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133,725 | 38eba3dec13c0dd116cd9e0f0b02d73622d0a5be | By . Katie Davies, Louise Boyle and Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 17:05 EST, 28 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:49 EST, 28 February 2013 . Charged: Lawrence Reed, pictured, has been charged with the murder of Marco McMillian . A 22-year-old Clarksdale man has today been charged with the murder of Mississippi's first openly gay mayoral candidate whose body was found dumped on a riverbank. Lawrence Reed was taken into custody yesterday as a 'person of interest' in the shocking slaying of rising political star Marco McMillian, 34, who was found dead on the Mississippi River levee at around 9am on Tuesday. This afternoon, Coahoma County Sheriff's Office formally charged the man who was allegedly driving McMillian's SUV when it was involved in a head-on crash just before the candidate's body was discovered. The relationship between the two men is unclear. An autopsy report on McMillian's cause of death is expected later today. According to the pressregister.com, Reed, an associate at the Motor Club of America, was injured in the crash but provided police with the location of McMillian's body. Coahoma . County Coroner Scotty Meredith confirmed the body belonged to . McMillian, a dedicated Democrat who was running to become mayor of . Clarksdale. Campaign . supporters and residents paid tribute to the politician as a dedicated . community activist and a legitimate candidate for office. 'We remember Marco as a bold and passionate public servant, whose faith informed every aspect of his life,' his campaign manager, Jarod Keith, said in a statement. 'Tragically, that life has been cut short.' The politician's body was found between Sherard and Rena Lara. Authorities . had been looking for McMillian who was reported missing after the early morning crash. Killed: Mississippi mayoral candidate Marco McMillian, pictured left, was found dead on Tuesday and Lawrence Reed, right, has been charged with his murder . Collision: The SUV of Marco McMillian was involved in a head-on collision on Tuesday morning and Reed was driving . Political ambitions: Marco McMillian was running as a democrat candidate for mayor of Clarksdale. Supporters said the politician, pictured right with President Obama, could have gone all the way . The . sheriff's office said deputies responded to the two-car crash on U.S. Highway 49 South near the Coahoma and Tallahatchie county lines at about 8 a.m. Clarksdale, a town of around 17,8000 people, is well known for its blues music heritage. Morgan Freeman famously co-owns the Ground Zero Blues Club with Howard Stovall, a Memphis . entertainment executive, and Bill Luckett, who also is running for . mayor. It is well-known to blues fans as the home . of the crossroads, where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to . the devil for skills with a guitar. McMillian . was hoping to win the office being vacated by Mayor Henry Espy Jr., the . brother of Mike Espy, a former congressman and U.S. Agriculture . Secretary. Henry Espy decided not to seek re-election after more than . two decades in office. Espy's son, state Rep. Chuck Espy, is also running. Upcoming politician: Marco McMillian, left, was a rising political star. His death is being treated as a homicide . Tragic: It's unclear whether Reed knew the candidate, pictured . Fans and friends of McMillian, whose . Facebook account features a picture of him alongside President Obama, paid tribute to him this week. Dennis Thomas, 33, who works at Abe's Barbeque, said: 'There's . a lot of people upset about it. Why would somebody want to do something . like that to somebody of that caliber? 'He was a highly respected person . in town. He's been in the community helping out a lot.' Norman Van Collins Sr took to Facebook to say the party had lost a future star. 'I am definitely praying for the family as well as sharing their grief,' he said. 'Marco was like a son to me, and I so looked forward to his campaign and . his ultimately becoming the next mayor of my hometown Clarksdale which . so desperately needs leadership such that of Marco. He was definitely . POTUS potential.' The . Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute said there 'hearts go . out to the family and friends of Marco McMillian'. Tragic loss: Marco McMillian was being mourned in Clarksdale. The aspiring politician had hopes of become the town's mayor . McMillian . was CEO of MWM & Associates, described on its website as a . consulting firm for non-profit organizations. He had recently served as . international executive director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Jimmy . Hammock, the fraternity's international president, praised McMillian in . a Facebook post for making 'an incredible difference in his community . and in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity'. A statement . from the historically black fraternity said he had secured the first . federal contract to 'raise the awareness of the adverse impact of . HIV/AIDS on communities of color for the Fraternity'. It noted that . Ebony Magazine had recognized him in 2004 as one of the nation's '30 . up-and-coming African Americans' under age 30. McMillian . also worked at Alabama A&M University and Jackson State University . in the past. | Lawrence Reed, 22, has been charged with murdering political star Marco McMillian .
McMillian, 34, was found dead on the Mississippi River levee around 9am on Tuesday .
The Democrat candidate vying to become mayor of Clarksdale would have been the first openly gay mayor in Mississippi .
Reed crashed McMillian's SUV on the highway at the time his body was discovered . |
123,356 | 2b745e751ceac44cbde7e59f6dd6f734623da4bb | CLICK HERE to read Rob Draper's full match report from St James' Park . Papiss Cisse blew the title race wide open after his brace secured a 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders Chelsea at St James' Park. The Senegal striker struck twice in the second-half before Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was dismissed for a reckless challenge and substitute Didier Drogba set up a tense finish with a late goal. Sportsmail's Craig Hope was at St James' Park to see how players from both sides fared... VIDEOS Scroll down to watch . Papiss Cisse wheels away after scoring his second goal as Newcastle defeated Chelsea 2-1 . Jose Mourinho watches his side lose for the first time in all competitions this season . Didier Drogba cam on as a substitute to score and set up a nervous finale at St James' Park . Fabricio Coloccini (right) was named man of the match after keeping Diego Costa from scoring . Newcastle . Rob Elliot 6 . Only had one save to make before thigh injury forced him off at half-time. Daryl Janmaat 7.5 . Athletic and aggressive, the Holland international eventually got to grips with Hazard. Could be the signing of the summer. Steven Taylor 7.5 . Two brilliant blocks inside the goalmouth at 0-0. Had been immense until red card for reckless lunge on Schurrle. Could have been straight red. Newcastle keeper Jak Alnwick was handed an unexpected debut after Robbie Elliot suffered a thigh injury . Fabricio Coloccini 9 . The Argentine won his duel against Brazilian-born Costa. Skipper led by example and was outstanding. MOM. Paul Dummett 8 . Has impressed at centre half of late but switched to left back and it did not faze him. Won everything, on the floor and in the air. Cheick Tiote 7.5 . Lax in possession once or twice but made up for that with his combative nature and led the resistance late on. Jack Colback 8 . Back to the form which won him an England call-up, snapping through challenges and joining attack whenever possible. Very good. Remy Cabella 6 . Did not build on impressive cameo at Burnley and no surprise to see him substituted early in second half. Newcastle defenderSteven Taylor was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Andre Schurrle . Newcastle's French playmaker Remy Cabella (centre) is surrounded by Chelsea's players . Moussa Sissoko 8 . Drove his team forward at every chance and laid on second for Cisse. He is the heartbeat of this Newcastle side right now. Sammy Ameobi 7 . Recovered from shaky start to put in admirable shift down United’s left. Ayoze Perez 8 . Was a threat throughout and did brilliantly in build up to Cisse’s second. Toon striker Papiss Cisse pokes home to break the deadlock in the second half with his first goal . Subs: Jak Alnwick (on 46) 7.5 . Flattened Costa with his first involvement on professional debut and dealt well with string of crosses before two brilliant saves late on. Papiss Cisse (on 53) 8.5 . He scores goals, that’s what he does. Poached another pair from close range to win it for the hosts. Chelsea . Thibaut Courtois 6 . Made a crucial save from Colback at 0-0 and was let down by defence for Cisse double. Branislav Ivanovic 6.5 . Offered real danger down right and was unlucky when his crosses went without any takers. John Terry 6 . Not an easy afternoon against trickery of Perez. Gary Cahill 5 . To blame for United opener following wild clearance and had a poor game by his standards. Chelsea Thibaut Courtois can only watch as Cisse opens the scoring at St James' Park . Cesar Azpilicueta 6 . Tidy enough but did not give as much in attack as usual. John Obi Mikel 6 . Outdone by United midfield with Colback and Tiote coming out well on top in that department. Cesc Fabregas 6 . See Mikel… . Willian 6 . Twice came close to opening scoring in first half but became anonymous as game wore on. Brazilian midfielder Willian controls the ball as both managers watch from the sidelines . Eden Hazard stretches to reach the ball but could not prevent Chelsea's poor run of results on Tyneside . Oscar 5.5 . Hard to remember anything he did of real note. Poor. Eden Hazard 6.5 . Electric start and looked a real threat but, like all of his comrades, that soon faded. Diego Costa 5.5 . Came up against a formidable minder in Coloccini and he wasn’t afforded a kick. Chelsea striker Diego Costa struggled on his return to the team after a one-game suspension . Subs: Andre Schurrlle (on 61) 5.5 . No impact. Filipe Luis (on 67) 5.5 . One shot from 40 yards which could have brought Blues level. Didier Drogba (on 67) 6.5 . At least gave Blues hope with header. | Chelsea were beaten 2-1 Newcastle in their Premier League clash .
Papiss Cisse scored a brace to inflict a first defeat on the Blues this season .
Steven Taylor was dismissed for a reckless challenge on André Schürrle .
Didier Drogba set up a tense finish after coming on to score on 83minutes . |
272,967 | ed8dedff51f76ea1d56ab79011e11b8f5092d905 | This is the terrifying moment a wildlife cameraman comes face-to-face with a deadly 1,000lb polar bear looking for its next meal. The hungry eight-foot predator repeatedly attacks the safety perspex box - the on-ice equivalent of a shark cage - housing helpless Gordon Buchanan. Filmmaker Mr Buchanan shows nerves of steel as he endures the lethal polar bear’s 40-minute sustained assault as it desperately hunts for a weak spot in his protective pod. Scroll down to see the video . Terrifying: This is the moment that wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan came face to face with a hungry polar bear in Svalbard, in the northern-most region of Arctic Norway, for his three-part BBC series The Polar Bear Family and Me . 'Without a doubt, she wanted me for lunch': Gordon Buchanan's reinforced perspex pod protected him . Persistent: The 1,000kg female polar bear spent nearly 45 minutes trying to get to the cameraman . Heart-stopping moment: This shows the size of the adult polar bear compared to the cameraman . The female bear, with its powerful paws and giant teeth, was trying to get hold of the 40-year-old so she could feed herself and her two young cubs. Mr Buchanan, who has filmed the world’s deadliest creatures for 20-years, described the ordeal as his scariest ever experience. He said: 'A lot of people think that carnivores are intrinsically dangerous but most aren’t - there’s a minimal risk and attacks are the exception. 'But polar bears are different, without a doubt she wanted me for lunch. She was so persistent, looking for a weak spot for almost 45 minutes. 'I was terrified and you could hear my heartbeat on the mic. It really was a sensational moment and a worrying situation. 'It shows how enormous and powerful they are. Man vs nature: The polar bear battered Buchanan in his tiny cage . Ferocious attack: The cameraman had a good view of the bear's enormous teeth . Starving: The female bear was determined to find food for herself and her two young cubs . 'You could hear my heart beating on the mic': Buchanan was inches from the bear's jaws . 'It is the most difficult thing I have done and the scariest. I’ve not been terrified for 40 minutes before.' The Scottish wildlife expert filmed the fascinating creature in Svalbard, in the northern-most region of Arctic Norway, for his three-part BBC series The Polar Bear Family and Me. The series, to be aired over three consecutive nights on BBC2, starts on Monday, January 7 at 9.30pm. 'It's getting quite hairy in here': The footage shows the photographer becoming more and more frightened as the attack went on . 'I've never been terrified for 40 minutes before': The bear could smell Buchanan and was determined to get him . Buchanan described the pod as 'bombproof' but said there was a danger it could become brittle in the cold . Mr Buchanan followed mother Lyra and her cubs Miki and Luca for 12 months to get closer to a polar bear family than anyone has before. He risked long journeys over and through the ice, often into uncharted territory, battling freezing winds, violent storms and plummeting temperatures. On a number of occasions the crew had to flee on their snowmobiles as the giant predators edged closer and closer to them. The bear roared as she attacked the pod with the Scotsman inside . Weakest point: Buchanan said his scent was strongest at the pod's weakest point, the door . The bear rocked the pod back and forth with its paws in an attempt to break it and get to its human prey . The perspex 'ice cube' the photographer was housed in for much of the filming was 'pretty much bombproof'. But there was a risk it could get brittle when very cold - making the task of filming the polar bears even more perilous. He said: 'There’s no doubt polar bear cubs are the cutest animals in the world and even the adults have an aesthetic which isn’t threatening. The pod was built of perspex and metal and withstood the fierce onslaught from the eight-foot predator . Closer than ever before: The cameraman got closer to a polar bear family than anyone else has before . Desperate for food: Unlike many mammals, polar bears have to work hard to find food . 'But the polar bear is the animal I have the most respect for, it is the largest and strongest land carnivore. They are such inquisitive animals too. 'The landscape is pretty featureless and it is amazing how they appear from nowhere. 'With most carnivores you can see their food source but you have to work really hard to find the animals polar bears feed on.' The Polar Bear Family and Me begins on BBC2 on January 7 at 9.30pm. 'The landscape is pretty featureless and it's amazing how they appear from nowhere': A polar bear spots the cameraman . Dangerous quest: The film crew often had to flee on snowmobiles when the bears got too close . Family of three: Buchanan and his crew followed mother Lyra and her cubs Miki and Luca for a year to see them up close . Hungry cub: The bear's mother was determined to feed it . They may look sweet.... Cubs Miki and Luca nuzzle up to their mother . Fearless predators: The cameraman said that of all animals, the polar bears are the ones he respects most . Desperate for anything to eat: Polar bears prefer to eat seals which they hunt from the edge of the ice . | Cameraman Gordon Buchanan endured 45-minute attack from hungry female bear who wanted to feed her cubs .
BBC man says he was the most frightened he's ever been - and the microphone picked up noise of his heart racing . |
105,712 | 1453ebdf26d9a6cef2471ceb5b83573b03782520 | By . Associated Press . UPDATED: . 10:05 EST, 16 March 2012 . When a Georgia judge sentenced a former General Electric supervisor to life in prison without parole for killing his subordinate's husband outside a preschool, the case seemed far from closed. That's because the focus of the month-long trial was as much on the victim's wife, Andrea Sneiderman, as it was on the accused. After Hemy Neuman was found guilty but mentally ill yesterday of the November 2010 murder of Russell 'Rusty' Sneiderman, the question quickly became whether prosecutors would charge her with a crime in her husband's death. Possible suspect: Now that Neuman has been convicted, all eyes turn to widow Andrea Sneiderman, who could have played a role in her late husband's demise . Taken away: Hemy Neuman was sentenced to life in prison, but will receive mental aide whilst behind bars . Weeping: Rusty's father Don Sneiderman reacts after the reading of the verdict yesterday . Neuman's defence attorneys and Russell Sneiderman's family said they hope to see prosecutors investigate Andrea Sneiderman in the killing. Russell Sneiderman's brother, Steve, said the family has long suspected Andrea was involved in Russell's death, and the trial only confirmed their suspicions. 'Why? What is she hiding? These questions must be answered and answered soon,' he said. Steve Seniderman added: 'We'll have no peace until everyone involved in Rusty's death is held accountable for their actions. In the meantime it's clear to me that Andrea is covered in Rusty's blood.' DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said his office is reviewing the case and, when pressed after the trial on whether imminent charges would be filed related to the victim's wife, he said: 'Stay tuned.' 'Everybody's asking that question,' said Mr James. 'And I'm not going to stand up here and be disingenuous and say that's something that's not being considered.' Guilty: Hemy Neuman reacts to the verdict today as he faces the prospect of life in prison without parole . Andrea Sneiderman has denied knowing anything about the shooting and her attorney said after the verdict that her client was grateful for the conviction and sentence. She wouldn't comment on the possibility of a criminal investigation. 'Nothing can bring back her husband,' said attorney Jennifer Little, 'but it is reassuring to her that, after all of the noise and distractions surrounding this case, some measure of justice has been done for Rusty.' Days of testimony during the trial targeted whether Andrea Sneiderman was involved in an affair with Neuman, whether she knew about the details of her husband's death suspiciously early and whether she worked with her former boss to cover it up. This week's closing arguments only ratcheted up the rhetoric. Insane: Hemy Neuman was found guilty today in the shooting death of Russell Sneiderman but will have to be treated in jail for his mental illness . Visions: Neuman claimed an angel who looked like Olivia Newton-John, left, appeared to him, as did a demon with the voice of Barry White, right . Attorney Doug Peters, who represented . Neuman, called her a 'tease' who took advantage of Neuman's rapidly . deteriorating mental state, saying that while his client may have had . the gun, 'the trigger, I respectfully suggest, was pulled by Andrea . Sneiderman.' James took it a step further, suggesting that the widow was . a 'co-conspirator.' 'Hemy didn't hide his crime from Andrea because Andrea already knew,' James said in the trial. J. Tom Morgan, a former DeKalb County . district attorney, said a prosecutor can't ethically accuse anyone of . the crime to the news media unless that person has been charged, . indicted or granted immunity. But that doesn't prevent a prosecutor . from suggesting a witness was involved in a criminal act to a jury as . long as the evidence backs it up. Secret conversation: Defendant Hemy Neuman, left, spoke with attorney Douglas N. Peters who fought his case on the grounds he was not guilty by reason of insanity . 'So the D.A. can do something in . closing he would be prohibited from doing in a press conference,' said . Morgan, who is now in private practice. 'Whether Robert is going to do . something with her after the trial is anyone's guess.' Peters said he's confident his client would testify if charges are brought and she goes to trial. 'I believe that she planted the seed. I believe that as primed the pump. I believe that as stoked the fire,' Peters said. 'And I believe the evidence in the case indicates quite . clearly that she wanted her husband murdered and that she manipulated . him.' Phone records showed Neuman and . Andrea Sneiderman exchanged multiple phone calls on the eve of her . husband's death and immediately after the killing. [caption . And while she testified she didn't . discover her husband had been shot until she reached the hospital about . an hour after the shooting, her father-in-law and a close friend both . said she called to deliver the bad news only minutes after he was shot. Andrea Sneiderman, who has repeatedly . denied being involved in an affair, said she made mistakes by holding . hands with Neuman, dancing with him at a bar and having long dinners . with him while on business trips. But she said she didn't report his . advances because she feared for her job, and didn't air her suspicions . that Neuman was involved because it seemed unfathomable. 'The theory that my boss could kill my husband, it seemed kind of stupid at the time,' she testified. Andrea Sneiderman was hired in early 2010 because her husband was having trouble finding a steady paycheck. She hit it off with Neuman and the . two exchanged 1,500 phone calls and text messages in the months before . the killing. On work trips, they shared intimate dinners and inside . jokes — and, attorneys say, sexual relations. Her husband, a Harvard-educated . entrepreneur who she met in college at Indiana University, was gunned . down on November 18, 2010 after dropping his two-year-old son off at . Dunwoody Prep. Police say a bearded man with a hoodie shot him four . times and sped away in a rented minivan. Torn apart: Russell Sneiderman was murdered after dropping his children off at daycare. His wife, Andrea, right, was allegedly having an affair with his accused killer . Neuman was charged with the crime about six weeks later. He pleaded not guilty by reason of . insanity, saying he couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong . during the shooting. His lawyers say he fell so hopelessly . in love with Andrea Sneiderman that he believed he was the father of . her two children and that the only way to protect them was to murder her . husband. 'We'll have no peace until everyone involved in Rusty's death is held accountable for their actions. In the meantime it's clear to me that Andrea is covered in Rusty's blood.' Prosecutors said Neuman simply wasn't . suffering from a 'made up' mental illness, only jealousy for what he . couldn't have. A jury agreed, rejecting Neuman's claim that he didn't . know the difference between right and wrong at the time of the killing. They found him guilty but mentally . ill, which means he'll have access to mental health treatment while . spending his life behind bars. Some legal experts who have been following the case said there were advantages to charging Neuman but not Andrea Sneiderman. 'The fact she wasn't indicted allowed . her to be called as a witness,' said John Petrey, an ex-DeKalb County . prosecutor who is now in private practice. 'And from the prosecution's . point of view it was important that the jury hear and see Andrea . Sneiderman. Had she been charged they couldn't have done that.' Petrey said prosecutors may take their . time and develop a strong case that could secure not just an indictment . but also a conviction. 'I'd marshal my best prosecutors and . see if there's enough to indict and convict Andrea because if they're . ready to make that leap they would want to be able to quickly take her . to trial,' he said. James, the district attorney, said his office will do its best to seek justice for the victim's family. 'It's something we're looking at. I . know it's important to this family. It's important to America,' James . said. 'But as a prosecutor I have an obligation to follow the facts ... and make a decision that seeks justice.' Scene of the crime: Randy Sneiderman was shot outside of Dunwoody Daycare Centre outside of Atlanta in 2010 . Andrea Sneiderman was hired in early . 2010, and she and Neuman hit it off, exchanging 1,500 phone calls and . text messages in the months leading up to the killing. On work trips, they would share long dinners and intimate moments, including sex, according to attorneys. Neuman didn't testify, but jurors . heard him through hours of video recordings of interviews with . investigators and mental health experts. In one interview, Neuman was asked if he thinks he's the biological father of Sneiderman's two children. 'I don't know. I don't know. I don't . know,' he said. 'I feel like these are my children. I feel like I need . to be there for them. I feel like I need to raise them and I need to . protect them. But I don't know.' Neuman's attorneys tried to portray . their client as a brilliant but troubled child who was constantly in . fear of his father, a Holocaust survivor wracked with guilt because he . was able to escape the death chambers at Auschwitz while many relatives . died. Born in Mexico, Neuman was sent to a . boarding school in Israel and still suffers from fear of being . abandoned, his attorneys said. He later landed the GE job that allowed him to buy a pricey home in an upscale Atlanta suburb. Neuman first tried to kill his rival . in November 10, 2010, when he camped outside the Sneiderman house with a . gun he recently purchased and waited to attack, prosecutors said. But he bolted after Russell Sneiderman noticed an intruder on his property and called police. Eight days later, prosecutors said, . Neuman arrived at his office much earlier than usual — at 5:36am — then . sneaked out a back door to avoid security cameras and to give himself an . alibi. Days later, Neuman went to Russell . Sneiderman's funeral and even visited Andrea Sneiderman's house for a . Jewish mourning ceremony, prosecutors said. | Hemy Neuman found guilty of gunning down co-worker's husband Russell Sneiderman in 2010 .
Neuman claims angel resembling Olivia Newton-John told him Sneiderman's children were his .
Judge says criminal charges could follow for Andrea Sneiderman, who may have encouraged Neuman . |
76,257 | d84955bade7ee35f65dfadc0f918257d505a2e72 | An angry University of Queensland student has written a hilarious petition after she was snubbed for a meeting with US President Barack Obama. Ashley Chandler posted a lengthy letter to the university, which hosted a speech by Obama on Saturday, on Change.org. She called their decision not to invite her to the talk ‘a scandal that would rank somewhere between Watergate and the 2011 Greenfield incident’. The 21-year-old explained to Daily Mail Australia that while her letter was a work of satire she is genuinely angry about how UQ allocated the tickets to students. ‘The letter that I wrote is satire but it is being ridiculous as it points out how ridiculous their conduct has been,’ she said. Scroll down for video . University of Queensland Student Ashley Chandler wrote a petition after she wasn't invited to hear Obama speak . President Barack Obama at at the University of Queensland in Brisbane . The fifth year law and political science student wrote: ‘I am, naturally, upset/outraged/hurt/offended/aggrieved by UQ’s decision not to invite me.’ Listing the reasons she believes she should have been invited, Ms Chandler said: 'I hold a leadership position in the university, I am a scholarship student, I have represented UQ internationally, was once on Millionaire Hot Seat, have seen all seven seasons of the West Wing, and hell, I even went to College.' Ms Chandler said she was not the only student who was disappointed not to receive an invite. 'There are many, many students who have contributed much to the UQ community who should have been offered the opportunity to attend, some even more deserving than me (maybe),' she wrote. Ms Chandler hinted that she thought the university didn't invite her because she is a woman. And added: 'Perhaps the worst thing about this entire process is that it seems to fly in the face of everything Barack Obama stands for. He was the one who told us all that "Yes, we can", but, literally, we can’t.' Ashley Chandler said the university had upset a lot of students by not inviting them to Obama's speech . Mrs Chandler hinted that she thought the university didn't invite her because she is a woman . Ms Chandler said the decision flies in the face of what Barack Obama stands for . She highlighted that the other two Brisbane universities that handed out invites – Griffiths Uni and QUT – had a much better system than QU. ‘400 tickets were given to one small portion of the student body… some of whom aren’t even interested in politics and are just going for the hype of it,’ Ms Chandler said. She argued that there was a lack of transparency in the way the tickets were handed out. ‘There was a message from vice chancellor; he said tight timeframes meant the tickets were given away to students that live on campus. Hundreds of students from Brisbane's three main unis were invited to the speech . ‘But I don’t think that really stacks up when students from other unis came to the speech,’ she reasoned. After watching Obama’s speech from her living room she said: ‘I thought it was OK but he was telling people what they wanted to hear. To be honest it wasn’t groundbreaking.’ Ms Chandler said students are in the middle of their final block of exams and have not been told if they can even access the library this weekend while Obama is in town. One student told her he was turned away by security when he tried to hand in his work and told ‘sorry it’s going to have to be handed in late’. The law and political science student wrote: ‘I am, naturally, upset/outraged/hurt/offended/aggrieved' Ms Chandler reasoned she was once on Millionaire Hot Seat . She wrote on her Facebook page: 'I have written this open letter to UQ to express my concern over their handling of the Obamagate affair' | University of Queensland student Ashley Chandler has started a petition .
She is angry about the way the uni allocated tickets to students .
She wrote the satirical note with ridiculous examples because she says she was 'pointing out how ridiculous their conduct has been'
The 21-year-old watched Obama's speech from her sofa in the end .
'To be honest it wasn’t groundbreaking,' she said . |
44,034 | 7c2f529ea121ac81bb65bfc3cbccd5b81b577857 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:40 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:03 EST, 8 January 2013 . A couple getting married have been brought down to earth with a bang after the hot-air balloon they hired for the ceremony crash-landed. Shortly after Jonathon and Kerin Narcisse exchanged 'I dos,' the basket began to swing like a pendulum - with the entire wedding party inside it - and the pilot was forced to bring it down in a backyard in Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego late on Monday afternoon. The balloon crash-landed around 5 p.m. but no one was seriously injured, according to the local fire department. Scroll down for video . Sinking feeling: A hot-air balloon came down in Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego on Monday afternoon while a couple were being married in it . Ceremony surprise: Shortly after Jonathon and Kerin Narcisse (pictured) exchanged 'I dos,' the basket began to swing like a pendulum . Gusty weather thrust the balloon, wedding party and all, into a fence in San Diego . Firefighters said the pilot had been trying to land when the balloon was blown off course. One person who was in the party of 14 riding in the balloon was taken to Pomerado Hospital suffering from back pain. But the couple was unfazed. Now on their honeymoon, the bride told Good Morning American, 'If I get married again, I'll get married in a hot air balloon.' The large blue-and-yellow striped canvas could be seen draped over the property but it was unknown if any damage had been caused. The balloon is reportedly owned by the Skysurfer Balloon Company who came to the home to gather up the deflated canvas. The couple was unfazed. Now on their honeymoon, the bride told Good Morning American, 'If I get married again, I'll get married in a hot air balloon' Enjoying the view: The bride is pictured enjoying the view moments before the crash . Caught on tape: The ceremony in the air was videotaped - as was the crash . Falling: The groom is pictured clutching the bride (right) as the balloon tumbles toward Earth . Flop: A man surveys the crashed balloon in the backyard of his home in suburban California . Crash: The massive balloon was carrying 14 people when it got into trouble in high winds on Monday during a wedding ceremony . The company describes itself as the . oldest and most experienced in the southern California region. The . pilots are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and have the . highest number of safe flight hours. The use a style of balloon called a European gondola with spacious compartments offering every flier uncrowded views of the surrounding countryside and coastline. The company operates sunrise and sunset flights daily throughout the year. | Unexpected high winds brought the wedding party down to earth in Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego .
Couple Jonathon and Kerin Narcisse say they would marry in the air again, despite the crash-landing . |
250,083 | cfa33185cc47e0c5913425526f733ff4f258d058 | (CNN) -- Caroline Wozniacki doesn't like losing -- and it's a trait that the tennis star's nearest and dearest also possess. Born into a sports-mad family, the Danish star had to battle for supremacy within the competitive environment of her childhood home in Odense, long before she had designs of making tennis her career. Both her father Piotr and older brother Patrik were professional footballers. Mother Anna played volleyball for Poland, where both parents were born -- and lived until Piotr joined a Danish club. "Sport was in my genes," Wozniacki told CNN's Open Court program. "But nobody would play me because they said I wasn't good enough -- they always put me in the umpire's chair! "But I was stubborn and started to practice playing tennis every day by hitting balls against a wall. I wanted to beat my parents first, then my brother. That was the ultimate goal, to beat my brother, and when it happened I was so happy!" Piotr has been Wozniacki's coach for most of her career, but she has also started working with Spaniard Ricardo Sanchez. "My dad is still on court every day as well. I think it's important for me to stick to the same team," she said. "I've always gotten someone from the outside helping me with small details, and yeah -- I am thinking that can help." Wozniacki's recent Australian Open quarterfinal defeat to defending champion Kim Clijsters will have hurt her enormously, not least because it meant she also lost the world number one ranking she had held for 67 consecutive weeks. Critics bemoan the fact that Wozniacki has risen so high before earning a first grand slam title, but she has already won 18 WTA tournaments and earned nearly $12 million in career prize money. Add to that her celebrity boyfriend -- top golfer Rory McIlroy, who also hates losing -- and Wozniacki is fast becoming a darling of the tabloid press. The 21-year-old has no problems with the attention she receives and relishes being a role model to children, just like Martina Hingis and Venus Williams were when she was an adoring young fan. "On the practice courts, I see the small girls wearing Stella McCartney outfits & Yonex rackets. It's really nice to see," said Wozniacki, referring to the clothes line she wears and the equipment she endorses. "I remember myself when I was a little girl, looking up to Martina Hingis. I wanted to play like her and have the same clothes as her. "I also remember when Venus came to Copenhagen for an exhibition. I was 12 at the time. I went down to the court and asked her if she would play one point with me. "She did and I never forget that. I think it's also right to give something back to the people who follow you." Wozniacki also gives something back to her fans via the Internet. Like McIlroy, she is an avid user of social networking site Twitter and has accumulated over 270,000 followers. McIlroy has a remarkable 800,000 followers, meaning over one million people get to know the couple's inner thoughts and feelings every day. "I like Twitter a lot," said Wozniacki. "It is a great way to get the fans knowing another side of you. "I also think it is a good way to put things straight that are maybe misrepresented in the media. I have fun with it and give Rory a hard time on it! "(U.S. tennis player) Mardy Fish also gets involved on Twitter. I hit two aces against him in the Hopman Cup and teased him about it on Twitter." But it is Wozniacki's achievements on the court which still create the biggest news, not all of it positive. However, she has a relaxed attitude to her "slam drought." "My dream as a little girl was to be world number one and to win grand slams. I've finished as number one two years in a row and a slam is obviously my next goal," she said. "It's just about peaking at the right time and playing well for two weeks. I've reached the finals and semifinals before, so I know I can do it. Everything has just gone so fast because I am still only 21 but at the same time I feel like I have been on the WTA Tour for a while. She added: "Young players are starting to come up as well and they will see me as one of the older, experienced ones. "I just have to get used to that. I used to always be the young one playing without pressure, but I am just happy to be where I am and enjoying my time." | Caroline Wozniacki tells CNN that family rivalry spurred her on to become world number one .
Wozniacki was made to umpire matches because she was not good enough to beat her family .
The Dane recalls meeting Venus Williams as a 12-year-old and the effect it had on her career .
Wozniacki and her golfer boyfriend Rory McIlroy are keen users of networking site Twitter . |
268,176 | e75588dd0d5ebff3281f66ff7f1948fe4ee7daae | By . Ruth Lythe for the Daily Mail . Follow @@RuthLythe . John Lewis customers were in revolt last night after the retail chain dumped free cake and tea for loyalty scheme members. Up to a million customers are to be stripped of the highly popular perk - introduced as a reward for allowing the high street giant to track their shopping habits - from next month. The My John Lewis loyalty scheme launched in October last year with free monthly vouchers for a pot of tea or coffee and a cake worth £5 in the store’s restaurants for those who signed up. Scroll down for video . Outrage: John Lewis customers with a loyalty card will now have to earn their free tea and cake (pictured) Disappointment: The chain has announced the monthly perk will depend on how frequently they visit the store . But the chain disappointed customers yesterday when it announced the monthly perk will be restricted immediately for new loyalty scheme members - and for existing members from next month. Instead customers will receive tea and coffee vouchers based on how much they spend in John Lewis - and how frequently they visit the store as well as their ‘preferences and purchases’. The news comes after Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, was forced to issue a profit warning earlier this month, partly because of the popularity of its own loyalty scheme. Shoppers with a myWaitrose card – which was introduced in 2011 – receive a free tea or coffee daily, including cappuccinos, lattes and mochas, even if they do not buy anything else. They also receive a free copy of most daily quality newspapers if they spend more than £5. The gimmick has proved hugely popular and the supermarket is estimated to hand out one million free cups of coffee and nearly one million newspapers every week. The change at John Lewis means some of the scheme’s one million members will now receive vouchers only occasionally or not at all. The loyalty card will still have other perks such as discounts and invites to events and entry to a prize draw. A spokesman for John Lewis said it was restricting the offer because its restaurants become ‘extremely busy in the run-up to the peak Christmas season’. He said: ‘We want to make sure our customers experience the high standards of service they expect from us during this period. Reason? A spokesman for the loyalty card said the restaurant gets too busy in the run-up to Christmas . ‘All My John Lewis member rewards are continually reviewed and the rewards our members receive in future do depend on a variety of factors including shopping frequency, spend, preferences and purchases.’ Loyal customers who had agreed to let the firm track their habits solely because of the monthly treat were angered at the decision. Guy Anker, managing editor at consumer champion website MoneySavingExpert.com, said: ‘There will be many disappointed loyal John Lewis customers – especially existing loyalty card holders. Our site users have told us they feel let down that the offer’s been changed. ‘People are really feeling the pinch and in the run up to Christmas they more likely to have popped into the store for a free cuppa and slice of cake.’ A John Lewis spokesman refused to be drawn on whether its move to cut back on free drinks was down to cost. But free coffees and cakes in big chains have begun to attract wider criticism. Campaigners have argued such schemes force smaller shops out of business, while some traditional shoppers worry that free drinks attract the ‘wrong type’ of customer. | Loyalty card holders previously received free coffee and cake worth £5 .
The perk will now depend on how frequently they visit John Lewis stores .
Bosses claim it is to restrict congestion in the run-up to Christmas . |
253,853 | d49319a9adeac40cd5bd1c306adc7665c536d2b7 | Kaufman, Texas (CNN) -- The family of a Texas prosecutor and his wife who were gunned down in their home demanded Saturday that more be done to solve the killings, saying federal authorities should take over the investigation. Authorities have been tight-lipped about the investigation since the bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were discovered March 30 at their home east of Dallas, two months after McLelland's chief felony prosecutor was killed in a brazen daylight shooting. "Not enough is being done. They are on edge right now," said Chris Heisler, a spokesman for the McLelland children. "If someone is willing to come out and shoot the district attorney and his wife in their home, their mindset is anything is possible." Authorities have been working to determine whether the killings of 63-year-old McLelland and his chief felony prosecutor, Mark Hasse, are connected. They have been scouring their case files and interviewing colleagues for help with potential leads. Additional security, meanwhile, is being provided to county officials, including prosecutors. But the McLelland family believes it may be distracting from the investigation. 'Ambush' killings of lawmen in 4 states part of spike in slain police . "If you're gonna put folks to secure officials, who's doing the investigation? Who's patrolling the streets? Who's keeping the rest of Kaufman County safe? They're just not available," Heisler told reporters at news conference. "... So we need more. Specifically the family wants the federal law enforcement to take the lead on this. That is a specific request from the family." Heisler said the family, including the five grown children of the McLellands, has "some anger at this point" that more is not being done. The family's criticism delivered by Heisler appeared to take Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood, who has described McLelland as a friend and colleague, by surprise. Hunt on for caller behind bomb threat at service for slain Texas DA . McLelland "never expressed that to me ever," Wood said. Asked whether Kaufman County authorities were stretched thin by the two investigations as well as providing security, he said: "There have been multiple agencies working on this from the beginning to find who is responsible. ... I feel everyone has worked together." On Friday, one of the McLelland's daughters declined during an interview on CNN's "AC360" to comment on whether McLelland ever speculated on who killed Hasse. "I can't answer that. We don't know anything," Christina Foreman, 29, told Anderson Cooper. But she said in the days after the shooting death of Hasse that her parents were concerned about the safety of friends and co-workers than their own. "They'd want to be remembered that they stood up and that they stood for something," Foreman said. "And they stood for their families, their friends, their neighbor, the rest of Texas, the rest of the country, and we can't let people discourage us from doing that." Foreman declined to comment on whether McLelland ever speculated on who killed Hasse. Interim Kaufman County DA known as tough court opponent . A day before his body was discovered, McLelland voiced concern about the safety of his staff when he stopped by Helz Firearms, a local gun shop. "He was in there ... asking about what he should get his co-workers as self-protection," said O'Neil Kidwill, the gun shop owner. "I recommended the .38 Smith & Wesson snub nose and perhaps a bulletproof vest. He said he already talked to some of the people about the vest, and he would tell them about the revolvers." The county district attorney didn't give any indication that he felt personally threatened, only worried for his employees. "He was concerned for them. For himself, he was at ease," Kidwell said. But sometime after he left the gun shop, something happened. The couple's bodies were found inside their home in Kaufman County. They had been shot at least a dozen times, a law enforcement official, who had been briefed on the investigation, told CNN this week. The official was not authorized to publicly release details of the investigation. While authorities have not publicly named any suspects or a potential motive in the cases, Kaufman sheriff's deputies arrested two men this week and accused them of threatening the safety of public officials. Martin Savidge reported from Kaufman, Texas; Chelsea J. Carter reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's George Howell, Eric Fiegel, Carol Cratty and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. | "They are on edge right now," Chris Heisler, a family spokesman says .
The family of the McLellands want federal authorities to lead the investigation .
Heisler says the family has "some anger at this point"
The bodies of Mike McLelland and his wife were found in their home on March 30 . |
116,716 | 22af99102eb471a5a096200fb792e986280da0f4 | (CNN) -- Comedy scares people in power. We saw a disturbing example this week when Egyptian TV host and comedian Bassem Youssef, frequently described as Egypt's Jon Stewart, was charged with the crimes of mocking Egypt's President Mohamed Morsy and insulting Islam. If convicted, Youssef could be fined and sentenced to prison. Now, before you quickly categorize this incident under the catch all, "They hate us for our freedoms" crap, let's not forget our own history. Comedy legend Lenny Bruce was arrested not once but eight times, in the early 1960s for telling jokes that were considered obscene. However, Bruce's lawyer argued that the comedian was not being prosecuted for his profanity but rather for mocking political leaders and religion. In 1964, Bruce was convicted of violating New York's obscenity laws and sentenced to four months of hard labor. Being sentenced to hard labor is doubly painful since comedians go into comedy to avoid hard labor. Bruce tragically died of a morphine overdose in 1966 while the appeal to his criminal conviction was pending. Today, a comedian in the United States is unlikely to be criminally prosecuted for profanity, mocking elected officials or ridiculing religion. (If they could, Bill Maher and countless others would probably be on death row.) While some of our elected officials may hate being the target of comedians' barbs, none would argue that jokes are a threat to our nation. In the Arab world, however, stand-up comedy and satirical political comedy shows like the one Bassem Youssef hosts are a very new development. There's a great fear in the region that this form of entertainment will undermine political leaders. I have witnessed this anxiety firsthand while performing stand-up comedy across the Middle East. The crowds are usually amazing. But we comedians are advised by show promoters to avoid telling jokes mocking the political leaders and religions -- not just Islam, but also Christianity and Judaism. And of course, no sexual humor or profanity. I know many of you are thinking: So what's left to talk about? Actually, plenty. As comedians, we are accustomed to tailoring our acts to fit certain "special" shows. In fact, while performing at a corporate event in the United States -- such as for employees at an annual corporate retreat -- one will generally encounter similar content boundaries: No jokes about politics, sex and religion, plus, keep it clean. (Hmm, funny how U.S. corporations and Middle Eastern governments impose the same content restrictions.) But believe it or not, in the last few years the leash on comedians performing in the Middle East has loosened. For example, in certain countries, we had to write our comedy material out word for word so local government authorities could review it for appropriateness before a show. Those days are gone. No one asks for scripts any longer, because the people in power have apparently become more comfortable with stand-up comedy. Some comedians have started to push the boundary by using some profanity and sexually suggestive material. But Bassem Youssef did more. Inspired by Jon Stewart, he performed jokes about the president of Egypt by name, even mockingly dressing like him in sketches. To us, this is commonplace, but in Egypt this was unheard of. Keep in mind that until recently, Egypt was ruled by Hosni Mubarak, who limited public dissent in his almost 30 years of rule. I always knew an Arab Jon Stewart or Chris Rock would emerge and use comedy to skewer political leaders. Youssef has become that icon. But now he's paying for his boldness. The question is: Will Morsy move Egypt toward embracing democracy and freedom of expression? Or will he take a step back and follow the policies of Mubarak? Being a democratic nation entails much more than simply having elections -- it means vigilantly guarding freedom of expression, including the right of all people -- comedians, journalists, bloggers, critics -- to poke fun or disagree with the government. So far, early signs are not hopeful. The U.S. embassy in Cairo tweeted out a link to a segment from Monday night's "The Daily Show" in which Stewart defended Youssef. The office of Egypt's president responded swiftly via Twitter: "It's inappropriate for a diplomatic mission to engage in such negative political propaganda." President Morsy should make it clear that the revolution in Egypt truly ushered in democracy, and along with it freedom of expression. Otherwise, the new leadership will be perceived as just another oppressive government. The world awaits Morsy's response. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah. | Bassem Youssef was charged with mocking Egypt's president and insulting Islam .
Dean Obeidallah: Youssef, considered the Jon Stewart of Egypt, was performing comedy .
He says there's fear in the Middle East that comedy will undermine political leaders .
Obeidallah: Will Egypt's new president embrace democracy and freedom of expression? |
263,214 | e0ec86e54af3b3f34e0b6e50d6a609edc61da519 | (CNN) -- It would be easy to criticize the burgeoning science of astrobiology as an intellectual endeavor best left to more profligate times. The search for extraterrestrial life and expeditions to hunt for life in Earth's extremes -- from the bottom of the oceans and Antarctica's extremes -- seem like luxuries for excitable explorers and space scientists. The enthusiasm about alien life isn't new; the ancient Greeks wondered whether there were other habitable worlds. But it is only recently that the search for extraterrestrial life has been underpinned by experiments -- telescopes to search for Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars, rovers, like NASA's Curiosity, to hunt for life on Mars. In wanting to better assess whether life could be elsewhere, astrobiology has also set out on the more homely tasks of understanding how life evolved on the Earth, how life has persisted on our own planet for over three-and-a-half billion years and how it manages to thrive in extremes that to humans seem completely inimical to life. In uncovering the secrets of life's survival on the Earth, astrobiology has some found remarkably prosaic applications. The powder that works in your washing machine at high temperature functions because it contains proteins extracted from microbes that grow in volcanic hot springs. They were first found by scientists (who would today call themselves astrobiologists) seeking to know how life adapts to such primitive, searing surroundings. Read More: $1B mission to reach the Earth's mantle . Yet, some of the most promising locations to search for ancient life on Mars are places where water may have been in contact with volcanic rocks, ancient hydrothermal systems where conditions may have been conducive to life. As astrobiologists dig and scrape in amongst the microbial inhabitants of Earth's most hostile environments to understand the possibility of life elsewhere, they learn things that have economic uses. The link between the search for extraterrestrial life and our Earth-based problems is not surprising, because fundamentally it is all the same thing -- understanding how life, whether us or microbes, can be sustained in the cosmos. A hypothetical microbe on Mars might need to adapt to live in a high temperature stream. A human on Earth needs to find a way to clean its washing at high temperature. Both are trying to make a living on a planetary surface and both are trying to do this as efficiently as possible without wrecking their living conditions. Both might find that they can share a common way of accomplishing these things. Read more: Super telescope to search for secrets of the universe . It isn't uncommon to find environmentalists who are in awed disbelief that we can be spending billions searching for life on Mars and space explorers who feel that a focus on environmentalism narrows the reach and vision of our civilization. Both groups of people are separately emboldened by their vision. Environmentalists understand the great challenges that lie ahead in dealing with a population of seven billion apes inhabiting a piece of rock a mere 12,500 kilometers in diameter; space explorers understand that if they achieve their vision, and establish a permanent human presence beyond the Earth, they will not only open new opportunities for knowledge and resources, but they will also enhance our civilization's long term chances of survival. Now, more than at any time, we need a unified vision. Astrobiology is a bridge between understanding our Earth and exploring space and it reminds us that both endeavors are not merely linked, but basically one and the same challenge. By exploring the origin and evolution of life on the Earth and beyond we learn things of practical benefit to living on Earth and settling space. Once we see how environmentalism and space settlement are linked, we no longer stand peering into a future where we have to grapple with an either/or choice: settle space or save the oasis of Earth -- or indeed a future where we have two enormous challenges to juggle both at once. Instead, we are confronted by a future with a single challenge -- build sustainable human settlements in the cosmos, whether on Earth or in space. The science that generates the knowledge that underpins this, astrobiology, becomes a glue between these two communities and offers us the chance to become the space-faring guardians of an oasis in space. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Charles Cockell . | Astrobiology is the study of the origins and evolution of life on Earth and in space .
