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133,095 | 3815eb5cf1b9a447fbcdcf9275620b67eae9c93e | New Delhi, India (CNN) -- Two bomb blasts killed at least 15 people and wounded 119 others on Thursday in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, the city's police commissioner, Anurag Sharma, said a day after the attack. Sharma didn't rule out the possibility of terror involvement in the city blasts. But he refused to identity any group as a suspect. The two bombs were planted on bicycles parked in a crowded spot, Sharma said. They were improvised explosive devices, he said, and they could have been triggered by a timer. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the strike a "dastardly attack" and said "the guilty will not go unpunished." He directed government agencies to extend all possible relief to authorities in Andhra Pradesh state. He also approved money for the next of kin of those killed and for others seriously injured. | Two bomb blasts killed at least 15 people and wounded 119 others in Hyderabad .
Hyderabad's police didn't rule out the possibility of terror involvement .
PM Manmohan Singh said "the guilty will not go unpunished" |
148,888 | 4c8670da5c1adb84d1de448a65acd5bde2ddfd52 | (CNN) -- Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 32, because of a long-standing knee injury. Flintoff quit Test cricket in 2009 after helping his country regain the Ashes against rivals Australia, but was hoping to continue playing in the one-day format of the game. However, he has finally been forced to accept his playing days are over following medical advice on his right knee. Flintoff issued a statement on Thursday, saying: "It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket. "The decision to end my career came after consultation with medical advisers. I was told that the problems I have been trying to overcome in re-hab for the last year, following the latest in a series of operations, would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback. "Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigors of cricket, I had no alternative but to retire." Flintoff played 79 Test matches for England, after making his debut against South Africa in 1998, but his career was blighted by injuries to his knees and ankles. He took 226 wickets at 32.78 runs per wicket and scored 3,845 runs at 31.77, with five hundreds, including a career-best of 167 against the West Indies in 2004. The highlight undoubtedly came in 2005 when a Flintoff-inspired England won the Ashes back from Australia, the first time they had beaten their rivals in 18 years. The Lancashire player scored 402 runs and took 24 wickets in that series, invoking memories of another Ian Botham's heroics against Australia in 1981. | Andrew Flintoff has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket aged 32 .
The all-rounder has been forced to quite because of a long-standing knee injury .
Flintoff played 79 Test matches for England after making his debut in 1998 .
The highlight undoubtedly came in 2005 when a Flintoff-inspired England won the Ashes . |
9,502 | 1aeef715af1109622e8e78fc012442910f7bab32 | By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 4 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:15 EST, 5 October 2012 . Resigned: Sir Norman Bettison will step down next year . The head of West Yorkshire Police will stand down after being accused of smearing fans in the wake of the Hillsborough tragedy. Sir Norman Bettison said the move will allow independent officials to fully investigate the devastating allegations about his integrity. The chief constable said the recent uproar made him 'reflect' on 'what is best for the future of policing' in his force area. Two weeks ago he was accused of being involved in a South Yorkshire Police 'black propaganda' campaign set up to smear fans in the days after Hillsborough. The top officer was also forced to issue a humiliating apology after saying Liverpool fans were partly to blame for what happened. He faced calls to resign from the families of victims for criticising fans' behaviour despite an independent panel clearing them of wrongdoing. Sir Norman, 56, said he will retire from his £225,000 post on March 31 next year, despite being recently granted an extension to his contract. It remains to be seen whether he will receive any extra pay off over his gold-plated public sector pension of up to £150,000 a year. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating Sir Norman's conduct in the aftermath of Hillsborough. The damning report on the Hillsborough disaster laid bare a shocking cover-up which attempted to shift the blame on to its 96 victims. The inquiry found that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter 'unfavourable' comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster. The . watchdog said it is conducting a 'detailed assessment' of a referral . from West Yorkshire Police Authority. It is also examining his comments . last month. Supporters of Sir Norman said he has been the victim of a 'witch-hunt' in the wake of the release of the explosive Hillsborough report. In a statement released last night, he said: 'Recent weeks have caused me to reflect on what is best for the future of policing in West Yorkshire and I have now decided to set a firm date for my retirement of March 31, 2013. Tragic: Liverpool fans tried to get away from the crush in the stadium . Trevor Hicks, who lost his daughters Vicki, 15, and Sarah, 19, in the tragedy wants the chief constable stripped of his knighthood . 'Furthermore, I hope it will enable . the Independent Police Complaints Commission to fully investigate . allegations that have been raised about my integrity. 'They need to be fairly and fully investigated and I welcome this independent and formal scrutiny.' Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the . Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: 'Obviously I’m very, very . pleased. I’m absolutely delighted that he’s going. 'But then he’ll be going on his full . pension, and I’d like to know the full reasons why he’s choosing to . retire as soon as this.' Mrs Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son . James died in the tragedy, said: 'Why didn’t he stay, then, until the . IPCC came out with their investigation? 'But he’s decided to leave. I’m not arguing against it, because I’m thrilled that he is going.' Sir Norman, who began his policing career in South Yorkshire, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the disaster. Anne Williams, whose 15-year-old son . Kevin died on the Leppings Lane terrace, said the findings of the recent . report left Sir Norman with no choice but to retire. She said: 'I think the whole lot of . them who have been involved for these 23 years should all go for the . hurt that they have caused us for 23 years. 'I don’t think he would have retired if it wasn’t for the Hillsborough report.' Trevor Hicks, who lost his two . daughters, 19-year-old Sarah and 15-year-old Victoria, told ITV News: . 'I’m glad he’s realised his position . is untenable, however I’m determined that he does not escape his just . desserts and I will make sure he’s stripped of his knighthood. 'He should leave with nothing, like he tried to leave the families.' Questions about Sir Norman’s role in . the investigation of the tragedy have dogged him as he has risen through . the higher ranks of the police - most notably when there were protests . from the families of those who died when he became Chief Constable of . Merseyside in 1998. Undeterred . by this opposition, Sir Norman stayed on in Liverpool for six years and . was even named an honorary fellow of the city’s John Moores University. Liverpool fans held up a Hillsborough banner before the match between Liverpool and Manchester United after the explosive report . Support: Liverpool fans hold up a mosiac spelling out 'justice' and 'the truth' after report findings . After retiring from the police in 2004 to become the chief executive of Centrex, a firm which offered training to police forces, he was knighted for services to policing in 2006. Returning to an active role in the police and Yorkshire, Sir Norman became West Yorkshire Police’s chief constable in January 2007 and was designated the officer responsible for overseeing policing of domestic extremism. Last month he was singled out as the . most senior serving policeman allegedly involved in a 'black propaganda' campaign that followed the 1989 stadium disaster. He was part of a South Yorkshire . Police unit which tried to ensure the force was exonerated over the . tragedy and fans were put in the spotlight. The report revealed that as a chief . inspector he produced a video for MPs which highlighted how a pitch . invasion was 'thought' to have happened. It added that policing a match was 'reliant on some co-operation' from fans. Liverpool MP Maria Eagle said the unit he was part of was nothing more than a 'black propaganda' campaign. But Sir Norman insisted he had 'nothing to hide' as a clamour for him to resign intensified but sparked fresh fury by placing some blame on fans. He stressed he had played no role in changing officers' accounts of what happened, saying: 'I never altered a statement nor asked for one to be altered.' He pointed out that he had been off-duty and attended the fateful FA Cup semi-final match as a fan, immediately joining the police effort. In 1998, several police authority members quit when Sir Norman was made chief of Merseyside over his role in preparing the police response to Hillsborough. In April 2010, Sir Norman raised eyebrows by saying that he was not worth his bumper pay and pension package. He said huge pay awards were 'untenable' and many employed by the state were following a vocation and would happily do the job for less pay. | Sir Norman Bettison will retire from £225,000 post on March 21, 2013 .
Officer forced to apologise for criticising Liverpool fans' behaviour in tragedy .
Sir Norman alleged to be 'most senior officer in black propaganda campaign'
Families of those who died 'delighted' at his departure . |
268,391 | e7a29b276d816a5c4ce8075eae3fcc028060595c | A house that was sold in a state of rank squalor has been cleaned and put back on the market just six months later - for £10,000 more. The filthy three-bedroom semi-detached home in Short Heath Road, Erdington, Birmingham, was sold for £114,950 in March after being advertised on property search website Zoopla. The photos of the house resembled a bombsite, with filthy dishes piled on sinks and counter-tops, floors stained and partially hidden by garbage and mountains of clothes heaped in every room. Scroll down for video . Filth: Dirty dishes, disused mugs and empty containers litter the kitchen in this shocking property advertisement photo which appeared on website Zoopla in February . Slight improvement: A new image which has appeared on property search websites, Zoopla and Rightmove, shows a cleaner kitchen - albeit still needing some work . Despite the shocking pictures, estate agent Burchell Edwards optimistically described the property as a 'period style' house featuring 'Minton tiled flooring' in the vestibule and a 'generous lounge'. The property also boasted a 'family bathroom' and a third bedroom 'bigger than your normal sized third bedroom' as well as being just half-a-mile from Erdington Train Station and local shops. The kitchen diner was described as featuring 'a range of wall and base units incorporating a one-and-a-half bowl stainless steel sink with drainer, integrated appliances to include oven, hob and microwave'. Astonishingly - the property was viewed 14 times by prospective buyers and was on the market for one month before being bought for the full asking price in March. Squalor: The living room was pictured online looking like a bombsite with rubbish piled everywhere - yet the property still attracted a buyer . Clean up: The latest advert shows a tidier living room - the house in Erdington, Birmingham, is now on the market for £125,000 . It was purchased by a property developer who hoped to renovate it and turn it into a luxury family home. But today it emerged that the house was for sale again and, in a sign of the rising housing market, had an asking price of £125,000 - a £10,000 increase in just six months. The buyer, who has not been identified, initially described the house as 'a palace'. But yesterday his love for the property seemed to have waned as updated pictures of the inside of the house looking tidier appeared on the Zoopla website. Grim: The bedroom was originally captured with piles of clothes obscuring the bed and drawers hanging open spilling their contents on to the hidden floor . Empty: The clothes have been taken away but the bedroom is far from welcoming with the door off its hinges and a shoddy-looking cabinet in the middle of the floor . Andy Keogh, of Erdington Estate Agents, said: 'The guy who bought it was a property developer but he only got as far as emptying all the rubbish out and then he ran out of time. 'It's not perfect, it needs a new roof, new windows, new central heating, new everything. It's a massive challenge. 'And someone who likes gardening. Homes that need work get more attention. It needs everything doing, it needs gutting and starting again.' On Zoopla, the latest advertisement confesses: 'The property has featured in The Daily Mail when the property was full of furniture and rubbish (now removed). The property will need a full refurbishment and is on the market due to the new owner not been able to complete the works. 'It would suit someone with plenty of time on their hands and be able to restore the property to a liveable condition. The property is huge inside and should be viewed to appreciate the space on offer either as a family home or multi-room let property.' Original advert: The post appeared on Zoopla in February with estate agent Burchell Edwards optimistically describing the property as a 'period style' house . Fresh on the market: The cleaner property has reappeared online with an asking price of £125,000 - £10,000 more than it was bought for in March . On the latest Zoopla advert, it reads: 'The property would suit someone with plenty of time on their hands and be able to restore the property to a liveable condition' | Home went on the market in February - appearing on property website Zoopla in a state of absolute filth .
Amazingly it was sold for its asking price of £115,000 to property developer who hoped to turn it into luxury home .
But after six months he's only cleared out the rubbish and cleaned the rooms, with the house still not 'liveable'
Despite this - it's now back on the market for £125,000 - with new Zoopla photos showing off house's tidy rooms. |
195,341 | 88de1427176ed8b3034077f68f9d169e40d93a48 | (CNN) -- An apparent natural gas explosion in downtown Bozeman, Montana, leveled three businesses Thursday morning, according to city and state officials. An explosion rocks downtown Bozeman, Montana, on Thursday in a photo from iReporter Sean Gallik. "When we say gone, we mean gone. These three businesses are gone," said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who added that the state is providing help for clean up, and to businesses and residents who are affected. One person remained unaccounted for Thursday evening, Bozeman Assistant City Manager Chuck Winn said. "The situation remains unsafe for anyone to enter," Winn said. "So in terms of a search -- we are unable to do so at this time." Winn said city crews are making progress cleaning up the area, but the damage is great. He said a meeting was planned Friday morning to give business owners and residents information about when they can return. "It literally looks like a bomb went off in downtown Bozeman," he said. iReport.com: Photos from the scene . "Roofing material, construction material is scattered for three or four blocks," he said. "It was a very violent explosion." Schweitzer added that the situation would "not be over in 24 hours." The blast occurred about 8:15 a.m. on the town's Main Street, Fire Chief Jason Shrauger told CNN. The city government declared a local emergency after the blast. Initially, 11 people were reported missing, but 10 were later accounted for, Winn said. It was not clear what triggered the blast. Bozeman is in south-central Montana, about 100 miles southeast of the state capital, Helena. | One person unaccounted for .
Three businesses destroyed in downtown Bozeman, Montana .
Eleven people initially reported missing after natural gas explosion .
It was not clear what triggered the blast . |
268,968 | e86c5350f8958f8dc1707f80ef8b79d21fe36538 | By . Laurie Whitwell for MailOnline . Aston Villa left-back Joe Bennett has joined Brighton on a season-long loan move from Aston Villa. Bennett was bought by Villa for around £2.75million in 2012 after impressing at Middlesbrough but found his opportunities limited last season through injury and Ryan Bertrand’s arrival on loan. Paul Lambert’s capture of Aly Cissokho has seen Bennett look for game-time elsewhere and the 24-year-old passed his medical with Sami Hyypia’s Championship side on Wednesday. Done deal: Joe Bennett has completed a season-long loan move from Aston Villa to Brighton . Familiar face: He will join new Brighton manager Sami Hyypia on the south coast . Brighton were set to complete a deal for another left-back, Stephen Ward, last week, but Burnley stole in at the eleventh hour to sign the player. Bennett has two years left on the Villa contract he signed two years ago, and has made 30 appearances in the Premier League for the club so far. He is the fifth player to leave the club on a season-long loan this summer after Nicklas Helenius, Antonio Luna, Yacouba Sylla and Aleksandar Tonev . On the move: Bennett made 30 appearances since signing for Villa two years ago . VIDEO Lambert delighted with team effort . | Bennett passed medical at Brighton ahead of complete season-long loan .
The left-back has made 30 appearances since signing for Villa two years ago . |
102,150 | 0fa424fd8117eec10af622dfb997cd9e1f005a76 | Patrick, a finance executive, was diagnosed with bowel cancer after doctors diagnosed anaemia . Patrick McIntosh had given blood every six months for nearly two decades. Then two years ago, when he went to donate as usual, he was told he couldn't - because his iron levels were too low. 'It came completely out of the blue,' says Patrick, 58, a financier who lives with his wife, Sue, and their two dogs in Smallfield, Surrey. 'I felt very healthy. I sail and I cycle - I've done the London-to-Brighton bike ride more than 25 times.' At first, he wasn't too concerned. 'The nurse at the donor session said it was nothing to worry about, that I was probably a bit run-down, and I should try taking iron pills - which I did.' About a month later, Patrick had a routine appointment with his GP and mentioned that his iron levels were low. 'He was pretty reassuring - but just in case, he said he'd measure them again,' says Patrick, a director of KMG financial planners. 'But 36 hours later the doctor rang to say my iron levels were so low - about 35 per cent below minimum - I shouldn't even have the energy to stand up.' A lack of iron - anaemia - typically causes fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath; it can also lead to headaches, cold hands or feet, and pale skin. 'But I had no symptoms at all,' says Patrick. His GP thought this was likely to be because he was so fit and his rigorous fitness regimen had helped his body to compensate. At this point the doctor suggested that bleeding from a stomach ulcer might be to blame, and sent Patrick for tests. These revealed the true cause was far more sinister: a tumour in his colon. Anaemia is often thought of as purely a woman's problem, with about three million women affected. But 3 per cent of men, roughly one million, also suffer from it, according to a report last year in the British Medical Journal. The danger is that - as in Patrick's case - anaemia can be a sign of an underlying problem, but men aren't seeking help. 'Men may not realise they are at risk, and are generally more hesitant to see doctors,' says Dr John Mason, a consultant gastroenterologist at Central Manchester University Hospitals. The body needs iron to produce red blood cells. Without sufficient iron, not only are there fewer red blood cells, those that are produced lack haemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that transports oxygen around the body. His iron levels were so low - about a third below minimum - he shouldn't even have had the energy to stand . The lack of oxygen affects almost every function in the body, such as the immune system - which is why frequent infections can be a warning sign. Iron is also vital for the hair, skin and nails. Often a lack of iron can simply be down to not getting enough from the food we eat. It is found in many foods, including red meat, fish and dark green leafy vegetables. Otherwise, in women the usual cause is heavy periods. In men, however, anaemia is typically a result of bleeding in the gastro-intestinal tract (the stomach and intestines). This can happen for many reasons, but most often it occurs when taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This is the single largest cause of gastro-intestinal blood loss in both men and women, responsible in 10 to 15 per cent of cases, according to the British Society of Gastroenterology. Daily aspirin is taken for a number of reasons, including lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. It works by interfering with platelets, the blood cells that help blood to clot. A side-effect of anti-clotting action is that it can result in an increased risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding. 'Aspirin is a significant cause of bleeding, especially in older people, who may also not get enough iron because of poor diets,' says Dr Mason. Other NSAIDs work by blocking enzymes involved in pain and inflammation, but this also stops production of another type of chemical that protects the stomach lining from stomach acid. This means that NSAIDs increase the risk of developing an ulcer - and thus of anaemia. As well as stomach ulcers, other causes of anaemia in men are bleeding from abnormal blood vessels (angiodysplasia); non-cancerous growths in the colon (polyps); and infection with the stomach bug H. pylori. Treatment for anaemia depends on the cause. Anaemia is typically a result of bleeding in the gastro-intestinal tract (the stomach and intestines) Where it is due to a chronic disease causing bleeding, such as ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel condition), treatment of the underlying disease should stop the bleeding and the anaemia. In about 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cases of gastro-intestinal bleeding, the cause is cancer in the colon or stomach. A fortnight after his anaemia was diagnosed, Patrick went for tests. 'I had an endoscope or tube and cameras stuck into my backside about two weeks after anaemia was diagnosed. And they found a tumour in the colon. They found several smaller ones, too.' Cancers can cause bleeding because either the tumour itself bleeds or surrounding tissue bleeds as a result of damage caused by the growth. 'I ended up having 17 inches of my large and small colons taken out, as well as lymph glands and stomach muscles,' says Patrick. 'The muscles went in a sort of belt-and-braces approach to make sure everything was got. Because I was pretty healthy, I was discharged after 40 hours, rather than the expected four to five days. 'I did not have any chemotherapy or drugs. Bowel cancer can be cured quickly and efficiently if caught early.' Where no underlying cause for the anaemia can be found - thought to be the case for about one in four people - iron supplements or diet changes may be effective. Treating the problem, even when there is no apparent cause, is important because untreated anaemia can put a strain on the heart as it needs to work harder to pump more blood around to make up for the lack of oxygen in the red blood cells. For people who already have heart disease, this could cause angina (chest pain as the heart is deprived of blood), which is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. As Dr Mason explains: 'Anaemia makes the heart work harder and brings out angina, in the same way as running for a bus can bring it out.' The importance of diagnosing anaemia was brought home to Patrick, who now campaigns to raise awareness of the signs of bowel cancer and has raised funds for Bowel Cancer UK with a sponsored trek to the South Pole. 'The frightening thing is that the first sign of my bowel cancer was low iron levels,' he says. 'Looking back, there were other tell-tale signs,' he adds, recalling a change in stool colour ('pretty black') and odour, 'which I discovered can be symptoms of cancer, but I didn't know at the time'. 'Had I known, I would have seen a doctor. But there was no apparent blood, and I felt so well. 'If the anaemia hadn't been diagnosed when it was - and it was only by chance - who knows what would have happened.' bowelcanceruk.org.uk . | Patrick McIntosh, 58, from Surrey was diagnosed with anaemia 2 years ago .
A fortnight later he underwent tests with an endoscope and cameras .
He had bowel cancer and had to have 17 inches his colon taken out . |
242,176 | c571ad55add8bf2501d79bf17c75488eee7f574a | Tacloban, Philippines (CNN) -- Efren Penaflorida was grateful when Typhoon Haiyan bypassed his home in Cavite City, Philippines. But when he saw the devastation in other areas of the country, he wanted to do all he could to help his fellow Filipinos. "I was crying watching the news," said Penaflorida, the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. "It really sank my heart, seeing all the people who lost their loved ones, houses. They lost everything." Penaflorida immediately began collecting donations at his mobile "pushcart classrooms," which he uses to educate poor children in the country. But he wanted to do more. So he reached halfway around the world to Doc Hendley, a North Carolina clean-water activist who had also been honored as a top 10 CNN Hero in 2009. After a disaster strikes, access to clean water is vital to help prevent the spread of disease. Hendley, who has responded to humanitarian crises in Darfur, Haiti and Syria, had just started assessing how his nonprofit, Wine to Water, might help the Philippines when he received Penaflorida's e-mail. "I was already thinking that maybe I should go, " Hendley said. "When he shot me the e-mail ... he sealed the deal. "Our organization depends on relationships with people on the ground ... (and) what better relationship than with Efren?" Soon, Hendley was on a flight to the Philippines with hundreds of water filters in tow. Penaflorida picked him up at the airport in Manila. "That was a long trip from the U.S. to the Philippines ... and he has put out his own money and resources to help us," Penaflorida said. "We were both excited, seeing each other." The next day, both men helped volunteers assemble the filters and pack 120,000 meals donated by Stop Hunger Now, one of Hendley's partner organizations. Then they headed to Tacloban, in the heart of the devastated area, to deliver the filters. Hendley said it's hard to communicate the scope of the disaster. "It reminds me of Haiti because the buildings are completely collapsed, destroyed ... but it's different," he said. "The trees on mountains are blown over, lying down like matchsticks, and palm trees have snapped in half, broken. It's pretty shocking." Penaflorida said that the destruction was worse than he'd seen on television, but he soon found reason to take heart. "When we got to the communities, they were asking for help," he said. "When Doc presented them with filters, I saw hope in their eyes." Hendley said they will have distributed 2,000 filters by the end of the week. Because each filter can provide enough clean water for 10 people, and because each will last for 10 years, Hendley estimates that at least 20,000 people will benefit. He originally planned to return home for the Thanksgiving holiday, but he now intends to stay until early December. "I couldn't be home for a nice Thanksgiving dinner and pretend like nothing happened," he said. "There's too much we have to do." Penaflorida returned home Wednesday to focus on a new project: bringing his pushcart classrooms to the devastated areas to help educate children while the communities rebuild. The country's minister of education has expressed strong interest in the large-scale replication of the program, Penaflorida said, and asked him to assess the feasibility during his visit. Penaflorida hopes work can begin in the coming weeks. Other CNN Heroes are also responding to help those affected by the typhoon. Robin Lim, the American-born midwife named CNN Hero of the Year in 2011, has strong ties to the Philippines; her mother was Filipino. So after the storm, she brought food and medical supplies. She has also been working with local clinics to provide assistance to pregnant women, new mothers and young children. Unexpectedly, Hendley and Penaflorida ran into Lim as they traveled from Manila, an impromptu Heroes reunion of sorts. Hendley now plans to provide water filters to Lim so she can distribute them to the women and children she is helping. Dr. Laura Stachel, a 2013 Top 10 Hero, has also provided Lim with one of five "solar suitcases" that she has donated to the relief effort. These portable kits provide essential power to medical clinics. Team Rubicon, a group of military veterans that responds to natural disasters, was on the ground within days of the storm. The group, founded by 2012 CNN Hero Jake Wood, has 43 volunteers in the Philippines providing medical care, opening supply lines and helping repair a field hospital in an area west of Tacloban. Evans Wadongo, a Top 10 CNN Hero in 2010, is also hoping to partner with Penaflorida. Although Wadongo normally distributes his solar-powered lanterns to rural communities in Africa, he has launched an online campaign to raise funds so he can assist Filipinos more than 5,000 miles away. This outpouring of help has greatly touched Penaflorida. "CNN Heroes are like family, and I'm glad that my fellow Heroes have immediately responded," he said. "But that's what you do when you are family: You help each other. ... That makes me feel happy and so grateful." You can support relief efforts in the Philippines through Penaflorida's Dynamic Teen Company or Hendley's Wine to Water or by visiting CNN's Impact Your World. CNN's Marissa Calhoun contributed to this report. | Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, has devastated the Philippines .
Several CNN Heroes are working together to help those affected by the typhoon .
Doc Hendley flew in from North Carolina with hundreds of water filters .
Others are raising money and donating relief supplies of their own . |
269,249 | e8c741a3300dbf16939c5d54d9d030d4967382a1 | (CNN) -- Have you ever been caught in a shoot-out, dodging bullets as they scatter across walls? Or participated in a bank robbery in broad daylight? No need to duck. Modern-day fans of America's outlaws can safely step into one of the most famous gunfights in history and the first successful daylight robbery. Although famous outlaws John Dillinger and Jesse James aren't usually embraced for their violence, their exploits are a part of America's history. The birthplaces, graves and trails once traveled by these famous American criminals can be found all over the United States. Here are some of the best locations to relive the most well-known rogues of yesteryear. John Dillinger, Wisconsin and Arizona . American gangster John Dillinger, whose criminal run was featured in the 2009 Johnny Depp movie "Public Enemies," robbed two dozen banks and four police stations during his Depression-era crime spree. With all the violent criminals running rampant at the time, Dillinger is probably the most infamous of all: His crimes inspired the FBI to develop their organized crime unit and made it a priority to catch Dillinger. Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, was the site of the famous 1934 Dillinger gang shootout with the FBI in which Dillinger, attempting to hide and evade law enforcement, narrowly escaped with his life. With hundreds of bullet holes in the windows and walls, it's preserved just as it was 80 years ago. The lodge is still open for dining, but with an updated menu. Another famous Dillinger site is Hotel Congress in Tucson, Arizona. Dillinger was arrested after a fire at the hotel, transferred to Indiana and escaped prison months before the Little Bohemia shootout. Jesse James, Missouri . Jesse James was one of the most prolific outlaws of the Wild West, believed to have robbed dozens of banks and trains. Although he lived and died in the state of Missouri, the James gang was responsible for major heists in many other states. After being pursued by law enforcement for nearly 20 years, ironically James was shot and killed by one of his fellow gang members for a $10,000 reward. The 2007 Brad Pitt movie "The Assassination of Jesse James" focuses on the outlaw's death and his relationship with Robert Ford, the friend who shot him in the back of the head. The Jesse James Farm and Museum in Kearney, Missouri, is the birthplace and childhood home of James, born in 1847. Visitors can tour the restored home and see where the adventure began. The town hosts an annual Jesse James festival in September. Liberty, Missouri's Jesse James Bank Museum is known as the site of the nation's first successful daylight peaceful bank robbery in 1866. Although the culprits were never caught, this robbery has been attributed to the James gang. In nearby St. Joseph is the Jesse James Home Museum, where James was killed. This museum holds artifacts of James' life and death, including the evidence from his 1995 exhumation that laid to rest the rumors that he wasn't really dead. Bonnie and Clyde, Texas and Louisiana . Immortalized in the 1967 movie "Bonnie and Clyde," Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow traveled the central United States and robbed banks during the Great Depression. In 1934, only a few years after their killing spree began, the couple was ambushed in Bienville Parish, Louisiana by Texas and Louisiana law enforcement who had been in pursuit. Caught off-guard, it's said they were shot to death in their car without ever returning fire. Bienville Parish, eight miles South of Gibsland, Louisiana, has a monument at the ambush site that tourists can visit. The cement marker is repeatedly vandalized and scavenged by souvenir hunters and has to be replaced often, but remains standing. Both natives of Dallas, numerous places from their past can be found in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The pair's gravesites and Parker's elementary school are just a few of the sites that can be visited. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Wyoming . To relive the adventures of the real-life Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, featured in the 1969 movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, head to Cody, Wyoming. The town holds Cassidy's home in Old Trail Town, Outlaw Cave and trails commonly traveled by his gang, and several others, for safe passage and places to hide out. Hole-in-the-Wall pass, in the Big Horn Mountains, once held the log cabin where Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang met. Located in a secluded area, lawmen couldn't approach without the gang knowing, keeping them safe. The cabin is preserved at the Old Trail Town Museum. Some 20 miles west of Kaycee is the Outlaw Cave Recreation Area, another spot where the gang used to hide out. The cave was well hidden and bordered Colorado, allowing for a quick exit from authorities and rival gangs. Al Capone, Pennsylvania and Illinois . Perhaps the most notorious of all American mobsters was Alphonse Capone, the infamous leader of the Chicago mafia during prohibition. The 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which Capone's men lured and killed rival bootleggers, turned the mob boss into a household name, as the media went wild. Despite all the killings for which he was responsible, Capone was convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and served only seven years in prison. He died at his home in 1947, immortalized as one of the most notorious criminals of the 20th century. Robert De Niro played Al Capone in the 1987 box office hit "The Untouchables," which recounted FBI agent Eliot Ness's fight to bring Capone to justice. Al Capone spent eight months at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary in 1929. This was Capone's first prison sentence, for carrying a concealed and deadly weapon, and he spent his time in a cell on Park Avenue Block with fine furniture, a cabinet radio and other luxuries. Capone's grave is just outside Chicago at Mount Carmel Cemetery, with a stone monument and flat marker. It's not unusual for visitors to leave icons of his legendary status, such as cigars and bottles of alcohol. Billy the Kid, New Mexico . Billy the Kid only lived to be 21, dying in 1881, but it's believed he killed eight people in his short life. A frontier outlaw of the Wild West, Billy the Kid started his life of thievery and crime early, eventually joining the Regulators, a gang of lawmen-turned-outlaws. Paul Newman also took on the role as a young Billy the Kid in a 1958 movie that portrayed the outlaw as a misunderstood young man. In 1880, Billy the Kid was arrested for killing a Lincoln County sheriff and subsequently escaped jail after being sentenced to death. A year later, he was found and shot to death by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner opened in 1953 and is filled with over 60,000 relics of the Wild West, many of them historic. The adjoining state monument, Old Fort Sumner, was once a familiar haunt of Billy the Kid's. With plenty of friends nearby and no lawman within a day's travel, it was an ideal place to lie low. When strangers arrived, locals would alert "The Kid," so he could disappear into the countryside until it was safe to return. Bugsy Siegel, Nevada . A vital part in developing the Las Vegas strip, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1906 but became famous for his role in the development of the Las Vegas strip 40 years later. Before moving to Nevada, he spent years in New York and California as a bootlegger and ruthless killer. The 1991 Warren Beatty film "Bugsy" depicted the mobster's life in California and his rise to power in Las Vegas. A lifelong gambler, it was Siegel's dream to open a huge casino in the burgeoning Nevada desert, and with funding from the East Coast mob, he built the $6 million Flamingo Hotel in 1946. When Siegel's associate, Meyer Lansky, discovered the high cost was due to Siegel's theft and mismanagement, Siegel was gunned down in his Beverly Hills home only one year after the casino opened. Although Lansky was never officially linked to the crime, it's almost undoubtable that he ordered the hit. One of the first resorts to open on the strip, the Flamingo Hotel (the earliest incarnation of the modern hotel standing today) remains a popular destination in Las Vegas. A bronze plaque memorial remains at the hotel, set in front of the wedding chapel, making for some very distinctive wedding photos. The Crime Museum, Washington, D.C. If you don't have time to travel the country in search of outlaws, Washington's Crime Museum holds one of the country's largest collections of criminal artifacts. Visitors can see relics of some of the most famous outlaws and gangsters, such as John Dillinger's car and items from Al Capone's restaurant, Colosimo's. There are even galleries featuring the history of crime dating back to the Middle Ages. | Outlaw museums and landmarks can be found all over the country .
Jesse James' home and Al Capone's grave are popular sites .
The Crime Museum in Washington, D.C. holds a large collection of artifacts . |
271,169 | eb41ba84c590013b4dbb2e21f57b9b1d3c400c54 | By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 09:40 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:14 EST, 8 February 2013 . An American couple have spoken of their joy after returning from Russia with the adopted son they thought they'd never have. Robert and Kim Summers from New Jersey, were just weeks away from picking up little Preston from a Moscow orphanage, when the Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a ban on Americans adopting Russian children. The move was widely seen as retaliation for a U.S. law which targeted Russians suspected of violating human rights. Joy: Kim Summers gives adopted son Preston a great big kiss after successfully getting him back to the U.S. despite a ban on American adopting Russian children . Despite feeling that the odds were stacked against them, the Summers travelled to Russia mid-January so they could at least try to bring Preston back . At the time the Summers were . devastated, with Robert breaking down in tears on television as he made a . heartfelt plea to Putin to reconsider the policy . He told CBS at the time: 'I cannot put into words how my wife and I feel right now. Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a ban on Americans adopting Russian children . 'And we ask Putin, please, consider alternate means, but don't let these children suffer. Please. That's all we ask.' But despite feeling that the odds were . stacked against them, the Summers travelled to Russia mid-January so . they could at least try to bring Preston back. In an interview with CBS Mrs Summers . recalled: 'We did not know. We just prayed and kept the faith and just . kept believing that, you know, all of our efforts would pay off.' The couple thought all hope was lost after a clerk at a Russian government office refused to process as passport for Preston. 'She looked at it and she said in Russian, "Americans? I thought there was a ban on Americans. How could we give them this passport?"' Kim recalled. 'We held our breath and I gasped for air and I said, oh no. Please, don't let us go through all this and we're going to have problems," Robert added. The couple were save thanks to a loophole which stated that because the judge had already signed off on their adoption before the law was passed. They returned the next day and were issued a passport for Preston. Five days later, they left Russia and brought Preston home. New Home: Preston plays with some of his toys back at the Summers' house in New Jersey . New wheels: Preston's new father pushes him around on a Harley Davidson-style tricycle . 'Robert and I looked at each other and we said, it's over, it's over. And I can't even tell you the relief. And how elated we are,' said Kim. 'I completely understand when a mother says that she takes one look at her newborn child and is instantly in love with that child. I'm in love with him. I'm in love with him, and I do believe he's in love with us, too.' The Summers were one of an estrimated 1,0000 American families caught in teh middle of the adoption process when the ban was passed. The State Department estimates just 50 of those will be allowed to return to the U.S. with their children. | New Jersey couple were weeks away from picking up little Preston .
But Russian President Vladimir Putin passed ban on .
Americans adopting .
Seen as retaliation for Russians being targetted for human rights abuses .
But they flew out to Moscow anyway in a last-ditch effort to bring him back . |
137,545 | 3de0bc614cee2f1f5b206e498a75b11de5e79585 | By . James Rush . and Lucy Osborne . PUBLISHED: . 05:18 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:19 EST, 3 December 2013 . Jordan Silverstone has been criticised for selling a tuxedo David Beckham donated to a charity shop for £2,600 . Posing in the tuxedo he bought from a charity shop for just £125 after it was donated by David Beckham, this is the economics student who has been criticised for cashing in after he sold the item online for £2,600. Jordan Silverstone bought the Savile Row tuxedo from a British Red Cross charity shop in Chelsea after the Beckhams donated more than 20 boxes of clothes, bags and shoes in an attempt to raise money for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Hundreds of fans queued around the block in a bid to get their hands on rare designer items, but a number of shoppers then put the items up for sale online. Mr Silverstone had queued for one and a half hours before buying the suit which Beckham wore to the Sun’s Military Awards in 2011, where he was pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge. The 22-year-old has said he originally bought the William Hunt tuxedo for his father Matthew's 53rd birthday, but when he got it home he realised his father would not fit into it. The Nottingham University student then decided to sell the suit and keep three quarters of the profit, to pay for a day out with his father and to put towards paying off his student loan, with the rest going to charity. But the Nottingham University student has suffered abuse through social media sites and on eBay accusing him of cashing in on a charitable gesture. Nazaneen Ghaffer, a Sky News weather presenter, said on Twitter that if an item doesn’t fit, people should ‘just sell them for what he/she paid’ – not make a profit. But Mr Silverstone responded, saying: ‘It is absolute nonsense. If I keep the suit and leave it in my Dad’s wardrobe never to be worn then that is okay, but if I sell it on to a buyer who really wants it that isn’t?' He added: ‘Where is the logic behind that? It’s rich of anyone to knock someone else’s charitable donations. Nazaneen Ghaffer poses pictures of her exotic holidays in Dubai on Twitter – is someone having a go at her for not giving this money to starving children? No.’ He said: ‘From an economics point of view, it makes complete sense. ‘It doesn’t fit my dad, so we want to sell it to someone who can get value out of it as that’s better than it being unused. Mr Silverstone queued for one and a half hours before he bought the suit from the British Red Cross charity shop in Chelsea . ‘This way I can raise more money for . charity than I already have by buying the tux and make a profit to do . something nice with my dad.’ Only 150 shoppers were allowed in to the charity shop on November 22, before it changed to one-in-one out, after more than 500 donated items went on sale, incuding designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, which started at just £25. But Mr Silverstone is not the only one who has put up one of the items for sale to make a profit. Other items that have been auctioned online include Victoria's white platform trainers she wore at the Dodgers Mets game on June 7, 2007, with bids starting at £1,000 despite the owner paying less than £50 for them. Another eBay user is selling a pair of Victoria’s Gianni Versace black heels for £330. David Beckham wore the tuxedo to the Sun's Military Awards in 2011, where he was pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge . Mr Silverstone put the tuxedo for sale on eBay after buying it from the charity shop . Student Jordan Silverstone was only one of many of the charity shoppers who put the donated items up for sale online. Just hours after the Red Cross shop selling the Beckhams' donations opened, items from the sale were listed on eBay. Many are still on the site, including a pair of Victoria's Dolce & Gabbana stilettos, with a starting price of £300, and a Gucci coat which had belonged to David, which has attracted a bid of £530. A pair of Victoria Beckham's Dolce & Gabbana stilettos go on sale on eBay after they were bought from a charity shop . David Beckham's Gucci coat has been put up for sale online after it was bought from a British Red Cross shop . Victoria Beckham's white wedge trainers have a starting bid of £1,000 on the auction website . The sellers of each of the items found by MailOnline on the auction website today had included a note within the item description saying part of the sale would be donated to the British Red Cross. Among those listed on the site are a pair of white wedge trainers worn by Victoria at the Dodgers Mets game on June 7, 2007, with bids starting at £1,000. Elsewhere a pair of Victoria's Free Lance leather boots were being sold for £139 while a Roberto Cavalli tuxedo, worn by David, had a starting bid of £800. A pair of David's Yves Saint Laurent trousers meanwhile were being sold for £49.99. A pair of Victoria Beckham's leather boots have also gone up for sale online after they were bought from the charity shop . David Beckham's Roberto Cavalli tuxedo has a starting bid of £800 . | Jordan Silverstone bought the suit for just £125 from charity shop .
He said it was originally intended for his father but he ended up selling it .
It went on eBay for £2,600 but he has now faced criticism for selling the item .
Other donated items sold online include a pair of Victoria Beckham's trainers . |
105,398 | 13e5932168710c8602d3e07de4adc98ae9db8afd | (CNN) -- Chilean authorities on Sunday issued a red alert -- the most severe in their warning system -- that the Copahue Volcano, high in the Andes mountains on the border with Argentina, might be poised for a significant eruption. In a statement, Chile's Geological and Mining Service stressed that no mandatory evacuations have been ordered around the remote volcano, which lies about 280 kilometers southeast (175 miles) of Concepcion, though the closest roads to it are in Argentina. Even though the seismic activity suggests a minor eruption, the agency decided to raise the alert level because it could not rule out a major eruption. The service warned specifically about potentially dangerous mudslides within a 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) radius of the crater. Alto Biobio, a community about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Copahue, is under the heightened alert. The governor and emergency officials in Biobio province met Sunday afternoon to discuss possible scenarios, including establishing a plan in case a mass evacuation is deemed necessary. Seismic stations first detected increased activity Saturday, according to the Volcano Observatory of the Southern Andes, which is part of Chile's Geological and Mining Service. In addition, more gas than normal has been detected coming from the volcano. The black, ash-filled gas has soared as 1.5 kilometers (almost 1 mile) above Copahue and extended 13 kilometers (8 miles) out from it, toward the southeast. Known in South America as Volcan Copahue, this volcano formed about 500,000 years ago and contains a string of nine craters in this stretch of the Andes, according to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program. Its summit is just less than 3000 meters, or 9,830 feet, above sea level. Mild to moderate eruptions have been recorded here since the 18th century, and some in the 20th century spewed volcanic rocks and chilled liquid sulfur fragments from its 300-meter wide crater lake, the Global Volcanism Program reports. After at least three eruptions during the 1990s, Copahue's last significant eruption occurred from July to October 2000. That incident caused damage, mudslides and spurred evacuations. Watch: Lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano flows into the Pacific . | A Chilean ministry issues its highest level of alert for the Copahue volcano .
No evacuations are ordered, but the agency can't rule out a significant eruption .
Copahue's summit is over 9,800 feet above sea level, near the Argentinian border .
Its last significant eruption was in 2000 . |
196,145 | 89d94099af078f51e5e0dd6541c556a2bc9738d9 | Without Papiss Cisse, Newcastle would be bottom of the Premier League. Without Papiss Cisse, Alan Pardew probably wouldn’t be in a job. And this, don’t forget, is the same Papiss Cisse with whom the management team had become disillusioned during his season-long struggle for form and fitness last time around. They kept faith and, now, the future of Pardew and the club rests with their No 9. Papiss Cisse (centre) beats Ashley Williams to ball to score Newcastle's first goal against Swansea . Papiss Cisse (right) scores his and Newcastle's second goal to rescue a point against Swansea . Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianksi is left helpless as Papiss Cisse celebrates scoring his second goal . Indeed, in scoring four goals from three matches already this season, he has doubled his league tally from the entirety of last term. His point-saving braces – against Hull and now Swansea – mean Pardew will remain in charge until they face Leicester at St James’ Park a week on Saturday and almost certainly beyond. United remain in the bottom three and without a win in seven, equalling their worst run from the outset of a Premier League campaign. But Cisse has given his under-fire boss a timely lift. For no matter his declarations of ‘strength’ and ‘resilience’, the strain was beginning to show. ‘You need that player who can score under pressure and when you need one desperately – he did that twice,’ said Pardew, reflecting on Cisse’s close-range hook from an impossible angle and his poached finish to salvage a draw. ‘He gives us a real cutting edge. His first goal is top drawer, trust me. To score from that angle is very difficult. The second goal again was very good technique. To have him back and scoring goals is huge for us. Papiss Cisse gestures to manager alan Pardew after scoring his first goal . Alan Pardew congratulates Papiss Cisse on his two goals as the striker is substituted . Some Newcastle fans continued to call for Alan Pardew to be sacked before the match . Alan Pardew was relieved to get a point against Swansea after another troubled week at Newcastle . ‘I can now hopefully look to the next game. It’s a massive chance to get a win and we’ve got to try and take that.’ Cisse’s goals cancelled out Wilfried Bony’s 17th-minute opener and former Magpie Wayne Routledge’s second-half dink which restored Swansea’s lead, and sent them momentarily to joint second. Newcastle’s Senegal striker also netted twice during a 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium in April, 2012 and that was in the midst of a run which included 11 in eight games. But Cisse was making his first start on Saturday since breaking his kneecap in April, and insists he’s still some way off his free-scoring best. ‘For me I’m not “back, back”,’ he said. ‘I’m not on fire! I’m just working hard at the moment. I got an opportunity and I scored, I’m just doing my job. Wilfried Bony edges out Paul Dummett before scoring Swansea's first goal . Wayne Routledge chips the ball over Newcastle keeper Tim Krul to score Swansea's second goal . ‘But I need to do a lot more for this team, I need to get better. Two years ago I was like fire, scoring goals, but last year it wasn’t that way. That’s football. I need to keep going.’ Owner Mike Ashley was there to witness United’s comeback, but still there were calls for him and Pardew to go. One cutting protest banner read: ‘ LLWDLLLWWLWLLLLLLLLWLLDDLD’ – Not a Welsh Town, Our Form in 2014′. And Cisse admitted: ‘It’s a very difficult time for the team. It’s three points we need. It’s not easy, it’s very hard at the moment. ‘The fans are not happy. The players need to believe in themselves and work hard, and it will come good. The Premier League is not easy. It’s not finished yet. We’re only a few games into the season, maybe it will turn. ‘This moment is not easy for the manager, and it’s not easy for the players too. It’s about belief and working hard and one day maybe we will come good.’ Cisse is certainly coming good for Pardew right now. | Striker scored twice as Newcastle drew 2-2 with Swansea on Saturday .
Newcastle's No 9 has now scored four goals in three games this season .
Cisse struggled for form and fitness last season .
