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91,292 | 016b037434c26799a79133b6721545e63ba1758f | A nine-year-old boy became the youngest person ever to appear before Parliament today – and described it as being ‘like Hogwarts’. Alex Rukin was petitioning a committee of MPs investigating the case for a new high-speed rail link between London, the Midlands and the North. The primary school pupil has claimed the £40billion scheme will ‘ruin my life’ - because it will run past the back of his mother's home, spoiling his night's sleep. Scroll down for video . Alexander Rukin, nine, appeared in Parliament today with his father Joe Rukin, who manages the Stop HS2 campaign . Alex, whose father manages the Stop HS2 campaign, told MPs the new rail line was a 'stupid idea'. The young anti-high speed rail campaigner, who goes to Clinton School, in Kenilworth in Warwickshire, starred in a video last year informing people how to petition against HS2. Alex, who spends half his time in Kenilworth with his father and the remaining time in Balsall Common with his mother, questioned why HS2 was being funded when his school has to ask parents to donate money. Asked about what he thought of his famous surroundings in Westminster where he made history, Alex said: ‘It looks a lot like Hogwarts.’ Hogwarts is a fictional school of witchcraft and wizardry in the Harry Potter series of books. In his petition against HS2 Alex claimed the project’s bosses were ‘cheating on their sums’. He said: ‘People at HS2 Ltd are really, really bad at maths and make things up that aren’t true, your petitioner is worried that HS2 will cost lots more than the people are saying. ‘Your petitioner has been told that saying things which are not true is naughty, so does not understand why the HS2 people say things that are not true and get given lots of money.’ Alexander Rukin, nine - with his toy named Ellie - became the youngest person to address Parliament today . Alex’s father, and Stop HS2 Campaign manager, Joe Rukin (right) said his son was the 'youngest person to have ever appeared in an official capacity before parliament' Alex’s father, and Stop HS2 Campaign manager, Joe Rukin said: ‘As far as we can tell Alex will become the youngest person to have ever appeared in an official capacity before parliament. This makes sense to me, as apart from the specific instance of Hybrid Bill committees, I can’t think of any case when someone that young would have the opportunity, apart from maybe Edward VI. ‘After I explained what petitioning was, he said he thought everyone in the whole country should be doing it, He is committed to doing something about something he thinks is wrong, and I’m really proud about that.’ | Alex Rukin appeared before MPs probing case for new high-speed rail link .
He claims £40bn scheme will ‘ruin my life’ and is a 'stupid idea'
Schoolboy's father Joe runs the Stop HS2 campaign fighting the scheme . |
277,125 | f3093aafd449bb666b012d9cebdd9a37b969c738 | Salvage experts believe that the AirAsia jet which crashed into the sea with 162 people on board exploded on impact. Suryadi Supriyadi, a director with the Indonesian national search and rescue agency, suggested initial analysis of the wreckage showed that the aircraft shattered because the cabin had not depressurised when it slammed into the water, Sky reported. Mr Supriyadi said: 'The cabin was pressurised and before the pressure of the cabin could be adjusted, it went down - boom. That explosion was heard in the area.' A team of navy divers earlier on Monday retrieved the flight data recorder from the wreckage. Divers have also found the second black box, but they have not yet been able to free it from debris on the floor of the Java Sea. Scroll down for video . Chief of the National Transportation Safety Board Tatang Kurniadi (left) speaks to the media while showing the flight data recorder that was retrieved from the first black box . Indonesian army and naval personnel look at the flight data recorder that was in the first black box . Associated Press reported that Mr Supriyadi confirmed the cockpit voice recorder was located on Monday just hours after officials announced that the other black box - the data flight recorder - had been brought to the surface. He said the second black box was stuck under heavy wreckage, and divers are now working to lift it. The flight recorder monitors data such as airspeed and the aircraft's heading, while the cockpit voice recorder stores radio transmissions and sounds from within the cockpit. Sky's Beijing Correspondent Mark Stone said: 'Experts will be looking at data which recorded the performance of the engines or other instrument in the cockpit. All of that will be taken to Jakarta and analysed in great detail. 'The conversations the crew had with ground control units in Singapore and Indonesia are already known, but they do not know what conversations took place on the flight deck. The flight data recorder that was in the first retrieved black box is placed on a table for the media to see . Indonesian military police carry the flight data recorder through Iskandar air base in Pangkalan Bun, Central Borneo . 'They know there was no Mayday issued and the cockpit recorder, when it is found, could reveal why.' Searchers began zeroing in on the sites a day earlier after three Indonesian ships picked up intense pings from the area. The flight data recorder was brought to the surface by four divers early on Monday morning. The cockpit voice and flight data recorders are vital to understanding what brought Flight 8501 down on December 28, killing all 162 people on board. Officials said last week when the recorders were found they would be taken to Jakarta for analysis. It could take up to two weeks to download data, investigators said, although the information could be accessed in as little as two days if the devices are not badly damaged. The news comes after the tail section of the AirAsia aircraft was pulled from the sea off the coast of central Borneo on Saturday. A photograph emerged on Sunday of an AirAsia search team member appearing to be pose in front of the downed jet's tail. Military policemen carry the flight data recorder of AirAsia QZ8501 away to be evaluated . Indonesian officers take the plane's flight data recorder and move it into a large plastic container . Still dripping with water, military personnel pull out the flight data recorder of the ill-fated AirAsia Flight 8501 that crashed in the Java Sea . In the picture taken on board a ship, the searcher looks to be smiling while a colleague holds up a smart phone to snap the moment. The man standing in front of the tail, which was pulled from the sea off the coast of Indonesian island Borneo two weeks after flight QZ8501 crashed, is wearing a uniform. Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control in bad weather on December 28, less than halfway into a two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore. None of the 162 people on the aircraft survived. So far 48 bodies have been recovered from the site, including at least two still strapped into their seats. Many of the other passengers are believed to be inside the wreckage of the plane's main cabin, which has not been located, due to strong currents moving debris around. At two weeks, most corpses will sink, said Anton Castilani, head of Indonesia's disaster identification victim unit, and there are already signs of serious decomposition. 'Divers have reached the tail part but ... the visibility was below one metre so they only managed to retrieve various debris,' said Bambang Soelistyo, chief of Indonesia's search and rescue agency. 'Now we are waiting for the speed of the current to ease. If it gets calmer later, they will go back to do another dive to determine whether the black boxes remained in the tail or were detached,' Mr Soelistyo said. The AirAsia aircraft's flight data recorder in its black box is unloaded by Indonesian Air Force flight crew . Airbus investigators examines part of the tail of AirAsia QZ8501 . Indonesian officers carry a part of the tail section of the AirAsia plane away to be scrutinized . Mr Marsma Supriyadi, operations coordinator for the National Search and Rescue Agency said earlier on Sunday a sonar scan had revealed an object measuring 10 metres by four metres by 2.5 metres on the sea floor. 'They suspect it is the body of the plane. There is a big possibility that the black box is near the body of the plane,' Mr Supriyadi said in the town of Pangkalan Bun, the base for the search effort on Borneo. 'If it is the body of the plane then we will first evacuate the victims. Secondly we will search for the black box.' Families of the victims whose bodies have been recovered held funeral ceremonies to lay their loved ones to rest. Family members and friends buried their bodies and lay flowers over the graves, bringing photos of the victims to lay at memorial sites. The recovery operation comes as news that the families of the victims of the flight will be offered $US100,000 in compensation by the airline. An offer of $US24,000 was presented to family members, who were given a draft letter from AirAsia, which detailed its initial compensation deal, CNN reported. Indonesian workers survey the remains of the tail of the AirAsia QZ8501 aircraft during the recovery mission at Panglima Utar Kumai Harbour in Kumai, Central Borneo . Crew members of the Crest Onyx ship untie parts of the tail section of AirAsia Flight OZ8501 at Kumai port in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia . Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo (front) reveals information about three ships detecting signals from crashed AirAsia Flight 8501 . Family members have been left confused about the letter's wording and raising issue with the airline approaching families separately in relation to compensation, the Wall Street Journal reported. But Indonesia AirAsia's director of safety and security defended the isolated discussions to The Strait Times on Tuesday, saying: 'We respect that [some] families are still hoping to see that their relatives survived, so we offered [compensation first] to those whose family members have been identified'. Captain Raden Achmad Sadikin added the airlines would be compensating families in line with Indonesian policy. According to the regulatory body that is responsible for Indonesia's finance sector, agencies that insure airlines were liable to give 1.25 billion rupiah for every one of the 155 passengers including 315 million rupiah to 750 million rupiah for the 25 passengers who bought flight insurance. Just before losing contact, the pilot told air traffic control he was approaching threatening clouds, but was denied permission to climb to a higher altitude because of heavy air traffic. No distress signal was issued. Indonesian aviation authorities have denied officials took bribes to allow airlines to alter their flight schedules amid allegations some were paid to approve unscheduled take-offs, including that of crashed AirAsia flight QZ8501. AirNav Indonesia, the country's navigation operator, says its employees are clean and there is 'no big money' involved in relation to airlines altering unapproved flight schedules, The Straits Times reports. The recovered wreckage of the ill-fated AirAsia Flight 8501 that crashed in the Java Sea are covered by tarps at Kumai port in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia . A member of Indonesian Research and Technology Application Agency points at the coordinates where signals of AirAsia flight QZ8501 black box were detected on Saturday . An Indonesian member of the National Transportation Safety Board talks with investigators as they look over the recovered tail section of AirAsia QZ8501 . Seven officials, including three from AirNav Indonesia, have now been suspended over suspected links to unapproved schedules, including AirAsia's fatal flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday, December 28. AirAsia Flight QZ8501 only has approval to fly the Surabaya-Singapore route on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It did not have approval to fly the route on Sundays, which is when the flight crashed after losing contact with traffic controllers over the Java Sea. The seven people suspended in the wake of the plane crash include two from the transport ministry, two from Surabaya's international airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, and three from AirNav Indonesia. Separately on Sunday, a DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Indonesia's Trigana Air crashed on landing at Enarotali Airport in Paniai, Papua. Strong winds caused the aircraft to roll over, domestic news website Detik.com reported, with no injuries to the three crew members on board. The plane was not carrying any passengers. Investigators take a close look at part of the AirAsia aircraft's tail section aboard the Crest Onyx ship . The tail section of the the AirAsia plane is is taken away on Sunday aboard the Crest Onyx ship . In the picture taken on board a ship, the searcher looks to be smiling while a colleague holds up a smart phone to snap the moment . The man standing in front of the tail, which was pulled from the sea off the coast of Indonesian island Borneo two weeks after flight QZ8501 crashed, is wearing a uniform . An Indonesian transport safety investigator told Reuters on Monday that there was no evidence to support the theory that the AirAsia airliner exploded before hitting water two weeks ago. 'There is no data to support that kind of theory,' said Santoso Sayogo, an investigator at the National Transportation Safety Committee. Suryadi Supriyadi, operations coordinator at the National Search and Rescue Agency, earlier told reporters that the wreckage indicated the jet 'experienced an explosion' before impact due to a significant change in air pressure. | Initial analysis reveals that the aircraft shattered because the cabin had not depressurised when it hit the water .
Divers have found the second black box from the AirAsia plane .
However, they have not yet been able to free it from debris on the sea bed .
Earlier on Monday Indonesian divers retrieved the first black box .
