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79,541 | e185011149701c2129b93fb2e621738522677f09 | He recently confirmed that his romance with Mollie King is back on and it isn't just David Gandy's personal life that's booming. The male supermodel has landed yet another campaign for M&S - this time modelling the high street giant's winter collection. David, who has been working for the retail chain for years, looks dapper in a selection of traditional and masculine pieces from the collection. Christmas came early: David Gandy has been unveiled as M&S' latest posterboy and he's modelling the high street giant's range of winter menswear . Posing in an array of classic and tailored pieces, David proves high street can look high-end with the right styling. David looks dapper in a quilted leather bomber jacket and luxury blue velvet evening jacket - and Mollie is sure to approve. After being photographed walking hand-in-hand with his former girlfriend, David recently confirmed that he is in fact dating Saturdays beauty Mollie. The couple - whose 10-month relationship came to an abrupt end in 2011 - appear to be taking things seriously. Dapper chap: He's the highest paid male model in the world and David Gandy sure proves his worth in M&S' latest campaign . Suited and booted: David looks dapper in the new range, which includes a quilted leather bomber jacket and luxury blue velvet evening jacket . In an interview with the Evening Standard magazine, it has been revealed that the pop star has her own clothes drawer in the model’s custom built walk-in wardrobe, with her name scratched across it. When quizzed about the named compartment in his bedroom, the 34-year-old hunk simply replied: ‘That may be there for a while, so, uh…’ The interviewer then joked that someone ‘should book the church’, to which Gandy quipped: ‘There you go. Even though she steals all my clothes.’ In a picture, taken in late September and exclusively obtained by MailOnline, the pair were seen taking a leisurely stroll in London with Mollie's poodle Alfie. A source exclusively told MailOnline: 'They seemed really relaxed and comfortable with each other. They were very affectionate. They were coming out of a cafe with her dog and didn't seem to care who saw them holding hands.' It's back on! The couple – whose 10-month relationship came to an abrupt end in 2011 – appear to be taking things seriously . Back in love: After being photographed walking hand-in-hand with his former girlfriend, David recently confirmed that he is in fact dating Saturdays beauty Mollie . | David, 34, models winter collection for high street store .
Wears blue velvet evening jackets and quilted bombers .
Confirmed he is back together with The Saturdays star Mollie King . |
194,290 | 878347e7a783983155fe1bcdda0314609490ca23 | (CNN) -- Instead of criticizing President Barack Obama's lack of an effective national security policy as the terrorist threat of ISIS grows in Syria and Iraq, it might be helpful to imagine the speech President Ronald Reagan would have given in response to the videotaped beheading of James Foley. There are many things a great power can do if it has leadership. This fictional speech is an effort to describe a Reagan-like grand strategy, clarity of moral purpose and emphasis on effective actions. This is not a speech President Reagan could have delivered in the 1980s. We set his speech at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, near the Reagan Ranch where he would be vacationing. This was also the site of his address to the nation after the Soviet Union shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983 with a U.S. congressman aboard. President Reagan entered office when the Soviet Union was the great threat. He saw Moscow as the center of evil in the world. He was determined to defeat and not merely contain the Soviet Union. Through moral persuasion, a powerful military buildup, a grand anti-communist coalition, and an intense focus on a series of economic, diplomatic and psychological strategies, Reagan defeated the Soviet empire and it disappeared. This was one of the most extraordinary grand strategic achievements in history. It took enormous discipline and focus. In that era, terrorism was always a secondary or even tertiary issue. President Reagan sought to contain and minimize terrorism with minimum diversion of attention, energy and resources from the great campaign to defeat the Soviet empire. So, this speech is designed to illustrate an alternate U.S. approach and strategy toward this threat if Reagan were president in today's very different world. ------ . Text of Reagan address . My fellow Americans: . We have all been saddened and outraged by the vicious videotape of ISIS terrorists beheading an American journalist. Our hearts go out to James Foley's family. However, anger and sympathy are not solutions. We, the American people, must come together in a righteous determination to defend freedom and civilization from barbarism, savagery and terrorism. We must calmly, methodically and with the same grim determination we brought to winning World War II, implement strategies that eliminate the growing worldwide threat of radical Islamists prepared to kill us as individuals and our values as a civilization. Some will suggest this exaggerates the threat from the Islamic State. Let me remind them of some hard facts. There are now an estimated 12,000 terrorists from over 50 countries in the ISIS-controlled parts of Iraq and Syria. Great Britain estimates more than 500 British citizens have joined ISIS. Our government estimates roughly 100 Americans are now engaged in enemy activities. When we remember the death and destruction 19 terrorists achieved on 9/11, we have to take very seriously the threat from more than 12,000 terrorists. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, has warned that ISIS "has an apocalyptic end of days strategic vision that will eventually have to be defeated." He has expanded on the danger, saying their vision of a fundamentalist caliphate could "fundamentally alter the face of the Middle East and create a security environment that would certainly threaten us in many ways." Furthermore, Gen. Dempsey has warned that ISIS cannot be defeated only in Iraq. He asserted, "Can they be defeated without addressing that part of the organization that resides in Syria? The answer is no." In fact the very existence of terrorists from over 50 countries means that we must be thinking in terms of a global campaign to eradicate the virus of Islamic Extremism and the spirit of terrorism and barbarism that it is fostering. This is fully as grave a threat to our survival as was Nazism or communism. With appropriate strategies and consistent policies executed energetically we can defeat and eliminate the Islamic State and its various allied factions. ISIS and its worldwide terrorist allies have become the focus of evil in the modern world. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned that we must take the Islamic State seriously when he said, "They are tremendously well funded. This is beyond anything we have seen. ...They marry ideology and a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess." They must be defeated. Yet defeating terrorists and blackmailers is nothing new in American history. In the very first years of the new American Republic, then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson sent Thomas Barclay, American consul to Morocco, on May 13, 1791, a letter of instructions for a new treaty with Morocco that noted it is "lastly our determination to prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form, and to any people whatever." Jefferson hated war and loved peace. He also understood that there were times when vicious opponents give peace-loving people no choice but to engage in just war. As president, he sent the Navy and the Marine Corps in 1801 to the shores of Tripoli to reject blackmail, defeat piracy and establish that even a young America could project power in defense of principle and its citizens. We were saddened but not surprised by the vicious, barbaric video of the killing of James Foley. Back in January we noted that ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, gave a speech in which he warned America, "Soon we'll be in direct confrontation, so watch out for us, for we are with you, watching." They have promised to raise their black flag over the White House. Because I take very seriously the security of the United States and believe that my highest obligation as president is to protect America, I responded to this direct challenge with a series of quiet steps. We moved intelligence assets and began monitoring potential ISIS targets throughout Iraq and Syria. We began re-establishing ties with both the Sunni tribes in Western Iraq and the Kurdish allies with whom America has worked for decades. We created an anti-ISIS intelligence network working with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We informed the weak, chaotic government in Baghdad that defeating ISIS is our highest priority and we will arm, train and coordinate with them and with any effective group prepared to help defeat ISIS. We moved strategic assets including B-1 and B-2 bombers into position to be prepared to respond decisively to any ISIS outrage. In response to the deliberately vicious and barbaric killing of James Foley, we began hitting ISIS targets in both Syria and Iraq. In the last hour over 200 targets have been hit. The air campaign in coordination with Kurdish, Sunni Arab and Iraqi ground forces will continue until ISIS disintegrates and is incapable of holding territory. The 12,000 terrorists from over 50 countries should understand that they can surrender or we will hunt them down. Terrorists who videotape beheadings operate outside the rule of law and in the tradition of eliminating piracy they will be dealt with as outlaws. We will coordinate with Great Britain, Egypt, Jordan and every willing partner to develop a strategy and a set of operating principles for the destruction of extremist terrorism. When Congress returns, I will work directly with its leaders in a bipartisan effort to establish rules for protecting America and defeating this growing cancer of barbarism. With the bipartisan help of Congress and our allies, we will pursue our campaign to destroy ISIS with the four principles I outlined immediately after Beirut. We will have a clear plan to win. We will develop overwhelming forces among the combined civilized world. We will report to you regularly and work every day to keep the support of the American people for the campaign to destroy terrorism. We will define clearly who the enemy is and they will have no sanctuaries. In confronting an evil that seeks to kill us and destroy our civilization, our goal must be complete and decisive victory. The Foley family needs your prayers in this difficult time. America and the forces of freedom need your prayers in this daunting campaign. Together, civilization will prevail and barbarism will return to the dustbin of history. Thank you and good night. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Newt Gingrich wonders how Ronald Reagan would have led during the current ISIS threat .
He says today we need a Reagan-like grand strategy and clarity of moral purpose .
Reagan may have approached ISIS as he did the threat and defeat of the Soviet Union . |
31,120 | 587a8e084417e030591f5ec16e2bdb0f64888163 | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 07:44 EST, 10 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:38 EST, 11 September 2012 . Moving on: Disgraced former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has a new girlfriend who is two decades younger than him, it emerged today . Disgraced former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has a new girlfriend who is two decades younger than him, it emerged today. The 63-year-old, who is still embroiled in a series of sex scandals, has already enjoyed a sun-kissed holiday with Myriam Aouffir, a high-profile press officer for French television. It comes after Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, Anne Sinclair, confirmed she has split from her scandal hit husband at the end of last month. Ms Sinclair, 64, originally stuck by Mr Strauss-Kahn after he was embroiled in a catalogue of scandals since being charged with trying to rape a New York hotel chambermaid in May last year. The multi-millionaire heiress finally kicked her husband out of their Paris apartment in June, before immersing herself in a new job running an internet site in the French capital. Now Ms Sinclair is faced with photographs of Mr Strauss-Kahn and his new 43-year-old girlfriend which appear in the latest edition of Paris magazine VSD. They show Mr Strauss-Kahn canoodling with the 'bubbly single girl' Ms Aouffir who has a 'senior job in a big television chain'. In fact Ms Aouffir is the online communications and social media marketing manager for France Television. Like Strauss Kahn, Myriam L'Aouffir comes from a Moroccan background, and is also believed to be estranged from her husband, with whom she has two children . The attractive businesswoman has been seeing Mr Strauss-Kahn for around three months, say close friends of the couple . Like Mr Strauss-Kahn, she comes from a Moroccan background, and is also believed to be estranged from her husband, with whom she has two children. Ms Aouffir, who studied at Montpellier University, has been seeing Mr Strauss-Kahn for around three months, say close friends of the couple. They recently returned from a holiday . to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, where they stayed with Francois . Pupponi, the deputy mayor of the Paris suburb of Sarcelles. Separation: It comes after Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, Anne Sinclair, left, confirmed she has split from her husband . Ms . Sinclair was originally severely criticised by feminists for sticking . with Strauss-Kahn in the face of sordid allegations surrounding him. Problems: Strauss-Kahn was forced to quit as the head of the IMF after he was accused of trying to rape chambermaid Nafissatou Diallo, pictured, at New York's Sofitel Hotel . Their 20-year marriage came under intense pressure as Strauss-Kahn - once tipped as a Socialist French president - was accused of trying to rape chambermaid Nafissatou Diallo at a Sofitel Hotel in New York. After being held in the city's notorious Rikers Island prison, criminal charges were dropped but he still faces civil action for huge financial damages from his alleged victim. He then returned to France last year only to face accusations of sexually abusing a young French writer. French judges agreed there was a case against Strauss-Kahn, but had to drop it because the alleged attack happened more than a decade ago. Strauss-Kahn was then charged with conspiring with pimps in Lille, northern France, to procure girls for sex parties around the world. Strauss-Kahn is currently on bail for 100,000 euros and banned from leaving France while prosecutors decide if he should be brought to trial. In the media frenzy that followed his return to France last year, it emerged he had had up to ten separate affairs during his marriage. He confessed to regularly attending orgies and admitted he was addicted to a swingers' lifestyle. A biography even told how Strauss-Kahn had once unsuccessfully attempted to seduce France's new First Lady, Valerie Trierweiler. Neither Mr Strauss-Kahn nor Ms Aouffir would comment on their relationship. Disheveled: Dominique Strauss-Kahn is pictured appearing for an arraignment in a federal court in New York last year . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | The 63-year-old has already enjoyed a sun-kissed holiday with Myriam .
Aouffir, a high-profile press officer for French television .
It comes after Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, Anne Sinclair, confirmed she has split from her scandal-hit husband .
Their 20-year marriage came under pressure as Strauss-Kahn was accused .
of trying to rape chambermaid Nafissatou Diallo at a hotel in New York .
Photographs of Mr Strauss-Kahn and his new 43-year-old girlfriend .
appear in the latest edition of Paris magazine VSD . |
283,602 | fb5cffa674be702d92430aed732ce5eef6f7934e | Hundreds of thousands of families could be risking food poisoning by defrosting their turkeys in an unsuitable place – like the bath or the garden shed. Some 69 per cent of Britons who buy a frozen bird for their Christmas dinner – almost 11 million people – leave it in an unsafe place to thaw out. Just a quarter allow their poultry to defrost correctly in the fridge, a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed. Nearly 70 per cent of people who opted for a frozen turkey in the UK are defrosting it unsafely, in the bath, garage or garden shed, rather than the fridge, the Food Standards Agency has warned. People are left with a turkey dinner that looks and tastes delicious but contains a hidden risk that can’t be seen, tasted or smelled. Those who use an unrefrigerated area such as the garage, the shed or the bath can allow the spread of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter – which is most commonly associated with food poisoning and responsible for an estimated 280,000 cases each year and up to 100 deaths. The FSA warned that failure to prepare a turkey for cooking correctly could leave a dinner that ‘looks and tastes delicious but contains a hidden risk that can’t be seen, tasted or smelt’. Last Christmas there were more than 3,000 confirmed cases of campylobacter in England and Wales, according to figures from the watchdog. The bug is usually found in the intestinal tract of poultry. But the Mail reported last month how seven out of ten fresh chickens are carrying campylobacter on the skin, according to latest figures from the agency. It declared yesterday as the national day to begin defrosting turkeys, reminding cooks that a typical large turkey weighing 11kg (24lb) will take two days to thaw. Kevin Hargin, the FSA’s head of food-borne disease, said: ‘We all love our turkey dinner at Christmas and this year should be no exception. It’s the little things you do that can make a real difference. ‘So if you make sure that your turkey is defrosted safely and in good time, you can enjoy your meal happily and safely.’ The FSA advises that home cooks should follow the retailer’s recommended defrosting time and thaw the bird in the fridge if possible or somewhere cool to slow the growth of germs. The bird should be covered, either in the original packaging or in a container to hold any thawing juices at the bottom of the fridge to avoid cross-contamination. Defrosting the turkey unsafely can spread food-causing bacteria such as campylobacter (pictured under a microscope). The FSA advises keeping the turkey in the fridge as cold temperatures stop bacteria growing . If the turkey is not defrosted thoroughly, it may not cook evenly and harmful bacteria could survive the cooking process. Online butcher Donald Russell advised using a coolbox. The company posted on Twitter: ‘Got a Donald Russell turkey? Take it out to defrost today – use the coolbox to save space in the fridge!’ However, some home cooks preparing for Christmas Day were already ignoring the safety advice yesterday. One user asked on Twitter: ‘Large son is bringing a large frozen turkey. Our small fridge and freezer is already packed solid. I can defrost it in the garden, right?’ Another said: ‘The only thing Christmassy in my house is the turkey defrosting in the sink.’ | Nearly 70% of people opting for a frozen turkey are unsafely defrosting it .
They risk food poisoning at Christmas due to bacteria like campylobacter .
Food Standards Agency recommends defrosting turkey in the fridge .
Has launched 'defrost your turkey day' to encourage cooks to be safe . |
31,875 | 5ab580f5db404a03b093633e28365476c2f04ed7 | (CNN) -- Suicide bombings, hurricanes, plane crashes, shootings at high schools. Unfortunately we hear about such events on television or read about them in the newspaper all too often. On July 29, 1999, I got a real reminder of the difference between news and tragedy. What started out as an ordinary day at work turned out to be anything but. I had just graduated from college and was seven weeks into my first "real" job when Mark Barton came into my office and shot everyone in sight. You may have heard about the largest killing spree in Georgia history, the day-trading shootings in Atlanta; well I'm lucky enough to have survived them. I was shot in the lower back with a hollow point bullet. For those of you who are unfamiliar with hollow point bullets, they are the most destructive. They enter your body and expand into a mushroom shape. One of my surgeons said the bullet was like a guided missile. It destroyed my inferior vena cava, one of the two main veins of the heart. It also hit my spine, pancreas and intestines. I needed 115 pints of blood during the two emergency surgeries immediately after the shooting. To put that into perspective, the human body holds approximately 10 pints. The doctors told my family that my chance of survival was one in a thousand. That may sound grim, but I would have had no chance if blood wasn't available during my emergency surgeries. Cancer survivor's challenge: Give the gift of life this season . I am now missing a disc in my lower back, have scoliosis in my upper back, have extensive scar tissue throughout my abdomen and have nerve damage in my right leg. I have progressed from a wheelchair to walking without any assistive devices. Those injuries seem minimal now, considering my doctors gave me little chance to survive. It frightens me to think that there was a severe blood shortage just two days before the shooting. There weren't even 115 pints of blood on hand, let alone 115 pints of the type I needed. It is not uncommon to experience critical blood shortages in the middle of the summer and during the winter holidays. Schools are not in session, and people are on vacation. If Mark Barton had snapped just a couple of days earlier, I would have died. It truly is a miracle that I am here today, and I'm certainly grateful for that. It's hard to believe that I'm even alive, let alone that I'm able to walk. Among the first of many miracle workers who made my recovery a reality was the Red Cross. As the nation's largest blood collection organization, the Red Cross made an emergency appeal during that critical shortage in 1999 and made sure that those 115 pints where there when I needed them so desperately. As you can imagine, I would do just about anything for the Red Cross. I will be forever indebted to this organization, even though nothing was ever asked of me in return for those 115 pints of blood. I'm also thankful for the 115 anonymous donors whose blood flowed through my veins. Without their generous, selfless donations, I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't have met my wonderful husband or given birth to our two precious little girls. Sickle cell patient won't let disease define her . I have made it my mission to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and increase blood collections. I volunteer as the chairman of the American Red Cross Southern Region Blood Services board of directors and am a member of the American Red Cross Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter board of directors. I serve as SunTrust Bank Inc.'s corporate champion on the American Red Cross life board. In these roles, I commit to hosting blood drives throughout the year but most importantly during critical times in late June and December. Although public speaking is my greatest fear, I also co-founded the Red Cross Southern Region's Speakers Bureau and tell my story to anyone who will listen in hopes that I will encourage those who have never donated to do so and to encourage those who do to do so more frequently. Most importantly, I practice what I preach by donating blood as often as I can. The chances of something catastrophic like being shot happening to you are slim to none. While you may not need 115 pints of blood like I did, you will almost certainly need at least a pint at some point during your life and there's no substitute for it. Blood cannot be manufactured; it has to be donated. A single pint of blood can save the lives of up to three people, and donating generally takes less than an hour and is virtually painless. So now is your chance to become a hero. It's easy. All you have to do is roll up your sleeves and give a pint a blood. You won't meet the recipient, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're saving someone's life. So please schedule an appointment to donate or just stop by the closest blood drive in your area. To learn more about becoming a blood donor or to make a donation appointment with the American Red Cross, visit RedCrossBlood.org. | Meredith Forrester was critically injured in 1999 during Atlanta's deadliest mass shooting .
Forrester received 115 pints of blood during two emergency surgeries .
There was a severe blood shortage just two days before the shooting .
Forrester volunteers with the Red Cross to promote blood donations . |
197,259 | 8b508ced404811fffcd903ae7cdc972fe5abf1f7 | By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 08:13 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:31 EST, 8 February 2013 . She may be at an age where most slow down, but Britain's oldest mod has refused to give up her beloved Vespa scooter, despite her children begging her to stop. Grandmother-of-two Maureen Lear, who is 70 next month, has owned around 30 scooters since she passed her test at the age of 18 in 1961 and was part of the mod gang riots in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Maureen, from Colchester in Essex, drove a silver 125 Vespa in the 1960s and said that she still loves the adrenalin-rush of zipping through rush-hour traffic . Maureen with the scooter she drives now, her new Olympics special edition Vespa PX 125xx . Maureen in 1967 on a Vespa PX 125. She has ridden has ridden scooters for more than 50 years . She wears a khaki jacket, black Doc Martin boots and listens to The Who and watches cult-film Quadrophenia once a week, more than 50 years after the mod scene disappeared. The retired creche supervisor and carer said: 'I learnt on a Lambretta but I have always preferred Vespas. 'In the early 60s I drove a Capri and then I got a silver 125 Vespa. 'For the first test I turned up without my paper work so I failed. Then on the second one I lost the examiner. "They used to stand on a corner, but I could not find him. Then he . caught me going down a one-way street so I failed. I eventually passed . the third time.' A teenage Maureen wanted to learn how to ride a scooter when she saw her 21-year-old boyfriend's red Lambretta, and despite her parents breaking up the relationship. When she turned 18 she was still determined and became involved in the mod gangs of the time. Maureen said she will ride her scooter until she is forced to stop (left) and in 2003 at a rally on a Vespa PX 125 (right) She added: 'I was a mod, but I was friends with some of the rockers, it was friendly rivalry. 'I was there for the Clacton riots. They were not that bad. I was probably on the back of my then boyfriend's red Lambretta. 'After all these years it is just really natural to me riding a scooter. 'I can drive my scooter better than I can walk now because I have arthritis in my knee. It is like having a mobility scooter. 'It is great because I never had to queue in rush hour traffic. My husband could never get the hang on riding a scooter. Maureen currently owns a bright red Vespa remake PX 125cc - a special edition made for the Olympics - and zips around the streets daily on it. As she approaches 70 her three terrified children have begged her to quit her mod scooter and get behind the wheel of a much safer car. Maureen in 1962 on her a silver Capri. She refuses to stop riding scooters despite her children's objections . Maureen still loves the thrill of riding her scooter (left) and in 2003 on a Vespa PX 125 (left) But despite her mature years Maureen has refused and says she plans to stay on her scooter until the day she dies - or fails her driving health check. She added: 'Scooters aren't dangerous. I am still alive after all that time. 'My children do worry about me. My youngest daughter has tried to get me to learn to drive a car, but I am too claustrophobic. 'She says I will be able to carry more stuff in a car, but I can carry enough on my scooter.'I will never get behind the wheel of a car. 'My son Patrick is the only one who used to come on the back of my scooter. He used to hold on for dear life when I took him on the school run in the early 1970s.' Maureen continued to ride despite getting 20 stitches in her head after an accident 30 years ago . But Patrick, now 44 and a civil servant, wants his mother to be a bit safer on the roads. He said: 'In her head mum thinks she is about 30 years old. 'She is a bit more careful than she used to be. She used to go out on her bike whatever the weather, but now she doesn't go out if it is icy. 'She is quite a determined lady. We let her get on with it, but we look out for her too. 'We do not think anything of it as she is our mum, but fifty years of scooters is quite amazing. 'Mum knows so much about scooters. I think often when she goes to get it fixed she knows more than the people who are meant to be fixing it for her.' Maureen had a serious crash 30 years ago when her orange French scooter . crashed into the back of a car on her way home from work. Her helmet saved her life and she escaped with 20 stitches in her head, but the accident did not put her off riding . He added: "I must have been about five or six when I was on the back of mum's scooter. All I remember was that the helmet was really big. "Mum has always loved the fact that she can zip through the traffic. Scooters is all she has ever known so I don't know if she would be good in car. "My sister in particular is desperate for her to stop riding the scooter. At least she has her independence." Maureen's husband David, an accountant, died in 2004 at the age of 63 from cancer. | Maureen Lear turns 70 next month and still rides her scooter every day .
Her children have begged her to stop and slow down .
She even rode her son Patrick to school on the back of her Vespa . |
153,772 | 52ba710773b8ef3277148a0b91ca4c695d815b29 | (CNN) -- Ireland upset the Australian Wallabies 15-6 at Eden Park Saturday to top Pool C of the Rugby World Cup. It was Ireland's first win over Australia in five attempts at the global showpiece and puts them securely on the path to the quarterfinals after two victories from two matches. Inspired defense in wet conditions frustrated their more fancied opponents, who trail them by three points with two games to play. "We were mentally in a place where we felt we owed ourselves a big performance as much as we owed the Irish public one," Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll told AFP. "The Irish played more intelligently, they put us under a lot of pressure and profited from that, particularly in our end of the ground," Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans said. Australia were ahead early through a James O'Connor penalty in the 11th minute, but Jonathan Sexton's leveled for the Irish with a penalty of their own before putting them 6-3 ahead with a drop goal. O'Connor put Australia back on level terms before the break, but after the interval Sexton gave Ireland a lead they never relinquished with his trusty boot. Ronan O'Gara came off the bench to kick to further penalties, taking his Irish points tally to a record 1,039 and they almost added a late try as winger Tommy Bowe was pulled up by O'Connor five meters from the try-line. Meanwhile, South Africa made it two wins out of two in the defense of the title with a commanding 49-3 victory over Fiji on Saturday. After their narrow 17-6 win over Wales in their Pool D opener, the Springboks were far sharper and scored tries through center Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn, Tendai Mtawarira and Danie Rossouw. Morne Steyn kicked 16 points with a Frans Steyn penalty the other score. Seremia Bai scored a sole penalty for Fiji, who beat Namibia 49-25 in their opener, but were outclassed here. In the other World Cup match played Saturday, Argentina scored their first win, after a narrow opening defeat to England, with a 43-8 victory over Romania in Pool B, running in six tries. | Ireland shock Australian Wallabies 15-6 to top Pool C of Rugby World Cup .
Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara kick the points to give Irish famous victory .
Defending champions South Africa thrash Fiji 49-3 to make it two wins from two .
Argentina secure first victory with 43-8 win over Romania . |
71,926 | cbe8bf8003a13758f225001ad3e4a97b59749b21 | By . Ashley Collman . One person has died Tuesday night after a home on Long Island, New York exploded into flames. Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim and it's still unclear what sparked the blaze. Local residents say they heard a series of explosions around 8:30pm which shook the neighborhood. Couple Steve and Nancy Costenbole live nearby on Second Street and said they head two large thumps which caused them to flee their home. Scroll down for video . Smoke: One person has died after a Long Island, New York home burst into flames Wednesday night . Unknown: Authorities have not yet named the victim of the home explosion . 'We stood there hoping and praying the fire wasn't going to spread,' Mrs Costenbole told Newsday. Another 26-year-old neighbor told the New York Daily News that he smelt propane in the air after the blast. 'It was a blast. A blast like you've never heard,' fellow neighbor Ginny Garofalo told ABC New York. 'I actually thought it was a terrorist bomb type of thing I'm not kidding.' The two-and-a-half story house soon became engulfed in flames, with the fire starting in a garage at the rear of the home, officials said. The home at or near 10 Prospect Ave is located just across the street from a popular restaurant, Louie's Oyster Bar and Grille, which was packed at the time. 'It was a bang. A bang like you've never heard,' neighbor Ginny Garofalo (pictured) said of the explosion . Burning down: The explosion sparked a five alarm fire that spread to a neighboring house . 'We just felt the explosion and then we saw the fire,' Louie's hostess Silvie Navarro said. 'People ran outside. I thought it was a bomb. People were saying "Let's go. Let's go."' It took firefighters 45 minutes to put out the fire that also spread to a neighboring home. Four firefighters were injured in the blaze. | Neighbors heard a series of blasts around 8:30pm Tuesday night .
The home at or near 10 Prospect Ave in Port Washington burned for 45 minutes .
Authorities have confirmed one death so far, but have not released the victim's name .
Four firefighters were also injured battling the blaze .
It's still unclear what caused the blast . |
65,085 | b8ca3053e79fe7057cea371c0b80c029bc06776a | The mother of the actor who sang the popular 1986 hit 'The Chicken Song' has been killed by her own car in a bizarre accident after fly-tippers blocked a country lane with rubbish. Olive Stevens, the mother of actor Michael Fenton Stevens, was driving down the lane in Orpington, Kent, when she and other drivers had to turn around because of rubbish blocking their passage. The 88-year-old was standing behind her car while a kind passer-by reversed it for her, but was tragically knocked over and later died of her injuries. Olive Stevens, the mother of actor Michael Fenton Stevens (pictured together) died after being hit by her own car in a bizarre accident caused by fly-tippers near her home in Orpington, Kent . Mr Stevens, the voice of The Chicken Song from the 1980s programme Spitting Image, has spoken of his outrage that the road had been blocked by fly-tippers. 'It was a terrible tragedy but we don't hold any ill-feelings or malice towards the driver. 'The only thing about this I do feel resentment for is whoever thought it was ok to just throw rubbish on a road. 'They think that it's only a cost to the council to clean up, but this shows there are human consequences to any accident.' 'My mother was 88 and lived a long life. What if it had been a bus filled with schoolchildren, who had not been able to stop in time? 'This sort of thing needs to be clamped down on.' Mr Stevens, who has also appeared in The Bill and Who Dares Wins, said his 'caring' mother may have become flustered when she had to turn her Nissan Micra around. 'My mum was driving along this single-track lane when she had to stop because there was a load of fly-tipped rubbish strewn across the road. Mrs Stevens was described by her son as 'loving and caring towards everyone'. She died in hospital after suffering a head injury when she was knocked over . The 88-year-old became a full-time carer for her neighbour following the death of her husband 10 years ago . 'She couldn’t get past and then quite a number of vehicles ended up stopping behind her, including a dust lorry tasked with cleaning up the mess, I think. 'People were reversing and trying to turn around in this narrow lane, and my mother was struggling. 'A man got out of another car and offered to help. 'From what I gather, he got into her car and as she opened the passenger door, something happened and the car went backwards. 'My mother was thrown to the ground with some force and suffered broken ribs and quite severe grazing. 'The blow to the back of her head caused a bleed in her brain which killed her.' A 55-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was bailed until next year pending further enquiries. Mr Stevens however said the family did not hold him accountable for the tragedy. 'I’m sure my mother got a bit panicked by the mess and some kind-hearted passenger offered to help her turn round. 'As far as I am concerned, that man was simply trying to help an old lady, and sadly the consequences were tragic.' The actor with his mother as a child. Mr Stevens said he only felt resentment to the fly-tippers who blocked the street as their actions had 'human consequences' The actor said he did not hold the driver responsible for his mother's death, adding he was certain the man was 'kind-hearted' and was trying to help her when she became panicked . Mrs Stevens, who was on her way to the hairdresser when the accident happened, was described as the 'life and soul of the party' by her son who has appeared in The Bill among other television programmes . 'A remarkable woman': Mr Stevens added his mother was 'sprightly' and 'extraordinarily caring' to all she met . Mrs Stevens, a retired nurse, became a full-time carer for one of her neighbours following the death of her husband 10 years ago. She was described as 'loving and caring towards everyone,' by her 56-year-old son. 'She was a remarkable woman - she was still so sprightly and active and extraordinarily caring to all she met.' Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 0826hrs on Thursday, 6 November to reports of a collision in Skeet Hill Lane, Orpington involving a Silver Nissan Micra and a pedestrian. 'It is believed at this early stage that the victim was unable to continue her journey through Skeet Hill Lane due to a lorry blocking the road that was removing fly-tipped refuse. 'A passenger from a second vehicle offered to assist the victim in reversing her Micra down the lane. 'The victim was not inside the vehicle when it was moved. While reversing, the Micra collided with the victim, causing serious injuries. 'Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found an 88-year-old woman with serious injuries. 'She was taken to a south London hospital where she later died.' Olive Stevens was driving down Skeet Hill Lane, pictured, in Orpington, Kent, when she and other drivers had to turn around because of rubbish blocking their passage . | Michael Fenton Stevens's mother was knocked down by her own car .
A man was reversing it for her after fly-tippers blocked road with rubbish .
The 88-year-old was knocked over and suffered an injury to the brain .
She died after being taken to a hospital near her home in Orpington, Kent .
The actor said he does not hold the man responsible for 'tragic accident' |
130,421 | 34a348fad6241828096e3834a06a12aaaabe1656 | In a brave and shocking statement about the unobtainable beauty ideals perpetuated by modern media, an artist has allowed the Photoshop transformation of herself to be made into the music video to her first single. The haunting video sees Hungarian musician Boggie, real name Csemer Boglarka, singing her song Nouveau Parfum as she is altered through post-production in real time. Starting out make-up free, looking tired and with her hair unstyled, the singer is digitally retouched in front of our eyes, transformed in just a few minutes into a glamorous beauty. Scroll down for video . When they are placed next to each other, the difference between the retouched and real Boggie is startling . The digital remastering creates a woman (right) who, while she looks stunning and conforms to our beauty ideals, bears little resemblance to the real artist (left) The start of the simple video sees Boggie, simply dressed and wearing no make-up seen through a computer screen as her image starts to be manipulated . The skin tone is lightened and any imperfections are removed by the computer programs . The right eye is widened and its shape altered before it is copied, flipped, and used to replace the left eye . The colour and shape of her eyes, colour and style of her hair, skin tone and whiteness of her teeth are all completely altered, quite literally changing her identity. You can see skin imperfections wiped away at the click of a mouse, and artificial flattering lighting creates the kind of radiant and highlighted skin that women spend thousands trying to achieve, not realising that what they are trying to emulate does not exist in reality. Shockingly the facial shape is also altered in the video and her right eye is artificially widened before a mirror image of it is created and pasted over her real left eye to create perfect symmetry in the face. The teeth are whitened and the lips made fuller and more pink using a program specifically designed to alter parts of the face . The computer program can totally change eye colour- allowing the programer to pick from a vast colour palette . Similarly, hair style, length and colour are all easily manipulable, as if creating a doll . Once flawless eye make-up has been digitally applied and the hair 'perfected', we are left with a woman who, while she looks stunning and conforms to our beauty ideals, bears little resemblance to the real artist. Boggie chose to reveal the extent to which celebrities are altered as the video for her song which criticises modern consumerism and urges women to be themselves. The song, which is sung in French, starts with a list of brands and designers such as Prada, Hugo Boss, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, and Lancome, before moving onto the refrain which states, ‘I am not a product.’ The chorus declares ‘Of beauty, preciousness; they cannot change me. Peerless, unparalleled. The new fragrance is myself’ while the third verse states ‘mascara, blush, lipstick, lipsticks, lip liners, eye shadow, foundation, nail, pressed powder and I do not want it.’ Flattering lighting and perfect eye make is applied . Under the new lighting, Boogie's hair colour is once again changed, scrolling through a range of colours until the perfect shade is found . As a final touch, Boogie's hair is swept to one side and digitally made to look much thicker . The video, which has exploded across the web since its release last week, is part of a trend attempting to lift the lid on the lack of reality in celebrity culture and advertising. In October, a 36-second clip, created by GlobalDemocracy.com, showing a relatively average-looking girl turned into a bombshell glamour model, went viral, adding fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding airbrushed models and how they can set unrealistic examples to impressionable young girls. A result of this is an increasing backlash against altering images, with American Eagle being the latest brand to release a totally un-airbrushed campaign for its new line of lingerie. The debate was reopened this week surrounding the digital retouching of Lena Dunham for her Vogue photoshoot (though it was, many thought, misjudged), and increasingly, brands who overuse Photoshop are being ‘shamed’ online, with the original images obtained and released as a comparison. | Music video is for Hungarian musician Boggie's song 'Nouveau Parfum'
Sees her totally transformed by digital retouching as she sings . |
90,513 | 006f36220493c5a5d9c586c9c544091a6a2c9a0e | By . Sam Webb . A farmer who lost his left leg, part of his right leg and suffered horrific injuries to his arm in a potato harvester accident last year is determined to be back at work by the autumn. Father-of-three Darren Taylor, who has a farm just outside York, suffered the devastating injuries after slipping between the machine's rollers as he checked it in October. He fought for his life for 30 minutes as the heavy duty machine threatened to drag in his entire body. Despite his injuries, the 44-year-old has amazed doctors with his determination to get back to the job he loves. Mr Taylor said: 'I have had one prosthetic leg fitted and I am hoping to to be walking by early summer and want to be back at work by the autumn.' Stoic: Farmer Darren Taylor and his wife Nicky. He miraculously escaped with his life but lost his left leg and part of his right leg after he was dragged into a potato harvester in a horrific accident . Speaking earlier this year, Darren described how he was 'literally doing the splits', as his arm and leg were swallowed by the machine with his other limbs still on the outside. As he tried to move his right leg to relieve some of the pressure it also dropped in, this time up to the ankle. Mr Taylor said: 'It had just got my ankle and by now my left leg was in up to my thigh. 'At this point I was waiting for it to chew my foot off and I could have just have got the right leg out. Mr Taylor said: 'I looked down through the harvester and I thought an oil pipe had burst but when I got my bearings I could see it was my blood' 'I thought there was a chance it could take me right through but I just tried to hang on as best as I could. 'I looked down through the harvester and I thought an oil pipe had burst but when I got my bearings I could see it was my blood. 'If the pain scale was one to ten then this was 20, it was horrible. I was just determined it wasn't going to get me. 'I knew I was badly injured but I was fighting to struggle my way out of it. 'I had to stay awake to keep out of the machine. I was shouting "you're not going to pull me through".' Mr Taylor was trapped for half an hour before the alarm was raised. It took another two hours to free him when specialist engineers had to be called in to dismantle the machine. He was flown to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance where he spent eight days in an induced coma and a further three months being treated. His left leg was fully amputated, his left elbow removed and the bottom of his right leg amputated. Mr Taylor said: 'I wish it hadn't happened but the people around me and the people in Leeds General Infirmary have been that good the least thing I can do is be strong and appreciate what they have done for me. 'I'm still alive and there were moments when the situation might have been different. 'I'm so grateful to the emergency services and all the medical staff.' He has been supported through is ordeal by his wife 47-year-old wife Nicky, who helps out on the farm, and his children Olly, nine, Tia, 21 and Danielle, 27. Darren's story has featured on BBC One's Helicopter Heroes and will be on Countryfile on Sunday. Mr Taylor on his tractor before the accident. He hopes to one day return to work . | Darren Taylor was dragged into the machine as he checked it over last year .
He said: 'If the pain scale was one to ten then this was 20'
Father-of-three plans to walk on a prosthetic limb by summer . |
206,018 | 96aff3fd1fecb934895197c58fd36e18c1bea57e | Los Angeles (CNN) -- A Los Angeles County sheriff's captain is under investigation, suspected of springing a prisoner from jail to get free tips on his golf swing. The lessons from Frank Carrillo, a convicted jewel thief with a reputation as an expert golfer, allegedly took place on a course on Catalina Island, where Carrillo was serving a sentence on charges of theft, including stealing during a golf match a World Series ring that belonged to former Dodgers catcher Jimmy Campanis and a Rolex watch. Acccording to a claim from sheriff's deputy William R. Cordero, Capt. Jeff Donahue "illegally transported (inmate Frank) Carrillo to a local golf course where he was given golf lessons by Carrillo." The claim says that the captain had "Carrillo's prison yellow jumpsuit and wristband removed ... then had Carrillo outfitted in civilian golf clothes including a polo shirt and Docker pants." In his claim against the County of Los Angeles, Cordero alleges he has been threatened, harassed, transferred and not promoted because he blew the whistle on the golf outing. The claim says Donahue told Cordero that L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca cleared the golfing excursion. "Sheriff Baca did not condone any golf outing and would not ever," sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told CNN. "We take this very seriously. This is something we have been aware of and we are conducting an internal investigation to find out what exactly did or did not happen." Donahue, who is part of the sheriff's force at Avalon that polices California's Catalina Island, is on medical leave. He did not immediately return a call to the station seeking comment. Documents show Carrillo was convicted in December of 2010 of three counts of grand theft, receiving stolen property and two counts of burglary. | Alleged lessons from a convicted jewel thief lead to an investigation .
A sheriff's deputy says he has been threatened for blowing the whistle on the golf outing .
Sheriff Lee Baca "did not condone any golf outing," his spokesman says . |
244,041 | c7dfc2ef05f17662e98793f6bcce7830edd043c3 | (CNN) -- The best summer movie ever made premiered 50 years ago this weekend. It had no sharks, robots, zombies, superheroes or alien invaders. Nobody met somebody else in cute "rom-com" fashion and no one traveled in time. Though explosive in its way, there were no explosions; indeed, no special effects of any kind. There wasn't even much of a story; at least not the kind with a beginning, middle or end. So what was it about? Not much, really. Just four guys in suits running, jumping, meandering and goofing around all day from one crowded area to another in search of breathing room, all filmed in stunning black and white. "A Hard Day's Night," the 1964 musical comedy that brought the Beatles -- and the global phenomenon they detonated -- to the big screen, marks its half-century with a new DVD-Blu-Ray package from the Criterion Collection, whose digitally restored version (from the original negative) is being theatrically released in more than 50 U.S. cities this weekend. 10 places to relive Beatlemania . Even with all the brighter, bolder, fresher-looking Hollywood product out there over this holiday, I don't think it's a stretch to say that none of them will be a better experience than "A Hard Day's Night," especially if you've never seen it before. But it holds true even if you've already seen it once, twice or too many times to count. In the end, that's what a great summer movie is supposed to do: Make you want to go back on the ride again to experience the same thrills and, maybe, find something new to like about it. Not too many movies do that anymore. I don't just mean there are fewer movies -- such as "Hard Day's Night" -- shot in black and white, or ones that dare to tell stories in the same off-the-cuff narrative line. But you're less likely to find one now that takes chances with its material, veers into storytelling anarchy and Just Lets Go. Opinion: Why The Beatles couldn't happen in today's digital age . "Hard Day's Night" not only knew how to Let Go, it made its audiences do it, too. In his liner notes to the new Criterion disc, critic-historian Howard Hampton uses the expression "euphoric blur" to characterize the movie and the way it was made. Director Richard Lester, whose experience up till that point included TV sketch comedies for such antic British comics as Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers, applied such a loose, intimate and baggy texture to this mythical day-in-the-life-of-the-Beatles that those who first beheld it believed it to be almost a documentary. It wasn't, except for some of the answers John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr deliver in the press-conference set piece. By the time the movie was filmed in the spring of 1964, they'd answered those kinds of questions hundreds of times on two continents. (INTERVIEWER: "How did you find America?" JOHN: "Turned left at Greenland.") Summer rewind: Looking back at 1964 . That was the other liberating, intoxicating aspect of "Hard Day's Night" -- its attitude. It refused to take anything, not even its subjects' galvanic success, seriously. When rock-and-rollers such as Elvis Presley did movies, they seemed so awkwardly sincere that you wondered if they'd misplaced the energy that made them famous in the first place. Under Lester's "guidance," the Beatles showed the same brash insouciance in on-screen that they displayed in performance. (John snorting through an empty Coke bottle, Ringo deadpanning under a hair dryer while reading a magazine as the manager, Norman Rossington fumes, "What are you up to?" Says Ringo: "Page five.") All this sent me to the moon and back when I was 11, and I was allowed to see "Hard Day's Night" during its opening weekend in America. This would have been early August, a month after the movie's July 6 London premiere. It was a Saturday evening, and my parents, along with others, black and white alike, in the Hartford housing project where I grew up, actually agreed to drive a bunch of their kids to a downtown movie house, to see, unaccompanied, what the shouting was about. How Ed Sullivan met The Beatles . At that point, I wasn't as committed to the Beatles as my sister and her friends were even before the movie started. But after it was over, all of us were so wired by what we'd seen that we wanted to run, goof and joke around all night long, even after two cars scooped us up to take us home. It was as if the movie -- and the Beatles themselves -- had given me permission to be as wise, foolish, daring, smart and alert to the world as I wanted to be. And I couldn't wait to see it again just to make sure I hadn't imagined it. It would be years before I had that chance. When I did, I felt just as empowered and exhilarated by that movie in my 20s as I did on that long-ago twilight. When my own son saw it for the first time, at age 6, he was just as hyped as I'd been. The gift that "Hard Day's Night" keeps giving is the right of all who see it to say to themselves, "Take the world as it comes and when you break from its moorings, don't be afraid to be as silly or as soulful as you're able. And whatever you do, make sure you bring other people along." Maybe I'm still dreaming all this. But I'm awake enough to know one thing: No new movie that came out this year can make so many audiences feel as buoyant or as alive as this movie did -- and does. It's possible that both "A Hard Day's Night" and, for that matter, the Beatles themselves were miracles that could never be duplicated. But can't the movies at least try to imagine that such things are possible? | Gene Seymour: Best summer movie? "Hard Day's Night," 50 years ago this weekend .
