoling each other. View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com. | Sara McMeen, 30, committed suicide after killing her family last week .
Her father Louis McMeen shot dead his first wife 40 years ago after spending time in a mental hospital . |
276,036 | f1a2329bafb8db315b89a8882cba070cd4248108 | It breaks my heart to read about the death of James Boyd, a homeless man shot and killed by Albuquerque police in March. Boyd was apparently mentally ill. His death recalls the January shooting of Keith Vidal, the North Carolina teenager who, his family says, suffered from schizophrenia and who was shot and killed after police arrived to help with a crisis. Many details of that case are still unclear, and it's hard to know who or what is responsible. Tragically, incidents such as this appear over and over again in the news. The scenario goes something like this: Police are called to assist with a person who is experiencing a mental health crisis. There is an escalation in tensions, perhaps the introduction of a real or imagined threat, and this leads to someone getting hurt or, worse, killed. And it's not always the person in crisis; sometimes, it is the police officer. Another all-too-common outcome is that the person in crisis ends up not at the hospital but at the jail. Police officers, families and certainly people with mental health conditions don't want this to happen. And it doesn't have to. There is a time-tested, well-researched way to lessen the likelihood that calling the police for assistance will end badly. In 1988, an approach was developed in Memphis that has been slowly -- too slowly -- making its way throughout the country. It's called Crisis Intervention Team Training, usually just referred to as CIT. Here's how CIT works: A team of police officers (or other first responders) from one department or jurisdiction, or from a coalition of neighboring departments, undergoes a comprehensive week-long (40-hour) training program that does several things. It teaches some basics about mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders and developmental disabilities, and it explains how to recognize and interact with someone with these conditions who is in crisis. News reports indicate that the detective who was put on administrative leave after the Keith Vidal shooting had not completed the CIT program, though others in the Southport Police Department, where he served, had. If true, we can't know whether this would have changed the outcome, but it most certainly could have helped. A cadre of community experts provides the training. They include fellow police officers, mental health professionals, family members and people who live with mental health conditions. In addition to clinical information and learning about community resources (and how to link to them), trainees hear personal stories, acquire de-escalation skills and put knowledge into practice through role play. Officers and people who have had their own crises act out a number of no-holds-barred, real-life scenarios. They also get a sense of what it's like to experience extreme mental health symptoms, such as hearing voices. It's not always pretty to watch or listen to, but the outcomes of the CIT training show great promise. Research shows that when CIT trained officers respond to a call, there are myriad benefits. The use of physical restraints goes way down, as do injuries to people in crisis and to officers. People are less likely to be arrested and taken to jail. And because officers know how to connect people to community services, the need to use the most expensive emergency services can sometimes be avoided. Equally valuable is the goodwill that CIT engenders. Officers report greater satisfaction in knowing how to help people, and citizens report greater trust in their police. If cities as large as Philadelphia and Houston and rural communities such as New River Valley in Virginia and Cambria County, Pennsylvania, can institute CIT, why aren't there teams in every community? Of course, it costs money to pull officers off the street, to train police dispatchers, to pay for materials and for costs associated with using community buildings. Grants from government entities and foundations can at times help to offset these costs. And much of the training is done by volunteers. While the basics of the training program remain the same, it must be tailored to each locality. Therefore, more than anything else instituting a CIT program takes commitment and coordination. This usually begins with a person, or small group of people, building a coalition of community stakeholders. How many fewer tragedies might there be if more people stepped forward to become CIT champions? 'My brother just needed help, and now he is dead' | Debbie Plotnick: James Boyd was homeless man, mentally disturbed, shot by cops .
Program that trains cops to deal with mentally ill might have helped, she says .
She says such education improves outcomes, reduces injuries, death, jail time .
Plotnick: Why isn't every police force across the country offering the program? |
8,639 | 185d68c35c3f50a58aa35e483ffd5e688c2bba29 | By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 17:49 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:49 EST, 10 February 2014 . Seth Meyers has announced that he is stacking his new Late Night team with familiar faces including his fellow Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen. Armisen, known best for his acting chops on Portlandia and impersonations of President Obama and Joy Behar, actually started his career as a musician and plays the drums and guitar. The surprising pick was announced on Twitter by Meyers Monday and later confirmed by NBC. Working together: Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers were colleagues on SNL for 11 years and now will continue working together on Late Night when Seth Meyers takes over the reins on February 24 . Surprise: Meyers was the one to make the announcement about his musical staff on Monday afternoon . 'Fred will curate and lead the band, and continue to run it even when he's off shooting Portlandia,' Meyers wrote to his more than 2.2 million followers. The tweet was completed with the hashtag #8GBand, showing that the name of the group is inspired by the studio name where the show will be filmed. Armisen is the second-longest SNL cast member, losing the title to his new boss, Meyers, who was on the variety program for 13 years while Armisen was a cast member for 11 years. The news comes as NBC's late night line up goes through some serious changes as Jimmy Fallon is due to start hosting The Tonight Show next Monday. With Fallon moving to the earlier time slot, Meyers was chosen to take over the Late Night slot. Fallon is bringing his much-loved band, The Roots, with him to the Tonight Show which gives Meyers the chance to stock his own crew. Switching it up: Armisen is known best for his acting but he actually started his career as a musician and will not be stopping his work on Portlandia once he takes on the house band role . Passing the... pickle? Jimmy Fallon is leaving his post at Late Night and taking over The Tonight Show and Meyers was selected as his replacement (seen here with the 'Late Night pickle' during a January 28 show) The Roots and their leader Questlove are widely considered to be among the best in house bands in late night history considering they have won three Grammy Awards and a host of other honors in their multi-decade history. Arimsen and Questlove had a good-natured drum off when he appeared as a guest on Fallon's show in January 2013, proving that the comedic actor could hold his own. The selection of Armisen suggests that he will serve as a comedic foil for Meyers, as the two men are good friends and will likely play off each other once the show begins airing on February 24. | Former SNL star Fred Armisen is joining his friend Seth Meyers as the band leader for the new Late Night show .
Armisen is best known as an actor but started his career as a musician .
Will continue to shoot his show Portlandia . |
243,428 | c710c4116ac54f41ebace930eb2b7aa9f294652e | (CNN) -- What a week it's been for Formula One ace Nico Rosberg. A new wife, a World Cup win for his beloved German football team and now a new contract with the Mercedes team. Rosberg heads to his home grand prix in Germany this weekend on cloud nine -- and still leading the 2014 world championship by four points from Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. First came the wedding, as the 29-year-old married childhood sweetheart Vivian Sibold in Monaco last week. The celebrations carried on as Rosberg enjoyed a rare race free Sunday by watching Germany defeat Argentina to lift the World Cup for a fourth time. The Mercedes driver -- who had sportingly invited French Lotus driver Romain Grosjean to watch Germany defeat France in the quarterfinals after qualifying for the British Grand Prix -- plans to mark Germany's triumph with a special helmet for his homecoming race. He will race around Hockenheim with football's World Cup trophy at the centerpiece of a black, yellow and red design. Rosberg, the son of 1982 F1 world champion Keke, also goes to Germany with a multi-year contract extension in his back pocket. The former Williams racer, who joined Mercedes when the Silver Arrows returned to the sport in 2010, has signed on for an unspecified number of seasons. "I'm looking forward to the next years together," said Rosberg, who has raced to six victories with the German team. "We will keep pushing to win even more races -- and hopefully championships." Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff said: "Nico's speed, commitment and focus have all helped to give clear direction and to drive the team forward since 2010. "With his performances in 2014, Nico has demonstrated to the outside world what we already knew in the team; that he is one of the very top drivers in Formula One." Rosberg made his F1 debut with Williams in 2006 but his reputation has grown at Mercedes, particularly as he proved equal to the sport's seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher during their three years as teammates. Since replacing Schumacher in 2013, Lewis Hamilton has provided another benchmark for Rosberg to measure himself against. The English 2008 world champion is generally perceived to be the quicker driver but Rosberg has shown in 2014 that he is developing into a more rounded racer. Hamilton signed a three-year contract when he joined Mercedes with the deal due to expire at the end of 2015. From junior teammates and friends, Rosberg and Hamilton are now locked in an intriguing battle for the 2014 world title. Rosberg has won three races with Hamilton, who has lost valuable points with two retirements, taking five grand prix victories as the season reaches its halfway point. After Hamilton's victory at the British Grand Prix put him back in the title hunt, Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda predicted of his Mercedes charges: "They will fight until the end like you do not believe to be world champion." Rosberg may already be enjoying an annus mirabilis but he still has his eye on the prize he really wants -- his first F1 world title. | Nico Rosberg signs a new multi-year contract with the Mercedes F1 team .
The 29-year-old also married his long term girlfriend this week .
Rosberg will mark Germany's World Cup with a special helmet for Sunday's German Grand Prix .
The German driver leads Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by four points . |
126,254 | 2f2f7b6d2858228ba6a5f1928135ee5e7c199709 | (CNN) -- The Army-Navy game this Saturday marks the 120th anniversary of the great football rivalry. Their first game, played on a gridiron laid out on southeast corner of the West Point Parade Ground, was so sparsely attended that spectators could move up and down the field as the line of scrimmage shifted. We have come a long way from that first encounter, but as Army and Navy get ready to play again, the legacy of that 1890 game is worth recalling. In 1890 Army had only one player with any real football experience -- Dennis Michie, in whose honor today's West Point's football stadium is named. As a result Army was trounced 24-0 by a Navy team that had been playing football since 1886. The next year Army hired a part-time coach, played a series of early-season games, and with Michie (who would die tragically in the Spanish-American War) once again leading the way, Army avenged its earlier loss by a 32-16 score. Both teams could now claim bragging rights. Their competition had gotten off to the perfect start. Five years before the advent of the modern Olympics, the two service academies had turned their new athletic rivalry into front-page news. The Army-Navy game, as those reporting it noted, quickly became as much about character as physical skill. "Pluck was the most conspicuous feature of the game of football at West Point on Saturday between the cadets of the Naval and Military Academies," an 1890 account observed. "Where bravery was so common and so notable it would be unfair and unjust to cite one man as braver than another." The public's response to that first encounter worked to the advantage of both schools, and they went out of their way to make sure their rivalry remained consistent with the military values they sought to display on the gridiron. When in the wake of the 1893 game, which drew a crowd of 8,000, animosities between the two academies reached such a fever pitch that a retired rear admiral and a brigadier general came close to fighting a duel, the game was canceled for six years by order of the secretary of war and secretary of the Navy. The lessons the cancellation taught were absorbed by both sides, and when the game resumed in 1899 on a neutral site, Franklin Field in Philadelphia, before 27,000 people, everything went so smoothly that Army and Navy officials decided that the game must be played annually. Making sure their football rivalry did not deteriorate into petty squabbles paid further dividends two years later when President Theodore Roosevelt and 30,000 fans attended the 1901 Army-Navy game. The president became so excited about the play, which featured a 105-yard kickoff return by Army's star quarterback, that at one point he left his seat and moved to the sidelines to get closer to the action. But Roosevelt was careful, despite having served as assistant secretary of the Navy, to maintain public neutrality. At halftime he inaugurated the presidential tradition of moving from one team's side of the stadium to the other's. Since TR's time, the Army-Navy football game has always had a life of its own. In his memoir, "You Have to Pay the Price," legendary Army coach Earl "Red' Blaik wrote, "The primary objective of Army football must be victory over Navy. It cannot be achieved by anything less than complete dedication." For Navy's coaches victory over Army has the same priority. Coaches at both schools know that success in the Army-Navy game is crucial to keeping their jobs. How far this pressure to win goes is epitomized by the story former Army coach Paul Dietzel tells in his autobiography, "Call Me Coach," of a dinner party at the home of Gen. William Westmoreland, later commander of American troops in Vietnam, who while superintendent of West Point hired Dietzel in 1962 to revive Army's football fortunes. "There's one thing you'll need to understand right from the beginning," the general's wife, Kitsy, told Dietzel. Then, turning around, she flipped up her skirt to reveal a pair of blank panties with "BEAT NAVY!" printed on them in bright gold letters. In 1944, when Army, led by its All-American running backs "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis, was ranked No.1 in the nation and Navy, with a line superior to Army's, was ranked No.2, they played an epic game, won by Army, that helped sell more than $58 million in war bonds. At the game's conclusion, sports' columnist Allison Danzig wrote, "The country can now return to the normalcy of fighting the most terrible war ever inflicted upon mankind. The Army-Navy game has passed into history." But an even more revealing comment on the place the Army-Navy football game had come to occupy in World War II America was summed up by a telegram that General Douglas MacArthur, then leading American forces in the Pacific, sent to Army's coach in 1944. "THE GREATEST OF ALL ARMY TEAMS," MacArthur wired. "WE HAVE STOPPED THE WAR TO CELEBRATE YOUR MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS." MacArthur's hyperbole was deliberate, but there was nothing exaggerated about his belief that the Army-Navy game should serve as an antidote to dark times. When the Army-Navy game of 1963 was canceled as a result of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it was played a week later at the request of the Kennedy family, and the coin that President Kennedy would have flipped to decide which team received the opening kickoff was sent as a gift by Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance to Navy's winning football captain Tom Lynch. The following year, with the Vietnam War in its early stages, retired President Dwight Eisenhower, then living in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, put his own stamp on the Army-Navy game. Ike, a 1915 West Point graduate, had desperately wanted to be a football star, and in 1912 he was heralded as one of the best running backs in the East. A knee injury ended his football career and kept him out of the 1912 Army-Navy game, but over the years, Ike maintained his interest in Army football. When he was asked by a cadet interviewing him for West Point's student-run Pointer magazine to send the 1964 Army team a telegram on the eve of the game, he happily complied. The telegram was designed to rally Army's players, who had lost five straight games to Navy, then led by All-American quarterback and future Dallas Cowboys star Roger Staubach. But what emerged from Ike's telegram was much more than a call for victory. For Ike, the essence of the Army-Navy game was the pressure it put on everyone who participated in it to hold nothing back. "You will always have what you give today. The more you give the more you will keep!" Ike wrote in a message that is as relevant today as it was in 1964. Army-Navy football remains a stellar attraction but it has suffered from the increased competition for fans' attention at the pro and college ranks. That doesn't, however, take away from what the game stands for. This year's game, like those of the past, marks the last time most of both teams' seniors will ever step on a football field. As they have known ever since they arrived at West Point and Annapolis, what awaits them is not a tryout in the National Football League or a lucrative job in business, but active service, which these days amounts to a five-year commitment. In no other athletic rivalry is the price of participation higher. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nicolaus Mills. | The Army-Navy game on Saturday marks the 120th anniversary of the football rivalry .
Nicolaus Mills: Both academies made sure the rivalry was consistent with military values .
The game has become tradition for Americans and an antidote to dark times, Mills writes .
Mills: Army-Navy players don't go directly to NFL or a lucrative job, but to active service . |
117,955 | 244e250094985e6f815015650aa8d08a89b3af3f | Hong Kong (CNN) -- While only the highest echelons of North Korea's opaque leadership will know the full financial cost of Wednesday's launch, South Korea's government estimates Pyongyang spent $1.3 billion on its rocket program this year. The two rockets launched this year -- this week's mission and a failed attempt in April -- cost $600 million, while the launch site itself is estimated at $400 million. Other related facilities add another $300 million, according to an official from South Korea's Ministry of Unification. "This is equivalent to acquiring 4.6 million tons of corn," the official said. "If this was used for solving the food shortage issue, North Koreans would not have to worry about food for four to five years." Whatever the cost, what is known is that North Korea is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with an economy worth just $40 billion, according to the CIA World Factbook. But the price of North Korea's rocket launches might be lower than government estimates because North Korean workers earn much less than their southern neighbors, says Cheong Wook-Sik, Director of South Korea's Peace Network in Seoul. The Kaesong industrial complex, on the border with South Korea, has some of the country's highest wage earners at about $100 per month, says Cheong, 14-year chief of the South Korean non-governmental organization. "This is very high compared to the rest of North Korea. If you're not working in Kaesong, the average worker salary drops to an average of perhaps $50 per month." Prior to Wednesday's launch, South Korea threatened tougher sanctions on North Korea in the footsteps of a 2007 freeze on North Korean funds held at Banco Delta Asia in the Chinese territory of Macau. Cheong says some $25 million are still frozen there -- illicit funds from money laundering and drug trafficking by the North Korean regime. "But in order to impose further sanctions, China's involvement is necessary" because Beijing is Pyongyang's closest ally in the world, Cheong said. "I don't think financial sanctions against North Korea are the best course of action because that can make the situation out of control." But the financial cost and any risk of further sanctions may be a tradeoff for internal political gain as leader Kim Jong-Un tries to solidify his grip on power, as Wednesday's launch comes near the first-year death anniversary of his father, Kim Jong-Il, on December 17. Read more: What does North Korea's planned rocket launch mean? Indeed, Cheong believes the main audience for Wednesday's rocket launch is North Korea's own citizens -- not the rest of the world. "If North Korea succeeds in launching a satellite, North Korea propaganda may spin this by saying the country has become a prosperous and strong nation. That will help Kim Jong-Un both consolidate his power and help maintain the legacy of his father." If there is a message to the international community, adds Cheong, it may be that North Korea is implying "our satellite launch means we have nuclear weapons, we have a delivery system." Timeline: North Korea's rocket-fueled obsession . CNN's KJ Kwon contributed to this report from Seoul . | South Korea: Cost of Pyongyang's two rocket launches estimated at $1.3 billion .
North Korea appears to have successfully launched a rocket after a failed April mission .
Official: Cost of 2012 rocket program could feed North Koreans for "four to five years"
Analyst: main audience for Wednesday's rocket launch is North Korea's own citizens . |
162,875 | 5e9dab9d170d124a36e60ffab2d88c80c776ed6f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:18 EST, 17 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:36 EST, 18 June 2012 . Reality TV star Jack Osbourne has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The 26-year-old discovered he had the disease after losing 60 per cent of vision in his right eye. And speaking to Hello! magazine, he told of his shock at the diagnosis but said he is refusing to let it get him down. 'Adapt and overcome is my new motto': Jack Osbourne is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis . Jack, who recently became a father for the first time said at first he went through all different emotions when he was waiting for the diagnosis. He said: 'While I was waiting for the final results, I got really, really angry. 'The timing was so bad. I'd just had a baby, work was going great - I kept thinking, "Why now?" 'Then I got really sad for about two days, and after that I realised, being angry and upset is not going to do anything at this point - if anything it's only going to make it worse. Staying strong: Jack and his fiancée Lisa Stelly have just become parents for the first time . 'Adapt and overcome' is my new motto.' He said his fiancé Lisa - who gave birth to their daughter Pearl two months ago - has been very positive and supportive. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. MS affects the brain . and the nervous system and destroys myelin sheath layers between the nerves in the . brain and spinal cord which stops impulses being carried around the . body. It can cause blindness, slurred speech, muscle weakness and a loss of coordination. There is no known cause or cure for MS, which is twice as common in women than men. Between two and five per cent of cases are discovered in children under 16. And she told the magazine: 'Jack will have to change his life for the better - get healthier, not get stressed.' Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and the nervous system and destroys layers between the nerves in the brain and spinal cord which stops impulses being carried around the body. It can result in blindness, slurred speech, muscle weakness and a loss of coordination. And Jack's parents Sharon and Ozzy said they were still struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis, with Sharon even blaming herself. She said: 'I keep thinking, "what did I do wrong? What did I eat or drink when I was pregnant?" I feel like it's somehow my fault. Ozzy added: 'If it was me, you'd think: "Ozzy had a reputation and it caught up with him," but Jack is such a good guy.' Sister Kelly took to her Twitter page this morning to urge fans to support her sibling, writing: 'Please support my brother @mrjacko in not only his bravery but honesty! i love you so much jack & I'm so proud of you!' And following the news of his diagnosis being made public, Jack tweeted: 'Thank you all so much for the kind and inspirational words. It means a lot. #adaptandovercome.' Jack was thrust into the public eye in 2002 when he and his family were followed by film crews for the MTV reality show The Osbournes. With the family in the public consciousness, he also went through a very public battle with drugs and alcohol. Super cute: Jack's fiancée Lisa tweeted a shot of the pair's daughter yesterday . Concerned: Jack's parents Sharon and Ozzy questioned whether they were to blame . | Reality star, 26, discovered the disease after losing 60 per cent vision in his right eye .
Fiancee Lisa Stelly just had couple's first child - daughter Pearl .
Jack is the son of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne .
Thrust into the public eye in 2002, when he starred alongside his family in The Osbournes . |
187,508 | 7ed37e41d21fd3c26ba5b1d02e9b4cd31b43168c | Bono has apologised for sending his band's album to the libraries of iTunes users throughout the world. The U2 frontman described the move by Apple as a 'drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity'. When someone suggested to him that it was 'rude' to impose his music on everyone, Bono said: 'Oops, I'm sorry about that.' Scroll down for video . Bono has apologised for sending his band's album to the libraries of iTunes users throughout the world. The U2 frontman described the move by Apple as a 'drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity'. Here he is pictured with his band members and Apple CEO, Tim Cook (left), at the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch event in September . Apple announced at its iPhone 6 launch event that the Irish band's latest album would be automatically added to every iTunes Store account, in 119 countries around the world, for free. Since the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, Apple has released a one-click tool allowing iTunes customers to remove the album if they wish. An Apple user on a recent Q&A Facebook session said: 'Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to people's playlists ever again? It's really rude.' 'I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing,' Bono replied. Pictured is Adam Clayton, the bassist from U2 during the Facebook question and answer session. During the session, an Apple user said: 'Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to people's playlists ever again? It's really rude' Unfortunately for Apple and U2, many of other customers are not happy the 'Songs of Innocence' album had been forced upon them – and took to Twitter and Facebook to voice their upset . Go to Apple's removal page, click Remove Album and enter your Apple ID. The album will be automatically removed from your account. The album was distributed to iTunes users via iCloud, which means it appears in the Music app on devices, but isn’t physically stored on the computer, phone or tablet until it has been downloaded. If it has been downloaded, users can swipe to the left on each song and click Delete, but unless they use the recently created page, the album will still sit in the account. To hide the album from iTunes manually, users must log into their account, find the album and click the cross in the top left-hand corner of the cover image. The album may also appear if the phone has the auto-download feature enabled. To turn this off, go to Settings, iTunes & App Store, then disable Automatic Downloads. Unless users remove the album, using Apple's latest link, the songs will still be played in Shuffle mode. A manual fix for this is to create a custom playlist on an iOS device and exclude U2’s Songs of Innocence from it. 'A drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity, a dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn't be heard. 'There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it,' he said. Unfortunately for Apple and U2, many of other customers are not happy the 'Songs of Innocence' album had been forced upon them – and took to Twitter and Facebook to voice their upset. Twitter user @HayleyMuir said: '#Apple outrage; notified earlier I've no storage for pics, to discover I've attained a U2 album I DON'T WANT & can't delete #p*****d OFF!!!!' While @HTFCMac tweeted: 'If iTunes even thinks of putting U2 on my computer I may go into full on #OUTRAGE', which was seconded by @Roxiestargazer, who said: 'All these U2 songs appearing on my phone? This is an outrage.' A number of users also referenced the wider security implications. User @MezMerrett tweeted: 'If Apple can forcefully download a U2 album onto everyone's phone, imagine what else they can do and see.' At the time, Bono noted that not everyone would be happy to receive the free music. 'For the people out there who have no interest in checking us out, look at it this way… the blood, sweat and tears of some Irish guys are in your junk mail,' he wrote on the band's website. Bono's apology follows rock star Iggy Pop's criticism that the band is 'giving away music before it can flop, in an effort to stay huge.' Bono and David Evans, more commonly known as The Edge, pictured leaving the BBC Radio 2 studios today . Bono signs autographs after apologising for album being automatically downloaded onto Apple iTunes libraries . U2's Songs of Innocence album (pictured) was automatically added to iOS devices following Tuesday’s iPhone 6 launch event. Apple said it was a gift for any iTunes Store customers in 119 countries. Users have complained they didn't want the album, and moaned the album is difficult to permanently delete (pictured right) The album was distributed to iTunes users via iCloud, which means it appears in the Music app on devices, but isn't physically stored on the computer, phone or tablet until it has been downloaded. If it has been downloaded, users can swipe to the left on each song and click Delete, but unless they use the recently created page, the album will still sit in the account. To hide the album from iTunes manually, users must log into their account, find the album and click the cross in the top left-hand corner of the cover image. The album may also appear if the phone has the auto-download feature enabled. To turn this off, go to Settings, iTunes & App Store, then disable Automatic Downloads. Unless users remove the album, using Apple's latest link, the songs will still be played in Shuffle mode. A manual fix for this is to create a custom playlist on an iOS device and exclude U2's Songs of Innocence from it. Apple announced at its iPhone 6 launch event that the Irish band's latest album would be automatically added to every iTunes Store account, in 119 countries around the world, for free. Since the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, Apple has released a one-click tool allowing iTunes customers to remove the album if they wish . | Apple added U2's album to every iTunes Store account in September .