Point keeps Pardew in a job but Newcastle still without a win in seven . |
11,129 | 1f9e2ec0b4462d76efa767f93a3285b210462c9b | Does anyone motor for pleasure any more? They do on the Wild Atlantic Way, which snakes 1,553 miles down Ireland's West Coast from County Donegal to County Cork. Two friends and I flew into Shannon planning to lay siege to some of West Ireland's famous golf courses, including Ballybunion and Lahinch, as well as sample the Wild Atlantic Way (or WAW). A world wonder: The Cliffs of Moher, in County Clare, are an example of Ireland's west coast at its finest . But after settling in at our sinfully comfortable base - Moy House at Lahinch, County Clare, with its sea views, four-poster beds and well-stocked, self-service 'honesty' bar - we decided life was too short to whack dimpled white balls around the countryside with sticks. Plan B was to hire a 'classic car' in which to cruise the Wild Atlantic Way. Here, the first obstacle emerged. The only one available was a 1970 MGB hardtop, with a very small back seat. This would have involved one of us being packed and unpacked into it by Pickfords. So we also rented a back-up Mini diesel at Shannon. Two of us would ride in the MGB at a time. The third would drive shotgun, admiring our progress from the rear. On the road: The Wild Atlantic Way runs along Ireland's west coast for 1,553 spectacular miles . The MGB offered, as you'd expect of a modestly priced, Seventies motor: heavy, unassisted steering; vague, squeaking brakes; a high-minded lack of radio. All features that might have an MGB enthusiast salivating, I concede. Our diesel Mini was licence-threateningly swift, packed with bells and whistles and adored by all. Stephen said he was trading in his Audi A6 for one when we got back. From Lahinch we proceeded, in convoy, to Liscannon and the awesome Cliffs of Moher, and thence to Doolin, with its Irish music bars. We planned to stop for lunch at 300-year-old Linnane's Lobster Bar at New Quay, but couldn't find it on the map. So we stopped at a bar in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, for directions. The sole customer, awoken from his mid-morning reverie, informed us confidently: 'I know it exists all right. I live there.' We had to go right at the church, up the road past the big hay shed and we'd see a sign for Linnane's. Which, eventually, we did and enjoyed a marvellous, fishy lunch. A perfect pitstop: The road meanders through a host of small towns and seafront communities . Along with two pints of Guinness and a glass of Chardonnay. Not each, I should add. Swapping drivers from time to time, our curious convoy motored through the Burren National Park, a weirdly beautiful sea of 'fertile rock', so called because of its mixture of nutrient-rich herb and floral species. One of Oliver Cromwell's officers remarked of it in 1651: 'It is a country where there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury them. 'Yet their cattle are very fat. The grass grows in tufts of earth of two or three foot square which lies between the limestone rocks and is very sweet and nourishing.' We called on Martin Connolly, a cheery farmer on the Burren whose sons make delicious, dark Hazel Mountain chocolate, flavouring their product with berries and hazelnuts from the rocky hills above their property. A grand old dame of the highway: Peter conducted his road trip in a classic MGB Hardtop . They now supply the U.S. billionaire Donald Trump at his new hotel and golfing complex at Doonbeg, on the Atlantic coastline of County Clare. I don't suppose we covered more than 100 of the Wild Atlantic Way's 1,553 miles in our enjoyable, two-day visit. But I will be back there to drive some more - and to hike parts of the magical WAW - or, ride a bike alongside the wild Atlantic. The scenery's great, as is the food and the entertainment, but Ireland's people are its chief attraction. Their quirky sense of humour is refreshing, too. Since we were all 'spoken for' (more or less), we were careful to drive straight through Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Their 'match-making festival' was on. Loose men and women - loose in the innocent sense of being 'free to marry' - socialised amiably on the main street. How they laughed when we told fellow guests at the Moy - nursing their malts in the 'honesty' bar - of driving pell mell through the loose ladies of Lisdoonvarna in our squeaking MGB, the Mini as rescue vehicle in case of breakdown. A great place to pull over: Peter's itinerary took him through Doolin, which is renowned for its music bars . Ireland's great poet, W. B. Yeats - whose home at Kiltartan, County Galway, we passed - said of one of his characters: 'He had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.' That's the Irish for you. A five-day Classic Car Tour of Ireland with McKinlay Kidd (0844 873 6110, www.seeirelanddifferently.co.uk) costs from £695 per person, including four nights' B&B in various hotels, plus five days' hire of a 1974 MGB roadster or 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider (deduct £25 per person for a Morris Minor, or add £50 pp for a 1975 Mercedes 350SL). More information on Ireland at www.tourismireland.com. | The Wild Atlantic Way runs for 1,553 epic miles along Ireland's west coast .
It stretches between County Donegal and County Cork in dramatic manner .
It is the perfect highway for a long road trip - particularly in a classic car . |
43,913 | 7be2242f620b12dd1a8e1074532850a8ac4f669b | By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 08:38 EST, 17 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:17 EST, 18 September 2012 . A porn-obsessed man who spent his days watching obscene, violent internet videos raped and strangled a grandmother in her home. Darren Jackson, 26, broke in and attacked neighbour Irene Lawless, 67, at night after searching websites for ‘mature women’. After entering her bungalow through a small front window, he raped her twice and strangled her to death, leaving her naked body wedged between the bed and a wall. Irene Lawless, a retired shorthand typist and artist, left, who was raped twice before being strangled by her porn-obsessed neighbour, Darren Jackson, right . Jackson was today jailed for life with a recommendation he is not considered for parole for 28 years. Prosecutor Elwen Evans said: 'Jackson had spent the previous night in a nearby town in local pubs. 'He was picked up by his stepfather at 4.30am and brought back to the house where he was living next door to Mrs Lawless. 'Sometime after 5am Jackson broke into Irene’s home by climbing through an open window. 'He made his way into the front bedroom where Irene was sleeping. Her dentures were in solution beside her bed. 'In her bedroom he seriously physically and sexually assaulted her.' Swansea Crown court heard the peaceful, thoughtful artist suffered 20 fractures to her ribs during the double rape attack in the quiet village of Llanllwni, near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. Miss Evans said: 'Jackson then killed her by manual strangulation and left her naked body on her bedroom floor.' CCTV still showing Jackson enter a Tesco store in Carmarthen after he brutally raped and murdered Mrs Lawless . Jackson stole his victim’s handbag and car keys, planning to escape. After . emptying the handbag he dumped it in a neighbour’s plant pot and drove . Mrs Lawless’s black Audi A3 to Deal, Kent, where he has friends. The court was shown CCTV of Jackson 'calmly' buying petrol just 20 minutes away from the brutal attack on 22 January 2012. He was arrested just 5 hours and 50 minutes after neighbours discovered the grandmother’s body. The court heard Jackson had a scratch below his right eye from where Mrs Lawless had put up a 'significant struggle'. Killer Jackson 'calmly' pays for petrol after filling up Mrs Lawless' black Audi A3 to drive to Deal, Kent . Police searched the bungalow where Jackson lived with his mother and stepfather for three weeks before the murder. Miss Evans said: 'During that period he had been using a computer in his parents’ house. 'Police looked at his internet searches and discovered a keen interest in websites dealing with rape, mature women, forceful oral sex and sex with sleeping women.' Retired shorthand typist Mrs Lawless lived alone on the Bryndulais Estate in the village of Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire. She painted local scenes and made soaps and candles which she sold at galleries and craft markets. Mrs Lawless's home in Bryndulais Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire, where her naked body was found wedged between the bed and a wall . Miss Evans said: 'She was a highly regarded, mother, sister, grandmother and friend to many people in the local community. 'Painting and gardening and a wide variety of craft hobbies were Irene’s favourite pastimes. 'She . was a healthy living, peaceful, calm and thoughtful woman and was . always hard-working and industrious. She was a real home body.' Jackson, of Llanllwni, admitted murder and two charges of rape. Forensic investigators at the scene of the murder earlier this year . The court heard his only previous convictions were for minor motoring offences. Judge John Royce QC said: 'Irene Lawless was a much-loved mother, sister and grandmother.' 'She was one of life’s givers, not takers, and had everything to live for.' Turning to Jackson he said: 'It’s clear from the computer that you had a perverted interest in rape. 'You had recently accessed a number of rape scene websites including one called real brutal sex. 'What is clear is that you brutally raped Irene Lawless and caused significant injuries to her face and body. The handbag belonging to the 67-year-old, left, which was discovered in a plant pot . Family and friends of Irene Lawless leaving Swansea Crown Court where Mrs Lawless' killer was jailed for life . 'They reveal the heartless violence you meted out to a defenceless grandmother for your own perverted gratification. 'It is clear she must have put up a significant struggle. 'These sickening rapes culminated in you strangling Mrs Lawless. The humiliation and mental and physical anguish you subjected her to are horrific. 'They are nothing short of evil depravity.' Jackson was jailed for life for murder and 12 years for each of the rape attacks to run concurrently. He ordered that Jackson must not be considered for parole for 28 years. The judge added: 'Due to your warped and perverted mind, you may certainly well never be released and spend your remaining life in prison.' 'Many will say that is no less than you deserve.' | Naked body of grandmother found wedged between bed and wall .
Jackson, jailed for life, not to be considered for parole for 28 years .
Murderer searched internet for 'mature women' and 'women raped while asleep' |
151,835 | 503bf8c0bc223de1362b40fc6737dd30cf4ed53c | Two Chinese officials have been arrested on suspicion of buying corpses from grave robbers in order to burn the bodies and hit government cremation targets. The crimes, which took place in the southern Guangdong province, were uncovered after a grave robber in the city of Beiliu in neighbouring Guangxi province was caught removing a body. He told investigators that he had been stealing corpses from tombs on the orders of two officials who had been concerned they would miss the Chinese government's controversial monthly cremation quota, which was installed to ensure enough land is given over to farming and property development. Sick: The crimes, which took place in the southern Guangdong province, were uncovered after a grave robber in the city of Beiliu in neighbouring Guangxi province was caught removing a body . The first reports of grave robbing in Beiliu emerged in June, when a local man contacted police to say his grandfather's tomb had been broken into and the body removed, according to Xinhua. In China the deceased are often buried in large tombs which allow people to perform ancestor worship rituals. Veneration of the dead by living relatives in deeply rooted in Chinese culture. In July a grave robber surnamed Zhong was arrested and confessed to stealing the body. He added that he had also taken more than 20 other corpses from graveyards in surrounding villages, putting them into bags and transporting them into neighbouring Guangdong province. There, he claims, two funeral management officials surnamed He and Dong purchased the bodies. According to local media the men later told investigating officers that they had burned the corpses in order to hit a controversial monthly cremation quota. Tradition: In China the deceased are often buried in large tombs which allow people to perform ancestor worship rituals. Veneration of the dead by living relatives in deeply rooted in Chinese culture . Mr Dong is said to have paid approximately £300 each for 10 corpses, while Mr He paid roughly £150 per body. It is not yet known how many the latter ended up purchasing. Xinhua reported the deals were allegedly 'approved' by the government, adding that since the arrests a number of other villages have come forward to report bodies missing from graves. The monthly cremation quota has caused controversy because ancestor worship is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Many Chinese people also believe a person's body must be left untouched in order for them to enter the afterlife without difficulty. The regulations have led to a number of families secretly burying family members to get around the law, and there were even reports of elderly people committing suicide before the quota came into place so they could be guaranteed a traditional burial. | Funeral management officials allegedly bought corpses from grave robber .
Officials from Guangdong bought up to 20 bodies dug up in nearby Guangxi .
Burned the corpses in order to hit China's controversial cremation quota .
Worship of ancestors' bodies is deeply-rooted in traditional Chinese culture .
But government installed restrictions on graveyards to save space for farms . |
259,399 | dbce787aed1a1abf1d74aaa9864ea52bfa4d8df7 | Fewer than one in seven child sex abuse cases probed by Britain's largest police force have led to criminal charges, figures have revealed. Scotland Yard investigated 7,205 reports of serious attacks on under-16s between 2010 and October last year - just 989 of which (14 per cent) ended with a person being prosecuted. Fewer offenders still were convicted after prosecutors, who were handed details by London's Metropolitan Police, tested cases against them through the courts. Failed: One in seven child sex abuse claims in London end in prosecution, figures show (posed by model) The figures, obtained by Mike Sullivan for the Sun on Sunday, show police success rates lagging despite a major crackdown on child sex abuse. The Met reportedly brought in up to 100 extra officers in 2013 to tackle sex abuse cases including child exploitation and the threat of grooming gangs. The shake-up was an attempt to improve the Met's controversial Operation Sapphire rape unit after it was accused of failings in previous years. An IPCC report in 2013 found 'under-performing and over-stretched' officers in Southwark, south London, had encourage adult victims to retract their allegations to boost detection rates. Today's figures are said to include rape, gang rape, child trafficking and sexual assault. Changes: The Met Police reportedly brought in up to 100 extra officers in 2013 to tackle sex abuse cases . Last year the NSPCC warned child rape rates were even worse than official figures suggest because many cases are never reported to the authorities. 'Not all cases come to the attention of the police and, even if they do, they may decide it is not in the best interests of the child to investigate an incident as a criminal offence,' a spokesman said. The charity previously said some child sex abuse cases were collapsing because children were being denied the support they needed to give evidence in court. Claiming fewer than a quarter of 23,000 offences in 2012 ended in a prosecution, the charity said all children giving evidence should have an intermediary to help deal with 'hostile' questioning. Responding to the call, the government issued new guidelines saying child sex abuse cases should only be dealt with by specialist prosecutors who ignore 'myths, stereotypes and prejudices'. Victims must also be offered 'appropriate support' such as counselling and criminal cases should be heard in court with as few delays as possible, the guidelines added. The Metropolitan Police did not immediately return requests for comment on today's figures. | Figures show Met Police told of 7,205 serious sex attacks on under-16s .
But only 989 of the cases, which include rapes, led to criminal charges .
NSPCC: Some cases collapse when victims do not have enough support .
Government introduced new guidelines in 2013 to help young victims . |
11,066 | 1f7274dd9ac70f4d12b7426396eb0e328326d5b1 | By . Wills Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:15 EST, 6 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:34 EST, 6 February 2014 . When Lesley Cooper separated from her first husband, she was left to fend for herself and her two daughters while they had no roof over their head. For four years in the 1970s, the family . were forced to move from house to house and learned to feed themselves . on the little money they had. This meant the mother-of-two came up with various recipes which enabled her to make breakfast, lunch and dinner from the pennies in her jar. Now, the 62-year-old has developed more than 150 of the cut-price methods which can now feed a family for less than £1 a day. Bargain bites: Lesley Cooper, 62, claims she has more than 150 recipes which show you can feed yourself for less than 50p . Miss Cooper, who is retired, said: 'Without a roof over my head and no money . at all, I learnt to budget. I know that when you’re struggling, having . something nice to eat becomes even more important and I want to show . it’s possible to have that. 'Most people I speak to say you can’t feed yourself for under 50p but I have over 150 recipes which show that well actually, you can. 'Right now, there are a lot of individuals in Britain who are struggling. I’m just trying to get the message across that you can make good food for a reasonable price.' A typical day consists of 4p pancakes for breakfast, spiced parsnip soup for 17p with 2p tomato scones for lunch and a supper of bacon and sweetcorn pie with mash and peas for just 32p. To top it all off, there’s a muscovado cheesecake for dessert which costs only 33p to make. Tight-budget: She learned to make the cut-price meals while providing for her two daughters while the family was homeless in the 1970s . Penny pincher: Her specially-made vegetable crumble costs only 40p . Miss Cooper, who lives with her partner of 32 years, Mike Negus, admits: 'I get a thrill from a bargain. Although I don’t really have any major financial fears anymore, my early years were quite rough. 'I know what it feels like to worry about money - that memory never leaves you. So finding or making something that doesn’t cost too much is a real buzz for me.' At the age of 16, Miss Cooper met an older man and fell pregnant. She married him but realised it was was a mistake. She left her husband while pregnant with her second child and returned to her parents’ house. However it was so crowded that her and her children had to sleep under a table. She was homeless between 1971 and 1975 before she moved into a council house with her two children, Tracey and Sam. A a daily meal plan from left to right: It begins with pancakes for breakfast, costing 4p, lunch is a tomato scone made for 2-3p alongside 17p spicy parsnip soup. Dinner is bacon and sweetcorn pie with mash and peas (32p) followed by Muscovado Cheesecake, made for 33p . 'There was literally no room left at my family home and so for the next four years, my daughters and I ricocheted from place to place. We had nowhere to live and although we never actually slept rough, it came horrifyingly close. The experience left Miss Cooper with an interest in ‘all things frugal’. Even today, she will do anything to cut costs, making her body moisturiser from scratch by mixing glycerine and water together. For each seven-day meal plan, the cut price chef sets out an amount to take to the supermarket along with a shopping list.The food is then supposed to feed two people for a week, but some of the items are left over. The above meal plan costs just £12.26 for the week (that is £6.13 per person). However, you have to take £15.89 to the checkout so you can buy full amounts. She also serves up her budget dishes - such as 15p gnocchi made from instant mashed potato - at dinner parties. 'My £1-per-day meals are lovely, they’re just as a good as a more expensive dish. I’ve made them for plenty of guests and no-one’s ever been able to guess the price. 'People always talk about needing more money to have a better life. But really if you just make better use of the money that you do have, then you can achieve the same thing.' Miss Cooper has spent years designing the meals. She claims they follow the government guidelines and provide one person's five a day. Her meal plans and recipes are recorded on her blog Thrifty Lesley. Ingredients: 270g self raising flour (45p/1.5kg), 100ml vegetable oil (GBP1.50/litre), 100ml water, 40g tomato puree (35p/142g) 1. Put the flour in a bowl. Add the oil and water and mix to form a soft dough. 2. Turn out onto the worktop and pat gently to a square shape about 2cm thick, . 3. Then then slice them into small or large pieces. 4. If using big pieces, cut the dough into 6 by cutting down the middle, then cut each side into 3 pieces, giving me 6 big scones. 5. If you are making small ones, scoop all the scraps up after cutting out, squidge it together and cut out more, to use up all the dough . 6. Whichever you do, place your scones on a greased baking tray and bake at 220C/200C fan/gas 7 for 12 minutes for diddy ones and 20 minutes for my huge ones. 7. You could brush them with milk and sprinkle crunchy salt flakes on top if you have any, or grind some pepper over. Ingredients: 70g cooking bacon (Asda 81p/500g), 50g chopped onion (Asda 98p/kg, 2p) 50g sweetcorn (Asda 98p/kg), 115g self-raising flour (45p/1.5kg), 55ml vegetable oil (GBP1.50/litre), 400g potatoes - cooked and mashed (Asda GBP1.18/2.5kg), 160g peas (Asda 98p/kg) 1. Sauti the onion and potatoes in the 5ml of oil until soft. Mix the 15g flour with 100ml water and add to the pan. Stir around until thickened. Season, but be light handed with the salt as you will be adding the bacon. Stir in the chopped bacon and sweetcorn. 2. Make the pastry. Put the 50ml oil and 100g flour in a bowl and add until you have soft dough. 3. Roll out half of the pastry and use to line a flan dish etc big enough for two portions. Pile in the filling mixture and top with the remaining pastry. 4. Bake the pie at 180C/160 fan/Gas 4 for about 30 minutes until golden. Serve with the mashed potatoes and peas. Money in the pocket: Miss Cooper said her early years were 'quite rough' but admits she now has 'no financial fears' | Lesley Cooper, 62, lived on a tight budget while feeding her two daughters .
Claims to have 150 recipes showing you can feed yourself for under 50p .
Day begins with 4p pancakes for breakfast, followed by 17p soup for lunch .
She makes a bacon and sweetcorn pie with mash for 32p for dinner .
Was pregnant at aged 16 and homeless after leaving her first husband . |
80,866 | e52c9453117099d175107f692aeb06aa8681e6b3 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 13:14 EST, 22 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:18 EST, 22 October 2013 . Two security guards were attacked by a group of men who snuck onto the set of Carey Mulligan's new film, Far From The Madding Crowd. The guards are believed to have challenged a group of five men when they went through a cordon on the film set at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset. They were beaten up before the men ran away. Two security guards were beaten up by a group of men who sneaked onto the Far From The Madding Crowd set near Sherborne Abbey in Dorset (pictured) Hours before the attack the film's star Carey Mulligan had been pictured in character on set . Mulligan and co-stars Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen are filming the adaptation of the Thomas Hardy classic in the Dorset town. Shops outside the abbey have been given a period makeover and some areas have been cordoned off to the public for filming. One guard, a 59-year-old man from Devizes, Wiltshire, suffered bruising and cuts to his body and was taken to Yeovil Hospital for treatment. Mulligan plays Bathsheba Everdene in the adaptation of the Thomas Hardy classic . The second guard, a 47-year-old man from Lewes, East Sussex, suffered swelling to his face and body in the attack at about 1am on Sunday. Detective Constable Gerald Marchant said: 'This was an unprovoked attack that left both men requiring treatment.' It is thought the five men broke onto the set after leaving a local pub, the Evening Standard reported. Hours before the attack, Mulligan, 28, was pictured in character as Hardy's Bathsheba Everdene - the West Country heiress loved by three men. The actress was seen in period costume and wore a long navy blue coat. Carey revealed earlier this week that she was finding the shooting of the new project 'exhausting', but hugely rewarding. She said: 'I'm getting picked up at 5.30 in the morning tomorrow - to Dorset. I am so tired! 'I am enjoying it so much, it's brilliant. It's outside a lot. 'Seventy per cent of the film is fields, exteriors and outdoorsy things, which is really great but it's cold and really tiring.' Some nearby streets have been cordoned off during filming and others have been given a period makeover . | Two guards needed hospital treatment after attack near Sherborne Abbey .
Group of five men snuck onto the film set of the Thomas Hardy adaptation .
Hours earlier Hollywood actress Mulligan was pictured in character on set . |
178,342 | 72e7d2a93662b668327729a80f69c9efc0fab1ff | By . Adam Shergold . PUBLISHED: . 09:04 EST, 31 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:17 EST, 31 July 2012 . The Olympic dreams of British judoka Gemma Howell ended in tears and heartbreak today as she was controversially disqualified from her first round bout. There were boos from the partisan home crowd at the ExCeL Centre when Howell, 22, picked up a passivity penalty with two minutes remaining of her clash with reigning world and European champion Gevrise Emane of France. But things got worse when, with only 30 seconds to go, the fighters fell to the ground and video referees ruled that Howell had illegally grabbed her opponent's leg - meaning an automatic disqualification. Head in hands: Gemma Howell reacts with despair after her disqualification . Marching orders: An official breaks the bad news to Howell after video referees reviewed a tussle on the ground. They adjudged that Howell had grabbed the leg of her French opponent Gevrise Emane . Direct attacks to the legs have been outlawed under new rule changes introduced since the last Olympics. Howell, one of Sportsmail's Magnificent Seven whose progress this paper has tracked since 2005, had taken the fight to her opponent during the early stages at the start of her under-63kg category bout, roared on by the home crowd. But the judoka from Wolverhampton could have no complaints about the ruling. She said: 'I think it was the right decision. I was down a penalty towards the end of the fight and knew she was ahead on attacks, so I had nothing to lose. 'I felt it was a situation which a few years ago would have been fine, but it is not allowed any more. I went for it and I shouldn't have.' Howell and Emane grapple on the floor with 30 seconds remaining in their first round bout at the ExCeL Centre . Howell clearly has a hold of her opponent's foot as they try to score the winning points . Too late, Howell realises that she's committed a foul and is likely to be disqualified . Howell, who trains at the British Judo Performance Institute in Dartford, Kent, battled through injury in order to reach the Games and her bout with Emane represented a big step up in class. Nine months ago, she suffered anterior cruciate ligament knee injury which put her Olympics participation in severe doubt. She only resumed full training in March after surgery and months of rehabilitation, making the British team in June. She added: 'Maybe when I go home and look at it again I can be positive, but right now I am completely gutted. 'I didn't come here to fight hard, I came here to win it, so I didn't do what I wanted to. 'It's what makes being an Olympic champion in judo so special - that you do only get that one chance every four years. 'Rio will be the next big thing for me now, but I will just have to wait for that.' An official has the task of delivering the bad news to the home favourite after a referral to a video official . Despite facing the second seed, Howell had taken the fight to her opponent in the early stages, encouraged by a large and partisan crowd . Elsewhere, Euan Burton offered no . excuses after seeing his hopes of judo gold shattered with defeat to . Canadian Antoine Valois-Fortier in the men's under-81kg. Burton, . 33, had once been ranked as high as fourth in his weight division, but . last year struggled to make an impact at either the European or World . Championships. Valois-Fortier was not the expected . opposition for the Scotsman, after knocking out Elnur Mammadli of . Azerbaijan, the reigning European champion who won Olympic gold at . under-73kg in Beijing. However, . the Canadian again produced the goods, this time with an ippon throw to . end Burton's Olympic dream before it had the chance to get going. 'I . lost in the biggest tournament in the world, the biggest Britain is . ever going to see in my lifetime, I don't really know what else to say, . but that is judo, people can get caught,' said Burton, who was choking . back the tears afterwards. Howell bows out of the 2012 Olympics, but said she was already thinking about the next Games in Rio . Great Britain's Euan Burton (in blue) was defeated by Canada's Antonie Valois-Fortier in the men's 81kg category today . 'I have caught people quickly in the past, and people have caught me quickly before. The fight was pretty even up to that point, but I felt I was going to be able to dominate the fight. I did not feel any particular threat until then, but it was a beautiful bit of judo.' Burton felt he was in top condition to deliver. 'I felt fantastic, my preparation probably could not have gone any better, that is the most disappointing thing,' he said. 'If I had poor preparation, things had not gone well, then you can use all of the excuses, but there are no excuses. 'I came in feeling one million percent that I could win the tournament and that I was in the best shape of my life. 'If you are in the best shape of your life and you go out in the first round, then maybe that is telling you something.' Valois-Fortier (right), who had defeated the reigning European champion in the first round, won the bout by Ippon . Elsewhere on the fourth day of the Olympics in London, Britain picked up their fourth medal with silver in the equestrian three-day eventing. The British quintet, which includes the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, finished second behind Germany. Tina Cook entered the final showjumping round knowing a run consisting of less than seven points would earn Team GB silver and she responded with just one time penalty to the delight of the home crowd. Their brave gold medal challenge ultimately came up short as European champions and Olympic title favourites Germany took gold, with New Zealand clinching bronze. David Florence crashed out of the canoe slalom after finishing below the cut-off qualification time for the final. The 29-year-old from Aberdeen is the world number one but his effort of 106.16 seconds, including a two second penalty, wasn't good enough. He has another chance of a medal when . he competes in the semi-final of the C2 - the two-man boat - on . Thursday with team-mate Richard Hounslow. Florence . said: 'I am very disappointed obviously that it didn't go well enough. I . have wanted to perform at this event for the last four years and not to . do so is very frustrating. 'But . it's part of the sport of canoe slalom - some days it doesn't go your . way. As far as I am aware, I didn't go fast enough anywhere on the whole . course. There wasn't one mistake that cost me time, it was the whole . way. 'All I was trying to do was put in a . great run the whole way and that is all I was really concentrating on. It's easy to say it was the pressure of the home crowd (that got to me) but this is a very up and down sport and today I wasn't good enough.' Highlights . later in the day include the women's team gymnastics final and the . women's football match at Wembley between GB and Brazil. Florence, the world number one, found it tough going in the C-1 canoe slalom heats and failed to qualify for the final . | British hope pulled up for grabbing her opponent's leg with 30 seconds of first round bout remaining .
Howell, 22, had held her own against World and European champion Gevrise Emane of France .
Rules had been changed since the last Olympics .
Disappointment too for Euan Burton in the men's 81kg competition . |
61,680 | af30cf2c538c2cf2928a71f54928e702033da6a1 | It is known as one of the most intrepid polar expeditions in history, and cost five men their lives. But over 100 years on from Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated trek to the South Pole and back, two men have become the first people in history to complete the iconic 1,800-mile route. At 1.15am GMT Ben Saunders, 36 from Britain and former WASPS rugby player Tarka L’Herpiniere, 32, from France, completed the epic Terra Nova trek. Scroll down for video . At 1.15am GMT Ben Saunders, 36 and former WASPS rugby player Tarka L'Herpiniere, 32, completed the epic Terra Nova trek . The Terra Nova Expedition, officially the British Antarctic Expedition, was led by Robert Falcon Scott with the objective of being the first to reach the geographical South Pole. Scott and four companions reached the pole on 17 January 1912, where they found that a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen had preceded them by 33 days. Scott's entire party died on the return journey from the pole. Some of their bodies, journals and photographs were discovered by a search party eight months later. For many years after his death, Scott's status as tragic hero was unchallenged, and few questions were asked about the causes of the disaster which overcame his polar party. The degree of Scott's personal culpability remains a matter of controversy among commentator, but it is thought that exhaustion, extreme cold and starvation definitely led to the men's demise. They walked for 1,795 miles across the inhospitable landscape of Antarctica to set the world record for the longest polar journey on foot in history. It has taken them 105 days in total and pushed the limits of their mental and physical strength, as each men pulled sleds with over 200kg of equipment and walked on average 17 miles daily in temperatures as low as -46C wind chill. The entire trek was equivalent to 69 back-to-back marathons. Mr Saunders said, ‘It is almost impossible to comprehend what we have achieved. 'Completing Scott’s Terra Nova expedition has been a life-long dream and I’m overcome to be standing here at the finish. They walked for 1,795 miles across the inhospitable landscape of Antarctica to set the world record for the longest polar journey on foot in history . Captain Scott and his men (pictured) died having covered almost 1,600 miles of the route in their bid to become the first men to reach the South Pole . Captain Robert Falcon Scott, 1868 to 1912. British Royal Navy officer and Antarctic explorer. ‘The journey has been a mammoth undertaking that has tested the bounds of our bodies and minds each and every day.’ ‘At times we found ourselves in dire straits in the intense cold, wind and altitude of the high plateau, weakened by half-rations and closer to the brink of survival than I had ever anticipated this journey taking us. ‘In that light, both Tarka and I feel a . combination of awe and profound respect for the endurance, tenacity and . fortitude of Captain Scott and his team, a century ago.’ Captain Scott and his men died having covered almost 1,600 miles of the route in their bid to become the first men to reach the South Pole. They were pipped to the accolade on 17 January 1912 by a team of Norwegian explorers led by Roald Amundsen and on their return journey died of a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold. While Captain Scott’s men had rudimentary equipment by today’s standards, the two modern explorers were kitted out with gear from Intel, which managed to provide a Wi-Fi connection so that the explorers could blog about their adventure from arguably the most inhospitable place on the planet. The incredible journey: The Scott Expedition was a 1,800-mile (2,900km), four-month return journey from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back on foot following Scott¿s route. It has taken them 105 days in total and pushed the limits of their mental and physical strength, as each men pulled sleds with over 200kg of equipment and walked on average 17 miles daily in temperatures as low as -46C wind chill. Here, the two explorers rest in their tent and use their computers before embarking on another 17 mile walk the next day in the snow . The explorers were kitted out with a Sony VAIO Pro Ultrabook each built to survive in temperatures up to -40C. The computers sported a 4th generation Intel Core processor and provided Wi-Fi in one of the earth's most inhospitable places. Each computer weighed 870g and were prepared to have the minimum amount of programmes on them, which led the duo to create their own games on the laptops. They connected to the internet using an Iriduim satellite phone. The kit was charged using solar panels attached to the specially designed sleds. Intel tested the technology by freezing it in labs for months at a time to make sure it would work in the extremely cold temperatures. Retracing Scott’s original 1911-12 route, Ben Saunders and Tarka started at Scott’s Hut on the north shore of Cape Evans on Ross Island. They traversed the Ross Ice Shelf, before climbing nearly 8000ft on one of the world’s largest glaciers, the Beardmore Glacier, on to the Antarctic Plateau; and onwards to the South Pole. From the Pole it was back the way they came, finishing 900 miles (1,450km) later back where they began at the coast. The explorers were kitted out with a Sony VAIO Pro Ultrabook each built to survive in temperatures up to -40C. The computers sported a 4th generation Intel Core processor and provided Wi-Fi in one of the earth's most inhospitable places. Each computer weighed 870g and were prepared to have the minimum amount of programmes on them, which led the duo to create their own games on the laptops. The company also tested the Ultrabooks that the two men took with them so they could be used in temperatures as low as -40C . While Captain Scott's men had rudimentary equipment by today's standards, the two modern explorers were kitted out with gear from Intel, which managed to provide a Wi-Fi connection so that the explorers could blog (illustrated) about their adventure from arguably the most inhospitable place on the planet . | Ben Saunders, 36 and former WASPS rugby player Tarka L’Herpiniere, 32 have become the first men to complete Captain Scott's 1,800-mile route .
They walked for 1,795 miles across Antarctica to set the world record for the .
longest polar journey on foot .
It took the pair 105 days to make the return journey to the South pole and they sued specially-adapted laptops to blog their experiences . |
191,127 | 83827af5a03de29ac4e3527ad9a021efaa6b0fd3 | By . David Mccormack . A Long Island mansion featured in the 1986 Tom Hanks comedy, The Money Pit - about a couple who buy a property on the cheap which turns into a fixer-upper nightmare - is back on the market for $12.5 million. Built in 1898, the three-story white clapboard home has eight-bedrooms and is located in Lattingtown, New York. It has undergone a major renovation in recent years and the current asking price is more than four times what the owners paid just over ten years ago. Scroll down for video . The Long Island mansion featured in the 1986 Tom Hanks comedy, The Money Pit is back on the market with a $12.5 million asking price . ‘It’s now the anti-Money Pit,’ listing broker Shawn Elliott of Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes & Estates told the New York Times. ‘The home was restored at the highest quality.’ The 1986 Steven Spielberg comedy featured Hanks and co-star Shelly Long as Walter and Anna, a young couple who foolishly buy a beautiful mansion from a con artist at a ridiculously low price. Unfortunately the house starts falling apart the moment they move in, with the front door crashing down after Walter carries Anna over the threshold. A bathtub falls through the floor, then the main stairway collapses and the couple are forced to plough more and more money into the project which Walter dubs ‘the money pit’. In the 1986 Steven Spielberg comedy The Money Pit, Tom Hanks and Shelly Long play Walter and Anna, a young couple who foolishly buy a beautiful mansion from a con artist at a ridiculously low price . Built in 1898, the three-story white clapboard home is surrounded by a 5.4-acre estate, it has eight-bedrooms and is located in Lattingtown, New York . When the film was shot, the home belonged to Eric Ridder, a publisher and a member of the American yachting team that won the gold medal at the 1952 Olympics. The front and back of the home were used in the movie, while the inside shots were staged in a studio. The property last went on the market in 2001 when the asking price was $2.95 million. The following year, Rich and Christina Makowsky purchased the 5.4-acre estate and found their lives were imitating art. ‘We didn't realize how bad it was. The house was falling apart when you went from room to room. We definitely could have done the sequel,’ Makowsky told the Times. Money Pit: When the main stairway collapses Walter and Anna are forced to plough more and more money into the project which Walter dubs 'the money pit' Unfortunately the house starts falling apart the moment they move in, with the front door crashing down after Walter carries Anna over the threshold . A crew of 30 spent a year and a half gutting the house, taking down ceilings, ripping out the cast-iron radiators, redoing the plumbing, heating and electrical systems and restoring the home to the splendor of Long Island’s Gilded Age. The Makowskys makeover has been described 'meticulously designed and decorated with a Versace-esque flair' says the Times. Each of the seven full and two half-baths was renovated. The pool, pool house, driveway and landscaping, including an outdoor sound system and a six-car garage, were also overhauled. Three rooms were combined to create a chef’s kitchen, with marble countertops and a mahogany center island. A nine-foot-long, four-foot-high oval window in the breakfast area overlooks an English rose garden. The front and back of the home were used in the movie, while the inside shots were staged in a studio . The master suite wing includes a sitting room with a fireplace, a dressing room with mirrored French doors on the closets and a master bathroom with a free-standing oval tub. The four family bedrooms on the second floor have en-suite baths and walk-in closets. The third floor has four additional bedrooms. The finished lower level has a recreation room, a large gym, a laundry room, a guest or staff suite, a powder room, a pantry and a patio. A veranda wraps the back of the house and a brick staircase leads to a heated saltwater pool. An 800-square-foot pool house and is outfitted with a full kitchen, a full bath, a changing room and a laundry room. Also on the manicured three-tiered grounds are a fountain and a gazebo. The estate is reached through a gated entrance and down a quarter-mile-long rhododendron-lined drive to a white-pebble motor court. The annual property taxes on the home are $65,992. | The Long Island mansion featured in the .
1986 Tom Hanks comedy, The Money Pit, is back on the .
market for $12.5 million .
Built in 1898, the three-story white clapboard home has eight-bedrooms and is located in Lattingtown, New York .
It has undergone a major renovation in .
recent years and the current asking price is more than four times what .
the owners paid just over ten years ago .
Rich and Christina Makowsky purchased the 5.4-acre estate for $2.95m in 2002 and found life imitating art .
'We didn't realize how bad it was. We definitely .
could have done the sequel,' said Rich .
The Steven Spielberg comedy is about a young .
couple who foolishly buy a beautiful mansion from a con artist for a .
ridiculously low price . |
275,630 | f1118e7531ff19721d5f3022ed80f6afc91b5785 | By . Amanda Williams . Escaped: Michael Sheridan simply walked out of HMP Standford Hill in Kent on October 17 1999 and remained at large for 15 years . A fugitive prisoner who has fathered five children and has come to the attention of the authorities three times during 15 years on the run is finally back behind bars. Michael Sheridan walked out of HMP Standford Hill in Kent on October 17 1999. Since his escape he has come to the attention of authorities in Ireland three times - but he remained a wanted fugitive until May this year when police were called to his home in Washington, Wearside, and checks revealed he was a prisoner on the run. The now 39-year-old had been serving an 18 month sentence for attempted burglary imposed at Blackfriars Crown Court on July 1 1999. Prison staff then realised he was missing when he failed to return from day release at the open prison. Prosecutor Michael Bunch told Newcastle Crown Court today: 'He was marked down as wanted by the police for the absconding in 1999 and as a result was arrested. 'He confirmed he had walked out of the open prison in October 1999, had returned to Ireland and accepted he had been unlawfully at large for the whole of the intervening period.' The court heard in 2007, 2010 and 2013 Sheridan was stopped by the Gardaí in Ireland for driving matters but the authorities there were not aware of his wanted status in the English jurisdiction. Sheridan, of Barmston, Washington, pleaded guilty to escape. Recorder Mr Murray jailed him for eight months. The judge told him: 'You were sent to HMP Standford Hill, a category D prison, and trust was placed in you not to escape. Since his opportunistic escape from Standford Hill open prison (pictured) he has come to the attention of authorities in Ireland three times - but he remained a wanted fugitive until May this year when police were called to his home in Washington, Wearside, and checks revealed he was a prisoner on the run . 'You breached that trust and succumbed to temptation. I accept this was no great, planned escape, it was opportunistic. You then kept clear of the authorities for nearly 15 years. 'The aggravating features are the breach of trust and the fact you left the jurisdiction and that you did so for nearly 15 years. 'These offences have to be marked with imprisonment, firstly to punish the absconder but also to send a message to those who might be thinking about it.' The court heard Sheridan had been remanded in custody while awaiting sentence in 1999 after being caught at Holyhead making a first attempt to flee to Ireland. Newcastle Crown Court heard in 2007, 2010 and 2013 Sheridan was stopped by the Gardaí in Ireland for driving matters but the authorities there were not aware of his wanted status in the English jurisdiction . After he received the 18 month prison term he served a few months behind bars before simply walking out of jail. Jamie Adams, defending, said Sheridan was grieving the sudden death of his brother at the time and wanted to get back to his family in Ireland. Mr Adams said: 'It was not an elaborate escape, it was really quite sad when you look at all the circumstances. 'It is the best part of 15 years on now he’s having to answer for something that he did way back when he was 24. 'One can perhaps understand why he might put everything to the back of his mind when he’s leading what seems to be a crime free life in southern Ireland, having brought up a family of five children.' | Michael Sheridan walked out of HMP Standford Hill in Kent in 1999 .
Since then he has fathered five children and set up home in Wearside .
He has also come to the attention of authorities in Ireland three times over driving matters but they weren't aware that he was wanted .
But he was a wanted fugitive until May when police were called to his home .
He has been jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to escape . |
260,331 | dd2282112e30a4bf7143ee88d6208bb6fcf4bb0c | Her models meld into the grey Manhattan skyline as if they're made of mirrors and glass. Now body artist Trina Merry has spoken about her head-turning technique, painstakingly painting women so they blend in with New York's landmarks, after her incredible creations made headlines around the world. The 33-year-old shuns studios and canvases, instead letting her nude models camouflage seamlessly into the world around them. Scroll down for video . Art imitates life: New York body painter Trina Merry's models blend into the Manhattan Bridge (left) and Guggenheim museum (right) wearing coloured shoes and bikini bottoms. The 33-year-old began her inspiring project after moving to New York from San Francisco because she wanted to provide a 'reflective view within the landscape' Fame: These images have been viewed around the world - now body artist Trina Merry has given an insight into how she creates her work, despite run-ins with police . On the left, a body painted model sits on a bridge with her back to the camera, gazing out across the city with houses, the bridge and the skyline painted across her. While on the right, the model faces the camera with the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge as her backdrop - with only her brightly coloured shoes clearly distinguishable . They have been photographed in front of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, Central Park, the Guggenheim Museum and the iconic towers of downtown Manhattan. It's not an easy process - the models must be painted live on the streets in a process that takes several hours and can attract some unwanted attention. But the law is firmly on her side, as the city of New York allows people to strip off in public for the purposes of artistic expression - even if that doesn't stop police approaching the artist altogether. Ms Merry came up with the idea after moving to New York from the San Francisco area earlier this year. 'I wanted to engage the city and understand it and make some observations,' she said. Behind the scenes: The painstaking works by Trina Merry (left) take hours to create and have to be done in public, leading passers-by to gawk in wonder . Jessica Mellow, who posed in front of the Manhattan Bridge, said: 'You feel the transformation process. The brush itself, it's really soft. It feels more like a massage' Body of work: The artist must wait until there is no chance of rain. In one shoot, she had to repaint her model after a van that was in the background drove away . Nothing to see here: During this shoot last week, a police officer stopped and spoke to the artist after receiving a complaint about her unusual work. The law in New York has been laid down after decades of legal wrangling and firmly allows people to be nude in public if it is for the purpose of a performance or artistic expression . 'So instead of a person right in front of the Empire State building or the Statue of Liberty, they're softly in the background, and you've got more of a reflective view of the person within the landscape.' Photographers followed the artist as she went through the process of creating her images in the middle of a busy Brooklyn street last week. It is a carefully-planned ritual, which involves waiting until there is no chance of rain which could wash off the meticulously detailed designs. And at one point, Ms Merry had to repaint some of her model after the owner of a van in the background got into it and drove away. That's not to mention the stream of pedestrians and cab drivers who slowed down to gawk, snap pictures and ask questions - their faces a mix of shock, intrigue and anything-goes resignation. 'It feels great to be painted,' said model Jessica Mellow, who wore only a bikini bottom and running shoes. Carefully-planned: As with 3D floor paintings, when shot from any other angle the magical quality of the model's blending into her surroundings completely vanishes . Finished product: Ms Merry with her model in front of the Manhattan Bridge. In 1986 seven women from Rochester, New York, protested laws which allowed men to go topless but not women by holding a bare-breasted picnic in a park - which sparked a change in the law six years later, enshrining the right not to wear a top . Checking the results: The photographs by Trina Merry have made headlines around the world with their otherworldly way of making the models blend in with the city . 'You feel the transformation process. The brush itself, it's really soft. It feels more like a massage.' Passer-by Celeste Hernandez said: 'That's so very New York. You cannot be surprised by anything.' New York's laws allow public nudity when it is in the context of performances or artistic expression, and women are allowed to be topless, two traditions established through a string of hard-fought cases. In 1986 seven women from Rochester, New York, protested laws which allowed men to go topless but not women by holding a bare-breasted picnic in a park. The publicity around the stunt - and their hard-fought campaign afterwards - led eventually to a ruling in 1992 by the state's highest court, the New York Court of Appeals. One of the justices wrote: 'One of the most important purposes to be served by the equal protection clause is to ensure that "public sensibilities" grounded in prejudice and unexamined stereotypes do not become enshrined as part of the official policy of government.' This photo required an incredible amount of work to get the body paint dimensions perfect - the model appears almost translucent as she stands before Coney Island . Art imitates art: A model at the house of expressionist Willem de Kooning, part of a famed group of New York painters that included Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline . Freedom! A model, her body painted to an incredible level of detail and taking on a ghost-like appearance, stands before the greys and the blues of downtown Manhattan . | Trina Merry has been turning heads with her painstaking creations since moving from San Francisco earlier this year .
Models are painted in front of Guggenheim Museum, Brooklyn Bridge and the towering grey Manhattan skyline .
Painter, 33, takes advantage of relaxed New York laws on people baring their bodies for the purposes of art . |
19,716 | 37fd1b51e6b20a6a6dedd7d3c491030b7f06ddde | CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (CNN) -- Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, killing three people, according to local media. A NASA satellite image shows Typhoon Parma as it headed toward the Philippines on Friday. Parma made landfall Saturday afternoon in a rural region of fishermen and farmers in Luzon, the largest of the Philippine islands. Tens of thousands of people to fled their homes for safer shelter. Winds whipped the coastline and felled power lines in northernmost Cagayan Province. Debris littered the roads, making evacuations even more difficult. At 5 a.m. Sunday (5 p.m. Saturday ET), Parma, known locally as Typhoon Pepeng, had maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) with gusts as high as 148 kilometers (92 mph) as the eye began to leave land, heading to the northeast, according to the U.S. Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Parma avoided a direct hit on heavily populated Manila, but the real menace in the Philippines capital was not wind. It was water, and there was no escape from it. Parma was expected to dump as much as 8 to 20 inches of rain in areas still water-logged from last week's Typhoon Ketsana. That storm resulted in the heaviest rainfall in 40 years and at one point, 80 percent of Manila was submerged. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro appealed to Filipinos to remain in shelters even if they were in cities and towns not directly in Parma's path. He said he was worried about massive flooding and possible mudslides in mountainous regions. The government deployed 10,000 troops to help with rescue and relief operations as frightened Filipinos prepared for the worst. World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization, was planning to launch relief operations Saturday evening in Isabela Province, one of the areas slammed by Parma. The group also plans assistance for nearby Cagayan province, whose capital, Tuguegarao, is being hit hard by Parma's strong winds. Arturo Fidelino, a telecommunications executive in Manila, described panicked people rushing to stock up on essential goods -- drinking water, canned food and electrical supplies. "We had a traumatic experience when we had Ketsana," he said. "We don't want that to happen again." President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed the country "under the state of calamity." Macapagal-Arroyo said disaster-relief crews in vulnerable areas must be equipped with life-saving kits, boats, portable generators and trucks. Ketsana, which swallowed whole houses and buses over the weekend, killed 246 in the Philippines. It later strengthened into a typhoon. An additional 38 are missing, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said. The storm affected nearly 2 million people and forced the evacuation of 567,000. CNN's Eunice Yoon and Pamela Boykoff in Cabantuan City, and Josh Levs in Atlanta contributed to this report. | NEW: 3 dead in Philippines from Typhoon Parma, local media report .