It was exhilarating for teens to see anarchy, smarts, daring of Beatles on big screen, he says .
Film shows in 50 cities this weekend. He first saw it at 11, it sent him over the moon, he says .
Seymour: His own son reacted same way. You won't find better movie out there this summer . |
207,272 | 985bc156eada207cf9f66b37324b8f0388c565aa | By . Freya Noble . At the inquest into the death of a young woman who was killed when her car slammed into a tree, conflicting accounts of her last moments came to light. Sarah Durazza was travelling along the Wakehurst Parkway in Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches last August when she crashed her car and was killed almost instantly. The 26-year-old swerved, crossed lanes and smashed into a tree in her Holden Barina while apparently on the phone to her boyfriend, who raced to the scene after he heard the accident. However at court on Tuesday, confusion emerged over who was actually on the phone to Ms Durazza when she died. Scroll down for video . Sarah Durazza was killed in a car crash last year when she lost control of her vehicle and veered off the road into a tree . It was originally thought that Ms Durazza's boyfriend, Scott Bidder had answered a call from the part-time model, but her mother, Fiona, told Parramatta Local Court she was the one who took the call, according to The Daily Telegraph. 'I heard her breathing and then one last gasp,' Mrs Durazza revealed, speaking of her recollection of her daughter's last moments. Mrs Durazza said she had been in the car with Mr Bidden searching for Ms Durazza when she answered the phone. However the Mona Vale model's boyfriend said he was the one who spoke to her, and was in the car alone when he picked up the phone, heard her swear, and then listened to the sound of the crash and Ms Durazza's final breaths. The part-time model was apparently on the phone to her boyfriend Scott Bidder at the time of the accident, and a court has heard that distraction may have contributed to her death . Also at the inquest into the death of the beautician and part-time model, a magistrate called for a total ban on mobile phones in cars. Magistrate Hugh Dillon said 'Frankly, If it was up to me I would ban mobile phones in cars all together', . Magistrate Dillon is set to release the formal findings of Ms Durazza's death early next month, but said it was likely that distraction caused by her mobile phone played a role in the accident. Mrs Durazza described the Wakehurst Parkway as a dangerous strip of road, despite crime scene investigators saying the road was in good condition. She revealed she wanted the road upgraded and called for better lighting and more guard rails to be installed. Fiona, Ms Durazza's mother, called for the road to be upgraded while at Parramatta Court on Tuesday . Ms Durazza was the woman at the centre of a scandal involving a Manly Sea Eagles rugby league player in 2009. She was attending a pre-season party with her father Paul, a sponsor of the club, when Anthony Watmough, Brett Stewart and Matt Orford began insulting her. In the fallout, Ms Durazza's father was alleged to have taken a swing at Watmough before officers were called to the Manly Wharf Hotel where the event was held. | Sarah Durazza was killed when her car slammed into a tree last year .
Was apparently on the phone to her boyfriend when she veered off the road .
At inquest into her death her mum claimed she was the one on the line .
Magistrate at coronial inquest said he would ban phones in cars if he could . |
25,955 | 49870c2f8c362aa93abc4d2c9f3ae50aed2dba89 | By . Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 11:58 EST, 3 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:14 EST, 5 October 2012 . What do you get if you mix Louis Vuitton's world famous Damier check with French conceptual artist Daniel Buren's distinctive stripes? The answer: A 1960s extravaganza showcased in a dramatic, geometric setting. Louis Vuitton's Paris Fashion Week show, helmed by LV's creative director Marc Jacobs and with the space curated by Buren, opened in typically spectacular style with models in bold checks rendered in acid brights, pale grey or stark black and white, streaming down escalators into the Louvre. Buren, known for his minimalism, rose boldly to the occasion, creating a shopping precinct with four full-scale escalators, each decorated with his signature 8.7cm stripes, that wowed spectators inside the museum - many of whom described the scene as 'exquisite'. Back to the future: The Louis Vuitton show was a vision of checks - and managed to feel both retro and futuristic at the same time . 'It was already big, all I . did was make it bigger,' said Buren of his transformation of this most famous of French art galleries. 'It was . others that called me a minimalist, not me.' Of course, the sky's the limit when you're . backed by Europe's richest man and LVMH-owner Bernard Arnault, with whom . Buren mingled before the show. From a fashion point of view, the . collection was certainly unforgettable, with 64 retro looks with echoes of Mary Quant making a bold optical statement. While most silhouettes were slim and clean, subtle volume came in the form of gentle . puffed shoulders or a flippy pleat at the bottom of a miniskirt. Miniskirts, beehives and exposed . midriffs galore pointed to one thing: The swinging Sixties are back (viz Moschino's flower power show earlier this week). Simple silhouettes were decked out in . Damier, while skirt and trouser suits made an impact in taupe, black . and white geometric prints. Louis Vuitton is a house that is . proud of its tradition, but also likes to evolve. The collection saw the . ubiquitous monogram banished for the first time. Instead, one recurrent feature was - according to the show notes - 'the smallest sequins ever produced.' Thousands of those microscopic sequins added dazzle to the Damier check and brought metallic shimmer to . dresses and skirt suits. 'It's all about being graphic,' Jacobs said after the show. And yes, it most certainly was. Drama: Marc Jacobs' chose dramatic staging that saw models in chartreuse column dresses and maxi skirts descend escalators into the show space . Taking a bow: Marc Jacobs receives his applause at the bottom of the stairs as the show ends . Louis Vuitton's trademark Damier check was used in jumbo form across slim column skirts and maxi dresses. The check - most commonly seen in the contrasting brown and tan of the LV brand, was given a Sixties makeover in bright yellow, black and white or greys and browns . Gently puffed shoulders added volume, while exposed midriffs suggested next summer we'll be seeing a lot more exposed stomachs. RIGHT: Pleated mini skirts and bows in beehive-styled hair gave Sixties-style dresses a cute twist . A micro shorts suit would suit the younger Louis Vuitton fan, while the tunic would look just as sophisticated over a pair of white trousers. RIGHT: Yellow has been a strong theme of all three fashion weeks so far, joining a bold palette including hot pink, bright red and juicy orange as colours we'll be wearing next spring . Setting the scene: The Paris Louvre was transformed by artist Daniel Buren, adding his own distinctive stripes to the escalator, and Louis Vuitton's checks to the runway itself . | Marc Jacobs' bright and bold show brought Paris Fashion Week to a close . |
33,140 | 5e360376d6e973dfef09faeca6fd2c260e0f25fb | By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 19:54 EST, 18 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:45 EST, 19 August 2013 . Britain's Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks said the Government had not addressed the need to encourage marriage . Stay-at-home mothers have been let down by David Cameron, Britain’s Chief Rabbi said last night. Lord Sacks said in a parting message to ministers that the Government had not addressed the need to encourage marriage and needed to give ‘more support’ to full-time mothers. George Osborne angered traditional Conservatives earlier this month by suggesting that choosing to stay at home to look after children was a ‘lifestyle choice’. The Chief Rabbi is to step down next month after 22 years in the role. He told The Times: ‘I think the Government has not done enough. ‘Although I don’t take a party political stance . . . I don’t think the Government has done enough at all. The State has an interest in marriage because the cost of family breakdown and non-marriage, the last time I looked at it, was estimated at £9billion a year. ‘[The Government] should certainly recognise marriage in the tax system, it should certainly give more support to mothers who stay at home, or for childcare provision. ‘I don’t believe in getting involved in the details, but the principle is pretty clear.’ Lord Sacks’s comments come after it emerged that mothers who look after their children at home will miss out on vouchers worth up to £1,200 per year to help working parents fund childcare costs. The £1billion scheme is available to families in which both parents work and earn up to £300,000 a year. Households in which one parent stays at home, which includes more than one million families, will be excluded from receiving the childcare vouchers. In further comments, he said allowing ethnic groups to keep to themselves had led to ‘segregation and inward-looking communities’. Chancellor George Osborne angered traditional Conservatives earlier this month by suggesting that choosing to stay at home to look after children was a 'lifestyle choice' He said multiculturalism was like a hotel where ‘nobody is at home’. ‘It doesn’t belong to anyone, we’ve each got our room and so long as we don’t disturb the neighbours we can do whatever we like.’Despite this, he said he understood the difficulties that British Muslim communities faced when trying to integrate. ‘We’ve had 26 centuries of experience, which most Muslims haven’t,’ he said. ‘The norm was for Muslims to live under a Muslim jurisdiction and the norm, since the destruction of the first temple, was for Jews to live under a non-Jewish jurisdiction.’ | Lord Sacks said Government should give full-time mothers 'more support'
He said the Government had not addressed need to encourage marriage .
Chief Rabbi is to step down next month after 22 years in the role . |
173,778 | 6cdee718371045f5867427bf73a51b2d616eaf6d | By . James Chapman and Jason Groves . Last updated at 11:32 PM on 9th December 2011 . Nick Clegg is facing a mutiny from his own party after supporting David Cameron’s decision to wield the veto. The Deputy Prime Minister backed the Prime Minister’s negotiating position after being telephoned by him in the early hours of yesterday to discuss the unfolding events. But Mr Clegg apparently believed the veto would not be necessary, as France and Germany would roll over and make concessions to Britain to maintain treaty change at the level of all 27 EU countries. Showing the strain: Nick Clegg (right) has come under fire from his own party after backing David Cameron's decision to veto the eurozone rescue package (file picture) In Europe's periphery? Mr Cameron looks anxiously at German Chancellor Angela Merkel at yesterday's eurozone summit in Brussels after wielding the veto . The failure of the deal and use of the veto has left the overwhelmingly pro-EU Lib Dems close to a state of crisis – with senior ministers said to be ‘deeply concerned’. They fear the Coalition will be put under unprecedented strain and sources warned that any Tory moves to loosen ties with the EU further would lead to open revolt among the Lib Dem membership. Former party leader Lord Ashdown said: ‘There will be a huge price to pay and, as a consequence, the foreign policy priorities of this country for the past 40 years has gone down the plughole in a single night. 'That foreign policy has now been hijacked by the Eurosceptics in the Conservative Party aided by a Prime Minister who was not prepared to stand up for the national interest.’ Damning criticism: Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott (left) said it was a 'black day for Britain and Europe’, while former party leader Lord Ashdown (right) said there will be a 'huge price to pay' further down the line . He told the Guardian: ‘As a consequence . we have lost control of the European agenda and the Prime Minister has . lost control of the demands for a referendum. This has been Gallic . payback time for the way in which Cameron went around Europe lecturing . Sarkozy on what to do.’ Prominent Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott, a close political ally of the Business Secretary Vince Cable, described the summit outcome as ‘a black day for Britain and Europe’. He said: ‘We are now in the waiting room while critical decisions are being taken. With the western economies and our banking system on the edge of a cliff, we should not be putting special pleading for special interests in the City of London above our vital national interest of working closely together with Germany and France to keep our economy and jobs all over Britain safe.’ Lorely Burt, chairman of the Lib Dem parliamentary party, said it was unclear why Mr Clegg had agreed to the decision. She said: ‘I gather Cameron phoned our illustrious leader before he decided to do this. There must have been reasons. I don’t see them at the moment.’ Lib Dem MP Martin Horwood said the UK . was facing a ‘worst-case scenario’ of isolation in Europe. Mr Horwood . said the result was not the ‘ideal outcome from a Lib Dem point of . view’. Labour leader Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of leaving Britain 'on the sidelines of Europe' Furious: Mr Miliband, a staunch pro-European, said Mr Cameron caved into the demands of Tory Eurosceptics . But he blamed Tory Eurosceptics for pushing the Prime Minister into a corner. He added: ‘It will make it more difficult for us to exercise the kind of influence that we all want over the future of the European single market and the future of the European economy.’ Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies accused the Government of adopting a ‘xenophobic’ approach to Europe. ‘Far from keeping Britain strong, Cameron has ensured that we will lose our influence at the top table,’ he said. ‘By seeking to protect bankers from regulation, he has betrayed Britain’s real interests and done nothing in practice to help the City of London. ‘The fear now must be that we will increasingly lose the opportunity to affect decisions being taken that are bound to affect us.’ Fellow MEP Sharon Bowles warned the UK face ‘revenge attacks’ from the rest of Europe. She said: ‘There is already mood music within the parliament that if the UK wants it some people will take a great deal of satisfaction in making sure we don’t have it.’ By contrast, Mr Cameron’s position in his own party has been greatly strengthened – though he will now face renewed demands for a referendum as the other members of the EU forge a fiscal union. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said it was tempting to say well done to Mr Cameron, but insisted he had 'gained nothing' London Mayor Boris Johnson – who piled . pressure on Mr Cameron in the run-up to the summit, and has been . increasingly touted as a leadership rival – said: ‘David Cameron has . played a blinder and he has done the only thing that was really open to . him to do.’ Eurosceptic MPs cheered the result – but made it clear that they would step up the pressure on Mr Cameron at Westminster to go further in distancing Britain from the heart of the new European project. Tory MP Stewart Jackson, who quit the Government over Europe in October, hailed Mr Cameron’s stance as a ‘paradigm shift in our relationship with the EU’, which made a referendum more likely. Temporary truce: Boris Johnson, increasingly touted as a leadership rival, said Mr Cameron had 'played a blinder' He added: ‘There is going to be inevitable pressure for further repatriation of substantial powers, and people may well be asked before the end of this parliament for their view on an in-or-out referendum.’ The leading Eurosceptic Bill Cash said the decision to wield the veto was a ‘historic moment for Europe. He added: ‘We are now embarked on a very serious, responsible path towards renegotiating the whole of our treaty relationship.’ | Deputy PM had backed David Cameron's decision to use veto on rescue plan .
Pro-EU Lib Dems in crisis over fears Britain has lost control of EU agenda .
Peer Lord Oakeshott: 'It is a black day for Britain and Europe’ |
174,826 | 6e44eefbb689c05a3e5afeac9ef4c74e5bf0e4dc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:52 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:37 EST, 27 November 2013 . It's certainly a great story to tell his friends at school. A seven-year-old Florida boy and his father claims to have been hit in the head by fragments of a meteorite that fell from the sky at the weekend. Steven Lippard was playing in the driveway of his home in Loxahatchee, a suburb west of Delray Beach, on Saturday when he was struck in the head by a hard object. His father, Wayne Lippard, found his son on his back bleeding from the scalp, reports CBS 12. Close encounters: Steven Lippard, 7, from Loxahatchee, Florida, claims to have been hit by fragments of a meteorite while playing outside his home . Ouch: Whatever hit Steven Lippard in the head - scientists are examining the rocks found nearby - left a nasty cut, which required three staples . Examining the evidence: These are some of the fragments found on the driveway where Steven Lippard was struck in the head. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University determined that met the criteria of that of a meteor . The resultant cut required three staples to be stitched up. 'At first I thought it was a golf ball or maybe a bird of prey,' dad Wayne told CBS12 News. However a search of the driveway produced pieces of a strange rock. Wayne bagged up the interesting minerals and took them to Florida Atlantic University. Researchers soon discovered the rocks met the scientific criteria of a meteorite. A demonstration showed that, despite their small size - less than that of a pea - the pebbles were still highly magnetic. Proof? Wayne Lippard demonstrates how, using a metal detector, the minerals they found are magnetic . A chemical test will now prove definitively whether the rocks are from space. Astronomer Phil Plait said it was almost impossible to calculate the odds of a meteorite striking a human. Just two Americans have had encounters with them in recent times. A fragment weighed eight pounds hit an Alabama in 1954. After the accident: Wayne Lippard took this photo of his son after finding him bleeding from the head on Saturday . Wayne Lippard (right) with son Steven discusses during a TV news interview what he believes happened during the accident on Saturday . Then a 27-pound rock crushed a car in New York in 1992. As the Lippard family wait for the chemical tests to come back, young Steven is paying particular attention to whether he develops any super powers as a result of the encounter. Typical meteorites, such as the one pictured here, have seldom come in contact with humans in recent years . | Steven Lippard, 7, was playing in the driveway of his home in Loxahatchee, Florida, on Saturday when he was hit in the head by an unknown object .
The gash required three staples .
His father, Wayne Lippard, searched the area and found rock fragments, which he took to Florida Atlantic University for testing after believing they had fallen from the sky .
Researchers determined the fragments met all the necessary criterion of a meteorite . |
195,794 | 896cb8be890830475061529878f3022e362da446 | By . Carol Sarler . PUBLISHED: . 15:53 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:36 EST, 6 June 2013 . Credit where credit is due: they might have meant well. When singers Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez and Mary J Blige - among others - agreed to perform at Saturday’s Chime for Change concert in London, perhaps they even believed it would be, as promised, 'a feminist Live Aid'. After all, it was promoted as a good cause: to raise awareness of the need for education, health and justice for women everywhere. In the end, however, what we got was feminism, girl power and emancipation - all preached by women dressed as cheap hookers in a dominatrix theme park. Fetish feminists: Beyonce squeezed into a black leather leotard, left, while Jennifer Lopez wore fish nets and thigh-high boots . Beyonce headed the bill and set the tone, squeezed provocatively into a black leather leotard, nude fishnets and very little else. Not to be outdone, Jennifer Lopez followed the fishnet-and-leather dress code, her black seamed tights teamed with thigh-high studded boots - the stuff of a fetishist’s wildest dreams. A lithe 22-year-old Australian hip hop artiste, Iggy Azalea, wore a frock that barely skimmed her knickers, while her thigh-high boots were laced to look as if they could be unlaced in a heartbeat if the price was right. Meanwhile, Mary J Blige wore a flesh-coloured catsuit decorated with an applique design that made it look as if she was being groped by many shiny hands. Revealing: Hip hop artiste, Iggy Azalea, wore a frock that barely skimmed her knickers . Each one looked as if she’d be more comfortable manacled to a bedpost - yet they bellowed 'feminist' slogans while the screens behind them displayed images of women such as the civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Talk about mixed messages. Where shall we start? The issue here is not about betraying what these mindless dollies think they mean by 'feminist'. As it happens, I have never called myself a feminist - but I like to think I know right from wrong and I have a deep distaste for unfairness. I believe it is absolutely right to campaign against inequality in all its ugly guises, including, as our floozies on Saturday were meant to highlight, the plight of poor women worldwide. As long as women drop like flies from Aids in Africa, as long as 800 women every day die in childbirth, as long as women perform 66 per cent of the world’s work to reap only 11 per cent of the world’s income, then please, let’s speak up. But when wealthy Western women strip themselves of most of their clothing and all their dignity in the name of struggling women in developing countries, you come close to finding the good outweighed by the bad. Appropriate attire? Mary J Blige wore a flesh-coloured catsuit decorated with an applique design that made it look as if she was being groped by many shiny hands . One thing that strikes home whenever we see heartbreaking footage of famine is how even the worst-affected women hold tight to their dignity, often to the very end. You see them slumped in futile embrace, trying to suckle a dying child from empty breasts (yes, J-Lo, breasts. Suckle. It’s what they’re for). You see them bury the child carefully, quietly, knowing they will be next for the grave. What might those women think if they should ever have the misfortune to see Knowles, Lopez or Blige writhing semi-nakedly in public ‘on their behalf’? I wonder how much many of the Chime for Change performers knew or cared about the poor women in whose names they were performing . Would they think ‘Gosh, how I’d love to be a Western woman?’ Or would they think (more likely, I venture) that the whole world has gone flaming mad? In answer to critics like myself - and Twitter was chock-a-block with women decrying Saturday’s display - the cavorting songbirds would say that they only present themselves this way because that is what their fans expect - and by pleasing fans they sell tickets which, in turn, makes money for charitable causes around the world. Except that this argument was thoroughly undermined on the night of Chime for Change, by none other than music’s Queen Bee herself: Madonna. Now, as we all know, Madonna is no stranger to the outrageous, the outlandish and the reveal-all when dressing up for her fans on a concert stage. Even to the point where some suggest that ‘at her age’, 54, it might be time to, er, tone it down a bit. On Saturday she knew there was more at stake than just pleasing the regular fan club. She had the intelligence to understand the underlying issues and the discernment to dress appropriately. To the point: Surprisingly, it was Madonna who dressed demurely in black trousers and a turtle neck jumper as she gave a speech on the importance of education for girls . She appeared in a black turtle-neck sweater, plain wool trousers, hair kept simple. Thus attired, she delivered an impassioned ten-minute speech on the importance of education for girls. It was an echo of her appearance on Live Aid in 1985, where even then she understood the point of it and dressed in a trouser suit, adorned with a small crucifix. So: if one star can unexpectedly show decency and taste, why can’t others do likewise? The answer, I fear, boils down to why they are doing the show in the first place. Is it about doing good for others, or doing good for me, me, me? For many years I produced charity galas for overseas aid - sick children, in my case - and I learnt very quickly who was in it for the right reasons and who saw it as little more than career advancement; a chance, perhaps, to promote a new record or catch the eye of Hollywood. Some would have their 'people' hassle me for top billing ('Alphabetical', I always said. 'Get over it.') or the 'best' dressing room. Some acts never did catch on why they were there. Backstage at a different benefit I heard one big name ask another, ‘Which bit of Africa is Nicaragua in, anyway?’ First ladies . Hillary Clinton and Lady Gaga topped a recent poll to find the top ten modern feminists . Others, happily, were brilliant. Richard Whiteley and the comedian Bill Bailey both spent ages in a - communal! - dressing room, asking me about sick children and their needs. While some demanded limousines, Harry Hill and Graham Norton both arrived on foot. My friend Bea Arthur, of The Golden Girls, paid her own way from Los Angeles to London and proceeded to bring the house down. Her one nod to diva-ism was to say she couldn’t do her own make-up, so could her fellow star Jo Brand do it instead? Jo, one of the best, did. Mixed messages: The concert called for women to be respected and well-educated but many of the stars presented themselves as sex objects . So, while many earned my trust, others taught me to be cynical. Cynical enough to wonder how much many of the Chime for Change performers knew or cared about the poor women in whose names they were performing. No, they were more likely concerned at being seen on TV in 150 countries, by up to a billion people, which is no end of a plug for whatever they are selling this week. I can’t think of any other reason for what was, in the end, simple disrespect. Their business, I suppose; their choice. But next time they wish to tart up like Miss Whiplash in the name of 'feminism', someone should tell them: a dominatrix isn’t a woman with power. Quite the reverse. She only gets to crack a whip as long as a man pays her to do so. Your idea of progress? Mine neither. | Beyonce squeezed provocatively into a black leather leotard .
Jennifer Lopez wore the stuff of a fetishist's wildest dreams .
Concert was billed as 'a feminist Live Aid'
But a dominatrix isn't a woman with power . |
228,669 | b41507c30170a008ab07cd03cc611ac7b28ba3f6 | A woman has been found guilty of people trafficking after she forced two Nigerian women into prostitution by making them eat snakes in an African black magic ceremony. Lizzy Idahosa, 24, and her husband Jackson Omoruyi, 41, made more than £70,000 out of the women, who were terrified with voodoo and made see a witchdoctor for a sinister 'juju' ceremony. Both are now facing jail after Idahosa was convicted of trafficking the women, inciting them to become prostitutes and transferring criminal property, while Omoruyi was found guilty of money laundering. Couple: Lizzy Idahosa, 24, found guilty of people trafficking after she forced two Nigerian women into prostitution by making them eat snakes in an African black magic ceremony, while her husband Jackson Omoruyi, 41, was convicted of money laundering . During the couple's trial at Cardiff Crown Court, the jury was told that the two victims, aged 23 and 29, had their pubic hair shaved and forced to eat live snakes and snails as part of the ritual, and then flown to Britain in the belief that they were going to find a better life. However, when they arrived in the UK they were put to work as prostitutes, working in brothels at massage parlours across England and Wales. They were told they had to give all the money they earned to Idahosa, and believed the black magic curses would make them go insane or die if they refused. 'The couple were involved in the exploitation of two women brought into the UK from Nigeria to work as prostitutes,' said Caroline Rees, prosecuting, during the trial. 'They were bound to this by something called a juju ritual. It was a ceremonial ritual used to full effect to terrify both women into doing what was demanded of them. 'It was used to ensure compliance, secrecy, and they believed if they broke the bond dire consequences would follow: illness, madness, infertility or death. Facing jail: Heavily pregnant Idahosa (left) and Omoruyi (right) were both told they could expect lengthy prison sentences for their part in the trafficking . 'They genuinely believed the powers would work.' The offences came to light after police arrested a 23-year-old Nigerian woman at the Ambassador Suite brothel in Cardiff, in June 2013. She told officers she had been living rough in Nigeria after her mother died and had wanted to travel to the UK to find her father. She had then met a woman, claiming to be Idahosa’s sister, who promised to make arrangements for her to travel to London, and as part of the agreement had to take part in the ceremony. 'She did not know what was expected of her,' said Ms Rees, who said the woman had been able to pass through immigration at Heathrow. Investigation: The offences came to light after police arrested a 23-year-old Nigerian woman at the Ambassador Suite brothel in Cardiff, in June 2013 . 'She was taken to a premises full of women dressed in their underwear. There was no explanation as to what was going on but it soon became clear.' The woman started to work as a prostitute and was forced to have sexual intercourse with seven or eight men every day, working in brothels across the UK, including in Cardiff and Swansea. When interviewed, she claimed she had given Idahosa £45,000. The second victim told the court she had paid the defendants £31,400 over two years after working in brothels in Cardiff, Swansea, Barking and East Croydon, and said she had worked in South Wales for a year and eight months. The woman, who like her fellow victim cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had stopped working and changed her sim card so Idahosa could not contact her. However, within a month she received a phone call from her mother in Nigeria. 'I had a call from my mum who told me Lizzy’s people had been to her house and threatened her,' the victim told the jury. 'Lizzy said if I did not pay her she would kill my mum and make me go mad.' Idahosa and Omoruyi, who were arrested at their home in London, denied any wrong doing. But police checked their bank accounts and found a series of transfers with Omoruyi acting as a 'financial middle man'. Idahosa had denied forcing the women to take part in a black magic ceremony, but claimed that she herself had been trafficked into the UK and forced to work as a prostitute. She told the jury she did not know the two women had been trafficked. 'It was only when I told them I was trafficked into the country that I found out they were trafficked,' she said. Idahosa, who is heavily pregnant, said she made an oath with her trafficker before leaving Nigeria and was forced to eat the roast heart of a cockerel. She said: 'I wouldn’t do the things they say I did because I’ve been through it.' The jury was told that cash payments of several hundred pounds a time had been deposited into Omoruyi’s account from locations all over the country, including Glasgow, Sheffield and Southampton. Trial: A jury at Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) took just five hours to find the couple guilty after the trial . He had claimed that money came from his friend. 'I am the kind of person who likes clothes and shoes and I’m known for that - I like to find bargains,' he said. 'It is not that it is any fraud money or anything. My account has not been used for anything like that.' During an interview with police, he said: 'I am here to say I do not even know the people you are talking about - I have never seen them. 'I have never involved myself in that kind of activity in this country, even before this country. I have not and I would not,' he had claimed. Idahosa was convicted of a total of eight counts including trafficking two women into and around the UK, inciting them to become prostitutes and transferring criminal property. Omoruyi was convicted of two offences of money laundering. A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took just five hours to find them guilty. Both were remanded in custody today to be sentenced next month, but judge Tom Crowther QC warned them they will face lengthy custodial sentences. Speaking after the verdicts had been given, Ms Rees said: 'This was a despicable and callous crime. 'These two defendants were involved in an elaborate deception, taking advantage of cultural and financial issues in order to gain a devastating hold over their vulnerable victims. 'Once the victims had entered the UK, they were exploited and abused in the most brutal manner. Human trafficking is totally unacceptable in our society. 'I hope today’s convictions will send a clear message that those who seek to degrade and demean others for their own personal gain can expect to be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 'It took an immense amount of courage for the victims to come forward and seek to break free from their ordeal. I hope that their courage will act as an inspiration for others who may find themselves in a similar position. 'Whilst we cannot undo what has already happened to these victims, we can hope that today’s convictions will help them as they try to move on from their ordeal.' A spokesman for the Home Office, which led the investigation, said: 'Trafficking is an appalling crime that has no place in today’s society but, as this case has shown, it is taking place here. 'That is why we are taking action on a number of fronts. 'We are working with law enforcement overseas, the law is being strengthened and the Modern Slavery Bill, one of the first of its kind in the world, will make it easier to prosecute the criminals behind trafficking and improve the protection of victims.' | Lizzy Idahosa and husband Jackson Omoruyi made £70,000 from victims .
Women were terrified with voodoo and made to to take part in 'juju' ritual .
They believed they were travelling to Britain for a better life .
But pair were forced to work as prostitutes in massage parlours around UK .
Jury told the African black magic was used to scare women into complying .
Believed they would face 'illness, madness, infertility or death' if they didn't .
Pregnant Idahosa, 24, found guilty of eight counts including trafficking, inciting women to be prostitutes and transferring criminal property .
Omoruyi, 41, was convicted of two counts of money laundering . |
271,659 | ebe17bb21514fb85dc7b5dd0882f02f88007386f | By . Alexandra Klausner . PUBLISHED: . 16:56 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:44 EST, 29 November 2013 . Charles Rowan, a cage fighter from Michigan, faked his own death to avoid an $80,000 debt from his drug dealer. He's not only still alive, he was sentenced to 17 1/2 to 40 years in prison yesterday after he pleaded guilty to robbing a Michigan gun store. Rowan, 26, pleaded guilty to robbing the store in August but most of his family and friends thought he had died tragically in a car accident. The New York Times wrote an article following the incident and said fighting promoters, Rowan's family, and fans were so troubled by his death that they set up fights in Rowan's memory. 1,000 tickets were sold. There was a facebook group dedicated to raising money for Rowan's family. Charles Rowan, 26, 'died' shortly before he was arrested for robbing a Michigan gun store with a hammer . At a memorial service for the fighter, Rowan himself was hiding upstairs in a child's room waiting for the service to end. The Times reports that Rowan was so heartbroken by listening to his family's grief, he thought about ending the service and marching downstairs. Rowan's girlfriend Rosa Martinez sparked rumors of Rowan's death by making a convincing phone call to fight promoter Diponio, saying Rowan was badly injured and needed to be airlifted to a hospital. His own mother thought he was dead. Weeks later, a Gladwin gun store called, 'Guns and Stuff' was robbed and Rowan's face was in the mugshot--to many's surprise. He fled to his mother's house who turned him in to the police. He was also helped by Martinez, and a friend named Micheal Bowman who will be sentenced in January. Rosa Martinez called Rowan's mother and fighting promoter to say he'd died and they believed her story . Why rob the store if he was dead and ready to start his life anew? The fighter, who originally faked his death to escape cocaine debt from his dealer Micheal Gomez, met with the dealer after his 'death' and Gomez told Rowan he would hurt Martinez and her children. That's when out of fear and desperation, Rowan went to the gun store armed with a hammer, and hit the 75-year-old store owner, Richard Robinette, on the head. Gawker reports that Martinez stayed behind and called 911. When Rowan tried calling Martinez, a policeman named James Cuddie answered the phone and asked who he was. Rowan lied and said he was his cousin. The police officer was skeptical and started investigating Rowan's death. Robinette's family said he is said to have recovered miraculously. 'There was a lot of blood,'Rowan said. 'Enough to scare me. I’m a man used to seeing a lot of blood, but that was a lot of blood.' Micheal Bowman assisted Rowan in the robbery and will be sentenced for the crime in January . Unbeknownst to his family, Rowan was a cocaine user and did some work for drug dealers. He allegedly worked for Gomez, who had links to The Latin Kings and The Mexican Mafia Gang, and lost a shipment of cocaine worth $80,000. Rowan told Gomez that thieves jumped him, cracked his ribs, and took his drugs. Gomez wasn't happy with Rowan's story so he arranged for men to beat Rowan up outside of a local Shopko. He was badly beaten, at least that's what Rowan told his friends. A downtrodden Rowan was inspired to start anew after watching a show on the Discovery Channel at his girlfriend Martinez's house about a man who faked his death to start a new life. Rowan had a rich criminal history in addition to owing drug money. Ever since Rowan was a kid he stole 'guns, dumb things, work tools, and money,' Rowan's stepfather Scott Gardner told The New York Times. Friend's and fans payed homage to Rowan after he died with photos like these posted on a friend's facebook page . Rowan had previously been arrested for failure to pay child support and for selling marijuana. He also was arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a teenager. Rowan was a father of three--all to different women. He also was no stranger to fighting and was beaten by his father for years. The Times reports that Rowan's father would stomp on his head and that when his father was dying of cancer, his father wished the illness on Rowan instead of himself. Rowan was a sort of underdog in the fighting world. He called himself The Freight Train. Fans called him a 'tomato can' a term that alludes to the fact that it was easy to knock Rowan down and that 'red stuff' came out. Another thing--Rowan fought for free. He enjoyed the fight more than the monetary gain. He loved getting hyped in on coke and then going into the cage for a beating that usually ended up in his getting knocked out. 'It’s amazing that guys will get beat up for free,' Christos Piliafas, a top fighter in Michigan, said. 'They just love to fight.' He also said, 'He was a horrible fighter. He just showed up and would fight. He was a great first fight for someone. Despite loving to fight, Rowan had no trouble owning up to his mistakes and expressing remorse. 'All three of us deserved to be punished for what we did,' Rowan said on Monday in a phone interview from jail with The New York Times. 'Unfortunately, my life has been on a downward spiral for a few years,' he said. 'And finally, I just hit the bottom. I hope one day that I can make something of my life and show Mr. Robinette or his family that I learned my lesson,' he concluded. | Charles Rowan, 26, apparently worked for a drug dealer and owed $80,000 a lost cocaine shipment .
After watching a show on The Discovery Channel, Rowan was inspired to fake his death and start his life anew so he had his girlfriend Rosa Martinez tell his family and friends he died in a car accident .
He robbed a gun store by hitting a 75-year-old man on the head several weeks after he 'died', and fled to his mother's house who turned him in to police .
He was known as a 'tomato can' in the fighting world, someone who is easy to knock over and and from whom 'red stuff' pours out .
Rowan feels sorry for his crimes and hopes 75-year-old Richard Robinette and his family will forgive him . |
132,989 | 37f55e30a8b451d14a1f3fcd275bd6ecfad002e6 | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 13:12 EST, 12 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:49 EST, 12 March 2013 . A grandfather drowned as he battled to save his five-year-old granddaughter after she was swept out to sea by a freak wave, an inquest heard today. Lara Lewis was collecting seashells when she ran towards the water and the huge wave dragged her into rough waters on a Portuguese beach. Her grandfather Brian O'Dwyer, 66, and his wife Jill tried to save their granddaughter but Mr O'Dwyer drowned. Bravery: Brian O'Dwyer, 66, died while trying to save his five-year-old granddaughter Lara Lewis when she was swept out to sea at Praia do Salgados beach, in western Portugal . Risk: An inquest heard that Lara unexpectedly ran towards the water on the beach where red warning flags had been flying . Mrs O'Dwyer, who was forced back by the huge waves, could only watch on with her four-year-old grandson as the tragedy unfolded. In a statement to North London Coroner's Court, Mrs O'Dwyer described the incident as she frantically waved for help before fainting. Mrs O'Dwyer, who lived in Portugal with her husband, said: 'At a certain stage, my granddaughter ran towards the water. The sea was rough and my granddaughter was taken by the water.' Sudden: An inquest at North London Coroner's Court heard that Lara, pictured with her mother Sian, 36, suddenly ran towards the water on the beach where red warning flags were flying . The pair had been walking with their grandchildren on Praia do Salgado beach, in western Portugal, while the children's parents, Philip Lewis, 46 and his wife Sian, 36, were sunbathing on a beach nearby. Mrs O'Dwyer added: 'My husband attempted to rescue her but was unable to and as a result got into difficulties himself. 'I tried to enter the water but was forced back by a wave. I looked around for help and waved frantically but I don't remember anything after that as I must have fainted.' Fisherman Antonio Ribelo raised the . alarm after finding Lara's brother wandering along the beach . crying and calling out for his parents. While trying to locate the boy's parents, Mr Ribelo noticed Mrs O'Dwyer where she had collapsed on the shore. Recalling the ordeal on August 21 last year, Mr Ribelo said: 'I noticed a little boy crying for his mother, so I asked him where his mother was. I took the boy towards the south to see if we could see anyone.' After noticing Mrs O'Dwyer lying on the sand he ran towards the scene before noticing a 'body floating in the sea'. He added: 'Then I saw another body, which looked like that of a child, where the waves were breaking.' Mr Ribelo rushed to pull Lara from the sea and a fellow fisherman dragged Mr O'Dwyer on to the sand. Holiday: The children had been holidaying in Portugal with their parents who were sunbathing elsewhere at Salgado beach when the tragedy unfolded . Accident: Coroner Andrew Walker recorded that both Mr O'Dwyer and Lara died as a result of an accident . He said Mr O'Dwyer, who was described in court as a a chief executive for agriculture, showed no signs of life and he focused his revival efforts on the girl until paramedics arrived. The inquest heard red flags had been flying on the beach on the day of the incident. The O'Dwyers and their grandchildren were around 400 metres outside the cordoned off safe swimming area when Lara ran towards the sea unexpectedly. 'We found the bodies on the beach which had been retrieved from the sea with no signs of life', said Portuguese investigator Manuel Jorge Mesquita da Fonseca. 'Even those resuscitating using advanced life support techniques for 45 minutes got no response.' Mrs O'Dwyer, who was treated for shock, initially believed her grandson had also been swept into the sea when she collapsed and fainted. Mr Lewis, a professor at University College London, and his wife who were holidaying on the Portuguese coast with the O'Dwyer's, had to identify the bodies. Lara, who turned five a month before her death, had recently started at Rushmore Primary School, near the family's home in Clapton, east London. Coroner Andrew Walker recorded that both Mr O'Dwyer and Lara died as a result of an accident. 'A short time after 13.30 hours, Brian Gillespie O'Dwyer went into the sea to rescue his granddaughter who had run into the sea, where he drowned', he said. 'Lara Lewis was drowned having run into the sea, and I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that she died as a result of an accident.' He added: 'Members of the family know about the inquest but have set out that they didn't wish to attend.' | Brian O'Dwyer, 66, battled to save Lara Lewis but was overcome by waves .
Mr O'Dwyer and his wife Jill were walking their two grandchildren on beach .
The incident occurred at Praia do Salgados beach in August last year .
Lara unexpectedly ran towards water while red warning flags were flying .
Mrs O'Dwyer was forced back by water and fainted at scene, inquest hears .
Coroner recorded verdict of accidental death for Mr O'Dwyer and Lara . |
8,194 | 1731407f71214cee3b3418a7ad6514a4155fbb07 | By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 08:28 EST, 11 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:44 EST, 11 March 2013 . An student's rubber band ball started making a ball of rubber bands in class - and 65,000 bands later, it had stretched into the world's bounciest office chair. Industrial Design student Preston Moeller, 26, spent 336 hours designing and building the 3ft tall chair. It weighs 35lb and can support the weight of a grown adult. The rubber band chair, modelled by Maegen Eichinger, right, took 336 hours of design and building work . It took 65,000 rubber bands and 336 hours of work to make the colourful chair . His colourful creation earned him the $3,000 first prize in the Appalachian State University’s 6th Annual Chair Design Competition . Preston Moeller, 26, bagged the top prize at his university's design awards . Mr Moeller, from Cleveland, North Carolina, constructed the chair by wrapped rubber bands around a wire frame, hidden from view. On his personal website, he reported that the chair was proving to be incredibly hardy. He wrote: 'It has been moved around to multiple shows and I have been using it for the last couple months as my computer chair and it still looks as good as new. 'On the other hand, I have other smaller pieces that have started to dry up after around four years so I'm not sure how long the chair has to live. 'It looks as if the frame under the rubber bands is helping to keep them fresh but I don’t expect it to last forever.' The chair was even shown off during New York Design Week as part of the Industrial Designers Society of America’s booth. Preston Moeller, 26, has put the rubber band ball to a more unconventional use - as an office chair, modelled by former Appalachian State classmate Maegen Eichinger . The chair, with a wire frame hidden beneath the rubber bands, stands three feet tall and weighs 35lbs . | Industrial Design student Preston Moeller spent 336 hours making the chair .