U2 frontman described the move by Apple as a 'drop of megalomania'
Apple now has a one-click tool allowing customers to remove the album .
'I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing,' Bono said . |
2,999 | 08b3a1907da206fc96b3edcb2e1f7eb5d8b008d6 | By . Emma Reynolds . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 17 September 2011 . He was once a clean-shaven Canadian jock with a crew cut and dazzling white smile. Now his ragged appearance makes Brad Pitt's foray into the forest of facial hair look positively restrained. Hirsute rugby player Adam Kleeberger is desperate to cut out the caveman act - only his fans won't let him. Because he's worth it: Adam Kleeberger looks as though he could be selling shampoo rather than playing rugby for his country . The furry flanker is now trending on Twitter because of those tangled locks - which topped off his man-of-the-match performance in Canada's win over Tonga at the rugby world cup on Wednesday. 'It would be pretty hard for me not to shave it off,' he told the tournament's website. 'I kind of miss having my face. 'But right now I'm just focusing on this Rugby World Cup and I'll think about that afterwards.' The shaggy beard and long hair have been his crowning glory in the eyes of an adoring public after the Canucks' excellent start to the World Cup. They have attracted headlines such as 'Fear the beard' and 'Kleeberger helps his country win by a hair'. One less generous observer added: 'Kleeberger is 27, but his beard looks a bit older'. In a tangle: Fans don't want Kleeberger to chop off his flowing locks . Kleeberger has sparked a fashion for the castaway look among his national team, with Hubert Buydens and Jebb Sinclair also hoping that flowing beards will prove a source of strength. The rugby players are not the first smooth-skinned stars to try out a more rugged style. Boyishly handsome celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher and Jared Leto have all gone wild for the low-maintenance look. But Kleeberger has taken his dragged-through-a-hedge-backwards image to new extremes. Head band: Canada team-mate Hubert Buydens (centre) joins Kleeberger in letting his hair down ahead of the Rugby World Cup . The straggly, ginger chin fluff and brilliant play has wowed fans, who describe him as a 'beast'. The fashion-forward flanker - who plays for Canada's British Columbia Bears - is just hoping the publicity will bring in a crop of offers from top teams as a result of the publicity. 'If it does then that's great,' he said. 'I didn't really have a reason for growing the beard when I started and it's now got more attention than I ever thought possible. Chin stroke: The flanker is itching to get rid of his long hair and beard . 'So if that comes (a contract), hopefully it's based on the way I'm playing as well. But it would be nice.' Either way, rugby fans will be shorn of their unlikely style icon when Kleeberger eventually takes the scissors to his seven months of dedicated hair-growth. But he won't be getting the chop from the Canada team any time soon. The country takes on France this Sunday at the New Zealand tournament, and they are still hoping to win by a whisker. | 27-year-old's whiskers a highlight of Rugby World Cup . |
77,703 | dc492227ada77a4ae492d9e25a4377ed5b6b33f9 | Boston (CNN) -- They could not say for certain who shot their loved ones in brutal gangland-style "hits," but a series of witnesses captivated the courtroom -- and drove two jurors to tears -- Thursday as prosecution testimony continued in the federal trial of reputed Boston mob leader James "Whitey" Bulger. One witnesses, 63-year-old Diane Sussman de Tennen, alternated between bouts of crying and attempts to smile as she recounted the night she was in a car that suddenly was riddled by bullets, leaving her then-boyfriend a quadriplegic for the remaining three decades of his life. "I remember hearing this noise -- a continuous stream of noise of gunfire, (like) rocks being thrown...it just was nonstop ... in retrospect it was a machine gun," she said, describing the night she and her boyfriend were riding home with another man, Michael Milano, after her birthday celebration at a Boston bar. When it was over, Sussman de Tennen recalled Thursday, her boyfriend was "covered in blood and broken glass, eyes glazed over ... (he) let out a groan." Sussman de Tennen said she reached over Milano, who was collapsed on the steering wheel, and laid on the horn until a taxi driver pulled over and called an ambulance. She learned only later that Milano was dead. "The police told me that they were concerned for my safety because they thought I might be a target because whoever the people who machine-gunned down the car probably didn't want me as a witness," she said. Bulger is charged in the deaths of 19 people during the nearly two decades that prosecutors say he was the head of the Irish mob in Boston. He is also charged with extortion, racketeering and money laundering. The trial, now in its second week, has included prosecution testimony from a former hitman and Bulger colleague who testified that he and Bulger together carried out 11 killings. That witness, John Martorano, included in his testimony details about Milano's killing, with Martorano saying he and his associates sprayed Milano's car with bullets thinking it was a gang rival target. Jurors heard from Milano's brother, Donald Milano who immediately began crying and asked to pause questioning while apologizing to the judge profusely. The night before his death, Michael had been at Donald's place showing off his new car, his brother testified. "He was very proud of it." Donald Milano said he heard on the radio the next day that his brother had been killed, and called home to verify . Donald Milano was in court Monday when Martorano testified about shooting at Milano's car. Another witness, Deborah Scully, was stone-faced when she testified about the 1973 killing of her companion, William O'Brien. She was nine months pregnant with their child when he was shot and killed, she said, and she was unable to attend the funeral because she had given birth by then. Martorano earlier testified that he, Bulger, and their associates were involved in the killing of O'Brien. An elderly, wisecracking Ralph DeMasi, fresh out of jail after serving 21 years for conspiracy to rob an armored card, testified that he barely survived the night O'Brien was shot. He told the jury he was getting "bad vibrations" about a car that was trailing the two of them after they had met at a bar with a man described earlier in Martorano's testimony as a Bulger associate. "I told Billy keep your eye on rear or side mirror and he said, "Aw Ralph, ain't nobody gonna hurt us," DeMasi remembered. Then, DeMasi said, that trailing car sped up and a torrent of bullets came from it. He was hit eight times, DeMasi said, pointing out to the jury exactly where. But none of that emotional and colorful testimony put Bulger behind the trigger. When defense attorneys questioned Sussman de Tennen about who was behind the shooting she survived, she replied, "What I say would only be speculation ... in my mind I do know, but that's for me." In the afternoon, the jury heard from Martorano's former bookmaker, Charles G. Raso, who testified that he paid "rent" to Bulger and his associates, including Martorano, in the amount of $1,000 a month for "law enforcement expenses," as the gang called it. Raso was originally business partners with a man named Joe Notorangeli, who the Winter Hill gang gunned down in 1973, according to Martorano's previous testimony. Raso skipped town after the murder of his partner, saying that "I felt in fear of my own life" and later returned when his brother indicated to him that "it wasn't me they were interested in." Shortly after returning to Boston, Raso said, he was "asked" to team up with Bulger, Martorano and the gang, an offer Raso said he had "no choice" but to accept. Jurors are expected to hear testimony Friday on Bulger's alleged "informant" file, a document the prosecution claims proves that he was protected by the FBI for providing information. According to previous testimony, it was a rogue FBI agent now jailed who tipped Bulger off to his 1995 indictment, a tip that allowed him to go into hiding for 16 years before he was captured in California with his girlfriend in 2011. | Witnesses in the "Whitey" Bulger trial relive shootings that left relatives, friends dead .
Testimony was emotional, two jurors were in tears .
A witness remembers her boyfriend "covered in blood and broken glass, eyes glazed over"
Reputed Boston mob leader Bulger is charged in 19 killings . |
142,215 | 43ea86f14a18aa0b70be751caf736be936903ccd | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:54 EST, 22 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:54 EST, 22 February 2013 . Bob Godfrey, the legendary animator behind the classic children’s cartoons Roobarb & Custard and Henry’s Cat, has died aged 91, his family confirmed today. Australian-born Mr Godfrey, who enjoyed a five-decade career, won three Baftas for his work as well as an Oscar for his short film Great, which looked at the life of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Cat and dog cartoon Roobarb was narrated by Richard Briers, who died on Sunday aged 79, and it became well-known for its catchy theme tune and cult animation. Scroll down for video . Respected: Animator Bob Godfrey who helped create cartoon hits Roobarb and Henry's Cat has died aged 91 . Mr Godfrey started his working life as a graphic artist before joining a creative studio and going into cartoon making. His last work was Millennium: The Musical for Channel 4 in 1999. The animator, who was educated in east London, revealed in 2001 that he had one regret, saying: 'I'd love to have done a full-length feature but I can't seem to stretch myself to that length. 'When you look at my films, they appear . to be a series of 30-second commercials cut together,' he told the . Guardian. 'I'm a short distance man whether I like it or not.' Title sequence: Roobarb became well-known for its catchy theme tune and cult animation . Much-loved: Bob Godfrey was the animator behind the classic children's TV series Roobarb (pictured) Multicoloured logo: Henry's Cat was another of Mr Godfrey's famous cartoons produced for children . Another classic: Mr Godfrey was also behind the legendary children's cartoon Henry's Cat (pictured) Aardman Animations studio founder Peter Lord said on Twitter: 'Dear old Bob Godfrey is no more. A great influence and inspiration to me and my generation of animators. Also a lovely bloke.' Hertfordshire-based animator Will Brenton, creator of the Tweenies, said: 'Bob Godfrey has died, aged 91. Strange that the creator and voice of Roobarb leave us in the same week.' And illustrator An Vrombaut, of London, who is behind the cartoon 64 Zoo Lane, added: 'Very sad to hear that Bob Godfrey, animation legend and all round lovely person, has passed away.' | Australian-born Bob Godfrey enjoyed a five-decade career in animation .
Won an Oscar for his short film Great about the life of engineer Brunel .
Roobarb cartoon was narrated by Richard Briers, who died on Sunday .
Aardman's Peter Lord: 'A great influence to my generation of animators' |
66,489 | bc94f663339f06e2ac24e90a6673f1ac20a5ddba | A Maine man charged with killing and dismembering his father was ordered Thursday to undergo a mental health evaluation at a court appearance that ended with him declaring himself 'the Lord, Father of life' and asking the gathered media to follow him on Twitter. Leroy Smith III, 24, 'stated that he filleted . him and buried him in the woods because his dad sexually assaulted him . his whole life,' an investigator wrote. A police affidavit said Smith told an officer he killed his father, Leroy Smith Jr, 56, by stabbing him in the neck then used three knives to chop up his body. Grisly murder: Leroy Smith III stands during his initial appearance in Kennebec County Superior Court, Thursday May 8, 2014, in Augusta, Maine . Slain: Leroy Smith III confessed to stabbing his father Leroy Smith, Jr (left and right) to death and 'filleting' him . Smith told an investigator he recorded at least . some of the crime and posted it on YouTube and Twitter, but removed the . postings and deleted the video from his camera and computer, according . to court records. The . defendant, who's being held without bail, did not enter a plea during . the hearing. Leaving the courtroom, he told reporters, 'I am the Lord, Father of life.' The . Associated Press does not generally identify potential victims of . sexual abuse. However, Smith later gave an interview to WGME-TV in which . he said he wanted to tell his story. In the interview, Smith confessed to the killing and suggested he did it for attention. 'I did this to get my name out there. How else will I get the attention of yourself?' he said. 'I'm a no one sitting up here in Maine.' According . to the Maine Press Herald, the affidavit revealed grisly details of the . killing, disclosing that Smith stabbed his father in the jugular vein . and dismembered him, spreading his remains among 16 trash bags. Smith told police that he videotaped the killing and that the FBI 'told him to put a video of the event on YouTube' but he later deleted the video. This Monday, May 5, 2014, photo provided by the Cumberland County Jail shows Leroy Smith III. Smith, 24, is charged in the death of his father, whose dismembered remains were found Monday in at least nine plastic bags. (AP Photo/ Cumberland County Jail) He then make multiple trips to a local store to buy cleaning products including ammonia and bleach, even renting a carpet steamer to hid the evidence. Smith told police that he initially threw his father's remains into a Dumpster outside the apartment building, but retrieved them when they weren't taken away. He transferred the bags to a car and drove to Richmond, dumping them off Lincoln St. He told police he planned to return and bury his father's remains on Monday. His Twitter profile Thursday morning appeared to show a photo of Smith giving an obscene hand gesture. His last tweets, written on Sunday, include 'I have no magic!' and '... you have some spare time on your hands, and my father is dead (he is done writing songs for you most of the time).' In one Facebook post he declared that he’s the ‘head of the KKK’. On Monday, Smith flagged down a police officer and asked directions to a strip club. The officer looked the young man up and discovered an outstanding arrest warrant in Massachusetts. Bizarre rants: In posts to social media, Smith has claimed to be 'head of the KKK' and outside court, announced he was 'the Lord, father of life' Police said the case developed quickly . after the officer . arrested him on the fugitive warrant. Smith blurted out that he killed his . father at the jail, according to a state police detective. According to the Maine Press Herald, Smith 'made excited utterances that he killed his father' while at the jail. Police found body parts in 16 dark trash bags, and a T-shirt and other blood-stained clothing off Lincoln Street in Richmond, according to the affidavit. One of the first bags to be opened contained a jeans-clad human leg. The younger man led investigators to his father's body using a signed map and verbal instructions, police said. Charges were filed Tuesday after the medical examiner's report found his father died of multiple stab wounds to the head and neck. | Leroy Smith III, 24, is accused of killing his father, dismembering his body and dumping it in the woods .
He told investigators he did it because his father sexually abused him .
He also suggested in an interview that he committed the crime for attention .
Smith said he recorded the crime and posted it on YouTube and Twitter but removed the postings .
The body of Leroy Smith, Jr, 56, was found in some 16 trash bags in the woods .
Outside court Thursday the younger Smith announced he is ' the Lord, Father of life'
He has previously stated that he's the 'head of the KKK' |
101,009 | 0e29fb918e16db0059ae2f592241d8bcaf965476 | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 11:06 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:18 EST, 11 June 2013 . The origins of the iconic royal yacht Britannia have been laid bare after the release of the original sketches for the design of the ship's interior. 60 years after her launch, drawings of Britannia's state rooms by architect Sir Hugh Casson have been handed over to a trust by his daughter. The renowned designer was appointed by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who welcomed the opportunity to put their own stamp on the yacht to mark the beginning of a new era. Designs: These sketches by Sir Hugh Casson depict the original plans for the royal yacht Britannia; this is the Queen's personal study on board the vessel . Collection: The architect's daughter has given the drawings, such as this one which also shows the Queen's study, to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust . Unchanged: As this photograph of the Queen's study shows, the designs remain largely intact . Britannia was launched in 1953, two months before Her Majesty's coronation, and clocked up more than one million miles until she was decommissioned in 1997. Sir Hugh was commissioned to put forward ideas after the royal couple rejected the designs put forward by the yacht’s builders. They wanted the ship to be a 'home from home' whose contemporary style would be a contrast to their ornate palaces. Among the rooms kitted out by Sir Hugh were the Queen's study, the sun room and the grand staircase - and the designs have remained unchanced for six decades since. He had been selected for the job after impressing the Duke of Edinburgh in his role as the director of architecture at the Festival of Britain in 1948. Relaxed: Rooms like the main drawing room were meant to be much more laid-back than the royal palaces . Classic design: Sir Hugh's vision for the main drawing room and other areas of the ship were forward-thinking . Intimate: This drawing shows the design for Prince Philip's bedroom on board the royal yacht . Domestic: The Duke of Edinburgh's bedroom on Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997 . His daughter, Carola Zogolovitch, has now presented the 10 photographic slides of the sketches to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust for the first time. Mrs Zogolovitch said: 'When Britannia was commissioned the yacht’s builders had presented to the Queen their ideas for the interior of the yacht in the style of an Atlantic liner. 'The Duke, a Navy man, didn’t want that. He said he wanted something simple. 'My father had been director of architecture and really the impresario at the Festival of Britain. Because the Duke of Edinburgh was so interested in anything that was progressive and new he thought father would be the perfect person to consult. Sun room and bar: The royal couple were said to love spending time on board Britannia . Leisure space: The sun room and bar area as they appear now on the yacht, which is moored in the Firth of Forth . Office: Prince Philip's study, which he commissioned personally from Sir Hugh Casson . Room: The Duke of Edinburgh's study today, 16 years after Britannia left active service . 'Britannia was the first opportunity for the newly crowned Queen and her husband to make something of their own, to their own taste. 'Britannia wasn’t inherited - it was something they could put their own stamp on. It was a floating palace so it needed to be quite formal, but it was also very relaxed. 'The Queen and the Duke were were young at the time and they didn’t want Victorian interiors like at Buckingham Palace. They wanted something that wasn’t too elaborate. 'My father understood what they wanted, and the fact that the rooms have not been changed in 60 years is testament to his designs. 'They were contemporary designs that have stood the test of time. The yacht is like a time capsule.' Iconic: The grand staircase, which was designed by Sir Hugh in a contemporary 1950s style . Out of use: Britannia now stands decommissioned in Leith, on the Firth of Forth . Bob Downie, chief executive of the Royal Yacht Britannia, said: 'The sketches are a fantastic and fascinating piece of Britannia’s history. 'We are very grateful to have received them and to be able to show them off to our visitors.' Sir Hugh went on to form a close friendship with the Royal Family, designing interiors at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. He also enjoyed several trips on Britannia as a guest of the Queen Mother. Britannia was launched at John Brown’s Shipyard in Clydebank on April 16, 1953, two months before the Queen’s coronation and the conquering of Mount Everest. On royal tours the 410ft yacht boasted a crew of 220 yachtsmen, 21 officers, three season officers and a 26-strong Royal Marine band. She was decommissioned in Portsmouth on December 11, 1997, after 44 years in service, an occasion which is said to have brought tears to the Queen's eyes. Britannia is now moored on the Firth of Forth, and can be visited from the town of Leith. | Sir Hugh Casson drew designs for interior rooms of royal yacht .
Architect was commissioned by Prince Philip because of his modern style .
Sketches have now been handed over to charity by his daughter .
Britannia launched before Coronation in 1953 and decommissioned in 1997 . |
39,659 | 6ffd59e4334ecd25de0b3b6a54fb6e9566891666 | By . Alex Finnis for MailOnline . Disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer just got a lot richer - after selling 144 rental units at the Corinthian building in New York for $147m. The huge deal suggests that Spitzer, who resigned as governor in 2008 in the wake of a prostitution scandal, will now take on a bigger role in his father Bernard's real estate company. He rejoined the company last year after running unsuccessfully for city comptroller. Eliot Spitzer and new girlfriend Lis Smith attend a basketball game together in New York back in February . The East 38th Street building was built by Spitzer's father in the 1980s, and was sold to Gaia Real Estate, reports Page Six. The company says it plans to 'renovate, rebrand and sell the units'. Crain's New York Business reports that Spitzer is also in talks to buy a near three-acre development site in Brooklyn - on Kent Avenue along the south Williamsburg waterfront - for $165m. It is expected some of the proceeds from the Corinthian sale will go towards the deal. Shamed: Spitzer resigning as New York governor at a news conference in New York on March 10, 2008 . The former governor and attorney general, 55, was spotted in Paris with his new girlfriend Lis Smith, 31, at the weekend. They stayed at the exclusive Pavillon de la Reine - a four-star hotel where the cheapest rooms cost $500 per night. Ms Smith is Spitzer's former publicist, and was behind his failed city comptroller campaign. She then joined Bill de Blasio's team and was widely considered to be the likely candidate for the mayor's press secretary. But just as the final staffing decision was due to be made, photos were released that showed Spitzer sneaking in and out of her Soho apartment last December. Ashley Alexandra Dupre, or 'Kristen' - one of the escorts Spitzer was revealed to have liaised with . Spitzer became state Attorney General in 1998 and found fame as the 'Sheriff of Wall Street' - going after corrupt financiers. His moral authority and intellect helped catapult him into the governor's office in 2007 - however he resigned in disgrace just a year later after being revealed to have used prostitutes. He reportedly had at least seven meetings with high-end prostitutes over a six-month period, and is also believed to have spent up to $80,000 on them over many years, starting when he was attorney general. Infamous as Client 9 of the Emporers Club VIP call-girl ring, he resigned at a public press conference with his then-wife Silda Wall Spitzer by his side. The pair finalised a very public and bitter divorce in February. After his resignation, Spitzer attempted to rehabilitate his public image with a stint presenting a CNN news show which failed and then eventually made his way back to work for his father. | Eliot Spitzer, 55, sold 144 rental units at the Corinthian building in New York .
Property was built by his father in the 1980s and sold to Gaia Real Estate .
Spitzer is taking a bigger role in father's real estate company .