Astrobiologists examine microbes on Earth to understand the possibility of life elsewhere .
Exploring inhospitable parts of our own planet and others can bring practical and economic benefits to humans .
Billions of dollars spent exploring space will help provide answers to environmental issues . |
259,184 | db80a2bb96d3d6c67a911bc2bf6983d43c691d41 | Edinson Cavani will not stay at PSG long-term, according to club legend Jerome Rothen. Rothen, who made 139 appearances for the Parisian club, claimed that although Cavani could have a future with the French champions, he will always struggle in a team dominated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 'He (Cavani) can still succeed in Paris, but his performances will be more or less the same. Everything depends on the tactical choices of Laurent Blanc. However, I can't see him staying long-term in Paris,' Rothen told Le 10 Sport . Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani will not stay at PSG long-term according to club legend Jerome Rothen . The 27-year-old forward joined the French Champions from Napoli in the summer of 2013 for £55m . Cavani joined PSG from Napoli in 2013 for a staggering £55million, but Rothen feels the Uruguayan has failed to live up to his billing. 'If he reiterates his desire to leave, the club will not keep him,' he said. 'Especially if he has the same performances as last year - the directors won't necessarily be satisfied. 'If Cavani considers himself a star in the team, it could be a concern because, in Paris, it's Zlatan and then the rest. They must deal with Zlatan, who is a player beyond the norm. 'For me, Cavani is not among the great attackers, like Ibra, Messi or Ronaldo. He's a player who needs others and will not decide something with a bit of class, an individual moment.' Rothen said that Cavani will always struggle while Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is at the club . Rothen also said that Cavani was 'not among the great attackers' like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo . | Edinson Cavani won't stay at PSG long-term says Jerome Rothen .
Rothen says he will struggle in a team dominated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic .
Former PSG midfielder also said he was 'not among the great attackers'
Cavani moved to PSG from Napoli for £55million in 2013 . |
173,752 | 6cd76a39c65d8cbd8c774a20e498215f3372f675 | (OPRAH.com) -- You can find hundreds of gifts for your friends and family -- and help save the world. We've sought out eye-catching and adorable presents with proceeds that go to charity. Here's where to shop for a change. Help elephants, bear cubs and seals through the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Gifts for Animals. One-stop shop WorldofGood.com . More than 15,000 eco- and socially conscious goods are available (some from as low as $2.50) on WorldofGood.com. Shop by gift category, or, if you'd like, "purchase impact," be it eco- , animal-, or people-friendly. Each product is vetted and comes with a short description so you can see exactly where your money is going. Fair-trade lip balms, organic soaps and bath fizzers are all under $15 and make excellent stocking stuffers. Not just a pretty package PangeaOrganics.com . Pangea Organics' gift packages come stocked with bar soaps, shower gels, and lotions and arrive in a stylish (really, skip the wrapping paper!) recycled box inlaid with spruce seeds -- soak them, plant -- and in two weeks a baby Spruce tree will appear, along with, we assume, softer skin. Holiday gift sets start at $30 at PangeaOrganics.com. Buy a gift, fund a business GlobalGoodsPartners.org, BuildaNest.com . At online boutique Nest, BuildaNest.com, the $30 you spend on patchwork Guatemalan tote will go toward ... creating more Guatemalan totes! The site sells original apparel, jewelry, home and paper goods made by more than 75 exclusive artists and designers and gives microcredit loans to women in developing countries, enabling them to start and maintain a business selling their own products -- which are then offered on the site itself. Another likeminded organization, GlobalGoodsPartners.org, sells handwoven bracelets made by native tribes in Argentina and traditionally patterned silk scarves made by women in Cambodia. Global Goods Partners is dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and funds women-led market initiatives in local communities in 18 countries. For pets HoorayfortheUnderdog.com . Already have the perfect present for Fido? Attach a card from Hooray for the Underdog, a line by photographers Janet Healey and Joe Grisham -- a husband-and-wife team who sell stylish greeting cards featuring pictures of dogs and cats up for adoption in shelters. Ten percent of proceeds ($3 for cards) go to animal welfare groups and shelters. For animal lovers AnimalGift.org . The animal lovers in your life may have already overdosed on cute cards (and books and toys and screensavers), but they might not have saved their very own elephant. The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Gifts for Animals program helps protect pachyderms, as well as bear cubs and seals, and also provides funds for urgent pet care and animal rescue. Each gift comes with a full-color pamphlet telling your animal's story, and there's no leash required. Donations start at $25. Guilt-free indulgence Lush Cosmetics Charity Box, $20.45; Lush.com . Lush's hand and body lotion is made with fair-trade cocoa-butter, and proceeds -- 100 percent after taxes -- go to the organization featured on the lid of each pot. WaterCan, TreePeople, Amazon Conservation Team and International Fund for Animal Welfare are only a few. Celebrate the season of light with Jimmy Belasco all-natural candles ($34). They're made of soybeans, vegetable oil and fragrance -- nothing else -- but the best part of this fragrant treat are the wrapping options. Choose from a wide selection of boxes decorated with cityscapes, calming landscapes, pop art patterns, and holiday themes. Five dollars from the sale of each candle goes to a good cause: You select one from a list of Jimmy's staffers' 10 favorites (with more options on the way). Buying in bulk? CharityNavigator.com . Good Cards (CharityNavigator.com) are the gift certificates of the philanthropy world. You set the price; recipients pick the charity. Perfect for those bosses, co-workers and clients you're stumped on. Last minute OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com, UniversalGiving.org . Click, click, done. Two organizations simplify making a difference around the world. Oxfam's gift site, OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com, offers to more than 57 charitable donations, including a pair of sheep ($90) that allow women to generate their own income by making textiles, a small business fund to help get entrepreneurs started ($100), and a veterinarian's field kit ($35). Products are organized by price, with 28 options under $50, and recipients receive a card explaining what the donation will provide. UniversalGiving.org coordinates donations to more than 200 aid organizations, including East Meets West, Helen Keller International, and more. For those big-ticket items BiddingforGood.com, eBayGivingWorks.com . You know those auctions your kids always have in elementary school or the ones your office frequently puts together, where you bid for signed memorabilia, electronic items and original prints? Think of BiddingforGood as one giant elementary school auction: Type in the item you're looking for (we got seven hits for the Nintendo Wii) and bid to win. Check the "Cool Picks" section for really original ideas: Tickets to two shows at New York City fashion week, a CSI set pass, and tickets to the 2009 U.S. Open golf championship. Each purchase benefits the auctioneer's charity of choice. Still haven't found what you're looking for? Try eBayGivingWorks.com to find auctions from high-profile groups. Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! | There are plenty of gifts you can buy that will help fund charities .
Support small businesses in developing countries through BuildaNest.com .
CharityNavigator.com's Good Cards are the gift certificates of the philanthropy world .
Visit WorldofGood.com for eco- and socially conscious stocking stuffers . |
156,296 | 560b3c4e6ab559c792b2f2be1c16d36a4cf2b47b | A former television presenter in Turkey has been held by police after posting a tweet suggesting a cover-up in a government corruption scandal. Sedef Kabas revealed she was being questioned after telling her Twitter followers not to forget the name of a judge who dropped a corruption and bribery probe in the country earlier this year. She later confirmed that officers had seized her laptop computer, her iPad and her telephone, according to reports in Turkey. Former television presenter Sedef Kabas (pictured) has been held by police after posting a tweet suggesting a cover-up in a government corruption scandal . The government has yet to confirm the detention of Kabas amid claims of deteriorating media freedoms in the country. The corruption scandal, which broke last year, implicated people close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and led to the ouster of four ministers, AP reports. The government - pointing to an alleged plot to remove it from office by followers of Fethullah Gulen, an influential US-based Muslim cleric - moved to reassign hundreds of police, prosecutors and judges, including those involved in the case. The case was later dropped, leading to accusations from the opposition of a cover-up. Meanwhile, a judicial body which oversees judges and prosecutors has suspended four prosecutors who had initiated the corruption probes, pending the outcome of an investigation into whether they had abused their powers. The corruption scandal, which broke last year, implicated people close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) and led to the ouster of four ministers . The prosecutors, whom the government has accused of being close to Gulen, face possible ouster from their profession. Earlier this month, police raided a newspaper and a TV station close to Gulen's movement, detaining journalists, producers and even scriptwriters, sparking criticism from the European Union and the United States. Last week, a teenager was briefly arrested at his school for allegedly insulting Erdogan during a student protest. | Sedef Kabas questioned by police after posting message on Twitter feed .
She had suggested a cover-up in a Turkish government corruption scandal .
Former TV presenter claims officers seized her laptop, iPad and telephone .
Corruption scandal broke last year implicating people close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan . |
140,455 | 41a213de3c563f830054c8a9d03d589092afb4f0 | The Girl Scouts' new health conscious cookie options have been put to the ultimate taste test by two children recruited by Grub Street to review the recently-launched recipes. Earlier this month, the Girl Scouts announced the launch of three new cookie flavors - Trios, Toffee-tastic and Rah Rah Raisin - the first two of which are gluten-free, while the other contains a healthy mix of raisins, oatmeal and Greek yogurt. But do the healthier cookie alternatives measure up to the high standards set by their predecessors? According to Grub Street's budding taste testers - one of whom is the daughter of New York Magazine's own food critic Adam Platt - the answer is a resounding no. Cookie creations: The Girl Scouts announced earlier this month that they were adding three new flavors to their cookie line-up . Sweet treat: The gluten-free Toffee-tastic flavor is described as being 'buttery with sweet, crunchy golden toffee bits' Less than impressed: Grub Street's young food critics were unimpressed with both the Rah Rah Raisin (L) and the Trios (R) cookie flavors . Upon tasting one of the gluten-free Trios, which are made with real peanut butter, chocolate chips and whole grain oats, Penelope Platt and her classmate Julia Millard Williams, both 11, were quick to deliver their - overwhelmingly - negative reviews of the treat. 'It doesn't even look very appetizing to me,' Julia explained, before even tasting the cookie. 'It's weirdly shaped.' Penelope on the other hand, at least waited to sample the baked delight before deeming it to be 'rigid', with an odd texture that crumbles bizarrely in your mouth. Both girls also pointed out that the Trios aren't packaged in the traditional Girl Scout cookie boxes, but instead are wrapped inside a plastic pouch. Moving on to the Rah Rah Raisin cookies, which are described on the Girls Scouts website as 'new hearty oatmeal cookies packed with plump raisins and Greek yogurt-flavored chunks', the girls were again left wanting in terms of flavor and ingredients. Classic: Two of the new flavors come packaged in the traditional Girl Scout cookie boxes . Odd one out: For some reason, the Trios are sold in plastic pouches . While Julia described the cookie as 'okay', Penelope revealed that she wasn't sure raisin and oatmeal really worked as a flavor combination; both girls were unable to taste the Greek yogurt. 'I was expecting to bite into a gooey raisin, but there was something else — maybe white chocolate?' Penelope added. 'It definitely tasted like a health cookie, or a cereal cookie.' Both Penelope and Julia were big fans of the iconic Thin Mints, arguably the most popular cookie sold by the Girl Scouts, which was also the only one that both girls were able to recognize. When it came to some of the other classic cookie flavors however, the results were equally underwhelming, with both girls insisting that the peanut-butter based Tagalongs were too salty, while the Trefoils were too 'lemon-y'. | The Girl Scouts introduced three new health-conscious cookie flavors to their line-up earlier this month .
Toffee-tastic and Trios are both gluten-free, while Rah Rah Raisin contains oatmeal and Greek yogurt .
Grub Street enlisted two young cookie fans to test out the new flavors . |
177,272 | 717cb8ce5a82d43529aad9053a438a9ea7c7ce3a | By . Stephen Mcgowan for the Daily Mail . Celtic have landed a £212,000 Champions League bonus — after UEFA hammered Manchester City for breaching financial fair play rules. England’s champions were fined £50million for the FFP breaches but will only pay £20million provided they comply with break-even rules in future. Paris St Germain and Zenit St Petersburg were amongst nine clubs fined and the 70 clubs who reached the Champions League and Europa League group stages will each receive Euros 265,000 (£212,000) from the penalties. Beneficiaries: Celtic are among the clubs who will receive the funds from the FFP fines . Buying: Manchester City owner Sheikh mansour shows no sign of stopping his spending spree . Similar sums will be distributed to clubs who comply with the FFP rules in this season’s European competitions – meaning Celtic will double their money next season after reaching the Europa League group stage. The deal was hammered out in talks between the European Clubs’ Association and UEFA with ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saying: ‘It was an agreement between UEFA and the clubs that it was money belonging to the clubs.’ UEFA president Michel Platini addressed the ECA conference in Geneva attended by Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell and reiterated his commitment to FFP saying: ‘We will see whether any imperfections can be ironed out and whether there is room to further improve the system.’ Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell also lifted an ECA best achievement in marketing award after Celtic installed state of the art wifi last season. Advantage: The money City have been fined will be redistributed to other Champions League clubs . Selling: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists his side have had to become a selling club due to the rules . | Manchester City fined £50million for breaking financial fair play regulations .
Could be reduced to £20m if they comply with rules in future .
Money will be shared around European clubs who did meet requirements, with Celtic receiving £212,000 .
Clubs will meet to discuss changes to the rules in October . |
225,302 | afc115daab1dea8c42718312ea6ce89dbde3d7e0 | (CNN) -- Videos purportedly shot by Britain's Prince Harry and including offensive language prompted an official apology Saturday from the prince and the royal family. Prince Harry apologized when video surfaced of him making offensive comments while on military duty in 2006. According to the British-based News of the World, which released the videos on its Web site, the videos show British soldiers while a voice presumed to be Harry's calls one solider a "Paki," and in another clip tells soldier wearing a cloth on his head that he looks "like a raghead." A spokesman for Prince Harry apologized in a statement released by St. James's Palace Saturday after the videos surfaced online. The spokesman said the prince -- who is third in line to the British throne -- "understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offense his words might cause." It is not first apology for offensive behavior by Prince Harry. In 2005, he was photographed wearing a Nazi uniform to a party, for which he said he was sorry. "It was a very stupid thing to do and I've learned my lesson, simple as that really," he said in a September 2005 interview marking his 21st birthday. "I'd like to put it in the past now. What's done is done. I regret it." The videos, filmed during his military service in 2006, were shot by the prince, according to the Web site. In one video, a voice from behind the camera says "Ah, our little Paki Friend...Ahmed," as the camera zooms in on a soldier from across the room. The video does not show Prince Harry's face, but News of the World suggests that the voice is his. The soldiers were waiting for their flight to Cyprus for a mission, according to the Web site. The royal family said the 'paki' term was a nickname for a friend in his platoon. "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend," the St. James's Palace statement said. The second video was filmed after arriving in Cyprus, according to News of the World, and shows a British soldier with a cloth over his head. A voice, which the News of the World claims to be Harry's, is heard saying, "(expletive) me, you look like a raghead." In response to that comment, St. James's Palace said, "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taliban or Iraqi insurgent." Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, urged people to take the prince's words in context. "Harry is not the same man as he was three years ago," Arbiter told Britain's ITN network. "You don't think when you are shooting a video." And he pointed out that Harry was serving in the army, where language is not always delicate. "It is quite common for names to be used in the military.... He's a serviceman first and foremost, but people see him as a prince first and he has to be careful of what he says." The British Ministry of Defense said it was not aware of any complaints against Prince Harry and would investigate the allegations of inappropriate behavior, according to a written statement released Saturday. "Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces," it said. CNN's Katy Byron contributed to this report. | Prince Harry apologizes for offensive language used while on duty three years ago .
Videos surface of him calling one soldier "paki," another called "raghead"
British Ministry of Defense plans to investigate allegations . |
230,443 | b66b04c3c65d85ebf67446189f9b9f069113d250 | A British soldier awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross died in vain because of an order to prevent damage to Taliban mud huts, an inquest will be told this summer. Colleagues of Lance Corporal James Ashworth – who won the UK’s highest gallantry medal – are expected to tell a coroner they were denied powerful weapons to take on the Taliban due to fears mortars and rockets could damage buildings. Soldiers from the Grenadier Guards will claim James died because he was forced to crawl to within a few feet of an enemy sniper in a mud hut while clutching a grenade, rather than firing from a safer distance. Inquest: Lance Corporal Ashworth's (pictured) colleagues will claim the regulations to protect infrastructure in the Helmand Province led to his death . Last night his father Duane Ashworth accused top brass of sacrificing his son’s life to protect the building, saying his pride in his son’s VC was now coupled with anger over the way in which he had died. ‘We can build more mud huts but nobody can bring back my son. This is hard to stomach,’ he said. Just weeks before L/Cpl Ashworth died in June last year, new tactics were introduced by the multi-national forces in Afghanistan that prevented use of heavy weapons in all but the most exceptional circumstances. The change – in response to a request from President Hamid Karzai to protect local infrastructure – meant British patrols no longer carried mortars and shoulder-held rocket launchers on routine operations, forcing them to engage any targets at close range. L/Cpl Ashworth would still be alive if they had been able to use the weapons that were restricted just a month earlier, his comrades will say. The revelation follows last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court that any decision to deny troops access to adequate weaponry could constitute a negligent decision and therefore a breach of their human rights – potentially opening the floodgates for hundreds of damages claims from bereaved families. Outrage: Lance Corporal Ashworth's family have said they are angry and accused top brass of sacrificing his life to protect the building. (L to R) father Duane, mother Kerry and brother Coran . Yesterday, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond warned that the ruling could prevent British soldiers carrying out vital missions because their commanders will be frightened about being sued if their troops are badly wounded or killed. He said: ‘We can’t have commanders living in fear of how lawyers back in London might interpret their battlefield decisions that are vital to protecting our national security.’ L/Cpl Ashworth was awarded a VC after taking on a Taliban sniper team in Mohammed Zai, Helmand province, on June 13 last year. He was killed while getting into position to throw a grenade through the window of the mud hut occupied by a Taliban sniper. James’s father Duane, 45, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, added: ‘James was put in even graver danger by the lack of basic weapons. Award: Lance Corporal Ashworth was given a posthumous Victoria Cross. It is the UK's highest gallantry medal . James or one of his colleagues could have fired a mortar or a rocket-launcher from a longer range and in all likelihood he would be here today.’ Platoon commander Captain Michael Dobbin will be called to the inquest at Kettering magistrates’ court on August 1. Grenadiers who fought a close-range gun battle in the mud hut are also expected to give evidence. A Grenadiers source said: ‘While Captain Dobbin will support the Army’s version of events, the junior soldiers will express their frustration about having to fight the Taliban with effectively one arm tied behind their backs that summer. ‘James would still be alive if we’d used the same weaponry we used on the 09/10 tour.’ A legal expert told The Mail on Sunday that the failure to provide adequate weaponry could provide grounds for a future negligence claim by the Ashworth family against the MoD. Shubhaa Srinivasan of Leigh Day & Co said: ‘If weapons were denied to soldiers as a result of a decision taken sufficiently away from the battlefield... it may be possible to establish liability against the Ministry of Defence under negligence or the Human Rights Act. ‘The MoD does not have carte blanche to fail to equip troops.’ An MoD spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family of James Ashworth. UK forces continue to operate under established Rules of Engagement which give them the right to defend themselves and to call in the fire support they need in any situation.’ | Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 23, is said to have crawled within a few feet of enemy sniper .
His colleagues will claim at an inquest new regulations meant he couldn't fire a grenade from a safer distance .
Rules came after request from President Karzai to protect local buildings .
Lance Corporal Ashworth has been awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross . |
190,958 | 8349334bb88964ac9c0037c659361fa5e9227c39 | Enner Valencia scored either side of half-time to lift Ecuador back into contention in Group E and see off Honduras. Carlos Costly had given the Hondurans the lead in Curitiba with his country's first World Cup goal since 1982. But Valencia responded with a quick equaliser before heading home the winner in the second half. Relive all the action as it happened below. Click here for Sportsmail's brilliant World Cup Match Zone . Honduras: TBA . Ecuador: TBA . Host commentator . This match promised little, but delivered a lot. It was certainly entertaining, fast and physical... if not one for the purists. You can read Craig Hope's take on proceedings with our match report HERE. Ashley Clements will be here tomorrow for Argentina v Iran at 5pm, and I'll be back for the two late games Germany v Ghana at 8pm and Nigeria v Bosnia at 11pm. In the meantime, adios. That is that. Ecuador come from behind to get the three points and rise to second place in Group E ahead of Switzerland on goal difference. Enner Valencia was the man who made the difference, scoring either side of half-time in Curitiba. Ecuador play France in their final group game at the Maracana on Wednesday while Honduras must beat Switzerland to stand any chance of progression. Changes galore as Ecuador throw on Gruezo and the experiences Mendez in an attempt to see this out. Honduras have brought on Chavez in an attempt to force an equaliser. Just six minutes to go and I wouldn't bet my house on this finishing 2-1, it's still very open in Curitiba. Honduras throw on Mario Martinez in an attempt to get back into this game. Garrido is the man who makes way. A defeat would not be the end of the road for Honduras, but they would need a healthy win over Switzerland and hope France beat Ecuador on Wednesday. Still 20 minutes to get back into this. Valencia again! Ecuador lead! The South Americans come from behind to take the lead in Curitiba. The warning signs were there for Honduras from a couple of previous crosses into the box. This time, though, another free header for an Ecuador player and Valencia makes no mistake, guiding the ball into the far corner. It will take a big effort from Honduras now to get back into this. Another one for Honduras, and again the right decision. Costly was offside from the ball played through by Espinoza. No vociferous protests this time, though, from Honduras' players. It was a decent shout for Ecuador, but none of their players really appealed for it. Caicedo found himself in behind the defence and Figueroa came in at full stretch. The Honduras defender didn't make contact with the ball, and he definitely caught Caicedo. Corner kick given. In other news, Antonio Valencia went into the book. That's about all there is to report from a rather poor first 15 minutes in the second half. It's been nothing like the first. Both managers must have had a word with their teams because the start of the second half has been far more controlled with both teams looking to keep possession. Ecuador still coming forward and moving the ball fast, but so far Honduras holding firm. 51 mins played - 1-1. Right, time for the second half in Curitiba. One change for Honduras as Wigan's Garcia replaces Celtic's Izaguirre. Well that was a pleasant surprise – end to end, toe to toe, stud to stud, call it what you may, it was entertaining stuff. Honduras have fared better than anticipated and, to give air to one well-worn phrase, this one really could go either way. A breath-taking first half full of incident in Curitiba. There has been good football, mistakes, tough challenges, cards and goals... everything we need for an enjoyable game. Having said that, a draw isn't much good to both teams as it will leave them in 3rd and 4th place respectively in this group. Still, more of the same in the second half please. Honduras though they were back ahead then. Costly's header came cannoning back off the post to Bengtson, who tapped home from two yards and ran off to celebrate. The referee's whistle went, though, and the goal was ruled out. It was the right decision, Bengtson handled the ball, and he was offside for good measure. This has been one of the more enjoyable contests I've seen at this World Cup. You can see the fight in both teams desperate for a win and the energy and physicality has made this a gripping game, as well as the mistakes. Both goals were quite sloppy from the defending teams, but that's fitting of this game. Three minutes until half-time. That didn't last long. A goal from absolutely nothing. Paredes was running with the ball and there seemed to be nothing on. Paredes shot from the edge of the area and it took a deflection before finding Enner Valencia, who had gambled at the far post and earned himself a tap in. Honduras made a lot of mistakes in the first half hour, but Ayovi makes the most costly one of all and the Hondurans lead. Ayovi lost the ball just outside his own penalty area, and Carlos Costly picked it up before smashing home low and hard past Dominguez. Honduras' first World Cup goal since 1982 and they're loving it. Ecuador slightly on top, but it's very hard to tell as this game is so stretched and frenetic. Honduras making a lot of mistakes, but both teams playing with plenty of energy and physicality. I wouldn't bet on another goalless draw in Curitiba on this evidence. And Enner Valencia has blown it. Just a long ball over the top and the Ecuador striker was played on side by Izaguirre, but Valencia volleyed wide of the far post. Huge let off for Honduras and a big warning. Shock! Within three seconds of kick-off there are three players laid out on the turf after a meaty Honduran challenge. At least if it’s a spikey affair it will be an improvement on the tedium of 24 hours ago when Japan and Greece played out a predictable stalemate. A real stretched game this one and a lively first 15 minutes. Not may chances to report so far, but that's not down to a lack of trying. I sense both teams are desperate for a win to push themselves back into contention in this group. Those of you who bet on the timing of the first card, it came after six minutes. Honduras' Bernardez the man who goes into the book for a cynical foul just outside the area on Enner Valencia. Real end-to-end stuff to begin this match as first of all Caicedo's direct running and good cross causes problems for Honduras goalkeeper Valladares. At the other end, Costly led the counter attack and his low cross had Ecuador goalkeeper Dominguez scrambling. Good atmosphere in Curitiba for this one. Both sets of supporters sense that this is their best chance of a victory. Ecuador kick us off in Curitiba... and Honduras foul within five seconds. This could be a good match to bet on card markets. Two more passionate national anthems, in keeping with the South American (central in Honduras' case) theme, completed and we're ready for kick-off in Curitiba. Real incentive for the winner today to leap into second place ahead of Switzerland. Honduras and Ecuador met in a friendly in Texas last November and it finished 2-2 on that occasion. Carlos Costly scored twice in five minutes for the Hondurans on that occasion, and Ecuador needed an 89th-minute equaliser from Enner Valencia in Houston. Please don't shut your laptop down after this, but here goes. Before France's 5-2 win over Switzerland in Salvador, the previous two games at the venue were Spain 1-5 Holland and Germany 4-0 Portugal. On the other hand, the only other game to be played in Curitiba finished Iran 0-0 Nigeria. The late game last night between Japan and Greece also finished 0-0. Things can only get better. In the words of Kevin Hart - let me explain. Both these teams played England in warm-up games in Miami. Both actually earned draws that looked very credible back then, that was until England were eliminated after two straight losses. Honduras: Valladares, Figueroa, Bernardez, Izaguirre, Bengtson, Costly, Garcia, Espinoza, Garrido, Claros, Beckeles . Ecuador: Dominguez, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes, Noboa, Montero, Ayovi, Caicedo, E. Valencia, Minda, A. Valencia. Let's be honest, when the World Cup fixtures were announced, this is probably the game that most of us decided we wouldn't stay up for. But after France smashed Switzerland in Salvador just now, both these teams will feel they are back in the mix for second place in Group E. Kick-off an hour away in Curitiba, team news to follow shortly. | Enner Valencia scores both goals as Ecuador come from behind to beat Honduras in Curitiba .
Striker scored third goal of campaign and seventh in last six internationals .
Carlos Costly gave Honduras the lead in 31st minute .
Valencia replied with quick equaliser before heading winner in second half .
Ecuador into second place in Group E above Switzerland on goal difference .
Final games on Wednesday: Ecuador vs France, Switzerland v Honduras . |
148,255 | 4bb1729681bfed514e25f452e8520c83d2692c6c | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 03:29 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:07 EST, 15 May 2013 . A lesbian couple were told they could not rent a flat - because they did not constitute a 'family'. Church minister Keith Price allegedly refused to let Kira Izzard and Laura Cull rent a flat next to Ms Cull's sister and nephew because of the pair's sexuality. Ms Cull said she felt 'numb' and 'sick' at the decision made last week, and was uncertain about its legalities. 'Numb and sick': Kira Izzard, left, and Laura Cull, right, were refused permission to rent a flat because of their sexuality . The couple, from Douglas, the Isle of Man, were stunned when they were told they did not constitute a 'family' The couple, from Douglas, who have been together four years, were told that the Civil Partnership Act had been enacted on the Isle of Man. But an Equality Bill - which would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation - was yet to be ratified, The Independent reported. The church leader, from the Independent Methodist Church, who made the decision has now denied being homophobic, the BBC reported. Keith Price claims his decision was based on his religious views and not prejudice. 'We are not homophobic but we do have a stance on the sexuality,' Mr Price said. He added: 'We understood that they were not a family so we said we couldn't proceed (with renting the property to them). 'We believe that God has a plan for our lives within the context of marriage, the scripture is quite clear in its teaching on this,' the BBC reported. Outrage: The Isle of Man's Chief Minister Alan Bell has branded the decision 'bigoted' But his decision prompted outrage from the Island's Chief Minister, Allan Bell, who branded the decision 'bigoted'. He said: 'I am extremely disappointed that this type of ugly, outdated prejudice survives after all the work that has been done over the past 20 years or so to make the island a more tolerant place. 'I do believe our society today is generally much more tolerant than it used to be. 'But this incident shows there are still isolated pockets of bigotry that can only be tackled through legislation,' The Independent reported. An online petition demanding the introduction of the UK's Equality Act 2010 has now been launched and already gathered more than 1,200 signatures. | Church leader who refused pair says they are not a 'family'
Kira Izzard and Laura Cull have been together for four years .
The Island's Chief Minister, Allan Bell, branded the decision 'bigoted' |
118,328 | 24c5327db1a73e44ee23f48d7749b571d15d8f17 | (CNN) -- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This is the first line of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Apparently, this now only applies to the certain instances for which President Barack Obama sees fit. In recent months, a far-reaching regulation emanating from "Obamacare" and imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services requires church-affiliated hospitals, agencies and universities to pay for services that violate their faith (such as contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs) in the health insurance they provide employees. For the first time in our nation's history, the government has launched a full-fledged assault on our religious institutions to force them to pay for services that go against their religious convictions. The compromise offered by the administration allowing religious institutions a year to transition to the new system is no compromise. They are still forced to pay for services in direct conflict with their faith or incur severe penalties that could effectively drive them out of business. This is the most despicable violation of religious liberty that this nation has ever seen. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, outlined it best when he said, "In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences." A year is a pitiful concession to make when they are essentially telling people that if they do not violate their conscience, the government will put them out of business. Catholic institutions, however, are not taking this assault lying down. This week, 43 of them have filed lawsuits across the nation challenging the mandate's intrusion on religious liberty. This sentiment is felt not only among Catholics but also among Jewish, Protestant and other religious groups. Though these groups do not necessarily have a uniform religious teaching against some of the mandate's provisions, they do have a uniform agreement that a coercive government does not have the right to say that these religious institutions must violate their consciences. These religious leaders realize that if government can impose these mandates against conscience rights on Catholics, what other mandates will they impose them on next? The Obama administration and some of its allies in the press have attempted to make this a debate over contraception and tried to position opponents of the mandate as waging "war on women." Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no effort to limit access to contraceptives. Contraceptives are widely available to women -- and men. For $9 a month, birth control pills can be purchased at major national retail chains. This is all typical Washington-speak to create a rhetorical diversion from the real issue at stake. This debate is about whether the full force of government can be used to force religious institutions to violate their own faith and pay for services and products that violate the tenets of their teaching. It is also a debate over how government defines a religious institution. Until this mandate, the government recognized, through tax law and other means, faith-based schools, hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens and hospice services as religious institutions. They kept a wall of separation between these institutions and the federal government. Now, under this mandate, unless a Catholic hospital only employs Catholic staff or cares for only sick Catholics it will no longer be regarded as a religious institution and will be forced to fund products and services contrary to the institution's religious and moral beliefs. This is an unprecedented hit on the First Amendment and our nation's long-standing practice of religious liberty. Religious leaders and people of faith from across the spectrum are speaking out to let the administration and Congress know that we cannot let this assault on religious liberty stand and that we will not allow our religious institutions to be bullied into violating their own faith or be forced to limit their good work or worse yet, be forced to shut down these services that help so many people and promote the common good. This mandate presents a challenge to the American people. Our nation has had a long-held tradition backed by legal foundations and precedents that religious groups are allowed "the free exercise" of their beliefs. Will we allow our religious freedom to be jeopardized? Will we open the door to other freedoms being regulated, or worse, taken away entirely by the government? The answer to our president should be simple. We cannot -- and will not -- allow this to stand. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mary Matalin. | Mary Matalin: Obama administration rule infringes on rights of religious organizations .
She says Catholic groups were right to file lawsuits against the government rule .
Matalin says requiring religious groups to offer contraceptive coverage is wrong .
She says government can't force groups to violate their tenets . |
253,427 | d40b4b77bb8713b665781a0d02265ee8f5576204 | The ashes of items taken from the Dallas apartment where the man who died from the Ebola virus first became ill will be taken to a Louisiana hazardous waste landfill for burial. The linen, bedding and carpet taken from the apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan got sick were taken to the Veolia Environmental Services incinerator in Port Arthur, where they were destroyed Friday. Company spokesman Dan Duncan tells the Beaumont Enterprise that the ash will be analyzed for two days for any remaining contamination before it is sent to the Louisiana landfill. Steam from cooling towers rises above the rotary kiln at Veolia Environmental Services in Port Arthur, Texas. Items from the Dallas home where Thomas Duncan took ill were incinerated here at temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees. Still, locals were concerned about the risks . State officials say Duncan's body was cremated but aren't giving further details. 'All 142 drums were unloaded with no incident and all were destroyed by noon (Friday),' Duncan said. Beaumont-Port Arthur officials say they're upset that Veolia didn't advise them that potentially contaminated material was being shipped into the area for destruction. A group of concerned area citizens met over the weekend to voice their fears, reports 12NewsNow. 'This can't happen,' Janice Rogers said. 'It's very dangerous, lives can be impacted, people can die from this.' Concerned: Residents met in Port Arthur over the weekend to voice concerns over the incineration of the potentially infected items in their town . 'This can't happen,' Beaumont Port-Arthru resident Janice Rogers said. 'It's very dangerous, lives can be impacted, people can die from this.' 'This can't happen,' Janice Rogers said. 'It's very dangerous, lives can be impacted, people can die from this.' Company authorities called the disposal a harmless procedure. 'We've got the capability and permits to manage it safely here and we intend to do so,' Veolia's General Manager Mitch Osborne said. Rogers and company aren't convinced. 'Until you show me proof I say be 1,000 percent concerned,' Rogers said of the ashes. Osborne remained confident the Ebola, which dies at 100 degrees, was killed by the 1,500-plus incinerator. Patient zero: Thomas Eric Duncan, the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S., was living in a Dallas apartment when he became extremely ill and sweated and vomited on items all over the home. Six truckloads of material were taken from the apartment and incinerated . Quarantined: A sign on the door of the apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan stayed with family warns that the unit has been quarantined by the commissioner of health, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Dallas . | Six truckloads of items that Thomas Eric Duncan may have contaminated will be disposed of in a Louisiana landfill .
Officials said they'd analyze the ash for two days after their incineration Friday .
State officials say Duncan's body was cremated but aren't giving further details . |
105,005 | 13752650a9c086ba2faa81cdef12baf649bb7db1 | (CNN) -- LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident, the band's publicist said. LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday. Moore, 46, died "unexpectedly" at a hospital, publicist Ambrosia Healy said in a statement. Moore was taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and had been rehabilitating at his L.A. home after the June 30 accident at his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia. The Dave Matthews Band was formed in Charlottesville in 1991 by Matthews, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Boyd Tinsley and Moore, an established saxophonist in the local music scene. Their first album, "Remember Two Things," was released in 1993 and featured what would become the band's trademark mixture of jazz, rock and world-music stylings. iReport.com: Are you a Dave Matthews fan? "Jazz is probably my main influence, but at this stage I don't really consider myself a jazz musician," Moore is quoted as saying on the band's Web site. "I have plenty of space to improvise, to try new ideas." The band's follow-up record, "Under the Table and Dreaming," has been certified quadruple-platinum, selling over 4 million copies. The group went ahead with a scheduled show Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, has been sitting in for Moore since Moore's accident. Matthews announced the death of the band's "dear friend" to the crowd. Concertgoer Christian Tomas of Anaheim, California, said by telephone from the Staples Center that word of the death had spread through the crowd before the show. "All of us are just really sad and down about it," said Tomas, a longtime fan. "But if Dave and the band decided to go on with the show, that means they know it was the right thing to do and Leroi would have wanted it." | NEW: Band went ahead with show in Los Angeles, remembering "dear friend"
Founding member of Dave Matthews Band died Tuesday afternoon .
Spokeswoman: He suffered complications stemming from a June ATV accident .
Moore had returned to L.A. home to start intense rehabilitation program . |
112,766 | 1d7e7d619a82920f79f6307b4e50a35b756a8cab | (CNN Student News) -- October 15, 2009 . Quick Guide . Health Care Hurdles - Hear how questions from ordinary citizens could shape the health care debate. Missile Diplomacy - Make your way to Moscow for a U.S.-Russia meeting about missile defense. Fiesta Latina - Attend a fiesta at the White House as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, I'm Carl Azuz. CNN Student news starts right now! First Up: Dow 10,000 . AZUZ: We begin on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended yesterday above 10,000. So what? Well, for one, the Dow is made up of thirty of the biggest stocks, and a lot of people use it as a guide of how the overall market is doing. Secondly, this is the first time the Dow has gone over 10,000 in more than a year. That could mean that investors think the U.S. economy is recovering from last year's crisis. But some experts are warning things could still take a step backward. Health Care Hurdles . AZUZ: Health care reform. Yesterday, we outlined the next steps for Congress. But what about just ordinary folks? Some people are concerned that if health care reform gets passed, it might include some things they don't agree with. Tom Foreman breaks down some of the biggest questions in this debate. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At this moment, as you watch at home, the president and other politicians here in D.C. are also watching you, because they really don't know what you want or what you will support. And their jobs down the road depend on figuring that out. It's also safe to say they're highly sensitive to the three questions you care about most. The first we've heard in virtually every one of those town hall meetings: What about my insurance, the care I have now? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm leaving. FOREMAN: Even though most Americans want reform, almost 80 percent told the CBS/New York Times pollster they are pleased with their own health care. And many fear reform could force them to change. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would we have to change if we're completely satisfied with what we have? FOREMAN: The president says no, you won't be forced, but the opposition has whipped that worry into a frenzy. TELEVISION AD: For seniors, this will mean long waits for care, cuts to MRIs, CAT scans and other vital tests. Seniors may lose their own doctors. FOREMAN: Here's the second question. What about big government getting even bigger? Again, a very hot issue in all those town halls. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This government is out of control! We are in debt up to our eyeballs and you all are doing nothing but putting more debt on us and our children. And it's got to stop! FOREMAN: USA Today/Gallup found more than half the voters think big government is a bigger threat to the future than big labor unions or big business. The bailouts, the soaring deficit all driving that concern. And finally, what if this measure passes but fails to produce the results that people expect or want? Health insurance for everyone was the president's goal, but even if the plan approved by the Senate committee passes, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 25 million people will still be uninsured in 10 years. And the rest of us? Well, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found 70 percent of you think reform will make your care no better, might make it even worse. Fair or not, these are real challenges that you have raised for supporters of this measure. (END VIDEO CLIP) Is this Legit? RICK VINCENT, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? The United States is the largest country in the world. Nope! When it comes to total area, Russia is the largest country. The U.S. comes in third. Missile Diplomacy . AZUZ: Representatives from both the U.S. and Russia met in Moscow this week as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. One of the biggest issues on the agenda: missile defense. The U.S. recently said it was dropping plans to build a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic; Russia had wanted the U.S. to drop those plans. During a radio interview, Secretary Clinton suggested that the U.S. and Russia could and should work together on missile defense. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON: It is imperative for countries like Russia, the United States and China to lead against the forces of disintegration and destruction, so that we can stand united against those who would undermine the opportunities that we are seeking to promote. Afghan Troop Levels . AZUZ: The number of troops in Afghanistan is increasing. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Wednesday that 500 additional forces will be heading to the country. That will bring the total number of UK troops serving in Afghanistan to 9,500. Meanwhile, President Obama held the latest in a series of meetings with military, foreign policy and national security advisers yesterday. They're all reviewing the U.S. strategy in the Afghan conflict and how it should move forward. One big point under consideration is Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for an additional 40,000 U.S. troops. Runaway Teen . AZUZ: And remember Rifqa Bary? She's the 17 year old who ran away from Ohio to Florida after she accused her father of threatening her when she converted from Islam to Christianity. Well, her father had denied that accusation, and a law enforcement report found no evidence of any criminal activity. The case ended up in court, where a judge ordered Bary, who you see here, and her parents to sit down and try to work out a solution. Now, the judge says it's in Rifqa's best interest for that process to take place in Ohio. So, once her immigration status is clarified, that's where she's heading. Bary's parents are happy about the ruling. They had asked for their daughter's custody to be transferred back to Ohio. Her attorney was against the move. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS : Today's Shoutout goes out to Mrs. Costa's government class at Burlingame High School in Burlingame, California! What Cabinet position does Hilda Solis hold? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Secretary of Agriculture, B) Secretary of Energy, C) Secretary of Labor or D) Secretary of Transportation? You've got three seconds -- GO! Hilda Solis became labor secretary earlier this year. Before that, she served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Hispanic Heritage Month . AZUZ: We're recognizing Sec. Solis as we wrap up our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. She is the first Latina labor secretary and says it's "a dream" to be serving in that role. Solis has more than two decades of public service. In that time, she's put together a few firsts. You can see some right here. Sec. Solis says one of her most important accomplishments was becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college. And that came after a counselor once told Solis' mother that her daughter wasn't college material. In a recent interview with CNN's Brianna Keilar, Sec. Solis said more families need to understand the significance of getting a higher education. HILDA SOLIS, SECRETARY OF LABOR: It is important for that to kind of be a lesson for other people, to know that it is possible to have changes like that coming, maybe even influences from outside sources like a high school counselor who happened to take an interest in what I was doing and thought I was capable of going to college. AZUZ: During the interview, Solis said she wants to use her work with the Labor Department to improve the quality of life for everyone. SOLIS: I want to inform people about opportunities that the Department of Labor can offer them. And I want to do that in a way that will impact the Hispanic community and other communities that are in great need right now. Fiesta Latina . AZUZ: Meanwhile, the White House hosted a fiesta this week. Fiesta Latina featured artists with roots in Latin America. Check it out. (BEGIN VIDEO) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are honored to be joined by some of this country's most successful and innovative performers of Latin music. Although Latin music takes many forms, this spirit of diversity also unifies us. Latin music speaks to us in a language we can all understand, about hope and joy, sorrow and pain, friendship and love. It moves us, and it tends to make us move a little bit ourselves. (END VIDEO) Latino in America . AZUZ: How are Latinos remaking America, and how is America remaking them? That's the focus of the new CNN documentary "Latino in America." It airs next Wednesday and Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern. And make sure to check out our related teacher materials. You'll find that at CNNStudentNews.com. Before We Go . AZUZ: Okay, we're gonna admit it. Some of our Before We Go segments and the puns that follow are corny. Some of you have said so, and that's when you're being nice. But it just doesn't get any cornier than this, especially for LeBron James! You know you've made it to the big time when your image appears on a nine-acre maze doing what you do best: dunking! Makes Mr. James king of the court and king of the corn! Amazing! Goodbye . AZUZ: You just never know what's gonna crop up on our show. So, what do you get if you're not on the court, but you rock the set of CNN Student News? Boom! This was sent to us last year in an iReport. If you wanna get your own pumpkin on our show, carve it out and click the iReport link on our Web site. This pumpkinhead will see y'all tomorrow. | Hear how questions from ordinary citizens could shape the health care debate .