Storm heads to sea after crossing northern Philippines .
Tens of thousands of Filipinos sought shelter in evacuation centers .
The biggest threat was rain in areas water-logged by Typhoon Ketsana . |
191,230 | 839deaf0ed5a4c2455ee1afab08c4d90b6f156f5 | (CNN) -- 10:54 p.m. -- People looking for loved ones in Haiti are posting their pictures on CNN.com's iReport page dedicated to them. Likewise, people in Haiti are sending messages out to say they're OK. Are you there? Send us images, video . 10:45 p.m. -- CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta is the only doctor left at a makeshift hospital in Port-au-Prince after medical personnel were told by United Nations officials to leave the area. "There is concern about riots not far from here -- and this is part of the problem," Gupta said. 10:16 p.m. -- Officials caution that international aid teams arriving in Haiti need to be self-sufficient or they'll be putting pressure on services that are already strained: "If aid personnel arrive needing support in terms of transportation, lodging, food, and water, this just puts additional stress on services that are already constrained and needed by the Haitian population," said Dr. Jon Andrus, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization. 10:07 p.m. -- Hundreds of people filled the pews of a Catholic church in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., Friday evening to offer prayers for members of the area's Haitian community in the wake of the earthquake in their homeland. 9:54 p.m. -- A general lack of resources in makeshift medical clinics means patients are undergoing amputations without anesthesia and staff are cleaning apparatus with soap and water, according to CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. "They're not even low-tech, they're no tech," she says. Read more . 9:49 p.m. -- A top United Nations official acknowledges that the earthquake relief operation in Haiti is not progressing fast enough: "You can't snap your fingers and make it happen just by magic," U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes says. "We will do it, slowly and surely." 9:07 p.m. -- Yéle Haiti, the charity organization founded by musician Wyclef Jean, denies allegations that the organization is misusing donations: "Wyclef Jean, the founder of Yéle Haiti, has never profited from his organization. It's a shame that during this international emergency, we have had to divert resources away from our response efforts to address these allegations," says Hugh Locke, president of Yéle Haiti. 8:39 p.m. -- Aftershocks continue to rock Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince. Some are barely perceptable, others shake the ground, eliciting screams. One pair of overnight aftershocks were so strong they compelled a resting CNN crew to throw on their shoes and leave their rooms as a precaution. 8:09 p.m. -- Kids Alive International, an international orphan rescue group, is planning to bring 50 Haitian orphans to group homes in the Dominican Republic until new homes can be built for them in Haiti, the group said Friday. 7:51 p.m. -- Fire trucks and tanker trucks are sporadically driving around distributing drinkable water in a sign that food and water is slowly becoming available, according to CNN Radio's Steve Kastenbaum. At a U.N. distribution center guarded by Bolivian peacekeeping troops, thousands of plates of cooked rice and chicken were handed out to Haitians waiting in an orderly line. 7:30 p.m. -- The World Food Program gearing up to distribute ready-to-eat food rations to 2 million people in quake-stricken Haiti. WFP is part of the United Nations system and is voluntarily funded. Read more . 7:25 p.m. -- The U.S. Postal Service is holding mail destined for Haiti, a spokeswoman said. Mail addressed to Haiti will still be accepted at post offices, but will be held until alternative transportation arrangements become available. 6:57 p.m. -- The deaths of three American citizens have been announced by their families or others. It is not known if they were among the five confirmed by The State Department. They are Jean Arnwine of Dallas, Texas; Molly Hightower, 22, of Port Orchard, Washington; and Benjamin Larson, 25, a student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. 6:16 p.m. -- An 11-year-old girl who was rescued yesterday from a pile of rubble that was her home has died, CNN's Ivan Watson reports. Rescue workers struggled to extract the girl as she wailed in pain under the weight of the rubble, which had crushed her leg. Her family says she died an hour after she was rescued. Watch her story . 6:06 p.m. -- Entertainer Lady Gaga will donate all the proceeds from her January 24 show in New York City to relief efforts, a representative for her label, Interscope, said. She will also donate proceeds from all merchandise purchased that day at the venue and on her Web site. 5:46 p.m. -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Friday that she is designating a temporary protected status for Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of Tuesday. Napolitano said the temporary status allows an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Haitian nationals in the nation illegally to stay in the United States for 18 months. 5:38 p.m. -- The State Department has launched a "Person Finder" tool on its site that helps people find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti. 5:02 p.m. -- At least 100 bodies were discovered by a CNN crew in one open pit outside Port-au-Prince, along with several other pits half-filled or completely covered over with earth. In the capital city, bodies litter the streets, and barely functioning clinics are overwhelmed. There is still no confirmed death toll, but the Haitian consul general to the United Nations has estimated the toll could top 100,000. Watch (graphic content) 4:43 p.m. -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces she will travel to Haiti tomorrow with U.S. Agency for International Development Director Rajiv Shah. Clinton, the first major U.S. official to travel to the quake-battered country, will meet with President Rene Preval and other members of the government. Watch . 4:28 p.m. -- Philadelphia 76ers center and Haiti native Samuel Dalembert taped a public service announcement for UNICEF encouraging fans to contribute to relief efforts. UNICEF volunteers will also be available to collect donations from fans at tonight's home game at the Wachovia Center. 3:47 p.m. -- As of Friday afternoon, corporate America had pledged more than $40 million in donations to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Read more . 3:20 p.m. -- A number of celebrities, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, are contributing to Haiti relief efforts, according to ABC News. Clooney and MTV are working on a telethon for Haiti later this month, ABC said. 2:04 p.m. -- Images from Google Earth illustrate the devastation wrought by Haiti's earthquake. Watch . 1:47 p.m. -- President Obama confirmed Friday that he will team up with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to discuss how best to encourage a broad-based national volunteer relief effort for Haiti. The three leaders will meet Saturday at the White House. 1:30 p.m. -- The United Nations announced Friday that at least 37 of its personnel have died -- 36 with the U.N. mission and one with the World Food Programme. The number of unaccounted for U.N. people stands at 330 out of the 12,000 people working for U.N. organizations in Haiti before the earthquake. 1:12 p.m. -- "The entire world stands with the government and the people of Haiti," President Obama said at the White House. He said the United States bears a special responsibility to help Haiti, given the countries' close proximity. 12:55 p.m. -- Pop star Madonna announced she has donated $250,000 to Partners in Health, a health care provider in Haiti. "My prayers are with the people of Haiti," statement from the singer said. "I can't imagine the terrible pain and suffering they are experiencing. Sadly the depths of the tragedy are just becoming known and the need for our support grows more urgent with every passing moment." 12:10 p.m. -- Jimmy O, a well-known singer and songwriter in Haiti who also was active in hip-hop artist and philanthropist Wyclef Jean's charity, is dead. Jimmy O, 35, was crushed in a vehicle in downtown Port-au-Prince during the earthquake. 11:30 a.m. -- President Obama spoke with Haitian President Rene Preval for about 30 minutes Friday morning, according to the White House. Obama reiterated his pledge of help, and Preval asked him to pass a message to the American people: "From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the Haitian people, thank you, thank you, thank you." Follow daily developments: . Tuesday . Wednesday . Thursday . 11:25 a.m. -- A text-message and social network campaign has raised $8 million for the Red Cross' relief efforts in Haiti, according to a Twitter message from the White House that was reposted on the Red Cross account. 11:13 a.m. -- CNN's Anderson Cooper reports Port-au-Prince's prison is empty but for four decomposing bodies. Watch (graphic content) 10:43 a.m. -- Within four days, 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne will be in the quake zone. By Tuesday, three more U.S. Navy ships carrying 2,200 Marines and heavy equipment will join them. By Saturday, about 5,000 to 6,000 men and women dedicated to supporting the relief effort will be in Haiti, military officials say. Watch CNN affiliate WRAL's report on the Marines' mission . 10:39 a.m. -- Five more American deaths have been confirmed in Haiti, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Friday, adding he expects the number to go up. 10:24 a.m. -- The USS Carl Vinson arrived off the coast of Haiti on Friday morning, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said. 9:22 a.m. -- U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne unit's Iraq and Afghanistan veterans welcome an opportunity to take part in a humanitarian mission. Watch CNN affiliate WTVD's report . 8:15 a.m. -- Diesel fuel is selling on the black market in Port-au-Prince for $25 a gallon. It usually sells for $3 a gallon. 7:57 a.m. -- Cuba is allowing the United States to use its airspace to fly medical evacuation flights -- but no other relief flights -- from Haiti, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Friday. This agreement will allow the United States to fly earthquake victims directly from Haiti to the United States and reduce the flight time. 7:15 a.m. -- At least 12 American corporations have pledged donations of $1 million or more to the Haiti relief effort. 7:09 a.m. -- Aid agencies continue to struggle to get relief items from the Port-au-Prince airport, said Dave Toycen, a relief worker with the aid agency World Vision. "The issue is obviously logistics. It is problematic to get the streets clear," Toycen said. "There was a mile-long line to get gasoline. We are short the basics." 5:55 a.m. Friday, January 15, 2010 -- The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is to arrive in Haiti on Friday, carrying 19 helicopters and 30 pallets of relief goods, Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser said. | Watch Anderson Cooper report live from Haiti on Friday at 10 p.m. ET .
Read Twitter feeds to stay update on the latest in Haiti .
Read CNN's complete special coverage of the latest developments in Haiti . |
118,776 | 255f17dfeb5a8ede7ee71924780e22ea84185fe5 | Australian pop culture lovers got a taste of the hotly anticipated Better Call Saul, just an hour after the Breaking Bad spin-off aired in the United States. To the delight of many in Australia, the series premiered on Monday night at 6pm AEDT on the brand new streaming service Stan. The show was fast-tracked by the service, which was launched through a partnership between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Company, airing almost immediately after the show screened in the US. Scroll down for video . Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad spin-off, aired on Monday night just an hour after screening in the US . The service has been labelled a game-changer by many Australians, who have previously resorted to illegally downloading or streaming shows in order to keep up with the episode release schedules of their favourite series. The country had record piracy figures after hit HBO series Game of Thrones was downloaded illegally nearly 2 million times after the season finale aired last year. A spokesperson for Australia's peak consumer body, Choice, said Foxtel's exclusive rights deal with HBO to air Game of Thrones two hours after the U.S. on Showcase had effectively forced consumers unwilling to pay for the cable company's monthly packages to seek alternative means of accessing premium content. The fast-tracking offered by Stan may solve some of the piracy issues, allowing fans to pay for the convenience of streaming without the hassle of downloading. Rebel Wilson is the face of Stan's advertising campaign . The Bridesmaid's star is promoting the service that costs $10 per month . 'Better Call Saul was the number one title on Stan from the moment it was made available at 6pm, immediately following its West Coast transmission in the US,' said a spokesperson from Nine. 'Strong viewing figures continued well into the night and this morning,' the spokesperson told Mashable. US network AMC reported that Better Call Saul pulled 6.5 million viewers, a record audience in cable history in the age bracket of 18 to 49. Stan costs $10 per month and promises just over 750 TV shows, films and documentaries for online viewing. Joining the lineup of exclusives - thanks to deals signed with Sony, BBC Worldwide, ABC, SBS, and Viacom - will be shows including Masters of Sex, Hannibal, Ray Donovan, Californication, The Good Wife, Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Top Gear and Doctor Who. Better Call Saul was the number one title on Stan from the moment it was made available at 6pm . Stan has the rights for Breaking Bad and the exclusive Australian rights for its prequel Better Call Saul . Netflix . Launch date: March 31. Price: $9.99 per month . Confirmed shows: Marco Polo, BoJack Horseman, Uganda Be Kidding Me, Live from Chelsea Handler, Bloodline, Daredevil, Sense8 and Grace and Frankie. Presto TV (Foxtel/Seven Network) Launch date: January 18. Price: $9.99 for movies, $9.99 for TV and $14.99 for TV and movies . Confirmed shows: The Sopranos, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Band of Brothers, Entourage, The Newsroom, True Blood, The Pacific, Girls, Six Feet Under, Hung, Veep, Big Love, Dexter, The Borgias, Brotherhood, Californication, Deadwood, Nurse Jackie, Ray Donovan. Stan (Fairfax/Nine Entertainment) Launch date: Australia Day. Price: $10 per month . Confirmed shows: Better Call Saul, Transparent and Fargo. A selection of Australian programming will also be available on Stan, such as Ja'mie Private School Girl, Redfern Now and Rake, plus all seasons of Underbelly, House Husbands and Love Child. It comes ahead of the launch of Netflix Down Under, and after Foxtel's new streaming service launched earlier this month, as the video on demand revolution heats up in Australia. The Australian government engaged in harsh tactics to crackdown on illegal downloading last year, and a student was fined $500 for illegally downloading a television series on his University Wi-Fi network. The anonymous 27-year-old graduate from the University of NSW spoke out after the University has vowed to issue $1000 fine to anyone breaching their rules of acceptable internet usage . The graduate received a fine in his email Inbox within one hour of downloading Comedy Central's The Daily Show in 2011. | New streaming service Stan launched Breaking Bad spin-off on Monday .
Better Call Saul pulled in a record 6.4 million viewers in the US .
The service aired the series just an hour after it screen on the west coast .
The fast-tracked service was welcomed by pop culture lovers .
Many have expressed a frustration with Foxtel's exclusive rights to shows .
Australia recorded two million illegal downloads of Game of Thrones finale . |
135,665 | 3b862b5a7f3e46411efecc265b814cc39026701c | The Navajo Nation is poised receive half a billion dollars from the federal government over mismanagement of tribal resources in the largest settlement of its kind for a single tribe. The tribe has fought government legislation for decades for proper compensation for its people - many of whom live in abject poverty - after companies were allowed to use its lands. Much of the land on the 27,000-square-mile reservation - in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah - has been leased for farming, grazing, oil and gas development, mining and housing. The leases once were largely overseen by the government, which mismanaged the revenue and failed to properly invest and account for it, according to the tribe. Scroll down for video . Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly (left) and Vice President Rex Lee Jim (right) sign the agreement for a settlement of $554 million from the federal government in Window Rock, Arizona in May. The settlement was awaiting signatures from federal agencies to be finalized . A Navajo family outside their traditional dwelling called a hogan on a Navajo reservation - the tribe sued the U.S. government over a mismanagement of tribal resources and won . Navajo women and children sell jewelry for tourists in the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in a reservation blighted by poverty. The government has just agreed to pay the Navajo Nation a half a billion dollar settlement - which tribal members suggest should be set aside for future generations or used for business development . The accord will be formally signed at a ceremony on Friday in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the sprawling Navajo reservation. The tribe, which has a population of 250,000, agreed to settle the case earlier this year but was awaiting signatures from federal agencies before the $554 million deal could be finalized. The Navajo Nation originally sought $900 million when the lawsuit was filed in 2006. 'We had a strong claim,' said Navajo Nation Council Delegate Lorenzo Curley. Public meetings will be held to ask Navajos how they think the money should be spent, Curley said. The first meeting is scheduled for October. Already, tribal members have suggested that it be set aside for future generations or used for business development, he said. The deal does not preclude the tribe from pursuing future trust claims, or any separate claims over water and uranium pollution on its reservation, Navajo Attorney General Harrison Tsosie said. An investigation in 2012 found that 40 per cent of the tribe were living without electricity and running water. Much of the land on the 27,000-square-mile Navajo reservation - in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah - has been leased for farming, grazing, oil and gas development, mining and housing . An old house stands near sandstone formations south of Rock Point on the Navajo Reservation, Arizona. The tribe, which has a population of 250,000, will hold meetings to decide where the settlement money will be spent . A Navajo boy sits in his bedroom at the family's hogan. In a 2012 report, it was found that 40 per cent of the tribe were living without running water or electricity . The Navajo Nation - whose lands encompasses parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico - stretches across 27,000 square miles and is larger than ten American states. The land holds some of the U.S. most dramatic scenery including Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. In the beginning, the Navajo were hunters and gatherers who took up crop farming when they learned techniques from the native Pueblo people. A group of Navajo riders on horseback pass through a desert canyon in 1904 . Archaeological work has revealed that the Navajo and Apache peoples were present in the Southwest region of the U.S. from around 1400 AD. Navajos traded with the Pueblo community in the 16th century and then by the 18th century, the Spanish were reporting on Navajo farming communities. In 1846, the Navajo first made contact with the United States of America when General Stephen W. Kearny and his troops marched into Santa Fe during the Mexican-American War. A peace treaty was signed in 1846 but it was not honored on either side. In the next decade, the U.S. comandeered more and more of Navajo land, building forts and setting up trading posts. In 1861, a series of military campaigns started against the tribe including the scorched earth campaign - where U.S. troops killed Navajo men and women and burning their crops. Facing starvation or being killed, the Navajo surrendered and were imprisoned in 1863. From 1864, 9,000 Navajo people were forced into what is referred to as the 'Long Walk' - when the tribe were marched at gunpoint 300 miles from their original lands by the U.S. government to be interred at Bosque Redondo. The move was a catastrophic failure - there was not enough food and water for the thousands of Navajo and disease was rampant among the tribe. Finally two years, later a treat between Navajo leaders and the federal government allowing the surviving Navajo to return to a reservation on a portion of their former homeland. Andrew Sandler, one of the Navajo Nation's attorneys on the case, said the tribe has taken on much of the responsibility for leasing on its land. If further disputes arise with the federal government, the settlement outlines a process to resolve them. 'This was viewed as an appropriate and respectful settlement where the federal government acknowledged its responsibility and acted in an honorable way,' Sandler said. Navajo people protest along the highway near Cameron, Arizona, on June 23, 2013 to protest Florida aerialist Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk over the Little Colorado River Gorge. Wallenda plans to perform the stunt without a safety harness on the Navajo reservation . 'It was a good result for all parties, and appropriate result for all parties, and it creates finality.' Tribes across the country have filed more than 100 breach-of-trust cases against the U.S. government. The Navajo Nation settlement is the largest, exceeding the next highest amount by $170 million, Sandler said. The Interior Department said it is working to resolve cases with other tribes without going to trial. Since April 2012, the federal government has resolved about 80 cases, totaling $2.5 billion. Sandler said the Navajo Nation should receive its money within 60 days. A Navajo Chapter Meeting circa 1890. The tribe has fought the U.S. government for generations to be properly compensated for use of their land - and have finally been awarded half a billion dollars . Navajo women shearing sheep in the late 19th century. The tribe has battled the U.S. government for generations to be fairly compensated for the use of its lands . | The Navajo Nation said leases on its land, once largely overseen by the government, were mismanaged and the revenue not properly invested .
Public meetings will be held to ask Navajos how they think the money should be spent .
Tribal members have suggested that it be set aside for future generations or used for business development .
Tribes across the country have filed more than 100 breach-of-trust cases against the U.S. government .
Since April 2012, the federal government has resolved about 80 cases, totaling $2.5 billion . |
112,552 | 1d351163b63b72ad84dc21acb586b1e171b2a7a2 | A teenage girl who died after slipping from a railway station platform has become the latest target of internet trolls. A Facebook tribute page entitled RIP Georgia Varley was set up in memory of the 16-year-old after she was killed on Saturday night, but hours later offensive messages started appearing. One Facebook user posted: ‘Blame her heels’, while another posted a picture of . Thomas the Tank Engine with a message of his innocence. Another posted a photograph of the deceased Colonel Gaddafi alongside other highly offensive comments. Georgia Varley, 16, was returning home to Wirral on Saturday night when the tragedy happened. Some 40 to 50 passengers were on the platform at the time of the incident and a number were treated for shock. Many were posted throughout the night, leading people to believe they were coming from other countries. Friends of the teenager reported the abuse to a Facebook administrator and they have since been removed. Georgia had been returning home to . Wirral on Saturday night when she fell between the platform and one of . the carriages at Liverpool’s James Street underground station. Her friends have since set up a new page and taken Facebook advice on how to block the trolls. One post read: 'Rest In Peace, . Georgia. Hopefully no "trolls" will find this page, and if they do . they'll all be blocked immediately.' A shocked friend of Georgia’s wrote . on the tribute page after the ordeal: ‘Still can’t get over those people . commenting on someone innocents memorial page being horrible and . mocking a young death.' The user who set up the tribute page . wrote: ‘Thank you all for being so patient with the removal of the . horrible comments and thank you all for continuing to post happy . memories and messages to Georgia and to her friends and family. Tribute page: The offensive posts were removed from the Facebook page and friends defended Georgia Varley . RIP Georgia Varley Facebook page: The internet troll's messages were removed . ‘I hope no one believes that these . events have tarnished Georgia’s memory in anyway as we all know she was a . lovely, happy and smiley young girl who was loved dearly and will . forever be loved dearly.’ It is thought that Georgia had . been running along the platform after a Wirral-bound train after a night . out in Liverpool with friends and family when she fell at around . 11:30pm. It is believed that some of the party were already on board the train, which had begun to move away from the station. Up to 50 passengers waiting on the . platform watched on in horror as the teenager slipped under the wheels . and was killed instantly. Some have been treated for shock . Her boyfriend, named locally as Pierce, was ‘devastated’ and Georgia’s family are being comforted by friends and relatives. The incident happened at the underground James Street Station in the centre of the city . Friends have paid tribute to the teenager on a Facebook tribute page, describing her as 'beautiful', 'a princess', and 'a gorgeous girl' Georgia’s father Paul, of New Brighton, described her daughter as his 'precious angel'. He said: 'Georgia was just amazing. I have a constant lump in my throat and I don't know how to feel or what to say. 'She was so loved and she never had an upside down smile on. She was such a happy girl. 'I would say to her 'you're always changing between groups of friends' but she made an impression on so many people.' A spokesman for Facebook said: 'It is . against Facebook's rules to intimidate or harass others, and we provide . everyone with the tools to report such content via specific links . across every page of our site. One tribute to the teenager said: 'You brought so much joy into all of our lives. There was never a day where you didn't make me laugh. You're my superstar." 'When abuse is reported to us, we react swiftly, and we will disable accounts that are found to be in breach of our terms. 'We strongly encourage people using Facebook to use our tools whenever needed and to report objectionable content so we can investigate reports and take action.' The spokesman said that 'trolling' was not exclusive to Facebook but that they had set up an 'extensive reporting network' to help combat the problem. It comes after Sean Duffy was imprisoned for 18 weeks after leaving obscene messages and videos on a condolence page set up by the family of 15-year-old schoolgirl Natasha MacBryde, who committed suicide. He was also charged over 'offensive images' on a Facebook tribute page set up for Sophie Taylor, who was accidentally shot dead by her boyfriend in April. It is still unknown exactly what happened on Saturday night when Georgia was tragically killed at James Street station. One theory is that the teenager may have . accidentally stepped off the train at the wrong stop and ran to try to . get back on before losing her step and falling from the platform. British Transport Police were yesterday continuing with their investigations into the events which led to Georgia's death. Detective . Chief Inspector Simon Taylor said: 'We are determined to work out . exactly what happened to Georgia and I am calling on rail passengers in . Liverpool to help with this. 'Whatever . information you have, no matter how insignificant it may seem, it could . prove valuable in helping us piece together Georgia's final few . minutes. 'Georgia has left . behind a distraught family and we want to be able to tell them exactly . what happened and help them come to terms with the tragedy.' Most of Georgia's friends were on half term this week and will return to school on Monday. Staff at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, where Georgia was a student, were planning counselling for friends and those who witnessed her death. Karen Wiggins, a senior member of staff, said: 'We are all deeply saddened. Georgia joined us in September and had a bright future ahead of her. 'She had a very ready smile and was a beautiful looking girl who was very popular among the students.' | Tribute page for Georgia Varley was targeted just hours after being put up . |
7,865 | 16434d5ace03af424008a9c799a1113df9d531bd | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, pictured leaving his house this morning, is assessing the damage to the Lib Dems' local government base . Nick . Clegg today refused to resign as Lib Dem leader after losing control of some of his party's flagship councils. The Lib Dems were ousted from Portsmouth after a surge of support for Ukip while the Tories took control of Kingston-upon-Thames - the local authority of Energy Secretary Ed Davey. A rare glimmer of good news came in Eastleigh, where the Lib Dems have tightened their grip on the local authority after successfully defending the parliamentary seat in a by-election last year. Mr Clegg conceded that his party had suffered at the hands of a Ukip surge, blaming a 'very strong anti-politics feeling among the public. But he added: 'Actually I think in the areas where we have MPs where we have good organisation on the ground... we are actually doing well.' The Lib Dems are are on course to lose around 300 seats. Earlier Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone said her party had lost its ‘humanity’ in office. ‘Ukip . have managed to sound like human beings – that’s Nigel Farage’s big . win,’ she told the BBC. ‘All of us have become so guarded, we are so . on-message that we seem to have lost some of our humanity. ‘The . Lib Dems are the whipping boys in the coalition. In the last general . election debates Nick came across as the human being… Partly being in . government, we have become more ministerial, we have become more . political. We have lost some of the humanity Nick had four years ago.’ With . rumours swirling of a leadership plot, Mr Clegg has urged his party not . to ‘lose its nerve’ just as the Government’s key decisions are being . ‘vindicated’. Mr Clegg told reporters it was 'never easy' seeing 'dedicated, hard-working' councillors kicked out. But he said he would 'absolutely not' resign, and insisted the Lib Dems were still succeeding where they focused on their achievements in coalition. 'Based on the results which have come in so far, it has obviously been a mixed result, a mixed night for my party, for the Liberal Democrats and the other mainstream parties,' Mr Clegg said. 'We will see what the further results today, what story they tell. But so far what I have seen is that where we can work really hard to tell our side of the story, we can win.' He added: 'I certainly accept that there is a very strong anti-politics mood around, not only in our country but in many other parts of Europe as well. I think you will see that in European elections in the days to come... 'There is a very strong mood of restlessness and dissatisfaction with mainstream politics and that is reflected in the results for all mainstream parties, including the Lib Dems.' Mr Clegg is under fresh pressure, with the Lib Dems braced to lose many of their MEPs when the European election results emerge on Sunday night . WINS: Did well in Eastleigh - stopping Ukip from taking any seats on council. LOSSES: Portsmouth slipped into no overall control, as Ukip took four seats. Tories took overall control of Kingston-upon-Thames. Labour took Cambridge. Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Malcolm Bruce played down his party's losses and stressed it intended to be a 'major force' in British politics for the foreseeable future. He told BBC Breakfast: 'It is obviously disappointing to lose councillors, particularly those who have worked hard in their community and may have been replaced by those who haven't got a track record. 'But actually we are pleased that where we have targeted our resources, particularly in held seats or key seats, we have actually had very good results. 'That's really very important for us. Getting an even share across the country doesn't deliver seats, getting them in the seats that matter is what matters to us.' Senior party . figures dismiss ideas that Mr Clegg could be replaced by Danny Alexander or . Vince Cable, but are preparing for a bumpy few weeks if the results are . bad. In several European election polls, the party has been languishing . in fifth place behind the Greens. A . poll suggests that only 46 per cent of Lib Dem voters would want Mr . Clegg to stay in his job if the party ends up in that position. David . Cameron and senior Tories, however, are said to be planning a ‘Save . Clegg’ operation that will see the Lib Dems given ‘wins’ in the . forthcoming Queen’s Speech. Lib . Dem sources insisted their vote was holding up well in their . Parliamentary seats, and that both the Tories and Labour were falling . short of the sort of results they need to demonstrate if they want to . win a majority next year. | LATEST: Lib Dems have 404 seats, down 284. Hold 6 councils, down 2 .
Lib Dems lose Portsmouth and Tories rob them of Kingston-upon-Thames .
Labour takes control of Cambridge after kicking out Lib Dems .
European election results will not be announced until Sunday night . |
259,231 | db94c9a41aadf8a9e67b173b01016f241250fd33 | By . Jonathan O'Callaghan . A 4,300 year-old wall painting has been found in a tomb for a ‘priest’ in Egypt. The find was made about 1,000 feet (300 metres) to the east of the Great Pyramid of Giza, containing depictions of ancient life. It was found alongside statues that indicated the occupant was an important individual. A wall painting, dating back over 4,300 years, has been discovered in a tomb (pictured) located just east of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The painting shows vivid scenes of life, including boats sailing south on the Nile River, a bird hunting trip in a marsh and a man named Perseneb with his wife and dog . The ancient Egyptian afterlife is one of the earliest known recorded belief systems in history. People . believed that when a person died their soul known as ka - or body . double - and the ba - their personality - would go to the Kingdom of the . Dead. While . their soul stayed in the Fields of Aaru, Osiris - the god of the . afterlife - demanded work in return for his protection, which is why you . often see farming scenes inside tombs. Statues . were placed in tombs to serve as substitutes for a person. In order to . reach the afterlife, a person had to have a pure heart as well as recite . passwords, spells and forumlae from the Book of the Dead. People . believed that in the Hall of Two truths the heart was weighed and if it . was lighter than the Shu feather, they could pass on - or be destroyed . by a demon. Mummification . and the sarcophagus was a requirement for being able to access the . afterlife and the Fields of Yalu. The 'opening of the mouth' ceremony . was of importance as well as the presence of objects such as jewellery . to keep a body safe on its dangerous journey. The tomb is thought to have been built about 2450 to 2350 BC in the middle or late fifth dynasty, a time within the Old Kingdom, Egypt's first sustained period of civilisation. Tombs of this sort were created for important indivudals during the Old Kingdom from about 2650 to 2150 BC. This is also the perod when the Giza pyramids were built. Although the tomb was originally found in the 19th century, it was not until recent restoration work by Russian archaeologists that the painting was discovered. ‘Known since the 19th century, the [tomb] could hardly present any new principal features,’ Maksim Lebedev of the Russian State University for Humanities told Live Science. ‘Therefore, it was a real surprise to discover an Old Kingdom painting on the eastern wall of the central room.' The team will release further images of the painting in the coming weeks as more of it is revealed. Made of white plaster it had been covered by soot and dirt, from not only nearby industrialisation but also people living in the tomb. Despite only 30 per cent being preserved, researchers were able to recreate the scenes that were left, with a hint of symbolic meaning. Archaeologists have found thew previously hidden painting in an ancient tomb near Cairo in Egypt. The tomb belongs to a 'priest' named Persaneb. It has been known of for centuries but the painting has only just been found as it was buried beneath soot and dirt . The painting depicts what life was like 4,300 years ago in Egypt. It shows boats sailing south on the Nile and also agricultural images. The painting could also have symbolic meaning for life in ancient Egypt. Inside the tomb were also found statues of the 'priest' including his wife and what looks like a dog (pictured) At the top of the painting ships sail south on the Nile, possibly heralding the return of a person of power from the north, which represents a person's high status. Other parts of the painting shown agricultural scenes such as plowing and sowing. And one part shows Perseneb with his wife and what appears to be his dog, while another section seems to show a marsh scene where a man on a boat is bird hunting. Exactly who Perseneb’s position was in ancient Egypt, however, is unknown, although inscriptions indicate he was a 'priest' and a 'steward'. Tombs of this sort were usually made for important individuals, especially ones with statues, so it is likely he was someone of some stature. There are three rooms in the tomb - an offering room, central room and burial chamber - and 11 statutes are strewn across the rooms showing Perseneb and his family. The tomb is thought to have been built about 2450 to 2350 BC in the middle or late fifth dynasty, a time within the Old Kingdom, Egypt's first sustained period of civilisation. Tombs of this sort were created for important individuals during the Old Kingdom from about 2650 to 2150 BC, also when the Giza pyramids were built . | Archaeologists have found a previously hidden painting in an ancient tomb .
Found near Cairo in Egypt the tomb belongs to a 'priest' named Persaneb .
Tomb has been known of for centuries but the painting has just been found .
It was buried beneath soot and other debris from pollution and occupants .
The painting depicts what life was like 4,300 years ago in Egypt .
It shows boats sailing south on the Nile and also agricultural images .
The painting could also have symbolic meaning for life in ancient Egypt . |
236,925 | bea72285dead130f92d3b95464657297f6daa547 | Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned as Archbishop of St Andrew's and Edinburgh over the allegations. One of his accusers says the church would 'crush' him, given the opportunity . Church leaders are debating whether to allow Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic clergyman to take part in the vote to choose a new pope after he was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ towards young priests 30 years ago. Vatican officials last night admitted they were aware of the accusations against Cardinal Keith O’Brien and that the final decision was ‘in the Pope’s hands’. Cardinal O’Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and Britain’s only representative at the election of the next Pope, missed a morning Mass in Edinburgh at which he was due to celebrate the Pope’s eight-year tenure. He denies all the allegations. It is understood the complaints by three serving priests and a former priest were reported to the Vatican through the papal ambassador to Britain a week before the Pope’s announcement that he was to step down. The complainants – all associated with the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh – are said to have told Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Mennini they want Cardinal O’Brien to resign before next month’s conclave to pick a new pontiff. The 74-year-old, who is due to retire next month, will be the only British churchman eligible to vote. The former priest claims the cardinal made an inappropriate approach to him in 1980 after night prayers, when he was a seminarian at St Andrew’s College in Drygrange, Roxburghshire, where the cardinal was spiritual director. The complainant, who is now married, is reported to have said he gave up the priesthood when Cardinal O’Brien was first made a bishop. He said: ‘I knew then he would always have power over me. It was assumed I left the priesthood to get married. I did not. I left to preserve my integrity.’ Scroll down for video . Saying mass in Edinburgh: Cardinal Keith O' Brien in his role as Britain's most senior Catholic . In March 2012 O'Brien wrote of his concerns over same-sex marriage in Scotland in The Daily Telegraph. He said the proposal represents a 'grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right'. 'Same-sex marriage would eliminate entirely in law the basic idea of a mother and a father for every child,' he added. 'It would create a society which deliberately chooses to deprive a child of either a mother or a father.' He also opposed the introduction of civil partnerships, saying he believes that 'such relationships are harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved'. After he was awarded the 'Bigot of the Year' award, Stonewall Scotland director Colin Macfarlane said: 'In the past year the cardinal has likened the campaign for same-sex marriage to slavery, he has called it grotesque.' The second complainant is reported to . have said he was living in a parish when he was visited by Cardinal . O’Brien, and ‘inappropriate contact’ took place. The third complainant is said to have . alleged ‘unwanted behaviour’ by the cardinal in the 1980s after they . shared a late-night drinking session. And the fourth reportedly claims the cardinal used night prayers as an excuse for inappropriate contact. Cardinal O’Brien was supported yesterday by Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, a former Archbishop of Westminster. Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor said: ‘I was . obviously very sad, but the cardinal has denied the allegations, so I . think we will just have to see how that pans out.’ Asked whether or not Cardinal O’Brien . should be able to take part in the selection of the new Pope, he added: . ‘The allegations have not been proved so he will have to decide whether . he wants to go.’ Allegations against members of the Church have dogged . the papacy of Benedict XVI and some in the Vatican believe the endless . scandals prompted him to resign. Whether or not Cardinal O’Brien will . be welcomed to the conclave is in the balance even though, according to . canon law, no cardinal eligible to vote can technically be prevented . from doing so. Retiring: Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during his last Angelus noon prayer from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican yesterday . A youngster holds a banner during Pope Benedict XVI's last Angelus Prayer . It reads: 'You are not alone, I am with you' There was outcry last week when it . emerged that the disgraced Archbishop of Los Angeles, Roger Mahony, . would participate in the conclave, despite shielding accused priests . from prosecution. The Pope told 150,000 pilgrims yesterday he is stepping aside because God told him to. At his last Sunday appearance in the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square Pope . Benedict XVI revealed God had called on him to devote himself to prayer . and ‘climb the mountain’. Benedict, who steps down on Thursday, said he was ‘not abandoning the . church’ but aims to serve with the same dedication ‘in a way more . suitable to my age and my strength’. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Cardinal O'Brien, 74, faces claims of inappropriate attention by four priests .
One priest alleges 'unwanted behaviour' after late-night drinking .
Another priest said he was 18 when 'inappropriately approached .
O'Brien now faces demands for his immediate resignation .
But a former archbishop says people 'must listen' to the cardinal's side . |
259,414 | dbd464d06308b31e455b587b39cc7eabd8371f52 | Nigeria holds the prize for an eccentric presidential name but move over Goodluck Jonathan, you can also meet Suffering or chat with Chinese in the heart of Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo abounds in quirky names coined by mixing common nouns, adjectives and religious fervour into a fresh shortened moniker. Christian first names have long been used in this francophone country and continued after independence from Belgium in 1960. Young men check their names against the list of registered voters at a polling station in the Democratic Republic of Congo which abounds in quirky names coined by mixing common nouns, adjectives and religious fervour into a fresh shortened moniker . In the 1970s, the custom carried on undercover even after former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko (1965 to 1997) launched a drive to restore African names. But next to all the secret Maries, Josephs and Pierres, newborns were turning up with decidedly Christian - if unrecognisable - sobriquets. Take Plamedi for example. It stands for 'Plan merveilleux de Dieu' or God's marvellous plan. Then there is Merdi for 'Merci Dieu ou Merveille de Dieu' meaning Thank God or God's marvel. These are often popular when couples have had trouble conceiving and, after a mix of prayers and medical treatment, finally have a baby, said Olivier Kana, a doctor at the Monkole maternity hospital in Kinshasa. The proliferation of Pentecostal Christian churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as in other parts of Africa, has helped boost the trend. Their evangelical energy tends to be more exuberant than the traditional Catholicism - the church of 40 per cent of the 70 million Congolese -brought in by the Belgians. As elsewhere in Africa, the Congolese sometimes name their offspring after presidents or their employers - often hoping to gain favour - or even their profession. Nouns like Budget, Verdict, Jeunesse (Youth) and Plante (Plant) as well as adjectives, often of the superlative kind, are also big. Therese, a 34-year-old housewife, had no doubt about what to name her twin boys when they were born three years ago. 'They're called Precious and Sublime. They are precious for me and I hope they will also be precious to society,' she said. Regional variations have also been noticed, including one specific to the east of the country where for the last 20 years conflict has erupted among armed groups from local areas or nearby countries over ethnic, economic or border disputes. 'Your name can cause you problems or save your life,' said Justin Paluku, a doctor at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma, capital of the strife-torn Nord Kivu province. 'People have gotten used to no longer using tribal names to hide the real identity of their child,' he said. According to the law, names have to bear a 'link to Congolese cultural heritage, cannot be contrary to good morals or be in any way insulting, humiliating or provocative.' Many are named in the local language after powerful animals, such as Lion or Leopard, but other variants include the tamer Pigeon and Poodle. In the Democratic Republic of Congo next to all the secret Maries, Josephs and Pierres are, newborns with decidedly Christian - if unrecognisable - names like Plamedi which stands for 'Plan merveilleux de Dieu' or God's marvellous plan . Some names, people believe, mark the fate of individuals for life. Ferdinand, a resident of the eastern city of Goma, cites the case of a man baptised Mateso or Suffering in Swahili. 'According to those close to him, his name has been the root of all the misfortunes that have befallen his family,' the 29-year-old Ferdinand said. These include his unwed daughters' pregnancies, his good-for-nothing sons, his rocky employment history and the fact that his house was burnt to the ground. If it proves unduly troublesome, people can change their registered names 'but often reverence for one's parents prevents them from doing so,' said Richard Bondo, a lawyer in Kinshasa. For 28-year-old Chinois, or Chinese in French, an unusual name has become a source of pride. Named thus because his family found he bore a resemblance to Chinese workers building a bridge near his native village, the journalist - now based in Kinshasa - was rebaptised Bienvenu or 'Welcome' in French by a local radio station on the grounds that his real name would sound bizarre on the airwaves. But he is unfazed by the jokes and the snide remarks that often follow whenever he is introduced to people. 'I show them my voter's card and say - I am the sole Chinese in the Democratic Republic of Congo!' he said. | The Democratic Republic of Congo abounds in bizarre names .
Many are named after powerful animals such as Lion or Leopard .
Some are named after presidents or employers - to gain favour . |
246,283 | cac1ac5756124eb8487232648200a5e7518c580c | Fashionable anti-cancer superfoods and supplements do not prevent the disease and may even cause it, according to a scientist who helped discover the structure of DNA. James Watson said the cure for many cancers will remain elusive unless scientists rethink the role of antioxidants, which include vitamin pills and food such as blueberries and broccoli. It is widely believed they boost health and fight cancer by mopping up oxygen molecules called free radicals. But Dr Watson argues these may be key to preventing and treating cancer – and depleting the body of them may be counter-productive. Counter productive? It is widely believed foods such as blueberries, left, and broccoli, right, help boost health and fight cancer by mopping up oxygen molecules called free radicals . Free radicals not only help keep diseased cells under control, they are also pivotal in making many cancer drugs, as well as radiotherapy, effective, he believes. Writing in a journal published by the Royal Society, the 84-year-old Nobel laureate stated that antioxidants ‘may have caused more cancers than they have prevented’. ‘For as long as I have been focused on the curing of cancer, well-intentioned individuals have been consuming antioxidative nutritional supplements as cancer preventatives, if not actual therapies,’ he said. ‘In light of recent data strongly hinting that much of late-stage cancer’s untreatability may arise from its possession of too many antioxidants, the time has come to seriously ask whether antioxidant use much more likely causes than prevents cancer.’ He said a vast number of studies had found antioxidants including vitamins A, C and E and the mineral selenium, to have ‘no obvious effectiveness’ in preventing stomach cancer or in lengthening life. Instead, they seem to slightly shorten the lives of those who take them, and vitamin E may be particularly dangerous. The American, who describes his theory as among his most important work since the DNA breakthrough with British colleague Francis Crick in 1953, said blueberries may taste good but give no protection against cancer. The study by Dr Watson, based at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, is published in the journal Open Biology. He has caused uproar in the past with his opinions on race, intelligence, beauty and homosexuality. Professor Nic Jones, of Cancer Research UK, agreed that studies showed antioxidants were ineffective for cancer prevention in healthy people and can even slightly increase the risk of the disease. He said vitamins and minerals should be obtained through a healthy and balanced diet. | It is widely believed that superfoods like blueberries and broccoli help fight cancer by defending against oxygen molecules called free radicals .
Dr James Watson has now said such free radicals may be key to preventing and treating cancer .
The 84-year-old Nobel laureate has said antioxidants 'may have caused more cancers than they have prevented' |
253,087 | d390d924771129f99469599c79335ddd7a7eefe3 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 06:11 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:35 EST, 28 January 2014 . The husband of a brain-dead woman who was kept alive during her pregnancy has revealed how he named the fetus before she was taken off life support. Paramedic Erick Munoz's wife Marlise was declared brain-dead after he found her unconscious at their family home on November 26, possibly due to a blood clot. But because she was 14 weeks pregnant, doctors refused to take her off life support under Texas law. After winning a lengthy legal battle, Mrs Munoz's life support was switched off on Sunday and both she and the 23-week-old fetus, which was said to have abnormalities because of oxygen deprivation, died at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Speaking for the first time since his wife's death, Mr Munoz has now revealed how he named what would have been the couple's second child - calling the fetus by his wife's middle name, Nicole. Erick Munoz, pictured after winning his court battle in Texas on Friday, has revealed he named the unborn fetus after his wife's second name Maria . Mother: Marlise Munoz was already a mother of one. She was a few months pregnant when she suffered a blood clot and went brain dead . He said doctors at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth indicated to him that the fetus would likely have been a girl, although his attorneys previously claimed the fetus suffered from a lower body deformation that made it impossible to determine its sex. 'They think it was a female,' Mr Munoz said in a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press. Mr Munoz also told WFAA-TV in an interview which aired on Monday evening that he has seen many negative comments about his decision, but he feels he made the right choice. 'I'm just glad they are not in my shoes. I hope every day that no one ever has to go through what I went through,' he said. Mr Munoz said his wife will be cremated and there are no plans for memorial or funeral services because the family is concerned that protesters would show up. 'She made me a better man, and I thank her for it. I thank her very much,' he said. Both the hospital and his attorneys agreed the fetus could not have been born alive that early in the pregnancy, and the fetus was not delivered when John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth complied on Sunday with a judge's order to pull any life-sustaining treatment from Marlise Munoz. What she would have wanted: Husband Erik Munoz says his wife wouldn't have wanted to keep living in her condition . Tense weeks: Erick Munoz stands with a photograph of himself, left, with wife Marlise and their son Mateo, in Haltom City, Texas. Marlise was removed from life support on Sunday after the family's high profile fight to let the pregnant woman die . Doctors said Mrs Munoz, then 16-weeks pregnant, was brain-dead in November after Erick Munoz found her unconscious in their Haltom City home, possibly due to a blood clot. But the hospital had kept on machines to keep her organs functioning for the sake of the fetus, which it said was per Texas law. The case inspired debates about abortion and end-of-life decisions, as well as whether a pregnant woman who is considered legally and medically dead should be kept on life support for the sake of a fetus. Mr Munoz's attorneys, Heather King and Jessica Hall Janicek, had issued a statement last week saying that according to medical records, 'the fetus is distinctly abnormal'. The attorneys said the fetus also had fluid building up inside the skull and possibly had a heart problem. Mr Munoz told AP earlier that he believed in God but felt his training as a paramedic suggested the fetus would have been seriously harmed by his wife's condition. Unborn: The couple is pictured here with their first son Matteo . Filing suit: Erick Munoz filed suit against John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas to force the hospital to remove the life support keeping his pregnant brain dead wife alive . He sued the hospital because it would not remove life support. He said his wife, also a paramedic, had told him she would not want to be kept alive under such circumstances. In refusing his request, the hospital cited Texas law that says life-sustaining treatment cannot be withdrawn from a pregnant patient, regardless of her end-of-life wishes. Legal experts told AP that the hospital was misreading the Texas Advance Directives Act and that the law isn't an absolute command to keep a pregnant woman on life support. Judge R.H Wallace Jr sided with Erick Munoz on Friday, saying in his order: 'Mrs Munoz is dead.' The case has been noted by Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the two leading candidates running to replace him, but none has called for any new laws or action yet. In recent years, the Legislature has enacted several new anti-abortion restrictions, including setting the legal guideline for when a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. During a debate among the four big-name Republicans running for lieutenant governor on Monday night, all of them said the judge erred in ordering that Marlise Munoz be removed from life support and vowed if elected to tighten state law so that a similar outcome couldn't happen again. Support: Autumn Brackeen, left, and Afton Brown, right, both of Fort Worth, Texas show their support for the Munoz family outside the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center on Friday. They were among a bevy of strangers who showed support for the Munoz family's wished to let Marlise Munoz die . Protest: Afton Brown was among a few showing support for Erick Munoz and his family outside the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014 . | Marlisa Munoz was declared brain-dead after collapsing at her Texas home .