Spotted in Paris at the weekend with 31-year-old girlfriend Lis Smith . |
6,462 | 1250981840e7cbf3e9c7d52a34f776af9ca9ced5 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:09 EST, 7 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:37 EST, 7 November 2012 . A mother-of-two has revealed how she leaves a trail of skin behind her due to a rare condition that causes her to shed 14 times more skin than normal. Melanie Bradley suffers from the rare disorder Bullous Ichthyosis. In a cruel twist of fate her 21-month-old daughter Rebecca suffers from the same condition. Mrs Bradley, from Atherstone, Greater Manchester, said: 'My skin sheds rapidly, so overnight I can shed the equivalent of what a person with ‘ordinary’ skin sheds in two weeks. 'I'm covered in scales from head to . toe. It's can be so thick to the point that I can barely move, but at . the same time it's so delicate that the slightest knock can break the . skin. 'It can be quite awkward, because you leave a trail of skin behind you. A lot of vacuuming goes on in my house.' Melanie Bradley and her daughter Rebecca both suffer from a rare disorder that causes them to shed their skin far quicker than normal . Medics gave Melanie a 50 per cent chance that her children might be born with Icthyosis. Although older sibling Daniel, three, was born free from the condition, his younger sister was not so lucky. Mrs Bradley said: 'As soon as Rebecca was born it was obvious she had it. I'd had an emergency C-section so didn't see her straight away, but I overheard the doctors discuss it and obviously I was devastated. 'When I first saw her, and how her skin looked I just felt numb. It was the last thing I wanted. 'But I knew that I had to cope and get over it - and who better to raise a child with Ichthyosis than a fellow sufferer. I worry for mums that haven't been through it themselves but Rebecca is already starting to understand her condition, which is great. 'She's already rubbing cream into herself, and she notices when she has lose skin. She'll just have to learn her limitations.' Advancements in medicine mean that doctors are able to recognise Ichthyosis as soon as possible. But when Melanie first began to suffer from the condition she was not so lucky. 'When I was born the doctors were totally baffled. The top layer of my skin had been stripped off during birth and the doctors had no clue what was going on. 'My skin was so thick - I couldn't bend my knees until I was about three, and I had to wear slippers to school because they were the only shoes that didn't hurt. 'Fortunately, things were different for Rebecca.' When Mrs Bradley was born (left and as a child, right) doctors were baffled by her skin disorder. Now they can recognise Ichthyosis quickly . Close-ups of Melanie's skin: Is it not waterproof and very susceptible to infection . The stay-at-home mother must follow a strict care routine to ensure that her and her daughter's skin is properly hydrated. 'Our . skin is very susceptible to infection, so we have to be very clean, but . we also have to bathe and shower a lot to get moisture into the skin,' she said. 'My daily . routine starts with a bath or shower using emollients, which I do twice a . day. It then takes a minimum of around 30 minutes just for my skin to . dry off, then I have to liberally apply creams all over my body. 'I . then have to let the creams soak into my skin for at least a further 20 . minutes or so before I can get dressed. It takes up to two hours for me . to just get ready in the morning and ready for bed at night. 'I then have to do the same for Rebecca.' The 34-year-old says the blisters that come with the Ichthyosis are the most painful part of the condition. 'The blisters can appear anywhere and be of any size. I once got one from my elbow to my wrist - it was awful. 'They make getting around very difficult, and antibiotics and dressings are always needed when you get them. 'During my childhood Mum had to burst the blisters herself using sterile needles. Even now I sometimes have to do the same.' Melanie with her husband Vincent, son Daniel and daughter Rebecca: I just want people to know that, even though it's difficult to live with, you can cope . A further bizarre symptom of Ichthyosis is that the skin is not waterproof. 'We lack a specific protein, so the the skin absorbs water. It leaves the skin white in colour and very soggy.' Mrs Bradley now runs the Friends of Ichthyosis website and charity, which has been successful in giving advice and support for fellow sufferers. The mother added: 'I just want people to know that, even though it's difficult to live with, you can cope.' 'I . never thought I'd marry or have children with skin like I do, but I . have a wonderful husband, Vincent, 30, and two beautiful children. The skin condition can cause painful blisters . 'I . am living proof that anything is possible, and there is still so much . more I’ve yet to achieve. There are lots of people in this world who are . far worse off than myself.' Bullous Ichthyosis affects less than 1 in 100,000 people. Hermoine . Lawson, of The British Skin Foundation, said: 'Bullous ichthyosis, is a . rare form of inherited ichthyosis. At birth the baby's skin seems to be . fragile and may show blisters. 'Skin . infections are quite common and can lead to a characteristic odour. There may be a reduction in sweating in childhood, which improves later . in life. 'It is . transmitted as an autosomal dominant disorder, which means that one of . the parents may be affected. However, in at least half of affected . children, neither parent is affected; therefore the child has developed a . new gene fault while growing in the womb.' Melanie's Friends of Ichthyosis website can be found at www.Friends-of-Ichthyosis.webs.com . | Mother and daughter have Ichthyosis which causes thickened, flaky skin that is prone to infection .
Skin care routine takes two hours both at morning and night . |
235,134 | bc6679c19feee3eb8ea345a2c2ad88a5740932c8 | She is one of the fastest long-distance runners in the United States. But at the end of every race, 18-year-old Kayla Montgomery collapses, crying for help, unable to feel her legs. She has Multiple Sclerosis. Incredible: Kayla Montgomery, 18, cannot feel her legs when she runs because she has Multiple Sclerosis . Debilitating: She collapses at the end of every race, begging for water and ice to cool her body down . The degenerative disease damages nerve endings, which disrupts communication between the body and brain, resulting in loss of muscle control. As Kayla's body warms up, her legs fall completely numb. It is not until she covers her body in ice and cold water that her symptoms subside. Incredibly, that doesn't stop her from competing in national level tournaments, as revealed in a Catching Kayla, an ESPN documentary. At the age of 14 Kayla was an avid soccer player about to start her freshman year at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when she collapsed and felt a tingling sensation in her toes. 'When I run everything is ok': Kayla is one of the fastest runners her age in the US with the help of medication . Price she's willing to pay: She said she will do anything to be able to use her legs while she can . Ordeal: When her body heats up, her symptoms worsen. When she cools down, she can feel her legs again . Journey: When Patrick Cromwell met Kayla she was a very slow runner. Now she is a champion . A scan revealed early signs of MS. For eight months, she lost all feeling in her body. Her mother, a care worker, said the diagnosis made her feel sick. Kayla locked herself in her room. She said: 'I didn't let anybody in my room I just wanted to be alone. 'And I was mad. I was just really mad. I couldn't see why this had happened to me. Growing up: Kayla was quiet, shy and creative as a child before getting into athletics and contact sports . Avid soccer player: Kayla loved soccer as a young teen before she fell during a game at the age of 14 . Diagnosis: Scans done in October 2010 showed she had Multiple Sclerosis and lost all feeling for eight months . 'I couldn't think of anything I'd done wrong. Why should I be punished? Why was this happening?' Medication enabled Kayla to stem the onset of the disease's debilitating effects. She was forced to give up contact sports like soccer. But, unsure how long the treatment will last, she knew one thing: she wanted to run. Fast. 'She was average at best,' her coach, Patrick Cromwell, explains. Determined: With the help of treatment she was able to start non-contact sports like running . Training: Kayla was distraught at first, then told her coach to push her as far as she could go . Disadvantage: Despite feeling no pain, the sensation when she runs is strange and difficult to compute . Fall: In the North Carolina State Championships this year she fell (circled) during the first lap . Success! Despite tumbling to the ground, she got up and ended up winning the race . That soon changed. And on the final race of her high school career, at the North Carolina State Championships in May, she won - despite collapsing in the first lap. 'As long as I'm running everything is ok,' she explained. | Kayla Montgomery, 18, was diagnosed with MS at 14 .
Treatment stems onset of degenerative disease, she started running .
Heat stimulates symptoms, she collapses at the end of every race .
She is ranked 21st distance runner in the US . |
278,013 | f429ae03989ba5dde6c2a247ea87b36aa6b8b804 | By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 21:02 EST, 14 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:57 EST, 16 November 2012 . Fighting strength: General Sir David Richards says the Government wants the same level of operations from a vastly reduced number of service personnel . The head of the Armed Forces has warned that defence cuts have left him unable to carry out everything the Government demands. Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said ministers’ demands had not been revised to correspond with the reduced size of the Armed Forces. ‘We have a whole load of tasks expected of us,’ he said in an Oxford University lecture. ‘Our political masters are quite happy to reduce the size of the Armed Forces, but their appetite to exercise influence on the world stage is, quite understandably, the same as it has always been. ‘Often politicians say to me, “can you go and do this?” I say to them, “with what?”,’ the Daily Telegraph reported. His comments will fuel concerns that the Strategic Defence and Security Review, which heralded an 8 per cent cut in real-terms funding and reductions in manpower totalling 30,000 personnel, has significantly curbed Britain’s ability to project influence in the world. Speaking to Oxford’s department of politics and international relations, Sir David added: ‘If you reduce your Armed Forces, there is going to be a give - something gives.’ He also expressed anxiety about the number of frigates and destroyers possessed by the Royal Navy, saying that was one of his ‘biggest concerns'. The use of advanced warships for comparatively minor operations like Operation Atalanta, an anti-piracy initiative in the Indian Ocean, because of a lack of ships was troubling, he said. He told the Daily Telegraph: 'You get to this ridiculous situation where in Operation Atalanta off the Somali coast, we have £1billion destroyers trying to sort out pirates in a little dhow with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) costing $50, with an outboard motor (costing) $100. 'That can't be good. We've got to sort it out.' He also criticised the failure to find a ‘political resolution’ in Afghanistan despite the opportunities afforded by the military. ‘All the military can do is buy space and time and opportunity for a political resolution of a problem. It is a great shame that we have not understood this. This is not a matter for military, diplomats, politicians. This is a matter of collectively failing to exploit the opportunity the military gained,’ he said. Waning: The general added that the fleet's reduced numbers means state-of-the-art warships are being pitched against Somali pirates in wooden boats . The general also blasted plans to slash the number of senior officers. MPs have claimed the forces are top-heavy, but Sir David siad fewer senior officers makes liaising between services, vital as Britian's military night shrinks, much more difficult. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence last night, the Chief of the Defence Staff insisted that the military capability required under the defence review could be achieved with the resources available, but said ‘candid military analysis ensured ministers were aware of the constraints. Sir David said: ‘The nature of military operations is that need is always balanced against available resources. War: The opportunity presented by successful operations in Afghanistan have not been seized by Nato, Sir David added (file picture) 'It is the job of senior military commanders to help the government assess those priorities against the resources available, especially in the current economic conditions. ‘It is right that candid military analysis keeps the Government aware of constraints while the Government, rightly, seeks to achieve the maximum effect with the assets available. 'As I have said before, I and the Chiefs of Staff agree that we can deliver the military capability required by the SDSR with the resources available. ‘On Afghanistan, we all agree that you cannot win an insurgency through military means alone, it has always been understood that a political solution will ultimately be required.’ | General Sir David Richards says too much is demanded from fewer troops .
Concerned that '£1bn destroyers are fighting Somali pirates in dhows'
Also claims Afghanistan opportunities 'have been lost' |
84,197 | eec7805feecb30289081e732c305bf9155cd80fe | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 15:42 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:20 EST, 27 August 2013 . If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to walk up your very own stone staircase and hear your footsteps echo around a castle every day, then this could be your chance. From its period fireplaces to authentic ironwork and antique furniture, a tower where monks plotted to reverse the Scottish Reformation is offering buyers a slice of the high-life for less than £600,000. Abbots Tower, which is located in New Abbey, Dumfries, was built around 1580 in the latest French ‘chateau’ style, now known as Scottish Renaissance, with pepperpot turrets and candlesnuffer roofs. Life-changing property: Abbots Tower, which is located in New Abbey, Dumfries, was built around 1580 . Outstanding: The tower features a double planked clenched oak entrance door with handmade ironwork, stone staircases, gunloop windows, exposed beams, original wooden floors and period fireplaces . Beautiful: The accommodation lies over four floors, accessible by stone turnpike staircases leading up the tower. The kitchen has a hand-crafted island bench, antique dresser, a range cooker and Belfast sink . Restoration: This could be your chance to walk up your very own stone staircase and hear your footsteps echo around a tower . Bathroom: There are four bedrooms within the tower over the four floors, and the master bedroom has an original fireplace, exposed beams and a window seat - as well as an en-suite . The home, which also features crow-stepped gables and wide spiral staircases, was built by a John Broun, who died in 1613. His son Cuthbert fell on hard times and eventually mortgaged the estate. By 1627 it was owned by John Hay of Edinburgh, before it was abandoned as a residence around this time and gradually fell into disrepair. Restoration began in 1990 and took two decades to finish. The tower features a double planked clenched oak entrance door with handmade ironwork, stone staircases, gunloop windows, exposed beams, original wooden floors and period fireplaces. The current restoration includes a painted ceiling - popular in Scotland during the reign of James VI. On the approach: The current restoration includes a painted ceiling - popular in Scotland during the reign of James VI . Bedroom: The 1580 tower was once used by monks who plotted to reverse the Scottish Reformation . Sleep well: Abbots Tower was built around 1580 in the latest French 'chateau' style, now known as Scottish Renaissance, with pepperpot turrets and candlesnuffer roofs . Plenty to see: A formal room on the third-floor has extensive views, including sight of Skiddaw in the Peak District on a clear day. A 'secret' staircase leads to the Garret which is currently used as an attic bedroom . Rooms with a view: The village of New Abbey in which the tower is set was built around the 13th century Sweetheart Abbey, founded by Lady Devorgilla in 1283 to commemorate the death of her husband . The accommodation lies on four floors, accessible by stone turnpike staircases leading up the tower. Gilbert Broun, the last abbot of the nearby Sweetheart Abbey, is said to have used Abbots Tower as a base for his efforts to reverse the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century. The European Reformation began in 1517 when German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to a church door in Wittenberg. He rejected the Pope's authority and all of the Church's practices not written in the Bible. His ideas soon spiralled into the Protestant movement, and many Scots were impressed by this when Lutheran books began to appear in their Catholic country in the 1520s. England converted to Protestantism in 1534, before Scotland broke from the Catholic Church in 1560 and banned Mass being held. Abbot Broun fought the reformists, fortifying his abbey and continuing to celebrate Mass there. He was imprisoned, exiled and died in Paris. The kitchen has a hand-crafted island bench, antique dresser, a range cooker and Belfast sink. A formal room on the third-floor has extensive views, including sight of Skiddaw in the Peak District on a clear day. A ‘secret’ staircase leads to the Garret which is currently used as an attic bedroom. There are four bedrooms within the tower over the four floors, and the master bedroom has an original fireplace, exposed beams and a window seat - as well as an en-suite. The village of New Abbey in which it is set was built around the 13th century Sweetheart Abbey, founded by Lady Devorgilla in 1283 to commemorate the death of her husband - the former King of Scotland, John Balliol. From then, the order of Cistercian Monks who occupied the abbey named it 'dulce cor', meaning 'sweet heart' in Latin. You can download Strutt & Parker's eight-page brochure about the property by clicking here. | Abbots Tower, located in New Abbey, Dumfries, was built around 1580 .
Four-bedroom home comes with antique furniture and period fireplaces .
Monks plotted at historic building to reverse the Scottish Reformation . |
277,755 | f3d0b29b9ce079246f7a735713dcea8945dfa0a4 | Accidental poisonings from squishy laundry detergent packets sometimes mistaken for toys or candy landed more than 700 U.S. children in the hospital in just two years, researchers report. Coma and seizures were among the most serious complications. The cases stem from the more than 17,000 poison center calls about the products received in the past two years. The calls involved children younger than six and most weren't seriously harmed. Scroll down for video . Warning: Accidental poisonings from squishy laundry detergent packets sometimes mistaken for toys or candy landed more than 700 U.S. children in the hospital in just two years . But one child died last year and the potential risks highlight a need for even safer packaging, the researchers said. Some manufacturers already have revised packaging and labels in efforts to make the detergent packets or 'pods' safer for children. The study found calls dipped slightly after some of those changes were made. Butylphenyl methylpropional: . A synthetic fragrance that is also used in a number of beauty products. It is considered safe only within recommended use of concentration.However, . it is a skin irritant and there have been tests that found that skin . applications at high concentrations in animals caused sperm damage. Alpha-isomethyl Ionone: Banned . by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) from being mixed into . fragrance products, such as perfume and cologne, it . has been found to irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions in . some people. However, it is still found in detergents and other . cosmetics that are not classed as a 'fragrance'. Linalool, Hexyl cinnamal, Citronellol: Severe . allergens that be listed on the label because they are severe . allergens. Higher concentrations can even cause central nervous system . disruption (thus their use in certain pesticides) and skin, eye and . respiratory tract irritation. These chemicalc can also trigger asthma . attacks. The products contain concentrated liquid laundry soap and became widely available in the U.S. two years ago. Some are multicolored and may look enticing to young children. Poisoning or injuries including mouth, throat and eye burns can occur when kids burst the capsules or put them in their mouths. In the study, 144 had eye injuries, 30 went into comas and 12 had seizures. Exposure to household cleaning products is among the top reasons for calls to poison centers involving young children. In 2012, detergent packet calls accounted for a fraction - about six percent - of the 111,000 calls involving young children and cleaning products, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Many calls involve regular laundry detergent, which can cause mild stomach upsets, but poison center experts say the new concentrated laundry packets seem to cause more severe problems. Jessica Morin of Houston says her nine-month-old daughter, Marlow, was sickened earlier this year when Jessica's grandmother mistook a detergent pod for a teething toy and put it in the baby's mouth. 'I called poison control and they said to take her to the ER immediately,' Morin said. Marlow was repeatedly vomiting and underwent tests, but doctors at Texas Children's Hospital found no serious damage and she didn't need to stay overnight. 'We were very lucky,' Morin said. 'We don't have those pods in our house anymore.' Symptoms: Poisoning or injuries including mouth, throat and eye burns can occur when kids burst the capsules or put them in their mouths (Picture posed by model) The researchers examined 2012-13 data from the poison control centers group. Their study was published online Monday in Pediatrics. Overall, there were 17,230 poison center calls about young kids getting into the packets, including 769 children who were hospitalized. Dr. Gary Smith, the study's lead author, said his hospital had two recent cases - kids who developed breathing problems and required treatment in the intensive care unit. He's director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The American Cleaning Institute, which represents makers of cleaning products, issued voluntary guidance in March encouraging manufacturers to use labels that prominently list safe handling information. The cleaning institute said it is also working with manufacturers to educate parents. But a survey the group released last week suggests many consumers still don't know about the risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says children should not be allowed to handle the packets and advises parents to store them out of children's sight and reach. | The capsules are usually brightly colored and wrapped in clear plastic .
Accidental poisonings from the laundry detergent packets landed more than 700 U.S. children in the hospital in just two years .
The consequences of eating them could be fatal without medical attention .
Families have been warned to keep detergents locked away from children . |
92,992 | 03a24f2ef6907ced87de80d6ec3a0be80ed71f8e | By . Vanessa Allen . Phone hacking was ‘lazy journalism’ and unacceptable, Andy Coulson said yesterday as he denied any involvement in targeting murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s voicemail. Coulson, 46, said he knew of ‘vague’ gossip about phone hacking when he was editor of the News of the World but did not realise it was illegal. He rejected allegations that he was part of a plot to hack countless celebrities and politicians. Unacceptable: Andy Coulson, pictured arriving at the Old Bailey on Tuesday with his wife Eloise, has described phone hacking as 'lazy journalism' He told the Old Bailey: ‘I would have thought it was intrusive, I would have thought it was a breach of privacy and I also thought it was lazy journalism.’ Coulson, later Prime Minister David Cameron’s director of communications, said he knew about journalists’ ‘dark arts’, such as surveillance, but said he meant only on the ‘acceptable, legal side of the law’. Coulson resigned as editor in 2007 as royal editor Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for hacking the phones of Palace aides. He told the Old Bailey he regretted not asking more questions about how journalists knew of ‘phone traffic’ – who was in phone contact with who. On trial: Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie are pictured arriving at the Old Bailey. The couple and six others face a series of charges linked to the phone hacking of celebrities . ‘I think that is one area where I could and should have done more to interrogate,’ he said.Coulson repeatedly denied he had sanctioned phone hacking. Mulcaire admits hacking Milly Dowler’s voicemail in April 2002, on a week when then deputy editor Coulson was in charge. Coulson said he did not know his journalist Neville Thurlbeck had told Surrey Police he could access her voicemails. He denies conspiring to hack phones and to pay public officials for information. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Andy Coulson, 46, admitted he heard 'vague' gossip about phone hacking .
But he claimed he wasn't involved and didn't know it was illegal .
Coulson told the Old Bailey he now regrets not asking more questions . |
198,028 | 8c544008739fca06e45156b7abf34d07ddfff10d | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 17:15 EST, 4 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:18 EST, 4 September 2013 . The Indianapolis Colts have released rookie safety John Boyett after he boasted to cops they couldn’t arrest him because he was a football player. A sixth-round draft pick from the University of Oregon this past April, the defensive stand-out became belligerent with a bouncer and cops after not being allowed into an Indianapolis night club early Monday morning because he was too drunk. Mr Boyett was on the non-football injured reserve list and not expected to play in the coming weeks. Coach Chuck Pagano declined to go into details surrounding Mr Boyett’s release while speaking Wednesday afternoon with local media. We hardly knew ya: The Colts waved John Boyett after his arrest Monday morning, only months after drafting the standout safety . Mr Boyett, 23, was drafted by the Colts despite missing his entire senior year at Oregon after tearing the patellar tendons in both knees. The safety underwent surgery last year and has been rehabbing them ever since, according to reports. Despite being unable to make it onto the field, the former Colt found the strength to hobble around town and down several drinks before trying to enter the club. Bouncers at the unnamed club were forced to call police after Mr Boyett became combative when he was denied entry for being too drunk. The sauced safety then tried to talk his way out of being arrested by name-dropping his glamorous gig. ‘You can’t arrest me, I’m a Colts player,’ Mr Boyett said. The drunk defender was then booked on charges of public intoxication, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct before being released on his own recognizance, an Indianapolis Police Department spokesperson told MailOnline. No breathalyzer was administered, but Mr Boyett was determined to be drunk by the arresting officer who observed ‘bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and the strong smell of alcohol on his breath,’ the spokesperson added. Jettisoned: The Colts have declined to comment on Mr Boyett's release, instead choosing to focus on Sunday's season opener against the Oakland Raiders . The wounded windbag was released Tuesday by the team, which declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his release when contacted by MailOnline, but did provide a transcript of Coach Pagano’s comments to media. ‘As you know, we released John Boyett yesterday,’ Mr Pagano said Wednesday afternoon. ‘I’m not going to get into the details. Every situation is different and we’ll handle each of them accordingly.’Mr Boyett tweeted a public apology to team owner Jim Irsay, the organization and city police early Wednesday afternoon. ‘I want to apologize to Mr. Irsay @JimIrsay, the Indianapolis Colts organization @Colts and the Indianapolis police,’ Mr Boyett wrote. ‘The Colts gave me an opportunity and I blew it. My behavior didn't and doesn't represent who I am.’ ‘I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed in myself. All I can do now is learn from it and never repeat it. I look forward to showing my true character in the future.’ A team spokesman did not respond to a message sent for further comment on whether Mr Boyett would have made the team had he not been arrested. The Colts’ first game is this coming Sunday, and it appears the team has already moved on. When asked if the arrest and release of Mr Boyett would be a distraction to the team, Coach Pagano replied ‘’our total focus is on preparing for the Raiders. Period.’ | John Boyett had only joined the team in April, as a sixth-round draft pick from the University of Oregon .