His creation earned him a $3,000 prize at Appalachian State University . |
40,159 | 71537a701b69838dcb68ae310c7b3bfb375c1344 | A man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl in a fake kidnapping that he planned to 'save' her from is to go on trial today. Kyle Dube, 21, of Orono, Maine, allegedly used a fake Facebook profile to set up a meeting with Nichole Cable in May 2013, but killed her in a botched kidnapping investigators say he had intended to 'solve himself'. Police said Dube told people he planned to abduct Nichole while wearing a ski mask, return later without the mask, 'find' her and look like a hero. Kyle Dube (pictured left) is accused of using a fake Facebook profile to set up a meeting with Nichole Cable (right) but killed her in the process of a botched kidnapping investigators say he intended to 'solve himself' Dube will appear in court today accused of creating the fake account to set up a meeting with Nichole, of Glenburn, before killing her and hiding her body on May 12, 2013. Nichole's mother reported her missing on May 13 and told police her daughter had left the night before to meet a friend at the end of their road but had not returned . Dozens of law enforcement officers, using aircraft and dogs, and hundreds of civilian volunteers spent days searching for Nichole. Her remains were found in Old Town on May 20, eight days after the abduction. The state's chief medical examiner found Nichole died as a result of asphyxiation. Police said the fake Facebook profile Dube allegedly set up was under a different name but was traced back to Dube's home. Nichole Cable, aged 15, (pictured) was reported missing by her mother on May 13, who told police her daughter had left the night before to meet a friend at the end of their road but had not returned . The murder trial is expected to last two weeks. Dube's defense has already received a setback - the judge in the case has said will not allow his attorneys to name his ex-girlfriend as an alternative suspect in the killing. Defense attorneys wanted to name Dube's former girlfriend, who was dating Dube at the time of the killing, as an alternative suspect, saying the girl disliked Nichole because she believed Nichole and Dube were seeing each other. But on Friday Superior Court Justice Ann Murray granted the state's motion to exclude defense attorneys from naming another possible suspect. Dube is accused of creating the fake Facebook account to set up a meeting with Nichole, of Glenburn, before killing her and hiding her body . The judge's order said that Dube 'set forth a tenuous suggestion of motive' in his call for the alternative suspect, but the defense's request 'does not reasonably establish any connection between' the girl and the crime. She wrote that there was also no evidence that the girl was at or near Nichole's home on the night of Cable's disappearance, and that 'this trial must be the trial of Kyle Dube.' Nichole's father, David Cable, declined to comment on the trial but said: 'If you're a father, you know how I'm feeling right now.' Her mother, Kristine Wiley, declined to comment. Friends and classmates of Nichole Cable at Old Town High School said after Dube's arrest that they planned to reduce or end their use of social media. Nearly two years later, the school district continues to stress the importance of using social media safely and responsibly, said David Walker, superintendent of Regional School Unit 34, which includes the high school. However, he added he has not seen a dramatic change in the way students use social media at the school. 'Hopefully they recognize that the Internet isn't always a safe place,' Walker said. 'Everyone is reminding students of the dangers, both parents and teachers.' If convicted of kidnapping and murder, Dube could face between 25 years and life in prison. Dube pictured in court on May 22, 2013 in the Superior Court in Bangor, Maine one day after he was charged . | Kyle Dube, 21, is accused of murdering Nichole Cable, 15, in May 2013 .
Authorities say he used fake Facebook profile to set up a meeting with her .
Dube is accused of killing the teenager during a botched kidnapping .
He wanted to 'stage kidnapping and rescue so he could look like a hero'
His two-week trial begins today at the Superior Court in Bangor, Maine .
Judge won't allow attorneys to name his ex as an alternative suspect . |
104,052 | 123f9f7d2d4573f5b85f80f7af509165a82596a5 | For years, scientists have predicted that as global warming heats the Earth, the number of storms will increase. But, new research suggests that instead of increasing in number, these storms will increase in intensity - meaning the same number of storms will occur, but they'll be stronger. The physicists said that this is because global warming will directly affect how the atmosphere circulates air mass, heat and water using what's been dubbed 'Earth's heat engine.' Scroll down for video . Experts from the University of Toronto predict that as the Earth becomes warmer, as a result of climate change, the number of storms will remain the same, but the intensity will increase. This is because global warming will directly affect how heat, air mass and water circulates through the atmosphere . Researchers from the University of Toronto explained that the Earth’s atmosphere needs fuel to work, which in this instance is energy from the sun. As air is warmed by the sun and moves closer to the Equator, the air mass near the surface ‘absorbs’ water through evaporation. The warmer the air mass, the more water it takes up, and as it reaches the Equator, it begins to rise through the atmosphere, eventually cooling as it radiates heat out into space. Cool air typically holds less moisture than warm air, so as the air cools, condensation occurs, and heat is released. When enough heat is released, air begins to rise even further, pulling more air behind it, which ultimately causes a thunderstorm. Researchers from the University of Toronto explained that the Earth’s atmosphere needs fuel to work, which in this instance is energy from the sun. As air is warmed by the sun and moves closer to the Equator, the air mass near the surface ‘absorbs’ water through evaporation. The warmer the air mass, the more water it takes up, and as it reaches the Equator, it begins to rise through the atmosphere, eventually cooling as it radiates heat out into space. Cool air typically holds less moisture than warm air, so as the air cools, condensation occurs, and heat is released. When enough heat is released, air begins to rise even further, pulling more air behind it, which ultimately causes a thunderstorm. The ‘output’ of this atmospheric engine, and storms, is the amount of heat and moisture that is redistributed between the Equator and the North and South Poles. The ‘output’ of this atmospheric engine, and storms, is the amount of heat and moisture that is redistributed between the Equator and the North and South Poles. Frederic Laliberté and his colleagues from the University of Toronto wanted to study how climate change will impact how this engine works. They began by comparing climate records from 1981 to 2012 with climate simulations. These simulations model how Earth and its atmosphere will change, and cover the period 1982 to 2098. This comparison revealed that a third of the atmospheric energy is typically involved with the movement of water through the cycle. But, as a result of climate change, the atmosphere is expected to use more energy during this part of the cycle. This is because the air will be warmer, so will take up more water, which will create more evaporation and precipitation. By using more energy to move the water, less energy is used to circulate the air mass, and an increase in water vapour, put simply, will make the process less efficient. The atmosphere still needs to get rid of the precipitation it collects, but because circulation is affected, it has to do this in fewer, more intense storms. Air masses that are able to reach the top of the atmosphere are strengthened, while those that can’t, are weakened. Thunderstorms get energy from the heat released by the condensation of water vapour (illustrated). Using climate records, and simulations up to 2098, experts said warming will create more precipitation and less circulation. The number of storms will stay the same, but they will become more intense to get rid of the water . ‘We know that with global warming we'll get more evaporation of the oceans,’ said Mr Laliberte. ‘But circulation in the atmosphere is like a heat engine that requires fuel to do work, just like any combustion engine or a convection engine.’ ‘By viewing the atmospheric circulation as a heat engine, we were able to rely on the laws of thermodynamics to analyse how the circulation would change in a simulation of global warming. ‘We used these laws to quantify how the increase in water vapour that would result from global warming would influence the strength of the atmospheric circulation.’ Put simply, Mr Laliberte added ‘powerful storms are strengthened at the expense of weaker storms’, so over the years, atmospheric circulation will adapt to this less efficient form of heat transfer and will cause 'fewer storms.' | Earth’s atmosphere uses solar energy to run a so-called ‘heat engine’
This engine circulates air and heat, and is ultimately responsible for storms .
Experts have studied how climate change impacts how this engine works .
They compared records from 1981 to 2012 with simulations up to 2098 .
Third of the energy is involved with water moving through the atmosphere .
But, climate change causes the atmosphere to use more energy during this part of the cycle, which creates more evaporation and precipitation .
This limits how much energy is used as part of the circulation cycle .
Atmosphere still needs to get rid of the precipitation it collects, but subsequently has to do it in fewer, more intense storms . |
82,251 | e926c86e74a6d1622528cfe715ef73a63cf1f1f3 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 08:12 EST, 21 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:24 EST, 21 October 2013 . A mother who was battered unconscious by a woman in an unprovoked attack was offered £150 by police to drop the charges - so they could avoid filling out paperwork. Hayley Clayton, 32, spent a night in hospital and needed 10 stitches after she was punched in the head and knocked out during a night out in Spalding, Lincolnshire. She received a call from police three weeks later saying they believed they knew who her attacker was and were making an arrest. Victim: Hayley Clayton, pictured left, needed 10 stitches, pictured right, after a Lithuanian woman punched her in the head during a night out in Spalding, Lincolnshire . The mother-of-one, from nearby Moulton Seas End, then got another call the next day telling her they had a Lithuanian woman in custody and she had admitted the assault. But she was 'disgusted' when officers said she would not be prosecuted because it was a waste of taxpayers’ money. Mrs Clayton claims police said her attacker could either be cautioned or write a letter of apology and pay her £100 compensation. When Mrs Clayton and husband Mark, 39, turned down the offer, police called back and said the woman had a solicitor with her and was willing to offer an extra £50. Despite again turning down the offer of cash, police still refused to press charges and let the woman off with a caution. Mrs Clayton, pictured with her husband Mark and two-year-old daughter Kacey, was told her attacker could pay her compensation or be cautioned but would not be taken to court . Mrs Clayton today blasted police and said she had lost confidence in the law. She said: 'I was so offended I told them to stick their money and chose the caution because I wanted her to have a record in case she does this again. 'It is disgusting that you can buy your way out of committing a crime. What is our country coming to? 'I don’t blame the officers because they are doing their job. 'But the system is not right, people shouldn’t be able to offer money to get out of having a criminal record when they have punched someone unconscious for no reason whatsoever.' Mrs Clayton, who works as a team leader at a florist factory, lives in her husband and their two-year-old daughter Kacey. Lincolnshire Police today defended their decision not to prosecute the woman. Inspector Jim Tyner said: 'The aim of the adult caution scheme is to offer a proportionate response where the offender has admitted the offence. 'Cautions are designed to deliver swift, simple and effective justice that also carries a deterrent effect for first-time offenders. 'We also record an individual’s criminal conduct for possible future reference. 'This is not about taking short-cuts, but cautions are effectively used to increase the amount of time my officers spend dealing with other crime and reduce the amount of time they spend completing paperwork and attending court. Proportionate: Lincolnshire Police defended the decision not to prosecute Mrs Clayton's attacker and said the adult caution was proportionate to the crime committed . 'Like most people, I would much rather my officers are out on patrol. 'Where a victim has suffered financial loss as a result of an assault, they can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.' The force uses three out-of-court disposals for crimes which can be dealt with by police without clogging up the courts, including warnings with compensation and cautions. Chief Inspector Philip Baker, from the force's criminal justice department, said: 'Without knowing the full details in this case a caution or condition caution with compensation may have been appropriate. 'A restorative resolution, where compensation or an apology is made without a caution is usually applied in low level crimes such as when children put a window through.' | Hayley Clayton, 32, needed 10 stitches after she was punched in the head .
Police arrested her attacker but decided not to press charges .
They gave Mrs Clayton the option of accepting compensation or her attacker receiving an adult caution .
Lincolnshire Police said the punishment was proportionate to the offence . |
64,060 | b5e8c952ef7a72271ce6cdb6c28285e13e600fbd | By . Laura Cox . PUBLISHED: . 11:20 EST, 30 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:05 EST, 30 June 2012 . A sex offender and his girlfriend were arrested on Wednesday after a cell phone laden with child porn images was left in a Walmart shopping cart. The phone allegedly belonged to Alan Robert Johnson, 33, convicted in 2003 of possessing and transporting child pornography, and his partner Jennifer Sparks, 37. The phone was found by a customer on June 2. It contained pictures of a naked boys and girls, said police, who are investigating a possible child porn operation that they believe may involve the parents of one of the girls, aged four. Busted: Alan Robert Johnson, a convicted in sex offender, and his girlfriend Jennifer Sparks were arrested after the cell phone was found . Registered in Sparks' name, the phone was left in a cart at the Walmart Neighbourhood Market on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, Florida. Officers tracked down Johnson when they found an email address on the phone which led to him. They also found his Facebook page which displayed several of the same photos found on the cell. At the couple’s North Fort Myers home, officers also found pictures and videos of the pair molesting and having oral sex with a four-year-old girl, news-press.com reported. 'They sexually abused her in every way imaginable,' Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott told winknews.com. 'In fact my most seasoned detectives here said that it's the worst they've ever seen.' Scott described the pair as 'animals' and said he hoped the girl involved will be able to rebuild her life and move forward. At the couple¿s North Fort Myers, Florida, home, (pictured) officers also found pictures and videos of the pair molesting and having oral sex with a four-year-old girl . The girl has since been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. A further investigation is underway . into her parents, from Tampa, as police believe they may have . intentionally left their daughter with the accused molesters and possibly even paid . them. The Sheriff’s Office . said she stayed with the couple around six weeks before being . transported to someone in Lakeland, where they suspect similar acts were . carried out. Johnson and Sparks remain in Lee County Jail where they are being held without bail. Both face charges of sexual assault against a victim under 12, directing or promoting sexual performance by a child and possession of child pornography. | Police are investigating the parents of a four-year-old girl whose pictures were found at the couple's home .
The couple was busted after a customer found the cell in a Walmart shopping cart . |
261,835 | df18a5d660090d36087b3b76623853635c78cce5 | The U.S. Defense Department wanted five Americans released in exchange for five Taliban terrorists – not just the single American infantryman now accused of desertion – according to a senior congressional aide. And with the Bowe Bergdahl hostage swap now nearly a week old, the State Department is still insisting that it doesn't offer 'concessions' to 'terrorists' or other 'hostage-takers' Joe Kasper, chief of staff to House Armed Services Committee member Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said late Thursday that the Pentagon aimed to free Caitlan Coleman of York, Pennsylvania and her baby who was born in captivity, along with her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle, as part of a 'broader goal.' Also on America's wish list was Warren Weinstein, a Maryland man who was abducted in 2011 in Pakistan. A Taliban-aligned sect of al-Qaeda is still holding him captive. The Pentagon 'was looking at this in the whole scope of things, to deal with these people as well,' Kasper told USA Today. 'Instead of five for one, why not five for five?' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Proof-of-life: . Taliban videos of Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle have been released . by their families for the first time. Coleman's father received them in . July and September . Captive: Pregnant Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle are believed to have been taken by the Taliban while traveling in mountains near Kabul . DOUBLESPEAK: State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Wednesday that 'our policy is not to make concessions to terrorists' -- just days after the Obama administration traded hostages with the Taliban . But the White House nixed the military's hoped-for deal, Kasper told USA Today, choosing instead to trade five Taliban for Bergdahl alone. The State Department is drawing a firm distinction between negotiating for the release of Bergdahl, a U.S. Army infantryman, and the Hunter family, who were not in uniform. Bergdahl's status 'as a missing or captured soldier,' State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said, 'is distinct from someone who, for example, may be a civilian hostage.' But in a blanket statement to reporters on Wednesday, she said that 'we don’t make concessions to terrorists.' 'So not making concessions does not preclude negotiating,' a reporter shot back. 'Is that what you’re saying?' 'This was an exchange of prisoners in war, ' Harf replied. Another reporter in the room reminded her that 'every administration' since the Guantanamo Bay detention camp opened, have parsed it out ad nauseum that these are not prisoners, these are detainees.' 'Right,' Harf replied. 'You’ve changed your language today and called them prisoners in war,' the astonished reporter said. Journalists challenged Harf, saying the 5-forf-1 Taliban trade 'legitimizes the Taliban to take prisoners of war' -- and accused her of suddenly changign her language to call Guantanamo Bay detainees 'prisoners in war' Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Dianne Feinstein believes that if the White House had followed federal law and given Congress 30 days to consider a Guantanamo detainee release, more Americans might have been rescied . Harf argued a hypothetical situation: 'Let's say it was important for us to get Sgt. Bergdahl home,' she said. 'Let's say these guys may have eventually been transferred somewhere anyways. I think many of us would make the argument – I would make it – that we should get something for them.' She doubled down a day later, cryptically telling USA Today on Thursday that America has a 'longstanding U.S. policy not to make concessions to hostage-takers.' Rep Hunter wrote to President Barack Obama on Monday, saying that the Pentagon's broader plan for a wider hostage release never had time to mature while the State Department's negotiations rushed ahead. Hunter, a Marine Corps reservist who himself served in Iraq and Afghanistan, also suggested that the Defense Department might have won Bergdahl's release without releasing terrorists at all. He complained to Obama about 'the sudden urgency behind the prisoner swap given other lines of effort offered the same opportunity for success.' 'These efforts should have been fully exhausted before any commitment to exchange prisoners was made,' Hunter wrote.'Now a situation has been created whereby prisoner exchanges — specifically disproportionate exchanges — are viewed by the Taliban and other aligned forces as achievable.' Also needs rescue: Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, a decorated Marine, has been held in a Mexican prison for two months for taking a wrong turn and entering the country with registered weapons . Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Bloomberg Television on Friday that if Congress had 30 days' notice on Guantanamo Bay detainee releases – as federal law requires – Members could have argued for the release of more Americans. 'There are two others in Afghanistan,' Feinstein said, according to an advance transcript obtained by MailOnline. 'One is a young couple with a baby. ... I think they certainly ought to be part of any swap.' 'If there were some consultation, that could have been suggested, to get two Americans out ... But there was no opportunity to do so,' Feinstein added. 'And that’s the 30 days, that you have an opportunity, if there are issues you want to raise or thoughts that might be helpful, actual, to the administration. Nobody knows everything.' Her interview will air Friday night. | The Obama administration nixed a Defense Department request to get five American hostages – not just Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl – in exchange for five Taliban prisoners .
A senior staffer to a Republican congressman said a 'five for five' deal was the Pentagon's goal, including civilian hostages as well .
But the State Dept. insists the 'prisoner of war' exchange for Bergdahl is completely different from negotiating for non-military captives .
'We don’t make concessions to terrorists.' a spokeswoman at State said Wednesday, doubling down a day later and citing 'longstanding U.S. policy not to make concessions to hostage-takers'
Sen. Dianne Feinstein complained that if Congress had 30 days' notice on Gitmo prisoner transfers – as federal law requires – it could have argued for the release of more Americans . |
268,907 | e8549bb1ce87ddee5400fa686f4d284459624acd | By . Mario Ledwith . Chris Huhne has landed a high-profile job with an energy company three months after leaving prison. The former Energy Secretary is expected to earn around £100,000 a year despite working only two days a week for an American company. Mr Huhne, 59, and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were both jailed for eight months in March for perverting the course of justice after he admitted passing speeding points to her. Cashing in: Chris Huhne has secured a new job advising an energy firm for £100,000 a year . They were both freed and later fitted with electronic tags after serving just two months of their sentences. A profile on the website of his new employer, Zilkha Biomass Energy, describes Mr Huhne as ‘one of the pioneers in calling for political action to deal with global warming’. But it makes no mention of his conviction, instead focusing on his political roles and work as an ‘award-winning journalist’. Mr Huhne has been given the job as the company’s European chairman despite leaving his post as Lib Dem Energy Secretary only last year, and potentially having a detailed knowledge of sensitive Government dealings. However, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, a public body that considers applications for new jobs from former ministers, is believed to have given permission for him to take the role. Ex-wife: Vicky Pryce was jailed alongside her estranged husband for perverting the course of justice . The committee is reported to have said that Mr Huhne had ‘not been involved in the development of policy, award of grants or regulatory work that might have impacted on ZBE’. A spokesman told The Sun that the ex-Cabinet minister ‘was not aware of any contractual relationship between his former department and ZBE and had no access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors’. After his release from HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire, Mr Huhne returned to his £1.2million home in Clerkenwell, London, where he lives with his partner Carina Trimingham. He said after his release: ‘I would just like to say once again, as you know from the night I was sentenced, I said that I was very sorry for what I had done. ‘It has been a humbling and sobering experience. I would like to thank all of those who have written to me – hundreds of letters that I have had – and all my family and friends who stood by me. ‘And I would also just remind you that I have served only part of my sentence and therefore it is not appropriate to say more. I would now like to get on, get back to home, and continue with my life.’ Jonathan Aitken, another former minister who has spent time behind bars, said Mr Huhne found prison ‘fascinating’. | Former Energy Secretary employed by Zilkha Biomass Energy for £100,000 .
New job comes just three months after end of prison sentence for perverting the course of justice . |
117,748 | 240a8bc2c004baf7b823d88b2dee4d4ecc996303 | By . Charles Sale . Andy Gray, recognised as the best football co-commentator in TV sport, will make a dramatic return to the English game on Saturday. Gray is back in the gantry alongside Ian Darke at the unlikely location of Stevenage’s Broadhall Way working for BT Sport on their live FA Cup coverage of the League One side’s fourth-round game against Everton. Former Everton striker Gray has not been heard on a football commentary produced by a British TV station since leaving Sky in 2011 after the controversy over his sexist comments off camera about assistant referee Sian Massey. Comeback: Andy Gray was widely renowned as the best commentator in the game before his Sky sacking . The future: Together with Richard Keys he built up an aura, and he may now return - this time on BT Sport . Since then he has worked alongside his former Sky colleague Richard Keys for talksport radio and for beIN Sports based in Doha. The . fact beIN Sports have agreed to Gray working for BT Sport, even on a . one-off basis, opens up some intriguing possibilities over future shared . football ambitions. It . will cause huge concern for Sky if beIN Sports and BT join forces for . the next Premier League rights auction. A BT spokesman said: ‘We are . delighted Andy can stand in for Michael Owen, who is overseas.’ Shock: Gray pictured shortly after leaving Sky . New ventures: Gray and Keys have sinced worked with talkSPORT, amongst others . Andy Hunt, former chief executive of the British Olympic Association whose flag-waving celebrity obsession during the Olympics was mocked by parody Twitter account Randy Shunt, has had his own postings on social media curtailed. Hunt had kept the Team GB association on his own Twitter account despite leaving the BOA a year ago. But the BOA have now belatedly put a stop to that following complaints. Chelsea's Eden Hazard, shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or that went to Cristiano Ronaldo, posted an Instagram of himself with a ‘Ballon de Bois’ trophy signed by all the Chelsea team. The wooden replica of the Ballon d’Or had been sent in by a Chelsea fan in Romania for the players to sign and Hazard saw the dressing-room photo opportunity. However, credit Chelsea for meeting supporters’ requests for autographs. Hoax: Eden Hazards' 'Ballon de Bois' was actually a present from a Romanian Chelsea fan . One remarkable feature of Manchester City’s assault on four trophies has been the unlikely harmony from boardroom to bootroom at a club that had previously been a byword for turmoil. Insiders believe the departure of Roberto Mancini, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli — around whom a lot of the madness had revolved — has had a lot to do with the newfound calm. The club’s unity was displayed on Friday when manager Manuel Pellegrini, captain Vincent Kompany and football development executive Patrick Vieira all attended the relaunch of City’s women’s team for the FA Super League. Team spirit: Manuel Pellegrini and Patrick Vieira (centre) were at the relaunch of Manchester City's women side . Roy shootout shrink? The woeful penalty shoot-out efforts by England players this week will add to the scrutiny of the FA’s new performance services chief Dave Reddin, whose views on the psychology of taking penalties will be crucial in the build-up to the World Cup. England have gone out of major tournaments on penalties six times in the last 24 years and the spot-kicks by Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Adam Johnson in Manchester United’s Capital One Cup loss to Sunderland only underlined the problem. It will be Reddin’s call whether England need to take a sports psychologist to Brazil, with manager Roy Hodgson saying he is ‘interested to hear what Dave has to say about it’. And England don’t have a great track record in that area. Bill Beswick didn’t do much during Steve McClaren brief tenure, and Glenn Hoddle’s ludicrous faith-healer Eileen Drewery was a joke figure among the players. Will he, won't he? Roy Hodgson is considering hiring a shrink to help players in penalty shootouts . Blunders: Danny Welbeck (above) and Phil Jones (below) both missed penalties for Manchester United on Wednesday, not boding well for England at the World Cup... Sports management agency Paragon are having to deal with media division chief Claire Burns setting up her own business and taking racing clients Tony McCoy and Emma Spencer with her. Paragon also have the problem of Clydesdale Bank withdrawing from cricket. Paragon negotiated a five-year deal, under which Clydesdale’s name appears on Alastair Cook’s bat, that goes through to 2017. | Andy Gray set to commentate as Stevenage host Everton on BT Sport .
Eden Hazard's 'Ballon de Bois' was a present from a Romanian Chelsea fan .
Manchester City's harmony returns after Mancini, Balotelli and Tevez exit .
Roy Hodgson may bring 'penalty shootout shrink' to the World Cup . |
281,178 | f83e6c6e9060fc5e834491af02f4d48a65f8aea0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:39 EST, 16 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:23 EST, 16 March 2012 . A disabled woman who says easyJet made her feel like a ‘social outcast’ by ordering her off a plane is taking the British budget airline to court in France. Wheelchair-bound Marie-Patricia Hoarau, 40, was told she could not take the flight from Paris to Nice because she was a ‘safety risk’. The airline is now facing charges of discrimination for the ‘humiliation’ Hoarau says she suffered. Wheelchair-bound Marie-Patricia Hoarau, 40, was told she could not take the flight from Paris to Nice because she was a 'safety risk' The legal action comes just two months after Easyjet was fined £60,000 by a Paris court for barring three other ‘unsafe’ disabled passengers from flights. Miss Hoarau, a paraplegic since a cycling accident 20 years ago, said she was allowed to travel unaccompanied on her outbound flight to Paris in March 2010. But when she boarded the plane to return to Nice, she was ordered back to the check-in desk because she did not have a ‘helper’. A fellow passenger offered to take on the role, but cabin crew refused because they had not checked in together. She was taken off the plane and given a free ticket on the next flight, while check-in staff found another passenger willing to accompany her. Ms Hoarau said: ‘I was allowed to board the plane alone, but once I was inside, they told me I couldn’t travel because I didn’t have a helper. ‘I try to cope with this disability every day and being ordered off like that in front of my fellow passengers was a slap in the face. ‘I felt humiliated and like a pariah who has no place in society.’ She added: ‘I am still waiting for a personal apology from EasyJet. ‘Their boss said he was sorry for my unpleasant experience, but only in a press release. I received no phone call from them.’ France’s disabled rights association the APF said: ‘We are looking for an exemplary sentence against Easyjet for discriminating against this woman because of her handicap.’ Easyjet’s French lawyer Philippe van der Meulen said ahead of today’s hearing at the Paris correctional court that the airline had not intended to discriminate against Miss Hoarau. He added: ‘Britain is one of the only countries in Europe to have a code of good conduct in cases like this. ‘We fly 350,000 people of reduced mobility every year, and less than one per cent of them are accompanied. ‘In this particular case, it was judged that that the woman was not sufficiently autonomous to fly alone.’ Easyjet’s French director Francois Bacchetta after Miss Hoarau launched her legal action: ‘I understand her feelings but we must respect very strict safety regulations. 'In the event of an emergency, we need to be able to evacuate all passengers in 90 seconds. ‘When a disabled passenger checks in alone, we try to find them a helper but we prefer for this to be done at the check-in.’ In January, Easyjet was fined for refusing to allow three paraplegic passengers aboard flights in Paris in 2008 and 2009. The French transport ministry said after that ruling, in August 2010: ‘EasyJet cannot hide behind safety regulations for refusing to board passengers who have difficulty moving around.’ | Paraplegic, 40, was due to fly from Paris to Milan . |
236,596 | be3bdd3dc145c09e8b735ffc2098b8fec44a328c | By . Hugo Gye . and Arthur Martin . The BBC edited out images that showed Dave Lee Travis molesting a 17-year-old girl during the filming of Top Of The Pops, it was claimed in court yesterday. Footage of the presenter groping the teenager on a June 1978 episode of the music programme was ‘shrunk’ as if to get rid of the offending scenes, a jury was told. As Travis introduced a novelty song by The Smurfs, with a female audience member on either side of him, he slipped his hand up one girl’s skirt and ‘had a fumble’ of her bottom, it was alleged. The presenter then tried to force his hand into the teenager’s underwear, making her feel ‘violated’, the jury heard. The BBC edited out images that showed Dave Lee Travis molesting a 17-year-old girl during the filming of Top Of The Pops, it was claimed in court yesterday . But . when Top Of The Pops was broadcast later that week, the clip had been . cut just as the sexual assault began, it was claimed. Giving evidence . from behind a curtain yesterday, the alleged victim said that if . viewers had seen all the footage it would have been ‘quite obvious’ that . she was being sexually assaulted. She told Southwark Crown Court that the images broke off as she began to ‘grimace’. The . woman’s friend, also appearing as a prosecution witness against the . former Radio 1 DJ, told the jury that the BBC appeared to have edited . the video deliberately to remove the attack. She . said: ‘It was shrunk. Seriously shrunk. When I watched it back with . other friends it felt like just the head part of us, rather than the . body shot that I think would have been there originally.’ In . cross examination, defence barrister Stephen Vullo asked: ‘You are . saying the BBC edited this video to get rid of the touching, is that . what you thought?’ She replied: ‘That’s what we thought.’ The . alleged victim said she and her friend were excited when they got . tickets to attend the recording of Top Of The Pops at the BBC studios . in Shepherd’s Bush, West London. During the show, they were asked by a . floor manager if they would like to be on TV next to Travis as he . introduced the next song – to which they agreed. Moments later the alleged victim appeared on stage wearing an off-the-shoulder top and a ra-ra skirt, with a flower in her hair. Accusations: Dave Lee Travis arriving at Southwark Crown Court today, where a woman claimed he assaulted her during the recording of Top of the Pops . ‘He put his arm around myself and pulled me towards him,’ the woman, now 48, told the court. ‘I suppose it looked quite good on screen. ‘Then . he slipped his hand down and put it up my skirt. The skirt would have . been lifted from the back. I can only really describe it as having a . fumble of my bottom area. I think he was obviously trying to get into my . underwear.’ The woman . added: ‘He was introducing the next act as if nothing was happening. That’s why I just couldn’t comprehend what was going on. ‘I felt really uncomfortable. I think I just stood there. I felt a sort of shock. I felt violated. ‘The camera crew and everybody else was there and I was in front of all these people – that’s what made it more uncomfortable.’ In . court Travis, 68, wore a dark jacket and a pink tie printed with the . word ‘blam’. He groaned and sighed on several occasions as the woman . gave evidence – as he had done with previous witnesses. The footage of the two girls standing on either side of the DJ was shown to the jury yesterday. In the short clip, filmed in the break between two acts, Travis introduces a performance of novelty hit The Smurf Song. The court heard that when the girls got off the stage, the alleged victim told her friend she had been assaulted by Travis. The . pair decided not to report the attack to the BBC or the police because . they thought no one would believe them, the court heard. Mr Vullo told the witness she appeared to be smiling in a freeze-frame of the footage. ‘You smile because you were perfectly happy to be where you were and nothing bad was happening to you,’ he said. The woman replied: ‘A lot of photos are taken and they don’t always tell the truth. You can see from the video I’m not happy.’ Recording: Travis is alleged to have molested the teenager while being filmed at a BBC studio . Charges: Travis denies any wrongdoing and insists he has never assaulted anyone . Mr . Vullo then asked her: ‘What you are suggesting is that there has been a . conspiracy at the BBC in one of its biggest shows to exclude a sexual . assault?’ She replied: ‘I’m not saying that.’ The woman’s friend also told the court that Travis had approached them earlier in the show, when they were in the audience. ‘He . seemed to come up to approach us and I thought he was going to give us a . cuddle or a kiss,’ she said. ‘He is not really my type. I said “help” to someone who was near me and he backed off. He was known as the hairy . monster. ‘I just felt . intimidated. At that time I had no idea whether he would have assaulted . me, but the thought of him giving me a kiss and a cuddle wasn’t very . nice.’ Earlier, a former . hotel receptionist had told the court that Travis gave her a ‘bear hug’ and groped her bottom after she carried his suitcase to his room. The . DJ, whose real name is David Griffin, stayed in the Trust House Forte . hotel in Bude, Cornwall, in the early 80s while working on the Radio 1 . roadshow programme. Later . the same day he allegedly returned to reception and asked the woman, who . was 18 or 19 at the time: ‘Will I be having the pleasure of your . company later?’ She told the court she did not reply. Travis, . of Mentmore, Buckinghamshire, denies 13 counts of indecent assault . between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008. The trial continues. Evidence: Travis pictured arriving at court yesterday, when he was accused of assaulting a 15-year-old . A teenage hotel worker at a coastal beauty spot told the court she was 'horrified' when Travis allegedly indecently assaulted her as she checked him into his room. The woman said she felt 'awful' as Travis began fiddling with her blouse as they took a lift to his room. Once inside, the veteran DJ - in the North Cornwall town of Bude as part of a Radio 1 concert - allegedly began to 'envelop' her with his arms, rubbing her lower back and bottom. She said the alleged incident lasted '15, 20, 30 seconds, but it seemed to go on forever'. Asked by prosecutor Miranda Moore QC why she did not complain to senior managers or police, the woman said: 'I was afraid that Mr Travis was a big star and I would be laughed out of town. 'I was a naive country girl.' The witness, giving evidence behind a grey curtain to avoid seeing the defendant at Southwark Crown Court, said she was assaulted by the disc jockey at the hotel where she worked in the 1980s, aged 18 or 19. The woman told the court Travis first started to meddle with her clothing as they shared a lift to his room, where she was to leave his bags. She said: 'I had a bow on my blouse and he started to twiddle with the bow. 'I felt uncomfortable. I thought, "Something's wrong with my bow - this is awful." I felt that I was in trouble because my uniform wasn't up to standard.' After being 'relieved' to reach the room, the woman said Travis instructed her to take his bag all the way into the room, by his bed. She said: 'He then had his arms around me, and enveloped me and gave me a massive bear hug. I was horrified, I was held very firmly. 'He carried on hugging me. He started rubbing his hands up and down my top and lower back, and then on my bum. I was in utter shock. I just didn't know how to deal with it.' The witness said Travis released his hands, prompting her to run to the ground floor, but she spent the rest of her shift in fear that Travis would confront her later. Heyday: Travis pictured in the 1970s when he was at the height of his fame as a DJ and presenter . She told the court: 'He approached the desk. He said, "Will I be having the pleasure of your company later on?" 'I didn't answer the question. I just thought something was terribly wrong.' Yesterday . the court hear that a 15-year-old farmer’s daughter thought Dave Lee . Travis was going to rape her when he attacked her at a Showaddywaddy . concert. The DJ said ‘I love . big boobs’ before pulling up her bra, ‘flicking’ her nipples and . kissing her breasts in his motorhome at the gig in 1978, it was said. Giving . evidence from behind a curtain, the woman – who is now 51 – said: ‘He . put his hand up my skirt, to my thigh. I was crying, I was shouting at . him to stop. I thought he was going to rape me. ‘I . was a naive 15-year-old. It was my first sexual experience. I lived on a . farm and I didn’t have many social skills. I was star-struck, I was in . awe of him.’ The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Former Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis faces 14 charges from 1976 to 2008 .
Alleged victim tells court she was molested during Top of the Pops .
Claims Travis asked her to stand next to him then put his hand up her skirt .
Her friend says she regarded the DJ as a 'hairy monster'
Another woman tells jury Travis assaulted her while checking in to hotel . |
42,784 | 78a51d2e0b6379db432d59e39ab0d27ab110a07a | (CNN) -- Two U.N. World Food Programme workers and a third colleague from a local agency were shot to death in Somalia Friday, the organization said. The trio was attacked in Mataban town in Hiban Province in central Somalia, United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky said. The World Food Program said its two slain employees were Muhyedin Yarrow and Mohamed Salad. The third victim, Abdulahi Ali, worked for Doyale, one of agency's partners. The incident illustrates the risks that humanitarian workers can face working in dangerous and difficult environments, Nesirky said. The aid workers were part of a mission in the area that was monitoring food distribution and camps for internally displaced people. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called "on authorities to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers," a spokesperson said. "He expects those responsible to be swiftly brought to justice." The alleged shooter reportedly gave himself up and was arrested, the agency said. World Food Programme operations in Mataban have been suspended while the case is investigated. "WFP condemns the killing of people who devote their lives to helping others and extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims," the agency said in a statement. Yarrow, 54, had worked for the agency for 13 years, and Salad, 28, joined the organization two years ago, it said. | NEW: The names of the victims are released .
Two victims were from the U.N.'s World Food Programme .
The third victim worked for a local aid agency . |
213,067 | 9fed80652302920e3c56c9242715b6ff5bcd5ad9 | For all its wealth and influence, football suffers from a host of self-made problems. Yet the national game offers many more reasons to celebrate than to curse. Which is something to remember when we contemplate the misadventures of the bewildered clown named Dave Whelan. By now, we can almost recite his odious stereotyping: ‘Do you think Jewish people chase money a little bit more than we do?... It’s telling the truth. Jewish people love money... If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a chink he is lying... There’s a big difference if you criticise a black person because that is something I would never ever do or agree to. I would never even dream of that... I go to Barbados a lot.’ It is the kind of grotesque drivel which renders satire redundant. And it faithfully echoes the attitudes of the man whom Whelan appointed to manage Wigan Athletic. For by now we have become wretchedly acquainted with the musings of Malky Mackay. Dave Whelan (right) and new Wigan boss Malky Mackay are of one mind . On a South Korean footballer: ‘*** chinkys. ** it. There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around.’ On the football agent Phil Smith: ‘Go on, fat Phil. Nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers.’ On a football official: ‘He’s a snake, a gay snake. Not to be trusted.’ On a female agent: ‘I hope she’s looking after your needs. I bet you’d love a bounce on her falsies.’ All this, plus the distribution of a picture entitled ‘Black Monopoly’, with every square marked ‘Go To Jail’. The episode has erupted at a turbulent time, when the game is distracted by issues ranging from FIFA corruption, to Ched Evans, to the re-emergence of a hard-right strand among England supporters. And it embodies the attitude which insists that football is entitled to live by its own standards, regardless of the views of the outside world. Thus, Mackay can send messages to a chum at another club, in the knowledge that they hold common assumptions about Jews, foreigners, women and gays. The fact that non-football people might find such views grossly offensive has clearly never crossed his mind. You see, we’re all lads together here. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, quality banter. Yet this is the character Whelan chose to manage his club, on the extraordinary grounds that ‘what he’s done is so tiny, really... It’s not all that serious when you read it.’ And he awarded him the job in the full knowledge that the FA were inquiring into Mackay’s behaviour. Mackay patrols the touchline on his return to football, despite being under investigation from the FA . Imagine somebody applying for a post as the manager of one of Whelan’s sports shops and admitting that the authorities were still inquiring into his previous conduct. Would Whelan say: ‘Not a problem, son. Come right in. The job’s yours.’? Of course not. But he can do precisely that at Wigan, because it doesn’t really count. It’s only football. Crystal Palace behaved quite differently. They were in the process of offering Mackay a position at Selhurst Park, but negotiations were swiftly broken off when the sexist, racist, homophobic revelations appeared. Are the people who run Palace more principled than those who run Wigan? It would seem so. Football’s freemasonry being what it is, both Whelan and Mackay found support within the game. One Premier League manager declared Whelan ‘a good man’, and said of Mackay: ‘It’s easy to kick someone when they’re down... If he does it again, he’s gonna be in trouble, but I’m sure he’s learned from that. He’s made a big mistake, the lad.’ If Harry Redknapp is the best advocate Whelan and Mackay can find, then their cause may well be hopeless. Mackay still seems incapable of appreciating the offence he has given. ‘I’m a big man,’ he said, as he took up his new job. ‘I would ask people to judge me as they see me. I made mistakes but I’m absolutely not racist. I hope going forward the people of Wigan see me as I am.’ Sportsmail revealed the 'racist, homophobic and sexist' texts and emails by Mackay and Iain Moody (left) The people of Wigan may do just that, and he may not care for their conclusions. As for Whelan, he simply blunders on; a contemptible figure whose image degenerates each time he opens his mouth. Some have tried to excuse him on the grounds that he is an old man who comes from a different, more bigoted era. But he has been talking offensive nonsense for a number of years now, and he shows no signs of changing. He clearly doesn’t believe that Mackay has done anything particularly untoward, and in Whelan’s world, he probably hasn’t. For this is football, where such attitudes are condoned and tolerated, sometimes even celebrated. Yet, by the week’s end, even Whelan seemed to tire of his own prattling. He is aware of the FA investigations into the affair, but he affects an airy indifference. ‘I don’t think there is anything really to investigate’, he says. ‘I just want to get on with the great game.’ The FA may have other ideas; if so, they would be widely supported. For the football people of Wigan deserve rather better than Dave Whelan and Malky Mackay. And so does the national sport. Ched posturing absurd . Many are split over Ched Evans' future . Some believe that the rapist Ched Evans should once again be allowed to train with his club. Others, this column included, contend his offence was so grave that he should find no immediate place in professional sport. Both arguments have much to commend them but people must adopt one or the other, or risk appearing ridiculous. Which brings us to Jim Phipps, the co-chairman of Sheffield United. Speaking after his club had withdrawn training facilities from Evans, he said: ‘I’m angry that we are not able to get a chance to do for this footballer what should be done. The influence of mob-like behaviour has made it difficult to take the simple step of allowing Ched to train. Ched was convicted and has served his sentence. ‘He now has a right and an obligation to go about making a livelihood.’ All of which is admirably high-sounding and thoroughly misleading. Evans has served only the custodial portion of his five-year sentence. He is now paroled under licence conditions. But if Sheffield United wanted him to resume training and ultimately playing, then they would be entitled to make that judgement. And if they recognise his ‘right and obligation’ to resume his livelihood, they have only to say the word. The fact is, they are afraid to take those steps because they know they will prove unpopular. And so their co-chairman pretends they had no choice. It is absurd. Few people can claim credit from the Evans affair. After the posturing of Phipps, Sheffield United can claim less than most. Sheffield United co-chairman Jim Phipps speaks to the assembled media this week about Evans . Silence is sweet music . In a good few years of watching sport, I have yet to meet a fan who bought a ticket to look at the audience. When people pay for a sports event, they do so in order to observe the players. This simple truth is something which escapes certain groups: cricket’s so-called Barmy Army, for instance, or that dreadful band whose dreary thumping forms the background to far too many England football matches. Certain English cricket grounds have evolved ways of dealing with the attention-seeking ‘Barmies’, by refusing entry on the grounds that they make life hell for anybody within hearing distance. The Barmy Army in action during England's successful Ashes tour three years ago . Yet at least their songs are largely inoffensive. The characters who have latched on to English football’s band are a different matter. Personally, I have always believed that anybody who turns up carrying a musical instrument should be turned away. This would deny us endless, artless repetitions of the national anthem, or Jerusalem or, God help us, The Great Escape. But we could live with that. For it would also deny some unsavoury individuals the chance to infect sport with crass slogans, by bawling anti-IRA chants and singing provocative songs. In Glasgow the other evening, an FA official was obliged to ask the band to stop playing, since their ‘music’ was unwittingly fuelling certain sectarian anthems. They instantly complied and the silence was golden. With luck, it will never be broken. PS . The New Zealand haka — the pre-match war dance performed by the All Blacks — was one of those strangely endearing cultural traditions which was always watched with respect by opponents and spectators. Then we were told that somehow it gave New Zealand an unfair advantage. At the recent Twickenham international, the home crowd drowned the haka with wave after boorish wave of Sweet Chariot. So it was good to hear the Wales wing George North speak up for tradition before Saturday’s international. Richie McCaw leads the New Zealand players as they perform the haka at the Millennium Stadium . ‘I can’t wait to face the haka again,’ he said. ‘It’s supposed to be intimidating, but if you can’t handle it, then you’re probably not going to be able to manage a game of international rugby either’. Absolutely. Long may it continue. | Mackay can send messages to a chum at another club, in the knowledge that they hold common assumptions about Jews, foreigners, women and gays .
Yet this is the character Whelan chose to manage his club, on the extraordinary grounds that 'what he’s done is so tiny, really... It’s not all that serious when you read it.'