Make your way to Moscow for a U.S.-Russia meeting about missile defense .
Attend a fiesta at the White House as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month . |
43,656 | 7b1f80141181270fb0d779068e005572a241b4f2 | A baby whose heart stopped fro 26 minutes has survived and is now home from hospital after just a month. Midwives at Burnley General Hospital had almost given up on little Isla Simpson when she was born on September 21 and they realised her heart was not beating. Her mother Becky Simpson, 20, had experienced a normal pregnancy and Isla was born after 39 weeks - but it was only during labour that problems began when she was not moving or crying. Becky Simpson, 20, kisses her daughter Isla for the first time after her heart stopped beating for 26 minutes . She was immediately given CPR and her heart finally started again after 26 minutes. Ms Simpson, from Clayton-le-Moors in Lancashire, said: 'They pulled the emergency cord and suddenly about 20 or 30 people were in the ward. 'I was watching them give her CPR and it was terrifying. It went on for 20 minutes, at which point they usually stop, but they kept going and luckily her heartbeat came back.' She continued: 'I saw her a few hours after the birth and it was heart-breaking because she was sedated and still really struggling to breathe. Isla, pictured in the incubator at Burnley General Hospital, was born at 39 weeks but wasn't moving or crying . 'She looked blue and her organs were starting to die from the lack of oxygen. 'The doctors thought she wasn't going to survive and that whole week was the hardest of my life. Every day we were told to prepare ourselves for the worst.' Following the birth, Isla spent a week on a ventilator in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Doctors were still unsure whether she would make it, but she kept breathing once the ventilator was removed. Ms Simpson added: 'I had decided that if she couldn't breathe without the machine I would let her go - it was causing her so much pain to have it down her throat.' Isla has suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, but the extent of it is not yet known. It is also likely she will have cerebral palsy. After just a month in hospital Isla has been allowed home with her mother but she has suffered brain damage . Becky Simpson, pictured with almost five-week old baby Isla, says she feels like the 'luckiest mum in the world' The single mother says she feels like the luckiest in the world and added: 'I think she can still have a very good life. 'We'll try and do as much as we can for her by taking her to all sorts of different classes and not just sit her in front of the telly. 'When she's awake she's very alert and reacts when I talk to her. 'She's here and that's the main thing.' Doctors have not been able to explain why Isla's heart was not beating when she was born. Angela O'Toole, midwife matron at Burnley General Hospital, said: 'All the staff used their expertise and professionalism in ensuring Isla had safe, personal and effective care. 'The staff supported Becky through a difficult time and we are overwhelmed that she has taken the opportunity to publicise this. 'Everyone in the unit will miss Becky and Isla, but it's obviously brilliant that they are able to go home as a family and we wish them all the best for the future.' Her heart began beating again after 26 minutes of emergency CPR and stayed on a ventilator for a week . | Midwives at Burnley General Hospital had almost given up on Isla Simpson .
Born on September 21 but her heart was not beating and she did not cry .
Given immediate CPR and after a long 26 minutes her heart started again .
She suffered some brain damage and is likely she will have cerebral palsy .
Her mother Becky Simpson, 20, feels like 'luckiest mother in the world' |
65,902 | bb12711cdba012c1c2880f02a6ecd919621de4b3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:57 EST, 30 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:37 EST, 30 October 2013 . Falling sick at sea can be an expensive nightmare for cruise passengers who may find themselves facing expensive medical bills, a new report warns today. Passengers who need to see a doctor on board their cruise ship complain of being hit by charges they feel are excessive, according to the investigation by Which? Travel. The report says that to many holidaymakers used to getting free NHS health care at home, the medical costs on board cruise ships come as a painful shock because they are all charged at private healthcare rates. Passengers on cruise ships feel they are being ripped off by cruise companies' on-board medical services . A survey by Which? found that one in five of the 1,368 members who had been on a cruise reported that they had visited the ship’s doctors. They faced an average bill of £233 -- but 12 of the claims were for £500 or more and one reported a charge of £6,500. Three in ten of those who saw a doctor had to foot the entire bill themselves as they could not claim any of the cost back on their insurance. one passenger who forgot to take enough blood pressure pills with her on a P&O cruise found that her forgetfulness cost her £154.. File picture . Nearly one in five said they could claim part of the cost back and had to pay the excess while four in ten said they could claim all the cost back but had to pay the excess. The majority of these charges were for one-off visits as six in ten people saw the doctor only once. Which? Travel says that one passenger who forgot to take enough blood pressure pills with her on a P&O cruise found that her forgetfulness cost her £154. Another passenger was presented with a bill for £2,500 after being admitted to the ship’s medical centre with pneumonia. Although her insurance policy covered £2,000 she had to make up the £500 difference. 'These are not isolated cases “ said Which? Travel. 'Our members reported huge variations in how much they had to pay on cruise lines.' Angela Smith, commercial manager for Healix Risk Rating, which advises insurers on medical risks says that these charges can come as a shock to holidaymakers used to receiving free health care in the UK. She told the magazine: 'If someone is required to pay £70 on board a ship to see a doctor, this won’t break the bank. 'However, a hefty medical claim that requires hospital treatment will. Very few people can afford £10,000 or £100,000 to pay these expenses. ' Which? Travel asked five of the biggest cruise lines in the UK market - Cunard, Fred Olsen, P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) to tell them their medical charges, and they all said costs were in line with UK private medical care. | Cruise lovers who sought out ship's doctor had to pay £233 on average .
Charges come as a shock to passengers used to NHS .
Many could not claim some or all back on travel insurance . |
177,518 | 71ce9411058e00cc342d17fbafd2bd236956153d | Seychelles (CNN) -- The pristine waters of the Seychelles, a glittering necklace of coralline and granitic islands scattered on the Indian Ocean, have long beguiled jet-setters and eco-conscious visitors from around the world, turning the idyllic archipelago into a popular travel destination. But as well as boosting the tiny nation's tourism revenues, the high seas off the east coast of Africa have also helped create another strategic industry: fishing. A major economic pillar, fishing is the second biggest contributor to the Seychelles' finances after tourism. Over the last two decades, the sector's products have accounted for more than 90% of the country's merchandise exports by value, supplying international markets with items such as canned tuna, also known as the Seychelles' "blue gold." But in recent years, the fishing industry has come under severe threat as a result of the ongoing risk posed by Somali pirates roaming the waters off the Horn of Africa. "It's a big problem," explains major Jean Attala, deputy operations officer of the Seychelles coast guard. "Anything that disrupts the tourism or fishing industry or the maritime equilibrium is a very big problem for us," he adds. Read this: The global cost of piracy . To deal with the threat of piracy, the country's authorities had to change the way they manage their waters in recent years. As part of this increased security drive, the Seychelles coast guard has intensified its patrolling efforts, with fast-attack armed vessels monitoring a newly defined zone for fishing. But there are just four such vessels in the Seychelles' entire fleet. It's a small nation in terms of landmass, but with its oceans, it is nearly twice the size of France. "This is not adequate to cover such a large area," says Attala. "We need more assets and build up more our capacity to deal with the issue." Local fishermen are restricted from sailing beyond the designated area's perimeter, several dozen miles outside the main port. Analysts say that fishing boats are of particular importance to pirates because they can be used as floating bases from which to launch further attacks. But while the measure seems to be working -- there have been no successful attacks in nearly a year -- the restrictions on the movement of Seychellois fishermen has created another problem. "There's no fish," explains local fisherman Patrick Pierre. "Every boat is fishing in the same place," he adds. Pierre, who's been casting his nets for 12 years now, says his job was hardest during the worst period of the piracy -- in 2007 and 2008. Since then, the Seychelles has been at the forefront of the global fight against piracy but the new rules mean fewer fish and less money. Latest African gold rush: Hotels . Joram Madnack is the general manager of the French-owned Indian Ocean Tuna, one of the world's largest tuna canneries and the biggest employer in the Seychelles. He says fish intake has fallen nearly 25% in the last five years. "The impact has been on the price, which for some places has gone up by 70%-80% compared to 2007 prices," explains Madnack. According to a recent report by the World Bank, piracy costs the global economy an estimated $18 billion a year. The increased costs come as shippers are forced to change trading routes, sending fuel bills soaring, as well as pay higher insurance premiums and security bills for guards on board. But the threat of Somali piracy is also damaging the economies of neighboring countries, particularly in the key sectors of tourism and fishing. Since 2006, the year the World Bank report takes as the starting point of piracy, exports of fish products from piracy-hit countries have declined by 23.8%. In Seychelles, the impact has been even greater, with exports collapsing by nearly 30%. "We now fish where we are allowed to fish," says Peter Sinon, the country's minister of natural resources and industry. "It has made the industry more costly in terms of going out there [and] be secure to bring in what usually was our daily supply of protein," he adds. Watch video: protecting "blue gold" from pirates . And although many of the pirates have now gone, the fishermen say their industry still hasn't recovered. For people like Pierre, the fight against piracy and the introduction of fishing zones has proven to be a double-edged sword. The protection is still necessary, he says, acknowledging that today he is safer. Yet, he and other local fishermen miss the freedom to sail about and return with a big catch. "Five years ago, there was a lot of fish," says Pierre. "We could go anywhere we wanted without the fear of piracy and everything." Teo Kermeliotis contributed to this report. | Seychelles' fishermen have been targets of Somali pirates .
Piracy forced authorities to introduce zones that restrict fishermen's movements .
Attacks have decreased, but restrictions hurt fishing industry . |
71,924 | cbe7356c820cbc6d934d6554e628681b91802f30 | (CNN) -- Convicted Ohio serial killer Anthony Sowell won't be eligible for parole after being classified as a "sexually violent predator," court officials in Cleveland said Wednesday. Sowell was found guilty of 11 counts of aggravated murder and more than 70 other charges Friday in a string of deaths of Cleveland-area women from 2007 to 2009. Officer Ryan Miday, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office, said Sowell's classification as a sexually violent predator guarantees that he can only receive life in prison without parole or the death penalty when the sentencing phase of his trial begins August 1. The jury could have recommended parole if members believed Sowell could be rehabilitated, according to Greg Popovich, the Cuyahoga County court administrator. During the sentencing phase, Sowell will be able to make a statement on his own behalf without being under oath or facing cross-examination, Miday said. The defense also can call expert witnesses to discuss Sowell's background, including his childhood and military service. If jurors decide to recommend death, the judge can intervene and impose a life sentence -- but if the jury recommends life, the judge cannot impose a death sentence, according to Popovich. Jurors found Sowell guilty on a total of 84 counts, including abusing corpses and kidnapping. The sole not-guilty verdict came on an aggravated robbery charge. The convictions ended a saga that began for investigators in October 2009 with the discovery of the first two sets of victims' remains inside Sowell's home. Eventually, they blamed him for the slayings of at least 11 women, ages 25 to 52. Sowell had served 15 years in prison for attempted rape before being released in 2005. People who met him after his release described him as "a normal guy," known locally for selling scrap metal. His inconspicuous two-story home sat in a dilapidated neighborhood known as Mount Pleasant, where one in five homes was in foreclosure and at least a third of residents got food stamps, according to a 2010 study by Case Western Reserve University's Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. Neighbors and even a city councilman had failed to realize that the stench wafting in the area around Sowell's residence was from human flesh and not a byproduct of a nearby sausage factory. The disappearances of the women -- many of whom lived nearby -- went largely unnoticed for almost two years, with only four of them even being reported missing. Many of his alleged victims struggled with drug addiction at some point in their lives, with court records showing that many resorted to stealing and prostitution to support their habits. In late 2008, Gladys Wade told police that a man in a gray hoodie offered her beer, and when she declined, he punched her in the face several times. Wade said that he then tried to rape her, dragging her toward his home, adding that she got out only after "gouging his face." Police investigated Wade's complaint, with one police report noting blood droplets on Sowell's walls and steps. But officers told CNN affiliate WKYC that the case was dropped after Wade declined to press charges. Six more women disappeared after her complaint. Authorities discovered the bodies after a 36-year-old Cleveland woman told police a story eerily similar to those of Wade and the woman whose 1989 account led to Sowell's first conviction for attempted rape. She said he'd invited her into his home for beer, punched her in the face, then began performing oral sex on her -- releasing her only after she promised to return the next day. Most of the women whose remains were found in and around Sowell's home were strangled by ligature -- which can include a string, cord or wire -- and at least one was strangled by hand, officials said. Seven still had ligatures wrapped around their necks. A skull is all that remains of one victim. It was found wrapped in a paper bag and stuffed in a bucket in the home's basement. Sowell's lawyers have declined previous requests by CNN to explain their case, and the suspect has not been interviewed. CNN's Chris Perry contributed to this report. | Anthony Sowell was declared not eligible for parole Wednesday .
Sowell was convicted Friday on 84 counts, including murdering 11 women from 2007 to 2009 .
His sentencing hearing begins August 1 . |
58,003 | a45f2dff3f19fbdcdd6a8bcc230c98def9ef6356 | Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its officials announced today. In a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia penalties - such as the severing of limbs - a ban relating to all Christmas references was issued following the holiday on December 25. The tough restriction was put in place after children and adults were seen wearing clothes 'that resemble Santa Claus' - thereby promoting a religion other than Islam. Banned Christmas: Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, it was announced today. Pictured, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah . In April, Brunei was condemned after announcing the introduction of a penal code that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning. The tiny state on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and relies on oil and gas exports for its prosperity. Around 20 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim, including substantial Buddhist and Christian communities. A spokesman declined to comment directly on the Christmas ban, but referred to a December 27 statement in which the religious affairs ministry said the act of publicly marking non-Islamic rituals or festivities 'can be seen as propagations of religions other than Islam'. The tough restriction was put in place after children and adults were seen wearing clothes 'that resemble Santa Claus' - thereby promoting a religion other than Islam . It noted in particular: 'For example, in conjunction with Christmas celebrations, Muslim children, teenagers and adults can be seen wearing hats or clothes that resemble Santa Claus. 'Believers of other religions that live under the rule of an Islamic country - according to Islam - may practice their religion or celebrate their religious festivities among their community, with the condition that the celebrations are not disclosed or displayed publicly to Muslims,' the statement said. 'Muslims should be careful not to follow celebrations such as these that are not in any way related to Islam... and could unknowingly damage the faith of Muslims.' Around 20 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim, including substantial Buddhist and Christian communities . The statement also said that businesses that publicly displayed Christmas decorations were asked to take them down and had given their 'full cooperation'. The latest move will likely attract more international criticism after a harsh new penal code was announced in April by Brunei's 68-year-old Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. At the time, he said: 'Today I place my faith in and am grateful to Allah the almighty to announce that tomorrow,Thursday, May 1 2014, will see the enforcement of Sharia law phase one, to be followed by the other phases.' The tiny state of Brunei on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and relies on oil and gas exports for its prosperity . The change means people can face conviction by Islamic courts and fines or jail terms for a range of offences such as pregnancy outside marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers and propagating other religions. A second phase of the law comes into effect in May this year covering theft and alcohol consumption by Muslims, which would be punishable by whipping and amputation. The death penalty, including death by stoning, will be introduced in the final phase a year later for offences such as adultery, sodomy and insulting the Koran or the Prophet Muhammad. Most of the laws will also apply to non-Muslims. U.S. television personality Ellen DeGeneres (right) and British actor Stephen Fry (left) said in April they would boycott the hotel chain owned by Brunei's sultan following the introduction of a new harsh sharia penal code . That raises concern among Western workers in the oil sector and the tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese Bruneians and 30,000 mostly Roman Catholic Filipino migrant workers living in Brunei. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights denounced the new system for applying the death penalty to a wide range of offences. In April, celebrities, including U.S. television personality Ellen DeGeneres and British actor Stephen Fry, announced they would be boycotting the hotel chain owned by the sultan on the grounds that the new laws criminalised homosexuality. The Dorchester Collection of hotels is owned by the Sultan of Brunei. | Ban issued after local children seen in clothes 'that resemble Santa Claus'
Oil-rich nation's population is made up of around 20 per cent non-muslims .
In April, Brunei shocked world by introducing harsh sharia penal code .
Under the code limbs can be severed for theft and people stoned to death . |
265,912 | e46b3f869714a49ac7ef159f5398e9fb61cccfc1 | (CNN) -- An Airbus airplane was forced to turn back to New York 90 minutes into a flight to Paris, Air France said Monday. The Air France A380 turned back due to a "minor incident," the airline said, refusing to say what the technical hitch was. Airbus also declined to specify what caused the plane to turn back, saying the incident was an issue for the Air France maintenance team not the aircraft's manufacturer. The pilots made the decision to turn back "in strict accordance with procedures and as a precautionary measure... following a minor technical problem in order to carry out ground checks," Air France said. The plane landed at New York's John F. Kennedy International airport "without incident" at 10:17 p.m. ET on Friday, November 27, Air France said. The plane was serviced and later completed its transatlantic journey, the airline said. Air France had begun flying the brand-new A380 across the Atlantic only days before, Airbus said. Its inaugural commercial flight from Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport to JFK was on November 21. Air France became the fourth airline to operate the superjumbo when it received its first A380 at the end of last month. -- CNN's Ayesha Durgahee in London, England, contributed to this report. | Airbus airplane forced to turn back to New York 90 minutes into flight to Paris .
Air France A380 turned back due to a "minor incident," airline says .
Airbus declines to specify what caused the plane to turn back . |
135,539 | 3b5dc5081c2f4033bb87357eb9648ca9d8328bd4 | Jamie Redknapp has stated he finds it impossible how Liverpool can win the Premier League title this term following their third defeat in four top flight games. The Reds crashed to a 3-1 loss at West Ham to follow up defeats by Aston Villa and Manchester City earlier in the season, which leave them six points behind league leaders Chelsea having played a game more. The former Liverpool midfielder voiced concerns over the impact of selling Luis Suarez over the summer and the time it will take for Brendan Rodgers' summer signings to settle. Jamie Redknapp wrote off Liverpool's title chances on Saturday Night Football where he was a pundit alongside former West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola . Steven Gerrard, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli look on after Liverpool lost 3-1 at West Ham United . 'I don't put Liverpool in the equation to win the title,' Redknapp told Sky Sports. 'After selling one of the best players in the world, the best in the Premier League last season, it makes it impossible.' 'Now when you bring players in, it does take a little bit of time for them to bed in and settle. I want to see more from [Lazar] Markovic and [Adam] Lallana who are going to take time.' 'Top four should be the aim this year, the title no chance - not when you don't have Suarez in your team - he made such a difference.' Redknapp also voiced concern over a Liverpool defence which has already conceded eight goals in five games this season, claiming summer signing Dejan Lovren is struggling to match his Southampton form in a team desperately in need of more leadership. Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher both see the summer loss of Luis Suarez to Barcelona as a key reason to why Liverpool will struggle to win the Premier League title . Lovren has struggled to match his Southampton form from last term in the Liverpool defence this season, as he receives treatment from a head wound suffered in the defeat at Upton Park . 'Dejan Lovren was a really good signing, but he's struggling to find his way in the Premier League for Liverpool. The pressure is on and they have to adjust. The team needs more leaders and the top four is where they are.' Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also criticised the Merseyside's club's defending, stating Rodgers' team have regressed. Carragher tweeted: 'After losing Suarez Lfc were never going to score 100 goals + this season so had to be better defensively, they actually look worse now.' | Jamie Redknapp rules Liverpool out of winning the Premier League title .
Former Reds midfielder claims loss of Luis Suarez is too much .
Redknapp demanded more from summer signings including Dejan Lovren .
Ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher claims club have got worse defensively . |
64,886 | b83eca9f66448d27bb4e596187aa698f1eb2eace | Radiation from a stricken Japanese nuclear power station could have reached a potentially lethal point - prompting fears that its operator is struggling to maintain safety. Radiation readings of 1,800 millisieverts (mSv) per hour - 18 times the level at the same spot 10 days ago - have been detected at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. A dose this size of gamma radiation is high enough to kill a human exposed to it within four hours. The revelations come after Japan's top nuclear regulator today raised . safety concerns about hastily built storage tanks and their . foundations amid signs of more leaks of radiation-contaminated water. Worrying: Radiation from a Japanese nuclear power station could have reached a potentially lethal point. This image shows Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, in red helmet, inspecting contamination water tanks at Fukushima last week . Concerns: Japan's top nuclear regulator raised safety concerns today about hastily built storage tanks and their foundations amid signs of more leaks of radiation-contaminated water . Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman . Shunichi Tanaka said that a small leak and signs of possible leaks have . been spotted at several other Fukushima Dai-ichi storage tanks since a . major leak in August which added to concerns about the plant's stability. The new revelations will add to the increasing anger in Japan over the management of the disaster by the owner of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company. There are increasing fears that news of more leaks from the plant could affect Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games which will be decided next Saturday. A meeting about the leaks was . postponed by Japanese MPs last week until after the decision by the . International Olympic Committee was to be made. This has prompted . allegations of a cover-up. Following the latest worrying radiation readings, Tepco claimed last night that the radiation contained only 1mSv of gamma rays, The Times reported. The firm said beta radiation, which is weaker, made up the rest of the radiation readings. Wrecked: This aerial view shows the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011 . But Dr Richard Wakeford, a professor at Manchester University, told the newspaper that ratio would be 'most unusual', adding: 'Penetrating gamma rays would be lethal in a few hours.' The plant's operator reported a loss of 300 tons of radiation-contaminated water from a steel tank on August 19, saying most of it is believed to have seeped underground but some might have escaped into the sea. The company has yet to determine the cause or exactly where the water went. The massive leak of water used to cool the plant's three melted reactor cores triggered fears of similar leaks from more than 300 other similar tanks. The tanks are part of approximately 1,000 tanks holding 330,000 tons of contaminated water at the plant, where the radioactive waste water from the reactors grows by 400 tons daily. Dangerous: Workers spray water to cool down the spent nuclear fuel in the fourth reactor building at Fukushima in 2011 . The latest leaks have triggered further concerns about the plant's ability to manage the contaminated water. Experts have said that radiation-contaminated water leaking from underground and utility tunnels connected to reactors and turbine buildings has been leaking into the sea for some time. Tanaka said he believed the discoveries of the subsequent leak and signs of possible leaks were the result of closer inspections after a leak two weeks ago. That leak was the worst from a tank at the plant, where three reactors melted down following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Tanaka raised concerns about the safety of the foundations of the tank sites. TEPCO recently revealed that one of the tank sites had partially sunk during a test to see if the tank was watertight. 'Because those tanks were built in an emergency situation, it is questionable whether sufficient ground surveys were conducted,' Tanaka said. 'We believe experienced companies did a fine job, but we still have concerns and we must step up our watch for leaks.' The plant's operator says the latest small leak was found over the weekend at a connecting pipe, and added it suspects possible leaks from at least three other tanks where high radioactivity was detected nearby, although it was not considered deadly. The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan destroyed the plant's power and cooling systems, causing three reactor cores to melt and fuel storage pools to overheat. Since then, the plant is now using makeshift systems. | Radiation readings of 1,800 .
millisieverts per hour detected at power plant .
This is 18 times the level at the same .
spot 10 days ago .
Leading professor says this ratio is 'most unusual' and 'lethal in a few hours'
This adds to increasing anger in Japan over the management of disaster . |
797 | 024d6a59115d1d384ec548ec999d016739aca1e2 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 10:49 EST, 23 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:36 EST, 23 April 2013 . David Chan has eaten at almost every Los Angeles Chinese restaurant opened in the past 50 years . A Chinese food lover has eaten at 6,300 different restaurants and travelled across America feeding his obsession with Oriental cuisine. But despite eating Chinese food all his life, David Chan still cannot use chopsticks. Mr Chan's quest began in earnest after college when he tried to eat at every Chinese restaurant in his home city of Los Angeles. His passion for the cuisine has since taken him to 50 states. The 64-year-old accountant has charted every meal on an Excel spreadsheet and over the past 58 years, Mr Chan has tried a new Chinese restaurant on average every three days. His incredible feat is even more remarkable as Mr Chan hated Chinese food when he was a child. The third-generation Asian-American preferred spaghetti or meatloaf until he discovered the joys of Chinese food when he was at college. Such is Mr Chan’s expertise on Chinese food that restaurant critics often ask him for suggestions on good places to try and he has also written about the country’s cuisine and history. He said that he discovered Chinese food as a way of connecting with his culture. When he got his first job, Mr Chan befriended a group of colleagues from Hong Kong and they set out on trying every restaurant they could find. Mr Chan told The Los Angeles Times: 'I've always been a collector. I collected stamps and records.' However, his love of Chinese food did not stem from childhood. Koi Palace topped topped the list as Mr Chan praised it for its continuing excellence . Mr Chan has travelled around the U.S. sampling traditional and American-Chinese fusion food (file picture) 1) Koi Palace, Daly City, California: Mr Chan praised it for continuing excellence . 2) Sea Harbour, Rosemead, California: He said it brought 'high quality dim sum' to the area . 3) Elite Restaurant, Montery Park, California: Praised for its interesting range of dim sum . 4) King Hua, Alhambra, California: Mr Chan said it has similar dim sum to Sea Harbour . 5) Lunasia, Alhambra, California: The expert said it has an 'innovative' menu such as foie gras dim sum . 6) Din Tai Fung, Arcadia, California: The only Shanghai style restaurant in the top 10 . 7) Yank Sing, San Francisco, California: Mr Chan praised the dim sum specialist for 'evolving' 8) Seafood Village, Monterey Park, California: The Hong Kong-style restaurant is 'highly regarded' 9) 101 Noodle Express, Alhambra, California: Mr Chan said the restaurant's star dish the Shandong beef roll has given it prominence . 10) Jai Yun, San Francisco, California: Mr Chan said it is one of the 'quirkiest' Chinese restaurants in the U.S. He said he was brought up as an American by his parents who wanted to ‘protect’ him from discrimination. When . he was younger the only Chinese restaurants were in Chinatown and in . 1950 he was one of just 8,067 Chinese people living in Los Angeles. Mr Chan told the Los Angeles Times: ‘Unless you lived in San Francisco, you were an oddity.’ Chinese . immigration became more prevalent when he was studying at UCLA after . the government relaxed laws that had only allowed 105 people each year . to move from China to the U.S. It . was during his college years that Mr Chan began to connect with . Chinese culture and took a course called Orientals in America. Mr Chan said he one of the favorite parts of his hobby is seeing how the cuisine has evolved over the decades. He says he finds American-Chinese fusions - such as the Chow Mein sandwich served with gravy that he found in New England - as interesting and enjoyable as traditional Chinese food. While there is only one restaurant that he returns to, ABC Seafood, Mr Chan said the current number one Chinese restaurant is Koi Palace in Daly City, California, where they specialise in dim sum at lunch and Hong Kong-style seafood at dinner. Mr Chan's son Eric believes his father's obsessions stems from him being a natural collector. He said: 'If you collect enough of something, you can capture its essence. Maybe that's what he's trying to do with food.' | David Chan, 64, has tried almost every Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles .
He has travelled across 50 states feeding his passion for the cuisine .
But as a child, Mr Chan said he hated Chinese food and preferred spaghetti .
Every meal has been recorded on ExCel spreadsheet that dates back to 1955 . |
257,994 | d9e641ff1cb1de07c063325191583a3683d931dd | This is the incredible artwork created using just a biro and a sheet of paper that has won fans the world over, including rapper Kanye West. The lifelike objects drawn by Catherine Hendry are scarily realistic and the famous husband of Kim Kardashian has even bought one - of himself on a $100 bill. The 26-year-old Australian draws everything from luxury bags to bottles of wine to surreal animals. This incredible artwork is created just using a biro and a sheet of paper. Drawn by Catherine Hendry it's very realistic . Luxury bags is one of the things Catherine (pictured) loves to draw, her drawings have become very popular all over the world . The 26-year-old Australian draws everything from luxury bags to bottles of wine, surreal animals and even sporting equipment such as boxing gloves (pictures) Each piece takes Catherine more than 100 hours to draw and she shares every inking with her 127,000 Instagram followers. The Brisbane-based artist started drawing full time two years ago when she reflected on her life. Catherine said, 'I didn't have much to show for the 24 years I'd been around so I made a promise to myself to draw full time for one year.' That promise to herself led to her dropping out of her architecture degree and vowing to return to studies if she didn't sell one drawing in the year. Two months later, Catherine knew she would never return to university after she had her first major sale. Luxury brands and crumpled designer bags feature heavily in CJ's art and have become part of her identity as an artist. Her drawings on show. Each piece takes Catherine more than 100 hours to draw and she shares every inking with her 127,000 Instagram followers . Ain't nothin but a gold digger : Rapper Kanye West has even bought one of Catherine's drawings, with himself holding a $100 bill . Kayne West (pictured) is a fa of the art and bought one of himself holding a $100 note . Catherine Hendry (pictured) also like to draw animals . So Real : all of Catherine's drawings look so realistic just like this cricket ball (pictured) 'I'm captivated by the allure of luxury. There's something special about seeing something which should be perfect looking not so perfect,' she said. Despite not planning her drawings, she spends between 12 and 15 hours a day working on her art. 'Instagram has been a huge tool for me.' 'There's a large art following on there and people saw and shared my work through Instagram.' 'It was through there I had my first major break.' Luxury brands and crumpled designer bags feature heavily in CJ's art and have become part of her identity as an artist . Catherine started drawing two years ago after she dropped out of her architecture degree and vowed to return to studies if she didn't sell one drawing in the year.... but there's been no problem with that . Despite not planning her drawings, she spends between 12 and 15 hours a day working on her art . This incredible artwork, created using just a biro and a sheet of paper, has won fans all over the world . Luxury brands and crumpled designer bags feature heavily in CJ's art and have become part of her identity as an artist . Catherine's have become very popular across the world, including celebrities like Kanye West, who bought a picture of himself with a $100 bill . | Incredible artwork by Catherine Hendry created using just a biro and a sheet of paper .
She draws lifelike objects that are very realistic from designer handbags to animals and sporting equipment .
Kayne West even bought one of himself with a $100 bill .
Each piece takes Catherine more than 100 hours to draw and she shares them with her 127,000 Instagram followers . |
19,031 | 35df6049630646e3ec2d480ce9611f680727b7ca | By . Cindy Tran For Daily Mail Australia . While there are many threats to the endangered bilbies, a new technique to measure stress levels by testing their droppings could save them from being extinct, new research has found. The study published in the European Journal of Wildlife found levels of the stress hormone cortisol in captive bilbies breeding programs were relatively low. Bilbies are nearing extinction through habitat loss, predation by feral animals and unpredictable climatic events but scientists found the marsupials were 'breeding well' and had healthy level of stress hormones during the study. The popular Australian icon at Easter is currently listed as endangered in Queensland, with less than 500 of the animals estimated to remain in the wild. The large rabbit like ears Bilbies are nearing extinction from habitat loss, predation by feral animals and unpredictable climatic events . Queensland's Griffith University Professor Jean-Marc Hero told Daily Mail Australia that the results showed captive bilbies had low stress hormone levels. 'The results tell us that they're happy in a captive environment, with unlimited food and water. They are more relaxed and breeding well - doing what we need them to do so we can get them back into the wild. 'But signs of some stress can also be a good thing - it tells us that they're ready for the real world, and help defend themselves, as well as escape from predators in the wild. 'They're a little bit higher in semi-wild captive populations and they're even higher in areas where the bilbies have been re-released in the wild. Professor Hero said the testing process of the droppings is quite simple. 'The technique can be used for any animals, especially those that are difficult to catch,' he said. 'Once we get the poo samples, we then need to dry them out, grind them up, then extract the hormones from the powder before we examine them. Previous researchers had to catch bilbies to test their stress levels, which Professor Hero said had obvious drawbacks, according to ABC. 'The testing process is much easier than catching the animal, as bilbies would show signs of high stress levels, which is expected when you catch an animal,' he said. Bilbies are currently listed as endangered in Queensland, with fewer than 500 of the animals estimated to remain in the wild . Al Mucci, from Dreamworld's bilby breeding program, told ABC it was important that captive bilbies were prepared for life in the bush. 'We want to make sure that we give them a little bit of stress, because out in the wild they are going to be finding their own food and foraging and doing all the things bilbies have to do out in the wild,' he said. 'At the moment we are in breeding mode, so we are building up the captive population because hopefully next year we will be releasing some back into the wild.' Dreamworld's breeding bilbies will be released in a 29 square kilometre 'non-predator exclusive fence' specially designed to keep out feral cats in Currawinya National Park of western Queensland. 'They can breed like rabbits so to speak, so breeding them isn't the issue - the biggest threat to bilbies out in the wild is feral animals, he told ABC. 'It's a crying shame we've allowed this animal to reach such critical numbers.' Dreamworld's breeding bilbies will be released in a 'non-predator exclusive fence' specially designed to keep out feral cats in western Queensland . Professor Hero said wild bilbies had been pushed into extreme desert conditions. 'It certainly looks very grim with the condition of the environment at the moment after two years of good rains and cat populations are very high,' he said. The study has successfully validated a non-invasive tool for monitoring physiological stress in bilbies and will continue to evaluate the success of predator free enclosures and support the survival of the species. 'We can use this powerful tool to measure the condition of animals when we release them back into the wild and will continue to monitor their wild populations,' Professor Hero said. 'Save the Bilby Fund and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy have been a major help to this research and we really want to find more results but we need funds to get there.' | A new technique to measure stress levels by testing Bilby droppings could save them from being extinct, new research has found .
Scientists have found the marsupials were 'breeding well' and had healthy level of stress hormones during the study .
The popular Australian icon at Easter is currently listed as endangered in Queensland . |
110,303 | 1a36abc6601b1865c83fb617be3ace91058aa42d | (CNN) -- The tea party movement is an important step closer to doing something it's done only three times before: Oust an incumbent Republican senator in a GOP primary. Tea party backed state Sen. Chris McDaniel forced incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran into a runoff in Mississippi's Republican primary. The challenge could give the 5-year-old grass-roots conservative movement - which so far this year has suffered a string of high profile primary defeats - a much needed injection of energy. In Tuesday's other marquee showdown, a candidate who enjoyed both tea party and mainstream Republican backing won big in the Iowa GOP Senate primary, thanks in part to some clever ads that went viral. And in California, which now uses an open primary system where the top two finishers advance to the November election regardless of party affiliation, a moderate Republican edged out a tea party-backed conservative for the honor of facing off in the midterms against heavily favored Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. Here are the top takeaways from Tuesday's primaries: . 1. Round 2: Tea party vs. establishment in Mississippi: While candidates with tea party support have struggled to claim major victories this year, McDaniel's ability to force Cochran, 76, into a runoff indicates the grass-roots conservative movement is still rumbling -- and powerful enough to nearly take out a six-term incumbent senator. Since the tea party started gaining steam in 2009, the far right has defeated only three incumbent senators in GOP primaries: Bob Bennett of Utah (2010), Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (2010) and Dick Lugar of Indiana (2012). Murkowski, however, later won the general race with a write-in campaign. McDaniel, 42, and his supporters say Cochran, who's running for a seventh term, has been in Washington far too long. He especially irked grassroots conservatives when he said earlier this year, "the tea party is something I don't really know a lot about." But it's unclear who has more momentum going forward. McDaniel certainly rallied his supporters Tuesday night, vowing to claim victory in the June 24 runoff. "I promise you this, whether it's tomorrow or whether it's three weeks from tonight, we will stand victorious in this race," he said. But Cochran supporters also say they're ready for another round. Henry Barbour, who runs the pro-Cochran PAC Mississippi Conservatives, told CNN's Dana Bash that they're "going to get up and rethink" their message. "Really organize from the ground up," he added. Barbour said "complacency" among Cochran voters "hurt us," and he thinks "they got outshouted." Stuart Stevens, a Cochran adviser and former adviser to Mitt Romney, told Bash that three weeks allows more time to scrutinize McDaniel's record and ask tough questions. But supporters of McDaniel may point to the 2012 Senate primary in Texas, where a political newcomer known as Ted Cruz came from behind to push the establishment candidate, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, into a runoff. The extra time gave Cruz a longer window to build his profile. That summer, he rose to national fame and attracted support from high-profile figures like Sarah Palin. Two months after the primary, Cruz defeated Dewhurst in the runoff. McDaniel won't have nearly as much time to solidify a victory, but being so close to a win may only make his supporters want it that much more. No matter who has more momentum, the runoff certainly seems poised to become another supercharged fight between the establishment and tea party Republicans. Race gets ugly in the Mississippi mud . 2. Hog wild in Iowa: The free-for-all that was the Iowa Republican Senate primary turned into a landslide victory for Joni Ernst over three other major GOP candidates. Ernst went from a little-known state senator to the front-runner who enjoyed support from major mainstream GOP groups and anti-establishment and tea party organizations. She also won endorsements from such high-profile Republicans as Palin, Romney and Marco Rubio. The big question going into Tuesday's primary was whether Ernst would crack the 35% threshold and avoid a runoff. If not, the nomination would have been decided a week later by some 2,000 delegates at the Iowa GOP convention. The final public opinion poll going into the primary had Ernst at 36%. When the primary results were in, Ernst grabbed 56% of the vote. So how did she do it? Some provocative ads definitely helped. "I'm Joni Ernst. I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm, so when I get to Washington, I'll know how to cut pork," Ernst said in the first TV commercial of her campaign. That spot, which first aired in late March, not only made Ernst more recognizable in the Hawkeye State, but also across the nation. A second commercial showed Ernst, a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard, riding up to a gun range on a motorcycle. "With little name ID and even less money to introduce herself to Iowans earlier this year, her clever ads were undoubtedly the spark that fueled tonight's impressive victory," Iowa Republican consultant Matt Strawn, a former chairman of the state GOP, told CNN on Tuesday night. And Iowa Republican strategist Tim Albrecht, who is supporting Ernst, said "the ads were successful because they were genuine Joni. She has been under-estimated from the beginning, and proved tonight she is a candidate to be reckoned with in November." Ernst joked about her now-famous hog castration commercial in her victory speech, saying "I grew up ... canning food and feeding hogs on our family farm, and yes, some of you may know I did more than just feed the hogs." Ernst hopes to make history in November as the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress. In the midterm elections, she'll face Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, who was unopposed in his party's primary. The winner of November's general election will succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who is retiring at the end of the year. Republicans feel they have a good shot at flipping Harkin's seat, in their drive to retake the Senate. GOP candidate gets mainstream and anti-establishment backing . 3. Open primaries have consequences . No one questioned whether Democrat Jerry Brown, who's bidding for an unprecedented fourth term as California governor, was the overwhelming favorite in Tuesday's Golden State primary. The big question was whom the incumbent would face off with come November. For the first time in a gubernatorial race, California held an open, or "jungle," primary, where all candidates compete in a single contest and the first and second place finishers, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. Second place went to former Bush administration treasury official Neel Kashkari, who edged out state Rep. Tim Donnelly, a fellow Republican. Kashkari's a moderate who is best known for managing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), better known as the Wall Street bailouts, during President George W. Bush's last year in office. He's also a supporter of immigration reform, same-sex marriage and abortion rights. The tea party-backed Donnelly is an outspoken supporter of the rights of gun owners and a fierce opponent of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Kashkari's victory could make a difference for the party's chances in the general election. Some GOP strategists told CNN they were concerned that if Donnelly won, it would hurt Republican candidates in down-ballot races in a state where the general election electorate is much more moderate than that of the GOP primary. It's also more than fair to say that in a traditional GOP primary, which is dominated by conservatives, Kashkari would have had a much tougher time beating Donnelly. "Everybody's going to study it and find things to love and hate about the open primary system," said CNN chief national correspondent John King. "There are some grass-roots conservatives who think establishment Republicans are looking for every way under the sun to weaken them. They will now point to the open primary system as an example, since their party's gubernatorial nominee in California is a man who not only supported the Wall Street bailouts, but actually administered them," King added. 4. Romney's candidates clean up: Romney has the Midas touch this election season. The 2012 Republican presidential nominee continued his winning streak Tuesday with three of the GOP candidates he endorsed winning their primaries. Romney campaigned with Ernst in Iowa and cut an online ad for the Chamber of Commerce supporting her candidacy. His endorsement adds some establishment GOP backing to the conservative favorite, who also enjoys support from tea party power players like Palin. In California, Romney backed Kashkari, who came in second and now advances to November's general election. Also in California, Romney threw his support behind former state Rep. Tony Strickland, who co-chaired both of his presidential bids, in the state's 25th Congressional District. Strickland came in first in the vote count, which sends him on to the general election. The winner of that contest will go on to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Buck McKeon, chairman of the Armed Services Committee. After failing to nab the White House from President Barack Obama, Romney backed away from the spotlight briefly before jumping back into the political fray, surprising many with his involvement in the 2014 election cycle. So far this election cycle, he's endorsed or donated money to some 20 candidates, many of them GOP establishment favorites who backed Romney in his White House runs. Two weeks ago, two other candidates he had backed scored high-profile primary victories. Romney endorsed and recorded a robocall for Dr. Monica Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon who won the GOP Senate primary in Oregon over a more conservative state lawmaker. The same night, eight-term Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho beat back a serious primary challenge from a tea party-backed candidate. Romney had endorsed Simpson and starred in a television commercial put out by the Chamber of Commerce that backed Simpson. Asked last week about his winning track record when it comes to primary endorsements, Romney told reporters: "I wish I can take credit for that. The candidates take credit for that, and I am sure we will have some successes and some that are not successful." Mississippi GOP primary race too close to call . Primary problems: GOP women struggle to come out on top . | Close race in Mississippi shows tea party is far from dead .
Little-known state senator turns ads into win in Iowa .
Mitt Romney has had more success promoting candidates than he did as a candidate . |
174,417 | 6dc2df7c86a05c04d2b290f3a29a25c47d86545f | Dani Alves has joined the long list of footballers with questionable dress senses after buying a pair of glittery gold teddy-bear shaped trainers. The bizarre shoes have caused a stir on social media after his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi posted a picture of them on his official Instagram account on Monday. Of course, Messi is no stranger to fashion faux pas himself and has developed a reputation for his own outlandish clothes over the years. Messi shows off Dani Alves' glittery gold teddy-bear shaped trainers on his official Instagram account . Alves has joined the long list of footballers with questionable dress senses after buying teddy-bear shoes . Messi's Ballon d'Or suits have drawn him particular scrutiny. In recent years, he has shocked audiences with a mauve velvet waistcoat ensemble, polka-dotted tuxedo as well as shiny red and maroon lounge suits. When all is said and done though, Messi remains La Liga's all time leading goal-scorer and arguably the most gifted player of his generation. Messi sports an interesting mauve velvet waistcoat combination while accepting 2011's Ballon d'Or . The Barcelona forward raised plenty of eyebrows with this polka-dotted number at the 2012 ceremony . At 2013's ceremony, pictured here with Antonella Roccuzzo, Messi wears a shiny red lounge suit . After missing out the Ballon d'Or to Cristiano Ronaldo this year, Messi looks solemn in a maroon suit . | Lionel Messi has shared a picture of Dani Alves' strange footwear .
Alves has bought a pair of golden teddy-bear shaped trainers .
Messi is no stranger to fashion faux-pas himself .