The Colts picked him despite severe knee injuries he was still rehabbing that caused him to start the season on the injured list .
Coach Chuck Pagano declined to comment on the release .
Mr Boyett has apologized to the team, team owner and police - but via Twitter . |
231,929 | b8486839bdce43e1144199e0f25d22592fddfd60 | A Columbia University Dental School student only weeks from graduating disappeared this week - and police believe fear she may have taken her own life. Jiwon Lee, 29, hasn’t been seen since leaving her apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Tuesday night around 8.30 p.m., police said and her family believe foul play is involved. Investigators allegedly found a suicide note on a desk in Lee's apartment written out to her family. Dead: The body of Jiwon Lee, 29, was pulled from the Hudson River in New York on Saturday . Jiwon Lee had previously tried to take her own life with pills, an NYPD official told MailOnline. 'She wrote them all a letter that it was not their fault, she gave up on life,' said the cop. Police are not sure how long ago the note was written, but do see it as an ominous sign. Lee last spoke with her brother and . another person, whose phone number has since been disconnected, before . she went missing, a friend told Gothamist. The call lasted for half an hour until . just before the last contact her phone had with a local cell tower, her . brother Matt Lee told MailOnline. The number tracks to Sacramento, . California, and she had spoken with the person previously. Well respected: Jiwon Lee was recently the president of the American Student Dental Association . 'This Is very unusual for her, she’s never disappeared and not let someone know,' said the brother. 'She’s never done anything like this... we don’t think it is anything she did herself that has caused her to be missing.' The five-foot-two, 120-pound student has black hair and black eyes, she was last seen by her roommate at their West 98th Street apartment. Police last tracked her cell phone to West 179th Street, near the George Washington Bridge, through pings from cell towers, friend Kimberli Leal told MailOnline. It last contacted that tower at 9.33 p.m., her brother said, adding that there was no reason he was aware of for her to be in that area. 'We’re hopeful that it has nothing to do with the bridge,' he said. The worried brother lives on West 175th Street, and loved ones believe she may have been on her way to see him, but he was not expecting her, he lamented. Police have searched the area with dogs and divers but have come up empty, said Matt Lee. A review of bridge surveillance footage also showed nothing, but the police source said that doesn't mean she didn't access the pedestrian walkway. Nowhere to be found: Jiwon Lee hasn't been seen or heard from in almost a week . Where she was last seen: Miss Lee went missing after leaving her apartment at 8.30pm on April 1 . Investigators and loved ones have spent . days combing the area for signs of the missing part-time comedian. They . have also created a Facebook page to aid in the search. A search of the harbor also has not turned up any trace of the missing woman, he added. ‘We’re hoping for the best,’ said Leal, ’we’re really just hoping for the best.’ A group of friends has gathered every day to post signs in the areas around her apartment, where she went missing and by Columbia University Medical Center, said Leal. ‘We really need to find her,’ she added. 'She’s an amazing individual, very high achieving, very caring about others,' her brother said. 'We just want her to come home.' Jiwon Lee was, until two weeks ago, the president of the American Student Dental Association, according to Jonathan Shenkin. Mysterious: Jiwon Lee went missing from her Upper West Side apartment to a neighborhood about 70 blocks north, near the George Washington Bridge . ‘Jiwon is an exceptionally well respected leader in this nation in the dental community,’ he told MailOnline. ‘People adored her from the moment they met her.’ She had just passed her board exams and was expecting to graduate in May, according to Leal. The soon-to-be dentist wasn’t outwardly having any personal problems in the days and weeks leading up to her disappearance, Leal said. ‘Everything was fine.’ The well-rounded student also taught math to middle school students in the city through AmeriCorps, according to the Columbia Spectator. A GoFundMe site has been set up to help raise money to hire a private investigator. Money raised will also be used to provide a reward to anyone who comes forward with information leading to Jiwon Lee. Anyone with information is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. All calls are confidential. Missing person: Family and friends had conducted searches across New York for Miss Lee . | Jiwon Lee was last seen leaving her West 98th Street apartment Tuesday .
She had previously tried to commit suicide by overdosing on pills, according to police .
The last call made on her phone was to a Sacramento, California number she had previously contacted . |
142,074 | 43b9ea68d1bb8512169908e5e6ecf902b4767486 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 05:03 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:20 EST, 6 February 2013 . It may have seemed like a clever advertising ploy but a company's attempt to use 'real' customers to promote itself has backfired after they were targeted in a series of Twitter attacks. In the series of commercials Verizon FiOS urges viewers to contact Liana Rowe, Mike 'The Goose' Steinmetz and Regina Schneider who claim to love the company and want to share their experiences. But instead of genuine inquiries about download speeds, the trio have been besieged by hundreds of irrelevant, odd and very funny questions. Scroll down to watch ad . Mike Steinmetz is one of the three Verizon 'real customers' who have been bombarded by irrelevant questions since the campaign began . Many of the questions have been about how much the three have been paid to promote Verizon . Questions have ranged from whether the . three are actually robots to if the fast download speeds can help one . user find his mother. The three, who say they are real customers, have also been revealed to be working actors. Rowe and Steinmetz work for New York theatre companies and Schneider is an actress based in Long Island. They say while they have been 'incentivized' to promote the company, all their good experiences are genuine. Garrett Wilson summed up the tone of most of the messages with his question to Mike Steinmetz: 'How much are they paying you to promote this s*** man.' Liana Rowe, who is also a working actress, has been asked if she can help find one Twitter users mother and help another with his cocaine problem . Regina Schneider had to tell one another that she wants to talk about Verizon and not if she likes unicorns . When another user insinuated Liana Rowe was . only talking about Verizon for the money she retorted: 'I don't know why . this upsets you so much. I'm trying to answer questions and help . everybody out :)' Many other Twitter users have wanted to know why she had not used her account for two years before the campaign began. Mike wrote: 'Why no tweets in your 2 years history then all sudden you become activate. If you are fake then my whole life has been a lie.' She replied: 'A lot of people ask that. I made a twitter just to follow celebs and stuff. I used by fb for social networking. It's not fake.' Each of the three featured customers has a disclaimer written on their page: 'This Twitter user is a real FiOS customer incentivized by Verizon to share his/her own opinions and thoughts on FiOS service. 'The thoughts and opinions expressed by participants in this program are completely independent of Verizon.' However, when questioned neither of the three will reveal how much they have been paid to promote the company. Other questions have been more unusual. DJMarcRecordz pleaded with Rowe to use the company's fast speeds to help him find his mother, while some men were concerned with how quickly they would be able to download porn. One man asked Schneider whether she liked unicorns and Lowe was asked to help one person with their cocaine addiction. However, despite the provocation the Verizon trio do not seem able to retaliate but have to be polite at all times. | Verizon FiOS used 'real' customers in their latest advertising campaign .
But the trio have been besieged by people asking irrelevant questions .
They have been asked if they are robots and if fast internet speeds can help them with their drug problems or even find their mother . |
10,787 | 1ea94800f13a5d5483ee91c8839809eb41b45afb | Washington (CNN) -- It's a problem that has been around for awhile, and the longer it stays, the tougher it is to reverse. That's because it's a riddle that's almost impossible to resolve: Americans want the government to fix our problems, but they don't trust the government to do it. We want health care to be fixed, Medicare and Social Security to stay intact, emergencies to be handled. We also want lower taxes along with a smaller—yet more responsive—government. All in all, we would like to spend less and get more. Small wonder we don't believe government can do it, because it cannot. According to the latest CNN/ORC poll, the public's trust in the federal government has dropped to an all-time low: Only 15% of Americans today say they trust the government to do what's right just about always or most of the time—down 10 points from about a year ago. The last time that number was perilously close to rock bottom was in 1994, after Bill Clinton lost health care reform. And it prompted the president to famously declare "the era of big government is over." Only it isn't. And that's the essential conundrum for Barack Obama. He's been a big-agenda president. He sees himself as transformational, so anything less would not do. But the more he did—economic stimulus, health care reform— the more the public recoiled. They didn't see the results, and hated the partisanship. All of which makes sense. Even the president himself, back in 2009, admitted he hadn't laid the groundwork for his big agenda. After all, how can you convince the public to expand the government while most people believe it's bloated and out of control? "I understand that people are feeling uncertain about this. They feel anxious, partly because we've just become so cynical about what government can accomplish that people's attitudes are, you know, even though I don't like this devil, at least I know it, and I like that more than the devil I don't know," the president said at a press conference in the middle of the health care debate. "So folks are skeptical. And that is entirely legitimate, because they haven't seen a lot of laws coming out of Washington lately that helped them." All of which is true. But here's where leadership comes in—and has been lacking. The public distrusts government because its leaders haven't been able to work together to produce much of anything. Sure, we want it all—and that's our fault. But if we had some honest politicians out there, on both sides of the aisle, saying we can't have it all, we just might listen to them. Instead, we hear each side yammering about how the other guys solutions will kill the country or jobs or your bank account, so we figure we can't trust any of them. It's perfectly reasonable to feel that way. In fact, I would make the argument that—after watching the debt ceiling debacle—it would be strange to feel anything other than disrespect for Washington. And the more Congress fools with people's lives—like playing games over emergency funding—the more the public turns off. And it's not going to get any better the closer we get to an election. It is true that distrust of government is nothing new. It's also not news that we want the government to solve our problems even though we think it's full of scoundrels. "There is nothing new about this ambivalence," scholars, and former Clinton administration officials, Bill Galston and Elaine Kamarck point out in an essay called "Change you can believe in requires a government you can trust." They also make this important point: It's up to the president to lead. 'How ... the president deals with it may make the difference between success and failure." The problem for Obama now is that he has dealt with the problems in all ways: As the partisan and as the conciliator. Yes, the often-recalcitrant freshmen Republicans have backed him into a corner, because they refuse to deal on much of anything. Even so, the president's initial identity—as a change-agent who can fix Washington—is gone. Ronald Reagan understood the public's skepticism about government. He often joked that the scariest sentence in America is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." This president's problem is that he wants the government to help—only he hasn't been able to convince the public that government has changed. That's because it hasn't. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gloria Borger. | New CNN/ORC poll finds trust in government dropped to all-time low .
Borger: Americans want government programs such as Social Security, Medicare .
She says Americans don't believe government can solve problems .
Borger: Obama hasn't demonstrated leadership needed to reverse trend . |
234,402 | bb70d6d423ea05981a5c99b094d1abcb3ebd9b3a | Google is expanding its presence in Los Angeles with the $120 million purchase of a dozen acres of vacant land in the Playa Vista area on the city's west side. The parcel is zoned for nearly 900,000 square feet of commercial space that could house offices or studios, the Los Angeles Times reports. The plot is next to a historic hangar where aviator Howard Hughes built his famous 'Spruce Goose' airplane. Google also was expected to lease the hangar, which recently housed soundstages for movie and television, according to the newspaper. Acres: Google is expanding its presence in Los Angeles with the $120 million purchase of a dozen acres of vacant land in the Playa Vista area on the city's west side . Google: The parcel Google purchased is zoned for nearly 900,000 square feet of commercial space that could house offices or studios holding as many as 6,000 workers . City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the area, said the purchase 'brands Playa Vista as the tech and innovation capital of Los Angeles.' The Mountain View-based tech giant wouldn't detail its plans for the properties. Last year Microsoft opened a 20,000-square-foot space in Playa Vista, a neighborhood near major freeways, several neighborhoods and Los Angeles International Airport. Facebook has operations nearby, as do other major media companies and ad agencies. Three years ago, Google opened a campus in Venice, where it leased 100,000 square feet in three buildings for about 600 employees. One of those buildings is the famous Binoculars Building, a three-story office on Main Street designed by architect Frank Gehry. 'Spruce Goose':The plot is next to a historic hangar where aviator Howard Hughes built his famous 'Spruce Goose' airplane . A Google spokeswoman said the company, which typically likes to expand near its existing properties, will continue to rent the 69,000-square-foot Binoculars Building. Google views the Playa Vista land purchase as a long-term investment and has no particular design in mind for the site, she told the Times. Google also rents a 41,000-square-foot video production facility for subsidiary YouTube in a renovated former Hughes building in Playa Vista. Google already has bought or rented about 6.2 million square feet of space this year in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing its total there to 15 million square feet, according to real estate brokerage statistics cited by the Times. | Google purchased 12 acres of land in Los Angeles for $120 million that could hold as many as 6,000 workers .
The plot is next to a historic hangar where aviator Howard Hughes built his famous 'Spruce Goose' airplane .
The parcel is zoned for nearly 900,000 square feet of commercial space that could house offices or studios . |
237,089 | bedba5641f3f4493c61b2a1e87b6f147e42f80df | A Rangers shareholder has complained to financial regulators about investor Sandy Easdale and asked them to launch an investigation. The complaint follows comments made by Easdale on April 24 – the day before Rangers published their 120-day business review – when he described the financial position of the club as ‘fragile’. Mark Dingwall — a former chairman of the Rangers Supporters Trust — has now written to the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Conduct Authority and Daniel Stewart, the club’s nominated advisors in the City, to express concerns. Complaint: Sandy Easdale (left) watches Rangers in January with his brother James (right) The emails — seen by Sportsmail — ask each body to ‘investigate the possibility’ that Easdale ‘is acting as a shadow director of Rangers International Football Club plc and used knowledge derived from such a position to enrich himself via the buying of shares in the company’. Sandy Easdale is not a member of the plc board – unlike brother James – but is a director of the Rangers Football Club Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company. The complainant states that Sandy Easdale has ‘apparent access’ to financial information from the plc and that he appeared to ‘have knowledge of the content of the commercially sensitive 120-day review prepared by the company’. Champions: Lee McCulloch lifts the Scottish League One trophy after Rangers' second successful promotion . Dingwall’s email continues: ‘On April 24 the share price was 26p. That day after he (Easdale) made his statement it fell to 22p. ‘Mr Easdale bought 57,043 shares at 23p on May 1. By May 8, the price had recovered to 27p. ‘It is also noteworthy that Mr Easdale holds the voting rights to, but does not own, shares representing a further 22.10 per cent of RIFC Plc. I believe that, if he does have privileged financial information, those shareholders he holds proxies for may also have access to it or otherwise benefit from that knowledge.’ Born again: Kenny Miller will begin his third spell at Rangers next season after re-signing with the Ibrox club . No comment was forthcoming last night from the Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange or Daniel Stewart. Rangers declined to comment on the complaint. Last week, supporter coalition the Union of Fans issued a statement questioning whether chief executive Graham Wallace or Easdale held the true boardroom power inside Ibrox. New talent: Rangers completed the signing of Darren McGregor last week on a one-year deal . | Former Supporters Trust chairman expresses concerns over Easdale's role .
Sandy Easdale is not a member of the plc board, unlike his brother James .
Governing bodies asked to investigate if Easdale is a 'shadow director' |
115,968 | 21b0a98b0d68328b440bb1a38428f1a211468c50 | If you thought his party-loving days were over – think again. Prince Harry attended an aristocratic friend’s wedding where hotel staff say he fell asleep at the bar and lost his wallet and iPhone. The Prince celebrated the wedding at the secluded, five-star Chateau Bela hotel in Slovakia, where for two nights he downed cocktails, was seen flirting with a mystery brunette and stayed up until 6am. Harry’s ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, 28, was among the guests, and reportedly remained at his side for most of the weekend as well as splashing around with him in a swimming pool. Carrying on till morning: The picture, taken by a person at the wedding in Slovakia, shows the Prince, at about 6am, as he appears to be following the mystery brunette, who is wearing a flowing, dark-green skirt and a sleeveless black top . Our exclusive picture, taken by a person at the wedding, shows the Prince, at about 6am, as he appears to be following the mystery brunette, who is wearing a flowing, dark-green skirt and a sleeveless black top. In the grainy image, Harry, 29, who had his white shirt hanging out, seems to gesture at another young woman to join him and the unidentified brunette. In other photographs seen by The Mail on Sunday, the Prince was pictured talking to the two women while three male guests stand around and three others sit drinking and smoking at white tables on the hotel grounds. The Prince was attending the wedding of his friends Alexander Mavros, 34, and Alexandra von Krockow, 29, earlier this month near Sturovo, 100 miles east of the capital Bratislava. Conversation: Prince Harry (right in white shirt) is seen talking to two women at the party . He was among 250 guests who included business tycoons as well as members of some of the most aristocratic families of Europe. After arriving at the hotel on Friday afternoon, the Prince spent the early evening enjoying a barbecue accompanied by local gipsy music. The Prince and his friends then went into the hotel’s main oak-panelled bar, and ordered rounds of Bloody Mary cocktails and rum and Coke. A waiter, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘The bar was open all night, and they just ordered Bloody . Marys, ten, 11, at a time. It was so busy. Harry also liked rum and Coke, and he ordered vodka as well.’ Following the first night of partying, reports appeared in Slovakian newspaper Novy Cas – which published the main picture above – and in the Hungarian newspaper Borsonline.hu. They claimed that the Prince fell asleep in front of a bus at the hotel and in the bar. When asked if Harry fell asleep at the bar in the early hours of Saturday morning, a barman replied ‘yes’, and then quickly changed the subject. Following the wedding on Saturday, Harry and his friends danced and drank until late at night. When they left a salon room, Harry forgot his wallet and iPhone on a table. Luckily, waiter Stephan Csonto, found them and returned them to him after rifling through the wallet and finding Harry’s name on his HSBC bank card. He said: ‘When I returned it to the Prince he was happy and thanked me and shook my hand. ‘I knew it was Harry’s as I had seen him with the same wallet before. He puts it on the table when he sits down. ‘He told us that the best thing about the wedding was that he could be himself, and nobody bothered him because he was Prince Harry. Mr Csonto continued: ‘He was so funny. He drank a bit during the wedding, but they all drank. ‘The English, they like to drink at parties. But he was having such a good time. He also told us he had never been to Slovakia before. He spent a lot of time with Chelsy, but they seemed to be good friends,’ he added. The main bar closed at 6am, and Harry and some other guests, including Ms Davy, went into the front courtyard of the hotel. Still the party prince: Harry and friends at the marriage ceremony of Alexander Mavros and Alexandra von Krockow, up until dawn at the hotel . A barman added: ‘I was about to drive off, and Harry was out in the grounds with friends. ‘He then jumped in front of my car with his arms stretched, shouting, “Arghh.” He then told me, “Don’t go, don’t go!” It was funny. His handprint is still on my windscreen.’ Brunch for the guests was served at 11am on Sunday, after which everyone gradually departed. It is believed that London-based Mr Mavros, a scion of a Zimbabwean jewellery dynasty, has been friends with the Prince for about three years. Harry caught a Ryanair flight from Bratislava on Sunday afternoon, bound for Luton. The bride’s mother, Countess Von Krockow, said yesterday: ‘Harry had a good time. ‘Of course people were a bit tipsy at the wedding – that’s what happens.’ The 47-room Hotel Chateau Bela is one of Slovakia’s most famous historic hotels. Once the seat of the von Krockows, it is still owned by the family. Prince Harry stayed in a standard en suite double room on the first floor, costing about £90. Buckingham Palace refused to comment about the wedding weekend, as it was a personal matter. | Prince partied at the secluded five-star Chateau Bela hotel in Slovakia .
Attended wedding of friends Alexander Mavros and Alexandra von Krockow .
Was said to have spent most of the evening downing cocktails .
His ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, 28, was among the 250 guests at event .
Reportedly remained at her side for most of the weekend . |
222,433 | abec5acfb9f57e87d60b1043fb9b814fce54140e | Sergio Aguero's attempts to follow compatriot Diego Maradona by scoring his own 'glove of God' backfired as the Manchester City striker's handball subterfuge was spotted, punished and left him public enemy number one at Stoke's raucous Britannia Stadium. Despite putting in a match-winning performance for his title-chasing side and his first goals since December 3, Aguero will be remembered for something other than an impressive return to form following a knee injury. True, he didn't try to con the referee with an over-the-top celebration as Maradona did when he rose above Peter Shilton to score the first goal against England at the 1986 World Cup with his palm. Sergio Aguero (16) handled the ball into the net in similar fashion to fellow Argentinian Maradona . The goal was disallowed by referee Lee Mason and Aguero became the target for boo's from the Stoke fans . The City striker could have headed it in following good work from David Silva but put the ball in with his hand . Aguero's goal was reminiscint of the 'hand of God' goal scored by Argentinian compatriot Diego Maradona . Nevertheless, the striker did clearly use the fingers inside his gloved left hand for a final touch on a goal that would have put Manchester City 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time. As Manchester City players loudly acclaimed the goal awarded by referee Lee Mason, a sheepish Aguero kept quiet as Stoke players vented angry protests, particularly from Marc Muniesa, the defender closest to the action. In the end, Mr Mason was persuaded to consult with his assistant and having clearly gleaned the correct information, disallowed the goal. Stoke City's Glenn Whelan (left) confronts Aguero following the incident at the Britannia Stadium . The 26-year-old (16) was then booked by Mason for his misdemeanor despite his arguments . Aguero wasn't allowed to forget his indiscretion by the Stoke fans, regarded as among the most partisan in the Premier League. When the whistle blew for half-time with the score still at 1-1 moments later, every step he took towards the dressing-room was greeted with widespread boos and the occasional howl of abuse. The odd thing is Aguero didn't even need to handle to score. Silva's low cross flipped up in the air and Muniesa tried to intercept, Aguero's first touch with his head was goalbound but only a yard from goal his left arm seemed to involuntarily move up and his hand gave the ball a final shove. Presumably the forward will claim he couldn't get his hand out the way but even so he will now go alongside other South American greats Luis Suarez and Maradona. Silva and Aguero celebrate his goal before realising the referee's decision to disallow it . Of course, Aguero's sleight of hand won't be remembered in 30 years time like Maradona's because it was ruled out and didn't prove decisive in any case – largely because he scored twice anyway. Aguero had failed to find the net since returning from a knee injury sustained against Everton but a cold Wednesday night in Stoke proved the time to put the cobwebs away. City's goal to open the scoring after half-an-hour was brilliant. Aguero outmuscled Muniesa on the halfway line to collect a punt from James Milner, accelerated past Phil Bardsley and shot cleanly across Asmir Begovic. Aguero (right) was impressive throughout and scored a splendid double to help City to victory . Peter Crouch then equalised with a trademark header past Joe Hart to deservedly level the scoreline. Milner then headed the visitors in front and when Manchester City were awarded a penalty, Aguero rifled it into the roof of the net for his 21st goal of the season. Stoke fans might not like him but his own fans chanted 'Sergio, Sergio' as he made way for Edin Dzeko with the game won. The exciting thing for City is Aguero can only get better with new signing Wilfried Bony due to line up alongside him in their next game in 10 days time. Barcelona, who await in the Champions League, will be worried. Even without his hands, Aguero is deadly. Peter Crouch scores a trademark header past the stranded Joe Hart to level up the scores in the first half . James Milner celebrates after his goal regained the leader for the reigning Premier League champions . Aguero scored his second goal from the spot after Silva was adjudged to have been brought down . Samir Nasri celebrates with the away fans after his goal sealed the win for Manuel Pellegrini's men . | Sergio Aguero's attempted the 'hand of God' but the goal was disallowed .
