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87,403 | f7f8618ec82aa2b4803e57722cb468ff99c70e32 | QPR midfielder Joey Barton has revealed a death threat sent to him by a French fan during his time at Marseille. The outspoken Englishman spent a season on loan at the Ligue 1 outfit in 2012/13, but according to a letter posted on Twitter, was not adored by the entirety of Marseille fans. It appears the author of the 'fan-mail' doesn't count English as his first language, as the abusive piece is littered with grammatical inconsistencies, at one stage telling Barton he would 'die a knife'. Joey Barton posted a letter he received from a Marseille supporter to social media site Twitter on Wednesday . Barton gives a thumbs-up to the Marseille fans during his time on loan at the Ligue 1 club in April 2013 . The man ordered the one-time England midfielder to leave Marseille before June 1 2013 - which, coincidentally, he did - or to face the consequences. The letter, addressed to Marseille's training ground, La Commanderie, said: . 'If you're not... I will come to you specially Marseille smash your head shots baseball bat. And then I will finish and you'll die a knife open mouth once emptied your blood b******. 'Do you understand?' Barton (left) in action alongside QPR team-mate Karl Henry during their 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday . The one-time England midfielder (centre) tussles with Jeremy Menez (left) and David Beckham (right) Barton posted the letter on Twitter, with the message, 'Not sure what's more offensive, the grammar or the intent?' Shortly after, channeling the Wealdstone Raider, the QPR man offered a reply: . ''D'ue Wansum? Cos' if u du I'll give it yeh!,' before risking punishment by posting a picture of the sender's address to his 2.8 million followers. The move could land him in hot water, as posting personal details without permission is a violation of Twitter's privacy rules. Head here to Like MailOnline Sport's Facebook page. | Joey Barton posted letter of hate-mail from his time at Marseille in 2012-13 .
The QPR midfielder was ordered to leave Marseille before June 1 .
Barton commented that he didn't know if he was more offended by the grammar or the intent of the letter .
He then posted a picture of the sender's home to his 2.8million followers . |
252,269 | d280363dc4cda3a82cb73e5dc964420610e86438 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 10:45 EST, 13 July 2011 . Senator Jay Rockefeller said he was 'concerned' that phone-hacking may have extended to 9/11 victims or other Americans . The News Corp crisis went global today as a Senator called for a U.S. hacking probe and their Australian boss ordered a review of all editorial spending. It emerged today that News International executives have met to discuss selling off their remaining three remaining titles The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. But there are no obvious buyers for the papers - and the executives agreed to revisit the issue in six months time, the Wall Street Journal revealed. Today News Corp's Australian branch announced they would investigate all payments they had made for stories over the last three years as the scandal spread. In America, Senator John Rockefeller last night called for a probe into whether the company had been trying to access voicemails in America and he suggested 9/11 victims could have been targeted. The 74-year-old politician said the . closure of the News of the World raised 'serious questions' about . whether the newspaper's parent company had broken U.S. law. 'I am concerned that the admitted phone hacking in London by the News . Corp may have extended to 9/11 victims or other Americans,' he said. 'If they did, the consequences will be severe.' However, the Senator, chairman of the committee on commerce, science and transportation, did not provide any specific evidence to back up his claims. News Corp is based in New York, and owns the Wall Street Journal, New . York Post, and Fox Broadcasting. Les Hinton, the chief executive of . Dow Jones and one of Mr Murdoch's most trusted aides jetted into London . yesterday as the phone hacking fallout continues. He was at the tycoon's Mayfair home yesterday along with Elisabeth Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks. Today the boss of News Corp's Australian division, John Hartigan, said all editorial payments made over the last three years will be investigated. News Limited own eight of the 12 major papers in Australia including the Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Australian. Mr Hartigan, chairman and chief executive of subsidiary company News Limited, said in an email to staff it was 'offensive' to link them to the News of the World scandal. He said there was 'absolutely no reason' to believe they were involved in any wrongdoing. 'We will be conducting a thorough review of all editorial expenditure over the past three years to confirm that payments to contributors and other third parties were for legitimate services,' he said. Rupert Murdoch, left, and Elisabeth Murdoch, right, leave a restaurant in Notting Hill last night on the day the media mogul was ordered to appear before a powerful committee of MPs . 'Policies, codes and guidelines are important. But what matters is conduct. 'I . have absolutely no reason to suspect any wrongdoing at News Limited. However, I believe it is essential that we can all have absolute . confidence that ethical work practices are a fundamental requirement of . employment at News Limited.' He added in the email that a television station had apologised for incorrectly reporting that News Limited executives were suspected of involvement in the News of the World phone hacking. Yesterday . News Corporation announced a £3billion plan to buy back hundreds of . millions of shares, which have fallen sharply in value amid the . escalating crisis at his British newspaper division. More . than £4.3billion has been wiped off the value of the company since last . week due to fears that fallout from the phone-hacking investigation at . News International will infect other parts of Mr Murdoch’s business. Senior News Corp executive Les Hinton jetted into London yesterday as the scandal rages. Here he is pictured leaving his apartment in Mayfair . News . of the buy-back provided a temporary prop for the sagging News Corp . share price, which rose for the first time in five days. But . the ploy is unlikely to placate shareholders, who have become . increasingly alarmed at Mr Murdoch’s lax stewardship of the company, in . the longer term. Ministers are also understood to be . desperate to find a way to block his bid while trying not to offend the . powerful tycoon. His . business has also been hit by a class action lawsuit by News Corps . shareholders over claims bosses failed to properly investigate phone . hacking taking place at the News of the World, which was shut down on . Sunday. However, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's move . to delay the Sky bid on Monday afternoon could potentially salvage the . deal, which had looked on the brink of collapse in the morning, . according to City analysts. Speculation . is mounting that the tycoon may have to relinquish day-to-day control . of the company in a bid to draw a line under the crisis – and his son . James, who runs all of News Corp’s businesses outside the US, could also . come under pressure to stand down as chairman of satellite giant BSkyB. The past week has severely damaged . News Corp’s bid to gain full control of Sky, and may see the media giant . forced to sell off part of its stake in the satellite firm. If it fails Ofcom’s ‘fit and proper’ test, the media regulator could . order News Corp to reduce its slice from 39 per cent to 29 per cent. City sources said James Murdoch’s handling of the crisis has all but shattered his hopes of succeeding his father. Analysts also said it frees Mr Hunt from a politically explosive conundrum. If . he had blocked the deal, or called in the Competition Commission . himself, he could have faced a legal challenge from News Corp. But if he had waved the takeover through, he risked triggering a wave of public fury. Jeremy Hunt, right, was left with no choice to refer the case to the Competition Commission following the decision, and ends Ed Miliband's threat to call for a vote of confidence if the Government did not call time on the takeover . The investigation will take at least six months. Senior . Lib Dem MP Don Foster, the party’s former culture spokesman, described . the move as a ‘ruse’ designed to buy ‘breathing space’. He added: ‘This is the best Murdoch can do to keep the possibility of the merger on the table. ‘By . dropping the News of the World, he can say his involvement in news and . current affairs in Britain has actually diminished and argue that the . issue of media plurality has disappeared. ‘There . is nothing to prevent Ofcom, however, from investigating whether or not . the Murdoch empire is fit and proper to own even the 39 per cent of . BSkyB it already owns.’ Mark Kelly, at stockbroker Olivetree . Securities, said: ‘News Corp is smoothing the way for the Government . here – keeping friends in power by making the decision for them.’ Louise . Cooper, of City broking firm BGC Partners, said Murdoch had given Hunt . ‘some wriggle room’ and avoided a ‘potentially damaging’ confidence vote . in the House of Commons tomorrow. Labour leader Ed Miliband had threatened to force a vote if the Government did not call time on the proposed takeover. Preventing . a parliamentary debate where fresh attacks could have been levelled . against his papers was a ‘smart move by an operator who is rapidly . taking back control of the situation’, she added. However, . the chances of News Corp buying the 61 per cent of Sky it does not . already own have tumbled with each new startling revelation. Sky . shares plunged 5 per cent yesterday and a staggering £2.4billion has . been wiped off the value of the satellite giant over the past week. Alex DeGroote, at stockbroker Panmure Gordon, said the likelihood of the deal going ahead had reduced. Hugh Grant now provides Britain’s moral compass following the outbreak, a comedian joked on the Daily Show in the U.S. last night. Jon Stewart, pictured left, pretended to vomit as correspondent John Oliver, right, explained the News of the World had hacked into Milly Dowler’s phone and deleted answerphone messages. Oliver joked that after Notting Hill star Hugh Grant was now the most honourable man in Britain after he helped expose the scandal. ‘The guy who got car head from an LA road prostitute is now the moral compass of my nation,’ he said. Presenter Jon Stewart was incredulous in the clip as he was told that police had been paid by journalists – and disgraced editor Andy Coulson had been employed by David Cameron. He said: ‘On Friday we cut our probability of the deal going ahead to . 50:50 from 90:10 in favour. This seems very optimistic now. Our new . assessment is 10:90 in favour. In other words, we believe the deal is . all but dead.’ He also . raised the possibility of a forced divestiture – sale, liquidation or . spin off – of News Corp’s 39 per cent shareholding in BSkyB. He added: ‘If the “fit and proper” test is applied rigidly by Ofcom and events elsewhere worsen, it could become a factor.’ It . is now alleged that as many as 4,000 people had their phones hacked by . private investigators working for the News Of The World. Speculation . grew today that the red top would be replaced by The Sun On Sunday . after the domain name was transferred to News International from the . company who bought it last week. In . a further development this afternoon MPs will vote on a Labour motion . urging News Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch to withdraw his bid to take . over the whole of BSkyB. Tomorrow's . motion tabled by Labour leader Ed Miliband, who today met the family of . murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, states that 'this House believes that . it is in the public interest for Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation to . withdraw their bid for BSkyB'. News . International also said today it would co-operate after Rebekah Brooks, . Rupert Murdoch and his son James were asked to appear before a . committee of MPs. The . Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee asked the trio to give evidence . about the phone hacking and police payments scandals at a hearing next . week. A spokeswoman for . News International, publisher of the News of the World, the Sun, the . Times and the Sunday Times, could not confirm whether all three would . attend the hearing. But the . company said in a statement: 'We have been made aware of the request . from the CMS committee to interview senior executives and will . co-operate. We await the formal invitation. | News International executives have discussed selling three remaining papers .
Senator John Rockefeller says News Corp may have hacked 9/11 victims .
BSkyB share price down 1.2% to 683.5p this morning .
News Corp in Australia will probe all payments for stories as scandal shows signs of widening .
Senior executive Les Hinton jets into London to join Murdochs .
News Corp has had £4.3bn wiped off its value in a week .
Speculation mounts that Murdoch will relinquish control of the company . |
72,904 | ceb7929030f26c9f332acd844dedc671dfb62330 | By . Nazia Parveen, Jaya Narain and Liz Hull . PUBLISHED: . 06:45 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:37 EST, 28 January 2013 . The wife of a celebrated millionaire architect has been found ‘frozen to death’ in a car after she and her husband were involved in an acrimonious split. Nicole Falkingham, 41, is believed to have died from hypothermia and acute alcohol poisoning after drinking heavily and apparently falling asleep in a car on a friend’s driveway. Wearing a hooded quilted jacket and Hunter wellington boots, she spent the night in the car in sub-zero temperatures and was found dead on the back seat the next morning. Nicole Falkingham, 41, pictured with her husband Jonathan, was found 'frozen to death' in a car . Her death comes after she told friends . she was fighting a bitter divorce battle against her estranged husband, . Jonathan Falkingham, 50 – the chief executive of a multi-million pound . property firm. The couple were known as ‘property . royalty’ and lived an enviable and glamorous lifestyle. But Mrs . Falkingham and her husband had separated last year amid bitter . recriminations. She moved out of their £1million . converted farmhouse and had told friends she was beginning divorce . proceedings with the aim of securing a generous settlement. But Mr . Falkingham’s development firm, Urban Splash, has debts of more than . £200million, according to the latest accounts. Mrs Falkingham, who was often seen out . in pubs and clubs, had gone out on Thursday evening. She had been . drinking in a wine bar with friends when she suddenly become ‘comatose.’ Bar staff alerted the emergency . services but before they arrived she was allegedly picked up by friends . who took her to their home on a cul-de-sac in upmarket Otterspool. She . was found dead in the back of a black Vauxhall Insignia on the drive . last Friday morning after temperatures fell to -2C. Nicole at her 40th birthday in October 2011. Mrs Falkingham, a former PA, was married to 50-year- old architect and property tycoon Jonathan Falkingham Chief Executive of Manchester-based Urban Splash . Mr Falkingham (left) and his wife (right) began dating . in 2003 and lived in a £1million former farmhouse they renovated in . Liverpool city centre but reports said they were estranged at the time . of her death . A picture of Nicole Falkingham which was posted on Jonathan Falkingham's Facebook page yesterday . A man and woman, both 48, were . arrested at a house nearby after police discovered a cannabis factory . with more than 100 plants at the property. Staff at the Vinci wine bar in Liverpool said Mrs Falkingham was seen happily drinking with four friends. An employee said the group had drunk a ‘couple of bottles of wine’ when Mrs Falkingham changed dramatically. He said: ‘She went from being OK to . suddenly being in a near comatose state. I’ve seen plenty of people get . drunk but I have never seen someone turn as quickly as that. ‘I tried to speak to her to see if she . was okay but she couldn’t speak. I called the police and they told me . to phone an ambulance, but before I had the chance, some friends of hers . turned up and took her away.’ Officers are treating the death as . ‘unexplained’ and questioned the pair on suspicion of manslaughter and . cultivating cannabis before they were freed on bail. A post mortem examination has taken . place and initial results have indicated hypothermia and acute alcohol . intake. But officers said the conclusions will be subject to toxicology . tests before any confirmation will be made. A high-profile couple, the Falkinghams . were patrons of the arts and were well-known on the party-circuit. They . met when she began working at Urban Splash as personal assistant to the . married father-of-two more than a decade ago. They began dating in 2003 after he . separated from his wife and then bought an abandoned 17th century . farmhouse which they transformed into a designer £1million home. Urban Splash was at the forefront of . property development in the North West – turning decaying mills and . warehouses into exclusive apartments. It was widely credited for . kick-starting the trend for city-centre living in cities such as . Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol. But the downturn hit the firm . and last September it posted pre-tax losses of £9.3million and debts of . £234million. Mr Falkingham, chief executive of . Urban Splash, was a former Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and has a . first class degree in architecture from Liverpool University. A source said: ‘Jonathan and Nicole . were like royalty within the circle of architects and developers in the . North-West. They were a rich and attractive couple living a gilded . lifestyle.’ The source added that Mrs Falkingham ‘was known to dabble in . recreational drugs’. Mr Falkingham was unavailable for comment. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Nicole Falkingham, 41, was discovered in Aigburth area of Liverpool .
She was the wife of property tycoon Jonathan Falkingham, 50, Chief Executive of Manchester-based Urban Splash .
Initial reports show she suffered hypothermia and acute alcohol intoxication .
She had been out drinking with the owners of the car over six hours .
Mr Falkingham changed Facebook relationship to 'single' on New Year's Eve .
Death comes after she told friends she was fighting a bitter divorce battle .
Two suspects, a man and woman both aged 48, were arrested on suspicion of unlawful killing and cultivating cannabis . |
80,044 | e2e00fdba619d18f6b1affe4e01afee77aa121fa | A woman has been ordered by a Western Australian court to pay $12,500 worth in damages to her estranged husband after it was found she had defamed him on Facebook. In December 2012, a post appeared on Robyn Greeuw's social media page saying she had 'separated from Miro Dabrowski after 18 years of suffering domestic violence and abuse. Now fighting the system to keep my children safe'. But Western Australian District Court Judge Michael Bowden ruled Ms Greeuw was unable to prove she had been subjected to this behaviour, despite finding holes in Mr Dabrowski's case. Robyn Greeuw posted on her social media page that she had 'separated from Miro Dabrowski after 18 years of suffering domestic violence and abuse' 'Even applying the extended definition of the words "domestic violence and abuse", as urged by Ms Greeuw, she has failed to prove any essential or substantial truth to the stings of the defamation imputations,' he said. The post on the Bunbury mother-of-two's page was seen by Mr Dabrowski's brother as well as a woman he started dating in 2012. It was not removed until February 2013. During the trial, Ms Greeuw maintained she was did not know how to use Facebook and had only started using it just months before the December 2012 post went up. She said the post was 'a complete fabrication and part of a malicious and vindictive campaign' against her carried out by Mr Dabrowski and other people. The only reference Ms Greeuw was able to produce as evidence of the violence and abuse she claims to have suffered was a 2010 incident. Mr Dabrowski later penned a letter to apologise to his wife for his 'freak out' and 'spoiling the holiday'. The letter was presented as evidence during the trial and read: 'I don't deal with my panic attacks well … the panic and freak out period I had re holidays just showed that'. But Mr Dabrowski told the court this referred to 'his internal state of mind' but Judge Bowden said this defence 'lacked credibility'. WA District Court Judge Michael Bowden said he had 'no doubt' Ms Greeuw's post had caused Mr Dabrowski 'personal distress, humiliation and hurt and harm to his reputation' However, the judge said this did not mean he accepted Ms Greeuw's version of events. He believed she had a 'propensity to say whatever advances her cause' and was 'not a credible witness'. Judge Bowden said he had 'no doubt' Ms Greeuw's post had caused Mr Dabrowski 'personal distress, humiliation and hurt and harm to his reputation'. 'It did cause people to "look at him twice" and be more reserved about their contact with him,' the judge said. During the civil trial, a number of witnesses said the post had altered their perception of the school teacher to the point where they questioned their association with him and his behaviour. As he was handing down his ruling, Judge Bowden said content on social media had a way of spreading quickly and damages would be awarded to Mr Dabrowski 'as reparation for the harm done to his personal and business reputation and for vindication to his reputation'. 'Defamatory publications on social media spread easily by the simple manipulation of computers,' he said. 'A public Facebook page is able to be viewed worldwide by whoever clicks on that page.' | Robyn Greeuw posted the defamatory remark on her Facebook in 2012 .
It was seen by multiple people, including Miroslaw Dabrowski's brother .
WA District Court judge said he found inconsistencies in both cases .
But Judge Michael Bowden ruled in the estranged husband's favour .
He believed the post had caused Mr Dabrowski 'distress' and 'harm' |
261,549 | deb955a613ce14808586dd46e9a1600224802a63 | By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 05:29 EST, 18 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:55 EST, 18 April 2013 . TalkTalk has been fined £750,000 for making an excessive number of abandoned and silent calls, which could have caused 'annoyance and distress' to consumers. The TV, broadband and phone provider made 9,000 silent or abandoned calls to potential customers between February 1 and March 21, 2011, at two of its call centres. The fine follows an investigation by Ofcom aiming to reduce harm caused by such calls, where individuals hear silence when they answer the phone. TalkTalk was fined £750,000 by Ofcom for making 9,000 silent calls to customers in less than two months . It was found TalkTalk exceeded the limit of abandoned calls which organisations are permitted to make four times in 2011 during one of its telemarketing campaigns. It also failed to ensure information messages were played, meaning consumers answered their phones and heard no sound coming from the other end of the line. As a result, TalkTalk made approximately 9,000 silent and abandoned calls to consumers. During another marketing campaign, TalkTalk failed to make a ‘reasoned estimate’ as to the accuracy of its answer machine detection and also failed to keep adequate records to show it complied with answer machine technology requirements. On one day in that period TalkTalk also failed to ensure call centre workers handled cases where an earlier call made on the same day had been picked up by an answer machine. Ofcom said TalkTalk was ultimately responsible for the actions of the two call centre operators associated with the breach, Teleperformance Limited and McAlpine Marketing Limited. The silent calls could have caused 'annoyance or distress' to custmoers, who heard silence when they answered the phone . Ofcom's consumer group director, Claudio Pollack, said: ‘Silent and abandoned calls can cause annoyance and distress to consumers. Companies must abide by the law and Ofcom's policies. If they fail to do so then Ofcom will take firm action. ‘Today's penalty sends out a strong message to organisations using call centres that they must comply or face the consequences.’ A TalkTalk spokesman said: ‘In February and March 2011, two of TalkTalk's suppliers, Teleperformance and McAlpine Marketing, made a number of silent and abandoned marketing calls. ‘TalkTalk demands high standards from the companies it works with and as a result TalkTalk immediately stopped using these suppliers. 'Both suppliers addressed the root cause of the problem and TalkTalk will fully recover the financial penalty imposed by Ofcom from these companies. ‘TalkTalk works with all its partners to ensure that regulations are adhered to and that customers continue to get good service and best value.’ The fine against TalkTalk was welcomed by consumer watchdog group Which? as a step towards ending excessive nuisance calls directed at consumers. Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which? said: ‘It's good to see Ofcom flexing its muscles against abandoned and silent calls. 'With so many people telling us they are being bombarded by nuisance calls and texts, we have been calling for all the relevant regulators to work together to properly police and punish those responsible with substantial fines and suspension of licences.’ Last month Which? found that in the last three months 70 per cent of people received unsolicited calls and 40 per cent got an unwanted text. | TalkTalk breached the maximum number silent calls four times in 2011 .
Ofcom said silent and abandoned calls can cause 'annoyance and distress'
Two call centres identified as the source of the problem with abandoned calls . |
203,681 | 93ada2bbae5e280ee4d1788c6aed20819fa44bae | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:55 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:20 EST, 13 May 2013 . Central Park West will soon be missing an unlikely inhabitant to its rarefied row of multi-million dollar homes as NASCAR great Jeff Gordon puts his $30 million Manhattan condo on the market. The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will likely be driving away from the place even richer than when he purchased the Central Park adjacent digs in 2007 for a mere $9.67 million. And $30 million is just the asking price since many well-heeled Manhattanites (or wannabe Manhattanites) will undoubtedly be clamouring for a spot in the highly sought-after building at 15 Central Park West. Steal: NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon has put his Central Park West condo on the market for a cool $30 million . The New York Times calls the building the ‘reigning superstar of Manhattan trophy residences,’ and Gordon’s apartment, with its Brazilian cherry floors, spatterings of flamed black granite, and other precocious appoints is front and center of the pack. His unit, number 7C, is located in the building’s preferable 20-story frontispiece, known only as ‘The House,’ which allows sprawling views just at the edge of the treetops in the city’s favorite strip of woodland. The great room in Gordon’s 3,454-square-foot residence offers the lucky buyer a personalized view of the park. Through the residence’s only glass doors (the rest are rift-cut oak), those eating in the dining area are also privy to peeks at nature. Less desirable is ‘the Tower,’ a tower that rises 43-stories behind ‘the House’ and offers views of the Hudson River. Breathtaking: The 3,454-square-foot stunner offers treetop views of Central Park . The best: Gordon's pad is located at the most desired address in the already beloved row of multi-million dollar apartment buildings, 15 Central Park West . Kitchen: The elegant kitchen features Italian ceramic floors and neo-Paris stone backsplash . Upon entering the lavish abode, visitors step upon bronze-inlaid flooring in the foyer and pass a powder room with a limestone vanity just past the cloak room. A steel-topped oak built-in that Gordon calls ‘the sushi bar’ is the living room’s centrepiece and hides a refrigerator underneath. From there, one may tiptoe across the Italian ceramic floors past the finest culinary appointments, a wine cooler, and neo-Paris stone backsplash. Bathroom: All three bedrooms have en suite baths and the master bath features a stand-up shower with room for two . Bedrooms: The condo's bedroom wing has window's facing the building's verdant courtyard . And for those who are invited, the master suite beyond offers a roomy 743-square-feet of slumber space. For now, though, that room is reserved—as is the entirety of the pristine and playful pad—for Gordon and wife Ingrid Vandebosch. Whoever ends up buying the place will have the two of them to thank. The pair purchased the apartment from the offering plan, so it came to them as ‘a big white box with high ceilings.’ Dining room: Those lucky enough to be invited are treated to Central Park views while they eat . Playful: Brazilian cherry wood hugs the floors and flamed black granite accents peek out throughout the home . So both the compliments and hefty dividends, like those driver has been earning for years, will be well-deserved. And before you ask why the couple wants to leave the breathtaking condominium, agent Nora Ariffin of Halstead Property has an answer, straight Gordon himself. She said the stock car legend has chosen now as a time to sell because 'the demand for trophy apartments is pretty strong.' Modern: Gordon calls the big, steel-topped built-in bar 'the sushi bar'c . Sensible: The unlikely Central Park West dweller usually calls North Carolina home and reportedly wants to unload the place because 'demand for trophy apartments is pretty strong' | The 3,454-square-foot apartment is located in the most sought after building in an already desirable locale .
Brazilian cherry floors, sushi bar, and breathtaking views of Central Park are just some of the benefits of the stunning Pre-War property . |
236,662 | be4ec920051c0fcba1b74a3de3d700673b8c6228 | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 09:11 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:38 EST, 12 June 2013 . An aspiring model who wishes to marry and have a family is too scared to even shake hands with a man. Hitachi Baylou, 21, has suffered from crippling OCD for three years, magnified by fear of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Completely unable to have a sexual relationship with a man - or even to come into contact with another person - Hitachi spends over £300 a month on antibacterial products, convinced she'll catch STIs from toilet seats, furniture or cupboard doors. The young woman is so terrified she will 'catch something', she panics if she so much as grazes a jacket collar when giving a hug. 'If I brush the door I panic and have to wipe my hands immediately,' she said on This Morning today. Scroll down for video . Hitachi Baylou says she's still a virgin because her OCD has robbed her of a sex life . She went on to say that men are less than understanding of her difficult condition. 'I have been on dates and described my OCD, but they just say, "You don't need to do that" - they think it's so simple.' Cognitive behavioural therapist Katie D'Ath joined the young woman on the breakfast television show to explain there is hope available through cognitive behavioural therapy. 'Not all cognitive behavioural therapists know how to treat people with obsessive disorders,' she says. 'Specifically, they need to practice exposure and response prevention, which is essentially where they start . to gradually expose themselves to their fear and not perform the response they . usually perform.' Brought up by a strict single mother, Hitachi Baylou developed OCD at the age of 18. 'Before I moved into my flat aged 18 I was sort of okay. OCD crept up on me, I didn't see it coming,' she said. The aspiring model has to talk to the make-up artist on shoots to ensure tools are extremely clean . 'I started using Fairy Liquid on my hands, then upgraded to baby wipes, and then to antibacterial wipes.' 'I wipe my bag handle, phone, kettle, taps... When I wake up in my room I get the wipes ready to go and wipe the kettle handle, toaster - I worry that a fly has gone in and spread bacteria. My main fear is catching something.' She later visited her mother and they had a serious conversation about the dangers of STIs. 'I went home afterwards and wiped everything very excessively. I thought, "What if I didn't do it enough before I left". 'It's really hard to let go of.' She's been pursuing modelling since last year, and her OCD seems to also be getting in the way of those ambitions too. 'I have to talk to the make-up artist,' she says. As well as feeling the need to ensure tools and make-up used on her face are extremely clean, she also has to talk to chefs and waiters in restaurants. 'It's really hard for people to understand. It's exhausting.' She also fears people think she is stuck up or rude. Her OCD takes on many different forms. She photographs and documents everything she eats and sometimes loses sleep and cries about her condition. 'The other day sitting on my bed in my bedroom and I got food on the mattress cover. I thought it had gone on the mattress. I kept wiping and wiping. I can't really ever relax,' she said. Hitachi now spends over £300 a month on antibacterial products, convinced she'll catch STIs . 'People with OCD need to practice exposure and response prevention, which is essentially where they start to gradually expose themselves to their fear and not perform the response they usually perform' When asked about how she would ever get intimate with someone, Hitachi confessed one of her dreams is to get into a serious relationship and have a family. 'When I see a child my heart melts. I'm very sentimental and very sensitive. While I would want a child I wouldn't want them to develop what I've got. 'I have received cognitive behavioural therapy and we've got to the connection and different things that trigger it.' Katie D'Ath said: 'A variety of different things can trigger OCD. 'A person's personality, genetics, their upbringing - a cocktail of things. Anyone could develop OCD. When those things add up enough, you get it. All of us have an element of it but usually most of us can keep it in a sub-clinical category. 'When Hitachi's mother mentioned STIs, it made her condition worse for her as she has now placed too much importance on it.' It is a mental health condition where patients experience overwhelming obsessions, compulsions or both. Obsessions are recurrent thoughts or urges that cannot be ignored and make you feel anxious. Compulsions are the actions that people feel they must do in order to deal with this anxiety. A well-known way for OCD to manifest itself is to have obsessions about dirt or contamination, and a compulsion to wash the dirt away. Ritualistic tidying is another example. When posed with the dilemma of how HItachi could overcome her OCD, Katie explained: . 'When she feels dirty her anxitey goes up and she does something to bring down, like wash her hands. 'Sometimes that works in the short term - first the Fairy liquuid then baby wipes and then antibacterial ones. So actually it doesn't work long term - only curing anxiety short term. 'What we teach is how to deal with anxiety in a different way. 'I think definitely people can be cured, though some argue that they always have it, others say it is no longer part of their life and others feel it's manageable, something in the background that sometimes crops up but doesn't really get in the way of living a normal life. It would mean the world to HItachi if she could be cured. 'I could relax. I can't remember the last time I could relax.' | Hitachi Baylou has suffered from OCD for three years .
Conditioned was magnified when her mother warned her about STIs .
A virgin, she is terrified of having sex - or even shaking hands .
Hopes to be cured so she can have relationship and start a family . |
282,817 | fa566d76e5d142f5ec29a9642472051df2e32c59 | A 93-year-old man has been charged with 300,000 counts of accessory to murder for his role as an SS guard at Auschwitz concentration camp, prosecutors said today. A sergeant, Oskar Groening worked at the camp in German occupied Poland for two and a half years. Groening was charged with sorting the possessions of the inmates and collecting and tallying any money that was on them. A picture taken in January 1945 shows children in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim . At least 1.1 million prisoners died at Auschwitz, around 90 per cent of them Jewish. In one period between May and June 1944, 425,000 Hungarian Jews went there and around 300,000 were immediately sent to the gas chambers. Hanoverian prosecutors said of Groening: "He helped the Nazi regime benefit economically, and supported the systematic killings." Groening's lawyer, Hans Holtermann, refused to comment on the charges. He was never punished after the war, a tribunal cleared him of involvement in 1948, but Groening who worked as the manager of a glass factory has openly talked about his time as a guard and said that he witnessed atrocities. The main gate of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz I, near Oswiecim , Poland, which was liberated by the Russians in January 1945. Writing on the gate reads: Arbeit macht frei (Work sets you free - or work liberates) A group of SS officers gathered in front of a building at Solahutte, the SS retreat outside of Auschwitz, Poland. From left, Josef Kramer, Dr. Josef Mengele, Richard Baer, Karl Hoecker and an unknown officer . SS officers socialising in the grounds of their retreat, Solahutte outside of Auschwitz, Poland. From left, Dr Josef Mengele, Rudolf Hoess (the former Commandant of Auschwitz), Josef Kramer (Commandant of Birkenau), and an unknown officer . Nine years ago, he was interviewed by Der Spiegel and told the magazine of one incident when he heard a baby crying: "I saw another SS soldier grab the baby by the legs... He smashed the baby's head against the iron side of a truck until it was silent. ‘On one night in January 1943 I saw for the first time how the Jews were actually gassed. It was in a half-built farmyard near to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. A gas chamber was built there. The women's barracks in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim . All that remains: A pile of shoes from prisoners at the Auschwitz museum near former death camp Auschwitz . 'There were more than 100 prisoners and soon there were panic-filled cries as they were herded into the chamber and the door was shut. 'Then a sergeant with a gas mask went to a hole in the wall and from a tin shook Zyklon B gas pellets inside. In that moment the cries of the people inside rose to a crescendo, a choir of madness. These cries I have ringing in my ears to this day. Members of the SS Helferinnen (female auxiliaries) and SS officer Karl Hoecker sit on a fence railing in Solahutte eating bowls of blueberries in Auschwitz . 'It was completely understood by all that the majority were going straight to the gas chamber, although some believed they were only going to be showered before going to work. Many Jews knew they were going to die.' 'I made an application for a transfer and at the end of October 1944 I was shipped to the Belgian Ardennes where I served with a fighting unit until capture.' Groening, who lives near the Lueneburg Heath in Lower Saxony, is one of around 30 former Auschwitz guards who federal investigators recommended last year that state prosecutors pursue charges against under a new precedent in German law. Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler was buried in an unmarked grave at Lueneburg Heath after his suicide in May 1945, following his capture by the British. Groening is the fourth case investigated by Hanoverian authorities — two have been abandoned because the suspects are unfit for trial, and one was closed when the suspect died. Herr Holtermann said, however, his client is in good health. Thomas Walther, who represents 20 Auschwitz victims and their families as co-plaintiffs in the case against Groening as allowed under German law, said it's their last chance "to participate in bringing justice to one of the SS men who had a part in the murder of their closest relatives." "Many of the co-plaintiffs are among the last survivors of Auschwitz.” | Oskar Groening was originally cleared of war crimes in 1948 .
Groening was in charge of sorting inmates' possessions and money .
He worked at Auschwitz for two and a half years until his transfer to the Ardennes where he was taken prisoner .
Has spoken of the atrocities he witnessed at the concentration camp . |
142,785 | 44ab048e92030d998ff5e4a1d2fbaa487f8d88f8 | By . Talal Musa . PUBLISHED: . 12:36 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:09 EST, 9 October 2012 . Merlin – one of the most popular shows on TV – is coming to PC, bringing with him the wondrous fantasy world fans know and love. Thankfully, BAFTA-winning Bossa studios are behind the project, and have developed a game that places a strong emphasis on cooperative, pick-up-and-play gameplay. Pretty: The visuals stay true to the series but have a cartoon-like feel about them . Merlin: The Game is free to play on Facebook, and combines authentic style with striking visuals. Players can embark on a magical adventure with friends to battle against the evil forces that threaten Camelot. We talked to Creator in Chief, Imre Jele, on what fans can expect from the game: . Take us through Merlin. Imre: 'We wanted to create a fantasy game for quite some time and it made sense to work with a very good like brand like Merlin. 'We asked ourselves how we can make a game that is an authentic extension of the show and not an exploitation of the brand. 'The show is about three things: heroism, fighting off evil creatures and comradery, this being the relationship between Arthur and Merlin, or Arthur and Gwen. Have you brought characters over from the universe itself, or have you created your own characters? Imre: 'Both, we call it Season A. It takes place in the same universe at Season 5 and therefore you’re going to meet all those characters. 'You get quests from Merlin, Arthur and Giaus and interact with them throughout the game.' Adventure for all: The game is free and can be played at any time on Facebook . What made you want to make this game free to play? Imre: 'We decided a game based on this IP has to meaningfully expand upon it and it cannot be just exploitation. 'The reason we decide to go for a model where you don’t pay upfront is firstly because we believe the game is good enough to be able to work as a freemium model and secondly because everyone and anyone who wants to try it can play the game. 'That’s why the game is on Facebook - we wanted to make sure we opened up this game to as many people as we can. 'The visuals speak for themselves, this quite a unique looking game, not something you’re going to find on the market. You’re not going to find any other game on the platform like this.' Character customisation is a huge part of this. How have you managed to tailor that kind of freedom without it jarring the game universe? Imre: 'Because we wanted to make an accessible game we decided we won’t have classes, so it’s not like traditional games where you choose your class and you’re stuck with it. 'I didn’t want anyone to feel they can’t change their mind and be penalised for their starting choice.' Work together: You can work through the adventures with any of your friends . Tell us about cooperative play. Imre: 'We wanted to combine the good elements of a role-playing game but at the same time is simple enough so somebody who’s new can instantly pick-up the game. We’ve made a very intuitive control system.' What about the game’s soundtrack? Imre: 'All of our sound effects and music from the game are made by the same people who the music and the soundtrack of the TV show. 'So, the music is based on what you’ve heard on the TV show and the sound effects, too. When you hear two swords clashing together in the game it’s actually the same one as the show.' Any plans for mobile gaming? Imre: 'Not at this point, the first release of the game will be on Facebook only but we are considering a touch version.' For more information see: http://merlingame.com . Follow Talal on Twitter: @TalalMusa and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games. | Free-to-play RPG on Facebook which caters for cooperative gameplay .
Packed full of authentic characters, weapons and sound effects .
Deep character customisation .
Colourful graphics rival 'paid-for' games . |
118,773 | 255e915e43f19121302f4819d35b5052f704ebcb | (CNN) -- If you've seen a Victoria's Secret or Red Bull commercial recently, or watched the movie "Chronicle," chances are, you've heard M83. It's the band whose dreamy, shoegaze-y, '80s-inspired music seems to be suddenly everywhere. "It's hard for me to believe it's real," said Anthony Gonzales, the synth-pop mastermind behind M83. "I've been doing this for a long time now, and this is the first time I feel like something is happening. "It feels amazing, but it's also very scary, because I'm not used to that," he added. "I'm not used to doing interviews and talking to that many people and feeling that important to people. It's very frightening, but I'm not going to complain." Even though M83 has been around for more than a decade, their sixth and most recent album, "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming," has just now put them on the front lines of success. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on both the Billboard Current Electronic Album Chart and iTunes Electronic Chart. The first single, "Midnight City," has gotten more than 11 million views on YouTube and has gone gold, with more than 500,000 downloads. The band has toured Europe and North America and has appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and "Last Call with Carson Daly." Gonzales was born in southern France and lived there for 29 years. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he started the musical adventure that became his latest album. "I needed a change. I needed to put myself in danger always and try something different," Gonzales said of his move to the States. The band's sound is a difficult to describe. The first time fans listen to M83, a few descriptions may come to mind: "ethereal," "cinematic,"even "galactic." Fitting descriptions, as the band's name comes from a distant galaxy, Messier 83. "I was obsessed and very fascinated by stars and astronomy when I was a kid," Gonzales said. Besides galactic entities, Gonzales is also inspired by his youth. In songs like "Teen Angst" and albums like "Saturdays=Youth," M83 often incorporates ideas of childhood into its work. "Remembering my teenage years and my childhood is a very positive feeling. It makes me happy. It helps me to go through my fears and my insecurities. So it's almost like a therapy," Gonzales said. Gonzales was born in 1980, so being inspired by his childhood also means he's enthralled by the music of the '80s. In fact, he believes that the decade was the single most important musical period of all time: "In the '80s, it was like, so many good albums, so many good songs, and the way musicians were experimenting with new instruments, new technologies was truly amazing. I don't think my sound could ever go away from the '80s." Experimenting is something M83 is very familiar with. On "Hurry Up We're Dreaming," listerners hear brass sections, a children's choir, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Zola Jesus, towering synth melodies and even a child talking about frogs. "I wanted it to be an ambitious album, something very produced, something I could remember until the end of my days," Gonzales said. And yet, with all that experimenting, the theme of the album goes back to Gonzales' childhood obsession: space. "This album is about dreams but this album is also about what's out there and we're probably not the only species in the galaxy," Gonzales said. "There's probably something else. I hope that one day I'll be the witness of a cool thing." Throughout all the acclaim and spotlight this new album has brought on M83, Gonzales focused on his fans: "I want them to be happy. I need them to be happy. ... If the crowd is happy and responds to the music, then it's a whole different game and becomes the most incredible experience of your life." The group is planning a U.S. tour this fall. | M83's songs have been featured in commercials for Victoria's Secret, Red Bull .
The band has released six albums, the most recent being "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming"
M83 gets its name from a distant galaxy . |
93,730 | 0484a41f02d8f4ebd0b15431407e66ce47f40764 | Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- In colloquial Turkish, the word zenne means male belly dancer. It is also the title of a new film that explores sexual identity while also highlighting a deadly case of homophobia in modern-day Turkey. "The starting point was a dear friend of ours who was murdered in 2008 for being gay by his own father," said Mehmet Binay, producer and co-director of "Zenne," which opens in theaters across Turkey on Friday. Binay was referring to the 2008 killing of Ahmet Yildiz, a 26-year old physics student who was gunned down in Istanbul. Court records identify Yildiz's father, Yahya, as the primary suspect in the killing. The father's motive, according to a copy of the indictment, was that he "did not accept the victim to be in a gay relationship." More than three years after the slaying, Yildiz's father is a fugitive, still wanted by Turkish police. The death has since been widely referred to as Turkey's first gay honor killing. One of the main characters in "Zenne" is based on Ahmet Yildiz and his tragic story. Caner Alper, the writer and other co-director of "Zenne," was also a friend of Yildiz's. Alper said before he died, Yildiz often spoke about receiving death threats from his family, who were trying to "cure" him of his homosexuality. Court documents show Yildiz reported these death threats to the Turkish authorities. In an interview with CNN this week, the filmmakers said they hoped their film would force Turkish society to debate hate crimes that target victims based on gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual identity. "Death and murder is still on the agenda of our country. We can't get rid of this mentality," said Binay. "People need to tolerate each other. They need to understand that different identities can live next to each other without disturbing each other." Binay and Alper are not only creative partners. Shortly before the debut of their debut film at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Turkey's most prestigious film festival, the two men announced they had been a couple for 14 years. Alper said their families advised against coming out publicly. "They thought it would be career suicide," he said. "Until we won five awards from the first festival that we attended." Despite recent critical acclaim, the filmmakers agreed Turkey still has a long way to go before it overcomes deeply entrenched institutional homophobia. According to Article 17 of the health regulations of the Turkish Armed Forces, homosexuality is considered a "psychosexual deviance." All Turkish men are required to perform military service. But gay men can be exempted from conscript duty provided they first prove their homosexuality. "Zenne" depicts the degrading process its main characters endure at an army recruiting center. In the film, military doctors perform anal examinations and hurl homophobic insults at conscripts. They also demand photos of the characters having sex with other men. Gay rights activists say the military has long demanded graphic photo and/or video evidence from men asking to be released from military duty. "In the photograph and the video you have to show your form and your face. Your face has to be clearly identified and another man has to be penetrating," said Kursad Kahramanoglu, who teaches international law and human sexuality at Istanbul's Bilgi University. CNN asked Turkey's defense ministry to comment on what gay rights groups claim has long been an unwritten military policy. "The practice of asking for video and photographic evidence is out of question," a defense ministry spokesman responded, speaking on condition of anonymity, a common practice in Turkish government bureaucracy. "I cannot confirm that it definitely did not happen, but we do not have any information that such a thing happened," he added. The spokesman said the current policy is for conscripts to prove their homosexuality with a doctor's report from a private or military hospital. "The evaluation is made based on the medical report," he said. Less than two years ago, a senior Turkish government minister was quoted in an interview calling homosexuality "an illness ... that should be treated." These types of statements have not stopped members of Turkey's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from demanding equal rights. Thousands marched in a rainbow-hued gay pride parade through downtown Istanbul last July. Some of the activists carried large posters of Ahmet Yildiz with the slogan "get the murderer." Among those marching was Yildiz's former boyfriend, Ibrahim Can. "I am fighting for the rights of my lover and for all the gays and lesbians and transsexuals in the world and in Turkey. And I want the Turkish government to change the homophobic attitude in Turkey," Can said in an interview with CNN. LGBT activists are lobbying the Turkish government to have the constitution amended to protect the rights of Turks on the grounds of gender and sexual identity. The Turkish Constitution is currently in the lengthy process of being re-written. Binay, meanwhile, points to what he calls remarkable progress for minority rights in Turkey over the last decade. He said: "All sorts of minorities including gays and lesbians are demanding their rights. They want recognition, they want protection by the state. They want to be able to live, first of all, and not be murdered." | New Turkish movie highlights homophobia in the country .
In part the film is based in the slaying of Ahmet Yildiz, which is known as Turkey's first honor killing .
Directors, who were friends with the student, say Turkey has entrenched institutional homophobia .