The fact that non-football people might find such views grossly offensive has clearly never crossed his mind . |
247,550 | cc59967738aab8321a5d39a49b7974d27dfd1927 | Washington (CNN) -- Americans still strongly support airstrikes against ISIS -- but they're losing confidence that the strikes will wipe out the group's military capability, a new poll shows. The air strikes already ordered by President Barack Obama are supported by 76% of the public, a CNN/ORC International survey of 1,018 adults, conducted Oct. 24-26, found. However, only 48% of those polled say the U.S. effort is going well -- while 54% say they're confident the strikes will degrade and destroy the military capability of ISIS. That figure is down from 61% last month. As the public loses confidence in air strikes' effectiveness, Americans are increasingly supportive of sending U.S. ground troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The poll found 45% support for such a move -- up from 38% in September. A majority still oppose it however. And if ISIS were to attack the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, that number would shift much more dramatically, with 72% saying they'd then support sending ground troops to the region. "Support for sending U.S. ground troops into combat operations against ISIS forces is growing, although a majority continues to oppose 'boots on the ground' in Iraq or Syria," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But that could change in a hurry if the situation worsens in Iraq." ISIS prisoners reveal life inside terror group . The poll also found a war-weary public with little faith in Obama, high confidence that a terrorist attack on U.S. soil will happen again soon and expectations that fighting ISIS will be a drawn-out engagement. Those surveyed said they aren't expecting to see ISIS quickly defeated. More than four in five said U.S. military action against the group will be long and difficult. Opinion: Is killing ISIS leader a good idea? Only 32% said they believe Obama has a clear plan for dealing with ISIS. Meanwhile, 59% said further acts of terrorism in the United States are likely over the next several weeks. That number is up from 55% in a September poll -- a small enough increase, Holland said, that it can't be attributed to a changed public mood after last week's attacks on the Canadian government. | 76% of Americans support U.S. airstrikes on ISIS, a CNN/ORC International poll shows .
But just 54% say they're confident the strikes will destroy ISIS' military capability .
That figure has dropped 7 percentage points since September . |
115,371 | 20e151f64a099356a59284bc1806d03822fd0708 | Gay and lesbian rights advocates continued their undefeated run Thursday when a federal judge ruled Florida's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional -- though he didn't go so far to allow such marriages as to take place right away. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle noted in his ruling that his is now one of 19 federal courts that have struck down state laws that bar gay and lesbian couples from marrying. While most of the time those decisions were put on hold as appeals work their way through the system, they have all reached the conclusion. Like those other judges, Hinkle said the Florida ban -- first put into law in 1977 and written into the state's constitution after a 2008 referendum -- violates the "due process" and "equal protection" provisions in the U.S. Constitution. His ruling applies both to whether same-sex couples can marry in Florida as well as to whether such marriages elsewhere should be recognized in the Sunshine State. "The Florida provisions that prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages lawfully entered elsewhere, like the federal provision, are unconstitutional," Hinkle writes. "So is the Florida ban on entering same-sex marriages." Yet his decision, while firmly in support of allowing same-sex marriage, won't take effect immediately. Hinkle's reasoning: It doesn't make sense to open up and allow such unions, only to have higher courts later reverse his decision and leaving some couples potentially in legal limbo. Judges hear four states defend same-sex marriage bans . Earlier this summer, state Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel wrote a similar ruling, based on a similar rationale. She, too, immediately stayed her own order "pending the outcome of the expected appeal." For all their celebrations Thursday, the fact that none of these rulings have taken effect, in full, is high on the minds of LGBT rights activists and groups. One of them, Equality Florida, called on state leaders to stand with them as the issue continues to move through the courts. "Florida put this discriminatory ban in place, and Florida should end it," the group said on its website. "Our families have waited too long already." The state's top elected official, Gov. Rick Scott, has a different opinion. His re-election campaign spokesman Greg Blair said Thursday that while Scott "respects the many views Floridians have on this issue, he believes in traditional marriage consistent with the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2008." "There are several cases going through the court system," Blair added, "and the governor respects that process." Fast Facts: Same-sex marriage . | Gov. Rick Scott for "traditional marriage" in line with voter-backed amendment .
A federal judge says Florida's same-sex marriage bans violates U.S. Constitution .
19 federal courts have weighed in on this matter and reached the same conclusion .
Judge stays his own order, meaning gays and lesbians can't marry right away . |
248,063 | ccfcd4f8560d2a556a367fda0749933d480b22b6 | Lloyds Banking Group said eight members of staff have been dismissed after a financial scandal . Lloyds Banking Group has fired eight members of staff and withheld bonuses worth £3million as part of disciplinary action taken in the wake of July's revelations about rate-fixing. The financial giant was hit with fines totalling £218million after an investigation found it had rigged the Libor benchmark interest rate. However, the group has been unable to take any action against a number of individuals who had already left the bank prior to the bank's £218 million settlement with UK and U.S. regulators. Lloyds said it has shared all relevant information with City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority and other relevant authorities. In July, Bank governor Mark Carney described the actions of Lloyds between 2006 and 2009 as 'highly reprehensible, clearly unlawful and may amount to criminal conduct on the part of the individuals involved'. Lloyds said unvested bonuses and long term incentives totalling around £3 million in aggregate for the fired individuals will be forfeited. Chairman Lord Blackwell said the significant reputational damage and financial cost to the group will also be reflected in the options considered in relation to other staff bonus payments. He said: 'The board has been clear that it views the actions of those responsible for the misconduct referred to in the settlements as being completely unacceptable. 'It is entirely right that the group undertook a prompt, independent and thorough disciplinary process immediately after the settlements were announced and has taken appropriate action as a result. A number if individuals have been dismissed.' Three of the 'Big Five' British banks were penalised for the Libor scandal, two years after Barclays became the first to be hit with a £290million fine. The state-backed lender said at the time that the manipulation took place between May 2006 and 2009, and confirmed that those involved had either left the group, were suspended or subject to disciplinary proceedings. Its investigation was believed to have focussed on 15 members of staff. Scroll down for video . 'Shocking conduct': Lloyds manipulated rates to reduce the fees it had to pay to the Bank of England . Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said the bank had taken steps to prevent the same kind of behaviour happening again. He added: 'The changes we have implemented over the last three years as part of our successful customer-focused and UK-centric strategy have created a culture and values that focus totally on our retail and commercial customers.' The settlements followed allegations that banks formed cartels to fix two key interest rates used to set the price at which banks lend money to each other for trillions of dollars-worth of financial products, from mortgages to complex financial products. Some £70million of Lloyds' fine is for attempting to manipulate fees that it owed for taking part in a taxpayer-backed government scheme designed to support the UK's banks during the financial crisis. While Lloyds' misconduct related to Libor rigging was similar to that of other financial institutions, the rigging of this scheme – the Special Liquidity Scheme – had not been seen before by regulators. Lloyds will pay the Bank £7.8 million in compensation for the reduction in the amount of fees received by the central bank as a result of the manipulation. The £105million total fine from the FCA is the joint third highest ever imposed by the regulator or its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, and the seventh penalty for Libor-related failures. Libor stands for the London Interbank Offer Rate and is a measure of the interest rate banks charge to borrow between each other. The rate is set every morning by a panel of banks and overseen by trade body the British Bankers' Association. Each bank sets the rates at which it believes it can borrow, from overnight to 12 months. There are 150 Libor rates, spanning ten currencies and 15 time periods. It heavily influences how banks price variable rate mortages, such as new tracker and discount deals and standard variable rates. Some borrowers also have mortgages linked directly to Libor, which are typically reset every three months. Traders could make money from tiny movements in the rate due to the millions being gambled on them, however, by the time these shifts of fractions of one per cent reach mortgage pricing their effect would be minimal. Even those whose mortgages were directly linked to Libor would find changes in their interest rate would have little overall effect. As part of the settlements on Libor rigging, Lloyds had to pay £35million to the FCA and £62million and £51 million respectively to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Department of Justice. Tracey McDermott, the FCA's director of enforcement and financial crime, said at the time: 'The firms were a significant beneficiary of financial assistance from the Bank of England through the SLS. 'Colluding to benefit the firms at the expense, ultimately, of the UK taxpayer was unacceptable. This falls well short of the standards the FCA and the market is entitled to expect from regulated firms. 'The abuse of the SLS is a novel feature of this case but the underlying conduct and the underlying failings - to identify, mitigate and monitor for obvious risks - are not new. 'If trust in financial services is to be restored then market participants need to ensure they are learning the lessons from, and avoiding the mistakes of, their peers. Our enforcement actions are an important source of information to help them do this.' | Banking giant confirmed the staff were dismissed in wake of rate rigging .
Three of the 'big five' British banks have now been penalised for the Libor scandal .
Lloyds manipulated fees it owed for taking part in the taxpayer-backed government scheme to support the banks during the crisis . |
248,221 | cd2eec112134da72da5996f9fd7236102e35e606 | By . Ryan Gorman and David Mccormack . PUBLISHED: . 12:35 EST, 13 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:19 EST, 13 December 2013 . A family grieving over the sudden death aboard a cross-country flight of a 16-year-old disabled boy is outraged over an attempt to cash in on their tragedy. Zachary Bisiar, who suffered from Cerebral Palsy, died last weekend after a heart attack caused him to go into cardiac arrest 30 minutes into a flight from Seattle to Atlanta. Family members watching a news report about the boy’s death noticed a ‘donate’ button embedded in the report, but they have no idea who is taking the money donated. Zachary Bisiar, 16, who suffered from cerebral palsy, went into cardiac arrest 30 minutes after take-off from Seattle on a flight bound for Atlanta . ‘We saw a YouTube video showing a CNN report and it had a donation button at the bottom that looked like someone was using the tragedy to get money,’ uncle Steven Leahy told ABC News. The thought that someone would try to get some financial gain off this really upset me,’ he added. Mr Bisiar was flying to Atlanta with his mother, grandmother and a sibling because his step-father, an Iraq veteran, was relocated from Fort Lewis, in Washington, to Fort Hood, in Georgia. The devastated family is struggling to keep up with the costs of both the move and the funeral, so Mr Leahy set up a his own separate fundraising page where people can donate money and be sure it will reach the family. ‘I used to be in the military and I know what limited pay you get,’ said Mr Leahy. ‘There is the cost for the move.’ My brother-in-law was driving the car and bringing all their household necessities, and there was gas and lodging across country, then the tragedy hit,’ he continued. The medical examiner's office in Washington's Spokane County believe Zachary's death was due to 'a rare complication of a rare disease process. The manner of death is natural' ‘Please help my sister and her husband who lost their son, Zachary Bisiar, on flight 128 from Seattle to Atlanta,’ he writes on the GoFundMe page he has launched. ‘All proceeds will go towards laying him to rest and aiding the family with the difficult time they are having now with the loss of their child.’ The incident happened aboard Delta Flight 128, which departed Seattle around 9 a.m. local time on Saturday. The medical examiner's office in . Washington's Spokane County said on Monday that the autopsy results for . Zachary were still pending further tests. Forensic . pathologist Sally S. Aiken, with Spokane's Medical Examiner office, . noted that the cause of the boy's death is currently 'pending' further . microscopic and other studies. In . a statement, Dr. Aiken said that it was 'thought to be a rare . complication of a rare disease process. The manner of death is natural.' The plane was diverted to an airport in Spokane, Washington, after the boy suffered a medical emergency and died on board. 'It was a complete surprise - they were completely devastated,' said Spokane Fire Department spokesperson Brian Schaeffer. The family had decided to fly to Georgia rather than drive after learning of a similarly afflicted child developing complications from blood clots during a cross-country drive, Mr Leahy told ABC. The teen was cleared by doctors to fly. Washington State patient-confidentiality rules prohibit local officials from divulging such information outside of a coroner’s report, but Schaeffer did say there was nothing in his medical history to suggest such an incident was to be expected. The boy and his family were sitting at the back of the plane when they began calling for help, passenger Joe Ryan, of Atlanta, told MailOnline. Zachary's uncle Steven Leahy has launched a fundraising page to help his sister and her husband cover the expenses involved in funeral which is scheduled for December 22 . The flight crew immediately sprung into action. Despite the dire circumstances, everyone – including passengers – remained calm and collected throughout. ‘It was calm and the male flight attendants rushed to his aid at the back of the plane,’ said Ryan. ‘They started performing CPR on him… the pilot got on the air and said we are going to have an emergency landing.’ ‘We were on the ground in five minutes... I think that they did everything they could to save that boy’s life,' Ryan added. A registered nurse aboard a flight, Dan Goslin, told WSBTV that he and two other passengers, a doctor and a midwife, did everything they could to revive the boy. Medical aid: Dan Goslin, a nurse, along with a doctor and a midwife all tried desperately to save the 16-year-old boy during Saturday's flight . 'He was having trouble breathing. We tried oxygen. That didn't work. We tried to move him out of the chair and get him to another position. That didn't work and everything we tried just really didn't work,' Goslin said. Emergency personnel were already on their way when the plane touched down. ‘We met them on the ground with our fire fighter paramedics and attempted resuscitate him for well over 30 minutes,’ Schaeffer said. ‘Paramedics rushed on to the plane, you could tell there was a lot of urgency… then everything calmed down and you could put two and two together,’ Ryan lamented. The boy was pronounced dead on the plane. On the ground: Emergency personnel with the Tacoma Fire Department race to the plane to try to try and save the boy's life . | Zachary Bisiar, who suffered from cerebral palsy, went into cardiac arrest 30 minutes after takeoff, causing the plane to be diverted .
A flight attendant performed CPR as the plane made an emergency landing, but the boy had already died .
Family members watching an online report about the death saw a 'donate' button, but have no idea where the money is going .
The boy's uncle has launched a fundraising page to help pay for the funeral . |
251,389 | d165f211a303905770c4999cf34f1b5bead0f74e | (CNN) -- North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il arrived in Russia on Saturday to meet with President Dmitry Medvedev, authorities said. Kim is scheduled to visit Siberia and the country's eastern region, according to a statement on Medvedev's website. "The meeting with Mr. Medvedev is the main event on his program," the statement said. The statement and North Korea's state media did not say what the two leaders will discuss. Earlier this month, North Korea again called for the resumption of the so-called six-party talks without preconditions. North Korea pulled out of six-party talks in 2008. The six-party talks involved China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the United States. The goal was nuclear disarmament on the Korean peninsula. North Korea has called for the resumption of six-party talks without preconditions before. The United States and South Korea, however, have insisted on some tangible demonstration that North Korea is serious about denuclearization. Ahead of the the Kim's visit, Russia's foreign ministry announced Friday that it will send up to 50,000 tons of wheat to North Korea to alleviate some of that country's food shortage. The first shipment of Russian grain arrived Friday, and will conclude in September. "We view this humanitarian operation as a contribution to the strengthening of traditionally neighborly relations between the peoples of our two countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement. CNN's Pierre Meilhan and Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report. | NEW: Russia sends tons of grain to North Korea .
Kim Jong Il is scheduled to visit Siberia .
"The meeting with Mr. Medvedev is the main event on his program," a Russian statement says .
It is unclear what will be discussed at the meeting . |
121,462 | 28fd5bad474775fcdde82fe0475c2b6faf897c17 | A jet on a military training exercise crashed into an agricultural field near a Southern California Navy base Wednesday, killing the pilot, authorities said. The plane disintegrated when it hit the ground at about 5:15 p.m. as it was preparing to land at Naval Station Ventura County. The crash sent a huge plume of billowing black smoke into the sky 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The pilot, the only person aboard, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Ventura County fire Capt. Mike Lindbery. Nobody on the ground was hurt. Crash site: Fire crews attend the scene of an aircraft crash near Port Hueneme in Ventura County. A deployed parachute can be seen near the wreckage in a field. It is not known whether the pilot ejected . Plumes: A military jet crashed into a field near a naval base off the Southern California coast on Wednesday, killing the pilot, authorities said . Fire: The plane crashed and disintegrated at around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday near Naval Station Ventura County, sending up a huge plume of billowing black smoke . One fatality: The Ventura County Fire Department reported the pilot was killed. Nobody on the ground was hurt . Aerial: The site of the crash is seen here from a TV news helicopter . 'Fortunately nobody was in that portion of the field,' Lindbery said. The plane, a civilian fighter jet contracted by the Navy, had just finished playing the role of an enemy aircraft in an offshore training exercise and was preparing to land at the naval station when it went down across the street in a field near the Pacific Coast Highway, base spokeswoman Kimberly Gearhart said. She said it was unclear whether the pilot reported any problems before the crash . Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating. The British-built, single-seat Hawker Hunter MK.58 was owned by Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. of Newport News, Virginia. The company, known as ATAC, provides aerial training to the military, including the Navy's elite Fighter Weapons School. 'The company has ceased flight operations during preliminary investigations,' company spokesman Matt Bannon said. Bannon declined to release the pilot's name but said he was a retired military pilot who was 'extremely proficient and knowledgeable about fighter tactics and operating high-performance aircraft'. Debris: A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the aircraft was a Hawker Hunter MK.58 . File photo: The Hawker Hunter jet, like the one seen here, was believed to be returning from a training exercise at the time of the crash . 'Our heart and prayers are with the family,' Bannon said. The Hawker Hunter is a single-seat, swept-wing fighter and ground attack plane that was originally designed in the 1950s. More than 2,000 were produced. ATAC describes it as 'one of the classic fighter designs of all time'. Wednesday's crash was the third near the Ventura County base in recent years. In May 2012, another Hawker Hunter owned by ATAC crashed into a farm field near the base, killing the 57-year-old pilot. That plane had also been contracted to play the enemy in training exercises. In May 2011, three members aboard a Boeing 707 tanker loaded with jet fuel escaped with only minor injuries when their aircraft skidded off the runway while taking off from the base and exploded into flames. That plane was carrying civilians and had a Navy contract to provide fuel transport. | Crash occurred about 5:15pm Wednesday near the Naval Station in Ventura County, California .
'Experienced' pilot, a retired military officer, was killed in the crash but no one else was injured .
Single-seat plane identified as a Hawker Hunter MK.58 .
The planes are used to play the 'enemy' in training exercises against Navy pilots .
Cause of the crash is under investigation . |
230,007 | b5da2cfbcf80e0917560e531060fb378477b4df4 | Ronald Reagan bedded more than 50 of Hollywood's leading ladies at a luxury LA hotel bungalow, according to a sensational new biography. During his time as a young 'B-movie' Hollywood actor, Reagan courted screen sirens including Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, Joan Blondell and Lana Turner at the three-bedroom bungalow in the grounds of the Garden of Allah hotel in Hollywood, the book claims. The revelations are made in a biography to be published on Valentine's Day titled Love Triangle: Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman & Nancy Davis, reports The Sunday Times. Scroll down for video . Ronald Reagan (left) charmed more than 50 of Hollywood's leading ladies at his luxury LA villa, according to a new biography. During his time as an actor he became involved with the young Marilyn Monroe (right) The liaisons took place in a bungalow in the ground of the Garden of Allah hotel in Los Angeles (pictured) According to the book's author Darwin Porter, Reagan was involved with around 50 women in Hollywood. 'Nearly all of them spoke fondly of Reagan - even if they did not share his right-wing politics, they felt he was a nice guy,' said Porter, a journalist. 'But he suffered from what he jokingly referred to as 'leading- ladyitis.' The claims are made in a biography to be published on Valentine's Day titled Love Triangle: Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman & Nancy Davis. Left: Joan Blondell and right, Lana Turner - the book claims Reagan slept with both of the actresses . The book claims that Reagan was considering marrying Doris Day, (pictured) who would go on to become one of the biggest musical stars of the 1950, but he went on to marry another actress, Nancy Davis . He was accompanied by his neighbor Errol Flynn, who once boasted that he had spent 12,000 to 14,000 nights having sex. The liaisons were facilitated by Warner Bros which set him up dates with actresses to push their talent further into the spotlight. In 1940 Reagan married actress Jane Wyman, but the book claims he was not faithful to her and he embarked on an affair with the star of The Oomph Girl, Ann Sheridan. It also claims that Jane was also being unfaithful and was sleeping with actor Lew Ayres (Ginger Rogers’ ex) while filming the Oscar-winning Johnny Belinda. They had two children - although one of them died - and the book claims that when their marriage fell apart in 1948, he became involved with a young Marilyn Monroe. According to Phil Karlson, a director who introduced them, Reagan described her as 'sensational', to which she replied: 'I'm even more sensational when you get to know me,' reports The Sunday Times. The book claims that after his marriage to first wife, Jane Wyman, (both pictured) fell apart he became involved with a young Marilyn Monroe . The book, which goes further than any previous biographies, claims that Reagan was considering marrying Doris Day, but instead married another actress, the future first lady, Nancy Davis. She dated Clark Gable and Robert Stack before marrying Reagan in 1952. The book also focuses on Nancy who it states 'began her career posing for cheesecake in a failed attempt by the studio to turn her into a sex symbol.' Under the influence of Nancy's family, he switched from being a Democrat to being a Republican and staunch anti-communist before becoming the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981-1989. He died in 2004 at age 93 after a long decline into Alzheimer's and was buried at his presidential library in Simi Valley, California. Reagan, pictured with Nancy, became the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981-1989 . The book is in stark contrast to the Disney film being made about his life. Called Reagan, the film will be told from the point of view of a KGB officer who was tasked with keeping tabs on Reagan from his actor days in movies such as Bedtime for Bonzo. David Henrie, who is best known for playing Selena Gomez's older brother on the Disney channel show Wizards Of Waverly Place, will play a young Reagan in the $25 million indie film. Henrie will play Reagan in his teens and 20s, beginning with his time as a lifeguard, college football star and through his time as a radio announcer before he moved to Hollywood. The film is adapted by Space Cowboy's Howard Klausner and based on two biographies by Paul Kengor. Henrie is the first cast member to be announced. This will be the first biopic made for the silver screen about Reagan, who is still a beloved icon for millions, especially Republicans and conservatives. | Alleged liaisons took place at the Garden of Allah hotel in Los Angeles .
Reagan courted famous faces including Marilyn Monroe and Doris Day, Joan Blondell and Lana Turner .
Dates facilitated by Warner Bros which set him with actresses to promote both their respective careers .
Claims made in a biography titled Love Triangle: Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman & Nancy Davis . |
186,065 | 7cf63ed0449a75e7d433b1997ef6e76dd69ba32a | The Football League have axed nine members of their commercial staff as part of a total revamp of the department as they seek increasingly elusive new sponsors. The changes will include Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey taking overall charge of commercial business. But there is no direct replacement for former director Richard Heaselgrave, now with Tennis Australia, whose team and structure have been dismantled, with a third of the department losing their jobs. Heaselgrave was made the scapegoat for the League losing a lucrative title sponsorship with B&Q at the final contract stage and having to make do instead with a budget deal involving bookmakers Sky Bet. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jonny Wilkinson drop the rugby World Cup . QPR celebrate their Championship play-off victory over Derby at Wembley Stadium . The Football League have completed a budget sponsorship deal involving bookmakers Sky Bet . The FA have also adopted a different approach — copying Manchester United’s example — to finding new backers. But so far this has not paid dividends, with the FA Cup still lacking a backer and the televised first round fast approaching. The FA say they are having many conversations with potential backers but don’t want to put a time frame on attracting a £9million-a-year replacement for Budweiser. Demand for next year’s Rugby World Cup tickets is such that a ballot will be needed in some categories for all 48 games. But it also means England Rugby 2015 are working with City of London police to ensure touts do not derail the system. Police are also involved in apprehending those now known to be responsible for fake Ryder Cup tickets. England legend Jonny Wilkinson pictured with the Rugby World Cup in Newcastle on Friday . The FA of Ireland, who were slated by Roy Keane over training facilities before the 2002 World Cup, can rest easy ahead of the launch of Keane’s second autobiography next week. The FAI are let off the hook this time, which is understandable given they now employ Keane as Martin O’Neill’s assistant manager. Roy Keane (right), next to Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert, has acted as his own agent for his book deal . Royal Ascot are believed to have finally ended a tortuous recruitment process to find a new chief executive that has lasted a year and led to current boss Charles Barnett having to delay his retirement. The appointment comes from outside racing and has been working in the City for a FTSE 250 company. Headhunters Spencer Stuart, who had to start again after their original shortlist of candidates was rejected by Ascot, have also found a successor for CEO Peter Dawson at the R&A in half the time it took to satisfy Ascot. Nigel Payne, Peter Greenhall and Charles Barnett at an Aintree press conference in 1993 . Moores ‘mum’ on KP . England coach Peter Moores, who is sure to be high on Kevin Pietersen’s hit list in his book published next week, had the ideal platform to get in the first punch when he surprisingly provided the editorial for the latest edition of The Cricketer magazine. But with the ECB waiting to see what KP says first, Moores provided a bland overview of last summer’s cricket, avoiding the exiled batsman. Pietersen is understood to have been given a great nickname by his team-mates during the doomed Ashes tour last winter. He was called Harvey Norman after the Australian electrical goods retailer who champion ‘zero interest’. Meanwhile, The Cricketer’s new editor-at-large Simon Hughes faces a potential conflict of interests in his other new role on the main MCC committee. An MCC spokesman said Hughes would be asked to leave meetings if there is a clash, like previous members of the media serving on the committee. England coach Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen before nets practice at Old Trafford in 2008 . The struggling trade paper Racing Post is increasingly the subject of attack from racehorse trainers upset about its bias towards betting news and the poor information service since the paper refused to pay for racing data from the official source after it hugely increased the price. Kim Bailey called it a ‘betting rag, obsessed with pages of tips’ and presumed a Leicester race for 2-year-olds, wrongly detailed as a 5mile 2furlong trip, must have been a ‘trial for the Mongolian derby’. Fellow trainer George Baker said Bailey’s comments were ‘supported by so many in the industry’ and the Post had ‘lazy, slapdash writing’. Racing Post editor Bruce Millington countered: ‘There has been no change in the Post’s emphasis and, like every newspaper, we make a small number of mistakes.’ | The Football League have axed nine members of their commercial staff .
FA Cup still lacking a backer with the televised first round fast approaching .
Demand for next year’s Rugby World Cup tickets is such that a ballot will be needed in some categories for all 48 games .
Royal Ascot are believed to have finally ended a tortuous recruitment process to find a new chief executive . |
202,923 | 92b70717ac67c96ad9acb1e367d42053cb0c9a3e | An Arizona photographer saw her photo of breastfeeding women yanked from Facebook after a chorus of male detractors reported them as obscene. Jade Beall, who's been photographing the female form for 15 years, says she posted her shot of seven nude women with their nipples and genitals blurred. 'I received many private messages (all from men) telling me I should remove the photo,' she told Cosmo. When someone, likely one of these men, realized she'd missed blurring one nipple, the photo was taken down. Outrage: An Arizona photographer was shocked when her photo of women nursing their children was yanked from Facebook despite her having blurred the NSFW parts . Tucson-based Jade Beall says mostly men on Facebook asked her to take the photo down . Beall's been taking breastfeeding photos like the one Facebook banned ever since she documented her own post-pregnancy form. 'It was a nude self-portrait I took of myself breastfeeding my son (when I was 80 pounds heavier), that sparked my desire to photograph and celebrate the beauty, 'flaws', shapes, and vulnerabilities of all mothers,' she told Cosmo. This new phase in her work gave birth to a book 'A Beautiful Body Project' published last year. In it, Beall placed unretouched photos of 'women alongside their stories of their journeys to build self-esteem in a world that thrives off women feeling insecure.' It's no surprise, then, that she was less then ecstatic over some of the negative responses to her Facebook photo. Do I think it's silly that men can have exposed nipples but women cannot as a rule for this platform? Sure, she says. 'But what I would love most is for Americans to redefine their relationship to a woman's breasts and to praise and celebrate the nude, varying body shapes without having to label them disgusting or unhealthy.' The photographer has touched so many that her book was funded entirely by donors and volunteers, who hraised tens of thousands via Kickstarter for the cause. 'It was a nude self-portrait I took of myself breastfeeding my son (when I was 80 pounds heavier), that sparked my desire to photograph and celebrate the beauty, 'flaws', shapes, and vulnerabilities of all mothers,' Beall told Cosmo . Ms Beall told the Huffington Post: 'We are facing an epidemic of women who feel unworthy of being called beautiful.' To rectify this 'epidemic', she hopes to redefine society's idea of beautiful women, especially those whose bodies have transformed through pregnancy and childbirth. 'Shaming mothers for not "bouncing back" after childbirth can cause feelings of failure when being a mother is challenging enough,' she explained. Ms Beall added that negative feelings are often exaggerated among the many women who feel 'un-beautiful' even before giving birth. | Jade Beall snapped a group of nude mothers breastfeeding and says she got tons of messages from annoyed men despite blurring the nipples .
Beall says she forgot to blur out one nipple and the complaints sent to Facebook got her picture yanked and her profile banned for 24 hours .
While she understands the decision, Beall says she wishes 'Americans to redefine their relationship to a woman's breasts' |
85,242 | f1c05226c6b0169f33eb286199cf50c51b756418 | Hundreds of model train enthusiasts came together this weekend to celebrate the country's intense love affair with British railways. More than 30 intricate models showing real and imaginary railway scenes from British locomotive history were put on display at the Festival of British Railway Modelling in Doncaster, the spiritual home of train travel. The layouts, created under the theme 'Best of British', depicted a range of scales and gauges from the pre-war era right up until privatisation in 1995, celebrating Britain's place as home of the steam locomotive. Scroll down for video . Intricate: Railway enthusiast Brian Roper, from Croydon, inspects his model railway, which is inspired by a scene from Rutland, Leicestershire . Best of British: Mr Roper's scene was one of 30 displayed as part of the 'Best of British' theme at the Festival of British Railway Modelling . Spiritual home: The two-day festival was held at the Doncaster Exhibition Centre in Doncaster, said to be the spiritual home of railways . Yesteryear: The layouts depicted a range of scales, gauges and eras of British history and its place as home of the steam locomotive . Steaming: The scenes represented real and imaginary railway stations and train carriages from British locomotive history . Miniature: Carmine Bruno, from Milton Keynes, studies a model of the City of Wells Golden Arrow Streamline made in the late 1980s . Some of the scenes on display at the Doncaster Exhibition Centre included the imaginary stations of Alderford - described as a North West village in the 1980s - and Florinstone, a fictitious location based on the Somerset & Dorset Railway between Templecombe and Bournemouth. There was also Northwick, which was based on a might-have-been, seaside town on the Bristol Channel between Weston-Super-Mare and Highbridge, and the Oulton Traction and Maintenance Depot, a fictitious area set in The Midlands which featured locomotives and rolling stock that typically ran from the late eighties until privatisation in 1995. Another scene was The Clydach Railway, which represents a fictional preserved tourist railway situated somewhere on the coast of north-west Wales, while Owen's Bridge showed a temporary wooden structure build by British Army engineers in France some way behind the front lines of World War 1. The two-day event also featured more than 80 exhibitors, including specialist traders selling rare items, as well as free modelling tutorials. In action: The trains represented those which were used in the pre-war era right up until privatisation in 1995 . Detail: Catherine Mather, from Nottingham, inspects some of the models which travelled around the centre during the two-day event . The range of models included real and imaginery railway scenes, including one of Alderford Station (right) a fictional town somewhere in the North West, with a a layout set in the mid to late 1980s . Inspection: Craig Harker (left and right) from Haworth, West Yorkshire, closely inspects his model of a K1 British Railways locomotive . | The annual two-day Festival of British Railway Modelling was held in Doncaster, the spiritual home of railways .
It showcased 30 intricately-made models showing real and imaginary railway scenes from British locomotive history .
The 'Best of British' theme included moving layouts from the pre-war era right up until privatisation in 1995 . |
27,388 | 4da486b0ddc636eff437eea057bbc9a9323b6e70 | By . Sophie Borland . Those of the DNA diet lost 33 per cent more weight than those on standard plans (library image) A DNA diet, in which you eat certain foods based on your genes, could help you to lose a third more weight than calorie counting, experts claim. They put dieters on one of five eating plans based on the results of a mouth swab test. Obese patients using these plans lost 33 per cent more weight than those on standard diets, they said. Scientists behind the method claim our individual genetic make-up means that our bodies process fats and carbohydrates differently, so some of us put on more weight than others even when we eat the same foods. But other experts are sceptical and say more research is needed. The DNA diet, which is available commercially, involves taking a swab test using a DIY kit and sending the results for analysis. Dieters are assigned one of five plans, such as low carbohydrate, low fat and Mediterranean. In a study of 191 obese people, those using this diet lost 33 per cent more weight than those counting calories, the European Human Genetics Conference in Milan was told. Dr Nicola Pirastu and her team, from the University of Trieste in Italy, monitored 87 obese patients on the DNA diet for two years, as well as 104 who were on standard diets, in which they simply ate 600 fewer calories a day. Their Body Mass Index, or BMI, was also recorded. BMI is a way of measuring weight that takes height into account. A healthy BMI is between 18 and 25. Those on DNA diets saw their BMI go down by an average of 1.8 points, while the other group saw it decrease by 1.3 points. Patients on a DNA diet also gained more muscle, at an average of 6.1 per cent compared to 5.3 per cent. Dr Pirastu said: ‘Although there were no significant differences in age, sex and BMI between the two groups at the beginning of the trial, we found people who followed the gene-based diet lost 33 per cent more weight than the controls over two years.’ Dr Keith Grimaldi of DNAFit, which makes the test, said: ‘The key is in what genes do. The idea that everyone could lose the same amount of weight on the same calorie-counting diet is wrong.’ Those behind the plan put dieters on one of five eating plans - such as low carbohydrate, low fat and Mediterranean - based on the results of a mouth swab test (library image) A quarter of adults are obese and the condition and related health problems are estimated to cost the NHS £5.1billion a year. The test, which dieters can take at home, costs £99 on the DNAFit website – but other experts say more evidence is needed before the diet can be called a success. Mariette Abrahams, spokesman for the British Dietetic Association, said: ‘It seems very interesting but it’s not going to change clinical practice. ‘We need to see more evidence and we need to know the exact breakdown of the foods these individuals were eating.’ | DNA diet sees those who want to lose weight eat food based on genes .
Dieters put on one of five eating plans based on a mouth swab test .
Experts claim obese patients lost 33 per cent more weight on plan . |
109,857 | 199a24493a8b6ad5caf542136a3cac4f35692851 | CENTURIES OF CHANGE by Ian Mortimer (The Bodley Head £20) People can get by without laptops but not without buttons, introduced in the 1330s, which transformed the way people looked, from loose hanging garments to tight-fitting ones . This original and fascinating book sets out to discover which of the ten centuries from 1000 to 2000 saw the most change in the human condition. Surely, most of us would say, it can only be the 20th century? Flying, mass motoring, space travel, advanced weapons, atomic power, telephones, radio and television, computers and iPads — what more change do you want? Ah, says the historian Ian Mortimer, history is not just a matter of inventions. More important are changes in the conditions under which we live and, above all, in the ideas that are ruling at any one time. Many crucial inventions are ones we take for granted. People can get by without laptops but not without buttons, introduced in the 1330s, which transformed the way people looked, from loose hanging garments to tight-fitting ones. The moon landing was a giant step for mankind but it did not affect daily life as much as the invention of glass mirrors around 1500. For the first time they enabled you to see what you looked like. Think of the consequences. People could see themselves as individuals, not just units in a group. It led to a demand for painted portraits, self-portraits, autobiography and general self-consciousness. Think of how life indoors was transformed in the 1500s with the coming of efficient chimneys to take the smoke out and glass windows to let the light in (but not the cold). Or the coming of gas light in the streets in the 1820s and soon afterwards in the home with the boon of a gas cooker instead of the coal-fired range from 1834. Electric light bulbs (1870) led to all kind of electrically powered appliances — kettles, toasters, fans and sewing machines by the end of the 19th century. And the Great Exhibition of 1851 unveiled the flushing lavatory which soon led to dedicated bathrooms for the well-to-do. Public clocks on towers (from about 1400) became domestic in late 1600s — Charles II was very proud of his — but you had to wait till the 19th century to tell the time by your wrist watch. Columbus discovered the New World in 1492 but America’s existence made little difference to life for the average European except for the novelty of potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco. Most people would say the 20th century saw the most advancement with the rise of new technologies . Tea, coffee and chocolate did not appear till the 17th century, along with Dutch gin, French brandy, champagne and humble lemonade. Knowledge of the world was greatly expanded by the explorers of the 16th century, including Francis Drake the circumnavigator. But amazing new worlds were opened up by Galileo and Kepler, who invented the telescope and microscope from 1610. Even more mind-changing was not the discovery of what the surface of the moon actually looked like — which turned out to be bare and boring — but the photograph taken by an astronaut from moon orbit of the shining, blue and white Earth rising out of black space. Mortimer calls it ‘probably the most important photograph ever taken’. Nothing so vividly brought home to earthlings how small, how vulnerable and how exceptional among heavenly bodies our planet is. It is a planetary ride which Mortimer offers us in his tour of ten centuries. It is exhilarating to time-travel with him, free of the complexities of dynasties, wars and politics that normally clutter up history. The 11th century, for example, can be summarised as a century of building castles. After Hastings, William, Duke of Normandy, found conquering England a pushover — towns had no walled defences. He promptly built the Tower of London and his followers on their newly acquired lands followed suit. The 14th century was devastated by the Black Death. As it sped across Europe it turned into the most traumatic event in history up to that time — and perhaps ever since . The moon landing was a giant step for mankind but it did not affect daily life as much as the invention of glass mirrors around 1500 . The 14th century was devastated by the Black Death. As it sped across Europe it turned into the most traumatic event in history up to that time — and perhaps ever since. Sweeping over England in 1348-9, it killed 45 per cent of the population in seven months — to kill the equivalent number now you would have to drop two atom bombs (of Hiroshima size) every day for seven months. The plague was to recur in the 1360s and 70s and about every ten years for three more centuries. In 1563, it cost London 20 per cent of its population. Yet society did not collapse. One consequence was a general pay rise for labourers because they were now so scarce. The 18th-century Enlightenment elevated reason over superstition, putting paid to the savage persecution and hanging of so-called witches. Rousseau and Tom Paine persuaded men to think of themselves as free and equal, leading to American Independence and the French Revolution, both much aided by the new newspapers dispensing free speech and free thought. Mortimer debates whether people’s thinking was most changed by Darwin or by Karl Marx. He opts for Marx for introducing the dream of a classless, equal society — the kernel of socialism . The 19th century probably produced the most inventions that changed lives through the industrial and transport revolutions, using steam power. The population of England soared faster than anywhere else in Europe. People flocked to the cities looking for work. ‘Cities sucked the life out of rural England and the railways were the straws by which they did it,’ writes Mortimer memorably. Reform Bills increased the voting population but even after the third, in 1888, the electorate was only five million out of a population of 22 million. They were all men, of course. The serfdom of women began to be lifted when they were allowed to keep their own property when married. But men were still free to beat their wives or even to sell them at country fair auctions. Mortimer debates whether people’s thinking was most changed by Darwin or by Karl Marx. He opts for Marx for introducing the dream of a classless, equal society — the kernel of socialism. So which century brought the most change? That depends on the field of change that you reckon most important. The 16th and 19th century probably caused more radical change in ordinary people’s lives by increasing how much food, heat and shelter was available. As a result the population grew far more than in other centuries. But the 20th century brought the biggest increase in life expectancy and personal wealth (GDP per head), sexual equality and crime reduction. Does the rise of liberal democracy as the goal of most western societies mean that we have reached stability and the ‘end of history’? No, answers Mortimer, because our present prosperity is unsustainable. Endless growth is impossible. The Earth’s limited resources are being exhausted ever faster by ever-increasing numbers of humans. In a sombre last chapter on ‘Why it matters’, he predicts the future, beginning in this very century of declining civilisation as supplies of oil, gas, water and land begin to be exhausted.Unless we manage to reduce consumption to sustainable levels, the future will be one of anarchy —the war of the rich holding on to what they’ve got against the poor who will get ever poorer. The outlook, he says, is fearsome. Can we believe in human progress? If we do, it may not be for much longer. | People can get by without laptops but not buttons, introduced in the 1330s .
They transformed the way people looked, from loose clothes to tight ones .
Most people would say the 20th century saw the most advancement .
Ian Mortimer says history is not just a matter of inventions .
More important are changes in the conditions under which we live .
And, above all, in the ideas that are ruling at any one time . |
14,106 | 2806f716e41ce224a3862eb2bc50e214bc5037d8 | Real Madrid have commemorated their 10th European Cup win in style by creating a video featuring highlights of their memorable comeback victory against Atletico Madrid. Set to the current squad's own version of club anthem 'Hala Madrid' and featuring footage of Cristiano Ronaldo and Co in the recording studio, the new video includes footage from Real's history and ends with clips from the 4-1 extra-time win against Diego Simeone's side in Lisbon. Gareth Bale, who scored the winning goal at the Estadio da Luz, also features on the track which reached No 1 in Spain's download charts soon after its release. Scroll down to watch Real Madrid's new La Decima video . Popstars: Real Madrid's players sang a version of 'Hala Madrid' the club's famous song . Full voice: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Co released their version of 'Hala Madrid' on iTunes . Stunner: The commemorative video include's Zinedine Zidane's memorable volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final . All smiles: Portuguese superstar Ronaldo seemed to enjoy the recording of their hit single . Perfect harmony: Angel Di Maria and Bale joined in with the recording of the song . Proud: Real's impressive trophy cabinet is displayed in all its glory in the new La Decima video . Glory days: The new video features historic match footage and crowd celebrations . Producer RedOne, who co-wrote Real's hit song, said in a statement: 'It was an honor working with the Real Madrid players to create Hala Madrid…Y Nada Mas and such an amazing experience being part of this momentous occasion. It's exciting to see the song taking on a life of its own.' The club's latest video was uploaded to their official YouTube channel but has since been made private. Madrid were crowned European champions for a 10th time after coming from behind to beat Atletico. They returned home to a hero's welcome in the early hours and took to the streets of the Spanish capital for an open-top bus parade. Madrid then invited their fans to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night for a special party to celebrate 'La Decima'. Over 80,000 spectators packed into their famous old stadium where the players were introduced one by one and the trophy was paraded before the evening ended with a spectacular firework show. Top of the pops: Sergio Ramos, who scored the crucial equaliser in the final, sings his heart out . Magic moment: The video includes footage of Real captain Iker Casillas lifting the Champions League trophy in Lisbon . X Factor: Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo looks nervous about singing . Legend: Former Real and Spain striker Raul is also featured in the YouTube video . Passion: Long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas sings along to the club's famous song . Party time: Real Madrid celebrated their Champions League win in front of 80,000 fans at the Bernabeu . Road block: The scenes on the streets of Madrid after Real returned home in the early hours of Sunday . | Real won their 10th European cup with victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final in May .
Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates recorded their own version of club song 'Hala Madrid'
The song went to No 1 in the Spanish download chart .