Diego Maradona succeeded when he scored against England .
The incident overshadowed an impressive performance from the Argentinian who scored a double in City's 4-1 win over Stoke .
James Milner and Samir Nasri scored the other City goals, while Peter Crouch headed home the equaliser in the first half .
Click here for all the latest Manchester City news . |
218,541 | a6e9cd4f7163494c3d68471c696e6552aa4dd5fb | By . Jason Groves . PUBLISHED: . 18:56 EST, 17 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:33 EST, 21 November 2013 . Warning: Rising stars in the party will warn the chancellor to look out for those on middle incomes . An influential group of Conservative MPs will today call for stamp duty to be scrapped on all homes worth less than £500,000. The change would be included as part of a package of tax cuts to help Britain’s middle classes. The Free Enterprise Group will warn George Osborne that he needs to do much more to help those on middle incomes who have faced a severe financial squeeze during the recession. Proposals are expected to include the scrapping of stamp duty on most homes and a big rise in the threshold at which people start to pay income tax at the higher rate of 40 per cent. The group – which contains a number of the party’s rising stars – will also call for business rates to be cut to help save the embattled high street and provide a boost to small businesses. It will argue that the UK has the highest property taxes in the world, and that scrapping stamp duty on properties worth less than £500,000 would help first-time buyers much more than any other measure. Some 94 per cent of the homes sold in England now attract stamp duty. Buyers of properties worth more than £250,000 pay three per cent duty on the total price. But if the threshold had been increased in line with inflation it would now stand at more than £1.2million. Today’s report is also expected to call for the 40 per cent income tax threshold to be raised from £41,450 to £50,000 to ease pressure on buyers, particularly those in London and the South East where property prices are higher. Proposals: The influential group will propose a number of measures that will ease the strain on first-time buyers . The group’s recommendations will be passed to the Chancellor ahead of his autumn statement on the economy next month. Mr . Osborne is also reported to be mulling calls from within the party to . go beyond his fuel duty freeze and cut taxes at the petrol pumps. Many Tories are concerned that the recent revival in Britain’s economic fortunes is not yet being felt by traditional Tory voters. The intervention from the Free Enterprise Group comes as the Liberal Democrats pile pressure on the Chancellor to set aside £1billion a year to help the low paid by raising the personal tax allowance. The basic rate threshold is already due to rise to £10,000 next year – up from £6,475 at the last election. And Nick Clegg yesterday said he wanted to see the Government go further by raising the threshold to £10,500 before the election. He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that raising the personal allowance would be worth £100 a year to 24million ordinary taxpayers and take about half a million people out of income tax altogether. ‘As the recovery is finally taking hold I think it is very important that as many people as possible feel that they are benefiting from it,’ he said. ‘That’s why I call it a workers’ bonus.’ And he said the increase could be funded by a levy – such as a ‘mansion tax’ – on the ‘super wealthy’. But the Conservatives are opposed to the plans for a mansion tax on homes worth more than £2 million, and Mr Clegg acknowledged he had not yet got agreement within the Coalition for his tax plan. In a further move to distance himself from the Tories, Mr Clegg rejected David Cameron’s call in his Guildhall speech last week for a ‘permanently’ smaller state sector. He said: ‘You appear to have this view from the right now that taxes should never go up and that in a sense you should be shrinking the state to ever smaller size in a slightly ideological way. 'I don’t think we should be ideological about this.’ | Free Enterprise Group will warn Osborne to help those on middle incomes .
Proposals include rising threshold at which people start to pay income tax .
Will argue: 'UK has highest home tax in the world, stamp duty is too much' |
240,867 | c3d62588061020c5b8a22a39fc1335642d653b7e | Ahead of the Boxing Day Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Sunderland's home clash with Hull... Sunderland vs Hull City (Stadium of Light) Team news . Sunderland . Full-back Anthony Reveillere is out of Sunderland's Boxing Day clash with Hull and will not play again until the new year. Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet faces a decision on whether to field skipper John O'Shea . The Frenchman suffered a calf injury in the warm-up before Sunday's 1-0 derby victory at Newcastle and will be sidelined for up to four weeks. Head coach Gus Poyet faces a decision on whether to field skipper John O'Shea in his place, as he did at St James' Park, or turn to fit-again specialist Billy Jones, who has recovered from a hamstring problem, while midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini is also in contention following his return from an ankle injury. Striker Connor Wickham serves a one-match ban for an accumulation of bookings. Provisional squad: Pantilimon, Mannone, Jones, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini, Coates, Cattermole, Rodwell, Bridcutt, Gomez, Larsson, Johnson, Buckley, Alvarez, Mavrias, Giaccherini, Fletcher, Altidore. Hull . Hull are stretched to the limit for their trip to Sunderland on Boxing Day. Midfielders Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone are suspended, Mohamed Diame is out with a knee problem and centre-half Michael Dawson has a torn hamstring. Paul McShane and Hatem Ben Arfa are both exiled from the squad and captain Curtis Davies (calf) is a doubt but Tom Ince and Maynor Figueroa have been recalled from loan spells. Provisional squad: McGregor, Jakupovic, Davies, Rosenior, McShane, Figueroa, Robertson, Chester, Bruce, Elmohamady, Meyler, Ince, Brady, Aluko, Quinn, Ramirez, Hernandez, Aluko, Jelavic, Sagbo. Midfielders Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone are suspended while Mohamed Diame is also out for Hull . Kick-off: Boxing Day, 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . Sunderland EVS . Draw 9/4 . Hull 10/3 . Referee: Andre Marriner . Managers: Gus Poyet (Sunderland), Steve Bruce (Hull) Head-to-head league record: Sunderland wins 15, draws 5, Hull wins 12 . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Sunderland have lost just one of their last six Premier League Boxing Day fixtures (W2 D3 L1). Hull City have lost their two previous Boxing Day PL games (1-5 to Man City and 2-3 to Man Utd). There have been just eight goals scored in the Black Cats’ last six Boxing Day games in the Premier League. Current Hull boss Steve Bruce was manager of Sunderland between June 2009 and November 2011 winning 28 per cent of his 89 Premier League games in charge. There have been six red cards in six Premier League meetings between these two sides, including five in the last three games alone. Wes Brown was sent off in just the fourth minute following his foul on Hull's Shane Long, who went on to score for the Tigers in their 2-0 Premier League win at the Stadium of Light back in February . Sunderland won the first four Premier League matches with Hull City but have lost the last two. Steve Bruce was the winning manager in the last four, twice for Sunderland the last two times as Hull coach. Mohamed Diame has scored three goals against Sunderland, more than against any other opponent in his Premier League career. Costel Pantilimon has tasted defeat in only two of his 15 Premier League appearances (for Sunderland and Man City). Of goalkeepers to have played seven or more games this season, the Romanian stopper has the best save percentage (82.1 per cent). Only Manchester United (31) have used more players this season than Steve Bruce’s Hull City side (27). | Anthony Reveillere is out for Sunderland's clash with Hull City .
Gus Poyet will make a late decision on whether John O'Shea is fit to start .
Hull are missing Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone and Mohamed Diame . |
210,292 | 9c5ed4f30fbbde340c146bab3c9ba35b0a5f70f7 | Arsenal will launch a January swoop for Ipswich star Tyrone Mings. The 21-year-old has earned rave reviews from Gunners scouts and boss Arsene Wenger needs to bolster his defence next month after injuries left his squad exposed. Mings plays at left back but Arsenal see his future as a central defender. The stumbling block is Ipswich’s asking price of £10million but Arsenal hope to compromise. Crystal Palace and Chelsea are also interested. Tyrone Mings is being tracked by several big Premier League clubs, with Arsenal leading the chase . Mings plays as a left back for Ipswich but Arsene Wenger could switch him to a centre half . Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper Damian Martinez believes he can challenge Wojciech Szczesny as the club’s No 1 — after revealing he was ready to leave the club. The 22-year-old kept his third clean sheet in a row in their win against Southampton. But Martinez feared for his future after Arsene Wenger signed David Ospina in the summer. Damian Martinez claims the ball as he kept another clean sheet against Southampton on Wednesday . Martinez said: ‘I spoke to my agent and family and they said “let’s wait to see if you get the opportunity”. I got the opportunity, so I am really pleased.’ Asked if he could be Wenger’s first-choice, he said: ‘Yeah, Wojciech has got the spot when he is not injured. ‘Hopefully if I get a chance against Stoke, I will keep a clean sheet and we win.’ | Arsenal are watching Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings .
Mings, 21, plays as left back for Championship team Ipswich .
But Arsene Wenger sees him as centre back in long term .
Chelsea and Crystal Palace are also interested in Mings . |
130,584 | 34e02b49c83094f9d0da18aaf043bb8adc4dd00b | English MPs could be given a ‘veto vote’ over laws which do not apply to the rest of the UK under radical constitutional reforms to be published next week. David Cameron will publish proposals aimed at delivering English votes for English laws and rectifying the growing imbalance with the devolved nations. Tory sources said the plans would give English MPs a ‘decisive say’ in laws which applied only to their constituents and not to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scroll down for video . David Cameron will publish proposals aimed at delivering English votes for English laws and rectifying the growing imbalance with the devolved nations . Among three proposals to be put forward by the Government will be a new ‘veto’ or ‘consent’ option which will mean English MPs have the ‘final say’ on English laws going through the Commons. Following a committee stage of English MPs, Bills could then be amended by MPs from the rest of the UK in the Commons. But English MPs would then get a further veto vote before a Bill became law. And after Ed Miliband had previously called for the issue to be referred to a constitutional committee, Labour yesterday made its first significant step towards accepting some form of English Home Rule. Shadow ministers Hilary Benn and Sadiq Khan backed the idea of an English-only committee for Bills that will not apply elsewhere in the UK, as it would ‘strengthen England’s voice’ at Westminster. However this option lacks the critical final veto. Labour yesterday made its first significant step towards accepting some form of English Home Rule . Labour’s plan was initially suggested by former Commons clerk Sir William McKay in his Government-commissioned report on the issue last year. Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps said: ‘The situation since has moved on now that more powers are being devolved to the Scottish Parliament . But Sir William himself has questioned whether his proposals are still relevant given the further devolution to Scotland following the independence referendum. He said they would need a ‘hefty tweak’. A Tory source said Labour had ‘spent months denying there was a problem and then latched on to a plan even its author says is outdated’. Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps said: ‘The situation since the McKay report has moved on now that more powers are being devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The case for English votes for English laws can no longer be ignored and must be delivered. ‘And we believe it should happen in tandem with further devolution to Scotland.’ He added that Labour was simply trying to ‘kick this issue into the long grass’. Details of the Government’s other two proposals were not clear last night. However Tory backbenchers will be consulted over the plans in the coming weeks, and ministers are negotiating further with Lib Dems to put the final choice to a vote before the General Election. Last month the Smith Commission set out a new deal for Scotland following its rejection of independence that will see it control income tax, VAT revenues and the introduction of new benefits. | PM to publish proposals aimed at delivering English votes for English laws .
Plans will give English MPs ‘decisive say’ in laws applying to constituents .
Labour yesterday made first step towards accepting Home Rule concept . |
101,579 | 0eea9d1c07d43821e63c55db0701612a9365cc85 | By . Michael Seamark . and Arthur Martin . Prince Charles fears becoming king will condemn him to ‘imprisonment’ – denying him the freedom to pursue his favoured causes. Despite being seen as itching to ascend the throne, he is already feeling the weight of duty, according to an extraordinary profile published today. Aides say the prince is desperate to get as much of his charitable and environmental work done before ‘the prison shades’ close. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Profile of a prince: Friends and associates of Charles have provided a fascinating insight of his life for an article in TIME magazine . Royal duties: Prince Charles and his wife Camilla leave the baptism of his first grandchild Prince George yesterday at St James's Palace . The surprise insight into his thinking comes from interviews with more than 50 of his friends and associates. Catherine Mayer had extensive access . to Charles for her TIME Magazine front cover story, The Forgotten . Prince. She visited royal residences in England, Scotland and Wales and . followed him to meetings and on official visits. Charles, 64, is for the first time . deputising for the 87-year-old Queen at a Commonwealth summit in Sri . Lanka next month but Miss Mayer says he ‘accepts these additional duties . joylessly’. She writes: ‘He prefers not to focus on his accession, . which, after all, means losing his mother. And far from itching to . assume the crown, he is already feeling its weight and worrying about . its impact on the job he has long been doing.’ Close: Prince Charles shares a laugh with Emma Thompson at a film gala in aid of the Prince's Trust, one of several keen interests for the future king . Charles tells the US magazine he . intends to make the most of his inherited position: ‘I’ve had this . extraordinary feeling, for years and years, ever since I can remember . really, of wanting to heal and make things better. ‘I feel more than anything else it’s . my duty to worry about everybody and their lives in this country, to try . and find a way of improving things if I possibly can.’ The magazine highlights suggestions that the monarchy could skip a generation in favour of William. - Prince Charles in TIME interview . But Charles says: ‘If you chuck away too many things you end up discovering there was value in them.’ The article also reveals: . Speaking to the Mail yesterday, Miss . Mayer said: ‘I don’t think the prince sees becoming king as prison. It . is a loss of freedom and a loss of time. ‘It is not that the Crown is a shackle but what it does is eat up his time. ‘He is often described as being . impatient to be king but what he’s really impatient to do is to get as . much as he possibly can done before he is king.’ Assistance: Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, centre, helps employee Peter Wills, left, put the finishing touches to the poppy wreath that Prince Charles will lay on Armistice Day, in India, at the Poppy factory in London . Day job: Charles and his 'wonderful wife' Camilla meet Kandyan drummers . at a reception for members of British Indian and British Sri Lankan . communities at St James's Palace yesterday . She said it is clear that Charles will . increasingly take on more of his mother’s work but his passion lies . elsewhere and he is ‘incredibly eager to get as much done as he possibly . can’. Miss Mayer added: ‘The thing he is . really passionate about is the life he’s carved out for himself and . everything else he does as a sense of duty.’ In Time magazine she adds: ‘The Queen, . at 87, is scaling back her work and the prince is taking up the slack, . to the potential detriment of his network of charities, initiatives and . causes.’ On the dancefloor: Prince Charles doing a tango with Adriana Vasile in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the 1990s . Charles serves as patron of 428 . charities and has founded more than 25. Miss Mayer says he has been . pruning and merging his causes into the 16 strongest that he can be sure . will flourish with less of his attention. Charles says: ‘Obviously, these things have grown like Topsy over the years, as I’ve seen what I feel needs to be done. ‘I couldn’t do it all at once. I couldn’t at Highgrove just do the whole garden in one or two years. Bit by bit, you go round.’ At Birkhall, the prince’s royal . residence on the Balmoral estate, Charles told Miss Mayer: ‘We’re busily . wrecking the chances for future generations at a rapid rate of knots by . not recognising the damage we’re doing to the natural environment, . bearing in mind that this is the only planet that we know has any life . on it.’ William, Kate and their baby George . paid Charles and Camilla a visit that day and the prince told Miss Mayer . he now takes joy in his ‘wonderful wife’. ‘And of course now a grandson, which . is what this is all about. It’s everybody else’s grandchildren I’ve been . bothering about, but the trouble is if you take that long a view people . don’t always know what you’re on about.’ Miss Mayer says Charles has been . plagued by the perception that he is aloof and indulged but in reality . he is a ‘passionate philanthropist’. She says he is one of the world’s . most prolific charitable entrepreneurs and what one friend called ‘an . amplifier of messages and a conductor of ideas’. In the article Charles says of his . charity, the Prince’s Trust: ‘A few people are lucky enough to know . exactly what they want to do. ‘But there’s a hell of a lot of others . who don’t really know and may not be obviously academic.’ Miss Mayer . writes: ‘He seems unaware that he’s also describing his own struggle.’ A Clarence House spokesman said of the . suggestion that he viewed his future duties as ‘joyless’: ‘This is not . the Prince of Wales’s view and should not be attributed to him as he did . not say these words. ‘The prince has dutifully supported . the Queen all his life and his official duties and charitable work have . always run in parallel.’ Timeless classic: Prince Charles in a Silver Cross . They are considered a little too cumbersome by most 21st century parents. But William and Kate have stuck with royal tradition and ferry George around in a Silver Cross pram. Both the Queen and Prince Charles spent some of their early months in a Silver Cross pram. Invented in 1877 by William Wilson, the baby carriages became hugely popular by the 1960s. Television footage of the Queen pushing her children around royal estates in one helped turn them into a ‘must have’ baby accessory for the wealthy. The prams were often spotted being pushed by Norland Nannies wearing their distinctive brown uniforms. But as smaller and lighter prams and buggies came on the market, the tradition Silver Cross model faded in popularity. Buckingham Palace last night declined to revealed which model William and Kate opted for. They might have chosen the £1,450 Silver Cross Balmoral pram which is described as the ‘ultimate classic pram’ by its designers. Many families would struggle to afford one – let alone get it through their front door. | 50 friends of the prince interviewed for revealing profile in TIME magazine .
Called 'The Forgotten Prince' it describes how he is happy not to be king at present .
It allows him to concentrate on his charity work and other passions .
'I’ve had this extraordinary feeling, for .
years and years, ever since I can remember really, of wanting to heal .
and make things better,' the Prince said .
Emma Thompson says she has tried it on 'but he wasn't having any of it'
How Charles had a sword sent to .
Scotland from London so he could give Prince William lessons in granting .
knighthoods without inflicting injury; .
Actress and royal friend Emma Thompson describes dancing with Charles as ‘better than sex’; .
Kate and William will be pushing Prince George around in a Silver Cross pram. |
64,359 | b6bebb2aa1a0dc8de5878bb83938f3793f5d00b7 | Britain could be forced to pay benefits to more Turkish migrants and their families after losing yet another EU court case. The UK had argued it should be allowed to opt out of an agreement giving workers from Turkey the same benefit rights as those from the EU. Ministers feared the Brussels ‘power grab’ would make Britain an even more attractive destination for immigrants and would lead to higher spending on welfare payments and pensions. Britain could be forced to pay benefits to more Turkish migrants and their families after losing yet another EU court case . It took the European Commission to court in a last-ditch attempt to get out of the deal. But in a ruling quietly announced last week, Britain lost the case and was told by judges at Europe’s highest court it could not opt out. It means any Turks who are allowed to come to Britain to work will be able to claim benefits for themselves and their families as well as building up pensions, which they could then transfer back to their home countries if they retire there. A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: ‘The British public quite rightly expect that those who come here should contribute. ‘We will be examining the full implications of the ruling.’ | Britain could be forced to pay benefits to more Turkish migrants .
UK lost yet another EU court case, giving Turkish workers full EU rights .
MPs feared 'power grab' could make Britain more attractive for migrants . |
127,893 | 3152c92741631fb20f62312364cabf5037d175e3 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 05:42 EST, 9 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:34 EST, 9 October 2013 . The first evidence of a comet impact on Earth has been found in a mysterious black Egyptian pebble filled with diamonds. The comet is thought to have struck Earth 28 million years heating the sands of the Sahara desert to 2,000°C. It created huge amounts of yellow silica glass- also known as Libyan desert glass- which today lie scattered over a 6 000 square kilometre area in the Sahara. The comet is thought to have struck Earth 28 million years heating the sands of the Sahara desert to 2,000°C . A magnificent specimen of the glass, polished by ancient jewellers, is found in Tutankhamun's brooch with its striking yellow-brown scarab. The discovery reported in Earth and Planetary Science Letters could even help researchers unlock the secrets of the formation of our solar system. ‘Comets always visit our skies – they’re these dirty snowballs of ice mixed with dust – but never before in history has material from a comet ever been found on Earth,’ said Professor David Block of Wits University, who led the research. As well as the glass, the impact produced microscopic diamonds. The comet created huge amounts of yellow silica glass- also known as Libyan desert glass- which today lie scattered over a 6 000 square kilometre area in the Sahara . Tutankhamun's impeccably preserved brooch was recovered along with the numerous other artifacts within his tomb in 1922. The striking yellow-brown scarab that is set at its heart is made of a yellow silica glass stone procured from the sand of the Sahara. Researchers believe the silica glass was originally formed 28 million years ago, when an ancient comet entered the earth's atmosphere and exploded over Egypt. Evidence of this can be found in a small, black, diamond-bearing pebble found years earlier by an Egyptian geologist. After conducting chemical analyses on the pebble, the authors came to the conclusion that it represented the very first known hand specimen of a comet nucleus, rather than an unusual type of meteorite. The team have named the diamond-bearing pebble ‘Hypatia’ after of the first well known female mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, Hypatia of Alexandria. Understanding how a comet impact affects planets, could scientists solve some of the mysteries surrounding our solar system. Jan Kramers describes the find as a moment elation. ‘It’s a typical scientific euphoria when you eliminate all other options and come to the realisation of what it must be,’ he said. Comet material is very elusive. Fragments have never been found on Earth before except as microscopic sized dust particles in the upper atmosphere and some carbon-rich dust in the Antarctic ice. ‘Nasa and Esa spend billions of dollars collecting a few micrograms of comet material and bringing it back to Earth, and now we’ve got a radical new approach of studying this material, without spending billions of dollars collecting it,’ said Professor Kramers. The study of Hypatia has grown into an international collaborative research programme with several expeditions already underway in the desert glass area. The team have named the diamond-bearing pebble Hypatia after of the first well known female mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, Hypatia of Alexandria (pictured) | Clues of the impact were also found in Libyan desert glass in the Sahara .
Glass was created after comet heated the sands of the desert to 2,000°C .
A magnificent specimen of the glass can be found in Tutankhamun's brooch . |
120,945 | 2851a2b6fc506a2e4e1bf4c15b15fca0da7933ad | An Australian woman has gone into labour aboard a Malaysian Airlines flight from Malaysia to Brisbane, forcing it to make an emergency stop in Bali. The flight landed at 2.10pm local time after the woman was 'about to give birth' on Friday. Spokesman for Ngurah Rai airport managers Angkasa Pura, Herry A. Y. Sikado, says flight MH135 from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane requested a priority landing. An Australian woman has gone into labour aboard a Malaysian Airlines flight from Malaysia to Brisbane, forcing it to make an emergency stop in Bali . The plane with 178 passengers on board landed and the woman was rushed to Kasih Ibu Hospital, Mr Herry said. MH135 departed for Brisbane at 4.14pm and the airport says flights are running to schedule. | An Australian woman has gone into labour forcing emergency landing .