But she was kept on life support for the sake of her 23-week-old fetus .
Before her death, Mrs Munoz had made it clear to her husband that she would not want to be kept on life support .
Doctors refused to comply with her wishes as Texas law that says life-sustaining treatment cannot be withdrawn from a pregnant patient .
Erick Munoz launched a court battle for his wife to be taken off life support .
A judge ruled in his favour on Friday and Mrs Munoz died on Sunday .
Both hospital staff and attorneys agreed the fetus, which had abnormalities, could not have been born alive this early into a pregnancy . |
15,627 | 2c5e47760b4ead0904f133aecfc3ebedf52c194e | It may look like an unremarkable pile of rocks in the middle of an inhospitable Israeli desert. But archaeologists have discovered that this primitive structure is in fact a 5,000-year-old trap used to capture leopards. They had originally thought that the trap was much younger, and the revelation of its true age suggests that farmers in the area were much more advanced that originally thought. Ancient: The trap is designed to lure leopards in through the front with some bait, before slamming shut behind it . The trap was found in the Negev desert in the south of Israel by researchers from the Geological Survey of Israel, according to Live Science. It was not far from a similar example, which is little more than 1,600 years old. This led scientists to believe that the much more ancient trap was of a similar age. But a sophisticated test which can age materials based on how much residual radiation they have absorbed over thousands of years showed that these slabs had been in place some 2,000 years before the foundation of Rome. At least 50 similar traps have been . found in the Negev region, but this is the first one to suggest the . extreme age of this construction, which is as old as the world's . earliest farming civilisations. The enduring piece of technology is almost identical to traps used by the nomadic Bedouin peoples as recently as a century ago. Subtle: The trap, seen here from behind, was found in the Negev desert in Israel . Naomi Porta, who co-authored a study on the trap, said: 'The most exciting thing is the antiquity of these carnivore traps, which is totally unexpected. 'They look like a pile of stones, like a cairn, and you need a good eye and also some digging around to realize what it is. 'When the carnivore pulls at the bait the . rope is attached to a slab door [made of solid rock] and it just closes, so the animal is . trapped inside this carnivore box trap. Prey: Leopards were a major predator in the area when ancient peoples were laying the traps . 'This is part of their defense system against the elements, which in this case is leopards and other carnivores.' The tests which proved the age of the traps were carried out using a technique called 'optical dating'. The ancient trap uses simple but effective technology to capture its prey. Not unlike a classic mouse trap, the leopard snare uses tempting food - usually a chunk of raw meat - to lure in the animal. The food would be attached to a rope, and then the animal pulls on it to get at the prize attached, the force from the rope would cause the door - a heavy stone slab - to slam shut. The animal would then be stuck inside, left helpless while the ancient farmers who laid the trap figured out how to dispose of the dangerous predator. The traps would help deal with the problem of leopards attacking the flocks of sheep and goats which were so vital to the nomads' survival at the time. It can be used to determine how long it has been since a material was exposed to sunlight - in this case it would have shown how long the underside of the trap had been shielded since being built. A machine can be used to measure how much radioactive energy which materials absorb other thousands of years in the shade, but is released when touched by sunlight. By comparing this with background levels of radiation in the area, a date for the trap could be calculated. Although referred to as a leopard trap, the structure could also be used to capture other predators, such as foxes, hyenas and wolves. They would have been an essential method for ancient farmers to keep the hungry hunters away from the sheep and goats they raised for milk, clothing and good. Ms Porat and her team found the traps not far from an area known to have been used as farmland as long as 6,000 years ago. The traps would be of little use now, as leopards have been extinct in the Negev region for the past ten years. The findings were published in the September . issue of the journal Antiquity. | The trap was found in the Negev region of southern Israel .
It lured leopards inside with a chunk of meat before slamming shut .
Researchers originally thought it was only 1,600 years old .
But radiation tests showed it had been there for five millennia .
This means ancient farmers in the area were more sophisticated than previously thought . |
72,458 | cd681e46d9c1cf28fbc2fec43b20f02e7ee1431b | By . Derek Lawrenson . Will Rory McIlroy be playing for Team GB or Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio? Will the British elite like Ian Poulter be happy sharing rooms in the Olympic Village? Will players wear the Adidas Team GB cap when so many have lucrative deals in place with other manufacturers? Will all the caddies turn up for nothing? Just some of the questions that are now the responsibility of the man who beat more than 40 other applicants to be named manager of Team GB when golf re-enters the Olympic fold in two years’ time. And so when he wasn’t overseeing the startling short game improvements he’s instilled in Tommy Fleetwood, or practising his own game for the European Senior Tour, Jamie Spence was wandering up and down the driving range in Abu Dhabi last week and making people aware of his new posting. Rio, here we come: Jamie Spence has landed the plum job of Team GB's golf manager for the 2016 Olympics . Lean on me: Rory McIlroy talks to his fiance, Caroline Wozniacki, after losing out in Abu Dhabi on Sunday . Big decision: McIlroy must choose whether to represent Britain or Ireland at the Olympics in two years . We may as well start with the toughest question of all. How well does he know Rory and is he intent on a bit of arm-wrestling? ‘Who wouldn’t love to have Rory in his team?’ he said, smiling. ‘I will certainly be talking to him, that is for sure. But I think we all respect the incredibly difficult position he is in, and that this is a decision that has to come from him. As I said, I’d be the first to welcome him if he does decide to play for us, but I’ll also be the first to wish him all the best if he plays for Ireland.’ The 50-year-old Englishman confesses to being a little nervous as to the reaction of players used to all possible creature comforts being asked to ‘rough’ it in the Olympic Village. ‘There is some talk of a hotel, to be honest, but if I was a player who had made this team I’d want to embrace the whole experience,’ he said. ‘But will our top players feel the same way? In fact, are they interested in playing in the Olympics at all, with everything else going on in the crowded golf calendar? Those are the sort of conversations I will be having over the next few months.’ Heard the one about staying in a shared room, Ian? English star Poulter could be in line for the Games . Party time: The Olympics is heading to Rio de Janeiro in 2016 when golf will be played at the Games . One good thing about golf being back in the Olympics is the welcome boost it will surely give the women's game. ‘I think that’s going to be one of the really nice things about the job,’ said Spence. ‘It’s a real chance for the leading British women to put themselves on the wider sporting map and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help.’ The selection criteria has yet to be finalised but is expected to be based on the world rankings, with Spence likely to be in charge of an eight-strong team of four men and four women, competing in two 72 hole events. He has been encouraged by the initial reaction. ‘The caddies have been telling me how much they’re looking forward to it, even though they won’t be paid, and I have had a good response from the players I have spoken to so far,’ he said. As an ex-chairman of the tournament players’ committee, and a former tour winner in his own right, Spence is certainly amply qualified. Let’s hope the stars give him the support he deserves. Great Scott . A villa on the market for £4million in Abu Dhabi comes with one unique selling point: a round of golf with the owner. Given the seller just happens to be the current Masters champion, it’s not a bad marketing ploy. The villa next to Saadiyat golf course was bought by Adam Scott in 2008, and comes with all the luxury items you would expect plus two maid’s rooms and, naturally enough, ‘a room for the driver.’ That’s the human variety, presumably. Despite owning it for six years, Scott has never lived in it. Who has a house worth £4m and never uses it? Peter Alliss once said the top golfers are now so rich they live like movie stars and here’s another example. C'mon Aussie: Adam Scott is the reigning Masters champion following his unforgettable triumph last April . Room with a view: Scott's Saadiyat Beach villa is up for sale for a cool £4m... but includes a round of golf . It's a hard knock life: The Masters champion has never actually lived in his Abu Dhabi mansion . Casey's girl set to make a Splash . Paul Casey is giving the Qatar Masters a miss this week in order to attend the latest edition of the less than highbrow television show Splash on ITV on Saturday night. Casey’s glamorous fiancée, television presenter Pollyanna Woodward, is among the contestants. ‘I’m not allowed to talk about what dive she is going to do but I can promise it will be spectacular,’ says Casey, whose own career has come out of a rather spectacular nose dive since hooking up with fearless Polly. Driver and diver: Paul Casey (left) and his glamourous TV presenter girlfriend, Pollyanna Woodward (right) Sorry Henrik, but yours was NOT the shot of the yearYou hate to be so arrogant as to tell 63 per cent of voters they went for the wrong man, but let’s have a bash, shall we? In a recent poll on the European Tour’s website, that many people declared Henrik Stenson’s prodigious blow on the 18th hole in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November as their shot of the year for 2013 (CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHOT). True, it was a real crowd-pleaser, finishing inches from the hole for a tap-in eagle. But shot of the year? Stenson was so far ahead he had already won the tournament. He admitted afterwards he actually pulled the shot, which is why it flirted with danger before finishing so close. Poll-winner: Henrik Stenson was back in action at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship last week . A far better blow was surely Justin Rose’s on the 18th at the United States Open. Not only was the tournament on the line, his whole career had practically been preparation for the four iron he simply had to pull off. So much at stake then, but the ball never left the flag for a second. Ok, it finished 30ft away. But the only reason it didn’t finish as close as Stenson’s shot in Dubai is they don’t have soft greens at the US Open. The Swedish gent was a deserved winner of many awards last year. But he shouldn’t have won this one. Moment of a lifetime: Justin Rose hits his laser-guided four iron from the 18th fairway at Merion . Final series solution is no closer . No 1: Henrik Stenson claimed glory in the European Tour's Race to Dubai last year but not everybody was happy with the Final Series schedule . Members of the European Tour’s players committee were specifically told not to comment on matters that went on during their meeting in Abu Dhabi last week. But my sources tell me a good deal of the meeting was spent talking about what changes, if any, to make to the structure of the tour’s Final Series. This, you will recall, was the four event series that closed out the season, comprising two events in China, one in Turkey and the last one in Dubai. Many of the top players were unhappy at being made to play in two of the first three at the end of a long season in order to qualify for the grand finale. Rebels like Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel simply downed tools, and so didn’t make it to the grand climax in the Middle East which, in turn, left the sponsors of the DP World Tour Championship feeling slightly short-changed. So what’s the solution? Is it right the . top players should call all the shots and be free to play where they . choose? Or do you protect the interests of four big-money sponsors by . insisting the superstars show some commitment and responsibility? It’s easy to see the argument from both sides and so not surprisingly, after much debate, the matter went unresolved, with officials left to go away and try to come up with a halfway house that keeps everyone happy. Quote of the week . ‘It’s . still Team Reed, and he proved the perfect replacement. They’re brother . and sister and their demeanour is the same. They don’t get too high and . never get too low.’ As . far as American Patrick Reed is concerned, there’s nothing like keeping . it in the family. When his wife, who caddies for him, became pregnant, . Reed turned to his brother-in-law Kessler to carry the bag – and you . could say it worked, as he completed a comfortable victory in the Humana . Challenge on the PGA Tour on Sunday. Two years ago Reed was outside the . world’s top 1,200. Now the 23-year-old rising star is inside the . all-important top 50. Happy family: Patrick Reed and wife Justine celebrate his victory in the Humana Challenge . Climbed the mountain: Reed hits from the 13th tee on the Palmer Private course at PGA West . | Jamie Spence will talk to Rory McIlroy over his Olympic dilemma .
McIlroy faces choice between playing for Great Britain and Ireland .
Adam Scott's Abu Dhabi home is for sale... with a special prize attached .
Paul Casey will miss Qatar Masters over his girlfriend's TV appearance .
European Tour players hold further talks over Final Series scheduling . |
69,460 | c4ecdfdaa4ced20ac7193e1f4f5f55c9da142dce | South Koreans have more plastic surgery than any other nation, astonishing new figures reveal. Those in the Asian country have more treatments per members of the population, with . one in every 77 turning to the knife or needle. The figures, from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), show that in 2011, 15 million people across the globe turned to plastic surgery to enhance their looks. While the popularity of cosmetic surgery in South Korea may come as a surprise to many, the industry there is in fact booming. South Korea had the most cosmetic procedures when taking population into account in 2010, while the UK came 20th . Last year, 20 per cent of women aged 19 to 49 in the capital city of Seoul admitted to going under the knife. One of the most popular surgical procedures is double eyelid surgery - which reduces excess skin in the upper . eyelid to make the eyes appear bigger and make them look more 'Western'. It is believed that the rise of the country's music industry is behind the boom, and many patients visit clinics with photos of celebrities, asking surgeons to emulate American noses or eyes. Miss South Korea Yu-Mi Kim admitted having cosmetic surgery saying: 'I never said I was born beautiful' Singer PSY, whose song 'Gangnam Style' became a global hit, said his record label had urged him to get plastic surgery. Even Miss Korea 2012, Kim Yu-Mi, admitted . she went under the knife to achieve her pageant-winning good looks. The . student revealed the secret after photos emerged of her looking very . different at school, but she said she hadn't misled anyone. 'I never said I was born beautiful,' she told Korean media. While South Korea topped the table in relative terms, when it came to total numbers of tucks, peels, fillers, jabs and lifts in their quest for the perfect body, America cemented its place at the top of the table in the poll of 20,000 surgeons. There were also regional variations in the popularity of different procedures. Brazil, . known for its beach culture, performed the most male breast reductions, . bottom implants and 'vaginal rejuvenations' - where tissue in the area . is 'firmed up for a youthful appearance'. Meanwhile, nose jobs are popular in Asia, with China, Japan and South Korea among the top five nations for rhinoplasty. The country performing the highest number of breast implants is the U.S., followed by Brazil, Mexico, Italy and China. The U.S. and Brazil also come first and second for the highest number of eye lifts and tummy tucks. Meanwhile, as obesity rates rise a growing number of overweight adults are turning to surgery for a quick fix. Lipoplasty - a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to liquefy fat beneath the skin's surface before sucking it out - was the leading invasive procedure worldwide. There were 1,268,287 procedures, which was just a fifth of the total. It was followed by breast enlargement . surgery, with 1,295,251 boob jobs. Third was blepharoplasty, otherwise . known as eyelid surgery, with 703,610 cases and fourth was . abdomnioplasty, otherwise known as tummy tucks, with 553,399 cases. Finishing the top five list was rhinoplasty, with 478,023 people having . nose jobs.More unusual procedures that made the . top 20 were buttock implants at number 13, with 75,591 pursuing a more . prominent derriere. Meanwhile just over 60,000 opted for chin implants . and a further 47,000 or so went for a thigh lift. Plastic surgery procedures that took place in the UK in 2011 according to ISAPS . The UK came 16th in the table, the same . position it held in 2010. There were 95,063 surgical procedures in 2011 . including 19,031 breast enlargements and 16,034 lipoplasty procedures (where fat fat is liquefied and sucked out). Botox was by far the most popular non . invasive treatment with 45,464 treatments making up more than a fifth of . the 211,406 procedures. This was up 26 per cent compared to 2010. In the U.S, licensed plastic surgeons . performed more than one million surgical procedures such as breast . enlargements and more than two million nonsurgical procedures including . Botox to smooth out wrinkles. Figures released earlier this week by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) show our lust for cosmetic surgery finally seems to be cooling. Demand for procedures plateaued last year – the first time there hasn’t been a large increase in more than a decade. Experts say the PIP breast-implant scandal and Wild West approach of some High Street providers – the two-for-one offers, hard-selling and rock-bottom prices may be to blame. But the PIP scandal aside, the most popular cosmetic procedure was still traditional breast augmentation, with numbers dipping by just 1.6 per cent to 9,854. BAAPS president Rajiv Grover said: ‘The desire for larger breasts is centuries-old. Scandals come and go – in this case, the cause was an isolated case of criminal manufacturing practices. This has made women anxious but breast augmentation remains a very safe operation.' | Study polled 20,000 licensed plastic surgeons worldwide .
U.S had most procedures but South Korea had the highest proportion of its population having surgery, often in a bid to look more 'Western'
One in 77 people in South Korea had a cosmetic procedure in 2011 .
UK came 16th in the table, with breast enlargement most popular procedure . |
169,654 | 678c3e4e09cbaef1f05f072d0bd660279604c1c7 | Wanted by police: Mehmet Berker is said to have set fire to a cat and then posted a photo of its charred remains on social media . Police in Turkey are hunting a thug who set fire to a cat and then posted a photo of its charred remains on social media - offering a prize to anyone who could 'identify the animal'. Vile Mehmet Berker, 24, uploaded the sickening image of the scorched body onto his Facebook account encouraging his friends to take part in his sick game. Along with the picture, he wrote: 'If you can guess which animal this is, I will pay you 50 Turkish Liras [the equivalent of £12].' He then wrote: 'I don't know why I did this, but, hey, it's a bit of a challenge and no one will miss it coz it was a stray. Come on then, who's up for it.' The account was quickly disabled by Facebook management but not before the image had been shared and tweeted hundreds of times. Horrified viewer Murat Nas, 25, said: 'I was simply disgusted when I saw what he had posted. 'We aren't proper friends, only on Facebook. But how can anyone be so sick as to do this. 'I don't know if he actually set the poor cat on fire himself, but his comments certainly suggest he did. 'But either way it's still absolutely abhorrent. What sort of person would do this?' Police are now looking for Berker and say although his Facebook account did not say where in Turkey he lived, he should be easy to locate. A police spokesman said: 'Experts have analysed the photo and have concluded that it is a cat. 'When the offender is found and if he is guilty of killing the animal he will be fined as mistreating animals is merely a misdemeanor rather than a crime.' Vile post: Along with the picture, he wrote: 'If you can guess which animal this is I will pay you 50 Turkish Liras. I don't know why I did this, but, hey, it's a bit of a challenge and no one will miss it coz it was a stray' | Mehmet Berker, 24, uploaded the image of charred remains on social media .
Then offered to pay friends equivalent of £12 for guessing what animal was .
Added: 'I don't know why I did this but no one will miss it coz it was a stray'
Police can only issue a fine as cruelty to animals is not a crime in Turkey . |
61,008 | ad4e1496385bb1a52f82a59eeb77ea0c8b75c7c2 | Deeply affected by the massacre at Sandy Hook, gun owners in Camden, New Jersey, America's deadliest town, turned in a record number of weapons in a buy back scheme over the weekend. 1,137 firearms including an elephant-gun were handed in on Friday and Saturday at two churches in the crime-plagued town as the ramifications of the mass child killings in Connecticut seemed to inspire residents to give up their arms. 'We heard that there were a number of . gun owners on Saturday who had publicly said, in light of the situation . that had just occurred in Connecticut, they wanted to turn in their . weapons,' Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the Camden police, said in an interview with Philly.Com . Scroll Down for Video . Record gun collection: Impacted by the carnage in Sandy Hook, residents of Camden, New Jersey, turned in a huge amount of weapons in a gun buyback program over the weekend . Loaded: Among the weapons collected were scores of rifles, shotguns and pistols, sawed-off shotguns, a century-old antique weapon, a rifle used for hunting elephants and five fully automatic weapons . Among the weapons handed in were scores of rifles, shotguns and pistols, sawed-off shotguns, a century-old antique weapon, a rifle used for hunting elephants and five fully automatic weapons. Some 90 per cent were in working condition. Many were illegal weapons under state laws; some were so-called community guns stashed around the neighborhood. All those who turned in guns were promised anonymity and no questions asked. 'A lot of people said they don't want . the guns around the house now,' said state Attorney General Jeffrey . Chiesa as he announced the result of the program held Friday and . Saturday at two Camden churches. Gun and done: Guns cover tables in front of New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, center, in Camden . NJ.com reported that those who came to the event were paid up to $250 per weapon with 'no questions asked.' Gun owners received $25 for BB guns, $50 inoperable firearms, $150 for revolvers, semi automatics, shotguns and rifles and $250 for assault weapons. Nearly all of the weapons are to be destroyed. 'The more we unarm ourselves then maybe we can stop some of the violence . that's going on. If we don't have the firearm then we can't use the . firearm,' said James Green, who turned over his firearm. The shooting at a Newtown elementary school on Friday left 26 people dead, including 20 children, ages 6 and 7. The gunman, Adam Lanza, used a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle in the killings, and used a handgun to kill himself as police officers closed in. Twice as many firearms were turned in Saturday, the day after, than on Friday, Chiesa noted. 'These guns are coming from people's homes and many times end up as . items of burglary, end up on our streets and in the wrong hands. We . would much rather have custody of these guns now as opposed to at the . scene of a crime after a shooting,' said Chief Scott Thomas, Camden . Police. It wasn't just criminals who handed back their rifles and firearms to the police on Friday and Saturday - law abiding citizens did too . Handguns and rifles were handed back to authorities in Camden, New Jersey - but so were elephant guns and assault rifles . The authorities at the two churches in Camden, New Jersey who accepted the guns anonymously were impressed with their haul . It wasn't just the criminals handing in guns in Camden - law abiding members of the public were bringing in their guns to rid their homes of their firearms. 'I don't want them around the house anymore so I brought them here,' said Henry Budniak. Officials have said there are about 170 drug markets operating in Camden, a city of 77,000 near Philadelphia, more than 700 people on parole and 600 registered sex offenders. The city ranks first in violent crime, according to the FBI. It also leads the country in murders for cities of more than 50,000 people. The murder rate is unthinkably high. In 2007, Newark attracted national attention for a record number of homicides. Some residents, interviewed Friday, said they turned in guns simply because they no longer wanted them in their homes. One man said he would use the $400 he received to buy Christmas gifts. Taking a closer look: Camden police officers examine and take photos of guns displayed on tables at police headquarters . Cash for guns: Those who came to the event were paid up to $250 per weapon with 'no questions asked' Watch Video: Connecticut Shooting Raises Gun Control Issue . | Massive response attributed to Friday's killings in Newtown, Connecticut .
Those who showed up at Camden, New Jersey program were given up to $250 per weapon sold .
Camden is known as one of the most violent American city, with a staggering murder and violent crime rate . |
231,672 | b7f1cffb4b2aef32e293a40dc711b9d8e120ec61 | Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Anti-government rage erupted in central Beirut Sunday as protesters clashed with security forces after a funeral for the nation's intelligence chief. A mob pushed toward the prime minister's office, hurling sticks, stones and flags and calling for his dismissal. Gunfire could be heard as police used tear gas to turn away crowds. At least 15 members of the military were wounded, according to the office of Prime Minister Najib Mitaki. A smaller, peaceful demonstration continued later Sunday as government figures called for calm. But deep-rooted political and sectarian tensions still simmered. Protesters, many of them allied with Sunni coalitions that have long been sharply critical of the Lebanese government's perceived closeness with the Syrian regime, blamed Mitaki for not preventing Friday's deadly car bomb blast that killed Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan. Don't know who is who in Lebanon? A guide to key players . Many anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon blamed Syria for the assassination. "We don't want our prime minister to be our leader, hiding (Syrian President) Bashar (al-Assad's) crimes," one angry protester shouted as he rushed toward the government building. "They are responsible for Wissam al-Hassan's blood." Friday's attack -- in broad daylight, at one of the capital's busiest areas -- left a crater more than a meter (3 feet, 3 inches) deep and also killed al-Hassan's bodyguard and a bystander. The intelligence chief's death brought a sense of deja vu to Lebanese, recalling the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which triggered the end of Syria's occupation of Lebanon and the turmoil that followed. Mikati, a billionaire supported by Syrian ally Hezbollah, announced Saturday that he planned to stay in power, despite having offered his resignation to appease those who claimed Syria's al-Assad was behind Friday's car bombing that killed al-Hassan. "To hold me personally responsible for the assassination is unfair," he told reporters Saturday. "I have always respected and admired al-Hassan, who has done great things for Lebanon." Al-Hassan had spearheaded investigations of Hariri's death and a series of killings that targeted major anti-Syrian political figures. Sunday's violence broke out after a series of political speeches given to the crowd gathered in Beirut's central square for al-Hassan's funeral. "This government is responsible for the assassination of martyr (al-Hassan) and his companion martyrs, therefore, this government must leave," former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told the crowd. After his speech, "the participants immediately called on people to head to the prime minister's office. The call was mentioned repeatedly in provocative language," read a statement from Mitaki's office. "We put these facts forward to the public and we hold those people, who provoked with their slogans and actions, responsible for the attempt to storm the prime minister's office." A mob surged from the central square toward the minister's office, growing in number and in intensity. Dozens rushed toward police lines. Clashes also took place in Tripoli, Lebanon, between supporters and opponents of Syria's government, Lebanon's National News Agency said. Some politicians had called for a day of rage Sunday, as accusations over who's responsible for the most high-profile assassination in Lebanon in more than seven years homed in on al-Assad's government. Others, including speakers at the funeral, had urged crowds to remain peaceful. Syria and Hezbollah condemned the blast very quickly after it happened on Friday. But al-Hassan's work would have earned him a number of enemies, particularly among pro-Syrian elements in Lebanon and in Damascus. He was aligned with the March 14 movement, the anti-Syrian regime coalition that emerged after Hariri's assassination in 2005. That movement was key in forcing the withdrawal of Syrian troops, which had long occupied neighboring Lebanon and pulled out months after Hariri was killed. He had worked closely with the U.N. Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating the Hariri assassination. He had survived two assassination attempts, including one that killed an official getting evidence in Hariri's killing. While Lebanese authorities continued investigating Friday's attack, many among the crowd at Sunday's funeral said they were convinced Syria was responsible for al-Hassan's death. Some booed when Mitaki's face flashed across large screens showing the event. "If you're against the Syrian government, you'll be eliminated," one attendee named Ahmed said. "If you're not against it, then you're fine, you're safe." A woman named Nathalie said she came to the funeral to show the world that Lebanon would never surrender to terrorism. "We're all here today to show the whole world and even the Syrian regime that we'll never be afraid of them," she said, "and Lebanon will never be Syria." CNN's Tracy Doueiry contributed to this report. | NEW: Clashes erupt in Tripoli between supporters, opponents of Syria's government .
Protester: "We don't want our prime minister to be our leader"
The violence comes after a series of political speeches at Wissam al-Hassan's funeral .
Many anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon blamed Syria for the assassination . |
244,822 | c8dfcab0d6720ed33a1484f41a6433e715f92e6e | Despite looking like it could be from a far off galaxy in a Sci-Fi film, this landscape is a natural sulphur spring in Ethiopia. With its vibrant yellows and deep dark browns the ground appears as though it could be home to some sort extra-terrestrial life form but is just created by high levels of salt. Neat hills of solid salt rise nearly as tall as the mounds of dirt next to them. This otherworldly landscape is really a natural sulphur spring in Dallol, Ethopia . Created by high levels of salt, the ground appears as though it could be home to extraterrestrial life forms . New Zealand-based photographer, Bradley Ambrose, captured these impressive sights . Photographer Bradley Ambrose, from New Zealand, battled oppressive heats up to 53 degrees Celsius to capture these landscapes in the Afar region of Dallol, Ethiopia. Bradley said: 'Experiencing Dallol is like stepping onto another planet.' And like a trip to space, this otherworldly destination can also cause distress to its visitors. 'The heat, sulphur, acidic waters and some of the ground was quite thin to the point where I thought I would break through and boil myself to death,' he added. 'There was so much colour and beauty that I wasn't sure that I could do it justice photographically.' Battling intense heats of up to 53 degrees Celsius, Bradley ventured to the Afar region to shoot . 'It's like stepping onto another planet,' Bradley said of visiting the springs . Although it may look like a lake, the salt ground is actually several kilometres deep in places . Though Bradley is from Rotorua, where they have their own springs, he was struck by the beauty in Dallol . Bradley is from Rotorua in New Zealand where they have their own geothermal springs, but was still taken aback by the Ethiopian landscape. He said: 'Due to its high salt levels and other minerals, Dallol was an extremely concentrated area of micro activity and was definitely brighter and more varied than what I've seen before.' 'There is a high concentration of salt as the entire area is lower than sea level and was once upon a time underwater.' 'We were told that the 'lakes' we drove across to get there [were made of] salt that was kilometres deep in places.' 'Besides the searing heat, the first thing that I noticed was the smell - very similar to rotting eggs, which reminded me of my childhood playing in Rotorua.' 'I thought I would break through the ground and boil myself to death, he says of the treacherous conditions . The springs were once underwater, which helps to explain the low sea level and high salt concentrations . Pictured: a soldier admiring the hot springs from atop a mound of dirt and rock . | Sulphur springs in Dallol, Ethiopia look as if they could be from a Sci-Fi film .
The Afar region is known for its hills of solid salt and yellow and deep brown terrain .
New Zealand photographer took on oppressive heat of up to 53 degrees Celsius to capture landscapes .
Once underwater, the spring is below sea level and has a high salt concentration . |
5,201 | 0ec01eacb916f1713e5fe046830e84e0954d8f6b | By . Jennifer Newton . A 1920s Spanish castle that spends six months of the year surrounded by water and is only accessible by boat has gone on the market for £2.7million. For the same price as a four-bedroom townhouse at the redeveloped Battersea Power Station in central London, a new owner could snap up the picture postcard castle, which has a 150-seat banquet hall, located in the Valle Iruelas Nature Reserve in Burguillo, in the Spanish province of Avila. Included in the £2.7 million asking price is 10,000 square metres of land that forms the rest of the island, and a private jetty so that the new owner can come and go by boat. Located an hour from the Spanish capital Madrid, it has numerous terraces to ensure you can always find a place in the sun, the huge banqueting hall as well as a fully equipped gym. From the battlements it is possible to see the local wildlife such as the black vulture that makes its home in the surrounding forests. The castle has all the amenities of a modern house including solar power to provide electricity, full central heating, air conditioning and huge fireplaces. Until recently it was used as a hotel offering suites and double rooms for up to 34 people, with a golf course just nine miles away and many good local gourmet hot spots featuring local cuisine. The remote Spanish castle in the Valle Iruelas Nature Reserve in central-western Spain which is on the market for £2.7million . For six months of the year, the castle is surrounded by water and can only be accessed by boat, luckily there is a jetty for the owner so they can reach the property . The castle offers spectacular views across the surrounding forests, where the black vulture makes its home . Entertaining at the castle is easy as it comes with a 150-seat banqueting hall, with stunning views and rooms for up to 34 people . Until recently the castle, which is an hour away from the Spanish capital Madrid, was a hotel offering both suites and double rooms . The property was built in the 1920s in the middle of the Burguillo reservoir in the central western Spanish province of Avila . The castle has a number of terraces such as this meaning there is always somewhere you can go on a sunny day to catch a few rays . Despite being built in the 1920s, the interior of the castle has all he mod cons including solar power to supply the property with electricity . For cold wintry days, the castle has full central heating while in the summer the building has been rigged up with air conditioning . The unrivalled views surrounding the castle, which can only be accessed by car for six months of the year . For the same price as a four-bedroom townhouse at the redeveloped Battersea Power Station in central London, a new owner could snap up the picture postcard castle . Included in the £2.7 million asking price is 10,000 square metres of land that forms the rest of the island, and a private jetty so that the new owner can come and go by boat . | Castle in the Valle Iruelas Nature Reserve in Burguillo, central-western Spain is up for sale for £2.7million .
Water surrounds the property for six months of the year meaning it can only be accessed by boat .
Comes complete with numerous sun terraces, a fully equipped gym, a private jetty and a 150-seat banquet hall .
Also has solar power electricity, full central heating, air conditioning and huge fireplaces .
Asking price is the same as a four-bedroom townhouse in central London . |
211,960 | 9e7c76b3aa32d9921bc01f60e5126f6a6c6f0668 | When federal safety investigators meet on Tuesday to determine the cause of the Asiana Flight 214 crash, they will have studied not only last summer's deadly accident but also a little-known incident years earlier. In August of 2010, Eugene Francis Arnold, one of the Federal Aviation Administration's top test pilots, was descending into Seattle's Boeing Field when he leveled off to avoid another plane. To his surprise, his speed fell 10 or 15 knots below his target speed, even though he believed the jet's automated speed control, or auto-throttle, was engaged. Arnold pushed the throttle manually to increase the plane's speed and landed safely. Arnold, investigators believe, experienced the same type of "mode confusion" that caught Asiana's pilots off guard -- at a much lower altitude -- shortly before they plowed into the sea wall at San Francisco International Airport. In both cases, the pilots believed they had selected modes of autopilot and auto-throttle that would "wake up" the auto-throttle if necessary, much as a car's cruise control kicks in when the car heads uphill. But they hadn't. Complex system . There lies the big question before the National Transportation Safety Board when it meets Tuesday: Is Boeing to blame for creating a system so complicated that it befuddled even a top FAA test pilot? Are the pilots to blame for not understanding the intricacies of the system and for failing to monitor the plane's speed? Or is Korea-based Asiana Airlines to blame for not adequately training its pilots? At a December hearing on the crash, experts told the safety board that while automation has vastly improved aviation safety, it has a flip side. The same technology that makes it possible for pilots to fly coast to coast without touching a yoke are complicated and hard to master. Thus, flying is getting easier and harder at the same time. "Automation can be extremely supportive of human operators if it is designed properly," expert Nadine Sarter of the University of Michigan testified. "But we also have seen in a number of incidents (where) automation can actually get in the way." "We have heard things like 'clumsy' automation, where automation ... helps the most when the pilot actually might need the help the least. But when they need the help the most -- in very time-critical conditions -- it might be very difficult for them to actually operate the automation," she said. Different opinions . Not surprisingly, Asiana Airlines, the pilots union, and Boeing, which manufactured the 777 involved in the crash, have starkly different opinions of what role the pilots played in the crash, and the role of automation. "The airplane and all airplane systems were functioning as expected prior to impact and did not contribute to the accident," Boeing said in a March submission to the safety board. The accident was caused by the pilots' failure to monitor and control the plane's airspeed and direction, and could have been avoided if they had initiated a timely go-around. Asiana, meanwhile, blamed Boeing and the pilots. The pilots, just three months before the accident, had received "specific instruction" about the possibility the airspeed protection would be disabled in a certain mode, Asiana said. The airline assigned blame to the pilots for not ensuring "a minimum safe airspeed," and Boeing for creating an autopilot system that led to an "unexpected disabling" of speed protections. The warning system, the airline says, also did not give the pilots enough time to recover. The Asiana Pilots Union blamed crew training, saying pilots were not trained that a combination of autopilot and auto-throttle modes would not prevent the plane from going too slowly. "In this case, a key piece of information was not provided as part of the normal training program at Asiana," the union said. Boeing said it was without fault. "All airplane systems were functioning as expected prior to impact and did not contribute to the accident," it told the safety board. Asked why the "hold" mode did not protect against dangerous drop-offs in speed, Boeing told the board, "To do this would violate (Boeing's) design philosophy: the pilot is the final authority for the operation of the airplane." "If the auto-throttle automatically (switched mode to prevent an aerodynamic stall), it would be overriding the crew's selection," Boeing said. Fly the plane manually . If pilots are confused by the technology, there is a simple solution: Fly the plane manually, Boeing said. "This accident would have been avoided had the flight crew followed procedures and initiated a timely go-around," Boeing told the safety board. What no one contests is that by the time the plane's captain recognized the plane was traveling too slowly, it was too late. At 11 seconds before impact, the plane's low airspeed alert was triggered. Eight seconds before impact, one of the pilots pushed the throttles forward. But it takes engines seven to eight seconds to spool up from idle to full power. The plane slammed into the seawall, ripping off the landing gear, the tail and both engines. It spun 330 degrees in a shower of sparks and debris. Of the 307 people on board, three died. Almost 200 were injured. Asiana Airlines fined $500,000 for failing to help families . Asiana crash victims sue Boeing . | NTSB votes Tuesday on cause of 2013 Asiana crash in San Francisco .
Focus is on pilots' actions, automation .
Pilots confused by auto-throttle modes .
Will blame fall on pilots or designers? |
249,266 | ce8ec97e406fb77bdac12b1ab2f4678a86365cc2 | Footballer Phil Neville (pictured) has tweeted a picture of himself surrounded by cleaning supplies with the caption 'Time to get started' after his wife revealed he had never mopped or used a Hoover . He had never ironed a shirt, mopped a floor or picked up a vacuum. And until last month, ex footballer Phil Neville didn't even know how to make a cup of instant coffee. But after his wife Julie revealed the pundit had never tackled a piece of housework during their 15-year marriage, it looks like the man branded 'Britain's most hopeless husband' could be turning over a new leaf. The 37-year-old has tweeted a picture of himself surrounded by cleaning supplies, a vacuum, a mop bucket and a jar of instant coffee- with the caption 'Time to get started.' Mr Neville, who played 59 times for England and won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, seems to finally be ready to tackle some household chores. But with Julie revealing he has no idea where the ironing board is kept, can't turn on the oven and has never picked up a Hoover before, whether he will be able to do them is a different matter. Mr Neville first hinted at his lack of skill around the house on BBC Radio 5 at the weekend. In an insight into the cosseted life of top footballers, he said he ‘sprinted into the kitchen’ and phoned his wife to ask ‘how the hell do I make a cup of coffee’ after the Daily Mail’s chief sports reporter Matt Lawton asked for one during an interview at the couple’s £3.6million Cheshire home. The father of two later told how he made it with a ‘kettle… two little scoops of coffee’, and laughed: ‘I’ve lived in a bubble all my life.’ ‘All his talent is in his toes, that’s for certain,’ Julie Neville said. His wife then revealed in a separate radio interview that he had never used a vacuum cleaner, mop, dishwasher or washing machine. And yesterday, when asked if he had any redeeming talents around the house such as putting the rubbish out or mowing the lawn, she told the Mail he did neither. She added: ‘Ironing? Oh gosh no, he wouldn’t even know where we keep the ironing board… He wouldn’t know how to turn an oven on. ‘I’ve never known anything else and I’m super-domestic so I don’t really mind. Phil is an amazing father and husband – just not domesticated in any way.’ Speaking about her husband’s first attempt to make a cup of coffee, the 39-year-old said: ‘If you’d seen it you would not have thought it was classed as a coffee. I didn’t taste it, but it didn’t look good.’ But the Mail’s Matt Lawton was more generous, saying: ‘For a first go, it was very good.’ Scroll down for video . Embarrassing: Neville, who has won 59 caps for England, was forced to admit he did not know how to make instant coffee after he phoned his wife Julie Neville (right) for 'urgent' instructions for how to make the drink during an interview . Long relationship: The Neville couple, pictured left in 2000 and right in 2003, have been together for 18 years . As for Mr Neville, he has insisted he would ‘never drink the stuff’ anyway but confirmed that he has made tea. Mrs Neville, who owns online natural, sport performance and gluten-free products firm WinNaturally.com, is a former girlfriend of David Beckham. In June, more than 400 viewers complained about Mr Neville’s ‘robotic’ and ‘monotonous’ BBC commentary debut during England’s first World Cup game against Italy. Afterwards, he joked: ‘I helped everyone get to sleep.’ Manchester United players’ inability to cope with everyday tasks was revealed by ex-coach Brian McClair in 2004 when he said ‘none of the players can change a tyre on their cars’. FATHER . Neville Neville, 65, who was known for being the agent for his sons, is a former league cricketer and commercial director of Bury FC. His unusual name is featured in the classic terrace chant 'Neville Neville is the name of your dad', set to the tune of David Bowie's song Rebel Rebel. MOTHER . Jill Neville, 63, has been company secretary of Bury FC for more than 20 years and also general manager for the last five years. She was awarded for the freedom of the borough of Bury in 2012. At the time she was said to still be playing rounders and netball, and promoting sport in the area. THREE SIBLINGS . Gary Neville - England’s most-capped right-back in history - spent his whole career at Manchester United. He won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and two Champions Leagues. The 39-year-old is now a coach for England as well as a pundit for Sky Sports. Phil Neville hung up his boots at the end of the 2012/13 season after racking up 505 Premier League appearances for Manchester United and Everton. He won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one Champions League. The 37-year-old father-of-two is now a pundit for the BBC. Tracey Neville, 37, who went to school in Bury with her two brothers, is a twin of Phil - and a retired England netball player. She won a bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, before retiring due to injury in 2004. She is now director of netball for the Manchester Thunder team. Father and son: Neville Neville (left) and Gary Neville (right) observe a football match at Everton in 2011 . Sportswoman: England netball player Tracey Neville (centre) watches on at the 2002 Commonwealth Games . | Phil Neville admitted he had only made his first cup of coffee last month .
The footballing star confessed he had to ring his wife Julie for instructions .
Mrs Neville revealed he has also never used a mop, vacuum or dishwasher .
Now it looks like the football pundit has decided to change his ways .
After being branded 'Britain's most hopeless husband' he tweeted a picture .
Captioned 'Time to get started' it shows him ready to tackle some cleaning . |
511 | 0182d7d55cf31fcd4e358f6466036779baff0108 | By . Ap . and Joshua Gardner . A tornado hit a small town in central South Dakota Wednesday night, damaging homes and businesses and injuring at least one person, according to the National Weather Service and a hospital spokeswoman. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Heitkamp said law enforcement in Wessington Springs reported the tornado went right ‘through the heart of town.’ It hit just before 8 p.m. Lindsey Meyers, spokeswoman for Avera Health, which operates the hospital in the town of around 1,000 people, said one patient in good condition is being treated as a result of the tornado. Scroll down for video... Hell from above: A twister and what looks like . the beginnings of another appear over Alpena, South Dakota on Wednesday . before dusk. At least one person was injured when the storm blew through Wessington Springs . Terrifying: The Wessington storm was yet another nasty cyclonic occurrence this week as summer storm systems blew through the central states with a vengeance . Funnel: The terrifying funnel formation occurs over South Dakota where this storm would blow straight through a quiet town of 1,000 . 'We've heard people are trapped in their homes here in town. Search and rescue are out trying to help law enforcement,' JoAnn Hettinger with Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital, told CNN. According to Hettinger, the tornado struck right across the streat from the hospital. 'There is stuff and debris everywhere,' she said. Meyers said the hospital only has some broken windows and is operating on backup power. She said the hospital is fully staffed with EMTs, physicians and some advanced practitioners. Governor . Dennis Daugaard tweeted that he has deployed 100 South Dakota National . Guard soldiers and equipment to Wessington Springs and the Red Cross was . also on the way. Destroyed: A home stands amid the destruction wrought by the Wessington Springs twister around 8pm Wednesday . Despair: Kim Jorgenson pauses while salvaging belongings in her family's home near Humboldt, South Dakota . Starting over: Kelsey Jorgenson and her brother, Isaiah, try to salvage belongings in their family home near Humboldt, South Dakota following Wednesday's massive storm . Ripped down: A destroyed farm can be seen in Humboldt, where two residences were damaged . Heartbroken: Steve Bossman talks about damage at Turner County Dairy North near Humboldt . Daugaard told KELO-TV he was also headed to Wessington Springs. He said the tornado went through town from southwest to northeast and homes and businesses were destroyed. KELO-TV reported a car dealership was among the businesses destroyed. Jaime Hoefert, of Wessington Springs, told KELO-TV she saw the tornado move over hills and through the town. ‘We did see at least three homes destroyed with lots of structural damage around that area on the south side of town,’ Hoefert said. Multiple calls to the Jerauld County Sheriff's Office rang busy, and calls to the county emergency management office went unanswered. There to help: South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard speaks to emergency personnel just before midnight after a tornado tore through the area in Wessington Springs . Wreckage: Damaged vehicles can be seen at Springs Auto after a tornado tore through the area . Salvage: Emergency personnel check for damage and any victims of the tornado in Wessington Springs . Damaged buildings and debris are scattered across the prairie in Wessington Springs, which was hit by another serious twister in 2003 . Confirmed tornadoes also touched down nearby, outside the towns of Woonsocket and Alpena, Heitkamp said. Wessington Springs is about 125 miles northwest of Sioux Falls and has a population of about 1,000. The town was hit by another serious tornado in June 2003. The terrifying Dakota twister came just days after a twin tornadoes devasted a Nebraska town on Monday. Around three-fourths of Pilger, Nebraska was wiped from the face of the earth when the two tornadoes blew through the town of 350. Two people perished in that storm, including a 5-year-old child. | Wessington Springs saw homes and businesses blown away by an F-2 twister just before 8pm Wednesday as at least one person was injured .