Searchers began zeroing in after three Indonesian ships picked up intense pings from the area . |
231,418 | b7a4a0e9f007fe91ef4126295b2937ba21403c6f | Editor's note: Ralph J. Begleiter teaches communication, journalism and political science at the University of Delaware. During two decades as CNN's "world affairs correspondent," Begleiter was the network's most widely traveled reporter. Ralph J. Begleiter says the Pentagon's new policy on media access to coffins of war dead is a milestone. NEWARK, Delaware (CNN) -- The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people. The Pentagon's decision announced Thursday allowing media coverage of coffins of war victims returning to Dover Air Force Base -- if families agree -- restores to its rightful, honorable place the immense value of the sacrifice American troops make on behalf of their nation. It allows the American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time. Although no one should have a veto over the nation's ability to pay respects to its fallen troops, I believe most families will decide that their sons and daughters deserve to be recognized publicly for their sacrifice. These men and women enlisted in the military for their nation. They fought for their nation. They died for their nation. Their return should be respectfully and publicly acknowledged by their nation. The ban on images of returning casualties started accidentally, and without any reference to the "privacy" of the families of those who gave their lives in service to the nation. The accident of media history occurred in December 1989 when poor White House scheduling placed President George H.W. Bush before live television cameras just as the first American casualties were arriving at Dover Air Force Base from the U.S. invasion of Panama. CNN and two other major TV networks fired up their split-screen technology, showing on one side the president joking with White House reporters just before the Christmas holiday -- and on the other the sober images of flag-draped military caskets being carried ceremoniously by honor guards across the tarmac at Dover. After the holidays, the president appealed publicly to reporters to "help me" overcome a public impression that he had been insensitive on TV about the returning casualties. News media had been covering the return of war casualties since World War II. Some military personnel believe the showing of those images -- and others from the jungles of Vietnam -- contributed to a gradual growth of anti-war sentiment during the 1960s. Just days before the Gulf War began in January 1991, the new media policy was formalized in a cable sent by the Defense Department to its posts: There would be no media coverage of returning casualties at Dover or other stops along the way home. The directive made no mention of anyone's privacy but portrayed the ban on coverage of returning casualties as an effort to ease pressure on stressed families, who might feel obliged to travel to Dover to witness the return of their loved one with news media watching. Over the next decade, several exceptions were made to the ban on media coverage at Dover, including for the return of Navy personnel killed in the bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen's coast, just weeks before the election that brought the second President Bush into office. Ironically, throughout the ban on media coverage of returning casualties, the Pentagon continued documenting this important part of any war by assigning military and government contract photographers to take pictures of the flag-draped caskets. Those images, among the most poignant, respectful and dignified tributes to troops who died in service of their nation, were carefully maintained by the Defense Department. They were used for training of honor guards and for commemorating the significance of war casualties. Although taken by the government, those images were withheld from public view. From the aftermath of September 11, 2001, through the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the Pentagon kept taking those pictures even as it expanded its ban on media coverage of returning casualties -- now arguing that such war images would somehow invade the privacy of families of the deceased troops. It was those images that a series of Freedom of Information Act requests pried loose in 2005 after months of legal skirmishing. (Those requests were initiated by Russ Kick, editor of a Web site called "The Memory Hole." When the Pentagon refused to respond substantively to my own series of Freedom of Information Act requests, the National Security Archive at George Washington University and I took the government to court with a lawsuit over the images.) Just weeks before a federal judge was expected to rule in the case, the Pentagon pre-empted a precedent-setting order by releasing voluntarily more than 700 images of returning casualties. They remain to this day available to the public on the National Security Archive Web site. At the time Kick and I were seeking to make the Pentagon's pictures public, major U.S. news organizations were busy suiting up to cover the invasion of Iraq; they did not engage their lawyers to ask for access to Dover to witness the return of those who sacrificed their lives in the war and they have declined to do so since then. The Pentagon policy, which had come into being over the embarrassment of a president, evolved after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, into a complete ban preventing the American people from seeing the most important single measure of the cost of war. So desperate, apparently, was the White House desire to block public view of such images that military photographers at Dover were ordered to stop documenting the returns. To my knowledge, since 2005, no further photos have been taken showing those emotional moments when a casualty touches home soil for the last time. The Obama administration's reversal of two decades of policy on the visibility of returning casualties should have two immediate effects: . Public opinion -- consistently supportive of making the war casualty images public -- has reached a new high. Most recently, a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday reported that 67 percent of those questioned said they think the government should allow the public to see photos of caskets of U.S. troops at an Air Force base. I have had the privilege of speaking with a number of family members who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan or Iraq. Most think the pictures should be public, but only after families authorize it. This dramatic change in government policy should once again allow all Americans to see the full human cost of war, while paying respect to those who served their nation as well as to their families. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ralph J. Begleiter. | Ralph J. Begleiter: U.S. policy on photographing war dead was result of coincidence .
He says it was due to split-screen image of president joking while coffins returning .
Begleiter: New policy allows the nation to pay proper respect to war dead .
He urges government to resume using its photographers to document the toll . |
39,129 | 6e913b4178ee9d468eb290f27f3f7f242b94fdb9 | Sales at Poundland have hit almost £1billion in the past year, thanks to a rise in middle-class shoppers moving away from big supermarkets towards smaller budget stores. The firm, which opened its first shop in Burton-on-Trent in 1990, now has 528 outlets across the country. Originally Poundland was shunned by affluent shoppers – but more than one in five of its customers now come from the wealthiest ‘AB’ group of families. Continued growth: Poundland opened its first shop in 1990 and now has 528 outlets across the country. Chief executive Jim McCarthy, pictured, said: 'Value is now a badge of honour for customers' The company published its annual results yesterday, showing a sales increase of 13.3 per cent to £997.8million for the year to the end of March. Chief executive Jim McCarthy said: ‘Value is now a badge of honour for customers across the spectrum.’ And retail analyst David Alexander said: ‘The meteoric sales growth suggests Poundland is putting in foundations to drive single-price retail forward, even as austerity begins to fade.’ The growth came on the back of the opening of 60 new stores, taking the total to 528, while it plans to expand the empire further with a target of some 1,000 outlets. The chain has effectively replaced Woolworths as the budget general store in towns and cities across the country with the result it has spawned a host of copycat rivals. At one time, Poundland was shunned with the result protestors in well-heeled towns even got up petitions and campaigns to keep them out. Middle-class shoppers: One fifth of Poundland's shoppers now come from the wealthiest 'AB' group of families. It has made an effort to attract middle income shoppers with a mix of more upmarket products and brands . The boss of Morrisons have described the change as the biggest shift in shopping habits since the big box supermarkets arrived in the 1950s. Poundland has made a concerted effort to attract middle income shoppers with a mix of more upmarket products and brands, from grow your own veg ranges to gardening gloves and DIY items. It operates more than 30 shops under the Dealz brand in Ireland and earlier this week extended the format to Spain with a store opening in Torremolinos. | Sales at discount chain Poundland have hit almost £1billion in the past year .
Middle-class shoppers are moving from big supermarkets to discount stores .
Opened its first shop in Burton-on-Trent in 1990 and now has 528 outlets .
More than one fifth of customers come from wealthiest group of families .
Chief executive said that 'value is a badge of honour for customers' |
213,687 | a0bfa9b74e3859611ab02a48842aa4a049dd2544 | Tottenham's Milos Veljkovic is joining Middlesbrough on a three-month loan deal. The 19-year-old is set to stay at the Riverside Stadium until January initially but may extend the loan until the end of the season. The Serbia Under 19 international said: 'Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka called me to talk about the possibility. I am happy to get the chance. In January, a loan could be extended to the end of the season.' Milos Veljkovic featured for Tottenham in their pre-season tour of the United States . Veljkovic plays in the Under 21s for Spurs at Liverpool last April but has struggled to break into the first team . Veljkovic, who can play in defence or midfield, has featured twice for Spurs after coming on as a substitute in matches against Sunderland and Aston Villa at the back end of last season. But chances have proved limited under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Veljkovic failing to appear in any competition this season leaving his first team opportunities limited at White Hart Lane. Middlesbrough have enjoyed a positive start to their Championship campaign and sit just a point off the top in fifth place after 11 games as they target a first return to the Premier League since 2009. | Milos Veljkovic loan to Middlesbrough could be extended to end of season .
Defender, who can play in midfield, struggled for opportunities at Tottenham .
Made Spurs debut last season and has featured twice in Premier League . |
206,714 | 97a42efc3d4a61fe1614a3039474f28bb9317899 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 26 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:49 EST, 26 June 2013 . A conman, who showered his girlfriend with gifts using money stolen from her own account, was jailed yesterday. Adam Lloyd-Harris told Janine Munroe that he was a wealthy music executive and bought her flowers, gifts and trips. But the 32-year-old was funding his pretence of a lavish lifestyle by stealing almost £18,000 from his trainee nurse girlfriend. Adam Lloyd-Harris siphoned £18,000 from Janine Munroe's during their seven-month relationship . Ms Munroe said their relationship had been 'idyllic' but did not realise she had been paying for the gifts herself. He was jailed for 17 months yesterday but Ms Munroe, 35, said the sentence was a 'disgrace'. She said: 'I am angry he will be free again to walk into the arms of his next victim.' Lloyd-Harris, 32, 'constructed a fantasy world' when he met Ms Munroe, telling her he was a record executive for Sony when he was actually unemployed. The pair were together for seven months until she became suspicious in September 2009 and asked him to leave her home. It emerged he had accessed her debit and credit cards that she had left in the house and then hidden bank statements to try and cover his tracks. But she discovered the bundle of mail addressed to her before they split up. Prosecutor John Brennan told Newcastle Crown Court: '[Lloyd-Harris] told her he had a job at Sony. 'When she made contact with Sony they said he never worked there and told her she was not the only person to have been in touch about him.' Lloyd-Harris used Ms Munroe's debit and credit cards to lavish her with presents and then hid her statements to try and cover his tracks before she eventually became suspicious . Lloyd-Harris was suffering from a depressive illness when he stole the money, the court was told . Yesterday, he was sentenced to 17 months in jail but due to time already served he could be out within weeks. Ms Munroe, of Ryhope, near Sunderland, said: 'He is nothing but scum. I have lost four years of my life because of him. I am angry to think that he could soon be doing this to someone else, which you can guarantee he will. 'But at least, for me, this is now over and tomorrow I start a whole new chapter in my life.' Lloyd-Harris, formerly of Peterlee, admitted theft and fraud charges in December 2011 after conning Janine of the money she was saving to go to university. But he failed to turn up at court - and convinced police to release him twice - on the basis he was suffering from a kidney disease. The court heard how Lloyd-Harris hid . Janine’s bank statements when the couple lived together at her . Sunderland home so she did not become suspicious. He took her on holiday to Berlin where he splashed out on luxury gifts and treats. Judge James Goss QC told Lloyd-Harris at Newcastle Crown Court that he had 'constructed a fantasy world' Mr . Brennan told the court: 'All of this was paid for by the complainant . Janine Munro, not that she was aware of this at the time.' The court heard Lloyd-Harris kept up a pretence of being a high-flying, wealthy executive during the relationship. Judge James Goss QC told him: 'You constructed a fantasy world to mask your failure to cope emotionally and maintain your reputation of affluence. 'You told lie after lie. You secreted her post in order to maintain the charade that was taking place. 'It was very manipulative behaviour.' Jamie Adams, defending, said Lloyd-Harris was suffering from depressive illness as well as physical ailments at the time. Mr Adams said Lloyd Harris did not spend the stolen cash entirely on himself. He said: 'It was actually to keep the myth by way of a facade that he was in employment.' | Adam Lloyd-Harris, 32, siphoned thousands of Janine Munroe's account .
Used her money to buy her flowers, presents and even a trip to Berlin .
Lloyd-Harris jailed for 17 month but Ms Munroe said sentence is a 'disgrace'
Judge told unemployed Lloyd-Harris he had created a 'fantasy world' |
285,278 | fda9c8bf34d05394f11c2484d2eede3cce9aeeb6 | A scuba diver who found a wedding ring on the sea bed while on holiday in Mexico has launched a Facebook campaign to reunite it with its owner. Daniel Roark from Gloucester, Massachusetts had been diving off the coast of Playa del Carmen, earlier this year when he came across the gold ring. He believes it must be a wedding band and it is engraved with the name Jessica on the inside, with the date of 16 02 13 and the letters TYYJCEM. Scroll down for video . Daniel Roark, who was scuba diving off the coast of Playa del Carmen in Mexico earlier this year when he found a wedding ring on the sea bed . The gold wedding band has the name Jessica engraved inside it along with the date of 16/02/13 and the letters TYYJCEM . Thinking it could be a meaningful piece of jewellery, he has started a campaign on social media to track the owner. And now the appeal has gone viral with his post on Facebook being shared almost 120,000 times, creating the hashtag #thelostweddingband. Writing on Facebook with a picture of the ring, he explained: 'Ok, so while scuba diving around Playa Reef, Playa Del Carmen last week, I happened to find this ring. 'Unfortunately there is no way for me to know whether it was lost or intentionally thrown into the ocean. 'Assuming it was not the latter, I'd like to find the owner so I can send it to them. Mr Roark is desperate to reunite the ring with its owner but despite his high-profile campaign, nobody has yet come forward . Mr Roark had been scuba diving while staying at Playa Reef in the Mexican resort, pictured, when he came across the ring . 'If you know a couple who was married on February 16th, 2013, who lost a wedding band (likely while diving) near Playa Del Carmen Mexico, please have them contact me at [email protected]. 'If not, please take a second to share this. Let's make some social media magic happen!' But despite the high-profile campaign, the owner has yet to come forward and Mr Roark is keen to find the owners soon. In another post he added: 'I'm shocked at how much support the search for the wedding band owner has received! 'Sadly the owner has not been found yet, but my hope for humanity was certainly restored! 'Always remember, even in this crazy world, there are a lot of kind people.' | Daniel Roark from Massachusetts had been scuba diving in Mexico .
While underwater he came across a gold wedding band on the sea bed .
Ring is engraved with the name Jessica inside and the date of 16/02/13 .
Brought it to the surface to try to reunite it with its rightful owner .
Has started a Facebook campaign so he can track down who it belongs to .