A Malaysian Airlines flightfrom Malaysia to Brisbane stopped in Bali .
The plane with 178 passengers landed at 2.10pm local time and the woman was rushed to hospital . |
261,596 | deca49f98e0310cad49ad3ca4462e7996883e380 | She's one of British's most cherished stars of screen and stage and has kept fans entertained for nearly 60 years. But, as her latest interview proves, Dame Judi Dench still looks - and feels - young at heart. Gracing the cover of Good Housekeeping magazine in a stylish powder blue coat, the 80-year-old discusses red carpet fashion, whether she’ll ever remarry and how she feels the temptation to get a tattoo. Scroll down for video . Dame Judi Dench, 80, is Good Housekeeping magazine's March 2015 covergirl and chats tattoos, feeling edgy about retiring and whether she will ever remarry . Dame Dench made her professional acting debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Fast forward nearly 60 years and she has added ten BAFTAs, six Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award to her awards cabinet. She's also become a poster girl for the mature female actress and her red carpet choices are respected worldwide (even if she admits she 'loathes' getting ready and is always 'terribly nervous' in clothes 'you have to live up to'). Despite her success and worldwide acclaim, you'd be wrong for thinking that the grand dame of acting, whose roles have included A Room with a View, Shakespeare in Love and Chocolat, will consider retiring anytime soon though. In the interview, she discusses cosmetic work and while she admits she'd love to go into surgery right now and come back with completely smooth skin, she's far too squeamish . In October, she began filming as Cecily, Duchess of York to Benedict Cumberbatch's Richard III in the second series of The Hollow Crown. 'The thought of putting my feet up doesn’t appeal at all – no no, no!,' she said. 'I’ve got plenty of time for that at weekends or on odd days off. The prospect of no work on the horizon makes me a bit edgy. I have no particular ambitions – I just want to be employed!' Feisty and independent as ever, Dame Judi recently insisted she is driven mad by people constantly asking if she's ready to slow down - and turning 80 in December was no different. 'All I wanted was the people I love around me, I didn’t want a fuss. The words old, eight-oh and retire are banned in my house,' she said of the milestone celebration. The fun-loving Bond actress admits that she was even tempted to get a tattoo to mark her 80th birthday . Keen to prove her point, the fun-loving Bond actress admits that she was even tempted to get an inking to mark the occasion. She said: 'I am tempted to have a tattoo to mark my birthday. Finty’s [her daughter] very keen on me having one. There’s an Indian symbol that I like which supposedly represents life and love and everything. 'One of the cameramen who worked on The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel told me what it meant, but I’m a bit nervous in case I’m being set up… It might be unbelievably rude!' As well as tattoos, she also discusses cosmetic work and while she admits she'd love to go into surgery right now and come back with completely smooth skin, she's far too squeamish. She said: 'I don’t think I’m vain enough. It’s not that I don’t mind the lines, because I do, but just not enough to do anything. My agent would go barmy. I’d do myself out of the parts for old people.' Dame Judi may have become a poster girl for the mature female actress but she admits she 'loathes' getting ready for the red carpet . (L to R) Dame Judi Dench, David Mills, Finty Williams and Sam Williams attend the official dinner party after the EE British Academy Film Awards last year . Judi, who was heartbroken after losing partner Michael Williams to cancer in 2001 following 30 years of marriage, also speaks candidly about finding love again with conservationist David Mills. She said: 'For 30 years, I was divinely happy with Michael. I love the company of being in a relationship - I’m no good on my own. 'It’s lovely to have someone to laugh with again: David has a heavenly sense of humour. 'He laughs at exactly the same things as I do. 'Humour is the most important thing. If someone can make you laugh, even in the middle of the most terrible time, it’s wonderful.' Discussing the prospect of remarrying, she added: 'Marriage isn’t something I’ve thought about. 'David has his house, I have mine a few miles away, and that suits us. 'He’s from a different world from me and it makes for a great balance. I’m jolly lucky.' Judi in 1960, starring in Romeo and Juliet alongside John Stride and, right, at her wedding to late husband Michael Williams, who died after a long battle with cancer in 2001 . In Roald Dahl's Esio Trot, alongside Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Hoppy . Read the full Judi Dench interview in the March 2015 issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale Tuesday 3 February. Also available as a digital edition. | Dame Judi Dench has been in showbusiness for almost 60 years .
In interview, she discusses finding love again after death of her husband .
She also reveals she is 'too squeamish' for cosmetic surgery . |
236,198 | bdbfaa53276efcae79485eb12bd87654537ddec2 | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 02:55 EST, 23 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:42 EST, 23 May 2013 . Former French finance minister and head of the IMF Christine Lagarde appeared in court this morning where she was expected to be formally charged with embezzlement and fraud . A French government minister last night called on Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, to resign if she is charged with fraud and embezzlement. She was questioned by magistrates in Paris yesterday over a £340million payout of public money five years ago to convicted conman Bernard Tapie. As she appeared in court, there were calls for her to stand down from her high-profile £305,000-a-year job if she is charged. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the Minister for Women’s Rights, said: ‘Knowing the IMF and the way this type of institution works, I tend to think that if she was placed under investigation, she would without doubt be asked to quit her post.’ Last night the court adjourned after 13 hours sitting but it was widely predicted Mrs Lagarde, 57, would be placed under investigation by the Court of Justice of the Republic, equivalent to a suspect being charged in the UK. She faces allegations that she stepped in to settle a long- running legal battle in which Tapie claimed he was cheated out of millions by Credit Lyonnais bank over the 1993 sale of his sportswear company Adidas. Mrs Lagarde ordered a panel of judges to arbitrate and they awarded Tapie 400million euros (£340million) in damages paid from taxpayers’ money. Prosecutors suspect Tapie received favourable treatment in return for supporting ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential elections. Claims: The raid relates to claims Miss Lagarde authorised a £270million payout to Bernard Tapie . They have suggested that Mrs Lagarde – . who was France’s Finance Minister at the time and the first woman ever . to hold the post – was partly responsible for ‘numerous anomalies and . irregularities’ which could amount to complicity in fraud and . misappropriation of public funds. There is no suggestion Mrs Lagarde profited personally in any way from the final settlement. The affair has become a huge embarrassment to France and the IMF. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced to . quit the IMF two years ago after being accused of trying to rape a hotel . chambermaid in New York, charges which were later dropped. Dispute: Mr Tapie, the former head of Adidas in France, claims he was cheated out of millions by Credit Lyonnais bank. Miss Lagarde ended the dispute by asking a panel of judges to arbitrate . Mrs Lagarde took over from ‘DSK’ almost two years ago, in July 2011. Her grilling by prosecutors comes after police raided her £1million Paris apartment in March. Mrs Lagarde’s lawyer, Yves Repiquet, said the inquiry was ‘in no way . incompatible’ with her new job, adding that he expected the case to be . dismissed. She has denied any wrongdoing, . saying: ‘If it’s decided to continue with this inquiry it won’t be . particularly surprising. Personally, it doesn’t worry me at all – I . didn’t benefit personally.’ But it has been widely reported in the French media that investigators intend to charge her with fraud and embezzlement. Le Monde reported that magistrates . had already written to Mrs Lagarde to tell her not to expect any special . treatment because of her high-profile international job. Tapie was jailed for six months in 1997 for corruption and match- fixing while he was the owner of Marseilles football club. | Lagarde, 57, appears in front of special tribunal of judges in Paris .
Widely expected to be charged with fraud and embezzlement .
Relates to £270m payout to Bernard Tapie when she was finance minister .
Government minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem says she will be asked to quit if placed under investigation by Court of Justice of the Republic .
Denies any wrongdoing and lawyer said she expects case to be dismissed . |
31,427 | 595ceb202c2314567b53d34bb876452123d7f25f | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:33 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:59 EST, 1 May 2013 . This incredible image captures a deadly leopard leaping from a tree to pounce upon an unsuspecting antelope 30ft below. The patient predator lay in wait for four hours in its hiding place in the branches, before seizing the opportunity to strike. As the female kudu antelope sought out shade from the blistering midday sun amid the trees in Botswana's Okavango delta, the leopard sailed through the air and sank its claws into the creature's back. Lying in wait: The leopard was captured at full stretch as it leaped from its hiding place in the trees to pounce on an unsuspecting antelope below . Incredibly, the antelope managed to buck the leopard off with a kick of its hind legs and escape into the undergrowth. The scenes were captured by amateur photographer Eric Gurwin, 59, from New Jersey, who was on safari with his son Jeffrey. 'We watched as a leopard climbed a tree that . fortunately was right in front of us and rested on a branch at least 10 . metres off the ground,' he said. 'Our . guide suggested that the leopard might use the tree to drop down on an . unsuspecting animal once the heat of the day caused the animals to come . into the shade. 'So we waited in the hope that something might happen - but we hardly expected what we witnessed,' said Mr Gurwin, an eye surgeon. He's behind you: The crafty predator jumped 30ft from its perch and latched onto the kudu's back . Wildlife: Amateur photographer Eric Gurwin, 59, waited for over four hours to capture these shots after spotting the leopard in the trees in Botswana's Okavango delta . Escape: The startled antelope managed to buck the leopard off before fleeing into the bush in Botswana . After . four hours, the leopard's patience paid off when . a herd of kudu and impala antelopes moved under the tree. Spotting . its opportunity the leopard pounced, leaping 30ft from its hiding place and latching onto the kudu. 'It landed with a thud on the kudu's back and attempted to grab on with its front claws,' Mr Gurwin said. 'Unfortunately . for the leopard, the kudu was too big and strong and with one mighty . buck she flipped the leopard into the air and off of her. 'We . knew that this was an injured male leopard that was trying to heal a . leg wound, and that was probably the impetus for this unorthodox . manoeuvre. 'While leopards are . know to drop down on prey the leap that this leopard took was . incredible and as far as I can tell not previously recorded,' he said. Patient: The leopard lay in wait on the branch until a herd of antelope moved in the undergrowth below . | Action shots captured by amateur photographer on safari in Botswana .
Patient leopard spotted lying in wait in its perch high in the trees .
Captured leaping through the air to pounce on unsuspecting kudu below . |
286,374 | ff10aaeb34f0d1d31fceafd17633323c1d3f502c | By . Deborah Arthurs . Last updated at 9:22 PM on 18th October 2011 . Imagine if you could find your perfect jeans without the endless trawl around denim stores trying on countless pairs. We've all been there - wrestling on pair after pair of jeans in cramped, overheated changing rooms in an attempt to find the Holy Grail of denim - the pair that will do the impossible of slimming, lengthening and lifting. Given that it's a Herculean task to ask of any item of clothing, it's no surprise that women try on an average of 15 pairs before settling on the perfect pair... Or giving up and going home. The Bodymetric scanner takes readings from 300,000 points all over the body, creating an accurate map of the body's curves and contours . Well, luckily for us, the High Street is beginning to sit up and listen. From today, customers at the New Look store at Westfield Stratford will be able to avoid the traumas of ill-fitting jeans (goodbye, gaping waists, too-short legs and baggy bottoms) thanks to the installation of a Bodymetrics 3D body scanner. Shoppers will strip to their underwear and step into the scanner, which is shaped like a photo booth. Low-power, infra-red lights will read more than 300,000 points all over the body. The whole process will take no more than 7 seconds. One hundred vital statistics can be gathered - from bottom, waist and hip measurements down to the size of the left ankle, thigh girth and inside leg. The Bodymetrics pods have become smaller and more compact thanks to advances in technology, meaning more stores across the nation will be able to accommodate one in their changing rooms . Once the customer has been scanned, a dedicated denim Fit Stylist will analyse the curves and contours of the body-mapping, using the information to pick and pick out the perfect pair - and hey presto, the jean genie's work will be done. The team will then email the customer their unique body map for future reference - based on the theory that as more stores implement the technology, the details could help with accurate fitting. The technology is not new - it first launched 2001, and was tipped to be the next major development for fashion brands, with many vowing to install them in their changing rooms. A Fit Stylist will analyse the body mapping results and use the information to pick out the perfect pair for the customer . At the time the technology was . launched, it was tipped to revolutionise the way we try on and buy . clothes. Ten years on though, the pods have not made their way to . fashion's front line in the way that was originally predicted. Then, upmarket department store Selfridges installed a pod in their own denim room - but until now, that is the only Bodymetrics pod that has been available for consumers, and it has never reached the masses on the High Street. Behind the scenes, a handful of . companies - New Look included - have been using the technology in-house . to ensure uniformity of size for garments manufactured in factories . across the globe. Now though, Bodymetrics' CEO Suran Goonatilake says major advances in technology mean that vision could soon become reality. 'There's been a big leap in technology - new body scanners are smaller, cheaper and faster. 'Fashion is one of the few industries where no sizing standards exist. Size labels vary from retailer to retailer and from brand to brand, and one person can be as much as three different size labels in three different brands - for example, ranging between 8 and 12, because of the discrepancy. 'Soon, as more retailers take up the technology, Bodymetrics will allow you to discover what size you are in different brands. Furthermore, Goonatilake believes the body scanners could transform internet shopping. 'One of the key barriers in internet shopping is that because you can't try items on, returns are between 20 and 40 per cent of all garments sold,' he says. 'It's a real inconvenience for the consumer, and hits the bottom line of the retailer. 'It's not good for the environment in terms of transporting garments back and forth either. 'Our vision is that over the next few years, most retailers will have body scanners which will allow people to shop in store as well as online and help find clothes that fit perfectly their size, shape and style. 'Once you have your body scanned, it will be uploaded to your Bodymetrics account which can be accessed online, so you can shop for clothes knowing they're going to fit. Bodymetrics 3D body scanner will be in store at New Look Westfield from today until 1 November. If you have tried New Look's Bodymetric scanner, let us know if you found YOUR perfect jeans in the comments space below. | First time Bodymetrics scanner has been used in a high street store .
Pods take 100 measurements of customers' bodies in seven seconds .
Advanced technology means compact pods will soon be found across the nation and could transform the way we shop . |
88,671 | fba9b4da05cd46388e31d09744feccedd81dd7bf | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 11:27 EST, 29 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:18 EST, 29 March 2013 . Eagerly anticipating a break in sunny Turkey, this couple booked themselves into an airport hotel the night before their flight to ensure the holiday got off to a smooth start. But despite their best-laid plans, Cai and Lynne Larsen, from North Wales, ended up missing their early-morning flight to Istanbul when they got stuck in a lift at the Ibis Hotel just 500 yards away from Luton Airport. The Larsens managed to send for help when the lift jammed in between floors as they made their way down to reception at 4am, but were still trapped as their plane was set to taxi along the runway almost two hours later. Stuck: Cai and Lynne Larsen missed their flight to Turkey because they were stuck in a lift at an airport hotel just 500 yards from where their plane was taking off . Instead of soaking up the sunshine on a . Mediterranean beach, the 'gutted' couple found themselves heading . back up the motorway to Caernarfon - although they did cheer themselves . up with a short break on Barry Island en route. Primary school teacher Mr Larsen, 53, said he and his wife dialled 999 from the jammed lift when they still hadn't been freed half an hour after alerting reception at 4am. The Larsens and another couple en route to catch a plane waited more than an hour to be freed, by which time their flight was due to take off from nearby Luton Airport. Convenient: The Welsh couple booked themselves into this Ibis hotel near Luton Airport the night before their flight to make sure their journey went smoothly . Dash: As their plane was taxiing along the runway at Luton Airpot, the frantic Larsens were stuck in the jammed hotel lift with their suitcases . 'We got into the lift at 4am . with our suitcases - the hotel was so close to the airport we had left . plenty of time to check in. 'The lift only moved a few feet before it made a clunking sound and stopped. 'We repeatedly rang the lift alarm and made several calls to reception who kept saying an engineer was on its way. 'They kept saying he would be there in 15 minutes but time was going on so we rang the fire brigade.' Cai and Lynne, 54, were eventually freed from the lift at 5.45am - just 15 minutes before take off. The pair made a desperate dash for the departure desk but were told the flight to Istanbul had already left. Mishap: Lynne and Cai were trapped for almost two hours with another couple when the lift got stuck between floors . 'To say we were gutted is an understatement - we had been . looking forward to going on holiday for such a long time,' said father of five Mr Larsen. 'I complained to the staff on duty in the hotel but they said it wasn't their fault and that it was an act of nature. 'I explained it was their responsibility to ensure the lift was working properly but they didn't seem to get that.' The Larsens had been due to fly into . Istanbul for the first part of the trip before taking an internal flight . to the capital Ankara to explore the country further. The pair made do with a couple of days on . Barry Island on their way back to North Wales, but admitted it didn't . quite live up to the 11-day Easter trip to Turkey they had been looking forward to. 'We thought we would look at the sea and pretend it's the Mediterranean - but it's a lot colder,' Mr Larsen said. Destination: Instead of sunning themselves on a beach in Turkey (pictured), the Larsens ended up stopping off on Barry Island on their way home to North Wales . 'It's a lot colder': The Larsens admitted their short break on Barry Island didn't quite live up to the Turkish break they had been looking forward to . A . spokesman for the Ibis said the general manager was liaising with the . Larsens directly to assess all the details of their trip and the costs . involved. A statement said: 'The hotel will then take the appropriate action in terms of reparation.' The other couple stuck in the lift - . who the Larsens said they 'got to know quite well' - just managed to get . on their flight to Morocco. | Couple booked into Ibis hotel night before 6am flight from Luton Airport .
Larsens stuck for nearly two hours when lift jammed on their way out .
Finally freed just 15 minutes before their plane was due to take off .
Couple made do with a short stay on Barry Island instead of trip to Turkey . |
125,227 | 2de129fa69355b2c13d9f5ca89dae3723259cb02 | Tony Blair is backing Chuka Umunna to become the next Labour leader, it was claimed today. The former prime minister is said to think the shadow business secretary is the 'natural heir' to his New Labour project. It comes after he took an apparent swipe at Ed Miliband, complaining that too few of today's party leaders have experience of life outside politics. Scroll down for video . Tony Blair is said to be backing Chuka Umunna as a Labour leader, believing he is the 'natural heir' to his own legacy . Many Labour MPs expect Mr Miliband to be ousted as leader if he fails to become Prime Minister in May next year. Several potential successors are already said to be jockeying for position. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and health spokesman Andy Burnham are seen as frontrunners. But bookies have Mr Umunna at 6/1 to become the next Labour leader. He has repeatedly insisted he is loyal to Mr Miliband, but is seen as certain to enter a leadership race in the future. He speaks to Mr Blair often, and is in regular contact with other New Labour veterans, including Lord Mandelson, Tessa Jowell and Lord Adonis, the Independent on Sunday reported. A friend told the newspaper that Mr Blair sees Mr Umunna as a 'natural heir' to his New Labour legacy. In particular, Mr Umunna has been outspoken in defence of immigration and has repeatedly criticised Ukip. The stance has 'drawn further admiration from Mr Blair who is in total agreement', according to the source. Mr Umunna returned to his attack on Ukip today, accusing Nigel Farage's party of a 'fundamental con'. Mr Umunna stepped up his attacks on Ukip again today with an appearance on the Andrew Marr Show . He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show: 'I think we've got to be very clear: I want a firm and a fair immigration policy and I think it's very important that we have control but I don't think 'othering' people and blaming people over there, at the moment eastern Europeans, is the way to go. 'I actually think that is a fundamental con and it lets politicians of all political persuasion who haven't done the things they should have done over the decades, off the hook. I don't think it's in keeping with our British values and I won't have any truck with them.' Last week Mr Blair appeared to criticise politicians, like Mr Miliband, who have spent their entire careers in Westminster. The three-times election winner said the 'gene pool' of political leaders had suffered because too few candidates have 'real-life experience'. He suggested that too many graduates went straight from university to a job as a political researcher, before then becoming an MP – a path that may sound familiar to Mr Miliband. The current Labour leader was elected to the Commons nine years ago, having done little after his philosophy, politics and economics degree at Oxford – apart from working in the Treasury as a special adviser. Ed Miliband, pictured visiting a Nissan plant in Sunderland last week, is thought likely to stand down if he fails to become Prime Minister in May next year . Writing in the New York Times, Mr Blair, who worked as a barrister before becoming an MP, also complained that Westminster fails to attract the best candidates because politicians are not paid enough. Mr Blair, who did not refer to Mr Miliband by name in his latest comments, wrote: 'At the very time when leadership is needed, the gene pool of political leaders has shrunk. 'How many leaders and, for that matter, followers in a parliament or congress have real-life experience in responsible positions outside of politics? 'Today it is very common for a young person interested in politics to graduate from university, go to work for a politician as a researcher or political analyst, and then transition straight into an elected position.' The former prime minister said of his time as a barrister: 'I learned about business and about people in a way that was greatly beneficial when I later came to govern. 'In particular, I learned the difference between academic political ideas and policies suited to 'real world' application.' | Ex-PM wants shadow business secretary to be next Labour leader .
Friends say the two men speak regularly to discuss the political scene .
Umunna is also in close contact with other New Labour grandees .
Today he renewed attack on 'fundamental con' of Ukip immigration policy . |
269,216 | e8bdcc99d0d7f3f11925296cee8d5e47477326c0 | By . Kate Lyons . PUBLISHED: . 20:55 EST, 27 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:56 EST, 27 January 2014 . A New Zealand doctor has described the moment he fought off a shark with a knife which attacked him while he was spearfishing. James Grant, 24, initially thought that a friend was tugging him on the leg as he swam in murky water near Colac Bay on the South Island. But he quickly realised it was a shark and began stabbing it with knife he had in his hand. James Grant fought off a shark while spearfishing, then stitched himself up and went to the pub . 'I looked behind to see who it was and got a bit of a shock,' Dr Grant told Radio New Zealand. 'I am not sure how effective (the knife) was. I guess it let go so something must have happened, put a few nicks in it.' The creature retreated and he was able to swim to rocks. It was not until he removed his wetsuit that he released he had been bitten. Dr Grant then calmly stitched up his wounds, which were up to 5cm long, using a first aid kit he kept in his vehicle for pig hunts. He had signalled to his friends to indicate that he had been injured but they thought he was joking and kept fishing. 'I thought surely he hasn't been bitten, there's no way he has been bitten, he's got to be taking the p**s,' his friend Mackley Lindsay told stuff.co.nz. When his friends got out of the water and saw his injuries they took Dr Grant to Colac Bay Tavern for a drink. The pub proprietors also gave him a bandage because he was dripping blood on the floor. Dr Grant was stitched up properly on Monday by his colleagues at Southland Hospital when he went back to work. Sevengill shark: The creature Dr Grant believed attacked him . Scene of the shark attack: Colac Bay on the South Island of New Zealand . Although he did not see the creature, he believes it was a sevengill shark and about 20cm wide across the jaw. Sevengills grow up to three metres long, and New Zealand is one of a few countries where they attack humans. Attacks by the sevengill are relatively common around the Southland and Otago coast. | James Grant, 24, was attacked while fishing off New Zealand coast .