Real released a special video on YouTube to celebrate winning La Decima . |
119,480 | 26553bf71d7ad710d2211229c04aa35bf35566dc | By . Corey Charlton . A mysterious blue lake has appeared in the parched Tunisian desert, creating a new swimming hole for hundreds of locals unconcerned about warnings the water could be contaminated or carcinogenic. The swimming hole was discovered by shepherds about three weeks ago when they stumbled across the huge beautiful blue coloured lake. But three weeks on, it is green with algae and subject to public health warnings. Despite the mystery surrounding how 'Gafsa Beach' suddenly appeared in the area, and what effect, if any, the local phosphate mining industry might have on the water quality, the huge pool has provided much needed respite for locals where temperatures are reaching 40C. Scroll down for video . The lake appeared in the Gafsa mountains area of Tunisia a few weeks ago but there has yet to be a scientific explanation given for its appearance . A local diving into the Gafsa lake, which is one hectare long and thought to be about 18 metres deep at points . Children have continued to swim in the water even though it has now turned green and despite warnings the water could be contaminated due to the local mining industry . There has been no explanation given for how the lake came to be, but some have suggested seismic activity caused groundwater to rise to the surface. Journalist Lakhdar Souid told France 24: 'News of the lake’s appearance has spread like wildfire and now hundreds of people, eager to escape a heatwave, go there to swim.' The region was 'overflowing' with large deposits of phosphate, which can leave behind radioactive residue, he said. 'There is a real risk that this water is contaminated and carcinogenic. On the first few days, the water was a clear, turquoise blue. Now, it is greenish and filled with algae, sure signs that the water is stagnant, which means it’s a perfect breeding ground for parasites and disease.' Gafsa’s Office of Public Safety has issued a public warning the lake is dangerous and unfit for swimming - but that has not stopped locals from using it as their local swimming pool. Gafsa's Office of Public Safety has now issued a public warning that the lake is dangerous and unfit for swimming while more tests are conducted on the water quality . The mysterious blue lake has been christened Gafsa Beach by locals, who have continued to swim in it as the region's heatwave produces 40C temperatures . The area in which the lake has appeared is stunning and the surrounding rocks are perfect for swimmers to dive from . The Gafsa area, known for its phospate mining industry, is currently in the middle of a heatwave and there are concerns the water is contaminated . The Guardian reported Mehdi Bilel spotted the lake after several hours on the road. 'After several long hours on the road without a break, I honestly thought I was hallucinating. I don't know much about science and thought it was magic, something supernatural.' Bathers have now set up a Facebook page to document their activities at the mysterious lake, while local authorities continue to conduct tests to establish whether or not it is safe to swim in. | Mysterious blue lake which has appeared in Tunisian desert a respite for hundreds of locals sweltering in heatwave .
Despite concerns the water could be contaminated or carcinogenic due to mining industry, locals continue to swim .
No explanation yet given for its appearance but it is thought seismic activity caused groundwater to rise to the surface . |
163,478 | 5f6107ba1a7464db67677a1ae8f4c844ad197146 | Superfit Robert McCloud is closing in on his black belt in martial arts - despite only having one leg. The 40-year-old amputee, who coined his nickname 'Stumpy' to put people at ease, lost his right leg in a motorbike accident when he was aged 21. But now he is thought to be the only person in the UK with such a disability to earn a red stripe in mixed martial arts. Inspiration: One-legged martial artist Robert McCloud lost his right leg in a motorbike accident but is now closing in on his black belt in martial arts . Hard work: Robert 'Stumpy' McCloud, 40, puts himself through a gruelling training regime to reach a red stripe in mixed martial arts . And the inspirational father has not just overcome terrible injury, but also bouts of severe depression in order to reach a high level in martial arts. Mr McCloud, of Swindon, says it was sport and his daughter Jade - also a talented martial artist - which helped him put the horrifying accident, which he openly admits was his fauly, behind him. He told Martial Arts Illustrated: 'Doctors worked in relays through the night to save my life and said my fitness saved me. 'It was the main reason I survived the accident because martial arts discipline makes you physically and mentally stronger.' The loss of his leg sent a hitherto active Mr McCloud into a spiral of depression lasting five year. Determined: Robert McCloud undertakes a tough training routine with instructor Matt Fiddes, in black, during a work out in Swindon . Determination: Robert 'Stumpy' McCloud takes part in one of the tough training routines under the guidance of instructor Matt Fiddes, left . But, one day, after taking his . daughter to her martial arts classes, he realised that despite not . having a right leg, he was capable of many of the excises. He . soon got involved in the courses, and such is his progress that he . holds a realistic ambition to eventually earn a black belt. And it appears his disability will not prevent his from achieving his goal. Inspired: Amputee Robert McCloud took up the sport after taking his talented daughter Jade, left, to martial arts classes . Mr McCloud is regularly put through gruelling training sessions by his instructor Matt Fiddes Martial Arts Academy in Cheney Manor - including routines which would stretch even the fittest of non-handicapped people. He strongly believes sport has much to offer disabled people in helping them overcome perceived limitations, develop their full potential and get them back into circulation with other people. Jade, 12, has gone from strength to strength, getting distinctions in her gradings and is on a junior instructors' course. Her ambition is to represent Great Britain at the 2020 Olympics. | Robert 'Stumpy' McCloud lost his right leg in a motorbike accident aged 21 .
The amputee, 40, is the first in Britain with his disability to earn a red stripe - just four off black belt - in mixed martial arts .
Robert, of Swindon, overcame depression thanks to his family and sport . |
212,366 | 9f006a834ece5fd61044832fd8137b07a2f2bdad | By . Darren Boyle . First Lady Michelle Obama said all school children should have access to art and music teachers. Speaking at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Mrs Obama said six million American children attended schools where there are no art or music classes. Mrs Obama was addressing the inaugural Jane Ortner Education Award lunch. She told guests that all arts organizations should follow the example of the Grammy Museum and help with education. Scroll down for video . Michelle Obama said that art and music should play an important role in the education of American youth . Mrs Obama, right, presented Janelle Monae, left, with a special award at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles . She said: 'Arts are a way to channel ... pain and frustration into something meaningful and productive and beautiful, and every human being needs that, particularly our kids . 'And when they don't have that outlet, that's such a tremendous loss, not just for our kids but for our nation.' Mrs Obama has worked with the Grammy Museum since 2009 to produce concerts and allow young people to attend live music events. So far the programme has brought 1,000 students to Washington for concerts. Mrs Obama said: 'Those are some of my favorite events at the White House,' Obama said. The museum's executive director Bob Santelli said the institution hosts 35,000 young people a year. Singer-songwriter Janelle Monae, who received the Jane Ortner Artist Award, said music saved her when she was growing up in a rough neighborhood. 'Music helped me really deal with my emotions, when I could not articulate how frustrated I was. 'It gave me the opportunity to get it all out.' Her latest album, 'The Electric Lady,' rails against sexism, presenting women as subjects rather than objects. Mrs Obama complained that six million American school children had neither art or music classes . The 28-year-old entertainer is active with the Grammy Museum's educational outreach, entertaining students at the White House and at the museum. 'I hope we have more mentors. More mentors than superstars.' After accepting her microphone-shaped trophy, she brought out her band and performed a high-energy four-song set that included a cover of James Brown's 'I Feel Good.' The first lady introduced Ms Monae, calling her a 'fireplug' and a friend, and revealing that the singer danced on a table during her White House performance. Mrs Obama said: 'I love Janelle's message. I love that she is one of the young artists here that is making music that means something.' The six-time Grammy nominee, pictured, said that music helped her survive growing up in a rough area . Ms Monea, pictured, has offered her services to children at the Grammy Museum as a mentor . | First Lady said art and music could play an important role in people's lives .
She was addressing a special dinner a the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles .
Singer Janelle Monae said music enabled her to escape a rough upbringing . |
100,016 | 0cdfebd4b11f4bb9ffe92a822f16df1f1137dcb4 | By . Beth Stebner . Last updated at 6:32 PM on 18th January 2012 . A former PGA golf champion was busted, along with 40 others, including teachers, college students, and a retired beekeeper, in a week-long child sex sting. ‘Operation Red Cheeks’ began January 8 and involved several different crime-fighting organisations across the Orlando, Florida area posing as children in chat rooms. Pro golfer Steve Thomas, 55, was charged with traveling to seduce an underage girl and using a computer to entice a legal guardian or parent to commit sex acts on an underage girl, according to officials. The sting: Professional golfer Steve Thomas (pictured) has appeared in 44 PGA tours. Police found three condoms, chocolate pudding, and a bottle of honey in his SUV . The PGA Tour Web site says the Meridian, Mississippi native has finished in the top 10 of a tournament only once, and his winnings stand at just over $25,000. He has appeared in 44 PGA Tour events. During his sting, he believed he was chatting with a woman about having sex with her 13-year-old daughter. Police found three condoms, chocolate pudding, and a bottle of honey in his SUV, the arrest affidavit states. The Osceola County Sheriff’s detectives also arrested 29-year-old Bryan Woodward, who was the head swim coach at Gator Swim Club in Gainsville. The law won: 40 people - including teachers, a swim coach, and an IT consultant were arrested in the week-long sting in Osecola County, Florida . According to an affidavit, he told a detective posing as a young girl that: ‘younger girls turn me on’ and brought treats with him to meet the ‘child.’ The club’s owner, Kathleen Troy, told the Gainsville Sun that Woodward was no longer working at the club, which is not affiliated with the University of Florida. ‘If anything had come up, we would not have hired him,’ Ms Troy told the paper. The Orlando Sentinel reports that nine students, ranging in age 18 to 30 were also arrested. The youngest is still in high school. Police said the success in the sting was due to many local and state agencies working together. Busted: Bryan Woodward, 29 (left) was the head swim coach at Gator Swim Club. Samuel Straitiff (right) worked as an IT consultant . Not so sweet: Dell Rio Highsmith, 70, (left) is a retired beekeeper and Ryan Stickle (right) works as a consultant . Sheriff Bob Hansell wrote in a statement: ‘These predators stalk the cyber community looking for children to victimise. ‘This operation resulted in 40 arrests which means at a minimum, 40 children did not fall prey to a sexual deviant.’ Alexander Roy, a 32-year-old eighth grade teacher at Manatee Academy in Port St. Lucie, was placed on administrative leave while the school district conducts the necessary investigation. Police said that when retired beekeeper Dell Rio Highsmith, 70, was arrested he had with him a heart-shaped box of chocolates, wine, and Viagra pills. Major sting: Winston Stephens (left) is a student at Full Sail University while Milton Richardson (right) works as an engineer . Building up: Ryu Nolin (left) works as a personal trainer and Alexander Roy, 32 (right) was an eighth grade teacher at a school in Port St. Lucie . The paper says that the 40 men were accused of everything from travelling to seduce a child to commit sex acts, lewd and lascivious battery of a child, and using a computer to solicit. Sheriff Hansell said: ‘This operation should also be a warning to all parents to monitor and be involved with their child’s computer activities.’ All the men arrested now face felony charges. | PGA golfer Steve Thomas, 55, among those held .
Operation Red Cheeks was carried out across the Orlando, Florida, area with officers posing as children in chat rooms.
Swim coach, eighth grade teacher, and eight college students also arrested .
When retired beekeeper, 70, was arrested he had wine and Viagra with him . |
129,138 | 32e2731de3efdd21e2ded835718bd4ce563ea265 | (CNN) -- Drainage tubes. Waterfalls. Bullrings. These aren't features typically associated with hotels, but the most interesting places to stay in Latin America somehow make them work. This group of hotels goes a few steps further than turndown service and a free breakfast lineup to make your stay memorable. Tubohotel (Topoztlan, Mexico) Modeled after the funky Dasparkhotel in Linz, Austria, the Tubohotel has transformed 20 concrete sewer pipes into minimalistic hotel rooms. Artfully arranged in groups of three, the pipes are 8 feet wide and 11 feet long and outfitted with a queen-sized bed, desk light and fan. Claustrophobic or amenities-driven travelers need not apply. Tubohotel, Tlacaltipac Glorieta Kilometer 17 S/N, San Sebastian, Tepoztlan, Mexico; +52 739 395 3613; from $31 per night . Costa Verde (Quepos, Costa Rica) In the dense forest along the western coast of Costa Rica lies the body of an old Boeing 727. It's not the ominous remains of a flight gone wrong, but rather a luxury hotel suite. Dangling over the side of a hill amid a selection of more traditional accommodations, the fuselage of the vintage 1965 jetliner has been remade into a two-bedroom rental complete with dining area, sitting room and a small wooden deck for spotting the toucans, howler monkeys and other jungle creatures. The fuselage that encases the two bedrooms of the "727 Fuselage Home" suite is intact. Apart from the distinctive shape of the portholes and curved ceiling, however, the interior feels more woodsy bungalow than aircraft. Costa Verde, about a half mile from entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos, Costa Rica; +506 2777 0584; 727 suite from $250 per night . Encuentro Guadalupe Antiresort (Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico) "Luxury cabin" sounds like an oxymoron, but not when you're talking about the 20 designer shelters that make up this Baja California retreat. Each sparse but chic unit includes king-size beds, ceiling fans and floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is positioned among craggy terrain, so it blends in with the landscape of this fertile wine-growing region just 90 minutes south of San Diego. Encuentro Guadalupe Antiresort Ctra. Tecate-Ensenada, kilometer 75, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico; +52 646 155 2775; from $175 per night . Lapa's Nest Tree House, Barrio Bonito, Costa Rica . With six stories, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms, Lapa's Nest just might be the world's coolest tree house. Built 60 feet up around a towering guanacaste tree in the rainforest of remote southern Costa Rica, this arboreal perch offers guests unexpected luxuries like warm showers and air-conditioning, not to mention a bird's-eye view of the native wildlife. Lapa's Nest Tree House, 13 kilometers north of Puerto Jimenez, Barrio Bonito, Costa Rica; +508 714 0622; from $1,850 per week . Unique Hotel (Sao Paulo, Brazil) Other than its name, what makes this hotel unique is its shape. The work of Ruy Ohtake, one of Brazil's most talented architects, it's been said to resemble everything from a boat to a slice of watermelon, but the construction was simply an ingenious way to get around the city's building-height codes. Inside, it's not all that different from any other upscale property, except perhaps for the rooms' circular windows and an odd transparent, retractable wall between the bed and the bathroom. Unique Hotel, Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 4700, Jardim Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil; +55 11 3055 4700; from $370 per night . Canopy Tower (Gamboa, Panama) This 12-room lodge rising above the treetops of Soberanía National Park has an unusual origin. It was built by the U.S. Air Force in 1965 as a radar tower to help in the defense of the Panama Canal, and was later used for everything from controlling air traffic to aiding in the war on drugs. Today, it's a hotel and nature observatory. The rooftop deck offers a 360-degree view of the forest below. It's popular with birders hoping to catch a glimpse of the bicolored antbird, blue cotinga and other species that reside in the forest canopy. Canopy Tower Soberanía National Park, 35 miles north of Panama City, Gamboa, Panama; +507 264 5720; from $120 per night (three-night minimum) Palacio de Sal (Potosí, Bolivia) You may be tempted to lick the walls at this oddball hotel, but please refrain. Especially if you have high blood pressure. That's because the entire thing is made of salt. Billions of tons of it, in fact, all of which came from the nearby Salar de Uyuni salt flat (the world's largest). The unusual building material was used to construct the floors, ceilings and almost everything in between, including the beds and the property's nine-hole golf course. Palacio de Sal, Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni, Potosí, Bolivia; +591 68420888; from $135 per night . Montaña Mágica (Panguipulli, Chile) It's a trek getting to this 13-room retreat in the middle of the Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve, but make it and you'll be treated to a vine-covered, volcano-shaped lodge with daily eruptions that spew water down the side of the property. Step indoors and the woodsy theme will have you feeling like you're inside a hallowed-out tree. Given the look and feel of the place, you might think you'd be surrounded by hobbits, but your neighbors are actually the pumas, pygmy owls and other creatures that make their home in the forest. Montaña Mágica, inside Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve, 530 miles south of Santiago, Panguipulli, Chile; +56 2 233 559 38; from $200 per night . Quinta Real Zacatecas (Zacatecas, Mexico) One look at this luxury hotel and it's not hard to imagine its previous incarnation as the Plaza de Toros San Pedro, a bullfighting arena dating to the nineteenth century. Forty-nine suites now reside where the grandstand once stood and the ring where the matadors once battled beasts is now a charming courtyard. All of it has been remade to appease hotel guests while preserving the structure's classic colonial style. Quinta Real Zacatecas, Av. Ignacio Rayón 434, Col. Centro, Zacatecas, Mexico; +492 922 9104; from $126 per night . EcoCamp Patagonia (Torres del Paine, Chile) Glamping meets sustainability at this cluster of igloo-shaped suites that house visitors exploring the rugged Patagonian plains with adventure outfitter Cascada Expediciones. The domes are designed to mimic the dwellings of the nomadic Kaweskar tribe that once inhabited the area . Green features include low-emission woodstoves and state-of-the-art composting toilets. There's also enough electricity to charge your camera, so you can snap plenty of pics of the incredible Torres del Paine landscape. EcoCamp Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, approximately 200 miles north of Punta Arenas airport, Torres del Paine, Chile; +56 2 2923 5950; call for rates . | Hotels shaped like volcanoes or built in old passenger jets among more unusual accommodation available in Latin America .
The Lapa's Nest Tree House in Costa Rica features rooms perched above the rainforest floor in a guanacaste tree .
The floors, ceilings and even the beds in Bolivia's Palacio de Sal are constructed out of salt . |
249,472 | ced86b8940838cf4c58f8dee912dc0fbbd17a826 | Chelsea Clinton has been dismissed from jury duty in New York after serving for just one day. The 34-year-old, who was not selected to serve on a trial, was all smiles as she left a Manhattan state courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, wearing a snug t-shirt that revealed her growing baby bump. The other jurors didn't even know she was among them until her name was called, Pix11 reporter James Ford told Reliable Source. Ford, who was also at the court for jury duty, was the first to reveal the low-key former first daughter was at the courthouse. 'So I'm on jury duty today,& just saw that part of my pool is @ChelseaClinton,' he tweeted to his 2,700 Twitter followers on Tuesday. 'And she seems nice. And she's really pregnant. #BestWishes.' Scroll down for video . Doing her duty: Chelsea Clinton is met by reporters as she leaves jury duty in Manhattan on Tuesday. Her fellow jurors did not even know she was there until her name was called, they said . Other reporters saw the tweet and swarmed the courthouse as Clinton left - but only after she stopped to pose for selfies with her fellow jurors, including Ford. '#ChelseaClinton was very agreeable about a selfie with me,' he wrote on Instagram beneath their picture. 'She seemed quite nice.' He also shared a photograph of her leaving the court smiling and dressed in a gray T-shirt, black leggings and black ballet flats. Ford said the group of 90 had arrived at the courthouse at 9am before being dismissed seven hours later. They were told that they had all been excused for six years. All smiles: Clinton, 24, agreed to take selfies with fellow jurors, including Pix11 reporter James Ford . As she exited the courthouse, the dutiful daughter of the former president and former secretary of state told the waiting reporters that she was happy to be there. 'I think it's important that everyone participate in jury duty, . just as it's important that people vote and pay their taxes,' she said. Fellow jurors said that Clinton spent most of the time listening to her iPhone and commended her for her appearance - especially because she's pregnant. Janice Montague, a juror, told the New York Post: 'I was impressed with the idea that she wasn't excused or exempt. I said if she couldn’t get off we should all be here because she has the pull.' Her appearance at the court comes just days after Madonna did a brief stint in jury duty at the same place - but with two bodyguards and with much fanfare. She was dismissed after two hours. Revealed: Pix11 reporter James Ford, who was also on jury duty, was the first to reveal that Clinton was there. After his tweet, reporters picked up the news and swarmed the courthouse . Chelsea, . who married investment banker Marc Mezvinsky in July 2010, revealed they . were expecting their first child during a New York forum on April 17. She told guests: 'Marc and I are very excited that we have our first child arriving later this year... I just hope that I will be as good a mom to my child and hopefully children as my mom was to me.' Her appearance at court came after she revealed she commands as much as $75,000 per speech, just a fraction of the $200,000 her mother, Hillary Clinton, receives to speak. The family's finances have come under scrutiny after the former secretary of state said during her book tour that the family was 'dead broke' when husband Bill Clinton left the White House in 2001. | The former first daughter, 34, was dismissed from the Manhattan court after seven hours on Tuesday afternoon .
Fellow jurors didn't even know she was there until her name was called .
As she left the court, she told reporters it was important to do her duty .
Clinton, who announced in April that she is expecting her first child, was wearing a gray t-shirt that revealed her growing baby bump . |
51,849 | 92d69ef090d26bc105ba83ccd489989863ab9e94 | British judo fighter Karina Bryant earned Team GB's 19th medal of London 2012 this afternoon after winning bronze in the women's 78kg contest. Bryant, 33, saw off the challenge of Ukranian Iryna Kindzerska to secure third place, earning Great Britain their seventh bronze in another successful day for the home nation. The medal is a personal triumph for Britain's most successful judo fighter Bryant, who had resorted to asking strangers for cash earlier this year, amid fears a lack of it will derail her Olympic dream. On the podium: Bryant celebrates with her bronze medal in the ExCel Arena today, just 24 hours after colleague Gemma Gibbons ended Britain's 12-year wait for an Olympic judo medal . Job done: Bryant was defeated in the semi-finals, but dug in to pick herself up and earn Britain a bronze medal this afternoon in the women's 78kg event . Decisive moment: Bryant lands a successful waza-ari on her Ukranian opponent to seal Great Britain's seventh bronze . Overwhelmed: Bryant collapses to the floor after earning victory in the bronze medal match against Ukranian Iryna Kindzerska . Despite being a four-time European champion, the Olympic medal is Bryant's first podium appearance at the Games, having reached the round of 16 in 2000 and 2008 and the quarter-finals in 2004. She won her hard-earned bronze medal less than a day after Gemma Gibbons' emotional silver medal judo performance yesterday. Bryant's bronze came after she secured third place at the European Championships in Russia back in April. Her chances of a medal looked slim early on in the contest against Ukranian Kindzerska, as she went behind to a waza-ari in the first minute of the contest. But Bryant showed fighting character to level the fight with a waza-ari of her own, before winning the contest minutes later in front of fervent home support at the ExCel Arena. Bryant revealed in May she had launched an appeal to strangers for cash so she could afford a small car to get her to training. After Gemma Gibbons secured Britain's first Olympic judo medal in 12 years yesterday, Bryant celebrates after making it two medals in as many days . Fighting hard: Bryant secured a bronze after last 16 finishes in 2000 and 2008, and a quarter final in 2004 . Battling hard: Bryant was spurred on this afternoon by a typically raucous crowd at the ExCel Arena . The Aldershot judo star said she needed £5,000 for a 'modest runaround' to get her from her Aldershot home to her training base in Camberley, 10 miles away. She said earlier this year: 'I had so many problems with my car. At one point I was having to crawl through the boot to get in. 'I need something I can rely on to get me through the next few months and the Games because it is stressful worrying about whether I can get to places.' The website supporting Bryant was created by KEODigital, the team behind Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Fish Fight campaign. | Bryant is four-time Euro champion but won first Olympic medal today .
Aldershot star beat Ukranian Iryna Kindzerska in front of passionate home crowd at ExCel Arena .
Her judo bronze comes just a day after judo silver for Gemma Gibbons . |
83,437 | ecaf8fba2cd6d626025f4b58ecfe7848942841c7 | A 24-year-old Washington state man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly attacking three people with a sword, among them his own grandmother. Brandin Ayling was taken into custody Wednesday night in connection to the violent incident that sent two of the victims to the hospital. According to police, at around 9pm they received a 911 call about a man who had been seriously wounded. Scroll down for video . Sword attack: Brandin Ayling (pictured here in 2011) was arrested after allegedly attacking three people with a sword in Lynnwood, Washington . The 24-year-old (right) is accused of threatening his 65-year-old grandmother, Darlene Nex (right) Crime scene: Police say all three attacks took place at this home on Fender Drive in Lynnwood . Neighbor Daniel Barton spotted the 29-year-old victim stumbling about in the 13800 block of Fender Drive and bleeding profusely from his neck and elbow, he told KIRO-TV. Barton's girlfriend called 911 to summon paramedics, who then transported the victim to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries. About 15 minutes later, police got a call from Ayling's grandmother, believed to be 65-year-old Darlene Nex, telling them that her grandson tried to slash her with a sword at a home in the 13700 of Fender Drive. Ms Nex suffered only minor cuts and declined medical attention. At around 9.30p, a 40-year-old man with a deep cut on his hand entered a Dollar Street on Mukilteo Speedway asking for help. When police arrived on the scene, the victim told officers that he was attacked by a sword-wielding man. Ayling's swordplay has sent two people to the hospital suffering from serious injuries . History of violence: His criminal record includes previous arrests on charges of disorderly conduct and possessing and displaying a dangerous weapon . Brandin Ayling was arrested at a home on Fender Drive. He was booked into jail early Thursday and is due in court Friday. Ayling, a graduate of Aces High School who had worked as a hardwood floor technician, has had multiple run-ins with the law over the years. His criminal record includes previous arrests on charges of disorderly conduct and possessing and displaying a dangerous weapon. Ayling's friends told the news station that the 24-year-old has several swords in his Lynnwood home. There is no word at this time on a possible motive behind the attacks . | Brandin Ayling, 24, arrested in three sword attacks in Lynnwood, Washington .
A 29-year-old man was hospitalized with deep cuts to his neck and elbow, and a 40-year-old victim was slashed on his hand .
Ayling's 65-year-old grandmother told police he threatened her with a sword and nicked her . |
249,067 | ce4d06b889462dc24f9e698c1fdd524afe2277f9 | A Christmas storm could drench the East Coast next week and ruin holiday travel plans for millions. According to forecasts, rain and snow will sweep virtually the whole eastern seaboard from Monday, pushing showers as far west as Texas. On Tuesday and Christmas Eve the precipitation is expected to intensify, with strong winds and rain storms lashing vital commuter routes along the I-95 corridor and causing a travel nightmare those headed home. Storm's brewing: On the east coast rains could begin as early as Monday and drive up the coast . Spread: By Tuesday the rain is forecast to cover around a third of the country, including virtually the whole eastern seaboard and the South . Snow could also take hold around the northernmost states, with wind effect snow pummeling areas around the Great Lakes and Ohio valley, according to the Weather Channel. The coming storms - whose precise tracks remain uncertain - will be bad news for many of the 98million people that the AAA expects to make significant Christmas journeys this year. The vast majority of travelers will go by car, contributing to what is expected to be the busiest Christmas travel season since records began. Air passengers - expected to number 5.7million - could also suffer, with the fierce winds and rains threatening to choke up hub airports in the northeast, with conditions particularly intense on Christmas Eve. Travel trouble: Lightning storms could hit vital commuting routes on Christmas Eve - as tens of millions take to busy roads . Iced Christmas: The rain eases off for the big day, according to this forecast, as snow continues to strike Pennsylvania, upstate New York and much of New England . The bad weather is expected to kick in Monday, with rain spread right along much of the East Coast from mid-Florida as high as New York, with precipitation falling as snow in the west of the Empire State and parts of Pennsylvania. On Tuesday the predicted storms get worse, with rain pushing west over all the South, as far as west Texas. A mixture of rain, snow and ice is expected over New England. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois are also predicted to be pummeled with rain, with snow replacing it further west over Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The bad weather is expected to keep up through Christmas Eve. Thunderstorms could strike alongside high winds in the I-95 corridor, while a cold front may sweep in from the Great Lakes and freeze over Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Rain will continue over virtually the whole East Coast, according to the predictions, causing trouble at major airports just as many will be hoping to catch a last-minute flight to reunite with friends and family. A rain and snow storm will move in at the same time over the upper west coast, bringing rain and ice across Washington, Oregon and northern California. On Christmas Day itself the rain is expected largely to have abated, but snow will be the order of the day in the northeast, with flurries due over Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. The predicted bad weather makes a holiday double whammy for the year after rains and snow devastated travelers over Thanksgiving. | Rains predicted to start Monday in the east and spread from there .
Showers and snow to hit vast swaths of the U.S. as Christmas approaches .
On Christmas Eve storms are expected down the I-95 corridor .
Bad weather comes amid predictions of 98.6million holiday travelers . |
88,892 | fc4bebc3efc6d1df07591fc3ec08c1094ae35b5e | Of all the players Jose Mourinho wanted to avoid losing at this critical point in the season, Nemanja Matic was perhaps top of his list. Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa or John Terry would all be missed, of course, but Matic dictates how Chelsea plays. His prowling presence, tackling strength and defensive acumen in midfield offers more freedom to the creative players, especially Fabregas in his deeper role. This studs-up tackle from Ashley Barnes infuriated Nemanja Matic and Jose Mourinho backed up his player . Matic's reaction to Barnes's tackle earned the Serbian a red card - he'll now miss the Capital One Cup final . 'Two points dropped at home to relegation threatened Burnley and midfield keystone Nemanja Matic banned for three games and, surprise, surprise, it is all down to the decisions which went against Chelsea' Click HERE to read Matt Barlow's match report from Stamford Bridge . Of 37 games featuring Matic this season Chelsea have lost only one - at Tottenham. Of the three he missed they have lost two - against Newcastle and Bradford. The flashpoint between him and Burnley's Ashley Barnes – the bad tackle missed by officials, the reaction and the red card for violent conduct - may yet prove to be a moment of title race significance to match the meltdown at Aston Villa last March. 'The man is a giant, not for his size but the way he plays,' said Mourinho of Matic, after winning at Liverpool in November. Chelsea were undecided about whether to appeal the red card on Sunday night. They have the right to, in which case it will go before an independent commission to decide if Martin Atkinson made the right call. Referee Martin Atkinson shows Matic a straight red card after his altercation with Barnes in the second half . Matic is sent off by Atkinson after reacting angrily to a horrid tackle on Saturday at Stamford Bridge . It is hard to imagine the commission overturning it as Matic's reaction fell firmly into the category of violent conduct regardless of the provocation and precisely where he put his hands - but they have been known to make some strange decisions and Mourinho might consider it worth a try. Without him, Chelsea have to adjust the balance. Making it worse, John Obi Mikel is out with a knee injury and not close to a return. 'No chance,' said Mourinho was asked if Matic's most obvious replacement might be rushed back for the Capital One Cup final against Spurs at Wembley, on Sunday. Asked who might play, he replied: 'Somebody will.' With Mikel sitting as he does in front of the centre-halves, Chelsea could flank him with Ramires and Cesc Fabregas and switch to a 4-3-3 shape. Matic (left), pictured alongside Harry Kane, will be a big miss when Chelsea face Tottenham on Sunday . John Obi Mikel would have been a potential replacement for Matic, but is sidelined with a knee injury . Without him, Mourinho's options revolve around Nathan Ake, a 20-year-old defensive midfielder who has started only twice this season, and Ramires, who is clearly at his best when galloping freely rather than sitting and reading the game. Neither can boast the height of Matic or Mikel. Ramires was easily beaten in the air at a corner by Ben Mee for Burnley's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The corner came when Thibaut Courtois pushed a shot wide from Barnes, who was allowed to twist and aim at goal from that edge-of-the-box area usually patrolled by Matic. It is in these pockets of space between the holding midfielders and the centre-halves that Tottenham's best players Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen seek to do their damage. On Mourinho's side, is the fact he has time to plan. Ben Mee rises above Ramires to equalise for Burnley on Saturday, making the score 1-1 . Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois can only watch in vain as Mee's header beats the Belgium international . Chelsea have the entire week free while Spurs are flying to Italy to play Fiorentina on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League last-32 tie which is poised at 1-1. Mourinho likes to plot as he did when he won with a weakened team at Liverpool in April, although both Matic and Mikel played that day and he had given up on winning the Barclays Premier League. This season, he is determined to win it and these next three games are vital. First, the Capital One Cup final, with Mourinho searching for the first trophy since his return, but lose at Wembley and the worm of doubt will eat away on a day when Manchester City will cut the gap at the top to two points if they win at Liverpool. After that, Chelsea travel across the capital for a London derby with West Ham and a home fixture against gravity-defying Southampton, two games which promise intense and physical midfield contests. Courtois, pictured smashing the bar in frustration after Burnley's equaliser, admits Matic will be missed . Filipe Luis was honest in his assessment of the game, claiming that Chelsea should have won the match . 'Nemanja will be missed,' admitted goalkeeper Courtois. 'He has been very good for us this season. It is a pity but heads-up we must continue. We have other players who can do the job also and they are strong players.' Courtois thought the sending off changed the game on Saturday but, unlike their manager, the Chelsea players did not try to avoid blame for dropping points at home for only the second time this season. 'We should have won the game,' said full-back Filipe Luis. 'I don't believe in luck and don't want to talk about the referee. We cannot allow these things to happen. We cannot lose points at home. 'We played really well. We had a lot of chances. We were solid in defence and everyone was running in attack. But it is not easy. We are top of the league and everyone is trying to steal points from us. Atkinson, the referee for Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Burnley, was criticised by Mourinho for his decisions . Kieran Tripper of Burnley (right) said that it was a massive point for his side against Chelsea on Saturday . 'We have to say Burnley did a good job. They have won points against Manchester City and Manchester United. They are a good team.' Well said Filipe Luis, because this point was in danger of being lost amid Mourinho's storm of numbers and silent accusations about Barnes and referee Martin Atkinson. Burnley did play well, even before the sending off. They have only won four this season but are eking out points and fighting for survival. 'It was a massive point after going down against one of the best teams in the world,' said defender Kieran Trippier. | Nemanja Matic was sent off for reacting to a bad foul by Ashley Barnes .
He will now miss Chelsea's Capital One Cup final against Tottenham .
Of the 37 games featuring Matic this season, Chelsea have only lost one .
Mourinho has Ramires and Nathan Ake to choose from as Matic's replacement for the Capital One Cup final, as John Obi Mikel is injured .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news . |
27,285 | 4d60bc0ea9c2cc000a94ab2c50d392ba25d4ff2a | By . Stephen Johns . Potentially dangerous drugs linked to suicides are being illegally sold online by dealers in Britain. The medicines watchdog launched an investigation last night after The Mail on Sunday discovered three websites, including eBay, selling drugs such as anti-depressants and Roaccutane, an acne drug. Roaccutane has been linked with several suicides. It can only be prescribed by consultant dermatologists and dispensed by registered pharmacists. A Mail on Sunday investigation revealed that British websites, including eBay were selling drugs linked to suicide such as acne medicine Roaccutane (pictured) and anti-depressants . We found businesses advertising a wide range of drugs, without being legally registered to sell prescription medicines online, and passed their details to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). One website, Urbanpharma, lists a Manchester contact address and says it delivers medicines in 48 hours to UK addresses. The business is not registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), a requirement to sell prescription medication. Another website, Aurapharm, was selling prescription-only drugs such as Roaccutane, again despite not being registered with the GPhC. Medical student Jon Medland committed suicide in 2004. His family said his death was linked to the drug Roaccutane. His father Jonathan Medland described the Mail on Sunday's revelations as 'terrifying' Jonathan Medland, 57, from Barnstaple, lost his 22-year-old son Jon, who committed suicide three weeks after starting a course of Roaccutane – obtained via a registered pharmacy – in 2004. He said: ‘It’s terrifying. These companies are just out to make profit without caring about the consequences.’ An MHRA spokesman said: ‘If the websites are found to be breaching the law, we will work to remove them and consider bringing prosecutions.’ Jon Medland's parents Jonathan and Pam Medland and his sister Casey. Jon's family blame his death on the drug that he had begun taking just three weeks before to help cure acne . | Investigation launched after Mail on Sunday found sites were selling drugs .
Acne drug Roaccutane has been linked with several suicides .
Can only be prescribed by dermatologists and dispensed by pharmacists . |
133,067 | 380d0dbbf132f22d715ab52424192648c23464e9 | By . Lizzie Parry . To the untrained eye they look just as they are, a row of old garages ideal for storage space. But to those experienced in playing the property market and investing in hidden gems, the innocuous buildings were too tempting to resist. The six garages, in Parsons Green, London have sold for a staggering £700,000 - ten times their value, after sparking a bidding war when they went under the hammer. The properties were sold by Auction House London, who had valued the row at £75,000. This row of six garages in Parsons Green, Fulham in London has sold for £700,000 - ten times their £75,000 value . The garages, which each have a rental potential of £65 a month, were sold without planning permission for development. But that did not deter interest, with a flurry of bids in what auctioneers have branded 'a first'. The anonymous buyer, who is understood to be a developer, secured the garages for £700,000 - four times the average English house price, and one-and-a-half times the value of a typical London property. They will now have to submit proposals to planning chiefs at Hammersmith and Fulham council. Auctioneer Andrew Binstock said: 'We price things very well and we're used to seeing £400,000 houses selling for a £100,000 premium but we're having to recalculate values. 'They had a guide price of £75,000 and ended up selling for £700,000. I've never seen anything like this before. It is a first. 'The garages were owned by a couple who inherited and they couldn't believe it, they were pleasantly surprised.' The garages, which are off Fulham Road - where average property prices are around £615,000 - were sold to an anonymous buyer who is understood to be a developer. The properties came without planning permission . The sellers, who inherited the garages and had been renting them out, are understood to have carried out a feasibility study with a view to building two, two-bedroom townhouses on the site . Prior to the sale, the owners were renting three of the garages out for £65, £80 and £85 per month. If they were to carry on renting at these rates, it would take more than 250 years to make £700,000 from them. The auction house advertised the freehold terrace of garages as 'suitable for redevelopment subject to planning permission'. It is understood the sellers had conducted a feasibility scheme to redevelop the site with a likely workable scheme of two, two bedroom townhouses. Two-bedroom flats and houses in Parsons Green can reach between £550,000 to more than £1million, depending on the size of the property. Property valuation site Zoopla estimates the average property price in the area, just off Fulham Road, is £615,714 - up nearly £60,000 in the last year. Mr Binstock added: 'It was quite unusual and a very fun part of the auction. It is a prime part of Fulham, but it's also a gamble. 'The garages are clearly not worth £700,000 as they are so the buyer has obviously got a plan for it and it will be interesting to see what it is. 'It is a perfect storm of shortage of stock and strong market forces. It is an unpredictable market, but it is great for sellers.' | Six garages in Parson's Green, Fulham sell for £700,000 .
Each had a rental value of £65 a month and the row was valued at £75,000 .
Developer has bought the properties without planning permission .
Sellers had carried out feasibility study for two, two-bedroom townhouses .
Average house price in the area is £615,714 - up nearly £60,000 in a year .
Auctioneer said it is a 'first' adding it is a seller's market . |
33,679 | 5fd0a20a4cd376350ebf14e85e10904556d29dd1 | By . Sarah Michael . Perth science teacher Geoffrey Vargas has been terminated after an experiment left two students badly injured with burns and lacerations . A science teacher has been fired after an experiment he conducted in class caused a glass jar to explode leaving two students badly injured with burns and lacerations. Perth Waldorf School administrator Bruce Uchiyama-Lee said teacher Geoffrey Vargas, 49, had been terminated following the March incident which injured two boys aged between 16 and 17. Mr Vargas said he made a 'mistake' in conducting the experiment but said the environment in the lab was 'very dangerous'. The experiment carried out during a Class 11 and 12 Chemistry lesson involved pupils lighting oxygen in a glass jar on fire. The glass has previously contained liquefied natural gas and this created a 'very powerful explosion' which severed the tendons in one student's hand. 'They've been treated and they're coping well but obviously [one student] needs some support in terms of school work because he can't use his hand,' Mr Uchiyama-Lee said. Mr Uchiyama-Lee said experts independent from the school in Bibra Lake, Perth concluded that the experiment should not have been conducted. 'The experiment wasn't curriculum based, it wasn't from a text book,' he said. 'It shouldn't have been conducted in any shape or form.' The students were practicing writing lab reports and there were a range of curriculum-based experiments that could have been carried out instead of the oxygen experiment, Mr Uchiyama-Lee said. 'Gases shouldn't be lit in glass jars full stop unless it's a beaker,' he said. The incident occurred at Perth Waldorf School (pictured) in March during a Class 11 and 12 Chemistry lesson . 'The whole experiment was wrong it shouldn't have been done full stop. 'It was believed the LNG had been burned out. That wasn't confirmed so when oxygen was added it combusted. 'If it had been confirmed LNG wasn't in there it wouldn't have been a problem.'[ . In a school newsletter issued to parents on May 1 Mr Uchiyama-Lee said the boys' recovery will be long term. 'Their recovery… will involve permanent scars and for one student it may involve further operations to ensure he has full movement of his hand,' he wrote. 'As these two boys are in Class 12 and going through the intensity of that year – Class 12 project deadlines as well as normal class work and exams are looming - being injured in this way has created much stress for them and their families.' Mr Vargas told MailOnline he made a mistake in conducting the experiment. The experiment involved pupils lighting oxygen in a glass jar on fire . 'I'm not denying I did a mistake by over-challenging the students, I should have just worked with limited equipment I had,' he said. 'The sequence of burning a gas and burning another gas should not have happened in that way.' But he said the lab was disorganised and 'something would have happened eventually anyways'. 'The whole environment in that school, in the lab was very dangerous,' he said. Mr Vargas said strong acids and bases were left in places where they were accessible by students. 'I made management aware of the fact that that needs to be locked away,' he said. 'That was just in cabinets in the classroom so any student could have opened it.' Mr Vargas also said the lab technician was overworked and did not organise experiments, there was no curriculum and no text books. Perth Waldorf School administrator Bruce Uchiyama-Lee said the experiment was not curriculum-based and should not have been conducted . 'I have to say about Waldorf school there is no set curriculum per se,' he said. 'The advice I was given, I had to follow a German chemist [Manfred] Von Mackensen, he is very popular with the Waldorf Schools.' Perth Waldorf School is a Rudolf Steiner School, which places emphasis on the whole development of the child — spiritual, physical, moral and academic. Mr Vargas said it was 'absolutely not fair' that the blame for the incident was placed solely on him. 'Of course I let down the team in a certain way but the team let me down at the same time,' he said. 'I've done a mistake in a team where there were a lot of mistakes being done, just one of many mistakes being done at that school, at the particular department and my one blew up.' Mr Vargas added that he had been in contact with the boy with severed tendons. 'There is no hard feelings whatsoever, not of the parents, not of that boy,' he said. Mr Vargas said he made a 'mistake' in conducting the experiment but said the environment in the lab was 'very dangerous' 'He is of the opinion that accidents happen. 'Of course I feel for the boys, I feel greatly for those boys, I'm really, really sorry they got injured.' Mr Uchiyama-Lee rejected Mr Vargas's claim the lab was unsafe. 'That had nothing to do with running an inappropriate experiment,' he said. 'The school hadn't been told by the teacher there were any issues from the lab.' Mr Uchiyama-Lee said the school 'did not accept the claims being made by Mr Vargas', based on the extensive investigation conducted by the school into the incident. 'The investigation saw no link between the resources provided at the school and the experiment conducted by the teacher,' he said. 'The school sees these alleged claims as spurious. 'The school has sucessfully conducted a well run chemistry and science program for many years without incident and the resources, where requested, have always been provided in a timely manner. 'The school's primary concern has and always will be the safety and wellbeing of the students.' | Perth teacher Geoffrey Vargas, 49, terminated following lab accident .
Two boys aged 16-17 left badly injured after glass jar exploded .
Glass containing oxygen was lit on fire after it had contained LNG .
Perth Waldorf School said experiment was not curriculum-based .
Mr Vargas says he made a 'mistake' in conducting the experiment .