Appeal has gone viral with his Facebook post being shared more than 120,000 times . |
174,852 | 6e4b7181f4177ae0afd0e79d4048dcd8f5961897 | Attorney General Eric Holder has admitted that investigators may have gone too far in their recent attempts to prevent leaks to the media and he said the Justice Department needs to do a better job of balancing national security with press freedom. ‘I'm a little concerned that things have gotten a little out of whack,’ Holder told NBC on Wednesday. ‘I think we can do a better job than we have. We can reform those regulations, reform those guidelines to better reflect that balance.’ Holder has been embroiled in a media storm over a Justice Department subpoena of Associated Press phone records and, in particular, an investigation into leaks to Fox News correspondent James Rosen. Attorney General Eric Holder has admitted that the Justice Department needs to do a better job of balancing national security with press freedom . He said he was ‘not comfortable’ approving a search warrant affidavit for Rosen’s emails that characterized him as a criminal conspirator and would change the process. Although he approved some of the steps in the investigation, he said laws and regulations forced his hand and should be changed. ‘I don't like that, because it means me as official who has great respect for the press, is in essence saying a reporter doing his or her job and doing that important job is somehow branded a criminal,’ Holder said NBC. ‘I'm just not comfortable with that, we're going to change that.’ Holder had recused himself from the AP leak investigation and didn't personally sign off on that subpoena. Holder told NBC's Pete Williams that he has no intention of stepping down from his role as attorney general . Despite calls by some congressional Republicans for his resignation, Holder said he has ‘no intention’ of resigning now. ‘There are some things that I want to do, some things I want to get done that I have discussed with the president,’ Holder said. ‘And once I have finished that, I'll sit down with him and we'll determine when it's time to make a transition to a new attorney general.’ News emerged in May that Holder's agency secretly obtained phone records and emails from Associated Press and FOX News Channel journalists, in investigations targeting national security leaks. Neither news outlet was notified that the government was snooping on its personnel. Reactions from the establishment news media in Washington have ranged from annoyance to outrage, with the perceived threat to First Amendment press rights bringing a new level of aggression from many reporters about the other scandals facing the Obama administration. White House press secretary Jay Carney offered no direct defense of the Justice Department of Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday, but quoted the White House chief of staff doing so in a New York Times article . Holder's hold on his position in Washington has grown tenuous in recent weeks. He . personally approved a search warrant application for emails and phone . records belonging to Fox reporter James Rosen, telling a federal judge . that his status as a potential criminal co-conspirator trumped the . government's legal requirement to alert Fox News in advance or negotiate . with the leading cable news network. The . attorney general also, however, told the House Judiciary Committee . during a May 15 hearing that, 'With regard to the potential prosecution . of the press for the disclosure of material, that is not something I’ve . ever been involved in, heard of or would think would be a wise policy.' Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican who chairs that committee, has . confirmed that he is investigating Holder's testimony to determine . whether he committed perjury. Sally Buzbee (L), Washington bureau chief at The Associated Press, saw phone records from 20 of her employees fall into the federal government's hands. The DOJ also seized Fox News reporter James Rosen's private emails and some of his parents' private communications . Rep. Darrell Issa, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Sunday on CNN that 'it would be kind to say he misled Congress.' 'It would be less kind and more accurate to say that would rise to be a lie by most people’s standards.' The Justice Department doesn't see it that way. 'The attorney general’s testimony concerning the potential prosecution of a member of the press,' a spokesperson said, 'was accurate and consistent with the facts' related to that leak case. Federal prosecutors, the spokesperson continued, never 'sought approval to bring criminal charges against the reporter.' Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has raised the specter of a perjury charge as one possible outcome of a congressional investigation into Holders testimony . White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough defended Holder in a statement on Saturday to The New York Times. Holder, he said through a spokesman, “has the intellect, experience and integrity to efficiently run the Department of Justice and not get distracted by the partisans who seem more interested in launching political attacks than cooperating with him to protect the security and constitutional rights of the American people.' Asked Monday during a scheduled briefing for a comment on Holder's ability to remain in his job, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney referred reporters to McDonough's statement, which he said 'spoke for all of us' in the White House. 'I couldn't say it any better,' Carney said. | Holder has admitted that Justice Department investigators went too far with attempts to prevent leaks to the media .
He said he was ‘not comfortable’ approving a search warrant affidavit for James Rosen’s emails and said the process would change .
Despite calls from Republicans for him to resign, he told NBC that he had 'no intention' of doing so . |
4,422 | 0cc1922056d969b090b3e0a0b64c2ade332feea3 | When Jack Nowell was told by Stuart Lancaster and his medical staff he risked being exposed as a one-trick pony if he didn’t undergo surgery, the young Exeter Chief hardly had a leg to stand on. Following five years of playing with pain in his left knee because of a chronic condition developed as a teenager, things got so bad that muscle started to wither and opponents began to take note. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a new lease of life following surgery which has finally enabled him to deliver a pain-free performance on two legs instead of one. Exeter full-back Jack Nowell has undergone surgery on a knee injury that had been causing him problems . England coach Stuart Lancaster had warned Nowell that he could turn into a one-trick pony without treatment . ‘I’ve had a patellar tendinitis problem since I was 15,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘It was a big problem but I just cracked on hoping it would go away. It never did. ‘Being a youngster you think no-one will notice but with the amount of analysis that goes on now it was only a matter of time before I was sussed out. It was getting pretty obvious. ‘I got to the end of last season and the physios and Stuart just said, “There’s no way you can carry on like this”. ‘I could feel a massive difference straight away (after surgery). I’m over the moon with how it’s gone. It’s made a massive difference.’ Nowell, pictured training with the England squad at Pennyhill Park, is now back fit after his operation . The England man in action for his country during the Six Nations match against Wales in March 2014 . His performances after making his comeback caught Lancaster’s eye, with England’s head coach calling him into the squad for the autumn series. ‘He said he’d been impressed by how quickly I’d recaptured my form,’ Nowell said. ‘That was good to hear from him. ‘It’s been an incredible year but hopefully there’s more to come. Every player in England has an eye on the World Cup.’ | Jack Nowell played for five years with a chronic pain in his left knee .
Opponents started to notice the injury and he was targeted because of it .
Nowell has now had surgery on the problem and is back fully fit .
His target now is to make Stuart Lancaster's England World Cup squad . |
73,813 | d14d2b0e0f3c97ee7aed10a8cb13ce0202f2e188 | Thought you’d waved goodbye to spots in your teens? Think again. Adult acne is on the rise, with one recent study revealing that more than a quarter of women in their 40s and 15 per cent of women in their 50s suffer from embarrassing and painful break-outs. Acne is caused when an excess of the skin’s natural oil (sebum) combines with dead skin cells to block the pores. These blocked pores can then become infected by bacteria that feeds on sebum. In just the same way that hormones wreak havoc on our skin during the teenage years so, too, are they the main culprit as we hit middle age. This is because testosterone triggers higher sebum production, and as we get older, we produce less oestrogen to balance our body’s production of testosterone. Cue unsightly blemishes. Scroll down for video . Adult acne is on the rise, with one recent study revealing that more than a quarter of women in their 40s and 15 per cent of women in their 50s suffer from embarrassing and painful break-outs . Indeed, leading dermatologist and acne specialist Dr Stefanie Williams says: ‘Adult acne is at epidemic levels. Increased stress caused by the pace of work and modern life, can all cause or aggravate acne.’ But there are also many other, lesser known, triggers that help unwelcome spots to appear. Here, Leah Hardy unmasks the hidden skin saboteurs. BUGS ON YOGA MATS . PROBLEM: Your workout is great for your body, but could be terrible for your skin, especially on your back, chest and shoulders. This is because of ‘Acne Mechanica’ or ‘friction acne’ as it’s otherwise known, which occurs when tight clothing or straps hold sweat against the skin. The irritation increases sebum production in pores, which leads to whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. ‘Acne Mechanica’ or ‘friction acne’ as it’s otherwise known occurs when tight clothing or straps hold sweat against the skin. Put a clean towel over your gym or yoga mat when you work out . So the helmet you’ve worn while you’re cycling; your sports bra strap or even your tight gym top could all be making your skin break out. Also watch out for your yoga mat. Bacteria from the floor, feet and sweat can accumulate and transfer to your face. In a 2012 study from the New York University School of Medicine, gym surfaces were found to be infected with a bacterium that can cause acne, boils and folliculitis. Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles which causes a nasty acne-like attack of red spots. In a 2012 study from the New York University School of Medicine, gym surfaces were found to be infected with a bacterium that can cause acne, boils and folliculitis . SOLUTION: First, put a clean towel over your gym or yoga mat when you work out. Wipe down equipment before use. Ensure your gym kit is clean and made of breathable ‘wickable’ materials that hold moisture away from your body such as Nike’s Dri-Fit or Adidas Climacool. If you prefer natural fabrics, look for bamboo and cotton mixes which do the same. Make sure nothing’s too tight so sweat doesn’t get trapped and the skin isn’t irritated. Have several sports bras of different styles and use a different one each time so you don’t get rubbing in the same place. Afterwards, always shower to remove sweat and bacteria, and put on clean clothes. If your acne is painful, see your GP. If it is itchy, ask for anti-fungal treatments and use an anti-dandruff shampoo as a body wash in the shower. OILY SHAMPOOS . Acne caused by oily shampoos, conditioners and styling products is so common, it has its own name: ‘pomade acne’ PROBLEM: Acne caused by oily shampoos, conditioners and styling products is so common, it has its own name: ‘pomade acne’. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Rachael Eckel says: ‘As they are rinsed out in the shower, oily, rich shampoos and conditioners drip over the forehead, shoulders and back, causing acne. ‘They can also cause folliculitis, the itchy, acne-like outbreak of spots, on the upper back.’ Greasy hair-styling products can do the same as they tend to transfer from the hair to the skin, especially around the hairline, blocking pores and irritating skin. This is even more likely if you have a fringe, perhaps cut to cover spots in the first place. SOLUTION: Wash and condition your hair at the beginning of your shower and rinse immediately. Then tie your hair up and wash your face and body to remove any oil left behind. ‘I encourage patients who are breaking out in new areas, like the forehead or temples, to double-check their haircare products for oily and pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil, and eliminate them,’ says cosmetic surgeon Dr Sam Bunting. Avoid hair oils completely if you are acne-prone. Try a light, oil-free shampoo such as Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo (from £4.99). For the body, try Neutrogena Body Clear Wash (£8.95). ANTI-AGEING CREAMS . PROBLEM: The pressure to stay looking young means skincare creams can be too intensive, too rich or too unsuited to many women’s skin. ‘Women today are much more concerned about anti-ageing,’ says Dr Williams. ‘However, often these creams are far too heavy for their skin type and end up blocking pores and causing acne.’ SOLUTION: If you have oily skin or acne, avoid putting anything with oil on your face, especially almond oil, apricot kernel oil and oleic acid — a fatty acid found in olive and grape seed oil. Beware of heavy, pore-blocking — and, therefore, acne-causing —ingredients such as lanolin and cocoa butter particularly if they’re one of the main ingredients. And beware of the moisturising agent Isopropyl isostearate and Isopropyl myristate, which makes cosmetics feel creamy. Try lotions which tackle both ageing and acne such as Triacneal by Avene (£23) and Effaclar Duo+ by La Roche Posay (£15.50). DRINKING SKIMMED MILK . If you ave swapped full-fat milk for skimmed, you could be damaging your skin . PROBLEM: If you eat a lot of bread and pasta and have swapped full-fat milk for skimmed, you could be damaging your skin. ‘As you hit your 40s and 50s, you can become insulin-resistant, which means your body is less able to metabolise sugar,’ says Dr Williams. ‘Starchy foods such as bread and pasta are broken down in the body so they are indistinguishable from liquid sugar. High blood sugar stimulates insulin which can worsen inflamed acne.’ Milk may also be troublesome. While all types of milk are linked with increased acne, a 2007 study found skimmed is the worst. Women who drank the equivalent of two or more glasses of skimmed milk per day were 22 per cent more likely to develop ordinary acne, and 44 per more likely to develop cystic acne, which causes painful, large and deep spots that don’t come to a head. Why? Nobody is sure, but it is likely to be because milk contains hormones which can cause an imbalance in human hormones. The key culprit may be insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1, a natural hormone which seems to increase skin cell growth in the lining of the pores, which then become blocked. It’s thought that processing milk by removing fat may remove the hormone oestrogen which is stored in fat and protects against the male hormones that cause acne. SOLUTION: Stick to a low GI diet — which is rich in high-fibre foods which release sugar slowly into the blood stream, thereby keeping blood glucose levels steady. Also switch to unsweetened almond milk which does not contain hormones. ‘I recommend cutting out sugar and all starchy, grain-based foods, including bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals. Instead, eat unprocessed protein such as fish, meat and eggs, lots of vegetables and fruit in moderation,’ says Dr Williams. The natural process of fermentation in yoghurt breaks down IGF-1, so full-fat yoghurt is less likely to trigger acne. WASHING YOUR FACE TOO MUCH . When prone to break-outs, many women try to desperately scrub away oil and sebum build-up. But this can make matters worse . PROBLEM: When prone to break-outs, many women try to desperately scrub away oil and sebum build-up. But this can make matters worse. Cosmetic doctor Mervyn Patterson says the wrong cleansers will dry the skin, causing acne. This is because healthy skin is protected by the ‘acid mantle’, a fine, slightly acidic film on the surface. Acne-causing bacteria cannot thrive in an acid environment, but if the skin surface is disrupted by excessive cleansing, the skin becomes alkaline, allowing the bacteria to flourish. This is a particular problem for older women because collagen loss makes their skin thinner, more fragile and naturally less acidic. ‘Alkaline soaps and harsh cleansers can easily disturb older skin’s natural barrier,’ explains Dr Patterson. ‘Frequent exfoliation either with abrasive scrubs or harsh acid peels are also damaging and make skin inflamed and sensitive.’ This means that the kind of acne treatments teenagers use to banish their blemishes may simply cause inflammation, redness and soreness in older women. SOLUTION: Avoid soap and foaming cleansers containing sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, ingredients that break down oil, but can also damage the skin barrier. Instead, use a gentle wash off cleanser such as La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel (£12). Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Rachael Eckel recommends: ‘Wash your face no more than twice daily for about 40 to 60 seconds, which is enough time to ensure it is clean without stripping it. ‘Cleanse at the end of your usual shower as the warmth and moisture will help soften dead skin cells so they exfoliate easily.’ | Adult acne is on the rise .