Did not realise he had been bitten until he removed his wetsuit .
Sewed himself up with the first aid kit he kept in his car .
Then went to the pub with friends... where he bled on the floor . |
40,532 | 725ec50cb132c349f589205e73dc8bfbb738d3c3 | (CNN) -- Elvis Presley may have left the building three decades ago, but he raked in more money last year than many living titans of the music industry . Singer Elvis Presley tops the Forbes list for the second year in a row, raking in $52 million last year. For the second year in a row, Presley topped the Forbes magazine's list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities, hauling in $52 million last year. In comparison, the very-much-alive Justin Timberlake earned $44 million while another superstar, Madonna, made $40 million, the magazine reported Tuesday. The 30th anniversary of Presley's death boosted attendance and merchandise sales last year at his Memphis, Tennessee, home, Graceland. A long list of licensing deals, such as a Presley show on satellite radio, added to the earnings. The business magazine has been compiling its annual list of departed celebrities' earnings since 2001. Since 2003, the feature has coincided with Halloween. This year, the top 13 celebrities earned a combined $194 million in the last 12 months. The magazine says it talked to people inside the celebrities' estates and calculated their gross earnings from October 2007 to October 2008. Some celebrities are staples on the list, which is in its eighth year. Cartoonist Charles Schulz, who created Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the assorted cast of "Peanuts" characters, is second on the list. Schulz, who died in 2000, had posthumous earnings last year of $33 million, the magazine reported. He owes his constant presence to a steady revenue stream from the ongoing licensing of his characters, the magazine said. Schulz and Presley join Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel (this year's No. 6), Beatles legend John Lennon (No. 7) and actress Marilyn Monroe (No. 9) as the only entertainers to make the list every year since its inception. Physicist Albert Einstein, best known for his theory of relativity, is fourth on the list. It is his third consecutive year making the Forbes rankings. Though he died in 1955, a franchise bearing his name -- Baby Einstein -- made big bucks last year selling educational books, DVDs, CDs, toys and other products. It plans to expand into the young-adult market this year. Australian actor Heath Ledger, who died of an overdose in January, made his debut on the list in third place. The magazine estimated his earnings at $20 million, thanks to the success of the movie, "The Dark Knight," in which Ledger played the Joker. The movie grossed $991 million worldwide. Paul Newman, who died of lung cancer last month, also made his first appearance on the list, raking in $5 million. "His income still largely stems from residuals from his classic pictures, as well as more recent productions," the magazine said. The legendary actor's line of natural and organic food products, Newman's Own, earned revenues of $120 million last year, but the earnings were not considered in the tally because Newman donated all profits to charity while he was living, the magazine said. Several entertainers from last year's list failed to make this year's cut, including composer, producer and Beatles guitarist George Harrison, rapper/actor Tupac Shakur, "Godfather of Soul" James Brown, and reggae legend Bob Marley. | Presley earned more than Justin Timberlake ($44M), Madonna ($40M) last year .
Cartoonist Charles Schulz, author Dr. Seuss still relevant among children .
Beatles' John Lennon comes in at No. 7, but George Harrison drops off list .
Heath Ledger debuts on list thanks to performance as Joker in "The Dark Knight" |
240,715 | c3a1e950c435ad1b0ce87f2c4a56ab513dd01ea2 | Editor's note: On CNN's "State of the Union," host and chief national correspondent John King goes outside the Beltway to report on issues affecting communities across the country. County administrator Brenda T. Buck is trying hard to help create eight to 10 sawmill jobs for Jefferson County. FAYETTE, Mississippi (CNN) -- The odds are against Brenda T. Buck, and she knows it. So she counts on what she calls the Sandwich Philosophy: "Take it one bite at a time." Buck is the county administrator in Jefferson County, a rural area in southwest Mississippi dotted with small churches, modest homes and markers noting a Civil War skirmish. "It is a great small town, and everybody knows everybody," Buck says. If you look through the statistics, three things jump out: . • The Census Bureau lists the population of Jefferson County as 86 percent African American, the highest percentage of any county in the United States. • It is the fourth-poorest county in the United States, with a median income of $15,037. • The unemployment rate in August was 18.6 percent, the highest of Mississippi's 82 counties. "It has not always been this way," says Angelia Shelvy, a single mother of three who is among the unemployed. "I think we are forgotten." Shelvy had a job making $10,000 a year as a teacher's assistant, but she left it to take a job paying twice as much, signing on with a union that provides workers to nuclear power plants. Her parents agreed to care for her children when she had to travel, for months at a time, as far away as Arizona. Shelvy thought it was the right thing to do for her family, but phone calls to home at bedtime proved otherwise. Her 4-year-old, especially, had a rough time adjusting. "I'm like, 'You have Granny.' He's like, 'No, I don't want Granny; I want you to hold me,' " Shelvy told us. "I missed Mother's Day twice; for two years I missed it. ... So I decided that it was more important for me to be here with my children." Back home now, she has been searching for work since March, looking as far as 90 minutes away from Fayette. "I did Internet searching, different jobs, hospitals, different schools," she said. "They're not hiring. They either say they are not hiring, or I'm not qualified. I don't have enough years of experience. 'We'll call you later.' 'Get back with us.' And it's been stressful for me." Buck spends hours a day trying to help, and most of her time with the Board of Supervisors is spent debating economic development ideas. At home, too, she is reminded of the bleak local jobs market. Her husband isn't there. He's working 900 miles away, at the moment, in Indiana. "He works with a company that has been going into a lot of the car plants" during refittings and downsizing, Buck said. "We have four kids. ... He is here basically maybe a total combination of, maybe, two months out of the year." The county got a modest amount of federal money to buy new police cruisers. But its requests for stimulus money to improve its roads have been ignored, at least to date, and as Buck continues to press those requests, she also is pushing smaller economic development grants. Reliable Mat LLC is her current obsession. The screeching hum of a giant saw greets visitors, and inside the warehouse are dozens of pallets of neatly stacked firewood, waiting to be loaded on 18-wheelers and distributed across the country for the coming winter. On the grounds, there are 10 workers, some running giant logs through the saw, others stacking and wrapping the wood for shipment. On average, the men make about $100 day, and Paul Southerland, the company's general manager, says the noise and activity attracts others who are down on their luck. "I see a lot of people come by looking for jobs, yeah," Southerland says during a tour of the grounds. The company's main product is giant wooden mats used to create flat surfaces to provide access -- on foot and in vehicles -- to oil and gas fields. All of the work has shifted to the firewood production because orders for the mats have dropped dramatically. "Mississippi is always last to feel the effects of a recession, and most of the time it is the last to pick back up," Southerland said. "It hit us about June. .. It really hit us hard, too." Still, Southerland expects orders to pick up early next year. He hopes to expand the business by then if the county secures an economic development grant to help him buy a bigger sawmill. "If we had that sawmill, we would be able to add eight or 10 more folks," Southerland said. Eight or 10 more jobs might not seem like much in many places. But Jefferson County's population is just shy of 9,000, and when nearly one in five are unemployed, Buck invokes her Sandwich Philosophy. "My short term goal is to get that grant, to get those eight people working," she says. "My philosophy, when I walk through the doors in the morning, just like a sandwich: take one bite at a time." She also sees a bigger gain than just eight or 10 jobs. "Just imagine, eight people, if it were eight men making $10 to $11 an hour could actually come home and be home at night with their families," she said. "The impact that it would make not just from the economical standpoint but from the social standpoint. "That father's presence there in that household and not having to travel so far. I mean you have a double whammy. It's a win-win for any family." | Jefferson County is fourth-poorest in U.S.; the recession came late but hit hard .
Sometimes, breadwinners must leave state, and their families, to scrape by .
County administrator Brenda T. Buck wants to bring jobs close to home .
She considers every new job created in her county a small victory . |
180,883 | 762dcb4d7eb84f8487731ddf01309f79c8be10d1 | A naked man is Tasered without warning as he is strip-searched in a police cell. Daniel Dove, 23, is struck in the chest and collapses to the floor in agony as the stun gun continues to deliver a 50,000-volt shock. CCTV footage of the incident was leaked yesterday after a chief constable refused to publish it despite a judge saying he should. The officer who fired the Taser, PC Lee Birch, 30, was cleared of assault this week but now faces a police inquiry for gross misconduct. He remains on duty. Mr Dove was arrested at 2am on December 23, 2012 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after being thrown out of a nightclub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. This footage shows the moment PC Lee Birch sent Daniel Dove crashing to the floor of the police cell, Tasering the suspect after he threw his underpants in the police officer's face . The 23-year-old was escorted into the cell by three police officers, for a strip search . Mr Dove had been arrested on December 23, 2013 for being drunk and disorderly outside a nightclub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire . He claims police pushed him into a puddle on the ground as they handcuffed him and took him to Melksham police station. The carpenter was put in a cell, where PC Birch – holding his Taser behind his back – began a strip search. Mr Dove said he felt humiliated and flicked his wet boxer shorts at the officer’s face. The CCTV footage shows PC Birch instantly swinging his arm round and firing the Taser. In court, PC Birch admitted his life had not been under threat, but he ‘would not wish to restrain a naked man’ and used the Taser instead. A jury cleared him of assault and misconduct in a public office. Mr Dove was charged with assaulting PC Birch and another officer during his arrest but the case was dropped. He says police chiefs initially ignored his official complaint but PC Birch and four other officers now face a misconduct inquiry. Yesterday, Mr Dove said: ‘I’m hopeful that he’ll be punished for what he did but I’m not too optimistic given that a court didn’t find him guilty.’ During the CCTV recording PC Birch can be seen to unclip his Taser from his holster within seconds of entering the cell. He then continues to conceal it behind his back throughout the strip search before deploying it - holding the trigger for seven seconds. Mr Dove crashes to the ground where PC Birch grabs the boxers and throws them at the wall, before shouting 'you have assaulted me, don't do that again'. During the week-long trial Mr Dove told the court he was compliant throughout his arrest and gave PC Birch no reason to open fire. Feeling 'humilated' as he removed his underpants Mr Dove hurled them in PC Birch's face in a 'split second' fit of temper, he told a court . PC Birch, who responded by drawing his Taser gun from behind his back zapping Mr Dove with the 50,000-volt weapon, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and misconduct in public office . PC Birch, who held on to the trigger for seven seconds while Mr Dove fell to the floor, was acquitted on both charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court . Despite a judge ruling the horrifying footage could now be released to the media, Patrick Geenty, Wiltshire's Chief Constable, objected. The video was later leaked to ITV West Country by a concerned member of the public . PC Lee Birch was cleared of the charges against him at Bristol Crown Court this week . He said: 'I was compliant up until a point when I felt like I was being humiliated, I was stripped completely naked and put on my knees with hand cuffs on. 'PC Birch asked me to get naked in a strip search, which I did. 'You feel quite embarrassed, when I took them off it was a split second thing, I did it because I was annoyed.' He added: 'I was not aware he had a Taser, he didn't tell me he had it or that he intended to use it. 'As soon as I flicked my pants at him he pulled his arm up from behind his back and shot me with it. 'He has not pulled it from a holster and said "I will shoot you", he has just pulled it from behind his back and shot me. 'I didn't have any time to react or move, by the time I saw it. 'I don't know why he used it, I couldn't exactly move because there were three guys there so for him to use that on me was a bit irrational.' The trial heard how Dove was arrested . in the early hours of December 23, 2012 outside a nightclub in . Trowbridge, Wiltshire after clashing with another man. Bouncers called police when he refused to cooperate and he was detained for being drunk and disorderly. During the arrest he allegedly tried to punch PC Birch and kneed his colleague PC Reed in the groin. Dove was then taken into custody at Melksham where he was escorted to a cell by PC Birch and two other officers to be searched. The . court heard how PC Birch unclipped his Taser from his holster within . seconds of entering the cell with the two others and held it behind his . back throughout. PC Birch is seen grabbing the boxers and throwing them at the wall, before shouting 'you have assaulted me, don't do that again' at Mr Dove . During the week-long trial Mr Dove told the court he was compliant throughout his arrest and gave PC Birch no reason to open fire . PC Birch told the court he was 'not looking for an excuse to use the Taser' and said he believed it was 'reasonable and proportionate and not motivated by anger or malice' The jury saw CCTV footage of Dove, who admitted drinking four pints of Fosters and two Jagerbombs, struggling with PC Birch. PC Birch told the court he was 'not looking for an excuse to use the Taser' and said he believed it was 'reasonable and proportionate and not motivated by anger or malice'. He now faces an internal inquiry and investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to inhibit voluntary control of muscles, causing neuromuscular incapacitation. A person struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscular contractions. They were introduced as non-lethal weapons to be used by police officers to aphrend fleeing, belligerent or potentially dangerous suspects. A Police Executive Research Forum study from 2009 revealed officer injuries drop by 76 per cent when a Taser is used. Critics have argued that Tasers and other high-voltage stun guns can cause cardiac arrhythmia in susceptible suspects, which can lead to heart attack and death in some cases. Those susceptible to the reaction are sometimes healthy and unaware of their susceptibility. | PC Lee Birch was cleared of assault at Bristol Crown Court this week .
PC Birch, 30, zapped Daniel Dove after the suspect threw his pants at him .
Mr Dove, 23, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly .
Court heard he felt 'humiliated' when stripping for search and reacted .
He hurled his dirty underpants at PC Birch hitting him in the face .
Taser gun deployed for seven seconds rendering Mr Dove immobile .
Footage was leaked by a concerned member of the public . |
195,812 | 897295a83b087c687a8c2298e5b61f46bba11f47 | British Airways has been named the top short-haul and long-haul holiday airline in the world based on a recent poll of travellers. The London-based airline claimed the top gongs at Conde Nast Traveller’s 17th annual Readers’ Travel Awards at a ceremony in Soho on Monday night. It edged out Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa in the short-haul category, while it beat Virgin Atlantic and Emirates as best long-haul airline. Scroll down for video . British Airways and easyJet have been included in a list of the top 10 short-haul holiday airlines in the world . In the never-ending battle of budget airlines, Ryanair failed to crack any of the top 10 lists despite continued efforts to revamp its image. It was one-upped by rival easyJet, which came in 10th on the list of best short-haul holiday airlines. Conde Nast Traveller readers voted for their favourites in a number of categories, from the best business hotels and spas to the top tour operators and cruise lines. Beautiful Bath: The city in Somerset was voted the third best city in the UK and the best for architecture . For the fourth consecutive year, readers voted London as their favourite UK city, followed by Edinburgh, Bath, York and Brighton. Brighton, meanwhile, scored a major coup by winning the inaugural award for the best UK city for restaurants and bars. Bath edged the competition in the best architecture category, while Cambridge was voted tops for culture. Chow down: Brighton was named the best UK city for restaurants and bars, according to the survey . Readers picked Glasgow as the most welcoming city in the UK, and New York beat Paris for the second straight year as the top overseas destination. The US scored first prize for the friendliest people and best places to stay, while readers chose Italy as their favourite country to visit thanks to its food and culture. Chewton Glen in Hampshire was named the top UK holiday hotel. The five-star Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok was voted the best hotel in the world. | British Airways claimed two top gongs in the Conde Nast Traveller poll .
easyJet ranked 10th best in the short-haul holiday category .
Readers ranked London as their favourite UK city for fourth straight year . |
152,080 | 508b1fea8f64341690b812f1c32fc09fd307016b | Rory . By . Chris Cutmore . Follow @@Chris_Cutmore . Rory McIlroy has no chance of winning The Open if he continues to risk using his driver on links golf courses, insists former champion Tony Jacklin. Tiger Woods had the perfect strategy for attacking Hoylake when he won here eight years ago, avoiding fairway bunkers by using his low-flying ‘stinger’ iron off nearly every tee. But this year’s softer conditions mean more players will consider attacking the course from the tee. High risk: Rory McIlroy takes out his driver during a practice round on Wednesday . McIlroy has a two-iron in his bag this week but has admitted he will be using his driver just as often. Jacklin, who is the last Englishman to win the Claret Jug in England when he won at Royal Lytham in 1969, says that could be a disastrous tactic for the Northern Irishman. ‘Tiger Woods will have the strategy absolutely nailed down. He will be playing an iron a lot more than Rory,’ said Jacklin on Wednesday. ‘But Rory, despite being brought up on links golf, is historically not that good a links player. It’s about figuring out that the game is still played on the ground here.’ Jacklin explained that he thought hitting drivers could only lead to problems at Hoylake and cited three links legends – Tom Watson, Peter Thomson and Bobby Locke, who have 14 Open titles between them – as the men McIlroy must emulate if he wants to improve on a record of just one top-10 at the Open. Big draw: McIlroy signs autographs for young fans during practice round at Royal Liverpool . VIDEO McIlroy starts strongly at Hoylake . ‘If you hit a driver up into the elements it gives the wind longer to affect the ball, and when it lands it doesn’t run as far so you’re gaining minimal distance anyway. It’s not about distance. All the great Open champions all figured it out: keep the ball under control, avoid the hazards. The key to links golf is strategy and patience.’ Hoylake is famed for the strong winds which blow in off the Wirral Estuary and provide the course’s main defence. But the weather forecast for this week looks good with just light winds. Jacklin, who is at Hoylake as an ambassador for Glenmorangie, is hoping for a sterner test, however. ‘If players are taking drivers and the wind blows they’re not going to be able to get round,’ he said. ‘These courses can be horrendous when the wind blows. Warning: Former champion Tony Jacklin (left) with Lee Westwood . ‘I remember one of the last Opens I played in, at Lytham, Jeff Maggert was hitting driver off every tee. I felt like saying: “What are you doing? What are you trying to achieve?” ‘I know links golf better than I know anything. I’ve been playing it for 50 years in all conditions. I hope the wind blows. It’s the supreme test.’ | Rory McIlroy has admitted he will be using his driver at Hoylake .
Former champion Tony Jacklin fears it could be a 'disastrous tactic'
Jacklin says McIlroy should follow Tiger Woods' perfect strategy . |
40,848 | 7331ded095085f7dcec8c60d84074b1df75ef92e | By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 18:21 EST, 11 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:22 EST, 11 February 2013 . Ed Balls has warned Ed Miliband not to be ‘stupid’ and allow Labour to be cast as the ‘anti-referendum’ party on Europe. The Shadow Chancellor, who was last night forced to welcome David Cameron’s success in negotiating a lower EU budget in Brussels, said his party needed to be careful not to become ‘caricatured’ as the ‘pro-status quo’ party on the issue. Labour leader Mr Miliband shocked colleagues by appearing to rule out an in/out referendum after the Prime Minister promised one last month, though aides attempted to undo the damage by saying he had not meant to do so forever. Don't be 'stupid': Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls (right) warned Ed Miliband (left) not to allow Labour to be cast as the 'anti-referendum' party on Europe . Mr Balls, who is said to have been pressing for a more robust line on Europe for months, told the Yorkshire Post that he was happy with Labour’s position ‘for now’. ‘As long as we don’t allow ourselves to be caricatured as an anti-referendum party, which we’re not - we’ve absolutely not ruled out a referendum - I personally think that for now this is quite a comfortable position for us,’ the shadow Chancellor said. ‘If we allow ourselves either to be the “status quo party” on Europe, or the “anti-referendum party” on Europe, then we’ve got a problem. ‘But I think we would be pretty stupid to allow ourselves to get into either of those positions.’ In the Commons, Mr Cameron ridiculed Labour’s position - pointing out the party gave up a large chunk of the EU budget rebate won by Margaret Thatcher in 1984, and urging it to persuade socialist allies in the European Parliament to back the new deal. The Prime Minister said he had fended off repeated attacks on what remains of the UK’s rebate, which he declared ‘safe’. Mr . Cameron told MPs the UK had successfully rejected proposals by Europe’s . ‘big spenders’ for an increase in the budget, as he won the backing of . Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden for a reduction in the EU’s credit . card limit. Back the new deal: David Cameron ridiculed Labour's position - pointing out the party gave up a large chunk of the EU budget rebate won by Margaret Thatcher in 1984 . He told MPs it was ‘disappointing’ that administrative costs were still six per cent of the total budget, but he was pleased spending on the Common Agricultural Policy would fall by 13 per cent on the last seven-year budget. Mr Cameron launched a strong attract on EU officials who resisted budget cuts, claiming they see themselves as ‘higher beings who even refer to civil servants elsewhere as burger flippers compared to their lofty role’. He also said the European Council should start its meetings in the morning rather than over dinner and into the early hours of the morning. Last week’s talks ran through the night and into the next day, taking 26 hours in all. Sir Malcolm Rifkind: Mr Cameron had been 'successful at winning the most important reform in the EU budget since Margaret Thatcher' A series of Conservative backbenchers, . including some of his harshest critics, spoke to praise Mr Cameron’s . budget deal. Former defence and foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind . said Mr Cameron had been as ‘successful at winning the most important . reform in the EU budget since Margaret Thatcher at Fontainebleau’. Eurosceptic MP Mark Reckless, one of the leaders of a Parliamentary revolt against the Government over the EU budget last year, hailed the deal and said it would save every household £150. However, the budget still needs to be approved by the European Parliament, where MEPs have caused outrage by suggesting that they might use a secret ballot to maximise the chances of it being rejected. Mr Cameron said it would be a ‘very serious situation’ if the Parliament blocked the deal and condemned the idea of a secret vote. He said: ‘I would encourage every MEP from right across the United Kingdom, whatever their party, to support this budget because it is better to have a deal than have no deal and this deal is right for Europe’s taxpayers.’ A Labour source said: ‘It is ridiculous to suggest there is a difference between Ed Miliband and Ed Balls on Europe. As Ed Miliband set out in his speech at the CBI in November, Labour believes our priorities should be to promote growth at home and secure influence abroad. ‘Both Ed Miliband and Ed Balls believe committing to an in/out referendum at the moment will not help either of these priorities.’ A Labour spokesman added: ‘The Labour Group of MEPs will be voting for the European budget deal agreed at the European Council summit last Friday.’ | Ed Miliband shocked colleagues by appearing to rule out an in/out referendum after the Prime Minister promised one last month .