One of them told CNN minority communities "want to be able to live, first of all, and not be murdered" |
19,085 | 360d7ed83f65fba39c7ec036314ee5c94124de7c | (CNN) -- The people have spoken and President Barack Obama has another four years in office. When it comes to the economy we know what the president wants to do in his second term. Obama's measures are incremental and nuanced, with the exception of the most talked about, which is raising taxes on higher income earners. This will be done by not renewing the Bush-era tax cuts for those at the top, and by a so-called Buffet-rule, an overarching principle that would set a minimum rate of tax payable by those earning more than a million dollars a year, and prevent them from going below that using deductions. The tax cuts for the middle class under the Bush-era would be made permanent. Thereafter it is a real hodge podge of tax incentives, advantages, allowances and policies designed to stimulate business and bring jobs back to America. None of them are eye catching. It is hard to get excited about the Manufacturing Communities Tax Credit or the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit, however important they may be. Obama has also talked of taking a more muscular approach to China when it comes to trade. Having been goaded by Mitt Romney on the campaign trail, the U.S. has indicated that the next four years will have to see China playing on a level playing field. Unfortunately saying and doing are two different things. The president spent much of his first term just putting out the fires. As The Economist put it in its endorsement, he "dragged America's economy back from the brink of disaster." It could have been a great deal worse. But his supporters say he hasn't had a true chance to effect real change and that will be up for grabs. If, as seems possible, the U.S. economy does continue to grow at around 2% to 3% over the next few years -- not fast enough for a massive reduction in unemployment or new spending -- he might be able to at least advance his non-crisis management policies. But hang on. I am getting ahead of myself. Before any of this comes to fruition the single most important task the president faces: Stopping the country going over the fiscal cliff. The cliff comes about because of a rare confluence of events. The expiration of tax cuts, the implementation of mandatory spending cuts, the limitation of certain benefits and so on. If it all happened at once, come January next year, it's estimated it could take a toll of 4% of U.S. GDP. This would comfortably push the economy into recession. Congress and the president have to find a way to pull back from the cliff. And that will be job number one over the next few months of the lame duck congress and into the new year. Even the threat of the cliff is having a depressing effect on business decisions. If they dilly and dally about sorting it out then the damage that could be caused between now and inauguration could easily outdo any benefit the president may make in the early years of his second term. There is one other economic issue where the president can't do very much. And that is the European sovereign debt crisis. Bully. Cajole. Berate. Treasury secretary Tim Geithner has tried them all. Fundamentally the U.S. has to sit on the sidelines, watch, wait and pray the Europeans get their act together. It looks like there will also have to be a new economic team. It is widely expected (although not confirmed) that Geithner won't stay much longer at Treasury. He has done four years and it's believed he wants to move back to New York. If he goes then one of the most important joists in the Obama economic team has gone. The chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke -- who has just launched QE3 -- will be there longer. His term doesn't expire until 2014, about a year into Obama's second term. (It's an ultimate irony that Bernanke will be gone -- if not reappointed -- before the 2015 date that the Federal Open Market Committee currently has as its target for keeping interest rates at exceptionally low levels). What we have seen over the past 12 months in the U.S. economy is likely to be the story of the next 12 months. Incremental, slow improvements as both consumers continue to pay down debt, and repair their household finances. The posh word for this is deleveraging. Business may have lots of cash but with so much uncertainty and worry they are not about to spend it. Hoarding money will continue until there is tangible solid evidence that growth is sustainable (we are seeing some signs -- consumer confidence, house prices, housing starts, durable numbers etc -- but it is still tentative). The banks have slowly rebuilt their capital base and if the economy continues this gradual progression then we can expect lending to begin....but again....it's expected to be slow. In that case, unemployment will continue its very gradual decrease. With economic growth around 2% to 3% for the next few years, jobs will be created at a much slower rate than needed to make a serious dent in the overall level of joblessness. Even the Fed doesn't see things getting much better anytime soon on the jobs front. I have said it before. Today's economies (especially the U.S.) are like a patient who has suffered cancer, leukemia and a brain tumor all at the same time. Surgery has removed much of the damage. Chemotherapy continues to be administered. The patient is going to take time to recover. For Obama, the goal will be to have policies that move from triage to rehabilitation and finally to better times. Perhaps the big unknown for this president is exactly how he will start the long, painful and politically devastating business of cutting the deficit. Having had pretty much universal agreement from the IMF, World Bank, OECD and others that now was not the time for retrenchment, we are coming to that time when addressing the U.S. budget deficit will be a priority. The second term starts that process. Unfortunately, as we saw during the budget summit last year, that may be almost impossible. There's also the matter of seeing the exact nature of the Congress too. The U.S. lost its coveted AAA rating under Obama. This was the unthinkable, and it happened. In term two he would be wise to get ahead of this deficit curve. We know what the president says he wants to do. We know the policies he hopes to introduce. Now he just has to do it. | Obama plans to introduce tax hikes on highest earners and keep middle class tax cuts .
As a candidate, Obama also talked of taking a more muscular approach to China on trade .
Stopping the U.S. from going over the fiscal cliff, however, looms foremost for Obama .
Biggest unknown is how Obama will tackle the mounting U.S. deficit . |
141,839 | 436c262854e68e3716b93531a586a1cae242b2a8 | By . Paul Milligan . PUBLISHED: . 11:30 EST, 21 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 21 June 2013 . MPs in Siberia are to vote on a new law which would allow homosexuals to be flogged publicly as a punishment for their 'disgrace.' Ultra conservative MP Alexander Mikhailov says the new law would allow Cossack paratroopers to drag gays off the street for their punishment. 'I want to call on people to get a healthy perspective of this disgrace,' he told local media. In another attack on homosexuals in Russia, one Siberian MP has called for them to be publicly flogged by cossacks, whilst Russian President Vlladimir Putin has backed a law banning same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children . 'Our district needs a law that would . give paratroopers the right to grab gays on the street and drag them to . the city square, where Cossacks would whip them,' he added. Critics say . that Mikhailov's bill is unlikely to be passed. But . some are worried that it could gain support in Russia's current . anti-gay backlash that has led to laws allowing judges to jail people . for 'promoting' homosexuality. In another move that will broaden Russia's rift . with Western nations over gay rights, its politicians passed a bill today . barring same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children. The move saw strong signals of support from President Vladimir Putin. The . State Duma, or lower house of parliament, approved the bill by a 444-0 . vote in its third and final reading, sending it to the upper chamber, . which is also expected to approve it. Both houses are dominated by the . United Russia party, which is loyal to Putin. In . power since 2000, Putin has championed socially conservative values and . held up the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral compass since he . weathered a wave of protests by mostly urban liberals and started a . third Kremlin term last year. He . has rejected U.S. and European criticism of a ban on spreading gay . 'propaganda' among minors that the Duma passed earlier this month that . gay rights activists fear has fuelled attacks on homosexuals. EU foreign policy chief Catherine . Ashton said in a statement on Thursday that the 'propaganda' ban could . stigmatise gays and cause discrimination, and the United States has said . it severely restricts freedom of expression and assembly. The . Duma vote to ban adoptions by same-sex couples from abroad came as . German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has criticised Putin over civil . rights, met him at a showcase Russian economic forum in St Petersburg. Germany . has also condemned the gay 'propaganda' ban and German Foreign Minister . Guido Westerwelle, who is gay, said after its passage that attempts to . stigmatise same-sex relationships had no place in a democracy. Earlier this month the Russian parliament issued a ban on spreading gay 'propaganda' among minors that gay rights activists said would fuel attacks on homosexuals . Putin . says Russia does not discriminate against gays, but he has criticised . them for not adding to Russia's population, which has declined sharply . since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The . same-sex adoption ban was rushed through parliament after Putin said in . late April that a new French law allowing same-sex marriage went . against traditional Russian values. It also bars adoptions by unmarried . foreigners from countries where same-sex marriage is legal. The . ban fits into a Kremlin campaign to restrict foreign adoptions, a . sensitive issue after Americans and Europeans flooded into Russia in the . post-Soviet era to adopt children. In December, Putin signed a law banning all adoptions by Americans, a move motivated by disputes with Washington over human rights and what Russia says is the insufficient prosecution of adoptive U.S. parents suspected of abuse. Advocates of adoption say same-sex couples can provide loving homes for children who might otherwise founder in Russia's troubled system of orphanages. Relatively few Russian couples adopt despite state efforts to promote the practice. Same-sex marriage is legal in 15 countries, including seven in Western Europe, and in some jurisdictions in the United States and Mexico. Same-sex couples are not recognised under Russian law and cannot adopt. A March poll by the independent Levada Centre found that 85 per cent of Russians opposed same-sex marriage. But there is no big grassroots movement against gay rights in Russia and critics say the measures are being imposed from the top down. 'It's pretty strange to see this major wave of homophobia in a country where two-thirds of society was brought up by same-sex couples - mother and grandmother,' one Internet user said in an online forum, referring to the problem of absentee fathers. | 'Our district needs law that would .
give paratroopers right to grab gays on the street,' said Ultra conservative MP Alexander Mikhailov . |
227,156 | b2236b08332d6dbbfd712cbc7f382800b4293f24 | In the parallel universe that Louis van Gaal occasionally seems to occupy, the form team in the Barclays Premier League had to lose some time. It was only their second defeat in 20 games, Manchester United’s manager was quick to acknowledge, and there was a degree of misfortune in the way they lost to a spirited Swansea City team. Jonjo Shelvey’s shot in the 73rd minute had taken a major deflection off Bafetimbi Gomis’s head to leave David de Gea stranded. Jonjo Shelvey's long range shot was deflected off Bafetimbi Gomis' head for Swansea's winner in the 2-1 defeat of Manchester United . Ander Herrera (left) celebrates with Wayne Rooney after opening the scoring with his second goal in as many games for Manchester United . Ki Sung-Yeung guided home a beautiful cross from Shelvey to equalise for Swansea only two minutes after United's opener . Louis van Gaal (centre) had claimed before the game that Manchester United were the best team in the Premier League on current form . Swansea (4-3-3): Fabianski 6.5; Naughton 6, Fernandez 7, Williams 7, Taylor 7; Cork 7, Shelvey 7 (Amat 90), Ki 7.5; Sigurdsson 6 (Montero 74, 6), Gomis 6, Routledge 6. Subs not used: Tremmel, Rangel, Amat, Britton, Emnes, Oliveira. Booked: Shelvey, Williams . Manchester United: De Gea 6; McNair 5 (Valencia 46), Jones 6, Rojo 6, Shaw 5 (Young 59, 6); Blind 6; Herrera 6.5, Fellaini 5.5, Di Maria 6 (Mata 79), Rooney 6, Van Persie 5 . Subs not used: Valdes, Smalling, Januzaj, Valencia, Young, Falcao . Booked: Jones, Fellaini, Rojo, Young . Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6.5 . MOM: Ki Sung-Yueng . Att: 20,809 . CLICK HERE to see all the game's stats, including Gomis' deflected winner (above), from our brilliant Match Zone . But Van Gaal struggled to dress this up as anything other than a disappointing performance, even if he did at least take the kind of risks that many continue to demand of the Dutchman. After a first half that finished with a goal apiece, with Ki Sung-yeung equalising for Garry Monk’s side a couple of minutes after Ander Herrera had opened the scoring, Van Gaal displayed some genuine ambition by replacing his more defensive full backs with Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young. It had not been a terribly successful afternoon for Luke Shaw or Paddy McNair. They struggled against Swansea’s width and pace. But Valencia and Young’s introduction remained a bold move, and one that worked until Gomis diverted Shelvey’s effort beyond De Gea. United had dominated the second half, leaving Van Gaal ‘amazed’ that his side had lost. Monk, however, made the point afterwards that United managed only one shot on target after the break and, in fairness to Van Gaal, he too admitted that his players made little of the possession they had enjoyed. He said they were not ‘effective’, adding that he would need to study slow motion replays to determine exactly why. In real time here at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea were able to savour completing a Premier League double over the Old Trafford club because of the lack of cohesion and fluency that has too often been evident in United’s football this season. They remain very much a work in progress for their former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax boss. Gary Neville is probably right. It is time to stop pining about the football that was played under Sir Alex Ferguson and accept that, with the players currently at his disposal, Van Gaal is doing things differently. But that 81 per cent approval rating he received in a Manchester Evening News poll might drop a few points if there are too many more displays like this. For now, United have dropped only a place in the Premier League and remain in a Champions League spot. But Southampton need only draw against Liverpool to move above them and that might yet make life more uncomfortable for a manager set the target by his bosses of finishing third this season. Ferguson had a saying for such anxious moments but, Neville would no doubt agree, it should probably be retired with him. It felt like a short step back in time with Wayne Rooney paired with Robin van Persie in attack. Radamel Falcao was left on the bench. The result was Rooney’s first shot on target in the Premier League in 2015, albeit an effort that was probably symptomatic of too many matches spent in midfield. Misfiring striker Radamel Falcao, arriving at the Liberty Stadium with Victor Valdes (right), was relegated to the substitutes' bench . Angel di Maria (right) controls the ball under pressure from returning Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson as United started strongly . Manchester United frontman Robin van Persie takes a shot through a crowded penalty area at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday . Rooney returned to his preferred position up front, where he had his first shot on target in the 2015 calendar year . Herrera reminded Van Gaal of his worth by opening the scoring for Manchester United after 28 minutes . The Spaniard guided home a pass from Rooney into the far corner to beat Lukasz Fabianski . Herrera races towards United's travelling fans to celebrate after giving his side a first-half lead . Herrera slides on his knees as the Manchester United midfielder celebrates his fifth goal since his summer arrival . Alongside him, though, was a player who continues to look a shadow of the forward who inspired that last Premier League title only two seasons ago. Van Persie was dreadful even before he suffered what seems to be a serious injury. A midfield comprising Herrera, Angel di Maria, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind was not entirely convincing either. No sooner had this contest begun than United were almost a goal down, Herrera clearing a powerful Gomis header off the line. It was close, as the goalline technology quickly illustrated. But what amounted to a fairly open first half saw United land the first blow after 28 minutes, Rooney and Di Maria combining well before Herrera unleashed a marvellous first-time strike that beat Lukasz Fabianski via the inside of his far post. Van Gaal punched the air in celebration, and understandably so. But barely 90 seconds later he might have been tempted to thump his defenders for failing to defend a teasing cross from Shelvey. Ki reacted quickest, surging ahead of Shaw to beat De Gea from close range. Van Gaal made one change at the break, replacing young McNair at right back with Valencia. And it was not long before Shaw had been hooked too, for Young. If that summed up Van Gaal’s view of his full backs, it also remained a statement of intend and United did gain momentum with the changes. For long periods, Swansea found themselves camped deep in their own half, with United pressing but unable to break through a backline led impressively by Ashley Williams. It made the decisive goal all the more frustrating for Van Gaal, a goal scored very much on the counter-attack. But, as Van Gaal said, you need to convert the chances you create, and rarely did United ever look capable of doing that. United celebrations were short lived after Ki Sung-Yueng (second left) stole in to equalise two minutes later . David de Gea, undoubtedly United's best player this season, dives in vain to stop Ki's shot finding the back of the net . Ki celebrates with Shelvey after the former Liverpool midfielder supplied a superb cross for his goal . The South Korean midfielder wheels away in celebration after bringing the home side level in the first half . Luke Shaw, Rooney and Di Maria (L-R) look dejected as they head back to the centre circle after conceding an equaliser . Manchester United defender Phil Jones tries to keep pace with Gomis, who had a shot cleared off the line in the first half . Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini inevitably became the first player to be cautioned after a foul on Jack Cork . Argentina forward Di Maria (right) scoops out a shot as Manchester United begin to dominant in the second half . Swansea goalscorer Ki (right) comes close to doubling his tally for the afternoon but is denied by United keeper De Gea . Shelvey unleashes a long range effort that is deflected in off Gomis to give Swansea the lead on 73minutes . Shelvey races towards Swans supporters to lead the celebrations despite the goal being accredited to Gomis . | Swansea did the double over 'in form' Manchester United with a 2-1 Premier League victory at the Liberty Stadium .
Ander Herrera opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games after meeting Wayne Rooney's pass .
United celebrations were short lived as Ki Sung-Yueng equalised from Jonjo Shelvey's cross only two minutes later .
Shelvey's long distance strike was deflected in off Bafetimbi Gomis to seal the Swans' first ever double over United . |
248,596 | cda9f0ac74b9108315165ea6f38b8d1c3934674c | By . Jaymi Mccann and Andrew Levy . PUBLISHED: . 21:07 EST, 2 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:37 EST, 3 March 2013 . The relentless focus of ambitious parents and teachers on getting children into good universities could be causing ‘long-term damage’, the next leader of Britain’s top public schools has warned. Richard Harman, from the elite Uppingham school in Rutland, said ‘hothousing’ children to achieve perfect grades was putting them under unbearable pressure and failed to help them cope with the realities of life. Mr Harman said that teenagers need to be shown how to cope in other areas of their lives, not just in the exam hall. He argues that the pressure they feel put under when young could cause 'long term damage'. The £30,000 a year Uppingham school prides itself on producing students that excel at university . In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph he said that the current approach 'may get short-term results but risk long-term damage.' He added: 'Good exam scores are important but the hothouse atmosphere and the paranoia that can create can be damaging. Richard Harman has said that he believes children must be prepared for the failures and disappointments of life, not just to pass exams . 'Instead of focusing on results, schools and parents must help children handle failure, develop different strengths and become resilient people who can make relationships with others because that is what brings proper happiness in life-long terms.' Harman also argued that outside worries, such as the economic climate and shrinking job market were causing pupils to panic and that they needed help to cope with it. Harman, who is taking over as leader of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference next year, added that: 'the entire social life of some London parents is consumed by whether or not their children is going to get into the school of their choice. 'They put their children through seven, eight or nine entrance tests. There is paranoia and a pressure that is just unhealthy for parents as well as their children.' Uppingham school was founded in 1584, and boasts that its first pupil, Henry Ferne became chaplain to Charles I. Other famous pupils include world water speed record holder Donald Campbell, Carphone Warehouse multi-millionaires Charles Dunstone and David Ross, TV personality Stephen Fry, Charlie Simpson of pop band Busted, and Harry Judd of pop band McFly. | Headmaster Richard Harman thinks students are under too much pressure .
He argues that pushy parents and teachers cause long term damage .
Harman, from the Uppingham School in Rutland, said they need to be prepared for the difficulties of life beyond school . |
262,117 | df8186cae600ec626b8a80a37ebb288434c5f4e4 | The number of women in work is rising faster in the UK than in any of the world’s most advanced economies, official figures show. Female employment grew by 1.79 per cent in the past year – the sharpest growth among the G7 group of leading nations. France and the US saw rises of 1.46 per cent, while employment among women grew by less than one per cent in Germany. In Japan, growth was only 0.34 per cent. The figures were revealed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which said that the number of women in work is more than 750,000 higher than four years ago. Female employment grew by 1.79 per cent in the past year – the sharpest growth among the G7 group of leading nations (file image) More than a third of the jobs created for women in the past year were part-time. Employment minister Esther McVey said the rapid rise was partly because working mothers in the UK were increasingly able to find more flexible work. ‘Women across Britain can be proud of the path they’ve blazed for future generations,’ she said. ‘Women can and should be able to make the choices that are right for them, and our reforms are designed to reflect that and allow women of all ages to pursue their career aspirations whatever their personal circumstances. 'The flexibility of the jobs market in this country means women are able to do just that, and whether it’s self-employment, part time work, or board-level professionals – the opportunities are there. ‘We have also reformed child care, giving more mums the option of moving back into the workplace if that’s what they want.’ The figures were collated using figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Employment minister Esther McVey said the rapid rise was partly because working mothers in the UK were increasingly able to find more flexible work . The rise in female employment has gone hand in hand with a boost in the number of the self-employed, which Miss McVey said was a sign of women’s entrepreneurial spirit. The DWP said female self-employment had been rising since the early 2000s and was fairly resilient to the recession. The number of self-employed women is up by 188,000 compared to last year. According to ONS data, the number of women working full-time increased by 223,000 to reach 8.13 million between April 2013 and 2014, while the number of women working part-time increased by 132,000 to reach 6.09 million. But while employment has risen, women’s wages still lag significantly behind men. A recent report from the Chartered Management Institute said a woman would have to work until the age of nearly 80 to earn the same amount of money as a man by the age of 65 for doing the same job. | Female employment grew in the UK by 1.79 per cent in the past year .
Marks the sharpest growth out of all the G7 group of leading nations .
Number of women in work is 750,000 higher than four year ago .
More than a third of jobs created for women in the past year were part-time . |
188,005 | 7f7691c24a19082d04dec5f97e8737887a81d96d | Jordan Henderson will miss Liverpool’s attempts to reach the Europa League’s last 16 because of an ankle problem. The England midfielder sat out training on Wednesday morning and will not travel to Istanbul with the rest of Brendan Rodgers’ squad. Henderson has been in excellent form recently and Liverpool hope the extra rest will ensure that he is fit for Sunday’s crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City. Liverpool pair Daniel Sturridge (left) and Jordon Ibe share a joke in training on Wednesday . Sturridge, Raheem Sterling (centre) and Lazar Markovic were preparing for the Europa League clash . (Left-right) Markovic, Sturridge, Sterling, Emre Can and Ibe in Liverpool training . Sturridge and Can share a loving embrace at Melwood on Wednesday morning . Striker Mario Balotelli (right) wraps up warm alongside team-mate Alberto Moreno . Jordan Henderson (left) will miss the clash with Besiktas because of an ankle problem . Henderson was not the only high-profile absentee from the session at Melwood before Liverpool headed off to Turkey, where they will aim to protect the 1-0 advantage Mario Balotelli’s penalty gave them last week. Glen Johnson was not included nor was Mamadou Sakho, who is recuperating from a hip problem. Steven Gerrard was also missing as he recovers from the hamstring problem that has forced him to miss the last three games. Otherwise, it was all smiles at Melwood on Wednesday morning as Liverpool stepped up their preparations for the second leg of their last-32 tie. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in high spirits at Melwood ahead of their trip to Besiktas . Sterling looks to cover up to keep the cold out alongside his team-mates on Wednesday morning . Balotelli (right) takes to holding his bib rather than wearing it as he watches his team-mates train . Attacking pair Ibe and Sturridge were all smiles at Melwood on Wednesday morning . CLICK HERE to read Sportsmail's Neil Ashton's column about new Liverpool star Jordon Ibe . Ibe, who won the penalty that led to Balotelli's winner, is attracting a lot of attention at the moment, particularly after another eye-catching performance for Liverpool during their 2-0 victory at Southampton on Sunday. Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry reflected on his ‘amazing performance' during their analysis for Sky Sports on Sunday. Ibe began this season on loan at Championship side Derby County, before returning to Liverpool last month and breaking into the first team. He has since gone on to become a regular, featuring in the last five Premier League games as the Reds have risen impressively back into top-four contention. Philippe Coutinho (right) tries to keep out the cold alongside Liverpool team-mate Javi Manquillo . Defender Kolo Toure shares a joke with a Liverpool team-mate during training at Melwood . Adam Lallana (centre) trains alongside Sterling, Sturridge and Can . Liverpool team-mates Can and Sterling (right) go through the motions during the session . | Liverpool players all smiles ahead of Europa League second leg .
Brendan Rodgers and Co travel to Turkey to face Besiktas on Thursday .
Mario Balotelli, Daniel Sturridge and Jordon Ibe trained ahead of the tie . |
100,312 | 0d3e04aaab6034493589058d27fdb0cf6bd7a916 | A Tennessee man was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault Saturday after injuring his life partner by driving with him on the hood of his 2012 Mercedes Benz, authorities say. Michael Counce, 52, and his life partner Bobby Kelley, 33, got into an argument during dinner at a restaurant in Memphis, according to MyFoxMemphis. Following the argument, Counce allegedly got into his silver Mercedes and backed out of a private driveway. Assault: Michael Counce, 52, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault Saturday after injuring his life partner by driving down the streetwith him on the hood of his 2012 Mercedes Benz . Witnesses on the scene told WMC Action News that Kelley ran up to the Mercedes to get Counce's attention, at which point Counce stopped briefly then continued moving forward. Kelley jumped on the hood of the car and Counce took off driving approximately 250 feet with his partner hanging on to the hood, until Kelley fell to the ground, police say. The victim was taken to Regional Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition. MyFox reports that he was treated for facial lacerations, possible internal head injuries, and a possible broken jaw. Victim: Bobby Kelley, 33, (photographed) was taken to Regional Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition and treated for facial lacerations, possible internal head injuries, and a possible broken jaw . Jumped: Counce backed out of a private driveway (photographed) as Kelley approached his vehicle, when Kelley jumped on to the hood of the car, Counce aggressively drove down the street . Witness: Jennifer Littlejohn (photographed), a witness on the scene, said that Counce told her he did what he did because Kelley got on his nerves . Counce, who has had multiple orders of protection filed against him in the state, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault. Jennifer Littlejohn, a witness on the scene, told WMC that, after the incident, she approached Counce and asked him 'why would you do something like that?' She said that Counce responded, 'he got on my ---- nerves.' Counce is being held with bail set at $5,000 and is due to appear in court Monday. | Michael Counce, 52, drove furiously down the road with his life partner Bobby Kelley, 33, hanging on to the hood of his Mercedes .
The two had an argument over dinner and Counce stormed out and into his car .
Counce told one witness he did it because Kelley got on his nerves . |
226,290 | b1057abb0253aed67b278803a7174165d3b54a78 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:52 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:38 EST, 15 May 2013 . A teenager in California who only knew the first name of a girl who posted suicidal thoughts online has saved her life after calling police and sparking an against-the-clock search. Jackie Rosas, from Cathedral City, California, alerted her local authorities at 5pm on May 6 after she saw the girl write on Tumblr, a social networking site, that she was going to kill herself. Armed with just the girl's first name, local police and school staff carried out tireless web sleuthing to uncover the identity of the girl - who was found in Union Township, New Jersey eight hours later. The 16-year-old girl, who has not been named, was found unconscious after consuming a large quantity of pills, taken to a medical facility and put on a psychiatric hold, according to police reports. Haunting message: Jackie Rosas, 18, saw a message on Tumblr from a 16-year-old girl saying she was going to kill herself and contacted police. After eight hours, they found the girl in New Jersey . 'I kind of cried,' Rosas said. 'I was . happy to know that I saved someone's life. It happened at random and . it's an amazing feeling knowing you are able to help someone from . thousands of miles away.' Rosas knew the claims were serious; she had been following the stranger's Tumblr posts for about a year and had witnessed her receiving bullying messages from other users. 'She blogged, saying she was going to . end her life,' Rosas told USA Today. 'She had . been fighting this depression, and when she posted that, my instinct . was that she was serious. 'She wrote something like: "I'm going to kill . myself. There is no other option".' Rosas immediately contacted a suicide hotline, but they told her to contact police, where she spoke with patrol Officer Kelly Nava, a 14-year veteran of the department. Sleuth: A high school officer Heather Olsen used social media to help track down the girl 2,000 miles away . All Rosas could so was give the girl's first name and a link to her blog. The only lead it gave to the girl's identity was that she was a color guard at her school. 'It was really nothing to start with,' Nava said. 'My first thought was to run [the girl's] age and name . through our local system... and it came back with so many matches.' She contacted Officer . Heather Olsen, a school resource officer from Cathedral City High . School, in case the girl attended the school - but the officer did not . recognize her. To be certain, Olsen then sent the details to Cathedral City High Assistant Principal Karen Dimick, who also didn’t recognize the girl - but who began her own web sleuthing. Making the call: She contacted Cathedral City police department, pictured, who began internet sleuthing along with local teachers - before they tracked down the girl's last name . 'We were kind of at a dead end,' Olsen said - until the assistant principal messaged her back to say she . had found a Twitter account matching the girl's picture and that she had . found her last name. 'She sent me the link and I just went to town,' Olsen said. Olsen trawled through Twitter posts, YouTube videos and online articles. She eventually came across a newspaper article mentioning a marching band that the girl had written about in one of her tweets. It said the band was in Union Township, New Jersey - finally giving authorities a name and location. Olsen called Nava, from the Cathedral . City police, who in turn handed the information to the Union Township . Police Department at 1.30am. Officers . were sent to a nearby address and found the 16-year-old girl, who was . unconscious after swallowing a bottle of prescription pills. Found! She was discovered to be a high school student in Union Township, New Jersey . She was taken to hospital, Lt. John Daubner confirmed. She had taken enough pills for authorities to put her on a psychiatric hold, Cathedral City Police records noted. The women in California - Nava, Olsen, Dimick and Rosas - said they were left speechless by the news. When Nava learned of the recovery, she got 'the chills', she said. 'Life is so precious,' Olsen added. 'It is worth every effort to save.' | Jackie Rosas, 18, read the girl's suicidal message on her Tumblr blog .
She contacted police, sparking an against-the-clock search for the girl .
Thanks to web sleuthing by teachers and police, her identity was found .
Police went to her home in New Jersey and found her unconscious after taking a bottle of pills; she is now recovering in hospital .
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org .
In the U.S., you can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 . |
278,243 | f4731f1f40a8f70e5b935e2aa4e2d6207b2d5768 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:10 EST, 16 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:10 EST, 16 July 2012 . Charges: Mobile phone companies could be making up to £90 million a year by legally using 'hidden' contract clauses . Mobile phone companies could be making up to £90 million a year by legally using 'hidden' contract clauses to raise the cost of what should be fixed-rate tariffs, the consumer group Which? has warned. The organisation has filed an official complaint to regulator Ofcom after an investigation found that 70 per cent of people on fixed contracts did not know that network providers could increase prices during the lifetime of their contract. It has launched a campaign, Fixed Means Fixed, calling for an end to price increases on mobile phone contracts, arguing they should stay the same price from start to finish of the contract. Richard Lloyd, the executive director . of Which?, said: 'These hidden price rises mean millions of people are . forced to pay more than they expected at a time when household budgets . are already squeezed. 'They are then trapped in a contract, unable to switch to a cheaper provider without paying a hefty penalty. 'Ofcom must intervene now and stamp this out. Consumers must be confident that fixed really does mean fixed.' Which? said companies including Three, Vodafone, T Mobile and Orange were all . raising prices, saying Three was today increasing its fixed-tariff . prices by 3.6 per cent, a move Which? said would affect more than one . million customers. It said it had been contacted by more than 1,700 people regarding price rises and called for price and all other aspects of fixed deals to remain the same for the contract period when consumers are also tied-in. If there is a chance that prices may rise, operators must be more upfront about this in their advertising and allow people to switch providers without penalty, it said. On its website, Three said it was increasing the cost of phone and mobile broadband contracts set up before March 8 2012 by 3.6 per cent, in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation. 'Our terms and conditions allow us to raise prices in line with inflation so that we can cover our business costs,' it said. 'This means that you won’t be able to leave your contract early as a result of this change. Investigating: Ofcom said it had been investigating the . practice across all networks since January after receiving complaints . 'While we know a price increase is never welcome, this is the first time that we’ve ever raised the price of our pay monthly phone contracts and we’re confident that your plan still represents excellent value for money.' Ofcom said it had been investigating the practice across all networks since January after receiving complaints and said it would look at information submitted by Which? A spokesman said: 'We understand why consumers in fixed term contracts are sometimes disappointed to find that the particular contract they have signed up to allows price rises. 'While current rules allow for contracts to include price increases in certain circumstances, after receiving consumer complaints on this issue, Ofcom launched a review in January 2012. 'The review is examining requirements on communications providers relating to consumer contracts, including provisions covering changes to contracts. 'This exercise has identified a number of potential issues with the current regime and the adequacy of the current level of customer protection. 'We will consider the material provided by Which? alongside this evidence. We will also be meeting Which? to discuss their concerns in more detail before we make any decisions regarding our work under our current review.' A Three spokesman added: 'No one likes price increases and this is our first for contract handsets in our eight years of operation. 'It’s in line with inflation and lower than price increases from other mobile networks. 'On a £15 a month contract it is a rise of just 54 pence. We believe our offers remain great value.' | 70 per cent of people don't know that providers can increase prices during their contract .
Three, Vodafone, T Mobile and Orange are all rising prices according to Which? |
71,423 | ca70cc25d76514e099106fd201c7e23c52c08df8 | (CNN) -- A Jackson, Mississippi, high school basketball coach is accused of whipping students for "failing to run basketball plays correctly," according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by three students. Coach Marlon Dorsey acknowledged he "paddled" students, but he defended it as a way to "save these young men from the destruction of self," the court filing said. A school district spokeswoman and its attorney would not confirm whether Dorsey has been suspended, but he has not shown up to teach or coach at Murrah High School in recent days, according to the students' lawyer. The suspension was apparently for 28 days without pay, attorney Lisa Ross said. Dorsey is still employed with the district, spokeswoman Peggy Hampton said late Thursday afternoon. The students are still attending classes and are playing on the boy's varsity basketball team, Ross said. One senior was whipped "daily and sometimes more than once daily by striking him three times across his buttocks each time" with a "five to ten pound weight belt," the suit said. One beating was captured on video, the suit said. Jackson School Superintendent Lonnie Edwards Sr., who viewed the video, said it "certainly shows a reflection of inappropriate behavior." In a Thursday statement, Edwards indicated the matter has been resolved. "In taking action, the school district considered the seriousness of the circumstances, prevailing policy, input and concerns from parents and the athletes involved, and Coach Dorsey's overall employee performance record. Since this is a personnel matter, no further details will be provided to the public by the school district. We do not want to violate Coach Dorsey's privacy rights. However, you may be assured that this situation has been addressed." The three students were beaten for "no legitimate purpose whatsoever," but Dorsey accused them of "failing to run basketball plays correctly," the suit said. "He told them they had the choice to accept the licks without complaining to anyone or forfeit the opportunity to play basketball for their high school team," it said. The coach verbally abused basketball players, calling them "sissy," "bitch," "wimp," and "soft," it said. Dorsey has not commented to CNN, but the lawsuit filing included a statement issued by the coach after the whipping allegations hit the news media. "I paddled my students... today, some of [sic] students have lost pride in their school and in their (sic) selves. Students are disrespecting teachers, administrators and other students by stealing cell phones, leaving off campus without permission, disrupting classroom teaching time, late for class and not following dress codes by wearing the pants on their butts and house shoes to school and on-court behavior. I took it upon myself to save these young men from the destruction of self and what society has accepted and become silent to the issues our students are facing on a daily basis." Principal Freddrick Murray is also named as a defendant. The suit claims that students and parents told him about the whippings, but he failed to investigate or stop them. The school district's website says corporal punishment is prohibited. CNN's Aaron Cooper contributed to this report. | Three high school students file lawsuit against coach .
Lawsuit: The beatings were for "failing to run basketball plays correctly"
The coach says he was saving students from their "destruction of self"
Marlon Dorsey is not teaching or coaching now . |
80,340 | e3c422daf162c90829169c989c95de7eb0e7f30f | A teenager was left with a two inch hole burned into his arm – after he fell asleep lying on his iPhone. Jake Parker, from Wokingham in Berkshire, was lying in bed using his iPhone 5 after a long work shift when he fell asleep. After the 18-year-old had woken up the next morning, his mother Tammie, 43, pointed out that he had a large blister on his arm. Scroll down for video . Jake Parker, from Wokingham in Berkshire was lying in bed using his iPhone 5 after a long work shift when he fell asleep. When he woke up the next morning his mother pointed out a large blister on his arm, right . Jake, a keen rugby player, said he then picked up the gadget and knew it had caused the injury as it was ‘really hot’. Doctors told the factory night worker to take antibiotics after the wound became infected – but the teenager had to go to hospital after the sore turned black, leaving him in excruciating pain. The Sun reports that the blister then burst and left him with a gaping hole down to his muscle. Now he has been told he will be scarred for life. He said: ‘I was just texting, looking at Facebook – normal stuff. Jake Parker said he knew his iPhone 5 had caused the injury when he picked up the gadget and it was ‘really hot’. The 18-year-old has now been told that he will be scarred for life from the incident . ‘Now every time I move my arm it’s like ripping open. At one point I could see the muscle moving.’ He added that doctors told him they had ‘never seen anything’ like the injury and suggested he return to see them because it ‘could be a radiation burn’. Apple have been contacted for a comment by MailOnline. | Jake Parker was using the iPhone in bed when he fell asleep after long shift .
The 18-year-old woke up with a 2ins burn on his arm where phone had been .
Wound became infected and was so bad he could 'see the muscle moving' |
84,036 | ee5a809532be92ae2368c8a5d32895d890c9f1b0 | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . PUBLISHED: . 04:51 EST, 22 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:51 EST, 22 October 2012 . A couple have been reunited with their wedding photographs 18 months after their camera was buried under rubble during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand. Martin Burley and his wife Fen thought pictures of their special day had been lost forever when their camera disappeared in the earthquake just one hour after they returned home from their honeymoon. However, they were astonished to discover the device hidden under rubble in their driveway. Reunited: This was one of the pictures of Martin and Fen Burley, taken on their wedding day, retrieved from their buried camera . Precious memories: One of the wedding photos from the couple's special day retrieved from the memory card . To their delight, although the camera had been destroyed, the memory card inside was still intact. After only two attempts at trying to load the card's data, six months' worth of images were retrieved - including precious pictures of their wedding and honeymoon. Mr Burley revealed how he spotted the camera poking through the gravel in their driveway. He told New Zealand's Stuff: 'You could just see the outline and I thought, "What is that?". Then I looked closer and it was the camera.' Well-hidden: The outline of the camera is just about visible in this picture of the couple's driveway after it was buried in silt . Salvaging the memories: The camera, left, after it was dug out of the ground and the retrieved data card, right . Surfaced: The couple believe the camera appeared at the top of the ground after recent bad weather in Christchurch 'churned up' the driveway . The couple's house was badly damaged . in the 2011 quake and they believe the camera fell out of a bag as they . rushed to evacuate their home. At . first, they didn't notice the camera had gone but a few days later . realised it must have been buried under the waist-high silt that covered . their driveway during the earthquake. Mr . Burley added: 'We kind of just accepted it. We said, "OK, there's . nothing we can do about it". We just put it out of our minds and carried . on.' Overjoyed when discovering the camera . embedded in his driveway this week, My Burley told Stuff: 'I thought . even though it was dead as a camera, maybe I can get the memory card out . of it.' The couple believe the camera . surfaced to the top of the ground after recent bad weather in . Christchurch 'churned up' the driveway. Badly-damaged: The couple's kitchen after the earthquake. They were forced to evacuate their home . Retrieved: Another snapshot from the camera from their big day . | Camera was buried under waist-high silt in 2011 Christchurch earthquake .
Couple thought they would never see their pictures again .
Bad weather churned up their driveway and the camera resurfaced .
The memory card inside was intact and all of their pictures were retrieved . |
18,928 | 3592d1c490a655ca9602e3a74d987de103ad53c6 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . With little signs of wear and tear, these kitsch, brightly coloured façades look like they could be straight of a period film set. But in fact they show what people in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have dubbed the 'millionaires' ghost town': 42 acres of mock-19th-Century buildings that sit all but empty in the heart of the city. The development in Vozdvyzhenka was conceived of a decade ago as a desirable, upmarket neighbourhood for the city's wealthy residents. Millionaires' ghost town: The brightly coloured . luxury development in Vozdvizhenka, in Kiev, Ukraine, which has been . left all but empty after the 2008 banking crash . Good as new: With little signs of wear and tear, these kitsch, brightly coloured façades look like they could be straight of a period film set . Ill conceived: Vozdvyzhenka consists of 42 acres of mock-19th-Century buildings that now sit all but empty in the heart of Kiev . Historic: Od . Vozdvyzhenka was for centuries a centre for local cottage industries, . inhabited by potters and skinners after whom many of its new streets are . now named . ... but the district's prime location, 15 minutes from the centre of Kiev, made it a prime target for . developers keen to transform it into the playground of . the rich . Then the banking crises of 2008 swept across the planet's economies, plunging Ukraine into a particularly steep downturn and choking demand for luxury housing in Kiev. Now Vozdvyzhenka lies all but empty, just a fifth of its homes sold and its streets practically deserted save for curious city walkers, wedding photo sessions and the odd music video shoot. And those who have invested in properties in the development have been badly burned, with the price of an average flat there falling by nearly half since they went on the market. Prior to the development, old . Vozdvyzhenka was for centuries a centre for local cottage industries, . inhabited by potters and skinners after whom many of its new streets are . now named. But the . district's prime location, less than a mile from the centre of the . capital, made it a prime target for developers and a plan was hatched to . transform it into the playground of the rich. Plenty of space: Now Vozdvyzhenka lies all but empty, just . a fifth of its homes sold and its streets practically deserted save for . curious city walkers and few workmen . Just missing the tumble weed: Those who have invested in the development have been badly burned, with the price of an average flat there falling by nearly half . Taras Ziabkin, deputy head of Kievgorstroy-1, the developers behind Vozdvyzhenka, told The Guardian: 'We were knocked down in 2008. I will not hide that the demand dropped drastically then.' But he rejected descriptions, popular among locals, that the development is a 'dead town'. Fifty of its 250 properties have residents, he said, with builders readying another 50 for new tenants. He added that he expects to sell the remaining 150 apartments by the end of 2014, explaining the site's lack of life with the claim that most owners live abroad and bought their properties as 'investments'. Waiting for the upturn: An estate agent's phone number is prominently displayed in the hope that some passer-by might be encouraged to rent or buy in the area . Low demand: Just 50 of Vozdvyzhenka's 250 . properties are occupied, but Taras Ziabkin of developers . Kievgorstroy-1, says builders are readying 50 more for tenants . Good investment? Mr Ziabkin accounts for the site's lack of life with the claim that most owners live abroad and bought their properties as 'investments' Colourful: Ironically, given the site cleared to make space for it, the Vozdvyzhenka development apes the Baroque and modernist architectural styles of 19th Century Kiev . 'Greed': Georgy Duchovychniy, one of Kiev's most . prominent architects, blames the developers for ruining the historic . district and predicts it will never be fully inhabited . Shaky: Mr Duchovychniy said that in their pursuit of profit developers threw caution to the wind, adding floors to their plans while disregarding the need to strenghten foundations . Not so comfortable... The result has been a slew of complaints about cracks in the walls, leaky basements and heating breakdowns ever since people started moving in in 2010 . Pretty: In their proposal for the regeneration, Kievgorstroy-1 emphasised the district's history and the luxury features they were to include . On the up? Mr Ziabkin claimed that initial problems have since been resolved and that a number of prominent Ukrainians now have homes in the development . However, their presence is yet to be felt in Vozdvyzhenka, where builders and passers-by are more likely to be spotted than the cream of Kiev's high society . But the wisdom of investing in Vozdvyzhenka has been challenged by one of Kiev's most prominent architects, who blames the developers for ruining the historic district and predicts that it will never be fully inhabited. Georgy Duchovychniy said: 'There are building rules, common sense and there is also a greed which destroys them.' Ironically, given the site cleared to make space for it, the Vozdvyzhenka development apes the Baroque and modernist architectural styles of 19th Century Kiev. In their proposal for the regeneration, Kievgorstroy-1 emphasised the district's history and the luxury features they were to include in the buildings and encourage in the community. Architectural folly: Garages face the luxury flats of Vozdvyzhenka, but there is not a car - nor a soul - in sight . Dead end: Demand for homes in the district dropped dramatically after the banking crisis, but the developers reject local descriptions of the area as a 'ghost town' Grand: A mansion house is seen with a banner - presumably advertising it for sale - strung across its imposing façade . Picturesque: The wisdom of investing in Vozdvyzhenka has been challenged by one of Kiev's most prominent architects, who blames the developers for ruining the historic district and predicts that it will never be fully inhabited . But Mr Duchovychniy said that in their pursuit of profit developers threw caution to the wind, adding floors to their plans while disregarding the need to strenghten foundations. The result has been a slew of complaints about cracks in the walls, leaky basements and heating breakdowns reported in local media ever since the first residents moved in three years ago. Mr Ziabkin told The Guardian that those problems have since been resolved and that a number of prominent Ukrainians now have homes in the development. However, their presence is yet to be felt in Vozdvyzhenka, where builders and passers-by are more likely to be spotted than the cream of Kiev's high society. One man told the Guardian how he likes to wander through the 'spacious and deserted area'. He added: 'People who have money for such apartments probably may find better places to live.' | Vozdvyzhenka was conceived of as a desirable luxury community for Kiev's high society .
But the 2008 financial crisis choked demand for upmarket housing in the Ukrainian capital .
Built in mock 19th-Century style, it was ironically built over a genuinely historic neighbourhood .
Prominent architect slams developers and says their estate will never be fully occupied . |
24,095 | 4461292bec9bd974c0d5dcd40bf437219d0e1a67 | By . Damien Gayle . Thirteen retired or serving police officers have been identified as 'suspects' in the ongoing probe into the Hillsborough disaster, the police watchdog said today. Officials said 11 of them had already been quizzed under caution on suspicion of a range of offences including manslaughter, misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice. The other two will be interviewed very soon, said a spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Liverpool fans are pulled to safety from the crush at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield that killed 96. Jurors have been warned an inquest into the tragic deaths could take up to a year . The spokesman said four of the 13 have been identified as suspects as part of both the IPCC's investigation and also Operation Resolve - the criminal investigation into the 1989 tragedy. The IPCC's inquiry - the biggest it has ever undertaken - covers the actions of the police in the aftermath of the crush at Hillsborough stadium, Sheffield, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead. It began after the commission reviewed the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which uncovered a huge amount of new evidence about what happened during and after the tragedy. Allegations it is examining include those surrounding changes to police statements, the actions of officers after the disaster and the role of West Midlands Police, the force which investigated what happened at the time. Relatives of victims and survivors have long maintained that there was a police cover-up over the events that led to and surrounded the tragedy. Operation Resolve, under the command of assistant commissioner Jon Stoddart, retired chief constable of Durham Police, is a new, wider-ranging criminal investigation into Hillsborough. Thirteen retired or serving police officers have been identified as 'suspects' over the tragedy . A police officer gives first aid to a fan pulled from the crush. (There is no suggestion this officer is a suspect) The IPCC said it could not give any further information about the people who had been arrested and how many of them had been interviewed in relation to allegations of manslaughter. A coroner was told that the BBC has recently found an hour of unseen footage of the disaster which is now being considered by the legal teams. Pete Weatherby QC, representing 21 families, said: 'There is at least an hour of it. It is within the stadium at relevant times.' He said the BBC had previously said it had handed over everything it had but this footage had been recently found. No further details of the footage was given in court. The hearing was later adjourned after hearing legal argument around a range of issues including the 'pen portrait' statements each family will present to the inquest about their loved ones who died in 1989. Other aspects of the legal argument included the planned visit of the jury to the stadium in Sheffield and the disclosure of evidence to the various interested parties in the inquest. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | 11 have already been quizzed under caution, says the police watchdog .