Over a quarter of women in their 40s suffer break-outs .
‘Acne Mechanica’ occurs when tight clothing holds sweat against the skin .
Acne caused by oily shampoos is common . |
83,376 | ec86b3b93ae5d47eb74ca71e54a992295ac6f0a6 | Chesterfield FC defender Georg Margreitter's unusual surname has earned him free pizza for the rest of the season courtesy of Domino's. The Wolves loanee had already been nicknamed 'Pizza' by fans and teammates alike, despite the differences in spelling between his name and the tomato, mozzarella and basil classic. Chesterfield defender Georg Margreitter has been given free pizza for the rest of the season by Domino's . The 25-year-old Austrian says it's the first time his 'Pizza' nickname has ever paid off . The Chesterfield branch of Domino's invited the defender down for a pizza making session . His local branch of Domino's even invited the Austrian to try his hand at making a few slices ahead of his team's League One derby clash with Sheffield United on Saturday. The 25-year-old said: 'The pizza nickname has always come with the territory, but this is the first time it’s paid off! 'With such a high intensity training programme it’s great to be able to treat myself and get the energy levels back up'. Margreitter is currently on loan from Wolves after spending last season with FC Copenhagen . Margreitter arrived at Chesterfield from Wolves where he fell out of favour with manager Kenny Jackett and spent most of last season at FC Copenhagen. At the time, Chesterfield manager Paul Cook told the club’s website: ‘Georg’s career in English football has never really got going, for one reason or another. 'But he had successful spells in Austria and Denmark and we believe he’ll be a useful addition to the squad.’ | Chesterfield defender Georg Margreitter gets free pizza for rest of season .
Domino's came up with the idea after learning of his 'Pizza' nickname .
Wolves loanee is preparing for League One derby against Sheffield United . |
107,783 | 16f4d0c2b42cfd57557d1aaf398110ebf519874f | The RSPCA has been criticised for shooting dead a sick foal then leaving it in sight of a children’s play area for several days with a note demanding that the owner remove the body. A second foal was left alone with the body and was in a state of ‘distress’ until it was rescued. After the foal was put down, the RSPCA inspectors left a letter headed ‘Removal of animals left unattended’ because they could not establish who the owner was. The RSPCA allegedly shot a foal and left its bloodied body in sight of a children's play area. File image . The foals are thought to have been dumped on the rough grazing land at Severn Beach, near Bristol, in an example of ‘fly grazing’. This entails abandoning unwanted animals on private land, thus making the landowner responsible for their welfare. Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, last night questioned how the charity could have thought it acceptable to abandon the dead foal and its companion. ‘It all sounds deeply unsettling,’ Mr Fitzpatrick said. ‘It certainly doesn’t sound like good practice. Jim Fitzpatrick described the incident as 'deeply unsettling' ‘The RSPCA should have done more to trace the landowner and get an appropriate responsible person to take care of the removal of the body.’ The shooting of the bay gelding on January 8 dismayed residents, who complained to the RSPCA and the local council. Resident Becky Ashdown said: ‘It was so sad to see that dead foal in the field, just lying out in the open with blood all around its head. ‘The other one was left in the field with the carcass, and I think that it was quite distressed. ‘The two horses were without water or food for weeks, and all they got was from passers-by who felt sorry for them.’ Katie Merrett, of nearby Stroud, said: ‘I have been in touch with the RSPCA and, as far as I can gather, they decided the foal had to be put down. They said it was the kindest thing to do. ‘It was very distressing for local children, leaving the body where they could see it from their play area.’ Last night the RSPCA defended its actions, saying the horse, which was unable to stand, had been put down on veterinary advice as a matter of animal welfare. A spokesman said that both it and the surviving foal had now been removed, and that the cost had been met by the owner, whom the charity had managed to trace. | RSPCA shot sick foal and left its body in field for owner to recover .
Dumping ground was in sight of a children's play area, it is alleged . |
83,762 | ed953822c3319e066357e162616e0be07933b4f2 | By . Emily Crane . Children who are diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder because their mothers drink excessively during pregnancy are at higher risk of having impaired gross motor skills, Sydney researchers found. The Sydney University and George Institute led study has shown children exposed to alcohol in the womb have problems with balance, coordination and ball skills. Barbara Lucas, study co-author and Sydney Medical School researcher, reviewed past studies to see how a child's gross motor skills, which includes sitting up and rolling over, might be affected by their mothers consuming alcohol. The Sydney University and George Institute led study has shown children exposed to alcohol in the womb have problems with balance, coordination and ball skills . 'We have found children with a foetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnosis are three times more likely to have gross motor impairment,' Ms Lucas told The Daily Telegraph. 'They may also have difficulty participating in particular activities with peers, with flow-on effect including lower self-confidence and reduced opportunities for interaction.' Ms Lucas was unable to determine exactly what proportion of children exposed to alcohol in the womb had gross motor problems. The study compared children up to 18 years of age with the disorder, moderate to heavy alcohol exposure in the womb or an alcoholic mother to children without prenatal alcohol problems. Researchers found prenatal alcohol exposure for babies could have long-term consequences and said just one drink a day could cause brain and peripheral nerve damage. | Study showed children exposed to alcohol in womb have problems with balance, coordination and balls skills .
Sydney University and George Institute led study reviewed past studies to see how child's gross motor might be affected .
Co-author Barbara Lucas said prenatal alcohol exposure could have long term consequences for babies . |
125,331 | 2e049d831486d96569d2a2eb73da33f314b38d4e | By . Debbie Emery . Last updated at 8:03 PM on 17th September 2011 . White House gatecrasher and reality TV star Tareq Salahi has filed for divorce today citing adultery and abandonment. His wife, Real Housewives of D.C star MIchaele, ran off with Journey guitarist Neal Schon earlier this week. And in bizarre twist, Tareq claims his love rival taunted him with a lewd picture. In legal documents obtained by TMZ today, he alleged: 'The paramour [Neal] sent to my email account... a email with an attachment of a penis.' From the archives: Journey guitarist Neal Schon (far left) with Tarq and Michaele Salahi in an undated picture. The blonde reality TV star has left her husband for the rocker . Tareq claims his wife has been having an affair for 'several months', adding: 'She continually exposes our friends and acquaintances to her adulterous relationship and has flaunted the same throughout the community, the nation and indeed the world, and thus caused me to suffer great harm, humiliation and embarrassment.' The pair are understood to have a pre-nuptial agreement. Tareq was once friendly with the rocker and his band Journey, however he has now been banned from gaining access to the group's tour. An unearthed photograph shows the love rivals arm-in-arm, as . Michaele smiles slyly on the other side of them. It was taken after one of the band's concerts. Mrs Salahi first met Schon on 1995 and the pair felt an instant attraction, reported U.S. website TMZ. They allegedly embarked on a sexual affair as early as in 2009, which the Journey musician even bragged about to friends via e-mail. A second photo predicts the . direction that their friendship was destined to take, as Michaele, 45, . sits comfortably on her future lover's knee with his arms wrapped . tightly around her. 'Illicit affair': Salahi is seen here getting comfortable on Schon's knee. The pair reportedly met in 1995 and the relationship became sexual in 2009 . After allegedly hiding the affair for two years, the illicit couple threw caution to the wind earlier this week as Michaele jumped ship from her marriage into the Schon's arms - and onto the Journey tour bus. Gatecrashers: Tareq and Michaele Salahi sky-rocketed to infamy in November 2009 when they sneaked through security at a White House dinner and met President Barack Obama . A confused Tareq reported his wife missing after she didn't return from a hair appointment and a dance class, and even alerted the alarm that she had been kidnapped. But deputies at the local authorities told Tareq that his wife had previously contacted them to inform them that she was okay. She had told them she was 'dealing with family issues and was safe.' However, it soon emerged that Mrs Salahi was with Schon after going to his show in Nashville. The reality star is now said to be in Memphis with Schon as he continues his U.S tour. 'Mrs. Salahi said she did not want Mr Salahi to know where she was,' said police in Warren County, Virginia, in a statement. 'She seemed calm, was engaged in conversation and assured the deputy that she had left the residence with a good friend and was where she wanted to be. She advised she did not want to be home right now.' Naturally humiliated, Tareq plans to divorce his cheating souse, according to a report on TMZ. Reality on the red carpet: Michaele Salahi, second left, posed with her Real Housewives of D.C. co-stars last year before her most recent scandal broke . Tareq . is telling friends he can never trust Michaele again and will never . take her back, even though he believes she'll eventually tire of Neal . and try to come back to him. The shunned husband has reportedly already changed the locks on their family . The . Salahis rose to notoriety after it was revealed they had gatecrashed a . White House party attended by President Barack Obama. The couple mingled with VIPs as Mr . Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed guests to the dinner honouring . Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. Their . antics were only discovered when they posted photographs of themselves . hobnobbing with Washington's elite on their Facebook page causing major . embarrassment to the President's security team. | Tareq, who initially feared Micheaele had been kidnapped, left 'humiliated' by runaway wife . |
260,292 | dd1287b8386dde71f169f36e86771fef24193e44 | It's been a tension-filled week for travelers used to flying safely around the world. The shooting down of a commercial flight over Ukraine and a rocket strike near Israel's gateway international airport have made people keenly aware of the risks of flying through conflict zones. Safe airspace is top of mind for people considering trips to troubled spots and those just hoping to get home sooner rather than later. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people aboard. U.S. intelligence officials say that pro-Russian rebels were responsible for shooting down the commercial airliner traveling from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They now believe the rebels probably didn't know that it was a commercial airliner, officials said earlier this week. On the day of the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice prohibiting U.S. flight operations in the airspace over eastern Ukraine until further notice, widening an April ban on flights over the Crimea region. Less than a week later, a rocket strike about a mile from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, prompted the FAA to prohibit U.S. airlines from flying into the airport. The ban lasted about a day and a half and was lifted Wednesday night. European aviation authorities also moved to ease their recommendation urging carriers to avoid the region. A crash of a plane attempting to land in Taiwan in heavy rain Wednesday that killed at least 48 on board and reports Thursday of the apparent crash of an Air Algerie flight carrying 116 people have delivered two more blows to a tragic seven-day period. The unusual string of events has travelers worried. "I never had a reason to think I was flying over a war zone where missiles might be flying," said Elizabeth Bratt, 34, an American living in Taiwan, who is planning to travel to Europe and the Middle East in the fall. "I would have trusted an airline to avoid such an area." Israel-Gaza conflict felt around the world . The concern over routes doesn't surprise aviation security consultant Jeff Price. "Most travelers were only mildly concerned about where their flights were going prior to the Malaysia flight," Price said. "Many are probably more concerned about it now. I know I would be, and I would definitely be concerned about anything flying over an 'act of war' zone." Or into a war zone. The FAA ban on U.S. airlines flying into Tel Aviv -- now lifted -- followed on the heels of a State Department travel warning about the region. It advised Americans to consider deferring nonessential travel to Israel and the West Bank and reaffirmed existing guidance against any travel to Gaza. Other countries are cautioning their citizens against some travel to the region. Tourism taking a hit . The escalating violence and resulting travel restrictions have translated into tourists starting to avoid Israel. With about 8 million people, Israel welcomed a record 3.5 million visitors last year and a record 1.4 million for the first half of 2014, according to the country's Central Bureau of Statistics. The country's largest airport, Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion, handled a record 14.3 million passengers in 2013, up 8% from 13.1 million passengers in 2012, according to Airports Council International, a trade group. (Israel has six commercial airports, two of which handle international traffic.) Israeli tourism had already been affected by the conflict, and the FAA's flight ban had further impact. Hotel occupancy in central cities dropped to 50%, according to Yossi Fatael, managing director of the Israel Tourist and Travel Agents Association. Since July 15, the number of visitors cutting short their visits increased from 25% to 40%. "The accumulating damage figure is some $500 million," Fatael said. Should the conflict clear up in the next few days, Fatael said, the overall damage might be lighter than expected. If it continues, he couldn't speculate on the long-term impact on Israeli's tourism industry. There's never been an event that affected tourism in Israel to this level, he said, in part because of the timing. "During the Gulf War in 1991, the situation was somewhat similar," Fatael said. "Yet it was in January and not during the height of tourism season." Travelers reassess plans amid Mideast conflict . Still trying to get to Israel . Gil Travel was still sending tour groups to the Middle East, its owner said Wednesday. The Philadelphia-based company had tour groups scheduled to fly into Israel on Wednesday night. Working with El Al airlines, Gil Travel was able to get more than 100 passengers switched to flights that would take them from New York to Israel. "Same goes the other way," owner Iris Hami said before the ban was lifted. "Those who need to leave from Israel will fly out El Al or stay late." Hassan Khawaled, a tour guide with travel group Ahalan Olympus, had a group of students scheduled to fly into Tel Aviv on Wednesday for an Islamic-focused tour of Israel. Since their flights were canceled, the Israel-based agency flew them into Jordan and drove into Israel, he said. Many flights soar over conflict zones . Travelers are trying to get home . Many travelers already in Israel had cut their trips short and headed home before the FAA ban. "For our clients traveling in Israel, we assisted the majority of them in returning home days ago," said Peter Vlitas, senior vice president of Protravel International. "While we have a few still there now, we are working to get them home via Europe. Also, we proactively contacted all clients scheduled to travel to Israel in the next 30 days and advised them of the situation and the refund policies of the airlines." Travelers in Israel have been finding help from the tourist association and some airlines. United Airlines is providing "hotel, meal and transportation accommodations for our Tel Aviv customers impacted by the cancellations," a spokeswoman said. Atlanta rabbi Joshua Lesser traveled to Israel on July 10, joining a two-week reconstructionist rabbinic study mission to learn about the Middle East conflict from members of the region's diverse communities. His Wednesday flight home on Delta Air Lines was canceled after the first FAA ban was announced. Lesser, rabbi of Congregation Bet Haverim in Atlanta, has some perspective. He has taken cover in bomb or makeshift shelters several times since he arrived. "I have listened to the trauma that Israelis experience feeling like their existence is threatened and the fear of the air raid sirens and loss of life, and I have listened to Palestinians and Israeli Arabs talk about the injustices they face at checkpoints, their limited movement. This is no way for people to live long term. "This is a small taste of how people's lives and plans are derailed every day," he said . Planning on going to Israel? Share your story . | Travelers jittery after Malaysia Airlines downing, rocket strike near Israeli airport .