His suits worn at previous Ballon d'Or ceremonies have raised eyebrows . |
26,893 | 4c5589e14718f8d6ef4027baa22b680f556d9ce9 | It is known as the happiest country in the world. And now Bhutan has released some spectacular images showing everyday life in the remote kingdom, including a snap of young Buddhist monks taken by the king himself. The stunning photos offer a glimpse of Bhutan that many will never see - a country where success is measured by happiness instead of GDP - and its gross national happiness (GNH) takes precedent over material wealth and riches. Scroll down for video . Young Buddhist monks gather in front of the King's Palace in the capital city, Thimpu, in this photo, taken by His Majesty the King of Bhutan . It is an unusual idea, first proposed by the former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972, around the time this remote kingdom high in the Himalayas tentatively opened its doors to tourism. Since then, the country has gained almost mythical status as an under-the-radar Shangri-La, where western visitors can explore a different way of life. The country has always drawn curious travellers thanks to its majestic untouched Himalayan scenery. But this week, it's expecting an unprecedented influx of visitors, as it holds its first ever International Festival, a 10-day celebration of arts and culture, starting on February 14. To coincide with the 5th King’s 35th birthday celebration and Losar, the Buddhist New Year, the festival will see eighty artists and performers, including Indian pop star, Lucky Ali and Mercury nominated UK indie folk artist, Nick Mulvey collaborating with the best from Bhutan. Ahead of the spectacular festival, Bhutan has released the set of images offering a glimpse into life in 'the happiest country in the world' including one taken by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, showing young Buddhist monks against the spectacular backdrop of the King's Palace. Tibetan prayer flags overlooking Himalayan Mountains. In Bhutan, prayer flags are hoisted for happiness, long life, prosperity, luck and to offer karmic merit to all sentient beings. When someone dies, prayer flags are believed to guide the soul of the dead away from the netherworld . During the festivities, traditional masked dancers will perform alongside contemporary acts from around the world, and visitors can attend talks on the latest theories about happiness. Flights to Bhutan cost around £900 return from UK/Europe, or $1500 from the USA. For more travel and visa information see http://bhif.org/travel-information/BHIF . The event also comprises the Bhutan International Marathon and immersive traditional cooking demonstrations from the country's best chefs. Until recently, Bhutan has been isolated due to geographical location, allowing it to retain its unique culture and heritage. Bhutan is known for its natural scenic and cultural highlights and its welcoming people. It was the first country in the world to write environmental protection into its constitution, with a mandate for 60 per cent of country to be covered by forest. Virginia Galloway, Festival Co-Director tells Mail Online Travel: 'The aim is to position Bhutan International Festival as a unique, must-attend, world class festival that serves not only the artistic community but has a positive ripple effect on the local economy. The pink lotus is generally reserved for the highest deity, sometimes confused with the white lotus it is the lotus of the historical Buddha . 'The concept is to bring together various artistic disciplines with an emphasis on collaboration, which will hopefully inspire new works of art and new ways of working.' 'Most festivals in Bhutan and around the globe are about highlighting the works of individual artists. 'We decided to take a different approach by not only highlighting individuals, but also encouraging and fostering artistic collaborations between participating artists.' Traditional Bhutanese painting in progress. In Bhutan, success is measured by happiness - and its gross national happiness (GNH) takes precedent over material wealth and riches. The magnificent King’s Palace - or Dechencholing Palace - in Thimpu, which was built in 1953 . Guards on duty at Tashichhodzong, Thimphu. The country is known for its natural scenic and cultural highlights and its welcoming people . The 170-foot Buddha Dordenma Statue, one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world, overlooking the Thimphu Valley . Walking Buddha looks out over Centenary Park, Thimphu. The country has always drawntravellers thanks to its majestic Himalayan scenery . A Bhutanese boy sits alone as the country prepares for its first International festival, a ten-day celebration coinciding to the King's birthday . The impressive Buddha Dordenma Statue in silhouette. The ten-day celebration of arts and culture begins on February 14 . A lone man washes among traditional wooden boats in Thimphu. The festival will coincide with the 5th King’s 35th birthday celebration and Losar, the Buddhist New Year . Prayer flags are raised outside homes, hung on bridges, hilltops, and places of spiritual importance . A Buddhist monk holds a red lotus flower, symbolising the original nature of the heart (hrdaya). It is the lotus of love and compassion . An elderly man snoozes on a traditional wooden boat. Until recently, Bhutan has been isolated due to geographical location, allowing it to retain its unique culture and heritage . | In 1971, Bhutan rejected the GDP as the only way to measure prosperity, opting instead to measure happiness .
This year, the majestic country is holding its first International Festival, to coincide with Losar, Buddhist New Year .
80 artists will collaborate with local talent during the 10-day event, which will include talks on happiness . |
263,684 | e1837334de1fd029b427f2d89c99449ae82ee38d | Quito, Ecuador (CNN) -- A judge in Ecuador ruled Wednesday that the directors and former opinion editor of El Universo newspaper must each serve three years in prison for an opinion article about President Rafael Correa, state media reported. The judge also ruled that the accused must pay $30 million, and the newspaper must pay $10 million, to Correa, the state-run El Ciudadano government information website reported. The case drew international attention from press-freedom advocates, who say Correa aims to crack down on critics by restricting the media. Correa filed a libel lawsuit after El Universo published a column in February by the newspaper's then-opinion editor, titled, "No to lies." Correa argued that the article, which referred to him as a dictator, unjustly claimed he had ordered security forces to open fire at a hospital full of civilians last September. Correa said Tuesday that the article's assertions were untrue, baseless and "an outrage," according to the state-run El Ciudadano government information website. The president told reporters that he hoped the case would set a precedent. A headline on El Ciudadano's website Wednesday said the ruling was a "symbol of the fight for true freedom of expression." Alembert Vera, Correa's lawyer, praised the judge's decision. "We have defended the right to honor, the right to dignity and any person who has felt offended or humiliated by the publication of false information," Vera said, according to El Ciudadano. But the column's author told CNN en Español in an exclusive interview Wednesday that Correa and others had misinterpreted his meaning. Emilio Palacio, El Universo's former opinion editor, said he was not accusing the president of ordering an attack on innocent civilians, but instead saying that a future president who is an enemy of Correa could make such an accusation. Palacio said he planned to appeal the judge's ruling, arguing that he was not given an opportunity to present evidence in court. "We are living in a country where one cannot say what is going on without facing the penalty of going to prison," he said. Palacio resigned from his post at El Universo last week, saying he was innocent but wanted the lawsuit to end. On Wednesday, he said Correa was trying to break him and his former colleagues. "For what? To fill his pockets and impose a totalitarian regime. This is what the dictator Rafael Correa is trying to do," he said. In a statement posted on its website, El Universo decried the ruling as "a violation against the universal principle of freedom of expression" and vowed to appeal. "El Universo newspapers rejects this 80-page sentence, delivered in record time (less than 24 hours), by a judge said that he had worked until 5 a.m. to absorb details of the case, which has moved quickly through the hands of five distinct judges in four months," the statement said. Pedro Valverde, an attorney representing El Universo, told CNN en Español Tuesday that the newspaper was not given an opportunity to fully present its side. He argued that the publication's policies indicate that its directors have no influence on the content of its columns. On Tuesday, the newspaper's directors offered to print a correction, but Correa said it was too late. "The moment of gentlemen, of people who have ethics, has already passed," he told reporters. Press-freedom advocates have criticized the case and other recent efforts to regulate media in Ecuador. In a statement Tuesday, the Inter American Press Association criticized "the ongoing harassment of the Ecuador's independent press through excessive and disproportionate legal suits by President Rafael Correa." The Committee to Protect Journalists also weighed in on the libel lawsuit shortly after Correa filed it. "Ecuador's outdated criminal defamation provisions have been systematically used to punish critical journalists," the New York-based organization said in a March statement. Palacio pledged Wednesday to keep writing, but urged others to take action. "The independent press fought as far as it could. Now it is the citizens' turn, united, mobilizing in the streets," he wrote in a post on his Twitter account. CNN en Español's Fernando del Rincon contributed to this report. | NEW: The column's author says Correa misunderstood his meaning .
El Universo says the judge's ruling violates free speech rights .
"We have defended the right to honor," Correa's attorney says .
A judge rules that $40 million must be paid to Correa . |
59,467 | a8d96b1fa788f2297af4e7775793ee566ad4dc25 | Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander were at the top of London’s Shard skyscraper. Oh no! Were they about to jump? Happily it was nothing to do with an opinion poll suggesting both will lose their seats. Instead they had hurriedly called a Lib Dem PR event to try to scupper a big Cameron-Osborne event promoting the Tories’ ‘northern powerhouse’ idea. The Shard venue was mad, delicious, screamingly vulgar: the 52nd-floor, Chinese-accented Gong Bar of the Shangri La hotel (minimum spend per head 30 quid). Welcome to utopia and the ‘timeless allure of the Orient’, as the bar’s slogan goes. Scroll down for video . Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg (left) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander (centre) were speaking at the Shangri La Hotel on the 52nd floor of the Shard in central London in the hastily-arranged PR event . It was a small, thick-carpeted boudoir lined by bottles of Champagne – Billecart-Salmon, Deutz, Egly-Ouriet. Aren’t they in the French three-quarter line? Waiters shimmered in white, collarless uniforms, as favoured by dental nurses. We were greeted by wide-smiled beauties. Lib Dem sportsman Lord Rennard would have been beside himself, had he only been there. Instead we had perhaps ten non-media attendees, not all Lib Dems. The suited gent’ next to me was witheringly rude about the party. How had the Lib Dems paid for this chi-chi pad? Our host was a busy little puffball in a plum-coloured velvet jacket flourishing a top-pocket, silk hankie. His name was D.K. Matai and he was giving out business cards like after-dinner mints. He looked like Nick Nack in The Man With The Golden Gun. Cleggy and decent Danny A (quite chunky these days) scuttled in and stood in the corner. Their backdrop should have been the glittering City but the view was of mist. A low cloud’s bright light cast the two MPs’ faces into shadow. Mr Alexander opened proceedings. Clegg watched with a sullen air. Why so cheesed-off? Hand in pocket, a diagonal expression. Peevishness stewed in his eyes. Channel 4’s Michael Crick asked Mr Clegg if he was going to lose his Sheffield seat. In a spurt of petulance Cleggy said the poll was ‘complete and utter nonsense’ got up by the trade unions. He had hoped Channel 4 might have asked about Lib Dem fiscal policies. But what will be the point of manifesto pledges on tax/spending ratios if Cleggy and Danny are both decapitated by the electorate? What, indeed, is the point of any Lib Dem manifesto, seeing as it can only be a precursor to coalition talks? Mr Clegg was acidic about his Tory Coalition partners, accusing them of being cruel to the poor. The Labour party was derided rather less, though mocked for wanting to put bills on the ‘never-never’. Mr Clegg (pictured) said his party’s ‘sensible, balanced approach would bring an end to the era of austerity in three years’ time while protecting public services and the most vulnerable in society . Cleggy four times described the Tories as ‘ideological’, as though this was undesirable in MPs. The opposite of an ideological politician, I suppose, is an opportunistic one? Is that preferable? Cliches bubbled: ‘Economy back on track ... let us finish the job ... our plan ... fairness, etc.’ Mr Clegg claimed that the Lib Dems were the party of stability. Priceless! He mentioned the North and the South West of England, though not the South East (where Vince Cable has his seat). Venomous Vince’s name was mentioned at one point. Mr Clegg, hearing it, immediately started to shake his head. And he took a swipe at the Tories ‘mismanaging their inner demons on Europe’. Ah yes, Europe. Is pro-Brussels Mr Clegg himself not a teensy bit ‘ideological’ on the EU? A reporter asked if the Lib Dems and their higher tax policies had any supporters in the business world. Mr Clegg said they did: a chap called Richard who runs Innocent drinks. Any others? Cleggy said he would send the reporter ‘a postcard’ with further names of Lib Dem business backers. Not so many of them, then. Not everything was audible, because a BBC TV reporter started doing a loud live broadcast in the room while Mr Clegg was talking. Velvet-jacketed Mr Matai told the reporter to be quiet. Well done, Nick Nack. Take a peerage. | Nick Clegg and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander at Shard .
Pair spoke at the Shangri La Hotel on the 52nd floor of London skyscraper .
Clegg said Lib Dems would pursue higher ratio of tax rises to spend cuts . |
74,452 | d3122e617dcda9ee4217112658736bfa63c9b5de | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:42 EST, 27 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 28 February 2013 . Frankly, they look like a reasonably ordinary pair of white trainers. But try telling that to Beyonce – or animal rights campaigners. For these shoes, commissioned by the singer, are made from no fewer than five different animal skins: stingray, anaconda, ostrich, crocodile and calf. Fans and animal welfare groups alike condemned Beyonce, 31, as ‘cruel’ and ‘spoilt’ for having the trainers made. beyonce zoo shoes.jpg . Electric: Beyonce wowed with her energetic Superbowl performance earlier this month . A spokesman for animal charity PETA said: ‘These custom-made kicks come . with a high price – and it’s paid by the various animals who were beaten . and skinned alive or cruelly farmed and killed.’ He added: ‘We hope . that one day she’ll go completely cruelty-free.’ Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, described the trainers as ‘a . brazen publicity stunt’. ‘The less that is said about it the better,’ he . added. The cream colour shoes are a take on the wedge-style trainer, made popular by designer Isabel Marant, but given a so-called Eden makeover by PMK using a hybrid of land and sea skins. Called The King-Bey, the shoes, which have been given Beyonce's approval, are decorated with gold accents. The price is as yet undisclosed, but a regular pair sells in excess of £230 ($350) so this embellished pair would sell for far more. PMK is a favourite brand of Beyonce and her A-list husband Jay Z - indeed, Jay Z had a shoe designed for him last year- the Brooklyn Zoo - by the brand. His pair were as lavish as his wife's, with an endless roll call of reptile skins used to make the shoe. High-fashion couple: Beyonce and husband Jay Z have now both had customized trainers created by PMK . Of the trainer they designed for Jay-Z, PMK said: ‘The Brooklyn Zoo 1′s cannot be tamed with an elaborate combination of elephant-print, ostrich, python, boa, crocodile, lizard, alligator, suede, and sting ray intricately cut to transform the Jordan 1 from a basketball sneaker into the world's most daring and dapper sneaker concepts known to man.' For pricing and ordering information, visit pmkcustoms.com. The Brooklyn Zoo Jordan 1's PMK designed for Jay Z last year are made of boa, crocodile, ostrich and other exotic animals . PMK have collaborated with others to create customised shoes, including these made with Explorer . A coat made of rats? You’ve already got the leather jacket, the snakeskin shoes and the alligator handbag. Now how about a coat made out of rats? Designers are turning to rodents and other bizarre animals to give new texture to their clothes. Earlier this month, New York design duo Cushnie and Ochs showed a skirt and jacket made from kangaroo calfskin during Fashion Week. They described it as ‘like long-haired velvet, like a teddy bear’. New York label Proenza Schouler, which made eel skirts in the past, presented dresses, skirts and coats in ostrich skin. But Billy Reid beat them all with a coat made from nutrias — a semi-aquatic rodent considered a pest in their native Louisiana. | PMZ or Perfectly Made Kicks designed the shoes to Beyonce's specifications .
Called 'The King-Bey' the white wedged shoes have gold accents .
They are made of stingray, ostrich, calf's fur, crocodile and anaconda skins .
Jay Z had a shoe designed for him last year- the Brooklyn Zoo- by PMZ .
His shoe includes ostrich, python, boa, crocodile and stingray . |
86,504 | f58819f26cf25b32782f66a7c3fbfa3b6eed0570 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 16:32 EST, 20 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:32 EST, 20 March 2013 . Comparing season one with season two of Brad Goreski's reality TV show is like looking at before and after makeover photos. It's a Brad Brad World began with Goreski trying to kick-start his styling business. He kept racks of clothes in his garage, worried about money and needed to get his name out there. The show is now in its second season on Bravo (Wednesday, 10 pm EDT), and the former style director for Rachel Zoe has turned things around. (Goreski was featured on Zoe's Bravo series before landing his own show.) Stylist's eye: Brad Goreski asesses a rail in an episode of his Bravo show It's a Brad, Brad World . He counts a number of Hollywood . leading ladies as clients, including Jessica Alba, Rashida Jones, Stacy . Keibler and Jenna Dewan-Tatum. He's also the head brand stylist for Kate . Spade. So what does he do for those famous faces? 'It's . a very simple process,' he explained in a recent interview. 'I bring a . very edited rack, and I know the top five things that (the client) is . going to like.' When he dressed Alba for the Golden Globe Awards, 'it was the first dress that we tried on,' Goreski said. Tough love: Goreski says dressing stars like Stacy Keibler (left) and Jessica Alba (pictured at the Golden Globes, right) is about more than just flattering their egos . 'We . tried on maybe three or four after that and were like, "This is it,"' he said. 'And I think that is a really good way to work.' 'People aren't hiring me to be a yes man. They have their girlfriends for that' Goreski, 35, said dressing celebrities is more than feeding their egos. 'People aren't hiring me to be a "yes" man,' he said. 'They have their girlfriends for that.' He said a stylist has to able to say why something doesn't look great on a client or why it won't be received well. 'You . can't just say "it doesn't look good on you," you have to say this: . "It's not flattering, the color's off, it won't photograph well from the . side, there's nothing really special about it."' Not a 'yes' man: Goreski says a stylist has to able to say why something doesn't look great on a client or why it won't be received well . Goreski, well-coiffed and often sporting a bow tie, said he goes for comfort at home, just like everyone else. 'It all comes off as soon as I get home,' he said. 'I love the big, like, basketball sweats... and I only wear vintage T-shirts to bed because I like the superthin ones. 'I have about six that all go on rotation and my boyfriend hates (them.) It's like a woman who wears the same flannel nightie to bed every night. Do you know what I mean? "Not the blue one again, get a new T-shirt, what's the matter with you?"' | Brad Goreski found fame on Rachel Zoe's Bravo series before landing a show of his own .
The stylist, 35, now counts Jessica Alba, Rashida Jones, Stacy Keibler and Jenna Dewan-Tatum among his clients . |
113,928 | 1effab18ffc4482c3c6d958b55bb235853a24ba8 | A California school district has fired an attorney who successfully defended it during a case claiming a 14-year-old girl was mature enough to consent to a romance with her 28-year-old teacher. In civil court proceedings, the Los Angeles Unified School District argued that the unnamed student should bear some responsibility for her relationship with Elkis Hermida. The district's general counsel said Friday it is removing attorney W. Keith Wyatt from future legal matters because of inappropriate remarks he made about the case. Lawyers and advocates for sexual abuse victims criticized Wyatt's strategy of blaming the schgoolgirl for agreeing to the sexual relationship. In July 2011, Hermida, who taught at Thomas Edison Middle School, was sentenced to three years in state prison after being convicted of lewd acts against a child. He has since been freed. However the school was cleared of any wrongdoing. Speaking of the victim's 'responsibility' for the relationship, Keith Wyatt, LAUSD's attorney, told the public radio station KPCC: 'She lied to her mother so she could have sex with her teacher. Scroll down for video . Imprisoned: The Los Angeles Unified School District claims that a 14-year-old girl who had a six-month sexual relationship with teacher Elkis Hermida (pictured), 28, was mature enough to consent to the romance. Attorney W. Keith Wyatt (right) was fired because of remarks he made during the case . 'She went to a motel in which she engaged in voluntary consensual sex with her teacher. Why shouldn't she be responsible for that?' Recently, the girl filed a civil lawsuit against the school district, claiming the system was negligent and she had been emotionally traumatized by Hermida's actions. In its defense, LAUSD argued it had been unaware of the relationship between the student and her teacher, but cited a federal court decision saying a minor could consent to sex in some situations. During the trial, Mr Wyatt also introduced the girl's sexual history and argued that she bore some of the responsibility for the half-year-long relationship, according to CBS Local. At the end of the case, the judge ruled in favor of the district: LAUSD was cleared of wrongdoing by a civil jury, while the girl was not awarded any damages for the trauma she allegedly suffered. Although the girl's lawyer is now appealing the case, the verdict has raised concerns about a conflict between California criminal and civil law when it comes to sexual consent. Middle school: In July 2011, Hermida, who taught at Thomas Edison Middle School (pictured) was sentenced to three years in state prison after being convicted of lewd acts against a child. He has since been freed . 'It doesn't make sense,' said Jennifer Drobac, an Indiana University law professor who has studied consent laws nationwide, including California's age of consent (18) in criminal cases. 'The same parties, same behavior, same everything, consent is no defense in a criminal trial. But the same set of facts in a civil prosecution, consent is a complete defense. How is that possible? It's not logical.' Meanwhile, lawyers and advocates for sexual abuse victims have described LAUSD's legal tactics as appalling. 'The belief that middle school children can consent to sexual activity is something one would expect to hear from pedophile advocates, not the second-largest school district in the U.S.,' attorney John Manly told the Los Angeles Times. The girl's attorney, Fran Perez, also said he was shocked by the judge's verdict. 'I have never seen a verdict form where the child has been listed as partially responsible for his or her own molestation,' said Mr Perez. In defending his tactics, Mr Wyatt further came under fire for saying that it takes maturity to decide to cross the street and that is more dangerous than deciding to have sex with a teacher. Since speaking to KPCC, Mr Wyatt has apologized for his 'insensitive' comments. 'My statements were ill thought out and poorly articulated and by no means reflect the opinions of the school district or its leadership,' the attorney said in a written apology on Thursday. The district said it would continue using Mr Wyatt's firm. | Girl, 14, had six-month relationship with math teacher Elkis Hermida, 28 .
In 2011, Hermida was jailed for three years for lewd acts against a child .
W. Keith Wyatt was fired for arguing she agreed to the relationship .
General counsel said he had made inappropriate remarks during case .
Recently, girl filed civil case against Los Angeles Unified School District .
Alleged district was negligent and she had been emotionally damaged .
In defense, LAUSD said victim bore some responsibility for relationship .
Also mentioned girl's sexual history and said she was mature enough .
Judge ruled in favor of district; student's lawyer is now appealing case . |
158,387 | 58c71e252b447dd2453ff74b45c30685df7b82e0 | Walking up the aisle in their wedding finery, they look like any other nervous couple about to tie the knot. But this blushing bride has a secret camera hidden in her bouquet – and is about to expose the marriage as a sham. Playing her part in a TV sting operation, undercover journalist Harriet Morter helped to reveal how easy it is for immigrants to marry Europeans for UK visas. Scroll down for video . Sham: Undercover reporter Harriet Morter (right) took part in a TV sting, which involved attempting to set up a sham wedding with her 'fiance' Ali (left), in a bid to show how easy it is for immigrants to marry for passports . Disguise: Despite Ali believing he was marrying to get a passport, the blushing bride had a secret camera hidden in her bouquet to record the dramatic events . She met her Indian ‘fiance’, called Ali, through a self-styled sham marriage fixer who advertised her services on the classifieds website Gumtree. Ali agreed to pay £5,000 to marry his British bride, while the fixer – known only as Elizabeth – was to take a further £400. Ali even offered Miss Morter an extra £10,000 if she would have a baby with him. To make their relationship seem more authentic, he hired a Rolls-Royce to drive her to the register office and even took her shopping for a wedding dress. The most difficult moment came before the big day, when the couple were interviewed by a registrar who wanted to make sure their love was real. Amazingly, Ali forgot his bride’s address and couldn’t even name the borough where she lived – but they were still allowed to set a wedding date. The filmmakers said the registrar, who was not named, did report his suspicions to the Home Office but the case simply ‘slipped through the net’. The sham ceremony was only called off at the last moment, when the registrar asked if anyone present knew of any lawful impediment to the marriage. At that point, journalist Paul Connolly – who was posing as Miss Morter’s best man with his own hidden camera in his button – stepped up and revealed they had filmed the entire process. The pair met through a 'fixer' who advertised her services on Gumtree and Ali agreed to pay £5,000 to marry his British bride . In dramatic footage that will be shown on Channel 5 tomorrow, Ali is last seen fleeing from the register office. Before the ceremony, he had boasted to the undercover team that he would use the marriage to get a British passport. He explained he had been living on a student visa, despite the fact he never attended classes, and admitted he had been surviving on ‘cash in hand’ work. As the visa was about to expire, he was urgently looking for a European bride to help him stay in the country. Ali told Miss Morter she would be free to leave him immediately after the wedding ceremony, although they would have to wait five years before they divorced. I object! But Paul Connolly, pictured behind the couple, stopped the ceremony when the registrar asked the congregation if anyone had any objections to the marriage . Rumbled: The journalists said they never expected the ceremony, assuming it would be blocked by the safeguards that are in place - but it wasn't . He even invented a back-story to help them fool the authorities, claiming they had met a year-and-a-half ago at Mile End tube station in East London when Miss Morter had lost her travel card. He told his prospective bride: ‘When I get the card, you can leave. That’s it, me and you. If I want a passport I need only one signature, that’s it. ‘I want to make money. Why do I have to go to university? I came here to make money.’ Interviewed on the programme, Mark Rimmer, superintendent registrar at Brent Council, said the number of sham marriages was ‘absolutely enormous’. He said: ‘In London we see that possibly one in five of our marriages are suspicious. ‘The goal is always the British passport. It is like gold dust. ‘We had a Lithuanian girl who spoke no English marrying a Pakistani male who spoke British and Urdu. I asked them how they communicate and they told me “through Google translate”.’ The journalists said they have made all their evidence available to the police. Mr Connolly said: ‘Neither Ali nor Elizabeth are hardened criminals. They tried to play the system, but lost. Getaway: The groom is then seen fleeing from the register office. It is not known whether he was arrested or charged for attempting to set up a sham marriage . ‘The truth is we never expected to end our investigation with a sham marriage ceremony. We assumed the road would be blocked by the safeguards that are in place. But it wasn’t.’ It is not known whether Ali or Elizabeth have been arrested or charged for attempting to set up a sham marriage. Earlier this year, the Home Affairs select committee said that sham marriages are ‘spiralling out of control’ in the UK, with as many as 10,000 fake weddings carried out each year. The filmmakers refused to name the registry office or the officials who gave permission for the ceremony because they were ‘testing the system, not seeking to... blame individuals’. The Sham Wedding Crashers will be shown on Channel 5 tomorrow at 9pm. | Reporter Harriet Morter used sham marriage fixer to meet Indian 'fiance' Ali .
Ali, who paid £5,000 for set-up, boasted he was marrying for British passport .
He hired Rolls-Royce to drive to ceremony and took bride dress shopping .
He even prepared a detailed fake back-story to tell registrar how couple met .
Ceremony was given the go-ahead, despite Ali forgetting bride's address .
Registrar reported suspicions to Home Office - but it 'slipped through net'
Ceremony only halted when fellow reporter revealed it was undercover sting .
Ali is seen dramatically fleeing from ceremony when he knows he is rumbled .
The Sham Wedding Crashers will be shown on Channel 5 tomorrow at 9pm . |
152,028 | 5079d33ff451b9c7ea2712792f327852627959de | (CNN) -- Bahrain's ambassador to France has been accused of sexually assaulting a former employee and is under investigation by prosecutors, authorities in France said Thursday. A formal complaint against Nasser Al-Belooshi was filed Monday, said Marie-Josephine Marchal, a press officer for the prosecutor's office in the city of Nanterre. Al-Belooshi "forcefully" denied the allegations, calling them "inaccurate and unfounded," according to the official Bahrain News Agency. The ambassador "remains at the disposal of the French authorities to shed light on these false accusations," the news agency said Wednesday. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero commented on the case Tuesday but did not name the envoy or say what country he came from. Valero referred to news reports suggesting the ambassador's wife and son were also suspected of wrongdoing. "To my knowledge, the ambassador and his wife are in the diplomatic list and therefore have diplomatic immunity, and the son does not," Valero said Tuesday. | NEW: Prosecutors say a complaint of sexual assault was filed Monday .
French Foreign Ministry declines to name envoy or country involved .
Bahrain's ambassador "forcefully" denies assaulting the former employee .
The ministry raises the possibility the envoy's wife and son may be implicated . |
59,940 | aa4d1e1a74c36adee2d51d36e0f2772636f6c795 | By . Carol Driver . PUBLISHED: . 10:34 EST, 13 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:46 EST, 17 March 2014 . A ski company is offering to pay fines of up to £700 to parents taking their children on holiday during term time. MountainBase is advertising its skiing breaks in Morzine, in the French Alps, along with the slogan: 'Are schools in the UK taking the PISTE?' It adds on its Facebook page: ‘We think so. Especially with record snow levels across Morzine and yet more snow due to land in the next few days to provide excellent piste conditions. Ski trip: Families face fines of up to £2,500 for taking children on holiday during term time . Offer: MountainBase promises on its Facebook page to pay fines issued to parents taking children on a ski holiday . Why can't you take your child on holiday in term time?Many schools used to give pupils authorised absences of up to ten days during term time.But in September Education Secretary Michael Gove banned the allowance in all but ‘exceptional circumstances’. A maximum fine of £60 per pupil per parent can now be charged, rising to £120 if not paid within seven days. Refusal to pay can mean a fine of up to £2,500 and up to three years' jail. Why do holiday firms increase prices?Travel . companies insist they are responding to demand. They make more money . when demand peaks in the six-week summer holiday, which offsets smaller . margins in low season. They claim they trying to cap charges during school holidays will push up prices year round. ‘So we have a special offer... Book a week with children at MountainBase/Inferno we will if you receive a fine from your school/local authority pay the fine on copy of a receipt from yourselves. 'This is based on any booking in March/April except the free ski pass option.’ MountainBase owner Lee Quince defended the controversial deal. Asked on BBC Radio 5 if he was being 'irresponsible', he said: ‘Yes, in one way but also the law has changed to specifically address truancy, especially in the wake of the riots. ‘In some sense that's affecting people who are not in that set, it's a law change not destined for themselves. They're doing an activity they're not able to do in the UK.’ It comes as figures reveal a 70 per cent rise from 2012 to 2013 in the number of parents issued with fines for taking their children on holiday during school term time. New regulations were introduced by the government last September, stopping schools from allowing children 10 days a year leave for family breaks in ‘special circumstances’. A maximum fine of £60 per pupil per parent can now be charged, rising to £120 if not paid within seven days. Refusal to pay can mean a fine of up to £2,500 and up to three years in jail. A debate was held in parliament in February, after 170,000 signed a petition for action over the high prices of going away during school holidays. A family holiday during half-terms can be twice as expensive as the week before. Mr Quince said his company, which offers all-inclusive holidays starting at £199 per person in the off-peak season, said it is forced to put its prices up by almost 50 per cent during the peak season. Controversial campaign: MountainBase included this image with its announcement on its Facebook page . Social deal: MountainBase has 1,890 followers on its Facebook page, where it made the pledge . ‘People accuse us of ripping families off by charging higher prices during school holidays but we are actually just balancing our books because we can't fill the spaces outside of the half-term holidays,’ he said. He added that the company had accounted for possibly having to pay the £700 fines: ‘We've balanced it in our figures.’ The company director said it was up to parents to decide whether to take the risk of taking their children out of school during term-time. He added: ‘Parents know the situation at the time and whether or not their children are doing well in school. ‘We are offering something (skiing) that is only available at certain times of the year. Also it is a sporting holiday and not just sitting on the beach. ‘The whole change regarding term-time holidays, which was aimed at tackling the problem of truancy, has directly affected families who want to take their children on holiday but cannot afford to go because prices are so expensive during school holidays. ‘In the UK everybody goes on holiday at exactly the same time and from a business perspective it means that you only get your children and family bookings in half-term holidays and it doesn't get balanced out across the rest of our season.’ Mr Quince added: ‘Skiing is a skill children can learn and develop. As a country we don't do particularly well investing in sport and the Olympics. It's fallen by a wayside a bit.’ | MountainBase advertised controversial campaign on its Facebook page .
Promotion uses the slogan: 'Are schools in the UK taking the PISTE?'
Company director says term-time holiday ban hits parents in the pocket . |
109,499 | 19226370318a86ba72e80609285296110aabdea5 | A number of Arsenal's first team stars uploaded selfies of themselves wearing Christmas jumpers. Senior stars such as Theo Walcott, Mathieu Debuchy and Aaron Ramsey posed in their festive knitwear to support the Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day. The suspended Calum Chambers showed his dedication to the cause by going around the press room in an attempt to raise money for the Arsenal Foundation. Theo Walcott and Mathieu Debuchy pose for selfies while wearing Christmas jumpers . Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers also showed their support to the cause . Aaron Ramsey took to Twitter to post a snap of himself wearing a Christmas jumper . Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day took place on Friday, December 12, encouraging people to wear Christmas jumpers and donate £2 to the charity. You can sign up at christmasjumperday.org . Arsenal's latest series of Christmas jumper selfies, which were uploaded on to the club's official Twitter account before their home match against Newcastle, comes just days after players posed for pictures while donning festive garments. Players including Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs were pictured wearing Arsenal's snowman-themed jumper, while Arsenal Ladies players Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey and Danielle Carter were also involved. Fans of the north London outfit can win a match ball signed by Alexis Sanchez by sending in a Christmas jumper selfie to the club's Twitter account. Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud posted a Christmas Jumper selfie before his side's match at the Emirates . Christmas jumpers were hanging up in the home dressing room before the Premier League clash . Premier League ace Alexis Sanchez looked delighted to be wearing an Arsenal Christmas jumper . Sanchez appeared on the front of Arsenal's official matchday programme for their match against Newcastle . Arsenal Ladies forward Kelly Smith was pictured wearing an elf's uniform . To donate to, or get involved with, Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day, click here. | Arsenal's senior stars uploaded selfies of themselves in festive knitwear .
The Premier League outfit are supporting Christmas Jumper Day .
Calum Chambers collected money in Arsenal's press box before his side's match against Newcastle . |
123,436 | 2b8f59e841b2521339e56769914212d81ba8a472 | (CNN) -- Famed Uruguayan author Mario Benedetti died at his home in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Sunday, his personal secretary, Ariel Silva, told CNN. Author Mario Benedetti, 88, was battling intestinal problems and had been hospitalized earlier this month. Benedetti, 88, was battling intestinal problems and had been hospitalized earlier this month. A descendent of Italian immigrants, Benedetti authored such best-selling novels as "The Truce" and "Juan Angel's Birthday," as well as a collection of short stories and poems. The poet-turned-novelist became a part of a thriving era of Latin authors including Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes, and Mario Vargas Llosa, who often intertwined politics with their work. A supporter of Fidel Castro's government, Benedetti left Uruguay to live in exile, partly in Cuba, where his writings grew more political. "I have never hidden my political position so I had to leave the country," he told CNN in a June 2005 interview. "I've had many mishaps, many problems in my short life," he added. Journalist Dario Klein in Montevideo contributed this report. | Mario Benedetti, 88, was battling intestinal problems; hospitalized earlier this month .
Benedetti authored novels such as "The Truce" and "Juan Angel's Birthday"
A supporter of Fidel Castro's government, Benedetti left Uruguay to live in exile . |
124,440 | 2cdb68a38028e10d8f109ea381b06ce61d396365 | (CNN) -- Former U.S. Marine Dan Hottle knew he had found his dream job at Yellowstone National Park. Hottle grew up going to the national parks on family vacations, exploring parks in New Mexico, Colorado and the rest of the Southwest. After he left the U.S. Marine Corps in 2002, his combat tour in Afghanistan was still on his mind. Just walking into a convenience store created sensory overload. So he bought a backpack, filled it with camping gear and hiked national parks extending from California to the Midwest. "Where I had just come from was so austere," he said. "So the national parks were the perfect place to be by myself. It's the best thing I could do." Hottle had worked as an enlisted public affairs specialist in the military and had run his own video production business after being discharged. Keeping his eyes open for jobs in the federal government, he noticed a job posting for a spokesman at Yellowstone that seemed too good to be true. With his wife's encouragement, he applied and got the job two weeks later. Yellowstone's military history . Hottle is one of many military veterans who have worked for the National Park Service and at Yellowstone, the nation's first national park, established in 1872. The U.S. Army administered the park for the first 32 years of its existence, and many of its first park rangers were veterans. Yellowstone's headquarters are old Army barracks dating to the early 1900s. About 300 full-time employees live there year-round. "It's pretty rural and only packed with visitors in the summer," he said. "We have seven months of winter, so you have to be really outdoorsy and love your surroundings." It can also be brutal. "Nature is what's driving life here," he said. "We've seen the most brutal acts of nature happen in our front yard. I accept it because I know where I live, and I know what I'm seeing. "I saw an injured bison on the road, and I know it's going to be food for a grizzly bear later this afternoon. That's hard for people to get their heads around. They think it's cruel and inhumane for some of the natural processes to occur. But they get it when we explain it to them." Park stats: Yellowstone National Park was the fourth-most-visited national park (PDF) in 2012, with 3.4 million visitors last year. The location: Yellowstone is located on 2.2 million acres, mostly in Wyoming's northwest corner. (Just 1% is in Idaho, and 3% is in Montana.) Although Yellowstone is open year-round, just one road from Cooke City, Montana, to Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, is plowed in winter. See an interactive map of Yellowstone National Park . If you go: Park admission is $25 for a private, non-commercial vehicle, $20 for a snowmobile or motorcycle and $12 for visitors ages 16 and older arriving via foot, bike, skis, etc. Passes are valid for seven days and grant admission to Grand Teton National Park. (Save your receipt for proof of payment.) Permits are required for boating, fishing, backcountry camping and weddings. For a day trip, don't miss: Canyon Village, in the center of the park. While Old Faithful Geyser is the big draw for first-time visitors to Yellowstone, it can take the whole day to enjoy and get around the geyser basin where it's located. Hottle likes to send people about 25 miles away to Canyon Village, which features the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Formed by the Yellowstone River, the canyon is about 20 miles long with widths ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 feet and depths of 800 to 1,200 feet. It's also fairly young, estimated to be between 10,000 to 14,000 years old. "I think it's the prettiest part of the park," Hottle said. "It's got bears, elk, bison, wolves. If you're going to see any animal, you're going to see it in the middle of the park." If you're determined to see Old Faithful, don't miss the nearby Grand Prismatic Spring. "The vibrancy of the colors around the spring are created by natural bacteria," Hottle said. "Those are quintessential colors of science and Yellowstone." Favorite less-traveled spot: Hottle's favorite spot doesn't have a name. It's in the northeast corner of the park, just outside Lamar Valley and near Cooke City, Montana. About 55 miles from his home in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, "it's the most rugged and mountainous part of the park," he said. "It feels like you're in the Swiss Alps with rugged young mountains that pop up, getting most of the snowfall in the park and raging rivers. There aren't a lot of visitors." His family hikes there year-round, snowshoes and skis there in the winter and has picnics there in the summer. "It's where we see the most wildlife," he said. Favorite spot to view wildlife: The rangers will tell you that anytime you go off trail anywhere in the park, there's a good chance you'll spot wildlife. Still, Hottle likes his chances on the drive through Blacktail Plateau. Early in the morning or later in the evening, when he's driving the only car on the road, Hottle likes to stop at a pullout about halfway to Lamar Valley, where he can sometimes hear wolves howling. He doesn't have to hike more than one or two miles for a good chance to see a wolf pack or any of other animals that live in the park. Although the spot is well-known in the wolf watching and backcountry hiking community, he said, "most people would drive right through it." Most magical moment in the park: He remembers a moment with a five-point bull elk at Phantom Lake in 2011. Near Blacktail Plateau, the lake usually fills during the spring melt and dries up by July. But sometimes it can last throughout the summer. As the sun was setting, "I sat down on a rock to look at the water, heard a snorting noise and saw a five-point bull elk swim out into the water in front of me," he said. "I just saw his great big eyes and heard his breathing, swimming almost silently." Hottle watched the elk swim to the side of the lake and climb out of the water. "He shook himself off -- he weighed 700 pounds maybe -- and ran over the other side of the road into the trees. Before he disappeared into those trees, he looked at me. A wildlife-to-human moment." Watch the elk swim through Phantom Lake . Funniest moment at the park: Moments after he spotted that bull elk, a tourist asked him, "Where's the wildlife?" Every day, people come up to him and ask him that question, and "behind them are 30 elk" or other wild animals, he says. "I think that's pretty funny." "You can drive around for two weeks and not see a bear, and then three show up in my front yard," he said. "You just get lucky." A ranger's request: Don't try to admire the wildlife and scenery while driving. "We have so many vehicle accidents here because (people) are trying to see the whole thing through their windshields while they're driving," Hottle said. "I don't take my eyes off the cars passing me for a second, and everyone is in their cars with their heads turned sideways." Don't stop in the middle of the road, either, although visitors often do. "You can start your own traffic jam," he said. Instead, stop in pullouts and park your car to admire the spectacular natural landscape. Another request: Stay away from large animals. For three months in the summer, park rangers use orange cones to block off elk calves resting in the grass. "Female elk with calves can take people out," Hottle said. Another park he likes to visit: Glacier National Park. Even though it's next door in Montana, it's a nine-hour drive for Hottle and his family to get there. "It's just spectacular," he said. "There's a wildness about Glacier that makes it even more dangerous and adventurous than Yellowstone," he said. "You can step off the road and walk five minutes into the woods and be completely lost. If you step away from your car, make sure have your GPS and radio and bear spray." What national park would you like to visit? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. | The nation's first national park has a history of veterans working in its ranks .
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a highlight of Canyon Village .
The changing colors of Grand Prismatic Spring's steam are due to bacteria . |
218,700 | a7188c849dcc7497b8d5ec4b65a5288669c7b964 | BURSA, Turkey (CNN) -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian Wednesday became the first Armenian head of state to travel to Turkey to attend a soccer game between the two countries' national teams. Armenian President Serzh Sarkasian (right) pictured with Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul during Gul's visit to Yerevan in 2008. Sarkisian and Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived at the stadium in Bursa together in a car flying the national flags of both countries. In an exclusive interview with CNN before the game, Gul said the event opened a new chapter for relations between Armenia and Turkey. But when asked, he avoided saying whether the border between the two neighbors would be opened before 2010. At the match, Turkish supporters vastly outnumbered Armenian fans and gave the Armenian national anthem the standard treatment for most visiting foreign teams -- they booed. Small pockets of Armenian supporters waved the tri-color flag of Armenia. Turkey won the World Cup qualifying group game 2-0 but with both countries already unable to progress to the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the significance of the game was in its symbolism. This round of "football diplomacy," comes just days after the two governments signed a historic series of protocols to establish diplomatic relations between the two neighbors. "This is going to be the biggest change in the South Caucasus since 1994," said Gevorg Tel-Gabrielyan, the Armenia country director for the Eurasia Partnership Foundation. He was in Bursa on Wednesday, hosting a conference of Armenian and Turkish academics examining bilateral relations. "If this happens," he added, "its going to change geopolitics in the region." Armenia and Turkey have been separated by nearly a century of animosity and distrust. The protocols call for establishment of embassies in each others' capitals, and for re-opening the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been closed since 1993. The soccer game was also being held in Bursa, which centuries ago was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of police were deployed to maintain strict security. On Tuesday, Turkey's prime minister made a public appeal to Turkish football fans, to greet Sarkisian with hospitality and to avoid provocations. Despite strong support from the United States, the European Union and Russia, there is considerable opposition among nationalists in Turkey and Armenia to the peace process. Sarkisian has been met by angry protests both within Armenia and among the influential diaspora communities in the United States, France and Lebanon. Thousands of protesters in the Armenian capital marched to the country's genocide memorial chanting "no concessions to the Turks," last week. Armenia has long demanded that Turkey recognize the World War I-era massacre of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians by Ottoman Turkish soldiers as genocide. Modern-day Turkey vehemently denies a genocide took place and is calling for an international commission of historical experts to examine these tragic events. Meanwhile, opposition party leaders in Turkey have criticized the agreement, as has Turkey's close ally in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan fought and lost a war against Armenia in the early 1990s. On Sunday, Turkey's prime minister made a fresh call for Armenia to withdraw its troops from the disputed Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. For the new agreement to go into effect, the documents must first be put to a vote in the Turkish and Armenian parliaments. There is no guarantee lawmakers will ratify the agreement. The process of unraveling the complicated network of regional, domestic and historical grievances dividing Armenia and Turkey was jump-started in September of 2008, when Gul traveled to Yerevan to attend a football match between the two national teams. The diplomatic rapprochement has also gotten valuable support from powerful patrons, experts say. "This is one of the few places in the world where Russia and the United States are pulling in the same direction," says Hugh Pope, an expert on Turkey with the International Crisis Group. "Both want to see a more stable Caucasus." Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were both present at the signing ceremony for the Turkish-Armenian agreement in Switzerland on Saturday. Wednesday's game in Bursa was the final match for the coach of the Turkish national team, Fatih Terim, who announced his resignation after Turkey's most recent football defeat. Despite that, the headline in one of Turkey's biggest newspapers billed today's football game "Our most challenging match." | Armenian president's visit comes amid thaw in relations between neighbors .
Turkey, Armenia signed protocols at weekend to establish diplomatic ties .
President Sarkisian has faced angry protests at home over rapprochement .