The town of around 1,000 people was hit by another serious tornado almost 11 years ago to the day in June 2013 .
It was the second bout of serious twister damage in a week. On Monday, the tiny town of Pilger, Nebraska was all but destroyed by two F4 storms . |
160,818 | 5be54142ff59057f3f063d16d2e507d8f59a4586 | For a player West Bromwich Albion desperately tried to offload into the dying hours of transfer deadline day, Brown Ideye is proving himself rather useful. The Nigeria striker, derided for much of this campaign following a £10million club record move, struck his second goal in as many games to shift Tony Pulis’s team away from the relegation places. Had Carlton Cole arrived from West Ham United as planned, chances are Ideye would be in Qatar, a deal worth £3.8m having been agreed with El-Gharafa. West Brom striker Brown Ideye celebrates with team-mate James Morrison (right) after scoring the opener on the hour mark . The 26-year-old gets ready to pull the trigger and shoot West Brom into the lead at the Hawthorns on Wednesday . West Brom's club record signing Ideye scores the opener within the Swansea penalty area as Tony Pulis' side took the lead . Saido Berahino of West Brom shoots under pressure from the Swansea defence to score and secure the vital three points for the Baggies . Saido Berahino (centre) celebrates with his West Brom team-mates having scored the second for the Baggies on Wednesday . WEST BROM (4-4-2): Foster 6; Dawson 6.5, McAuley 7, Lescott 7, Brunt 6.5; Morrison 7 (Gardner 85’), Yacob 6.5, Fletcher 7, McManaman 6 (Sessegnon 57, 6); Berahino 7, Ideye 7.5 . Subs not used: Wisdom, Olsson, Baird, Myhill, Pocognoli . Scorer: Ideye 60, Berahino 74 . Booked: McManaman, Ideye . Manager: Tony Pulis 7 . SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Naughton 6, Fernandez 6, Williams 6, Taylor 6; Cork 6, Ki 6; Dyer 5 (Routledge 63, 5), Shelvey 5 (Oliveira 63, 5), Montero 5; Gomis 6 . Subs not used: Amat, Carroll, Rangel, Tremmel, Fulton . Booked: Taylor . Manager: Garry Monk 6 . MOTM: Ideye . Referee: Robert Madley . Att: 23,516 . CLICK HERE to view Sportsmail's Match Zone feature from the Hawthorns where you can see all the graphics and heat maps from the match, including Saido Berahino’s goal. Instead he stayed and looks a man reborn. His goal here came on the hour mark and gave the first real glimpse as to why West Brom paid all that money for him last summer. Stephane Sessegnon slipped a pass down the line to Saido Berahino, who squared into the path of Ideye at the edge of the area. Ashley Williams flung his body to halt Ideye momentarily, but he managed to adjust his body and steer a finish into the far corner. It was his third Premier League goal of the season. Carry on like this and he threatens to be a success. With just one point separating West Brom from the relegation zone at kick-off, Tony Pulis’s claim on arrival at the Hawthorns that this would be his toughest management job has begun to ring true. England Under 21 striker Saido Berahino is challenged by Swansea City's Federico Fernandez at the Hawthorns on Wednesday . Swansea City goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski blocks the shot of West Brom striker Brown Ideye from close range at the Hawthorns . West Brom are close to taking the lead from close range but Fabianski makes a superb reaction save to deny Brown Ideye . Darren Fletcher instructs his team-mates as the West Brom captain lines up against Swansea in the Premier League on Wednesday . Three Premier League matches without victory made this an important fixture as Pulis attempts to revive the escape act he performed at Crystal Palace last season. Saido Berahino emerged from the naughty chair to start up front alongside Brown Ideye, whose goal as a substitute at Turf Moor on Sunday salvaged a point for West Brom. The Nigeria striker, close to leaving West Brom in a cut price deal on deadline day, nearly scored again in the 12th minute. James Morrison’s corner was glanced on by Craig Dawson, forcing Lukasz Fabianski into a fine save. Ideye’s follow-up was blocked on the line. Soon after, Callum McManaman tried from a tight angle but slashed wide. Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis and West Brom's Craig Dawson collide when vying for the ball in Wednesday's Premier League match . Kyle Naughton of Swansea is closed down by James Morrison of West Brom at the Hawthorns on Wednesday evening . Callum McManaman of West Brom takes a tumble trying to dispossess Swansea midfielder Jack Cork during their Premier League contest . Swansea were compact and carried a their greatest threat through Bafetimbi Gomis, who volleyed over at the near post and produced a powerful shot that Ben Foster gathered gratefully. Jonjo Shelvey, whose winner at Southampton in Swansea’s last away match came from range, tried his luck again. This time the ball flew just past the post. News of Paul Lambert’s sacking filtered through during a first half where supporters were starved of much to cheer, and West Brom’s followers took pleasure in celebrating the demise of their local rivals. Swansea manager Garry Monk cuts a frustrated figure at the Hawthorns as his side struggled during a goalless first-half . Bafetimbi Gomis of Swansea City keeps an eye on West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster with Garry Monk's side after three useful away points . Swansea midfielder Jack Cork tries to hold off West Brom captain Darren Fletcher as the former Manchester United midfielder attacks . ‘Justice for Lambert,’ they chanted with no small degree of irony. ‘Irvine for Villa,’ they added soon after, in reference to their former head coach fired earlier this season . Neil Taylor was a transfer target for Pulis in January, and in the 33rd minute he was a target of abuse from the Smethwick End. The left-back slid into a bad foul on McManaman, earning a yellow card from referee Robert Madley. Garry Monk made alterations after Ideye struck, sending on Wayne Routledge and Nelson Oliveira. But, with 17 minutes to go Berahino made victory safe. A mighty roar greeted the final whistle, as home supporters sang ‘Bobby Brown’ in tribute to their new, unlikley hero. West Brom manager Tony Pulis is left furious after the officials award Swansea a throw in during the Premier League clash on Wednesday . West Brom's James Morrison is tackled by Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey as they compete for possession in the midfield at the Hawthorns . Darren Fletcher of West Brom guards Swansea defender Kyle Naughton at a set-piece as the Baggies took on Garry Monk's side . Swansea winger Nathan Dyer prepares to use his pace to get past West Brom's Chris Brunt during an attack for the away side . Nigerian striker Brown Ideye celebrates the opener at the Hawthorns, his second strike in as many games for Tony Pulis' side . West Brom captain Darren Fletcher leads his players in applauding the home fans after a 2-0 win over Swansea at the Hawthorns . | Club record £10million signing Brown Ideye fired West Brom in front on the hour mark at the Hawthorns .
The Nigerian striker scores in consecutive matches for West Brom for the first time since his summer move .
England Under 21 striker Saido Berahino added a second on 74 minutes, after an assist from Ideye .
Victory moves Tony Pulis' West Brom up to 14th in the Premier League as Swansea remain in 9th . |
104,193 | 126ec8ba7e5bdc4dd8933bd7c6b65bc92f96ae36 | James Franco won't be following Dennis Rodman into North Korea anytime soon. Franco's latest movie -- a comedy about two talk show hosts who are asked to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- has earned the distinction of a frothing rant from the regime in Pyongyang. "The enemies have gone beyond the tolerance limit in their despicable moves to dare hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman told the country's state-run news agency Wednesday. The film, titled "The Interview," stars Franco and Seth Rogen as two lightweight talk show hosts recruited by the CIA to take out Kim. It's not due in theaters until October, but the trailer is already drawing worldwide attention, including in the corridors of power in Pyongyang. 'Team America' The distribution of the movie is "the most undisguised terrorism and a war action to deprive the service personnel and people of the DPRK of their mental mainstay and bring down its social system," the North Korean spokesman raged, using an abbreviation of the authoritarian country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Comedians taking shots at North Korea's dictatorial leadership is hardly new -- it goes back at least a generation. A decade ago, "Team America: World Police" used puppets to lampoon Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, memorably featuring him singing about his loneliness at the top of the despotic state. Kim Jong Il also popped up as a waiter in NBC's "Thirty Rock" -- albeit one who claimed to be "the greatest waiter of all time." Brutal regime . The situation in North Korea is no joke. A recent United Nations commission detailed a horrifying list of crimes it says the regime has committed against its own people, including the large-scale use of prison camps and torture. The cold-blooded brutality of the system was displayed late last year when Kim Jong Un's uncle was purged and executed. Meanwhile, the isolated state continues to develop its nuclear weapons program, which it has used to threaten neighboring countries and the United States. Will Kim watch? But like his father, Kim Jong Un has also brought about bizarre moments in his two and a half years in power, such as his basketball-based friendship with Rodman. Such peculiar behavior, along with the secrecy in which the regime cloaks itself, is hard for comedians to resist. The Telegraph last week cited Kim Myong-chol, the executive director of the Centre for North Korea-U.S. Peace and a frequent visitor to Pyongyang, as suggesting that Kim would probably watch the new movie. That prompted glee from Rogen, who also co-directed and wrote the film. "Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!!" he tweeted. 'Towering hatred' But the North Korean government showed little sign of favor toward the film on Wednesday, accusing the United States of "bribing a rogue movie maker" to produce it. And it warned that Franco and Rogen's comedy, which it said had touched off "the towering hatred and wrath of the service personnel and people of the DPRK," would have consequences. "Those who defamed our supreme leadership and committed the hostile acts against the DPRK can never escape the stern punishment to be meted out according to a law wherever they might be in the world," the foreign ministry spokesman said. "If the U.S. administration connives at and patronizes the screening of the film, it will invite a strong and merciless countermeasure." | A new comedy starring James Franco is about a plot to assassinate Kim Jong Un .
North Korea says the movie hurts "the dignity of the supreme leadership"
Distributing the film is "the most undisguised terrorism and a war action," an official says .
Comedians have taken shots at the regime in the past, notably in "Team America" |
39,878 | 70908608fd62696f99cb3f7a185b226fe32e475d | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:37 EST, 19 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:21 EST, 19 March 2012 . A drug-crazed thug who battered a nursery nurse so badly her own mother failed to recognise her because of her blood-soaked hair has been jailed for 12 years. Katey Wall was forced to play dead after Matthew Atkins punched the back of her head repeatedly after he pounced as she walked home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Her injuries were so bad her mother did not recognise her when she met her daughter's ambulance as it reached hospital, especially because the blood had stained her blonde locks a shocking red. The 25-year-old punched her repeatedly for 10 minutes and only stopped beating Miss Wall, 24, after a member of the public walked past in the early hours of July 30 last year. Now and then: Katey Wall, left, was so badly beaten that her usual blonde hair was left bright red because she lost so much blood from her head in the attack, right . There was so much blood at the scene that when paramedics arrived they initially believed she had been stabbed. The judge said in court that if it had not been Miss Wall who was attacked he would have assaulted another woman that night. 'I wasn’t aware anyone was following me,' she said. 'I heard a couple of footsteps and someone put their hand over my mouth from behind. When I turned around I realised I didn’t know him and he kept his hand over my mouth and was pinching my nose. 'It was a struggle at first, I was throwing my arms everywhere and screaming but he had his hand over my mouth. 'I was face down and he was using my hair to bash my head on the floor really hard. I thought that was it, I thought I was going to die. Thug: Matthew Atkins has been jailed for 12 years after ferociously attacking Katey Wall in July last year . 'So I thought maybe if I do play dead and stop breathing, he might go away. He was listening for my breathing and eventually I let out a gasp, then he kept on banging my head off the floor. 'I’m just relieved it’s over. It was never going to be enough no matter what he got. 'I’ll just go home and try to get back to normal now.' She was rushed to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, where she had nine stitches to wounds in the back of her head. 'My hair was exactly the same colour as it is now (blonde). There was a lot of blood,' she said. 'When they opened the ambulance doors my own mum didn’t even recognise me. My hair was completely red. 'I’ve had really bad nightmares and I won’t go out in the dark on my own anymore. It’s changed my life in that way.' Atkins was jailed for 12 years at Shrewsbury Crown Court after he admitted unlawfully and maliciously wounding with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm. The court heard he had snorted at least three grams of cocaine and downed booze before launching the unprovoked attack. Atkins was told he would serve at least nine years before being released. Jailing him Judge Robin Onions said: 'She was a lady and she was a vulnerable victim. It must have been a terrifying incident. 'This was a horrific offence. You went out on the night in question and chose to take with you two grams of cocaine. 'During the course of that evening you had taken probably over three grams of cocaine. You were effectively out of control such that you had no control over your behaviour. 'She was a lady and she was a vulnerable victim. It must have been a terrifying incident,' Judge Robin Onions, pictured, said in court . 'I can only presume this was a targeted attack. Not that you targeted Miss Wall, but that you targeted a girl.' The court heard Atkins targeted her as she walked home in the early hours after a night out with friends in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, told the court Atkins left Katey in a pool of blood before ditching his blood-stained pink jumper and trainers in a car park. He then made his way across Bridgnorth and broke into a detached garage at someone’s home where he stole a pair of golf shoes and a high visibility jacket. He was arrested by police at his home the next day after fingerprints found at the garage matched his own. Mr Beardwell said: 'Mr Atkins had by all accounts consumed a large amount of drugs and alcohol that evening. 'It was a random, isolated attack. She (Miss Wall) thought she was going to die. 'The bleeding caused her hair to effectively change colour to an almost red because of the amount of blood that had seeped through.' The court heard Atkins claimed he launched a frenzied attack on Katey Wall after snorting a bad batch of cocaine. Jonathan Challinor, defending, said: ‘Matthew Atkins took with him to the social club two grams of cocaine and he consumed it. ‘Coupled with the consumption of cocaine was the consumption of a very large amount of alcohol. ‘One of the theories for his conduct and behaviour is the cocaine, which he got from a stranger. ‘One can hazard a guess that it caused this defendant to behave in a way that he had never behaved when taking cocaine previously. ‘What he did has no obvious explanation whatsoever. The bizarre behaviour occurred afterwards as well. The next recollection of Matthew Atkins is waking up in a farmers field some way away.’ Mr Challinor went on to describe Atkins behaviour as ‘utterly out of character and totally inexplicable’ - saying he had a strong network of family and friends who trusted him with their children. He added: ‘He’s a young man who is prepared to change and change for the better. 'He has made it plain his absolute disgust at his own conduct that evening. 'Everyone who knows this defendant simply can’t believe he as committed an offence of this nature.' | Katey Wall was beaten for ten minutes by thug Matthew Atkins who randomly attacked her as she walked home .
'I thought that was it, I thought I was going to die,' she said .
Miss Wall, 24, decided to play dead but Atkins checked her breathing and started hitting her again .
There was so much blood at the scene her blonde hair was stained red and paramedics believed she had been stabbed .
The attacker claimed he took a bad batch of cocaine and could not remember anything until he woke up in a farmer's field . |
271,141 | eb3750482a5bbedb8be3eb8563f2f0e12efd6619 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:49 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:06 EST, 3 December 2013 . We may be more accustomed to seeing her posing in figure-hugging dresses, but even Kim Kardashian isn't immune to the colder weather. The new mother has been spotted donning an eye-catching bulky furry brown . ankle-length coat that resembles a giant teddy bear, on not one but two occasions recently. This modern, oversized Maxmara Carrara coat is made from a blend of alpaca and mohair - and comes with a hefty price tag of £1,560. But, as ever, Kim is bang on trend with her choice of seasonal outerwear. Ladies, it's time to embrace the teddy bear coat. Staple outerwear: Kim Kardashian loves her teddy bear coat so much she wore it twice and is leading a new winter trend . Other fashionistas to be joining the trend are former French . Vogue Editor, Carine Roitfeld, who worked a huge, caramel coloured . oversized coat by Maxmara over Paris Fashion Week, as well as IT girl Alexa Chung, who received a baby blue Steiff teddy bear coat by emerging designer Isa Arfen as a gift. With many designers this season heading back towards the fashion . industry's ever controversial penchant for fur, an equal number headed . in a new and interesting direction with this offering. Trendsetter: Alexa Chung received a baby blue Steiff teddy bear coat by emerging designer Isa Arfen as a gift . Teddy fur popped up all over the . AW13 Fashion Weeks, from Nina Ricci and Carven to the super covetable . (or should we say cuddle-able) collection of furs by MaxMara. Speaking about the new trend, Toni . Jones of 30ish Stylist said: 'Teddy bear coats are the ultimate in cosy, . but huge coats have a habit of making the people who wear them look . huge too. 'The wearer . needs to remember that this is most definitely a statement coat and the . rest of the outfit needs to be pared down and as minimal as possible. 'Kim Kardashian got it spot on by teaming hers with black clothes, tights and shoes and slicked back hair. 'Navy, . nude, camel, grey and deep red work too. And don’t forget to . smile…taking yourself too seriously while dressed as a stuffed toy is a . very bad look indeed.' Celebrity . stylist, Jade Elliott, added: 'If you want to rock a hot new trend now . the weather is turning cold, try a teddy bear coat. 'As . this look is all about the cosy fabric, pick a style that suits you - . belted or tailored coats will work well if your curvy or pear shape . while straighter styles suit apples and athletic frames.' Lipsy Belted Faux Fur Coat, £71 . ASOS Longline Teddy Faux Fur Gilet, £45 . Warehouse faux fur coat, £95 . Premium Cocoon Fur Coat, £125, Topshop . | Oversized Maxmara Carrara coat costs £1,560 .
Carine Roitfeld and Alexa Chung both have one .
Spotted on Nina Ricci and Carven catwalks . |
17,476 | 31787af8b290b95408131ee6e4fcbea0b60597b2 | New York (CNN) -- The world's largest computer chip maker Intel faces an uncertain future. In a post-PC world where mobile is king, the Silicon Valley stalwart is aware it's fallen behind on innovation. But in an effort to turn the tide, Intel unveiled a bevy of concept products reflecting the latest industry trend -- the Internet of Things (IoT) at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. There were gesture tracking 3D cameras, smart earbuds that can track fitness activities, a bluetooth personal assistant headset nicknamed "Jarvis" after Iron Man's own virtual aide, a baby monitor of the future in the form of a onesie that observes the child and relays information back to the parent and smart watches galore. Behind the bold strategic expansion is Renee James, the highest-ranked female at the company and president of Intel. A veteran of the tech giant with over 25 years experience, James makes up one half of Intel's new two-person executive duo along with CEO Brian Krzanich. Together they manage over 100,000 employees worldwide. "We're very excited about the strategy and what we're going to do with the company," James tells CNN. "When I started in this industry, we were all about building PCs, in the early-mid 90s. And PCs at the time changed the way people lived. "We invented mobile laptops, so we were very good at a certain kind of mobile. What we didn't do, and I think that we got behind on, was going even lower -- phones." With an established smartphone market already in place, James is pushing the chip maker to focus on the recently announced "Edison" product which they tout as a computer the size of an SD card and other highly-integrated smaller processors like their new "Quark" chips, tailor-made for wearable tech applications. The software side of the business is an arena she knows well. Over the years James -- who was recently named one of Fortune's most powerful women in business -- has spearheaded company strategy through various R&D leadership positions at Intel. "I do a lot more of what you would consider operational, the manufacturing, human resources. But I did keep the business units that I had before -- software services, security." During her ascent to the top of the corporate ladder, James got to work under Andrew Grove -- a pioneer in the semiconductor industry. A legend in his own right, James says meeting Grove was one of the most important moments in her career. Not that the initial introduction during a presentation went all that smoothly. "We got into a little bit of an argument because he started to tell me how [the technology] worked and I said, 'No, no, no.' And apparently you don't argue with Andy Grove. "I was too young, too stupid to know better ... So I thought I'm going to get fired." But for Grove, it was quite the opposite. He liked her gumption and years later made James his technical assistant and then chief of staff. "He's a fabulous mentor. I learned more about thinking, about industry structures and strategy and [about] 'what's the real issue?' from him than I'll learn from anybody." Despite this wealth of knowledge and experience, many questioned her appointment as the company's number two in early 2013. "I expected it. There haven't been a lot of women at the top of semiconductor companies," she says. "Mostly [the criticism] makes me want to be more successful ... I try to focus on what [Intel] needs to do to be successful. What's the next big thing?' Additionally she refuses to let gender be seen as a handicap and instead embraces how being a women brings something different to the role. "I realize that I'm a role model, and so I feel more of a responsibility to give back to other women who are facing similar challenges." Her advice? "Follow your gut. A lot of women have very good intuition but they second guess themselves. Don't. The first answer is not always the right answer but it's usually a very good directional, correct answer. "You have to imagine success and work backwards. What are you going to do to make that be the outcome? Anything is possible, until it's not." | Intel moving away from PCs and into small processors designed for mobile, wearable tech .
Expansion masterminded by new president Renee James, CEO Brian Krzanich .
James is 25-year Intel veteran behind some of the company's biggest successes . |
231,799 | b81f6db6f87ed40aea3059fb3d511c42456786f2 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:54 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:52 EST, 4 October 2013 . Ron Jones from South Wales who played in goal in football matches at Auschwitz has returned to the Nazi death camp to bury the ghosts of his past. A prisoner of war who played in goal for the Welsh team in a concentration camp football league has returned to its site to bury the ghosts of his past. Ron Jones, 96, was held in E715 - a prisoner of war camp alongside the main Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland - after being captured by German troops during World War II. He said the soldiers were terrified. 'We did not know what would happen to us. We thought at one time they would stick us in the gas chamber,' said Ron. 'It was not just Jews going in, it was Polish, political prisoners, gypsies, homosexuals.' During the week prisoners were employed at forced labour camps, but on their rest day they were allowed to play football on a field just outside the camp - with armed German guards watching from the sidelines. Father-of-one Ron said: 'We didn’t work on a Sunday so we used to play football.' The Red Cross heard about it and brought the teams four sets of shirts - English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh. Ron, a widower, of Newport, South Wales, played in goal for the Welsh team at the camp, which is situated near the Polish town of Oswiecim. 'When you’re under those conditions it was a real pleasure to play football on a Sunday,' he said. 'But we could only play in the summer, of course, because in the winter it was deep with snow.' Prisoner of war Ron Jones (centre, back row) - the goalkeeper for the Welsh team in the Auschwitz football league. Football was a brief respite from the prisoners' suffering as throughout the games smoke would rise ominously from the chimneys of Auschwitz. 'The first thing you’d notice was the smell,' said Ron. 'If the wind was in your direction the smell was terrible.' 'We were always frightened we would be next.' Former Nazi death camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, where Ron played in goal for the Welsh team during World War II. For more than four months he was marched 900 miles across Europe before eventually being freed by American troops. He lost half his body weight and had to watch more than a hundred of his allied comrades die in the freezing conditions. But he survived the ordeal and eventually returned to his home to be reunited with his wife Gwladys. Ron is now only one of three men still alive who survived the death march. He has returned to the camp as a book about his survival called The Auschwitz Goalkeeper is published later this month. Auschwitz in 2005, and in 1945, where Ron was held after being captured by . German troops. Ron said returning to the death camp stirred up strong memories. 'There was the humiliation and the lack of food but on the whole life wasn’t too bad.' 'The Germans, contrary to what a lot of people think, were pretty good to us on the whole.' But it was the march that was terrible. 'I could still see it when I first went back to Auschwitz, I couldn’t sleep with the memories.' About 1.5 million people, primarily Jews, were killed at the Auschwitz complex between 1940 and 1945. Two years after the end of World War II, it became a museum. | Ron Jones, 96, held in E715 - a prisoner of war camp alongside the main Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland .
During the week prisoners of war were employed at forced labour camps but on .
Sunday allowed to play football .
Games would take place on a field outside the camp with armed German guards watching .
The Red Cross provided the teams with four sets of shirts - English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh . |
15,750 | 2cb365e7b76af2184a0886492dc7e6a6f0ec48ba | A plastic surgeon has used his body sculpting skills to create his dream woman before proposing to her on their first date. Dr David Matlock met his bride Veronica, 38, in 2007 when she was 40lbs heavier and visited him seeking what is commonly known as 'designer vagina' surgery after giving birth to her daughter Isabella, now aged nine. As well as the vaginoplasty, Dr Matlock suggested that the beautiful brunette also undergo a 'Wonder Woman Makeover', involving liposuction of the chin, arms, and legs, and a Brazilian butt lift. Love at first knife: Plastic surgeon Dr David Matlock asked his wife Veronica to marry him during their first date after they met when she visited him for vaginoplasty surgery . Before: Veronica before any of her surgeries with husband David Matlock, although she had already had breast implants with another surgeon . 'I couldn't even look into his eyes . because of the reason I was there,' she said. 'I was so shy and bashful, but he says . it was love at first sight.' Dr Matlock then took the now Mrs Matlock out for a date, immediately proposed to her, and has been helping her to enhance her figure ever since. 'I didn't see her weight then, I just knew what I wanted to do,' he said of their first meeting. 'She opted for everything I suggested. Even marriage.' Happy families: Veronica Matlock met her husband David when she went for vaginoplasty surgery after the birth of her daughter Isabella, now aged nine . Prior to meeting her 49-year-old husband, full-time nurse Mrs Matlock had undergone three breast augmentations. She has since had a Brazilian butt lift, vaginal . rejuvenation, labiaplasty and G-spot shot, liposuction to her chin, arms . and legs and, most recently, botox injections. 'I feel like I'm a walking advertisement for him,' she said. And it is not just his wife who has gone under the knife in her own quest for physical perfection - Dr Matlock has himself undergone several procedures that utilise a fat-implant technique called Vaser High Def Liposculpting, which he pioneered. Trimming the fat: Dr Matlock shows off his liposuction instruments at his clinic in Los Angeles, California . Practice what you preach: Dr Matlock has himself undergone several procedures that utilise a fat-implant technique called Vaser High Def Liposculpting, which he pioneered . Man at work: David Matlock was immediately smitten with Veronica, and suggested she also have a 'Wonder Woman Makeover', involving liposuction of the chin, arms, and legs, and a Brazilian butt lift . Healthy living: The couple maintain their perfect physiques with a gruelling diet, fitness regime, and specialist body-sculpting procedures . Six pack: As well as taking an array of food supplements and vitamins to stay in shape, Dr Matlock has had liposculpting done on on his pecs, biceps, and triceps . Made up of live fat from the patient's body, the implants can be injected into the biceps, triceps, calves, or pecs to create a perfectly sculpted, muscular figure. He is also trialling a procedure that involves injecting blood plasma rather than fat for patients like Dr Matlock who have very little fat. Dr Matlock, who appeared on the E! reality show Dr 90210, has also had liposculpting done on on his pecs, biceps, and triceps, and Botox injections to enhance his look. He said: 'I just wanted to take my body to a point where, with exercise and diet, you couldn't get it there.' Under pressure: Mrs Matlock says that as her husband keeps himself looking good it gives her extra pressure to do the same . Before and after: Fitness fanatic Dr Matlock shows off the results of his 10 week training schedule . Dr Matlock, who treats bodybuilders from all over the USA, added: 'We take out the fat under ultrasonic guidance and inject it into the muscles. 'I can sculpt out the biceps, the triceps, obliques, abs, calves, whatever.' Both Dr and Mrs Matlock compete in bodybuilding competitions where they show off their flawless physiques, and Mrs Matlock admits that her husband's obsession over fitness and beauty keeps her motivated to look her best. She entered in the bikini division of her first bodybuilding competition in October, but did not place. In his first competition, David placed third in the 35 and older Men's Physique division, and fourth in the 45 and older division. She said: 'Because he keeps himself looking good, it's added pressure. So I feel like I have to look good, you know.' Pick me up: Veronica Matlock has recently had botox, as administered by Dr Alex Simopoulos . Keeping it in the family: Dr Matlock also gets a botox injection from Dr Simopoulos as his wife looks on . Joint enterprise: Both Dr and Mrs Matlock enjoy getting Botox injections . In . preparation for a competition, David and Veronica eat six carefully . planned meals per day, consisting of lean chicken, fish, rice, and . vegetables. David eats at least 200 grams of protein a day to build lean . muscle. Dr Matlock said: 'I always eat healthy. A lot of my business is fat, doing liposuction all the time, but I don't like fat. 'I tell people I watch my weight, and I watch my wife's weight too.' Mrs Matlock said: 'I know that David loves me for who I am.' But she added, laughing: 'There's a fat clause there.' Mrs Matlock said that although the couple are both fitness fanatics her young daughter was not a fan of the healthy food her parents love. She said: 'We're still working on Isabella, getting her to be more accepting of eating healthy. 'She eats what David cooks, but, if we tell her if she's eating healthy, she says, "No, healthy food doesn't taste good".' Mrs Matlock admits however that when Dr Matlock is out of the house she will treat her daughter to the occasional snack. 'Her and I, we will spoil ourselves. We get frozen yogurt,' she said. No train, no gain: The Matlocks work with personal trainer and nutritionist Michele Dagona, right, to get them ready for their bodybuilding contests . Preparation: Ms Dagona describes getting ready for a competition as a 'whole other level of fitness' Going for gold: In his first competition, David placed third in the 35 and older Men's Physique division, and fourth in the 45 and older division . Strength training: In preparation for a competition David eats at least 200 grams of protein a day to build lean muscle . And despite her parents' love of surgery, Isabella herself says she has no interest in going under the knife when she gets older. 'I would never really want to get surgery, because it's not really you, like I want to be myself,' said the schoolgirl. Despite the occasional cheat day, Mr Matlock works tirelessly to ensure that he and his wife stay healthy at home. 'We have scales in the house, basically in the master bedroom,' he said. Cooking up a storm: Isabella Matlock, nine, prefers macaroni and cheese to her parent's healthy dinners . Family ties: Isabella said that she would never get surgery because she prefers to be herself . 'I weigh myself, and I do it every single day, sometimes twice a day. 'We also have lot of mirrors around the house. A lot of times, just in the gym, I want to look at our muscles.' Personal trainer and nutritionist Michele Dagona works with both David and Veronica for up to two hours a day, six days a week to get them competition ready. Ms Dagona said: 'Competition prep, it's a whole other level of fitness. It's totally outside the box compared to traditional training or nutrition.' Home sweet home: The couple live in the exclusive Bel Air area of Los Angeles, California . Behind the scenes: An inside view of the vaginoplasty instruments at Dr Matlock's clinic . Trials: Dr Matlock is trialling a procedure that involves injecting blood plasma rather than fat for patients who have very little fat . | Dr David Matlock met wife Veronica when she came to his clinic in 2007 .
Mrs Matlock has had liposuction, a bum lift, labiaplasty and botox .
Fitness loving couple compete in bodybuilding competitions together . |
238,980 | c1617e9c473483a2b7ca71c191a878510b932cc9 | (CNN) -- The bombing of the Boston Marathon has been described by some as another wake-up call. Regrettably, it seems we've hit the snooze button too many times to say that this time we've really woken up. Our vulnerability to attacks such as the one at the marathon has been well known for some time. We have long been concerned that attackers would focus on soft targets in which many people gather in open and easily accessible areas. Moreover, these targets lack the sophisticated security measures that one would find at a chemical plant or federal building. Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, are one of the biggest threats to the United States. The bombs used in the Boston Marathon cost less than $100 to make from materials that can be commonly purchased and with instructions found on the Internet. Opinion: Don't ignore the threat of IEDs . Lt. Gen. Michael Barbero, director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization at the Department of Defense, stated in his July 2012 testimony before the U.S. House of Representative Homeland Security Committee that: "It is clear the IED is the primary weapon of choice for threat networks globally and is one of the enduring operational and domestic security challenges for the foreseeable future. ... The domestic IED threat from both homegrown extremists and global threat networks is real and presents a significant security challenge for the United States and our international partners." The Boston Police Department was about as well prepared to address this threat as any police department could be. Boston has had a number of high profile events in the past years to be ready for unexpected events. The city has received millions of dollars in Homeland Security grants and the police force recently conducted a DHS sponsored multijurisdiction IED training program. Still, at least two suspects were able to exploit the vulnerability of the marathon. The important questions now are not just who was responsible for the attack, but how can we prevent similar attacks? We have to concede that it takes money and resources to prevent and fight attacks. But it's harder in this belt-tightening time. For example, the budget for the Office of Bombing Prevention, a Department of Homeland Security office charged with the mission of leading the department's "efforts to implement the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices and enhance the nation's ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the terrorist use of explosives ...," has had its budget cut or reallocated with rumors of further cuts in 2014. To be fair, the Office of Bombing Prevention isn't the only federal entity that deals with IEDs. The Transportation Security Administration, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all have efforts aimed at helping the private sector and law enforcement agencies prevent IED attacks. However, the Office of Bombing Prevention has an important mission of enhancing counter-IED capabilities through coordination of bombing prevention efforts. Rather than cutting its budget, we should increase it. Barbero's department requested a $1.9 billion budget for 2013. It is a highly effective organization that saved many lives through the use of intelligence, technology and equipment in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now that we have withdrawn from Iraq and will be doing so from Afghanistan, we should reallocate some of those resources to focus on domestic threats and to prevent attacks at home. IEDs are a low-cost high-consequence type of weapon that will take significant financial and personnel resources to defeat. The alternative will be the loss of more lives and millions of dollars in investigative and recovery efforts if more attacks happen. We need to increase the Office of Bombing Prevention budget so we can train state and local law enforcement and private sector security, because they are the front line in our defense. Above all, we should never submit to the fear that deranged minds may attempt to instill in us. The people of this country are too strong and resilient to ever cower before acts of terrorism. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Robert P. Liscouski. | Robert Liscouski: Improvised explosive devices are one of the biggest threats to the U.S.
Liscouski: How can we prevent attacks like the marathon bombing?
He says one way is to increase the budget for the Office of Bombing Prevention .
Liscouski: The resources will help train those who are on the front line of defense . |
220,131 | a8ec183738dbae9fe4dabd9e51726a28198c08ff | Diego Costa showed no signs of being bothered by his troublesome hamstring as he trained ahead of Spain's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg. The Chelsea forward was joined by club-mate Cesc Fabregas and fellow Premier League stars David Silva and David de Gea. Vicente del Bosque's team crushed Macedonia 5-1 in their opening qualifier and now turn their attention to Slovakia and Luxembourg. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Costa skin Iker Casillas, leaving the keeper on his backside . Diego Costa's troublesome hamstring seemed OK as he trained with the rest of the Spain squad . The Spanish squad are put through their paces before their matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg . Costa and Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas (pictured) will hope to transfer their superb understanding at club level to the international stage as Spain face Slovakia and Luxembourg in the next few days . Costa, who has scored nine times in nine matches for Chelsea this season, has struggled for goals when leading the line for Spain. He has failed to hit the back of the net in five games for his country but this is not an issue that worries his international team-mates. 'He has told me he is looking forward to scoring. At the moment they aren't coming but after the first then they will start to flow,' said Koke, Costa's former team-mate at Atletico Madrid. 'He is a goalscorer and it will work out with the national team. In England he is scoring from everywhere and it has worked out for him to go there. 'Diego has to fit in with us but also we have to find him when he has space and can get free. With his movement he has the ability to get one-on-one with the keeper.' Costa looks for a place to store his hand luggage as the Spain squad board a flight in Madrid . The Spain squad arrives in Slovakia as they prepare for a Euro 2016 qualification double-header . Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta and Pedro walk arm-in-arm during their training . Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea displays the athleticism that won him acclaim against Everton . Spain's manager Vicente del Bosque says his team are going through a transitional period at the moment . Del Bosque, meanwhile, is unfazed by his team's disastrous performance at the World Cup in Brazil. The 63-year-old says the team is in transition, but is full of confidence despite the summer failure. 'We are going through a change,' he said. 'We need to forget Brazil because football doesn't stop and we now have fresh faces who are in high spirits and looking forward to a new start.' Manchester City midfielder David SIlva heads the ball while training with the national side . Iker Casillas has come under heavy criticism for his form for both club and country . Barcelona midfielder Iniesta chips the ball over the onrushing De Gea during training . | Spain face Slovakia and Luxembourg in Euro 2016 qualifiers .
Diego Costa is training despite reported hamstring problems .
Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and David de Gea also there .
Costa has failed to score for Spain in any of his five games for them .
Vicente del Bosque said his team are 'going through a change' |
109,261 | 18d67a17fcd6ddd84ef5067623e5c2c11f03904f | By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:11 EST, 29 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:21 EST, 30 December 2012 . Princess Diana’s favourite fashion designer Catherine Walker left her entire estate of more than £4million to her husband. French-born Ms Walker, who died aged 65 in September 2010, produced more than 1,000 outfits for the Princess from her Chelsea headquarters over 16 years. Diana was even buried in one of her black dresses, which she bought just weeks before she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Catherine Walker, right, was a favourite of the Princess of Wales, pictured left at London's Coliseum in 1989 wearing one of the designer's trademark creations . The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Catherine Walker dress to a tree planting ceremony in July last year . The Duchess of Cambridge has followed in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law by wearing Catherine Walker outfits and her mother, Carole, wore one to her daughter’s wedding to Prince William last year. Ms Walker designed dresses and ball gowns for many of the world’s most beautiful women. Known for her discretion, her other high-profile clients included Shakira Caine, Darcey Bussell, Joely Richardson and Queen Noor of Jordan. Probate records released more than two years after her death reveal that the reclusive and hard- working Ms Walker left a net estate of £4,162,572. Her will, drawn up in 2003, left everything to her second husband and business partner Sayeed Ismail, 68, a former lecturer at the Chelsea School of Art. Nothing was left to her two daughters, Naomi and Marianne, from her marriage to her first husband John Walker, a solicitor who died in an accident in 1975 at the age of 32. But the will stated that her daughters should inherit everything if Sayeed had died before her. It is believed it was constructed to maximise the size of her estate as legacies to a spouse are free of inheritance tax. An inquest heard how she died in hospital in 2010 from multiple organ failure. She had been living in pain for some time after two battles with cancer. Catherine Walker, centre, poses with her daughters Naomi, left, and Marianne, right, at a party in London in 2002 . Diana once wore a lashed to the knee sheath green evening dress by Catherine Walker, estimated to be worth £170,000, to the Royal Lancaster Hotel for a charity evening . | Designer Catherine Walker died aged 65 in September 2010 .
Left entire estate to second husband and business partner Sayeed Ismail .
Diana was buried in one of her dresses . |
65,205 | b9227e01c2df9fb301e12fc931a35f04168b4857 | (CNN) -- A Swedish man is being investigated by police after apparently trying to put together a nuclear reactor in his apartment, Sweden's nuclear watchdog said Thursday. The man, named in local media reports as 31-year-old Richard Handl, contacted the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority in July to ask whether he was allowed to build a nuclear reactor, the organization's research director Leif Moberj told CNN. That contact led the authorities to swoop down on his home in Angelholm, a coastal town of about 40,000 people known for its long sandy beaches. "We realized he probably had radioactive material at his home which you are not allowed to have without a permit, which was why the authorities decided to inspect his home," Moberj said. Radioactive material was found during an "extensive" inspection last month, although testing suggested radiation levels were too low for his neighbors to be worried, Moberj said. The material included "small amounts" of Americium-241, a component of smoke detectors which cannot legally be removed from the detector casing, he said. The agency has not yet confirmed what other radioactive materials were found at the property. Handl was quoted by the Helsingborgs Dagblad newspaper as saying he had his own Geiger counter and had not noticed any problems with radiation. He never got the reactor going as he had just bought what was needed, Handl was quoted as saying, and now all his equipment has been taken away. Handl told the newspaper he intended to keep to the "theoretical level" in future. Moberj said the situation was "extremely unusual" in Sweden. "I haven't heard of any similar things ever," he said. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the man-made radioactive metal americium "poses a significant risk" to health if ingested or inhaled. It recommends never dismantling or burning a smoke detector at home. | The man had Americium-241 at his home, the Swedish radiation watchdog says .
He had asked regulators if he was allowed to build a nuclear reactor .
Testing suggested radiation levels were too low for his neighbors to be worried . |
152,844 | 518d33ccea9e0a3ff9857a6b7055ae2d4fa65774 | A devout Muslim held his ex-wife prisoner on the toilet for an hour and physically assaulted her as punishment for wearing Western clothes. Khalique Miah has been jailed for 18 months for the attack on Zahanara Begum. She was on the loo when her former husband burst in dressed in black, wielding a hammer and referring to her underwear as 'Satan'. Miah, 35, covered her mouth with a gloved hand to stop her screaming, punched her in the chest and stomach then climbed on top of her, holding her in place, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Khalique Miah was jailed for 18 months at Snaresbrook Crown Court for the attack on his ex-wife . He started haranguing her about her plucked eyebrows, shaved legs and highlighted hair, telling her she should not wear Western clothes and calling her knickers 'Satan'. The couple’s three-year-old daughter woke up and started crying, but Miah refused to let Mrs Begum go and comfort her. After an hour she begged for her freedom and he relented, telling her to get in the bath. He then took her into the living room, where the father-of-two said her hair would have to go. She agreed, not realising what he meant until he went into the kitchen, fetched a pair of scissors and started snipping it off into a carrier bag. By this point it was nearly 3am, but Mrs Begum decided to wake the couple’s children in the hope their presence would stop Miah hurting her. The defendant pocketed his ex-wife’s mobile phone, cut her landline and refused to let her leave the flat until 10am the next day, when she persuaded him she wanted to give the marriage another go. He agreed to phone her family and when they arrived at the address in Whitechapel, East London, Mrs Begum asked them to call the police. Miah admitted false imprisonment and assault causing actual bodily harm. Passing sentence, Judge Simon Wilkinson said the victim had been through a 'terrifying ordeal' at the hands of her former husband. He said: 'At 11pm, you arrived at her address unannounced and uninvited. You were dressed in black and carrying a hammer in the waistband of your trousers. 'You surprised her when she was sitting on the WC in her bathroom. She could not have been more vulnerable. 'You put your gloved hand over her mouth to stifle her screams then punched her and slapped her to the chest area. 'When you finally allowed her off the toilet seat you cut off her hair with a pair of scissors. You also cut her landline and took her mobile phone. Such conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.' Miah, who works at Tesco in Bow, East London, has no previous convictions and had been on the supermarket’s fast-track management programme. He was married to Mrs Begum for eight years and they had two children, now aged three and seven. Mathew Dance, defending, said: 'He has indicated genuine remorse. He says he has learned his lesson. 'He wants to put all this behind him and get on with his life.' Miah, of Whitechapel, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing actual bodily harm. | Khalique Miah held Zahanara Begum in the bathroom for more than an hour .
He then cut off her hair after criticising the highlights . |
172,708 | 6b81f862f1f347244dc4a3bd8f8d95521f639f8f | By . Lucy Crossley . It is a scheme that even King Joffrey might find too cruel but one maths teacher has come up with a way of controlling unruly pupils - by threatening to reveal which characters die on Game Of Thrones. Fans of the hit HBO series have spent months trying to avoid any spoilers ahead of the fourth series, including the class of children at a Belgian school. But when the youngsters became too rowdy their maths teacher hit upon a dastardly plan which could rival any dreamed up by Tyrion Lannister. Scroll down for video . Plot: A maths teacher came up with a way of controlling unruly pupils - by threatening to reveal Game Of Thrones spoilers unless they were quiet . Cunning: The maths teacher's dastardly plan could rival any dreamed up by Tyrion Lannister, played by Peter Dinklage (pictured) Plot: The teacher asked his class students which of them watched the series, based on the A Song Of Ice And Fire novels by author George M. Martin . According to Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, the teacher asked his class of 70 students which of them watched the epic fantasy series, based on the A Song Of Ice And Fire novels by author George M. Martin. When around three-quarters of the pupils raised their hands, the teacher, who has not been identified, replied: 'Well I've read all the books. If there's too much noise I will write the names of the dead on the board. 'They are enough to fill the whole year and I can even describe how they die.' Return: The series, starring Emilia Clarke (pictured), returns in the US on April 6, and will air in the UK on Sky Atlantic the following day . Series: Taking inspiration from ancient myths as well as historic events, the show centres on the struggle for power between a number of families in the mainland of Westeros . Some giggling pupils reportedly then decided to put their teacher's threat to the test, only for him to begin writing out the names of every character killed at the end of the third series on his board 'for those who had not seen it'. According to a post believed to have been written by a pupil on French website Dans Ton Chat: 'There was a religious silence for the last hour of the lesson'. The pupil described his teacher as a 'genius'. The series, starring Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke, returns in the US on April 6, and will air in the UK on Sky Atlantic the following day. Taking inspiration from ancient myths as well as historic events, the show centres on the struggle for power between a number of families in the mainland of Westeros. Since Game Of Thrones first aired in 2011 it has attracted legions of fans from across the globe, and has become known for its graphic violence, frequent sex scenes, shocking plot twists - and lack of sentimentality when it comes to killing off lead characters. Popular: Since Game Of Thrones first aired in 2011 it has attracted legions of fans from across the globe . Fantasy: The series has become known for its graphic violence and shocking plot twists . | Belgian teacher asked his unruly class if they watched the hit HBO show .
When most put up their hands he said he had read the books and would reveal which characters died unless the class were quiet .
He then began writing the names of dead characters on the board .
The rest of the lesson was spent in a 'religious silence', according to pupil .