U.S. lifts ban on airlines flying into Tel Aviv airport after day and a half of restrictions .
Travel uncertainty comes at height of tourism season in Israel . |
104,396 | 12afe0e2460993a2ea90bb53fd886974a08989f7 | Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- A passenger plane crashed into a shallow waterway and broke in two after overshooting the runway in a remote area of Indonesia's eastern Papua province on Tuesday, injuring 78 people on board. Bambang Ervan, a spokesman for Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, said investigators to the airport in the coastal town of Manokwari where the Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-300 had been attempting to land. There were reports that bad weather may have been a factor. The injured, many of whom suffered fractures, were taken to hospitals in the area. In all, the plane was carrying 103 passengers, including three children and three infants. Ervan said the aircraft bounced on the runway during landing, skidded and plunged into a nearby canal. Merpati, a cash-strapped state-owned airline which is in the process of upgrading its aging fleet, flies many of the more remote routes across Indonesia. Last year Merpati suffered two plane crashes in Papua. In July, a Merpati flight lost its front wheels as it took of from the town of Biak. A month later, another flight -- a Twin Otter aircraft -- crashed, killing 16 people on board. Air accidents are not infrequent in Papua, a mountainous area in the easternmost part of Indonesia. Two cargo planes and several smaller aircraft also crashed in the province last year. Indonesia has made efforts in recent years to improve its safety record. Last year the European Union's Safety Commission lifted a ban on four Indonesian carriers. In Hong Kong, Tuesday, a Cathy Pacific flight from Surabaya in Indonesia made an emergency landing injuring eight people. Flight 780 from Surabaya, Indonesia, was carrying 309 passengers and 13 crew members, Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler said at a news conference. Passengers and crew deplaned through the Airbus 330's evacuation slides. The injured were taken to the territory's Princess Margaret Hospital. Tyler said a full investigation will follow but engine trouble may have played a part in the incident. The north runway at the Hong Kong International Airport was closed for almost three hours after the emergency landing. | Merpati airlines jet crashes into canal after skidding on landing in Papua .
Crash follows two accidents involving Merpati aircraft last year .
State-owned Merpati is in process of upgrading its aging fleet .
Eight hurt as Cathay Pacific flight makes emergency landing in Hong Kong . |
27,572 | 4e26c433afce61e48a0cee8c38525900a2c82aaf | By . Sara Smyth . PUBLISHED: . 05:32 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 22 April 2013 . A hotel owner in Skegness has been barred from selling a high-end Italian beer because the Linconshire town is said to be too downmarket for the brand. Bosses behind Peroni Nastro Azzuro intervened when Derek Bain, owner of Crown Hotel, wanted to install a draught tap in his bar. The taste of Northern Italy will not be on tap in Skegness after brand inspectors visited the resort . The Linconshire town is home to Britain's first ever toursit camp- Butlins. It's beach is popular amongst tourists . The three-star Crown Hotel will not be serving Peroni, according to management . Brand inspectors were sent to the seaside town's three-star hotel to assess its menu and clientèle.They denied Mr Bain, 32, permission to sell their Northern Italian lager. He said: 'They walked around with a clipboard and turned their noses up. 'They are saying Skegness isn’t good enough for Peroni . 'And the people up here aren’t the people they like to associate with their brand. It’s obscene.' Mr Bain's £85-a-night hotel is next door to £1million homes and a top golf course. But inspectors decided it wasn't good enough to stock the £5-a-pint lager. Mr Bain said he is not the only publican in Skegness that has been turned down by the owners of the Rome-based lager. At least two other pubs in the Linconshire town — home to Britain’s first ever Butlin’s holiday camp — have been rejected. Peroni . ad campaigns show glamorous Italian women living 'la dolce vita', . drinking the beer on luxury yachts. The brand describes the beer as an . 'international Italian icon'. A spokesperson for owner Miller Brands said: 'we assess them on the basis of outlet and consumers as to whether or not our brands are right for there.' Peroni are known for their stylish branding and advertising campaigns. Skegness residents will be able to buy bottles of the beer, but will not drink it from the tap at the Crown Hotel . Peroni bosses said they felt Skegness did not fit well with their brand of beer which celebrates 'la dolce vita'- the sweet life . | Derek Bain, 32, told his three-star hotel isn't good enough to serve the beer .
Peroni bosses don't want any association with Linconshire seaside resort . |
166,828 | 63ba2624817a11733e96b765b3053a97909f5150 | (CNN) -- Capt. James T. Kirk always cut a formidable figure as commander of the starship USS Enterprise. It helped, too, to have some powerful toys -- like a one-of-a-kind Phaser rifle. Somebody inherited some of Kirk's mojo, after paying $231,000 for the rifle that actor William Shatner once toted around while filming the "Star Trek" series in the 1960s, Julien's Auctions said Saturday. The winning bid came in well over the auction house's $50,000 to $70,000 estimate. According to Julien's, inventor Reuben Klamer created the weapon after NBC asked that the "Star Trek" pilot be "retooled for a more action-packed adventure." "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry "asked for a really big gun," the auction house said. Shatner only used the Phaser rifle in the second pilot. Klamer then got it back (though it was used in some publicity photos) while Shatner, as Kirk, got a more familiar pistol used for the rest of the next three seasons. The "Star Trek" showpiece was one of many pieces of Hollywood history that were part of the Julien's auction. Other big-ticket items that were sold include a Munchkins flower plot from "The Wizard of Oz" that went for $15,000, a flying suit worn by Christopher Reeve in "Superman IV" that fetched $25,000, and a nightshirt that belonged to Marilyn Monroe that sold for $15,000. IRS video features Spock . Ashes of 'Star Trek' actor on private rocket . | Phaser rifle used by William Shatner in a "Star Trek" pilot sells at an auction for $231,000 .
Julien's Auctions had estimated the rifle would go for between $50,000 and $70,000 .
Other items auctioned off include items tied to "The Wizard of Oz" and Marilyn Monroe . |
128,952 | 32a0748dcfdfb79c0c78a7ef7cfcf4b3d1d2c580 | By . Jaymi Mccann and Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 04:13 EST, 30 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:13 EST, 30 June 2013 . Nigella Lawson has taken her two teenage children to view a house in central London in what seems to be further proof her marriage to Charles Saatchi may be over. She was shown around the mews home - which is available to let for £11,000-a-month and worth £2.5million - by an estate agent on Friday, accompanied by her sister Horatia and children Cosima, 19, and Bruno, 17. The television chef, 53, had already moved her family out of their £14million home in . Chelsea after pictures showing her husband holding her by the throat . were published. House-hunting: Nigella Lawson took her two teenage children to view a property on Friday. She is pictured returning to the Mayfair flat where she is temporarily staying earlier this week . Miss Lawson appeared pale and did not smile as the group viewed the property, the Sunday People reported. Today a friend of the couple said the argument which triggered the assault was over whether her son Bruno should remain living at home. Both the chef's children are from her first marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001. The family friend told the Sunday Express that Mr Saatchi did not want the teenager staying at home any more as they did not get on. 'He says he feels 'crowded' - even though their house is huge,' the source told the newspaper. 'Nigella is naturally protective. She's not about to just see her son . chucked out but whenever the subject is broached it always ends in an . argument. Moving out: Miss Lawson's belongings were taken from the family home by removal men. A box labelled 'Bruno's Room' can be seen to the left . Boxes: The TV chef's cookery equipment was also removed. This crepe maker was loaded into the van with the rest of her belongings . 'The crux of the dispute between Charles . and Nigella has been over Bruno. Charles has never really got on with . him and is now, in his bizarre macho way, flexing his muscles over his . territory - he wants Bruno out. Nigella thinks he's being terribly unkind and mean.' On . Friday, Miss Lawson tweeted a picture of a birthday cake made to . celebrate Bruno's 17th birthday - the first tweet for the prolific user . of the social networking site since the pictures of the attack were . published on June 15. The photograph received 358 favourites in the first hour, and has inspired dozens of supporters to reply with warm messages. She . and her son have been staying in an apartment in Mayfair, while her . daughter has been away on a gap year but returned to visit her mother. Nigella Tweeted for the first time wince she left her marital home, posting a photograph of a birthday cake for her son Bruno . Skateboard: Boxes were packed into a van in one of the clearest signs that the TV star may leave her husband . Musical: Several instruments were taken from the house and loaded into a moving van . Flora and fauna: Pot plants were also removed from the house in the third day of moving . It . is thought her son will accompany her on a trip to Los Angeles this . week, where she will start filming for a new cooking show. Last week, more of Miss Lawson's belongings were removed from her Chelsea home. One of the vans contained a box which clearly had the words 'Bruno's room' written on it. Two string instruments and a skateboard were loaded into van by a removal company. Some of the chef's cooking equipment was also taken with a crepe maker being added to the pile of belongings. When Nigella Lawson moved out, her husband Charles Saatchi had played down photographs of him grabbing her by the throat and tweaking her nose at a restaurant as a ‘playful tiff’. But she appears to have dashed any hopes that the marriage of the couple - who have a £14million marital home in Chelsea, west London - can be reconciled. Changes: Charles Saatchi returns to his home in Chelsea, south-west London, as removal vans are filled . On the move: Charles Saatchi has boxes and furniture delivered to his home in Chelsea, south-west London . Property shift: Removal men take out belongings at Mr Saatchi's home (left) as furniture was delivered (right) Cooking: Well-used pots and pans believed to be possessions of Nigella Lawson are taken from the home . In and out: Removal teams have been hard at work at the £14million marital home in Chelsea . For three days there has a van outside their home, sent . to take away not just her clothes but also her precious cookery . utensils and recipe books – everything, it seems, but the kitchen sink. Under the direction of Miss Lawson’s . sister Horatia, removal men trooped in and out of the house removing box after . box, including ones labelled ‘cookbooks’ and ‘kitchen’ as well as a food . processor, clothes and paintings. Other items including Miss Lawson’s . weights and exercise ball, dresses, hats, toys, toiletries and even a . bag of wrapping paper were loaded into the van. One box contained a can labelled . Cannabis – which despite the alarming name is a legal energy drink . containing hemp extract. Miss Lawson was not seen at the move and Saatchi turned up . only after the process was complete. There were so many possessions that . the removal team made two runs. Chef: A man was seen removing a box that had 'cookbooks' written on it from the house . Insturment: A Gibson guitar is carefully packed into place among Miss Lawson's other possessions . One onlooker said he had been told that some statues had been removed earlier in the day. ‘It . looked very much like Nigella is moving all of her personal possessions . out of the house – and isn’t going to be back in a hurry,’ he said. Many . items were apparently taken to a storage facility while the rest were . taken to an address some seven miles away in south-west London where . Miss Lawson appears to be setting up home. The . 53-year-old has been seen several times looking drawn and without . her wedding ring, and while her two children and sister have visited, . there has been no sign of her husband of ten years. Saatchi, 70, has accepted a police caution for assault for the scenes that provoked their split, despite playing it down. The . advertising tycoon turned modern art mogul was photographed grabbing . Miss Lawson by the throat and tweaking her nose outside Scotts . restaurant in central London during an extraordinary 27-minute incident. Belongings: Miss Lawson's keep-fit equipment is packed into the van, along with bags and some summer hats . Loading: A plastic box full of personal effects is loaded, including a can of Cannabis Energy Drink . When . Miss Lawson left home after the photos were published a week later, . Saatchi claimed he had simply suggested she moved out to wait for ‘the . dust to settle’. He initially tried to explain the throat-grabbing as a ‘playful tiff’. When further pictures of him twisting Miss Lawson’s nose emerged, he said he had merely been trying to clean her nose. Miss Lawson’s spokesman last night continued to refuse to comment either on the assault incident or on the state of her marriage. But moving her belongings to a different house would appear to signal the start of a divorce between the millionaire celebrity chef and Saatchi, who is said to have a fortune of up to £100million. | Nigella shown round £11K-a-month rental property by estate agent .