Sarkisian attends soccer match; Gul attended match in Yerevan last year . |
165,407 | 61e726ec26872a74da03f82c3eddbb003ccf1072 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 12:23 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:50 EST, 5 February 2013 . Caitlin Hartley was barely a day old when doctors told her parents she would need major heart surgery if she was to survive past three months. She had four operations during which her heart stopped beating for three minutes and she suffered a collapsed lung. But she fought back each time and now 16 months on her parents say she is a 'bundle of energy.' Caitlin's transformation was partly thanks to a pioneering procedure during which surgeons replaced a faulty artery in her heart with a cow’s jugular vein. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO... Bundle of joy: Caitlin Hartley with her parents Marie and Steven. The 16-month-old has undergone four heart operations already . Her parent's Marie and Steven, who live in Edinburgh, were full of praise for their plucky daughter. ‘Caitlin is amazing,’ Mrs Hartley, 32, said. ‘She bounces back so quickly. She’s never been in hospital more than ten days after surgery. 'You’re always conscious, if she gets a cold or seems a bit off, that it could be something to do with her heart – but she is such a bundle of energy and we have to stay positive.’ The couple’s ordeal began the day after Caitlin was born at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on September 20, 2011, when tests revealed she had a heart murmur. They found out she had a condition called truncus arteriosus, which affects fewer than one in 10,000 babies. Instead of two arteries leaving the left and right sides of the heart, Caitlin had a single, large one – sending too much blood to the lungs. In October 2011 she had a cow's jugular vein fitted at Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow, but the surgery ran into complications. Little fighter: Doctors had to re-wire her heart using a cow's vein when she was just four weeks old . Cailtin is fed via a drip by her mother Marie, following her first open heart surgery . ‘We were devastated,’ Mrs Hartley recalled. ‘We . just cried and cried. During her first keyhole surgery her heart . stopped for three minutes. They couldn’t get it restarted so they had to . give her adrenaline and shock her.' Epic run: Caitlin's father plans to run 2,013km, which is equivalent to 48 marathons in 2013 . In February 2012 Caitlin went back in to have a stent fitted to reduce the pressure on her heart, but impressed her parents with her fighting spirit. ‘Caitlin never lets anything keep her down,' her mother said. 'After the second operation, she was taken to intensive care but the first night she ripped out all her lines, took herself off the ventilator and wanted to eat yoghurt.’ Caitlin also suffered a collapsed lung but again she pulled through and was out of hospital within seven days. Mrs Hartley said: ‘She likes to keep us on our toes.’ A second open heart operation came in August 2012 and in October she had three further stents put in. Now Mr Hartley, 35, has pledged to run 2,013km in 2013 to raise £10,000 – to be matched by his employer Standard Life – for the children's hospital that has saved Caitlin's life so many times. So far, he has signed up to eight marathons, half marathons and 10ks around the country to help him hit the target. Since January 1st he has managed to run 188km (117miles) - the equivalent of four and a half maratons. ‘To look at her, you wouldn’t think she has gone through all that she has, the way she dances and runs around the house,’ he said. ‘All you can say to the doctors and nurses is thank you, but it never feels enough.’ For more on Mr Hartley's fundraising visit his webpage . | Caitlin Hartley born with rare heart defect that meant she had one large artery that sent too much blood to her lungs .
Toddler has battled through four operations, during which her heart stopped for three minutes and one lung collapsed .
Her parents describe her as a 'bundle of energy'
Father vows to run the equivalent of a marathon a week during 2013 to raise money for hospital that has repeatedly saved his daughter . |
30,486 | 56ac702cc0235553c42e93b9274fc33d78e394d2 | Stuart Lancaster insists England will give everything in pursuit of filling the nation with pride at the 2015 World Cup. The quest for the sport's ultimate prize commences a year on Thursday when the hosts face Fiji at Twickenham in what they hope will be the first of seven games that will culminate in Chris Robshaw lifting the Webb Ellis trophy. All conquering New Zealand, the reigning world champions, start as clear favourites, but Lancaster insists England will empty the tanks in the hope of seizing their crown. Stuart Lancaster insists England will give everything to fill the nation with pride at the 2015 World Cup . Lancaster: England will be ready for Rugby World Cup . 'We'll do our best to make sure we deliver and deliver in a way that will make the country proud,' Lancaster told England Rugby TV. 'The sense of the country being behind the team is a very powerful motivator. 'The support people have for sporting events in this country now is better than anyone's in the world. 'The team's performances will have a huge impact on the country. 'The World Cup will have a huge impact and the knock on effect it will have on morale in the country will inspire more and more people to play the game. England have not won the World Cup since 2003 when they triumphed against then-hosts Australia . 'For seven weeks of our lives we will put everything aside and completely focus on one goal and that goal is winning the World Cup. 'There will be ups and downs along the way, but when we get to September 18, 2015 I'm confident no stone will have been left unturned. 'We'll make sure that we are ready and ready to deliver.' England have 12 matches until Fiji to place themselves in the best possible position to repeat the achievement of Martin Johnson's heroes of 2003. Head coach Lancaster says he has instilled a strong sense of national pride in his players . One of the tools introduced by Lancaster has been instilling a strong sense of national pride in his players. 'We have worked hard on talking about the identity of what being English means,' he said. 'You have to have character to be an England player, a strong sense of purpose. 'You can never take a backwards step and must always deliver under pressure. 'A level of commitment is needed that is probably above and beyond what most people would expect.' 'Alongside all that you need those world-class players who can deliver those moments that make them world class.' | Stuart Lancaster says England will do everything to make nation proud .
The 2015 World Cup is on home soil so expectations will be high .
England haven't lifted Wed Ellis trophy since 2003 in Australia .
Lancaster says he has instilled national pride in his players . |
92,887 | 037967ff6d100e26abe91bd6435fc6f96ffa1357 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:17 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:18 EST, 5 March 2014 . Drinking just one can of Coke a day could be bad for you, the World Health Organization said as it urged Americans to lower their daily amount of sugar. Under draft guidelines published on Wednesday, the health agency suggested sugar should make up just 5 percent of the total calories needed for a day - half of what it had previously suggested. The guideline means just one Coke, or six Oreo cookies, would be considered an excessive amount of sugar. Health warning: The amount of sugar in Coke and other sodas concerns experts from WHO . Who recommended the drop in sugar intake as a way to combat obesity and cavities, after its expert panel reviewed about 9,000 studies. Sugar has about 4 calories per gram, or 15 . calories per teaspoon. Under the 5 percent guideline, a person who takes . in 2000 calories a day would limit sugar to 25 grams. A 12-ounce can of . Coca-Cola has 35 grams of sugar, which is 10 grams over the allowance. One Oreo cookie has 4.5 grams, meaning you could eat only five and a half in one day. The guidelines will apply to sugars . that have been added to food, or are present in honey, syrups and fruit . juices. Sugar found naturally in fruits is not cause for concern. Dr Francesco Branca, WHO's director for nutrition, conceded the target was somewhat aspirational. 'We should aim for 5 percent if we can ... but 10 percent is more realistic,' he said. Americans and others in the West eat a lot more sugar than the recommended daily allowance of 25 grams. Their average sugar intake would have to drop by two-thirds to meet WHO's suggested limit. WHO's new guidelines have been published online and the agency is inviting the public to comment via its website until the end of March. Many doctors applauded the UN agency's attempt to limit the global sweet tooth. 'The less sugar you're eating, the better,' Dr Robert Lustig, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California and author of a book about the dangers of sugar, said. 'If the sugar threshold is lowered, I think breakfast cereal is going to have a really hard time justifying its existence,' he added, referring to sweetened cereals often targeted to children. Snack time: The guidelines will mean limiting the number of Oreos and cookies that are eaten . When WHO last revised its sugar guidelines more than a decade ago, it recommended sugar should be less than 10 percent of daily calories. The U.S. sugar industry was so incensed it lobbied Congress to threaten to withdraw millions of dollars in funding to WHO. A contentious reference to the sugar limit was removed from a global diet strategy, but the recommendation passed. Cut down: Draft guidelines suggest limiting the amount of sugar eaten daily . Lustig said WHO's new guidelines could alter the food environment by forcing manufacturers to rethink how they use sugar in processed foods like bread, soups, pasta sauces and even salad dressings. He called the amount of sugar in processed food an 'absolute, unmitigated disaster'. WHO's expert group found high sugar consumption is strongly linked to obesity and tooth decay. It noted that heavy people have a higher risk of chronic diseases, responsible for more than 60 percent of global deaths. Dental care costs up to 10 percent of health budgets in Western countries and cause significant problems in the developing world. WHO warned many of the sugars eaten today are hidden in processed foods, pointing out that one tablespoon of ketchup contains about one teaspoon of sugar and that for some people, including children, drinking a single can of sweetened soda would already exceed their daily sugar limit. There is no universally agreed consensus on how much sugar is too much. The American Heart Association advises limiting sugar to about 8 percent of your diet, or six teaspoons a day for women and nine for men. A study led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published last month found too much sugar can raise the chances of fatal heart problems. Researchers found the average American gets about 15 percent of their calories from sugar, similar to other Western nations. New nutrition labels proposed in the U.S. will also require food manufacturers to list any added sugars, plus a more prominent calorie count. Sweet tooth: Health experts are concerned about the 'hidden sugar' in sweets and sodas . A chart shows the number of teaspoons of sugar found in cereals, energy drinks, hot chocolate and foods available in British supermarkets . Dr Branca said: ‘Obesity affects half . a billion people in the world and it is on the rise. ‘Sugar along with other risk . factors might certainly become the new tobacco in terms of public health . action. The consumption of a single serving of sugar sweetened soda . might actually already exceed the limit for a child. So certainly the . consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages should be done with great care. ‘It actually is one of the elements that has been more constantly associated to increase weight gain particularly in children.’ Earlier this week, Britain's chief medical officer, Dr Sally Davies, said she thought sugar might be addictive and that the government should consider introducing a sugar tax to curb bulging waistlines. The UK has one of the fattest populations in Western Europe. 'We have a generation of children who, because they're overweight ... may not live as long as my generation,' she told a health committee. 'They will be the first generation that lives less and that is of great concern.' The guidelines will now be discussed by . academics and medical experts before a final version is published. But . Dr Branca said food and drinks manufacturers should drastically alter . their products. | Guidelines recommend only 25 grams a day - 10 grams less than amount found in sodas .
Rise in obesity and cavities has fueled fears of Western health crisis . |
5,979 | 10f79c6ac38595b8d311cacff6d3244047bb6e29 | (CNN) -- The Spanish town of Pioz boasts views of snow-capped mountains, a 15th-century castle, and a swimming pool for locals to bathe in -- but residents are in short supply. Pioz has become a ghost town, a haunting reminder of the country's continuing property crisis. Pioz is saddled with €16 million of debt, making it Spain's most indebted town. Thousands of newly-built homes remain empty and vandalized years after they were built, other projects are simply unfinished and unpaid for. The town is in the municipality of Guadalajara, just an hour's drive from Madrid, but commuters weren't lured in by the new-build homes. Today, only 3,500 people live in these housing estates designed for 25,000. The Spanish property boom went bust in 2007, and now 20% of Spanish homes lie empty. The banking sector has €186 billion-worth of troubled real estate assets on its books. It is easier to grasp the impact of these statistics when standing on a street in Pioz. Row upon row of identical homes stand empty, complete with boarded-up windows, peeling plaster, hanging electrical cables and falling down "For Sale" signs. At the heart of the town stands an iconic 15th-century castle; despite the ravages of time it appears to be in better shape than many of the newer crumbling homes that surround it. However, looks can be deceiving. "It's falling down," said ex-Mayor Amelia Rodriguez, "we were thinking of doing some restoration work on it, but owing to the crisis it is not possible. We will leave it until one day when we can." Elsewhere in the town lie newer constructions: A €1 million community swimming pool that had just one bather on CNN's visit, a €500,000 medical center and a €12 million sewage and water treatment plant, neither of which can be used due to lack of funds for running costs. According to Juan Yunta, the Director of Public Works in Pioz, the €400,000 toxic waste plant, subsidized by the European Union and Department of Industry, has problems that don't stop at the running costs -- there is a dispute over who actually owns the land. "Everything has been built on land which doesn't even belong to the town hall," he said. "Fiasco? As far as I know fiasco is when something breaks, like a natural disaster, this is something far greater -- this is utter madness." Amelia Rodriguez has been the mayor of Pioz for just over a year, but since CNN visited has been ousted from office by the previous mayor Emilio Rincon and six councilors. She hopes that future town planners and property developers will learn from their mistakes. "As the money came into the town hall, they didn't realize it would ever stop," she said. "The good times do come to an end. We'll go back to the good times, but for now we must wait. I hope this is a lesson for everyone." CNN's Anna Stewart contributed to this article . | Pioz is saddled with €16 million of debt, making it Spain's most indebted town .
Today, only 3,500 people live in housing estates designed for 25,000 .
The country's property boom went bust in 2007, and now 20% of Spanish homes lie empty .
The banking sector has €186 billion-worth of troubled real estate assets on its books . |
25,518 | 48415a82fcdb48d3da618a36a7b0bcc4ea85e06d | Ashley Cole believes people are desperate for him to fail in his quest for a World Cup spot. The Chelsea star's England place is under severe threat from first-choice starter Leighton Baines and Southampton wonderkid Luke Shaw. Cole has enjoyed a return to the Chelsea line-up in crunch games against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool after spending much of the season displaced at left back by the right-footed Cesar Azpilicueta. In action: Ashley Cole, evading Liverpool's Joe Allen on Sunday, has to fight for his World Cup spot . Ahead in the race: Leighton Baines is the favourite for a starting berth in England's left-back spot . And with a fight on his hands for his place for club and country, Cole, 33, says he not only has to contend with Baines and Shaw but the weight of public opinion. 'There was probably a lot of pressure on me to fight for my England spot,' Cole told beIn SPORTS. 'Maybe not just my starting spot even - just to get on the plane. I think everyone wanted me to fail, to be honest. 'I think real football fans understand what I bring to a team and what I give to a team and if I do make it on the plane hopefully people can see that. 'But ultimately most people wanted me to fail in Madrid last week, for sure. 'Maybe people have seen me play for 13 years for my country and have probably had enough of it. 'You . look at the players and you have Baines who is playing brilliantly and . young Luke Shaw who has done amazing this season so I don’t blame them, . they’ve got reasons to, but like I said in my Nike ad - I’m not done . yet.' Young gun: Southampton's Luke Shaw, holding off Romelu Lukaku, could challenge for a squad place . Three Lions: Stalwart Cole has won an incredible 107 England caps . | Cole up against Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw for England spot .
'People have probably had enough of me after 13 years of England duty'
Defender has returned to Chelsea's line-up in recent matches .
'Real football fans understand what I bring to a team', says 33-year-old . |
222,464 | abf7c53544ee987f0671fc4a826036c5a7393995 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . An East Tennessee couple have been charged with murder after an autopsy revealed the man's five-year-old daughter had been forced to drink more than two liters of grape soda and water. Alexa Linboom was suffering from extreme brain damage when she was brought to an emergency room on January 1, 2012, by her father, Randall Vaughn and her stepmother, Mary. An investigation found the young girl had been forced to drink the water and soda in one to two hours as punishment after taking one of her stepmother's drinks. Murder charge: Randall and Mary Vaughn allegedly forced his daughter to drink excessive amounts of soda . The huge intake of fluid caused her brain to swell and herniate, which led to her death on January 3, 2012. Vaughn, 41 ,and his wife, 58, have been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child neglect and aggravated child abuse. Attorney-general Berkeley Bell told the Times News that after allegedly forcing their child to drink an excessive amount of fluid, they failed to seek immediate medical help. 'Our position is it was a matter of several hours after the child started exhibiting serious symptoms, after the child was screaming out in pain, went into a paralyzed state, and became unconscious [that they sought help,' Bell said. After a two-year investiagtion it was found that Alexa was killed by acute fluid intoxication , which caused hyponatremic encephalopathy. Killed: Alexa Linboom, five, suffered brain damage after being made to drink 2l of fluid in under two hours . Bell said there was no history of abuse on record at the Vaughan family home, but added: 'They did employ some alternative forms of punishment.' 'Allegedly the child, as a form of punishment, was forced to drink grape drinks, as well as a great deal of water, to the point that her body became water intoxicated,' Bell said. 'That led to her brain swelling and all of her systems shutting down, and to her eventual brain death.' Alexa's biological mother lives out of state and six other children who were living in the Vaughan house are now in foster care. The couple are being held on $500,000 bond and are due to appear in court on Friday. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Alexa Linboom suffered extreme brain damage after being made to drink more than 2 liters of fluid in under two hours .
Child was allegedly being punished for taking step-mom's drink . |
75,915 | d7449a49a1e808c3d2f2c87f6b6b26dc8cbfe638 | Madrid (CNN) -- A 24-year-old Australian man was gored in the thigh Friday, the second day of the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. At least three other runners went to hospital with injuries, officials said. The Australian man was gored in the bullring at the end of the course. One bull became separated from the pack and came last, and alone, to the bull ring. Television images showed the man coming up behind the lone bull, which then turned on the man, who suddenly slipped and fell to the ground. He was then gored in the thigh. He was immediately tended to the bullring medical staff. A hospital report on all the injured is due later. Four runners went to the hospital with injuries Thursday on the first day of the running of the bulls. Commentators on Spanish state television TVE considered it a relatively safe start to the dangerous annual tradition in Pamplona, which has tallied thousands of injuries and 15 deaths since record-keeping began in 1924, including the fatal goring of a Spanish man in 2009. The run in Pamplona started 400 years ago and became popular worldwide after author Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in the 1920s in his book "The Sun Also Rises," also published under the title "Fiesta." It is now broadcast live across Spain by state television TVE, which pays Pamplona for exclusive rights, and positions some 20 cameras along the course. The daily run continues for eight days, through July 14, at 8 a.m. (2 a.m. ET). It is the highlight of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona that attracts hundreds of thousands to the nonstop fiesta. | The Australian man is gored in the bullring at the end of the course .
At least three other runners are injured Friday .
Hundreds of thousands expected at nonstop festival in Pamplona . |
12,314 | 22e5f5bbb38360d772f17606d1618d1e560e36b6 | Alhambra, California (CNN) -- At first, the pool builder thought his Bobcat bulldozer struck garbage as he dug a hole in a residential backyard. After all, in the older neighborhoods of San Marino, California, people used to bury their garbage. But the plastic bag didn't contain trash. Jose Perez, operating the Bobcat with his father as a co-worker, asked his dad what was inside. His father grabbed an 18-inch piece of reinforcement bar to poke around. "He looked inside it, and he mouthed to me that there were bones in it," Perez testified Wednesday in a Los Angeles County court. "He thought it was a dog, but it didn't look like a dog. "I told him to drop it, and he did," Perez continued. "It was a human skull." As the prosecution witness referred to the plastic bag and the pool digging project in a photograph on a big screen in court, defendant Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, in a blue jail jumpsuit, stared intently at the scene where prosecutors accuse him of murdering a man in 1985. The skull was found nine years later, on May 5, 1994, Perez testified. The testimony was evidence that Los Angeles County prosecutors began presenting during a preliminary hearing for the German-born Gerhartsreiter, who has garnered renown for impersonating a Rockefeller and inspiring a movie about the caper. He is now accused of killing a Southern California man who has been missing since the mid-1980s. Frank Sheridan, a forensic pathologist, testified the skull suffered at least one blow to the forehead and at least two blows to the right side. The several fractures were made at or about the time of death, said Sheridan, who is also the medical examiner of San Bernardino County in California. The shape of two fractures also indicated an object with a curved surface, such as a baseball bat, was used to deliver the blows, Sheridan said under questioning by a prosecutor. "This individual was alive when these fractures occurred," said Sheridan, who examined a reconstructed version of the skull. In his career, he has performed 8,000 autopsies, he said. "There's a lot of force involved in these blows," Sheridan added. "Each one of them would have rendered the person unconscious. "The injuries we're talking about here would have very clearly been fatal in the absence of medical care, and they could have been fatal even with medical care," he said. At the pool construction site, investigators eventually found nearly the entire skeleton of a man whose height was between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, testified Judith Daye, a physical anthropologist who worked for the Los Angeles County's coroner office and reviewed the bones at the site. The missing bones included a kneecap, four fingers and a few toes, a common occurrence with buried remains, "especially the hands and feet because the bones are very small," Daye testified. Many discovered bones were inside clothing that was wrapped in plastic, such as the pelvis inside jeans and the upper torso bones inside a shirt, Daye testified. The preliminary hearing, to determine whether Gerhartsreiter should be bound over for trial, is expected to last six days, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Gerhartsreiter, 50, is accused of killing John Sohus, who was 27 at the time of his 1985 disappearance. His mother once owned the San Marino home where the remains were found. During the Wednesday hearing, Los Angeles County Judge Jared Moses rejected a defense request that Gerhartsreiter be referred to as "Mr. Rockefeller" in court. The defense attorney said he and other attorneys on the team knew Gerhartsreiter as "Mr. Rockefeller." But the judge said: "I get individuals in court who have a number of akas," a police term meaning "also known as," but "I have never seen a circumstance in court where a person is referred to by one of his akas." Gerhartsreiter, who has led a life of multiple identities, has denied involvement in the Sohus case. At one point in his life, Gerhartsreiter assumed the identity of "Clark Rockefeller," a cultured poseur who never seemed to have a job. A Boston tabloid dubbed him "Crockefeller." A Lifetime movie, "Who Is Clark Rockefeller?" starred Eric McCormack as Gerhartsreiter. Gerhartsreiter, who is being held without bail, is serving a Massachusetts sentence for kidnapping his daughter; he was transferred from a prison in that state to California in July, authorities said. In July, one of his attorneys, Jeffrey A. Denner of Boston, said he wasn't aware of any breaks in the 26-year-old Sohus case that would warrant a charge against his client. "I was personally surprised because there was so much time, and what new evidence could have arisen? We don't know anything," Denner said in July after Gerhartsreiter's arraignment. "Old case, new case -- he didn't do it. We maintain his innocence. He maintains his innocence." Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian was the prosecutor at Wednesday's hearing, held in Los Angeles County's Alhambra courthouse. The case involves 9,000 pages of investigative documents and 83 CDs, DVDs and videotapes. The whereabouts of the dead man's wife, Linda Sohus, are unknown. Except for a few postcards that appeared to have been mailed by the couple from Paris in 1985, her friends and family have not heard from her. Gibbons said last summer that her disappearance was still under investigation. Gerhartsreiter has been serving a four- to five-year sentence in Massachusetts for kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter in 2008. That prison term will end in mid-2012, authorities said. Gerhartsreiter will receive credit for that Massachusetts sentence while being incarcerated in California, authorities said. Gerhartsreiter came to the United States from Germany in 1978, according to testimony at his trial for kidnapping. After spending a few years in Connecticut, he moved to Wisconsin, where he married in a green card arrangement using his true name. Gerhartsreiter then relocated to California. He settled in San Marino, a wealthy community near Pasadena, where he lived under the name Christopher Chichester from 1983 to 1985. He posed as a film student and boasted that he was of English royalty, according to Vanity Fair magazine, which profiled him in January 2009 and quoted several people who knew Chichester at the time. As Chichester, he rented a guest house from Ruth "Didi" Sohus. Her son John and his wife, Linda, came to live with Didi Sohus during the time Gerhartsreiter lived in the guest quarters. It is unclear what his relationship was with the couple. Didi Sohus told investigators she believed that her son and daughter-in-law were in Europe. She filed a missing person report in July 1985, according to the Pasadena Star-News. Didi Sohus and one of Linda Sohus' friends received postcards postmarked from Paris in mid-1985, purportedly from the couple, but investigators were suspicious of their authenticity. Sohus sold the house in late 1985 after suffering a stroke. She died three years later. Through luminol testing of the guest quarters where Chichester lived, investigators found what appeared to be a large amount of blood. (Luminol causes a glow when it comes in contact with blood.) It is not clear when the luminol testing took place, but police thoroughly searched the house when the remains were found and again after Gerhartsreiter's arrest in the kidnapping case. A former neighbor quoted by Vanity Fair reported that Chichester borrowed a chainsaw from him at about the time the couple went missing. An acquaintance, Dana Farrar, said she "saw an area of dirt that had obviously been dug up and filled in" at the time, according to the Pasadena Star-News. When she asked him why, Chichester told her he was having plumbing problems. Sheriff's detectives from Los Angeles County sought Chichester for questioning in early May 1985, but he had disappeared in a pickup truck registered to John Sohus. He resurfaced under yet another identity, that of Christopher Crowe, in Connecticut in the late 1980s. In late 1988, Crowe tried to sell Sohus' pickup truck to a man in Connecticut. When he couldn't produce the proper paperwork for the truck, the prospective buyer reported him to police. Connecticut police soon learned that Chichester and Crowe were the same person, although at that time, no one knew that his true name was Gerhartsreiter. Crowe disappeared before police could question him. He resurfaced in Manhattan in 1993 as Clark Rockefeller. On May 5, 1994, the workers digging in the backyard of the San Marino home to install a swimming pool for the home's new owners discovered the remains. It was not until 2010 that the remains were identified. The investigation heated up again when authorities learned shortly after the 2008 kidnapping that Gerhartsreiter was not Clark Rockefeller. He was arrested in Baltimore, where he was hiding out with his daughter. He had already assumed a new identity: a ship's captain named Chip Smith who, with his daughter Muffy, was relocating to Chile. His second wife, Harvard-educated financial executive Sandra Boss, testified at the kidnapping trial that she spent more than a dozen years with him before growing suspicious that Rockefeller was not who he said he was. They met in New York and were married in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Their daughter, Reigh, was born on May 24, 2001, and her father nicknamed her "Snooks." The couple divorced in 2007 after Boss hired a private investigator to conduct a background check, according to testimony at the kidnapping trial. | NEW: Almost entire skeleton found after skull's discovery, anthropologist testifies .
The fractured skull received at least three blows, a forensic pathologist says .
Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter is accused of murder .
He led a life of multiple identities and once claimed to be "Clark Rockefeller" |
185,131 | 7bd24afcb5b0eadf2367451dfd0c6ea97b1ec7cf | (CNET) -- Its shape and feature set will be familiar to anyone who's seen other Pavilion dv6000 series laptops, but the Special Edition HP Pavilion dv6985se stands out for two reasons. First, its upscale design includes an eye-catching, copper-colored lid and silver interior, both bearing a faint imprint that looks like etching. The other special feature: a 12-cell battery that provided one of the longest battery lives we've seen in CNET Labs. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se is a fairly typical mainstream laptop, with a decent feature set and strong performance. Of course, the features that make the Pavilion dv6985se special are also its downside. That extra battery does add weight, and the flashy design certainly isn't for everyone (though we happen to love it). Users who want something more portable or more subdued should look to the Sony Vaio NR498, which offers similar performance and features (but lacks multimedia controls) for a slightly lower price. Or you could scrap the 15-inch size entirely and go for a 14-inch model like the Gateway T-6836 or the Sony Vaio CR510. The Pavilion dv6815se's shape is essentially the same as the Pavilion dv6915nr we reviewed earlier this summer. The "Special Edition" designation, however, warrants a spiffy new color scheme; in the case of the Pavilion dv6985se, that means a shiny copper-colored lid and display bezel with a silver keyboard deck and keys. Both the lid and wrist-rest incorporate a subtle imprint design of narrow stripes that morph into organic shapes reminiscent of Art Nouveau; the pattern even extends across the touch pad. The overall effect is very appealing--certainly more expensive-looking than its actual price (more so when you factor in Best Buy currently offers it with a $100 discount)--but also seems destined to look slightly dated by the time you graduate. The Pavilion dv6985se we reviewed differs from its siblings in one other significant way: the laptop includes a bulky 12-cell battery that raises the back of the system an inch and contributes to its hefty 6.6-pound weight. (With HP's standard Pavilion battery, the system would weigh closer to 6 pounds--but a smaller battery isn't an option on this fixed configuration.) The extra juice will come in handy when cranking out term papers, but you probably won't enjoy carrying the laptop to the library. The 15.4-inch wide-screen display on the HP Pavilion dv6985se has a typical 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. The screen's glossy finish produces rich colors and contrast; we found it minimally distracting while surfing the Web and typing e-mail but quite enjoyable for watching movies. A 1.3-megapixel Webcam above the display lets users conduct video chats. Typing was comfortable on the Pavilion dv6985se's nearly full-size keyboard. The wide touch pad includes a scroll zone, and we love the on/off button above the pad, which is handy when you want to use an external mouse or just type without worrying about misplacing the cursor. Above the keyboard sits a row of light-touch controls to launch HP's QuickPlay media player, control disc playback, and adjust volume. Perhaps to maintain the laptop's polished aesthetic, HP left off the handy port labels found on the keyboard deck of nearly every other Pavilion laptop. The HP Pavilion dv6985se includes most of the ports and connections we'd expect to see on a laptop of its size, though the Sony Vaio NR498 does manage to squeeze one more USB port into its similar footprint. (We have a feeling a USB port was jettisoned to make room for the HP Expansion Port, which lets you connect to an HP docking station.) The HP also lacks Bluetooth, which is surprising given its otherwise upscale bent. We do like the Pavilion's dual headphone jacks, which make it easy to share movies and music with friends. We're less impressed with the Altec Lansing stereo speakers, which are loud and clear but produce too-treble sound. The retail-only Pavilion dv6985se comes in a single fixed configuration that includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor--part of Intel's previous-generation Centrino platform and the standard for mainstream systems--plus a generous 4GB of RAM. Paired with 64-bit Windows Vista, that 4GB of RAM gave the Pavilion dv6985se a notable boost on our Photoshop CS3 benchmark, where the first three spots among Back-to-School systems went to 64-bit-equipped laptops. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se performed admirably on CNET Labs' benchmarks, showing enough multitasking and processing oomph for all your scholarly pursuits (and diversions). As mentioned above, the HP Pavilion dv6985se includes a massive 12-cell battery that adds significant weight to the system. But it just might be worth schlepping around: it ran for 5 hours and 17 minutes on CNET Labs' video playback drain test. That's one of the lengthiest battery scores we've seen, and bests all our other mainstream Back-to-School systems, which featured six-cell batteries, by nearly 2 hours. Our video playback battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect even longer life from casual Web surfing and office use. HP backs the Pavilion dv6985se with an industry-standard one-year warranty. Toll-free telephone support is available 24-7 during your warranty period, and the HP support Web site includes real-time chat with a tech representative. If you want to troubleshoot problems yourself, you can search through the site's thorough FAQ database. © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission. | The HP Pavilion dv6985se is a well-stocked mainstream laptop .
Unit's 12-cell battery provides one of the longest battery lives we've seen .
The bulky battery also contributes to the laptop's size and hefty 6.6-pound weight .
Overall, the Pavilion dv6985se offers strong performance and decent features . |
27,367 | 4d9208f19f49d79953f1b3f3844cc665df046a22 | Crackdown: David Cameron will unveil plans to stamp out the 'scandal' of binge drinking . David Cameron will declare war on the scourge of cheap alcohol today. As part of a series of measures to stamp out what he condemns as the ‘scandal’ of binge drinking, the Prime Minister will make clear the Government wants to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and put higher taxes on strong lagers. He will throw his weight behind plans to emulate Scotland where supermarkets and pubs are forced to charge a minimum of 45p per unit of alcohol to prevent the cut-price selling blamed for fuelling the orgy of public drunkenness. His wide-ranging crackdown will also include plans for: . On a trip to a hospital in the North East, Mr Cameron will announce that treating patients with alcohol problems and victims of drunken attacks costs the NHS £2.7billion a year, or £90 for every taxpayer in Britain. Last year there were 200,000 hospital admissions with a primary alcohol-related diagnosis, 40 per cent higher than in 2003. The number of patients admitted with acute intoxication has more than doubled to 18,500 over the same period. Mr Cameron will say: ‘This is one of the scandals of our society and I am determined to deal with it. This is an area where the drinks industry, supermarkets, pubs and clubs need to work with government so that responsible drinking becomes a reality and not just a slogan. Booze Britain: There were 200,000 hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions last year - up more than 40 per cent since 2003 . ‘Whether it’s the police officers in A&E that have been deployed in some hospitals, the booze buses in Soho and Norwich, or the drunk tanks used abroad, we need innovative solutions to confront the rising tide of unacceptable behaviour.’ Senior sources say the plans will be published in full in the Government’s long-awaited alcohol strategy due next month, but final decisions could be delayed until the Budget on March 21 since decisions on duty would have to be announced to Parliament by the Chancellor. The plans are bound to provoke scepticism as to whether raising prices will be enough to change the behaviour of young drinkers, but they are supported by groups like Alcohol Concern. Tory MPs have also expressed concerns about minimum pricing, amid fears that voters would be angered by paying extra for alcohol during a time of austerity. But Mr Cameron is willing to overrule embattled Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who fears minimum pricing will hurt the poor, because it would be popular with many in the medical profession who are fighting the Government’s NHS reforms. Mr Cameron will say: ‘Every night, in town centres, hospitals and police stations across the country, people have to cope with the consequences of alcohol abuse. And the problem is getting worse. End of cheap alcohol: The Government could impose a minimum price for alcohol. In Scotland there is a minimum price of 45p per unit . ‘Over the last decade we’ve seen a frightening growth in the number of people – many under-age – who think it’s acceptable to get drunk in public in ways that wreck lives, spread fear and increase crime. ‘As figures today show, the NHS is having to pick up an ever-growing bill of £2.7billion a year, including £1billion on accident and emergency services alone. That’s money we have to spend because of the reckless behaviour of an irresponsible minority. ‘Across the country hospitals, ambulance crews and the police are rising to the challenge. We must help them to do so and will be setting out how through the forthcoming Alcohol Strategy. ‘This isn’t just about more rules and regulation. It’s about responsibility and a sense of respect for others.’ A recent official study found that setting a minimum price of 30p a unit would prevent 300 deaths a year, 40p about 1,000 deaths, and 50p more than 2,000 premature deaths. The new measures will be accompanied by an ‘aggressive’ public health campaign and a more draconian approach to curtailing the sale of alcohol in shops, pubs and clubs. In America, police keep cells aside as ‘drunk tank’ holding pens for binge-drinkers to be incarcerated until they sober up. For the past two years an alcohol recovery centre has been set up in Soho, London, over the Christmas period. Drunken revellers are given advice on alcohol abuse as they recover from their nights out and wait to be collected by friends or family. A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘A final decision is to be taken on the alcohol strategy, but this is an idea the Prime Minister has said publicly that he is interested in.’ | Alcohol-related disorder costs NHS £2.7bn a year .
50p per unit minimum would save 2,000 lives a year .
Scottish supermarkets and pubs forced to charge a minimum of 45p per unit .
‘Drunk tank’ cells where those deemed incapable of walking home would be sent by police to sleep it off; .
Use of ‘booze buses’ which pick up revellers and take them to the cells; .
Police deployed in accident and emergency wards to prevent drunken violence; .
Paramedics to be sent into nightclubs to treat drunken patients on the spot to ease the burden on the NHS. |
274,977 | f0354964d89c666e1e68faf2152579ac4706c0c9 | By . Chris Pleasance . When a couple in Hawaii came to buy a Jack Russell named Sally Mae for $85 from an animal shelter, staff happily handed the dog over, and took a picture to mark the occasion. But less than an hour later a very similar picture appeared on Craigslist which seemed to show the same dog up for sale - but this time for $200. The post even claimed Sally Mae was half her age, advertising her as a five-year-old dog instead of her actual age of ten. Jack Russell Sally Mae was adopted from shelter on Hawaii by couple who paid $85 - only to reappear in a Craigslist advert an hour later on sale for $200 . Followers of the Hawaii Humane Society shelter on Facebook spotted the similarities between the dogs after the woman holding Sally appeared wearing the same t-shirt. The ad claimed: 'My boyfriend and I is [sic] too caught up with work since we have 2 jobs each and she needs a family that'll give her attention. Please.' Furious website users demanded that the new owner return Sally Mae to the shelter, prompting workers from the animal home to contact the couple. While local news reports suggested that the woman initially refused to return the animal, the Hawaii Humane Society have now confirmed Sally Mae was given back to them. Jacque Vaughn, a spokesman for the shelter, said: 'Great news. Sally Mae was returned to us when the adopters recognized they could not care for her. 'She was adopted to a loving family this afternoon. We applaud them for returning her to us. They did the right thing and that's all that matters.' The ad listed Sally as five-years-old, which she is in fact ten. The shelter said they contacted Sally's owners who have now returned the animal after 'realizing they were unable to care for her' But social media users have have called the shelter's adoption process into question. Thomas Nitta wrote on the group's Facebook page saying: 'I wonder how they know these people are a loving family? Just wondering.' Callmea Cab added: 'The public outcry helped to prevent Sally Mae from being flipped on CL and more importantly made HHS realize that they need to update/revamp their adoption policy.' | Ten-year-old Jack Russell Sally Mae adopted by couple in Hawaii .
Shelter took picture of dog being held by new owners to celebrate .
Hour later Craigslist post appeared with similar picture trying to sell dog .
This time Sally Mae was listed as a five-year-old with price tag of $200 . |
17,337 | 31131648e05f47506e8c77b2c30f24120185de76 | By . Associated Press . and Reuters . PUBLISHED: . 16:13 EST, 23 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:48 EST, 24 December 2013 . Thousands of Canadians are still without power on Monday, and many may not get it back by Christmas in what Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is calling one of the worst storms to hit the city. A storm that ripped through Ontario caused downed power lines which cut off electricity to more than 300,000 customers, 200,000 in Toronto. But Mayor Ford says it's still 'not even close' to warrant declaring a state of emergency. Scroll down for video . White Christmas: Ice covers trees and a field in Metamora, Michigan. The upper Midwest and Canada are experiencing snow storms and extremely low temperatures . The remains of the storm: Crews work to restore power lines that were damaged along DeMille Road in Lapeer, Michigan on Monday, after the ice storm over the weekend . Too cold to drive: Jeremy Sisk tries to jump start his white Pontiac Grand Am with the help of Chris Clifford (not pictured) during a cold snap on Monday, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . About 100 trucks have been called in from other cities to help resture power in the area, but Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines wouldn't guarantee all of the power will be restored by Christmas. 'My caution continues to be my caution. Let's really plan for the worst,' Mr Haines told CNN. 'I am encouraged in the progress we have made today, obviously, with well over 100,000 customers being restored today.' The bitter cold in the area has also caused the city to open a dozen warming centers for an expected 300 people. Across the U.S., weather was much tamer than this weekend when 10 died in weather-related incidents - though the upper midwest is bracing for more snow and temperatures of below 45 degrees in parts of Minnesota. Clearing the way: A man in Ashland, Wisconsin battles to make a path on his sidewalk through the snow on Monday . Swamplandia: Seth Hocking, right, 13, points toward flood waters with Ellie Silver in Findlay, Ohio on Monday following a weekend of heavy rains in the region . Sandbagging: Stephen Scherger, left, owner of Flag City Gaming, and Boun Kantabouth stand outside of Scherger's flood damaged business in Findlay, Ohio on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 . In Wisconsin, locals are using the region's famous cheese production facilities as a way to keep streets safe during the busy holiday travel season. Instead of pricy, ineffective and sometimes toxic salts, local government officials are turning to salt brine used to flavor cheese as a way to keep the roads from freezing. 'We’re just trying to make every possible use of cheese,' Bay View district alderman Tony Zielinski told the New York Times. 'If this takes off, if this proves to be a success here, I’m sure that it will be used in cities all over the country.' Municipalities in the region are turning to alternative de-icers like cheese brine for a more earth and cost-friendly alternative to regular road salt. It also comes as a benefit for the local cheese producers who would usually have to pay exorbitant amounts to have the brines taken to local waste treatment plants. Grounded: Passengers sleep on the floor in the check-in line as dozens of flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday's ice storm, at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Monday, December 23 . Woeful weather: Travelers line up after dozens of flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday's ice storm at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Monday . Battling the snow: Shatora Thomas drags her suitcase along a snowy sidewalk in downtown Wichita, Kansas, on Monday. She was on her way to the airport to fly to Ohio to visit family for the holidays . The . eastern half of the country was getting a 'plethora of winter weather' just days before the Christmas holiday, according to the National . Weather Service. According to the AAA, as many as 95 million people will be traveling to spend the festive period with loved ones this year. Yesterday, 639 flights have been cancelled and 7,515 delayed, according to Flight Aware. Major . airports in Philadelphia and New York City were experiencing delays . Sunday because of wind and visibility, according to the Federal Aviation . Administration. 'This storm is bringing a little bit of everything, from rain, flooding and wind, to ice and snow in some areas,' said NWS meteorologist Bruce Sullivan. 'What is really extraordinary about this system, though, is the warm air.'In Canada, more than 205 flights were cancelled at Toronto’s Pearson Airport Sunday, about 27 per cent of all flights. Most flights are delayed and many are cancelled at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.The first full day of winter Sunday brought a mix including balmy temperatures along the Mid-Atlantic, snow in the Midwest and ice, snow and flooding in the Great Lakes, and utilities warned that some people who lost electricity could remain in the dark through Wednesday. Rising tide: Westbound traffic congestion builds as floodwater begins to cross Highway 46 Monday morning in Columbus, Indiana . Weather warning: State highway department workers Jeff Stainbrook (left), and Stacy Baker put up a lane closure sign on westbound Highway 46 as floodwater encroached Monday morning in Columbus, Indiana . More than 390,000 homes and businesses were without power Monday in Michigan, upstate New York and northern New England, down from Sunday's peak of more than a half million. The bulk were in Michigan, where more than 297,000 customers remained without power Monday. The state's largest utilities said it will be days before most of those get their electricity back because of the difficulty of working around ice-broken lines.In Maine, the number of people without power spiked to more than 68,000. A medical clinic in Bangor lost power, forcing walk-in patients to seek other options.'It's certainly not going away,' Margaret Curtis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, said Monday of the precipitation and cold. 'In fact, we don't have very many areas where we're expecting temperatures to rise above freezing.'That means untreated roads and sidewalks from the upper Midwest to northern New England will remain a slippery, dangerous mess as people head out for last-minute shopping or holiday travel. Parts of interior Maine were expected to get another quarter to half-inch of ice Monday. New York: A dog waits on the sidewalk after rain on Monday following an unseasonably warm weekend . Authorities reduced the speed limit along a 107-mile stretch of the Maine Turnpike from Kittery to Augusta as freezing rain continued to fall Monday morning and temperatures hovered around freezing. Dozens of flights out of Toronto were canceled while other airports in the storm-hit region were faring well despite the weather.In Maine, Judith Martin was heading from her home in South Grafton, Massachussetts to Kingston, when she stopped at a rest area along Interstate 95 in West Gardiner. She said roads got worse the farther north she drove.'The trees are loaded with ice, so it makes me think the road is loaded with ice,' Martin said.Power failures caused related concerns. Vermont's Department of Health warned people to be careful with generators and other equipment after a weekend spike in carbon monoxide poisonings. The department had half a dozen reports in one day, about what the state sees in a typical winter.While the cold will continue to harass people, there's no major precipitation on the horizon through the end of the week, Curtis said. Let it snow: A tree is coated in ice near the corner of Fourth Street and Saginaw Streets in Flint, Michigan . 'It will give people some time to recover from this,' she said.Heavy snow in Wisconsin forced dozens of churches to cancel Sunday services. Milwaukee got about nine inches and Manitowoc, seven. Ice and snow in Oklahoma were blamed for three traffic deaths on slick roads.In New York's St Lawrence County, almost two inches of ice fell, coating tree limbs and power lines, and a state of emergency was declared to keep the roads clear of motorists. As of Monday morning, some 35,000 customers were still without power.The winter weather was far from nationwide, though. Record high temperatures were reached in some Mid-Atlantic states this weekend, but temperatures were expected to drop back to the mid-30s by Monday night. Moving on: The major storm that affected much of the U.S. over the weekend will move off of the East Coast Monday. Heavy rain will diminish over the Mid-Atlantic states throughout the day on Monday . On Sunday, the mercury reached 70 degrees in New York's Central Park, easily eclipsing the previous high of 63 from 1998. Records were also set in Wilmington, Delaware, (67), Atlantic City, New Jersey, (68), and Philadelphia (67). Washington tied its 1889 mark at 72. The weather is predicted to turn much colder across the East and Midwest in coming days, and after Monday it's likely to dry up. Most of the snow and rain will end by Monday night. The National Weather Service predicts a 'quiet weather pattern” to return by the middle of the week, but says 'it will remain quite cold across the northern tier states.' 'The country is pretty much in the clear Tuesday through Friday,' says National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Korty. 'People who are traveling shouldn't have significant issues.' | More than 300,000 in Ontario, Canada are still without power and local officials won't guarantee it will all be restored by Christmas .
639 flights were cancelled and 7,515 delayed across the country yesterday .
Flooding, tornadoes and snow are disrupting travel and causing power outages across the country .