But the teacher said the environment in the lab was 'very dangerous' |
60,455 | abd8e51a8ec575020c54ba970cca1ef35a163585 | On my first full day in the most economically divided county in America, people started telling me about the man who wanders the streets here with an American flag wrapped around his shoulders. Everyone knew him, but no one had many details. Me: Where will I find him? You know, around. Me: Right ... Like where, though? Near the lake, maybe. Sight unseen, this man became a sort of mythical being for me -- a representation of the soul of this part of the Mississippi River Delta, where a body of water and centuries of history largely separate the rich from poor. Surely, he must have something to say about the American Dream. As I wandered around both sides of Lake Providence, the town and the sickle-shaped body of water that separates the rich on the north from the poor on the south, I looked for the man with the American flag at every turn -- on Lake Street, with its boarded-up businesses; at the Grab Bag, a local gathering point; near a cemetery, where locals go to scratch off lottery tickets; at the Dock, a restaurant with a cartoonish red crawfish on the roof and warning signs for alligators. I struck out, again and again. I began to wonder whether the man and the flag actually existed. There's that scene in every great Western film (and in a dream sequence in "Wayne's World 2") where the cowboy looks across the desert and sees an elder or shaman in the heat-rippled haze of the horizon. Maybe all of these people imagined the man and his flag? Maybe they wanted a source of hope in a place that's about as economically depressed and desperate as they come. About 40% of people in the parish live in poverty. There would be good cause for a mirage. A reason for an imaginary mascot. But then, five days into the trip, I saw him . He was sitting on a metal parking barrier off Interstate 65. I was scheduled to interview the owner of My Dream Eatery, a rare new-business success story in a town that needs plenty more of those. But I knew I would miss him if I went to the interview. Hell, I was worried if I looked away, he would disappear. I peeked my head into the restaurant as quickly as I could to say that I was going to be a few minutes, sorry, but something had just come up. As I walked toward him across the parking lot, I tried to look nonchalant but also wanted to catch his attention by waving, which is an impossible combination -- one employed successfully only by Mormon missionaries or maybe sex offenders. I said hello -- hi, ahem, my name is John, and I'm from CNN. I'm working on this story, and I, well, I've heard about you. (!) I mean, I've heard about you. (...) George Estes, 59, was kind enough to speak with me. The American flag was neatly folded and wrapped around a backpack, not his shoulders. He was wearing several layers of clothing, a dress shirt, a tie, a tuxedo vest and a jacket. It felt like 100 degrees that day. Few clouds, if any. As we talked, he wiped beads of sweat from his face. But he looked completely and remarkably dapper for a person who walks five, six, seven, eight miles a day -- going nowhere and everywhere in particular. He wears a large backpack, he said, to stop his back from hurting. Estes' parents both died when he was relatively young, and he dropped out of school in seventh grade. He has struggled with mental health issues, he told me. He survives on government disability insurance. "I'd rather work than just be sitting here waiting on a check," he said. But there aren't many jobs here, and he's largely given up. I told him about the gist of my project. I was in East Carroll Parish because it has the highest level of income inequality -- the biggest rich-poor gap -- of any parish or county in the country. Lake Providence is the parish's largest town. Estes told me knows nothing about the wealth that exists in the parish. That's all on the other side of the lake, far away. But he knows about the poverty. "It's just like anybody else," he said. "Surviving's about the best you can do." He lives in a rental house owned by his sister Ann Newson. She's never understood why her brother walks so much. They have 12 siblings in all, and he's the only one who insists on walking the streets all day, sometimes into the night. There are many stories I could tell you about Estes, but I'll leave you with two, both about objects he carries with him at all times as he walks around Lake Providence. The first, inside his backpack, is a cornet. Estes used to play taps and did so at his mother's funeral. Now he marches up and down the streets playing his horn, but only if he feels that God wants him to. He hasn't felt that calling in weeks. His sister told a slightly different tale. "Everyone used to love to hear him blow it," she said later. "I'm sure they would love to hear it now, but he smokes too many cigarettes." In a nod to one my new favorite philosophers, John Rawls, whose 1971 book "A Theory of Justice" is a staple among inequality wonks, I asked Estes whether he thought his life would have been different if he were born on the other side of the lake -- if he were born into wealth rather than relative poverty. My heart broke when he answered. "I probably would have been a college graduate," he said. "I probably would ... I don't know what I would've been. (An) architect? But I've always been inclined to music, because everybody loves music. "I ain't got no teeth in the front, but I still blow my horn," he said. The second object is the flag. Estes found it crumpled up and discarded on the edge of Lake Providence, the symbolically named lake that's the barrier between rich and poor. "It was abandoned, and I was abandoned, and he seen me, and I needed it." He told me he was collecting money to have the flag dry-cleaned. He was embarrassed by how dirty it had become. A few weeks later, on a second trip to Lake Providence, I saw Estes walking by the cemetery. I stopped to say hi and asked about the flag. He revived my belief in humanity when he told me a local dry cleaner tidied it up, free of charge. | East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, has the highest income inequality in America .
John Sutter visits the parish to try to learn what could narrow the rich-poor gap .
One man he met wanders the streets wearing an American flag .
"I'd rather work than just be sitting here waiting on a check," he says . |
2,715 | 07f2a97dab5a31e368f3b46a47f27610e0e74372 | Two suspected U.S. drone strikes killed seven al Qaeda militants and eight civilians in the southern part of Yemen on Tuesday, three Yemeni security officials said. It was the latest of several U.S. strikes in Yemen, which is home to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, described by U.S. officials as the al Qaeda affiliate that poses the most serious threat to the United States. At least seven civilians were injured in the Tuesday strikes, the officials said. Across Yemen, at least 49 people were killed, including 31 militants, according to a security official. The dead also included eight civilians, five troops and five pro-government local resistance fighters, according to the official. The United States has increased the pace of airstrikes in Yemen in the last few years. At least 24 of 31 such strikes conducted since 2002 have happened in the last two years, according to the Long War Journal, which analyzes how the U.S. conducts its fight against terrorism. According to the security officials, one of Tuesday's strikes targeted a militant hideout in Jaar district, a militant stronghold. Another strike targeted a home believed to be harboring militants in the same district. Three senior al Qaeda leaders were among those killed, the officials said. Jaar district residents said civilians were killed after they rushed to the site of the first strike. "Our lives are valueless in the eyes of our government, and that is why civilians are being killed without a crime," resident Ali Abu Abdullah said. One of the security officials expressed regret for the civilian casualties and injuries. "The targets of the raids were not the civilians, and we give our condolences to the families of those who lost a loved one," the official said. U.S. and Saudi authorities recently foiled an al Qaeda plot based in Yemen to bomb a U.S.-bound airplane. Elsewhere in Yemen, in Lowder district, at least 17 al Qaeda fighters were killed when tribesmen loyal to the government clashed with militants and took over three strategic locations in the district. Three security officers were killed in Lowder. At least 400 tribal fighters backed by hundreds of troops participated in the Lowder raids. Mohammed Aidaroos, a local leader, said the fighting erupted early Tuesday morning in Lowder, and government-supported fighters forced al Qaeda fighters to evacuate the area and leave behind huge caches of weapons. The tribal fighters took back control of Yasoof Mountain, which al Qaeda had controlled for more than a month. There was also a state of alert in the Yemeni capital. The Interior Ministry warned on Tuesday that al Qaeda is planning to conduct suicide operations in Sanaa. Tight security presence was noticeable near Western embassies and in the diplomatic zone of the capital. "The ministry has been given intelligence information warning of a possible attack in the heart of the Yemeni capital and we are on high alert," one Interior Ministry official told CNN on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Yemeni Information Minister Ali al-Amrani told CNN he was targeted Monday when a grenade was thrown near his home in Sanaa. The grenade landed about 100 meters from his home, al-Amrani said, and he was not injured. In January, Al-Amrani escaped an assassination attempt unharmed when at least 10 shots were fired in the direction of a vehicle he was entering. Witnesses said there were at least two gunmen. Al-Amrani's spokesman said following that attack in January that al-Amrani was being targeted in a hate campaign by pro-revolution groups. | Yemeni capital on high alert over warnings of possible attack, an official says .
Seven al Qaeda militants, eight civilians killed in Jaar district, Yemeni security officials say .
Clashes between al Qaeda fighters, tribesmen reported in Lowder district .
17 al Qaeda fighters, three security officers reported killed in Lowder district . |
18,526 | 3465d4bbc020e93f5c145fa127a26aeefa4e62b4 | The world according to Google's autocomplete is a hilarious place in which Britain becomes 'a trap' and France is 'bacon'. The search giant's autocomplete function throws up what users have really been searching for - and they range from the accurate and the offensive to the surreal and the bizarre. Some are suggested when a place name is simply typed into the search box, while others appear when a computer user keys in the location followed by 'is'. Europe is... A map featuring alternative names for the countries of Europe based on Google's autocomplete search function predictions . Map makers have been having fun replacing place names with their online alter egos to create alternative maps of the world. They include a map of Europe by Buzzfeed.com, with some of the substitutions appearing to be apt descriptions, such as Iceland being replaced by 'bankrupt' and Sweden by 'expensive'. France becomes 'bacon', Britain is labelled 'a trap' while Italian food means the country is turned into 'Eataly'. However, others such as Ukraine being 'weak', Estonia swapping with 'poor' and Albania making way for 'bad', may not be looked upon with such good humour by patriots there. The website also produced a map of New York, featuring 'state of mind' instead of Chelsea, 'filled with high rollers' in place of Upper East Side, 'dangerous' filling in for Spanish Harlem, and 'more liberal' appearing where Uppper West Side should be. The maps were inspired by Matt Shirley, from Flipcollective.com, who used Yahoo autocomplete to draw up a 'United States Is...' map. United States of Autocomplete: The Alter egos thrown up by internet search engines have provided plenty of fund fodder for map makers . 'Racist' appears instead of Arizona, 'stupid' comes in for Idaho and 'flatter than a pancake' replaces Kansas, in his creation, while florida makes way for 'crazy', Tennessee is replaced by 'nice but it ain't Texas' and Rhode Island is helpfully swapped with 'not an island'. Autocomplete functions are designed to help the internet user find information quickly by throwing up a number of predictions. The predictions are based on previous searches made by all web users as well as those who have used the computer performing a particular search. The search engines also base their predicted results by scanning the contents of websites. Searching for alternatives: Google 'Denmark is' and 'a prison' tops the list of autocomplete predictions followed by 'islands' and 'is famous for' | Alternative maps have been produced, replacing place name with descriptions most often searched for .
Descriptions thrown up by the internet range from the accurate and the offensive to the surreal and the bizarre .
Europe, New York's Manhattan and the United States are among those maps getting a search engine makeover . |
144,377 | 46b7040432ca69ffaeeb8396b4623f1d2a25575b | Eugene M Isenberg will stay on as chairman . Deal reduced from $264m after shareholders complained . Worth $750m and has homes in Palm Beach, New York and Martha's Vineyard . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 8:59 PM on 31st October 2011 . The elderly CEO of an oil company has been given a $100 million pay out - even though he isn't leaving the company. Eugene M Isenberg, 81, has been chairman and chief executive of . the oil-drilling company Nabors Industries . Ltd since 1987. It was announced last week that Mr Isenberg would be promoting his second in command, 57-year-old Anthony G. Petrello, to CEO of the Bermuda-based company, but . that he would also remain in his job as chairman. Scroll down for video . Sweet deal: Eugene M Isenberg, 81, who lives in Palm Beach, walks away with $100 million in severance pay from oil company Nabors but will stay on as chairman . The power shift means that a clause in Mr Isenberg's employment contract will give him $100 million. The amount is less than he was originally entitled to, $264 million, after shareholders complained several years ago about the exorbitant sum. Mr Isenberg, who is already worth $750 million, would not have been entitled to the payout had he retired or resigned. The 81-year-old lives in Palm Beach, Florida and has commuted to the company's operational headquarters in Austin, Texas. He also has homes in New York and Martha's Vineyard. The company has yet to comment on when Mr Isenberg will receive his payout. According to the Wall Street Journal, the payment is more than the company made in the third quarter which was $74.3 million on revenue of $1.66 billion. In 2009, the Corporate Library listed Mr Isenberg as one of the highest paid, worst performing U.S. executives. In 2011, Nabors stock fell 19 per cent. In a statement on his company's website, Mr Isenberg said: 'I have complete . confidence that Tony is the right person to take over as CEO. 'We have . worked closely together for 20 years, and he has a deep knowledge of the . Company's operations and strategy. 'He is well positioned to lead the . Company as CEO moving forward. I believe the Company's brightest and . most successful days are ahead of it.' Slick: The headquarters of Nabors Industries Ltd in Austin, Texas . Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, told the Wall Street Journal: 'I think shareholders will have some issues. 'From an outside standpoint this doesn't seem to be a severance event.' Eugene Isenberg has been in charge of Nabors since 1987 when the company, which was started in Alaska, was coming back from bankruptcy. He began his career at another oil and gas company Exxon and was formerly head of a steel trading company Genimar Inc. He has served as Governor of the National Association of Securities Dealers from 1998 to 2006 and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) until 2005. He is also the President of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation and a major donor to the college where he was once a student. Booming business: Mr Isenberg has made a fortune from a long career in the oil industry and is said to be worth $750 million . His successor Anthony Petrello, who attended Harvard law school, has been on the board of directors at Nabors since 1991. Last year, the company had a net income of $300 million. The Nabors companies own 491 land drilling rigs . and 749 well-servicing rigs in the U.S and participate in most of the significant oil and gas markets in the world. Earlier this year the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted rules concerning shareholder approval of compensation for company executives and so-called 'golden parachute' arrangements. From January 2011, the new rules say that 'say-on-pay' votes for shareholders must take place every three years. However the SEC also adopted a temporary exemption for smaller companies which will not be required to abide by the voting rules until 2013. | Eugene M Isenberg will stay on as chairman .
Deal reduced from $264m after shareholders complained .
Worth $750m and has homes in Palm Beach, New York and Martha's Vineyard . |
20,033 | 38d96ef087ac6bf99fea463e5619d9d772c2de02 | (CNN Student News) -- October 2, 2014 . From the District of Columbia to the Korean Peninsula to Saudi Arabia, we're going globetrotting this Thursday. We'll cover everything from the resignation of the U.S. Secret Service's director to a feat of chemical engineering that aims to provide clean drinking water. You'll also hear a Random Fact about Halloween and how Netflix is hoping to change the movie business. On this page you will find today's show Transcript and a place for you to request to be on the CNN Student News Roll Call. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show. ROLL CALL . For a chance to be mentioned on the next CNN Student News, comment on the bottom of this page with your school name, mascot, city and state. We will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call! Thank you for using CNN Student News! | This page includes the show Transcript .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
At the bottom of the page, comment for a chance to be mentioned on CNN Student News. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call. |
17,518 | 319a27f92609641ee0f0fe1f6a88a9aab739b98a | The Queen last night issued an ‘unprecedented’ plea to the nation to ‘come together’ and strive for a truly united kingdom. From Balmoral, she acknowledged the rancour of recent days but urged people to put aside their ‘strongly-held’ opinions for the sake of unity. Her statement, issued after SNP leader Alex Salmond resigned, was also a clear message to politicians trying to appease voters on both sides of the border. Scroll down for video . Queen Elizabeth today released a statement on the Scottish decision to remain in the Union . Her Majesty apparently told a well-wisher on Sunday that voters should 'think very carefully about the future' The Queen, attended a church service in Balmoral on Sunday with her family in a strong show of unity . Urging the country to come together ‘in a spirit of mutual respect and support’, she implored them to work ‘constructively for the future of Scotland and indeed all parts of this country’. The Queen made clear her own deep-seated affection for the Scots, adding: ‘My family and I will do all we can to help and support you.’ The 88-year-old monarch had resisted being drawn into the referendum debate, and senior royal sources said it was an ‘unprecedented statement for an unprecedented time in our country’s history’. Entitled ‘A Statement From Her Majesty The Queen’, and signed Elizabeth R, it read: ‘After many months of discussion, debate, and careful thought, we now know the outcome of the Referendum, and it is a result that all of us throughout the United Kingdom will respect. For many in Scotland and elsewhere today, there will be strong feelings and contrasting emotions – among family, friends and neighbours. The Queen is said to look forward to her annual retreat to Balmoral and was concerned over independence . ‘That, of course, is the nature of the robust democratic tradition we enjoy in this country. ‘But I have no doubt that these emotions will be tempered by an understanding of the feelings of others. ‘Now, as we move forward, we should remember that despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all. 'Knowing the people of Scotland as I do, I have no doubt that Scots, like others throughout the United Kingdom, are able to express strongly-held opinions before coming together again in a spirit of mutual respect and support, to work constructively for the future of Scotland and indeed all parts of this country. ‘My family and I will do all we can to help and support you in this important task.’ Referring to the vote, a senior aide told the Mail last night: ‘She is head of state and this was a significant constitutional moment for the nation. It is right that the Queen should reflect and respond to that. In 1959 the Queen, right, entertained US President Dwight Eisenhower, left, at her private retreat in Balmoral . ‘While the campaign was going on it was also right that the Queen should stay constitutionally impartial and she maintained throughout that period it was a matter for the people of Scotland.’ Last night, the Queen was due to mark the success of the Better Together campaign at the Ghillies Ball at Balmoral. Until last week, Buckingham Palace had stayed out of the referendum debate. But last Sunday the Queen uttered her first public words on the subject during a walkabout after church. They were seized on by many in the No camp as an endorsement of the Union. Speaking to wellwishers, she said: ‘I hope everybody thinks very carefully about the referendum this week.’ Constitutional experts said she chose her words carefully to maintain her neutrality on politics. Alex Salmond, pictured, today announced his resignation claiming his time as leader 'is nearly over' The Queen is believed to have been kept fully updated as the independence vote was counted last night . The Queen, pictured here with Alex Salmond, right, was said to be privately concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence and the breakup of the United Kingdom which she pledged to govern . After many months of discussion, debate, and careful thought, we now know the outcome of the Referendum, and it is a result that all of us throughout the United Kingdom will respect. For many in Scotland and elsewhere today, there will be strong feelings and contrasting emotions – among family, friends and neighbours. That, of course, is the nature of the robust democratic tradition we enjoy in this country. But I have no doubt that these emotions will be tempered by an understanding of the feelings of others. Now, as we move forward, we should remember that despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all. Knowing the people of Scotland as I do, I have no doubt that Scots, like others throughout the United Kingdom, are able to express strongly-held opinions before coming together again in a spirit of mutual respect and support, to work constructively for the future of Scotland and indeed all parts of this country. My family and I will do all we can to help and support you in this important task. ELIZABETH R. Balmoral, 19th September, 2014 . | Queen Elizabeth released a statement from Balmoral on Scottish referendum .
Her Majesty said the entire United Kingdom would respect yesterday's vote .
She accepted there were 'strong feelings and emotions' regarding decision .
She called on everyone to work constructively for Scotland's future in UK .
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness called for a Northern Ireland border poll . |
34,905 | 63316028b7dc9c7995a9aafa2ff440f170576f32 | By . Phil Duncan . Follow @@PhilDuncanF1 . Lewis Hamilton could crack under the pressure of fighting to win his second Formula One championship, his former rival Felipe Massa has warned. Hamilton has been cast 29 points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix. The British star, who robbed Massa of the championship in the most dramatic of circumstances at the season finale in Brazil six years ago, has been hit with two mechanical retirements this year, while Rosberg has finished either first or second at every race. But Massa, speaking on the eve of his 200th Formula One start, believes Hamilton has been outsmarted by his team-mate so far this season. 'Lewis is one of the greatest drivers in terms of speed, and he has incredible talent,' Massa told Sportsmail. 'I would say Nico is losing a little bit, in terms of speed compared to Lewis, but maybe he is using a bit more of his brain. I can handle it! Felipe Massa warned that Lewis Hamilton could crack under the pressure of chasing the title . Trailing: The Brit is 29 points behind German team-mate Nico Rosberg heading to Silverstone . 'From now until the last race we might see that Lewis is back to his top form, winning races and starting from pole, but maybe not. Maybe he is under pressure because he is behind in the championship, so Nico can use that to his favour.' Hamilton came to within one race of making grand prix history and being crowned champion in his first year in the sport in 2007. But he blew a 12-point lead with just two races remaining, spinning into the gravel on his entrance to the pits and retiring from the penultimate race in China, before finishing only seventh at the final grand prix in Brazil. A year . later, Hamilton returned to Interlagos to win the title, but only after . he passed the Toyota of Timo Glock on the last corner of the last lap in . torrid conditions, to stop Massa, who won the race, from claiming the . title. 'When . you are at at team where the worst situation is you finish second, a . driver who has lost all the points because he did not finish has a big, . big impact and that is what has happened with Lewis,' added Massa in . reference to Hamilton's retirements in Australia and Canada. No 1: Rosberg won the Austrian Grand Prix to extend his lead over Hamilton before the British Grand Prix . Company: Hamilton and Arnaud Bamberger attend the Cartier Lunch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed . 'It makes his pressure higher, and his work higher, but he cannot be so nervous about it otherwise he could lose even more. Lewis was a driver that maybe lost under the pressure when he was fighting for the championship in 2007 and 2008, but maybe he has a little bit more experience now. I don't know if that will help or not, but for sure he has more pressure now than Nico.' Massa arrives at Silverstone in good form after he stunned the paddock by claiming the first non-Mercedes pole of the year in Austria last month. It was his first in almost six years, and comes after he moved to Williams over the winter, frustrated by playing second fiddle to Fernando Alonso at Ferrari. 'I am at a team which really respects me 100 per cent and want to do everything they can to make me competitive again - to fight for podiums but also for victories, too,' he explains. 'When people spend so long at a place, a change is like a re-start and you feel younger and you need that. I needed that and maybe even Ferrari, too. So, it was the right change which came at the right time.' Breaking the streak: Massa (centre) claimed the first non Mercedes pole of the season in Austria . Close: The Brazilian was disappointed to miss out on the podium and finish fourth in Spielberg . Massa admitted he was disappointed to finish only fourth after starting from pole, but the Brazilian was fortunate to even be on the grid at the Red Bull Ring following his spectacular 190mph crash with Sergio Perez in Canada a fortnight previously. 'I was sure it was going to hurt because it was so quick,' Massa said as he recalled the last-lap horror smash which saw both he and Perez admitted to hospital. 'It is the worst feeling you can have knowing that the wall is coming at you so quickly. I pulled 27G on the crash but thank God I am here and nothing happened to me.' Massa, 33, will be joined by an unfamiliar face on track this weekend, when Britain's Williams' development driver Susie Wolff becomes the first female in more than two decades to participate at a grand prix weekend. 'I think it is fantastic and great to see a lady driving the car , so I will try to help her in any way I can,' Massa said of Wolff, who will take to the wheel in Friday's practice session. 'I hope Susie does a good job with the opportunity she has, and it is not just because she is a lady. It depends how quick she can be, but what experience, performance and talent she can show to the team.' Tense: Brazil face Colombia in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday . Back in his native country, Brazil, who are battling to win the World Cup in front of an expectant home crowd, face Colombia in their quarter-final clash on Friday. 'I know how it is to win at home, and fight for the championship at home, so if we can win the World Cup it will be like a big dream coming true,' he says. 'But honestly, I am a sportsman and I know how difficult it is, and it doesn't always happen in the perfect way. The result might not be what you expect and this is part of sport, but Brazilians do not think like that. If you are second then you have lost. 'That is really tough but it is the mentality. I know if we do not win, the media will be very strong and the people, too. I don't enjoy it so much, but that is the way it is.' Randstad is an official partner to Williams Martini Racing. Click here for more information. | Lewis Hamilton is 29 points adrift of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg ahead of this weekend's British GP .
Felipe Massa has warned that Lewis Hamilton could crack under the pressure . |
74,534 | d3459c9a7e94b3c4fa52c9822acc2a43ae6428ad | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 07:11 EST, 15 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:41 EST, 16 April 2013 . Doctors have been left baffled after a baby was born with a condition they had never seen before. Jasper Holt’s illness is believed to be so unique that medics don't have a term for it. Instead, they have dubbed it ‘Jasper’s Syndrome’. He was born on April 8 with a cleft palate, conjoined kidneys, a small jaw, and cysts in his brain. Jasper Holt was born with a condition that doctors have never seen before - they have dubbed it 'Jasper's syndrome' Jasper, pictured with parents Jeffery Holt and Gemma Moorby, was born on April 8 with a cleft palate, conjoined kidneys, a small jaw, and cysts in his brain . A cleft palate - he will see cleft palate specialists this week . A small jaw . Brain cysts - he is to have an MRI scan this week . Conjoined kidneys - he had surgery at one-day-old to have his kidneys separated . At just one day old he had to undergo surgery to reconstruct his lower abdomen and separate his kidneys. ‘We were initially told [before he was born] that he had a brain development problem called lissencephaly,’ said his father, Jeffrey Holt. ‘However, subsequent scans showed that wasn't the case and what was wrong was basically unknown. ‘When he was born his heart and kidneys were working fine but he was put straight on a ventilator. ‘He has a cleft palate and his kidneys were shaped like a horseshoe because they had not separated.’ Jasper, who is now one-week-old, was born at Newcastle's Victoria Royal Infirmary, weighing 5lb 2oz. Mr Holt and Jasper's mother Gemma Moorby, 26, have now been told he is most likely suffering from a chromosomal abnormality. Jasper, pictured with his parents and brother, Oscar, is most likely suffering from a chromosomal abnormality . Mr Holt said: ‘They have been doing lots of tests but it could be years before we find out which chromosome has been affected. ‘Doctors have said it could be that it is totally unique and have named it “Jasper Syndrome”. ‘He came off the ventilator a few days after he was born but a scan that night showed he had cysts on his brain. ‘He also had a bit of a setback on the same day and had to have a little bit of oxygen. Next week we will see the cleft palate team and he will have an MRI.’ At just one-day old he had to undergo surgery to reconstruct his lower abdomen and separate his kidneys . Jasper, who is now one-week-old, was born at Newcastle's Victoria Royal Infirmary, weighing 5lb 2oz . Mr Holt, of Barrow, Cumbria, explained how a routine ante-natal scan turned their world upside down and saw them travel 117 miles to Newcastle. The 31-year-old said: ‘We were told that Jasper had problems with his kidneys and brain. It was devastating. Days later we had to go to the hospital in Newcastle. It has been a total nightmare.’ Ms Moorby was under the care of the couple’s local Furness General maternity unit until the baby’s condition was discovered and she was referred to Newcastle. Mr Holt said: ‘They made such a difference. They explained everything to us and have been great in helping us understand what was going on. ‘We can't thank them enough for their care.’ | Jasper Holt was born at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary on April 8 .
He has a cleft palate, conjoined kidneys, a small jaw and cysts in his brain .
Doctors think condition may be unique and dubbed it 'Jasper's syndrome'
It is now believed he has a chromosomal abnormality . |
181,975 | 779fc176c5a8a46906d6b16f0838d68f3def7cb7 | (CNN) -- Family musical groups are as common as cowboy boots at the Grand Ole Opry. The Band Perry joins a long list that includes the Jackson 5, the Bee Gees, the Pointer Sisters, even the Von Trapp Family Singers. Still, fans have an endless fascination with how these groups operate in such close quarters, perhaps because so many of us have memories of bickering with our own siblings over Tonka trucks and dress-up bins. "We've had to go against nature a bit," Kimberly Perry admitted with a laugh. "But honestly, I'm not sure how people do it without their family." The three siblings -- Kimberly, Neil and Reid -- have been performing together for 14 years. The band is a democracy, they said, but their mom holds two votes and plays referee.It's a system that has worked wonders so far. In October 2010, the group released "If I Die Young," a single that, ironically, given the title, brought The Band Perry to life. The song reached No. 1 on the country charts, headed over to the pop charts and went quadruple platinum after selling more than 4 million copies. Since then they've released three more hits -- "You Lie," "All Your Life" and the latest, "Postcard from Paris.""The most nerve-racking moment was releasing 'You Lie,'" Kimberly said of the band's success since the first single. "It was like, 'Great, we're not a one-hit wonder band.'" In 2011 the band won both the American Country Music and the Country Music Association's new artist of the year awards, as well as the 2011 CMA award for single of the year. This summer they're traveling with Brad Paisley on his "Virtual Reality" tour and promoting the Outnumber Hunger program, an initiative aimed at providing meals for food banks across the country. The siblings are from a small town, Greeneville, Tennessee, that was badly damaged by the tornadoes that hit the South last April. "So many of the families were struggling financially anyway, the food bank really helped them get back on their feet," Kimberly said. "So this [program] is really near and dear to our hearts." Kimberly, 28, is the talker of the group. Reid, 23, and Neil, 21, speak only when they can get a word in edgewise. They're songwriters, first and foremost. "We write in a writing circle," Neil said. "Reid's on the base guitar, I'm on my mandolin... it's like there's a pot in the middle and we're all throwing stuff in." Touring with Paisley can be tricky. He's known to be a prankster -- spraying opening acts with water, throwing bread rolls on stage and even decorating Jerrod Niemann's tour bus. "We do have to sleep with one eye open when we're out on the road," Kimberly said. So far it has been only psychological warfare: Paisley peppered a concert venue in Kentucky with a photo of the band, using a head shot of Christopher Guest to replace Reid. But the band is ready for anything. They've stashed Nerf guns and silly string in cases on stage. Paisley parties are actually becoming more legendary than his pranks, Reid said. Paisley brought a petting zoo with miniature ponies to one show. He recently rented a theater for a private viewing of "Avengers." "He's a great guy to be out on the road with," Kimberly said. "It's a grueling schedule and he's one of the best at keeping it lighthearted." The Band Perry is headed back to the studio to record their second album. Faced with pressure to duplicate the success of their first, the Perrys are trying to remember that they've been doing this for years -- and will continue to play after the spotlights fade. | The Band Perry has four hits, including "If I Die Young" and "Postcard from Paris"
The siblings are promoting the Outnumber Hunger program to help stock food banks .
Touring with Brad Paisley is a mix of parties and pranks, the group says . |
128,760 | 325f2c3c5c182c50a24d8971314d103f7a9618e5 | A bitter memory of her father being stopped by police and her own brushes with cops rushed back to Daniele Watts when the actress ended up in cuffs over refusing to hand an officer her ID . The Django Unchained star wrote Saturday in an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel how a memory of her father being stopped without cause made her unwilling to cooperate with police responding to a 'lewd behavior' call in Los Angeles. 'When I was 16, my father was driving me home from a school play when we saw flashing lights,' Watts explained. 'We hadn't been speeding. I remember my father asking the police officer what was wrong. The officer ignored his question and demanded identification.' Refused: Daniele Watts was not allowed to leave the scene when officers were called to respond to a charge of 'lewd behavior,' where she refused to give ID . The officer did not explain why he had pulled them over. Instead he asked Watts's father questions such as 'Who is she?' while adding a disparaging remark about Watts's costume. Watts explains her father felt he 'was powerless to stop the questioning or protect me from the officer's judgments,' but still handed over his license to avoid the officer making 'life very hard.' So when Los Angeles police approached Watts and her partner Brian Lucas - who is white - earlier this month following a call of 'lewd behavior,' she recalled that memory, she said. She refused to turn over ID to officers after being spotted in a car with Lucas, when she said that the couple was just kissing, though TMZ claimed photos were of something more extracurricular. An audio recording obtained by MailOnline caught audio of when police walked up to Watts to demand identification. 'It is a constitutional right that we do not have to present ID to any member of law enforcement unless we are being charged with a crime,' she's heard saying. Tape: Watts spoke of having police called on her and her partner Brian Lucas because of their races, which brought on a backlash when tape and photos of the incident surfaced . Star: Watts played the role of Coco in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, and she's had roles in shows like Californication . She later walks away from the scene and is detained in handcuffs, in spite of officers not charging her. Watts claimed that the officers grilled her about her relationship with Lucas and made her feel like a prostitute. The audio led many to criticize Watts for 'crying wolf' over racial profiling when it emerged that she is the first to mention race during the interaction with police. In her op-ed, she says that when she said 'Do you know how many times the cops have been called just for being black?' she thought of three recent episodes that echoed the one with her father. During a stop for speeding in Texas, Watts says an officer removed her from the car and interrogated her about how she and Lucas knew each other and why they were traveling together. In California, she watched a police car pass by her and Lucas talking in a parked car, then double back with lights flashing to check out a call of 'suspicious persons' due to a 'flurry of robberies.' Another time Watts says she and Lucas were sorting through his father's garage and were stopped on 'concerns about robbery,' when Watts says she adamantly refused to provide ID. The Daily News reported the officers involved are the subject of a probe by the LAPD for charges including biased policing and conduct unbecoming, though there are no official allegations. As for Watts, she says she couldn't have 'turned my back on the 16-year-old who watched her father' embarrassed by police by turning over ID when she says she had the right not to. | Daniele Watts was detained briefly after refusing to hand over identification when officers were called to a scene of 'lewd behavior'
Watts wrote in the Orlando Sentinel of when her dad was stopped without cause and times she and her boyfriend, who is white, were questioned .
Watts says they were kissing in a car and that questions about her and her boyfriend's relationship made her feel like she was being profiled .
Photos later emerged that suggested they were having sex and Watts faced backlash for her earlier claims .
Watts starred as Coco in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained . |
235,520 | bce4b67bf66e8eb7748fd742d8792fd0b813a1d4 | Khartoum, Sudan (CNN) -- The preliminary results of a referendum on an independent Southern Sudan will be announced in the next few days, with final results as early as February 7, the national commission that organized the vote said Tuesday, . The South Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), which was formed last year by President Omar al-Bashir, said the preliminary results will be announced Saturday in Juba in Southern Sudan and on February 2 in Khartoum, Sudan's capital. "If there is no appeal, the final results will be announced on February 7," said Justice Chan Reec Madut, deputy chairman of the commission. "But if there is an appeal or appeals, they have to be discussed, and the final announcement will then be on February 14." South Sudanese voted in a weeklong referendum in early January on whether to form an independent state. Preliminary results show 99% voted for independence with most of the count in the south completed. The commission faced three challenges during the referendum process: the legal aspect of the referendum itself, time and finances, according to commission chairman Muhammad Khalil. "In these kinds of situations, where there are political negotiations, there is a lot of give and take," Khalil said, "and this reflected on the law." "The law itself was framed in an unclear way with much repetition. ... It was shaky," he said. Nevertheless, Khalil said, the referendum commission, which includes southern Sudanese and northern Sudanese members, worked easily together, "making decisions in accord." Khalil said the commission did not have much time to conduct its work. "It was conceived by those who signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that the referendum process would take 42 months," he said. "By the time the referendum commission was established, we had four months." The referendum on whether to declare independence from the government based in the north is part of a 2005 peace agreement that helped end a two-decade-long war. The war pitted a government dominated by Arab Muslims in northern Sudan against black Christians or animists in the south. The conflict left about 2 million people dead. Funding was also a challenge for the referendum, Khalil said. "The international funding was generous but not made available for Sudanese expertise," he said. "If we had more funding, we would have included more Sudanese experts to give the referendum an added national face." Both the federal government of Sudan and the government of south Sudan had committed themselves to funding the referendum with 400 million Sudanese pounds (about $160 million), Khalil said, but the commission only received 26.6 million SDG in the north, and 60 million SDG in the south. Madut also pointed to "logistical difficulties" in the south during the referendum. "We used human porters who delivered material on their heads to transport the materials and kits to the counties." However, Madut said, the high turnout was historical. "It is something that has never happened in Sudan; in fact some say it never happened anywhere." Madut said once the counting is done, the rest will be up to the politicians. Issues such as borders, the future of the oil-rich border district of Abyei, citizenship rights and how to manage international debts are yet to be resolved. "We were able to finish in five months what was supposed to be done in three years," he said. "So unless we are told to come back ... we we would like to take a beautiful vacation." | The South Sudan Referendum Commission was formed last year .
It organized a referendum on whether to split Southern Sudan from a government based in the north .
Final results are expected in early February . |
18,418 | 341f70cceaf00f8e16e46a611a17af1551599ab5 | Cairo (CNN) -- Coptic Pope Shenouda III, the spiritual leader of Egypt's Coptic Christian community for nearly four decades, died Saturday, according to the head of the Egyptian General Coptic Association. He was 88. "Shenouda III suffered renal failure ... due to the diabetes he endured for years," Sheif Doss told CNN. The leader of the Coptic Christian community for 38 years, Shenouda was in poor health off and on for many years. He traveled to the United States to undergo medical tests last year. Egypt's population is roughly 9% Coptic Christian, according to the U.S. State Department. The Christian minority has been the target of a number of high-profile attacks in the past several years, including the bombing of a major church in Alexandria last January that left at least 21 people dead. "The funeral is expected to take place in two days, as massive preparations must take place first. It is a historical event and 2 million people are expected to attend the prayers. I don't expect violence though," Doss said. Markus Askuf, spokesman for the Coptic Church, said Shenouda's body is expected to arrive at the Coptic cathedral in Cairo at noon Sunday. Visitors will be permitted to come and pray there. Shenouda will be buried Tuesday at Emba Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun, northwest of Egypt's capital, Askuf said. The area is home to some of the world's earliest Christian monasteries. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian church in the Middle East, according the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage, England. In addition to millions of followers in Egypt, the church has adherents in Europe, Canada, the United States, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, the center says. U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife offered their condolences Saturday after news of Shenouda's death spread, saying he will be remembered as "a man of deep faith, a leader of a great faith, and an advocate for unity and reconciliation." "His commitment to Egypt's national unity is also a testament to what can be accomplished when people of all religions and creeds work together," the Obamas said. When a Coptic pope dies, all 150 bishops of the church's Holy Council appoint an acting patriarch until a vote is conducted for a successor, Doss said. Thousands of bishops, priests and monks are eligible to vote. The most senior bishop usually takes the role of acting patriarch. In this case, that would be Bishop Michael of Asiut. If he declines, Bishop Bakhamious of Behira is next in line, Doss said. | NEW: Pope Shenouda III is to be buried Tuesday, a spokesman says .
NEW: President Obama and his wife offer their condolences .
Shenouda led the Coptic Christian community for 38 years .
Coptic Christians, 9% of the population, have been targeted in attacks in recent years . |
162,642 | 5e48d1baf9bec3a2b88c1e1b5669be1a6817350d | A senior figure in Asian football has been banned for five years for 'soliciting and accepting' bribes from former FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam. Ganbold Buyannemekh, the head of the Mongolian FA and a former member of the Asian football confederation's executive committee, was banned by FIFA's ethics committee for accepting the payments to back Bin Hammam's campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2011. He also accepted money from Bin Hammam when he was involved in an election to FIFA's executive committee in 2009, narrowly beating Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa - the current AFC president - by 23 votes to 21. Head of the Mongolian FA Ganbold Buyannemekh (left), pictured here in 2013, has been banned by FIFA . A statement from FIFA said: 'The adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, has decided to ban the president of the Mongolian Football Federation, Ganbold Buyannemekh, from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for a period of five years. 'Mr Buyannemekh solicited and accepted payments [from Mr Mohamed bin Hammam] in the context of the elections for the FIFA executive committee at the AFC Congress in 2009 as well as the FIFA presidential election in 2011.' Buyannemekh was found guilty of several ethics codes violations including article 21 which covers bribery and corruption. Bin Hammam's challenge against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency ended weeks before the vote after allegations surfaced of payments to officials in the Caribbean. He was later banned for life by FIFA's ethics committee. | Ganbold Buyannemekh, head of the Mongolian FA, has been banned .
FIFA's ethics committee reveal he accepted payments to back Bin Hammam's campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2011 .
Buyannemekh is banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for a period of five years . |
26,229 | 4a54cec8e98458f5b550beff9e1575e8177da56f | Paris (CNN) -- The French government will pay for tens of thousands of women to have silicone breast implants removed over concerns about a possible link to a rare form of cancer, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday. French health authorities are due to make a recommendation Friday about whether women with implants by a company called Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) must have them removed. The ministry says about 30,000 French women have PIP implants, which are not currently approved for use in the United States. According to a news release from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, PIP is now defunct. It says the company "used non-medical grade silicone believed by the manufacturers to be made for mattresses." The French government agency that evaluates the safety of medical products says 523 women have had them removed since a defect was discovered last year. More than 1,000 implants have ruptured since then, the agency says. British authorities are advising caution over the implants but are not going as far as the French. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said Tuesday it was "aware of the recent report in France of the death of a woman implanted with breast implants from anaplastic large cell lymphoma," which it called "a rare form of cancer which affects cells from the immune system." It said it would "monitor for any associations of all types of breast implants, including PIP, with cancers and any other health implications." But it did not advise women with PIP implants to have them taken out, saying more generally that "women with any type of breast implant... who have questions about their breasts or think that their implants may have ruptured, should seek clinical advice from their implanting surgeon." A committee made up of representatives of several French health agencies was set up December 14 to discuss PIP implants. Women will only be reimbursed for new implants if they were originally for reconstructive surgery, the Health Ministry said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided in March 2000 not to approve saline PIP implants in the United States. The company never submitted a marketing application for its silicone implants in the United States, the agency says. CNN's Laura Perez Maestro and Miriam Falco contributed to this report. | The French Health ministry is concerned over a possible cancer link .
About 30,000 French women have implants made by PIP .
PIP implants are not approved for use in the United States .