Comes as family friend said argument with Saatchi was over her son Bruno .
Her husband reportedly wanted the 17-year-old to move out of family home .
Chef posted Twitter snap of cake iced with 'Happy Birthday Bruno'
Removal men continue to take her belongings from the marital house . |
145,536 | 48340dd03ff17bfcee0a887828036e5c1c222720 | Egypt's new president slammed the Syrian government and called for support for opposition forces Thursday. Egypt's Mohamed Morsy called President Bashar al-Assad's government "an oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy." He said backing the opposition is "a moral obligation, and a political and strategic step that comes in our belief of a new independent Syria." Morsy made the remarks at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Iran, whose theocratic Shiite regime backs al-Assad. It was the first visit by an Egyptian president to Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Two weeks ago, at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's summit in Saudi Arabia, Morsy spoke of Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey working together to deal with the Syrian crisis. He was quoted by Egypt's Ahram Online as saying "it is time for the Syrian regime to leave." On Thursday in Iran, the Syrian delegation at the summit walked out in protest during Morsy's speech and returned after he finished. The president's remarks were being aired live on Syrian state media, but they were cut short. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem on State TV called the remarks inciting and an interference in Syria's internal affairs. Morsy's support of the Syrian opposition reflects his solidarity with the people who took to the streets during the Arab Spring, the popular label for the democratic movements that swept across the Middle East and North Africa last year. The grassroots opposition that forced the departure of President Hosni Mubarak and the collapse of his autocratic and pro-West regime last year led to this year's democratic election of Morsy. Egypt is the most populous Arab country and is very influential, and Morsy's remarks underscore the isolation of al-Assad's regime in the Arab world, particularly among Sunnis. Al-Assad is opposed by Sunni nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and his domestic opposition is predominantly Sunni. His regime is dominated by minority Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Muslims. Morsy is long affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood's political movement, which is a traditionally Islamist movement. In other developments: . Rebels report shooting down a jet . The Free Syrian Army shot down a military jet fighter in Idlib province, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said. Amateur video shot by activists shows an aircraft with smoke coming from it and the pilot ejecting from the aircraft. There was no immediate reaction from the Syrian government. Bread lines attacked, rights groups says . Syrian forces have bombed and fired near 10 bakeries in Aleppo province, killing dozens and maiming others, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. In one attack two weeks ago, at least 60 people died, the group said. "Day after day, Aleppo residents line up to get bread for their families, and instead get shrapnel piercing their bodies from government bombs and shells," said Ole Solvang, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, who has just returned from Aleppo. "Ten bakery attacks is not random -- they show no care for civilians and strongly indicate an attempt to target them." Government forces attack 'terrorist groups' At least 94 people died across Syria on Thursday, the LCC said. At least 26 of those deaths occurred in Damascus and its suburbs and an additional 26 in Idlib province. Syrian state media said military forces attacked "armed terrorist groups" Thursday in various provinces, including Aleppo. "The operations resulted in the killing and injury of a large number of terrorists and the destruction of their dens," the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said. The government has said its forces are battling terrorists, a term the regime uses to describe those seeking the president's ouster. Demonstrators protest president's remarks . Protesters took to the Damascus streets Wednesday night after a pro-government television station aired an interview with al-Assad. In the interview, he said Syria is getting better and moving forward. Crowds chanted and carried placards slamming the president's comments. "It has been a while since we laughed, so go ahead & let us hear your nonsense," one placard said. U.S. gives Syrian opposition tips on governance . The United States is training the Syrian opposition on governance as more areas slip from regime control. The State Department says the programs address issues such as civil administration, human rights and other services. Council members are learning "the kinds of things that they might need from the international community as they begin to rebuild their towns," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. "They're asking for help in how to budget. They're asking for help in how to keep utilities running. How to ensure that the institutions of the state that, you know, provide services to the population, come back up and running. Tunisia urges more nations to step up to the plate . Tunisia, the small North African nation where the Arab uprisings began last year, is calling on other countries to help with relief efforts. State media reported that Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafiq Abdul Salam urged other nations to help Jordan, which is under a heavy financial burden because of the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict. | At least 94 people have died Thursday, the LCC said .
Egypt's Morsy says helping Syria's opposition is "a moral obligation"
The Syrian delegation at the Iran summit walks out in protest during Morsy's speech .
Protesters take to the streets after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's interview . |
211,732 | 9e2f447c8e59331df62912ca5f0eea0393ec6411 | Lanes of impatient drivers and pot-hole ridden pavements can make cycling in the city seem like a battle for survival. But now, an innovative helmet that reads a rider's brain waves is hoping to change that by mapping cyclists' stress levels. Dubbed MindRider, the helmet uses the data it collects to create real-time maps of the best routes for stress-free city cycling. Zoom in on the interactive map below to find out the most relaxing cycle routes in New York . The helmet is being developed by Brooklyn-based start-up DuKorp, who have been testing it on the streets of New York. During September and October, eight riders wore the helmets while travelling Manhattan using the north-south thoroughfares. As the wearer rode down city streets, the mind reading helmet tracked their brainwaves to measure their stress levels before plotting them on a map. A riders' level of attention – which indicated stress - was ranked from 0 to 100, then linked onto a colour scale, from green to yellow to red. The 'Mindrider' helmet has a forehead-based sensor that uses EEG to measure the cyclist's brain waves. This data is then placed on to a real-time map, revealing the biker's stress levels on different city streets. Pictured are maps of Manhattan created using the system . During September and October, eight riders wore the helmets (right) while travelling Manhattan (left) using the north-south thoroughfares. The ride is shown on the map using a colour scale, with green suggesting a relaxing ride and red revealing stress . The helmet has a soft forehead-based sensor that uses EEG – or electroencephalography – to measure the rider's brain waves.It also has an ear-based sensor that's used to remove noise from the EEG signal. The current design is also Bluetooth compatible allowing the data from the EEG sensor to be fed to an app on the user's smartphone which uses the phone's GPS . After a few rides, the cyclists could analyse the data they had generated to plan the best route. A separate crowd sourced map was also created, which gathered data to help other cyclists or city planner plan the best bike routes in their area. Its creators hope, eventually, anyone with the helmet can share their data anonymously, and this information will be included in a real-time map online. Developed by a designer during a visit to MIT Media Lab, the helmet looks slightly different to an ordinary bike helmet. 'The bumps are inspired by the branching neurons and shape of the brain itself,' Arlene Ducao, who created the helmet told FastCoExist.com. 'They are stylistic, but as we move toward a final design, we may use them to help secure the circuit in place.' The new version of the helmet has a light that tells the cyclist if their anxious by glowing in area visible from the corner of their eye. Pictured is a map generated by the system which shows the 'hotspots' and 'sweet spots' in New York . A riders' level of attention – which indicated stress - was ranked from 0 to 100, then linked onto a colour scale, from green to yellow to red . The helmet has a soft forehead-based sensor that uses EEG – or electroencephalography – to measure the rider's brain waves. It also has an ear-based sensor that's used to remove noise from the EEG signal. An early prototype included red and green lights to warn drivers if a cyclist was particularly stressed. That design has now been scrapped and the new version has a light that tells the cyclist if their anxious by glowing in area visible from the corner of their eye. This can help the cyclists know when to be more cautious, and lower their stress levels by moving away from a particularly busy street. The current design is also Bluetooth compatible allowing the data from the EEG sensor to be fed to an app on the user's smartphone which uses the phone's GPS. The team is currently mapping local neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, New York, block-by-block. 'We think the map could still be useful to compare against traffic and accident data, and will be a cool visual proof-of-concept,' said Ms Ducao. The Visijax Commuter Jacket contains flashing LEDs on the sleeves which are activated when a cyclist raises their arm . From smart helmets to traffic detection systems, inventors are working to make cycling safer. Now there's a light-up jacket with built in indicators to make a biker's intentions clearer to motorists. The Visijax Commuter Jacket contains flashing LEDs on the sleeves which are activated when a cyclist raises their arm - so that other road users can clearly see when they're making a turn. The smart jacket also contains a built-in light on the back to help boost riders' visibility. It runs off a handy USB-charged battery pack and comes in two colours – black and neon yellow. The jacket will go on sale later this month at Halfords, for £99 ($150). 'Our customers told us that better safety products would encourage them to cycle more, and the illuminating Visijax Commuter Jacket will make it easier for commuters to be seen on the roads,' said Halfords product manager Ross Hubbard said. 'We know visibility can be a major barrier to cycling at this time of year - we want to help commuters to overcome these barriers and to encourage as many people as possible to cycle.' | The 'Mindrider' helmet has a forehead-based sensor that uses EEG to measure the cyclist's brain waves .
This data is then placed on to a real-time map, revealing the biker's stress levels on different city streets .
Ride is shown on map using a colour scale, with green suggesting a relaxing ride and red revealing stress .