Fourth series of the fantasy show airs next month in both the USA and UK . |
55,510 | 9d5a0918c7bf8dc60f79fb43b9fb693255f19103 | Luke Shaw insists Manchester United can still challenge for the Premier League title this year despite their recent struggles away from home. United stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches on New Year's Day, but they only took a point away from Stoke after Radamel Falcao cancelled out Ryan Shawcross' opener. Despite the disappointing result, United's standing in the table actually improved. Manchester United left back Luke Shaw believes that his side can still win the Premier League title . Shaw clashes with Stoke City midfielder Jonathan Walters (left) while Peter Crouch watches on . Chelsea's shock defeat to Tottenham means Louis van Gaal's side are now nine points behind the Blues and joint leaders Manchester City. Shaw, therefore, feels United's title chances should not be written off. 'We are not going to say the Premier League is over yet,' the United left-back said. 'The league is still our number one priority. We want to win that. 'Coming to Stoke is always going to be a tough battle. There's a lot of balls in the air so it's tough. 'We know when we come away we have to get three points so we are not very pleased with the point.' Ryan Shawcross struck early to give Stoke City a 1-0 lead in the second minute . Radamel Falcao then equalised to level the game at 1-1 just before half time . After an injury-plagued start to life at United, Shaw is hoping to make a fresh start again in 2015. Shaw was dropped from the United team in pre-season as he was out of shape and shortly after his comeback he was out for over a month because of a hamstring injury. Then, two months after his return, Shaw suffered an ankle injury against Arsenal and was missing for six weeks. 'The main thing for me now is to get a run of games together,' the 19-year-old said. 'It was a great feeling watching the team do well when I was out. Now I am back fit I want to be a part of the winning run. 'I had 60 minutes against Stoke. That was pre-planned. If I had been able to go on longer then I would have done.' Ashley Young excelled in Shaw's position during his absence, but the former Aston Villa man suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium and is going to be out for 'many weeks', according to manager Louis van Gaal. Ashley Young (right) is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Stoke . Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal watches on during the game against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium . Shaw thinks he will have to fight hard to retain his place when Young returns. 'There's massive competition for me,' the £28million defender said. 'I think it's a big credit to Ashley Young. He has been superb, one of our best players for the last four or five matches. It's just unfortunate for him that's he got this injury now. I hope it's not too bad. I hope he comes fighting back again.' Next up for United is a trip to League One bottom side Yeovil in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Yeovil became known as FA Cup giant-killers during their non-league days when they knocked no fewer than 20 league sides out of the competition. For that reason, Shaw knows United's stellar squad must not under-estimate their opponents. 'We've seen in the past that the big teams have been knocked out by lower league teams so we know it's going to be a tough game,' Shaw said. 'We're going to focus on that now because we want to go on a good cup run. That's the reason I came to Manchester United - because I want to be winning trophies.' | Left back Luke Shaw insists Manchester United can still challenge for title .
Red Devils stretched unbeaten run to 10 matches with 1-1 draw at Stoke .
Sit third in the table nine points behind Chelsea and Manchester City .
Shaw hoping to get over recent injury problems to make his mark in 2015 . |
87,536 | f860da405b5aabaedc334c3a56741c30e49332a0 | On trial: Bouchra Bagour, 35, leaves court (file photo) A French court has found a mother guilty of 'justifying a crime' after sending her three-year-old son, Jihad, to school in a T-shirt with the slogans: 'I am a bomb' and 'Born on Sept. 11'. Bouchra Bagour, 35, was given a one month suspended sentence and fined 2000 Euros. Her brother Zayed, who had the T-shirt made, received a two month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 4000 Euros. The case was brought after a teacher at the child's pre-school in Sorgues near Avignon complained about the T-shirt. She and the school's principal were shocked and alerted authorities. Bagour insisted she had put it on her son 'without stopping to think about it' when he wore it to school on 24 September last year. A few days later the town mayor, Thierry Lagneau of the conservative UMP party, asked prosecutors to investigate. I condemn the attitude of the parents who shamefully took advantage of the person and the age of this child to convey a political message,' Lagneau said at the time. The verdict of an appeals court in Nimes overruled an earlier decision to acquit the pair. Bagour's lawyer Gaele Guenon told AP she was astonished the acquital had been overturned. During her trial Bagour denied the charge of defending terrorism through the T-shirt message. 'I thought it might make people laugh,' she said, according to Le Parisien. The expression plays on the popular French saying 'Je suis la bombe', which translates roughly as 'I am the best'. The back of the T-shirt read 'Born on 11 September,' but Bagour insisted it was only a reference to her son's date of birth. Bagour's brother - who gave the . child the T-shirt was also charged. Zayed Bagour denied trying to promote a message by buying the T-shirt. 'It's the day his birth I wanted to highlight, not the year,' he told the court. In . an interview with the newspaper La Provence in November, Boucha Bagour . said that while she is Muslim, 'there is no message to be conveyed by . the T-shirt — no intent.' Claims: Bouchra Bagour, 35, insisted she had put it on him 'without stopping to think about it' when he wore it to school in Sorgues near Avignon on 24 September . Controversial: A T-shirt similar to the one worn by three-year-old Jihad . 'Bomb' is used in the sense of 'handsome,' nothing more,' she said. However, lawyer Claude Avril said: 'Idiocy is often the best alibi to hide real intentions', reported Sky News. 'The most scandalous thing is that they've used and manipulated a three-year-old child to voluntarily convey the words of a terrorist.' The prosecutor in Avignon previously told the court the family must have known the reaction the boy’s clothing would provoke, reported The Local. 'At some point there must be limits. They are not stupid. They understand the significance of what they are doing,' he said. Josette Pessemesse, from the far-left . Front de Gauche party, wrote an open letter to the court defending the 'right to humour.' It was signed by around 50 people. 'This is the same as qualifying all Muslims as terrorists,' Pessemesse told France Info. | Bouchra Bagour, 35, found guilty of 'justifying a crime'
Insisted she had put it on child 'without stopping to think about it'
The back of T-shirt read Jihad: Born on 11 September .
Child's uncle, who bought T-shirt also convicted . |
1,430 | 041d7dcddf9989d20d45fb531290225eb9417b72 | There has been a great deal spoken about the sweltering heat and humidity England will face in Manaus when they play Italy on Saturday night. But how does it actually feel to run and exercise in such testing conditions? With the help of a Battersea Park biodome, an industrial-sized heater and a treadmill, Adam Shergold found out. It takes less than 10 seconds for the first bead of sweat to start trickling its way down from my forehead, off the tip of my nose and on to my soon-to-be-saturated shirt. It's a little disheartening for someone who considers themselves fairly fit, and is currently in training for a half-marathon, to be perspiring so uncontrollably after just a minute or so of exercise. Feeling the heat: Sportsmail's Adam Shergold gets going on the treadmill inside a biodome that replicates the hot and humid conditions England will experience when they face Italy in Manaus on Saturday night . Ramp it up: As our man reaches full speed on the treadmill, the 30C heat and 80 per cent humidity starts to take its toll . Venue: The Arena da Amazonia will host England's first World Cup match, against Italy on Saturday evening . Ready, boys? England have been gradually acclimatising to the hot conditions in Brazil . But then the sweltering conditions of Manaus have no mercy on anyone, not even the super-fit elite footballers who will play there during the World Cup. I'm running on a treadmill in a Biodome set up by Ladbrokes in Battersea Park to replicate the extreme conditions England will encounter when they step out to play Italy at the Arena Amazonia on Saturday week. Outside, the late Spring day is grey and drizzly but this 'Mini-Manaus' feels like a pressure-cooker as industrial-sized heaters relentlessly circulate chokingly hot air. The hard yards: Shergold winds down after running for 10 minutes in the 'Mini-Manaus' biodome built by Ladbrokes in Battersea Park . Welcome refreshment: The cold water is very much necessary after completing the 'Mini-Manaus' challenge . The thermometer reads 31C, the average temperature in Manaus at this time of year, and the humidity sits just above the 80 per cent mark. These are conditions in which even walking down the street is an effort, so playing 90 minutes of high-intensity football is not an attractive option. I manage about 10 minutes of running on the treadmill, working up from a walk to an all-out sprint, before the temptation to throw water all over myself becomes too great. Each match at the World Cup will factor in drinks breaks, and these will be absolutely essential for the players to take on water or an energy drink and rehydrate. Warmer climes: A game of football being played on the beach in Manaus . Flavour of the Amazon: Shergold outside the heated biodome built in Battersea Park to replicate the sweltering, tropical conditions in Manaus . The paramedic on standby at the Biodome measures my core body temperature at a normal 37.2C before stepping on the treadmill. At the end, it’s nudging above 38C, the kind of level when you’re suffering from a fever. It’s a relief to step outside the dome again, into the cooling London drizzle, and I have plenty of sympathy for the England players who will have to cope with these energy-sapping conditions while carrying the weight of the nation’s expectation. Go to Ladbrokes.com/manaus to take the challenge yourself and to win £10,000 in free bets . | Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Co will face high temperatures and humidity in Manaus .
Amazon venues is the hottest of the Brazil World Cup venues .
Temperatures will top 30C, with humidity at a stifling 80 per cent . |
206,293 | 970fc110928b1ad4474475efccd1caac88c34af3 | As many as 15,000 fraudulent votes helped Lutfur Rahman win re-election in Tower Hamlets last year, it was claimed in court today. The independent mayor of the east London borough faces allegations of 'electoral fraud' at the High Court, where his accusers today claimed forgery and bullying helped him at the polls. Local activist Andy Erlam, one of a group of four voters taking action against Mr Rahman, claimed police stood by as voters faced intimation in at least 40 polling stations in the borough. 'Electoral fraud': Andy Erlam, left, is leading a group of four voters taking action against Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman, right, alleging as many as 15,000 fraudulent votes helped his reelection last year . The group wants election commissioner Richard Mawrey - who is sitting as a judge at an Election Court trial in London - to declare the result of the May 2014 election void and order a re-run. Mr Rahman denies wrongdoing. Statistics showed that nearly 240,000 people live in the Tower Hamlets borough and the mayoral election had around 180,000 registered electors, Mr Erlam told the court. He said his 'guesstimate' was that a total of 10,000 to 15,000 votes in the combined 2014 local council and mayor elections in Tower Hamlets had been forged or affected by intimidation. He told Mr Mawrey he thought there had been 'intimidation of voters' at more than 40 polling stations. He said there was evidence that police at many, if not most, of those polling stations had either 'refused' to intervene or taken 'exceptionally ineffective measures' to stop intimidation. Previously a Labour Commons candidate in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and Bexleyheath, south-east London, Mr Erlam stood for election to Tower Hamlets council on an anti-corruption ticket. Scenes inside the counting hall after votes were cast had been 'absolutely astonishing', Mr Erlam told Mr Mawrey. There were close to 1,000 people in the hall, the vast majority of whom wore the rosettes of Mr Rahman's Tower Hamlets First party, Mr Erlam said. He said he did not know Mr Rahman and his decision to launch legal action was not personal. He also said there were witnesses with 'important evidence' who were frightened of coming forward. 'It’s not a personal vendetta against Lutfur Rahman,' Mr Erlam told the judge. 'It’s about democracy. It is to be defended and fought for and it should not be taken for granted.' Challenge: Mr Erlam's group wants election commissioner Richard Mawrey - who is sitting as a judge at an Election Court trial in London - to declare the result of the May 2014 election void and order a re-run . The group of four voters have mounted a challenge under the provisions the Representation Of The People Act. Lawyers for the group have made a series of allegations, including 'personation' in postal voting and at polling stations, and ballot paper tampering. Mr Rahman says there is 'little if any' evidence of wrongdoing against him. His lawyers have described the group of four’s claims as invention, exaggeration and 'in some cases downright deliberately false allegations'. The hearing continues. | Local activist Andy Erlam claims police stood by as voters were bullied .
He claims the election count was packed with Lutfur Rahman's supporters .
Witnesses with important evidence are frightened to come forward, he says .
Mr Rahman, mayor of Tower Hamlets, denies wrongdoing . |
193,553 | 869092e959bb3d22a93539f91632bab73011a239 | Exile: There is growing evidence that several cardinals do not want Benedict XVI to live in an apartment block inside the walls of the Vatican . The Pope is under pressure to go into exile from Rome after he retires so that he does not interfere with the work of his successor, senior Roman Catholic sources indicated yesterday. There is growing evidence that several cardinals are anxious that Benedict XVI should not carry through his plan to live in an apartment block inside the walls of the Vatican. They fear the close presence of a retired Pope will create difficulties for the new man who will take over the Papacy this spring. The suggestion that Benedict should be effectively evicted from his planned retreat and dismissed from Rome came just two days after the Pope’s sudden announcement of his resignation threw the church’s leadership into turmoil. The Vatican has been gripped with rumours of faction fighting while potential candidates for the succession have been jostling for position for when 117 cardinals meet to elect a successor next month. There has been confusion over the future status of Benedict XVI, with conflicting statements on what name he will take after retirement and hints from his brother that he will not go into silent retreat but may make himself available to advise the newly-appointed Pope. According to reports, influential figures have indicated to Benedict that it may be unwise to live in an apartment block within the Vatican walls. The four-storey block, built in 1992, has been used to accommodate orders of nuns, but is currently being refurbished as a retirement home for the Pope and a small entourage of assistants and servants. However if Benedict moves in after his retirement takes effect on 28 February he may find his presence unpopular and sentiment among the cardinals leaning in favour of what could amount to an eviction. According to the influential Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, those who believe Benedict should think again include Archbishop Rino Fisichella. Fisichella was appointed by Benedict in 2010 to head his newly-created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, which is charged with reinforcing the faith in old Catholic countries. According to the paper, the Archbishop thinks that 85-year-old Benedict should find somewhere outside the Vatican to live. The Vatican has been gripped with rumours of faction fighting while potential candidates for the succession have been jostling for position . It said: ‘The continuing presence of both the old and the new Pope raises such embarrassment for the Vatican that those like Archbishop Rino Fisichella do not rule out that the Pope’s final home will eventually be found outside the hallowed halls.’ The pressure on Benedict to go into exile was also reported in the respected American journal National Catholic Reporter, by its widely-read Vatican commentator, John Allen. ‘There are already hints of a more critical tone,’ he said. ‘On background, one Vatican prelate said today that some cardinals are concerned about Benedict’s decision to live on Vatican grounds after his retirement, fearing it might cast a shadow over the new Pope. ‘Perhaps it would be better, he said, for Benedict to find a monastery in Germany to call home.’ Since the resignation announcement on Monday there has been deepening concern that Benedict’s presence will mean the church has, in effect, one too many Popes. No Pope has resigned in nearly 600 years. The last one to do so willingly, Celestine V, who resigned in 1294, was flung into prison by the next, Boniface VIII, in order to prevent any possible rivalry. The last Pope to resign willingly was Celestine V, who resigned in 1294, and was flung into prison . Celestine – Benedict visited his tomb and praised his actions in 2009 – died in his cell two years after abandoning the Papacy. Among difficulties that have surfaced is the problem of what to call Benedict. Different . church authorities have made conflicting statements that he will keep . his Papal name and the title ‘your Holiness’, and that he will drop the . name Benedict and return to being Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. A . further embarrassment surfaced when, following a phone conversation . with the Pope, his brother Georg Ratzinger said Benedict would make . himself available to advise his successor if required. Vatican . officials have since repeatedly insisted that Benedict will have . nothing to do with the appointment of his successor or the conduct of . Papal business after he retires. Rumours . in Rome yesterday were also pointing to enmity between two leading . Vatican figures likely to be influential when the conclave, the . gathering of cardinals that will choose the next Pope late in March, . assembles. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will organise the conclave. However, . his efforts to sway decisions, it was said, are likely to be frustrated . by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who in 2006 took over from Sodano as . Secretary of State, the Pope’s chief political representative. Sodano is said to be furious that Bertone has neglected the careers of officials he once promoted. However, no cardinal over the age of 80 may take part in the conclave. Since Sodano is 85 and Bertone 78, Bertone will be inside the conclave and in the best position to influence voting. | Fears a close presence of a retired Pope will create difficulties for the new man who takes over this spring .
Vatican gripped with rumours of faction fighting as candidates jostle for position . |
125,516 | 2e43e7a92d0c822dfea4cffedb8f374e85c3cc44 | Freak accident: The woman's car slipped into reverse as she got out to deliver a newspaper . A Canadian woman was left seriously injured after being run over by her own car three times as she tried to deliver newspapers. Residents of Trois-Rivieres were woken by the woman's anguished cries as she was repeatedly struck by her car in a bizarre accident. The woman had been making her regular newspaper delivery in Trois-Rivieres earlier this week, when her automatic car slipped into reverse as she got out. As she got out of the car, it lurched backwards and the open car door knocked her under the wheels. The . woman, who has not been named, tried to pull herself back into the car . to stop it, but she stumbled and was run over for a second time. A third attempt to get back in her car resulted in the injured driver being pulled under the car for a third time. Her car continued to move in an ever-widening circle until the police arrived. Alerted . by the woman's cries, residents rushed outside to drag her to safety. She was taken to hospital to be treated for a serious leg injury. With their help she was able to limp to a nearby house to wait for . medical attention. It is believed the woman, had been delivering the French-language newspaper Le Nouvelliste at the time of the accident, confused 'park' and 'reverse' on her gear box as she got out of the car. Because she had left the engine running, the car continued to move until police were able to stop it. | Canadian left with serious injuries after being crushed by moving vehicle .
Automatic car pulled her under its wheels after slipping into reverse . |
221,766 | ab11592087c5b6ee3af24518d3fd634aee55dacf | (CNN) -- The San Antonio Spurs are one win away from winning the 2013 NBA championship after a 114-104 victory over the Miami Heat in Game Five of the Finals. Spurs star guard Tony Parker showed no signs of the hamstring injury which hampered him during Game Four, scoring 26 points to delight the AT & T Center crowd. "It was a physical game. Great game. I was just trying to pace myself better, if I can say that, during the game," the Frenchman told reporters. "Or else I'd be out of gas like I did in Game Four, where in the second half I didn't have enough juice and my hamstring was kind of fatigued. In this game I was trying to take my time and it helped." Argentine Manu Ginobili turned in his finest performance of the series so far, adding 24 points and 10 assists. The Spurs opened up a 20-point lead in the third quarter, with the crowd showing their appreciation with chants of "Ma-nu" as Gregg Popovich's team closed on a first NBA title since 2007. "I was having a tough time scoring, and I needed to feel like the game was coming to me, and I was being able to attack the rim, get to the free-throw line, and make a couple of shots," said Ginobli. "So it felt great when I heard that. To feel that I really helped the team to get that 20-point lead, it was a much-needed moment in the series. So I'm glad to see it happen." For the Heat, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade both scored 25 points as Miami continued a run which has seen the 2012 champions alternate between wins and losses over its last 12 playoff games. Tuesday's Game Six will see the series return to Miami's American Airlines Arena, which will also stage Game Seven if it is required. | San Antonio Spurs beat Miami Heat 114-104 in Game Five of the NBA Finals .
The Spurs will be crowned 2013 NBA champion if it wins Tuesday's Game Six .
Star guard Tony Parker scored 26 points, with Manu Ginobili adding 24 points .
LeBron James and Dwayne Wade each scored 25 points for the Heat . |
261,093 | de2664e23429395222e50173e6696212811f4452 | Engineers have told how they were sent to David Cameron’s house on New Year’s Day to fix his power after he suffered a blackout while watching The Sound of Music on TV. The callout to the Prime Minister’s home in Chipping Norton happened as workmen battled to restore electricity to 11,000 houses in Oxfordshire during the severe storms earlier this month. Two engineers from Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution claimed they were sent to Mr Cameron’s address while carrying out emergency repairs in Kirtlington, a village 17 miles away. Power cut: Engineers were sent to David Cameron's house. He is pictured with his wife Samantha . Classic film: Mr Cameron said the power went off 'just before the end of The Sound of Music - but I know what happens, so it's all right' But when the workers - George Faulkner . and Alan Paton - arrived, they allegedly found the blackout was not . related to the storms, and that the trip switch in his fuse box simply . needed to be flicked. Mr . Paton told BBC Radio 4: ‘We could have been employed on better things . but we got called out to a property where the trip had gone that they . obviously hadn’t checked properly. ‘They . thought it was the storms and they phoned in and said they were off . supply. So we went there for nothing really... There was nothing wrong . with their mains.’ Mr . Cameron’s house had been suffering from a leaky roof, and water was seen . around the fusebox, reported the Sunday Mirror. An SSE spokesman insisted the politician did not . receive preferential treatment because of his status - and the visit was not to the detriment of any other customers who may have been without power. Problems: Trains travel slowly over flooded tracks in Oxford on January 8, as heavy rain poured across Britain . Response: The callout to the Prime Minister's home in Chipping Norton (pictured) happened as workmen battled to restore electricity to 11,000 houses in Oxfordshire during the severe storms earlier this month . High winds over Christmas also left 250,000 homes without power, with some families waiting days for the electricity to be restored - something criticised as ‘not acceptable’ by Mr Cameron. 'We could have been employed on better things but we got called out to a property where the trip had gone that they obviously hadn’t checked properly' Alan Paton, SSE engineer . The SSE spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The Prime Minister did not receive any preferential treatment when we attended his property. 'And further, this visit was not to the detriment of any other customers who may have been without power. To suggest otherwise would be absolutely false.' A Number 10 spokesman told the Sunday Mirror: ‘The power went down because there was a leaky roof. There was water around the fusebox. The engineers came to fix it, which they did.’ Mr Cameron told The Sunday Times of the power cut: ‘I couldn't work out what it was. The power went off just before the end of The Sound of Music. But I know what happens, so it's all right.’ | SSE callout to Cameron's home in Chipping Norton on New Year's Day .
Workmen battled to restore electricity to 11,000 houses in Oxfordshire .
Engineers claim they were sent to his home while working 17 miles away .
Cameron's house had leaky roof and water was seen around the fusebox . |
61,777 | af7c94773ae69277c9a5e185c3e413be0597d68f | (CNN) -- A new virus in the same family as SARS -- found for the first time in humans in the past year -- has infected 49 people, most of them in the Middle East. Of those, 27 people have died, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. The virus previously was called the novel coronavirus, or nCoV. However, the WHO this week gave it a new name: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV. Should I be concerned about new virus? Your questions answered . It's part of a family called coronaviruses, which cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, as well as a variety of animal diseases. However, the new virus is not SARS. The virus acts like a cold and attacks the respiratory system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. But symptoms, which include fever and a cough, are severe and can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea have also been seen, according to the WHO. MERS-CoV has been detected in humans in eight countries, the WHO said last week -- Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Tunisia and the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, the WHO reported two health care workers in Saudi Arabia became ill while treating patients. Here are five things you need to know about MERS-CoV: . Widespread transmission hasn't been seen . All the clusters of cases seen so far have been transmitted between family members or in a health care setting, the WHO said in a May 17 update. "Human-to-human transmission occurred in at least some of these clusters; however, the exact mode of transmission is unknown." That means it's not yet known how humans contract MERS-CoV. But experts said there has been no evidence of cases beyond the clusters into communities. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, has said the infection is "very serious" but appears "very difficult to acquire." According to the WHO, "The recent increase in cases may in part be related to increased awareness among the medical community; however, the demonstrated ability of this virus to transmit between humans and to cause large outbreaks has increased concerns about the possibility of sustained transmission." Cases are connected to the Middle East . "All of the European cases have had a direct or indirect connection to the Middle East," the WHO said in the May 17 statement. "However, in France and the United Kingdom, there has been limited local transmission among close contacts who had not been to the Middle East but had been in contact with a traveler recently returned from the Middle East." New SARS-like virus poses medical mystery . Most of the cases so far are seen in older men with other medical conditions, experts have said. Precise numbers are difficult to ascertain as officials don't know how many people might contract a mild form of MERS-CoV. Saudi Arabia leads the number of laboratory-confirmed cases, with 32 as of Tuesday, the CDC said. No cases have been reported in the United States, but infectious disease experts have said they would not be surprised if it happens. Underlying health conditions may make you more susceptible . A large number of patients have another condition, the WHO said, suggesting "increased susceptibility from underlying medical conditions may play a role in transmission." In addition, the infection has shown up "atypically" and without respiratory symptoms in people whose immune systems are compromised. No travel warnings have been issued . The WHO and CDC have not issued travel health warnings for any country related to the novel coronavirus. But, in a travel notice, the CDC said it recommends that "U.S. travelers to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula monitor their health and see a doctor right away if they develop fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath. They should tell the doctor about their recent travel." In addition, those who traveled to the Middle East should see their health care provider if they develop a fever and respiratory symptoms such as a cough or shortness of breath within 10 days of returning from the Arabian Peninsula or surrounding nations, according to the CDC. There are no treatments and no vaccine . So far, those with MERS-CoV have received supportive treatments to relieve their symptoms. | MERS-CoV has sickened 49 people and killed 27, World Health Organization says .
The cases have a link to the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia .
Experts say the virus could show up in the United States . |
272,000 | ec52df4fc3a34befb27a32e1a4b2083cfd57b223 | (CNN) -- A couple of Colorado women were recuperating after a moose attack northwest of Denver over the weekend. They were walking their dogs in the city of Black Hawk when the encounter took place, the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office said. "All of a sudden, I looked up and he was looking right at me and grunted and then charged," Jackqueline Boron told CNN affiliate KDVR. "I tried to get up, and he kept coming back and stomping on me." "When I fell back he got me here," Boron said, pointing to her arm. "Then, when I curled up forward, that's when he got me on the head." The attack left Boron with staples in the back of her head, 15 stitches on her leg and four broken ribs, KDVR reported. Ellen Marie Divis was also stomped on by the moose, but was able to get away to find help. "I heard 'help me, help me, help me,'" neighbor Chris Hockley told KDVR. "This lady comes running up to her house and she's covered in blood." The sheriff's office issued a warning after the attack. "If you encounter a moose: walk away from it -- DO NOT walk towards it; moose are agitated by dogs; make sure your dog is on a leash, control the dog(s) and walk away," the warning said. Lesson learned, Boron said -- don't mess with a moose. "Don't hike (when) you know ... there's moose out there." Maine couple attacked by moose . Bear attacks jogger at Alaska Air Force base . | The women were walking their dogs when the moose attacked .
Jackqueline Boron was hospitalized with broken ribs, cuts and bruises .
The sheriff's office issues a warning on moose encounters . |
1,684 | 04cc965545bd85905d40a231dfbf97d2ea167151 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Barion Perry was detained at the crime scene, handcuffed after being suspected of breaking into cars. Without specifically being asked by police to identify the suspect, a neighbor pointed out Perry from a nearby window as the alleged thief. Now, the Supreme Court has found that initial identification was not overly suggestive and did not violate the due process rights of the defendant. The 8-1 ruling Wednesday is a victory for the state and for law enforcement. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned police and prosecutors in general to be careful about the trustworthiness of eyewitness testimony, when such evidence may be generated and manipulated by police. She said, however, that was not the case here. "We do not doubt the either the fallibility or the importance of eyewitness evidence generally, or the caution appropriate whenever suggestive circumstances may have influenced an identification," she wrote for the majority. "Safeguards built into our adversary system [of justice] can serve to inhibit juries from placing undue weight on eyewitness and other testimony of questionable reliability... Absent improper police conduct, these safeguards, we hold, keep the introduction of eyewitness identification evidence within constitutional bounds." Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the lone dissenter. The court's narrow ruling was not likely to open the legal floodgates to a range of new exceptions of evidence jurors would be excluded from hearing at trial, as some states had feared. The Perry appeal also raised larger questions about the unique power of eyewitness identifications to sway jurors, and whether innocent people are unfairly being sent to prison, particularly to death row. The court has not taken a hard look at the issue since 1977, and the opinion Wednesday only dealt indirectly with the concerns. The unique facts of the Perry case in fact, left a clear rule on the boundaries of using unreliable identification evidence even more elusive and muddled, despite the high court's current intervention. The message from the high court: A broader rule on the use of all eyewitness testimony is now not necessary, and that judges and juries can make those discretionary decisions, depending on each individual case. Several justices noted during November's oral arguments Perry's lawyers presented strong evidence, and that reforms may be necessary. But others on the bench wondered whether such changes are mandated under the Constitution, and if they would apply in other areas of criminal justice where evidence is problematic. The incident happened in August 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire. A black male was reported at the back of an apartment parking lot in the middle of the night. A city police officer arrived and found Perry carrying two amplifiers, which he claimed he found on the ground. An apartment resident then approached police and said his car was broken into, information relayed by his neighbor. While Perry was detained in the parking lot, that officer went to the apartment to interview the neighbor. When asked to describe the suspect, she said it was a "tall black man," but offered no other physical details. When asked by the officer for more information, the neighbor looked back and said "it was the man that was in the back parking lot standing with the police officer," according to court records. Later at the police station, the female neighbor was unable to identify Perry from a photo lineup. Perry was then arrested, subsequently convicted of theft, and given a three- to 10-year prison term. He appealed, saying the eyewitness testimony should have been suppressed. Subsequent state courts rejected his claims that due process protections apply even when the suggestive circumstances were not "intentionally orchestrated by the police."Eyewitness identification has been closely scrutinized by a range of legal groups and social scientists -- some 2,000 empirical studies, in fact, over the past three decades, according to one legal brief filed with the high court. It has also become a staple of crime dramas: a witness rises from the stand, points to the defendant and says "That's the man who did it, I'm sure, your Honor." But not always. A variety of all-too-human factors can distort, manipulate, or mislead a person's memory, whether spurred by police involvement or not. A new book by law professor Brandon Garrett called "Convicting the Innocent" found the initial 250 DNA exonerations around the United States came about after 190 of the prisoners were convicted based on mistaken eyewitnesses. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution mandates the government not "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." That has led to a long line of jurisprudence over what areas of the criminal justice system are covered by the broad provision. The conservative high court majority two years ago said inmates could not go to court to demand, under due process, DNA testing to establish their innocence. "We are reluctant to enlist the federal judiciary in creating new constitutional code of rules for handling DNA," said Chief Justice John Roberts at the time, suggesting that was best left to legislatures. The eyewitness case is Perry v. New Hampshire (10-8974). | The justices rule 8-1 on an issue of identification in a criminal case .
The ruling finds that an initial identification did not violate due process .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the lone dissenter . |
219,409 | a802efd8ff5bf6c78f4f687f5c78a61820a6a843 | By . Victoria Woollaston . Buried deep beneath the world's oceans and seas is a vast network of cables that connects the modern world. Each year it grows to accommodate our increasing dependence on the internet, and now an interactive map has plotted its blood vessel-like expansion over the last 25 years. Built by London-based Builtvisible, and based on data from TeleGeography, the map plots the development of 5,561,268 miles (8,949,994 km) of underwater cable. It begins with UK-France line in 1989 that stretches 96 miles (155km) from Brighton to Dieppe, and ends with the 9,260 mile-long (14,903km) Russian Optical Trans-Arctic Cable System, expected to launch towards the end of 2016. Click below to use the interactive map . Built by London-based Builtvisible, and based on data from TeleGeography, the map (pictured) plots the development of 5,561,268 miles (8,949,994 km) of underwater cable. It begins with UK-France line in 1989 that stretches 96 miles (155km) from Brighton to Dieppe, and ends with the 9,260 mile-long (14,903km) Russian Optical Trans-Arctic Cable System, expected to launch towards the end of 2016 . A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations. It is laid by specially designed ships that can carry thousands of miles of coiled cable in . their holds and can lay it as it travels across the ocean. The . first commercial cables were laid in 1850 to send telegraphy traffic. Since then the . cables have been used to send telephone traffic, and most recently data . traffic. Many of the . modern cables are made of fibre optic. Trial cables were laid in 1842 in New York harbour and were insulated with tarred . hemp and rubber. Nowadays, cables . are protected using polyethylene. Traditionally the cables were owned by service providers, yet websites . have also started buying submarine cables to control their networks including Google and Facebook. Almost 95 per cent of the internet we use everyday is carried between countries through these fragile two-inch (50mm) thick lines. In 2006, submarine cables carried just one per cent of traffic - an increase of 94 per cent in just eight years, according to official figures from the International Cable Protection Committee. Since 2012, the number of submarine cables have almost doubled from 150 to 285. Of this 285, 263 cables are currently in use, while 22 are set to be in use by the end of 2015. When a cable is laid but not in use it is called a 'dark' cable, but once in use it becomes 'lit'. By 2017, the Builtvisible map reveals this number is expected to rise to 849. Cables on the map can be filtered by year, country and cable operator, which includes Google, Facebook and Vodafone. It shows active and planned submarine cable systems and their landing stations. Selecting a cable on the map, or from the submarine cable list, reveals details of the cable’s name, ready-for-service (RFS) date, length, owners, website, and landing points. A submarine communications cable is laid on the sea bed between land-based stations. It is laid by specially designed ships that can carry thousands of miles of coiled cable in . their holds and can lay it as it travels across the ocean. There is only a limited amount of space for cable on land, and this makes the space expensive to rent, and highly competitive. Since . 1850 engineers and telecom companies, instead, have been taking . advantage of the vast land beneath the oceans to lay cables. The first cables were used to . send telegraphy traffic. Since then the cables have been used to send . telephone traffic, and most recently data traffic. This animation shows how the cable network grew rapidly between 1997 and 2003. The first commercial cables were laid in 1850 to send telegraphy traffic. Since then the cables have been used to send telephone traffic, and most recently data traffic. Many of the modern cables are made of fibre optic . By 2017, the map reveals that the number of cables is expected to rise to 849. Cables on the map can be filtered by year, country and cable operator, which includes Google, Facebook and Vodafone. This image shows that by 2017, Google will have built 11 cables stretching 61,727 miles (99,340 km). The map shows active and planned submarine cable systems and their landing stations . The longest cable is called SEA-ME-WE 3 or South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3. It has 39 landing points (the average network has between 10 and 15) across Europe, Asia and Africa. It covers 24,000 miles and is run by France Telecom, China Telecom and Singtel. The Flores-Corbo Cable System is the shortest and connects the islands of Corval, Faial, Flores and Graciosa near Portugal. It covers 425 miles (685km) in the North Atlantic Ocean and is owned by Viatel. The total network covers in excess of 550,000 miles. In 2006, submarine cables carried just . one per cent of traffic, they now account for around 95 per cent. There are now 285 cables - 263 are in service and 22 are due to be in use by 2015. Many of the modern cables are made of fibre optic, to increase the size and speed at which the information can be sent, and are only two inches (50mm) thick. Trial cables were laid in 1842 in New . York harbour and were insulated with tarred hemp and rubber. Nowadays, . cables are protected using polyethylene. Traditionally the cables were owned by service providers, yet websites . have also started buying submarine cables to control their networks. For . example, Google is part of the consortium that manages the Southeast . Asia-Japan cable, and Facebook is part of the consortium that manages . the Asia Pacific Gateway. Reports . in December stated that by owning private networks these companies can . stop governments from being able to track what they get up to. Back in the 1970s, Operation Ivy Bells was thought to have been the first underwater cable-tapping operation. It took place when copper wires, which radiate electromagnetic energy, were used to relay relatively small amounts of data that could be intercepted by fitting a recording device around the cable. 'At the time, the Soviets were so confident in the security of their line they left it completely unencrypted, enabling U.S. intelligence teams to simply record the transmissions, extract them from the seabed and listen to them at the end of each month,' explained Builtvisible. In modern cable systems, fibre optic cables use photons to transfer data. Modern tapping can be accomplished in one of two ways - either by splicing the cable and splitting the photon stream with a prism, or by bending the cable to a point where it begins to leak data. 'The documents leaked to The Guardian by Edward Snowden in 2012 revealed how British and American intelligence agencies had tapped more than 200 of these cables as part of an ongoing mass-collection spying project launched in 2008, completely undermining the privacy of ordinary citizens across the world,' continued Builtvisible. As of 2010, submarine cables link all the world's continents except Antarctica. East Africa was the last major region of the globe to connect to high-speed broadband, with the launch of SEACOM’s subsea cable system in 2009. Cables can be broken by fishing trawlers, anchors, earthquakes, turbidity currents, and even shark bites. If . cables need to fixed, a repair ship will drop a buoy in the location of . the break and a submersible is sent down to repair them. Selecting a cable on the map (pictured) or from the submarine cable list, reveals details of the cable's name, ready-for-service (RFS) date, length, owners, website, and landing points. A submarine communications cable is laid on the sea bed between land-based stations. It is laid by specially designed ships that can carry thousands of miles of coiled cable in their holds and can lay it as it travels across the ocean . Traditionally the cables were owned by service providers, yet websites have also started buying submarine cables to control their networks. For example, Facebook is part of the consortium that manages the Asia Pacific Gateway (pictured left) and Google is part of the consortium that manages the Southeast Asia-Japan cable (right) The first cables were laid in 1850 to send telegraphy traffic. Since then they have been used to send telephone traffic, and most recently data. This map shows how the Eastern Telegraph company's network looked in 1901. In 2006, submarine cables carried just one per cent of traffic, this figure is now around 95 per cent . The cable system between Rockport, Maine and the islands of North Haven and Vinalhaven in the U.S experienced 45 faults over a 15-year period between 1990 and 2005, becoming known as the world’s worst performing system. Most of the faults were abrasions caused by tidal currents rubbing the cable across the rough and rocky sea bed. Ship’s anchors and fishing trawlers also caused their share of damage, hooking cables that were suspended above the sea bed. Some faults were also said to have been caused by repairs made on other parts of the cable. In December 2006, communications across Asia were severed when the Hengchun earthquake knocked out 80 per cent of the cables connecting Taiwan with the rest of the world. The breakages took out half of Hong Kong’s Internet capacity and cut China’s access to foreign websites. This image shows a cross section of a modern submarine communications cable. It is around two inches (50mm) thick. The labels are: (1) Polyethylene, (2) Mylar tape, (3) Stranded steel wires, (4) Aluminium water barrier, (5) Polycarbonate, (6) Copper or aluminium tube, (7) Petroleum jelly and (8) Optical fibres . | The interactive map was built by London-based Builtvisible, based on information from Washington's TeleGeography .
It plots the growth of 5,561,268 miles (8,949,994 km) of cable starting with the UK-France line in 1989 .
The growth ends with the Russian Optical Trans-Arctic Cable System, expected to launch towards the end of 2016 .
In total, the map consists of 849 cables stretching under the world's seas and oceans .
Cables can be filtered by year, country and cable operator, which includes Google, Facebook and Vodafone . |
39,604 | 6fd5ded4f26d736695cfc17c4e9362fd24632673 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:48 EST, 22 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:13 EST, 22 January 2013 . The body of a Chicago man that was exhumed three days ago for a homicide investigation involving his recently-won lottery money has been buried again Monday. Urooj Khan, 45, had won millions of dollars in a lottery over the summer but died of cyanide poisoning shortly after the windfall. Two of Khan’s relatives stood by his gravesite in Rosehill Cemetery as they watched him being lowered back into the ground. Authorities had called for the exhumation of his body to take samples of flesh, which could provide valuable clues into the man’s mysterious death. Exhumed: The body of Urooj Khan is carried to a hearse for forensic autopsy by the Cook County Medical Examiners office in Chicago Friday morning . New tests: A backhoe is seen at Rosehill Cemetery today as workers begin the process of exhuming the body of Urooj Khan who was poisoned with cyanide after winning the lottery . Cruel death: Urooj Khan (pictured right) with his $1million winnings shortly before his death from cyanide poisoning. His wife Shabana Ansari (left) and his teenage daughter from an earlier marriage Jasmeen (second left) are by his side . The Chicago Tribune reports that the reburial ceremony was quiet and lasted only 20 minutes or so. Family members told the paper that they hope the autopsy will shed some light on Khan’s murder. Medical examiners will take blood, . tissue, bone, hair and nail samples. They'll also examine the lungs, . liver, spleen and contents of the stomach and intestines. Paleologos said tests on Khan's organs also may determine whether the poison was swallowed, inhaled or injected. The autopsy was expected to be finished by Friday afternoon, though it will take two to three weeks to get test results, she said. Khan, 46, died in July as he was about to collect $425,000 in lottery winnings. His death initially was ruled a result of natural causes. But a relative asked for further tests, which revealed he was poisoned. Homicide: Khan, 46, died in July as he was about to collect $425,000 in lottery winnings. His death initially was ruled a result of natural causes. But a relative asked for further tests, which revealed he was poisoned . Process: Cook County Medical Examiner Dr Stephen Cina speaks at a news conference in Chicago on Friday, detailing the process of Mr Khan's exhumation . Khan's wife, Shaana Ansari, and other relatives have denied any role in his death and expressed a desire to learn the truth. However it was revealed last week that she could not eat the final meal of Kofta curry she prepared for her husband because she is vegetarian and her father - who was also in the home - did not eat it because he said he was on a diet. Khan's brother ImTiaz told the MailOnline that his brother was the only one in the house to have eaten the traditional indian meat dish, which was made the day after he collected his check. Urooj’s daughter Jasmeen, 17, also did not eat the food, he said at a court hearing where a judge decided the brother of the lottery winner could be exhumed. Fighting back the tears, ImTiaz demanded justice for his brother and said that the curry he ate shortly before dying was ‘highly suspect’. Urooj’s sister Meraj also revealed dramatic new details of the night he died and said that she was woken up by a 4am phone call with a person screaming at the other end. The voice was so unintelligible she was unable to tell if it was a man or a woman, she said. Khan had come to the U.S. from his home in Hyderabad, India, in 1989, setting up several dry-cleaning businesses and buying into some real-estate investments. Questions: Urooj's sister, Meraj Khan and brother, ImTiaz - who was the one who called police after he suspected foul play after an initial investigation said Urooj died of a heart attack . Anger: . Urooj's siblings said they had compiled a 47-page dossier on everyone . who knew him - including his wife, Shabana Ansari, right, adding it was . 'impossible' that his death was natural . Despite having foresworn gambling after a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2010, Khan bought a ticket in June. He jumped 'two feet in the air' and shouted, 'I hit a million', he recalled at a lottery ceremony later that month. He . said winning the lottery meant everything to him and that he planned to . use his winnings to pay off mortgages, expand his business and donate . to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. He was just days from receiving his winnings when he died before dawn on July 20. With no outward sign of trauma, authorities initially determined Khan had died of natural causes. But a concerned relative — whose identity remains a mystery — came forward with suspicions and asked authorities to take a closer look. Further toxicology tests found a lethal amount of cyanide in his blood, leading the medical examiner in November to reclassify the death a homicide. Khan died without a will, opening the door to a court battle. The businessman's widow and siblings fought for months over his estate, including the lottery check. Back in the day: The last time that Maria Jones saw her daughter Jasmeen was in 2000 when she and Urooj Khan divorced . Earlier this week, his ex-wife spoke . out publicly saying that she only learned that their teenage daughter . was living in the U.S. after her former husband was found dead under . suspicious circumstances. Khan's . ex-wife Maria Jones said that she thought that Khan had taken their . daughter Jasmeen to live in India after their acrimonious split but only . found out that Jasmeen lives in Illinois when she saw footage of Khan . accepting his giant lottery check. 'I was thinking "Oh my God! My daughter!"' Jones said. Though Khan's current wife Shabana Ansari is not under formal investigation by police, the dead millionaire's relatives are extremely suspicious that the victim's younger wife may have had a role in the 46-year-old's death. Now that Khan's first wife has spoken out, another element is being added into an already-complicated family drama that resulted in an untimely death and many unanswered questions. Jones lives one state away in Indiana, but believed her ex when he said that he was taking their daughter Jasmeen to India and keeping her there during their split. Mrs Jones was too poor to afford a lawyer at the time so she was unable to contest custody. Even . today her emotional scars are so deep that she has left a dramatic . voicemail on her home answerphone: 'If this is Jasmeen, please leave . your number and I will call you. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. I . love you.' One state away: Khan told Jones that he was taking their daughter to India, and she only discovered after his death that the girl had been living in Illinois this whole time . The disclosure is . another sign that the death of Mr Khan, 46, last July the day after he . collected his winning check has exposed the divisions within his family. Tests . showed he died from cyanide poisoning but no arrests have been made. His second wife Shabana Ansari, 32, has denied she has anything to do . with his death. Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Mrs Jones, 43, said that she was 'shocked' when she saw her daughter's face on TV earlier this week. She said: 'I don't know if she knows I'm still alive. I thought she was in India all these years'. Mrs . Jones - formerly Maria Rabadan - met Mr Khan in Chicago where they . worked together. They got married in 1991 but they divorced in 1997. She . said that she later reached out to Mr Khan's relatives and was told . that he had left the US for India with Jasmeen and did not plan to come . back. Mrs Jones did not want . to discuss her relationship with her ex-husband. She merely said it was . a 'really really long story' but said she was desperate to see her . daughter. Desperate: Jones has a plea to her daughter on her outgoing voicemail message . She said: 'I don’t know what she knows. She was so little. I don’t want to hurt her.' When . MailOnline visited Mrs Jones at her home in Granger, Indiana, her . husband Billy Jones answered the door and said she was in the bath. When . our reporter called later on the phone he said: 'She has decided not to . comment at this time. She's a bit emotional, it's all a bit raw'. 'She didn't know how far she was. She said, "Oh, mommy. Come and get me. I don't want to be here,"' Jones told NBC. 'There is no telling what she is going through and I'm just so sorry that I can't be there with her. 'I love her with all my heart, and she was always, every minute, every second, in my thoughts and my prayers.' Anger: Urooj's siblings said they had compiled a 47-page dossier on everyone who knew him - including his wife, Shabana Ansari, right, adding it was 'impossible' that his death was natural . Urooj died on July 20 last year the day after he collected the over-sized check from Illinois State Lottery officials at the 7-Eleven near his Chicago home where he bought the winning scratchcard. After taxes, the prize money amounted to $425,000 as he took it in a lump sum. The initial toxicology report did not show up cyanide so the death was ruled as by natural causes. It was only when ImTiaz intervened that the poison was found by further tests. Since then the final meal that Urooj, 46, consumed has become central to the case. According to multiple reports, he was at home at the time with Shabana, Fareedun and Jasmeen. A Chicago police source told MailOnline on Thursday that Shabana did not eat the food, and nor did Jasmeen. Not right: The brother of Urooj Khan called police demanding they re-open the investigation into the death. His call prompting the discovery he died of cyanide poisoning at the home he shared with wife . WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com. | Urooj Khan, 46, died day after collecting his winning $1m check from cyanide poisoning .