British officials advise women concerned about implants to talk to their doctor . |
245,327 | c989de1f3fb90bd0c5600bd05b223bd867b9810b | Try as he might, Alastair Cook just cannot rid himself of Kevin Pietersen. As England crashed to another one-day defeat, this time by eight wickets with more than 10 overs to spare, Cook’s former team-mate and unfailing bête noire was calling for his resignation on Twitter. The worry for Cook, as Sri Lanka moved with embarrassing ease into a 2-0 lead in this seven-match series, is that Pietersen was able to do so without sounding bitter. ‘Dear Alastair,’ he tweeted, ‘if you care about England’s chances this winter, pls resign and just concentrate on Test cricket... #getHalesin’ Kevin Pietersen has called on England captain to resign from his post for one-day internationals . Alex Hales, the talented Nottinghamshire opener who has watched both defeats in Colombo from the pavilion, might not have saved England as they slumped to a dismal 185. But his selection alone might just have lifted a few spirits. And England’s spirits need lifting — the captain’s more than anyone’s. Since Cook led England to the final of the Champions Trophy on home soil in 2013, he has presided over 11 losses in 16 one-day internationals. One of his five wins came against Scotland. England’s lone series victory in that period — earlier this year in the Caribbean — came when Stuart Broad was in charge. And there are a maximum of 10 games left before the World Cup starts on February 14. Time is running out. Kevin Pietersen says Alex Hales should replace Cook as captain of one-day side . Cook the batsman is faring little better. The 22 he made in 37 balls here meant he has now gone 55 innings without a century in both Tests and one-day internationals. Informed of Pietersen’s observation, he offered a weary grin: ‘Good job I’m not on social media. People are totally entitled to their view. That’s the nature of the beast when you’re on the outside.’ However, this latest defeat also prompted Sir Ian Botham to call for the captain to be replaced. ‘England do need to make changes and they’ve got to make them quickly,’ Botham told Sky Sports. ‘Personally, I would bring in Alex Hales at the top of the order with Moeen Ali — so that means the captain has to step down. ‘I would make (Eoin) Morgan captain because I think that’s just what he needs — I think he thinks a bit more out of the box.’ England legend Ian Botham called for Eoin Morgan to be made captain . It has been a tough few days for the England captain, who had spent the build-up to this match presiding over a squad still coming to terms with the death of Phillip Hughes. For a while, the day proceeded in an air of unreality. A book of condolences was signed, a minute’s silence observed, and flags flown at half mast above the Premadasa Stadium’s giant scoreboard. Perhaps mindful of Hughes, who died after being hit by a bouncer, the first short ball did not arrive until the 28th over. But if the players have felt his death strongly, especially the trio who once counted him as a county colleague — Ali, Morgan and Steven Finn — then there should be no mistake: England wanted to win this game. More than that, they needed to. Instead, they managed only eight boundaries in 43 overs after rain had cut the match to 45 a side. Only Ravi Bopara and Joe Root passed 22. England’s bowlers were then effortlessly manoeuvred this way and that by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Cook was dismissed by Tillakaratne Dilshan as England went down by eight wickets against Sri Lanka . But it was England’s batting that let them down. Ali, fresh from a sparkling century three days earlier, fell in the second over to the off-breaks of Tillakeratne Dilshan, who then persuaded the strokeless Cook to slog-sweep to deep square leg. In between, Ian Bell picked out long-off. Later, Morgan added to his own growing catalogue of cheap dismissals. Root and Bopara, with his second half-century of the series, did their best but England did not look capable of curing all their ills in time for the World Cup. As long as England keep losing and Cook keeps failing, there will be only one question in town. Cook said: ‘You feel the heat when you’re not scoring runs. How we respond will be really important.’ The next game is on Wednesday in Hambantota. For England and Cook, it has already assumed the proportions of a must-win. | England lost by eight wickets against Sri Lanka on Saturday .
Kevin Pietersen has called for Alastair Cook to resign as captain .
There is confusion as to why Alex Hales hasn't been picked for the ODIs . |
212,103 | 9eaa2abc1cd7099e94a2ba6ea3dcaf2c0e17e072 | By . Jessica Satherley . Last updated at 12:41 PM on 24th November 2011 . A 67-foot pregnant fin whale was being examined by biologists yesterday after its carcass was washed up in San Diego. Over 100 people descended to Fiesta Island, in the city’s Mission Bay, to watch the examination, which determined the whale had been killed by a ship which fractured its vertebral column, according local newspaper reports. And Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Oceanic organisation is paying for the carcass to be towed out to sea and sunk deep into the ocean tomorrow so researchers can study its decomposition over the next several years. Examination: Over 100 people descended to Fiesta Island, in San Diego's Mission Bay, to watch the examination of the dead fin whale . The cost of towing the whale is very expensive, but Virgin Oceanic's operations manager Eddie Kisfaludy said the effort made by Virgin is part of a larger vision by Branson to ‘get the world excited . about exploring’ the deep ocean. Kisfaludy told the San Diego Union-Tribune: ‘The first thing that is going to happen after we sink the whale is it’s probably going to get attacked by . all the deep sea critters that hang out around at 2,500 feet down. ‘That’s going to include hack fish, . shrimp [and] crab and they are probably going to be working away on it . for the next several years.’ San Diego lifeguards are patrolling the carcass until tomorrow and the towing will take place under the supervision of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Pregnant whale: The fin whale was pregnant when it died, leading its foetus (bottom right) be be expelled from its body 48 hours after its death . Helped by lifeguards: Local lifeguards originally towed the body from the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Fiesta Island so the carcass could be examined . Funding: Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Oceanic is paying for the boat and fuel to tow the whale . Along with the mother whale, which could weigh up to 70 tons, its five-foot foetus had apparently been expelled from its body around 48 hours after it died, due to bloating, scientists said. The whale originally washed up near Point Loma Waste Treatment Plan on Saturday afternoon before San Diego lifeguards moved the carcass over six miles to Fiesta Island where it could be examined. Lifeguard Greg Buchanan told the newspaper: ‘Everything went according to plan but I can honestly tell you the lifeguards were struggling with the enormity of the whale.’ Sir Richard Branson’s undersea leisure venture company is paying for the boat and fuel in return for the research. The carcass will be sunk near the Scripps Submarine Canyon and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, where scientists will study the decomposing body over the years to come and see how new ecosystems form. Fin whales are the second largest living mammals after the blue whale and grow up to 88 feet in length. | Branson's Virgin Oceanic is paying for the boat and fuel to tow the whale so researchers can study its decomposition over several years .
Biologists recorded that the whale was killed by a ship . |
216,525 | a45532da3053fe9de0e70b6bb17a8676cc90ed3a | By . Tara Brady . A boyband singer and Britain's Got Talent finalist has been charged with attacking his former girlfriend. Adam Diplock, 29, will appear before magistrates later this month accused of assault causing actual bodily harm. Diplock, who uses the stage name Adam Chandler, performs in the group Jack Pack. Adam Diplock will appear before magistrates this month accused of assault causing actual bodily harm . Jack Pack: Adam Chandler, Alfie Palmer, Andrew Bourn and Sean Ryder Wolf on Britain's Got Talent . Other members of the group include Alfie Palmer, Andrew Bourn and Sean Ryder Wolf. Judge Simon Cowell praised the group's style after they came fourth in the live finals of the ITV show with their version of Frank Sinatra's That's Life. Members of the group gave up their jobs to focus on their music career. The alleged victim is believed to be a former girlfriend according to The Mirror. A Kent police spokesman said a 29-year-old man will appear at Maidstone Magistrate's Court (pictured) Diplock, who got to the X Factor finals in 2007 in a band called Futureproof, was interviewed by police. Futureproof was formed from male singers who initially auditioned as soloists but did not make it past the bootcamp stage. However, believing that talent had been lost, judge Louis Walsh decided to give them a lifeline and invited them back as a group. The group went onto make it past bootcamp to the judge's houses where they were told by mentor Simon Cowell they had made it to the final 12. However, they were voted off on the third live show. Last month it emerged the members of Jack Pack had all had successful careers in the showbiz industry. Collectively, the boy band have supported a vast array of pop stars including Sir Tom Jones, Westlife, Sugarbabes, Boys II Men and Blue. Diplock is also a wedding singer while Andrew Bourn and Alfie Palmer are Michael Buble impersonators. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'A 29-year-old man has been summonsed to appear before Maidstone magistrates on June 24 to face a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Adam Diplock, 29, to appear at Maidstone Magistrate's Court this month .
He has been accused of assault causing actual bodily harm .
Diplock uses the stage name Adam Chandler and performs with Jack Pack .
The singer got to the X Factor finals in 2007 in a band called Futureproof . |
168,664 | 662d977aacf29dd4330f46041bd872ffd978e8b0 | An earlier picture of rider Helen Mercer, 26: she sent friends a text on Facebook after the fall saying she was fine . A woman who fell from her horse while taking part in an event had to be cut out of a car after getting inside to recover. Rider Helen Mercer, 26, is said to have first refused first aid after taking the tumble from her horse when it failed to take a jump. But after she was taken to sit inside a Peugeot car, belonging to one of the helpers at the annual horse event at Misty Blue Farm at Spennymoor, County Durham, there were fears she might have suffered spinal injuries. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called . to the farm, and later firefighters removed the car’s doors and peeled . back its roof so Ms Mercer could be safely removed on a spinal board. She was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham and it is understood she was discharged having suffered cracked ribs at Sunday's event. Posting on Facebook she wrote: 'Just to . let everyone concerned know I am fine, few cracked ribs soft tissue . damage bruised lung and spleen but otherwise fine.' One spectator, photographer John Mothersdale, said the rider was lucky not to have been more seriously hurt. 'Her . horse, which was a big one, probably about 17 hands, went through the . jump rather than over it and she went over its head,' he said. 'The horse then jumped over her, it would have been a lot worse if it had landed on her.' The horse went through the jump rather than over it and Helen went over its head . Lucky: The horse jumps over Helen, leaving her with only a few bruises . Nikki Skinner who runs the farm said it was a relief she had not suffered a more serious injury. The . rider was not wearing body armour while taking part in the annual show . and Mrs Skinner said the farm is considering making such protection . compulsory for future competitions. 'We had an emergency staff meeting . after the incident and we do not feel there is anything we could have . done differently,' Mrs Skinner said. 'It was just one those unfortunate things that can happen when working with unpredictable animals like horses. Leaving nothing to chance: emergency crews cut up the car to get the rider our safely . The doors were cut off and the roof peeled open: rider Helen had to be brought out of the car on a spinal board . Better safe than sorry: Air ambulance and firefighter were called to the scene - but the rider turned out to be fine . 'It is up to each individual rider whether or not they wear the protection, which does not guarantee safety but is better than wearing no protection at all. We are now reviewing our rules and regulations.' In July the Great North Air Ambulance flew Laura Tomkins to hospital after she broke her collarbone when she fell from her horse at the same farm. | Helen Mercer's horse went through the .
jump rather than over it - she went over the horse's head .
Rider thought she was fine and went to rest in a parked car, but fears grew she might have suffered spinal injuries .
Emergency services cut off doors and the roof of the car to get her out safely . |
33,483 | 5f3c60175b0b813504e27e5e928c008566255e8f | Washington (CNN) -- Congress is launching a broad-ranging investigation into possible waste, misuse and corruption tied to billions of taxpayer dollars used to support private military contractors in Afghanistan. Among the questions being raised is whether money provided in a nearly $2.2 billion trucking contract in the war-torn country went to pay off local warlords and the Taliban. The investigation comes as the Obama administration begins deploying another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. The White House has requested more than $70 billion to fund the war in fiscal year 2010, according to a Senate subcommittee memo. "Serious allegations have been brought to [Congress'] attention that private security providers for U.S. transportation contractors in Afghanistan are regularly paying local warlords and the Taliban for security," said Rep. John Tierney, D-Massachusetts, who chairs the House National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. "After a preliminary inquiry, it has been determined these reports warrant a full-scale ... investigation. If shown to be true, it would mean that the United States is unintentionally engaged in a vast protection racket and, as such, may be indirectly funding the very insurgents we are trying to fight." Eight companies currently split the Afghan host nation trucking contract, which went into effect in May. The contract, according to Tierney's subcommittee, provides ground transportation in Afghanistan for more than 90 percent of supplies for U.S. troops, including food, fuel and ammunition. Most supplies are shipped overland via Pakistan to Bagram Airfield, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan. They are then distributed to hundreds of other smaller airfields and bases. In the Senate, an oversight subcommittee headed by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, also is looking into how contractor money is being spent. Federal auditors state that approximately $950 million in "questioned and unsupported costs" has been submitted by Pentagon contractors for work in Afghanistan, according to a report prepared for Congress. That amount represents 16 percent of the total contract dollars examined so far. The U.S. government has spent more than $23 billion on contracts in Afghanistan since 2002, the report states. There are currently 104,000 Pentagon contractors in Afghanistan -- a figure that could rise to 160,000 to support President Obama's planned troop increase, according to the report. Roughly 100,000 U.S. troops are slated to be in Afghanistan at the height of the coming surge. | Among questions is whether $2.2 billion trucking contract went to pay warlords .
"Serious allegations have been brought to [Congress'] attention," says congressman .
"It has been determined these reports warrant a full-scale ... investigation," Rep. Tierney said . |
24,515 | 4585bddb7acc21dc01328a4b6e7c44e8d63bd254 | (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama defended his patriotism Monday, telling a crowd in Independence, Missouri, that his "deep and abiding love for this country" is the reason he is running for president. Sen. Barack Obama's speech on patriotism comes days before the Fourth of July. "At certain times over the last 16 months, I have found, for the first time, my patriotism challenged -- at times as a result of my own carelessness, more often as a result of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears and doubts about who I am and what I stand for," he said in President Harry Truman's hometown, just days before the Fourth of July. Obama vowed to never question the patriotism of others in the campaign, adding "I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine." Obama has been defending his patriotism ever since the beginning of the primary season, when he was first criticized for not wearing a flag pin -- which he now does much more frequently -- and when false rumors began circulating that he did not say the Pledge of Allegiance. Watch excerpts of Obama's speech » . A widely distributed photo also seemed to show him failing to place his hand over his heart during a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Obama's wife, Michelle, also was criticized about her patriotism, after telling an audience at a campaign event, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country." Obama's campaign said she was just excited about the campaign's grassroots support, but her words still provided fodder for her husband's opponents. At his appearance Monday, Barack Obama appealed to unity. "Given the enormous challenges that lie before us, we can no longer afford these sorts of divisions," he said. "None of us expect that arguments about patriotism will, or should, vanish entirely; after all, when we argue about patriotism, we are arguing about who we are as a country, and more importantly, who we should be. "But surely, we can agree that no party or political philosophy has a monopoly on patriotism. And surely, we can arrive at a definition of patriotism that, however rough and imperfect, captures the best of America's common spirit." Obama said that for him, "patriotism starts as a gut instinct, a loyalty and love for country that's rooted in some of my earliest memories." Obama described how as he grew up, his patriotism matured to something that "would survive my growing awareness of our nation's imperfections: its ongoing racial strife; the perversion of our political system that were laid bare during the Watergate hearings; the wrenching poverty of the Mississippi Delta and the hills of Appalachia." Obama said he learned that "what makes America great has never been its perfection, but the belief that it can be made better." Patriotism, he said, must involve the willingness to sacrifice. He called attention to the service of John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate. McCain's campaign has been calling on Obama to condemn comments from retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who said this weekend that McCain's service in Vietnam did not necessarily mean that he was qualified to serve as commander-in-chief. Read about what Clark said . Clark is a military adviser for Obama. In his speech Monday, Obama did not directly address Clark's comments, but after calling attention to McCain's service, he said "no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters of both sides." "We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform. Period," he said. Just as Obama was finishing his speech, his campaign released a statement about Clark's remarks. "As he's said many times before, Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said. Meanwhile, McCain's campaign announced Monday it was launching a new Truth Squad to defend the Arizona senator's military record. Leaders of the latest group include McCain's fellow Vietnam prisoners of war Air Force Col. Bud Day and Marine Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, along with former Navy pilot Carl Smith, who served with him. McCain said Monday he was proud of his record of service. Watch McCain's response to Clark's comments » . "The important thing is that if that's the kind of campaign that Sen. Obama and his surrogates and his supporters want to engage in, I understand that," he said. "But it doesn't reduce the price of a gallon of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer ... and it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges that Americans have in keeping their jobs, their homes and supporting their families." Obama was to follow up Monday's speech on patriotism with an address Tuesday about faith and remarks later in the week on service. He will spend his Fourth of July in Butte, Montana, campaigning with his family. McCain on Monday was campaigning in Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the general election. He was scheduled to speak with reporters in Harrisburg before holding a town hall meeting in Pipersville. McCain leaves for Colombia on Tuesday and will travel to Mexico later in the week. His campaign on Monday unveiled his new campaign airplane, a Boeing 737-400. The aircraft shares its name -- the "Straight Talk Express" with McCain's campaign bus, which has been a staple of the candidate's 2000 and 2008 campaigns. The 95-seat plane -- with seats for the candidate, his staffers and the press -- has the "Straight Talk Express" logo emblazoned on its fuselage. CNN's Tasha Diakides and Chris Welch contributed to this report. | NEW: Obama vows to never question the patriotism of others in the campaign .
NEW: Obama camp: "Of course [Obama] rejects yesterday's statement" by Clark .
NEW: McCain's campaign launches a Truth Squad to defend his military record .
McCain unveils new campaign airplane . |
14,857 | 2a2a0fd7b85ec6f9145761795bae420d7eb84f44 | This is the dramatic moment that a Syrian fighter jet was shot down by an Israeli missile. Israel said that the jet - identified as a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24 - had crossed the battle . lines of Syria's civil war and flew over its Golan . Heights territory, perhaps by accident. The incident coincided with but did not appear to be . directly related to air strikes the United States and Gulf Arab . allies mounted on Islamic State strongholds in Syria. Scroll down for video . A Syrian fighter jet is seen in flames after it was hit by the Israeli military over the Golan Heights on Tuesday . But it presented another challenge to Israel's oft-stateddesire to stay on the sidelines of a conflict on its northerndoorstep, in which al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front rebels took overa border crossing on the Golan last month. The Israeli military said its U.S.-made Patriot missile air . defence system shot down a Syrian Russian-built Sukhoi fighter . plane that had 'infiltrated Israeli airspace' over the . territory, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. It was the first time in three decades that Israel had . downed a Syrian warplane. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks . violence in the civil war, said the warplane had been bombing . areas outside Quneitra, a Syrian town near the Israeli-held side . of the frontier, at the time it was shot down. It said the pilot . had bailed out. Smoke rises from the Syrian village of Jubata al-Khashab after it was bombed by a Syrian fighter jet , moments before the jet was shot down by the Israeli military over the Golan Heights . Syria described the downing of the aircraft as an act of . aggression. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, commenting on the . incident, said Israel 'will not allow any element - neither a . state nor a terrorist group - to threaten our security and . violate our sovereignty'. Israeli military sources said the plane apparently crossed . by accident into Israeli-controlled airspace. In his statement, Yaalon also seemed to raise that . possibility, saying Israel would respond strongly to perceived . threats 'whether they stemmed from a mistake or were . deliberate'. Israel has fired into Syrian territory on numerous occasions . in response to shelling on the Golan that the military has said . was largely spillover from fighting between rebels and the . Syrian Army. An Israeli Patriot missile destroyed a Syrian drone over the . Golan on August 31. Israel last downed a manned Syrian aircraft in . 1985, when Israeli fighters on a surveillance mission over . Lebanon destroyed two Syrian MiG-23s that approached them. The downing of the jet came as Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians suspected of the abduction and murder of three Israeli teens - the crisis that spiralled into a seven-week assault on Gaza. Security forces had spent months hunting Marwan Kawasme and Amar Abu Aysha, militants in their 30s from the Hebron area, after naming them as the killers of the Israeli teens. Israeli military members stand over the body of a man shot during an Israeli security services operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron . | Israel claims that a Syrian fighter jet strayed into its sovereign airspace .
The incident did not appear to be related to U.S air strikes over Syria .
The jet was shot down by a Patriot missile, with the pilot ejecting to safety . |
215,718 | a33879330220a149ef2e5f2a91aebc33cd7d440a | Just four Formula One drivers turned up to Roland Ratzenberger's funeral after his death during qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix on April 30 1994. The 33-year-old Austrian driver's passing was overshadowed by events that took place 24 hours later when three-time world champion Ayrton Senna was killed in Sunday's race at the Imola circuit. On the 20th anniversary of that tragic weekend, it's Senna's death that still haunts the sport while Ratzenberger's fate has largely been ignored. "He's the forgotten man of Formula 1," said former track rival Johnny Herbert, who was one of the drivers at Ratzenberger's funeral. "Forgotten to many, but not to me." Ratzenberger was competing in only the third grand prix of his F1 career when the mountings on his Simtek car's front wing became dislodged on his warm-up lap after hitting a curb in qualifying. Exiting the Tamburello corner, which would become synonymous with Senna's fatal accident, on the next lap, the wing broke and he went careering into a concrete wall at the Villeneuve Curve head on at 200 mph. While Senna's death spawned all manner of books and an eponymous documentary of his life, Ratzenberger's was a mere snapshot in that superb film. And while an estimated three million people flocked to the streets of Sao Paulo for Senna's funeral, about 250 people were in Salzburg as Ratzenberger was laid to rest. Herbert was among them, paying his respects to a friendship that first started in 1985 when the pair were vying for victory in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival in England. "I always think about Roland," three-time grand prix winner Herbert told CNN. "I miss him even now. I think about him at certain points particularly at the European races. Monaco's always one. "The year before he died we had a nice dinner there -- then he was trying to get into F1. I remember him saying he was the better driver and I'd only got into a drive with money. I was like 'bad luck, I'm here you're not', that's just the kind of craic we had. "He was a good friend, and we'd spoken of our dreams for many years. I'd got to F1 before him but that season it was great to see him. He had this very happy face, he had that 'I got there' face." Family tragedy . Rudolf and Margit Ratzenberger moved into their son's Salzburg flat after his death as a way of ensuring their son's memory is not forgotten. The home is littered with motorsport trophies from the junior formulae in Japan, Germany and England, pictures of their seemingly ever-smiling son on the mantelpiece. The couple have been to Imola just once since their son's death 20 years ago to see the place where he lost his life but they will return this year for a four-day memorial to their son and Senna. "It's still heavy," says Rudolf in broken English, "but this year we return. It's a celebration of his life, a memory. Yeah, it will be difficult to go back. "It's 20 years since, 20 years of Roland living in that moment. But we live in his flat so Roland is always by us. "But we also say goodbye to Senna, whose death was very difficult for us too, very heavy, especially when we heard he had the red flag of Austria in his car he planned to fly from the cockpit for the win for Roland. "That's a very special moment for us amid the sadness." Rudolf admits time has been a healer and that there is no bitterness towards the sport. "We were just happy that he'd achieved his dream to be a driver in Formula 1," he added. "It had been a long time driving in Japan, Germany and England to get there. I didn't see one of his grands prix. "I've never wished that he didn't do Formula 1, no, because that was what he wanted to do, that was his dream. We were very happy for him, it was what he loved to do." Ratzenberger, who was so delighted on making it to F1 he handed out pin badges with his helmet on it to supporters, is buried in the family grave with a small replica of his helmet and a picture of him on the tombstone, with the final words summing up his father's aforementioned words translating as "he lived for his dream." Horror crash . The couple were at home having just returned from holidaying in Mexico and were watching qualifying in bed when the tragedy struck. They watched as their son came to a halt, his head slumped to one side, part of the car's monocoque ripped aside before later footage showed his heart being pumped by the medical crews. "I remember his head being sloped to one side and part of the monocoque was open," recalled Herbert. "I remember thinking I'd just hoped he'd been knocked out. Sadly that wasn't to be. "It was so sad as he was such a nice guy but at least he died doing what he loved doing. I know he knew the risks, we all did. "If that had happened to me, he would have wanted the others to carry on, which we did in the end. Yes, he died too early and it was so unfair but it was something we accepted although you never thought about it." Author and journalist Maurice Hamilton was commentating at the time of the crash for BBC Radio. "I'd only met Roland once at the previous race weekend in Aida in the Austrian TV commentary box," said Hamilton. "I was struck by his nice smile, he was very handsome. It doesn't take long to get a first impression of someone and mine was very good. "When the crash happened, it looked bad, it was such a vicious crash. There wasn't a lot you could say at the time in commentary. "I then went back to the press room to write it up for the Observer newspaper and it was then the announcement was made. I remember the mood was absolutely terrible. "I'd been in the sport long enough to have experienced deaths before but it was still such a shock, the first F1 driver death for 12 years." Herbert, Gerhard Berger, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger were the only F1 drivers of that time to attend Ratzenberger's funeral, along with then FIA president Max Mosley. In defense of his F1 peers, Herbert says, "no one really knew him but also people had different ways of dealing with things. "Eddie Irvine for example decided not to go to either Ayrton or Roland's funerals. I decided it was important to pay my respects to a guy I don't think had a single enemy". Herbert continued: "He was almost a gentleman racer of a bygone era. In those early days, he was the driver, team boss and mechanic all in one. He deserved his break in F1 and he got it. "It's just such a tragedy even today." The sport paid its respects at the subsequent race in Monaco, with a Brazilian flag laid out and an Austrian flag painted in the front-row grid positions. The Simtek team, meanwhile, committed to the rest of the season with the words 'For Roland' written on the car's airbox. But whereas Senna is understandably still revered and often talked about, Ratzenberger's memory has faded over the past two decades to all but a few. | Roland Ratzenberger died in qualifying on the same tragic weekend as Ayrton Senna .
The 33-year-old hit a wall at 200 mph at the Imola circuit .
His former friend and rival Johnny Herbert calls him 'the forgotten man of F1'
Austrian driver's parents plan return to Imola to mark the 20th anniversary of his death . |
232,797 | b96b2fad1d047aabd8ae8fe2fc92b79356f8129c | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 8:02 AM on 26th September 2011 . 'Poor reception': Andrew Partridge felled 11 of his neighbour's trees and damaged another 21 . A fuming neighbour was so annoyed about the poor signal his television was receiving that he cut down the trees he thought were responsible for it. Andrew Partridge felled 11 of his neighbour's trees and damaged another 21 near his house because he thought they were interfering with his channel reception. The 30-foot high Scots pine trees he cut down were growing on agricultural land backing on to his home and he has now been ordered by a court to pay the landowner £2,500 in compensation. However this figure could rise again if civil action is taken against 55-year-old Partridge to recoup more of the £17,000 of damage he caused to the trees. Partridge was also given 80 hours community service at Norwich Crown Court. The court heard that Partridge had been warned several times in the past to stop cutting back the trees - which he ignored - and was even personally asked by the landowner Julian Taylor, whose farm backs on to Partridge's house. Mr Taylor, a seventh-generation arable farmer in Starston, Norfolk, said after the hearing that it will take between 15 and 20 years to repair the damage caused to the belt of mature trees. He also suggested he might pursue a civil claim against Partridge. He said: 'The compensation covers some of the damage but not the loss of amenity. We will have to go back to our lawyers and see if it is worth chasing. 'We would like to get on and replant this autumn so the screen has a chance of growing back as quickly as possible.' Destroyed: The 30-foot high Scots pine trees were growing on agricultural land backing on to Partridge's home. It could take between 15 and 20 years to repair the damage, which has cost more than £17,000 . Partridge, of Harleston, Norfolk, told the court - via his solicitors - that he felled the trees to help his neighbours. Despite the court hearing how the total damage was more than £17,500, Partridge, who used to be a HGV driver, was only ordered to pay £2,500 and given the community sentence, as he is out-of-work and has no assets. Judge Alasdair Darroch said: 'That may still happen to you. You had no right to do what you did.' The judge also told him he should not have denied the criminal damage charge, adding: 'It was a great pity you . chose to defend this action. You had absolutely no defence and no . business to cut down the trees.' Partridge made no comment after the case. Mr Taylor said he had noticed branches on his belt of mature trees were gradually being cut down, but he had no idea who it was until he spotted Partridge in 2009. He also said he believed Partridge's motives were to create a view from his property. He told the BBC: 'He made some lame excuse that he needed to improve his television reception. 'The fact was he was clearing the branches from the ground up to about 25ft, which was really, I think, so that he could get a view out to the west.' Mr Taylor, who is also vice-chairman of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, said he hoped the case would serve as a warning to . He added: 'If he had stopped the first time or even the second time I asked, we wouldn't have asked for a prosecution to take place.' Mr Taylor, a farmer and vice-chairman of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, said he hoped the sentence would send out a warning to others in the same situation. | Andrew Partridge caused more than £17,000 of damage .
It will take between 15 and 20 years to repair belt of mature pine trees .
Landowner accused neighbour of trying to clear a view . |
39,561 | 6fb9c7cbe2ccdbf85417cb55486406d134670198 | By . Louise Eccles . Missing: Mami Konneh Lahun, who finished 20th in the London Marathon, disappeared after the race . Sierra Leone’s fastest long-distance runner has disappeared after completing the London Marathon. Police said Mami Konneh Lahun, 24, vanished after crossing the finish line on Sunday in 21st place. The alarm was raised when she failed to return to her accommodation in Greenwich, East London, ahead of her flight home on Monday. It is thought the athlete may have fled to avoid returning to Sierra Leone. It is not uncommon for athletes from developing nations to run away during international competitions or claim asylum. During the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, two-thirds of the Sierra Leone team disappeared. Twenty-one people from the 30-strong team failed to catch their flight home. At the London 2012 Olympics, 82 athletes, coaches and officials claimed political asylum. Police admitted last year that they were still looking for 21 people who had vanished after the Games. Miss Lahun, who was nominated for Sports Personality of the Year in Sierra Leone last year, has won marathons in her own country and neighbouring Liberia. She was the first runner to represent the West African nation in the London Marathon, finishing the race in two hours and 46 minutes. Start: Miss Lahun was part of the elite women's race, pictured here sprinting at the start on Blackheath . Inquiry: The athlete was last seen after crossing the finishing line in The Mall and failed to appear at her accommodation in Greenwich . Appealing for information yesterday . morning, a spokesman said: ‘Mami has no known links to the UK and does . not have a mobile phone.’ Last . night, the Metropolitan Police mistakenly announced she had ‘been found . safe and well’ in Greenwich, only to admit two hours later that she was . still missing. Her disappearance comes on the back of news that runner Robert Berry, 42, from Reading, collapsed and died following the race. Some £11,000 has since been donated in his name to the National Osteoporosis Society. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mami Konneh Lahun asked to call 101, quoting reference 14MIS012462. Talented: Mami Konneh Lahun was part of the front pack in the elite women's race, finishing a creditable 20th in 2hrs 46mins . Home: Mami Konneh Lahun, 24, is the first female runner from Sierra Leone to represent her country in the London Marathon . | Mami Konneh Lahun, 24, was last seen after finishing 26.2 mile course .
She was the first woman to represent Sierra Leone at the London Marathon .
Scotland Yard says she is due to fly back to Sierra Leone on Monday . |
57,463 | a2d8dad6b1bf0c5afd769aeb4d26f4698ed318db | (CNN) -- I thought I was prepared for North Korea. After all, I'd spent more than half my life studying, traveling to and living in the former Soviet Union as well as other Communist and post-Communist countries. Commuters head to work in downtown Pyongyang this past February. So, as we arrived at Pyongyang airport, I felt oddly at home. The same empty airport as in Leningrad in 1969. (In the North Korean capital we later found out our flight was the only one scheduled for arrival that day.) Staring down at our plane as we taxied to the terminal, a huge color portrait of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's "Great Leader." No matter where we went over the next nine days, the gaze of Kim Il Sung, or his son, Kim Jong Il, the current ruler known as the "Dear Leader," would follow us, from portraits hung on buildings, monuments, bridges ... to lapel pins on the chests of almost everyone we met, including the two men who greeted us, Mr. Jang and Mr. Song, who would be our guides, minders and controllers for the duration of our stay. In 1969, arriving in Russia as a student, it seemed that every street I traveled was decorated with the image of Vladimir Lenin, father of the Russian revolution. Adults wore lapel pins with images of the Bolshevik leader, children wore little "Baby Lenin" pins. "Lenin lived, Lenin lives, Lenin will live." I was told, and so does Kim Il Sung, who died in 1994. Even in death, the Communist leaders have something in common: their bodies are embalmed and lie in glass-covered coffins, on display in mausoleums in Moscow and Pyongyang. Russian experts reportedly helped the North Koreans with the cosmetic aspects of political immortality. The streets of the North Korean capital reminded me of Moscow in the 1960s. Almost no traffic, just official cars whizzing down empty boulevards, curtains pulled shut to protect elite Communist party members from the prying eyes of pedestrians. In Moscow they used to drive long black Zils or Volgas. In Pyongyang, it's mostly older Mercedes, often an incongruous baby blue. In any country, one of the best ways to see how people live is to visit the food stores and markets. For several days we pestered our North Korean guides to take us to markets where the first tiny buds of capitalism are sprouting, the government allowing people to sell fruits and vegetables -- one way of relieving the food shortage in the North. In search of state-owned food stores, I went for a walk one evening in town, without a guide. The stores were closed, it was a holiday, but as I peered through the darkened window of one shop I went back in time to the stores I saw in Russia a quarter century ago. A few tin cans of fish stacked neatly in pyramids, a half-bare counter displaying a few lonely onions and cucumbers. This was in the capital, much better provisioned than the countryside, where North Koreans often go hungry. Choreographed encounters . In Russia, our guides went to extraordinary lengths to control what we saw and limit our interaction with average people. Mr. Jang and Mr. Song must have studied at the same guide school. Their mentality was the same: make sure we saw nothing that could reflect negatively on the government or Communist Party leadership. One morning, as we were driven out of Pyongyang to a mountain resort ensuring we would be kept far from any interaction with ordinary people, we asked our guides to let us stop by the road and shoot some pictures of the countryside. Grudgingly, they agreed. Suddenly, the young one, 29-year-old Mr. Jang, sporting a sleek black pompadour and a smirk, told us to stop. "There is an old woman down there," he explained. Presumably, her bent back was not what he wanted on tape. Our older guide, Mr. Song, a former diplomat, was more flexible. He cracked a smile when I told him of how my Soviet escorts back in the 1970s took us on a boat ride down the Volga, refusing our pleas to stop along the way. At one deserted spot we were allowed to pull into shore for a picnic lunch. Several of us set off on foot to see what we could find. In a tiny village, we came upon a lovely young woman wearing makeup. When we complimented her on how nice she looked, she said: "They told us you were coming." Knowing that virtually every encounter is choreographed in advance creates a strange mind-warp. In Pyongyang we asked to see some of the everyday life in North Korea and our guides finally took us to the city park, a magnificently beautiful expanse of hills and trees. Hearing drumming in the distance, I walked swiftly to see where it was coming from. A few minutes away I spotted an open-air pavilion filled with older Koreans, most of them women in traditional flowing dress, cinched at the bust with a sash. They were singing, dancing and laughing uproariously, some of them beating out a rhythm on small red-painted drums shaped like an hourglass. I begin taking pictures. They simply smiled and kept dancing. Mr. Song caught up and we both surveyed the scene, utterly charming in its simplicity and gaiety. He turned to me with a smile and said, "They knew you were coming." Was he pulling my leg? Was he telling the truth? I guess I'll never know but I prefer to think that at least this encounter with Koreans was not scripted. The North may have a hard-edged image in the world of fierce militarism and, just as in the old Soviet Union, much of life is run like the army, with group -- not individual -- activities the norm. Yet, in spite of that hard-edged atmosphere, there is an incongruous feeling of primness, as well. In Pyongyang, 20-something traffic girls direct the non-existent traffic, robot-like in their white uniforms, black hair pulled back in identical World War II-style chignons. They remind me of little Russian girls in their starched school uniforms, organdy bows in their hair. Women in Moscow dressed neatly, but modestly, with no access to imported clothes. It's much the same here in Pyongyang yet there is one sign of changing times in today's North Korea: a flash, here and there, of modest jewelry, unthinkable just a short time ago. Following the Great Leader . How to understand what people really think and feel? It's a question I asked myself so many times in Russia and it hounds me here in North Korea. There was no way for our CNN crew to blend in, with our Western clothes, Western looks and our mandatory silk arm bands, given to us by our Foreign Ministry minders, navy blue with white lettering identifying us as journalists. In Russia, beneath the surface of repressive political control, if you looked hard enough, and spoke the language, you could sometimes find those lonely dissidents living in "internal migration" rejecting the pressure to conform. In North Korea, conformity is taken to a degree I never imagined possible. At the "Airarang," the mass gymnastics show celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of Japanese occupation of Korea, thousands of performers dressed in military uniforms re-enact the battles and suffering that gave birth to their country. Before the show, a murmuring in the audience builds to a buzz. The personal photographers of Kim Jong Il suddenly appear close to the seat of honor. As the short, rotund leader enters the stadium, the audience leap to their feet, clapping rapturously as "Dear Leader" applauds them back. Do they believe in Kim? Believe in his "juche" philosophy of extreme self-reliance? Unable to speak Korean, cut off from unscripted meetings with Koreans, I have no answer. Young Mr. Jang tries to explain it to me: Korea, he says, is like a rabbit. "Its face is toward China. Its back is toward the United States. Its ass is toward Japan. Its mouth is toward Russia." Korea, he tells me, needs no one. Its unity is its weapon. Surrounded by enemies, it must look to itself to survive. In the mountains a two-hour drive from Pyongyang, there is a massive museum cut into the mountainside, built to house all the gifts given by international leaders to Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il. I ask what is the first gift Kim Il Sung was given? The guide, an elegant woman in traditional dress, sweeps though the cold marble corridors, leading us to a room where a full-size train car stands, its elaborate wood interior and brass lamps buffed and polished, a gift from Soviet ruler Joseph Stalin. Down one more corridor to a final room on our tour, the diminutive guide tugs at the door and I gasp. A life-size figure of the Great Leader, dressed in a suit, standing amid trees near a lake, mountains in the distance. It is eerily real. Even the leaves on the trees rustle as a breeze (from a hidden fan?) blows by. The music is solemn, stately. Mr. Jang and Mr. Song stand reverently and bow. The Great Leader stares blindly into the distance. Does he know where his country is headed? | CNN correspondent recalls August 2005 visit to North Korea's capital .
Visit by international visitors was tightly choreographed .
North Koreans are taught to adhere "juche," belief of self-reliance . |
139,867 | 40d7d11d0ed1fb2dfac3f7cb33742f738f80e35e | Photographer Eric Lafforgue has pictured unique tribes in remote locations around the world but when he first tried to seek out the Rashaida in Eritrea, Africa, he couldn't find a driver willing to take him. Then when he tried to meet them at a camel market in the United Arab Emirates he was warned by Pakistani workers: 'Do not try to meet them, do not talk to them, they are crazy!' Eric told MailOnline: 'When I first planned to visit the . Rashaida, I couldn't find a driver who was willing to . take me to their villages in the nearby desert. They regard them as . dangerous "gypsies". "They will rob you and then try to steal my . taxi," they all told me. Simple life: The Rashaida people live in tents in the desert despite having vast sums of money acquired through selling camels . Travellers: The nomadic tribe came to Eritrea from Saudi Arabia about 200 years ago . Fearsome reputation: Some members of the tribe have been known to be involved in human trafficking and torture . Striking look: The women wear a veil which covers their nose (a very sexual facial feature in their culture) and their mouth, but not all of their hair . Young bride: A woman must be married by the age of 16 or she is considered too old to be a wife . Battle of the sexes: Daughters are desired over sons because their mother will be paid thousands when she marries. Marriages can be arranged when girls are as young as six . 'After tough negotiations, one driver finally . agreed to drive me to the Rashaida, but he dropped me off 200 meters . from the camp.' So why have the Rashaida, who have led a nomadic lifestyle in the barren and hostile desert for centuries, built up such a fearsome reputation? The Rashaida originally came from Saudi Arabia but can now be found in areas including Egypt, Libya and the Sudan. They move from place to place in search of grass for their camels - which helps them make a fortune as they can sell their prized animals to wealthy sheikhs for as much as £16,000 each. Despite their wealth, they live in tents with no electricity and no running water - although some do embrace modern technology in the form of cars and mobile phones. When Eric eventually meets the Rashaida, he is told by Salam Swalim Muhammed, the chief of the Massawa Rashaida village in Eritrea, of their business selling camels: 'Yes it is a lot of money, but you know . we have big families to take care of! We work a lot, . trading with Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia...' Mobile business: The Rashaida travel from place to place seeking grass for their prized camels . Lucrative creatures: Their camels can be sold for £16,000 each . Wary: The Rashaida can frequently be found at camel markets- although not everyone is brave enough to approach them . Traditional: The tribe earn a fortune from their camels but still live primitive lifestyles . The chief revealed that they shun much of modern technology, including TV because 'the . television shows sickness and disasters. Instead of buying . sickness with your money, it is better to live happily, peacefully, and . freely.' However, as the people's fearsome reputation suggests, not all members of the Rashaida live as peacefully as Muhammed suggests. A United Nations report explains that . they are the master smugglers of everything from guns to people, getting involved in hostage taking and human trafficking. Eric explains: 'Rashaida also make their money . from a less legitimate business. In the . refugee camps around Kassala in Sudan, Eritrean people attempting to . move on are kidnapped by the Rashaida. Once they kidnap an . Eritrean, the victim will have to ask their relatives to wire ransom money . to one of the kidnapper’s accounts around the world. If there is any . delay in transferring the money, the victim will be physically abused. Testimonies say the more the money transfer is delayed, the more the . victim is tortured.' One reason the Rashaida need money is to marry. The groom must pay up to £40,000 to the bride-to-be's mother for her hand in marriage. Such marriages can be arranged when a girl is as young as six. If a woman is not married by the time she is 16, it's considered too late for her to become a wife. Beliefs: The people abide to Saudi Sharia law . Segrated: Rashaida live in isolated communities, preferring not to live with people of other tribes . The men 'look Arab and wear loose white clothing'. Their simple appearance belies their wealth . Many of the tribe shun modern technology as they prefer to 'live happily, peacefully, and freely' Different sides: While those pictured are peaceful, others are master smugglers of everything from guns to people . Muhammed explained to Eric that daughters are desired over sons because of the riches they can bring via marriage. If added: 'If a man wants to get married but isn’t . rich enough to afford the wife, then the Rashaida from Libya, Sudan, . and Saudi Arabia contribute so the groom can afford his bride.' Eric saw no evidence of the Rashaida's wealth or violent pastimes when he was invited to join Muhammed to drink tea under his tent, when he eventually tracked down one of the tribes in Eritrea. He learnt that the Rashaida stay in isolated communities, preferring not to live with people of other tribes. But says . Muhammed: 'When we travel, we will be welcomed everywhere by other . Rashaida.' Some Rashaida have moved out of the desert to live in towns such as Kassala in Sudan so their children can go to school. But one ten-year-old boy told Eric that he prefers living in the desert despite the harsh conditions. Describing the enigmatic Rashaida people he met during his stay, Eric said: 'Rashaida men have no special appearance: they look Arab and wear loose white clothing. On the other hand, the women are very striking. They all wear colourful traditional dresses and a veil which covers their nose (a very sexual facial feature in their culture) and their mouth, but not their hair. 'This is rather unusual in the Muslim culture. With long hair, some of them have an amazing style with long black locks jutting out in all directions. 'However, since the Rashaida follow Saudi Sharia law, and more and more have enough money to make the Hadj to Mecca, they come back with new precepts from Saudi Arabia, asking their women to cover the hair.' | Photographer Eric Lafforgue pictured the nomadic tribe .
Rashaida originally came from Saudi Arabia .
Marriages with huge dowries are arranged for girls as young as six .
A woman is considered too old to marry at age of 16 .
Tribe live simplistic lives with no electricity or water .
But they make thousands through sale of camels .