Helmet is Bluetooth compatible allowing the data from the sensor to be fed to an app on user's smartphone . |
275,177 | f07928e07e16dd644d637d033ec3d533a11f60bc | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 06:11 EST, 11 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:54 EST, 11 August 2013 . Hunt: Paranoid schizophrenic and convicted murderer Daniel Rosenthal, 58, has been found in Southampton this morning after going missing from a mental health hospital . One of Britain’s most brutal murderers who hacked both his mother and . father to death has been found in Southampton today after he escaped from a mental health . hospital. Paranoid schizophrenic Daniel Rosenthal, 58, was last seen at 2.30pm yesterday taking 'a routine unsupervised walk around the gardens' of Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Totton. His disappearance sparked a huge police manhunt with members of the public warned not to approach him. But Hampshire Police said today that the killer was found in Southampton this morning. A police spokesman said: 'Daniel Rosenthal was located in Southampton around . 11am this morning and has returned to Tatchbury Mount Hospital. 'Police would like to thank members of the public and the media for their assistance with enquiries into his whereabouts.' Rosenthal, 58, was dubbed the ‘mad scientist’ when he was jailed for life . in 1981 after dismembering his mother’s body with a hacksaw. A court . heard he hacked his father to death in France and dumped his body near . Paris before returning to the family home in Hampshire to kill his . mother. Rosenthal is a patient at Tatchbury Mount Hospital which is on the edge of the New Forest in Totton, near Southampton. The hospital, run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, is just 15 miles from the family home in Hedge End, near Southampton, where he brutally killed his mother. After he was found this morning, Dr Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East, questioned why Rosenthal was given the freedom of taking unsupervised walks. He said: 'Whilst it is a relief that this man has been found, it is disturbing that someone regarded as a danger to the public - who should not be approached - was allowed to go for unsupervised walks.' Rosenthal was locked up after Winchester . Crown Court heard he hacked his father Milton to death in Paris, then . hid the body in a British bin bag in a forest 100 miles from the French . capital. He then returned to England and killed . his 60 year old mother, Leah Rosenthal, cutting up her body with a . hacksaw at their house. Missing: Rosenthal, 58, was last seen at 2.30pm yesterday taking 'a routine unsupervised walk around the gardens' of Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Totton, pictured . Her body was never found and police believe her remains were unwittingly carted off by dustmen. He could not be charged with the murder of his father. Rosenthal was dubbed ‘the mad scientist’ because of weird experiments he carried out on chicken eggs and embryos in a ‘lab’ he built in the living room. He claimed to be a ‘genius’ and would leave bloodied feathers and chicken remains - the remnants of his bizarre experiments - in bags for the dustmen. The home in Hedge End was finally sold for £50,000 in 1994 and Rosenthal collected a sum of £16,000 despite serving a life sentence. At the time a spokesman for the . solicitors’ firm dealing with his mother’s will said they hoped he would . never be able to spend the money. She added: 'Our worst nightmare is of Daniel Rosenthal on the streets again.' Killer: Rosenthal, 58, was dubbed the 'mad scientist' when he was jailed for life in 1981 after dismembering his mother's body with a hacksaw. He also hacked his father to death . Speaking earlier today, Hampshire Police spokesman Julie Knight said today: 'We are conducting an ongoing, extensive search for Daniel Rosenthal. 'He is considered potentially dangerous and a risk to the public. 'Police are urging members of the public to report any sightings of him by calling 999 and should not approach him. 'He is a patient from Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Totton, and has been missing since around 2.30pm on August 10. Dead: This shows the bungalow where the killer's 60 year old mother, Leah went missing from . Vicious: Rosenthal killed his 60 year old mother by cutting up her body with a hacksaw at their house . 'Rosenthal, who is 58-years-old, is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and is a convicted murderer. 'He was last seen at about 2.30pm, when he went for a routine, unsupervised walk around the gardens of the hospital. 'Police have carried out initial searches in the hospital, its grounds and the surrounding areas. Other enquiries are progressing. 'Rosenthal has been known to visit various areas of the New Forest and Southampton.' | Daniel Rosenthal, 58, escaped from Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Totton .
Paranoid schizophrenic was last seen at 2.30pm yesterday .
He was dubbed the ‘mad scientist’ when he was jailed for life in 1981 .
Hacked his father to death before dismembering his mother’s body .
Police found the killer in Southampton this morning .
Local MP said it is 'disturbing' that he was allowed on unsupervised walks . |
29,690 | 546a72da917637ac5c85b79b399d7db4650fd0e1 | By . Rachel Quigley . Last updated at 3:16 PM on 28th June 2011 . Armed: Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger made frequent trips to Boston while on the run for 16 years . Notorious gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger boasted to agents that he returned to Boston in disguise and 'armed to the teeth' several times during his 16 years on the run. He also told them that he flew to Las Vegas 'to play on the slots' as well as travelling to San Diego and even crossing the border to Mexico to buy medication. The revelations about Bulger's description of life in hiding were included in a memo filed on Monday by federal prosecutors who are objecting to Bulger's request for a taxpayer-funded attorney. After he was arrested, agents found . $822,198 in cash in his apartment, much of it in packages containing . $100 bills that were hidden inside a wall, prosecutors said, money which . is now frozen. Bulger fled Massachusetts in 1995 with his moll Catherine Greig and was finally captured last week after 16 years on the run. The 81-year-old, former leader of the infamous Winter Hill Gang who is charged in connection with 19 murders, was arrested in Santa Monica, California, after spending years on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Bulger, who was also a top-echelon FBI informant, fled Boston after he was tipped by his former FBI handler that he was about to be indicted. Cloak and dagger: Bulger boasted that he returned to Boston many times in disguise and armed to the back teeth during his 16 years on the run . Life of crime: Map showing how many murders Bulger is accused of committing and their location in the Boston area . He made the shocking disclosures while being brought back to Boston by federal agents, when he 'admitted that he had been a frequent traveller as a fugitive', Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Kelly and Fred Wyshak Jr. said in their memo. They said Bulger admitted travelling to Boston several times 'armed to the teeth' because he 'had to take care of some unfinished business'. Kelly and Wyshak wrote: 'Bulger refused to elaborate on whom he visited, when exactly he visited, and who was with him on these trips to Boston.' Sketch: Bulger stands during his initial appearance in a federal courtroom in Boston on Friday while his brother William Bulger, left, looks on . Bulger waived his Miranda rights on the flight and boasted to the agents about the many trips he took while on the run, saying he also visited Las Vegas - a city blanketed with security cameras - to play the slots on numerous occasions and 'claimed he won more than he lost'. He also claimed to have travelled to San Diego, then crossed the Mexican border into Tijuana to buy medications, according to the memo. Bulger’s reference to San Diego is of . particular interest since he was possibly sighted there by a DEA agent . in November of 2006 leaving a showing of the Scorcese movie The Departed, in which . the villain is loosely based on him. Evidence: FBI agents carry bags believed to be full of money as they walk out of the complex where Bulger and his longtime companion Catherine Greig were arrested in Santa Monica . The prosecutors also said Bulger told the U.S. Pretrial Services office in Los Angeles that his brother, former Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger, may be willing to help post bail for Catherine Greig, Bulger's long-time girlfriend who was arrested with him after the couple was found in California. Greig, 60, is charged with harbouring a fugitive. Kelly and Wyshak said the court should require an affidavit from William Bulger and another Bulger brother, John, before deciding whether Whitey Bulger is entitled to a public defender. Brother: Former Massachusetts Speaker of the House William Bulger exits John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse following the arraignment of Whitey Bulger . Detained: Catherine Greig, who was arrested Wednesday with Bulger in Santa Monica, is charged with harbouring a fugitive . Peter Krupp, an attorney who represented Whitey Bulger at his initial appearance in court last week, said no one in Bulger's family has offered to help him pay for his defence. In their memo, prosecutors say that during his 16 years on the run, Bulger 'financed a relatively comfortable lifestyle' for himself and Greig. After he was arrested, agents found $822,198 in cash in his apartment, much of it in packages containing $100 bills that were hidden inside a wall, prosecutors said, money which is now frozen. Prosecutor Brian Kelly suggested Bulger has additional hidden assets. The mobster also had two cell phones and . 'other items' still being analysed to determine the 'whereabouts of . additional assets', court documents say. 'He has every incentive to lie and stick the taxpayers with the bill for his defence,' prosecutors said in the filing. Kelly said in court last week that prosecutors plan to seek forfeiture of the money. Money that is earned illegally is subject to forfeiture to the government. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf will hold a hearing Tuesday on Bulger's request for a public defender. Greig is due back in U.S. District Court in Boston on Thursday for a detention hearing. | Mobster also revealed he went to Mexico for medication and Las Vegas to play on the slots .
$822,198 found in cash hidden in walls of his apartment . |
10,045 | 1c7bbe6f8a3aa4b85d5598e7ad206fe374787fcd | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 10:19 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:52 EST, 5 February 2013 . An enterprising artist has given a whole new meaning to statement jewellery. While this series of mechanical jewellery on first glance almost looks like Victorian torture instruments, it is in fact designed to 'amplify body language' and 'encourage gesture'. Created by American designer Jennifer Crupi, the pieces have been created to interpret and force various actions and positions of the body. Scroll down for video . Unusual: This quirky jewellery is designed to amplify body language and encourage elegant gestures . Intriguing concept: Created by American designer Jennifer Crupi, the pieces interpret and force various actions and positions of the body . One such position is the 'power gesture' which requires the user to assume the authoritative steepled fingers, or the 'leg bouncer' which focuses on the ubiquitous anxious tick. The 39-year-old who lives in New Jersey says her work is inspired by people and their body language. Gestures: The concept behind the design is to force the body into positions such as the 'power gesture' or the 'leg bouncer' 'Part of my interest in body language also stems from the fact that I have always been a very self-conscious person. 'I seem to constantly be aware of how I look and am perceived by others, explained Jennifer. Believing that jewellery plays a great part in body language and the way people portray themselves to others, Jennifer has created a series called 'Ornamental Hands' which references elegant hand positions often seen in artworks throughout the centuries. Insecure: The designer admitted that part of her interest in body language stems from the fact that she has always been a very self-conscious person . Array of jewellery: The collection consists of prosthetic-like necklaces and neckpieces . She said: 'Rather than wearing a bracelet to adorn your hand, why not wear a bracelet that positions your hand in a decorative and elegant way? 'The marionette-like jewellery also reinforces the idea of training the hand to rest in this graceful manner.' Jennifer has also created a series called 'Unguarded Gestures' which consists of prosthetic-like necklaces and neckpieces that encourage the wearer to perform varying degrees of open or assertive gestures. Graceful: The marionette-like jewellery also reinforces the idea of training the hand to rest in this graceful manner . | Created by American designer Jennifer Crupi .
Quirky designs have been created to interpret and force various actions and positions of the body . |
30,601 | 57079f078df4f971cd1053b1c71ddf9c53a9bede | London, England (CNN) -- If you've been in London for the queen's Diamond Jubilee, you'll almost certainly have seen the city's "other royals": the Pearly Kings and Queens of London. "We'll all be out in full-swing where we're needed," Vanessa Vallely, the pearly queen of the City of London told CNN before the celebrations kicked off. "We are a recognizable part of London. I have a vision that when people go out to buy souvenirs like red-letter boxes and things like that. Well, maybe one day, there will be a little pearly queen fridge magnet!" With their colorful feathered hats and hand-sewn pearl button suits, the pearlies are an instantly recognizable London institution dating back 150 years. It all started with Henry Croft, an orphan turned street-sweeper and rat-catcher in Victorian London. At first, the young Henry Croft struggled on the streets of London but he found help with the Costermongers of Spitalfields Market -- apple sellers in London's East End. Read more: Buckingham Palace rocks in queen's honor . The Costermonger's sewed pearl buttons down the seams of their trousers to distinguish themselves in the busy markets of London. Inspired, Croft decided to create his own version -- covering every inch of a three-piece suit and top hat with pearl buttons. His theatrical flair attracted a lot of attention and Croft found he was soon earning more money than he needed. So, he donated much of it to charity, funding the London orphanage where he grew up. When he died in 1930, hundreds of mourners attended the funeral. Croft's charity work had become so well-known that he appointed a Pearly King and Queen in each of London's boroughs before he died to carry on his works. The pearlies have been working ever since, handing down their inherited titles and duties from generation to generation. In May, several pearlie families gathered at the Carpenters Arms pub in East London for a pearlie coronation. Nine pearly kings and queens were crowned. In fact, it was the biggest pearlie coronation since the 1960s. Read more: Pomp, pageantry and pouring rain . Vanessa Vallely and her 13-year-old daughter Mia were crowned the pearly queen of the City of London and the pearly queen of Hoxton, respectively. Traditionally, each pearlie sews their own pearl button suit before being crowned, often decorated with family symbols: a heart for charity, a horseshoe for luck, for example. Vanessa Vallely pairs her new suit with a sleek set of jet black Manolo Blahnik shoes but admits she had a little help sewing on the hundreds of pearl-buttons. "It's a fantastic tradition. It's a role model ambassador. We stand for the good old days. What you're seeing is a real cockney knees-up." She said "Wherever basically we can pitch up and raise money." "My friends think it's really cool." Mia chimes in, "Some of them think it's kind of strange. But most think it's cool and something really fun. Which it is!" Interactive: 60 years of royalty, discovery and global events . A "cockney knees up" is exactly what draws many people to the Pearlies. Tourists crammed into the modest pub, pints in hand, to catch a glimpse of the coronation proceedings. With lots of laughing and a bit of shouting, nine shiny, plastic crowns and polyester-ermine cloaks were placed on the heads and shoulders of the new pearly kings and queens. The coronation itself is brief but the celebration last long into the summer evening. The music strikes up and the pearlies begin their rounds with plastic buckets, collecting spare change for charity. It may not seem like much but it adds up. Jackie Murphy, the pearly queen of Hackney, raised more than $100 thousand dollars for her charity last year. She proudly displays her suit of 19 thousand pearl buttons she sewed herself. On the lapels, are the pins of at least a dozen charities she has helped. "We don't ask for a fee, but we charge a donation for our chosen charities." She explains proudly, "Now, my daughter's a pearly queen and my grandchildren are princes and princesses. It's a lovely tradition." | The Pearly kings and queens are a recognizable London institution .
Distinguished by pearl buttons sewed on to clothing, group raises money for charity .