Alleged offences include manslaughter, misconduct and perverting justice .
The crush at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 left 96 Liverpool fans dead .
Victims' relatives have long alleged a police cover-up over the tragedy . |
206,421 | 973c267e6a9add5cc637f381825dc4c4da92e2da | (CNN) -- As the kids trooped back into the suburban Atlanta elementary school that was stormed by a gunman earlier this week, everyone was talking about Antoinette Tuff. The bookkeeper, an eight-year veteran of the DeKalb County school district, talked suspect Michael Brandon Hill into surrendering after a brief standoff with police Tuesday afternoon. Faced with an armed 20-year-old who told her he was off his medication for a mental disorder, Tuff shared stories of heartbreak from her own life to help calm him down -- a recent divorce, a son with multiple disabilities. Tuff was off Thursday as the students returned to Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy. But Principal Brian Bolden said he credited Tuff's quick thinking for avoiding what could have been a major tragedy. "Her name, Antoinette Tuff, says everything about her," Bolden said. "Tough. She has always been that way from the first time I met her." Online, a Facebook page calls for Tuff to be awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, while praise overflowed on Twitter. "Antoinette Tuff used kindness and love in the face of terror, saved lives and showed true courage. Bravo Ms. Tuff," Kathy Groob wrote from Covington, Kentucky, in a typical reaction on Twitter. And in New York, Francis Lam added, "Everyone: learn negotiation from her." Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, said Tuff's performance was "amazing." "She didn't do anything where she acted like a victim," Voss told CNN's "New Day." "She didn't say, 'Please, don't hurt anybody.' She was very direct ... she actually calmed the dispatcher down." Her tone of voice and matter-of-fact manner with Hill "did not encourage predatory behavior," Voss said. Georgia school shooting suspect was arrested in March . The recording of Tuff's 911 call relays how calm she was. "It's going to be all right, sweetie," she tells Hill at one point in the call. "I just want you to know I love you, though, OK? And I'm proud of you. That's a good thing that you're just giving up and don't worry about it. We all go through something in life. No, you don't want that. You going to be OK. "I thought the same thing, you know, I tried to commit suicide last year after my husband left me. But look at me now. I'm still working and everything is OK." Tuff, 46, and her husband separated in 2012 after 26 years of marriage, and their divorce became final in June, according to court records. Their son is 22. A neighbor, Charlie Smith, said Tuff is friendly, but reserved. Their conversations have typically been limited to waves and pleasantries, she said. "Everybody's doing their own thing, going to their own jobs, and when you come home you've got a lot to do," said Smith, who learned of her neighbor's role in the McNair standoff on television. "She handled it really well," Smith said. Another nearby resident, Lula Rivers, said Tuff "sacrificed herself" for the children in her care, putting herself at mortal risk if things had gone differently. "I am a retired teacher. We have a lot of teachers, principals and nurses in this neighborhood," Rivers said. "I'm sure she did what comes natural for a parent and someone coming out of this neighborhood. This is a nice, quiet neighborhood, and we cherish our children." Tuff has worked for the DeKalb County school system for eight years, three of them at McNair, schools spokesman Quinn Hudson said. Tuff is one of three staffers at McNair who are specifically trained for dangerous situations like Tuesday's, he said. But DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander told CNN, "You just don't see that type of interaction in these types of situations very, very often at all." "There are some things in life you can rehearse for," Alexander said. "But this is a woman who just kept her calm, kept her wits about herself, maintained her composure in this very dangerous situation." CNN's Devon Sayers contributed to this report. | "We cherish our children," a neighbor says .
School bookkeeper Antoinette Tuff talked down school gunman .
Tuff had been trained for the threat of a school intruder, district says .
Her name "says everything about her," principal says . |
29,549 | 53ff4652980a7a97012c93b15b47764b3422926b | Julie Bishop has revealed the heartbreaking moment Myuran Sukumaran's mother hugged her tightly and begged her to save her son from the firing squad. Lawyers for Bali Nine duo Myuran Sumkumaran and Andrew Chan lost an appeal on Tuesday to challenge Indonesia's presidential decree to spare the men from execution. The Foreign Minister said while the pair's lawyers were lodging an appeal, she hoped Indonesia would see the 'value in these men's lives' as the federal government seeks a stay of execution. 'My last meeting with Mrs Sukumaran she hugged me so tightly I could hardly breathe,' Ms Bishop told Nine's Today show. Scroll down for video . Julie Bishop has revealed the heartbreaking moment Myuran Sukumaran's mother, Raji, hugged her tightly and begged her to save her drug smuggler son's life . Lawyers for Bali Nine duo Myuran Sumkumaran and Andrew Chan lost an appeal on Tuesday to challenge Indonesia's presidential decree to spare the men from execution . 'She begged me to do all I could to save the life of her son whose own life had been rehabilitated in such an extraordinary way. 'No person could fail to be touched by the anguish of the families.' It comes as a Jakarta court determined on Tuesday it couldn't examine Indonesian president Joko Widodo's decision to refuse clemency for Chan and Sukumaran as they await execution in Bali. Lawyers for the two Australians will appeal the court's decision not to hear their last-ditch challenge, arguing it would be unthinkable if they were executed in the meantime. Authorities say preparations are being made to move the convicted drug smugglers to the prison island where they are set to face the firing squad, with the move "very likely" this week. 'We are very disappointed that the appeal was lost at this point,' Ms Bishop said. The Foreign Minister said while the pair's lawyers were lodging an appeal, she hoped Indonesia would see the 'value in these men's lives' as the federal government seeks a stay of execution. Myuran Sukumaran's mother, Raji (pictured with his siblings Chinthu (left) and daughter Brintha (right) begged Julie Bishop to save her son's life as he awaits execution in Bali . 'We continue to appeal to President Joko Widodo's sense of generosity and his sense of forgiveness and hope that he will consider these clemency pleas and that there will be a stay of execution.' Ms Bishop said she wasn't understating the gravity of their drug crimes, but noted it was 10 years ago and they had made efforts to rehabilitate with Chan now a priest and Sukumaran being an accomplished artist. 'Both men have been rehabilitated in the most remarkable way. They are adding value to prison life in that they are working with other prisoners. 'They are rehabilitating other prisoners and helping Indonesia with this whole process of rehabilitating people, such as drug offenders.' Todong Mulya Lubis, the pair's lawyer, said that their legal team would appeal the judge's decision after court ruled it couldn't examine Indonesian president Joko Widodo's decision to refuse clemency . Lawyers for Andrew Chan (left) and Myuran Sukumaran (right) will challenge the presidential decree that denied them clemency in a Jakarta court . Lawyers for the Bali Nine duo now have 14 days to lodge an appeal, according to one of their lawyers Peter Morrissey. '(Indonesia) have a court system, they have a rule of law and when you have the rule of law it stands to reason that you just don't execute the people who are litigating,' Mr Morrissey said. 'So what we think will happen is that the Indonesian executive will likely cooperate with the rule of law and act in accordance with it and not do anything drastic unless all legal impediments really are removed. And right now there is a live appeal on foot. 'We are very hopeful about it, you know. We are not going to give up. Even if we had no hope we wouldn't give up. But we do have hope because the argument is a sensible good argument.' Advisers to Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (pictured) say he should get the executions over and done with . It's a rare challenge, and the only one like it was brought by an anti-drugs group against the decision to grant clemency to another Australian drug smuggler, Schapelle Corby . Lawyers for the pair argued in court that the Indonesian president did not follow due process when he denied the Bali Nine pair clemency. They claimed that President Joko did not consider their circumstances because the pair were death row drug offenders. The only other case ever deemed to be outside the realm of the court was brought against fellow Australian Schapelle Corby. When the same challenge was brought by an anti-drugs group against the decision to grant clemency to the convicted drug smuggler in 2012, the court ruled that it had no power to overturn presidential decrees. The 37-year-old is now free on parole. Authorities say it's 'very likely' the Bali Nine duo will this week be relocated to the island where Indonesia plans to execute them. Ms Bishop said she wasn't understating the gravity of their drug crimes, but noted it was 10 years ago and they had made efforts to rehabilitate with Chan now a priest and Sukumaran being an accomplished artist . Ms Bishop said both men have been rehabilitated in the most remarkable way and were helping to rehabilitate other prisoners in Bali . Reports from the Indonesian government indicate that the duo will be transported via military planes to Nusakambangan penal island. It has not been confirmed whether the government will use a Hercules plane which will mean a journey by both air and land for the pair, or the smaller airforce fighter jets which can land directly on the island. Four jets from Denpasar airport have the capacity to land in the regency of Cilacap, where Nusakambangan is located, and would take an estimated three hours to fly the 900 kilometres from Bali to the island where the Australians are scheduled to be executed. If the Indonesian government made the decision to deploy a Hercules from Densapar, where the pair are being held, to Yokyakarta, the former capital in East Java, Chan and Sukumaran would then have a four-hour road journey to reach the Cilacap port to be ferried to Nusakambangan Island. Chan and Sukumaran were to be transferred from their Bali jail cells to the island last week, but it was found to have inadequate isolation cells. Indonesian Attorney General HM Prasetyo on Monday said preparations were now 'about 80 per cent' complete. Construction materials have been arriving on the island and a jail official has said there are orders to accelerate the works for completion within days. The 'death island' prison boss Ahmad Yuspahruddin (pictured) is prepared to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran saying everything was ready . Four Air Force Sukhoi fighter jets were spotted at Bali's Denpasar International Airport.It is believed the jets will be used to transfer Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran to the prison island of Nusakambangan . | Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran lost an appeal on Tuesday to spare drug smuggler's from execution .
Lawyers for Bali Nine duo now have 14 days to lodge an appeal in court .
Julie Bishop says she hopes Indonesia will see value in their lives .
Foreign Minister continues to appeal to President Joko Widodo to give Chan and Sukumaran stay of execution .
Authorities say preparations are being made to move the convicted drug smugglers to the prison island to face firing squad . |
31,867 | 5ab371c0ed1c4be75bef5ee834f7de20f13361e0 | The U.S. Navy is on a mission to save a baby girl after she fell seriously sick about 900 miles off the Mexico coast, during a round-the-world voyage. San Diego couple Eric and Charlotte Kaufman called for help from the Coast Guard on Thursday, after their youngest daughter, Lyra, fell sick. A team was parachuted in on Thursday to get medical help to the one-year-old, but she needs to be airlifted to hospital. Scroll down for video . Sick bay: Charlotte and Lyra, who had a rash all over. It is believed she had a relapse of salmonella poisoning - which she had suffered from before they left . Stranded: The family's boat, Rebel Heart, is photographed by the rescue team who parachuted in on Thursday . Rescue mission: Air National Guardsmen parachuted into the Pacific on Thursday evening to give medical aid to one-year-old Lyra . The USS Vandegrift is due to rendezvous with the family and their 36ft sailboat Rebel Heart later today, or early tomorrow. It will then whisk Lyra away for medical treatment. The dramatic rescue comes just two weeks after the Kaufmans embarked on their attempt to circumnavigate the globe with their daughters, aged one and three. From the start, the trip had been experiencing difficulties with choppy weather causing sea sickness, but Lyra's health soon took a turn for the worse. When her parents called for help earlier this week, their daughter had developed a rash, was vomiting and had diarrhea. The family had antibiotics on board their well-stocked boat, but they were not working on Lyra. Rendezvous: The baby was successfully transferred to warship USS Vandegrift, pictured Sunday morning . Life savers: The Air National Guardsmen and Navy are making sure the sick toddler gets the help she needs . Her condition has been stabilized, but it is thought that she had contracted salmonella, and is in need of hospital assistance, NBC 7 reported. Four members of the Air National Guard have remained on board the Rebel Heart with the family, to monitor the little girl. A spokesman for Moffett Federal Airfield in California, where the rescue is being coordinated, said: 'The vessel’s remote location as well as the infant’s urgent need for medical care necessitated the rescue. 'The 129th pararescuemen who saved the child’s life will remain with her until she reaches a medical facility capable of treating her conditions.' To make matters worse, the Rebel Heart had become stranded hundreds of miles off Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, with no way to steer or communicate. Rough seas: Eric and Charlotte have faced criticism over their trip - not least from their family. But they have defended their actions . Off course: The family set sail from San Diego on March 20 but had to call for help on April 3, 900 nautical miles of Mexico . On Friday afternoon, an update was posted on the family's Facebook page saying that the rescue mission was underway. 'I just got off the phone with the Lt. Col in charge of this mission. Lyra is stable. They have got the boat running!' the post, made by a relative, read. 'They have turned around and are heading to Cabo. There is a Navy ship heading to meet them. If anything changes with Lyra they will med vac her out.' The head of the rescue mission, Major Hank Lutz said the family had been given access to full medical back up to make sure Lyra stays healthy. 'We have a doctor, a flight surgeon, that's on call right now in Cabo San Lucas, and through their sat phone they can call her in case they need anything that's more advanced than just simple paramedic,' he told ABC News. Giant swells in the section of ocean the family's sailboat is in has complicated the rescue mission. The Navy ship is needed to provide a more stable platform for a helicopter to airlift Lyra away. Adventure: The lure of South Pacific islands encouraged Eric to set sail with his wife and two young daughters . 'With the swells out there, it's moving around a lot more so it's not a stable platform to hoist off of,' helicopter instructor pilot Major Nathan Nowaski said. Once the Rebel Heart has met the USS Vandegrift, it will take a further 14 hours for helicopters to make the round trip to collect the young patient. The dramatic rescue is far from what the couple, who are experienced sailors, had anticipated when they decided to embark on a trip to the lush islands of the South Pacific. On their blog - The Rebel Heart - they wrote of excitedly waiting on March 20 for the right conditions before setting sail on the well-stocked boat. Home from home: The family planned to sail around the world on Rebel Heart, a 36ft boat . With a toddler just learning to walk, . and a curious three-year-old on board, the couple knew their voyage . wouldn't all be plain sailing, but they could never have predicted that . they would be calling for help so quickly. In . her early blog posts about the voyage Mrs Kaufman, a teacher and owner . of an Etsy baby boutique, wrote about trying to keep a constant watch on . their girls, as she coped with seasickness. Day One I can see the magic of being out to sea, but I can’t really taste it. Our children keep us too grounded to enjoy the esoterics of salty breezes, gigantic swells undulating around your boat like an erotic hula dancer, and a night sky dancing with laser beams of brilliance. Day Two Our foresail, stay sail, and main sail, hold fast, all strong and white, like our painted wooden mast, and I can feel their excitement to be used like this again; they were made for blue-water sailing, and apparently, so were we. Day Four Today started out sh**** too. It is so hard to keep a positive outlook at sea when you feel awful. Day Six I can’t possibly describe the range of emotions I have felt so far: anger, joy, sickness, exhaustion, exhilaration, wonder, awe, contentment, peace. Day Eight I think this may be the stupidest thing we have ever done ... [but] not everyone gets to realize their dreams in life. Day Eleven When I woke up this morning my back muscles were tight from the constant rocking you can’t escape at night. Day Thirteen Thirteen days at sea ... We are in good spirits, as good as you can be, considering. Three days later the family contacted the Coast Guard for help . As . well as needing space to keep their children entertained, the couple had filled the boat with supplies of cans, dried good, diapers and . fresh food. But despite . choppy conditions, the family were relishing their adventure, singing . and laughing in the cabin, and showering on deck as their boat glided . through the Pacific. On the second day of their voyage, Mrs Kaufman wrote: 'It is simple things that excite a crew when out to sea ... like the turtle calmly paddling in the opposite direction as us.' She also described how she and her husband, who works for a financial services company, gave each other fist bumps when they first realized they could no longer see land in any direction. But the exotic and remote South Pacific islands where they were headed must have seemed like a distant dream when their youngest daughter fell sick. The romance of life at sea was replaced with a longing for modern appliances like washing machines that other families rely so heavily on. In one blog post, Mrs Kaufman wrote: 'I think this may be the stupidest thing we have ever done,' as she described the difficulty of trying to hand wash poopy diapers. The biggest trial came when Lyra suffered illness for several days, resulting in the family calling for help from the Coast Guard, the UT San Diego reported. It is not the . first time the couple have had to rechart their planned course across . the South Pacific. They have been slowly circumnavigating the world since buying their boat in 2005 and attempted a different section of the voyage when Mrs Kaufman was pregnant with their second . child. Dream voyage: The family have had to cut short their planned trip across the South Pacific . Back on dry land: The family are heading back to shore after suffering sickness and boat problems . However, a combination of morning sickness, sea sickness and a toddler in tow meant Mrs Kaufman returned to shore. As she wrote about the experiences in San Diego Magazine, she mused on how pleased she was to have returned to dry land, after suffering a couple of pregnancy complications which would have been difficult to handle out to sea. It is not clear if the family will try to embark on their South Pacific adventure again, but the lure of far-flung islands is bound to have them longing for the open ocean before long. | USS Vandegrift sent in to help airlift one-year-old to safety .
Eric and Charlotte Kaufman called for help when their daughter developed a rash and severe sickness .
Couple were headed to the South Pacific with their children, aged 1 and 3 .
Air National Guard crew parachuted in to deliver medicine to baby . |
212,499 | 9f2af5b6199d718914342cdccf12737d8c755558 | On a dreary January day, it is enough to make you want to book a flight immediately. San Francisco photographer Kien Lam has created a spectacular video documenting his 343 journey taking in 15 countries around the world. From Australia to India and Nepal to Nicaragua, inventive Lam has stitched together 6,286 photos to create a magnificent timelapse which whisks viewers around the world in four minutes. The slick video features his trips to 15 countries compiled from trips taken over three years. The beautifully shot world tour contains an hour of real-time pictures compressed into two or three-second clips to represent the different locations. It includes fantastic photography from the USA, Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Nicaragua and Honduras. From high up in the Annapurna Circuit of Nepal down into the Waitomo caves of New Zealand. Ancient Mayan temple El Castillo in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza features in the spectacular four-minute world tour . The video contains an hour of real-time pictures compressed into three-second clips to represent different locations, such as Chame in Nepal . Lam visited many of the world's most recognisable landmarks including the sacred Aboriginal sight of Uluru in central Australia . The nomadic photographer also reached some of the world's more remote regions, such as the Little Corn Island off the coast of Nicaragua . Lam documented the impressive architecture at the Flinders Street Train Station in the city of Melbourne, Australia . The video is a sequel to a first timelapse taken by Lam after he quit his job in 2010 and went travelling around the world, snapping photos as he went. Lam says: 'Many people were disappointed to see that their country was not represented in my first video. Since 2012, I've managed to travel to another 15 countries and continued capturing the beauty of the world in a series of time lapses. 'I took well over 10,000 photographs and used 6286 of those images to put together this next chapter in my journey to see as much of the world as possible.' 'This is dedicated to all the people I've met on my travels and especially to the ones who stood still and made cameos in the video. Seeing is believing at Black Rock City, USA, which is home of the infamous Burning Man festival with takes place each September . A muppet-inspired car travels past the sweeping scenery of Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand . Lam also visited Dornie, a former fishing village in the Kintail district in the Scottish Highlands . London's Natural History Museum plays a role in Lam's incredible time-lapse video featuring 15 countries . 'Special thanks to my family for supporting everything I do and to my brother William Lam for writing the composition . 'I received a lot of beautiful emails after the first email from people who could barely string together a sentence in English, but did so anyway just to say how appreciative they are that they got to see so many beautiful places around the world in such a short time. 'A heartwarming way to start the new year for me.' To see more of Kien Lam's work, visit his website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook pages. To find out more about the music featured on the video, click here. | San Francisco-based Kien Lam travelled the globe taking photographs .
From the Annapurna Circuit of Nepal to the Waitomo caves of New Zealand .
Lam's video will make you want to book the first plane out of here . |
261,600 | decb5572eacf0f7c159886fa788d96409160e970 | By . Sam Shead . PUBLISHED: . 07:01 EST, 17 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:54 EST, 24 August 2012 . Google has taken tourism to the next level by allowing people from around the world to see monuments like Stonehenge, the streets of Pompeii and the remote landscapes of Antarctica from the comfort of their own living room. Now the company is allowing users to explore Mexico's ancient Mayan ruins through their digital devices after adding dozens of sites to Google Street View. Google used a three wheeled trike to ride around Mayan monuments to capture 360 degree images for its Street View project. This is Chichen Itza, a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilization. Users will be able to interact with a multitude of images from pre-Hispanic sites on the Street View feature that is incorporated into Google Maps. Google Mexico and Mexico's National . Institute of Anthropology and History announced yesterday that 30 sites . have been added to Street View so far. However, dozens more will be coming online this year and the target is to reach 90 sites. The world-famous sites already online include Chichen Itza, Uman - Hopelchen, Teotihuacan (the world's third largest pyramid) and Monte Alban. Today, the Maya and their descendants form large populations throughout the Maya area where they maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs. The heart of the Mayan civilization lies further south in Honduras, Guatemala, and western El Salvador, more than 1,000 km (620 mi) from Mexico. Mayan ruins in Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, and one of thirty key Mayan sites Google has added to its Street View project. Street View allows users to click on map . locations to obtain 360-degree, interactive images composed of millions . of photos taken at street level by specially equipped vehicles. Campaigners have warned that privacy risks being sacrificed in a commercial race between Google and its rival Apple, which unveiled its latest mapping technology yesterday. The two are competing to produce three-dimensional maps and have deployed spy planes to photograph streets and homes. The planes will be able to operate in British skies without special licensing or permits. Google has also used its Street View cars to gather ground-level panoramic photographs. Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with an estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year. Google allows pictures taken by tourists to be overlaid onto the pictures from its trike . Street View allows users to zoom in and focus on specific points within the Mayan sites . Director of the Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) Alfonso de Maria y Campos Castello (2nd R) sits beside Marketing Director for Google Mexico, Miguel Alba (R) and moderator Ricardo Zamora during a news conference to launch the Google Maps with Street View images of several archaeological sites in Mexico . Name: Street View Trike . Inpiration: a rickshaw . Number of wheels: 3 . Weight:18 stone . Cameras: capture and match images to a specific location . Google uses a special, three-wheeled bicycle to photograph some of the hardest to reach places on the planet. The Street View trike, as it is known, has been sent around the world to reach remote places that cars can't get to. They carry the same camera equipment usually found on Google's fleet of Vauxhall Astras which have been touring Britain taking shots for the service. The bike allows Google to collect 360° horizontal and . 290° vertical panoramic street level views using special cameras. They capture and match images to a specific location using GPS devices. Once the images are captured, they are 'sewn' together to create a 360° panorama. Users can search Street View by entering a specific address, or pulling the yellow 'Pegman' icon to the area they want to see. One of the sites featured is Palenque; a former Mayan city in Southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century . The Mayans lived between 2000BC to 250AD. This pale stone building is found in the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal . Google team members ride the Trike with a 360-degree camera system on to get images of the Amazon . Google cyclist Rhys Griffiths went off-piste to capture the landmark of Stonehenge . | Google launches project to make Mayan history more accessible .
30 historic sites added to Google Street View so far with many more in the pipeline . |
3,643 | 0a82959ee0fb4d8613ac098d76cd14529ffa2934 | (CNN) -- Two fifth-grade boys armed with a stolen semi-automatic gun, ammunition clip and knife plotted to kill a classmate in Washington state but were thwarted when another student informed a school employee, authorities said Thursday. The two boys, who told police they considered the girl rude and annoying, won't be tried as adults and will be in court next Wednesday for a capacity hearing, said Tim Rasmussen, the Stevens County prosecuting attorney. The two boys, ages 10 and 11, told authorities that they were also going to kill, or "get," six more students at Fort Colville Elementary School in Colville, Washington, and even identified them from a class list provided by school employees, according to court documents. The boys' plan called for the older to stab the girl off-campus with a 3.25-inch knife last week, and the younger boy would scare off any responders with a .45-caliber Remington 1911 semi-automatic handgun, court documents said. The younger boy had been in "a short dating relationship" with the girl, but he told authorities that "she's rude and always made fun of me and my friends," court papers said. "Yes, I just want her dead," the younger boy told authorities. He brought the gun and knife to school, documents said. The older boy had been friends with the girl for several months, but he wanted to kill her because she picked on and annoyed him, court papers said. "Yes, and I wanted to kill her alone at first," the older boy told a police officer. The officer noticed in his interview with the older boy that he "did not display any emotion or remorse during the interview," court papers said. The younger boy took the gun from his older brother by finding a hidden key to the gun case kept in the brother's bedroom, and the older brother told authorities that he stole the firearm from their dead grandfather's home, court papers said. The older brother is also a juvenile, Rasmussen said. The two boys told another student two weeks earlier about the plot to kill the girl and were going to pay him $80 to keep it secret, the court filings said. The two boys were going to kill the other six students by luring them away from school one at a time, court papers said. When authorities were transporting the arrested boys to the Stevens County Courthouse, the juvenile probation department staff told a detective that they overheard the older boy telling the younger: "If I find out who told them about our weapons, I'm going to kill them. I don't care; when I get out of jail I'm going to come back and kill them," according to court papers. Under Washington state law, children between the ages of 8 and 12 are presumed to not have a capacity to commit a crime, prosecutor Rasmussen told CNN. "What this hearing will determine is they will look at certain factors and try to get these children under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court," Rasmussen said about next week's proceedings. | Two boys plot to kill a girl outside their Washington state school unravels .
The boys also intended to kill six more students one by one, authorities say .
One boy was going to stab the girl; the other was to use a gun to guard him .
One boy stole the gun from his older brother, who in turn stole it from dead grandfather's home . |
198,545 | 8cfe1efd16dc1ce4402213526b4b6a0017f37e3e | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 08:54 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:30 EST, 4 March 2014 . Wendi Deng, the third ex-wife of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, will receive a traditional Chinese mansion adjacent to Beijing's Forbidden City as part of her divorce settlement, it has been reported. Ms Deng, 45, and the 82-year-old media mogul reached an agreement to end their 14-year marriage on November 20, 2013. Sources say under the terms of the divorce settlement Deng will not receive a share of Murdoch's media empire and that their split will not affect the rules of the Murdoch family trust. Chinese mansion: The property Wendi Deng has reportedly received as part of her divorce settlement with Rupert Murdoch . Notable visitors are said to include former British prime minister Tony Blair, actress and TV star Fan Bingbing and pop star Zhang Liangying . Luxury: The property could be worth as much as 100 million yuan (£10million) However, she will keep their three-story Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan as it has become a home for their daughters as well as a traditional siheyuan, or courtyard-style residence, near the former imperial palace in Beijing that Murdoch purchased and refurbished in 2004 for at least 10 million yuan. The luxurious property, which has never been open to the public, reportedly has a total floor area of 21,500 square feet, and is said to have an underground swimming pool, a simulated golf driving range and a billiards room. Notable visitors are said to include former British prime minister Tony Blair, actress and TV star Fan Bingbing and pop star Zhang Liangying. VIP guests: Murdoch and wife Wendi Deng attending Time magazine's 2008 list of the world's 100 most influential people gala in New York . The property could be worth as much as 100 million yuan (£10million), according to Wantchinatimes.com, which adds that while this type of residence was popular around the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, their value has since wavered and Chinese law makes them tricky to sell as buyers must purchase them with a single cash transaction. Mr Murdoch attended the Vanity Fair Oscar party on Sunday alongside Juliet de Baubigny, 44, a partner at a venture capital firm in California. Ms Baubigny is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufiled & Byers in Silicon Valley and a mother-of-two. She's not only successful in business, but also in fashion and was listed on Vanity Fair's list of 'Silicon Valley's Most Stylish' person's list in April 2013. Film fan: Mr Murdoch attended the Vanity Fair Oscar party on Sunday alongside Juliet de Baubigny, 44, a partner at a venture capital firm in California . | Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch reached an agreement to end their 14-year marriage on November 20, 2013 .
Deng, the third ex-wife of media mogul Murdoch, will receive a traditional Chinese mansion as part of the settlement .
Notable visitors are said to include Tony Blair, actress and TV star Fan Bingbing and pop star Zhang Liangying .
The luxurious property reportedly has a floor area of .
21,500 square feet and an underground swimming pool . |
274,047 | eef62fed31fdb0ae2ef0fd988cdaedd6c7cbf6a1 | By . Associated Press . The doctors and therapists who worked with a little girl from Afghanistan knew the prosthetic arm they gave her would change her life. What they didn't anticipate was that within weeks of strapping on her new limb, seven-year-old Shah Bibi Tarakhail would be using it to pick up a brush and begin carving out a new life — of abstract painting. 'What color would you like?' asked artist Davyd Whaley as he sat next to her at a table at the Galerie Michael on Rodeo Drive in the heart of Beverly Hills on Wednesday afternoon. Bright future: Shah Bibi Tarakhail, seven, who lost her arm and right eye after picking up a grenade in her native Afghanistan, is seen painting with her new prosthetic arm during a private session with artist Dayvd Whaley in Beverly Hills, California . 'That one!' the normally reticent girl responded with a determined voice as she pointed to a tube of blue acrylic. Then, before her mentor could fetch it, she grabbed it with her new prosthetic hand, unscrewed the top with her other hand and began squeezing the tube's contents onto a palette. As her friends from the nonprofit Children of War Foundation and the Shriners Hospital for Children Los Angeles looked on with delight, Shah Bibi proceeded to put a series of broad brush strokes across a piece of art board Whaley had provided. Soon there were shades of blue, green and bright orange laid out across little stickers of fish, bunnies, a flower and sky that Whaley had showed her how to place on the board beforehand. At one point she giggled with embarrassment as she accidentally squeezed a tube of orange paint onto the painting rather than the palette. But Whaley quickly assured her that accidental art sometimes makes the best abstract art. 'You're going to do a Jackson Pollock,' he quipped. The finished result, the artist said afterward, 'was pretty mind-blowing.' Shah Bibi, he said, not only handles a brush well but has an impressive grasp of matching colors. 'She . kind of has a facility for it if she wants to pursue it,' added the . artist whose own work is the subject of a large exhibition on display at . Galerie Michael. Talented: Shah Bibi shows off her latest masterpiece. Whaley (right) has described her work as 'mind-blowing' Industrious: Shah Bibi gets to work on her next painting while artist Dayvd Whaley (far right) and Galerie Michael owner Michael Schwartz (center) look on . Less than a year ago, Shah Bibi was back at home in Afghanistan when she went outside one morning to play with her brother. There had been a violent battle pitting Taliban fighters against U.S. military forces the night before, but that was nothing residents weren't used to. Their village had been a cauldron of violence since the Afghan war began. 'There was what looked like a rock that she picked up and threw on the ground and it exploded,' said Ilaha Omar, a Children of War Foundation member who brought her to the United States, where Shriners Hospital treated her for free. The explosion had destroyed her right eye, taken off most of her right arm, put a few scars on her face and killed her brother. She was a little frightened the first time he saw her, said David Kraft, a prosthetist who helped fit her with her new arm. But she quickly warmed to the people around her and impressed them with how quickly she learned how to use it. Life-changing: The youngster shakes hands with her doctor, Shriners Hospitals for Children certified prosthetist David Craft, who was born without his left arm . She'll return to her family next week, but Children of War plans to bring her back next year to fit her with a prosthetic eye and attend to her scars. Fluent in the Afghan languages of Pashto and Dari, she's also picked up a good deal of English since arriving in the U.S. late last year. Also an affinity for American culture. Decked out in a pretty dress and a pair of Minnie Mouse shoes, she sometimes sang along to the song 'Let it Go' from the Disney film 'Frozen' as she painted. Afterward she was a bit quiet but still all smiles as she wandered the gallery with an iPhone, snapping pictures of the paintings, the sculptures and the people. And also a few selfies to take back home. Fond memories: Shah Bibi takes a selfie with Ilaha Omar, the Children of War Foundation member who brought her to the United States where she could be treated for free . Creative inspiration: Young artist Shah Bibi uses an iPhone to snap a bronze sculpture at Galerie Michael . But before heading home to her host family and then Afghanistan there was still some unfinished business. As the afternoon grew longer and the gallery crowd thinned, Whaley asked if she might like to do another painting. 'Yes!' came the exuberant reply. And the pair got back to work. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Shah Bibi Tarakhail, seven, lost her right eye and arm while playing in her Afghan village less than a year ago. She picked up what she thought was a rock which exploded, severely injuring her and killing her brother .
The youngster was helped by the Children of War Foundation which brought her to the U.S., where Shriners Hospital in LA treated her for free .
Shah Bibi's skill with color has been praised by artist Davyd Whaley . |
176,928 | 7103ce4a9e2aea976276f9953dff01647856d10b | (CNN) -- As explosions and gunfire continued to ripple in Syria, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights on Monday raised the death toll from the Damascus government's crackdown on anti-regime activists to close to 5,000 people. "This situation is intolerable," Navi Pillay said in a briefing for the U.N. Security Council. The same day that Pillay spoke, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a resident of Homs -- an opposition hotbed and frequent site of violence in recent months -- reported that a gas pipeline exploded near the city, followed by gunfire and circulating military airplanes. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, or SANA, played up local elections Monday as an expression of "democracy and free will." Yet the Homs resident said there was no evidence of voting in that city. Instead, this witness reported nonstop shooting and bombardments. Such violence is nothing new in Syria, with Pillay reporting more than 200 people have died in the last 10 days, and "the Syrian population continues to live in fear of further violent repression." The Syrian government, meanwhile, has consistently blamed the violence on "armed terrorist" gang members and denied any efforts to target peaceful civilians. CNN cannot independently confirm events because the Syrian government restricts access of international media to the country. Pillay said Monday that "the nature and scale of abuses" indicate that Syrian forces likely committed "crimes against humanity." Citing reliable sources, she said more than 300 of the dead have been children "killed by state forces." Several defectors from military and security forces said they got orders "to shoot unarmed protesters without warning," according to Pillay. "Independent, credible and corroborated accounts demonstrate that these abuses have taken place as part of a widespread and systematic attack on civilians," she said. Homs has been a regular flash point. As nightfall arrived Monday, many city residents went to bed afraid the steady waves of violence could soon give way to a historic siege. Opposition figures said the Syrian government had warned people in Homs to stop anti-government protests, hand in weapons and surrender defecting military members by Monday night -- or face attack by government forces. Syrian forces gave a 72-hour warning, said Lt. Col. Mohamed Hamdo of the Free Syrian Army, an opposition group of defected Syrian military personnel. Activists on the ground said the ultimatum was issued Friday for Homs. The government has not acknowledged any deadline for Homs in state-run media. Hamdo said there are concerns about a repeat of what happened in 1982, when Syria's military -- acting under orders from then-President Hafez al-Assad, father of current Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad -- launched an assault on the city of Hama, killing thousands. "People are very afraid," said Wissam Tarif, a human rights activist in Beirut, Lebanon, with the organization Avaaz, who is in touch with people in Syria. There are enough troops around Homs "to take over the city," he said, and casualties have been increasing "in very big numbers" over the past couple of days. Hamdo said the military has dug trenches around Homs and largely cut it off. "There is no electricity, water, and the communication lines are much worse. The food supply is also decreasing, mainly because little food is going in," he said. The Syrian government denied reports of water and electricity being out in the city, according to a SANA report. In fact, besides a story about seven "army, security and police martyrs" being buried Monday, state-run media did not report much on such dire conditions or violence. Rather, state TV painted a picture of normalcy, with reports of local elections under way across the country. SANA noted that more than 3,000 candidates are vying for seats in the Homs region alone. It billed the elections as part of the "process of building institutions, promoting democracy and achieving the comprehensive reform process led by President Bashar al-Assad." Activist groups, though, offered a different story. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists in the country, said Monday the Syrian army and security forces killed 21 people, including four women and three children. Thirteen of the deaths were in Homs, three were in Hama, three in Damascus suburbs and two in Idlib. And fierce clashes broke out between security forces and defectors in the cities of Daraa and Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information from people in different parts of the country. Hamdo, from the Free Syrian Army said, "We conducted an operation late last night against the Syrian forces in Idlib and killed eight of them and injured 22. Two of our men are critically injured." He also said Syrian forces were conducting mass arrests of shop owners who shut their stores Sunday as part of a nationwide anti-government strike. The Syrian government, via SANA, on Sunday quoted people saying there was no strike and no sign of a strike. The last nine months has seen a steady stream of clashes, amid reported government push-back against activists demanding democratic elections and the end of al-Assad's regime. Al-Assad has been in power since 2000; his father ruled Syria for three decades. World leaders and diplomats have widely condemned Syria's crackdown and called on it to halt violence against the opposition. The Arab League announced it will hold emergency meetings this week in Cairo. In a statement on Egypt's state-run MENA news agency, an Arab League official said leaders will "discuss the Arab response to a message from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem to approve the signing of an agreement on an Arab League observing mission to Syria with conditions." Pillay's report especially drew strong responses from representative countries' ambassadors to the United Nations. Britain's ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, called it "the most horrifying briefing that we've had in the Security Council over the last two years," citing the thousands of deaths and "tens of thousands of detentions, rapes, torture (and) violations of abuses right across the system by the Syrian regime. German Ambassador Peter Wittig said his country is "shocked and appalled" by the U.N. human rights branch's view of the situation, calling it "unbearable" that the Security Council appears "condemned to remain silent on Syria." "We share the assessment that the Syrian security forces have committed crimes against humanity this year," he said. "And we believe that the Syrian authorities have failed their international obligations of human rights law." CNN's Yousuf Basil, Hamdi Alkhshali, Amir Ahmed, Josh Levs and Richard Quest and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report. | NEW: Activists and a resident report a pipeline explosion and gunfire in Homs .
NEW: Ambassadors at the U.N. call a briefing "horrifying' and "unbearable"
The U.N. high commissioner says "this situation is intolerable"
She alleges Syrian forces likely committed crimes against humanity . |
217,453 | a5871c8a2fed99458660d21d793fd3bf6a878e80 | Matt Prior says the England dressing room will be a better place without Kevin Pietersen. Prior was instrumental in Pietersen returning to the England frame after the Andrew Strauss text scandal but their relationship deteriorated towards the end of the ill-fated Ashes tour. The wicketkeeper is now firmly behind the decision to sack the maverick despite adding that his erstwhile team-mate had the ability to make him 'the best England cricketer to ever walk this planet'. Out of favour: Kevin Pietersen was axed by England after the ill-fated Ashes tour Down Under . A better place: Prior says the England dressing room will benefit from not having Pietersen in it . Maverick: Prior says Pietersen could have been 'the best England player to ever walk this planet' 'I think one of the biggest things the ECB want to rediscover is the value of playing cricket for England, the honour and the pride you need to show as an England cricketer,' said Prior at an event in Dubai. 'And they only want people in that dressing room who are going to be passionate about England winning and performing.' When then asked whether that dressing room will be a better place without Pietersen, Prior said 'Yes, it will.' The wicketkeeper then turned his thoughts to captain Alastair Cook, saying that he needs to become nastier to be a better leader. Re-integrated: Prior was instrumental in getting Pietersen back in the England team following the 'textgate' scandal - revealed by Sportsmail - in 2012 . Happier times: Pietersen and Prior celebrate retaining the Ashes in Melbourne in 2010 . 'I think being such a nice person is one of the things which doesn't stand him in good stead as a captain and the best thing about him is he accepts that and he knows he has to improve. 'When it comes to captaincy he's a big enough bloke to admit he's not the finished article yet. 'To read some of the criticism he's got has just been incredible, as anyone who knows him respects him. 'He will score the most runs for an Englishman in Test cricket, no doubt, and he's a phenomenal bloke as well.' Too nice: Prior thinks Cook's amiable nature 'doesn't stand him in good stead as a captain' Blasting the critics: Prior says some of the stick Cook has received is 'incredible' | Matt Prior firmly behind England's decision to sack Kevin Pietersen .
ECB 'only want people in England dressing room who are passionate'
Prior was instrumental to Pietersen's 're-integration' after 2012 text scandal .
Alastair Cook is currently 'too nice' to be a captain . |
146,857 | 49e899106fb683db059c6a297e00b2c7e628a1b8 | The banker flew to a luxury resort island in Indonesia thinking he was about to be interviewed for a lucrative job connected with multimillionaire mining magnate and political leader Clive Palmer. Instead, the alleged perpetrators of an elaborate plot used the bogus interview to try to get the National Australia Bank executive to say he lied during a court case in which one of the suspects was suing the bank. When that failed, they sent two Indonesians dressed as security officers to take the banker captive - seizing his passport, mobile phone and wallet - until he made a videotaped confession regardin gthe case, police allege. Andrew Crook (pictured) arrested in Brisbane on Friday over the alleged kidnapping of NAB executive . Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer (right) with media adviser Andrew Crook (left) aboard his $70 million dollar Global Express aircraft in August 2013 . Palmer United Party media adviser Andrew Crook, 48, of New Farm in Brisbane, appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday charged with retaliation of a witness, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and attempted fraud. Former police detective Mick Featherstone, 51, of the Gold Coast, also appeared on identical charges. Police said an arrest warrant had been issued for a third man wanted in the, former Australian Rules Footballer and property developer Tony Smith, who lives overseas. The court was told there were allegedly emails between Crook, Featherstone and Smith, involved in luring the NAB employee to an Indonesian Island with a fake job opportunity. Barefooted and wearing a shirt and shorts, Crook sat in the dock with his arms folded across his chest. He kept his gaze focused on the magistrate, avoiding any glances in a public gallery full of journalists. His lawyer argued that Crook had no prior convictions and was not a flight risk having owned a business for the past 20 years in Brisbane. Crook was granted bail with conditions, including that he does not contact any of the co-accused, the witnesses, NAB employee and that he surrender his passport. Featherstone was also granted bail under similar conditions. Both men are not to approach within 100 metres of two Southport NAB branches, despite Featherstone's lawyer saying his client banks with NAB. Mr Smith, 48, is currently in Indonesia. Police will allege the three men lured a NAB executive to Batam Island in Indonesia under the false assumption that he was to be interviewed for a high paying job as a global finance manager with a company owned by Mr Palmer. Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said police will allege Featherstone used a false identity and Crook used his media company links 'to make the job offer appear as the real deal'. 'We will allege to real reason was to extract a confession from the bank employee and make him retract and change his evidence, which he gave during a civil trial in 2012 in the Supreme Court in Queensland,' Mr Niland said. Since 2009 Mr Smith has been involved in civil legal action against NAB, claiming he lost $70 million after an agreement with the bank and broken contracts caused a finance company he owned to collapse. Detective Inspector Phillip Stevens said police will allege the three me 'schemed' to elicit a confession from the NAB employee, who was a key witness in the civil matter. Clive Palmer's (left) media adviser Andrew Crook (right) has been arrested in Brisbane . ‘It will be alleged that part of that planning occurred in Queensland, the execution of key parts of that plan were done in Singapore and Indonesia, and then the offences were committed back in Queensland,’ Mr Stevens said. Mr Stevens said: ‘It reads like a Hollywood script.’ Mr Niland described the alleged plan as 'bizarre'. He added that Mr Palmer was not involved in the investigation. ‘He is a victim of the circumstances, where his name has been used by the three offenders in an effort to lure the NAB executive to the island in Indonesia,’ he said. Queensland police said in a statement that the attempt to get the banker to admit that he had lied during the court case failed. Events then took an even more bizarre turn. Police allege two Indonesians dressed in security uniforms entered the room where the interview took place an detained the banker, seizing his mobile phone, wallet and passport. The man was then threatened 'which ultimately led to him being coerced into make a confessional video before they would allow him to leave the island,' the police statement said. Earlier on Friday Mr Crook was arrested after police raided his New Farm home in inner Brisbane , before going to his offices in the CBD for further raids, the ABC reported. Police also arrested former police detective Mick Featherstone on the Gold Coast. Police Taskforce Maxima also issued an arrest warrant for former Sydney Swans player and property developer Tony Smith, who is believed to be overseas. Mr Crook's company Crook Media handles all public relations for Clive Palmer and his Palmer Uniter Party . Police said Taskforce Maxima's Criminal Economy Team - set up to eliminate bikie gangs -uncovered evidence while it was investigating another matter. The ABC's 7.30 Report conducted an investigation in Mr Featherstone, which aired in September, and it encouraged the alleged victim to come forward to police with his story. Mr Crook's company Crook Media handles all public relations for Clive Palmer and his Palmer Uniter Party. On Friday, Mr Palmer suggested the arrests were an attempt to undermine him in the lead-up to the Queensland election. 'It's a significant thing to me that it's state police up there [raiding Mr Crook's office] and [Premier] Campbell Newman is going to call the election probably in February or March,' he told the ABC. 'A lot of these things are being orchestrated to happen at this time. 'I think it's an effort to undermine our political support in Queensland and try to get Campbell Newman re-elected as Premier.' Mr Palmer said he was concerned that his election campaign materials were seized during the raids conducted on Mr Crook's office. Mr Palmer suggested the arrests were an attempt to undermine him in the lead-up to the Queensland election . 'From my point of view I'd be concerned - police issued a search warrant where they can get access and take away all of his computers and that would contain all of our election plans for the coming state election,' he told 2GB. Mr Niland rejected this idea. ‘It’s utter nonsense to say it’s political or somehow politics is involved,’ he said. He added that Mr Palmer’s campaign materials were ‘extremely safe’ in police custody and will be returned to him as soon as possible. National Australia Bank today confirmed it provided Queensland Police with details of allegedly 'unsolicited approaches' made to an employee in regards to evidence they gave in a civil court trial involving a former customer. 'This has been a difficult time for our employee,' a spokesman said in a statement. 'These are serious matters that should now be investigated and dealt with by Queensland Police and any other relevant authority.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Clive Palmer's media adviser Andrew Cook has been granted bail after facing court in connection to an elaborate plot .