Some are feared due to involvement in gun smuggling and kidnapping . |
23,486 | 42b475d81b91a307272eb94682028216def19b7f | By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 01:45 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:23 EST, 10 December 2013 . Major Robb McDonald was awarded a Silver Star Monday for his bravery during the September 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, which apparently targeted Prince Harry. The Marine Corps air base in Afghanistan had been raided by 15 heavily armed Taliban insurgents, jets were exploding and a lake of fuel was aflame when McDonald arrived on the scene, and found his commanding officer dead. With some 50 Marines holed up in an aluminum-sided building that officials later called indefensible, the former force reconnaissance Marine who already has two Bronze Star medals for valor in combat, took the helm and led a counterattack, which ended in 14 of the enemy dead and one wounded. Brave: U.S. Marine Maj. Robb T. McDonald stands in front of an audience at Camp Pendleton, California, as he is awarded the Silver Star Medal, Monday, December 9, 2013 . Staff Sgt. Jesse Colburn, an ejection seat mechanic on duty that night, said he and the other 'air wing guys' who only had a month of such training were doing their best until McDonald arrived. He had run a mile over exposed territory, armed only with a pistol, to get to the scene. '(McDonald) walks around with this aura, like, "Fear not. I'm here." When he showed up and took action. ...You could see, a lot of Marines took a sigh of relief,' Colburn said, according to UTSandiego.com. The attack killed two men and ended the careers of two generals whose heads rolled because they failed to secure the base after troop withdrawals. Prince Harry was serving at the base when the Taliban fighters dressed in U.S. Army uniforms to unleash the ground assault on September 14 and destroyed or damaged eight aircraft worth a total of $200 million. Serving Royal: Prince Harry was at Camp Bastian when the fighting broke out . Reliving the day: Details of the September 2012 raid were state secrets until September this year . According to an investigation by the U.S. Central Command, the insurgents had split into three teams of five men and began a coordinated, practiced attack with rifles and grenades against the allied forces. But despite the horror, a hero emerged that night. On Monday, a Marine Corps official pinned the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for combat, on McDonald's chest. 'I feel really proud and honored,' the 37-year-old married father-of-two said after the ceremony at Camp Pendleton. He is the 45th Marine to be awarded the Silver Star for the war in Afghanistan. McDonald was executive officer of a Marine Harrier jet squadron at the time of the attack. He was asleep in his room when he was awoken by machine gun fire and he and two others, armed only with pistols, sprinted toward the action, and could as easily have been shot by their own men as the enemy. When he arrived, McDonald realized Lt. Col. Christopher Raible, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211, was dead. Sgt. Bradley Atwell was also killed and eight other U.S. troops, eight British forces and one civilian were wounded. Ruin: This picture shows what remains of one of the six Harrier jets in the aftermath of the Taliban attack on Camp Bastion on Sept. 14, 2012 . Base: Camp Bastion is the main British and U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Accommodating 28,000 people it is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province and is several square miles in size . McDonald then led U.S. and British troops in a counter-attack and the fight lasted into the early morning of September 15. They killed 14 and wounded the remaining one, who was later interrogated. Raible, nominated for a posthumous Silver Star for his actions that night, was awarded a Bronze Star with V for valor. A year later, the Marine Corps commandant asked two generals, Major General Charles 'Mark' Gurganus and Major General Gregg Sturdevant, to retire an investigation determined they both underestimated the enemy, failed to build a unified security effort and didn't provide proper oversight. In September this year, Britain's Ministry of Defence insisted Prince Harry was treated 'like any other serviceman' during the Taliban assault after a GQ magazine feature suggested he was 'stashed in a secure location’ when fighting started during the Camp Bastion. An MoD spokesman said: 'Claims that Captain (Harry) Wales was rushed to a "safe room" during the insurgent attack on Camp Bastion are simply not true. We do not comment on individual security measures for very good reasons, but it would be clear from the extensive coverage of his tour that he was treated much the same as any service member deployed to Camp Bastion.' Prince Harry had arrived for a three-month tour flying an Apache helicopter, prompting the Taliban to threaten to kill or kidnap him. 'We have informed our commanders in Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him,' Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid had told the press four days earlier. | Major Robb McDonald was awarded a Silver Star Monday for his bravery during the September 2012 attack on Camp Bastion .
The attack apparently targeted Prince Harry .
The Marine Corps air base in Afghanistan had been raided by 15 heavily armed Taliban insurgents dressed in U.S. uniforms .
McDonald arrived on the scene, and found his commanding officer dead so he took the helm and led a counterattack .
The battle ended in 14 of the enemy dead and one wounded, who was later interrogated .
The father-of-two already has two Bronze Star medals for valor in combat . |
210,002 | 9bf8c3763baa8f503cdc960206ac4d2a219fe5ce | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 13:17 EST, 6 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 6 September 2013 . Environmental health chiefs have recalled frozen lamb, beef and mutton trim supplied by a farm raided by police during the horsemeat scandal. The Food Standards Agency said that the meat products, supplied by the company formerly trading as Farmbox Meats in Aberyswyth, are believed not to have been subject to 'proper temperature controls'. The FSA said that all products of all dates and batch codes are subject to the recall as they do not comply with 'traceability requirements'. Recall: Beef trim from Farmbox Meats in Wales has been recalled after it is believed it didn't meat Food Standards Agency regulations (file picture) Farmbox Meats, based in Llandre, was raided by police and FSA officers back in February as part of the investigation into the horsemeat scandal. Production at the plant was suspended for a month as part of the inquiry into alleged mislabelling of foods. At the time, company owner Dafydd Raw-Rees insisted that there had been no cross contamination of meats. But burgers made by the award-winning Burger Manufacturing Company (BMC) in Builth Wells were reported to have been found with traces of British horsemeat in them and were said to have been served up at local schools and hosptitals. Allegations: Farmbox Meats was raided by the FSA and police after burgers made from meat it supplied were alleged to contain horsemeat . The company claimed that the meat used to make the burgers was bought from Farmbox Meats. Farmbox was allowed to re-open again the following month. There is no indication that today's recall is connected with the horsemeat scandal. 'Hygiene issues' meant that production at the plant was stopped again in April, allegations that were disputed by the firm's lawyers. Mr Raw-Rees threatened to take legal action against the FSA but the firm went into receivership back in June and is no longer trading. An FSA spokesman told MailOnline that the the recall is as a result of ongoing investigations surrounding Farmbox. The spokesman said that inadequate records held by the company means that officials cannot identify where meat was sent to from the site, so it has issued a recall in case any food manufacturers are still in possession of the meat. | Food Standards Agency recalls lamb, beef and mutton trim from farm .
The meat products in question come from Farmbox Meats in Aberyswyth .
Farmbox was raided as part of the horsemeat scandal in February . |
123,174 | 2b3a2f85d97e5d9da7e6a839632395a6dc7738e8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:14 EST, 28 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:31 EST, 28 November 2013 . The comet which astronomers had been watching with great interest because it was passing so close to the sun on Thursday appears to have been destroyed. Comet ISON, which had been branded the 'comet of the century,' was making its closest approach to the sun, skimming about 730,000 miles above its surface, when it disappeared from the view of space telescopes. 'Comet ISON probably has not survived this journey,' Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign told a NASA Google Hangout on Thursday. Scroll down for video . In this composition image obtained from NASA, Comet ISON (bottom) moves towards the sun in this image from ESA/NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory captured at 10:51 a.m. EST on Thursday . Experts said it appears ISON broke up into chunks and the sun evaporated it. Observers had been hoping that ISON would survive its Thanksgiving Day close encounter with the sun and emerge to put on a big sky show in December. 'We have never seen a comet like this,' Naval Research Laboratory astrophysicist Karl Battams had said during a NASA news conference on Tuesday. 'It has been behaving strangely.' According to Johns Hopkins University scientist Carey Lisse, even if the comet has died there is a good chance that people on Earth will get an interesting cosmic show. The comet's remnants could paint the sky with a wide swath of green in the Northern Hemisphere. Comet ISON, which had been branded the 'comet of the century,' was making its closest approach to the sun, skimming about 730,000 miles above its surface, when it disappeared from the view of space telescopes . Here, Comet ISON enters the field of view of the ESA and Nasa's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory on November 27. In this picture, called a coronagraph, the bright light of the sun itself is blocked so the structures around it are visible. The comet is seen in the lower right and a giant cloud of solar material, called a coronal mass ejection is seen billowing out under the sun . The comet - two-thirds of a mile wide - is made up of loosely packed ice and dirt, essentially a dirty snowball. It is a 'dinosaur bone,' from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago, Lisse said. It has been in 'deep freeze' for billions of years in the Oort cloud, a vast area of comets and debris that never formed into planets that's between 450 billion and 9 trillion miles from the sun, he said. The comet is racing around the sun, pulled close by our star's massive gravity, which can also break apart the dirty icy core. Comet ISON was first spotted by a Russian telescope in September last year. While many comets come out of the Oort cloud and return after a long trip through the solar system and many comets graze by the sun, this is the first one that astronomers have watched that is from the Oort cloud and is skimming the sun. Lisse said ISON could behave just like last year's comet Lovejoy, which fell apart a couple days after passing by the sun. Its remnants were visible like 'a beautiful paintbrush swath in the sky' in the Southern Hemisphere, he said. Comet ISON was discovered by two amateur Russian astronomers in 2012 and will come within 730,000 miles of the Sun today . Appearance: Comet ISON entered the view of NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory on Nov. 21, 2013, where it can be seen with Earth, Mercury and comet 2P/Encke . Unlike many blue comets, ISON has . been more lime-green because it doesn't seem to have as much carbon . monoxide as other comets, Lisse said. If . the comet does make it around the sun intact and returns past Earth, . the Northern Hemisphere should get good naked-eye views just before . sunrise and just after sunset in the first couple weeks of December, . Lisse said. But this . probably won't be as bright and visible as 1997's Comet Hale-Bopp, said . Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. Over . the last few weeks, the reports weren't good for ISON's survival. On . Monday, astronomers at Kitt Peak Observatory 'were a little bit worried . and depressed' because the comet produced a classic sign of flaming out, . Lisse said from the Arizona telescope. Earlier, . astronomers thought it may have broken up. Then on Tuesday, a solar . telescope spotted the comet and it was growing brighter just as it . should have. 'It's a wild . ride, this comet,' Lisse said. 'The reports of ISON's demise have been . greatly exaggerated for the last month or two and ISON continues to . surprise us.' A composite image from the European Southern Observatory's TRAPPIST telescope in Chile shows Comet ISON streaking toward the sun on Nov. 15. The image combines four different 30-second exposures of the moving comet in different wavelengths . The comet, top right, has so far been photographed through telescopes and long exposures but is expected to be visible to the naked eye throughout December and January. It could be the brightest for 100 years . The comet has been creating a spellbinding cosmic spectacle of late as ice in its body vapourises and forms a distinct bright tail . | ISON disappeared from the view of space telescopes on Thursday when it was skimming about 730,000 miles above the sun's surface .
Experts said it appears ISON - dubbed 'comet of the century' - broke up into chunks and the sun evaporated it .
Observers had hoped ISON .
would survive its Thanksgiving Day close encounter with the sun and .
emerge to put on a big sky show in December . |
91,415 | 0192fb6603396588fcc59a162b39162efbdab9dc | A Georgia man was left bloodied and bruised after he was brutally attacked for dating an African-American girl. The interracial couple were strolling through Ellis Square, a public space in Savannah, shortly before midnight last Friday, when they say three black men began taunting them. The provocation began as racial slurs, then the scoffers started blowing kisses and suddenly the trio jumped the boyfriend, Andrew Quade - who is white, beating him and leaving him barely conscious. Scroll down for video. Insults: Andrew Quade and his girlfriend Olufisayo Bakre were strolling through the historic Ellis Square in downtown Savannah when a gang of three black men attacked him . The violent response to the mixed-race . romance has left the couple in shock that such . vicious intolerance still exists. 'This shouldn't happen in this day in . age. I know we're in the South and all that, but it's time for a . change,' the girlfriend, Olufisayo Bakre, told WTOC-TV news. The couple say they were simply minding their own business as they walked through the Savannah spot, one of the busiest squares in the historic downtown, known for being the epitome of Southern charm. Then the group targeted the couple. 'One of them was making racial comments at us and one of the them was blowing kisses. It was a very aggravating situation to be in,' Bakre explained. Love: The girlfriend, Olufisayo Bakre, says the assailants taunted the couple for their interracial romance . Senseless: The couple said an interracial relationship has its challenges in the U.S. South but said they have never experienced such hostility . Quade, 23, said he tried to stay calm and just keep moving when the insults began. 'I didn't want to like freak out on . them,' he told the local news station. 'I was trying to . gain a little more knowledge about the situation and before we could . even do that, it was just bam bam.' He said everything happened so quickly when the gang attacked him, that he doesn't even have a clear picture in his mind of the fight. All is calm: Ellis Square in Savannah, the scene of the vicious attack, is a serene and quiet gathering place . Come together: The urban plaza is a popular tourist attraction and spot where Savannah residents enjoy concerts and performances . The next thing he remembered was waking up in an ambulance. 'He was basically left for dead,' Bakre said of the terrifying ordeal. 'I was trying to pry them off and before I knew it he was on the floor. It happened all so quickly,' she added. Bakre insisted that the couple did . nothing to provoke the brawl and is confident that the pair's racial . difference is what motivated the confrontation. Left for dead: Andrew Quade said he remembers the insults but has no memory of the attack itself . Vicious: The girlfriend, Olufisayo Bakre, said she tried to pry the three assailants off her boyfriend as they brutally beat him . 'Definitely, it's that simple,' she . said, with Quade adding that there just wasn't 'any logical reason they . would have to just go all out like that.' Bakre said that being an interracial . couple in the U.S. South has come with its challenges but nothing that . has ever escalated to this kind of violence. 'The worst we'll get will be a stare or like a snicker here or there but not physical contact,' she said. Let justice roll down: Olufisayo Bakre said she hopes justice will prevail in the situation . Police are now investigating and searching for the perpetrators. They are reviewing surveillance video . of the clash but say the footage is grainy and the cameras were located . far away from the incident, so it is difficult to make out the faces of . the assailants. 'I just hope they get caught. I just hope justice prevails at the end of the day,' Bakre said. | Boyfriend left barely conscious after brutal brawl .
Gang of three black assailants still on the loose .
'This shouldn't happen in this day in age. I know we're in the South, but it's time for a change,' girlfriend says . |
153,733 | 52ae6c65d406330a619e3336690b3c1c3b1c5ac3 | This river in northern India has become an isolated sanctuary teeming with wildlife thanks to centuries of urban legend, tragedies and bandits who terrified locals with horrendous acts of violence - but it may be undone in just a matter of years. Nearby villagers had long believed that the Chambal River, and the infertile soil surrounding it, was cursed or too dangerous to traverse, making it largely a no-go zone. Their fears allowed the area to become a haven for crocodiles, jackals, river dolphins and endangered birds, which lay small speckled eggs in the sand. India's Chambal River is teeming with wildlife, including crocodiles, but it is facing growing environmental threats from humans . Indian villagers cross the Chambal River on a packed ferry near Bhopepura village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . A man drinks straight from the Chambal River as villagers wade through the shallow waters after crossing on a ferry . Chicks and speckled eggs of the endangered Indian skimmer rest in a pit nest in a sandbar on the banks of the river . What makes the Chambal River so remarkable is that it thrived and remained essentially wild while the rest of the region developed into a deeply-polluted industrial belt. The stench of industrial fumes fills the air in towns and tons of raw sewage is dumped every day into many rivers. But the Chambal itself is now facing threats from humans like never before, raising fears about the fate of its creatures, including several varieties of birds and rare crocodile-like gharials, which can be found nowhere else on the planet. Garbage is piling up, plastic bags blow through the ravines, increased farming has led to fertiliser and pesticide runoff, and factories, construction projects and stone quarries are dumping pollutants straight into the river or its tributaries. An Indian villager follows a camel, carrying a load of firewood, as they cross the Chambal River near Bhopepura village . The Chambal region is home to rare crocodile-like gharials, which can be found nowhere else on the planet . Hundreds of storks, geese, babblers, larks and other birds nest along the river, which is facing an uncertain future . Dr Rajiv Chauhan, a scientist with the India-based Society for Conservation of Nature, told the Associated Press: ‘In the old days, there weren't many people here to interfere with the river. ‘But with the bandits gone, the pressure on the river is now just too much.’ Beliefs that the river was unholy have faded and the last of the famed outlaws was killed by police in 2005 after their political patrons were driven out of office. Indian villagers alight from a ferry after crossing the Chambal River near Bhopepura village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . Development along the river is booming after the last of the bandits, who had enormous power in the region, were killed or driven away . For hundreds of years, bandits, who wielded enormous power, ruled the labyrinth of scrub-filled ravines and tiny villages along the river . Deep pits are visible near the bank of the Chambal River after they were dug out by illegal sand miners near Sagarpada . The bandits held enormous power in the poverty-stricken and lawless region. Now that they are gone, villagers regularly traverse the river with camels or boats ferrying people from one side to the other. Yet the river is facing many environmental threats even though a 250-mile stretch was declared an official sanctuary nearly 40 years ago. As people take advantage of cheap land and untapped resources, today’s biggest concerns include corruption, which is leading to deforestation and illegal sand mining for concrete production, and India’s undertrained and underfunded wildlife agencies. For years villagers were afraid to venture near the river because of the presence of bandits and the belief that it was unholy . Labourers who are paid $15 a day load sand onto tractor trolleys at an illegal sand mine on the banks of the Chambal River . Villagers prepare for the cremation of an elderly woman on the banks of the Chambal River near Bhopepura village in Uttar Pradesh . Flames rise from the cremation pyre of an elderly woman along the banks of the river, which is under threat from pollution and corruption . One of the illegal sand mines can be found near the village of Bhopepura, where men can earn an attractive $15 a day (just under £10) to shovel sand for bosses who they claim have paid off local officials. One of the labourers, Gopal, told the Associated Press: 'What is a sanctuary? What is a mammal? What is a bird? I don't have time to worry about these things.' Hemruda Singh, an aristocrat with a crumbling family fort overlooking the river from Bhareh, has watched the transformation as dirt paths became paved roads, making villages easily accessible from the outside world. He worries about the future of the region as corruption takes hold and people ignore the environment, adding: ‘We were so isolated for so long.’ | Northern India's Chambal River is teeming with wildlife, including crocodiles, river dolphins and endangered birds .
Villagers had long believed the river and its infertile soil were cursed or too dangerous to traverse .
There were beliefs that the river was unholy, and bandits terrorised locals with violence and robberies .
River is now being pumped full of pollutants as people take advantage of cheap land and untapped resources . |
173,198 | 6c273a276a80634a674d26a323a76c0763a9537b | (CNN) -- Flu vaccine myths can confuse people trying to decide whether to get a shot. Here are five common myths and, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the truth. 1. The shot can give you flu . Not so, says the CDC. The viruses in flu shots are killed during the production of the vaccine, which means they cannot cause infection. The vaccine batches are then tested, with a group of people randomly assigned to get either the vaccine or salt water. "The only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the flu shot," the CDC found. "There were no differences in terms of body aches, fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat." Still, some people feel bad after a flu shot. Soreness at the injection site is one reason, but it usually dissipates within two days. It's caused by the immune system making antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine that help a person fight off the flu. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices says symptoms, in rare instances, include fever, muscle pain, and discomfort or weakness, which also typically go away after a day or two. And, though a flu shot won't give you the flu, its protection doesn't kick in for two weeks from the time of injection. During that time, you are vulnerable. In addition, it's easy to confuse seasonal flu for an illness caused by a number of other pathogens, including rhinovirus. Or you may be exposed to a flu virus that is not included in the vaccine. Finally, the flu shot does not always work -- particularly among the elderly and people with weak immune systems. But even among these high-risk groups, the vaccine can prevent complications. 2. It is better to get the vaccine later in the season to limit the risk that its efficacy will wane . No. The shot lasts an entire flu season, except for some children who may need two doses. The CDC recommends that all people older than 6 months get a flu vaccine. 3. The flu shot might adversely affect my pregnancy . No. The flu vaccine is "an essential element of prenatal care" and is recommended for all pregnant women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk for flu complications like pneumonia, infections and dehydration. Though babies cannot be vaccinated until they have reached 6 months of age, antibodies they received in utero from their mothers may help protect them. But note that the group recommends against the nasal spray -- the live, attenuated version -- for pregnant women. The CDC says seasonal flu vaccine shots have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their babies. 4. I've had the flu before and it was no big deal, so bring it on . No. Seasonal flu exacts a bigger toll in some years than in others: Between 1976 and 2007, the flu was linked to a low of 3,000 to as many as 49,000 fatalities in the United States, with more than 200,000 hospitalizations. There are two main reasons: The viruses that circulate in one year may differ from those that circulate in another. And, of course, people change from year to year, meaning that your response to a viral infection one year may not be the same as your response in another. 5. The flu shot doesn't work . It doesn't work all the time, but it does confer some level of protection. For example, the CDC says preliminary data for the 2010-2011 season show that it was about 60% effective for all age groups combined, and studies for earlier years found protection rates of up to 90%. | The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu, according to the CDC .
The shot lasts for an entire season, except for some kids who may need two .
The vaccine is essential for pregnant women to protect their infants . |
259,043 | db484fe4b1ca27e3ac040c9c3ac824b2bfdf4454 | With the United States now launching airstrikes in Syria -- the seventh country bombed under the Obama administration—debate over foreign policy has once again ballooned, pitting the interventionist hawks against non-interventionist doves. A new CNN/ORC International survey indicates that half of Americans consider themselves doves on foreign policy, while slightly less describe themselves as hawks. The poll also shows that two-thirds of Americans describe President Obama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, as a dove, while 29% consider him a hawk. Hawks vs. Doves . The President's plan to "degrade and ultimately destroy" ISIS includes a coalition airstrike campaign and the arming and training of Syrian rebel forces that are also fighting the extremist group. Altogether, the plan marks yet another U.S. involvement overseas. According to the survey, 50% of Americans view themselves as doves, defined in the poll as "someone who believes the U.S. should rarely or never use military force," compared to 45% who self-identify as hawks, "someone who believes that military force should be used frequently to promote U.S. policy." CNN exclusive: ISIS fighter says U.S. airstrikes aren't effective . That trend between hawks and doves has "remained remarkably consistent over the years," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. The number of self-described hawks typically ranges between 44% and 45%, with the number of hawks slightly higher, and in recent years, hovering around the 50% mark. Hawks are more likely to be men, live in the South and Midwest, come from rural areas, and have no college education, Holland said. "Self-described doves are more likely to be women, live in the Northeast and the West, come from urban areas and have at least some college education," he added. Next step: Keeping anti-ISIS coalition together . There's a significant age gap, as well. Sixty-six percent of those under the age of 35 prefer a dovish foreign policy, while a majority of those older than 35 say they are hawks. Breaking the numbers down by political affiliation, nearly seven in 10 Republicans call themselves hawks, compared to nearly six in 10 Democrats and independents who say they are doves. Opinions of Obama . Obama came into office pledging to end U.S.-led wars but now finds himself as a commander in chief who has ordered airstrikes in a host of countries in the Middle East and in Africa. The President has always recognized there are times when military force is necessary. Even when he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, he said there could be instances when war is "morally justified." Analysis: America's wartime president . It appears that most Americans still consider him a dovish president. Sixty-five percent view him as a dove, while about three in 10 Americans consider him a hawk, according to the survey. On the question of whether the U.S. should take the lead in solving all the world's problems, 58% say "no." That represents a similar viewpoint that Obama has advocated in the past. The poll was conducted for CNN by ORC International by telephone with 1,010 adult Americans on September 22-25. The overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points. | A new CNN poll indicates half of Americans self-identify as foreign policy doves .
Slightly less, 45%, describe themselves as hawks .
Two-thirds of Americans still consider President Obama a dovish commander in chief .
Obama has ordered airstrikes in seven countries . |
232,673 | b94614161e9501dbf964bdd697a7f42a973c4f1c | The United States' delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia won't include a member of President Barack Obama's family or an active Cabinet secretary, but it will include openly gay athletes - a clear jab at Russia's recent anti-gay laws. Billie Jean King, the tennis legend, will join figure skater Brian Boitano at the games' opening ceremonies on February 7, the White House said Tuesday. Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House aide Rob Nabors and the U.S. ambassador to Russia will round out the delegation to the Sochi games. King was one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay in the 1980s. Two weeks later, a group led by Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will attend the closing ceremony. Speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden, as well as openly gay hockey player Caitlin Cahow, will also attend. Cahow, 28, is a two-time Olympian. "In the selection of this delegation, we are sending the message that the United States is a diverse place," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday, pointing to Napolitano, a former Cabinet secretary, as evidence of the delegation's distinction. It's the first time in more than a decade the President, vice president, first lady or former president hasn't attended an Olympic opening or closing ceremony. First lady Michelle Obama led the delegation to 2012's Summer Olympics in London, and President George W. Bush made the trek to China for Beijing's games in 2008. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife led a U.S. group to the last Winter Games, held in Vancouver. The absence of high-ranking U.S. officials amounts to a snub to Russia, whose relationship with the United States has fractured over the past year. Admitted NSA leaker Edward Snowden, wanted on espionage charges in the United States, was granted temporary asylum in Moscow, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has used Russia's veto on the United Nations Security Council to block action in Syria. Russia to set up protest zones at Winter Olympics . Obama canceled a meeting with Putin that was scheduled for September, though the two met as part of a larger group of world leaders at the Group of 20 conference in St. Petersburg. Fueling the rift between the nations are new laws in Russia banning gay "propaganda" -- a law critics say is so vague that anyone can be prosecuted for wearing a rainbow T-shirt or holding hands in public with someone of the same sex. Carney noted on Wednesday the selection of gay athletes wasn't the first time Obama has voiced concern over the Russian policy. "That's not a message we would wait to send through this manner," Carney said. "We have been very clear -- the President has been very clear that he finds it offensive, the anti-LGBT legislation in Russia." Obama told Jay Leno in August he had "no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them," and during his visit to Russia earlier this year, Obama met with the leaders of Russian social activist groups. Russia amnesty could free Pussy Riot, benefit Greenpeace members . | Gay athletes Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow in U.S. delegation to Sochi Winter Olympics .
U.S. will not be sending any high-ranking officials, which is seen as a snub to Russia .
King will attend the opening ceremony on February 7 .
Cahow will be in the party appearing at the closing ceremony . |
156,035 | 55b4da078ee4b728946cff5948eb4c39f7f79e9e | Hong Kong (CNN) -- There is only one thing that Chinese and foreign observers of China are looking for at the 18th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress: signs of reform, especially political liberalization. The chances of meaningful political changes, or those that dovetail with global norms, however, are getting increasingly slim. The reason may be simple. Until around about the time of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, to reform or not to reform belonged in the realm of ideology. Even before the birth of the People's Republic in 1949, factions within the party had fought over the future direction of the country. When Mao Zedong was running the show, there was the celebrated "struggle between two lines." This referred to the fierce competition between the Maoists -- who claimed to uphold unadulterated Marxism -- and the "capitalist roaders," led by then-president Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping. After the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), Deng, the Great Architect of Reform, battled furiously with conservative patriarch Chen Yun, who only wanted "[market-oriented] reform within a bird-cage." In the run-up to the June 4, 1989 massacre, Deng, who was paranoid about China succumbing to the winds of change that were sweeping Eastern Europe, mobilized the troops to torpedo the Westernized political reforms championed by the liberal General Secretary Zhao Ziyang. Since the early 1990s, three major factions have emerged within the party: the Shanghai faction led by ex-president Jiang Zemin, the Communist Youth League (CYL) faction led by President Hu Jintao, and the "Gang of Princelings" -- a reference to the offspring of party elders -- led by president-in-waiting Xi Jinping. Despite their apparent differences, these factions have come to a solid consensus on the major goals of the country. Politically, the CCP must preserve its near-total monopoly on power. And while aspects of the economy are being integrated with the global marketplace, about 120 yangqi or centrally-held enterprises will continue to enjoy monopolies over key sectors, ranging from oil and gas to banking and telecommunications. Moreover, an unprecedented number of the spouses and children of party elders have gone into business. Some have become the yangqi's senior managers. Even more have used their sterling political connections to start highly successful private businesses in lucrative areas such as finance and real estate. These so-called "red capitalists" are evenly represented by members of the party major factions. Critics of the government do not seem to be exaggerating when they say that 100 or so of the biggest clans that represent the country's "red aristocracy" control the largest chunk of the economy. The official China Daily has reported that the top 1% of Chinese families owns 41.4% of the nation's wealth, while a survey by the People's Daily indicated that 91% of respondents thought the "nouveau riche" in China had benefited from their political ties to the CCP leadership. Reform has become nigh impossible because any change of the political or economic status quo will threaten the vested interests -- and finances and earnings -- of these near-omnipotent CCP clans. Politburo member and Guangdong Province Party Secretary Wang Yang admitted this earlier this year. "At the early stage of reform, the obstacles [to liberalization] were mainly due to ideological differences," he said. "Now, the major problems faced by reform come from the configuration of interest groups [at the top]." It is most unlikely that the fifth-generation leadership under General Secretary-in-waiting Xi Jinping will change the rules of the game. While Xi, 59, has the reputation of "Mr. Clean," his siblings are multi-millionaires who have substantial investments in China and Hong Kong. Quite a few of the members of the new CCP Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) -- China's highest ruling council -- to be confirmed at the November congress are representatives of China's big clans. They include the Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, Head of the Propaganda Department Liu Yunshan, and Vice-Premier and Chongqing Party Chief, Zhang Dejiang. Owing to the rigidity of China's one-party authoritarian rule -- as well as the political elite's determination to uphold the status quo -- expectations of any kind of reform and liberalization have fallen to new lows among the Chinese intelligentsia as well as ordinary folk. Even though China watchers in the West are paying close attention to who will be inducted into the Politburo and the PBSC, Beijing's largely apathetic political pundits are seized by a feeling of plus ca change -- the more things change, the more they stay the same. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Willy Lam. | Chance of meaningful reform from China's new leaders is slim .
Different factions have reached consensus on major national goals .
An unprecedented number of relatives of party elders have gone into business .
Reform complicated by vested interests of these "red capitalists" |
125,058 | 2da6f5cc8a451a04b17d0fe0fd4818bf2f722427 | By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . Senior church figures and charities were left outraged after metal studs were installed outside a luxury block of flats to deter homeless people from sleeping in the doorway. The inch-high studs were added to the floor of an alcove by the main entrance to the flats in Southwark Bridge Road, South London, . It is thought residents complained to the building managers of rough sleepers using the space. Serious issue: But some campaigners said that opponents were missing the point and argued that the real issue was a shortage of help for homeless people with mental health, drug and alcohol problems (file image) But the move provoked a fierce debate . when a picture was posted on Twitter by well-known female priest, the . Rev Sally Hitchiner, who said: ‘Anti-homeless people studs. 'What a negative message to send out!’ She said: ‘It is an indictment that we are treating people like pigeons. 'I feel very angry about it. It makes me feel quite ill.’ Rev Sally Hitchiner said the studs gave out a 'negative message' Katharine Sacks-Jones, head of policy and campaigns at homelessness charity Crisis, said rough sleepers deserved better than to be ‘moved on to the next doorway’. However, residents of the imposing five-storey apartment building, where a one-bedroom home costs in the region of £400,000, welcomed the move. One, Estefania Moreno, said: ‘I think it’s a good thing. 'There were people sleeping there and they made a mess.’ | Inch-high studs added to alcove in Southwark Bridge Road, London .
Move provoked fierce debate when picture of studs was posted online .
Rev Sally Hitchiner said: 'Anti-homeless people studs. What a negative message to send out' |
212,238 | 9ed7315f5b5830a6bb4e6aa440399ef7362101c1 | A kitten which holds an uncanny resemblance to Batman has been left at an animal rescue centre. Thanks to unusual markings on his face, this black and white moggy is reckoned to be a spitting image for the comic book hero by staff at the RSPCA centre in Swansea, South Wales. And he's even been named Bruce after the caped crusader's millionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne as played by Christian Bale and George Clooney. A kitten which holds an uncanny resemblance to Batman has been left at an animal rescue centre in Wales. The animal charity are now looking for a new home for the adorable cat who looks like he is wearing Batman's mask. Cat lover Susan Chambers said: 'I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him, he looks just like batman. 'I just hope he doesn't get his hands on Robin.' Thanks to unusual markings on his face, this black and white moggy is reckoned to be a spitting image for the comic book hero by staff at the RSPCA centre . He's even been named Bruce after the caped crusader's millionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne as played by Christian Bale (pictured) and George Clooney . Black and white kitten Bruce currently lives at an RSPCA centre in Swansea, South Wales. Centre manager Gary Weeks said he is one of 150 cats who they are trying to rehome. Mr Weeks said: 'We are looking to re-home 50 cats at least, we are looking for new homes for cats. 'They have been neutered, microchipped and are covered with insurance for four weeks.' Anyone able to take a cat in should contact the centre on 01792 229435 or www.rspca-llysnini.org.uk . | Kitten is thought to be spitting image for the much loved comic book hero .
Named Bruce after caped crusader's millionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne .
RSPCA are now looking for a new home for the black and white cat . |
279,326 | f5deeba1ae018736ed55b441357773a7a578e623 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 08:10 EST, 23 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:09 EST, 23 January 2013 . Police in a Utah town dominated by one of the largest polygamous sects in the U.S. have been stopping women from leaving, according to a top lawman. Arizona's attorney general Tom Horne yesterday announced a criminal probe of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and the Marshal's Office, which serves as a small police force in the twin polygamous towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. During a news conference held in Phoenix, Mr Horne also announced that a 26-year-old woman had been granted temporary custody of her six children and had fled the town of Colorado City, the home base of the FLDS. Arizona attorney general Tom Horne, left, and Ruby Jessop, rear centre, and her six children during the news conference where he announced a probe into a polygamist sect along the Utah-Arizona border . Hildale, Utah sits at the base of red rock cliff mountains with its sister town, Colorado City. Arizona attorney general Tom Horne says police there work with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to stop women leaving . He said she was forced by by its jailed leader Warren Jeffs to marry her brother-in-law at the age of 14, and had since been virtually held captive in the town on the Utah-Arizona border, along with many other women who want to leave. 'What they do is say, "Everybody watch her so she won't run away". Then she can't leave,' Horne said. 'Women who wanted to escape have been forcibly held by the marshals against their will.' Attorneys for the two towns and the Marshal's Office adamantly denied the charges, calling Horne's words 'inflammatory'. 'I can't speak for the FLDS but the bottom line is the Marshal's Office absolutely does not hold people against their will,' said lawyer Blake Hamilton. 'The Arizona attorney general, as the highest ranking law enforcement official in Arizona, ought not be making those statements unless he has evidence of it. 'It's just absolutely not true,' Hamilton said. Free: Ruby Jessop, who was helped to leave a polygamist sect along the Utah-Arizona border . The church does not have a spokesperson to speak on its behalf, and Jeffs, who is said to still rule the sect, is jailed for life in Texas after convictions on child sex and bigamy charges. Horne fought last year for a bill in the Arizona Legislature aimed at abolishing the Marshal's Office in Colorado City, and replacing law enforcement there with deputies from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. It failed to pass, so he allocated funds to provide for limited patrols by deputies but says the money will soon run out, and he is again asking the Legislature to take up the bill. Flora Jessop (left) embraces her sister Ruby as they listen to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne's concerns over the Mormon church . Horne was joined at Tuesday's news conference by Flora Jessop, a vocal critic of the FLDS who fled the church in 1986. She was flanked by her sister, Ruby Jessop, and the woman's six young children. Flora Jessop said her sister, who did not speak Tuesday, had been held captive by the FLDS for years, undergoing sexual and mental abuse at the hands of her husband while not being allowed to leave with her kids. Ruby Jessop finally fled last year, and recently won temporary custody of her children who were being held 'hostage' by the sect, Flora Jessop said. 'It's a good day for freedom,' she said. Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said his agency also is involved in a criminal investigation of the FLDS and the Marshal's Office. He described authorities there as 'security guards for the FLDS church.'. Polygamist Warren Steed Jeffs before he was sentenced to life in prison on bigamy and child sex charges (left) and in court (right) 'They are corrupt and work only for the FLDS and Warren Jeffs,' Sheahan said. He said it's a dangerous situation for his deputies to be patrolling Colorado City without the cooperation of local law enforcement from the Marshal's Office. 'They are not our allies,' Sheahan said. 'I wouldn't trust them as backup for our deputies.' The FLDS Church teaches that a man having multiple wives is ordained by God and is a requirement for a man to receive the highest form of salvation. It is generally believed in the church that a man should have a minimum of three wives to fulfill this requirement. Wives are required to be subordinate to their husbands. The church has come under fire over allegations of sexual and mental abuse of wives and underage polygamous marriages. There are said to be over 30,000 people practising polygamy in Utah, Idaho, Montana and Arizona, even though it is illegal. Another attorney who represents Colorado City called the allegations outlandish, and said the Marshal's Office works well with Mohave County deputies. 'The Marshal's Office welcomes the presence of the sheriff's deputies because it provides them with backup,' said lawyer Jeff Matura. 'The more police service, the better protection for everyone.' Last year, the U.S. Justice Department sued Colorado City and Hildale, claiming discrimination against residents who are not FLDS members. Arizona also has a similar ongoing civil lawsuit against Colorado City. The criminal probe announced Tuesday by Horne and Sheahan mirrors the one that landed Jeffs in prison. After receiving a complaint of child abuse, Texas authorities in 2008 raided the FLDS' Yearning for Zion Ranch. The move led to a chaotic roundup of 400 children living at the secretive location in what became one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history. All of the children were eventually returned but 11 men - including Jeffs and other high-ranking FLDS lieutenants - were arrested on charges of sexual assault or bigamy and later convicted. Members of the sect are escorted onto a bus in Eldorado, Texas after a raid on a compound built by Warren Jeffs, jailed leader of The Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints . | Arizona Attorney General claims sect is holding women against their will .
He says police in Hildale and Colorado City are holding the women .
Marshal's office in Mormon stronghold strongly denies the claim . |
171,200 | 69921b16d12754a79132480e6815c15c49a8dc9b | A police officer was paid £9,000 for tripping over a pothole in his station's car park thanks to a compensation culture which campaigners say will 'make people's blood boil'. The unnamed female officer settled out-of-court after hurting her ankle when she fell over in Eastbourne, East Sussex, three years ago. Another officer was given £500 by Sussex Police because he was bitten on the behind by his police dog. Compensation culture: The claims were revealed under Freedom of Information laws . A policeman who hurt his tooth after using a riot shield upside-down, another who was singed during firearms training and a third who opened a window only for it to fall on him also feature in a catalogue of claims brought by officers against their own police force. Other cases which the force are still disputing could end up costing far more - with some pending claims already expected to exceed £100,000. Bitten: One policeman was handed £500 after his rear was bitten by a police dog . Figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws show that an officer claimed after slipping on a wet floor in the custody suite of Crawley, East Sussex, in March 2011. He twisted his knee despite warnings that the floor was slippery, and is now pursuing his force for a payout. The TaxPayers' Alliance today claimed the cases will 'make people's blood boil' and infuriate other officers who do not make such claims. The officer with the hurt tooth, who is left-handed, sought damages after being given a right-handed shield, which he said led to injury as he had to use it 'the wrong way up'. However, in this case, in Midhurst in February 2011, the force did not accept liability. Meanwhile, another officer received money after a window fell on him as he opened it. He received £1,588 in March 2013 following the incident in Worthing because he suffered an injury to his left hand. An officer received £500 after being injured during firearms training at Gatwick in January 2013. On this occasion the police officer suffered 'significant burns to the neck' from a shell casing which was ejected from a gun. In total Sussex Police paid out £21,088 in out-of-court settlements between January 2011 and December 2013. July 2011: Hastings, claimant walked through a door and shutter fell and hit him, paid £2,000 out-of-court . July 2011: Lewes HQ, a colleague used too much force and bent an officer's thumb back towards his wrist paid £6,000 out-of-court . May 2012: Brighton, claimant bitten by dog. Received £500 out-of-court . February 2011: Eastbourne claimant slips on pothole, paid £9,000 out-of-court . August 2012: Hassocks, claimant bitten by dog, paid £1,200 out-of-court . January 2013: Gatwick, shell casing from gun ejected and injured claimant, paid £500 out-of-court . March 2013: Worthing, claimant opened window which then fell on him, paid £1,588 out-of-court . September 2012: Seaford, claimant bitten by dog, paid £500 out-of-court. Cases which are still open: . December 2011: Sussex House, Brighton, claimant slipped on ice in car park . No date: Brighton, bullying and harassment . June 2012: Brighton, bitten by police dog . November 2011: Hove, Claimant trapped between moving police vehicle and crowd at riot . November 1998: force-wide, claimant suffers PTSD from undercover work. A number of cases are still open although 'reserve values' - how much has been set aside to potentially payout - have been agreed. Three of these values are set at £100,000. One involves an incident in December 2011 in Brighton, after a police officer slipped on ice in a police station car park at Sussex House. A second £100,000 pounds value has been set for an incident in Brighton in June 2012 when a police officer, acting as a 'stooge' in dog training was bitten. The third dates from 1998 and relates to an officer carrying out undercover work who reportedly suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. A Sussex Police statement said: 'Our Civil Claims Unit looks to make sure that any claims are dealt with fairly, professionally and in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules and Protocols. 'The nature of police work means it is unpredictable and officers and staff can, unfortunately, occasionally get injured during operations, daily duty or training exercises. 'All the claims are assessed on the severity of the injuries, the circumstances in which they were received and the question of liability is always fully investigated objectively. 'Where liability exists, compensation is paid to minimise the impact of the injury and feedback is given to ensure that any lessons that can be learnt.' Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'These claims will make people's blood boil, and wind up officers on the front line who don't make such ludicrous claims. 'The police do a difficult job and those hurt in the line of duty deserve support, but clearly some of these cases and the amounts involved are spurious to the extreme. 'Its time police chiefs stamped out the compensation culture that has crept into parts of the police station.' | Officer tripped in Eastbourne and claimed the payout against Sussex Police .
Another received £500 after a police dog bit him on the behind .
Part of a catalogue of payouts revealed under Freedom of Information laws .
Other pending claims have had as much as £100,000 set aside for them .
Campaigners say the compensation culture is a cause of outrage . |
177,856 | 723cb9a03d7b462488967bfaf01a54203345e2a3 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 06:30 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:37 EST, 5 November 2013 . An eight-year-old boy fired a gunshot which left his five-year-old relative with serious facial injuries, police have confirmed today. Officers were called to a house in Wickford, Essex, on Sunday following reports that a firearm had been discharged. They believe the shooting, which took place at around 1pm, was an accident. Scene: An eight-year-old-boy fired a gunshot at this house in Wickford, Essex, police have confirmed today . Police: A man, 18, was arrested by police for possession of a firearm following the incident, which left a five-year-old boy with serious but not life threatening injuries . A spokeswoman said today: 'It is thought to have been fired by an eight-year-old boy.' The force has refused to comment on the type of weapon used in the incident, or the relationship between the two children. The injured child was taken in a helicopter to the Royal London Hospital with a serious, but not life-threatening injuries. It is understood the owners of the property were not at home when the gun was fired, but were nearby. An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and unrelated drug offences. He has been released on police bail until 6 January while police continue their investigations. The weapon and other legally-held firearms at the property were handed over to police officers. A spokeswoman for the East Of England Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 1.16pm and sent two ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and the air ambulance was called. 'The boy was flown to Royal London Hospital with serious facial injuries.' Hurt: The child was taken to the Royal London Hospital, pictured, following the incident on Sunday afternoon . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Eight-year-old fired a gunshot in Wickford, Essex, police have confirmed .
Another boy, 5, taken to Royal London Hospital with serious injuries .
Owners of property where shot was fired were not at home, police said .
Man, 18, arrested for possession of a firearm following incident on Sunday . |
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