Ed Balls said his party need to be careful not to be seen as 'pro-status quo' |
241,260 | c45114c281b78742e220236ec2c94dab9ed629db | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 11:57 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:08 EST, 3 May 2013 . A German shoe firm is having problems shipping its products to customers in America, and it's founder thinks it's all down to its name - Atheist. About half the shipments of Atheist shoes to the God-fearing U.S. have been beset by lengthy delays, and the company suspects it could be because of the prominent branding on the boxes. The company has enjoyed massive success across the world over the past year selling its shoes, which proclaim 'I'm an atheist' or 'Darwin Loves' on their soles. Lost in the post: Shoe company Atheist says about half its shipments to the God-fearing U.S. have been beset by delays, and the company suspects it could be because of the prominent branding on the boxes . But now it seems the believers are hitting back, in the U.S. at least. Dublin-born company founder David Bonney told Swedish news site The Local: 'About half our shipments to the U.S. have seen lengthy delays. 'We accept that the odd delay and even the occasional disappearance are bound to happen. But the problem did get significantly worse for us last autumn, which happened to be when we started using ATHEIST-branded tape.' Mr Bonney, 34, said that he believed that it was the prominent placing of the word 'Atheist' on the outside of their packaging that was attracting the ire of American postal workers. Around 75 per cent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, according to recent surveys, compared to just 15-20 per cent who express no religious affiliation. Those numbers are practically reversed in Atheist shoes' home town of Berlin, where roughly two-thirds of the population believe there is no God. In order to test Mr Bonney's theory, . the Atheist team decided to conduct an experiment. They sent 89 . customers two packages: one sealed with Atheist-branded tape, the other . with neutral tape. All the . packages were sent from Berlin on the same day, but the Atheist-branded . packages took an average of three days longer to reach their . destinations. Not only that, . but while just one unbranded package went missing in the post, a . stunning nine Atheist-branded packages disappeared on route to their . intended recipient. Unholy soles: The company's shoes include such slogans as 'ich bin atheist' and 'Darwin Loves' The company wrote in its website: 'Having run a series of control tests in Germany and Europe, which demonstrate no such bias, the problem appears to lie in the USA and is likely explained by the differential handling of packages by employees of the U.S. Postal Service. 'Interestingly, this seems to be a national problem - traditionally less religious and more liberal states also saw high delay and disappearance. 'Sadly many of our customers who took part in this experiment were not surprised by our findings, even though tampering with post is a Federal offence.' Mr Bonney said he believes the company may have lost as many as 25 shipments on their way to American customers. Asked what he thinks happens to them, he said: 'God knows. Maybe it is truly divine intervention.' To forestall any further acts of God, Atheist shoes have since ceased using their branded tape on packages sent to the U.S. | Company claims about half its shipments to U.S. have been beset by delays .
Shoes sent in branded ones were 10 times more likely to go missing .
Around 75 per cent of Americans proclaim themselves as Christians . |
74,485 | d326e081a3c568e3e6d74dd1a0644c274e220132 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 10:10 EST, 9 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:38 EST, 9 July 2013 . A shocking video has emerged of the moment a mother walked her two children straight into the path of an oncoming car. The two young children are seen bouncing off the car bonnet and landing in the middle of the road. Amazingly they only endured scratches and bruises from their terrifying ordeal which took place in Russia. Scroll down for video . Shocking: A video has emerged of the moment a mother walked her two children straight into the path of an oncoming car. The two young children are seen bouncing off the car bonnet and landing in the middle of the road . The drama was filmed due to a camera mounted on the dashboard of the car - dashcams are common in Russia for a number of reasons including insurance scams. It begins with the car driving down the road - it appears to be travelling the wrong way as all the cars are parked up in the opposite direction. The mother is seen stepping out behind a parked car accompanied by her two children - a little girl and younger boy. Captured: The drama was filmed due to a camera mounted on the dashboard of the car. It begins with the car driving down the road - it appears to be travelling the wrong way as all the cars are parked up in the opposite direction . Stepping out: The mother is seen walking out behind a parked car accompanied by her two children - a little girl and younger boy . Realisation: Only when the woman, wearing yellow, turns to her left does she see the oncoming car and she opens her mouth in horror . Impact: The vehicle smashes into the two children as the mother is pushed off to the side of the road . Smash: The pair mount the bonnet and both of their glasses are seen flying off their face at the moment of impact . Terrifying: The children go flying through the air and skid along the road before lying in a heap of the ground . Landing: The children go flying through the air and skid along the road before lying in a heap of the ground . Shock: The little girl gets to her feet unsteadily as the boy, wearing a patterned hooded sweatshirt turns around to greet his anxious mother who is running towards the pair . Only when the woman, wearing yellow, turns to her left does she see the oncoming car and opens her mouth to cry out in horror. But it's too late - the . vehicle travelling at 29km/h smashes into the two children as the mother is . pushed off to the side of the road. The pair mount the bonnet and the children's glasses are seen flying off their face at the moment of impact. The children go flying through the air and skid along the road before lying in a heap of the ground. Relief: The mother picks up the little boy as the girl, dressed in a pink top and jeans holds her head . Traumatic: The anxious mother lifts the little boy up as the upset girl follows behind . The little girl gets to her feet unsteadily as the boy, wearing a patterned hooded sweatshirt, turns around to greet his anxious mother who is running towards the pair. She picks up the little boy as the girl, dressed in a pink top and jeans holds her head. The trio stand in shock in the middle of the road as anxious bystanders rush to them - it looks like the boy is more injured than his older sister. | Two young children are seen bouncing off the car bonnet from the impact .
They fly through the air and land in the middle of the road in Russia .
Only suffer scratches and bruises from their terrifying ordeal . |
246,243 | cab6cd61d6f6dbd14b1d4ae42c6946c6c97fc662 | (CNN) -- A string of sexual child abuse charges against a former Penn State assistant football coach includes an alleged shower incident that two current university officials are accused of covering up, prosecutors said Saturday. Jerry Sandusky, 67, who served 23 years as defensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions, allegedly engaged in fondling, oral sex and anal sex with young boys over a period of more than 10 years, according to an investigative grand jury's summary of testimony. "This is a case about a sexual predator who used his position within the university and community to repeatedly prey on young boys," Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said Saturday in announcing the charges. In some cases, Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, promised the boys gifts or invited them to football games and sleepovers, according to the grand jury. Some of the incidents allegedly occurred in Penn State athletic facilities. Sandusky, who retired from coaching in 1999, was founder of the Second Mile, a charitable organization that began as a group foster home "dedicated to helping troubled boys," the grand jury states. "Through the Second Mile, Sandusky had access to hundreds of boys, many of whom were vulnerable due to their social situations," it added. Also named in the grand jury report are Penn State Athletic Director Timothy Curley, 57, and Gary Schultz, 62, the university's senior vice president for finance and business, who face charges of one count of perjury each. Curley and Schultz "allegedly failed to report the sexual assault of a young boy after the information was brought to their attention, and later made false statements to a grand jury that was investigating a series of assaults on young boys," Kelly said. The two university officials are expected to surrender Monday. Sandusky, who was arrested and released Saturday on $100,000 unsecured bail, faces seven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and numerous other charges, including aggravated indecent assault and endangering the welfare of a child. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, but defense attorney Joseph Amendola told CNN Johnstown affiliate WJAC he expects it be postponed in order for attorneys to have enough time to bring in witnesses. Sandusky has known about the allegations for three years, the lawyer said. "Jerry feels like because of his background and reputation it took a long time to reach this conclusion and he's been ready for it," Amendola told WJAC. The grand jury investigation was initiated by the claims of one boy who alleged that Sandusky had "indecently assaulted" him and engaged in sex acts while the boy was a guest at his home, according to the attorney general. The victim met Sandusky through the former coach's Second Mile charity, Kelly said. Sandusky allegedly used expensive gifts such as trips to professional and college games, golf clubs, a computer and money, Kelly said. The relationship, which began in 2005 and lasted into 2008, included overnight stays at Sandusky's home, where touching led to sexual acts, according to Kelly and grand jury testimony. "One of the most compelling and disturbing pieces of testimony in this investigation came from an eyewitness to a late-night sexual assault that allegedly occurred in March of 2002, in the locker room of the Lasch Football Building on the University Park Campus," Kelly said. "Hearing what sounded like sexual activity in the showers of a building that was supposed to be empty, a graduate assistant reportedly observed Sandusky sexually assaulting a naked boy who appeared to be about 10 years old." The assistant reported the incident to head football coach Joe Paterno, who in turn alerted athletic director Curley, Kelly said. Instead of reporting the incident to authorities, Curley and Schultz banned Sandusky from having children from Second Mile visit the football building, Kelly said. Specifically, the grand jury found that Curley committed perjury in repeatedly denying that he had ever been told that Sandusky had engaged in sexual misconduct with a child, Kelly said. "Assertions by Schultz that the allegations concerning Sandusky were 'not that serious' and that he and Curley 'had no indication that a crime had occurred' were in direct contradiction to other testimony and constituted perjury," Kelly wrote. In all, the grand jury identified eight boys, ranging in age from about 8 to 14, who were the targets of similar sexual advances or assaults by Sandusky from 1994-2009. All of the victims first encountered Sandusky through Second Mile activities, Kelly said. Authorities said they are continuing to search for additional victims and that the case remains active. Penn State President Graham Spanier said in a statement that the allegations against the former coach are "troubling," and that the investigation is appropriate. With regards to Curley and Schultz, Spanier said they have his "unconditional support." "I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee," he said, adding that the charges are "groundless." CNN's Stephanie Gallman contributed to this report. | Sandusky, out on bail, maintains he is innocent .
The alleged assaults on eight boys occurred between 1994 and 2009 .
Two other university officials are charged with perjury in alleged cover-up .
Sandusky was an assistant coach at Penn State until 1999 . |
256,529 | d8066f3f5b602a01dd31ec0df2a347e163b3ab48 | Ed Miliband yesterday rounded on the ‘powerful forces’ and ‘vested interests’ he believes are plotting to stop him entering Downing Street. In a highly charged speech designed to draw a line under weeks of turmoil in Labour ranks, Mr Miliband risked accusations of paranoia as he insisted: ‘When powerful forces try to tell me “no way”, I answer: “who says?” ‘I’m willing to put up with whatever is thrown at me.’ Mr Miliband’s speech in London amounted to a passionate defence of his ability to lead his party and the country after some discontented Labour MPs suggested privately he should be replaced. Scroll down for video . Labour leader Ed Miliband accuses Ukip of wanting to return Britain to a more unequal, more unjust past . The Labour leader’s personal ratings this week plunged to a record low – below even those of Michael Foot, the party’s least successful leader – and one poll put the Conservatives three points ahead. Although only 13 per cent of people think he is up to being prime minister, Mr Miliband insisted he had the ‘resilience’ and ‘thick skin’ to do the job. He promised to talk more about the issue of immigration – which he forgot to mention in his disastrous party conference speech, along with the deficit – and attacked firms for ‘exploiting’ cheap migrant labour to undercut wages of British workers. He also launched a fierce attack on Ukip, which has eaten into Labour’s core working-class vote in some areas, suggesting the party was prejudiced against working women, foreigners and gays and lesbians. Mr Miliband pledged to tackle a ‘zero-zero economy’, saying many ordinary workers were on so-called zero-hours contracts while the rich ‘get away with zero tax’. Mr Miliband delivered his speech to Labour activists at Senate House at the University of London, hitting back at his critics . Mr Miliband suggested establishment enemies were ranged against him, while the Tories 'think that Britain does best when the most powerful do best' Mr Miliband insisted he has the resilience to win the election, as he took aim at vested interests he blames for opposing his plan for change . Senior Labour figures insisted last night that ‘Hell would freeze over’ before they joined forces with Nigel Farage after the election. On Wednesday, the Ukip leader said he would be prepared to prop up a Labour government if Ed Miliband failed to win a majority and Ukip secured about ten seats. Mr Farage said he would ‘do a deal with the Devil’ if it ‘got me what I wanted’ – apparently a reference to his demand for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union . Last night a senior Labour figure dismissed the idea, saying ‘Hell would freeze over’ before Labour did a deal with Ukip. ‘The Tories have no answers to the discontent people feel,’ he said. ‘Ukip have wildly wrong answers to that discontent. And who knows what one can say about the Liberal Democrats?’ Quoting a phrase used by Tony Blair in his farewell conference speech in 2006, he insisted: ‘Friends, I say we can take this lot apart – and it is time we did.’ Mr Miliband added: ‘No vested interest, whoever they are and however powerful they are, from banks to energy companies, should ever be able to hold our country back.’ Aides suggest a shadowy network of City institutions, energy companies, media magnates, payday lenders and hedge funds is determined to stop him winning power. They insisted Mr Miliband did not blame them for his recent difficulties, but he was determined to confront powerful establishment figures. Ed Miliband's net satisfaction ratings have slumped 10 points to -44, the worst for any main party leader six months before a general election, according to IpsosMORI data dating back to the 1970s . The Conservatives have pulled into a three-point lead, their biggest margin over Labour since 2010 . Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, touted as a potential leader, said Mr Miliband was prepared to ‘stand up for ordinary people against vested interests’. ‘That is what has defined his leadership of the Labour Party, against energy companies... against the banks, and yes, against parts of the media,’ he said. ‘And for those reasons there are people out there who don’t want him to win.’ Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps said: ‘Ed Miliband and those in his bunker may have convinced themselves his difficulties are all the result of some sort of conspiracy. But the truth is, it’s the voters he has the real problem with.’ A Tory source added: ‘I’m surprised Ed Miliband wasn’t wearing a tin-foil hat today. His conspiracy theories are out of control.’ Mr Farage last night responded to Mr Miliband’s attacks by challenging him to a live TV debate, telling the Labour leader: ‘Come and have a go.’ THOSE 'VESTED INTERESTS' CLAIM: No vested interest, whoever they are and however powerful they are... should ever be able to hold our country back. Between now and the election they are going to use every tactic to try to destabilise, distract us and throw us off course. ' REALITY: Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham says these ‘vested interests’ include the Right-wing media – accused by Labour of concocting stories of a leadership crisis. In fact, the turmoil was triggered by a savage attack on Mr Miliband by the Left-wing New Statesman magazine, which labelled him an ‘old-style Hampstead socialist’; and the Left-leaning BBC, which reported that Labour backbench MPs had called for him to quit. It was fuelled by The Observer, which claimed 20 Shadow Cabinet members were on the brink of calling for Mr Miliband to step down. IS LABOUR DISUNITED? CLAIM: We haven’t had the best couple of weeks. Disunited parties are parties that the public worries about and I understand that. REALITY: So which is it – is the Labour Party disunited, as he appears to concede, or is it all a great conspiracy by the media and the shadowy ‘vested interests’? His remarks are certainly a sharp U-turn on last week, when he claimed there was no discontent in the Labour ranks. Last Thursday, he told the BBC: ‘I don’t accept that this matter [concern over his leadership] arises. Honestly, this is nonsense.’ THE 'ZERO-ZERO ECONOMY' CLAIM: People are asking why they are on zero-hours contracts while some of those at the top get away with paying zero tax. The zero-zero economy, we need to change. REALITY: Not only is the zero-zero economy an ugly, wonkish soundbite – it’s disingenuous. There is no legal way for a high-earning individual in Britain to pay no tax unless they have donated all their earnings to charity. The people in Britain who pay no income tax are people whose salary is less than £10,000 (many of whom will be on zero-hours contracts). It took the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition to raise the threshold for the personal tax allowances . IMMIGRATION U-TURN . CLAIM: It isn’t prejudiced to worry about the effects of immigration. It is because of the real impacts it has. REALITY: Only last month, Labour led criticism of Tory Defence Secretary Michael Fallon when he warned communities feel ‘swamped’ by mass immigration – despite it being a view shared by Labour’s own ex-home secretary, David Blunkett. Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander accused Mr Fallon of not being ‘responsible’. Labour continues to resist any changes to EU free movement. | Labour leader uses make or break speech to get leadership back on track .
Admits his 'mettle has been tested' by a 'difficult couple of weeks'
Takes a swipe at Ukip for wanting to take Britain back to an 'unjust past'
IpsosMORI survey: Tories on 32%, Labour 29%, Ukip 14%, Lib Dems 9% .
Miliband's net satisfaction rating slumps 10 points to -44 per cent .
Figure is worse than anyone who has ever run for Prime Minister . |
171,453 | 69ed3f73bdc98e7f9b6f31d3a4bf6306c72a31a9 | (CNN) -- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in Tuesday night as secretary of Health and Human Services. Kathleen Sebelius dives into discussing the swine flu at the White House after being sworn in. She was sworn after she was confirmed by the Senate in a 65-31 vote. The timely vote puts Sebelius in office as the Obama administration is up against its first public health outbreak. She steps into the role as swine flu numbers climb worldwide. As of Tuesday morning, at least 90 cases had been confirmed, including 50 in the United States. Until her confirmation, the White House, which declared a public health emergency Sunday, was dealing with its first crisis without a secretary. But the administration said it was equipped to handle the situation. There are still no appointees in place for any of the department's 18 key positions. Related: White House health team not complete . In most cases where a position is awaiting Senate confirmation, that job is filled by a career civil servant in an interim capacity. The Obama administration has named five nominees for the open positions. Sebelius met several obstacles during her confirmation hearings. The Kansas governor came under fire for her ties to Dr. George Tiller, a late-term abortion provider. Tiller and his staff attended a 2007 reception Sebelius held at the governor's mansion in Topeka. Sebelius originally failed to account for donations she received from the doctor. Sebelius also revealed in March that she recently paid nearly $8,000 in back taxes and interest. She said she had errors in her 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax returns. Sebelius, 60, is the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan, who led that state from 1971 to 1975. A two-term Democratic governor in a Republican-leaning state, she previously served as a state insurance commissioner and oversaw Kansas' Medicaid program. She has been credited with boosting health care assistance for the poor during her tenure. A number of leading social conservatives have criticized Sebelius for her record on abortion, citing, among other things, her veto as governor of legislation that would have tightened abortion regulations in Kansas. In vetoing the measure last April, Sebelius wrote that the bill was problematic because it included no exceptions for pregnancies that endanger a woman's life and it allowed individuals to seek court orders preventing a woman from obtaining an abortion, even if the procedure was necessary to save her life. Some Republicans, however, have strongly defended Sebelius. Former Senate GOP leader Bob Dole, also from Kansas, testified on Sebelius' behalf in March, arguing that her record had proven her ability to work in a bipartisan manner. "Sebelius' strength is that she understands health care [and is] willing and able ... to bring parties together in very critical areas," he said. Kansas GOP Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, as well as Republican Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Jon Huntsman of Utah commended her selection. Former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Obama's first choice for secretary of health and human services, withdrew on February 3 after controversy erupted over his tax records and over his work in a field that some consider lobbying. | Kathleen Sebelius sworn in after being confirmed by 65-31 vote .
White House says health team is equipped to handle swine flu situation .
Sebelius has come under fire for ties to late-term abortion doctor .
Sebelius was two-term Democratic governor in Kansas, a Republican-leaning state . |
4,714 | 0d834dd634c75a420505316347463342c99675a7 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The Pakistani military carried out airstrikes early Wednesday in the country's northwest, targeting alleged militant hideouts in the volatile region. The army claimed it killed 60 militants, including some key commanders, and injured 30 others in North Waziristan, a loosely governed tribal area that borders Afghanistan. A local Taliban commander, Umar Khurrassani, challenged that report, and said 39 tribesmen, including women and children, were killed. If those tribesmen were affiliated with the Taliban commander, the Pakistani army would consider some of them militants. One area resident told CNN that up to 20 civilians had been killed in the airstrikes. Malik Gul Saleh Jan said that it's difficult to assess the exact figure of the dead and injured because it is hard to reach some residents by phone. Many left their homes due to fear of shelling and bombing, he said. Earlier this year, the military carried out a series of strikes in the region, considered to be a stronghold for extremist groups. | Pakistani military claims it killed 60 militants in North Waziristan .
A Taliban commander calls the casualties local tribesmen . |
245,826 | ca2c6805ac48e5c3cca9ddc00a0a34fe338670af | By . Mia De Graaf . Suspended: Roger Bainton allegedly botched up 26 per cent of his experimental face surgery operations . A surgeon suspended over 88 alleged botched operations has blamed his failure on patients smoking, drinking and taking drugs. Roger Bainton was struck off the dental register and suspended by the General Medical Council over a death in Scotland in 1999. But he relocated to Stoke-on-Trent where he continued practising - and a shocking 26 per cent of his patients suffered surgical complications. In an extraordinary attempt to defend his errors, the disgraced surgeon claimed the victims' lifestyle was to blame. He also said patients in The Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent, have a 'weaker genetic make up', leading to further surgery mix-ups, a Royal College of Surgeons report reveals. The document states Mr Bainton - who rebuilds the faces of assault or . accident victims - used an unproven and experimental bone substitute . without personally telling 33 of his 123 patients. He started implanting the material into the eye sockets of the patients . at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in 2007. The technique had only previously been used on non-facial bones. But it was stopped in 2012 after colleagues blew the whistle and reported their concerns. Finally, in February 2013, Mr Bainton was suspended and the RCS was called to carry out an internal review. It said Mr . Bainton blamed his 26 per cent failure rate on 'a high incidence of drinkers, smokers and drug . addicts' in North Staffordshire. The report authors added: 'He tended to rationalise . poor patient outcomes and repeated procedures as being the result of the . patient's own lifestyle. Mr Bainton was suspended from University Hospital of North Staffordshire in February 2013 . 'There is now a legacy of patients who have had . unproven surgical techniques applied to their care without adequate . consent and who will likely require long-term follow-ups.' Karen Reynolds, of Freeth Cartwright . LLP, who is representing 30 of Mr Bainton's patients, said: 'The RCS . report indicates significant failings, not only in Mr Bainton's . practice, but within the maxillofacial department and the hospital trust . itself.' The report also reveals: . Hospital leaders and the oral and maxillofacial department where Mr Bainton worked were condemned in the report. It found 'no strong clinical leadership' which allowed the surgeons to run services without question and left them operating independently. Today, hospital officials reiterated their apologies to patients who may have been harmed during or following facial surgery. They accepted the RCS findings that Mr Bainton had carried out 'unproven' techniques or had used surgical procedures unnecessarily . Thirty-three of the 88 patients were recalled after being treated with the experimental bone substitute by Mr Bainton. A further 36 patients had jaw surgery when non-surgical measures would normally be adopted. The final 19 patients could have had eye socket surgery needlessly. Medical Director Robert Courteney-Harris said: 'We drew up a comprehensive action plan in response to each of the RCS's recommendations and completed the key actions some 12 months ago. 'Other, longer term actions, such as the appointment of a new oral and maxillofacial consultant with an interest in trauma, were finalised earlier this year. The appointee took up his post in March. 'We have been committed from the outset to being open and transparent with our patients, regulatory bodies and commissioners. 'Our first and last priority is to ensure our patients are able to have full confidence in the quality of care and treatment they receive from us and that any departure from these high standards is thoroughly investigated and acted upon.' Mr Bainton was unavailable for comment. | Roger Bainton carried out experimental face surgery on assault victims .
He 'did not tell 33 of 123 patients' he was using untested methods .
Suspended from General Medical Council in 1999 in Scotland after a death .
Relocated to Stoke-on-Trent, suspended in 2013 over high error rate .
Royal College of Surgeons report blasted his attempt to blame patients .
Mr Bainton told junior doctors to seek consent for operations from patients despite them being untrained to spell out the risks; .
Mr Bainton may have harmed other patients by performing needless operations for a jaw condition; .
Surgeons brought in machines from their own private practices to use at the University Hospital; .
Patients were left needing many operations, long-term follow-up care, or even jaw joints replacing following treatment. |
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