He has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and attempted fraud .
Former police officer Mick Featherstone faces identical charges .
Arrest warrant issued for a third person allegedly involved, former AFL player Tony Smith . |
15,570 | 2c3c5c71887a6de7e4d53e1f3538645a425db228 | (CNN) -- Schapelle Corby, the Australian serving time in a Bali, Indonesia, prison on a conviction of drug smuggling, has had her jail term cut by five years. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decree to reduce the former beauty therapist's 20-year jail sentence to 15 years arrived in a letter on Monday, according to Amzer Simanjuntak, a spokesman of Denpasar District Court. The decree was dated May 15 and also stipulated that the original 100 million Indonesian rupiah (US$10,700) fine still had to be paid, the spokesman added. Before entering Kerobokan prison to visit her on Wednesday, Corby's sister, Mercedes, expressed gratitude for the decision. "Our family would like to say, 'Thank you,' to the Indonesian president," she said. "We now hope to get more information about possible parole for Schapelle, and we hope to get positive news on that. She is very happy.' The appeal for clemency, which Corby filed on the basis of a medical examination that diagnosed her as suffering from acute depression with psychotic symptoms, comes nearly seven years to the day of her sentencing. Corby, now 34, was convicted in May 2005 for smuggling nine pounds (4.1 kilograms) of marijuana in a bag while arriving at Bali's Denpasar International Airport the previous October. She has always maintained her innocence, saying that she was the victim of a drug smuggling operation. Aside from whether Corby will be eligible for parole -- and if so, where she would serve it -- the timeframe for her release remains unclear because of remissions granted for good behavior. A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, "Should Ms. Corby's legal team apply for parole, the Australian Government would support it." Indonesia's Justice and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin on Wednesday linked Corby's case to that of "hundreds of" Indonesian inmates in Australia held in trafficking cases and said he hoped they would get similar attention. "Especially the underage children, whose number are quite many," he said. In addition to those cases, Amir cited Corby's illness during imprisonment and lighter sentences imposed by other nations on marijuana possession convictions as factors that the government weighed in granting Corby clemency. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said there is no link between the Corby case and the release of convicted Indonesian human traffickers, including three from a Western Australian prison last Friday amid concerns they were minors. "If there were no Schapelle Corby in a Balinese prison we'd still be releasing minors, kids on fishing boats who'd been collected through people smuggling," he said to reporters Wednesday in a video broadcast by Australia's ABC News. "We'd be releasing them because it is plainly indecent to have in Australian adult jails kids from Indonesia who have been picked up on fishing boats being misused for people smuggling. "At no stage has the Government sat down with our Indonesian counterparts and said, 'We'll release minors from our jails, if you consider a clemency application by Ms. Corby.'" Journalist Rudy Madanir contributed to this report. | NEW: Decree, dated May 15, says $10,700 fine must be paid, court spokesman says .
Corby appealed for clemency, citing medical examination finding .
Corby's release date, eligibility for parole remain unknown .
Australia's foreign minister: Corby case, release of convicted Indonesians not linked . |
214,568 | a1d48f62d640fcc50f8da4b5850d8cfce33ced61 | (CNN) -- Prosecutors on Thursday questioned George Anthony, the father of murder suspect Casey Anthony, about gas cans he reported missing around the time his 2-year-old granddaughter disappeared. Casey Anthony's former boyfriend Anthony Lazzaro testified the day before that he had helped her break into the shed at her parents' home on June 23, 2008 -- one week after her little girl, Caylee Anthony, was last seen. According to testimony, however, neither Anthony's parents nor Lazzaro knew that the child was missing, as Anthony insisted that she was in the care of a nanny at the time. Lazzaro said Casey Anthony called him and told him she had run out of gas. They got the gas cans, and Anthony put the gas in her car herself, he testified. On June 24, George Anthony called police to report the break-in and report the gas cans missing. He testified that he saw his daughter later in the day and argued with her about the missing cans, because he had a hunch she had them, as she had taken the cans before. Anthony said that when he went to get them out of his daughter's car, she bristled, brushed past him, quickly opened the trunk and retrieved the gas cans, throwing them down and telling him, "Here's your f---ing gas cans." The gas cans are significant to the case because a piece of duct tape on them appears to be the same as that found on the mouth of Caylee's skeletal remains, which were found six months after the child went missing. The type of tape, prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick told jurors in her opening statement this week, is relatively rare. "I'm probably the one who put that on" the gas can, George Anthony said, adding that at the time, after Caylee was reported missing, he and his wife were "running on fumes. ... I'm trying to do the best I can." He said that when his daughter returned the gas cans to him, there was no tape on them. But he said a vent cap on one was gone, and he put the tape on "because I didn't want a gas smell in the shed or house." George Anthony had several testy exchanges with defense attorney Jose Baez during his testimony, at one point telling him, "You're badgering me. You're trying to get me upset." In addition to capital murder in Caylee's death, Casey Anthony, now 25, faces six other charges, including aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to authorities. If she is convicted by the jurors -- seven women and five men -- she could face the death penalty. Anthony has pleaded not guilty and denies harming her daughter or having anything to do with her disappearance. Baez has said that once all the facts are known, it will become clear that his client is not guilty. The Orlando trial, which comes after nearly three years of legal twists, turns and delays, has garnered interest nationwide. George Anthony testified Tuesday and was re-called to the stand Thursday for part of the morning session. Also testifying Thursday was Ricardo Morales, who dated Anthony briefly in early 2008 before she met Lazzaro. Morales testified that the two continued their friendship after breaking up, to the point that Anthony stayed overnight at his house June 9 and 10, 2008. She brought Caylee with her, he said, and the three slept in his bed, with Anthony in the middle. He denied any sexual contact with Anthony while Caylee was in the bed. He said that after June 10, he never saw Caylee again, but he saw Anthony on July 1 and again on July 15, when she picked him up at the airport after he had vacationed in Puerto Rico. At no time did she mention that her daughter was missing or had been kidnapped, he testified, and he saw no change in her demeanor. She was "happy, smiling. She was asking us how our trip was," Morales said. "Just normal Casey." Morales was one of numerous people, including Lazzaro, his roommates and other acquaintances, who said Anthony did not mention Caylee's disappearance between June 16, 2008, the day the little girl was last seen, until the evening of July 15, when Anthony's mother, Cindy, reported her missing to authorities. Each witness testified they saw nothing different in Anthony's demeanor and that she did not tell them her child was missing or had been kidnapped. However, under cross-examination by Baez, those who saw Anthony and her daughter together testified that Caylee was well taken care of and that Anthony, at least to their knowledge, appeared to be a good mother. Dante Salati, who testified that he went to high school with Anthony, testified that he saw genuine affection between her and Caylee. Asked by Baez whether he found it shocking that he wouldn't notice a change in her behavior after the little girl disappeared, Salati said yes. Melissa England, an acquaintance who shopped and had dinner with Anthony on July 3, recalled her saying that she was thinking of leaving Orlando for a place with a better school system so Caylee "could get a better education." England also testified that Anthony received a call and told some other friends that she had car trouble and couldn't go out with them. As she hung up, Anthony remarked, "Oh, my God, I'm such a good liar," England said. Anthony, listening to her testimony, shook her head. England did recall that as she and Anthony were out with others that night, Anthony received several calls and became upset and cried, eventually saying she wanted to leave. England said her boyfriend told her Anthony was arguing with her brother, but Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. ordered the jurors not to consider that statement after Baez objected. Anthony repeatedly visited at least two nightclubs during the month Caylee was missing and participated in a "hot body" contest at the Fusion Ultra Lounge. Two women who worked as "shot girls" selling alcoholic shots to club patrons there testified Wednesday that Anthony was a sort of overseer, telling them where to be and making sure they weren't harmed. Lazzaro and his roommates said that when they asked where Caylee was, Anthony told them she was with her nanny, mentioning that the nanny was taking her to Universal Studios and to the beach. In the early days of the investigation, Anthony said the nanny, who she said was named Zenaida Gonzalez and nicknamed "Zanny," had kidnapped Caylee. Authorities were never able to find the nanny but did track down a woman with that name who denied ever meeting Anthony and later sued her for defamation. One friend of Anthony's, Matthew Crisp, testified that he met her for lunch on July 7 and asked about Caylee. Anthony told him "she was in Sanford on a playdate with one of her girlfriends who also had a child." Sanford is about 25 miles north of Orlando. The Anthony's next-door neighbor, Brian Burner, testified Wednesday that he was doing yard work outside his house on June 18 when Casey Anthony approached him and asked to borrow a shovel "to dig up a bamboo root." She returned it about an hour later, he said. George Anthony testified Thursday that he owns several shovels. Prosecutors allege that Casey Anthony, after conducting searches regarding chloroform on her computer, used chloroform on her daughter, then put duct tape over her nose and mouth, suffocating her. Baez, in his opening statement Tuesday, dropped bombshell allegations, telling jurors that Caylee was not murdered at all, but drowned in the Anthonys' pool on June 16. He said Anthony and her father panicked upon finding the child and kept it secret. He explained Casey Anthony's behavior in the month Caylee was missing by alleging that she was sexually abused starting at age 8 by her father and that she had been schooled from a young age to "hide her pain." In his earlier testimony, George Anthony denied ever sexually abusing his daughter or that he found Caylee dead in his pool. HLN's "Nancy Grace" producers Philip Rosenbaum and Lee Alexander contributed to this report. Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here. | Acquaintance recalls Casey Anthony saying, "I'm such a good liar"
George Anthony testifies about missing gas cans .
Duct tape on the gas cans appears to match that on Caylee Anthony's remains .
Casey Anthony is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter in 2008 . |
278,227 | f46ef7d35be09e642290f80997f1c3efc2a701ff | Ukip leader Nigel Farage has come under criticism from Prime Minister David Cameron . Another Ukip council candidate was facing suspension last night for posting a stream of ‘crackpot’ homophobic and anti-Muslim comments on Twitter and Facebook. Harry Perry, who is standing in Stockport, said ‘Islam is evil,’ claimed homosexuality was an ‘abomination before God’ and described David Cameron as a ‘gay-loving nutcase’. The disclosures emerged as the Prime Minister yesterday attacked Nigel Farage’s party as ‘discredited’. Mr Cameron, launching the Conservatives’ local election campaign, said: ‘I don’t need to discredit Ukip – they do a good enough job themselves.’ He has recently sought to avoid direct criticism of Ukip, which appears on course to top the poll in elections to the European Parliament later this month. But he spoke out after a series of controversies involving Ukip candidates and donors accused of sexism, racism and homophobia. Mr Perry’s comments came to light after he sent a private message to the Liberal Democrat general election candidate, Lisa Smart, on Facebook. One of them said all three mainstream parties were seeking to ‘change our culture as fast as possible without permission from the white indigenous population’, before adding: ‘Don’t you know Lisa that God hates homosexuality, you cannot be a Christian and support the gay issue.’ Miss Smart said: ‘People should know what they are voting for on May 22.’ Mr Perry, who was unavailable for comment last night, also said Islam was ‘evil’ and called for Pakistan to be ‘nuked’. Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall, pictured with Nigel Farage, is investigating Mr Perry's claims . Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall confirmed the party would investigate. The revelations will heap further embarrassment on Ukip. Earlier this week another candidate, in North London, tweeted that comedian Lenny Henry should emigrate to a ‘black country’ and compared Islam to the Third Reich. William Henwood later resigned his membership of the party. | Council candidate Harry Perry posted homophobic and anti-Muslim comments on Twitter and Facebook .
Claimed 'Islam is evil' and that David Cameron is a 'gay-loving nutcase'
Came as Prime Minister attacked Ukip as 'discredited' |
177,847 | 7239cccbfb4208a1dee94500ef2db29e5da4a9b3 | A greedy postman who has been jailed after stealing nearly £250,000 worth of post was using the money to 'feather his nest'. Paul Doughty, 57, bought a timeshare in the Canary Islands and a caravan, a court was told. The Liverpool resident also kept most of his ill-gotten gains in bank accounts with balances ranging from £10,000 to £25,000. Royal Mail was forced to pay out £228,935.28 in insurance claims as a result of his crimes. Jailed: Paul Doughty stole almost £250,000 worth of post and used some of the money to buy a timeshare in the Canary Islands . Officials launched an investigation in 2011 after a number of customers complained they had not received recorded delivery parcels. The pattern of missing mail soon pointed to driver Doughty and a surveillance operation in August 2011 spotted the Warrington mail centre employee stopping on the hard shoulder of the M6 heading to Birmingham. Simon Clarke, prosecuting, told Warrington Crown Court: 'A Royal Mail investigation found there had been a sustained campaign of theft of special delivery bulk mail often used for sending reasonably high value items including currency and jewellery. Luxury: The Canary Islands in Spain (file picture), where Doughty bought a timeshare. He also bought a caravan using the money he made from his crimes . 'He was stopping his Royal Mail HGV at . the side of the motorway and removing mail sacks and putting them into . black bin bags before hiding them in bushes at the roadside. 'When he had finished his duty he would return in a private vehicle to collect the bags and dispose of them through what is thought to be a network of buyers.' Caught: A surveillance operation in August 2011 spotted the Warrington mail centre employee's thefts . He added the total loss to Royal Mail could not be calculated as many people do not report missing post. Doughty made no comment to a number of questions during police interview and initially pleaded not guilty. He then admitted fraud charges in March before being sentenced. His wife Pauline was also accused of having a hand in the operation but the charges were later dropped. Johnathon Duffy, defending, said Doughty had been an 'exemplary employee' for 16 years. He added: 'To his shame as he approached retirement, he gave in to temptation. 'He is dreadfully sorry and the consequences to him and his family are going to be disastrous as everything he has saved and worked for will be taken from him.' Judge Roger Dutton said he had no choice but to jail Doughty for three years and nine months. He added: 'Those who are employed by Royal Mail have a special position and are regarded as people the public have a high degree of trust in. 'You took thorough and complete advantage to feather your own nest while you and your wife were in a healthy financial position. 'This was pure, unadulterated greed.' Doughty stopped his Royal Mail HGV at the side of the motorway and hid mail sacks in bushes at the roadside. File picture . | Paul Doughty stole parcels from his Royal Mail lorry .
He used the money to prepare for his retirement .
The 57-year-old was jailed for nearly four years . |
47,466 | 85d6f73515f697e7a594eeb85859a69b148f990d | NEW YORK (CNN) -- With strong sales and equally powerful praise, the July issue of Italian Vogue can be judged a resounding success. Chanel Iman is one of several models of color featured in the "Black Issue" of Italian Vogue. Dubbed the "Black Issue," the magazine celebrates models of color from the past and present, including Donyale Luna, Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell, Iman and Chanel Iman. Within 72 hours, the magazine sold out in the United States and Great Britain. Blog posts and e-mails about the beauty and historical significance of the issue began to flow -- and industry insiders were equally pleased. Praising renowned photographer Steven Meisel, who shot most of the issue's fashion pictures, The New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn gushed, "I think they are some of the best he's done. ... They are crazily, softly beautiful, plainly the work of someone who knows women and fashion." See what all the fuss is about » . Another 40,000 copies of the "Black Issue" were recently reprinted to meet the still strong demand. But will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry? Will more color be seen on the runway and in magazines? Many observers have their fingers crossed. "All the agents were happy about the issue because it gives us hope that other people will catch on and decide that it's OK to use more black girls," said Carlos Ojeda, an agent at New York Models. "It's OK to have more than just one, and she doesn't have to always be Naomi." "Italian Vogue is very influential around the world on an artistic level," said Constance White, style director at eBay. "That is the book that all the art directors, the photographers, any fashion editor looking for inspiration turns to ... and always has. It has always been the trendsetter, so hopefully people will look at it and say using black models is both relevant and right and will start doing it too." Bethann Hardison, a legendary model agent-manager, said she has noticed a shift in the industry since she began holding town hall meetings last September to address the lack of diversity in fashion. The packed-to-the-rafters events quickly became the talk of the industry, and Hardison is widely credited with sparking the current movement. "I started seeing more black models on the runway back in February," she said, pointing to the shows of designers like Diane Von Furstenberg and Michael Kors as examples. "I have already seen change, and I know that I will continue to see change." Not all are nearly as optimistic, and fear the diversity issue will become as passe as the skinny-model debate of a few years ago. "I hate to sound cynical, but by January, I feel like it will be back to business as usual," Ojeda said. "I want to be hopeful and positive, but a part of me does not want to get my hopes up." "Let's see if Italian Vogue is going to be able to live up to the standards that they've now set," added one prominent New York-based stylist. "You can't have an issue with all black girls, pat yourself on the back and say 'that's it for the year.' " Hardison is working hard to make sure that doesn't happen. She's already scheduled another town hall meeting for September, and she's also planning a mixer to introduce fledgling models of color to industry players. "We just have to keep the bar high," Hardison said, "and keep showing beautiful women and pictures." Lola Ogunnaike is the entertainment correspondent for CNN's American Morning. | Italian Vogue recently ran "Black Issue" highlighting women of color .
Issue was huge success -- sold well, earned great reviews .
Observers wonder if impact will last . |
88,785 | fbf77f7f7bda44c8a1c17e8863c9903b6a52be16 | PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Lined up next to Pittsburgh police officers protecting a downtown office building Thursday morning were officers who traveled a little farther to get to work. Police officers from Tucson, Arizona, left, talk with a Pittsburgh officer Thursday outside the G-20 summit. About 2,000 miles farther. Thirty-six officers from the Tucson, Arizona, Police Department are in Pittsburgh as part of the G-20 security force. They were asked to assist by Pittsburgh officials as part of a Department of Homeland Security rapid response team. Officers from departments in several cities, including Cleveland, Ohio; Miami Metro Dade, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; and Chicago, Illinois, were sworn in as part of the massive security effort, but Tucson wins the prize for the greatest distance traveled. Watch how Pittsburgh has prepared for protests » . "There's a standardization in training," Tucson Lt. Paul Sayre said. Departments brought in to assist have undergone similar preparations in techniques and crowd control. The Arizona officers were asked to come to Pittsburgh after taking part in the protection effort at the Republican National Convention in 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The downtown Pittsburgh street on a morning with temperatures in the 50s was nothing like a typical day for the officers. "It's a different environment," Sayre said -- but the job was the same. "We're excited to be here. It's a lot of fun." "Our role is to support Pittsburgh," said Capt. Perry Tarrant, commanding the Tucson team. The additional help protecting downtown locations "gives Pittsburgh the flexibility to send its officers where needed," Sayre said. | Police officers from around country join G-20 security effort in Pittsburgh .
Departments involved include Miami, Florida, and Baltimore, Maryland .
Cops from Tucson, Arizona, find chilly temps a change, but say "It's a lot of fun" |
149,096 | 4cc6c7a37529cf05b2b8a802fa71cb9a65ae8b56 | By . Sarah Dean . and Australian Associated Press . The impartiality of the Speaker of the House of Representatives has been called into question after Bronwyn Bishop was accused of hosting Liberal Party fundraisers in her Parliament House Speaker's suite, in Canberra. Mrs Bishop, who has been a member of the Liberal Party since the age of 17, has reportedly been taking advantage of the plush room to host functions, while Labor office holders say they never used the room in such a way. However, a spokesman for the Australian politician claimed there was nothing illegal about the practice and reassured taxpayers that the government is not coughing up the bill for any soirees. Under fire: Bronwyn Bishop has been accused of hosting Liberal Party fundraisers in her Parliament House Speaker's suite in Canberra . 'From time to time the Speaker holds private functions in Parliament House as does a large number of members and senators... the cost is charged to her private account,' they told the Sydney Morning Herald. Mrs Bishop, 71, reportedly hosted a Liberal Party fundraising event in her suite on the night of the May 13 budget. The Sunday Telegraph claims the dinner was attended by 20 Liberal donors and cost $50,000. Diners were reportedly charged $2,500 a plate and Prime Minister Tony Abbott is also thought to have attended the party. Labor says if the claim is proven, Mrs Bishop should stand down. 'If this is true, her position as Speaker is no longer tenable,' manager of opposition business Tony Burke told AAP in a statement. Party venue? The Speaker reportedly hosted a Liberal Party fundraising event in her suite on the night of the May 13 budget . Predecessors: Labor Speaker Anna Burke (left) and Harry Jenkins (right) said they never used the room for fundraisers when they were in office . The Speaker's office was meant to be owned by the parliament. 'It's not a venue for hire,' Mr Burke said. But a spokesman for Mrs Bishop said she had not broken any electoral laws by holding the fundraising dinner. 'The Speaker does from time to time have private functions at parliament, as do many other members and senators,' the spokesman told News Corp. Favourite: Prime Minister Tony Abbott nominated Mrs Bishop as the next Speaker in 2013 . Labor has previously questioned Mrs Bishop's 'serious partiality' in her question time rulings, unsuccessfully moving a motion of no confidence in her in March. Recent Labor Speakers Anna Burke and Harry Jenkins said they had never used their Parliament House office for party fundraising events. Prime Minister Tony Abbott nominated Mrs Bishop as the next Speaker last year and she was elected on 12 November 2013. She is the third female Speaker of the House of Representatives. | She reportedly hosted a Liberal Party fundraising event in her Parliament House Speaker's suite in Canberra on the night of the May 13 budget .
Labor says if the claim is proven, Mrs Bishop should stand down .
A spokesman says she has not broken any electoral laws . |
263,060 | e0ba9d3db3edda30e4e266958a4a1fcf97ac8d07 | Shy Dahan allegedly used bogus bank paperwork to convince casino staff to give him credit to gamble. He denies one count of fraud by false representation . A businessman pretended to be a real estate tycoon and used bogus bank paperwork in order to gamble huge sums in a Mayfair casino, a court heard today. Shy Dahan, 33, allegedly used false Credit Suisse documents to mislead club staff into thinking he had more than £1million in the bank. Southwark Crown Court heard he produced papers from the Gibraltar arm of the bank in a bid to gain credit with the Playboy Club in Mayfair, London. The global bank had produced a letter for Dahan stating he had liquid assets of £1million after he duped them into believing he was the owner of the successful S Capital Group. Dahan, from Mayfair, and formerly of Tel Aviv in Israel, denies one count of fraud by false representation. It is alleged he joined the Park Lane club in November 2012, handed staff his Credit Suisse bank details and referred them to his website to convince them of his credit worthiness. An article on Dahan's website claimed he was someone who 'fulfils his dreams, turning visions into soaring skyscrapers and swarming estates'. It boasted that Dahan was a 'unique global entrepreneur' and a 'true visionary' with the 'Midas touch'. 'King Midas was a king in Greek mythology, anything he touched turned to gold,' said Prosecutor Simon Wild. 'In an email to the Playboy Club, he described himself as being the CEO of S Capital Group, he said he was the CEO and founder of S Capital Group and he referred the Playboy Club to the website.' But jurors heard the blurb about Dahan, his company and details of ongoing projects was directly lifted from a genuine real estate firm's website called Canada-Israel. Mr Wild added the website was 'designed to big up Mr Dahan and impress anybody that wanted to find out about him to see what a big deal he was, what a big player he was in the real estate business. 'It was a phony website designed to deceive all kinds of different people, indeed to show his credit worthiness and presumably that is the reason he referred the Playboy Club to it. 'He wanted to join the Playboy Club, apparently that is quite easy to do, you don't have to go through any hoops but in addition to being a mere member, the defendant also wanted to be allowed credit. 'That is to say to be allowed to cash cheques and to have credit.' Jurors were told Dahan wanted to gamble huge sums of cash without having it on his person. The court heard Dahan used false Credit Suisse bank documents to convince staff he had £1million in the bank . On November 27 in 2012, Dahan visited the London casino and produced the Credit Suisse letter, claiming that he had more than £1million in his account. His actual bank balance at the time the letter was produced was $439,000 - approximately £300,000. It is alleged the letter may have been produced with the help of a cohort at the bank. Mr Wild added: 'What it ends up being is he was allowed credit. 'He won lots, he lost lots, he won lots, he lost lots, in the end he ended up owing £230,000. 'Having told a lie about his means in the false letter, having referred them to the misleading website, he was allowed credit and he ended up owing them £230,000 - an amount which I think now has been paid back to them.' Dahan, of Mayfair, joined the Playboy Club on Old Park Lane in November 2012. Jurors were told he wanted to gamble huge sums without having cash on him . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Court heard Shy Dahan, 33, used false bank documents to dupe staff into thinking he had more than £1million in the bank .
He allegedly directed staff to website which boasted he had 'Midas touch'
Jurors told 'phony website' was used to prove his credit worthiness .
Court hears Dahan was able to run up debt of £230,000 at casino .
Prosecutor Simon Wild said he believes money has now been repaid .
Dahan, from Mayfair, denies one count of fraud by false representation . |
37,354 | 69d212a513fbc15d27202b805ca1517cc7bc9dc1 | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 07:27 EST, 14 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:46 EST, 16 January 2014 . Guilty: Sir George Castledine started a relationship with an 83-year-old widow out of sexual desire and financial greed, a panel has ruled . A distinguished professor who was knighted for services to nursing could be thrown out of the profession over his relationship with an 83-year-old widow he was counselling. Sir George Castledine declared his love for the recently bereaved woman and told her he needed to work out at the gym so he could 'make love' to her. He denied that his behaviour was motivated by financial gain or sexual desire - but a committee sitting at the Old Bailey in London has now ruled that this was in fact false. The 67-year-old will be banned from nursing if the Nursing and Midwifery Council decides that his misconduct has impaired his fitness to practice. Sir George regularly visited the elderly patient and showered her with gifts and flowers, accepting thousands of pounds in return. The woman's family became so concerned about his behaviour that they bugged her phone - and heard him calling her 'Tinkerbell' and saying he had to go to the gym or he 'wouldn't be able to make love' to her. NMC panel chairman Susan Hurds said today that he had 'manipulated a vulnerable patient' while motivated by sexual gratification and greed. She added that the woman, known as 'Patient A', was 'clearly grief-stricken' following the death of her husband, and needed bereavement counselling which Sir George was not qualified to give. 'You gave evidence which the panel often found difficult to believe,' Mrs Hurds told Sir George. 'You lacked consistency in your response, added evidence and altered your story as it suited you. 'We concluded that you lied at the outset of the investigation and as the hearing continued. As evidence was put before you you modified your account. 'The panel finds it incredible that the endearments and erotic language you used at no other time than on the occasions on the tape. 'You were deliberately evasive and not consistent but intentionally changed your story.' She added: 'The persistent nature of the telephone calls, late at night and early in the morning and the giving of gifts and eating together in an intimate setting were sexually motivated.' Treatment: Sir George first started working with the widow at Onneley House in Birmingham in November 2008 . Sir George - who was knighted in 2007 . - first treated the woman in November 2008 at Onneley House in . Birmingham, part of the Institute of Ageing and Health. After . the patient told her two daughters that she had begun an affair with . the married father of three, they bugged her phone and were horrified to . hear his repeated professions of love. Mrs Hurds said that the sisters acted solely out of concern for their mother, and were not motivated by financial gain. Sir George, currently a visiting professor at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, insisted that his chats with Patient A were nothing more than 'banter'. He told the hearing: 'Some of the phone calls later were sexual in some respects but it wasn't an offer of having sex with somebody or anything like that. 'One of the times I spoke to her she was having some trouble so I called her and on the telephone we would have banter. It was a befriending role that I had and I was befriending her.' Distinguished: Sir George was knighted by the Queen in a 2007 ceremony at Buckingham Palace . The nurse had previously admitted the contents of his conversations with the woman, and confessed that he had continued to see her even after he was told not to by an official. A number of other allegations, including the claim that he asked Patient A to lie about giving money to him, were initially denied but were ruled to be true by the NMC panel. Later this week the committee will rule on whether or not he can continue practising healthcare. Sir George formerly sat on the Welsh board of a predecessor to the NMC, and helped draw up the code of conduct for nursing which he has now breached. He is a former assistant dean of the nursing faculty at Birmingham City University, and an ex-consultant at Dudley Group of Hospitals. | Sir George Castledine, 67, counselled the woman after her husband died .
Her daughters became suspicious and monitored their phone calls .
Professor was heard telling the woman he needed to work out at the gym 'or I won't be able to make love to you'
Panel rules that relationship was motivated by greed and lust .
Experienced nurse could be barred from practicing at London hearing . |
135,540 | 3b5dcf391c6dd4e5c2bbe9f31926c7dfc4f7241f | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 19:50 EST, 25 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:12 EST, 25 August 2013 . Death: Lamarni Hylton-Reid, 20, died in hospital less than two hours after being stabbed in London . A 17-year-old boy was last night charged with the murder of a 20-year-old man stabbed to death in a street. Lamarni Hylton-Reid was found in Hackney, east London, at 5.10pm on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but pronounced dead at 6.30pm. Scotland . Yard said yesterday that the 17 year old had been charged with murder . and threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article in a . public place. He is set to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in north London this morning. A . 19-year-old man arrested for assisting an offender has been bailed . pending further investigation. A post-mortem examination gave cause of . death as a stab wound to the chest. The . motive behind the killing is not yet known, although local residents . claimed last week that the death happened following an argument over a . £5 note. Messages paying . tribute to Mr Hylton-Reid, of Clapton, east London, have flooded onto . Twitter, including one post which said he was stabbed on the way to . visit his mother on her birthday. Anyone . with details on the death at the junction of Homerton High Street . and Kenworthy Road, was asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3865 . or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Row: The motive behind the killing is not yet known, although local residents claimed last week that the death happened following an argument over a £5 note . Investigation: Police search for clues in Hackney, east London, after the stabbing on Wednesday at 5.10pm . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Lamarni Hylton-Reid attacked in Hackney, east London, on Wednesday .
Pronounced dead 80 minutes after suffering stab wound to the chest .
Local residents believe dispute may have been over unpaid debt of £5 .
Boy, 17, is set to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today . |
286,142 | fec92272a548d5116921bd1f9ab6d77add001101 | Rescuers are battling against time and the elements to save 12 workers trapped in a tunnel that collapsed . during construction of a hydropower plant in southern Vietnam. Firefighters say it could take days to get past entrenched mud, sand and debris as water levels continue to rise in the Lac Duong district of Lâm Đồng province. So far, rescuers have managed to ram a pipe through the rubble to supply air to the workers, after oxygen dropped to a critical level eight hours after the accident on Tuesday. The rescue team standing in front of the entrance of a tunnel at the Da Dang - Da Chomo hydroelectric power plant in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province, where authorities are struggling to free 12 trapped workers . The attempt to save the dozen workers, has so far involved involves hundreds of firefighters and members of the Vietnamese security forces. Bad weather and the complicated geology of the site in Lam Dong has been hampering the . effort. The water level in the tunnel has risen to 3ft3in so far, and authorities are struggling to drain the section before it is too late. The rescue team has dug small tunnels and have managed to reinforced the site with tree . trunks to pull out sand during a mission that has dominated . television networks and the front pages. 'Now there's only one tube to send food and oxygen inside, . while water is rising,' Dang Quang Dat, director of Song Da 505 . , the workers' firm, told Vietnam Television. 'We can't . just dig when we want.' The $22 million hydropower plant, one of dozens planned or . under construction in energy-hungry Vietnam, was expected to . produce about 110 million kWh annually. An iron tube 60 centimetres in diameter was being used to . pull out rocks and sand and authorities were pinning hopes on . reaching the workers so they could eventually squeeze through . the pipe to get out. 'It's very difficult and narrow ... most work is being done . by hand with the help of some equipment,' provincial military . chief Du Truong Giang told VTV. It was not clear what caused the tunnel to collapse but a . preliminary investigation suggested the cause was heavy rain. Worker Nguyen Van Tuan said he was in a truck inside the 500 . metre tunnel and fled as it caved in. 'Dirt, rocks and mud tumbled in ... we came back to dig out . our trapped colleagues but dirt and rocks kept falling as we . dug, so we had to get help,' he told news the VnExpress website. | Tunnel collapse during construction of power plant in southern Vietnam .
Rescue team says it could take days to get to 12 workers trapped inside .
Water levels continue to rise as Vietnamese authorities battle against time . |
33,536 | 5f60ad3a0abf5fc812880dd5e61a13b419eb2cdc | (EW.com ) -- As Tracy Jordan once said on "30 Rock:" Live every week like it's Shark Week. Syfy seems to be taking that maxim to heart, announcing its own Shark Week of sorts (Sorry, Discovery), pegged to the upcoming release of "Sharknado 2: The Second One." "Sharknado 2," is, of course, a sequel to last year's super-buzzy, low-budget television movie, "Sharknado." "Sharknado Week" will air July 26 through August 2; Sharknado 2 premieres Wed. July 30. Also in the programming block? Roger Corman's "Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda" (August 2), Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark (July 26), and "Sharkmania: The Top 15 Biggest Baddest Bloodiest Bites" (July 27). No one could forget the plot of "Sharknado 2," but here's Syfy's description once again: "A freak weather system turns its deadly fury on New York City, unleashing a Sharknado on the population and its most cherished iconic sites -- and only Fin (Ian Ziering) and April (Tara Reid) can save the Big Apple. The movie, directed by Anthony C. Ferrante from a screenplay by Thunder Levin, also stars Mark McGrath, Kari Wuhrer, Vivica A. Fox and Judah Friedlander, with cameo appearances including Kelly Osbourne, Judd Hirsch, Perez Hilton, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Andy Dick, Robert Klein, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, Biz Markie, Downtown Julie Brown, Richard Kind and Kurt Angle, among others." The week might become an annual thing — Syfy has already ordered a third Sharknado. 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. | "Sharknado 2" is coming this summer .
There will be a week block of shark content .
A third "Sharknado" has already been ordered . |
123,879 | 2c2519f7b5f192cda98f1c1f170ab498fc1f3754 | Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling was not one of the four players to be voted into baseball's Hall of Fame this year, and the World Series champ is speaking out as to why he believes he did not make the cut. Schilling, who over his 20 year career notched 216 wins - three of which came during World Series play - is claiming that his politics are keeping him from being admitted into his sport's most hallowed hall. 'I know that as a Republican that there’s some people that really don’t like that,' said Schilling. Scroll down for video . Not in: Curt Schilling (above) was not one of the four players inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame this year, which he believes is a result of his politics . Legends: Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez (above) and John Smoltz did make the cut, alongside Houston Astros infielder Craig Biggio . The right-hander revealed this during an interview with WEEI after it was announced that three pitchers were among the four players who would be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz were the hurlers to make the cut, alongside Houston Astros infielder Craig Biggio. As for Schilling, he thinks that his support of President George Bush, who he actively campaigned for in 2004, has alienated many of the Hall of Fame voters. 'I don’t think that it kept me out or anything like that, but I do know there are guys who probably will never vote for me because of the things I said or did,' he said. 'That’s the way it works.' That being said, new inductee Smoltz, who Schilling claims is a Democrat, did donate to Mitt Romney's campaign during his 2012 run for the presidency. Waiting: Players who just missed the cut this year include Roger Clemens (above), Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Barry Bond . The Baseball Writers' Association of America votes on who will be admitted to the Hall of Fame each year, with a player needing to appear on 75 percent of the ballots to make the cut. A player becomes eligible for the honor five years after retiring, and can only appear on the ballot for 10 years. This year was Schilling's third, and he appeared on 39.2 percent of the ballots. Other players who just missed the cut include Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. Schilling, who began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, is best known for his performance in the 2004 American League Championship Series, when he led the Red Sox to a victory over the New York Yankees while pitching on an injured ankle in game six of the seven game series. The Red Sox would go on to win the World Series that year, their first victory in 86 years. Schilling revealed in February 2014 that he was battling oral cancer, but he is currently in remission. | Curt Schilling is speaking out after not being named one of the four baseball players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year .
Schilling believes that he did not receive votes because he is a Republican, and supported George Bush during his presidency .
Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Craig Biggio and John Smoltz were the four players inducted this year .
Smoltz, who Schilling claims is a Democrat, did donate to Mitt Romney's campaign in 2012 . |
253,671 | d4563920d70675ea4daf9767f35dbb2db37f6258 | By . Katy Winter . A young mother shed 4st 7lb after her partner told her she had become 'too fat to find attractive'. Stacey Hammond-Moore, 25, of Walsall, was left fearing for the future of her relationship when her boyfriend told her he was no longer physically attracted to her because of her weight. Today the pair are happily married. The trainee teaching assistant said: 'He told me outright that he wasn’t attracted to me anymore. Stacey was left fearing for the future of her relationship when her boyfriend told her he was no longer physically attracted to her because of her weight . Stacey dropped from 15st and a size 20 (left) to a slim 10st 7lb and a size 10 (right) Stacey, who was a size 10 when the couple first met, found her weight crept up to 15st following the birth of her son Alistair (pictured) in 2009 . 'I felt upset because I didn’t want to lose him. I was worried that he was going to start looking elsewhere. 'I was not happy at the time but now I look back and know it was a case of being cruel to be kind.' Mrs Hammond-Moore and her husband Jonathan Moore, 31, a manager of a scrap company, have been a couple for 10 years and wed in 2011. Together they have two children, daughter Ruby, eight, and son Alistair, five. Mr Moore said: 'I do a lot of fitness. I go to the gym and play football, so that affected my view of things.' Mrs Hammond-Moore’s weight crept up to 15st following the birth of her son in 2009. At her heaviest weight she was wearing size 20 clothes. Mr Moore said: 'When I first met Stacey ten years ago she was just over 10st. She was slim, and very active. 'When she was larger she seemed so depressed every day. I could tell how uncomfortable she was by it all.' As her weight piled on, Mrs Hammond-Moore began experiencing breathlessness and lost confidence in her body image. She . said: 'I was too ashamed to take my children swimming because I was . worried about what I would look like in a bathing suit. I was concerned . that if I took the kids to a theme park, I would get stuck on the . rides.' After . her husband’s comments, which he made in 2008, she began thinking about . how her weight was affecting her and went about changing her lifestyle. Stacey, left with her son Alistair before she lost weight, said her size caused her to lose self confidence which she has now regained (right) Mrs Hammond-Moore and her husband Jonathan Moore, 31, a manager of a scrap company, have been a couple for 10 years and wed in 2011, pictured on their wedding day . She said: . 'I didn’t want to be the fattest mum in the playground or be a reason . for them to be picked on by their classmates. Most of all, I wanted to . have more energy to be able to keep up with them.” She . joined an NHS weight management programme in 2010 and lost three and a . half stone. Her weight fluctuated for a short period, but in June 2012 . she joined Slimming World, losing a further two and half stone in a . year. Her . hard work meant she met her target weight before her summer holidays in . 2013, allowing her to feel comfortable showing off her body in a . bikini. Before . her diet she would not stick to regular meals, preferring takeaways and . McDonalds food when she became hungry. There was no fruit or vegetables . in her meals and she would snack on crisps and chocolate to satisfy . cravings. In March 2014 her husband treated her to a boudoir photoshoot to allow her to show off her new body. Stacey now feels confident showing off her new slim body in her underwear or a bikini . Mr Moore says he is very proud of Stacey's weight loss (right with her Slimming World award) Now she is following the Slimming World diet and on a normal day, will eat lean bacon on wholemeal bread, salads and low fat bolognaises and curries. She has also ditched the multipack crisps and eats fruits and yoghurts instead. Mrs Hammond-Moore is now 10st 7lb and feels much more confident in her size 10 clothes. She said: 'I love my new figure. I’ve transformed myself to the point where people don’t recognise me.' 'By changing my diet to healthier options it’s better for the kids, as they share the food too.' In March 2014 her husband treated her to a boudoir photoshoot to allow her to show off her new body. She said: 'The photos have given me much more confidence. The compliments I’ve had from people have been out of this world.” Mr Moore said: 'She has done extremely well. She is nearly back to the size she was when I met her. I’m extremely proud, to lose 4st overall is very impressive. I can’t fault her at all now, she looks absolutely beautiful.' Mrs Hammond-Moore added: 'Jonathan wouldn’t dream of telling me I’m too fat now. In fact, he loves to show me off. 'It was hurtful at the time, but now I know how much better my life is. I’m glad he gave me the kick I needed to turn my life around. 'It’s given me the confidence to be a stronger woman and and I’m so much happier now.' | At 15st Stacey experienced breathlessness and lost confidence in her body image .
Stacey's husband told her outright that he wasn’t attracted to her anymore .
Prompted her to joined an NHS weight management programme then a slimming group .
Her husband treated her to a boudoir photo shoot to allow her to show off her new body . |
172,676 | 6b7a9adfa6a7289b387e1a57b7b4ebe261e4cab7 | By . Mark Duell . Gunmen killed three Egyptian soldiers in an attack on a bus today - prompting a warning from the army that it would eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood. Al Qaeda-inspired Islamist militant groups in Sinai have stepped up attacks on security forces since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi in July after mass protests against his rule. Some 49 people were killed yesterday in anti-government protests which were attacked by supporters of the new political order and security forces, witnesses said. Scroll down for video . Attack: His appearance comes as British holidaymakers are repeatedly told to stay indoors in Egypt's capital after 80 people died during a weekend of street clashes. Above, protestors throw stones and glass at police . Help: Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi carry an injured demonstrator who was shot during clashes in Cairo . Deaths: Supporters of Egypt's army and police at Tahrir Square, on the third anniversary of Egypt's uprising . Yesterday was the third anniversary of the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Security forces said they fired live rounds on Brotherhood supporters as they tried to set up a sit-in in Cairo. Security sources said that 23 people died in the incident, 22 from by bullet wounds, and that they were included in the official death toll of 49. The violence showed deep divisions that have flared often since the 2011 revolt that raised hopes of a stable democracy. The military blames the Brotherhood for much of Egypt's political violence. In another attack in lawless Sinai, five soldiers were killed yesterday when an army helicopter crashed in the north of the peninsula in an operation against militants. It was a missile attack, security sources said, without giving further details. The army has not commented on the cause of the crash. Militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem) claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on an army helicopter in a statement posted on the internet. Fire: Supporters of the Brotherhood and President Mursi close the road during clashes with riot police in Cairo . Protection: A riot policeman sits inside a police vehicle on October Bridge during the clashes with protestors . Tanks: Supporters of Egypt's army and police cheer with national flags and Sisi posters in front of armoured personnel carriers standing guard in front of Tahrir Square . The group also said it was behind a wave of bomb attacks in Cairo on Friday which killed at least six people. Egyptian authorities make no distinction . between militants operating in the Sinai and the Brotherhood, which . renounced violence in the 1970s but has been declared a terrorist group . by the Egyptian government. 'We assure the Egyptian people of the great determination of its men to fight black terrorism and the complete elimination of the advocates of oppression and sedition and blasphemy from followers of the Muslim Brotherhood' Egyptian army . In a statement on Facebook, the army said: ‘We assure the Egyptian people of the great determination of its men to fight black terrorism and the complete elimination of the advocates of oppression and sedition and blasphemy from followers of the Muslim Brotherhood.’ . The soldiers who were killed in the bus attack were on their way back from holiday when gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, security sources said. Security forces have killed up to 1,000 Muslim Brotherhood supporters and put the movement's top leaders in jail. But the tough measures have failed to pacify Egypt, which is of great strategic importance because of its peace treaty with Israel and control over the Suez Canal. Destruction: A security guard walks at the Islamic Art Museum, which was damaged by a car bomb attack targeting the nearby Cairo Security Directorate on Friday . Taken away: Riot police arrest anti-government protesters and members of the Brotherhood during clashes at Ramsis Street, which leads to Tahrir Square . Death toll: Some 49 people were killed yesterday in anti-government protests which were attacked by supporters of the new political order and security forces, witnesses said . Interim President Adly Mansour announced today that Egypt's presidential elections would be held before parliamentary polls. The new political timetable could see army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who toppled Egypt's first democratically-elected president, become head of state within months. Parliamentary elections were supposed to happen first under the roadmap agreed after the army deposed Mr Mursi. But critics argued that a presidential poll should be held first to elect a strong leader able to stabilise Egypt before potentially divisive parliamentary elections. General Sisi, who was President Mubarak's head of military intelligence, is expected to announce his candidacy for the presidency soon and is likely to win by a landslide. His supporters view him as a decisive figure who can pacify Egypt. The Brotherhood accuses him of masterminding a coup and holds him responsible for what it says are human rights abuses. | Egyptian army warns that it will eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood .
Al Qaeda-inspired Islamist militant groups have stepped up attacks .
Army toppled President Mohamed Mursi in July after mass protests .