New autopsy will take blood, tissue, bone, hair and nail samples .
Tests on his organs may determine if the poison was swallowed, inhaled or injected . |
108,554 | 17f8b80a5c5173310f969ce22c48b2b01854cecc | Imported blue cheese (above), Feta and halloumi have all been found to have excess levels of salt . Some popular foreign cheeses contain more salt than sea water, say campaigners. New research found halloumi, a Cypriot cheese, imported blue cheese and Greek Feta had salt levels exceeding seawater, while cottage cheese had the lowest. A study also shows large variations in salt content among the same types of cheese. Some types of cheddar - the most popular choice among Britons - had much higher levels of salt than others, with supermarket own brands having lower levels than branded counterparts. An investigation into more than 600 cheeses sold in the top seven UK supermarkets found the average salt content was 1.7g per 100g of cheese. Halloumi and imported blue cheese contained 2.7g, and Feta 2.5g - Atlantic seawater is equivalent to 2.5g per 100g of table salt. Cheese spread, often given to children, contained 1.88g/per 100g of cheese, while cottage cheese had the least salt at 0.55g/per 100g . Campaigners said the new study, published in the journal BMJ Open, shows some cheese makers are not going far enough to reduce salt levels, putting their customers’ health at risk. Despite many cheese makers meeting the recommended Department of Health salt targets, four out of five cheeses were high in salt. Cheese is one of the 10 biggest contributors of salt to the UK diet - cheddar and cheddar-style cheese being most popular – and the average person consumes 9kg (20 pounds in weight) of cheese every year. On average, salt content tended to be higher in branded (1.78g/100g) than in the supermarket own label (1.72g/100g) cheddar and cheddar-style cheeses – 3.5 per cent higher. The difference in salt content between supermarket and branded products means it is technically possible to produce cheese with less salt, say campaigners. Excess salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure, leading to heart disease and stroke. Although UK intake has fallen in recent years, the average daily intake of 8.6g remains above the target level of 6g. New targets commit the UK to working towards a maximum 5g a day by 2025. Study co-author Dr Kawther Hashem, from Queen Mary University of London, who is also nutritionist for the campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), said: ‘These results provide evidence that the UK salt reduction strategy, based on a series of salt targets for different food groups, is working, but that the targets need to be much more stringent if we are to get salt intakes down to less than 6g a day. ‘These big brands need to stop dragging their heels and catch up with the supermarkets now, or they will be left behind. ‘It’s worth looking at the label and choosing a lower salt and fat version of your favourite cheese, or better yet, to eat very small amounts. ‘Children’s cheeses are often marketed as ‘healthy’, yet can contain at least the equivalent of 75 per cent seawater per 100g on average - these cheeses should only be given to children occasionally, or not at all.’ CASH chairman Professor Graham MacGregor said: ‘Reducing salt is one of the most cost-effective measures to reduce the number of people suffering and dying from stokes, heart attacks and heart failure. ‘Cheese is a big contributor of salt to the UK diet and it is vital that the Department of Health forces the cheese industry to implement the new targets immediately.’ Dr Judith Bryans, Chief Executive of Dairy UK, the body that represents the industry, said: 'Salt is in an integral part of the cheesemaking process for technical and safety reasons. 'In an effort to provide British consumers with nutritious, safe and wholesome cheeses, the dairy industry has made significant steps forward to reduce the salt content of dairy products over the last few years and cheese manufacturers have worked very hard to overcome technical barriers to salt reduction. 'However, lowering salt levels irresponsibly would raise a number of concerns for the cheese industry in terms of food safety and quality. 'Cheese is only one food which contributes to consumers’ salt intakes and other food groups contribute significantly more. 'Cheddar cheese in particular contributes to only 1 per cent of salt intake in the UK - less than most food groups.' | Several popular cheeses contain more salt than sea water, campaigners say .
Halloumi, Greek Feta and imported blue cheese said to have high salt levels .
Cottage cheese has the lowest salt levels, according to the latest research . |
130,303 | 3476bbbc744dd49d92267fd1215ed1eab983cac2 | By . Simon Cable . Back in the Swinging Sixties, getting ready was a bit of a chore. After scrubbing yourself in the bath with a bar of Pears soap, you might have doused yourself in talc, applied your pat-on deodorant and revamped your hairdo with a generous coating of hair lacquer. These days it seems we’re too busy – and hi-tech – for all that faff, relying on quick-fix dry shampoo to freshen our hair, electric face cleaning brushes to buff our skin and anti-ageing serum to protect it. Scroll down for video . Gone are the days when a girl would need hours to preen herself ahead of a big night out, scrubbing in the bath with a bar of Pears soap, applying pat-on deodorant and applying generous coatings of hair lacquer. Today our lives are too busy for all that faff, leaving women to rely on a spritz of dry shampoo and lashings of lip gloss . The contrast between the beauty regimes of women 50 years ago and today has been revealed by cosmetics chain Superdrug, which has marked its half-century by compiling a selection of its best-selling beauty products. A Rimmel advertisement for ‘beauty on a budget’, which featured in a 1964 edition of Woman magazine, shows how women stocked their bathrooms and dressing tables with cleansing milk, perfumed talc and cologne. But while we might be saving time on our beauty regimes today, we’re forking out a lot more than our 1960s counterparts did. When Superdrug first opened its doors, the Rimmel products in the advertisement, ranging from block mascara to pat-on deodorant, all cost one shilling and sixpence, or 7.5p in today’s money. Now you’d have to part with £10.99 for a Max Factor mascara, while a deodorant spray costs £1. In the 1960s Rimmel’s quaintly named anti-wrinkle cream cost pennies. Today L’Oreal’s Revitalift anti-ageing serum will leave you £14.99 worse off. Meanwhile hi-tech gadgets such as a sonic face brush for exfoliating the skin would set you back £129.99, while a red light therapy spotlight, which helps reduce blemishes, costs £69.99. Cosmetics chain Superdrug has marked its half century by highlighting the differences between beauty regimes today and those of our mothers and grandmothers in the 1950s . Two other items on today’s list of essentials that have grown in popularity since the 1960s include face cleansing wipes and dry shampoo, a fragranced powder used between washes to refresh the hair. Then there are the products that have stood the test of time. We still can’t live without make-up essentials such as lipstick, eyeshadow, liquid eyeliner, bronzer and moisturising lotion – although the 1960s packaging and applicators may look rather old-fashioned. And colour-enhancing shampoo was also on shopping lists 50 years ago. Yesterday singer Lulu, who shot to stardom in 1964 following the release of her single Shout! kicked off the Superdrug anniversary celebrations. Recalling how she achieved her wide-eyed 1960s look with mascara, the 65-year-old said: ‘We used to have a dirty block and a little brush and you used to have to spit on the block. It was so unsophisticated. The make-up was harsh and thick. Singer Lulu, pictured left in 1964, was on hand yesterday at Superdrug on Putney High Street to launch 50 years of the popular brand . ‘Today there is so much choice when it comes to hair and make-up, even compared to ten or 20 years ago. 'That said, the classics still prevail and there are many names around that I remember buying as a teenager such as Rimmel, Pears soap.’ She added: ‘Teenage girls still have the same problems now as I did then. They still obsess about their looks. And her own beauty essentials? ‘I always have to have a lip pencil and mascara and a good pair of sunglasses. But as you get older, I’d say that less is more when it comes to make-up,’ she said. | In days gone by a girl would have to set aside hours for her beauty regime .
Perfumed talc, pat-on deodorant, hair lacquer and cream rouge topped a lady's must-have list of products .
Today hi-tech sonic face cleansing brushes, dry shampoo, home waxing hair removal strips and anti-ageing serums are the products of the day .
Singer Lulu was on hand to mark Superdrug's 50th anniversary, as the high street store highlighted the changing items on our shopping lists . |
276,875 | f2afe61d39e3d3b22016b9330d67d94443399b7f | Calum Chambers first came to Arsene Wenger's attention in Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Southampton in January. Chambers moved to the Emirates Stadium for £12million in the summer and has been a virtual ever-present for the Gunners, playing at right back and deputising at centre half. 'I was impressed by his understanding of the game and his interception qualities,' said Wenger of the 19-year-old defender who played 90 minutes against his former club in Arsenal's 1-0 win against Southampton on Wednesday night. Calum Chambers in action against Southampton during Arsenal's 1-0 victory at the Emirates on Wednesday . The Arsenal defender has been a virtual ever-present for the Gunners this season . 'The first time I watched him was in our 2-2 draw against Southampton when we played them away last season. 'I liked the fact that he was early on the ball. His reading of the game and his transition to quickly go forward also stood out, and his touch was good as well. 'I checked his birth date after the game and was very interested.' Sanchez drilled home Aaron Ramsey's pass as Arsenal stole a late winner at the Emirates after Southampton had been reduced to 10 men due to Toby Alderweireld limping off with a hamstring injury six minutes from time. Alexis Sanchez struck in the 89th minute at the Emirates as Arsenal stole a late victory over Southampton . Sanchez celebrates his late strike against Southampton as Arsenal sealed an invaluable victory . VIDEO Wenger pleased with return to defensive solidity . It was the Gunners' third game in eight days and Wenger was impressed with Sanchez's unwillingness to settle for a point. 'Alexis is one of the players who had to dig deep, but he still had such desire to fight. He always finds something special to get a goal'. said Wenger. 'It's difficult to find examples of someone who has settled at a club so quickly. He arrived in July and now it's December. 'When you look at the number of goals he has and the impact he has on the team, it's fabulous.' | Chambers moved to the Emirates from Southampton in the summer .
He has been an ever-present for the first team since his £12million switch .
Chambers, 19, played the full 90 mins in Arsenal's 1-0 win on Wednesday . |
167,838 | 6515f379852f33b5d5cc2ba4f32b79036bcab86a | By . Daily Mail Repoter . PUBLISHED: . 07:17 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:50 EST, 9 December 2013 . She's the bikini-clad paparazzo who finds the cameras turned on her when photographing celebrities. Logan Fazio, dubbed the The Pin-Up Paparazzo, loves to flaunt her beach body while out on a job. Recently she even upstaged model Claudia Romani who was modelling swimwear on Miami Beach. Recently the photographer even upstaged model Claudia Romani who was modelling for a photo shoot . The photographer is based in Miami where she loves to capture every day life as well as fashion. On her blog she writes: Whether it's the warmer climate, the turquoise water, the pastel buildings, or the breathtaking sunsets, there is just something about the Magic City that seems to inspire everyone. 'I hope to candidly showcase both Miami’s fabulous fashionistas and funky freaks in their natural habitats, with a major emphasis on the city herself as a main character.' Logan Fazio, dubbed the The Pin-Up Paparazzo, loves to flaunt her beach body while out on a job . Effortless: Logan Fazio makes modelling look easy despite normally being on the other side of the lens . Many of her photographs are taken on Miami Beach's Lincoln Road. She has made some star friends along the way. On . her Facebook page there are shots of her with singer Lenny Kravitz, . basketball player LeBron James, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. It seems everyone loves to have their photograph taken by her. Glamorous: Logan Fazio stands with other photographers on Miami Beach with their cameras at the ready . Paparazzi Logan Fazio pictured with musician Lenny Kravitz (left) and having her photograph taken (right) Friends again: Kanye West apologises to photographer Logan Fazio after a clash at Miami International Airport . However, she did recently make headlines after a confrontation with singer Kanye West. The photographer had bravely asked his girlfriend Kim if she knew . her ex-boyfriend was having dinner with his pregnant girlfriend in the . restaurant next door. West was clearly angered by the question but after . bumping into her again he ran over to Fazio and gave her a big hug. Logan seems to enjoy having her own photograph taken rather than taking pictures judging by her Facebook page . The photographer is now making a name for herself as someone who should be on the other side of the lens. According . to her Facebook page, she is: 'Trying to turn the tables on the . industry, gain some respect, and keep it classy. And have a little fun . while I'm at it.' Logan Fazio took this photo of Victoria's Secret Angels when they visited the store on Lincoln Road in Miami . | Logan Fazio has been dubbed The Pin-Up Paparazzo .
She recently upstaged model Claudia Romani during a shoot in Miami .
The photographer has been snapped with host of stars . |
269,601 | e9356408febea0472d23b8f6ae61fb1e8c91092c | Veteran fisherman Kim Haskell has been fishing all his life, but had never seen anything like the catch he and his family snagged while out fishing past the Great Barrier Reef. Kim, 64, a fruit grower from Bloomfield, Queensland was on a fishing trip with his brother Jamie and nephew Christopher near Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, off the Queensland coast. The trio rose early and had already caught several tuna off the side of the 18 meter boat when Christopher reeled in an enormous dogtooth tuna. However, it was not that the tuna weighed in at a whopping 40 kilograms that drew the keen anglers' attention, but the fact that the fish had a giant horn sticking straight out from its head. Kim Haskell's nephew Christopher reeled in a 40kg dogtooth tuna with a giant spike sticking out of it's head . Dubbed by social media users as a 'tunicorn', the bizarre sight of the horn stopped Kim and Jamie, both experienced fishermen, in their tracks. The Bloomfield resident said that he could see that something was different about the fish as they were reeling it in, but it wasn't until it was in the boat that he and his family could get a closer look. 'We got it up, and it had a spike sticking straight out,' Kim told Daily Mail Australia. 'We brought it on deck and carefully removed the bill in the dinghy and revived it.' Kim said that he was almost certain it was the elongated bill from a sailfish, similar to a swordfish or marlin, which had become embedded in the dogfish tuna's head. 'It looked to me like the only way it could have gotten there is that there was a feeding frenzy. My guess is there was a bait ball, and the sailfish must have speared the tuna by mistake, and the bill snapped off.' The trio extracted the bill, and released the tuna back in the water. As a result of where they were fishing, the bleeding tuna quickly attracted sharks and was killed soon after. 'We've been fishing all our lives, and it looked so strange,' said Kim. 'The area around the bill was well healed, which makes me think that it had been sticking out of the tuna's head for months or maybe years.' 'It's incredible that the bill missed major blood vessels and brain tissue and that the tuna was still able to operate.' Kim said that the area they were fishing in is an amazing piece of nature, and that he always feels lucky to head out to the reef. The area he and his family were fishing in is quite a remote area, approximately 100 kilometers past the Great Barrier Reef. 'You'd go all night, and because you're so far out you have to clip yourself on to the boat. If you fall off, it's unlikely you'll be found again because it's so remote.' 'I've seen some amazing things out there. Every time I've been there I'm reminded that it's one of the best places I've gone too,' said Kim. 'The water is so clear and everything is so big that you always feel incredibly lucky every second you're in the water.' 'The visibility is unbelievable, and you can see distance underwater.' Kim said that he still has the spike to remind him of the strange day. It's not the only odd thing he's seen out on the water though. A few weeks ago, he was out on the inner reef of the Osprey when he speared a coral trout. After climbing back into the dinghy he cut the trout to bleed it, and a small cod, about 10 centimeters, fell out of the fish's severed stomach. The cod was alive, and spewed out a 5cm bait fish which was dead. Kim put the cod over the side and it swam away. 'The trout must have just swallowed the cod just before I speared it,' said Kim. 'How lucky can you be?' | Experienced fisherman Kim Haskell, his brother Jamie and their nephew Christopher were on a family fishing trip in a remote part of the Osprey Reef in Queensland .
Christopher reeled in a whopping 40kg dogtooth tuna with a large spike sticking out of it's head .
The trio removed the spike, and believe it had been there for possibly a year after the fish was speared by a sailfish .
The bleeding tuna was released but attracted sharks and was soon eaten .
The veteran angler still has the spike to remember the day by . |
221,300 | aa78953e38c61a7af7eb5a6333d879fcf13e4be3 | Grosseto, Italy (CNN) -- Described by one lawyer Monday as looking "like he walked straight out of a GQ magazine," the ex-captain of a shipwrecked cruise liner faced about a dozen of the survivors he's accused of abandoning. It was the first time Francesco Schettino, 52, had faced survivors since the luxury ship Costa Concordia ran aground in January, killing at least 32 people. Schettino, 52, wore a black suit and tie at the preliminary hearing, which was held inside a theater in the Tuscan town of Grosseto. Accompanied by lawyers and technical consultants working on his behalf, the embattled former captain arrived 20 minutes early. "He looked like he walked straight out of a GQ magazine," said John Arthur Eaves, an American lawyer who is representing 150 of the passengers. Schettino faces allegations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship, failing to report an accident to the coast guard and destroying a natural habitat. The ship, carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members, turned on its side after striking rocks off the Italian island of Giglio on January 13. According to passengers' accounts, chaos ensued on the night of the shipwreck, as guests rushed to fill lifeboats and escape. Some crew members helped passengers and then jumped overboard, passengers said; remaining crew members seemed helpless to handle the melee. Related story: Port Authority to captain: 'Get on board damn it!' Like all preliminary hearings in Italian courts, Monday's hearing was closed to the news media. But eventually, reports about the hearing made their way out of the theater. One survivor approached Schettino at the hearing, saying he hoped the "truth would come out soon." The captain shook the man's hand and replied, "Yes, the truth must be ascertained," Italian media reported. During the hearing, Schettino was seated on the theater stage with eight other defendants under investigation in the case, including his second in command, Ciro Ambrosio, officer Salvatore Ursino and Roberto Ferrarini, the head of the Costa Cruises fleet. Also in attendance were about 12 former passengers, some of whom contributed to the theatrical theme outside the hall, known as Teatro Moderno. Passengers turned the area around the theater into a stage for impromptu news conferences for an international group of about 150 journalists. Several German passengers said German newspapers had flown them to Grosseto. Dozens of police patrolled the area. Schettino's lawyer, Paolo Bastianini, told CNN his client had received death threats. The case centers on several questions, including why it allegedly took Schettino more than an hour to issue an order to abandon ship and why he allegedly left the vessel before all passengers had abandoned it. Related story: Luxury cruise turns into nightmare . Retired Capt. Fredrik J. van Wijnen, a friend of Schettino's and a representative of the Confederation of European Shipmasters' Associations, told reporters that Schettino felt terrible for the loss of life. Though the captain made a mistake by coming too close to Giglio, his maneuvers after the accident saved thousands of lives, van Wijnen told CNN. Schettino, who was released from house arrest in July, was fired last week by the Costa Crociere parent company, Italy's official ANSA news agency reported. He has said that he was wrongfully fired and that his actions prevented additional deaths. During the hearing, which is expected to last up to 10 days, a judge is expected to determine what evidence is admissible for an eventual trial, including the on-board ship data recorder. An attorney for Schettino raised objections about an expert and asked that the inquiry be extended while he was brought in from Jakarta, but the request was denied. Efforts to secure the wreckage are expected to be completed within 10 days, ANSA reported. The next phase will involve putting floating platforms inside the half-sunken ship. Salvagers plan to remove the wreckage by summer, it said. Journalist Barbie Nadeau reported from Grosseto; CNN's Hada Messia reported from Rome; CNN's Josh Levs contributed to this report. | NEW: Lawyer for passengers compares ex-captain's suit to fashion magazine attire .
Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, abandoning ship, causing shipwreck .
A judge will decide what's admissible at a trial; three others being investigated are in court .
Schettino was captain of the Costa Concordia when it ran aground in January, killing 32 . |
216,444 | a43731a3f8571ae449e467ed7f3f9595aa5a1e5e | Instead of dinner and drinks, your next first date could be tokes and munchies. With niche dating sites targeting everyone from farmers to singles with food allergies, smokers have carved out their own dating portals aimed at pot smokers and medicinal marijuana users. Those looking for a special someone to pass to the left to visit 420singles.net. The 28-year-old founder from California told the Marin Independent Journal he created the site to find his ideal partner. Scroll down for video . Smoking: 420singles.net lets users find singles anywhere in the world that share their passion for pot, and boasts over 22,000 users . 'I smoked marijuana, and I was single,' said Ryan Moxon, 'and I was like, I really want to find a girl who also smokes marijuana, and one thing led to another.' In recent years, 420singles.net saw membership grow thanks to state efforts to legalize weed. 'It’s suddenly much cooler to come out as a toker,' he added. But just because pot sales are now legal in Colorado and Washington and the use of medical marijuana allowed in 23 states and Washington, D.C., doesn't mean finding love is easy. Michigan auto worker and Vietnam vet Lawrence Ward, 59, smokes to counter the side effects of chemotherapy, and got a second date with a woman nearby with similar medical needs. 'It's not hard finding a partner who smokes,' Ward said. 'But what I was looking for was somebody with a similar situation as I had going on with the medical marijuana and being licensed.' Though the 22,000 users are scattered throughout the U.S., Moxon said that 420singles.net has found investors for an expansion in Colorado. Mobile: Pot-friendly singles can use iOS and Android apps for my420mate. 420singles.net so far only has a supported app for Android. 'I shouted out on Twitter. I said I was seeking a $10,000 investment to kick me off and they responded,' Moxon said. 'We're going to do a large-scale, targeted ad campaign in Colorado.' Another site competing for the title of the 'Cupid of cannabis' is my420mate.com, which boasts both iOS and Android mobile apps, but has still struggled breaking into the mainstream dating scene. 420 is a reference to April 20, an important date in cannabis culture. The Daily Caller reported that Comcast's Denver offices refused to air a commercial for the company, telling cofounder Jay Lindberg that it wouldn't run ads for the marijuana industry. 'We’re not taking any biz from the new industry,' said Ariana Dobson, a national account executive with Comcast. And while these sites continue to help chill singles find their match online, Moxon has his own decidedly less chill story of trying to find love. 'She met someone else on my site that went to her college and they started dating.' | Pot-friendly singles visit sites like 420singles.net and my420mate.com to connect with interested parties .
The founder of 420singles.net, Ryan Moxon, 28, wanted to find a partner as interested in marijuana as him .
The sites have attracted interest from investors as pot smoking becomes legal and mainstream .
Backlash against the business still happens, with Comcast refusing to air a commercial for my420mate.com . |
73,610 | d0acbf12600b4eca9716a211074466b8e6f6a11a | The number of patients languishing for hours on trolleys in A&E has doubled in a week. A total of 16,234 patients waited on trolleys for between four and 12 hours last week, the worst since records began in 2010. Another 241 were waiting for more than 12 hours, again the highest number ever recorded. These are seriously ill patients whom doctors have decided need to be admitted to a hospital ward. But a critical shortage of beds means they have to wait hours for one to become available. Ambulances queuing up outside Wrexham Maelor Hospital earlier this week as number visiting A&E departments soared . This week an unprecedented 13 hospitals declared major incidents due to soaring numbers arriving in A&E. They called in off-duty staff, cancelled non-urgent operations and created makeshift wards. Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: ‘These figures show the Tory A&E crisis is intensifying … David Cameron’s failure to produce a plan to deal with this cannot carry on. 'Their complacency is exposing far too many vulnerable people to too much risk.’ The figures for last week also show nearly 11,000 ambulances queued outside A&E for more than half an hour – more than twice as many as this time last year. Andy Burnham MP, pictured, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: ‘These figures show the Tory A&E crisis is intensifying' The crisis has been blamed on patients being unable to see their GP, particularly out of hours, forcing them to go to casualty instead. Cuts to social care also mean hospitals cannot discharge many elderly patients, causing a bed shortage. The Government injected £700million into hospitals in the autumn. Yesterday NHS England, which oversees the health service, gave further details of how the money is being used, such as funding the equivalent of 4,500 full-time nurses and 700 doctors – including locums, staff from overseas and overtime by existing employees – and an extra 5,000 beds. | 16,234 patients waited on trolleys in A&E for between four and 12 hours .
Another 241 were forced to wait more than 12 hours to for treatment .
The figures are the worst since records began five years ago in 2010 .
This week an unprecedented 13 hospitals declared major incidents due to soaring numbers . |
191,831 | 84669684cdeea942b1a2d584bf55aed3a99aa290 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:00 EST, 27 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:14 EST, 28 August 2012 . Benefit fraudsters: Gaye and Glyn Williams leave Gloucester Crown Court . A middle-class couple who claimed thousands of pounds in state benefits had enough money to privately educate their son, a court heard. Gaye Williams, 38, pretended she was a single mother and claimed council housing and tax benefits as well as income support while her husband, Glyn, was earning as much as £1,500 a week. At an earlier hearing at Gloucester Crown Court, she admitted three offences of obtaining benefits by dishonestly failing to disclose that her husband was living with her. Mr Williams pleaded guilty to three offences of possessing criminal property - benefit money which was claimed by his wife and paid into his account. They appeared in court again on Friday after Judge Jamie Tabor had given them six months to save up to repay a significant part of the loss of more than £11,500 - and avoid prison sentences. The court was told that Mr Williams, 47, was in a position to repay £2,500 to the Department of Works and Pensions but Mrs Williams had been unable to work since the matter came to court - and was living on reduced benefits. The couple, formerly of Oakle Street, Churcham, Gloucestershire, were now living apart, said Sabhia Pathan, for Mr Williams. He had worked 'extremely hard' to save money towards repayment, she said. Steve Young, for Mrs Williams, said she had been unable to work since the case came to court and the benefits she receives did not meet her outgoings. Mr Young said she had been effectively blacklisted and could not get a job because of 'grossly inaccurate press reports.' Judge Tabor told Mr Williams that he had been working extremely hard and had done all that he could have expected to earn money to repay the loss. He said he should ensure that the payment is made to the Department of Work of Pensions by September 11 and that way avoid a prison sentence. The judge ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared on Mrs Williams. He adjourned the case until September 11, when the couple will be sentenced. At . an earlier hearing, the court was told that the couple were maintaining . a common household, despite Mrs Williams claiming she was a single . mother. Mrs Williams ran two cars, one of them a . 4x4 and the couple bought an expensive Dogue de Bordeaux dog (file picture) - which . cost about £1,000 and paid for their son to go to a private school . Mrs Williams ran two cars, one of them a . 4x4 and the couple bought an expensive Dogue de Bordeaux dog - which . cost about £1,000 - and paid for their son to go to a private school . while she was claiming benefits. The court was told the total of . benefits paid by the Department of Work and Pensions, Gloucester City . Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council was £11,558. Mrs . Williams had claimed housing and council tax benefit while living in . Soren Larsen Way, Hempsted, Gloucester, between November 2008 and . January 2009. Judgement: At Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Jamie Tabor gave them six months to save up to repay a significant part of the loss of more than £11,500 . She had then claimed similar benefits from Tewkesbury Council while living in Highnam between March and August 2009. She had also failed to declare that for a short period she worked for an osteopath, earning almost £800. Throughout the period, her husband was in well paid employment as an engineer and his earnings were as high as £1,000 to £1,500 a week. | Gaye Williams, 38, claimed council housing and tax benefits .
Husband Glyn, 47 was earning as much as £1,500 a week in his job as an engineer .
Ran two cars and bought expensive dogs which cost about £1,000 . |
37,114 | 693548b066a55a728d14cda417059d653bc1cd3d | By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 10 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:29 EST, 10 October 2012 . Pope Benedict XVI has delivered a prayer in Arabic for the first time during his weekly general audience. More than 20,000 people heard the Pope's prayers in Arabic, part of a new effort by the Vatican to show support for Christians in the Middle East. The Pope today first delivered his own brief greeting in Arabic: 'The pope prays for all the Arabic-speaking people. God bless you all.' Then a priest translated the Pope's prayers into Arabic. Pope Benedict XVI added the Arabic language to his weekly prayers and added that he prayed for all Arabic-speaking people . The Vatican said it was adding Arabic to the six languages, aside from the original Italian, typically spoken during the general audience, to remind Catholics to pray for peace in the Middle East. The prayers are usually delivered in English, French, Spanish. German, Polish and Portuguese. Khalid Hussain, a Pakistani-born Muslim tourist visiting St. Peter's Square, praised the initiative, saying 'I think it will bring a lot of audience into what the pope is saying'. The Pope also praised the Second Vatican Council, which began 50 years ago this week and ran for three years, calling it a 'compass' for the Catholic Church 'in the . middle of the storms'. The Council brought 2,250 bishops together and created 15 'constitutions' which helped reform the Vatican. A mass in St . Peter's Square on Thursday will launch a 'Year of Faith', to celebrate the exact . anniversary of the start of Vatican II. The Vatican is reaching out to Middle Eastern Christians, making Arabic the seventh translated language, alongside the original Italian . Last week, Pope Benedict’s ex-butler Paolo Gabriele was found guilty of stealing confidential papers from the pope and sentenced to 18 months in jail - but he is expected to shortly be granted a pardon. Gabriele, 46, was given the prison term on October 5 for his role in one of the worst scandals to hit the Vatican in recent years, involving allegations of infighting, intrigue and nepotism, and corruption. Prosecutors in the so-called ‘Vatileaks’ case had asked the Vatican court for a three-year sentence for the ex-butler - who had collected a huge number of stolen documents at his apartment within the Vatican. But the presiding judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre reduced the sentence on the grounds of Gabriele’s service to the Church and his apology to the Pope for betraying him. The Vatican’s spokesman Federico Lombardi said after the verdict that the Pope was ‘very likely’ to pardon Gabriele, who claimed he had been motivated by a desire to root out 'corruption and evil' at the heart of the Church. | Arabic becomes seventh language added to Pope's weekly prayers . |
208,306 | 99aed7590c0eaa255248d2d776475323d421bdad | Rumours have been circulating since the beginning of December that Apple is preparing to launch a supersized version of its iPad Air. Now, a leaked photo of a sketch, reportedly taken by an employee who works in a Foxconn factory in China where iPads are made, suggests that the rumours of an ‘iPad Air Plus’ with a 12.2 inch screen, are true. The image seems to show a 'sketch' of the casing for the supersized tablet, which supports previous claims that the iPad Air Plus, also dubbed the iPad Pro by speculating enthusiasts, will also boast four speakers for stereo sound. A leaked photo of a sketch (pictured) reportedly taken by an employee who works in a Foxconn factory, where iPads are made, suggests that the rumours of an ‘iPad Air Plus’ with a 12.2 inch screen, are true . The image was released by French website Nowhere Else, which has previously leaked details from unannounced smartphones and Apple gadgets which proved to be true, citing a Foxconn source. The source said that initial testing for the iPad Air Plus was stopped in the summer and Apple’s suppliers will soon start mass production of the tablet. The sketch suggests that the tablet will look similar to the iPad Air 2 in design, with rounded corners and the same standby button, rear camera, microphone and volume buttons placement. However, seemingly confirming rumours that the larger tablet will offer stereo sound, there appears to be a speaker grill on the top of the shell. The iPad Air Plus is expected to have a 12.2inch screen or even larger, dwarfing the iPad Mini with its 7.9inch screen (left) and iPad air (right) with a 9.7 inch screen . Name: Popular suggestions for the name of the supersized tablet include the iPad Air Plus - taking its lead from Apple's iPhone 6 Plus smartphone, and the iPad Pro. Size: The tablet is rumoured to have a 12.2 inch screen, although other dimensions have also been suggested. Rumours suggest it will be just seven millimetres thick. Design: The leaked 'sketch' suggests that the iPad Air Plus will be similar in design to the iPad Air 2, with its rounded corners and also share the same placement of buttons on its edges. USP: The image differs from the smaller tablet however, because of grilles on the top of the shell, which suggest the device will include stereo speakers, as rumoured. Launch: Sources have suggested different launch times, but there is some consensus that the tablet may make its debut before the summer. Japanese magazine Mac Fan claimed in December that the iPad Air Plus will also feature a much faster A9 processor and is set to launch between April and June. Bloomberg and other publications reported that Apple was planning on releasing the device sometime in early 2015, while a recent report from The Wall Street Journal said the Californian firm had postponed mass production of the larger iPad from December 2014 into next year as suppliers struggled to meet demand for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch. The designs show the gadget is just 7mm thick, but the size of the screen is uncertain, with rumours suggesting measurements between 12 inches and 12.9 inches. The first suggestion of a supersized tablet came just weeks after claims that the large screen size of the iPhone 6 plus was impacting on iPad usage. The release of Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus means there is now only a 2.4-inch difference between the size of the phablet’s screen, and the display on its iPad mini. Analysis has revealed that as phones become larger, more people are using them for watching videos or reading - making their tablets almost redundant. The new larger iPad is expected to look like the recently launched iPad Air (pictured), with rounded corners. Leaked designs show the gadget is just 7mm thick, but this is uncertain . A survey comparing the before-and-after behaviour of iPhone and iPad users revealed that people with an iPhone 5S use their phone 55% of the time, but this increases to 72% for the iPhone 6 and 80% for the iPhone 6 Plus - both at the detriment of the iPad, perhaps explaining why Aple is planning a larger one . A study by Pocket - an app that lets users save webpages, videos and other content for reading - later found that people who recently upgraded to an iPhone 6 Plus use their tablets 36 per cent less than before. It analysed more than two million articles and videos that were opened using the app, and compared the before and after behaviour in people who previously owned an iPhone 5, 5C and 5S and those who now own an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It also looked at the use of tablets by the same people. Pocket also saw users with both an iPhone and an iPad watched significantly more content as soon as they upgraded to an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Those with the iPhone 6 (centre) opened 33% more articles and videos inside Pocket than they did with a 5S (left), and those with a 6 Plus (right) opened 65% more items than before . The iPhone 6 accounted for 68 per cent of all sales through September and into early October, while its larger model took between 23 and 24 per cent. Apple's cheaper iPhone 5S and 5C handsets made up the rest of the sales. Following last year's launch, the 5S and 5C accounted for 84 per cent of total iPhone sales in the first 30 days - proving the 6 range is more popular. The skew is being blamed on reports that stocks of the iPhone 6 Plus are lower because Apple is struggling to complete orders. Recent figures from Pocket also found that two-and-a-half more Pocket users are opting for an iPhone 6 as opposed to a 6 Plus. ‘The bigger your phone’s screen, the more time you’ll spend reading and watching on it,’ explained the researchers in a blog post. ‘In fact, the bigger your phone’s screen, the more you’ll read and watch as a whole.’ It discovered that users who upgraded to an iPhone 6 now view content on their phones 72 per cent of the time, up from 55 per cent when they owned on a smaller screen. Pocket also saw that users with both an iPhone and an iPad watched significantly more content as soon as they upgraded to an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. But, a larger screen does make the smartphone less portable and Pocket noticed that people with an iPhone 6 Plus read 22 per cent less on their morning commutes than those with a smaller model. Recent figures from Pocket also found that two-and-a-half more Pocket users are opting for an iPhone 6 as opposed to a 6 Plus. ‘This tells us that, at least for now, convenience and portability trump a better, and bigger, entertainment and reading experience.’ | Image was obtained by an employee of Foxconn, which makes iPads .
'Sketch' appears to show the casing for the supersized tablet .
Tablet, dubbed iPad Air Plus and iPad Pro could have a 12.2 inch screen .
Image suggests it will look similar to the rounded iPad Air 2 in design .
The most notable feature is a grille for rumoured speakers for stereo sound . |
270,249 | e9fe774ca81e1650b2f1a8df5ffa025363c27d3c | New Yorkers are not particularly known for their hospitality, but Mayor Bill De Blasio thinks some have crossed a line in their treatment of the brave Bellevue Hospital staffers who have been caring for the city's first Ebola patient. The mayor held an afternoon press conference on Sunday to discuss the mistreatment of Bellevue health care workers who he says have been denied service at restaurants, and had their children treated differently, just because they work at the same hospital where Dr Craig Spencer is currently being treated for the deadly disease in an isolation ward. Dr Spencer, 33, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday - just six days after returning from Guinea where he was working with Doctors without Borders to aid in the largest outbreak of the virus in history. Scroll down for video . 'Unacceptable': New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio held a press conference on Sunday to address reports that Bellevue health care workers were being mistreated for working at the hospital where the city's first Ebola patient is being cared for . Now in New York: Bellevue Hospital received its first Ebola patient on Thursday, after Dr Craig Spencer reported to the health care center just six days after returning from Ebola-stricken Guinea. Brave volunteer: Dr Spencer returned to New York from Guinea on October 17, and admitted himself to the hospital six days later after noticing symptoms of the deadly virus . Mayor De Blasio and his wife Chiraline McCray visited the isolation ward at Bellevue where Dr Spencer is being treated and said the volunteering health care workers they encountered there were 'calm, cool, collected and purposeful'. However, he was shocked to hear reports about how some of these doctors and nurses were being denied food and treated differently when strangers learned they worked at the hospital. Mayor De Blasio called these instances 'absolutely unacceptable', adding that 'there will be consequences for those individuals' found disrespecting nurses or other medical personnel. He did not specify what kind of punishment could be handed out. Mr De Blasio went on to describe the Bellevue workers treating Dr Craig Spencer as the 'the first responders in this crisis' and like 'the Marines of our health care system'. The mayor also addressed a nurse who was being monitored this weekend in New Jersey, under new rules in both New Jersey and New York requiring health care workers returning from West Africa to submit to a 21-day quarantine. Nurse Kaci Hickox talked to CNN about her 'inhumane' containment at the airport, saying she is confined in a tent with limited contact to the outside world, no flushable toilet, TV or reading material. Mayor de Blasio appeared to hit out at New Jersey officials, by calling the conditions of Ms Hickox's quarantine 'inappropriate'. 'The problem here is that this hero coming back from the front, having done the right thing, was treated with disrespect and was treated as if she had done something wrong when she hadn't,' Mayor de Blasio said. 'We owe her better than that.' However, the mayor added that he respects the right of other governments to make their own decisions in how to handle this outbreak. 'Inhumane': Mayor De Blasio also spoke about Nurse Kaci Hickox, who is currently under quarantine in New Jersey. The nurse spoke to CNN, calling her quarantine 'inhumane' for having no access to a flushable toilet, TV or reading material. Mr De Blasio said her treatment was 'inappropriate' | New York Mayor Bill De Blasio says there will be consequences for individuals found disrespecting these health care workers .
Dr Craig Spencer is currently being treated for Ebola in an isolation unit at Bellevue .
The mayor also called the quarantine of Doctors without Borders nurse Kaci Hickox in New Jersey 'inappropriate'
The nurse spoke out to CNN this weekend to describe the conditions of her 21-day isolation as 'inhumane' with no flushable toilet, TV or reading material . |
220,956 | aa07c2bf99a2cd2919907181455628d6bce7a344 | Novak Djokovic admits he does not know how impending fatherhood will impact on his performance at the US Open. The world number one and new wife Jelena are expecting their first child in October. They married in Montenegro a few days after Djokovic defeated Roger Federer to win Wimbledon, and initial indications suggest the Serbian will struggle to play his best tennis. He was a shadow of the player that won his seventh grand slam title on Centre Court last month as he suffered early defeats in the Masters tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati. Father figure: Novak Djokovic admits that he's unsure how fatherhood will have an impact on tennis . Djokovic has been seeking advice from coach Boris Becker about how to cope with the competing responsibilities in his life as he prepares to begin his Flushing Meadows campaign against Argentina's Diego Schwartzman. The 27-year-old said: 'A lot of things happened in the last two months, and it was a very emotional period. I just felt a bit flat on the court. I wasn't managing to find that intensity and the perfect mindset. 'But it's all normal. It's something that I'm experiencing for the first time. So I'm trying to talk as much as I can to first of all my coach that has been through similar experiences in his life more than one time. I'm trying to get as much information as I can. Champion: Djokovic kissing the Wimbledon trophy after his five-set victory over Roger Federer . 'I have only positive and joyful feelings (about) approaching fatherhood, and hopefully it's going to happen in less than two months. Then I'm going to enjoy it and try to take as much energy as I can, positive energy to the tennis court. 'But without a doubt, life changes. Priorities change. My priorities are my family, my wife, my future kid. Tennis is definitely not number one any more.' Djokovic has reached the US Open final in each of the last four years, beating Rafael Nadal in 2011 but losing to the Spaniard last year and in 2010, and also to Andy Murray two years ago. Hungry: Novak Djokovic goes into the US Open as the favourite for the tournament after Nadal pulled out . With Nadal missing as he nurses a wrist injury, Djokovic goes into the tournament as favourite, and his expectations remain high. He said: 'I'm feeling better and better as the days go by. It's something that is encouraging me for this year's US Open campaign. 'Obviously I want to peak with my form at the US Open. Yes, I wanted to do better in Canada and Cincinnati. Unfortunately I wasn't even close to my best. Friendly: Novak Djokovic laughing with John McEnroe at the Johnny Mac Tennis Project Benefit . 'I have high expectations for myself. I always have. Especially at this stage of my career where I feel like now is the time that I'm at my peak physical strength. I want to use this time of my career as much as I can to win as many matches as possible. 'Obviously I know I'm not the only one that has this kind of optimistic mindset. There are many players who are fighting for the same trophy. This is the last Grand Slam of the year, and this is where you want to play your best.' The absence of Nadal coupled with doubts over the form of Djokovic and Murray makes this potentially the most open grand slam in years, although Federer is in ominous form. Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic are leading the next generation's push to break into the grand slam winners' circle, and both will fancy their chances here. 'When Rafa is not around it changes because he always has been a favourite in every grand slam for the last seven, eight, 10 years,' said Djokovic. 'Definitely the tournament and tennis is losing when they don't have Rafa in the tournament. 'I know that there is one thing for sure: everybody is starting from scratch. Everybody starts from Monday.' VIDEO Djokovic cruises through in New York . | Novak Djokovic and new wife Jelena are expecting their first child in October .
The World number one is the favourite for the US Open .
Rafael Nadal has already pulled out of the tournament . |
35,222 | 6420a038b1d79d5a634e65a0f9e8568e38e45a5b | By . Dan Bloom . A health trust which discharged more than 800 suspected cancer patients was warned about its blunders by a GP - but did nothing to stop them for a year. An investigation has revealed a clutch of failings at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, where 810 patients were not chased up after missing urgent cancer appointments. The independent probe was launched earlier this year after it was revealed at least one patient involved in the scandal had died. Failings: 810 patients were not chased up after missing urgent cancer appointments at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which comprises three hospitals including Watford General (pictured) More than 100 others may have had life-threatening delays thanks to the blunders at the Trust, which runs Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead Hospitals in Hertfordshire. The patients failed to attend urgent cancer checkups, possibly because they did not receive appointment letters. They should have been contacted immediately and offered another appointment within two weeks. Instead it is thought they were either discharged or given non-urgent appointments. Now the final report reveals a GP warned there could be a major problem in November 2012 - a full year before the Trust launched its investigation. The GP's fears were not followed up because there were not 'appropriate systems' to deal with complaints, the report said, and there was a 'lack of continuity in leadership'. An independent investigation into the blunders at the Trust has revealed a GP warned there could be a major problem in November 2012 - a full year before the Trust launched its investigation . Former chief executive: Jan Filochowski left in late 2012 and moved on to Great Ormond Street, London . Instead it took another wider review for the blunders to come to light. The report said: 'In . November 2012, [the Trust] received a GP’s formal complaint that . patients referred with suspected cancer on a two-week wait pathway may . have been discharged after one Did Not Attend. 'In . response to the investigation clinicians were reminded of the policy. The formal complaint response in July 2013 acknowledged the issues and . committed to actions to resolve them. 'As . the appropriate systems were not in place to deal with complaints . management at that time and due to a lack of continuity in leadership . and ownership to address the issues, progress was not followed up.' New chief: Samantha Jones ordered a review of the system for booking appointments in November . Only . at a separate, later training session did it become apparent that . patients were not being offered a second appointment, the report said. 'This . was the trigger to instigate the internal incident investigation - . Operation Bloom - in November 2013. The GP complaint was reviewed again . as part of this investigation.' The report, released yesterday, also revealed an audit was promised in July last year but did not happen because 'leadership changes at executive level' caused confusion as to who was in charge. Not only were staff unsure who had the final responsibility for 'two-week wait' cancer patients - the top directors on the hospitals' board also did not know for sure who was in charge. The report added: 'This is a complex, challenged Trust and the senior leadership prioritised the known performance issues, giving lower priority to seeking assurance that the performance measures marked green really had no problems.' The hospital's £280,000-a-year former chief executive, Jan Filochowski, left just a month before the GP's complaint and was replaced by Samantha Jones. Mr Filochowski joined Great Ormond Street Hospital but retired just over a year into his post, saying he wanted to focus on NHS consultancy and business books. Ms Jones said yesterday the health trust now has a 'comprehensive cancer improvement plan' in place. 'I apologise unreservedly to the patients and families affected and wish to assure them that we have already put failsafe mechanisms in place to stop these issues arising again,' she said. 'We have published the report to share the findings with our patients and local community. 'We will continue to work in partnership with local and national health partners to ensure all aspects of the cancer referral pathway can be improved to enhance the patient care experience.' | Investigation: Patients failed at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust .
810 missed urgent appointments as they may not have received letters .
At least one died and more than 100 may have had life-threatening delays .
Errors went undetected until GP's formal complaint in November 2012 .
Yet the hospital did not launch internal investigation until November 2013 .