Major airports in Philadelphia and New York City were experiencing delays Sunday because of wind and visibility .
More than 390,000 homes and businesses .
were without power Monday in Michigan, upstate New York and northern New .
England . |
255,994 | d75d2eb955cfe1eaf1ae40f9c585fa9140939a4d | (CNN) -- Authorities have shut down a Texas food processing plant, saying it was contaminated by bacteria linked to the deaths of four people, state health officials said. The Texas Department of State Health Services on Wednesday ordered Sangar Produce and Processing to immediately stop processing food and recall all products shipped from its San Antonio plant since January. This comes after state laboratory results showed Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause severe illness, in chopped celery at the plant. Four people died after contracting listeriosis after consuming celery that had been processed at the Sangar plant, said Carrie Williams, a department spokeswoman. State health authorities came to this determination while investigating 10 cases in which people with serious underlying health problems contracted listeriosis over an 8-month period. Six of those cases -- in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties -- were linked to chopped celery processed at the SanGar plant, the state health services department said. Four of those people died, as did one other person who authorities believe got listeriosis from another source not connected with Sangar products. Sangar, however, sharply questioned the state's findings and strongly denied wrongdoing, saying it has had "an excellent record of safety and health" over the past three years. Its president said outside tests "directly contradict" the state's conclusion. "The independent testing shows our produce to be absolutely safe, and we are aggressively fighting the state's erroneous findings," said Kenneth Sanquist, president of Sangar. State health inspectors said they believe the bacteria found in the chopped celery may have contaminated other products at the company's plant. Sangar processes a wide variety of products -- including three varieties of lettuce, peppers, carrots, cucumbers and various cut-up fruit, as well as salad, fruit and soup mixes, according to the company's website. They are distributed primarily in sealed packages to restaurants, hospitals, schools and other large institutions that serve food. Besides the bacteria, inspectors found a condensation leak above a food product area, dirt on a food-preparation table, and hand-washing problems at the San Antonio plant, the state health department said. The state said that it is contacting distributors, restaurants and others who may have received Sangar products. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium found in the soil, in water, and in animals that carry it without showing signs they are sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can get into vegetables from soil or manure that is used as fertilizer. The strain of bacteria is relatively resilient -- with an incubation period of three to 70 days, Williams said -- and some foods can be contaminated after cooking but prior to packaging. The bacteria have been tied to listeriosis, which sickens about 2,500 Americans and contributes to the death of 500 people annually, the CDC reports. People with weakened immune systems, including newborns and the elderly, are especially susceptible to listeriosis. Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other adults to contract the disease. In August, Sanquist told CNN affiliate KENS5 that food-safety measures were not tough enough, saying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should be more involved in inspections. At the time, the SanGar president said that his company had never had a high bacteria count or had anything recalled. "Ultimately, you can get someone very sick," Sanquist told KENS5, criticizing city health inspections as insufficient. "We're talking about fresh-cut fruits and vegetables that need to be sanitized." The Texas health department is taking the lead in the investigation, with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC. The state justified its closure of the Sangar plant, citing Texas law that authorizes such actions if conditions pose "an immediate and serious threat to human life or health." "At this point, the order prohibits the plant from reopening without our approval," said Williams. "We will work with the company about setting up some guidelines before it can [reopen]." | NEW: Four people died after eating celery processed at Sangar plant, officials say .
NEW: The company's president previously called for tougher food-safety measures .
The Sangar produce plant has been closed and all its food products recalled .
The company disputes the state's findings and insists its products are safe . |
90,836 | 00cf9de3fa1a851f0c9b8d6f7430a5072b6fa37c | By . Lucy Laing . PUBLISHED: . 12:09 EST, 1 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:08 EST, 15 November 2012 . This is the tragic family picture that they will have to remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. Sisters Ashlea, Leanne and Carys Looms all have a rare genetic disease which means they are losing their sight. It means Ashlea, 25, will no longer be able to watch her four children grow up, Leanne 24, won’t be able to see her two children, and if Carys, 22, has a baby she may never see it, as the three sisters are all going blind. As each day passes their sight deteriorates further. Ashlea and Carys already can no longer drive and they struggle to work. Family: Sisters Carys (back), Ashlea (left) and Leanne Looms who all have a rare disorder effecting their sight with Ashlea's daughters Jessica, Brooke, Gracie-May and Esme and Leanne's children Oliver and Ryley . But they are determined to watch their six children grow up for as long as they possibly can. Ashlea, who has daughters Jessica, eight, Brooke, five, Grace-May, two, and newborn Esme, said: ‘At the moment there is no cure for our condition. 'We know that one day all three of us will be blind and we make the most of each day with our children and family whilst we can. ‘We just all wish that we could have our sight back, but we know that is not going to happen. We won’t be able to see our children grow up, so we cherish every moment with them.’ Sisters: Carys, Ashlea and Leanne are intent on making the most of their sight which is deteriorating because of a rare genetic disease . Brave: Although Leanne, pictured here with her two children Oliver and Ryley, is losing her sight more slowly than her sisters she is still facing the prospect of going blind . Ashlea, who lives with partner Sean . Johnson, in Radcliffe, Manchester, was the first to be diagnosed with . the condition Stargardt Disease in December 2008, when she was pregnant . with her third daughter. She said: ‘I started having spots in front of my eyes and had bad headaches. At first I thought it was due to my pregnancy, so I wasn’t worried at first, but mum insisted that I get it checked out. ‘When I was tested at the hospital they told be that I had this disease. They told me that I could lose my sight and I was absolutely devastated. All I could think of was how I was going to look after my children. ‘I had another baby on the way too - would I ever see them grow up.’ Stargardt Disease is a hereditary eye . condition which affects the central area of the retina called the . macula. There is no cure for it. Doctors . then tested her two sisters Leanne and Carys for it. The girls also . have a sister Laura, 29, and brothers Alan and Robert, but they have a . different father so they didn’t need to be tested. Two weeks later the three sisters were given the shattering news that they all had the condition. They were going blind too. Alesha said: ‘It was devastating. We . just hugged each other and couldn’t stop crying. We were devastated that . we may not see our children grow up or get married.’ Ashlea and Carys are both now partially sighted. They can’t drive anymore, and daughter Brooke has become Ashlea’s eyes. Tragic: Ashlea with her four children, who she says have already had to learn to act as her eyes because of her sight is rapidly deteriorating . Devastated: The girl's sister Laura Hall, who doesn't suffer from the disease, says she wishes she could take on the condition to ease their suffering . Ashlea said: ‘I can’t see the television anymore, or read text messages on my phone, and when I take Brooke to school, she has to watch out and tell me if there are any steps infront of me. 'She has become my eyes for me, she watches out for me and makes sure I don’t bump into anything or fall.’ Leanne’s sight is better than her sisters, although hers has started to deteriorate too. They all wear special lenses to try and slow down the deterioration and are taking care of their health. Their elder sister Laura, a mother of three, said: ‘It is heartbreaking that all my sisters have this awful disease. ‘If I could have just one wish, it would be that they could all have their sight back. I wish I could have it for them. Not being able to do anything to help them is heartbreaking.' The sisters are making the most of the time that they have left with their sight, and are enjoying family holidays and days out. Ashlea added: ‘We want to create as many wonderful memories that we can, so we are doing as many things as a family all together that we can. ‘We don’t want to ever forget what our children look like, so we are taking as many photographs as we can too. ‘We want to make the most of every day that we have with them. A mother should be able to see her children grow up. We won’t, and its heartbreaking.’ | Sisters Ashlea, Leanne and Carys all diagnosed with Stargardt Disease, which will leave them blind . |
42,555 | 77fc6b194b1f9a350834447053fee89568722a0c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:55 EST, 29 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:41 EST, 29 August 2013 . An elderly couple who have been married for 66 years have both undergone the same life-saving surgery after learning they suffered from exactly the same heart defect. Marie Nigro, 90, and her husband Joseph, 92, from Long Island, New York, both learned they were suffering from critical aortic stenosis after they struggled to catch their breath. But after undergoing the same straight-forward operation, they are on the mend and are looking forward to celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary in November. At a press conference on Wednesday, doctors explained their condition meant their aortic valves failed to open and close properly, which increased pressure on their hearts and caused chest pains. Sharing everything: Marie Nigro, 90, and husband Joseph, 92, discovered they had the same heart defect . Due to their ages, the couple were not deemed suitable candidates for open heart surgery and underwent a much less invasive procedure, a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, ABC7 reported. The procedure involves using a catheter to guides a replacement valve . through the bloodstream to the heart, where it is expanded to enlarge the size of the opening of the old valve. Joseph underwent the operation at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in June, and a month later, his wife checked in for the same procedure. They both remained at the hospital for a couple of weeks. 'I feel great,' Joseph Nigro said. '(It) gave me new life.' Before the operation, 'when I bent over, couldn't come up, have a sigh and I just breathe heavy', he explained. His wife added: 'We're doing OK. So far, so good.' Going strong: The couple, who live in Long Island, New York, married nearly 67 years ago (pictured) Together: The couple underwent the procedures a month apart and say they both feel much better . Loved up: Marie and Joseph Nigro share a kiss as they talk about their experiences at the hospital . The couple are now looking forward to celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary in November. An old photograph shows them grinning on their wedding day - the same happy smiles they shared during a press conference at the hospital. Dr. Jacob Scheinerman explained that the condition usually affects people over 70 and symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. While more than 50 per cent of people in this age group do not live a year after developing the symptoms, he said the less invasive procedure was helping many, ABC 7 reported. 'Many of these elderly patients would . have been too sick to have open heart surgery,' he said. 'The transcatheter . approach gives them the ability to have valve replace without having a . major operation.' Procedure: They underwent the operations at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and are on the mend . See below for video . | Marie Nigro, 90, and her husband Joseph, 92, both underwent a new heart procedure within weeks of each other after suffering breathing problems .
The duo are now on the mend and looking forward to their 67th anniversary . |
103,909 | 121534767278c84736ef3642ba05adfe709ba833 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . One wrong breath - let alone move - and there would be an awful lot of sweeping up to do. This is Philip Osenton as he broke the world record for the number of wine glasses held on one hand. He went on to balance 51, far surpassing the previous record of 39. Sommelier Philip Osenton of Britain stacks wine glasses as he attempts to break the world record for the highest number held in one hand, at a hotel in Beijing . Philip, pictured, managed 45 glasses in his first attempt and then an impressive 51 in his second smashing the previous record of 39 . Philip, 43, pictured getting a helping hand from two judges as he broke the world record, learnt his art working as a sommelier at the Savoy and the Ritz in London . The 43-year-old British wine consultant, who works in Beijing, said he learnt his art when he was head sommelier at the Ritz and the Savoy in London. 'The carrying of glasses is a sommelier thing. When I was head sommelier at the Ritz hotel, I’ve had a 140-cover restaurant to set up in the morning between breakfast and lunch, so basically with two glasses per setting I had got 280 glasses to put out with a very short amount of time. 'You have a lot of pressure to get the room ready.' In his first attempt Philip managed 45 glasses in one go, but made it to 51 on a second try, stacking the glasses on their side on top of each other in his left hand. The previous record of 39 glasses was made in 2007 by a Filipino man in a Barcelona restaurant. The concentration is etched on Philip's face as he attempts to beat the world record . Philip said that the carrying of glasses is a 'sommelier thing' A photo finish for Philip as he poses with his record-breaking haul of glasses for the cameras . | Former head sommelier at the Savoy in London breaksv record set by a Filipino man back in 2007 .
He says that the carrying of glasses is a 'sommelier thing' |
211,497 | 9ddececa81dae92cb8a8f385f5fdbb6e138aa3f4 | (CNN) -- Casey Anthony, accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008, was determined competent to proceed with her capital murder trial after she was examined by three psychologists over the weekend, the judge said Monday. The psychologists' reports will be sealed, said Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. outside the presence of the jury. "Based on privileged communications between Casey Marie Anthony and her counsel, counsel reasonably believes that Ms. Anthony is not competent to aid and assist in her own defense and is incompetent to proceed," said the motion, filed by defense attorneys Saturday under seal and made public Monday. "As a result of this well-founded concern, counsel requests a full competency determination before the continuation of trial proceedings." It was implied -- but not expressly stated -- that the motion was the reason for the abrupt recess Perry called on Saturday morning. Anthony, 25, is charged with seven counts, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading police, in her daughter's death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against her. Anthony's defense team is trying to discredit the prosecution theory that the Orlando woman rendered Caylee unconscious with chloroform, duct-taped her mouth and nose, and stored the body in her car trunk for a few days before dumping it in the woods. The defense says Caylee accidentally drowned in the family pool and that Anthony and her father, George, panicked and covered it up. George Anthony has denied that theory. Anthony's defense attorneys also filed a motion Monday asking Perry to reconsider an earlier decision and declare Florida's death penalty law unconstitutional. The motion cites a June 20 decision by U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez, which found the method used to reach a death sentence in Florida is improper "because it does not require a jury to make the findings of fact necessary to impose a death sentence." Anthony's attorneys had previously filed a motion asking for the statute to be declared unconstitutional, and Perry denied it. After the Martinez decision, they are asking him to reconsider. "Because Florida's death penalty procedure is unconstitutional, the death penalty should be precluded as a potential sentence," according to the motion. In the case Martinez ruled on, Evans v. McNeil, the jury recommended a sentence of death on a 9-3 vote but did not say on which aggravating factors it based the decision. A motion to alter or amend has been filed in the case -- basically a motion asking Martinez to reconsider. Jurors heard Monday from two men who worked for Casey Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, after Caylee's disappearance on June 16, 2008. Private investigators James Hoover and Dominic Casey both said they provided security services at the Anthony home from "protesters" who would show up. Hoover said he was working as a citizen although he is a licensed private investigator. The two said they spent two days in November 2008 searching a wooded area for Caylee's body. The search site was near where the remains were found a month later. A videotape of that search was played for jurors. Casey told defense attorney Ann Finnell the search was prompted by a phone tip he received from a psychic. Both defense attorney Jose Baez and prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick accused Hoover of attempting to cash in on his association with the case by trying to sell the tape of the search, but he denied that, saying he actually thought he had taped over the search and only discovered later he had not. He did say he at one point was going to sell some photographs of the search and give the money to Casey and the Anthony family. "I didn't need it," he said. Jurors also heard from Kenneth Furton, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida International University and director emeritus of the university's International Forensic Research Institute. Furton testified that he studies chemicals emitted by both live and dead people. Chloroform can be given off in small amounts by a decomposing body. One prosecution expert, Arpad Vass of Tennessee's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, described the levels of the substance in the trunk of Anthony's white Pontiac Sunfire as "shockingly high." Several witnesses also testified for the state about odors that they said smelled like the unmistakable scent of human decomposition. Furton said there are alternative explanations for the chloroform found in the trunk, noting the compound is found in a number of household items, particularly bleach. On his cross-examination, prosecutor Jeff Ashton held up the black spare tire cover from Anthony's trunk. Furton acknowledged that if bleach had been poured directly on the carpet, the cover would have showed some evidence of that. Also, Furton said, the chemical reactions that produce chloroform also produce other substances. Testing was not done to determine whether any of those substances were present, he said -- either by him or by the Oak Ridge laboratory. Furton said there is no instrumentation that can record with scientific validity the presence or absence of human decomposition, and said his studies suggest there are chemical compounds unique to human decomposition that were not present in Vass' analysis of the air samples from the trunk. On cross-examination, however, he acknowledged that a decomposing human body would explain the presence of the compounds that Vass found, but Furton said a bag of garbage that was left in the trunk for weeks could have contributed. Before a lunch break, Furton testified that the Oak Ridge laboratory should have done a quantitative analysis to determine how much chloroform was present in the trunk in order to state its importance. Orange County Sheriff's Office Detective Yuri Melich, the lead investigator in the case, was also recalled to the stand Monday. Baez questioned Melich in an effort to cast doubt on the thoroughness of the investigation. Under questioning, Melich acknowledged that he did not subpoena George Anthony's cell tower records, showing where he was when calls were made or received. Asked whether that might have helped investigators, Melich said it would have, "if I had had a reason to believe it would play a part in this case, which at the time I did not." He said he also did not seize a computer belonging to Roy Kronk, the meter reader who discovered Caylee's remains in a wooded area near the Anthony home on December 11, 2008. Melich testified he had no reason to do so. Melich also said that cadaver dogs were not deployed on George and Cindy Anthony's cars, only on Casey Anthony's. On cross-examination, Burdick asked Melich whether anyone ever reported that either of those cars smelled like a dead body, and he said they did not. Monday marks the beginning of the sixth week of testimony in the trial, which began with opening statements on May 24. Perry originally told jurors, who are being housed in an Orlando hotel shielded from media coverage of the trial, that the trial could last six to eight weeks. On Friday -- before Saturday's delay -- Baez said he expected the defense to rest on Wednesday or possibly Thursday. That would leave room for a rebuttal case from the prosecution and closing statements before the Independence Day holiday. Saturday was planned as a full day in the trial, and it was unclear how the day's delay would affect those plans. Testimony on Monday lasted until after 7 p.m. Caylee was not reported missing to police until July 15, 2008, when Cindy Anthony, tracked down her daughter Casey and demanded answers regarding Caylee's whereabouts. Prosecution witnesses described Casey Anthony's behavior in the month after Caylee was last seen as nonchalant, testifying that she spent time with her boyfriend, went shopping and to nightclubs -- but told no one her daughter was missing. They testified they noticed no change in her demeanor. Baez said in his opening statement that Anthony behaved as she did because years of sexual abuse by her father had conditioned her to conceal the truth and hide her pain. George Anthony has denied the claims that he abused his daughter or helped conceal his granddaughter's death. In Session's Grace Wong, Jean Casarez, Jessica Thill and Michael Christian contributed to this report. Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here. | NEW: Jurors see a videotape of a November 2008 search for Caylee's remains .
The defense motion cites a June 20 ruling by a federal judge .
Three psychologists examined Anthony over the weekend at her attorneys' request .
The judge abruptly called a recess in her murder trial Saturday . |
70,728 | c87fc65a0beeae74cc0dc411c2103a52968e1374 | American gymnast Aly Raisman has revealed the music for her gold medal-winning floor routine at the London Olympics was a tribute to the victims of the 1972 Munich Games terror attack. The 18-year-old said choosing Hava Nagila- a traditional score used for wedding dances and bat mitzvah - was a response to the International Olympic Committee's failure to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. And for Aly, from Needham, Massachusetts, she said it made her gold even more special. 'I can only imagine how painful it must be for the families and close personal friends of the victims,' she said. Scroll down for video . Munich tribute: Gold medalist Aly Raisman poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the floor exercise . 'I am Jewish, that's why I wanted that floor music,' she told the New York Post. 'I wanted something the crowd could clap to, especially being here in London. 'It makes it even much more if the . audience is going through everything with you. That was really cool and . fun to hear the audience clapping.' Eleven Israeli athletes were killed during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the now infamous Palestinian terrorist attack. Only recently it has been revealed German neo-Nazis helped them. A campaign was launched by Israeli officials and the . widow of one of the victims for a minute's silence during the opening . ceremony but IOC president Jacques Rogge ruled that out. President Obama also threw his support behind the call for a commemoration of the massacre at the London . Olympics. NBC's . Bob Costas also blasted the decision, saying it was 'insensitive' and . held his own moment of silence when Israeli . athletes marched into the Olympic Stadium. Fitting: Aly said: 'That was the best floor performance I've ever done, and to do it for the Olympics is like a dream.' Aly hugs coach Mihai Brestyan after winning the gold medal for her floor exercise . (From left) Bronze medalist Russia's gymnast Aliya Mustafina, gold medalist US gymnast Aly Raisman and silver medalist Romania's gymnast Catalina Ponor after the event . Aly was shocked when the judges announced her winning score of . 15.600 points that made her the first American woman to strike gold in the Olympic floor exercise. 'That was the best floor performance I've ever done, and to do it for the Olympics is like a dream,' Aly said. Rabbi Keith Stern, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Avodah in Newton . Centre, Massachusetts, where the Raisman family are members, said: 'She is a focused person. Remember: During the 1972 Munich Games, a group of Palestinian terrorist kidnapped and killed much of the Israeli team in a highly-publicized ordeal . Terror: Eleven were killed by the Palestinian Black September group . It began on the morning of September 5, 1972, with six days left in the Games, when eight terrorists stormed the Olympic village and raided the Israeli contingent’s apartment. Two Israeli athletes were killed and nine more were seized as hostages. They demanded the release of over 200 Palestinians serving time in Israeli jails, along with two renowned German terrorists. After a day of unsuccessful negotiations, the terrorists collected the hostages and headed for the military airport in Munich for a flight back to the Middle East. At the airport, German sharpshooters opened fire, killing three of the Palestinians. A horrifying gun battle ensued, claiming the lives of all nine of the hostages and two terrorists on board a helicopter. The three surviving assassins were captured, but later released by West Germany following the hijacking a Lufthansa airliner by the Black September group. 'She's very proud and upfront . about being Jewish. Neither she nor her family explicitly sought to send . a message. But it shows how very integrated her Jewish heritage is in . everything that she does.' Rabbi Stern told the New York Post that he was also stunned by the IOC's refusal to hold a moment of silence during the event. 'I'm happy to hear any other . explanation,' he said. 'But short of some racist grudge somebody is . holding, I can't figure out why it would be a terrible thing to do.' The Rabbi said he watched the routine . and was blown away. 'I have to say, the statement just warmed me to the very depths of my being,' he said. He compared it to the iconic . black-power, raised-fist protest made by track stars John Carlos and . Tommie Smith on the medal stand at the 1968 Mexico City Games. 'They're not going to forget that,' the rabbi said. 'I certainly won't.' Eventually, a low-key tribute in front of 100 people was paid at the signing of the Olympic Truce in London's Olympic Village after the Games opened, the first time it has happened inside an athletes village. This was not the first time the IOC passed over a moment of silence. In . the 2002 Olympics held in Salt Lake City - and largely organised by . Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney - organisers marked the . 30th anniversary but did not hold a moment of silence. There was also a . separate commemoration for the victims of September 11th. Golden girls: Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas of women's Gymnastics show off their medals . During . coverage of this Olympics, U.S. broadcaster NBC has sparked anger in the host country . after cutting away from the Opening Ceremony when a tribute to the . victims of the London 7/7 bombings was shown. The station said the tribute to the devastating attack - which killed 52 people and left many with life-changing injuries - 'wasn't tailored to a U.S. audience'. It showed an interview with swimmer Michael Phelps instead. Watch the video here: . | Aly, from Massachusetts, she said it made her gold even more special .
She performed to Hava Nagila, a traditional Jewish score used for weddings and bat mitzvah . |
77,812 | dc9e61006c1e5689d6f8c99ef2703ac49659e308 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 06:59 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:17 EST, 30 November 2013 . A cow was last night said to be recovering in a field after a chair-raising ordeal that saw its head get stuck in a plastic seat. RSPCA workers rushed to the scene, in Appin, southwest of Sydney, after a farmer spotted the stricken beast blinking gormlessly with the piece of garden furniture locked around its neck. The more it tried to free itself from the chair's clutches, the more trapped it became. Scroll down for video . Chair-raising: RSPCA workers rushed to the scene, in Appin, southwest of Sydney, after a farmer spotted the stricken beast blinking gormlessly with the piece of garden furniture locked around its neck . Struggle: The more it tried to free itself from the chair's clutches, the more trapped it became . Worn out: Finally, worn out and dehydrated, the animal gave up and waited for help in the shade of a tree. Some of its bovine field-mates even . tried to nuzzle the seat away with their noses but their sympathetic . efforts were to no avail. In the end, worn out and dehydrated, the animal gave up and waited for help in the shade of a tree. The RSPCA New South Wales Inspectors tranquilised the cow before moving in to delicately remove the piece of furniture from around her neck. 'We're not sure how the cow came to be imprisoned by the plastic chair, but left unattended she would have become severely dehydrated,' RSPCA NSW Inspector Aaron Purcell said. Careful: The RSPCA NSW Inspectors tranquilised the cow before moving in to delicately remove the piece of furniture from around her neck . Mystery: It is unclear how the cow got itself stuck in the chair . Free at last: The cow looked a little dazed following the removal but RSPCA officers said they expected it to make a full recovery . 'Other members of the herd were also visibly distressed by the cow's . predicament with several of them trying to remove the chair with their . noses,' Purcell added. The cow looked a little dazed following the removal but RSPCA officers said they expected it to make a full recovery . This is the second incident in which RSPCA NSW Inspectors were required to remove an item from the head of a cow. In June this year, inspectors had to free a cow from a fibreglass toilet on a property in Bringelly. 'We'd like to take this opportunity to remind residents on, or near rural properties, to take care with the disposal of household items as they can become hazardous to livestock and pets,' Purcell concluded. | The cow got its head stuck in the seat in a field in near Sydney, Australia .
RSPCA officers rushed to the scene after a farmer spotted a cow in trouble .
Other cows even tried to help their friend remove the chair with their noses .
Finally RSPCA officers removed the chair and said cow would recover . |
233,454 | ba355bd2f4d3b4abf9381dd26b1e78e254c89027 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- Ten members of an international smuggling ring have been arrested and charged with paying more than $500,000 in bribes to smuggle millions of dollars in fake designer goods from China to the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Authorities say a sting targeted a smuggling ring pushing counterfeit goods through a New Jersey port. The defendants were expected to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas. The counterfeit goods included designer jeans, Nike shoes, Burberry and Chanel handbags, and Polo and Baby Phat clothing, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. The estimated value of the genuine versions of the goods would be more than $200 million, prompting U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia to describe the case as "one of the largest counterfeit smuggling cases ever brought in United States history." The suspects arrested Wednesday are accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle scores of 40-foot-long shipping containers through the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in Elizabeth, New Jersey, since June 2006. The Chinese-made knockoffs were placed in containers with false bills of lading, which are the shipping documents used to determine a cargo's point of origin and destination. "One bill of lading claimed a container held 'noodles,' when in fact it contained counterfeit Nike sneakers," the news release said. After the bogus goods cleared inspection at the New Jersey port, they were transported to New York-area warehouses, where they awaited distribution to retail customers. According to the news release, the bribes were paid directly to an undercover agent whose "near-daily" conversations with the suspects were secretly recorded or monitored. The undercover agent posed as a "corrupt longshoreman's union official, stationed at Port Newark, who had the ability to clear imported cargo through the United States customs and border security measures without detection or seizure," the news release said. The 10 suspects are charged with conspiring to smuggle goods into the U.S., smuggling goods into the U.S. and trafficking in counterfeit goods, the news release states. If convicted, they face up to 35 years in prison, at least $2.5 million in fines and an obligation to pay restitution to the manufacturers of the genuine versions of the goods. Among those arrested in the sting were Robin Huff, 46, of New York, a federally licensed customs broker who is accused of using a Customs and Border Patrol database to help push goods through the port. Also arrested were Chi On Wong, 36, and Man Wai Cheng, 34, both of New York, who operated a Brooklyn-based trucking company, KT Express Inc. Authorities allege Wong and Cheng charged smugglers a premium to transport goods around the New York area. On Wednesday, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents raided a house in Brooklyn used as KT Express' base of operations and three other locations. Federal agents seized $80,000 in cash and two KT Express trucks allegedly used in the operation, the news release said. Also arrested Wednesday were: . • Grace Quezon, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who is alleged to have paid at least $400,000 to the undercover agent. She also is accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle more than 25 containers of counterfeit goods. • Michael Chu, 70, of New York, who is accused of paying more than $100,000 to the undercover agent and smuggling more than 20 containers through the port. • Hsi Feng Li, 61, of New York, aka "the General," who is accused of telling the federal agent he could send the agent 50 containers of bogus goods a month. • Yee Khiong Ting, 44, of New York, who is accused of coordinating shipments, paying bribes to the federal agent and selling the goods once they cleared customs. • Troy King, 37, of New York, who allegedly worked with Chu and Quezon, and whom authorities accuse of arranging payments and overseeing operations. • Wing Ki Lee, 36, of Jersey City, who is accused of working with King to smuggle containers into the U.S. on behalf of a Chinese manufacturer who was a primary supplier of the counterfeit merchandise. • Dick Ong, 57, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, who is accused of tracking containers, arranging pickups and monitoring the status of containers that moved through the New Jersey port. E-mail to a friend . | Officials say the original versions of the goods are worth more than $200 million .
News release: One container said it was carrying "noodles" instead of fake Nikes .
Feds: An undercover agent posed as a "corrupt longshoreman's union official"
Suspects include New York customs broker and trucking company operators . |
247,869 | ccc2b5c8f53847c876df383f714b02097f70162c | (CNN) -- An attorney representing the family of a 7-year-old girl shot to death Sunday in a police raid is accusing the Detroit Police Department of misrepresenting the incident. In an interview with CNN affiliate WDIV on Monday, Michigan attorney Geoffrey Fieger said he obtained video footage of the incident captured by a crew filming for the A&E network show, "The First 48." Fieger, who didn't say how he received the tape, said it shows officers rushing the home and throwing a flash grenade through a window before one officer fires into the home from the front porch. However, according to Assistant Police Chief Ralph Godbee, preliminary information indicates that members of the Detroit Police Special Response Team approached the house and announced themselves as police. Godbee cited the officers involved and at least one independent witness. Godbee said officers used a "flash bang" device, entered the home and encountered a 46-year-old female inside the front room. "Exactly what happened next is a matter still under investigation, but it appears the officer and the woman had some level of physical contact," Godbee said in a statement Sunday. "At about this time, the officer's weapon discharged one round which, tragically, struck 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley Jones in the neck/head area." Police were executing a search warrant in the search for the suspect in a shooting Friday that killed a high school student. Godbee said the 34-year-old suspect was found and arrested at the home where the girl was shot. In addition, a vehicle and a moped matching the descriptions of those involved in the shooting of 17-year-old Jarean Blake were also found, he said. Fieger called the explanation from police "entirely false." "Of course, I have seen the videotape and the videotape vividly portrays the fact that a percussion grenade device was thrown through the front window and a shot was fired immediately from the outside from the porch," he said. "No murder suspect was found in Aiyana's house," Fieger said in Monday's interview. "In fact, there's an upstairs apartment next door which the police did not have a search warrant for and that is where he surrendered, they went into that house too. But he was not in Aiyana's house." Aiyana's father, Charles Jones, also has denied that the suspect was in his home. Detroit police spokesman Phillip Cook told reporters Monday that he was not aware of the video and declined to comment. The investigation, he said, has been taken over by state police to preserve the "community's trust." A source at A&E, who asked not to be identified citing company policy, confirmed that a crew was on the scene and that the footage was confiscated by police. He would not comment on what the crew had captured on video. Another police spokesman said the department would not identify the suspect in Blake's shooting death until he has been formally charged by prosecutors. The suspect remains in custody. Godbee, in his statement Sunday, said he wished to "express to the family of Aiyana Jones the profound sorrow that we feel within the Detroit Police Department and throughout this community. We know that no words can do anything to take away the pain you are feeling at this time." Police obtained the "high-risk search warrant" based on intelligence, and it was approved by the prosecutor and a magistrate, Godbee said. "Because of the ruthless and violent nature of the suspect in this case, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of public safety to execute the search warrant as soon as possible and detain the suspect ... while we sought a murder warrant." | Attorney for family of girl killed in police raid says he has video footage of raid .
Crew from A&E network was filming for "The First 48," lawyer says .
7-year-old Aiyana Stanley Jones died from bullet wound during the raid .
Police say officer's weapon fired after an encounter with an adult in the house . |
278,083 | f44144db51a2ce439ca967f42250ae2116ecb402 | By . Annabel Fenwick Elliott . Legendary Fifties siren Shirely MacLaine has listed her sprawling, 7,450-acre New Mexico ranch for sale at $18m. Her reasoning for the price? Because one plus eight equals nine. And the number nine is significant according to her 'numerology' beliefs, which are based on the 'vibration and meaning' of figures. 'Nine is the number of completion,' says the 79-year-old Oscar-winning actress, who is famed for her kooky new-age spiritual beliefs. 'To me, it's not about money, it's about completion.' Unorthodox pricing: Actress Shirely MacLaine has listed her 7,450-acre ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, for $18m, based on the principle that one plus eight equals nine, and nine is the 'number of completion' According to the Wall Street Journal, Ms MacLaine originally consulted a number of psychics, who advised her to list the property for a cool $30 million, but the headstrong screen legend ultimately settled on her own logic. 'If it works for Shirley, it works for us,' says her realtor, Susan Kline of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Santa Fe office. The beautiful landscape holds a roughly 9,000 square-foot main house and comes with a caretaker's cottage, a horse barn, a yurt, a swimming pool and two ponds. Ms McLaine . says the moment she set foot on the property, some 20 years ago, she . was struck by its energy. Indeed, on a 2011 Oprah show appearance, she spoke freely of the 'numerous' UFO encounters she and a neighbor had witnessed for 'extended periods of time.' Fully equipped: The property boasts a 9,000-square-foot home with a horse barn, swimming pool, two ponds and a stone labyrinth atop a hill which Ms MacLaine says helps her listen to her 'inner guidance' As you'd expect from a woman who takes an active interest in transcendental meditation, metaphysics, reincarnation and extra-terrestrial activity; the elaborate home comes with some rather otherworldly features. The Plaza Blanca Ranch, as it's known, 'insists on peace,' says Ms MacLaine, and boasts a stone labyrinth, built atop a hill, which she claims helps her listen to her 'inner guidance.' 'When I . was writing or when I had decisions to make or had something bothering . me, or when I wanted to thank the universe for something, I would go up . and walk the labyrinth,' she affirms. After purchasing the property, Ms MacLaine split the main house into two, and says that whenever she hosted 'reincarnation seminars', participants were regulated to only one side. Kooky beliefs: The Oscar-winning legend, pictured in Los Angeles in January, told Oprah in a 2011 interview that she had regularly witnessed UFO's at her ranch, where she has lived for 20 years . She also built an apartment underneath the house, modeled after the Native American concept of Kiva, which functions as an underground room for spiritual ceremonies. Film buffs will be interested to know that her dining room holds the large table which appeared in the film Terms of Endearment, for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1984. 'It was such a difficult shoot - I said, "I'm taking it!"' she allegedly told the production crew. As for Ms MacLaine's unorthodox pricing methods, MailOnline spoke to Brendon DeSimone, a national real estate expert, CEO of DeSimone & Co, and author of upcoming book Next Generation Real Estate. The glory days: Ms MacLaine, pictured in 1955, is leaving her secluded ranch and moving closer to Santa Fe, to avoid becoming a 'recluse' Ms DeSimone explains that while he can't comment on 'how far off' the listing price might be, his is an industry where anything goes. 'People can price at whatever they want,' he says, adding that celebrity-owned properties with stories behind them have a tendency to 'push people over the edge' in terms of closing a sale. It's a statement echoed by New York-state based broker Harris Safier, who once sold a house that reputedly belonged to Isabella Rosellini. Despite his market value estimation, the buyer chose to pay five per cent over Mr Safier's highest suggested price range. 'They did it for the cache they perceived,' he tells us. At the end of the day, despite Ms MacLaine's deep spiritual ties to the place she has called home for 20 years, she says she is moving closer to New Mexico's capital, Santa Fe, for somewhat materialistic reasons. 'I want to go to the movies, good restaurants,' she says. 'I really need to be closer, or I would tend to become a complete recluse out there.' | The Oscar-winning actress was advised by psychics to list the 7,450 acre property for $30m, but ultimately followed her 'numerology' principles instead .
Renowned new-age spiritualist claims to have spotted UFO's at the home and has hosted 'reincarnation seminars' |
79,041 | e0067b5ef44adcc6dde4de049393470ea7d0a73c | Blacksburg,Va. (CNN) -- When it comes to recruiting, Virginia Tech's athletics department is taking an "if we build it, they will come" approach, with plans to construct a new $20 million indoor practice facility for its football and other sports teams near Lane Stadium on the university campus. The Hokies have the third-longest college bowl game streak in the country, and have sold out every game since 1998. However, they have yet to win a national championship. The athletics department hopes a state-of-the-art facility nearer to the football stadium could help change that. There's only one problem: A densely wooded area chock full of old-growth trees, some older than the United States itself, is in the way. Blueprint plans that have been in the works for over a decade would require chopping down at least 60 trees over the age of 150. Six of the trees have been found to be more than 300 years old. A group called Friends of Stadium Woods and Virginia Tech professor John Seiler are determined not to let those trees come down. Seiler, a professor of forest biology and a tree physiology specialist, has dedicated his entire career to the university and often takes his students into these 11 acres of woods to teach. So when he was told by university administration officials that they believed no tree in the woods was more than 80 years old and the new facility site was a "done deal," Seiler decided to do something about it. In January, he bought a large increment borer -- a tool used to extract a section of wood from a living tree used to determine its age -- and took a walk into the familiar woods. After testing a few trees, he discovered something amazing. "This was like catching a big fish for me," he said, pointing to a small slice of wood in his office. "That wood was formed from carbon dioxide in the air, turned into wood by photosynthesis, in 1697." Seiler believes the forest is a national treasure and should be saved. "The forest is in fact an endangered species in the United States. It's literally the rarest type of forest structure left in the United States." Armed with the tree-testing evidence, Seiler hoped the discussion would end right then and there, that the athletics department would consider building at another location. Instead, they pushed back, insisting on moving forward on the original plans. Virginia Tech President Dr. Charles W. Steger in January appointed an ad hoc committee to hear the arguments and make a recommendation on whether the facility should be built as planned or at at alternate location. Steger took his own walk through the woods but confessed he couldn't tell the significance or the age of the trees. "I'm not qualified to judge. ... I can't tell the age of a tree. I forget my own birthday on occasion," the president joked. "So, we'll see what the report has to say and at the end of the day we'll do the right thing." The committee has been holding closed-door sessions for months now. John Randolph, a professor of urban affairs and planning, chairs the committee and acknowledges the school faces a "conflict of value." "We're a big-time football school and a lot of people care about that," Randolph said. "We are also a green university. We're (among) Princeton Review's 'Top 16 Green Universities' and we're a Tree Campus USA designee." The committee surveyed faculty members and staff on campus and found most were in favor of saving the trees. The sentiment for preserving the woods is "pretty clear and pretty overwhelming," Randolph said. "Very few have indicated that athletics should probably decide where this should go." Still, committee members have continued to meet to balance that perceived majority opinion with the importance of the new facility. "Success begets success. Fundraising, new facilities and trying to be competitive in a very competitive football environment -- an indoor practice facility is kind of a key part of that element," Randolph said. "A lot of the big schools are adding them." According to George Schroeder, college football contributor for Sports Illustrated, close-by practice facilities are essential to college athletics programs' recruiting. "A lot of other programs have smaller, convenient, localized facilities. If you can stick it closer it helps recruiting," Schroeder said. "But the buzzword is efficiency. It's the idea of let's have everything in a central location and try to squeeze the most into their day." Seiler said he and other advocates for the forest "are not against this facility at all. We're simply saying you need to put it in the alternate location, which doesn't have to cut a single tree." He was referring to a suggested spot, right next to the woods, that is currently occupied by tennis courts, but not all students like that idea. "You use the tennis courts a lot more than I see people using the trees and hanging around the trees," recent Tech graduate Alex Foldenauer said. A less preferable alternative would be the area where a large parking lot is currently situated, but the campus has a critical need for parking and the space is already set aside for a future parking garage, said Randolph, the committee chairman. Randolph said the opposing sides might "have to give a little on the edges, but if their core values can be represented, that's the idea." With signs urging "Save Stadium Woods" placed in yards throughout Blacksburg, and an online petition signed by more than 9,000 people across the country, Seiler and members of Friends of Stadium Woods hope public sentiment will sway the committee. But they are also preparing for the chance that the committee recommends building at the stadium woods location and are willing to go to extreme lengths if they have to. "There will be things that we can do if they decide to site it in the woods," Rebekah Paulson, executive director of Friends of Stadium Woods says. "Like chaining people to trees and putting people up in the trees." Seiler noted that the committee recommendation is not binding. "The administration can make a different decision and the board of visitors will have the final say," he said. The committee plans to deliver their final report to university Vice President Sherwood Wilson by Friday. Wilson will then prepare his recommendations to Steger, and the university's Board of Visitors will be briefed by Randolph on Monday. | Virginia Tech wants to build a new, $20 million indoor sports facility .
Many old-growth trees near Lane Stadium would have to come down .
A professor is leading efforts to block construction at the planned site .
Two suggested alternate locations aren't popular choices, either . |
260,745 | ddab6d1cdf46df2e9cc11c241b1bb21d60734a72 | By . Leon Watson . UPDATED: . 04:05 EST, 10 January 2012 . A landlord and the woman . 22 years his senior he married to dodge immigration laws were jailed for . a total of six years for running a sham marriage business. Four suitors facing deportation paid Mohammed Tanin, 26, £2,200 each to jet in prospective wives from Portugal. Within a week of their arrival on June 30, 2010, each of the women had applied to the Home Office for permission to marry. Mohammed Tanin and Maria Marques have been found guilty of their part in a visa scam . As European Union citizens, their . automatic right to remain in the UK would also have applied to their . husbands, who were all on student visas, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Tanin's wife, Portugese citizen Maria Marques, 47, told the grooms 'they can cook, they can clean and they can marry you'. The couple's marriage at Bow, East . London, on November 24, 2009, was also a sham to keep Tanin in the . country after his student visa expired. The Bangladeshi landlord, who owned several . properties in the Poplar area of east London, set up similar schemes for . his Bangladeshi tenants. He also offered to sort out a marriage for Omar Hossain, a work colleague in the catering department at London Zoo. Tanin and Marques denied entering into . a sham marriage and conspiring to arrange four more, but were found . guilty of all charges by unanimous verdicts after a trial last month. Tanin was jailed yesterday for four years and Marques for two years for their parts in the conspiracy. Maria Marques helped bring in the 'brides' from her native Portugal . Sham brides Tama Perpetuo, 24, and Ana . Cunha, 22, who pleaded guilty, were each given 14 day jail terms after . their potential husbands were let off with cautions. Passing sentence, Judge Inigo Bing described the scam as 'fraudulent exploitation of an immigration rule.' He said: 'Every national government has a duty to protect its borders and to control the number of people entering the country. 'In the UK these functions are . exercised in a lawful and transparent way through the Immigration Act . and enforced by the UK Border Agency. 'UK citizens expect those laws are . enforced because confidence in our system of border control is sapped if . it is perceived that foreigners are living here who have not been . permitted to do so. 'An organised conspiracy to breach that law is therefore a serious offence. 'You established a relationship of . some power in respect of some Bangladeshi students and then use that . power to persuade them to begin proceedings to enter into a sham . marriage. 'Such a scheme could not take place without brides and that's where Ms Marques enters the case.' The court heard Perpetuo was heavily pregnant at the time of the marriage application. Giving evidence, Mr Hossain said Tanin had 'tricked' him into paying £2,200 to marry a stranger. He claimed the landlord had borrowed . the cash for a 'business' venture but refused to give it back, instead . offering him one of four women he had flown to the UK to be contract . brides. Mr Hossain, who was facing deportation, applied to marry Maria De Matos just one week after meeting her in June 2010. He filled out a Certificate of . Approval for Marriage application under Tanin's supervision, claiming De . Matos had lived in the country for more than a year. By marrying women from Portugal, whose capital Lisbon is pictured, the men would automatically be allowed to stay in the country . When the Home Office asked for more information, he claimed to have met her in a Central London pub six months previously. Mr Hossain said: 'Tanin said he was . not going to return my money. He said I could take a chance and use my . opportunity to get married to one of these ladies and that way he . wouldn't have to pay me back. 'At that point I realised - he's quite business-minded - it had all been a trick to sell his product.' After their arrival at London Luton . Airport on an Easyjet flight, the brides were all taken to Tanin's . then-home address at East India Dock Road, Poplar. Two of them moved in with their would-be husbands straight away, while the other two stayed with Tanin. But when they applied for their . Certificates of Approval for Marriage, three of them on the same day, . all four were rejected after border officials became suspicious. Michael House, defending Tanin, said: . 'If the scheme had succeeded, the consequence would have been that four . industrious and hard-working young men would have been entitled to stay . in the country. 'Whether that would have been a benefit or a detriment to the country is really an open question. 'Immigration is a very delicate and . controversial subject. A degree of hysteria is sometimes generated, . which can transfer itself into government policy and government . legislation.' Mohammed Tanin, of Willis Street, . Poplar, and Maria Marques, of East India Dock Rd, Poplar, had denied . entering into a sham marriage. They also denied conspiring to arrange . sham marriages between Tama Perpetua, Ana Cunha, Zahirul Islam, Maria . Do Rosario Fonesca and Robiul Amin Johami, Ana Cunha and Khaled Hossain . and Maria de Fatima Ferreira Cabos de Matos and Omar Hossain. The applications for marriage were made in July 2010. Perpetua, of Lodore Street, Poplar, and Cunha, of the same address, admitted conspiracy to arrange their own sham marriages. Atiq Haque, of the specialist crime . directorate, said: 'I think we're impressed with the result and it goes . to show that if people choose to embark on this journey, the . Metropolitan Police will bring them to justice. 'These people exploit the system that's in place and make it more difficult for genuine applicants to stay. 'They put extra pressure on the UK Border Agency by creating extra cases for them to look into.' | Mohammed Tanin and Maria Marques had themselves married as part of visa scam .