49 people were killed yesterday in anti-government demonstrations . |
171,923 | 6a8380b2f359664578de52fbe868d5bcb4e521b0 | By . Rebecca Camber . UPDATED: . 02:21 EST, 8 September 2011 . Quizzed: Amelia Hill, a Guardian journalist, has been questioned over allegations she aided and abetted misconduct in a public office . A journalist from the Guardian has been questioned by detectives investigating sensitive leaks from within Scotland Yard’s phone hacking inquiry team. Amelia Hill, who was first with the information that the News of the World hacked into Milly Dowler’s phone, was interviewed under caution about the passing of confidential details of the investigation to the newspaper. Miss Hill, 37, is understood to have formed a friendship with an officer on the hacking inquiry, codenamed Operation Weeting. The 51-year-old officer has been suspended and Miss Hill was questioned over suspicions that she might have aided and abetted misconduct in a public office. As part of their investigation, detectives will also try to establish whether the suspended officer received any expenses paid for passing the information. Miss Hill is believed to have become close to the officer after she interviewed him in connection with another story. The development is embarrassing for the paper, whose coverage of the hacking scandal prompted a public inquiry into journalistic standards. In July, Miss Hill broke the Guardian’s Milly Dowler story – described as a ‘tipping point’ in the scandal – which revealed that private investigators working for the tabloid hacked the voicemails of the murdered Surrey schoolgirl after she went missing in 2002. And last month she reported the arrest of News of the World reporter James Desborough before he had even been formally detained by police. The alleged source of these police leaks was arrested at his desk. The officer was said to have called the Guardian in a panic that night asking to speak to Miss Hill. Breaking news: Hill first reported that Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked, before reporting on James Desborough's arrest before he was formally detained . News International has asked a technology firm to delete emails and other documents 13 times since 2009, MPs investigating the phone-hacking scandal have been told. Technology company HCL, which provides services under contract to News International, informed the Commons Home Affairs Committee in August that it was aware of the deletion of hundreds of thousands of emails on nine occasions between April 2010 and July 2011, but said it did not know of anything 'untoward' behind the requests. Today, HCL's solicitor Stuart Benson contacted the committee again to say that a further four requests had come to light - one of which related to the deletion of emails from an inbox of a user who had not accessed his account for eight years. Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: 'The request for deletion of folders and emails by News International is concerning.' Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, in charge of Operation Weeting, was furious at the constable’s alleged ‘unauthorised disclosure’, breaking a confidentiality agreement signed by all Operation Weeting officers. Detectives will be closely examining phone records of the arrested detective in relation to a number of stories written by Miss Hill. On Monday, she appeared on Sky News to preview the newspaper front pages. She claimed that the Guardian had uncovered a number of documents and tapes in relation to the hacking inquiry. Dan Roberts, the paper’s national news editor, said on Twitter that it was a ‘bleak day for journalism when reporter behind vital hacking revelations is criminalised for doing her job’. Nick Davies, who has led the Guardian’s phone-hacking coverage, wrote on the website: ‘Scotland Yard trying to use criminal law to restrict reporting of their own activity.’ A Guardian News & Media spokesman said: ‘Journalists would no doubt be concerned if the police sought to criminalise conversations between off-record sources and reporters. Arrested: The Times' Deputy football editor Raoul Simons was arrested yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages . 'While we would never comment on any specific confidential source, we can confirm that Amelia Hill has never paid any police officer for information. Given the ongoing police investigation we have nothing further to add.’ In a separate development, police yesterday arrested the deputy football editor of The Times, Raoul Simons, 35, on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages. He has been on extended leave since September 2010. He is the 16th suspect to be held since the scandal broke. It also emerged yesterday that News International has asked the technology firm HCL to delete emails and other documents 13 times since 2009. HCL informed the Commons Home Affairs Committee in August that it was aware of the deletion of hundreds of thousands of emails between April 2010 and July 2011, but said it knew of nothing ‘untoward’ behind the requests. | Amelia Hill questioned over links to inquiry officer .
Journalist broke story of Milly Dowler's phone being hacked and arrest of senior NotW reporter .
Deputy football editor of The Times also arrested . |
274,238 | ef333f45c143af7679415c69f437e013bff9a52d | Vincenzo Nibali may have charmed the Yorkshire public but he soon found out he could not steal the heart of all who witnessed his Tour de France stage two win. The Italian stormed to victory on the stage between York and Sheffield but he was rejected by the podium girl when he went in for a celebratory kiss during the presentation of his yellow jersey. He was given his maillot jaune and handed some flowers but as he went in for a kiss the podium girl awkwardly pulled away, leaving the Team Astana rider hanging. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Vincenzo Nibali get rejected by podium girl . Leading man: Vincenzo Nibali, the champion of Italy, receives the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey from the podium girl after winning stage two in Sheffield . All smiles: Italian Vincenzo Nibali (centre) looks at the podium girl after being given his yellow jersey . Making a move: He leans his head towards the podium girl who looks straight towards him . Blanked: She then turns her head away from Nibali and flat out rejects his advances for a kiss . Red faced: Nibali looks awkward and places his hand behind his head as she turns away from him . Mellow yellow: Nibali takes the applause moments after his snub after the second stage of Le Tour, brilliantly hosted in Yorkshire . Hundreds of thousands of people lined the 201-kilometre route from York on a brutal day of racing which involved many climbs. Nibali forced a late break and he took the yellow jersey from stage one winner, Germany Marcel Kittel. Britain's Chris Froome finished 19th on the stage but Mark Cavendish was forced to withdraw from the Tour through injury. VIDEO Nibali takes yellow jersey after stage two win - highlights . Big finish: Nibali defied criticism to take the yellow jersey on day two of the Tour de France . Late burst: Nibali of Astana broke away from the lead group in the closing kilometres and held on . Fun: Nibali was able to have a laugh on the podium with a cuddly toy lion after being rejected . | Nibali leaned in for a kiss and was flatly rejected by podium girl .
The Italian won stage two of the Tour between York and Sheffield .
Chris Froome came 19th but Mark Cavendish forced to withdraw from Tour . |
77,669 | dc3149cbcc1e5a0fa1da3c72d9cb382cebc094e3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:21 EST, 23 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 00:38 EST, 24 February 2014 . The man arrested for allegedly assaulting Modern Family star Sarah Hyland last week may have been involved in a similar incident a year ago with Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock. In video footage released by the Sunday Telegraph, a man of similar appearance can be seen reaching out to the Acadamy Award nominee as she greeted fans the red carpet in July. She was in Sydney, at George Street's Event Cinemas, at the premiere of her film The Heat. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Previeous incident: Sandra Bullock, pictured at the 86th Academy Awards nominee luncheon on February 10, can be seen in a recently released video reacting to a fan's unwanted attention . As the man reaches out, his hand grazes her left breast. The moved could just as easily be accidental as on purpose. But the 49-year-old actress immediately flinches away from the fan and instinctively covers herself up. She is then seen to put both her hands out - palms first in a defensive gesture - saying: 'Wait, wait, wait, wait - don't touch my breast!' Minders move in while the fan looks like he is trying to explain himself. 'Don't touch me there': Sarah was left in tears when she was groped by a fan at a Modern Family party in Sydney on Thursday night . Moments before: The 29-year-old man posed for a photograph with the actress . Bullock later tries to laugh off the incident and finally poses for a photo with the man. On Thursday night Sarah Hyland was not as forgiving. The 23-year-old actress had been posing with fans outside the Modern Family party hosted by Qantas at The Sebel Pier One in Sydney, Australia, when the incident occurred. She was in tears when a male fan asked her for a photograph and then allegedly grabbed her breast. Shaken: The star looked tearful as she was driven away . Arrested: The man was taken away in a police van . Drama: The man was charged with assault with an act of indecency . Sarah is then said to have pushed the man away and screamed 'Don't touch me there!' before her security stepped in to question the fan and pass the matter over to the police. Pictures from the event showed Sarah angrily pointing at a man believed to have been the one who touched her inappropriately. After the incident, Sarah is reported to have left the venue via the rear door in floods of tears. Explaining her early exit from the event, Sarah later took to Twitter and wrote: 'Sorry to all the fans outside the #qantas event that I didn't get to say hi to but I had to leave due to an inappropriate touch of a fan.' Before it happened: Sarah seen (left) before the incident occurred and (right) directly afterwards . Pointing the finger: The was quickly surrounded by a security team . Quick exit: Sarah's immediately left the scene . And Sarah's boyfriend Matt Prokop was also quick to rush to her defence, tweeting: 'To the asshole who assaulted Sarah tonight I hope to God you don't see next week. 'All Sarah wanted to do tonight was say hi to the girls who were waiting outside one douche can ruin it for everyone. Goodnight.' A spokesperson for the NSW Police told . MailOnline: 'A man has now be charged following the alledged indecent assault of a woman yesterday. It is alleged the man indecently assaulted the 23-year-old woman near Hickson Road, The Rocks, at about 7.50pm.' THe man has been identified locally as 29-year-old Nedal Lakmas. He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on March 14. Posing up: Earlier, Sarah had looked in good spirits as she posed for photographers . Apology: Sarah was quick to take to Twitter to apologise to those fans she didn't get to meet outside the event . | Incident with Academy Award nominee Bullock occurred last year .
Actress clearly flinches and covers up, saying 'Don't touch my breast'
A 29-year-old man has been charged in relation to the Hyland incident . |
131,109 | 358b6c80d1dcba7f6a18e6680f9509d22b541be4 | Martha Stewart is recovering from the loss of her CEO to rival Gwyneth Paltrow by axing up to 50 employees. The cuts will hit the sales and marketing departments at Martha Stewart Omnimedia hardest while some workers will be moved to Meredith Corporation. Last week, the 73-year-old's former CEO Lisa Gersh was hired by Paltrow's lifestyle company GOOP, which is currently engaged in a vicious media war with Martha's brand. Scroll down for video . Martha Stewart, right, is axing 50 staffers just one week after losing CEO Lisa Gersh to Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP lifestyle brand. Pictured here in 2011 . But staffers were shocked to find out the news because the layoffs had been such a well-kept secret, a source told the New York Daily News. It's not the first time Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has shaken things up in a significant way. Last year, nearly 100 people were handed pink slips just before the holiday season, and in 2012 the company let 70 workers go in November. 'They want (laid-off workers) to keep coming in through October 31, then they get (paid for) 60 days after that, but I can't see anyone going in,' said the source. 'I can't imagine Meredith will have a use for all those people. I think those people have to know the writing is on the wall. 'It was a big deal. There were people crying.' Stewart's comeback was in the form of a recipe for a pie called 'Conscious Coupling,' a clear dig at Paltrow's split from Chris Martin . Last year, Martha sparked the feud with Gwyneth by questioning GOOP entering the competitive arena of celebrity lifestyle brands which she thought she had reigned over for so many years. And last month, Martha mocked Paltrow saying she 'just needs to be quiet'. 'She's a movie star. If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn't be trying to be Martha Stewart.' But Gwyneth soon responded: 'I'll try to recover. 'If I'm really honest, I'm so psyched that she sees us as competition. I'm so psyched. I really am.' The feud continued in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, where she mocked the Iron Man star by making a reference to Gwyneth's well-known 'conscious uncoupling' quip - a clear dig at her separation from husband Chris Martin in March. In the November issue, Martha titled one of the pages 'Conscious Coupling' to describe the 'perfect marriages of crust and filling' when it comes to making a pie. 'Conscious uncoupling': Gwyneth coined the term when she announced her separation from Chris Martin . | Comes after Martha's CEO Lisa Gersh joined Paltrow's lifestyle brand .
Last year, Martha faced flak for firing 100 people just before holidays .
In latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, 73-year-old mocked Paltrow's separation from Chris Martin . |
96,434 | 0812829f6317e220528985fbc12e0ae932faa35f | If ever an incident provided compelling evidence that footballers need to change their ways then it was the incident at the KC Stadium on Saturday. Joey Barton is in the spotlight for making a lunge with his hand towards Tom Huddlestone’s genitals. In Barton’s own words, he 'touched Huddlestone up'. Barton was rightly sent off. How did he think lunging at Huddlestone’s groin would help his team-mate, or his team? Huddlestone’s revelation after the game that this sort of incident happens dozens of times every week in training is surprising, to say the least. Joey Barton was sent off for QPR after he, in his own words, 'touched up' Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone . Referee Anthony Taylor had no choice but to send Barton off after his behaviour crossed a line . Huddlestone revealed this sort of incident often goes on in training as players pass it off as banter . This grabbing or touching each other’s genitals, what is that all about? Do footballers do it because it’s something else that passes as banter? Do other players laugh when one of their team-mates grabs someone else’s private parts in training? Is that a source of amusement that passes most people by? Do footballers really grab each other’s pants for the bants? Or is there something else going on? Are the players who take part in this behaviour actually showing signs of some repressed sexuality they don’t feel comfortable fully expressing in a football environment. It’s a possibility. If you check back through all the instances of footballers and other sportsmen taking part in group sex, two things become clear. Firstly there are a lot of cases. Go and check them. Secondly, they almost always involve a lot of men and one female and often they are filmed by one of the guys. Barton walks off the pitch at the KC Stadium after his red card for grabbing Huddlestone's genitals . What may have been acceptable on the training ground was certainly not in front of 24,000 watching fans . The idea of watching one of my male colleagues or friends strip, get aroused, and then carry out some sort of sexual act with a female fills me with horror to be honest. Yet in the sometimes bizarre, worryingly immoral world of sport, this is accepted as normal behaviour. I urge you to read Anna Krien’s amazing book Night Games: Sex, Power and a Journey into the Dark Heart of Sport. It’s one of the most important books written in recent years on this subject and highlights how lawless some sportsmen (she focuses on Australian sport) seem to be. As an extreme example closer to home, remember the England coach who defecated from a great height into a pint glass as a way of keeping his bored players entertained? 'He did it for the lads,' one of those players explained to me. I don’t think I could find that entertaining in any way. Do players laugh when one of their team-mates grabs someone else’s private parts as Barton did? Barton (second left) gave an apology that was the correct thing to do, but trying to mitigate it was disgraceful . Having said all of that, I am very much the kind of person who accepts that what might not be right for me, might work for others, and if that is the kind of stuff that floats your boat then go for it. As long as it’s a private thing, and nobody gets hurt or violated, who can have a problem? Where it becomes an issue is when the line is crossed. And that’s what happened with Barton on Saturday. He didn’t understand that even though footballers might enjoy that kind of thing in training, doing it in front of over 24,000 paying spectators, including many children, is absolutely not acceptable behaviour. His norms are warped. His apology was the correct thing to do, but trying to mitigate it by saying it was in defence of his young team-mate was disgraceful. If a player carried out this genital grab on a female referee, it would absolutely be treated as a sexual assault, and rightly so. Barton is lucky he did it to another man who accepts that genital touching is apparently all part and parcel of being a professional footballer. If a player carried out a genital grab on a female referee then it would rightly be treated as sexual assault . Barton is lucky he did it to another man who accepts that genital touching was OK for footballers . | Joey Barton was sent off in QPR's 2-1 defeat against Hull City on Saturday .
There are plenty of instances of footballers taking part in group sex .
Tom Huddlestone said that Barton's behaviour was not unusual in training .
Barton crossed a line - grabbing Huddlestone in public was unacceptable .
Trying to mitigate his actions by saying it was in defence was disgraceful . |
54,413 | 9a2015e16eac5a076cb56f7fef5b24200c96d85d | By . Jill Reilly . Portuguese police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have revealed they questioned a heroin addict in connection with sex attacks on five young British girls in the Algarve. Euclides Monteiro, 40, who died in a freak tractor accident in 2009, worked at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz, which Maddie disappeared from - he was sacked a year before she vanished. Now it has been revealed that Portuguese investigators suspected Monteiro of being involved in the sexual abuse of five girls at holiday homes in the region between 2004 and 2006. Portuguese police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (right) questioned Euclides Monteiro, (left) a heroin addict in connection with sex attacks on five young British girls . Resort: Madeleine went missing from this holiday apartment at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz in May 2007. Monteiro worked at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, which Maddie disappeared from and was sacked a year before she vanished . A Portuguese police source told The Mirror: 'These cases were investigated by local police and Monteiro was arrested. No charges were brought due to lack of evidence.' This week British detectives increased tension with their Portuguese counterparts, who claim they came up the link first in October, when they announced they are looking for a prolific paedophile who was suspected of breaking into holiday properties where British families were staying and sexually abusing five white British girls aged between seven and 10. In six of the break-ins, the man sat on or got into bed with young girls. On one occasion, he abused two young girls in the same villa. Questioned: Luisa Rodrigues said she could not remember the night of Madeleine's disappearance - but was sure he would have been at home watching television at the time . Two of the attacks were in the resort . of Praia da Luz, where Madeleine was staying in a holiday apartment with . her family when she was taken. There . were also four in Carvoeiro and six in the Vale da Parra, Praia da Gale . district and most of the attacks took place in low season. They . had previously been discounted by Portuguese investigators because they . are spread over a wide geographical area and there were no apparent . attempts at abduction. Nine . of the 12 incidents were reported to Portuguese police at the time they . happened, and details of three of those became known to British . investigators only after they made televised appeals last autumn. New clue: Detectives on the Madeleine case say the man they are looking for wore a distinctive burgundy top . Monteiro was sacked a year before the McCann family arrived at the holiday resort after he was caught stealing from the resort - one theory was that he may have abducted the British girl to get revenge on his former employers. The Mail has learned, however, that Scotland Yard detectives do not consider Monteiro to be a strong suspect and as well trying to gather more clues on the sex attacks on British children, are investigating a gang of at least three burglars who had previously targeted the holiday resort where Maddie was abducted from. Analysis of mobile phone data shows the men were close to the complex at the time she vanished, and were in ‘intense’ phone contact with each other in the following hours. In Portugal, it is claimed that Monteiro’s phone was also near the Ocean Club Resort when Madeleine disappeared. His . widow said she is sure he was not responsible for her disappearance - . and insisted he would have been at home watching TV at the time. The . suspect was wearing a distinctive burgundy long sleeve top, on one of . those occasions it was described as having a white circle on the back. But Ms Rodrigues, 40, said 'I can't remember ever seeing him wear anything like that.' She told the Daily Mirror she met police officers in a cafe near her home in Lagos. 'They . said they suspected him because he used to work at the Ocean Club . complex where the McCanns were staying and because they had tracked the . signal from his mobile phone to the area where Madeleine disappeared the . night she vanished,' she said. 'I was speechless. I kept repeating Euclides was innocent but they said it was not for me to say.' She lives a 15-minute drive away from the scene of the young girl's disappearance on May 3, 2007. Ms . Rodrigues said that she could not remember the night of Madeleine's . disappearance - but insisted she would have turned him in if she thought . he was responsible. She added: 'It's a long time ago, but I'm sure he would have been at home watching TV. That's what he always did after work.' Monteiro, who fathered Ms Rodrigues 11-year-old son, once served a five-year prison sentence for burglary. However, his wife said that although he was 'no angel' he would not have been behind the suspected kidnapping. This . week Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said: 'This is an offender . who has got a very, very unhealthy interest in young, white, female . children whom he is attacking whilst they are on holiday in their beds.' Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann posed two years ago with a picture of how she might now look . Witnesses . describe the man as having dark, tanned skin with short dark unkempt . hair. He spoke in English with a foreign accent, his voice was described . as slow, or possibly slurred. He was sometimes bare chested, some describe him as having a pot belly, and three victims said that he had a noticeable odour. Police . said the suspect may have been in the villa or looking round the villa . for some time before committing the offences or being disturbed either . by a parent, or the child waking up, and said he remained calm, even . when disturbed. On two occasions, they said, the noise of a bin collection lorry could be heard nearby. DCI Redwood said that tracing the man is one of his priority lines of inquiry. He . said: 'We need to establish the identity of this man - these offences . are very serious and no-one has been charged in connection with them.' Mr . Redwood's team currently have 38 people classed as 'persons of . interest' to the inquiry, and are also sifting through details of 530 . known sex offenders whose whereabouts they cannot account for.Of those 59 are classed as high priority, and some of those are British. British . investigators have so far sent three international letters of request . to Portuguese authorities over the investigation, covering 41 priority . areas for the team, involving 287 separate requests. Deputy . Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt showed his anger at the slow pace . of the legal process, saying: 'That's causing us frustration because we . know what we want to do and we are ready to go with that. But the . process is the process.' Another 30 letters have been written to other European countries, but the force would not reveal where. Madeleine, . who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday . apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 as her parents . dined at a nearby restaurant with friends. British . detectives launched a fresh investigation into the youngster's . disappearance in July last year - two years into a review of the case - . and made renewed appeals on television in the UK, the Netherlands and . Germany. After . shelving their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, . Portuguese authorities said last October that a review had uncovered . enough new information to justify reopening it. | Heroin addict Euclides Monteiro died in a freak tractor accident in 2009 .
He worked at Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz where Maddie disappeared .
Arrested in connection with sex attacks on five young British girls .
Source: 'No charges were brought due to lack of evidence'
Tanned, dark-haired man suspected of child sex assaults from 2004-2006 .
Madeleine McCann, aged three, was taken from Praia da Luz in May 2007 .
Lead has increased tensions between British and Portuguese police . |
241,381 | c4727783ab1d1e833ecdcea826e61f2ddb9d9c15 | A mother whose two daughters were trapped inside a submerged car in suburban Minneapolis on Thursday morning went into premature labor after hearing that one of her children had drowned, while the other remains fighting for life. Shaniece Thompson, 25, said the horrifying news of the tragic incident led her to give birth on to a 3lb baby - also a daughter - on the same day that five-year-old Zenavia Rennie died in the accident. Thompson, who was only 32 weeks pregnant at the time, has named the newborn child Dream and she is currently in neo-natal intensive care. Scroll down for video . Shaniece Thompson, 25, said the horrifying news of the tragic incident lead her to give birth on to a 3lb baby - Dream - on the same day that her five-year-old daughter Zenavia Rennie died in the accident . Her other daughter, 6-year-old Zarihana Rennie, continues to battle for life and is listed in extremely critical condition following Thursay morning's incident. Thompson’s daughters were amongst a group of five children trapped in the submerged car that was driven into an icy lake by unlicensed driver Marion Guerrido, 23. She is the mother of the other three children in the car and is also the girlfriend of Julius Rennie, the father of Thompson’s children. Her son Alarious Coleman-Guerrido, seven, died in the crash from complications of drowning. Meanwhile her other children Amani Coleman-Guerrido and baby Aliyana Rennie (whose father is Julius . Rennie) are in a critical condition, but continuing to make strides in their recovery. Their eyes are open and they are most responsive to verbal commands. Thompson told CBS Minnesota that she has a lot of questions about the incident that she wants to ask Guerrido. Marion Guerrido, right, was the unlicensed driver of the car which ended up in a pond in Minneapolis killing two young children, including Zarihana Rennie, left . The officers and firefighters who jumped into the water have revealed that they had to use their feet to pull the kids out of the car . 'I’m angry about the fact she was driving without a license. I’m angry at the fact she put all those kids in a small car,' Thompson said. Rescuers . worked frantically to try and free the children after their vehicle . veered off a highway ramp and into the frigid pond shortly after 6am on . Thursday. The car was underwater for up to 45 minutes after the crash. St. Louis Park city spokesman Jamie Zwilling said the children were unconscious and unresponsive when pulled from the vehicle. Zenavia Rennie of Brooklyn Center, was pronounced dead at around 7.30pm Thursday. An attorney acting as the family spokesman told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Alarious Coleman-Guerrido passed away before 10pm at Hennepin County Medical Center. The driver, Marion Guerrido, 23, of Brooklyn Center, escaped from the four-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am sedan and was unhurt. One witness described seeing her in the pond, screaming for help. ‘The car was under water, and she must have been standing on top,' Jeff Robertson told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. ‘That pond is 8 or 9 feet deep, and the water was at her knees.’ Tragic loss: Alarious Coleman-Guerrido, 7 (both photos), died from complications from drowning after being rescued from the freezing pond . Shaniece Thompson, center, has said she has a lot of questions for Marion Guerrido who was driving the vehicle which included her two daughters, one of whom is now dead and other remains in an extremely critical condition . The officers and firefighters who jumped into the water have revealed that they had to use their feet to pull the kids out of the car. 'I've been doing this a long time - 35 years and I've been involved in a lot of rescues. Never seen anything like that before,' paramedic Randy Elledge told MyFox9. Firefighters in special suits that make them float first had to bring the driver, Guerrido, and a Good Samaritan to shore before Tim Smith with the St. Louis Park Fire Department started sweeping the inside of the car with his feet. ‘It was frustrating not being able to access the inside of the compartment and not being able to get in there and do what we could do with our hands,’ Smith said. They pulled out three of the children through an open driver's side window and two more through back windows that Smith broke, then they carried the children to shore where paramedics were waiting to perform CPR. Cause: A police officer investigates the scene where a car carrying six people careered into a holding pond just after 6am on Thursday November 21 . Authorities say the five children were . trapped underwater in the car for about 20 minutes in freezing water on Thursday morning . Four of the five children, including . the two deceased, attended the Odyssey Academy, where little Zenavia had . recently been named a star student. The crash happened about 6:15 am at the . junction of Highways 7 and 100 in St Louis Park, a western Minneapolis . suburb. It is not yet known how fast the car - a green Pontiac Grand Am - . was going. Lt Eric Roeske said the car veered . left off a ramp and plunged down a slope into the pond about 40 to 50 . yards from the roadway. There is no guardrail between the road and the . pond. He told the Star Tribune the car landed in water that was 'quite deep', an estimated eight to nine feet, and was 'incredibly cold'. 'A passerby who jumped in the water was standing on the roof of the vehicle and the water was up to his neck,' Roeske said. All victims were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. Asked to comment on whether the crash could have been intentional, Roeske said they were planning to fully investigate the incident, but there was no immediate information that would indicate the crash had happened on purpose. Police say they are still looking into how the kids could ll fit in the four-door sedan and if any of them were wearing seat belts. Video: Mother of drowning victim goes into premature labor . KMSP-TV . Crash: The children were not able to be rescued from the car until it was towed out of the water . The city fire department and the Hennepin County dive team worked to get the car out. she said it wasn't clear whether speed was a factor in the crash. The road was wet from light mist, but not icy, he said. Jeffrey Robertson, who lives in an apartment building close to the pond, said he heard a woman screaming as he was watching the morning news on TV. He ran onto his second-floor balcony and saw a woman standing in water that was up to her knees, he told the Star Tribune. He then called 911 before running out to help the woman. | Marian Guerrido, 23, drove into a pond early on Thursday morning with five children in her car .
Two of the children have died and three are in a critical condition .
Shaniece Thompson, 25, is the mom of two of the children and gave birth to daughter Dream prematurely after hearing about the incident .
Guerrido is the girlfriend of the father of Thompson's children .
Thompson has said she is very angry that Guerrido was driving without a license and had so many children in a small sedan car . |
83,163 | ebcc64a03ac62db757756e2c6dab943a08c33507 | (CNN) -- Seamus Heaney, the Irish Nobel laureate who died Friday at 74, will be remembered for his translations, for his literary essays, for his generous international public presence, but principally for the poetry he himself wrote. Though the Heaney of the poems could sound unsettled, or even tormented, he was in person equable, welcoming, generous; these qualities would enter the poetry too. And he will be remembered not for one kind of poetry, but for several: He amazed even attentive admirers as he became, over his long career, in one way the opposite of his early self. His first great poems were tough, inward, tied to the soil; his last, just as Irish, were confident, sometimes gleeful, creatures of air. Heaney began as a poet of earth. Raised in a large farming family in County Derry, Northern Ireland, educated there and in Belfast, he applied his gifts at first to the landscape where he felt at home, a place of village survivals, of un-English place names ("Broagh," "Anahorish") and eloquent modesty, comparing his poetry to ploughing, to blacksmiths' work. He wrote in "Bogland": . Our unfenced country . Is bog that keeps crusting . Between the sights of the sun. ... The ground itself is kind, black butter . Melting and opening underfoot. This kind ground might swallow him up, but it might also provide him with a voice. When parts of that ground became violent, Heaney was there. His time in Belfast as student and teacher encompassed the violent years known as the Troubles, the years of the UVF and the IRA, of bombings at funerals and British troops on the streets; Heaney became a poet of burial sites, of guilt and self-division in terse, halting stanzas. In "Wintering Out" (1973) and in "North" (1975), he examined the violence directly and by analogy with the Bronze Age corpses that Danish archaeologists exhumed. "The Grauballe Man," he wrote, "seems to weep/ the black river of himself" ..."with the actual weight/of each hooded victim,/slashed and dumped." Those poems made him internationally famous. Had he written nothing else, or nothing as powerful, afterwards, he would be remembered securely as the careful, anguished, self-accusing poet of a divided land. But he went on; he changed. After "North" he moved south, to pastoral Glanmore, in the Irish Republic. There, with his wife and three children in suburban Dublin, and at Harvard, where Heaney taught for most of the 1980s and 1990s, he would find new and persuasive ways to write about enduring affection, familial and civic, and about how his own spirit could feel more free. "Glanmore Sonnets," from "Field Work" (1979), embodies nostalgia along with a pastoral joy: . "Vowels ploughed into other: opened ground, . ... Each verse returning like the plough turned round." (Heaney would use "Opened Ground" as the title for his 1998 Collected Poems.) Resistant to dogma yet drawn to the numinous, Heaney depicted himself in Station Island (1983) walking a traditional route of Irish Catholic pilgrimage, meeting ghosts from the Irish literary past. One tells him: . "we are earthworms of the earth, and all that/ has gone through us is what will be our trace." Another -- the ghost of James Joyce -- advises him differently: . "The main thing is to write/ for the joy of it ... It's time to swim/ out on your own and fill the element/ with signatures on your own frequency." And so he did. Heaney became in his later career a great poet of the spirit lifted, a writer identified with fluency and light, with water and air, as well as with his native ground. One of the twelve-line poems in Seeing Things (1991) remembers the childhood pleasures of wading: . "Sweet transience. Flirt and splash./ Crumpled flow the sky-dipped willows trailed in." Another retells the Irish legend of a man who fell out of a magical airborne ship, into a monastery's scriptorium, then climbed back on board, "Out of the marvelous as he had known it." Everyday work, even indoor work like writing, could be marvelous too. Heaney recorded these marvels in sheaves of sonnets, in complex old forms such as sestinas, in an iambic pentameter whose confidence buoyed his readers too, even when -- as in his last book, "District and Circle" (2006) -- he used those soaring lines to remember dead friends. He became, if book sales are a measure, perhaps the most popular serious poet writing in English anywhere in the world. And he became determinedly international, writing verse parables derived from Eastern Europe, adapting tragic drama from ancient Greece, and translating "Beowulf" from the Anglo-Saxon. Yet he remained connected to the particulars of the Irish spaces he knew, to his first friends in poetry (and in folk music), and to his own earlier selves. Later poems (such as "Glanmore Revisited") would see how he had, and how he had not, changed, and would see -- in the 1990s and 2000s -- the political change that brought calm, even peace, to the counties of his birth. "Postscript," the last poem in "Opened Ground," begins "in County Clare along the Flaggy Shore"; but it rises soon enough to a space of permission and imagination, a generous space identified with poetry itself, where "You are neither here nor there,/ A hurry through which known and strange things pass/ As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways/ And catch the heart off guard and blow it open." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Burt. | Stephen Burt: Seamus Heaney, who died Friday, wrote poetry, literary essays, translations .
His early works were of earth, and of the Troubles; he found fame writing about divided land .
He says later he went south, wrote of civic, family life, dead friends, embraced the numinous .
Burt: He became perhaps the most popular serious poet writing in English anywhere . |
276,103 | f1ba93647c9caf7d783f9367c505db1072ac062f | What do you get when you have arguably the world's greatest-ever player, playing the current No 1 football game on the planet? Well in truth, not the spectacle that one would hope for. Three-time World Cup winner Pele took on his former Santos and Brazil team-mate Coutinho at a game of FIFA 15 on an Xbox recently - in an affair that would likely feature last on Match of the Day if it was played out in reality. VIDEO Scroll down to see Pele face Coutinho at FIFA 15 on an Xbox . Santos legend Pele (left) took on his former strike-partner Coutinho at FIFA 15 recently . The pair took each other on with identical Santos teams from their heyday in the 1950s and 60s . The 70-somethings were visibly unfamiliar with the game or the console that they were playing on . Having forged a deadly partnership for Santos over a half century ago in December 1958 as teenagers, the pair failed to set their virtual game alight - with only one goal separating the two greats. The match wasn't a tight affair though for it's skill, but more due to a lack of it as the two 70-somethings were unfamiliar with the game, or the console that they played it on, unsurprisingly. Rather comically the pair seem confused as to what the controls were - but take it in all good heart as they laugh at their own misgivings. And once more - like throughout his glittering career - Pele proved the matchwinner scoring the only goal to separate the two sides; as Santos faced Santos in a special clash that featured the duo featuring virtually with their team-mates from their formidable team in the 1950s and 60s. Despite their struggles to get to grips with the game the pair were all smiles as they played FIFA 15 . Pele (left) showed he's gracious in defeat by shaking the hand of Coutinho after the full-time whistle . Ironically though, it was the real-life Pele who tasted some of his own goalscoring medicine for once, with Coutinho controlling his virtual version to score and win the game 1-0. Seeing the iconic Brazil No 10 in a jovial manner though will please everyone in the football world after the 74-year-old recently was recently discharged from hospital on Tuesday. Pele spent 16 days at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo after being diagnosed with an urinary tract infection that stemmed from an operation to remove kidney stones but, having left semi-intensive care last weekend, he is now feeling 'recovered'. Quoted in Brazilian newspaper O Globo, he told a press conference on Tuesday of his current well-being and his excitement towards the Rio 2016 Olympics. Pele was released from hospital on Tuesday after recovering form a urinary tract infection . Pele gave a press conference after being released from hospital, after which he left in a wheelchair . 'Thank God I'm well and recovered. I want to thank everyone who sent messages - I've been thrilled and surprised. 'I've had messages from China, Pakistan, from almost all the European countries. 'It is gratifying and good to know that I had the support of so many people around the world who were hoping the situation improved. 'Now I am preparing for the Olympics!' Pele was in hospital for 16 days but says he is now focusing on the Rio 2016 Olympics . | Pele played ex-Santos team-mate Coutinho at game of EA Sports 'FIFA 15 .
Pair enjoyed a devastating partnership as team-mates in the 1950s and 60s .
Duo's game was comical at times, with Coutinho winning the match 1-0 .
Pele was released from hospital in Brazil on Tuesday after recovering form a urinary tract infection . |
57,879 | a3fcfa0a3142d89d97a1937d2fffc96ababe2977 | Pope Francis today delighted a huge crowd of more than 150,000 people with his first speech from his studio window on St Peter's Square, telling them that he hoped they would 'have a good lunch'. The crowd packed the famous square at noon, when the window was opened for the first time since Francis's predecessor Benedict XVI gave his final window blessing last month. Breaking with tradition, Francis delivered off-the-cuff remarks about God's power to forgive, instead of reading from a written speech, and the crowd roared in delight. Scroll down for video . Frenzy: This handout picture released by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis (centre) greeting faithful after a mass at St Anna Church today, ahead of his address from his studio window . Greetings: Pope Francis waves before giving his Angelus prayer from his studio overlooking St Peter's Square . Speech: Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St Peter's Square before saying the Angelus prayer at the Vatican . In their thousands: Visitors gather in St Peter's Square at the Vatican for the Angelus prayer by Pope Francis . Raising their hands: People applaud as Pope Francis gives his first Angelus blessing in Vatican City today . Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner arrives at Ciampino airport as she prepares to meet with Pope Francis at Vatican City tomorrow . He also spoke only in Italian - . beginning with ‘buon giorno’ (Good day) and ending with 'buon pranzo’ (have a good lunch) - instead of speaking in several languages as his . last few predecessors did. His comments and humour delighted the . crowd, drawing cheers and laughter, and it was clear that in just five . days, his straightforward, spontaneous style has become immediate . hallmark of his papacy. Francis . began his first Sunday as pontiff by making an impromptu appearance to . the public from a side gate of the Vatican, startling onlookers and . prompting cheers. Dressed in white cassock, the . 76-year-old, then kept up his simple, spontaneous style by delivering a . brief, off-the-cuff homily at the Vatican's tiny parish church. Francis waved to the crowd outside St . Anna's Gate and before entering the church, which serves Vatican City . State's hundreds of residents, he shook hands of parishioners and kissed . babies. In keeping with his informal style, he . then went over to the chief of his security detail and appeared to . indicate he wanted to greet two priests in the crowd, who approached and . embraced him. Full: Crowds pack St. Peter's square as Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio . Wide view: Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St Peter's Square from the window of his residence today . Onlookers: People gather at St Peter's Square at the Vatican as they wait for the Pope to lead his first prayer . Huge Excitement: Women rush into St Peter's Square to see Pope Francis give his first Angelus blessing today . The impromptu appearance came more . than two hours ahead of his first appointment of his papacy with the . faithful from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square. After the Mass, he stepped out . jauntily from St. Anna's Church and waved to a crowd of hundreds kept . behind barriers across the street, and then greeted the Vatican . parishioners one by one. One young man patted the pope on the . back in an indication of the informality that from the first moment of . his papacy has been evident. ‘Francesco, Francesco,’ children . shouted his name in Italian from the street. As he patted one little boy . on the head, he asked ‘Are you a good boy?’ and the child nodded. ‘Are . you sure?’ he said. Passing time: A Mexican mariachi band play as they awaited the blessing of newly elected Pope Francis . National pride: A woman wears a hat in Argentine national colours as she awaits the blessing of the new Pope . Excited: Nuns sat together as they awaited the blessing of newly-elected Pope Francis in St Peter's Square . Attendance: Crowds gather on the Via della Conciliazione outside St Peter's Square as they wait for the Pope . In his homily, Francis spoke only five minutes, saying the core message is ‘that of mercy.’ He said God has an unfathomable . capacity to pardon, and noted that people are often harder on each other . than God is towards sinners. Four days after Benedict’s last . blessing on February 24, he went into retirement, the first pontiff to . do so in 600 years. Francis, the first Latin American pope, was elected . on March 13. | Francis breaks with tradition to give off-the-cuff remarks on forgiveness .
New Pope spoke to 150,000 followers at St Peter's Square at the Vatican .
Window was opened for first time since Benedict XVI gave final blessing . |
213,008 | 9fd91b43d5156d3776daeb733262692179ed6148 | She has been portrayed as a ‘royal benefits scrounger’, a holidaying princess who lives a life of idle luxury at the taxpayer’s expense. But last night Princess Beatrice took the unusual step of responding to the criticism, telling friends that she is about to accept one of several job offers following the end of her post at Sony Pictures. Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter is said to have been very upset to find herself accused of being workshy after quitting her £20,000-a-year job before taking three holidays in as many weeks. In fact, it seems that the Princess was an unexpected victim of the attacks on Sony’s security system, presumed to have been made by North Korea, in December. Scroll down for video . Unfair: Princess Beatrice has hit out at claims that she is 'workshy' after quitting her job at Sony . A friend of the Princess said last night that Sony bosses insisted she and other employees take time off. ‘Beatrice’s job was semi closed down by North Korea when her social security details were splashed all over the pages of American newspapers,’ he said. As a result of the hacking, she resigned. Beatrice, 26, has since been approached by headhunters, resulting in two job offers, one with a reputable technology company, and a further two interviews. Sony is also said to be attempting to persuade her to stay with them by offering to promote her above her current position. The friend said: ‘Beatrice has got another two interviews next week and she is not scared of hard work. She’s in her mid-20s and is trying to build up work experience with financial companies and start-ups. ‘She has done plenty of work experience, so she can forge a serious career with lots of skills.’ Last night, a friend of the family spoke out, telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is like going back to the Tudor times when some people attacked the Yorks, and we are not going to tolerate it.’ A close friend of the Duchess of York added: ‘The Duchess is incredibly protective of her daughters and may well make a robust statement defending them. ‘She will not accept unfair treatment of her girls. One of the reasons Princess Eugenie went to New York to work was to escape the intense spotlight in the UK media. ‘On top of her day job, Beatrice can also say she works for her grandmother, the Queen, and has on occasion attended charity events at Buckingham Palace in her lunch hour.’ Beatrice on holiday with pals in St Barts . A friend of Beatrice said: ‘How dare people attack her for not working hard when she does exactly that in her office for charities and for the Royal Family?’ Beatrice, 26, is said to be very passionate about the six charities of which she is a patron, including The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and Big Change, a charity founded by her close friends Sam and Holly Branson. The Princess carried out ten Royal engagements last year while also working for Sony, and in November Beatrice and her mother attended a charity fundraiser at Lancaster House, held in aid of the Northwood African Education Foundation. Beatrice is patron of the charity and helped to raise £150,000 that night. As the sixth in line to the throne, Beatrice is constantly monitored by security guards, paid for by her father. She receives no public funds for her accommodation or lifestyle. Last month, she and boyfriend Dave Clark, 32, took a trip to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, where her parents own a £13 million chalet, and visited the Caribbean island of St Barts twice. But the new claims suggest she took the trips in the expectation that February would bring a more important job with a healthier wage. Buckingham Palace has insisted that the Princess’s travel is always ‘entirely privately funded’ often with help from her parents and sometimes Mr Clark, who earns a six-figure salary at Virgin Galactic. Catherine Mayer, wrote the new Prince Charles book . Charles Crushes biographer's claim: Palace says writer had NO special access to the Prince . by Robert Jobson, Royal Commentator . The office of Prince Charles has distanced itself from claims that a controversial new book was written with its co-operation. American Catherine Mayer says she met the Prince and spoke to his closest aides while researching Charles: The Heart Of A King. A journalist with Time magazine, Ms Mayer paints a picture of Clarence House torn apart by turf wars and describes the future King grappling with insecurities and struggling to control his courtiers and their infighting. But Kristina Kyriacou, Prince Charles’s head of communications, said yesterday that the publishers had overplayed suggestions of official co-operation. She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It is not an official book. The author did not have the access as claimed. Clarence House has no further comment.’ Royal sources said Ms Mayer did attend a dinner with the Prince, but was one of 75 guests and had no access to the top table. Like other journalists, she joined the Royal rota to cover Prince Charles at work. To suggest there was intimate access is overblown. Ms Mayer’s biography is one of three forthcoming books claiming to offer new detail about Charles, including one by American Sally Bedell Smith, who has written biographies on the Queen and Princess Diana. One source said there seemed to be a ‘race’ between the two women to publish first. ‘Perhaps that is why Catherine Mayer is claiming to have had more access than she did. Both books are unofficial,’ he said. Tony Blair’s former spin-doctor Alastair Campbell is also bringing out a book which claims to have new information about Charles. Publishers say Ms Mayer’s book reveals ‘a man in sight of happiness yet still driven by anguish’ with ‘views that mean he will never be as impartial as his mother’. Ms Mayer’s book – extracts of which were published on Kindle and in The Times yesterday – suggests Clarence House is riddled with ‘glaring systemic weaknesses’. She also writes that any criticism of the Prince, who is known to courtiers as ‘the Boss’, can send him spiralling into ‘despair’, while turf battles between Charles’s staff ‘are common and bloody’. ‘One former householder refers to Clarence House as Wolf Hall,’ she says. According to Ms Mayer, much difficulty is caused by Charles’s inability to create clear roles for his staff. He is accused of causing turf wars by failing to set courtiers clear boundaries. But close sources dismiss these claims. ‘Anyone who visits Clarence House always say what a happy ship it is. The staff don’t recognise Mayer’s claims. ‘It is convenient, isn’t it, that the television adaptation of Wolf Hall is doing well now as the book comes out.’ Distance: Charles with PR Chief Kristina Kyriacou, who says new book by Catherine Mayer, left, is not official . Despite his current PR headaches, Charles is continuing to trust press team leader Kristina Kyriacou with nurturing his public image. Kyriacou, 48, has recently signed a new contract and a source said: ‘The Prince is delighted. She is the bedrock of his communications team.’ | Princess Beatrice was said to be upset after being branded 'workshy'
Quit her £20,000 a year job at Sony before she enjoyed three holidays .
Was a victim of attacks on the firms security system by North Korea .
26-year-old has been offered two jobs and a has two more interviews .
Sony is also said to be offering Princess a promotion to stay on .
On top of job friends say she attended royal engagements in lunch hour . |
162,515 | 5e1bcad98c7ea9f18af9d58a92a85486bd1d19f4 | A new smartphone app has unearthed one of the biggest real estate secrets in the industry - proving agents regularly underquote properties going to auction to attract unassuming bidders. Property pricing app realAs, which was launched by buyer agent David Morrell,Hawthorn Football Club Chairman Andrew Newbold and Josh Rowe, aims to rid the industry of the dirty tactic. According to data from the app, agents consistently underquote properties going to auction by up to 33 per cent. A new smartphone app has unearthed one of the biggest real estate secrets in the industry - proving agents regularly underquote properties going to auction to attract unassuming bidders . The app promises to predict the real selling price of any residential property in Australia to its best ability, hanging agents' underpriced predictions out to dry. A study carried out by the app identifies the difference between the actual sale price of the property and the agent's previously quoted price. Their finding showed Melbourne's outer east is the hub of the unethical practice. Properties in Blackburn South, Vermont and Templestowe Lower sold for over 30 per cent more than what they were originally quoted. Interestingly, finding found that properties in the Sydney were being underquoted by up to 28 per cent in areas. The study, with reflects house prices from September, shows the wealthy suburb of Manly in Sydney's northern is being underpriced by 27 per cent. Peakhurst and Epping also fell about 25 per cent when it came to underquoting. Blackburn South 33% . Vermont 31% . Templestowe Lower 30% . Mount Waverley 27% . Box Hill 25% . Carnegie 25% . Mitcham 25% . Blackburn 24% . Richmond 24% . Doncaster East 23% . Peakhurst 28% . Manly 27% . Epping 25% . Ryde 21% . Crows Nest 20% . Bexley 19% . Beecroft 17% . North Ryde 17% . Alexandria 17% . Castle Hill 16% . Buyers must first register on realAs before they can get a prediction on the app, which is completely free. Underquoting has become rife in the industry, with agents using it as a way to attract lower end bidders to an auction. Agents then hope that potential buyers will get caught up in the excitement of the event and bid well over their budget. Speaking to The Weekend Australian, RealAs Chief executive Josh Rowe expressed how his app wants to put some honesty back into the real estate business, however strict laws are preventing real justice for buyers. 'From the point of view of the buyer, underquoting clearly wastes their time. They are spending a lot of money on research, appraisals, building and pest inspections, then they find that the property goes for way over the estimate,' Mr Rowe said. According to data from the app, agents consistently underquote properties going to auction by up to 33 per cent . 'Buyers are frustrated and angry… There are laws against it but the problem is that it is practically unenforceable.' realAs was the brainchild of David Morrell, Australia's first buyers' agent. David knew that it was buyers who decide how much they will pay for a property. If buyers knew the sale price, it would even up the playing field and put an end up agen manipulations. Speaking to the Financial Review Mr Morrell said the he thought of the idea for the app while on a trip to George Mason University in Washington DC. 'They had just come up with a predictive algorithm. At the time I was lamenting how hard it was to get the real price from estate agents. I asked the professors: 'Could this be adapted to predict real estate prices?' The answer was yes,' he said. Passionately talking about the realAs, Mr Morrell said: 'It's very clever and its going to be very disruptive. It will put underquoting to bed.' | Real estate agents regularly underquote properties going to auction .