Audit was promised in July 2013 but never took place, says report . |
70,952 | c92c4b8b42accade90455b54439e3cf172b1b40f | Women who live with their partners are more likely to accidentally become pregnant than those who are single or married, a new study has found. Researchers found most couples who live together said they intended to delay childbirth until they were married, steadily employed and financially stable. Despite this, surprise pregnancies are very common, with figures showing they account for half of all conceptions in the UK and U.S. Scroll down for video . Women who live with their partners are more likely to accidentally become pregnant than single or married women, according to U.S. researchers. Working class women were most likely to have a surprise pregnancy . Researchers found accidental pregnancy was especially common among working class couples who struggled to access reliable contraceptives and often forgot to use them. This was compared to middle-class couples where the women could access contraceptives more easily and tended to talk about contraception more openly with their partners. The study was conducted in the U.S. where unlike the UK, contraceptives are not free and are generally included in health insurance plans. Men in middle class relationships often helped ensure their partners used contraception, by reminding them about it, helping them set alarms, or by paying for prescriptions. In the study, middle class couples were characterised as being university-educated and having a job that required a degree. The study, carried out by social scientists from Cornell University and the University of Indianapolis involved 61 middle class and working class couples who lived together. They were quizzed about their relationships and their use of contraception. They study found that women in cohabiting couples were the most likely to become accidentally pregnant, with working class women more likely to have a surprise pregnancy than middle class women. Working class women in the U.S. reported that job instability or unemployment left them without health insurance or health plans that covered contraceptives. Lead author Professor Sharon Sassler, from Cornell University, said: 'Women who are on the same page as their partners regarding childbirth and who are able to communicate with partners are more efficacious contraceptors. Middle class couples living together used contraceptives more effectively and talked about them more openly. Men helped their partners by reminding them about contraceptives and paying for prescriptions . 'Since it is the middle-class women who are more likely to be in this position, they are therefore in greater control of their reproductive destiny than their working-class counterparts.' She added that the research looked at the barriers facing working class women. She said: 'Women mentioned the cost of going for a doctor's visit; paying for birth control pills, which insurance once had covered but no longer did; or not being able to afford the out-of-pocket expense on insurance plans with meagre coverage as barriers.' She added that this was one of the only studies to include men's perspectives on family planning and contraceptive use. She said: 'We find that men are often involved in ensuring contraception is regularly used – whether by reminding partners, helping them program their phone or helping to pay for a prescription that is too expensive. 'Social marketing programs can target male partners to participate in deferring pregnancy until couples are ready – relationally, emotionally and financially – to become parents.' The study was published in the journal Family Relations. | Around 50% of pregnancies in the UK and U.S. are unplanned .
Women in a cohabiting couple more likely to become accidentally pregnant .
This was compared to women who were single or married .
Working class women most like to have a surprise pregnancy .
They couldn't access contraceptives or forgot to take them, research found .
Middle class women with a degree more likely to use contraceptives .
Also more likely to talk to their partner about contraception . |
78,330 | de0d4a69de0b52e369e962dae4b6d500e9d85451 | By . Annabel Fenwick Elliott . A mother-of-one has spoken out about her experiences - good and bad - of being a surrogate for gay and infertile couples. Jessica Szalacinski, a 36-year-old language teacher based in Nashville, Tennessee, has been a surrogate twice; birthing a baby girl in 2009 and a boy in 2011, both for gay male couples - which were 'joyous' experiences. She was forced to walk away from her third surrogacy arrangement, however, after the 'rich, well-known' couple, led her to feel like 'a commodity', Ms Szalacinski tells Jane Ridley at The New York Post. Surrogate: Jessica Szalacinski, 36, (pictured) has readily given birth to two babies, both for gay couples, but walked out on a third arrangement because the couple led her to feel like a 'commodity' 'I definitely come from breeding stock, and pregnancy is a relatively easy process for me,' she says. 'I entered into the whole thing with my eyes open. Nobody forced me to do anything.' Ms Szalacinski, who has a 12-year-old son with her police officer husband, Eric, was first introduced to the concept when she saw a news report on the difficulties faced by gay couples wishing to adopt or foster children. Instead of 'picketing' for the cause, she decided to volunteer her womb for the purpose of surrogacy. Initially, her son was enraged because he assumed his mother would be 'having sex with two men', and her husband thought she was 'crazy', but once everything was explained and carefully considered, all parties were on board. Ms Szalacinski found David and Alex, a gay couple . based in New York, through Surromomsonline.com, and instantly 'clicked' with them, bonding not only over the baby she would later birth for them . - a result of David's sperm and Alex's sister's egg - but also their shared interests. Popular route: Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and his wife Nancy (left) welcomed their daughter Winnie Rose (right) via a surrogate last July, after they failed to conceive naturally . Proud parents: Tom Ford (left) and his partner of 27 years, Richard Buckley (right) had their first son Alexander in 2012, also via a surrogate . Gestational surrogacy uses In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to create an embryo using the eggs from the prospective mother or donor and sperm from the father or donor that is then implanted in a surrogate. This allows the intended parents to have a genetically related child. The success rate varies widely based on the quality of the egg and sperm, as well as the age and health of the surrogate. Gestational carriers are officially recognized in only 15 states and are illegal in some. '[I] preferred a gay couple for selfish reasons,' she reveals. 'A heterosexual couple is coming to a surrogate already crestfallen because they’ve tried and failed. 'Going forward, a lot of their sense will be wrapped up with those kind of emotions and possibly some envy and jealousy. But working with a gay couple is joyous.' Ms Szalacinski was paid $20,000 for the process, and underwent a 'full psychological' evaluation and a home visit', before giving birth to a healthy girl in Nashville, in 2009. In the delivery room, the baby was whisked away as quickly as possible, before any 'biological urge' could present itself. 'I did hear a cry,' she says. 'But it was like hearing the neighbor’s kid crying. I think it would have been harder for me if I hadn’t bonded with the dads.' Heartbreak: E! host Giuliana Rancic and her husband Bill (left) have one son, Duke (right) who was born via a surrogate two years ago, and earlier this month, the same surrogate tragically miscarried their second child . Success stories: Hunger games star Elizabeth Banks and her husband Max Handelman (left) have two children born via a surrogate, and Elton John has a four-year-old son, Zachary (seen right), with partner David Furnish . Ms Szalacinski agreed to be a surrogate for the second time, for Art and Matt, close friends of Alex and David, and gave birth to their son in 2011; another healthy and happy experience. In more recent times, she entered into a third arrangement, this time with a 'well known' and 'mega rich' couple from the entertainment industry, who she can't name for legal reasons - and who were due to pay her a 'significantly higher' fee than she had been offered previously. 'It was like hearing the neighbor’s kid crying. I think it would have been harder for me if I hadn’t bonded with the dads' Unlike with the first two couples, she found it impossible to 'bond' with these people, who treated the process like 'a business transaction'; so much so that Ms Szalacinski started referring to herself as a 'commodity.' Not only . were the couple initially insistent on having a boy - testing the embryos . five days after fertilization for gender - but when they eventually . settled on two female embryos, they asked Ms Szalacinski to 'reduce', or terminate, one of them if they both 'took,' because they didn't want to raise twins. Growing family: Sarah Jessica Parker (left) and Matthew Broderick (right) have one biological son, James (center) and twin girls, Marion and Tabitha (pictured), who were born via a surrogate in 2009 . Happy family: Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban (pictured) had daughter Sunday Rose naturally (right) and Faith (left) via a surrogate . Additionally, the picky couple were eager to choose a 'particularly attractive' egg donor, despite the fact that her eggs were 'sub-par', because, according to Ms Szalacinski, they were 'obsessed with looks.' 'I couldn’t believe that this kind of misogyny exists. My moral compass kept flicking off and I had to walk away,' she says. Although her experience with this couple was a blot on her otherwise successful track record, Ms Szalacinski says she still feels 'incredibly' happy about the children she was able to provide the four prior dads. Her decision to undergo this journey echoes the increasing popularity of the practice. While wealthy American couples have been enlisting the services of surrogates in developing countries such as India and parts of Africa for some time now, surrogacy in the U.S. is becoming more common. According to the Council for Responsible Genetics, the number of children born to gestational surrogates - carriers that bear no genetic link to the child they carry - more than doubled between 2004 and 2008, with just over 5,000 babies estimated to have been born via this delivery during that time period. 'I couldn’t believe that this kind of misogyny exists. My moral compass kept flicking off and I had to walk away' And in 2012 alone, 1,898 babies were born via a gestational surrogate, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Surrogate mothers can expect to make an average of between $12,000 and $25,000 for the service - much more in some cases - but laws around 'commercial surrogacy' vary widely according to state. States which are most surrogacy friendly include California and New Jersey - where the highest number of surrogacy births occur - as well as Illinois, Arkansas and Maryland. Commercial surrogacy in New York is illegal, and Michigan, for example, forbids absolutely all surrogacy agreements. Surrogacy has proven to be a popular route for wealthy couples and celebrities in the U.S. Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and his wife Nancy were the most recent to welcome a child, a daughter Winnie Rose, via surrogacy last July. Designer Tom Ford and his partner Richard Buckley had their first child, a son called Alexander, in 2012, and other notable stars to have taken this road include Hunger games star Elizabeth Banks and her husband Max, E! host Giuliana Rancic and husband Bill, actress Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban, Elton John and his partner David Furnish, Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick, as well as Robert de Niro, Kelsey Grammar and Ricky Martin. | Jessica Szalacinski, 36, has had two 'joyous' experiences with surrogacy, and one which she had to 'walk away' from .
The number of children born to gestational surrogates in the U.S. more than doubled between 2004 and 2008 .
The average amount of money surrogate mothers in America make is between $12,000 and $25,000 . |
191,514 | 8401cc054771ad1f3212292e8601a556651d2389 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 04:07 EST, 2 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:26 EST, 2 January 2014 . Died: Jamal Al Jamale 56, died this afternoon following the blast . A Palestinian ambassador was killed when an office safe that had been sealed for at least 30 years exploded when he opened it. Ambassador Jamel al-Jamal, 56, was at home with his wife in the capital, Prague, at the time of the explosion, according to Palestinian Embassy spokesman Nabil El-Fahel. The 56-year-old became the ambassador to the Czech Republic only two months ago. Police said an explosive device might have been part of a security mechanism. Mr al-Jamal was seriously injured and died in hospital. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said no foul play was suspected, noting that the safe hadn’t been opened in at least 30 years. It also appeared that the door of the safe had been booby-trapped, according to police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova . It was unclear how Mr al-Jamal tried to open it or what type of safe it was. The safe was recently moved from the old embassy building, but it had come from a building that used to house the Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) offices in the 1980s, Malki said. He added: 'The ambassador decided to open it. He opened it and asked his wife to bring . a paper and a pen to write down the contents of the safe. 'She left him . to bring (the) pen and paper. During that time, she heard the sound of . an explosion.' He said the ambassador had taken some of the contents out of the safe but it was not immediately clear what was inside. It was also unclear how soon the explosion happened after he opened the safe. However, police later confirmed weapons were also discovered in the property. They would not say what kind of weapons or give an idea of quantities. Scene: The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died after an explosion at his apartment in Prague . Investigation: Police at the scene of a blast at the residence of Palestine ambassador, Jamal al-Jamal, in Prague . During the 1980s - before the fall of the Soviet Union - the PLO had close ties with the Eastern bloc countries. In . recent years, relations have been tense and the Czech government was . seen as largely taking Israel's side in the Middle East conflict, said . Nabil Shaath, a foreign affairs veteran and leading official in . Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement. The ambassador and his 52-year-old wife were alone in the building at the time because it was a holiday, Mr Malki said. The . diplomat's wife, who called embassy employees to seek help, was treated . for shock at the hospital but released. She was not immediately named. Ms Zoulova said police were searching the apartment but declined further comment. Martin . Cervicek, the country's top police officer, told Czech public . television that nothing was immediately found to suggest that Mr . al-Jamal had been a victim of a crime. Prague . rescue service spokeswoman Jirina Ernestova said the ambassador was . placed in a medically induced coma when he first arrived at Prague . Military Hospital. Cause: The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the explosion occurred when the ambassador was moving an old office safe box . It was not immediately clear how the explosives ended up in the safe box, but the ministry said the blast was being investigated . Dr . Daniel Langer, who works there, told public television that Mr al-Jamal . had suffered serious abdominal injuries, as well as injuries to his . chest and head. The embassy complex is in the Suchdol area of Prague. The . new embassy has not yet opened and the ambassador, who was appointed in . October, had spent only two nights in the new residence - also in the . new complex. The explosion happened in the ambassador's residence. Mr . al-Jamal was born in 1957, in Beirut's Sabra and Shatilla refugee camp. His family is originally from Jaffa in what is now Israel. He joined Fatah in 1975. In 1979, he was appointed deputy ambassador in Bulgaria. Starting in 1984, he served as a diplomat in Prague, eventually as acting ambassador. From 2005-2013, he served as consul general in Alexandria, Egypt. In October 2013, he was appointed ambassador in Prague. | Jamel al-Jamal, 56, suffered fatal injuries in explosion at home in Prague .
Door of safe was apparently booby-trapped but no foul play is suspected .
Came from building used by Palestinian Liberation Organisation in 1980s .
PLO had close ties with Eastern bloc countries before fall of Soviet Union . |
98,946 | 0b6fe27dc356b8d04b683eb38d50eb40560f35ac | Jose Mourinho is intent on bringing Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus to Chelsea next summer, according to reports in Spain. Marca claim that the Blues boss has made the Germany international his No 1 target at the end of this season as he looks to strengthen his squad. The Spanish newspaper believe Mourinho will face strong competition from La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who have already agreed a 'right to buy' with the Bundesliga side. Spanish newspapers Marca (left) and Mundo Deportivo both lead on the chase for Germany star Marco Reus . Mundo Deportivo also lead on the chase for Reus' signature, stating that the talented 25-year-old is 'within range' for Europe's top clubs. They also claim that Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is keen on signing the former Borussia Monchengladbach star, who is believed to have a buy-out clause of around £20million. Elsewhere in Europe and Italy's papers are also dominated by transfer talk, with La Gazzetta dello Sport focusing on five players whose contracts expire next summer. Italian newspapers La Gazzetta dello Sport (left) and Tuttosport both focus on transfer talk on Thursday . Juventus' Sebastian Giovinco, AC Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini, Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani, Lazio striker Miroslav Klose and Sao Paulo's Alexandre Pato are all free to agree deals with clubs outside of Italy in January. Tuttosport claim that Arsenal are interested in Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio as Arsene Wenger looks to add a defensive midfielder to his squad in January. The same newspaper say that the Italian international is currently in talks with the Turin club over a new long-term contract but that the Gunners are hoping to lure him to the Emirates when the transfer window reopens. | Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus is a target for Europe's top clubs .
Real Madrid and Barcelona both want the Germany international .
But Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has made Reus his top target .
Arsenal are keen on Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio . |
88,580 | fb65a9ea0bd0baf5008746cc90715b04a91983ff | Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama and top Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen attended Tuesday's dignified transfer of the remains of 38 U.S. and Afghan personnel killed on board a helicopter shot down in Afghanistan over the weekend. Obama boarded both of the planes that transported the remains to the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to pay his respects and later joined Panetta, Mullen and U.S. Special Operations Commander Adm. William McRaven in meeting with more than 200 family members and colleagues of the slain service members at a building on the air base, according to background information provided by White House staff members accompanying the president on the trip. Panetta, Mullen and the chiefs of the Navy and Army were among the 11 senior military and Defense Department officials who also attended the dignified transfer, Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said. Because the catastrophic nature of the crash made the remains difficult to identify, all were brought in more than 38 transfer cases to the United States, Lapan said. The Afghan remains will be returned to their families once identifications can be made. The slain U.S. service members represent the worst single-incident loss of American life since the start of the Afghan war. Thirty Americans died in the crash, including 22 Navy SEALs, military officials said. Two U.S. military officials said Tuesday that Panetta has been asked by Special Operations commanders not to release the names of the slain Navy SEALs because they belonged to a covert unit. Even though many of the families have come forward and publicly identified their loved ones, the concern is that families and friends could be tracked down if they are identified, the officials said. According to the officials, they cannot recall a time when names were not released 24 hours after next of kin were notified following an incident. Initial reports on the incident said it occurred when a U.S. Army Ranger unit became pinned down by insurgents in the rugged Tangi Valley area of Wardak province in central eastern Afghanistan. The group called in assistance but instead had to race to the crash scene of a downed NATO helicopter carrying their reinforcements, officials said Monday. Everyone inside the CH-47 Chinook helicopter was killed, NATO reported. Helicopter pilot's son: Don't forget about my dad . However, a U.S. military official confirmed Tuesday that the SEALs were called in as an 'immediate reaction force" when the Army Rangers who were on the ground in a firefight saw some Taliban break off and begin to escape. The Rangers wanted the SEALs to go after those insurgents, the official said, adding the Rangers were "not pinned down" but simply wanted more combat power. The inbound helicopter transporting the SEALs also carried a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan troops, and it crashed after being "reportedly fired on by an insurgent rocket-propelled grenade." On Monday, the two military transport aircraft carrying the remains departed Bagram airfield and headed to Dover Air Force Base. The flights arrived Tuesday morning, Lapan confirmed. Van Williams, the public affairs chief for Air Force Mortuary Operations, said all of the 38 sets of remains were "unidentifiable." "The crash they were in was so horrific and the state of remains such that there was no easy way to see this was this person or this was that person," Williams told reporters. In a typical dignified transfer ceremony, family members and military carry teams board the plane, Williams said, adding that a chaplain may be asked to speak. The carry team then picks up the transfer case, and the command is given to render honors, according to Williams. The official party and everyone within earshot salutes as the remains are taken from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle for transport to the mortuary, where positive identification occurs, he said. "For us ... it is a very big source of pride and a sense of duty and honor that we give to the fallen service members and their families," Williams said. "We represent the nation, and a grateful nation at that." In an earlier statement, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Gen. John R. Allen, paid tribute to the fallen. "In life they were comrades in arms, and in death they are bound forever in this vital cause. We cherish this selfless sacrifice," Allen's statement said. "Today, as we pay our respects to these magnificent troops, we recommit ourselves for the future, and for the freedom, peace and stability of Afghanistan." Obama has been meeting with U.S. military officials about the incident and spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai by phone Sunday. "We will press on, and we will succeed," Obama said Monday, adding that "now is also a time to reflect on those we lost" and on the sacrifices of all who have served, as well as their families. "Their loss is a stark reminder of the risks that our men and women in uniform take every single day on behalf of their country," Obama said, discussing the incident at the end of televised remarks focused on the economy. Until Monday, military officials had been largely tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the crash, which occurred roughly 60 miles southwest of Kabul. The events leading up to the crash began when insurgents -- armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and AK-47 assault rifles -- engaged in small-arms fire with coalition forces on the ground, NATO reported. ISAF forces were carrying out an operation targeting a known Taliban leader in the area. Several militants were killed in the gunbattle, officials said. Coalition troops called in additional forces to assist in the operation as the firefight continued. "The recent fighting season has not materialized as the insurgents had predicted," NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobsen told reporters in Kabul. "But the insurgents are resilient and far from defeated." An investigation is under way, Jacobsen said. On Tuesday, the commanding general at U.S. Central Command, James Mattis, announced in a statement that U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Colt was investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. CNN's David Ariosto and Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | NEW: All the remains are "unidentifiable" for now, an official says .
President Obama pays his respects and visits with family members .
Sources say Defense Secretary Panetta is asked not to identify slain SEALS .
The remains of the 38 U.S. and Afghan personnel killed arrive in Delaware . |
209,368 | 9b1f3af123f3ec827e13ce1d600b04a1751b193b | Airport regulations saw former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen endure his very own travel 'torture' on Tuesday. The former footballer-turned-horseracing owner was travelling back to the UK from the US on a British Airways flight after attending the famous Santa Anita Breeders' Cup meeting. Scheduled for a fly-in to London Heathrow Airport from Los Angeles, thick fog meant the flight had to be diverted to Manchester. Michael Owen, pictured at the Breeders Cup, caused a Twitter storm after complaining of his travel 'torture' Click here to read 'Michael Owen in hot water over Newcastle-Liverpool snub' The irony is, Owen's original plans were to end up in Manchester via transfer from Heathrow. However, once the plan was grounded in the north west, it wasn't quite the stroke of luck that the 34-year-old had hoped for. Owen, who ended his playing career with Stoke City after three years at Manchester United, took to Twitter to inform the world of his 'travel torture' writing: 'Been told I can't get off. Got to wait on plane for over an hour to then fly to Heathrow and miss my flight back up to Manchester. #Torture.' Owen planned to end up in Manchester but was forced to stay on the plane, fly to London and then back again . But it was his next, possible tongue-in-cheek tweet that saw him come in for criticism on the social networking site. Owen added: 'Please BA, let me walk off the plane and into my Dads car. I want to pick my kids up from school and don't need to go to Heathrow and back.' Conor Waters replied: 'Go through security like the rest of us,' while Barry Smith added: 'Sure there's many other ppl on the plane with same dilemmas #civilianlife.' Owen spent three years at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson before finishing his career with Stoke . One Twitter user jokingly asked for the former Premier League forward to be left 'on the plane forever' Keeping his 2.99 million followers up to date of how his frustrating day was going, Owen later Tweeted that he had missed picking his children up, but had managed to squeeze on another flight out of Heathrow. As Sportsmail's Charles Sale reported in Wednesday's Daily Mail, Owen chose to watch his horse Brown Panther run in the Breeders’ Cup meeting in the States rather than work on BT Sport’s Newcastle v Liverpool match last Saturday. BT are understood to have been disappointed by Owen’s decision to put his racing interests before his football commitments and have made that very clear to him. So much so that if Owen misses another game in similar circumstances, there could be a parting of the ways. Michael Owen won every domestic trophy and is best remembered for the goals he scored at Liverpool . | Owen was planning on ending up in Manchester via Heathrow transfer .
The former Liverpool frontman's plane from LA was diverted to the north west but Owen was forced to stay on the plane .
Thick fog meant flight out of LA diverted to Manchester instead .
Owen had to fly to London before travelling back to Manchester to meet with family .
The ex-England striker, who now owns racehorses, had been to the Santa Anita Breeders' Cup meeting .
Striker is in hot water with BT sport after choosing to watch his horse race rather than cover Liverpool's clash with Newcastle . |
207,258 | 9858c0d4e0813c1cb16faafe2b332cdc6a81d9a4 | (CNN) -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, serving a seven-year sentence after last year's conviction on a charge of abuse of authority, has been on a hunger strike for four days because she was beaten unconscious in prison last week, she said Tuesday. But the prosecutor said Tuesday that his office immediately investigated Tymoshenko's claim and didn't find proof to substantiate her allegations. A medical expert was sent, but Tymoshenko refused an examination, said Gennady Tyurin, general prosecutor of Kharkiv region. He said he has declined to open a criminal case. "The investigation is over," Tyurin said. Last October, a Ukrainian court found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of authority for signing gas contracts with Russia and sentenced her to the seven-year prison term. Prior to the alleged beating, Tymoshenko was discussing with officials a transfer Monday to a hospital for health reasons, she said. But on Friday evening, her cell mate left the cell, and then "three sturdy men" entered, threw a bed sheet over her, dragged her off the bed and applied "brutal force," she said in a statement. "In pain and despair, I started to defend myself as I could and got a strong blow in my stomach through the bed sheet," she said in a statement. Tymoshenko was dragged "into the street," she said. "I thought these were the last minutes of my life. In unbearable pain and fear I started to cry and call out for help, but no help came." She fell unconscious, and when she came to, she was in a hospital ward, she said. Tymoshenko went on her hunger strike the day after the beating, Saturday, she said. She stopped taking food "to draw attention of the democratic world to things happening in the center of Europe, in the country named Ukraine," she said. Tymoshenko charged that "the president of Ukraine is steadily and pedantically building a concentration camp of violence and lack of rights." She is asking for a "public international investigation" into the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych and added, "we must do everything possible to remove the Yanukovych regime." In April 2011, the Ukraine's Prosecutor General's office opened a criminal case charging Tymoshenko with signing overpriced gas deals with Russian energy provider Gazprom that inflicted damages to the country amounting to more than 1.5 billion hryvnas (almost $190 million at the current exchange rate) and that Tymoshenko had allegedly no right to sign. The court ruled Tymoshenko must repay the money, and she is banned from holding public office for three years. Tymoshenko narrowly lost to Yanukovych in a presidential election in February 2010, and she became his fiercest opponent. She has repeatedly brushed off all charges against her as political, calling the trial a "farce" and naming the judge a "stooge of Yanukovych's administration," appointed to "fabricate" the case. Amnesty International has slammed the verdict as "politically motivated" and called for the release of Tymoshenko, who was prime minister from January to September 2005 and December 2007 to March 2010. CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | Ukraine's former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, hasn't taken food since Friday night .
She is in prison serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of authority .
The prosecutor says his office investigated and found no "proof" of her allegations . |
180,407 | 758af5247845d3fbd44fc58f59ae44af35cd4450 | If you have ever wondered what - or who - your partner dreams about, there’s an app for that. Curious people can use their smartphone to record what their partners say in their sleep, perhaps revealing details and desires they might keep to themselves during the day. The Sleep Talk Recorder app listens for noises while people slumber and starts recording the second it hears any mumbling during the night. Scroll down for video . Dreams revealed: The Sleep Talk Recorder app (pictured) listens for mumbling and sleep talking while people slumber and starts recording the split second it hears any noise during the night to reveal what partners are dreaming about . People have more weird and wonderful dreams around the time of the full moon, a British study found. The content of our dreams doesn’t vary with the seasons or with the days of the week, it showed. But in the week or so surrounding a full moon, they are decidedly more ‘weird and bizarre’. Psychologist Richard Wiseman made the surprise discovery as he analysed the experiences of 1,000 volunteers who were played sounds as they slept. The findings build on Swiss research last year which found we take longer to fall asleep, sleep for 20 minutes less and sleep less soundly at full moon. Production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is also altered. Professor Wiseman believes that this may disturb our dreams. Another, stranger explanation is that we evolved to be sensitive to the moon’s rhythms. Upon waking the next morning, users can check their smartphone and listen to what they or their partner has blurted out during the night. They can also share a clip of their sleepy musings on Facebook or Twitter. The sensitivity of the iPhone app, which costs 69p, can be adjusted to give people the best change of capturing any sleep talking. Martin Lindau from Gothenburg, Sweden, came up with the idea for the app and said: ‘Sleep Talk Recorder monitors your sleep, but it's not just an ongoing recording. ‘An advanced filtering function qualifies sounds and triggers Sleep Talk Recorder technology in a millisecond.’ ‘We think most people are curious of what is happening during their sleep and when they're not conscious. So we thought that it must be a way to catch this in an easy way using your smartphone. ‘Many users have reported their delight in finally having solid evidence that their partner snores or saying funny stuff.’ Sleep talking recorded: Upon waking the next morning, users can . check their smartphone and listen to what they or their partners have . blurted out during the night.The app organises the sound files (pictured left) and makes it easy for people to see how often they talk in their sleep (right) and if there are any patterns . The iPhone app also saves the recordings and plots them on a timeline so people can spot any patterns in their night time conversations. Emma Jones, a shop assistant from Portsmouth, Hampshire, has been living with her boyfriend for three years and says he talks during the night. The 29-year-old said: ‘My boyfriend . James is always talking in his sleep and I'm hoping to finally hear what . he is saying using this new app. ‘I . must admit I am a bit worried, though. It would be awful if it turns . out he is muttering his ex-girlfriend's name or a girl that we both . know. ‘If I wake up one . day, look at the app and find out he has been dreaming about another . girl - he could end up sleeping on the floor!’ Dreamers beware: The app could be used by couples to find out what - or whom - each person is dreaming about, which could prove awkward if it turns out they are subconsciously thinking about an ex or something inappropriate and blurting it out in the night . | The Sleep Talk Recorder app listens for .
noises while people slumber and starts recording the second it hears any .
mumbling during the night .
In the morning users can check their smartphone and listen to what they, or their partner has blurted out during the night .
iPhone app was developed in Sweden and costs 69p from the App Store . |
160,124 | 5af46bd61d4936369bc0c9ac37417c5ccf771a1b | This brings new weight to the term 'chasing rainbows', because chasing this colour spectrum would literally mean running in circles. During a recent trip over Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, 46-year-old aerial photographer Colin Leonhardt happened upon a rare natural phenomenon. 'The pilot and I were on our way back from shooting a grand final AFL match in rural Perth. It was raining softy, and the sun was peering through the clouds. 'As we went through the trailing edge of the rain, the sun was low and setting and the sunlight just created this amazing rainbow. It just evolved in front of us.' Stunning: 46-year-old aerial photographer Colin Leonhardt happened upon the rare natural phenomenon on his way back from shooting an AFL match in rural Perth . Think quick: Leonhardt took over 50 images for the five minutes it remained a complete full circle rainbow . According to NASA, the full circle rainbow is 'an observer dependent phenomenon primarily caused by the internal reflection of sunlight by raindrops' 'I had never heard of it before, not to mention seeing one in person. We looked at each other and said 'what the hell is that?' Leonhardt says he trusted his instincts on how to capture the moment. 'My experience with this sort of thing is to shoot first, then ask questions. I starting snapping like there was no tomorrow.' He took over 50 images for the five minutes it remained a complete full circle rainbow. 'Once we reached the beach, a big burst of light came through and the whole thing really lit up. Then it faded as quickly as it came.' 'As soon as I got home, I started researching. Basically it's a very rare phenomenon that relies on specific conditions. 'It needs to be low sun-so early mornings or evenings-and it has to be straight after a storm, with light coming through the rain.' When Leonhadt uploaded the images online, they spread like wildfire. Leonhardt received a spate of emails from scientists and astronomers who said they had 'never seen anything like it' Leonhardt (right) says he probably wouldn't attempt to find the circle ranbow a second time due to the exorbitant costs of aerial photography . Apart from getting media attention from all over the world, Leonhardt was also contacted by a wealth of scientists and astronomers-including none other than NASA. 'I received a bunch of emails from people in those fields. They were so excited, they said they had never seen anything like it. 'Next thing I knew, I got an email from NASA. They wanted to use my image for their Astonomy Pic of the Day. I thought 'why not?'' According to NASA, the full circle rainbow is 'an observer dependent phenomenon primarily caused by the internal reflection of sunlight by raindrops.' When asked if thought he would try to chase the rainbow down a second time, Leonhadt said 'in the end of the day, aerial photography isn't cheap. 'It costs $1000 every time you want to get up there. With how rare these things are and how difficult it would be to replicate the moment, I'm not sure if I could justify a second time.' | Aerial photographer Colin Leonhardt captured a circle rainbow when flying over Cottesloe Beach .
The 46-year-old captured over 50 images of the rare phenomenon .
The images have gone viral online and been shared by NASA .
According to NASA, the full circle rainbow is 'an observer dependent phenomenon caused by the internal reflection of sunlight by raindrops' |
205,733 | 9658d018178e986284b18a40c84d80e3cb07cf50 | By . Bianca London . Sorry, Kate, you've officially been replaced as the nation's most emulated style icon by your 8-month-old baby boy. Much like his mother, Prince George is already proving to be something of a trendsetter with his choice of outfits. Designers of the clothes he has worn on his first Royal Tour are reporting a huge surge in sales thanks to the 'George effect' and it's showing no sign of abating. Today sees the tiny trendsetter strike again as the Annafie romper suit he wore on his arrival in Sydney earlier appears to be . totally sold out, with negative stock in all sizes and shipping times of . 2 months. Scroll down for video . Tiny trendsetter: The white Annafie romper suit Prince George wore today on his arrival in Sydney has already sold out . The young prince looked . dapper in his nautical themed romper suit as he disembarked an . Australian Airforce jet in Sydney on Wednesday. In the arms of his doting parents Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge he was blissfully unaware of the furore he caused. It's a sell out! The garment appears to be totally sold out, with negative stock in all sizes and shipping times of 2 months . Spot the difference: Princess Diana was photographed with baby William wearing a similar outfit to George . Within seconds of them arriving in Australia, Twitter was awash with commentary about his ensemble. Many speculated that the romper came from European baby clothes boutique Annafie. Meanwhile others believed that it looked like a dress. One commentator remarked: 'Wonder how much George's dress was? While another stated: 'Prince George . proves the smocked romper suit with peter pan collar has never gone out . of style for royal babies.' But the cool, calm and collected prince appeared more than comfortable in the white romper with sailing boat embroidery and it seems the world wants to emulate his style. Prince George wore a pair of Rachel Riley dungarees to his New Zealand playdate . The Rachel Riley dungarees that the young prince . wore to his New Zealand playdate (right) have sold out in two sizes. This Debenhams duplicate is over half the price but just as cute (see . below) This isn't the first time that George's wardrobe choices have sold out. His Rachel Riley smocked romper . sold out in almost all smaller sizes since his appearance in them on . Wednesday and following the family's portrait for Mother's day this year, when the prince . sported a baby blue number with 'George' emblazoned on his chest, personalised baby clothes retailer . My1stYears.com sold 1200 jumpers in just four hours. The Prince George effect has also brought a welcome boost to the high street as copycat clothes fly off the shelves. The 'George' printed jumper that the young Prince wore for the family's Mother's Day portrait has been highly sought after . The . youngest royal is busy winning hearts and fashion-followers on his tour . down under as his classic wardrobe of dungarees, shorts and traditional . knitwear sends sales of lookalike outfits soaring back home. A . navy sailing boat dungaree set with matching top, £20, from J by Jasper . Conran at Debenhams has almost sold out in smaller sizes after baby . George was pictured wearing a similar luxury branded pair costing more . than three times the price at his first major public engagement in . Wellington, New Zealand, last week. As . a result of Baby George's recent fashion choices, traditional baby boys . clothing has seen an overall increase of 62 per cent with navy . dungarees sales doubling in less than a week. | Annafie romper suit Prince George wore on his arrival in Sydney totally sold out .
Has negative stock in all sizes and shipping times of .
2 months .
His other recent outfits have also sold out .
George effect has boosted high street copy cat sales . |
208,422 | 99d5cbb054f9ce75fa0264db4fa61b7903eed4ed | By . John Stevens . PUBLISHED: . 10:01 EST, 2 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:42 EST, 2 June 2013 . We all know looks are important in some jobs – but piloting a punt past the colleges of Cambridge isn’t the first that springs to mind. So student Ben Cronin, 20, was shocked to be turned down for work with a punt hire firm because he was not good looking enough. The first-year psychology student said being rejected was humiliating. Ben Cronin, a 20-year-old psychology student, was left shocked after a punt tout told him he was not attractive enough to work in the river punting industry . The first-year student claims when he asked about employment opportunities, the punt chauffeur branded him 'not good-looking enough' for the role . ‘I was with a group of university . friends when two of us decided to enquire after punting jobs,’ he said. ‘A friend and I approached a sales guy standing on the bridge. ‘He looked us up and down and replied in a bolshy manner, saying: “Sorry mate, you have to be good looking to do this job”.’ Mr Cronin, a student at Anglia Ruskin . University, had been punting four times before. He said that after the . man’s remarks, he and his friends abandoned their plan to rent one of . the traditional boats that afternoon. Mr Cronin, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: ‘It felt like it was directed at me. It was so embarrassing, I just wanted to leave. Mr Cronin from Lowestoft, Suffolk yesterday said he was already self-conscious about the way he looks but to hear he was unattractive from a stranger was very upsetting . ‘All my friends were so shocked. The way he spoke to my friend and I has put us off wanting to punt on the river ever again. ‘It has made us feel really . unconfident about how we look. I have low self-esteem issues anyway so . to hear that from a stranger was even worse than hearing it from a . friend.’ Mr Cronin made a complaint to punting . company Scudamore’s, the largest operating on the River Cam. The firm . said it had launched an investigation, but did not recognise the . description of the staff member. General manager Rob Ingersent said: . ‘The alleged comment is not something we endorse, as we recruit purely . on the basis of work criteria and individual merit.’ At peak times there are more than 200 . punts on the River Cam, each carrying up to 12 people. A chauffeured . one-hour tour costs £16 per person. Mr Cronin had been punting four times before and had been keen to secure a job with a company for the next academic year . Mr Cronin quickly made a complaint to bosses at the Scudamore's punting company and an investigation was launched into the cruel remarks. But the firm said they do not recognise the description of the man as a member of their staff . The flat-bottomed boats, steered with a 10ft pole, were developed in the middle ages for use in very shallow water. They were introduced to Cambridge as pleasure craft a century ago, with F Scudamore opening his punt hire business in 1910. Ben described the venomous puntsman as being tall, dark-haired and 'built for the female population.' Rob Ingersent, general manager of Scudamore's said: 'The alleged comment is not something we endorse, as we recruit purely on the basis of work criteria and individual merit.' | Ben Cronin, 20, said he was insulted by a punt representative in Cambridge .
He said he was asking about employment opportunities on the river .
But the punt chauffeur branded him 'not good-looking enough' for the role . |
244,991 | c913a6701e953249f115c7693a633a46a68ae2dd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:03 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:03 EST, 15 May 2013 . A Saudi arrested at a Detroit airport for carrying a pressure cooker in his luggage is a victim of a misunderstanding by overzealous U.S. customs agents, the man's lawyer said. Hussain Al Khawahir, 33, was detained after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a flight from Amsterdam on Saturday. 'I'm afraid that some overzealous agents . were looking for anything,' said James Howarth, who is representing Mr Al Khawahir, said. 'They see a pressure cooker and say, "This is a . man who has to be detained".' Pressure cookers packed with explosive powder and shrapnel were set off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, in an attack that killed three people and injured 264. Departure: Hussain Al Khawahir was travelling from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam when he was stopped in Detroit for carrying a pressure cooker . Mr Howarth said many people from Saudi Arabia travel with pressure cookers to cook lamb. 'Carrying a pressure cooker in America is not against the law,' he added. On May 11, Mr Al Khawahir was . questioned about two missing pages from his passport and the pressure . cooker he had in his luggage, according to a complaint filed by federal . prosecutors. He said initially he brought the . pressure cooker from Saudi Arabia for his nephew, a student at the . University of Toledo in Ohio, because they are not sold in America. He later said that his nephew had . bought a pressure cooker, but it was cheap and broke when he tried to . use it, according to the complaint. Mr Al Khawahir is charged with offering false information to customs agents, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Mr Howarth spoke to reporters at a hearing on Tuesday to determine whether Mr Al Khawahir would be released on bond. His lawyer said he asked that the . hearing not proceed because it was clear Mr Al Khawahir would continue . to be detained by U.S. customs authorities whatever the outcome of the . hearing. Final destination: The Saudi was stopped by Customs agents at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and questioned about missing pages in his passport . A May 28 date was set to determine whether U.S. prosecutors have enough evidence to bring the matter to a federal court. The missing pages from Mr Al . Khawahir's passport were near the back of the book and were not likely . to have been important, Mr Howarth said. Mr Al Khawahir had told agents he did not know how the pages had . been removed, and said the document had been locked in a box that only . he, his wife, and three children have access to in his home, according . to the complaint. Mr Al . Kwawahir was read his Miranda rights, which he said he understood, and . he invoked his right to remain silent, according to the complaint. He said that if Mr Al Khawahir had been carrying a different kitchen appliance, his competing statements about it . would not be cause for alarm. 'If he had made a mistake about an . electric skillet, he would be in Toledo today,' Mr Howarth told . reporters. Toledo is about 60 miles south of Detroit. Tool of terror: Twisted metal belonging to a pressure cooker used in the deadly Boston marathon bombings of April 15 . Mr Al Khawahir faces up to five years in federal prison if he is found guilty of giving false information to the U.S. agents. Customs and Border Protection officials and the FBI declined comment on Mr Al Khawahir's case. His nephew also says the case is a misunderstanding, and that the pressure cooker his uncle was bringing for him was so he could cook lamb. Nasser Almarzooq, told The Associated Press on Monday that he'd asked his uncle, Hussain Al Kwawahir, to bring him a pressure cooker because the ones he bought in the U.S. didn't work. Mr Almarzooq said he was concerned about his uncle and had not been told anything since his Saturday arrest. His uncle had been coming to visit him for a couple weeks. Mr Al Kwawahir is accused of using a passport with a missing page and making false statements about why he was traveling with the pressure cooker. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Cooking pot was for nephew who is studying in Ohio .
Passenger unable to explain why passport pages are missing . |
21,244 | 3c3cd2c4f47857202e9ce765b5220ab143884dfe | A personal trainer has kept a photo diary documenting her dramatic transformation into an award-winning bikini body. Leanne-Grace Costa clinched fourth place in an international Ms Bikini contest - her first ever competition. The 31-year-old, from Middlesborough, started preparations for the contest just five months ago and took photos of her body to show her progress at stages of her training. Scroll down for video . Leanne-Grace, pictured at the very start of her journey, managed to slim and sculpt her body in five months . Leanne-Grace admits that sticking to the incredibly strict eating regime is very tough . She went up against 50 entrants from across the globe to clinch fourth place in the international competition. Leanne-Grace said: 'It was my first competition and I thought I'm just going to go for it - and I'm not going to stop until I win. 'It's an intense regime. It makes you feel nice but also appreciated for the hard work. 'For the bikini content you can't just come in off the streets to compete. but you can't be overdeveloped either and I like the category.' Leanne-Grace became interested in training when she met a man who used to be Mr Universe. Competition day: Despite it being her first entry, Leanne-Grace fought off fierce competition to win fourth . Month two: Leanne-Grace's body has already started to change, looking noticeably slimmer . Month three: Leanne-Grace gains muscle definition as she continues to document her journey . Month four: As well as training twice a day, the personal trainer stuck to a low fat, high-protein diet . The personal trainer she sticks religiously to a regime of eggs and oats in the morning followed by lunch of chicken salad and dinner of white fish and vegetables. She snacks regularly on tuna and vegetables, yogurts, oats, rice cakes and protein shakes. She said: 'He got me really interested in it as he was an everyday guy and not show-offy at all. 'He had seen me train and saw that I could work really hard - he said "you can do this".' In June, Leanne-Grace took on a trainer and overhauled her lifestyle with a strict diet and two hours of exercise a day. Leanne said: 'The diet has to be part of your routine and it can take a bit of planning. 'If I'm invited for a meal for a best friend's birthday, I could go as I'm allowed one treat meal a week, however I'd need to get a menu first and have sauces on the side. It's tough.' Month five: Leanne-Grace achieves the look sought-after at the competition; defined, but not bulging muscles . Competition day: Donning a pair of heels, Leanne-Grace practises posing for the competition . Leanne-Grace entered the Miami Pro Fitness event in London last month, here posing on competition day . Leanne-Grace says she sticks religiously to a regime of eggs and oats in the morning followed by lunch of chicken salad and dinner of white fish and vegetables. She snacks regularly on tuna and vegetables, yogurts, oats, rice cakes and protein shakes. Leanne-Grace entered the Miami Pro Fitness event in London last month, where the judges look for toned competitors, who have visible muscles but without a bugling look. They were also looking for an ability to pose on stage, stage presence and confidence, evenly applied tan and impressive hair and make-up. Despite it being her first entry, Leanne-Grace fought off fierce competition to win fourth place. | Leanne-Grace was inspired when she met a former Mr Universe .
She began preparing from scratch just five months before the competition .
As well as training twice a day stuck to strict high-protein diet .
Charted her progress in a monthly selfie photo diary .
Came fourth in the Miami Pro Fitness event in London last month . |
76,080 | d7d1c8a4995b3edc169d065f9c3ca92cb440a574 | By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 08:38 EST, 26 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:49 EST, 26 October 2013 . A group of Saudi Arabian women have got behind the wheel today in protest at the ban on women driving in the kingdom. Four women have successfully driven, defying the ban, despite warnings by police officers and ultraconservatives in Arab state, activist May Al Sawyan said. Though no specific Saudi law exists banning women from driving, the female population are not issued licences. Scroll down for video . Activist Manal Al Sharif showed her support for Saudi women who defied the country's ban on female drivers . Defiant: Four women have successfully driven in the kingdom, protesting at the state's ban on women driving . Powerful religious leaders, who exert a far-reaching influence over the monarchy, enforce the ban warning that breaking it will spread 'licentiousness'. In the run up to today's protest, police warned anyone disturbing public order would be dealt with forcefully. Ultraconservative clerics staged protests earlier in this week against the online petition campaign, which was launched in September, which claims to have more than 16,000 signatures. The account's website, oct26driving.org, and official English language YouTube account were hacked on Friday, according to activists. Activists posted a four minute-long video on the campaign's official Arabic account that they said filmed driving campaign supporter Al Sawyan driving in Riyadh. She wore sunglasses and her hair was covered by the traditional black headscarf worn by Saudi women, but her face was otherwise visible. Like other female drivers defying the ban in Saudi Arabia, Al Sawyan said she has obtained a driver's license from abroad. 'I am very happy and proud that there was no reaction against me,' she said. 'There were some cars that drove by. 'They were surprised, but it was just a glance. It is fine ... They are not used to seeing women driving here.' Protest: Female campaigners have filmed themselves driving and uploaded the footage online . However, Al Sawyan said she was prepared for the risk of detention if caught. She said she was far enough from a police car that she was not spotted. 'I just took a small loop. I didn't drive for a long way, but it was fine. I went to the grocery store,' she said. Her husband and family waited at home and called her nervously when she arrived at the grocery store to check on her, she said. She drove with a local female television reporter in the car. They were both without male relatives in the vehicle. The campaign for women to drive is a rare show of defiance in the kingdom. The kingdom's first major driving protest came in 1995. Some 50 women who drove their cars were jailed for a day, had their passports confiscated and lost their jobs. In June 2011, about 40 women got behind the wheel in several cities in a protest sparked when a woman was arrested after posting a video of herself driving. | Four women have successfully driven in protest over the ban .
The Arab state does not allow females to hold a licence .
Driving campaigners upload films of themselves driving on the internet . |
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