They flew in four women from Portugal to marry men who were in UK on student visas .
Men paid £2,200 each for their 'brides' |
94,591 | 058f98831c7f6d6f2c16f0d4c347a7398472f928 | An Argentinian court Thursday found two former dictators guilty of stealing dozens of babies during the country's dirty war. Jorge Rafael Videla, who ruled as a dictator between 1976 to 1981, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Gen. Reynaldo Benito Bignone, who ruled the country from June 1982 until the nation's return to democracy in December 1983, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. They were the two most high-profile defendants found guilty Thursday of systematically stealing babies from political prisoners and giving them new identities. Baby-stealing trial in Argentina . "It was the worst, the most perverse of the dictatorship, I think, what they did with us," said Francisco Madariaga Quintela, 35, one of the stolen babies who was reunited with his father in 2010. "It was a torture prolonged through time, for the grandmothers searching, for family members, everyone." Observers packed the courtroom Thursday and cheered when a judge read the verdict for Videla. Afterward, outside the courthouse, family members of the disappeared told CNN affiliate Canal 7 that they were satisfied with the verdict. "It was what we were asking for. We never asked for revenge. We never hated. We never asked for anything more than justice, and we have been fighting for 36 years," one father said. The dictators and their officers were on trial for being the "presumed authors of the crimes of theft, retention and hiding of minors, as well as replacing their identities," according to a statement from the country's judiciary. Specifically, they were tried for the stealing of 34 babies from their parents, the court said. During the trial, Videla said children may have been kidnapped, but he said that there was no order or systematic plan. Videla, who was among the coup leaders who overthrew then-President Isabel Martinez de Peron in March 1976, was previously convicted in 2010 of human rights abuses during his rule and is currently serving a life sentence in prison. Former dictator sentenced to life . Bignone was sentenced in 2009 to 25 years in prison for kidnapping and torturing 56 people. The accusations stem from the country's "Dirty War" from 1976 to 1983. During those years of military dictatorship, up to 30,000 students, labor leaders, intellectuals and leftists disappeared or were held in secret jails and torture centers. Mariana Zaffaroni Islas, who was reunited with her family in 1993, told Argentina's state-run Telam news agency that the verdict was significant for all Argentinians. "For any citizen who lives in a country where actions like this do not remain unpunished with the passage of time, it represents a guarantee that justice is done," she said. | The crimes were "the most perverse of the dictatorship," one victim says .
Court: Jorge Rafael Videla and Reynaldo Benito Bignone are guilty of baby thefts .
They were found guilty of stealing babies from political prisoners .
They were both one-time dictators of Argentina . |
224,225 | ae5605b9d2916a99ab235fd0f087e9872e88ac86 | By . Aap . An investigation into a shoplifting spree in the NSW Illawarra region has taken a twist and led to the arrest of a modern-day Fagin. A 33-year-old woman will face court in August after she allegedly recruited children to commit shoplifting offences in the Lake Illawarra area over the past month. This is similar to the story of Fagin - a fictional character in the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist - who is described as a 'receiver of stolen goods' and mentors children to become criminals. A 33-year-old woman was allegedly recruiting children to shoplift, similar to Fagin - depicted here by Alec Guinness in 1948's Oliver Twist - who mentored kids into criminals . Police searched her home on Tuesday, where they allegedly found stolen goods as well as cannabis and a set of nunchuks. A 14-year-old boy was also arrested at another house at Barrack Heights. The woman was charged with six counts of larceny, four counts of recruiting a child to take part in criminal activity, offensive conduct and for stealing goods. She has been granted condition bail to appear at Port Kembla Local Court on August 6. The boy has been charged with six offences including larceny. He was refused bail, to appear in children's court on Thursday. The offences took place over the past month in the Lake Illawarra area in NSW's south . | The 33-year-old will appear in court for offences in the Lake Illawarra area .
She was allegedly recruiting children to steal over the past month .
Similar to the character of Fagin in Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist .
Stolen goods were found in her home on Tuesday, including nunchuks . |
202,067 | 91984af7db245328ccf6963aaaa34407ecd64daf | When Atlanta immigration attorney Stacy Ehrisman-Mickle filed a request last month to delay a hearing that fell during her six-week maternity leave, she was certain the judge would grant it without hesitation, but she was in for a shocking surprise. Earlier this month, Ehrisman-Mickle received an official letter form Judge J. Dan Pelletier Sr informing her that her adjournment request had been denied on the grounds that a maternity leave was not a good enough reason to postpone the hearing. With her truck driver husband working out of state and no nanny on hand, Mrs Ehrisman-Mickle was left with little choice but to strap her four-week-old baby daughter to her chest and trudge off to court. Day in court: In this October 7 photo released by Stacy Ehrisman-Mickle, the immigrant lawyer with her 4-week-old daughter, whom she was forced to bring to court after a judge denied her request to delay a hearing that fell during her maternity leave . Rejected: In the order denying the lawyer's request (pictured), Judge J. Dan Pelletier wrote: 'No good cause. Hearing date set prior to counsel accepting representation' But Ehrisman-Mickle said when she appeared before Judge Pelletier, he scolded her in front of a packed courtroom and questioned her parenting skills. Reached by phone Thursday, Pelletier said immigration judges can't make public comment and referred questions to the public affairs office of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the branch of the Department of Justice that oversees immigration courts. That office said in an email it couldn't comment on the judge's action and that a complaint had been filed and was being processed. Ehrisman-Mickle's clients came to her in early July for a consultation, but they couldn't afford to hire her right away, she said. They went to their first immigration court hearing on September 2 without a lawyer and then came to Ehrisman-Mickle's office with their mother four days later to hire her. Ehrisman-Mickle told them she would take their case but that their next hearing on October 7 fell during her maternity leave. Attorney at law: Ehrisman-Mickle took on a new case in September and filed a motion to delay a hearing scheduled for October 7 because it fell during her scheduled six-week maternity leave . Shocker: The lawyer was certain the judge would sign off on the delay and was stunned to receive a rejection letter just days before her hearing . She told them she'd have to file a motion to delay the hearing but that it shouldn't be a problem because two other immigration judges had already granted similar motions based on letters from her doctor, she said. She filed the motion September 8 and it was received by the court the following day, she said. Pelletier ruled on the motion October 2 and Ehrisman-Mickle's office received the decision the following day, the Friday before the Tuesday hearing, she said. In the order denying her request, Pelletier wrote: 'No good cause. Hearing date set prior to counsel accepting representation.' At home in bed, Ehrisman-Mickle was shocked when her secretary called to tell her the motion had been denied. Her husband, a retired US Marine working as a truck driver, was not home, her 4-week-old daughter was too young for day care and she has no family in Georgia, she said. 'I was in a state of panic. I didn't know what to do with my baby,' she told The Associated Press on Thursday. New parents: Ehrisman-Mickle said her husband, a retired US Marine (pictured here on their wedding day) working as a truck driver, was out of state and could not watch their baby during her court appearance . Humiliated: The new mother, pictured on her wedding day, said the judge questioned her parenting skills for exposing her newborn baby to germs in a packed courtroom . She called her daughter's pediatrician to ask if it would be safe to bring the baby with her to court. The doctor told her it would be OK as long as she kept the infant in a carrier on her chest facing her body and didn't let anyone touch the baby. During the hearing, her infant began to cry, and Judge Pelletier scolded her for inappropriate behavior and commented that her pediatrician must be appalled that she was exposing the baby to so many germs in court, she said. 'I was embarrassed. I felt humiliated,' she said. Another lawyer who was present in the courtroom confirmed the details of Ehrisman-Mickle's story. He asked that his name not be used because he doesn't want the judge to retaliate against his clients. Pelletier finally agreed to delay the hearing until after Ehrisman-Mickle is cleared by her doctor to return to work, she said. Lawyer strikes back: Ehrisman-Mickle filed a complaint against Judge Pelletier, accusing him of discrimination . Ehrisman-Mickle said she filed a formal complaint against Pelletier the same day as the hearing. An investigating judge called to get her side of the story after the complaint was filed but she hasn't heard anything further, she said. 'He questioned the fact that day care centers do not accept infants less than 6 weeks of age,' the attorney wrote in her complaint, cited by the blog Above the Law. 'He then questioned my mothering skills as he commented how my pediatrician must be appalled that I am exposing my daughter to so many germs in court. He humiliated me in open court.' Ehrisman-Mickle went on to accuse the judge of discriminating against her due to her 'condition,' calling such thinking 'absolutely reprehensible.' 'I am horrified that this occurred and that I had to bring my infant to court with me,' she stated, adding that child birth 'is not a minor inconvenience.' 'Furthermore, I am a qualified, experienced and ethical attorney that should not have to stop practicing law upon becoming pregnant to accommodate the backward thinking of certain judges,' the attorney concluded. Georgia State University College of Law associate professor Tanya Washington said it was reasonable of Ehrisman-Mickle to believe the judge would delay the hearing to accommodate her maternity leave. Furthermore, Ehrisman-Mickle demonstrated a real commitment to her clients by showing up with her baby, Washington said. 'I think the judge yelling at her for being unprofessional by appearing with her child is unreasonable, insensitive and unprofessional,' Washington said. | Atlanta immigration attorney Stacy Ehrisman-Mickle was forced to bring her 4-week-old daughter to court October 7 .
Judge J. Dan Pelletier Sr rejected her request to delay a hearing writing that maternity leave was not a good enough reason .
Ehrisman-Mickle filed a complaint claiming the judge scolded her when her baby started crying and chastised her for exposing the child to germs . |
110,915 | 1b059e50ac7e115efbd64fc2db8ea862e8166607 | They always say hemlines rise with the stock market, so the return of the short skirt on the High Street, the catwalk and celebrities everywhere must be a cracking good sign for the economy. A good thing, too: they’re fun, fashionable and feminine. The only thing is that dealing with a deficit of skirt fabric is no easy matter — especially when, like me, you’re over 40 and a mum of three. There’s the key ‘how short is too short?’ question (depends on height and leg shape) and the issues of cut, colour and fabric. Of course, the dangers are manifold. You definitely don’t want to go so short that you become a ‘1661’ (those who look 16 from the back, but 61 from the front) or become a walking advertisement for your mid-life crisis. Here, we pick from the crop of High Street offerings to see which are short and sweet — and which should be given short shrift. Scroll down for video . LOVELY LEATHER . Leather skirt, £153, tedbaker.com . Shirt, £54.95, massimodutti.com . Black courts, £65, dunelondon.com . I thought leather and short would turn a mid-life crisis into a catastrophe. But as the colour is discreet and the cut is a subtle flare rather than fitted, it’s almost dignified. It would be even more flattering with my beloved black opaque tights...4/5 . PUFFY AND DATED . LK Bennett sweater, £165, johnlewis.com . Skirt, £45, oasis-stores.com . Courts, £58, topshop.com . This ‘bell’ shape puffs out like an upside-down flower, which should make your legs look thinner. But it reminds me of the puffballs of the Eighties, which made me look like a blob. 2/5 . RED DELIGHT . Red skirt, £35, marksandspencer.com . Top, £44.95, massimodutti.com . Necklace, £80, stelladot.co.uk . Boots, £495, russellandbromley.co.uk . This skirt is well-made, with a hidden zip, two pockets and proper lining. It’s a steal at the price and you could dress it up or down. It would be hard to be negative wearing this — but don’t stand too close to a post box! 3/5 . TWEED TREAT . Jigsaw skirt, £68, johnlewis.co.uk . Burgundy blouse, £35, marksandspencer.com . Shoes, £149, reiss.com . This jewel-toned A- line skirt is a lovely cut, lined with a concealed zip. The sparkly tweediness feels a little Chanel-like. You could wear it with cashmere, or a shirt and jacket. It would do you for the office, a party or parents’ evening. Pricier than some, but worth it. My favourite. 5/5 . GOLD AWARD . Metallic skirt, £35, and beaded top, £35, marksandspencer.com . Sandals, £175, russellandbromley.co.uk . An ‘event’ skirt: a party staple that looks as if you’ve made an effort. It felt beautifully expensive: I’d never have guessed it was M&S. Just don’t wear it with any more gold because you’ll look like an oligarch’s wife. 5/5 . FLARED FUN . Grey skirt, £18, asos.com . Sweater, £95, and shoes, £159, reiss.com . This fine knit skater skirt is a flattering shape, but it has a very thin fabric with no waistband to speak of and no zip. You just pull it on like a sock. On the hanger, it looks as if it will be unforgiving, but it actually works well with a draped top, which suits me as I dislike tucking things in. The streamlined, fitted body of the skirt with a flared hem is more flattering than a full-on bell shape. 4/5 . | Shorts skirts have returned to the High Street for all to try .
But the age-old question of 'how short is too short' is a common one .
Mum of three, Catherine Ostler, has taken a selection of those on offer and put them through their paces . |
38,098 | 6bc40f4b9a5ad9b14e95ccebf2770653a3dc4199 | An 86-year-old man who suffered a bad fall was left laying on the pavement for more than an hour during a long wait for a delayed ambulance. In the latest incident to highlight the strain on ambulance and A&E services, the pensioner faced agonising delays after the accident outside a Tesco store in Chester. The trust in charge of ambulances in the area has now apologised to the man, insisting the wait was due to the 'unprecedented amount of 999 calls' it is currently receiving. Scroll down for video . A pensioner was forced to wait more than an hour in the cold after an ambulance was delayed in Chester . Witnesses say an ambulance was called at 1.46pm last Thursday after the man fell over, but a lone paramedic only arrived around 50 minutes later. The man and those helping him had to wait a further 15 minutes before an ambulance and two further paramedics eventually arrived. The injured man, who has not been named, was left with a suspected broken thigh bone after the fall, and there was further concern due him suffering from an irregular heartbeat. It was one hour and 19 minutes before he was finally put into an ambulance. It later transpired he had injured his hip, but not suffered the bone break first feared. James Westhorpe, who owns a cafe nearby, stayed at the man's side as he lay on the floor. He said: 'He was conscious but in a lot of pain and so cold being on the floor and we couldn't move him because we thought he had broken his leg.' Shopkeepers and bystanders had to wrap the man up to keep him warm as he waited for help following a fall . Mr Westhorpe's wife Sarah said the pensioner went down with 'a thud', adding that his 'teeth were chattering after a few minutes' because of the cold. The couple took the injured man's wife inside and gave her a coffee to help warm her up. Mrs Westhorpe added: 'It's not the paramedics' fault. They're working with the limited resources they've got.' Jan Stocker, manager of the Quaker Meeting House, which was hosting Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper at the time, went to assist and said she was 'shocked' at the delay. A North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has now apologised to the man for his ordeal. A spokesman said: 'We understand that waiting for an ambulance can be distressing and we are sorry for any upset caused to the patient.' The incident comes as A&E departments around the country are struggling to cope with the number of patients. Pictured: Ambulances queue outside the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff . The spokesman added: 'We received a call at 13.46 to attend to a patient outside Tesco in Chester. A paramedic-manned rapid response vehicle arrived on scene at 14.38. 'The service is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of 999 calls. Between 15 December 2014 and 15 January 2015, we answered 111,577 emergency calls, an increase of 13.2 per cent compared to the same time period last year. 'Regretfully, there was a delay with the ambulance attending to the patient due to this demand and the Trust apologises for the wait. We would encourage the patient or their family to contact us further to discuss any concerns with the service they received.' The incident comes after weeks of long delays in A&E departments around Britain, with ambulances forced to queue outside hospitals while beds are freed up and trusts declaring 'major incidents' as they desperately try to clear long backlogs. Long queues of ambulances waiting to drop off patients at under-strain A&E departments have been seen around the UK. Pictured: Ambulances wait outside Morriston Hospital in Swansea . | Shoppers rushed to aid of elderly man after he fell outside supermarket .
But they had to wait 50 minutes for a lone paramedic to arrive at scene .
Ambulance arrived after an hour and five minutes and man was treated .
He feared he had broken his thigh bone but instead had injured his hip .
Those who looked after him bemoan the strain placed on ambulance crews .
NHS Trust apologises, saying it is dealing with a huge number of calls . |
282,970 | fa8a05bf73b0bffd465618a0c968cf252de876c2 | Charlottesville's police chief said Monday that it's important not to rush the case against the man accused in the disappearance of a University of Virginia student, despite criticism of some of his decisions. About a week after Hannah Graham disappeared September 13, Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr came to the police station to ask for a lawyer. Matthew's apartment had just been searched and while not a suspect at the time, he was considered a 'person of interest.' He left the police without being charged and sped away, prompting police to issue an arrest warrant for reckless driving, authorities said. Scroll down for video . Patience: Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo (pictured addressing reporters at a briefing on October 5) says it's important not to rush the investigation into the man accused of kidnapping University of Virginia student Hannah Graham . 19-year-old Graham (left) disappeared last month and was last seen at a downtown bar with nurse's assistant Jesse Matthew (right) While Matthew was a fugitive, Virginia police added a charge of abduction with intent to defile in Graham's disappearance, and he was arrested several days later on a Texas beach. 'We caught some criticism when Mr. Matthew walked out that door on that Saturday afternoon. People couldn't understand: "How do you just let the guy walk out the door?''' Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said. 'We made a commitment to honor certain constitutional protections that people have in our criminal justice system, and as frustrating as it is, we want to be very careful to get it right, not to rush to judgment.' At a briefing earlier Monday, investigators asked people who knew Matthew, a former college football lineman and sometime cab driver, to come forward with information so that they can develop a better profile of him. As they did, about 35 people scoured an area of hundreds of square miles surrounding downtown. Matthew was arrested last month after fleeing the state of Virginia. He was found camping on a beach in Galveston, Texas. Pictured above on September 26, being escorted by federal authorities off a plane back in Virginia . Longo said in the interview that the goal of asking for more information about Matthew was to try to figure out areas he may have been familiar with as they assess where to focus their search. 'What are the places where he's most comfortable? ... If you were to take someone against their will, you're going to take them to someplace likely where you're comfortable. You're not going to go out in the dark and hope for the best,' he said. Police say forensic evidence also connects the 32-year-old Charlottesville man to the 2009 slaying of Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student. Longo says hope is fading that they will be able to find Graham alive. Pictured above at a September 24 briefing . Longo declined to discuss the evidence against Matthew or whether he might be charged in the Harrington case. Asked whether he expects to find Graham alive, Longo said: 'Every day that passes is not a good sign. Every day that passes translates more to recovery than rescue. But at the end of the day, we still have to find Hannah Graham.' He said he thinks about the case constantly. 'I lay in bed at night going over, what have we done differently, what could we do differently?' he said. | Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo has come under fire for his handling of Hannah Graham's disappearance .
A week after Hannah went missing, the main person of interest in the case presented himself to police, asked for a lawyer and then left the station .
Suspect Jesse Matthew then sped away from police surveillance and went missing for several days before he was arrested on a beach in Texas .
On Monday, Chief Longo issued a statement saying it's important not to rush the case against Matthew . |
207,985 | 9945f77e0f27767779be5211a7c65949644d5701 | (CNN) -- From the world's biggest manufacturer of mobile phone batteries to a car company with global pretensions, BYD is a Chinese company that has roared onto the international stage energized by its workaholic founder Wang Chuanfu. Building his own dreams: Wang Chuanfu has turned BYD into an international company in less than 15 years. Wang's hands-on approach to running a business with 130,000 employees -- he still eats in the company canteen and lives in a BYD-owned housing complex -- isn't too far removed from how he built the company from scratch in 1995 when he was 29 years old. Wang trained as an engineer and studied the patents of other companies' mobile phone batteries, even taking them apart to see how they were made. He raised some start-up capital from a relative to create his own mobile phone battery-making business in Shenzhen, the special economic zone just north of Hong Kong. BYD's business approach differed from the likes of Sony and Sanyo by substituting an automated system for one of China's biggest resources, physical labor. Employing thousands of people was cheaper than installing expensive robotic assembly lines, and by 2000 BYD had become the biggest mobile phone battery maker in the world. Wang bought a failing Chinese car company in 2003 to enter the automobile market, and BYD now has a number of models available in China, including a plug-hybrid car cheaper than the market-leading Toyota Prius. The success of BYD has attracted plenty of attention from industry analysts and investors from the West, including Warren Buffet. The billionaire American has invested $250 million in BYD, making even more people in the West sit up and take note of the company. Wang isn't content to just compete in the hybrid and electric car market in China; he aims to keep BYD's meteoric rise going and make it the world's biggest car maker by 2025. "It is a big ambition. In January and February 2009 China was the world's biggest automobile consuming market for those months. So based on this, China can sell more than 10 million automobiles this year. So maybe China can exceed the USA and become the biggest market in the world," Wang told CNN. BYD stands for "Build Your Dreams" and Wang is trying to fulfill the aspiration among many in China of creating a national champion; a brand with international respect and reputation of quality. Wang believes the electric car can be that product, and BYD the company to do it. "For new energy vehicles...China is on the same level or even leading other countries. In the field of new energy cars, China hopes that Chinese companies can catch up with the rest of the world and catch up with the pace," said Wang. But the term "Made in China" still has a stigma attached to it. The scandals of tainted milk and toys that had to be recalled rocked China in 2008 and diminished the reputation of Chinese products abroad. "This kind of 'Made in China' is different from other types of 'Made in China.' Our products have never been recalled, unlike many of our competitors. Judging from that, products made in China are sometimes better that those made elsewhere. As long as there are high-standards, Chinese manufacturing companies can definitely meet those standards," said Wang. China also has acute environmental problems. It is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and Wang is aware that being an entrepreneur also means having an eye on the environmental impact of his business. "As an entrepreneur, I think I have to consider both aspects. One part is the creation of a new business mode, or the revelation of new business competition. The other is that it's for social responsibility, making our Earth bluer. "Urban pollution, reliance on petroleum and emission of carbon dioxide are three problems that entrepreneurs have to consider for basic social responsibility," said Wang. | Founder of car and battery company BYD that aims to be world leader .
Wang Chuanfu started the company in 1995 when he was 29 years old .
Made mobile phone batteries then expanded into car manufacturing .
Billionaire Warren Buffet has invested $250 million in the company . |
152,920 | 51a65ec22e0481c57cab5b9c6f325c208250984f | An e-mail from a Georgia Tech fraternity member to his Phi Kappa Tau brothers came to light this week. It was about how to "succeed at parties," or more specifically "luring your rapebait." It came with repulsively detailed instructions about how to scope out a target, weaken her defenses with alcohol, grab her and -- you get the idea. You can expect well-meaning commentators and bloggers to wonder how such a horrible man could have done such a thing, much less have gotten into a good college. Others will wonder why one fraternity's culture would be so toxic. University officials will go into damage-control mode, noting how they hold students accountable for violations of policy and that they have an otherwise low rate of rape on their campus. They may say, well, this was just an e-mail. Sadly, it's all so predictable. The "rapebait" e-mail could have been sent from almost any fraternity at almost any American college or university. A study I published in 2007 with my colleagues Jerry Tatum and J.T. Newberry found that fraternity men were three times more likely to commit rape than other men on college campuses. It was the third study showing that fraternity men are three times more likely to rape. Opinion: We can counter "rapebait" culture . The definition of "success" in the e-mail sounds eerily similar to what David Lisak identifies as rape in his research on profiling "undetected rapists" -- college men who have committed rape and/or attempted rape, an average of six times each, but are never reported and never are held accountable for their crimes. What was particularly remarkable about our study is that we found that it was the fraternity experience that led men to be more likely to rape. We traced entering freshmen from the time they got to campus through their first year of college. We asked them whether they committed acts of sexual violence before they got to college (many had). We then compared the rates of sexual assault among men who joined fraternities to the rates of sexual assault among men who did not join fraternities. In 2011: Vermont fraternity chapter closed over rape survey . What we found was highly instructive. Before they got to college, fraternity men were no different from other male students. They committed the same number of incidents of sexual assaults before college. But here's the difference. Guys who joined a fraternity then committed three times as many sexual assaults as those who didn't join. It is reasonable to conclude that fraternities turn men into guys more likely to rape. Our study confirmed that fraternities provide the culture of male peer support for violence against women that permits bad attitudes to become treacherous behavior. And that should concern everyone. We need more action. Opinion: Why don't some boys see it as rape? There are a lot of us across the country who have worked for decades trying to prevent rape on college campuses. Many experience high levels of frustration at the lack of commitment on the part of colleges and universities to face the issue. Rarely does a college discuss sexual assault with its students for more than 60 minutes in an entire college career, if they do at all. There are many great approaches to prevention. In our case at One in Four, we have spent the last 20 years refining an intervention that lasts for one hour called the Men's Program. Our research, published in peer-reviewed journals, shows that when fraternity men see it, 40% fewer sexual assault incidents occur. One would think that national fraternities would embrace such an approach to educating their members. Sadly, when given numerous opportunities to do so, they prefer to pretend they aren't responsible. Though there are a few universities that are beginning to do more comprehensive prevention programming, they are the exception. We know that prevention programming can help a great deal. We just need to make it a priority. How difficult is that? | John Foubert: Georgia Tech frat member sent e-mail to brothers on "luring your rapebait"
Foubert says studies show fraternity men three times more likely to rape .
He says frat culture gives peer support for bad behavior but education would help stem it .
Foubert: Colleges must push for rape prevention programming . |
1,847 | 0554ad9869cfebadb13c78dba03919ae9c02eef6 | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Six U.S. soldiers were killed Wednesday in Iraq when a bomb exploded in a booby-trapped house while they were on patrol north of Baghdad, the military announced. U.S. soldiers conduct a house-to-house assessment mission in Baghdad on Wednesday. Four soldiers were also wounded in the attack and evacuated to a coalition forces hospital, Multi-National Corps-Iraq said. The troops were taking part in Operation Iron Harvest -- a new drive against Islamic militants in northern Iraq after a spate of attacks on local anti-insurgent groups. The operation is part of a nationwide push against jihadists loyal to al Qaeda in the provinces of Diyala, Salaheddin, Nineveh, and Tameem. "It will be a difficult fight, but we will continue to execute simultaneous operations in each one of our four provinces," said Maj. Gen. Michael Hertling, commander of U.S. troops in northern Iraq. But resistance in the "breadbasket" region in eastern Diyala so far is "less than anticipated," he said. The offensive -- which has been centered near Muqdadiya -- has left 20 to 30 suspected insurgents dead in the area around that city, Hertling said. About 24,000 U.S. troops, 50,000 Iraqi soldiers and 80,000 local police are based in the region. In addition, about 15,000 Iraqis are taking part in anti-insurgent groups known as Concerned Local Citizens or Awakening Councils. The groups will perform defensive security tasks during the operation, the U.S. military said. The new push comes just short of a year since President Bush ordered almost 30,000 additional troops to Iraq to secure Baghdad and its surrounding provinces. Al Qaeda in Iraq has been deeply rooted in Muqdadiya, about 62 miles north of Baghdad, since about 2004. Wednesday's deaths occurred in an agricultural area on the north side of the Diyala River from the city. The U.S. military has conducted operations there in the past and has frequently come under fire. One recent operation ended with several insurgents killed and a large amount of weapons and explosives seized, a military source told CNN. The bombing Wednesday was the first incident involving multiple deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq since September 10, when seven Multi-National Division-Baghdad soldiers died and 11 were injured in a vehicle accident in western Baghdad. The last attack in which so many U.S. troops died from hostile action happened May 28, when six Task Force Lightning soldiers were killed by explosions near their vehicles during operations in Diyala province. Awakening Councils . Iraq's concerned-citizens groups began forming in the country's predominantly Sunni Arab regions in late 2006, and their cooperation with U.S. forces against the jihadists has been credited with much of the decline in violence in Iraq since summer. But that cooperation has made them an increasing target for al Qaeda in Iraq, which Hertling said has launched a campaign of intimidation against the locals. Monday, five severed heads were left on a road leading to Baquba "with Arabic writing in blood on the forehead which said, 'Join the Concerned Citizens and you will end up like this,' " Hertling said. And he played video from an aerial surveillance drone that showed three people in Diyala assassinating another person -- pulling the victim from a vehicle, shooting him and leaving him in a ditch. They were eventually captured, and information was found linking them to al Qaeda in Iraq, he said. Hertling said that even though there has been a reduction in attacks across the country, there has been an increase in "high-profile, spectacular" events in his region, citing a suicide vest attack and a bridge bombing that sparked media attention and made the region look as if it were "reeling." But he said attacks like those will prove to be the jihadists' "Achilles' heel," turning the population against them and driving them toward the concerned citizens' groups. "It's sort of a reverse counterintuitive logic," Hertling said. "They are trying to intimidate people that join them by killing them, and it's causing more people to go against them." And Hertling said Nineveh -- home of the country's third-largest city, Mosul -- is an important geographic region because it borders Syria. Sunni militants long have crossed the border from Syria into Iraq to stage attacks, and Mosul's diverse, cosmopolitan population has made it an easy place for jihadist operatives to hide, he said. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: Troops were taking part in new offensive, dubbed Operation Iron Harvest .
Six soldiers die when bomb explodes in booby-trapped house .
Blast also leaves 4 U.S. soldiers wounded .
It's the first incident involving multiple deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq since September . |
96,967 | 08c7746dfb7326fd157f4f6c954e84afdcc503cd | By . Associated Press Reporter . The government wants to recoup benefits paid to the daughters of a man who was declared legally dead and then turned up alive years later. Donald Miller Jr. disappeared in the 1980s, and a death ruling in 1994 allowed his family to get Social Security benefits. When the 62-year-old Miller resurfaced around 2005 - some 25 years after his disappearance - saying he had lived in other states and then returned to Ohio, the government apparently took notice. Miller has tried unsuccessfully to 'undo' his death. Then there were three: Robin Miller, (left) pictured here not long after the disappearance of husband Donald Miller Jr. in 1980, says her family should not have to pay back the death benefits they received after he was declared legally dead . Even as he stood in court last year providing evidence of his existence, a Hancock County judge turned down a request to 'bring him back to life', citing a three-year limit for changing a death ruling. The judge did acknowledge it was problematic. Now the Social Security Administration know that Miller is alive, it wants his two daughters to return more than $47,000 to cover benefits they received as teenagers, plus interest, his ex-wife, Robin Miller, told The Courier in Findlay. Both daughters are now adults with their own families. Robin Miller has not spoken of what happened to the money. Letters about the requested repayments were sent in April, and the family was stunned, she said. 'If anybody has to pay this back, it should be him because we didn't do anything wrong,' she said. Donald Miller, of Fostoria, couldn't be reached for comment, and his attorney didn't return calls from the newspaper. Today: Robin Miller has since remarried - to a man whose surname is also Miller - and is believed to have had another child, a son . A Social Security spokesman, Doug Nguyen in Chicago, said the agency is reviewing Robin Miller's application for a waiver. Robin Miller said the family didn't defraud the government and had taken steps to find Donald Miller after he vanished, including contacting the FBI and hiring a private investigator. 'We honestly thought he was done, dead, gone and out of our lives,' she said. Miller remarried after the disappearance of her first husband and is believed to have had another child, a son. She has expressed sympathy for Donald Miller, describing him as a 'deadbeat dad' who ran away from the pressures of family and fatherhood. | Donald Miller Jr., 62, of Fostoria, Ohio, skipped out on his family in the 1980s .
He was fleeing child support payments, his family said .
In 1994 he was declared legally dead and his two daughters received $47,000 from his Social Security .
He resurfaced around 2005, saying he had been living in Florida and Georgia .
However a judge refused to undo his death, citing a three-year limit for overturning a death ruling .
But the Social Security Administration believe Miller is alive and is demanding the $47,000 be returned . |
157,561 | 57b9aedda4a3ca32c88cfcfed7173b558bb91592 | By . Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 11:18 EST, 15 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:23 EST, 16 August 2012 . When Michael Rock planted 11 fruit trees on his allotment, he hoped to make enough jam to give to his pensioner neighbours. But it turned out he was sowing the seeds of his own eviction. Mr Rock’s pear, plum, apple, cherry and apricot trees did not impress many of his 600 fellow tenants more used to growing potatoes, marrows and leeks on their prized plots. They complained to the council, leading to a new set of rules requiring that three quarters of any allotment should be used for ‘productive crops’ such as vegetables. Allotment owner Michael Rock stands on his plot of land in protest. He doesn't want to be evicted from the land he grows his 11 fruit trees . He won't budge on the allotment: Mr Rock says he will appeal the case where a judge ruled against his wishes . Mr Rock, 60, a Canadian-born author . who lives in a tower block in Hastings, refused to agree to the new . rules that would force him to plant vegetables under his trees. He said he had grown potatoes, leeks and onions in the past but had produced so many that they had gone to waste. As a result, Hastings Borough Council . attempted to evict Mr Rock from his 250-square-metre plot and he decided . to challenge the decision in court. He said: ‘The council are not playing by the rules and should be ashamed of themselves. They are acting like bullies. ‘I have invested a lot of time and money in my plot and I am not prepared to see that undone.’ At Hastings County Court, the . barrister for the council, Jack Anderson, said: ‘I suggest there is . ample space at that plot for the cultivation of flowers and vegetables.’ Mr Rock replied: ‘No. I can’t plant . things where the trees are supposed to grow. I have not breached the . contract. This council ruling is to remove people who abandon their . plots. I love the trees and I feel I am being penalised. ‘I was never given any leaflets detailing what I could grow. I was given permission to grow fruit trees as dwarf stock.’ After a four-hour hearing, District Judge Geoffrey Smith ruled he could not grant an injunction against the eviction. But he appealed for common sense to . prevail, saying: ‘It is sad this case has come to court. I would . encourage both parties to find some middle ground.’ An unrepentant Mr Rock – who was . forced to pay court costs of £650 – insisted: ‘They will have to evict . me if they want me out. I will fight all the way to the European Court . of Human Rights if I have to.’ The 90,000 who'd like his plot . The council is now considering its . next move. A spokesman said: ‘We have been encouraging Mr Rock since . 2008 to bring the level of cultivation of his plot up to an agreed and . acceptable standard. ‘In February 2011 we were left with no . option but to serve notice requiring him to improve the levels of . cultivation as he was in breach of his tenancy agreement. ‘Rather than cultivate his allotment, . Mr Rock sought an injunction and a declaration from the court to . preserve his rights as an allotment holder. We contested that Mr Rock . was not entitled to the relief requested; the judge dismissed Mr Rock’s . claim and awarded costs to the council.’ A spokesman for the National Allotment . Society said: ‘We understand the reasons for tenancy agreements, but . would always advise councils not to impose them retrospectively.’ | Michael Rock had 11 fruit trees on his allotment instead of vegetables .
Council said his trees were not 'occupying sufficient space'
Plot-holder took the row to court to prevent being evicted .
'I love the trees and I feel I am being penalised', said plot-holder .
Author was forced to pay £650 in legal fees as judge ruled against him . |
128,537 | 32197a7f7f64583441c2130745e29d2180f9ec8d | Despite extensive support and counseling programs, as many as 349 U.S. service members committed suicide last year, which would be the highest number since the Department of Defense began keeping detailed statistics in 2001. According to the Pentagon, 239 military deaths in 2012 have been confirmed as suicides and another 110 are being investigated as probable suicides. The number of suicides in 2011 reached 301; there were 298 the year before. The statistics on suicides among service members, many of whom had deployed to war zones, included deaths among reserve forces. Reservist gets 25 years for shootings . Each branch of the service showed an increase. The Army had by far the highest number of suicides and probable suicides -- 182, a nuvcmber that was up from 166 in 2011. The Navy had 60 suicides in 2012 compared with 52 the year before, followed by the Air Force with 59 (up from 51) and the Marine Corps with 48 (up from 32). For years, the Pentagon has struggled with how to identify service members at risk for suicide and to provide counseling and other services. The Army and Navy have focused on teaching "resiliency" to troops in hopes of helping them cope with stress. Military experts have long said one of the enduring challenges is that there doesn't appear to be a direct link between suicides and the stress of being in the combat zone. U.S. may pull all forces from Afghanistan after 2014 . A private-sector group, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which provides military grief support programs, reported it has eight to 10 cases a week of people seeking help because they are dealing with the suicide of a service member. Of the people contacting the organization for care and support, 18% were "grieving a death by suicide," TAPS said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by this loss of life, and renew our commitment to support the military families left behind who are grieving the deaths of service members by suicide," said Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS. She is a former co-chair of a congressionally mandated Department of Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide in the Armed Forces. Can nasal spray help prevent military suicides? "We know that at least 10 people are personally impacted by each death and every death is a tragedy," Carroll said in the statement. Kim Ruocco directs suicide postvention programs, counseling and support efforts for people affected by a loved one's suicide, for TAPS. She said service members in distress deserve "an immediate and comprehensive response." "We do not expect for a soldier with a broken leg to be strong and get up and become better without seeking medical treatment," said Ruocco, the widow of Marine Maj. John Ruocco, who died by suicide in 2005. "When a soldier is suffering from a mental health injury, he or she deserves medical treatment and the very best care that is available." Afghan elders to decide on immunity for U.S. forces . | Pentagon: As many as 349 military service members committed suicide in 2012 .
It would be the most since detailed records began being kept in 2001 .
More than half of the suicides and apparent suicides were among Army personnel .
Military support group says 18% of its contacts are from people grieving a suicide . |
286,624 | ff5f5eb6ea777df38c46f1027b3092681bc02349 | By . John Hall . These tiny matchstick figures may look like characters from a L.S. Lowry painting but they are in fact a group of tourists admiring the vast expanse of Death Valley. Photographer David Hellard, 46, took the shots as the sun rose over vast, colourful cliffs during a two day expedition in the notorious Californian desert. The tiny figures give a sense of the scale of the sprawling landscape, which is the lowest and driest area in North America, and the current holder of the world's highest recorded air temperature - 56.7C in July 1913. Stunning: The tiny matchstick figures in these photographs are in fact a group of tourists admiring the vast expanse of Death Valley. They give a sense of the scale of the sprawling landscape, which is the lowest and driest area in North America and one of the hottest places anywhere on earth . Colours: David Hellard, who doesn't like heights, climbed 650 feet up a steep mountain trail in the Amargosa Range to take his photographs . Light: David Hellard said being scared of heights was actually a benefit to his photographs. 'I really studied the scene. There were a tremendous amount of things to look at, and other people tried moving around to get different views of the same things... I really tried to see what was there,' he said . Mr Hellard, who doesn't like heights, braved a steep climb up a trail to the point from which he took his stunning photographs - 650 feet up a mountain in the Amargosa Range. He was the only one in his group of five friends to spot a group of Germans touring on Harley Davidson motorbikes below. 'I don't think the people were there when I first started shooting, but I'm not sure... I am not a big fan of heights and was so nervous. The trail we climbed up was steep, narrow, and fell off sharply,' he said. 'While other people felt comfortable moving around and changing position, once I got set up I didnt feel like doing a lot of shuffling... With the winds gusting against my back, I could easily imagine my camera and tripod, my camera bag, or even me tumbling over the edge and straight down,' he added. 'The benefit to this was that I really studied the scene. There were a tremendous amount of things to look at, and other people tried moving around to get different views of the same things... I really tried to see what was there and eventually noticed the tiny figures off to my left and down,' Mr Hellard said. Observant: The photographer said the rest of his group were too busy focusing on the rolling hills off to the right of the scene to notice the group of tourists gathered below. He, on the other hand, used the sense of calm he'd had to instill in himself just to climb the mountain to maintain focus while taking the photos . Proud: David Hellard said that he thinks each photo tells a unique and different story. He added that he was immensely happy with how well the colours came out and how sharp the photos were. The photographer lives in Los Angeles with wife Sandy . The photographer said the rest of his group were too busy focusing on the rolling hills off to the right of the scene to notice the group of tourists. He, on the other hand, used the sense of calm he'd had to instill in himself just to climb the mountain to maintain focus while taking the photos. 'I took a number of photos of the area while the sun came up. The colours during that time kept shifting and changing, so I was constantly returning to different 'scenes' laid out before me as they varied,' Mr Hellard said. 'The bright and brilliant reds and magentas you see are a result of the morning light. The cliffs are naturally a sort of yellow, lemon colour mixed with browns or darker reds. The variation in the tones is due to the different strata and sediments of the rock itself,' he added. 'Primarily it's really all about the soft morning light and shooting in the 'golden hours'. There was only a short window in which these photos were possible. After the sun rose, the gentle colours were washed away. About . 10 minutes after I took these photos, the rock formations all . homogenized back to their usual basic browns, yellows and muddy reds, Mr Hellard went on. Otherworldly: David Hellard took a number of photos of the area while the sun came up. He said the colours during that time kept shifting and changing, so he was constantly witnessing different 'scenes' being laid out before him as the sunlight varied' New perspective: After taking the photographs, David Hellard, who lives in Los Angeles with wife Sandy, then hiked back down with his friends for breakfast. He said the desert can be disorienting to someone who's used to a horizon of buildings or being surrounded by corn fields . Inspiration: The tiny matchstick silhouettes in David Hellard's photograph resemble characters from paintings by the Lancashire-born artist L.S. Lowry . After taking the photographs, Mr Hellard, who lives in Los Angeles with wife Sandy, then hiked back down with his friends for breakfast. 'I loved this area a lot. I've never seen anything quite like it. All of Death Valley is magnificent and there's an 'otherworldly' feeling about it... The area is completely unique and there is no place quite like it on Earth,' he said. 'In general, the desert is sometimes overwhelming and you just can't believe you can see that far, that mountains can be that high or stretch so far into the distance,' he added. Mr Hellard said the desert can be disorienting to someone who's used to a horizon of buildings or being surrounded by corn fields. He said that he thinks each photo tells a unique and different story, adding that he was immensely happy with how well the colours came out and how sharp the photos were. 'If I'm going to run the risk of tumbling off the edge, I might as well make it worth it...I think the photos convey the beauty and mystery of the area as well as a sense of serenity and peace,' he said. | David Hellard, 46, took the shots as the sun rose during a two-day visit to the notorious Californian desert .
Despite not liking heights, the photographer climbed 650 feet up a mountain to take the stunning pictures .