The dirty tactic is used to attract bidders to the auction in the hope they will exceed their limit .
New property pricing app realAs wants to kick this ploy to the curb .
Data from the app shows agents consistently underquote by up to 33 per cent .
Findings oust Melbourne's outer east as the hub for the unethical practice .
Smartphone app realAs promises to predict the real selling price of any residential property in Australia . |
5,631 | 1006e8e0a0ac590663632569a8b5a08e01af4a1e | (CNN) -- Investigators probably will have to use dental records to identify some of the eight people who were killed in a wreck involving a church bus and two other vehicles in eastern Tennessee, a Tennessee Highway Patrol official said Thursday. Some of the bodies in Wednesday's crash were burned or otherwise made unrecognizable, hindering authorities' ability to notify all of the victims' families about the deaths, highway patrol Sgt. Bill Miller said. "The crash is so horrific ... it's probably the worst that I have seen in my career ... and I've worked in several, several counties in my" 17 years on the job, Miller said. More from CNN affiliate WBIR . The bus, owned by a North Carolina church, was carrying a group of seniors on their way back home from a religious conference when one of its tires malfunctioned, sending the bus across a median on Interstate 40 and crashing into an SUV and a tractor-trailer, authorities said. Church bus was carrying seniors home from a jubilee . Eight people were killed: Six on the eastbound bus; one of three occupants of the SUV, and the tractor-trailer driver, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. Two of the 14 other people who were hospitalized after the wreck had been released by Thursday morning, said Travis Brickey, a representative of the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Two people were in critical condition; seven were in serious condition, and three were in stable condition, Brickey said. None of the victims' names was released. The church group -- about 18 people including the driver, Miller said -- was returning to the Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville, North Carolina, after attending the 17th annual Fall Jubilee conference in Gatlinburg. Indiana bus crash kills pastor, pregnant wife, chaperone on teen trip . The group of senior citizens was called "Young at Heart," said Rick Cruz, the church's pastor. Twelve of the hospitalized victims -- including the two in critical condition -- are church members, Cruz said Thursday morning. "It's been a very long night for all of us here," Cruz told reporters. "We are thankful for all the prayers and support that we've been receiving." More from CNN affiliate WHNS . The wreck happened about 2 p.m. Wednesday in Jefferson County, about 40 miles east of Knoxville, the Tennessee Department of Safety said. Miller said it wasn't clear exactly what happened to the bus tire, other than it malfunctioned or failed in some way. The bus swerved across a grassy median and struck the SUV before hitting the tractor-trailer, he said. The bus came to rest on its side, pinning some of its occupants, he said. More from CNN affiliate WATE . Video from the site showed smoke rising from the tractor-trailer. Some people walked out of the bus on their own, but emergency personnel had to extricate others, Miller said. "This was such a horrific crash that determining if seat belts were used or not ... may be extremely difficult to impossible to determine," he said. Miller said it's too early to know whether charges will be filed in connection with the wreck. More from CNN affiliate WVLT . Girls injured when school bus overturns in Kansas . Six dead after bus, train collide in Ottawa . CNN's Andrew Spencer and Rich Phillips contributed to this report. | NEW: Two of the 14 people hospitalized have been released .
Eight killed, 14 others injured in three-vehicle wreck on I-40 .
North Carolina church bus carried seniors returning from Tennessee jubilee .
Police: Tire failed and bus crossed the median, striking an SUV and a tractor-trailer . |
219,217 | a7bdb8e6b97d0a321e87bbabb58f3f2adc515001 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . This is the moment a big rig carrying 42,000 pounds of honey crashed on an LA freeway - spilling the sweet liquid all over the road. The truck overturned on the northbound I-605 freeway in the City of Industry at about 2pm (9pm GMT) yesterday. It tipped to the left before crashing on to the ground - sending streams of honey pouring on to the road. Scroll down for video . Sticky situation: This is the moment a truck carrying 42,000lbs of honey crashed on a freeway in Los Angeles . No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which happened between the 60 and 10 freeways, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) told NBC. The truck driver is believed to have escaped uninjured. The incident forced four lanes to close - causing a major traffic build-up, with queues of vehicles stretching for miles, according to transport officials. However, three of the lanes were later reopened following a huge clean-up operation. Clean-up: The truck overturned on the northbound I-605 freeway in the City of Industry at about 2pm yesterday . Reaction: Aerial footage of the mass of honey leaking from the truck on to the road was circulated on Twitter . Having a laugh: Users made a number of bee-related jokes about the incident, including 'Bee careful' Footage taken by a helicopter captured the truck lying on its side, while emergency crews attempted to clean up the mass of honey on the freeway. It was later circulated on Twitter - with users making a number of bee-related jokes about the incident. One man, using the handle @michaelrp310, wrote: 'Sounds like a sticky situation. Bee careful'. Recovery: No other vehicles were involved in the crash, while the driver is believed to have escaped uninjured . Joking: One user referred to U.S. reality star Honey Boo Boo and questioned how long the clean-up would take . Meanwhile, ABC journalist, Mike Milhaven, said: 'This is creating some buzz'. And user Maria Elena Tee referred to U.S. reality star Honey Boo Boo - saying: 'How are they gonna clean this up?! #honeybooboo'. And even law enforcement officials joined in - with the CHP tweeting: 'Honey, I'm going to be late'. Officials are believed to be investigating how the incident happened. | Truck overturned on northbound I-605 freeway in City of Industry yesterday .
Crashed on to the ground, spilling 42,000 pounds of honey all over road .
No other vehicles involved in crash, and truck driver escaped uninjured .
Aerial footage circulated on Twitter - leading to numerous bee-related jokes .
Include: 'Sounds like a sticky situation', 'Bee careful' and '#HoneyBooBoo' |
3,479 | 0a10d46e8d848941656352cdf58e587143896f2f | In the latest in our regular series on the travel habits of the rich and famous, champion skier Chemmy Alcott talks the marvels of Maui and what not to eat in Japan. Favourite childhood holiday? When I was three, we went to Crete, and a beautiful starfish floated up to me in the water and wrapped itself round my leg. I felt so connected with the sea. Top travel tip? Stay hydrated, use an eye mask - and enjoy the journey. Chemmy Alcott: Fond of snow, dreams of Hawaii . What do you never travel without? Earplugs. I am deaf in one ear and I find that when I need to really rest, I have to block totally the hearing in both ears. Where would you go if you could live in any other country than Britain? Well, it isn't a country - but the Hawaiian island of Maui. I have lots of friends there through my best friend, Julia Mancuso. The Maui world revolves around caring for others and having fun; money rarely comes into it. Most traumatic travel experience? I stopped in Tokyo, en route to Australia, and asked a local to take me to his favourite Japanese restaurant. Desperate not to offend, I ate everything put in front of me - eyeballs and all. The next 12-hour flight wasn't the smoothest ride! Where did you last go on holiday? I spent Christmas in the mountains. The best bit was helping my young nephews master the art of skiing, and also racing around with my hubby, Dougie Crawford. What destination is on your hitlist and why? After Dougie and I got married, we made a bucket list that includes everything from drinking a mojito and salsa dancing in a bodega bar in Havana to sipping chai tea at the Taj Mahal, heliskiing in Alaska, cat-skiing in Japan and ski-touring in Iceland. Favourite hotel in the world? I have just stayed at the most incredible chalet in Val d'Isere called Marco Polo - an alpine, Balinese fusion filled with unique art, and with a massive bath made from one slab of beautiful stone. I didn't want to leave. Next big adventure? I'm taking part in the world's toughest ski race in Greenland next month, alongside the Arctic V (endurance experts Max Willcocks, Adam Libbey, Richard Gibbs and Chris Brooks). It's a 160km cross-country skiing survival event to raise funds for our charity, Ski 4 Cancer. www.chemmyalcott.com . | Star skier is usually found on snow - but dreams of moving out to Hawaii .
Salsa dancing in Havana and chai at the Taj Mahal are on her bucket list . |
226,421 | b12d0196d35b00e702b5e65a0746692a294d7d0e | By . Colin Fernandez and Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 11 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:22 EST, 11 June 2012 . She has only just stopped trading vicious blows with her estranged husband on Twitter, but now Kate Goldsmith is enduring a new cycle of online animosity - sickening racist tweets. Internet trolls have been bombarding the Rothschild heiress with vile racist abuse in reaction to her alleged affair with black U.S. rapper Jay Electronica. It has been reported that she split with Ben Goldsmith, her husband of nine years, for the New Orleans musician. Vile abuse: Internet trolls have been bombarding Kate Goldsmith, left, with vile racist abuse in reaction to her alleged affair with black U.S. rapper Jay Electronica, right . Ben Goldsmith pictured with Jay Electronica who is alleged to have had an affair with his wife . Today one of the vile tweets written by Sublime2 @ochimp1 referred to the musician as a 'gorilla.' Another user under the name of @EnigmaIce1 tweeted 'Top World family defiled by a low life ... and an an ape.' Most of the comments were too offensive to . republish online and were sent from anonymous Twitter accounts with . fake names and unidentifiable profile pictures. Vile: Internet troll sent racist tweets to Kate Goldsmith, attacking her relationship with U.S. rapper Jay Electronica . Offensive: Another anonymous tweeter directly contacted Kate Goldsmith with a barrage offensive messages . Mrs Goldsmith's followers reacted with shock at the vicious and nasty tweets - one user calling themselves @Hattie_Jacques wrote on their Twitter page: . 'Astonished by the vile racism aimed at @kateroundtable just because she appears to have left a white man for a black man. It is 2012 right?!' Another user told Mrs Goldsmith to report one of the trolls as he had 'done it to people in the celeb world before.' So far Mrs Goldsmith has not . responded to any of the sick tweets, although she did write on her profile . page: 'It ain't safe out here in these tweets.' Mrs Goldsmith's followers reacted with shock at the vicious and nasty tweets . The comment is thought to play on lyrics from LA-based rappers Black Knights who sang ‘It ain’t safe out on these streets’. Although she swore off using Twitter she has now defended her use of it to air grievances as the ‘only recourse’. After public spats on the social networking site, the couple released a joint statement on Friday saying they regretted saying things in public that should have been kept private, adding: ‘There will be no further comment.’ However, in fresh tweets yesterday, Mrs Goldsmith lashed out at Daily Mail writer Janet Street Porter who had criticised the Twitter war in an article entitled: ‘Why this modern compulsion to let it all hang out makes my skin crawl.’ Street Porter said Mrs Goldsmith was invading her own privacy by tweeting about her marriage. Attack: Sister-in-law Jemima Khan . In a fresh twist, her comments appeared to have been prompted by tweets about the Street Porter article from socialite Jemima Khan – her husband’s sister. Mrs Khan wrote: ‘In the same article about the need for privacy (a fair point) she [Street Porter] also outs her own Mum as an adulterer for good measure. #hypocrisy.’ A freelance journalist Sarah Standing joined in, tweeting: ‘Oh that article made me so angry, what bull****’ At which point, Mrs Goldsmith posted: ‘Me too...and re her condemnation of me ‘‘taking’’ to twitter to air grievances as I did she publishes her views and opinions ad nauseam. ‘With the luxury of not having them twisted and magimixed by the press. Twitter is the only recourse for most.’ Mrs Goldsmith, 30, had been branded ‘appalling’ by her 31-year-old husband for her behaviour since she began a relationship with Electronica. The New Orleans rapper, whose real name is Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, is currently staying in a £1.8million penthouse apartment in Knightsbridge, a short distance from Mrs Goldsmith’s £20million marital home in Kensington. Mrs Goldsmith, claimed her ‘life had been saved’ by the rap artist, who she manages through her own record label, Roundtable Records. She also appeared to accuse her husband of cheating on her before the couple issued their statement. Yesterday Mr Goldsmith was keeping quiet about the split – and his only tweet was about how ‘solar power would be the lowest cost energy option’ in the US by 2015. Electronica said he ‘had no comment’ to make. | Kate Goldsmith has been bombarded with vile racist tweets from internet trolls on Twitter .
They are in reference to her alleged affair with black U.S. rapper – Jay Electronica .
Mrs Goldsmith and her husband Ben last week traded increasingly vicious blows over Twitter after her alleged affair was revealed . |
122,420 | 2a3a431136c38991b963a5788f511020a186e1e5 | OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) -- Here, in what could be called the Fort Knox of dope, Mahmoud ElSohly waits patiently as an assistant unlocks the stainless steel door to a climate-controlled vault. Mahmoud ElSohly oversees the nation's largest legal marijuana garden at the University of Mississippi. Once inside, under the gaze of security cameras and a blinking motion sensor, another scientist pries open the lid of a large cardboard barrel, opens a large plastic bag and digs his hand into the vat of meticulously manicured marijuana. We are in the Coy W. Waller Laboratory Complex on the campus of the University of Mississippi, getting a look at the only legal marijuana farm and production facility in the United States. This is the government's "cannabis drug repository." This is the government's stash. Since 1968, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has contracted with the university lab to grow, harvest and process marijuana and to ship it to licensed facilities across the country for research purposes. The lab also collects samples of marijuana seized by police to determine its potency and to document national drug trends. Like a cask in a wine cellar, this barrel of marijuana is marked with the year of vintage. It is one of many in the room. ElSohly, the director of the lab, guesses that it holds 10 to 15 kilos, or about 22 to 33 pounds, of impeccably clean "product." Watch what the government's growing » . How much would this be worth on the street? "A lot," he answers. He's not being evasive. It's just that the value of the marijuana, like the gold at Fort Knox, fluctuates wildly. And like the government gold, it is not for sale. So the question is academic and of little concern. But the security of the operation is of obvious concern. Earlier, amid blazingly green plants in the facility's grow room, ElSohly gave us a Cliffs Notes rundown of the facility's security. "Within this building right here," he said, "we have seven different alarm systems. We have camera systems. We have cameras in this room." Cameras, an aide tells us, that are monitored by the Drug Enforcement Agency in suburban Washington. The nearby fields, where the marijuana is grown, are double fenced, ElSohly said. The fields are empty now, awaiting the National Institute on Drug Abuse's next order. But when a crop is in growing, armed guards are posted around the clock in the low guard towers. And everywhere, there are locked doors. Keyed locks and push-button locks. Locks are as omnipresent as the skunk-like smell of raw marijuana. In the past few years, we have seen marijuana from an array of perspectives on the government's side of the war on drugs. On the northern border, we've flown with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the Cascade Mountains, retracing the path of smugglers who flew helicopters dangerously weighed down with bundles of "B.C. Bud" through mountain gaps to avoid detection. On the southern border, we've been escorted into an old jail cell to see 3 tons of marijuana seized the previous night and talked to border agents about the seizure. They were nonchalant. And last year, far from either border, we accompanied drug czar John Walters on a trip to a national forest where a drug cartel had a 10,000-plant garden. So the sight of mega-quantities of marijuana is not new to us. But this is the first time we've seen a taxpayer-funded marijuana garden. And the incongruous feature isn't necessary the sight of government-sanction plants but rather the lengths taken to protect it from the world beyond the double fence, where, of course, marijuana is abundant. Inside the lab, scientists tend to about 500 plants. Outside the fence, police found 6,000 plants in 10 Napa County, California, homes in 2007. Inside the fence, the government processed 400 kilograms -- about 880 pounds -- of marijuana during its last harvest in 2007. Outside the fence, police eradicated more than 5.2 million plants on public and private lands in California alone last year. Of course, marijuana inside the fence has added value as a scientific tool. Researchers know the genetic makeup of the plants, and that is essential if you're studying the impact of a drug that, with 14.8 million users, is the most widely used illicit drug in the country. And that's what brought us to the lab in the first place. The government was announcing that the average potency of marijuana outside the fence has reached a landmark record level. Although street marijuana in the early 1980s had an average strength of 4 percent tetrahydrocannabinol -- the drug's primary psychoactive ingredient -- the average was 10.1 percent last year, the government announced. Mexican drug cartels now control about 90 percent of the marijuana smuggled into the United States, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The marijuana is of lower quality and is mostly sold in urban areas, a spokesman said. The marijuana coming across the southwest border, traditionally a source of low-potency drugs, has increased in strength from a median potency of 4.8 percent in 2003 to 7.3 percent in 2007. As a consequence, inexperienced or young marijuana users may be more prone to overdose, federal officials say. And users hoping to achieve a state of euphoria may experience dysphoria, a state of anxiety and irritability, and perhaps other ill effects. Legalization advocates argue that the government could require THC content labels on marijuana, much like alcohol is labeled, so users could regulate their intake. The government knows about the average THC levels of street drugs because of work done at the University of Mississippi lab. That work begins with Susan Foster, a lab employee. It is Foster's job to receive shipments of marijuana from crime labs across the country. Foster assigns each bag -- typically containing 25 grams -- a computer tracking number. It is spring, so the workload is increasing, Foster says. In April, the lab received between 300 and 400 samples. But 500 samples is not uncommon during summer months, she says. Other lab workers "manicure" the drug, removing seeds and stems, and put the clean drug in small beakers. A solution is added, and the liquid is gasified and analyzed by four machines. Ultimately, a computer screen displays the chemical composition of the samples. "The highest [THC level] that I've ever seen was in excess of 30 percent," ElSohly said, adding that such high potency is rare. But potent dope is becoming more plentiful. "I predict that the potency will continue to go up simply because there are still a lot of samples that are 3 percent and 4 percent and 5 percent," ElSohly says. "What I expect in the future is that more and more will be 9 percent and higher, so the potency on the average will continue to get higher. "But there's obviously a physical limit to how much THC the plant can produce," he said. So ElSohly predicts that potency will plateau at 15 to 16 percent, probably in the next five to 10 years. ElSohly said he personally opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, believing that it would increase abuse of the drug. But he says that it has medical benefits for cancer patients and others but that smoking the drug is a poor means of medicating a person. His first effort to develop a pharmaceutically acceptable means of delivering the drug flopped, he says. His delivery device: a suppository. "People really don't like suppositories, so it really didn't make it on the market," he said. He is now developing a delivery method that works like a skin patch but tucked into the mouth. In January, a DEA administrator turned down an application by a Massachusetts man to open a second facility to grow marijuana for research purposes. The DEA said professor Lyle Craker failed to show that the "longstanding existing system in the United States of producing and distributing research-grade marijuana ... is inadequate." It also objected to Craker's sponsor, saying the sponsor's "past and ongoing" use of marijuana "is unacceptable for anyone seeking to have a prominent role in overseeing" a marijuana farm. Craker is appealing the decision. So for now, the Mississippi farm remains the only legal marijuana farm in the U.S. And ElSohly has no plans to endanger that arrangement. "I want to ask what your Christmas parties are like," he is told. He deadpans: "No smoking." | University of Mississippi lab is home to the nation's only legal pot farm .
The U.S. government grows marijuana, tests its potency .
Study finds percentage of psychoactive ingredient in pot on the rise .
Mexican cartels control most U.S. pot, but it's lower quality . |
177,207 | 71662a9c31f2540877786ec9969cdf19f3e68537 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- They were roaming the halls of South Philadelphia High School looking for a fight. Their target, according to police: Asian students. By the end of the school day, as many as 30 students of Asian descent had been physically attacked and many were sent to the hospital for treatment, according to school and law enforcement officials. Wei Chen, who was a senior at the time, remembers December 3, 2009, like it was yesterday. "They were sitting along the wall," he recalled. "I saw the one student, his whole T-shirt [was bloody] because his nose is broken." Wei was not injured in last year's melee, but he said the violence was racial tension between black and Asian immigrant students reaching its breaking point. After being attacked as a freshman and witnessing other attacks on Asian students, Wei founded the Chinese Student Association to help new Chinese students -- many who recently immigrated to the country -- adjust to life at South Philly High. He also kept track of the incidents of violence against Asian students. Last year's altercation was the final straw. Wei and 50 other students organized an eight-day boycott of the school. They wanted to draw attention to what they felt was an inadequate response by the school staff to the ongoing harassment and violence leading up to the December 3 incident. "School should be safe," he said. "The school should be responsible for students' safety. This is important." Bach Tong, a native of Vietnam, was one of the students who participated in the boycott. He said standing up for what he believed in helped him find his voice. "You know, I see not everyone speak up, so I need to stand up for myself 'cause I see myself in there, I see trouble in there," said Tong, who was a sophomore at the time of the incident. "I cannot be selfish and stay aside to watch other people fixing stuff for me. I mean, I need to stand up and [fix] stuff for myself." During those eight days, Wei, Tong and the other students met in Philadelphia's Chinatown neighborhood during school hours, doing their schoolwork, holding rallies, and talking about ways to deal with violence at the school. Despite taking a stand, Tong transferred out of South Philly High a year later, fearing for his safety and concerned about his education. Nevertheless, the boycott helped trigger nationwide attention to the violence against Asian students at South Philly High. Months later, a federal investigation was launched following a formal civil rights complaint filed by the Asian American Legal Defense Fund. "It's huge," said Cecilia Chen, staff attorney for the Asian American Legal Defense Fund. "It's basically the federal government coming in and saying that the school district has failed to protect the constitutional rights of its students, which they have an obligation to do," Chen said. According to the complaint, "the District and the School acted with 'deliberate indifference' to the harassment against Asian students and 'intentional disregard for the welfare of Asian students'" at the school. The Justice Department, which announced its investigation in August, has instructed the school system to improve the treatment of Asian students. And today, the perception among students and their families is that things are slowly changing. The school's principal resigned in May, security has been increased, and the school district has said there have been fewer reports of student assaults. The superintendent of schools did not return CNN's calls for a comment, but the school's new principal, Otis Hackney, says security at South Philly High is his top priority. "There is no room for bullying at school," Hackney said in a recent phone interview. "As principal, my No. 1 priority is to make sure my building is safe." Hackney is the fifth principal in six years at South Philly High. A West Philadelphia native, Hackney wants his school off the state's "persistently dangerous" list, as well as meeting the Adequate Yearly Progress requirements, something his school has not achieved, he said. Hackney used education "to change his situation," he said. "I care because I was built this way," he said. "I just truly see education as the way." Next month, South Philly High students will launch a campaign for nonviolent schools with the help of the city's youth-led Philadelphia Student Union. The campaign seeks to improve school climate and enhance the trust between students and staff. Student Union member Shania Morris was in the eighth grade when last December's violence erupted at South Philly. Moved by the boycott, she wanted to make a difference in schools. "We just want to fight to make a change in our schools so that they're nonviolent," said Morris, now a high school freshman. "What we believe is that nonviolence is power that helps people rather than hurts." While things have improved, it is a bittersweet accomplishment, says advocate Helen Gym, a board member for Asian Americans United. "For all the wonderful students that we've worked with who stood up around the issue, we've lost dozens more," said Gym, who helped many Asian students document their experiences. "Kids who just dropped out, kids who just gave up, kids who are lost. You know this is some small consolation, but ... we lost a generation of kids." But for Wei Chen, who now attends Community College of Philadelphia, speaking out helped him find his inner strength. "We have the power to change; we can do something," he said. "It's not only adults who can do something, we can do something. I trust this." | Last December, as many as 30 Asian students were attacked at South Philly High .
Asian students boycotted the school to protest what they felt was a lack of response .
The Justice Department has instructed the school to better protect Asian students .
New principal Otis Hackney says security is his "No. 1 priority" |
216,455 | a43b5f265cdaff10778abb5b4308b42406f79b63 | A rare John Lennon letter in which the former Beatle makes an impassioned case for Yoko Ono's music is for sale at an upcoming online auction. The letter is two pages long and handwritten on Apple memorandum letterhead, written from Lennon to broadcaster Joe Franklin on December 13, 1971. In the letter, Lennon seeks to help the New York television personality better understand his wife's work. The letter is two pages long and handwritten on Apple memorandum letterhead, written from Lennon to broadcaster Joe Franklin on December 13, 1971 . In the letter, Lennon seeks to help the New York television personality better understand his wife's work . Also up for the online auction are transfer forms signed by every member of the Fab Four . In the letter, Lennon seeks to help the New York television personality better understand his wife's work. Lennon writes: 'I know you're a musician at heart! and especially I know you dig jazz.—Well, Yoko's music ain't quite jazz but to help you get off on it, or understand it, please listen to a track on the 'Yoko/Ono/Plastic Ono Band,' called 'AOS,' which was recorded in 1968 (pre Lennon/Beatles!) with Ornette Coleman at Albert Hall London, you could call it free form, anyway Yoko sits in the middle of avante-garde, classic, jazz—and now through me and my music—rock 'n' roll! He continues: 'On the new album 'Fly' the experiment goes a step 'further'—free form music—with robot musicians! (not computer—electronic—)—check the inside of Fly double-album for info and photo of the 'musicians,' of course Yoko can explain her music better in person, this is a kind of introduction. 'For something rather more 'straight,' a track called 'Mrs. Lennon' on 'Fly' is an example of her more conservative side! She was trained as a classical musician, and took music composition in Sarah Lawrence College as her major. It's far out, but don't let it frighten you. With love.' Lennon signs off with a thumbnail sketch of himself and Yoko along with a postscript. 'The book 'Grapefruit' speaks for itself,' he adds, 'now in its 4th edition paperback. Yoko calls them, 'instructions' to help you through life rather than poetry!' Also for sale is a mono black/gold first pressing of the Beatles' album Please Please Me signed by every member of the band in blue ballpoint pen . Each page of the letter is adorned with a red rubber stamp of Lennon's sketch of the pair and a pointing finger. Bobby Livingston, exec vp at RR Auction which is facilitating the letter's sale as part of it's Oct. 16 Marvels of Modern Music Auction, said the letter shows how proud John was of his oft-maligned wife. 'John writes to convince Franklin about Yoko's abilities and talents, validating her by noting that she worked with Ornette Colman at the Royal Albert Hall in 1968,' Livingston notes. 'He also urges Franklin to listen to a song on her 'Fly' album' A limited edition Paul McCartney Epiphone 'Texan' six-string acoustic guitar from 1964 will also be auctioned off . Lennon likely wrote the letter by way of introduction for a possible guest spot for Yoko on Franklin's show. However, it does not appear that John and Yoko ever made the appearance. Also for sale in the auction are Bob Dylan's handwritten lyrics from an early 1961 Greenwich Village performance, stock transfer forms for the Beatles signed by every band member in 1969, and a mono black/gold first pressing of the Beatles' album Please Please Me signed by every member of the band in blue ballpoint pen. A limited edition Paul McCartney Epiphone 'Texan' six-string acoustic guitar from 1964 will also be auctioned off. As far as non-Beatles memorabilia, the Guitar of Hope will also be sold. That instrument was signed by 50 musicians and entertainers to support a family experiencing a personal battle with cancer. Signatures on the instrument come from Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Fergie, Taylor Swift, and the cast of Glee among others. | Letter was written as an 'introduction' to his wife's work for New York broadcaster Joe Franklin in 1971 .
Lennon and Yoko did not appear on Franklin's show despite words .
Letter will be sold online this month by RR Auction along with a trove of other rare music memorabilia . |
132,403 | 37366bf082b68c9a5937dfc3a3f1513571ea50c5 | By . Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 18:43 EST, 18 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:39 EST, 26 June 2012 . Microsoft is to take on Apple in a war of the tablet computers with the launch of its own ‘iPad killer’ – the Surface. It is a dramatic move for the US technology company, which historically has focused on producing software rather than hardware. But after some success with the Xbox series of entertainment consoles, it now hopes to challenge Apple and Android in the lucrative touchscreen tablet market. The Microsoft Surface tablet was officially unveiled in Los Angeles last night, and from the favourable first impressions, it looks like we have a three-way race in the tablet market. The Surface comes with a 10.6" screen, a clever magnetic cover which doubles as a keyboard, and a kickstand to hold it upright on a table. In a huge paradigm shift for Microsoft, the traditional Windows Desktop has been scrapped for Microsoft's new 'Metro' tile-based theme. The new laptop-esque Surface tablet computer is unveiled by Microsoft, bringing a revolutionary jump to the future of Windows . Microsoft Surface: The new tablet, shown here in the hands of CEO Steve Ballmer, will compete with the iPad . Launch: The tablet is Microsoft's first foray into personal computing hardware for many years . Presentation: The contents of the launch were kept completely secret until the announcement was made . Boss: Mr Ballmer shows off Microsoft's latest gadget at a press conference in Los Angeles . The iPad has been King of the tablet market since its debut in 2010 . Surface comes with a number of features which make it more similar to a laptop than a tablet - most notably, a built-in keyboard which could help the device appeal more to business customers. And the fact that Microsoft is using the same Windows 8 operating system for the Surface as for laptop and desktop computers could mean that customers will find it easier to switch between different devices. CEO Steve Ballmer was . on hand at a press conference in Los Angeles to announce the tablet, calling it part of a 'whole new family . of devices' the company is developing. The 9.3mm-thick tablet, which uses the RT version of Windows, comes with a kickstand to hold it upright and keyboard that . is part of the device's cover. It weighs under 1.5 pounds. In a possible nod to the device's chief rival, it will apparently be 0.1mm thinner than the latest iPad. A slightly thicker version - still less than . 14mm thick and under two pounds - will work on Microsoft's . upcoming Windows 8 Pro operating system. Colourful: The Surface is expected to be available for purchase some time later this year . Visionary: Microsoft has high hopes that the Surface will allow it to break in to the lucrative tablet market . Adaptable: The device is designed to function both as a tablet and as a more traditional laptop . Weight:Surface 676g iPad 650g . Thickness:Surface 9.3mm iPad 9.4mm . Screen size:Surface 10.6" iPad 9.7" USB:Surface yes iPad no . Hard drive:Surface 32GB/64GB iPad 16GB/32GB/64GB . Battery life:Surface unknown iPad around 6 hours . Price:Surface unknown iPad from £479/$499 . Steven . Sinofsky, the president of Microsoft's Windows division, called the . device a 'tablet that's a great PC - a PC that's a great tablet.' They will be available when Windows 8 ships later this year, according to a Microsoft statement. No details on pricing were mentioned, except that it would be 'comparable' with current ARM tablets and Intel-powered Ultrabooks. Microsoft has been . making software for tablets since 2002, when it shipped the Windows XP . Tablet PC Edition. Many big PC makers produced tablets that ran the . software, but they were never big sellers. The tablets were based on PC . technology, and were heavy, with short battery lives. Launching its own tablet potentially . throws Microsoft into direct competition with its closest hardware . partners such as Samsung and Hewlett-Packard. The price of the tablet, which will come in 32GB and 64GB versions, has not been revealed, but the 32GB iPad costs from £479. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said the tablet will be an entertainment device ‘without compromising the productivity that PCs are uniquely known for’. Apple has sold 67million iPads in the past two years, and Microsoft is keen to grab a piece of a market where analysts predict sales will top 180million a year in 2013. But industry experts questioned whether the company could mount a serious challenge to Apple. Sarah Rotman Epps, of technology analysts Forrester, said Microsoft had to spell out how the Surface would be different from the iPad. She added: ‘They need to explain how Microsoft manufacturing this device will change people’s experience with a tablet.’ Eddie Wrenn looks at the history of three titans - Apple, Microsoft, and Google - as they battle for dominance. Acceptable in 2006: Windows Mobile just before the first iPhone came out . Microsoft has dragged its feet a bit too long in the tablet market - in almost an exact repeat of the smartphone market. The iPhone revolutionised the smartphone market in 2007, and then the iPad kickstarted the tablet craze in 2010. When it came to smartphones in 2006, Microsoft were the entrenched market-leader. The Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system - which was outstandingly ugly and built for a stylus, but very flexible software-wise - had more than 90 per cent of the smartphone market just seven years ago. It was very unintuitive - but it was all the market had, and users had to wait for the at-the-time small-fry hardware manufacturer HTC to come along and build a skin to show Microsoft that technical prowess could go hand-in-hand with eye-candy. Meanwhile Microsoft could not not have a decent tablet to market. They had kept trying to at least create the market, but kept missing the key features people wanted: portability, usability and style. But Microsoft could never get deliver anything beyond clunky . interfaces or heavy, style-less hardware in either market, and so they limited their . potential to niche appeal. With Apple breaking new ground, this should have given Microsoft a clear goal to step in and join an established market. And this would have been fine, if it was not for the Rise of Google - . or more importantly, Android. Once Apple paved the way, Google swooped . in with their open-sourced, flexible and well-received operating . system. Hardware manufacturers, locked out of Apple's closed world, could . adapt Android with almost no cost and no restrictions, and quickly a . swarm of smartphones, and then tablets, swamped the market - some great, . some good, and others terrible. The sad thing for Microsoft is that this used to be them - they could . license their software and different vendors, such as Dell, or HP, . could build computers or smartphones. But Google has all but cleared up this market, and Microsoft being late to a market once again could be be deadly to the giant. Windows Phone 7, despite a warm reception from critics and . whole-hearted support from Nokia, still languishes at the bottom of the . mobile market, unable to gain mass-traction. It is still behind the long-dead Windows Mobile for market-share, despite all of Microsoft's advertising pushes. But whereas it took about four years for Microsoft . to compete with the iPhone, luckily the gap for the tablet market is . only around two years. This may change over the next few years, but it will be hard to break . into either Apple's hardcore fanbase, or Android's million activations worldwide a . day. The Surface may not have the same hurdles. Business professionals may find this a suitable netbook or laptop replacement. Those who do not find Apple or Google's offerings good for productivity may swarm to Microsoft. And as Microsoft unifies the experience within all its markets and builds its own eco-system, containing Windows 8 on the PC, Windows Phone 8, and the Metro-themed entertainment of the Xbox 360, they may win back a lost generation of people who like Microsoft's technical expertise. Slim: The Surface is - perhaps not coincidentally - 0.1mm thinner than its chief rival, the iPad . Innovative: But Microsoft has not yet announced how much the Surface will cost when it goes on sale . Each device comes with a kickstand to hold it upright and a keyboard that is part of the device's cover . Components: Microsoft's Panos Panay gives the audience an inside look at the tablet's built-in keyboard . Trendy: Microsoft appears to have learned something from rival Apple when it comes to presentation . Sales of tablets are expected to triple in the next two years, topping 180million a year in 2013, easily outpacing growth in traditional PCs. Apple has sold 67million iPads in two years since the device's launch. Apple, which makes both hardware and software for greater control over the performance of the final product, has revolutionised mobile markets with its smooth, seamless phones and tablets. Rival Google may experiment with a similar approach after buying phone maker Motorola this year. Watch the video . | Microsoft tablet will use same Windows 8 operating system as PCs .
Comes with built-in stand and keyboard to replicate experience of laptop .
Company refuses to reveal price of tablet or confirm exact release date . |
261,668 | dee570a1d13c6bd69982e5f53f12e8080791acd7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:09 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:33 EST, 14 August 2013 . Joseph Messina (pictured) was given 30 month probation for attack on Eric Bartels that left him paralyzed . A man who left a father paralyzed and blind after attacking him outside a bar walked free from court, yesterday. Father-of-one Eric Bartels is now unable to speak after the 'unprovoked' attack by Joseph Messina, 25, in Mokena, Illinois, in 2009. Despite his severe injuries, Messina escaped an immediate jail sentence and was given just 30 months of probation and ordered to undertake 250 hours of community service, by Will County Judge Sarah Jones. State attorney James Glasgow said he believed there was enough evidence to justify a prison sentence. He told the Chicago Tribune: 'The injuries to Eric Bartels are a hair's breadth from murder. 'This isn't a broken nose. The seriousness of the offense can be taken into account in determining the appropriate punishment.' Judge Jones told the court that her decision was based on the law and not emotion. Messina served 59 days in the county jail. During Messina's trial at the beginning of the year, it was said that Messina threw the first punch after Bartels allegedly make a remark about a bloodstain on his shirt. Prosecutor said Messina punched Bartels to the ground and then hit him once more. It was said in court that Messina then held his hands in the air while straddling Bartels, according to the Chicago Tribune. Mr Bartels was punched to the ground after allegedly making a remark to Messina in a Mokena (pictured) bar . Messina was found guilty of aggravated battery in January. Judge Jones ordered Messina to pay $630 a month during the probation period to Jan Bartels, the victim's mother, to help pay for medical costs. The $20,000 bond put up by Messina's family will also be paid to the victim. According to the Chicago Tribune, Messina faces 180-days in county jail if he drinks alcohol while on probation. | Joseph Messina given 30 months probation for punching Eric Bartels .
Bartels left in wheelchair and unable to speak after being punched to ground .
Family attorney said 'hair breadth' from being murder case . |
214,868 | a22c547a5932432559c4b9b05ae06fce5eaae9ae | By . Alexandra Klausner . Seattle Seahawk's player Richard Sherman launched a live TV rant at his San Francisco 49ers rival Michael Crabtree yesterday after his team's dramatic victory. The cornerback was interviewed by Fox's Erin Andrews minutes after preventing a game winning touchdown and securing his team's 23-17 victory. But in the post game interview Sherman accused Crabtree of belittling his abilities during the game. He said: 'Well, I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result . you're gonna get .... Don't you [Crabtree] ever talk about me! Don't you . open your mouth about the best or I'm gonna shut it for you real . quick.' 'It's a small part of who I am': Richard Sherman said adrenaline and a long-standing grudge made him launch his attack on Michael Crabtree . Crucial moment: Richard Sherman (25) hit the ball away from San Francisco's Michael Crabtree (15) to prevent a game winning touchdown in the dying moments of last night's NFC Championship game . Sherman gives the camera some 'crazy eyes' after insulting 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree . Apparently, Crabtree said some comments about Sherman's playing abilities earlier in the game. Sherman even got a penalty for making a two handed choking gesture directed at Crabtree. Crabtree responded to Sherman's rant on Twitter by saying, 'Film don't lie... @nflnetwork @espn pull up the tape of that game and show me where this guy is the best? #fake #fake #fake' Sherman remained unruffled and wrote,' There was a lot of talk before the game.... Now I'm the bad guy lol.... Well if u judge my character on the field ....So many glass houses.' Sherman is known for being a tough guy and a bit of a fire-starter. The La Times crowns him the king of post game rants and said that he introduced 'U mad, bro?' into the sports insult vocabulary. USA Today writer Chris Chase defended Sherman in an article and wrote, ' Sherman is brash, loud and so self-centered he makes Kanye look like a wallflower. He’s also the best corner in the game and on his way to the Super Bowl. You don’t have to like it, Michael, but you at least need to understand it. Next time you beat Richard Sherman, you can talk all you want. Until then, begrudgingly shake the man’s hand and enjoy your offseason.' Sherman wrote a final response that said, 'A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.' Despite Sherman's charged retort, Crabtree remains anything but sheepish. Firing back: Crabtree responded to Sherman's rant on Twitter . Sherman also attempted to defend himself on social media . Sherman remained unruffled after Crabtree's twitter response to his fiery rant . Trading insults: Crabtree is one of the top receivers for the San Francisco 49ers . | After winning the game 23-17 against the 49ers, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman spoke out against 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree .
Sherman commented on the play in which he deflected a pass meant for Crabtree that lead to Seattle's game winning interception .
'Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm gonna shut it for you real quick!', he warned Crabtree .
The La Times crowned Sherman the king of post-game rants . |
32,349 | 5bfbbc6cc6d3e45106f4881ead9d9814d955bf1b | The Queen was praised yesterday for speaking out on behalf of the world’s poor. Royal experts said she was well within her rights to champion the underprivileged and insisted she had not breached any constitutional protocol. The Queen made her remarks to Professor David Simon on a visit to Royal Holloway, University of London, with the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday. The Queen looked radiant in royal blue as she visited the Royal Holloway University in London . Queen Elizabeth was beaming after an official visit to Royal Holloway at University Of London . The Queen attended Royal Holloway to mark the college being awarded the Diamond Jubilee Professorship of Music by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, to recognize its department of music's high quality of research and teaching . Followed by Prince Phillip, the Queen greeted members of the university, carrying a bunch of posies . She told Prof Simon: ‘Poor people and their problems don’t get reported often, and they need all the assistance they can be given.’ Anti-monarchists have accused the Queen of breaching her political neutrality by making comments that are critical of Government policy. But Royal commentators insist the Queen had a duty to speak out on behalf of those in need. Penny Junor, who has written biographies of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, said: ‘The Queen is not stupid and would never stray into the world of party politics. I think most people will agree with what she said.’ Hugo Vickers, the historian and royal biographer, described the Queen’s comments as ‘sensitive and sensible’. He said: ‘The Queen is allowed to speak, and if people want to pretend she said something political that is what they will do.’ Prof Simon last night said he told the Queen about his field of expertise, which involves working with poor people, particularly in Africa. The Queen looked to be thoroughly enjoying the day and was rarely seen without a smile . He said they also discussed the recent flooding in England, how it affected those caught up in it, and how people here are much more able to recover from challenges, due to help such as insurance. He said: ‘I don’t think she was trying to be overtly political – it was just a sign of her compassion as far as I was concerned.’ Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, supported the Queen’s comments, saying: ‘I think it’s simply an accurate observation, something that we’re certainly seeing in our work and which people see increasingly in their communities, such as more families receiving emergency food aid.’ John Hilary, of the War On Want charity, said: ‘Poverty in Britain is not a chance occur-rence. It is the result of a sustained political attack on working people and local communities.’ But Graham Smith of anti-Monarchy group Republic called her comments ‘crass’. ‘It’s a criticism of Government policy, and the rights and wrongs of Government policy aren’t what she’s supposed to speak on,’ he said. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh meet staff from the Royal Holloway University in Egham, Surrey . Comments: The Queen and Prince Philip usually refrain from political statements . Big crowds turned out to welcome the Queen and Prince Phillip to the Royal Holloway University . Students scale trees and raise their phones - and even iPads - aloft to get a better view of the Queen and Prince Phillip arriving at the university . | The Queen and Prince Phillip visited the Royal Holloway University, Surrey .
Royal commentators insisted Her Majesty had a duty to speak out .
Monarch usually avoids statements which can be seen as political . |
158,356 | 58b8cc64f5d86c79b4643d29649f0ce9c1710142 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When Gregg Wenzel died six years ago in Ethiopia, the obituaries said he was a U.S. Foreign Service officer killed by a drunken driver on the streets of Addis Ababa. CIA Director Leon Panetta spoke Monday at a ceremony commemorating fallen CIA officers. Monday the public learned the State Department job was a cover for his real occupation: CIA spy. At a ceremony commemorating those who died in the line of duty, CIA Director Leon Panetta revealed Wenzel's affiliation with the agency and noted Wenzel was a member of the first clandestine service class to graduate after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "He helped unite the class and kept its spirits high in the toughest moments," Panetta said. Wenzel left his job as an attorney to join the agency. He was 33 years old when the car he was riding in was hit by a drunken driver who to this day remains a fugitive. There are now 90 stars prominently displayed on the memorial wall in the spacious atrium of CIA headquarters, each commemorating an officer, like Wenzel, who died while serving the country. The 90th star was added recently, but as with most of the victims, the person's name and nature of service will remain unknown to the public so as not to compromise secret operations. At the annual memorial service attended by hundreds of employees, retirees and family members, Panetta paid homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. "Their patriotism and leadership, courage and decency are models for all of us," said the director, adding, "their work is our work now. And their spirit abides with us." Panetta also announced the beginning of a new tradition. Family members of the fallen officers will receive a replica of the star from the wall. The first star was given to the brothers of Douglas Mackiernan, the first CIA operations officer killed in the line of duty, shot to death in Tibet after fleeing China in 1950. | Gregg Wenzel died six years ago in Ethiopia .
Obituaries said he was a U.S. Foreign Service officer killed by a drunken driver .
At ceremony for fallen CIA officers, CIA Director revealed Wenzel was a CIA spy . |
143,149 | 451e4c322b55e60683a2706d0c250ae66f91135d | An almost-complete skeleton of a woolly mammoth, complete with tusks, is being offered up in a rare auction. The specimen, which is an incredible 11.4ft (3.5 metres) high and 18ft (5.5 metres) long, is expected to attract bidders from both museums and private collectors. Rupert van Der Werff, director of Summers Place Auctions that is selling the mammoth, says the Ice Age remains could fetch up to £250,000 ($409,000). Scroll down for video . An almost-complete skeleton of a woolly mammoth is being offered up for auction – complete with tusks. The rare specimen, which is an incredible 11.4ft (3.5 metres) high and 18ft (5.5 metres) long, is expected to attract bidders from both museums and private collectors . 'Nearly complete skeletons are pretty rare. This is a fabulous skeleton in pretty good condition,' he told Ashish Joshi at Sky News. 'All sorts of people are collectors. The most famous ones are John Travolta and Leonardo DiCaprio. It's something to really show off about.' The woolly mammoth is thought to be a male who would have weighed over six tonnes when it roamed Earth 10,000 years ago. Alistair Morris and Linsay Hoadley from Summers Place give the enormous mammoth a final dusting. Anyone with with enough room to house this skeleton can now bid for it at Summers Place in West Sussex . Resurrecting a prehistoric creature might seem like a sci-fi dream, but scientists say they have taken a step towards cloning the extinct woolly mammoth and there is a 'high chance' it will happen. Experts expect to extract ‘high quality DNA’ from a 43,000-year-old carcass found in Siberia. The announcement follows the autopsy on the female mammoth found last year in permafrost in Russia's diamond region of the Sakha Republic, which is also known as Yakutia. There was palpable excitement among the team which included scientists from Russia, the UK, the USA, Denmark, South Korea and Moldova,’ The Siberian Times reported. The researchers expect test results on blood extracted from the woolly mammoth to provide the genetic material needed to attempt to clone the animal. Woolly mammoths finally died out in eastern Siberia around 4,000 years ago. Radik Khayrullin, vice president of the Russian Association of Medical Anthropologists, said: ‘The data we are about to receive will give us a high chance to clone the mammoth.’ But he called for responsibility in bringing the ancient beast back to life, urging that competing teams seeking to win a race to clone the mammoth, not to play God for the sake of it. Rupert van Der Werff, director of Summers Place Auctions that is selling the mammoth, says the Ice Age remains could fetch up to £250,000 ($409,000) James Rylands, of Summers Place Auctions, said: 'What’s exceptional about this one is it’s more or less complete with two magnificent tusks. There are one or two toes missing. 'It looks very impressive, the inside curve of the tusks is about 8ft (2.4 metres). It’s bigger than an elephant.' It would have been covered in long fur on top, with a shorter undercoat. Although quite similar to today's elephant, it had smaller ears and a shorter tail to retain heat. Its habitat was the mammoth steppe, stretching across northern Eurasia and North America, so its diet was mainly grass and rushes, which explains why it only had four molar teeth and curved tusks. The woolly mammoth co-existed with early humans, who hunted them for food and used their bones and tusks for making art. Woolly mammoths and modern-day elephants are closely related, sharing 99.4 per cent of their genes. Mammoth remains can be dated from the rings on the tusks. A thick line denotes a year and a thinner line the weeks and days in between. Their trunks had two finger-like projections at the end to help them pluck vegetation. Japanese scientists are working on a project to bring the species back from extinction using DNA from a carcass and an egg from an elephant which will act as the surrogate mother. The species gets its name from the Russian ‘mammut’, meaning earth mole, because it was once believed they lived underground and died on contact with light – explaining why they were always half-buried. Up until now, the mammoth has been part of an old Eastern European private collection. Due to its huge size, it has only been pieced together recently. 'To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think there has been one sold at auction, certainly not in the UK and I don’t think in Europe, so it’s a first in that respect,' said Mr Rylands. 'It could either go to a museum or if you have a big conservatory it would definitely make a serious statement. 'It’s not like a number 14 bus, there isn’t going to be another one coming along.' The mammoth will be sold at Summer Place Auctions' 'Evolution' sale on Wednesday, 26 November in Billingshurst, West Sussex. Last year a diplodocus skeleton sold at auction for more than £400,000 ($654,000). | Rare specimen is 11.4ft (3.5 metres) high and 18ft (5.5 metres) long .
It is expected to attract bidders from museums and private collectors .
Mammoth is thought to be a male who weighed more than six tonnes .
Due to its size, the mammoth has only been pieced together recently .
It will be sold at auction on 26 November in Billingshurst, West Sussex . |
62,118 | b07623114154bf1d5b8c689f2cfe3a3daf37d6cb | (CNN) -- A former Alabama university professor accused of gunning down three colleagues in February was indicted in Massachusetts on Wednesday in the 1986 shooting death of her brother. Amy Bishop was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of her brother, Seth Bishop, Norfolk District Attorney William Keating said. The brother's death originally was ruled an accident. His death came under renewed scrutiny after Amy Bishop was arrested February 12 in a shooting rampage at a biology faculty meeting at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. At the time of the 1986 killing, Bishop, who was 21, told authorities she had asked for her 18-year-old brother's help unloading a shotgun when it accidentally discharged. Keating acknowledged Wednesday mistakes in handling the case, saying "jobs weren't done, responsibilities were not met and justice was not served." "Three individuals who were killed in Alabama may not have been" had Bishop been charged in her brother's death, Keating said. Bishop is awaiting trial in Alabama on capital murder and attempted murder charges in the university shooting. Three people were injured in the attack. | Seth Bishop's shooting death originally was ruled an accident .
Amy Bishop has also been charged with shooting university colleagues in February .
District attorney acknowledges mistakes made in handling the 1986 killing . |
112,088 | 1c94a81e4ced20177c7e03330198fe711b2407d2 | A 66-year-old California man is accused of groping a 15-year-old girl on a flight and telling her he could 'teach her things' about sex that boys her age couldn't. Hans Loudermilk is facing federal charges after he allegedly rubbed the inner thigh of the girl on a 90 minute Delta flight from Los Angeles to Salt Late City, Utah, Tuesday, where he was due to attend a funeral service for a friend. According to an FBI affidavit, Loudermilk stood in the aisle shortly after boarding and asked the girl to move to the middle seat in their row. Charges: Hans Loudermilk, pictured, is facing federal charges after he allegedly rubbed the inner thigh of a girl on a 90 minute Delta flight from Los Angeles to Salt Late City, Utah, Tuesday . Molestation: According to an FBI affidavit, Loudermilk, left and right, stood in the aisle shortly after boarding and asked the girl to move to the middle seat in their row and proceeded to touch her . The unaccompanied minor complied with the request, and the pair began chatting. FBI Agent Daniel Horan reported that the conversation 'started off just social, however turned sexual in nature.' About 25 minutes before landing, he allegedly told her he could 'teach her things sexually that boys her age could not' and suggested she 'should drive with him and that in the State of Utah he could marry her at her current age.' Loudermilk, a former prop maker for Hollywood movies, then allegedly began touching her chin and this 'progressed to rubbing (her) leg and upper thigh,' Horan wrote in the report, obtained by The Smoking Gun. The girl at this point became 'extremely nervous and wanted this to end.' Delta: About 25 minutes before the Delta flight landed, FBI say he told her he could 'teach her things sexually that boys her age could not' (stock photo) Funeral: Loudermilk, pictured, is a former prop maker for Hollywood movies. He was traveling to a funeral when the molestation allegedly occurred . When the plane landed in Salt Lake City, she immediately contacted a TSA officer and reported the alleged sexual assault. Meanwhile, Loudermilk had slipped away into an airport gift shop and proceeded to replace the shirt he'd been wearing with a black jacket, 'possibly to avoid detection by law enforcement,' Horan wrote in the report. He was subsequently arrested and has been charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor on an aircraft. He is being held without bond ahead of an April 10 preliminary hearing. Loudermilk went to high school in Thailand and is single, According to his Facebook page. He used the social media site to 'check in' to the Delta Sky Club at LAX prior to taking off Tuesday. He had also written extensive posts about his planned travels. 'It's Planes, Trains and Automobiles folks,' he wrote. 'In a lifetime of traveling I don't think I've ever covered as much ground of such diversity and using as many modes of transport as what I'm attempting today. Provided I make it to the church on time, of course. I'll keep you posted.' He didn't make it to the church on time. | Hans Loudermilk allegedly rubbed the inner thigh of the girl on a 90 minute Delta flight from Los Angeles to Salt Late City, Utah, Tuesday .
She was traveling as an unaccompanied minor .
According to an FBI affidavit, Loudermilk stood in the aisle shortly after boarding and asked the girl to move to the middle seat in their row .
He then began asking her sexual questions .
About 25 minutes before landing, FBI say he told her he could 'teach her things sexually that boys her age could not' and suggested he could marry her legally in the State of Utah .
Loudermilk was arrested at the airport after she reported him to a TSA officer .
He's charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor on an aircraft . |
253,748 | d46e8ac84c60fe1337d53e2521d22e902c11ea1e | (CNN)Lawyers for two Australian men on death row in Indonesia attempted to throw them a legal lifeline on Friday, despite the government's recent insistence that there is no way out. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, aged 31 and 33 respectively, were sentenced to death in 2006 for leading the so-called "Bali Nine" trafficking ring that attempted to smuggle eight kilograms of heroin to Australia. Successive appeals have failed to have their sentences commuted, and both are on a list of inmates scheduled to die by firing squad. On Friday, their Indonesian lawyer filed what's known as a PK to apply for a second judicial review. "It has been accepted, it will go to the courts, then it depends on the district court heads," Todung Mulya Lubis told media in Bali. "There should not be an execution because the legal process should be respected as well." The court will be asked to consider the men's rehabilitation during 10 years' of detention in Bali's Kerobokan prison. Chan now leads church prayers and is said to be a source of spiritual strength for other prisoners, while Sukumaran mentors other inmates in daily art classes. However, a spokesman for Indonesian Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo, Tony Spontana, told CNN that at a meeting held on January 9 it was decided that only one judicial review would be allowed. He said the meeting included representatives from the attorney general's office, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the investigative department of the national police, the national anti-drug agency, and officials from the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court and "other related institutions." Lawyers for the men have pointed to a Constitutional Court ruling in 2013 which cleared the way for a second judicial review. However, Spontana said that ruling wasn't effective because the relevant regulations hadn't been implemented. Until they were, he said "we have to stick to the old rule that says judicial review is only possible for one time."' The Australians are not the only foreigners awaiting execution by an Indonesia firing squad. Of 11 presidential decrees, eight relate to drug offenses. Of those eight, seven are foreign nationals, including the two Australians, Spontana said. The others are from Ghana, France, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Brazil. No date had been decided for their executions, he said. Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte could be the second of his countrymen killed in Indonesia in a matter of weeks. On January 18, Indonesia executed Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira who was arrested at Jakarta airport in 2003 with 13 kilograms of cocaine. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff reacted with outrage at the killing and recalled the country's ambassador from Indonesia for consultations. The Netherlands did the same after the shooting of its citizen, Ang Kiem Soei, who was convicted of running a factory that made ecstasy pills. The Philippines is reported to be seeking a judicial review in the case of its citizen, a woman who was arrested at Yogyakarta airport in April 2010 carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin on a flight from Malaysia. The French citizen has been named as Serge Atlaoui, who was sentenced to death in 2007, according to French press. After the most recent executions -- which were the first since 2013 -- Indonesia's president Joko Widodo told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that too many Indonesian lives were being lost to drugs. "Every day we have 50 people die because of narcotics, of drugs. In one year, it's 18,000 people who die because of narcotics. We are not going to compromise for drug dealers. No compromise. No compromise," he said. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the use of the death penalty for drug offenses. "According to international human rights jurisprudence, capital punishment could only be applied to the crime of murder or intentional killing," OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters. She said the U.N. was particularly concerned about "respect for due process" after Widodo stated he would categorically reject all appeals for clemency. | Application accepted by the court for a second judicial review of two members of 'Bali Nine'
Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran on list of inmates to face firing squad .
Lawyers are seeking to commute their death sentences to life in prison . |
58,523 | a5fbee063813156f859b7f58ebe0f72b67816be9 | The family of murdered student Holly Bobo, who went missing three years ago in Tennessee, have condemned her killers as soulless - as police say they are hunting more people in connection with her death. Miss Bobo, 20, disappeared from the town of Parsons in April 2011. Police and volunteers scoured the area in a desperate search, but nothing was found until her skull was unearthed on Sunday. The discovery led her family to make an impassioned statement, iterating their loss and rounding on her killers. Scroll down for video . Loss: Nursing student Holly Bobo was seen being led from her Tennessee home in April 2011 . In a statement read by their lawyer, and reported by NBC, her family said: 'We’ve lost a precious daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. 'However, . those responsible have lost their souls. Holly’s soul is the one thing . that their brutality could not diminish or extinguish.' It was the first time her family have spoken publicly about the loss of Miss Bobo. So far four men have been charged over her disappearance - two with her kidnap and murder murder and two more with tampering with evidence. But yesterday a police spokesman said that even more people could be involved, and that officers were hunting further suspects as investigators continue to comb the area where the skull was found. New break: Police in Tennessee used DNA tests to determine the human remains belonged to the 20-year-old . Confirmed: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Monday night that remains of Holly Bobo were found on Sunday . In the wake of Miss Bobo's disappearance her brother told police that he saw a man dressed in camouflage leading her away into the woods. She had been preparing to go to class at nursing school on the morning of her disappearance. The director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said the Bobo investigation has been the most expensive and exhaustive in TBI history, and it's not over yet. Since she disappeared, the small town of Parsons and surrounding areas in West Tennessee tried to support the family, putting up pink ribbons on lamp posts, mailboxes and storefronts. Miss Bobo was wearing a pink shirt and carrying a pink purse before she disappeared. Two men found a skull Sunday not far from property owned by the family of Zachary Adams, who has been charged with Bobo's kidnapping and murder. He has pleaded not guilty. The area near his family's property was searched in March. District Attorney General Matt Stowe speaks as TBI Director Mark Gwyn listens on Monday night . A second man facing murder and kidnapping charges, Jason Autry, also has pleaded not guilty. Recently elected District Attorney Matt Stowe said his office was preparing to seek a possible death penalty in the case. A decision is expected in coming weeks, after he consults with the Bobo family, he said. 'The evidence is voluminous,' Stowe said. 'We are going to make sure that everyone who played a part in the heinous crime that has attacked the peace and dignity of the state of Tennessee faces a consequence for that.' In . May, brothers Jeffrey Pearcy and Mark Pearcy were both charged . with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Like Autry and Adams, they have pleaded not guilty. Scene: Police closed off an area of woods in Decatur County after two people looking for ginseng came across a human skull on Sunday morning . Charged: Zachary Adams (left) and Jason Wayne Autry (right) are suspected of kidnapping and killing Bobo . Jeffrey Pearcy allegedly showed a friend cell phone footage of Bobo tied up and crying before her murder. The friend, Sandra King, testified at a preliminary hearing in May that she saw Zachary Adams in the footage. Mrs King also claimed that Jeffrey Pearcy told her that his brother Mark had filmed the incident. 'I seen a woman that was tied up that was crying,' King told the court, WMC reported. 'She was blonde... It looked like Holly Bobo.' King said it appeared the blonde in the video was about to be sexually assaulted, but she did not see. 'I knew what he was fixing to do. I did not want to see,' King said. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has not seen the video. Jeffrey Pearcy has denied the video exists and agents are now trying to find out if it is on his cell phone. 'I have no video. I have not seen a . video, never even heard of the video until I was questioned about it the . day of my arrest,' Pearcy said in June. Denials: Jeffrey Pearcy said that he does not have a video which could help solve the murder and disappearance of Holly Bobo, has never met her and doesn't know her family . Jeffrey Pearcy, left, and Mark Pearcy, right, have both been charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence . Revelations: Witness Sandra King testified at a . preliminary hearing in July that she saw missing student Holly Bobo . tied up and crying in cell phone footage shown to her by Jeffrey Pearcy . King worked with police to try and have Pearcey acknowledge the video in a phone call. 'I . said to him, "You know that video of Holly, if it would have been you . in that video, I would have watched it," and he said, 'Yes I know', . King said. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Adams was indicted in March on charges of especially aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder. Autry,was indicted in April on first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping charges. Heartbroken: Holly's mom Karen Bobo is led into court by attorney Steve Farase in March, when Adams was charged with her murder and kidnap . TBI . director Mark Gwyn previously said the agency has sworn statements from . witnesses who claim to have seen Bobo alive with Autry and Adams after . she had been reported missing. Gwynn added that they also had physical evidence being analyzed at two crime laboratories, and several witnesses. 'We believe other individuals have knowledge, and possibly others have involvement,' Mr Gwyn told News Channel 5. 'They can expect us to be on their doorsteps very soon.' He . added: 'This is a case the TBI has been continuously working hard to . solve now for three years. It has not been easy but I do know truth will . prevail.' 'Anyone who had anything to do with Holly's disappearance will be brought to justice,' he added. Threats: Adams appears in court earlier this year over claims he threatened his brother, who is a witness in the case . Suspect: Jason Wayne Autry has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Holly Bobo . The . first major break in the case came in February, when the Tennessee . Bureau of Investigation agents and FBI searched several areas around . Decatur, including the home of Zachary Adams. Adams, was arrested and charged shortly afterwards. Adams . appeared in court in April on charges of coercion of a witness after . allegedly making threats to his brother who is due to testify against . him. Adams' brother allegedly told the FBI he had seen Miss Bobo, 20, alive at his home after she was reported missing. Adams is accused of asking a fellow inmate to tell his brother: 'He's the one who started this s*** and if he don't shut his mouth he will be in the hole beside her,' CBS News reported. Autry, 39, has been indicted with especially aggravated kidnapping and first-degree felony murder. He is already in prison serving a three-year sentence for aggravated assault. The . case about Miss Bobo's disappearance is still active. Prosecutors are . considering seeking the death penalty if they get a conviction in the . case. | Relatives of Miss Bobo spoke out yesterday for the first time .
The nursing student, 20, disappeared in 2011 from Parsons, Tennessee .
Her skull was found and identified this week - the first physical evidence .
Two men have been charged with murdering and kidnapping her .
A further two allegedly tampered with evidence .
Police have also said that even more people could be arrested . |
33,045 | 5dda788948c805579afe41562f334725ca4feac4 | (CNN) -- An international music awards show announced a new Adele album Tuesday -- but nothing's happening, says her label chief. The confusion started with a tweet from the World Music Awards, an international contest that has been broadcast from such locales as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Monaco. In a tweet, the show said, "#adele confirms 2015 Tour After The Release Of Her New Album '25'!" Not so fast, said Martin Mills, who heads Beggars Group. Adele's label, XL Recordings, is a subsidiary of Beggars Group. There's "no truth in this," he told Billboard. So what's the deal with the World Music Awards? It may have gotten attention for the tweet, but Billboard observed that the contest is "something of a curiosity on the international awards calendar." The American broadcast of its 2014 show was supposed to run on NBC but didn't because of "technical issues." Adele herself has said little. She did hint in May that a new work could be in the offing, but her Twitter account has mostly been silent, with just three tweets since that May 4 post. (The most recent promoted an album by Example.) Certainly, even a smidgen of Adele news is eagerly awaited by her fans -- and the music business, which would love to see any material equal the performance of the English singer's last record, "21." That album sold 3 million copies through digital streaming alone, which set a record. Altogether, it's sold more than 10 million copies and topped Billboard's year-end sales list in both 2011 and 2012 -- the first album ever to do that. Oh, and "21" won the Grammy for album of the year. Since "21's" success, Adele has won an Oscar for best original song (for "Skyfall," from the James Bond movie of the same name) and given birth to a son with her partner, Simon Konecki. | NEW: "No truth in" Adele album rumor, says label exec .
World Music Awards tweeted a new album was coming .
Adele has hinted about something in the works .
Her previous album, "21," was a smash . |
78,851 | df7036c9119795f7ce2e164a66b79025083c98de | (CNN) -- Mike Loverde was 29 when his family intervened in his addiction to prescription painkillers. He remembers his parents driving him from Chicago, Illinois, to a rehab center in rural Indiana. He was crying because he wanted to get high. Be honest and nonjudgmental when you confront someone about dangerous behavior, experts say. Eight years later, Loverde is a counselor and director of program services at the Intervention Services Inc. branch outside Chicago. When someone seems to have lost control of life, or has become a danger to himself or herself, family members or friends often try to intervene. Addictions to alcohol or drugs, or an untreated mental illness, are all reasons for concern. Janet Jackson had reportedly tried in 2007 to stage an intervention for her brother Michael Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest June 25, two sources close to the Jackson family told CNN Wednesday. Britney Spears' family intervened in 2008 through the courts, after a judge in her custody case cited her for "habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol." Her father, Jamie Spears, was granted temporary conservatorship over her. How to intervene . Interventions can take many forms. Simply suggesting that a drug addict make an appointment for professional help may work, experts say. Speaking openly, in a compassionate tone and without judgment, is an effective way to approach these conversations, said Patrick Hart, an intervention specialist in Seattle, Washington. The addiction or other problem should be viewed as an illness that deserves professional care, he said. "Do not expect an addicted loved one to simply stop within their own right," Hart said. "Offer specified help." A more formal, direct intervention involves family members confronting the person and encouraging the addict to seek help. Before this meeting, a professional interventionist typically meets with family members or friends of the addict to get a history of what's happened, said Dr. Marvin Seppala, chief medical officer at Hazelden Foundation. Letters are a typical component of a direct intervention: The family members or friends will explain in writing that they are doing the intervention because they love the addict, and that they have observed specific troubling behaviors, as described in the letter, Seppala said. Beforehand, the professional interventionist will try to prepare for the possibility that the addict will run away and, along with the family, create specific consequences if the person does not agree to go into treatment, Seppala said. For example, if the person is married, an addict's spouse may not permit him or her back into the home, Seppala said. If the person is living with family, the relatives may kick that person out of the house, Loverde said. The direct intervention model is not always the best method, experts say. Dr. Bankole Johnson, chairman of psychiatric medicine at the University of Virginia, said this confrontational approach leaves the addict somewhat humiliated and may reduce the benefits of rehab treatment for the person. If the intervention does not work, it creates a chasm between the family members and the addict, he said. Instead, it's best to treat the addiction as a medical problem and stress the physical consequences of it, Johnson said. Simply telling a person that he or she has a problem with alcohol or drugs is often not as effective as saying, "You seem to be having difficulties with your sleeping, or you seem to be having difficulties with your breathing," he said. Recognizing enablers . Often there are people in the addict's life known as "enablers" who don't necessarily see the addiction as a problem, Seppala said. These may include friends, family members, doctors and, in the case celebrities, an entourage. Some celebrities become surrounded by enablers because greed and money taint the decision-making of people they know, Seppala said. "[If] their only real claim to fame is proximity to the celebrity, or getting money out of that situation, they're going to say whatever the wealthy person wants them to say," he said. This may lead a well-known person with a drug problem to feel isolated, despite having a lot of people around, because he or she isn't getting the truth from anyone, Seppala said. "You've got to count on family and friends who may have known you before you became famous," he said. For well-known people with drug problems, it's especially difficult to get the treatment they need because the celebrity factor may cloud doctors' care, Johnson said. "The practitioner is saying, 'If I don't give the person what they want, they'll go and see someone else,'" Johnson said. Sometimes people, especially family members, enable out of misguided love. For example, Loverde said that while family members do not intentionally make an addict get worse, they may not know what to do except love the person in need. But by not acting they enable that person. "You set up a family system," Loverde said. "You create the enabler, you create the punisher, you create these unhealthy family roles and people kind of mold into them based on the addiction itself." Legal action . In most states treatment for addiction cannot be forced by family members or friends, Seppala said. That's where the legal system comes in. But it's very difficult to prove in court that a person is not able to manage his or her own life because of an addiction, experts say. Different states have different laws, but generally a conservatorship -- when someone takes legal charge of another person's decisions -- is only granted if a person is a danger to other people or to himself, Johnson said. Generally, the person has to commit a crime, such as driving while intoxicated, before the legal system gets involved in ordering treatment, Johnson said. In California, for example, a probate conservatorship involves a family member or other interested party taking over part or all decision making for an adult whose decision-making ability is impaired. It must be shown that the person cannot provide food, clothing or shelter for himself. But sometimes the very threat of police intervention is enough to prompt an addict to consent to treatment, Seppala said. The bottom line . Experts stressed that family members and friends should not wait until the person they're concerned about "hits rock bottom" before attempting to get help from a professional. "Very rarely does someone wake up in the morning and say, 'I want to change,'" Loverde said. | Janet Jackson reportedly tried to stage an intervention for her brother Michael .
Even family members may become enablers in the life of an addict, experts say .
Don't wait until the person you're concerned about "hits rock bottom"
In most states treatment for addiction cannot be forced by family members or friends . |
207,822 | 9913aed0880b91f5830d79dbc05bfb9da96ad0f6 | West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed the club have not given up hope of persuading Winston Reid to sign a new contract, but insisted the player is in control of the situation. Reid was again impressive as the Hammers drew 1-1 with Everton in their FA Cup third round clash at Goodison Park. where goals from James Collins and Romelu Lukaku ensured the tie will be replayed at the Boleyn Ground in a week's time. Allardyce had previously said he would rather let the New Zealand defender leave for free at the end of the season than sell him in January, but it appears the club still harbour ambitions to retain his services beyond the summer. Sam Allardyce revealed the club have not given up hope of persuading Winston Reid to sign a new deal . Hammers manager Allardyce was talking on BT Sport ahead of the game against Everton . James Collins scores the opening goal of the game during the FA Cup clash at Goodison Park . Speaking on BT Sport, Allardyce said: 'It’s still an ongoing scenario with the club. I think that it’s neither one way or the other as far as Winston's concerned, we’ll just have to wait and see. Like every player he's in the driving seat.' Everton boss Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, was delighted with his team's strength and character, but felt they were unlucky to have a goal disallowed. Romelu Lukaku had his header chalked off after a supposed push on Aaron Cresswell, although replays suggested there was little in it. 'It feels very unfortunate not to be able to allow Romelu Lukaku’s goal in a physical game,' Martinez said after the final whistle. 'It was such a physical game. That (the foul) was not at the level that the game was played. It’s a normal contact, it should have been allowed. The former Wigan boss was pleased nonetheless, and felt the Lukaku's late equaliser could be a turning point in their season. ‘In the middle of a period where we are low on confidence it was a phenomenal reaction and it could easily be a turning point in our season,' he added. Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku scored a deserved equaliser in injury time at the end of the second half . The former Chelsea striker said he hoped this result could be the start of a decent run of games . Roberto Martinez (left) and Allardyce watch on during their draw on Tuesday evening . | Everton and West Ham drew 1-1 in their FA Cup third round clash .
James Collins opened the scoring and Romelu Lukaku equalised late on .
Lukaku had a goal disallowed for a foul on Aaron Cresswell .
Sam Allardyce said Winston Reid could still sign a new contract . |
279,729 | f65e4a4859629633213da0e35372679b1cbf010f | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 09:25 EST, 24 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:28 EST, 24 September 2013 . Christopher Leggatt died of a heart attack after suffering a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. It is believed he would have survived if he had been able to have surgery quickly . A grieving daughter has accused the NHS of running a Monday to Friday service, blaming the death of her sport-loving father on Britain’s ‘healthcare lottery’. Christopher Leggatt, 65, died as he was being transferred between hospitals as there were no surgeons available at the first because it was a weekend. The father-of-four collapsed with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm as he refereed a football match - and had a 70 per cent chance of surviving a routine operation on it. But he suffered a heart attack in the ambulance taking him from Bradford Royal Infirmary to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. Paramedics managed to revive him but his heart stopped again before he could be operated on. His death was recorded at 6.15pm - two hours after he first arrived at Bradford Royal Infirmary. An inquest was triggered when his daughter Andrea, 43, lodged a formal complaint. After the case she said: ‘I don’t want my father to be another statistic. ‘I hope what has happened highlights the fact that the NHS as it stands is a Monday to Friday service. ‘If my father had collapsed on a weekday then the outcome would have been very different. ‘If he had been operated on straight . away he would have most likely survived the operation but there were no . surgeons working at the hospital in Bradford that weekend. ‘He was taken to Bradford because it was the nearest hospital but they didn’t have the means to treat him. ‘At the time it was a real shock but I . am not angry with the hospitals or the staff involved with what . happened. It’s the system which needs to change. ‘The . healthcare service should not be part-time. I’m aware that the . Government needs to make cuts to save money but this should not be at . the expense of patients.’ She added: ‘Being angry and placing blame doesn’t bring my father back but I hope something good can come out of his death. ‘I hope that what happened might bring change to the system so another family doesn’t have to suffer like ours has. ‘It has completely destroyed our family and it was something that could have easily been avoided.’ When he collapsed, Mr Leggatt was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary. He was diagnosed quickly but the hospital did not have a surgeon on site as it was the weekend so he had to be transferred to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. He died en route . Andrea, a company director, said despite sending a letter of complaint to the hospital, she has never received a response. She . said: ‘At the inquest I learnt that if there had been someone there to . operate, there was a 70 per cent chance he would have lived. ‘The operation is really simple and only takes around 40 minutes but it was the delay which killed him. ‘To treat a ruptured abdominal aortic . aneurysm it is like mending a pipe and the vast majority of people . make a full recovery from it.’ The . inquest in Bradford last week heard that Mr Leggatt, a ‘well and active . man’ from Pool-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, had been diagnosed within . 20 minutes of arriving at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Paul . Needham, a surgical registrar with the Bradford Teaching Hospitals . Trust at the time, said the transfer represented his best chance. He said: ‘Our vascular surgical cover that day was provided by Huddersfield. ‘Our view was that a blue-light ambulance transfer would be more rapid than having a surgeon driving across [to Bradford].” Consultant . vascular surgeon at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, Anver . Mahomed, told the inquest that the two hospitals took turns to provide . acute care cover as part of a formal network arrangement. Mr Leggatt's daughter, Andrea, said: 'I hope what has happened highlights the fact that the NHS as it stands is a Monday to Friday service. If my father had collapsed on a weekday then the outcome would have been very different' Assistant Coroner Dominic Bell said: ‘I am satisfied the decision to transfer the patient, though clearly associated with some risk, was appropriate. ‘The original assumption that this death was from natural causes must still stand.’ But he also asked the Bradford Trust to examine and consider adopting the arrangements some other regions have where paramedics can, based on their diagnosis, take patients to the most appropriate, rather than nearest, hospital. He concluded: ‘The family will inevitably find it distressing to know that if the vascular surgery team had been at Bradford Mr Leggatt would have expected earlier surgery and, on the balance of probabilities, would have survived. ‘That, however, is not an issue that can appropriately be addressed by the individuals in this room.’ Mr Leggatt left a widow, Sue, and his daughter said his death had had a devastating impact on the whole family. She added: ‘My father was a very charitable man who would do anything for anyone. He was very family orientated and was very involved in community life. ‘He had worked for Leeds City Council for most of his life and he didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. ‘I hope that people in power will take note of this and make the NHS a 24/7 service. ‘I know the economy is in a bad way at the moment but savings should be made from elsewhere.’ Andrea said she now plans to contact Government ministers directly. | Christopher Leggatt, 65, collapsed with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm .
Was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary where the problem was diagnosed .
As it was the weekend, the hospital had no surgeon on site .
He was transferred to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary but died en route .
Would probably have survived had he had surgery quickly, an inquest heard . |
227,293 | b24ea77f1aa7485a67a4429e46c65a91687c197d | (CNN) -- 1914 was a good year for poster design. You'd be forgiven for not knowing it was then that five of the world's top poster designers were born: Tom Eckersley, Abram Games, FHK Henrion, Josef Müller-Brockmann and Paul Rand. Though they were from different backgrounds and worked separately, the five are largely responsible for bringing modernist design and typeface sensibilities to the world of poster design from the 1940s on. "It was a sort of Golden Age of the poster," says legendary letterpress designer Alan Kitching. While their names have all but slipped from public memory, a new project from Kitching and Monotype, one of the world's leading typeface design companies, is shining a new light on their revolutionary poster work, 100 years after their birth. The results: a series of posters fusing each designer's style with Kitching's, and "Alan Kitching and Monotype: Celebrating the centenary of five pioneers of the poster," an exhibition at the London College of Communication for the London Design Festival, that will showcase Kitching's work alongside posters from each designers' estate. The artist at work . I meet Kitching at his workshop near the London College of Communication. The smell of ink and metal hits you at the door, growing stronger as you move closer to the intimidating printing press in the back. Prints of his work—eye-popping text images in rainbow hues—hang from the walls, the ceiling, a drying line. The hundreds of typeface alphabets he's made and amassed over the years (the largest collection in Europe), from indecipherably small metal nubs to wooden letters the size of a man's forearm, are filed away in stacked tiers, and leaned against walls. His only computer is a first-generation MacBook he uses to check emails. Over the last 50 years, Kitching has built a reputation as one of the world's most acclaimed letterpress designers. And like the designers he's commemorating, he's inspired by the beauty of type. "The printed word is still powerful," he says. "I wanted to take letterpress technology and move it somewhere else from when it used to be useful." This dedication to type as art is evident in the prints he created for the collaboration. The colorful posters meld Kitching's penchant for monograms ("I like that idea of monograms: two letters interacting to make a third image,") with each designer's spirit. Their influences resonate like a baseline: Games' initials feature the bold font made famous by his posters for the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the women's branch of the British army) during World War II; Rand's feature the colorful simplicity that he would later bring to children's books. Posters, now and then . Kitching is quick to distinguish his posters from those being commemorated. While he has done functional posters, most of his have been designed as prints, strictly things of beauty. But earlier in the 20th-century, when the designers were first breaking ground in graphic design, posters were society's primary form of communication. "There were no other means of getting your message out there then. It was just posters," he says. In a time before the ubiquity of photography (let alone Photoshop), good design was paramount. It was all about the "interpretation of an idea in a graphic way." For these artists, this interpretation was realized through geometric shapes, meaningful text and inventive use of color. The diversity of their work proved these principles could be applied for almost any cause, from Eckersley's simple-but-effective posters for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, to Rand and Henrion's branding work for IBM and KLM respectively; from Games' provocative war propaganda to Müller-Brockmann's geometric orchestra adverts. "There's nothing between the message and the image. At a glance, you've got it. You didn't need a lot of words. The image is the message," Kitching says. "That's what they were masters of: condensing down a problem to a single cool item with bang." The public generally responded positively (Games' Guinness posters were universal favorites), but each designer received their share of push-back. One of Games' ATS recruitment posters was recalled after only a few weeks because authorities thought the glamorous woman shown sent the wrong message about the war effort, and another depicting a young boy in poverty was banned by Winston Churchill himself for being too negative. The others' posters were derided for being too strange, too modern, and too ugly. "A lot of people didn't recognize the things they did," Kitching explains. "They thought they were too advanced, too modern because they were working ahead of their time, really." Yet somehow their legacy survives. The end of an era . Much has changed since Eckersley, Games, Henrion, Müller-Brockmann, and Rand elevated the poster to high art. Changing technology has rendered their methods obsolete, and posters have had to become more brash and stylized to keep the public's attention. "A lot of things today have very fleeting life. It's ephemeral. It comes out quickly and it certainly doesn't last that long," Kitching says. But the appeal of these modernist designs, now decades old, remains. Posters that were quite common during their time now sell for exorbitant prices at auction. And to Kitching and other designers, they are a vestige of another time when a handful of great designers ruled supreme. "They were regarded as the high professional designers of the world," Kitching says. "Even now, people look back at them and say, 'That was a great time to be doing posters.'" Alan Kitching will be speaking about the designers at Five Lives in Posters: A Panel Discussion at the London College of Communication on September 18, 2014. Intoxicating investment: How some whisky lovers are now making millions . 'Time-slice' photos capture beautiful landmarks, from sunrise to sunset . Astonishing sculptures made from nothing but plain paper . | Letterpress artist Alan Kitching and Monotype have joined forces to commemorate five poster design greats with a series of prints .
Tom Eckersley, Abram Games, FHK Henrion, Josef Müller-Brockmann and Paul Rand were the leading poster artists of the last century .
Their designs were widely revered by the public and the graphic design community . |
285,959 | fe82298718d36875002999d047878bc804c2e675 | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 05:48 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:37 EST, 4 March 2014 . Hundreds of rogue landlords in one London borough are illegally renting out 'beds in sheds' to immigrants on an industrial scale. Harrow Council chartered a plane with thermal imaging to fly over streets picking up heat and found four times more 'suspicious' outbuildings than expected. Aerial photos revealed that instead of 75 suspected illegal developments at the bottom of gardens or in garages, there were actually at least 319. Welcome to Harrow: This is a thermal image of a street in the London borough. At the bottom of the picture is a road, and then a row of houses with heat escaping from windows. The circled building is at the bottom of a garden, and is believed to be a illegally converted outbuilding housing immigrants . Caught: A spy in the sky aeroplane with thermal imaging was chartered to find conversions. They can be seen because sheds and garages are generally not insulated, but houses are, so heat is seen in blocks of yellow . Officials believe more than 1,000 people could be living in cramped and squalid conditions costing around £55 per week, because they cannot afford a proper home. The results mean they are probably living there without planning permission or contributing any council tax. Beds in sheds - ultra basic accommodation used by 'exploited' immigrants paying reduced rents to rogue landlords who ignore planning laws - are believed to be an increasing problem nationwide, but especially in and around the capital. Harrow Council flew over their borough at 3,379 feet between 9pm and midnight in January to gauge the scale of the problem. They were looking for buildings with escaping heat - a tell-tale sign that it is an uninsulated 'shed' - as they are often hidden behind fences and cannot be seen by passers-by. The council found one case with a person paying £55 a week to sleep on a mattress in a tiny room with two other people. Concerns: Although many of the outbuildings are habitable, some are described as being unsafe, with little or no heating, or do not comply with building or fire safety regulations . The recent lift of immigration restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians on January 1 has led to concerns that more beds in sheds will spring up. And there was also a net increase in migration to the UK of 212,000 between September 2012 and September last year, according to Government figures. Harrow Council leader, Councillor Susan Hall, said: 'The pressures of migration in London, fuelled by recent waves of new arrivals from Eastern Europe, are creating new stresses on local authorities that we just haven't had to contend with before. 'What was once thought even just 18 months ago to be a problem for the centre of big cities is now rippling out to the suburbs. 'The beds in sheds phenomenon means there is a hidden community springing up in the back gardens of our cities - in our borough alone the thermal pictures we receive suggest there are four times as many as we first suspected. 'These are people who use council services - like bin collections - but for whom we receive no extra funding. 'In many cases the people in beds in sheds are at the bottom of a pyramid of exploitation. 'But we get complaints from their neighbours that we cannot ignore, and it is not fair on them that these houses should turn into cash cows for opportunist landlords.' Illegal: Councils want to crack down on rogue landlords turning sheds into illegal and often substandard living accommodation, such as this conversion in nearby Slough . Cut backs: People living in these illegal conversions use council services but do not contribute any council tax towards them - so town halls use thermal imaging to find them . The planning enforcement department of Harrow Council is now investigating 319 suspect properties identified from aerial photos. Fergus Sheppard, of Harrow Council, added: 'It's a London-wide issue. 'Some of these properties are okay, but in some places people are holed up and it's an exercise to see how many people can fit into one property. 'You can go from the quite nice and well looked after to places which are fairly grim and actually dangerous, with exposed electric wires. 'The people in these buildings often come from abroad and they are at the bottom of a pyramid of exploitation.' A Bulgarian man who was won the . National Lottery - twice - has an illegal cabin in the back garden of . his home that he rents out for as much as £10,000 a year. George Traykov, . 46, right, a former member of the Bulgarian skydiving team, beat odds of . one-in-438 million when he picked up a £160,873 EuroMillions prize in . March to add to the £1million sum he won in the Millionaire Raffle in . September 2011. Now a home . he owns in Harrow, north-west London, has been investigated by council . staff after the cabin - which has a kitchen, toilet and bedroom - was . discovered, pictured below. Speaking at the time of his win, the . property developer, who has lived in the UK for 20 years, said: 'I've . always worked very hard and never spent more than I have so money has . never been a major problem for me.' A neighbour, who did not wish to be . identified, said a lot of people go to and from the property and claimed . a fence was installed to hide the structure in the garden. Harrow council served Mr Traykov with two planning enforcement notices. The . house itself has been divided into four separate rooms, one of which is . rented by Polish special educational needs teacher Agnieszka Klojzy, . who lives in it with her two children, aged five and two. She . said: 'George is a good landlord. He looks after us quite well. It was . scary [when the council came]. I felt like a criminal.' | Harrow Council found 319 suspicious sheds and garages emitting heat .
At least 1,000 could be living in converted outbuildings without permission .
Plane criss-crossed streets, picking up heat signals from outbuildings .
Analysis of images from night flight revealed suspicious dwellings .
They can be spotted because sheds aren't insulated so heat escapes . |
94,106 | 04f83e6b54000c671d4e8dba7ed5e30c857a8991 | By . Joel Christie . The watchful eye of a young woman who was doing dishes has been credited with preventing a well-planned family and high school massacre in Minnesota, authorities say. Chelsie Schellhas was standing at the sink of her home in Waseca on Tuesday night when out of the window she noticed a tall young man slip into the storage facility next door. 'He shut the door and normally we see people come here and it doesn’t take them 10 minutes to open a storage shed, so I called it in,' Schellhas told CNN. And she was right - once police arrived, they discovered the unit was being used to make an arsenal of explosive devices, which would eventually lead them to a cache of seven guns and six bombs, along with the materials to make more. Instinctual: Chelsie Schellahas was doing dishes at her kitchen sink when she saw would-be killer John LaDue, 17, acting suspiciously at the storage facility next to her home. She called police on instinct and her gut was right . Deadly plan: John LaDue was allegedly planning to kill his family before embarking on a massacre at Waseca High School that involved home-made bombs and guns . LaDue was allegedly making explosives in a storage unit at this facility in Waseca, Minn., but his plans to use the devices were thwarted when a nearby resident, Chelsie Schellahas, noticed him entering the unit on Tuesday night and called police . Some of the bombs were allegedly found at this playground as snow melted around Hartley Elementary School playground in Waseca, Minn, in March. John LaDue, 17, has been arrested for plotting to kill his family and massacre students at a Waseca school . John LaDue, 17, a local honor student, has allegedly admitted to an elaborate plan he had hatched to kill 'as many students as he could' as part of a personal commemoration of the Columbine High School massacre, which occurred on April 20, 1999. Schellhas told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune the teen was cutting through her backyard when she first noticed him. 'He walked through the puddles when there was a perfectly good road he could have walked on,' Schellhas told the paper. 'It just didn’t seem right to me because we see people come and go with their trucks, and they don’t come on foot and cut through people’s back yards.' 'It was like he was blatantly trying not to be seen,' she continued. 'That’s why I thought it was odd.' LaDue took 'some time' before opening the door, appearing to be breaking in, Schellhas explained. Able to see into the locker, she noticed shopping bags and trash that 'didn't look right'. He then closed it behind him, cops said, and Schellhas called 911. Officers responding to the storage locker around 7:30 pm immediately noticed a significant amount of bombs and bomb making materials, police said. 'I thought it was odd': Chelsie Schellahas said her gut instincts told her to call police when she saw John LaDue in the storage facility next to her house on Tuesday night . Caught: John LaDue was charged with four counts of attempted murder, six counts of explosives possessions and related property damage charges . LaDue has since been charged with four counts of attempted murder, six counts of explosives possessions and related property damage charges. He is being charged as a juvenile, said prosecutor Brenda Miller. LaDue first planned to kill his father, mother and sister, police said. After their slayings, the teen planned to set a fire, which would act as a diversion to tie up emergency responders as he carried out his main plot at the school. He'd planned to set off 'numerous bombs' during the lunch hour at Waseca Junior/Senior High School, then kill the school resource officer, police said. Then he'd unleash gunfire on students until police officers arrived, allegedly planning to let them kill him. The teen's cache in the storage locker contained only pieces of the puzzle. Police got a search warrant and at 10:30 p.m. arrived at LaDue's home, where he lived with his family. Behind that door lay bombs he had finished at the storage unit, numerous guns and ammunition, police say. LaDue had also detailed his plan in a journal. Police allegedly found an arsenal of seven guns, along with bombs and other materials, at this house where John LaDue lived with his family in Waseca . A bomb squad removed all recovered explosives and destroyed them by controlled detonation at a local airport. LaDue’s . arsenal included an SKS assault-style rifle, a .22-cailber rifle and a . Baretta handgun, according to the paper. He planned to use the .22 to . kill his family because it makes less noise than the other firearms. ‘A great catastrophe and tragedy was averted,’ Waseca Mayor Roy Srp said. 'I’m . very disturbed by the amount of items he had,’ said Waseca Police . captain Kris Markeson, later adding that ‘he intended to do a great . amount of harm ... the amount of thought and preparation he put into this, it’s very, very complete.' 'It was apparently first written in the . notebook June 24, 2013, and while the semantics of the terror plot were . tweaked over time, the original idea remained in tact - to kill his . family, the school liaison officer and as many students as possible,' the . court documents revealed. it is not known how LaDue, a minor, managed to obtain the firearms. LaDue was described as shy and an outcast, but someone who still had friends and was not bullied. | John LaDue planned to kill 'as many students as he could' in a commemoration of the Columbine massacre .
He was busted after police were called to a self-storage unit by Chelsea Schellhas, who watched him walk into the facility from her kitchen sink looking suspicious .