Thanks to near-perfect lighting conditions, the images look more like paintings than photographs . |
43,061 | 7974f89f052ee395aab84119635ad5cfbbed7c2a | There is never a day where at least one person isn't outside the Ferguson, Missouri, Police Department sitting or standing near an anemic tree, the only place for a bit of shade. At night, the crowd tends to swell, and the protest grows more intense. There are almost always two or three people streaming events live. You can hear them loudly sharing thoughts or giving a play-by-play of what's happening. While their cameras capture live images, they call out what they think are injustices surrounding the August shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent police crackdown on protesters in the 10 weeks or so since Brown was killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. The police are geared up with cameras as well. They wear body cameras, and any time officers approach protesters there is usually at least one officer with a handheld camera, too. It's a careful dance in which protesters and police are trying to make sure they have proof if a law is broken or someone's civil rights are violated. Both outside the police department, and roughly 2 miles east -- along the main protest route, where most of the imagery of the sometimes-violent protests has originated -- tension can go from zero to 100 in seconds on any given night. Police can tally dozens of arrests a night since the city erupted. Among those placed in cuffs were journalists, clergy, a local rapper, a state senator, a St. Louis alderman and activist/intellectual Cornel West. It's tough to predict the mood each night. On Tuesday, a small group of about 50 protesters caused no disturbances, and there were no arrests, police said. The next night, five police officers were assaulted with rocks, water bottles and a metal rod as demonstrators blocked traffic and knocked down barricades outside the police department. Protesters, many of them increasingly suspicious of a recent spate of leaks surrounding the Brown investigation, say there will be more nights like Wednesday than Tuesday should a grand jury not indict Wilson. Recovery in progress . On West Florissant, where thousands of protesters have marched for months chanting things like "Hands up, don't shoot," buildings still bear the scars of the community's frustration. At businesses such as the Ferguson Market & Liquor and Red's BBQ, plywood slats sit where windows once stood before violent elements among the protesters looted and vandalized businesses along the corridor. The QuikTrip that was one of the first businesses attacked still lies in shambles, a chain link fence protecting it from further damage. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, a Boston-based author and pastor who grew up in St. Louis, has been participating in the protests. He has been arrested twice. As he walks by the burnt-out convenience store just a few blocks from where Brown died, he says, "Democracy is on fire, and we're called to be firemen." Asked to elaborate -- is he all right with the looting and burning? -- he says he'd prefer that the protests unfold without the violence and destruction. "I mean, it is not my preference, no," he said. "I'm more concerned about the conditions that produced this -- the simmering poverty, the simmering oppression, the simmering alienation, the existential crises that black youth feel in America. I am far more concerned about the condition that produced the burning of buildings." "Our children are in a tremendous amount of pain." Tinderbox awaiting a match? It appears Ferguson will not imminently simmer down, and a group called Ferguson October hoped to grow the demonstrations with a "national day of action against police brutality" on Wednesday. Many protesters are preparing for the possibility that the grand jury may decline to indict Wilson. If that's the case, one protester told CNN this week, "Excuse my French, all hell is going to break loose." That has been a pervasive sentiment since the protests began: Many in Ferguson don't care about reports that a scuffle preceded the shooting and that Brown may have reached for Wilson's gun. The only facts that matter, they say, is that Wilson shot perhaps as many as 11 times, hitting Brown six times above the waist. The fatal shots came as he stood roughly 30 feet away from Wilson's police cruiser, and, according to some witnesses, with his hands up in surrender. It's an unnecessary use of force, say many residents who feel Wilson aimed to kill, not arrest, Brown. Marquita Rogers, a 27-year-old mother of two who lives a few blocks from the Canfield Green subdivision where Brown died, said in August, when the protests were at their ugliest, that she didn't care what Brown did before encountering Wilson. "Jaywalking? Smarting off? Stealing cigars? Running? You're not supposed to die for that," she said. Her neighbors, Arvid Wilkerson, 22, and Patricia Pendelton, also predicted during August interviews -- days after a grand jury started hearing evidence in the case and the Justice Department announced an independent investigation -- that the turmoil in Ferguson would only worsen if Wilson wasn't indicted. "If this police officer don't get no kind of charge," said Pendelton, 41, a nurse, shaking her head, "they think it's chaos now?" Calculated leaks? In recent days, The New York Times received information from a federal source and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was given Brown's autopsy report and spoke to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The Washington Post, meanwhile, reported that at least six black witnesses gave grand jury testimony that supported Wilson's side of the story. The proceedings in a grand jury inquiry, by law, are not supposed to be made public, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has told his staff it's "inappropriate and troubling" that information is trickling out while the grand jury and federal investigations are ongoing. He further said that the "selective flow of information coming out of Missouri" is diminishing his faith in local authorities, a Justice Department official said. Prosecutor Robert McCulloch and Wilson's defense team released separate statements Thursday saying they were not the sources of any of the leaked information. Sources have confirmed to CNN the information provided to The Times and Post-Dispatch is part of the testimony being considered: that Brown's blood was found on Wilson's uniform and inside his police car and that one of the wounds Brown suffered was a close-range gunshot to his hand after attacking Wilson. "We are not surprised by the information leaked last night by the St. Louis Medical Examiner's office," Brown family attorney Ben Crump said in a statement. "Several independent witnesses indicated there was a brief altercation between Michael Brown and Officer Wilson at the patrol car. What we want to know is why Officer Wilson shot Michael Brown multiple times and killed him even though he was more than 20 feet away from his patrol car; this is the crux of the matter!" Peruse Twitter, and you'll find that many believe the leaks -- along with Gov. Jay Nixon's announcement this week of a Ferguson Commission to study social and economic conditions -- are harbingers of the grand jury declining to indict Wilson. "Feeling in Ferguson among protest leaders is that leaks are coming from law enforcement in attempt to signal that no indictment coming," tweeted Wesley Lowery, a Washington Post reporter who was detained in the early days of the protests. On Monday, St. Louis County's former police chief, Tim Fitch, told local radio station KMOX that it is "probably very unlikely" that the grand jury will indict Wilson and the leaks are a calculated effort "to start getting some of the facts out there to kind of let people down slowly." A former federal law enforcement official said something similar. "It could be really for, in part, a beneficial purpose, to start leading those community leaders and those leading the protests to believe that there won't be an indictment," said Ron Hosko, former assistant director of the FBI Criminal Division. Lack of faith in system . Amy Hunter lives in St. Louis and is the director of racial justice at YWCA Metro St. Louis. She has been taking part in the protests and notes it's a young people's movement and that Brown was the unfortunate catalyst in a "seminal moment for change." She remains concerned, however, about what might happen in this St. Louis suburb of 21,000 if the grand jury decides not to indict Wilson. "I think we are all worried," she said. "As a mother of three sons and a daughter, I also worry that if we don't end this that I will be sharing a fate just like Michael Brown's mom." Asked during a news conference if he, too, was worried that Ferguson could erupt if the grand jury comes back with a no bill, Nixon said Tuesday, "When you have this level of energy and when you have what has happened over 73 days, you can rest well-assured that we are focused and concerned about what could be the most problematic scenarios." Despite the assurances from government officials, the statements ring hollow to protesters like Sekou. "The only words that would have mattered, that could have possibly began the process of some symbol of justice, is the creation of a special prosecutor or the announcement of the indictment of Darren Wilson," he said. He also has his doubts about assertions that the case is traversing the justice system and that citizens should have faith as it runs its course. "This justice system?" Sekou asked. "Which has a wonderful set of facts to support the way it has engaged police who have taken black lives? This justice system?" Complete coverage of Ferguson shooting and protests . | Despite 10 weeks of unrest, Tuesday protests peaceful; no arrests reported, police say .
Still, city remains tense as possibility looms of grand jury not indicting Darren Wilson .
Residents, ex-law enforcement: Leaks in case harbinger calculated effort to prepare city .
Residents: If there's no indictment, protests thus far will pale compared to what's coming . |
246,068 | ca7dd4f4774ede09d524561d44164ca00bdf983a | By . Simon Jones . AC Milan are showing a surprise interest in Samuel Eto'o. Roma and Guangzhou Evergrande in China are also keeping tabs on the evergreen 33-year-old striker. Milan are looking at forward options as they await bids for Mario Balotelli. They are also keen to find bargains with money still extremely tight at the San Siro and free agent Eto'o is a possibility but not their main target. Lethal: Eto'o may not have been a first choice starter at Chelsea but he showed he can still score goals . Old man: The Cameroon striker fell out with Jose Mourinho over comments the manager made about his age . They will look to offload other members of their squad to raise funds and that is why they are listening to offers for Balotelli and midfielder Nigel de Jong, who will be offered to Manchester United. Eto'o already knows Milan well having played for AC's city rivals Inter from 2009 to 2011, winning the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in his first season in Italy. Free agent: Eto'o endured a difficult World Cup with Cameroon but could be on his way to Milan . Returning: Both Mario Balotelli (left) and Nigel de Jong (right) could be in line for a Premier League return . The former Barcelona striker only joined Chelsea last summer and scored 12 goals in 34 games in all competitions. Eto'o was named in Cameroon's World Cup squad but started just one game due to injury problems. | Cameroon striker Eto'o scored 12 goals in only season at Chelsea .
Milan are lookig to cut their spending by offloading Balotelli and de Jong .
Eto'o is available on a free after Chelsea contract expired . |
61,115 | ad98b7285888ba50c0d1d75347dc2acf18b7f349 | (CNN) -- Firefighters were battling a blaze at a Venezuelan refinery Sunday after a lightning strike, a top official in the country's state oil company said. Lightning struck Sunday afternoon at a Petroleos de Venezuela refinery in the northern city of Puerto La Cruz, causing an explosion and subsequent fire, company Vice President Asdrubal Chavez said. No injuries have been reported, Chavez said. Authorities are evacuating residents who live near the refinery, Anzoategui state Gov. Aristobulo Isturiz said. Officials said lightning struck a pond at the refinery around 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Video of the scene shows bright orange flames shooting up from the ground and a column of thick, black smoke rising far above the refinery. In a Twitter post, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was in close contact with teams on the ground. The state oil company describes the Puerto La Cruz refinery as one of its "most important centers of crude oil processing." About 1,000 workers are based at the facility, the company said. Report: Venezuela's state-run refineries afflicted by mismanagement . CNN's Claudia Rebaza and Ana Melgar contributed to this report. | NEW: Venezuela's president says he's monitoring the situation .
NEW: Video shows a column of thick, black smoke rising above the facility .
Lightning strikes at a Venezuelan refinery, sparking a fire .
An official says no injuries have been reported from the blast and subsequent blaze . |
99,210 | 0bcad17c3c2c6c9748feffd5bd966e6d7ffdec98 | A creepy website has collected streaming footage from more than 73,000 cameras around the globe that are connected to the internet, because the owners haven't changed their default passwords, making them accessible to virtually anyone. Insecam claims to feature feeds from IP cameras all over the world with more than 11,000 in the U.S. and 2,400 in the UK alone. Some of the shots are harmless with fly-on-the-wall views of stores, offices and parking lots, but there are also far more personal areas covered by the cameras, with living rooms and bedrooms featured prominently. Many of the cameras are being used as babycams which will alert many parents. Creepy: The website insecam.com is running footage from more than 73,000 cameras round the world including this kitchen . Disturbing: Security experts say members of the internet need to beware of the pitfalls of the internet. This camera is positioned over a baby's crib but the adults bed can be clearly seen . Watching over you: This baby's crib is on full view to the world. The owners of the cameras have no idea that their footage is being streamed for anyone to see online . Open door: The site is streaming cameras which have not had their factory passwords changed . 'This site has been designed in order to show the importance of the security settings,' the site proclaims on its page. Although the feeds are something that anyone with a bit of determination could find through Google, for example, the website makes accessing the streams far easier by pooling them together onto a single website. It makes it extremely easy to peer into hundreds of strangers bedrooms with just a click of the mouse. On location: The cameras are located in businesses, factories, building sites and private homes . Living in your living room: No password is required to access the security camera streams . Peeping Tom paradise: The website makes it easy to pick from one of 73,000 different camera streams . You are not alone: Does the person relaxing on the couch realize they're being watched? There are 40,746 feeds from unsecured cameras in the top 10 countries that are listed: . 11,046 in the U.S. 6,536 in South Korea . 4,770 in China . 3,359 in Mexico . 3,285 in France . 2,870 in Italy . 2,422 in the U.K . 2,268 in the Netherlands . 2,220 in Columbia . 1,970 in India . One lawyer noted that looking at someones camera would be a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in the United States as it involves hacking into someone's password-protected account - even if that password is the default setting. It is easy to have your private camera taken off the Insecam site, simply by setting a new password removes it from view. There are 40,746 pages of unsecured cameras just in the first 10 country listings: 11,046 in the U.S.; 6,536 in South Korea; 4,770 in China; 3,359 in Mexico; 3,285 in France; 2,870 in Italy; 2,422 in the U.K.; 2,268 in the Netherlands; 2,220 in Columbia; and 1,970 in India. The site states, 'you can see into bedrooms of all countries of the world.' Further details are also listed with the site displaying information including the camera manufacturer, default login and password, time zone, city and state. The approximate location is also pinpointed on Google Maps giving any potential peeping Tom a very real insight into your supposedly private world. Internet protocol cameras, or IP cameras, are the ones being streamed on the website and they are seen as a cheaper option than CCTV camera systems. Security: Owners must set strong passwords on security cameras unless they want to give the whole world a free pass to watch inside their homes . Extra cheese? You could easily watch your pizza being made with a live feed inside this branch of Dominoes . A top security expert says the website is a good thing 'to alert people to the dark side of the internet'. James Der Derian, Director of the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, told MailOnline: 'Everyone thinks the internet is this perfect way of communicating. 'The whole idea of the internet is a way of access and unless you have very strong password protection and encryption then this kind of exposure is inevitable. 'This shows that it has got a flip side and people uploading personal details need to be careful, this website is an example of that. 'It does not surprise me and it is a good thing to alert people to the darker side of the internet. People are so willing to give up personal information.' | Website insecam.com running footage from more than 73,000 cameras .
A total of 11,000 cameras in the United States are able to be viewed .
There are 2,422 cameras in the UK which are also providing a live feed .
Cameras which have not had their factory passwords changed are accessible .
Users can view businesses, factories, building sites and private homes .
The site states: 'you can see into bedrooms of all countries of the world'
Easy to stop - just change the password on the camera . |
250,839 | d0a14efa25d3aef6427d17befd25584c5310d248 | (CNN) -- Sal Dimiceli has spent decades helping people get back on their feet. Through a local newspaper column and his nonprofit, The Time Is Now To Help, Dimiceli assists about 500 people a year with food, rent, utilities and other necessities. He concentrates most of his work in the Wisconsin area where he lives. CNN asked Dimiceli for his thoughts on being chosen as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011. CNN: How does it feel to be selected as a top 10 CNN Hero? Sal Dimiceli: I'm ecstatic. I want to cry thinking that CNN and people recognize the poverty that is out there so we can help even more people. I hesitate to talk about myself. My heart is about giving, helping, not receiving. This is such a great, great honor. At the same time, the help I provide is from my desire, my heart, to ease the pain and suffering and fear of the poverty-stricken. I find myself in tears. For many years, I felt alone making money, giving it away helping the less fortunate, and now I'm being recognized for doing what I vowed to do. I'm in shock. I thank God and CNN for telling the world: "Yes, something can be done. Yes, together we can make a difference." CNN: What do you hope this recognition will mean to The Time Is Now to Help? Dimiceli: I hope it will bring an awareness of what's going on in our great country behind closed doors and show how more than 50 million Americans are desperately suffering the pains of poverty. By showing how we are coming together, networking with people to find solutions for helping them, I pray that other areas around the U.S. will come together with their local people to make a difference. My biggest prayer is that our government will put aside their differences and exercise the simple solutions that do exist for any problem they presently have. ... The one thing I keep trying to grasp is the fact that the global news media, CNN, is recognizing the philanthropy and love all over the world and the solutions we are presenting. CNN is my hero for taking all of us to the forefront, recognizing that we are making a big difference in the world around us. CNN: How will you use the $50,000 award that you receive for being selected as a top 10 CNN Hero? Dimiceli: I'm going to put that right into the charity (and) use that for immediate funding. That's why it's called The Time Is Now. I can never catch up with the requests for help financially. And with this recession right now, there are a lot of people in extreme desperate need. People who are homeless, we'll help them get shelter; people who are hungry, we're going to feed them; people who have utilities off, we're going to turn them on; people that need transportation, we'll help fix their cars. Every penny is going to help our fellow creations in dire need, and I'm going to do it as expeditiously as I can. We're going to utilize all of our several hundred volunteers to make sure we can end their pain and suffering and show them there are people that care. We want to give them hope and show them that we do have a love for all people. I can't wait. CNN: What do you want people to know most about your work? Dimiceli: Everything that I did to help others would not be possible if it wasn't for my mother. I grew up as a little boy watching her cry through our utilities being off, of us being evicted, of us having little food, and with her pride of not letting people know. It's because of all those tears I saw on and off for many years. If it wasn't for my dear mother, I wouldn't be doing this. I made a promise to God at 12 years old. I'm 60 now, and I'm going to keep that promise for as long as I can breathe. Read the full story on CNN Hero Sal Dimiceli: . A 'Dear Abby' for the down and out . | Sal Dimiceli was named one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011 .
Dimiceli gives financial assistance to the working poor near his home .
People reach out to Dimiceli through a local newspaper column . |
95,908 | 074c604f6472eaf8521b2548cda70cff9a758b5f | Frank Lampard has insisted he remains fully committed to New York City and said he only ever joined Manchester City as a way of staying fit ahead of the Major League Soccer season. Manchester City have faced a storm of criticism for their handling of Lampard's situation since it was confirmed on New Year's Eve that the 36-year-old will remain with the Barclays Premier League champions until the end of the season, delaying his debut for sister club New York until midway through their inaugural MLS campaign. There has been much confusion over Lampard's contractual situation, with differing accounts as to when he signed for which club and for how long. Frank Lampard at a press conference in New York as he was introduced by the MLS outfit . Lampard holds up a New York City FC scarf after 'joining' the MLS club . But Lampard, in an interview with The Times, insists his commitment to New York remains priority. Describing the talks he had with Ferran Soriano, chief executive of both City and New York, after leaving Chelsea, Lampard said: 'It was 100 per cent New York. I had sat down with Ferran and it was all about New York. 'There was no mention of Man City. If they had wanted to speak to me on behalf of Man City, with New York in the pipeline beyond that, they could have done that, because I was a free agent, but that was never the question at all.' Lampard said City did not enter the equation until he began to consider ways to keep fit during the long wait for New York's season to start, and insisted there was no question over his commitment to New York going forward. 'I have signed for New York,' he said. 'The original intention was for that to start on January 1. I signed a Man City agreement in the interim (in August). Now that has obviously changed. I have extended my period here and will join New York later. Lampard insists he is fully committed to his new career in the MLS despite the Manchester City loan . 'That is what has frustrated me, that people were sort of saying "You knew what you were doing",' Lampard added. 'I never would have done that. If I had wanted to come to Man City, then I would stand up and come to Man City. That wouldn't have been a problem. 'And in terms of Man City being "sneaky", they could have signed me on a free anyway if that's what they wanted to do. People mention Financial Fair Play but what difference would that have made? 'No difference. It would have been a slippery move, a dodgy move, for nothing. The fact is I signed for New York, then I signed for Man City in the interim and now it has been extended.' City manager Manuel Pellegrini sought to draw a line under the affair on Friday, saying: 'I think it's an issue which is finished. 'Frank now is here. I know that there a lot of different opinions about Frank, about that. I respect all of them, but the decision is taken already and Frank will stay here until the end of the season.' Lampard has been on loan at Manchester City and joined the Etihad club to keep himself fit for the MLS . The former Chelsea man pictured in action during Manchester City's Premier League clashes . | Frank Lampard insists MLS outfit New York City remains his priority .
The former Chelsea midfielder is currently on loan at Manchester City .
Lampard says he moved to the Etihad to keep fit ahead of his MLS start . |
201,063 | 904f4f7e3d70816bc7e163b99c7ae749d8387eb7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:34 EST, 9 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:44 EST, 9 August 2012 . The man arrested for attempting to weapons into a screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Ohio was not planning an attack but simply wanted to protect himself. Scott A. Smith was taken into police custody after he allegedly tried to bring a satchel containing a loaded gun, ammunition clips . and four knives into a 10pm Saturday showing of the Batman movie in Cleveland. But the 37-year-old's legal representative said he was not planning a copycat action but was in fact fearing for his safety after the Aurora shootings and had brought the weapons for protection. Copycat: Scott Smith, 37, from Ohio, was arrested on Saturday night for trying to smuggle weapons into a screening of The Dark Knight Rises . Scene: The manager of Regal Cinema in the Crocker Park shopping center, became suspicious of Smith who allegedly tried to bring a satchel into the theater . Police were called to Regal Cinemas after an off-duty police officer working security found a loaded 9mm Glock and the ammunition and knives in Mr Smith's bag. Mr Smith was arrested and authorities believe they prevented a copycat attack of the Dark Knight Rises massacre. Police later performed a search of the 37-year-old's home, where they found about eight rifles and handguns along with gas masks and bulletproof vests. Mr Smith raised suspicion after arriving at the late-night screening 30 minutes early and taking a seat at the top of the theatre with his back against a wall. Local police said this gave him a 'tactical advantage' and questioned why Mr Smith brought weapons to a movie theatre and in particular a viewing of The Dark Knight, considering the events in Aurora, Colorado. Smith's attorney, Matthew Bruce, explained to Cleveland.com that his client was just protecting himself. 'This was simply an instance where a man felt fear going into a movie theater in light of recent shootings and incidents around the country, and he wanted protection for himself.' Westlake Police Lt. Ray Arcuri with the Westlake Police said Mr Smith cooperated fully once suspicions were raised. 'It was a consensual . encounter.' Police believe they have foiled another Aurora style massacre after apprehending a man trying to smuggle guns and knives into an Ohio move theater . Copycat: James Holmes is accused of killing 12 people in last month's shooting rampage in an Aurora, Colorado movie theater . The 37-year-old is refusing to talk to police and is being held without bail. It comes just a few weeks after James Holmes allegedly walked into a midnight showing of the Batman movie at a Colorado theater and shot dead 12 people and injured 58. Holmes, a former neuroscience graduate student, has been charged with 24 counts of murder and 116 counts of attempted murder and authorities have 60 days to decide whether or not they are going to seek the death penalty. The 24-year-old's first court appearance was televised and showed a bleary-eyed young man with dyed orange hair who refused to speak. It emerged earlier this week that the psychiatrist who counselled Holmes at the University of Colorado had warned university officials about his behaviour. Dr Lynne Fenton told campus police and members of an University threat assessment team that she was concerned about Holmes' mental state but once Holmes left the institution they did not follow the issue as he was no longer under their jurisdiction. Police believe Smith, who has a wife . and young daughter, spent a short time in the military. He does not have . a permit to carry a concealed weapon and was arrested on suspicion of illegally carrying a concealed weapon and three other weapons charges. | Scott Smith, 37, arrested at a 10pm showing of Dark Knight Rises on Saturday .
Police found rifles, handguns, gas masks and bullet-proof vests when they searched his home .
Refusing to talk to police . |
75,751 | d6d7535299458a338282b387e54d1ecb48f30a38 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 04:47 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:28 EST, 17 October 2013 . A secretive New York financier is expected to be one of the biggest winners when Twitter goes public in the coming weeks. Suhail Rizvi, 47, guards his secrecy so zealously that he employs a person to take down his Wikipedia entry and scrub his picture from the Internet. Over the past two years the founder of New York private equity firm Rizvi Traverse Management, has quietly amassed a stake of more than 15 percent in the microblogging phenomenon for himself and his investors at a cost of more than $1 billion, according to three people with knowledge of his investments. Ambitions: Twitter is getting ready for its public market debut . While Rizvi was known to be an investor in Twitter, the extent of his involvement had not previously been reported. Twitter made its IPO registration documents public late Thursday, setting the stage for the most closely watched initial public offering since Facebook's in 2012. Rizvi Traverse is listed as one of the institutional shareholders with at least a 5 percent ownership stake, but no further details were disclosed. The shares Rizvi purchased were distributed among investors via multiple vehicles, sources said, and the size of his personal stake is not known. People with direct knowledge of his investment activities say that Rizvi, backed by Chris Sacca, a former Google executive and Twitter investor, was instrumental in attracting large private investors to the microblogging site, serving as matchmaker between the company's founders and global financiers from Wall Street to Riyadh. Rizvi declined to comment for this article. Sacca, a longtime friend, gave him an entree into tech investing in 2011 - when Twitter was still struggling to make money. From there, Rizvi scored stakes in some of the most sought-after Internet start-ups, from Facebook Inc before it went public to Square and Flipboard. Rizvi's string of tech deals came amid intense competition among hedge funds and private equity investors to secure shares in startups, highlighted by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner's 2009 investment in Facebook. With tech companies waiting later than ever to go public, some investors believed they may miss out on the biggest gains if they wait to buy shares in public markets, when a company's value may no longer rise exponentially. Rizvi helped Hugh Hefner, right, take Playboy Enterprises private and bought and then sold the Hollywood film studio behind the 'Twilight' series, left . The son of an Iowa psychology professor, Rizvi has networked with rich and powerful people including Queen Noor of Jordan and Google Inc's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, devising financing schemes that leveraged his access to deep-pocketed investors, according to people who know Rizvi. Those who invest with Rizvi include British billionaire Richard Branson and Jeffrey Skoll, the former eBay executive and film producer, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It is not clear whether they are among the investors he brought into Twitter. Before turning his attention to the Internet, Rizvi's deal-making focused on Hollywood. He helped Hugh Hefner take Playboy Enterprises private; bought and then sold the Hollywood film studio behind the 'Twilight' series; and led the buyout of a leading talent agency, International Creative Management (ICM). Rizvi is not alone among entertainment investors who have turned their focus to Silicon Valley. Former News Corp executive Peter Chernin's Chernin Group has invested in Tumblr, Pandora and Flipboard, while Michael Ovitz, the talent agent and former Disney CEO, has invested in Ron Conway's SV Angel funds, the tech incubator Y Combinator and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. But few have operated on the scale of Rizvi. Jack Dorsey founded Twitter in 2006 when he was 29 years old. He now serves as chairman . Men behind the machine: Biz Stone (left) and Evan Williams (right) helped Dorsey launch the company . Twitter has a policy of restricting outside investors to only a handful, but Rizvi has had more freedom to bring in additional investors since he bought a large slice of the company. 'He's not to be underestimated. His approach to traditional media as well as technology has put him in a great position,' said Jeremy Zimmer, chief executive of United Talent Agency, a competitor of ICM. 'His ICM investment was viable and gave him a seat at the table and a chance to make a sound investment in Twitter.' In late 2010, Sacca approached Rizvi with an offer: Sacca's friend Evan Williams had stepped down as CEO of Twitter and was seeking to sell 10 percent of the company. Rizvi soon snapped up the shares for $340 million, according to people familiar with the matter. Following that first transaction, the two men formed a highly efficient tag team, the sources said. Sacca would seek shareholders who wanted to cash out, while Rizvi helped raise money to purchase the stock. The friends successfully pitched JPMorgan Chase & Co on a deal to buy more than $400 million worth of Twitter shares in 2011. Months later, Rizvi recruited Kingdom Holding Co, Saudi Prince Alwaleed's investment company, to buy an additional $300 million in stock in a separate vehicle. JPMorgan Chase and representatives for Alwaleed did not respond to requests for comment on the deal. By mid-2013, investment vehicles managed by Rizvi and Sacca had collectively bought more than $1 billion in shares, a stake that at one point amounted to nearly 20 percent of Twitter before it was diluted in recent months, sources said. Twitter declined to comment. Rizvi's Twitter connections opened the doors to other investing opportunities. Last year, Rizvi led a $200 million investment in Square, the mobile-payment processing company founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, at a $3.25 billion valuation. On September 24, Rizvi led a $50 million financing round for the news reader app Flipboard, whose founder, Mike McCue, once sat on Twitter's board. But he has not always got his way in Silicon Valley. Although Rizvi indirectly owns some shares of Pinterest, he failed to purchase a significant stake when the online scrapboard site raised $100 million in 2012 and $200 million this year . Although Rizvi indirectly owns some shares of Pinterest, Rizvi failed to purchase a significant stake when the online scrapboard site raised $100 million in 2012 and $200 million this year. It was unclear what stymied his attempts. 'He fought tooth and nail for an allocation' but failed, an angel investor in Pinterest recalled. 'He was willing to pay.' It also remains unclear whether Rizvi's Internet investments other than Twitter will pan out. Some industry insiders note that he missed out on the huge gains that were made with very early investments in social media, and companies including Square and Flipboard remain unproven. Rizvi was able to buy only $100 million in Facebook shortly before its IPO, thus limiting his returns, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Rizvi, who owns a sprawling three-home compound in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a 1.65-acre Palm Beach, Florida, estate near Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, was born in India but moved to Iowa Falls, a town of 5,200 people, when he was five. Along with his older brother Ashraf, a hedge fund manager, Rizvi graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton business school. Both now serve on the undergraduate school's executive board. Rizvi worked as a real estate analyst while at Wharton, then he started and sold a telecom company. With the proceeds, he financed his first big buyout in 1995, when he bought the electronic manufacturing business of a Puerto Rico phone company. Growth by numbers: The company has only been in existence for seven years but has clearly made a dent . Refocusing it on making higher-cost equipment, he spent the next four years boosting the company's annual revenue from $10 million to $450 million. He did not break into the elite circles of media investing until 2004, after he founded Rizvi Traverse with John Giampetroni, a New York private equity investor. In 2005 the ICM talent agency, which represented stars like Mel Gibson and Robert Redford, was looking for financing as it struggled with the defection of key agents and stars. Rizvi took a controlling stake in ICM for $100 million, including $95 million in debt financing from Merrill Lynch & Co, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Rizvi Traverse put up just $5 million. Later, he refinanced the agency for $300 million against future revenue from assets like 'Friends,' the popular show in which ICM holds a stake. That $300 million was enough to repay Merrill Lynch and provide a hefty return for Rizvi and his partners. Even as Rizvi's circles have broadened, he has continued to keep a low profile, both in his personal style - sometimes flying commercial, one Hollywood executive said - and in his hands-off approach to tech investing. Despite bringing capital, he has not taken a board seat at Twitter, Square or Flipboard. Rizvi's trusted lieutenant, Ben Kohn, has instead been the face of the firm on the West Coast, several entertainment industry executives said. Known for an aggressive negotiating style that contrasts with Rizvi's more reserved stance, Kohn manages a dozen employees out of a small office in Los Angeles. Rizvi's growing network includes the likes of Vivi Nevo, the secretive Time Warner Inc shareholder who also famously prided himself on being 'UnGoogleable,' mutual friends of the two men said. But while Nevo is now easy to find online, Rizvi maintains an elusive Web presence. The only readily found picture of Rizvi is a snapshot of him sitting with Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and Alwaleed in a New York hotel after the prince bought Twitter shares. The photo, on a Saudi news outlet, had irked Twitter executives and Rizvi, as they had preferred to keep the transaction quiet. Twitter was created back in March 2006 but its popularity soon went through the roof with more than 500 million users registered worldwide as of last year and more than 500 million tweets sent a day. Here is a list of interesting facts about what makes Twitter a global phenomenon: . | Suhail Rizvi, 47, employs person to take down Wikipedia page and photos .
He is the founder of New York private equity firm Rizvi Traverse Management .
Twitter made its IPO registration documents public late Thursday .
It will be most closely watched initial public offering since Facebook in 2012 . |
37,090 | 6921941a782711881adcfb682be83bf2792021ef | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:54 EST, 20 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:54 EST, 20 November 2013 . A United Methodist minister from Pennsylvania who was convicted under church law of officiating at his son's same-sex wedding ceremony was suspended for 30 days on Tuesday and told he will lose his credentials if he violates any of the church's rules in that time. The same jury of fellow pastors that convicted Rev. Frank Schaefer on Monday of breaking his vows also told him he must surrender his credentials if he can't reconcile his new calling to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community with the laws from the church's Book of Discipline. Schaefer told reporters afterward that he had no intention of changing his mind and said he expects to lose his credentials in 30 days. The Reverend Frank Schaefer, of Lebanon Pennsylvania, walks back to the trial after a lunch break at Camp Innabah, a United Methodist retreat. He was suspended under church law today for breaking his vows by officiating his gay sons' Massachusetts wedding in 2007 . Before the punishment was announced, Schaefer, who was convicted for officiating at his son's 2007 wedding ceremony in Massachusetts, told the jury Tuesday that he is unrepentant and refused to promise he wouldn't perform more gay unions. Rather than beg for mercy, the pastor upped the stakes. The church 'needs to stop judging people based on their sexual orientation,' he told jurors. 'We have to stop the hate speech. We have to stop treating them as second-class Christians.' After the jury pronounced its sentence, Schaefer's supporters began overturning chairs in the courtroom - symbolizing the biblical story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers - and held an impromptu communion service. Schaefer's trial rekindled debate within the nation's largest mainline Protestant denomination over church policies on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The denomination accepts gay and lesbian members, but it rejects the practice of homosexuality as 'incompatible with Christian teaching'. Schaefer donned a rainbow-colored stole on the witness stand and told jurors it symbolized his commitment to the cause. 'I will never be silent again,' he said, as some of his supporters wept in the gallery. 'This is what I have to do.' The Rev. Frank Schaefer and his son Tim whose same-sex marriage he officiated in Massachusetts in 2007 . Jon Boger, who filed the initial complaint against Schaefer, was outraged by the pastor's recalcitrance. The career Naval officer grew up in Zion United Methodist Church of Iona, the church that Schaefer has led for 11 years. 'Frank Schaefer sat here and openly rebuked the United Methodist Church, its policies, standards and doctrines,' Bolger said when called as a rebuttal witness. 'He should no longer be in service as a minister of the United Methodist Church, not at Iona, not anywhere else.' Earlier Tuesday, the Methodists' prosecutor called former members of Schaefer's church who said his conduct split the congregation, and experts who said the punishment should serve as a deterrent to other like-minded clergy. Christina Watson said her family left Schaefer's church because they no longer wanted to be 'subjected to the preaching and teaching' of Schaefer. Church congregant Ellen Ross, left, and Clydette Overturf, pastoral assistant, speak to the media, during the penalty hearing of the Rev. Frank Schaefer . 'To me, it wasn't a good Christian example for ministers to say it's OK to break the rules of your church,' she testified. The Rev. Paul Stallworth, who leads a United Methodist task force on sexuality and abortion, testified that church law requires jurors to 'openly rebuke' Schaefer so that fellow clergy will think twice before breaking it. Schaefer had previously testified that he performed his son's 2007 wedding in Massachusetts out of love, not a desire to flout church teaching on homosexuality. But Tuesday's testimony made clear he has had a change of heart. 'I have to minister to those who hurt and that's what I'm doing,' said Schaefer. The prosecutor, the Rev. Christopher Fisher, invited Schaefer to 'repent of your actions' and pledge never again to perform a homosexual union. 'I cannot,' Schaefer replied. His son, Tim Schaefer, told jurors he knew he was putting his father in a difficult position by asking him to officiate his wedding. But he concluded he would hurt his father's feelings if he didn't ask. Schaefer said he hoped his father's trial would start a larger conversation in the denomination. Rich Kirk from Calvary United Methodist Church joins other supporters of Rev. Frank Schaefer singing hymns as they gather outside Camp Innabah . | Frank Schaefer told reporters afterward that he .
had no intention of changing his mind and said he expects to lose his .
credentials in 30 days .
He told the court that the church 'needs to stop judging people based on their sexual orientation' |
19,094 | 36110f6818f76e1f059654b73d0069d879ba1012 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 05:24 EST, 17 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:08 EST, 17 April 2012 . Accused: Bobbie Kugler, 31, is believed to have told police that she set the bunch of pictures alight before throwing them onto a pile of clothes . A mother has confessed to accidentally starting the house fire that killed four of her children while burning photographs of her ex boyfriend. Bobbie Kugler, 31, is believed to have told police that she set the bunch of pictures alight before throwing them onto a pile of clothes. As the blaze tore through the two-storey, wood-framed home, in Rochester, New York, her children Gage Reavey, 14, Greg Kugler,13, Kandee Kugler, 12, and six-year-old Kaiden Kugler slept innocently in their beds. Fire-fighters were on the scene quickly . and tried to reach the children inside, but the inferno spread through the building with such speed they were unable to get . to those trapped on the upper floor. Kugler managed to flee with her two-year-old son Tyron Jackson. 'This fire is a result of human intervention. This was not an accidental fire,' said Fire Chief John Caufield on Saturday. She was arrested on Friday and charged with . fourth-degree arson and four counts of second-degree manslaughter. At . her first court appearance on Saturday, she pleaded not guilty to the . charges. She will reappear in court tomorrow. Fire-fighters were called to the neighbourhood at 1am on February 18 to extinguish a rubbish fire on the sidewalk. After . dousing those flames, in what looked like a pile of burning clothes, . fire-fighters did a routine canvass of the wood-frame apartment building . on the property, Mr Caufield said at the time, and discovered another fire 'that . appeared to have occurred while we were here.' The fire crew radioed for help and rushed inside the dwelling, but things sped out of control. The whole first floor was heavily . involved with fire,' Mr Caufield said. 'The initial crew that was here . made entry into the building and rescued a woman and an infant from the . first-floor apartment. Flames: As the blaze tore through the two-storey, wood-framed home, in Rochester, New York, her children Gage Reavey, 14, Greg Kugler,13, Kandee Kugler, 12, and six-year-old Kaiden Kugler slept innocently in their beds . Tragic: Bobbie Kugler was arrested on Friday and charged with fourth-degree arson and four counts of second-degree manslaughter. 'And . in the short time it took to make that rescue, the fire flashed over . and took over the whole first floor and extended quickly to the second . floor.' Fire officials could see people . moving on the second floor of the building, but within minutes flames . were shooting from the windows. Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards praised the bravery of the fire-fighters. 'The . men and women of the Rochester Fire Department saved the life of a . mother and her young toddler who were downstairs, then tried repeatedly . to save the other four children upstairs,' Richards said in a statement . sent to the Democrat and Chronicle. 'They . risked their lives in the attempt and had to be ordered back when the . fire flashed and engulfed the house,' Mayor Richards said. Rochester is about 330 miles northwest of New York City. Inferno: A fast-moving fire swept through a Rocheseter multifamily home early Saturday, killing four people . Loss of life: The four victims all appeared to be children or teenagers, fire officials said . | Bobbie Kugler, 31, is believed to have .
told police that she set the bunch of pictures alight and threw .
them onto a pile of clothes .
She denies 4th-degree arson and four counts of 2nd-degree manslaughter .
The children, aged from six to 14, were asleep when fire engulfed home . |
96,389 | 08052394c3f6931fcc6429ed75dde10fd6c210b9 | Washington (CNN) -- A senior Iranian naval official says Iran is sending warships toward U.S. maritime borders to send a message, a move a U.S. defense official characterized as an announcement, not a deployment. "Iran's military fleet is approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a message," Adm. Afshin Rezayee Haddad said, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported Saturday. The plan, according to Fars, is a response to the United States beefing up its naval presence in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain. Haddad said the Iranian fleet was under way and approaching the Atlantic Ocean "via the waters near South Africa," a claim that has not been confirmed. It's not the first time Iran has made such a threat, said the U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It's important to understand that, at this point, we have an announcement not a deployment. They've stated this aspiration before," said the defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. In 2011, Iran twice announced plans to send ships toward the U.S. maritime borders. "Freedom of the seas doesn't just apply to fish. It applies to all maritime nations, all navies, everywhere -- so long as they understand the responsibilities which come with that freedom," the defense official said. "So if they chose to send their ships to the Atlantic, I'm sure they won't be surprised to find many, many others already there." The Iranian navy is the smallest of its military forces, according to GlobalSecurity.org, which tracks defense and intelligence issues. In December: U.S., Chinese warships come dangerously close . Barbara Starr reported from Washington; Chelsea J. Carter wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Sara Mazloumsaki contributed to this report. | Iran move is meant as a message, a senior Iranian naval official says .
"We have an announcement, not a deployment," a U.S. defense official says .
In 2011, Iran twice announced plans to send ships toward the U.S. maritime borders .
"Freedom of the seas doesn't just apply to fish,"U.S. defense official says . |
58,393 | a592df3cff8b44b5bb7222f638a0e6de402f9534 | A grandfather battling cancer claims he managed to cure himself of the disease using cannabis oil. Mike Cutler, 63, was diagnosed in 2009 after blacking out at work - and was given a transplant in November that year. He was given the all-clear but says the disease came back in late 2012 - attacking the new organ he had been given. Scroll down for video . Mike Cutler claims the cancerous cells in his liver disappeared after he began taking home-made cannabis oil . Desperate to survive, he began to look online - and found a YouTube video which described the use of cannabis oil as a cure. He claims that just three days after taking the class B drug, his excruciating pain disappeared. In May this year, the grandfather-of-nine went for a biopsy at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK’s science communications manager, told MailOnline: 'We know that cannabinoids – the active chemicals found in cannabis – can have a range of different effects on cancer cells grown in the lab and animal tumours. 'But at the moment there isn’t good evidence from clinical trials to prove that they can safely and effectively treat cancer in patients. 'Despite this, we are aware that some cancer patients do choose to treat themselves with cannabis extracts. 'These stories can help researchers build a picture of whether these treatments are helping or not, although this is weak evidence compared to properly-run clinical trials. 'Cancer Research UK is supporting clinical trials for treating cancer with cannabis extract and a synthetic cannabinoid In order to gather solid data on how best these drugs can be used to benefit people with cancer.' To his relief, doctors told him the new cancerous cells had vanished. A spokeswoman for the Royal Free Hospital confirmed Mr Cutler had not . received any cancer treatment since his transplant in November 2009. Mr Cutler, a retired builder from Hastings, East Sussex, said: 'Finding out I could die was terrible. 'All I had in those dark days was my laptop, and that's when I began searching for something else that could help me - I couldn't accept I was going to die. 'When I found out I was cured I was just completely shocked. I'm a normal family man, not a druggie. I had a serious illness and this helped.' He started taking cannabis after watching a video online about how it could help cure the disease. After purchasing the drug through a dealer, he began to cultivate his own tablets from the oil, taking one capsule a day. When his symptoms disappeared after three days, he began growing his own cannabis plant to keep up a steady supply of the medication. Mr Cutler was one of the speakers at an event last week about the medical use of cannabis - along with Professor David Nutt and MP Caroline Lucas at Brighton Community Centre. He is now campaigning for changes in the . law to allow the oil and other forms of cannabis to be legally used . medicinally to treat other people. When his symptoms disappeared after three days, Mr Cutler began growing his own cannabis plant to keep up a steady supply of the medication . Research published last week by scientists at the University of East Anglia found the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis - Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC - has been shown to help combat the growth of cancerous cells. Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK’s science communications manager, said: 'These experiments were done using cancer cells grown in the lab or in mice and the results help to unpick the details of how cannabinoids affect cancer cells at a molecular level. 'This could potentially lead to more effective treatments for cancer in the future, but there’s still no good data from clinical trials to show that cannabis or cannabinoids can safely and effectively treat cancer in patients at the moment.' Cannabinoids help to control brain and nerve activity, energy metabolism, heart function, the immune system and even reproduction. As a result, a number of charities have intensified their research into the use of cannabis as a medical drug. For more information on cannabis as a treatment for cancer, visit the Cancer Research UK website. | Tests late last year revealed Mike Cutler had cancerous cells in his liver .
Worried he might die, he took to the internet to search for a cure .
Discovered cannabis oil - and bought some of the drug to make his own .
Claims his excruciating pain disappeared three days after taking the potion .
And that tests a few months later showed the cancer cells had gone .
Research currently underway into whether cannabis can help treat cancer . |
46,054 | 81bfcd07df433c8fb8f82cddc181244c78a4a7dd | Police in New York City are searching for two men in connection with a violent armed robbery at a jewelry store in Manhattan’s Diamond District, just a short distance from the Veterans Day parade. The incident happened about 2.30pm on Tuesday when the two suspects entered the business on the eighth floor of a building on 47th Street between 5th and 6th avenues. According to police, the suspects, who may have been carrying automatic weapons, pistol-whipped the owner and then made off with an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry. The incident happened about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the two suspects entered the business on the eighth floor of a building on 47th Street between 5th and 6th avenues . Police in New York City are searching for two men in connection with a violent armed robbery at a jewelry store in Manhattan’s Diamond District, just a short distance from the Veterans Day parade . NYPD initially believed that the suspects were still inside the building and blocked an entire city block as they conducted a floor-by-floor sweep of the building. At least two police helicopters, a SWAT team, dozens of police vehicles, and K9 team were involved. Officers from the New York Police Department’s elite Emergency Services Unit forced everyone inside the mid-rise building to evacuate, but didn't find the suspects. Little is known about the two suspects except that they are described as black and that one was wearing a long black trench coat. Witnesses said the men put on masks as they entered the building and were carrying large weapons. 'They had guns. Big guns,' witness Joseph Meyrov told the Wall Street Journal. NYPD initially believed that the suspects were still inside the building and blocked an entire city block as they conducted a floor-by-floor sweep of the building . Officers are shown gathered inside the building on 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues where a jewelry heist took place on the eighth floor in New York City on Tuesday . Pedestrians walk past the building on 47th Street where earlier two suspects had entered a jewelry business and made off with an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry . | Police in New York City are searching for two men in connection with a violent armed robbery at a jewelry store in Manhattan’s Diamond District .
The robbery happened about 2.30pm on Tuesday on the eighth floor of a building on 47th Street - just a short distance from the Veterans Day parade .
According to police, the suspects pistol-whipped the owner and then made off with an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry .
NYPD initially believed the suspects were still inside the building and blocked an entire city block as they conducted a floor-by-floor sweep . |
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