Cops uncovered an arsenal of seven guns, six bombs and the materials to make several more .
LaDue admitted to planting several bombs around the small town about 80 miles south of Minneapolis .
A few of his bombs were uncovered at an elementary school playground by melting snow .
He .
faces 12 separate counts, including four charges of premeditated murder .
for planning to kill his family prior to going on the rampage . |
199,152 | 8dcf14d9ccaad31f6d288f6a642e80fe8c6b77b2 | Nashville, Tennessee (CNN) -- Tennessee is living up to its Volunteer State moniker as residents grapple with the aftermath of deadly flooding that left widespread damage and an untold number of displaced residents in its wake. Neighbors are rescuing neighbors. Strangers are chipping in to clean up devastated homes and businesses. Although many have lost everything tangible, their optimism remains intact. "I'm alive," Ronnie Coleman said. "Everything else, the rest of my life, if I have to fight cancer or whatever -- hey, man, it's going to be a piece of cake to what I went through." After two days of torrential rain, Coleman waded through chest-high water this weekend at his home in the Whites Creek suburb of Nashville -- a daunting task for a man who can't swim. His neighbor, Willie Mae Stricklandjordan, whose every belonging was ruined in the flooding, described what happened when Whites Creek overflowed: "The water just gushed in -- and it had a force to it." Another neighbor, Evelyn Pearlbell, said she had to be rescued. "They put this rope around me and pulled me through this water," she said. "Scary. Phew, I was so scared." As of Friday morning, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said that 21 people had died, one from natural causes. Davidson County was hit the hardest, with 10 fatalities. The federal government has declared 27 counties major disaster areas, the agency said. Aid and supplies were flowing in to Tennessee, including 167 truckloads of water. Country singers, who hold Music City USA dear, pledged monetary donations, and some converged on Nashville to help with the cleanup. Reports of rescues emerged from the Coast Guard, local rescue teams and average citizens as helicopters and boats canvassed the region for survivors. Nashville's police and fire departments were going door-to-door, making sure homes were evacuated. They tied yellow caution tape to the doors of places that had been cleared. Ben Perkins said he and his son, Will, searched for survivors for about seven hours in Bellevue on Sunday, rescuing people from the River Plantation subdivision and from stranded cars on a nearby highway. They initially took their boat to Will's great-grandmother's house, but she had been rescued, so Perkins began looking for others in need. Will manned a cellular phone, acting as a "control center" during the 15 to 18 rescue trips, his father said. "Tennessee's come together. Nashville's come together," Perkins said. "There's a lot of devastation. There's going to be a lot of need for donations." Even with all the rescue operations, many residents had close calls. Betty Belle Nicks had to cling to a tree and then swim to the rooftop of her new home for refuge. Three small dogs made it to the roof and were saved, but Thursday night, she was looking for her yellow Labrador retriever, Ben, who swam away. "If we could find Ben, it'd be the best wedding gift in the world," said Nicks, who was married last week. Jamye Howell was driving his Jeep through Hendersonville on Sunday when he drove over a bridge and through what he thought was a puddle -- just "water standing on the road," he told CNN affiliate WZTV. "Immediately, water was flowing in the car, and there was water flowing up on the windshield instantly," said Andrea Silvia, who was in the car with Howell. "We decided that we needed to get out on top of the car and hope for the best," Howell told WZTV. The two swam about a mile to safety, they told the station. As the water continued to recede and rescue tales emerged Friday, many were struck by the devastation the flooding had wrought. Others still searched for loved ones, holding out hope that they may still be alive after almost a week. In Pegram, cadaver dogs searched Thursday along the Harpeth River for Danny Tomlinson, a 39-year-old amateur fighter who works for a prosthetics company. Friends and family members joined the effort, which had been ongoing for five days and had covered an almost 15-mile stretch of river. His car, which was swept away Saturday, was found Tuesday. A friend who was also in the car was found alive. Tomlinson's mother said, "I'm trying to stay strong because I've got to have hope that they're going to find my son. I want to find him alive." She pleaded to a higher power for help: "Please, God, guide us. If he is in the water, which I don't want to think that, guide us there. Guide us to him -- for closure." With more disaster declarations looming and residents and officials left to wonder the true toll of the weekend's deluge, several Tennesseeans said they felt confident that the area would persevere. "Nashville has a spirit that won't be put down, so yes, I have no doubt that Nashville will come back," said Brenda Griffiths, who wore plastic bags over her feet as she assisted with the cleanup effort in Bellevue. Back in Whites Creek, evacuated residents said they feared returning home to see the devastation, but Reba Perkins said, "We prayed that whatever we found, it would be something we could learn from." Carolyn Phillips said the flooding left her worried about her future, but optimism had not escaped her. "I'm going to be OK," she said. "We're going to be OK." CNN's Anderson Cooper, Martin Savidge, Gary Tuchman and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report. | Tennessee officials say more than 21 dead, 27 counties labeled disaster areas .
Woman who was married only last week clings to tree, swims to rooftop for refuge .
Couple in Hendersonville tells station they escaped car, swam a mile to safety .
Mother pleads to God for help finding son, who was swept away in a car . |
281,837 | f9163f8df1b21eff0daa086dc3c63ffd035c9833 | A Utah high school teacher charged with raping her 16-year-old student pleaded not guilty Thursday to three counts of first degree sexual assault. Brianne Altice, 34, was an English teacher at Davis High School in deeply Mormon Kaysville, Utah when she was arrested in October for the alleged sexual relationship, which reportedly began in a church parking lot and included at least three sexual encounters. The 16-year-old boy admitted to investigators in November that he had had sex with Altice on three occasions in 2013 and testified to that fact at a preliminary hearing February 19. Scroll down for video... Day in court: Former high school English teacher and accused rapist Brianne Altice appeared in a Utah court Thursday to face charges she repeatedly had sex with her 16-year-old student . In her arraignment Thursday, Judge Thomas L. Kay also scheduled a jury trial for May 12. The blonde former teacher appeared collected in the Utah courtroom and chose to wear a close-fitting top, slim pants and conspicuously high heels. According to the Standard-Examiner the teen said in the preliminary hearing that he was upset because his family had moved to Utah from another state. He said he was having problems and home and doing drugs and that he would skip class to hang out with Altice. Fighting it: Altice pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of raping the 16-year-old. But the boy told police they had sex multiple times in 2013 before her October arrest and that their first sexual encounter was in a church parking lot . Poised: The 34-year-old Utah woman no longer teaches at the school. Her husband filed for divorce in November shortly after her arrest . Soon a sexual relationship began after an initial encounter in a church parking lot, he said. The teen was allegedly able to accurately describe the layout of Altice's home to detectives as well as tattoos on her body. Altice's husband filed for divorce shortly after his wife's arrest. It was finalized in December. 'The defendant occupied a position of special trust in relation'. to the juvenile, prosecutors wrote. Mug shot: Altice allegedly had sex with the 16-year-old numerous times at her home and at a park and a church parking lot . Altice was originally arrested in October. Altice was believed to have had sex with a 16-year-old on many occasions, including at her South Weber home and at a park in addition to the church parking lot, a Davis County Jail report states. Police have said there may be other potential victims. Altice was only hired by the high school last August, but had previously worked for other schools in the district since 2004. ‘Anytime . a story surfaces like this ... I think it all causes us concern because . these are members of the community that are held to a higher standard,’ district spokesman Chris Williams told Deseret News. Altice is the fourth Utah teacher currently facing charges of sexually abusing children. Arrest: Brianne Altice, 34, a teacher from Kaysville, Utah, has been charged with three counts of rape . The 17-year-old boy, a student at Davis High School, admitted to investigators on Monday that he had had sex with Altice at least seven times between January of 2012 and October of 2013 . | Brianne Altice, 34, was a teacher at Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah .
She has been charged with rape after police investigated three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor .
The teen was able to accurately describe her tattoos to police and layout of her home .
16-year-old boy admitted to investigators he had sex with Altice at least three times in 2013 . |
62,343 | b11a5cce50febaa0361cf4d006500b9917edc155 | (CNN) -- The Hard Rock Cafe franchise, famed for its rock'n'roll memorabilia, is expanding its reach into hotels and casinos -- but its chief executive says the brand will remain "special." "We don't want to be in every street corner, in every city of the UK," Hard Rock's Hamish Dodds told CNN. "We want to have a few very special locations, and keep it special," the 55-year-old Scotsman said from his office in Orlando, Florida. The first Hard Rock Cafe opened in London in 1971, and in the 1980s the company expanded globally. It now has more than 175 venues across 53 countries. The franchise is famous for its large music memorabilia collection, consisting of more than 70,000 pieces rotated through its restaurants. Hard Rock's ambition, according to its website, is to provide "the world's most comprehensive visual history of rock 'n' roll." Some of the company's musical treasures include Jimi Hendrix's Flying V guitar, John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "Help" and one of Madonna's classic bustiers. The company is now expanding from its cafe base into the hotel and casino market. It already has 10 hotels and six hotels with casino facilities across the U.S., Asia and Latin America -- but is yet to establish a hold in the European market. Breaking into such markets has been extremely time consuming, Dodds said. "Gaming in particular is an incredibly good business but it's very difficult. It's highly regulated, there are only certain markets you can go to, " he said. "It's very difficult in terms of barriers to entry." Dodds believes there is still scope to expand the cafe business globally -- and he's hoping to add one of the world's biggest cities to the list of cafes. "You know, I think there are always little parts of our empire that we haven't quite been able to nail ...but Sao Paolo's one that I think I'd like to get in to," he said. CNN's Stina Backer contributed to this report . | Hard Rock has a music memorabilia collection consisting of more than 70,000 pieces .
The first Hard Rock opened in London in 1971, today it has 139 cafes worldwide .
The franchise is expanding into hotels and casinos, it currently has 16 such venues . |
88,088 | f9faad9e0c827c770166bf31eeaf3fa87dc637b6 | By . Daniel Bates . PUBLISHED: . 11:09 EST, 10 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:22 EST, 11 September 2012 . Fox has become the latest major film producer to offer its movies for download - nearly a month before they are available on DVD or Blu-Ray. Alien: Prometheus will become the first release to be sold online at a lower price than hard copies at $15 (£9.30) instead of $20 (£12.50). The scheme will be trialled in the US but could come to the UK to as Tesco is a supporter. Prometheus is set to be the first film Fox offers weeks before its disc based release online. Some say the move could be the beginning of the end for physical discs . In America Alien: Prometheus will be downloadable from September 18, compared to October 11 for hard copies. It will be made available from the UltraViolet, a digital service which has united the film industry to combat piracy. Giants like Walmart, Microsoft, HP, and Netflix and Lovefilm along with electronic companies like Sony are in a 75-strong coalition are all hoping that quicker, high quality movies will tempt customers away from illegal downloads. James Gianopulos, chief executive of Fox . Filmed Entertainment, said that the company ‘felt it was a good time to . take a more dramatic step’ than they had been doing in the past. Prometheus is set to become the first film to be made available by Fox for download weeks before the DVD release. The e-films will be called ‘Digital HD’ or DHD to try and persuade viewers that they are getting something new. Other recently release Fox movies such as ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,’ ‘The Watch’ and ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift,’ will also be available at the reduced price before discs. UV has been touted as a possible solution to stopping piracy and has won the backing of Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Films bought from one online ‘store’ will work with content bought from another, along with any apps bought from companies which are on board. There is no lock on the films either and you can stream or download the film whenever you want once you’ve paid for it. Ridley Scott's Prometheus, starring Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers, is set to be released at a digital download weeks before its DVD and Blu-Ray release. One UV account can be used by up to six people as well, meaning families need only pay for one subscription. If you buy a UV disc, then you can stream or download it as often as you like. Apple however has refused to join the consortium and instead offers films and TV shows through its iTunes service, although the restrictions on where you can play them are more onerous. Amazon and Google have also launched similar services as competition for broadband consumers heats up. | Move is seen as another nail in the coffin of traditional DVDs and Blu Rays .
Prometheus set to be first film offered by new service . |
282,577 | f9ff7d36829e0bab45405584132e52be8e6db99d | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 07:54 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:53 EST, 1 February 2013 . People hoping to start a new relationship can generally expect a prospective partner will come with baggage of some kind. But Lisa Smith comes with one of the tallest orders of all - no sex. Ever. Speaking with Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on the ITV This Morning sofa today, Lisa confessed she 'hopes to find a man who is wiling to embrace her asexuality'. While she is willing to extend intimacy to levels of cuddling, she finds the act of sex itself completely repellent. Scroll down for video . Lisa's first sexual experience was with 'someone I trusted who was wonderful, but I saw it as a chore' Sitting with ITV psychologist Emma Kelly, Lisa said: 'I don't think anything's ever set completely in stone, but this is how I feel now.' Her teenage years at school were difficult, especially in sex education. 'It didn't seem like something I would ever do. I was embarrassed because everyone was giggling - especially girls. 'I saw it as a coming of age thing - something I wanted to get it out the way.' Speaking about her first sexual experience Lisa said: 'I was in a relationship with someone I trusted who was wonderful, but I saw it as a chore and I didn't want to do it. After trying everything in the bedroom to rid her of her disgust for the act she still felt repulsed . 'It was a case of "I want to be with him, and I have to do this in order to be with him".' 'All my partners were patient men willing to do anything to make me happy. They didn't pressure into anything.' But, she says, even after trying everything in the bedroom to rid her of her disgust for the act she still felt repulsed and found sex didn't 'do anything' for her. Emma Kelly said asexuality affects one per cent of the population in the UK - so it's a lot more common than people might think. Lisa said she gets frustrated when people say maybe she 'hasn't met the right man', she's 'not doing it right', or that maybe she just 'likes women but hasn't realised it yet'.' Lisa wants to settle down but thinks being 'an asexual vegan who doesn't want kids' will hold her back . 'I'd love to be in a loving relationship and settle down,' she said. 'But the extent of intimacy would be cuddling.' When asked about her hopes for the future and finding a man to settle down with, Lisa's reply reveals her fears. 'I'm an asexual vegan who doesn't want kids - I'm thinking crazy cat lady.' 'I want to get married and have a house - but no sex.' She then admitted it was a 'tall order'. Psychologist Emma jumped in and said 'people underestimate men' and this is 'an opportunity'. While it's a 'tall order', psychologist Emma said people underestimate men and this is 'an opportunity' Lisa said that if she met the man of her dreams and he wanted sex, she would say no. 'I would have to tell them from the beginning. I'd feel like I was compromising myself and I would detest them for making me do something I don't want to do.' Since her article for the Mail, Lisa said she's had really positive response from AVEN [the Asexual Visibility and Education Network]. 'A lot of them don't feel they can come forward and say it,' she said. But, unfortunately, she said she has also had some 'horrible' comments, like: 'You can't get a man and this is how you cover it up'. She finished on a final hopeful note that 'there are people who physically can't have sex and still have relationships', and that 'it's harder of men to admit to it as "being up for it" is expected of them 24/7'. An asexual is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are. Asexuality does not make our lives any worse or any better, we just face a different set of challenges than most sexual people. There is considerable diversity among the asexual community; each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Asexuality is just beginning to be the subject of scientific research. SOURCE: AVEN . Watch our clip of Lisa's interview on This Morning below. The full video will be available on the ITV website. | Vegan Lisa, 29, from Buckinghamshire, who doesn't want kids, hopes to find a man who will embrace her asexuality .
Says she wants potential partner to accept cuddling as extent of intimacy .
If the man of her dreams wanted sex she would say no. 'I'd feel like I was compromising myself and I would detest them for it'
Since writing for the Mail Lisa has heard from other asexuals but also had spiteful comments like: 'You can't get a man and this is how you cover it up' |
262,616 | e02cca6007546afe8a48b7064576fb1db65b1a00 | Atlanta (CNN) -- Authorities are investigating the death of a Georgia state trooper late Monday after he was shot following a traffic stop in northwest Atlanta, an agency spokesman said. A suspect has been arrested, said spokesman Gordy Wright. Trooper Chadwick LeCroy, 38, who was shot twice in the face, died while being transported to a local trauma unit, Wright said. The suspect escaped in the trooper's patrol car, which was found abandoned about half a mile away. The suspect was taken into custody with help from the Cobb County Police. LeCroy, of Marietta, is survived by his wife and two sons, ages 8 and 21. He became a trooper in August 2008. The killing is being investigated by the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Police and Cobb County Police. | Trooper Chadwick LeCroy is shot twice in the face .
Chadwick dies en route to hospital .
He graduated from trooper school in 2008 . |
155,246 | 54a8dad68e9a0659e7b9154bbe94036a3801abf0 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 16 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:35 EST, 17 September 2013 . The creators of Grand Theft Auto V have launched an investigation after copies of the eagerly-anticipated video game appear to have been dispatched days ahead of its official release. Online retailer Amazon has already sold out of the game which cost more to make than many Hollywood blockbusters and, in certain circles, generated a similar hype. Hundreds of fans are expected to queue up tonight to get their hands on the latest iteration in the Grand Theft Auto series which reportedly cost around £170 million to make and market - more than films such as Avatar. Scroll down for trailer.. The creators of Grand Theft Auto V have launched an investigation after copies of the eagerly-anticipated video game appear to have been dispatched days ahead of its official release . It will go on sale at midnight when stores across the country are expected to open their doors for special launch events. But some gamers claimed to have received their copies as early as Friday following Amazon deliveries. One fan took to Twitter to say: ‘I refuse to disclose whether Amazon has dispatched my pre-order copy of GTA early in case it prevents them from doing so again in the future. GTA maker Rockstar said it was looking into how any copies of the game may have been released early. The game will go on sale at midnight when stores are expected to open their doors for the launch event . ‘We are in the process of investigating early “sales” to determine how and why that is occurring,’ a spokesman told the Games Industry International website. In a message on its website, Amazon warned any orders placed after September 13 may not arrive until after tomorrow’s release date because of high demand. It said: ‘Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360)--Stock Update. Please note--due to high demand, orders placed for Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360) from September 13 will be shipped as soon as we receive inventory.’ Experts are tipping the game to smash sales records and estimates suggest it could generate £1 billion during its first year on sale when gamers are predicted to snap up some 25 million copies. Tom Butler, social media editor of gaming site IGN.com, said thousands of workers have taken the day off for the launch or plan on calling in sick. ‘Grand Theft Auto V will be the biggest entertainment launch of the year and possibly all-time with levels of consumer anticipation outstripping Harry Potter and Twilight,’ he said. Some gamers took to Twitter to say they received their copies as early as Friday following Amazon deliveries . According to its findings, around 46 per cent of people to buy the game said they booked Tuesday off as holiday . ‘With gamers queuing at midnight to be among the first to play and the developer boasting thousands of hours of game play, there’s no surprise that we’re likely to see an outbreak of GTA flu this September.’ The gaming site polled 10,995 readers to ask whether they would take time off work on Tuesday when the GTA V goes on sale. According to its findings, 5,059 readers- around 46 per cent- said they booked the day off as holiday. Another 2,012 (19 per cent) said they would phone in claiming to be unwell while 35 per cent said they would wait to get their hands on the game. The Grand Theft Auto series - which sees players buy virtual prostitutes - has accumulated sales of 135 million copies since its 1997 debut. ‘Grand Theft Auto V is not only a preposterously enjoyable video game, but also an intelligent and sharp-tongued satire of contemporary America,’ said Keza MacDonald, games editor at IGN.com. ‘It represents a refinement of everything that GTA IV brought to the table five years ago. It’s technically more accomplished in every conceivable way, but it’s also tremendously ambitious in its own right. ‘No other world in video games comes close to this in size or scope, and there is sharp intelligence behind its sense of humour and gift for mayhem.’ | Game is due for release at midnight with hundreds expected to que early .
But some gamers claim Amazon delivered their copies as early as Friday .
Many predict it will smash sales records and generate £1bn in its first year . |
151,537 | 4feb82c680166f0b8f90bf3a6f9779b04f229325 | By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 13:24 EST, 1 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:10 EST, 1 October 2013 . Drunken driver: Thomas Cypress, 58, was ordered to pay a total of $35million in restitution stemming from the 2009 DUI crash that killed a retired couple in Florida . The family of an elderly Maryland couple who were killed in 2009 when a drunken driver slammed into their vehicle have been awarded a total of $35million in damages by a civil court in Florida. Thomas Cypress, the driver of the truck that plowed into the car of Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick on Tamiami Trail, killing them both, was ordered Monday to pay $5million in punitive damages in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victims’ children. The decision came just days after a jury decided that Cypress, 58, should pay $30million in compensatory damages to the Kirkpatrick family. ‘I think the jury honored our parents by sending a message to our community that drinking and driving is not something it is going to stand for,’ Steven Kirkpatrick, the couple’s eldest son, told the Miami Herald. Mr Cypress, a former airboat driver, is currently serving 12 years in prison after being convicted in 2010 of two DUI manslaughter counts stemming from the deadly February 2009 crash. The Kirkpatricks, both 63 years old, arrived in Florida to attend an art show in Naples and enjoy a winter vacation. The couple had retired from teaching just a few years earlier. Scroll down for video . Prefect couple: Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick, both 63-year-old retired teachers, were vacationing in Miami-Dade County in February 2009 when Cypress plowed into their car, killing them . On February 19, Robert and Paulette were riding in a rented car along Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County when Thomas Cypress, the brother of a former Miccosukee tribal chairman, veered his truck the wrong way and smashed head on into the sedan. At the time of the collision, Cypress' blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, and he was driving on a suspended license after an earlier DUI charge. Prior to the 2009 crash, Mr Cypress had been arrested for drunken driving on two separate occasions. Deadly crash: On February 19, 2009, Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick were riding in a rented car along Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County when Cypress veered his truck the wrong way and smashed head on into the sedan . Drunkard: Cypress had blood alcohol level three times the legal limit and was driving on a suspended license stemming from an earlier DUI incident . During a two-day civil trial last week, a jury heard from Jennifer and Steven Kirkpatrick, the victims' children, before awarding them $30million in compensatory damages following a 15-minute deliberation. On Monday, the same jurors deliberated for two hours before reaching a decision to award additional $5million in punitive damages. Cypress' attorney William Fink told jurors his client is destitute and has no means to pay the family restitution. But the lawyer hired to represent the plaintiffs insisted that the defendant has the funds to pay the damages based on the fact that he retained the services of a well-known private law firm, CBS Miami reported. WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco . Blood money: During a two-day civil trial last week, a jury awarded the dead couple's son and daughter $30million in compensatory damages . Deterrent: Jennifer Kirkpatrick (left) and her older brother, Steven (right), said they hope the damages awarded in the case would help discourage other people from drinking and driving . The Kirkpatricks said in court that the tragic loss of their parents robbed them of countless memories, including weddings and births of grandchildren that the victims will never get to meet, the station WSVN reported. Steven Kirkpatrick said that he hopes the high damages awarded in their case will help discourage other people from getting behind the wheel drunk and prevent such tragedies from happening. | Thomas Cypress, 58, was found guilty in 2010 of killing Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick, both 63 years old after plowing into their sedan .
Cypress had blood alcohol three times the legal limit and was driving on suspended license .
Jurors ordered Cypress to pay $30million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages . |
112,001 | 1c724a27ae365d48d4cf7083392645b47ae61c78 | By . Bianca London . A talented make-up artist has become an online star - by filming herself transforming into well known film and TV characters. Sitting in front of a mirror, Elsa Rhae Pageler morphs into characters from the likes of V for Vendetta and Star Wars with a few strokes of carefully applied make-up. She has also created striking similarities to other famous faces such as Master Chief from the game Halo and Captain Planet from the American animated environmentalist TV show. Scroll down for video . What a transformation! Sitting in front of a mirror, Elsa Rhae Pageler morphs into comic characters such as The Scorpion using make-up . That's clever! The talented make-up artist has become an online star - by filming herself transforming into famous characters like The Grinch . Elsa, from Overland Park in Kansas, USA, spends up to three hours painstakingly applying make-up for her transformations. The first character she created was from Avatar after taking a make-up class at university and learning how to draw the design. Incredible: Her designs are so good, she has got thousands of followers on YouTube. Here she is as Captain Planet from the American animated environmentalist TV show . Wow! Elsa often spends up to three hours painstakingly applying make-up for her transformations into characters from TV and film. Here she is the Master Chief from the game Halo . Eye spy: Elsa has painted an incredibly realistic eye onto her hand to transform herself into Eye See You from Sylvester Stallone's film . Terrifying: The first character she created was from Avatar after taking a make-up class at university and learning how to draw the design and now she transforms herself into the likes of filmstars such as Baraka . Au natural: Elsa, 23, pictured without any of her quirky make-up on, has a huge online following . Realistic: She often spends up to three hours on the more complex designs, such as this incredible White Walker look . Say cheese! Here, she has kept her face natural but created an amazingly detailed smile . Intricate: Elsa, pictured as Star Wars character Darth Maul, loves trying to scare her dog with her crazy make-up . Is that the same girl? Elsa learned her skills at a class and has become so good at it, you can barely recognise her when she's in character. Here, she is the character from hit film V for Vendetta . That must have taken a few hours! 'When I'm done painting sometimes I go downstairs and try to scare my dog - but he's got too smart and never falls for it,' she said of her hobby . Elsa, 23, has a huge following on the web where she posts stop motion videos to teach others how to replicate her designs. She said: 'My first complete transformation was Avatar - I did it for Halloween after watching videos online. 'My faces usually take anywhere from 30 minutes up to three hours to complete. Intricate: Some of her designs are more scary than others, here she is trying out the Sugar Skull look - traditional folk art from Southern Mexico used to celebrate Day of the Dead . Tricks of the trade: She said: 'I enjoy making stop motion footage of my faces - people seem to love them' Get the look: Elsa, pictured as Quan Chi, a character in the Mortal Kombat series, shows her fan base how to achieve her look with make-up . Artist: Elsa, pictured as the Giving Tree, . said that after her first few attempts, she decided to start making . videos of herself creating the designs in order to show people they are . real . 'When I'm done painting sometimes I go downstairs and try to scare my dog - but he's got too smart and never falls for it. 'After my first few I decided to start making videos of me creating the designs in order to show people they are real. 'I then started to take a more creative approach to the videos and now I enjoy making stop motion footage of my faces - people seem to love them.' Realistic: Elsa shows off her transformation into Sub Zero, a video game character from the Mortal Kombat series and one of the original characters in the first Mortal Kombat game in 1992 . Skills: Elsa uses a mirror to complete her transformation and even paints her eyelashes when she turns herself into this Face on Face design . | Elsa Rhae Pageler morphs into characters from TV shows and films .
Takes between 30 minutes and three hours to complete makeover .
Shares skills with online fan base . |
12,245 | 22ba00c9ee7d22d7408b2119daa3990d33f1024e | The French hospital treating Michael Schumacher has denied rumours that the Formula One legend has died. Grenoble University Hospital put an end to wild speculation circulating on the internet, including social networking site Twitter. A statement read: ‘The hospital denies that Michael Schumacher has died.’ The French hospital treating Michael Schumacher has denied rumours that the Formula One legend has died . Rumours of his death prompted some journalists to gather at the hospital. Schumacher, 45, was put into an artificial coma after suffering traumatic brain injury in a near-fatal skiing accident on December 29. Shutting down function can give the brain time to heal. Last week his manager Sabine Kehm confirmed that he was being brought round from his coma. Grenoble University Hospital put an end to wild speculation circulating on the internet, including social networking site Twitter . She said: ‘Michael’s sedation has recently been reduced to initiate a process of awakening which may take a long time.’ According to sources cited in the French media the seven-time world champion blinked during brain tests last week. Citing ‘very reliable sources’, L’Equipe newspaper said Schumacher had undergone a number of neurological tests and had responded ‘positively’. Michael Schumacher is being slowly brought out of his induced coma, his manager has said. His wife Corinna insists her husband is a 'fighter' who will not give up . Probe: Investigators at the site of Schumacher's crash earlier this month where he smashed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, France . Surgeons performed two operations to relieve pressure on his brain and remove blood clots in the days following his accident. Wife Corinna, 44, with whom the champion has two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, has remained at his bedside. Schumacher had his catastrophic accident in the French ski resort of Meribel, where he owns a chalet. He had been skiing on the piste with his son Mick, 14, and family friends. Shortly after 11am he skied on to a patch of rocky off-piste located in between two runs. He skied into a rock and then catapulted on to another banging his head with such force that his helmet split in two. Strain: Corinna Schumacher and their children have been maintaining a constant bedside vigil since his crash . He was wearing a helmet camera and his entire accident was recorded. Investigators said it was a freak accident and Schumacher, who is a very competent skier, was not skiing at an excessive speed. He was airlifted off the mountain and taken to Grenoble University Hospital where doctors put him into a medically-induced coma. A scan revealed he had suffered serious brain damage. His manager released a statement later that night saying the sportsman was fighting for his life. A top neurosurgeon said stricken Michael Schumacher's brain cells are 'working together like a Formula One team' in a bid to get him to wake up from his six week long coma. Dr Munther Sabarini, neurosurgeon and founder of the Avicenna Hospitals in Berlin, Hamburg and Zurich, says the vital pyramidal neurons - control cells - 'are working together, so to speak, like an F1 team. So if a driver shows weakness, then another driver takes over under the new situation. So it is with the brain cells. You can support brain function with a lot of resources so that the healing process is accelerated and cause as little damage as possible. 'Typically high-energy bodily functions are shut down during a coma. Only after awakening can they be enabled again. The vital signs are observed and corrected. It is then up to the doctors to do a great deal; physiotherapy, mental care, treatment of new or old diseases. 'Depending on the aid required the patient receives medication - usually called neuro vitamins - but the measures applied vary stronly from case to case. After awakening one needs a few months to a few years to learn to overcome physical changes. Young and healthy people like Michael Schumacher have better chances to recover from such a trauma.' His medical team at the Grenoble University Hospital in France announced last week they are slowly reducing the anaesthetic that has kept Schumacher, 45, unconscious since his low-speed ski accident on December 29 when he smashed his head on to rocks. This could take many more weeks. Anaesthetic gases which may have accumulated in his body's fatty tissue must be removed extremely slowly. So far, there have been no facial or bodily responses to his environment, according to medical sources. He receives food through a tube to his stomach, oxygen via a hose from a machine next to his bed as he still cannot breathe independently. Three times daily his joints and muscles are massaged to prevent atrophy and bed sores. The coma suppressed his swallowing reflex, pain perception and his respiratory drive. He has to be acutely monitored around the clock during this wake-up phase to see if such things are returning naturally. Experts say that perhaps the greatest risk of all facing Schumacher in his prone position is pneumonia. The lack of a competent swallowing mechanism can make saliva run into the lungs and trigger the potentially lethal respiratory infection. Andreas Pingel, medical director of the Centre for Spine Surgery and Neuro-Traumatology at the BG Hospital in Frankfurt told Germany's Focus Magazine; 'About 30 to 50 percent of all patients who lie in a coma as long as Michael Schumacher has get it.' His blood is also thinned to prevent thrombosis and he is regularly turned and even stood straight up at times to keep blood flowing. He lies on a special air-filled mattress to prevent pressure sores and his urinary tract is under constant vigliance because of the danger of waste bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing a potentially fatal infection. Allan Hall . | Grenoble University Hospital put an end to wild speculation on the internet .
A statement read: 'The hospital denies that Michael Schumacher has died'
Rumours of his death prompted some journalists to gather at the hospital .
Schumacher, 45, was put into an artificial coma after accident .
Suffered traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident on December 29 . |
54,586 | 9aa14deb619f5d84670278185289973439778188 | Exeter wing Jack Nowell will return to England’s starting XV in Dublin on Sunday at the expense of Jonny May. May was released back to Gloucester on Tuesday night, paying the price for a glaring lapse against Italy at Twickenham when he failed to capitalise on a three-on-one overlap. Nowell has been operating at outside centre for Exeter and was in electric form as the Chiefs swept to victory at Harlequins last weekend. He was a fixture in the senior team during last year’s RBS 6 Nations and scored a maiden Test try against Italy in Rome. But that was his last appearance as injuries checked his progress. He damaged a shoulder and, during the enforced break, had surgery on a knee problem. Exeter wing Jack Nowell will return to England’s starting XV against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday . Stuart Lancaster's England squad warm-up at their training base at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday . The England forward pack hit the scrum machine as forwards coach Graham Rowntree watches on . Rowntree brings his pack into a huddle for a team talk as they squad continue their preparations for Dublin . England have started to use the choke tackle more often with flanker James Haskell leading from the front . Nowell, 21, is likely to be part of a back-three unit showing two changes as Alex Goode is on standby to take over from Mike Brown if, as feared, the Quins full-back fails to recover from concussion in time. Chris Pennell of Worcester is another full-back in a trimmed-down squad of 26 but he is there merely to gain experience. Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood and Geoff Parling have all returned to training after injuries but have been sent back to their clubs to play in the Aviva Premiership. With Newcastle tighthead prop Kieran Brookes nursing a hip strain, Bath’s Henry Thomas is poised to take over as a replacement. Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: ‘Preparation has gone well. We’ve had to make some tough decisions but it’s a good position to be in. Those players going back to their clubs have another big weekend ahead to lay down a marker for later in the tournament.’ Rowntree pinpointed hooker Rory Best and lock Paul O'Connel as key 'chokers' in the Irish team . The choke tackle involves a defender wrapping his arms around the neck and chest of the ball-carrier — often one who is isolated and too upright — and preventing him from going to ground. With assistance from team-mates, this can lead to the ball being stripped or a maul forming, which can produce a penalty to the defending team if the opposition collapse it in their bid retrieve the ball. If a maul forms and the ball doesn’t emerge, the defending team will win the put-in at the subsequent scrum. Meanwhile England plan to use Ireland’s favourite weapon — the choke tackle — against their rivals on Sunday. While the Irish long ago mastered the art of holding up isolated runners to win turnovers and penalties, now England have acquired the knack, led by the recalled Wasps captain in their back row, James Haskell. The order from Lancaster and his assistants will be to carry on choking, but not to overplay it. ‘It’s a powerful tool if a team can do it well — stand you up there and quickly get mass under the body,’ said forwards coach Graham Rowntree. ‘We’ve done it more of late. We’ve got a couple of personnel in our team now who are good at it and maybe weren’t in our team six to 10 months ago. But it’s been around for six years. You’ve got to employ it at the right time. We encourage our guys that they can choke, but they have to do it appropriately, at the right time. If you do it wrong you just get danced back for five metres, it goes into a ruck and you’ve lost territory. But if you get it right, it’s a hell of a tactic.’ Jack Nowell is choke tackled by Dave Kearney (left) and Gordon D'Arcy at Twickenham last season . Best puts in a crunching hit on France scrum half Rory Kockott during his side's victory against France . O'Connell (centre) worked with Rowntree during the 2009 and 2013 British and Irish Lions tours . Rowntree initially refused to identify the leading English exponents of the ploy but eventually mentioned Haskell, adding: ‘It’s not limited to him. Billy Twelvetrees won a crucial penalty at the end of the Wales game with the same tactic.’ Rowntree pointed to three key Irish chokers — two of whom are available to face England. ‘For Ireland, Best, Heaslip and O’Connell are all good at it,’ he said, before paying tribute to the young England lock who will go toe to toe with Paul O’Connell: George Kruis of Saracens. Injuries to Lawes and Joe Launchbury left the coaches with a problem but Kruis has been the solution, first in the autumn and lately in victories over Wales and Italy. He is making a powerful case for a World Cup place. George Kruis has been outstanding for England following injuries to Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury . Kruis, 25, revealed that when O’Connell was leading the Lions in South Africa six years ago he was cheering from the stands as a teenage prospect on a playing stint in Cape Town. Asked if he ever imagined that one day he would find himself up against O’Connell, Kruis said: ‘It was a very distant dream. I was rather underweight and not the best rugby player. I weighed less than our backs coach.’ A notable victory was secured by campaigners in the House of Lords on Tuesday that will curb online ticket touting ahead of the Rugby World Cup and the Ashes series this summer. Proposals for a provision in the Consumer Act — to ensure that tickets traded online include block, row and seat number plus the face value — had previously been rejected by the House of Commons. But the persistence of the House of Lords, backed by cricket’s ECB and rugby’s RFU ruling bodies, led to the Government’s capitulation on the issue yesterday. The new regulations will be in place in time for the start of the Ashes series in July. | Jonny May was released back to Gloucester on Tuesday night .
Ireland have been prominent users of the 'choke tackle' in recent seasons .
Earlier this week, Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards claimed that the choke tackle is dangerous and should be banned .
England have begun to utilise the tactic in recent games .
Wasps flanker James Haskell has led the way with his tackling technique .
England forwards coach Graham Rowntree praises Paul O'Connell . |
24,196 | 44a6d064501f25115f10806c54e76693275c9c25 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:29 EST, 9 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:36 EST, 9 January 2013 . A boy who was left brain damaged by blundering midwives has been awarded £7.1million in damages after his mother’s 14-year fight against the hospital responsible. Clare Scott’s son Charlie has a serious form of cerebral palsy and cannot walk, talk, sit up or drink without assistance. He will need care for the rest of his life. It is believed that when he was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his shoulders for more than 20 minutes in the womb before midwives noticed. Claire with her 14-year-old son Charlie: He suffered brain damage after the umbilical cord became wrapped around his shoulders in the womb . Compensation: Charlie cannot cannot walk, talk or drink without assistance and will need care for the rest of his life . If the problem had been spotted, Mrs . Scott could have been given an emergency Caesarean section. As it was, . Charlie was starved of oxygen and it was 55 minutes before he was able . to breathe on his own. He was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic . hemiplegic athetoid cerebral palsy at six months old. Mother-of-five Mrs Scott, 36, launched legal proceedings against the . Royal Bournemouth Hospital Trust in Dorset before Charlie’s first . birthday. The Trust spent 12 years denying clinical negligence, . resulting in a protracted legal dispute. But two years ago, the Trust admitted that Charlie’s brain injury would . have been avoided if Mrs Scott had been cared for properly during . labour. Since then, lawyers have been negotiating compensation which has . now been settled in court. The £7.1million will be given in annual . instalments to help Charlie, now 14, for the rest of his life. Bosses at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset (pictured) admitted liability after a 12-year legal battle . Charlie at a Christmas party: His mother Clare says he likes to play with his four brothers . Mrs Scott, from Bournemouth, plans to use some of the money now to buy him specialist equipment and to ensure he has adequate lifetime care. She said: 'No amount of compensation makes up for the disability, but it's security. 'It makes me feel better to know that when I can't look after him anymore I will be able to put something else in place. 'I felt angry against the hospital. If they had done their job properly we would have normal and healthy child. 'I was mortified to think that through no fault of my own that my son had cerebral palsy. 'Medical experts have spent the last 14 years trying to establish what happened and what went wrong. 'In the end the hospital trust admitted liability but only because I refused to back down. 'They should have admitted it a lot sooner because they had been in the wrong and not have me battling this for most of my adult life.' Mrs Scott had a normal and healthy pregnancy until she went to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in 1998 after going into labour. Charlie's mother said of the money awarded: 'No amount of compensation makes up for the disability, but it's security' She said: 'When Charlie was born I knew something was wrong. He was white, the colour of a piece of paper and all his extremities were blue; his lips, fingernails, everything. 'It was 55 minutes before he breathed on his own, it all kind of happened in slow motion. 'If they had transferred to Poole hospital for specialist treatment the odds are it never would have happened. Charlie pictured in a motorised wheel chair. His mother said it felt strange to finally have closure . 'They had procedures in place for emergencies but basically none of it ever happened. 'We decided to take action against the hospital when Charlie was nine-months-old because I knew that something had happened to make him disabled. 'I adore Charlie but life is very hard, he needs constant care and attention, so I did it because I want him to be looked after in the future. 'Social services have been brilliant, however every time we need something we have to be assessed and it's so drawn out. 'We never really discussed how much we might get because nobody really knew, but I wanted to be able to say 'Charlie needs a new wheelchair, let's go and get him one'. 'It was a really weird feeling, it was just so strange to know that after all that time and all the fighting and the appointments with medics, experts, and consultants, that that was it. 'My message to others would be don't give up, no matter how hard it gets.' Mrs Scott has four other sons; Spencer, 12, Harrison, seven, and Austin and Willis, both six, who Charlie enjoys playing with. Paula Shobbrook, director of nursing and midwifery at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, said: 'We apologise sincerely to Charles and his family for his injuries.' | Clare began legal battle after son born with serious form of cerebral palsy .
It is believed umbilical cord wrapped around Charlie's shoulders for more than 20minutes before midwives noticed .
Royal Bournemouth Hospital Trust denied clinical negligence for 12 years .
Then admitted that brain injury would have been avoided had Mrs Scott been cared for properly during labour . |
107,323 | 166d80442e0580fdf73e9c2d0caf028e84431288 | An unemployed father of 26 children, who has already raked in benefits worth more than £500,000, says he deserves more money to support his huge family. Unmarried Peter Rolfe, 64, from the Isle of Wight has fathered 14 boys and 12 girls with 15 different women. He appeared on today's This Morning to defend his lifestyle, ahead of a Channel 5 documentary airing this evening sharing his story. His side of the story: Peter Rolfe said on This Morning he only takes benefits for the sake of his children . Presenter Holly Willoughby revealed that Peter is getting £32,678 a year in benefits in the form of child tax credits, family allowance, disability benefits, housing benefits and a state pension. Peter pointed out that the pension is his right given he worked in his youth as a doorman (a role he admitted was largely responsible for him sleeping with so many women and fathering so many children). He apologised if his large family puts a 'strain' on the benefits system but added that he only claims for his children's sake, not for his own. Disabilities: The father of 26 said he would get a job if he could . 'I claim exactly what I can get from the state for my children, not for my self,' he said. He added that he would work if he could. 'I worked until taking the children on and then I became a single father, if someone wants to give me a job I'll do it, even now with my disabilities but noone wants to give a disabled person a job,' he said. While some of Mr Rolfe's children have grown up and left home (his eldest daughter is in her forties), he still regularly has 18 family members staying in his three-bed council house. Six of his children aged three to 19 still live with him permanently. Hard life: Peter Rolfe says he needs a bigger council house and more benefits to support his family . Big brood: The father of 26 with some of his children (he has 14 boys and 12 girls altogether) And the family keeps on expanding - one of his teenage daughters has just had twins. As a result, Mr Rolfe says there simply isn't room for them all, they have to top and tail to share beds while he sleeps on the sofa. 'I would like a house with four bedrooms . big enough to accommodate the children,' he explained on the Channel 5 documentary. He said he has been waiting nine years for a bigger house. 'I'll be dead before they even . think about giving me a house,' he moans. Tight squeeze: Peter's council house on the Isle Of Wight isn't big enough for his family (they do not own the attached garage) Mr Rolfe's feckless behaviour has already invited the ire of taxpayers but he declares himself furious with local council leader, who recently awarded himself a 37 per cent pay rise. 'Why is he entitled to that when I'm . not entitled to a bigger bedroom?' he complains. 'He didn't do anything to deserve what . he's getting. All he's doing is getting money for nothing, what makes . him think he's worth that money?' In addition to demanding more money and a larger home, Mr Rolfe complains that he and his family have been struggling since the benefit cap came in. Furiously, he tells of how his children had to go without computer games because they were only getting £500 a week in benefits. Challenge: Peter said people who criticise him should imagine what it's like being a father of 26 . 'When the cap came in, we lost at least . £200 a week,' he fumes. 'It meant some of my children couldn't have a new pair of . shoes, couldn't have a new pair of school trousers, couldn't have stuff . other children get such as Playstations and Xboxes... None of my children have had . them and that's because we can't afford them. 'Before the cap we were able to live comfortably, it's a major drop that affected us right away. They didn't . drop the price of food, that's going up so you have a lot of worry and . you have to juggle everything you can.' Yet when their benefits were capped, Mr Rolfe and other members of his family decided not to make up the shortfall by getting a job. At the time . the documentary was filmed, his teenage daughter, Rosanne, was the only . one employed - but she quit her waitressing job after five shifts saying it . was too difficult. 'Everyone has judged for for it but I . hated it, I honestly did,' she explains. 'All the people there would talk down to me, I . would prefer to work a simple 9-5, no split shifts.' Upwardly mobile on benefits: Peter has successfully applied for disability allowance which means his family gets £800 a week (and he gets a mobility scooter) Mr Rolfe, who walks using a stick, has now managed to boost his weekly welfare payout to £800 a week again - after successfully claiming disability allowance. But for anyone who thinks he's got it easy, he points out it's hard work being a father to dozens of children. 'I would challenge anybody to come and do what I do for the children. People all criticise me, but come and do what I do,' he said. But following his appearance on This Morning, Peter again received a barrage of criticism from viewers who contacted the show via Twitter. Kim Foster angrily rote: 'Shocking! He gets more than I do, and I'm a full time nurse! Saved wages for a house deposit and it's handed to him!' while Sarah Hawkins said: 'There's just no excuse. The Government needs to be more stricted with benefits. I'm a single parent and work my butt off.' Benefits Britain: Life On The Dole is on Channel 5 on Monday at 9pm . | Unemployed Peter Rolfe has fathered 14 boys and 12 girls with 15 women .
His three bed council house on Isle of Wight isn't big enough for his family .
He wants a four bed house and says he deserves it and extra money .
Has raked in more than £500,000 in benefits already .
Appeared on This Morning to defend his lifestyle . |
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