As well as fundraising they act as role models and ambassadors in London areas . |
2,231 | 0683ded120b1f4d470696707b624e126245ff948 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:22 EST, 19 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:29 EST, 19 September 2012 . A judge has condemned a former soldier for his 'frenzied revenge attack' after he stabbed the mother of his four-year-old son to death in front of him after he found out she had secretly aborted their unborn baby. Lance Corporal Ian Lowe, 25, was jailed for life today after he knifed 24-year old Leanne McNuff in front of their four year old son after he unexpectedly learned of the termination when he hacked into her page on Facebook. Relatives of Leanne wept in the public . gallery as the judge Mr Justice Alistair MacDuff told Lowe: 'Yours was a frenzied revenge attack . and cold blooded murder. You robbed her of her young life and your son . of his mother. The anguish you have caused is beyond words.' Jailed: Lance Corporal Ian Lowe, 25, left, was jailed . for life today after he knifed 24-year old Leanne McNuff, right, in front of . their four year old son after he unexpectedly learned of the termination . The soldier, who had just been . dumped by Leanne, posted messages on his own Facebook page saying: 'My . life is in absolute s*** state and I got no f***** to help me. 'Not even the army will help me out . after all I have done for Queen and country. Need a weapon out of . armoury to shoot the b****'. He then kicked in the door at the home . of call centre worker Leanne and repeatedly stabbed her in the upper . body and stamped on her face as their son Jaden looked on in horror. When family who lived next door raced . to the scene, they found Lowe had already fled, leaving Leanne dying on . the landing floor. Jaden was found on the landing holding his teddy bear . screaming: 'Daddy's killed mummy and she is all red.' Devastated: Leanne's mother Margaret McNuff told police Jaden is very confused and sometimes thinks his mother is in hospital . The judge added: 'She was in . the sanctuary of her own home when you committed this wicked act in the . presence of your four year old son. 'The fear and pain she must have felt . in her dying minutes is unimaginable. You are evil and dangerous. You . went round there to get even with her - blaming her as you had done on . so many previous occasions for the mess you had got yourself into.' Leanne suffered 22 separate wounds to her body and she died in hospital. Her mother Margaret McNuff later told police: 'Jaden is very confused - he will say his mum is in hospital getting better one day and then the next will say that she's in the sky with the angels.' Today at Manchester Crown Court Lowe, who served in Afghanistan, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of murder and was ordered to serve a minimum 28 years. The jury was told the couple had originally began dating in 2006 and Jaden was born the following year but they split up last February after a series of rows. Lowe, nicknamed 'Boom Boom', warned Leanne he would 'make her life hell,' and in text messages Leanne replied: ' I clearly mean nothing to you. There's only do much hurt I can take.' In 2010 Miss McNuff made a complaint to the army that Lowe had threatened to 'get a hitman to kill her over Child Support Agency payments'. On Valentine's Day Leanne then . discovered she was pregnant with Lowe's baby and rang him at his . barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire where he was serving in the 1st . Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment and due to go on a tour of . Afghanistan. 'She made it . clear that although she didn't want to resume a relationship with him . she would not prevent him from seeing either Jaden or the baby when it . was born,' said Neil Flewitt QC prosecuting. 'The . defendant responded saying if they could not live together as a family . his life wouldn't be worth living and he would commit suicide.' Lowe . was allowed home from base on compassionate grounds and once back in . Manchester begged Leanne to take him back. She agreed but said she . 'wouldn't kiss or cuddle him' because she 'no longer had feelings for . him.' During a meeting about . Jaden and the pregnancy at Leanne's house on February 18, a violent row . broke out when Lowe started telling Jaden that Leanne was a . 'prostitute' and accused her of 'sleeping around.' As . she tried to push him out of the house in Droylsden, Greater . Manchester, Lowe grabbed Leanne by the throat and began 'shaking her . from side to side.' Sentence: Lowe, Leanne and their baby son. Lowe, who . served in Afghanistan, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of . murder and was ordered to serve a minimum 28 years in court today . In a statement given to police at the time, Leanne recalled: 'He's shaking me from side to side and I'm almost on the floor. 'I've . lost my footing but being held up by Ian gripping my clothing and he's . shaking me about. Somehow, whilst he's still ragging me about, I've . twisted and he's got hold of my hair. 'Now he's got a grip of my clothing and a grip of my hair and he's still shaking me about. 'At . some point he's let go of my jumper and his left arm has come around my . throat choking me and making it hard to breath for a few seconds. I was . frightened to death. 'I . didn't know what was going to happen. I was scared wither he'd really . hurt me or I'd lose the baby. I was scared for Jaden's safety. 'Then . Ian's released me and pushed me to the floor. He's gone to kick me. At . first I think he was going to kick me hard but he held back and it . wasn't a very hard kick in my back. Then he's picked up his bag and ran . out of the gate'. Crime scene: Floral tributes and police officers outside the house in Droylsden, Manchester after the attack. Lowe found out about Leanne's termination after hacking into her Facebook account . Lowe was later arrested and charged with assault and was ordered not to contact Leanne as part of his bail conditions. But literally an hour after he was charged, a frightened Leanne ran police again claiming Lowe had telephoned her. The following day on February 20, Leanne secretly went to an abortion clinic for a consultation with a nurse said her relationship with Lowe was definitely over and she secretly had a termination on March 1. In the week before the killing on March 11, Lowe confided to his army superiors and the chaplain about his unhappiness at Leanne having a baby and his fears of being thrown out of the army over the assault allegation. He eventually found out about the termination on March 10 when he hacked into Leanne's Facebook account and then wrote: 'Yet again she does it again, we split and she stops me and my family seeing Jaden. She tries to ruin my career, not only are you a benefit thief you are an oxygen thief as well'. At 4.30pm. on the day of Leanne's death Ian wrote, 'Just to let everyone know Leanne had aborted the baby. She did not tell me or even given me a say in the matter'. He then hacked her Facebook account falsely claiming she had slept with members of her own family and that is how he found out she had had the abortion because she had messaged it to one of her friends. As he prepared to go back to camp Lowe went for a drink with his father and a family friend who said he 'looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.' That night Leanne's mother Margaret McNuff and Margaret's son Ryan who lived next door, heard 'banging noises' coming from the victim's house. Ryan ran next door to see the front door had been kicked off its hinges and saw Lowe walking quietly away. Margaret told the hearing: 'Jaden was stood there with a brown teddy bear and said: 'Nana can you help mummy.' Leanne was on her back. 'Her eyes were piercing wide open. I took Jaden down to get him away because I wasn't sure whether she was alive. Then I ran back up and just started CPR on her.' She added: 'Leanne said she really wanted the child but she was scared for her own life and he'd never stay away from her if she had another baby. I am angry that Ian has taken her life. She was tiny - she could not have fought back. It was very brutal.' The court heard Lowe had previously been convicted of assaulting his own mother Lorraine by throwing her against a car during an argument over Leanne. He denied murder but admitted manslaughter claiming he had 'lost self control' and saying of Leanne and Jaden: 'They were my life'. | Judge jailed Ian Lowe for 28 years for stabbing the mother of his son to death in front of him .
He had found that she had secretly aborted their unborn baby when he hacked into her Facebook account .
Judge says: 'The anguish you have caused is beyond words' |
15,196 | 2b32457a4b8eed33f9732225a36108420e47370e | By . Jenny Hope . PUBLISHED: . 18:46 EST, 13 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:50 EST, 14 February 2013 . Doctors are calling for an end to the prescribing of gluten-free foods on the health service. The 50-year-old practice is stuck in a ‘time warp’ and forces GPs to behave like grocers, it is claimed. Prescriptions for gluten-free food cost £27million a year in England – some of which could be better spent on medication for the seriously ill, says GP Dr James Cave, editor of the independent review of medical treatment, the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. Critic: Dr James Cave, editor of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, called for an end to gluten-free prescriptions, saying they were introduced when the foods were not widely available in shops . Mr Cave wants the system to be overhauled, writing in a magazine editorial with deputy editor David Phizackerley. Gluten-free foods are prescribed to those with coeliac disease, an auto-immune condition triggered by gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. The DTB editorial says prescriptions were introduced before the foods became widely available in shops. Dr Cave said the NHS must find a better way to support coeliac patients, possibly with vouchers for gluten-free foods. Gluten can be found in cakes, biscuits, pasta, beer and bread, as well as in a wide range of products from soy sauce to fish fingers, and mayonnaise to baked beans. The cost of buying gluten free foods without the help of prescriptions can be ‘prohibitive’ for patients, with the products up to 500 per cent higher than the ‘normal’ equivalents. Better use: Dr Cave said some of the money that is used for gluten-free prescriptions, which cost £27million every year in England, could be used on medication to treat serious illnesses . A small loaf can cost around £3, a pack of crumpets £1.70 and a cake £3. But the prescribing system is outmoded and costly, adding a layer of unnecessary red tape to the NHS which takes up healthcare professionals’ time and is unhelpful to patients, the editorial says. Dr Cave said the current system racks up costs at every level, from dispensing fees paid to pharmacists to charges made by wholesalers, and can be inefficient for patients waiting for their orders to arrive. Dr Cave’s own GP practice includes a pharmacy which allows him to see where the savings can be made, he added. Source: Gluten can be found in cakes, biscuits, pasta, beer and bread, as well as in a wide range of products from soy sauce to fish fingers, and mayonnaise to baked beans . He said ‘Sometimes I have to act more like a grocer than a GP when the orders come in and the food stacks up. ‘It’s an antiquated system stuck in a time warp which works like an old-fashioned cartel, but it’s NHS money and budgets for cancer and other drugs are under pressure.’ Some trusts will no longer authorise prescribing of gluten free cakes and sweet biscuits because it doesn’t promote healthy eating. Gluten free foods have a unit value - for example 400g bread equals one unit - and male coeliac patients are entitled to 18 units a month, with women getting 14 units. Dr Cave said he did not want to see the NHS stop helping coeliac patients, as the financial burden for the ‘vulnerable’ might be considerable. ‘But it is time to consider the use of food vouchers that could be redeemed against gluten-free foods at any outlet so the supply of food would no longer be a medical issue’ he added. The charity Coeliac UK said support was needed as gluten free foods can can cost much more than regular foods and are often not available in budget or convenience stores relied upon by those on low incomes, the elderly, disabled or those living in remote rural areas. Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Coeliac UK said ‘Following a gluten-free diet enables patients to live a full and healthy life. However, to do so, it is crucial that they are able to access basic gluten-free foods, such as bread, flour and pasta, which are the staples in all our diets. ‘If you are elderly, on low incomes or have mobility problems there is a gap because such foods are likely to be inaccessible. They cost too much or can’t be found in the shops you can get to. 'Prescriptions are providing an essential service for these vulnerable groups.’ She said the charity is willing to consider any scheme, including vouchers, which continues to support the vulnerable and for new ways to cut red tape. She said: ‘People with coeliac disease would ideally like to shop for their food like everyone else. If we can address the cost and availability issues in retail shops there would not be a need for prescriptions. ‘In the meantime, we agree that we need to find the most cost effective way to support patients. This is why we have promoted a pharmacy supply scheme which is proven to reduce costs and save GP time. ‘Such schemes are already up and running in England and an all Scotland scheme has been reported as being on the cards.’ | Editor of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin wants system overhauled .
Dr James Cave said NHS could offer vouchers for gluten-free food instead .
Prescriptions to those with coeliac disease cost £27million a year in England . |
34,164 | 6112289b1cf13a2e9c215a6ff8f4becfc28713f4 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard for MailOnline . Tickr asks users to post short 20-second videos in the place of photos . A bit of filter-action and the right angle can make anyone look good on Tinder. But there has been a backlash against the dating-app, and others like it, which relies almost exclusively on appearance to create matches. Now a competitor is gearing up to launch an iPhone app that could mean the end of these mismatches. The London-based service is called Tickr and will ask users to post videos in the place of heavily-filtered photos. It is currently available online, and an app version is due to go live next month. Users have to upload clips that are around 20 seconds long, showing a part of their personality or their hobbies. In a similar way to Tinder's rating system, users earn 'ticks' if they are liked and 'icks' if not. If two members both tick each other, Tickr announces a match and they can start talking through text or video messaging. 'If you just can't decide whether to tick 'em or ick 'em, just put a pin in it and click Stick. 'We'll save the video for you to watch later,' the company wrote on its website. In a similar way Tinder's rating system, users earn 'ticks' if they are liked and 'icks' if not. Then, if two members both tick each other, Tickr announces a match and they can start talking to one another through text or video messaging . Users can also go through profile pictures to find those they like, but the general aim is to provide a more 'genuine' dating experience by watching videos. Users can sign up at Trustyourtickr.com in advance of the iOS app launch and upload videos using a desktop. The first 5,000 people to sign up will get free lifetime membership. After that, it costs £10 ($17) a month. Chris de Burgh found her irresistible, and now scientists say that ladies wearing red really are more attractive to men. A new study claims that wearing the colour increases a woman's sex appeal and also makes her seem more approachable and competent. It found that women also find red attractive on men - but the effect isn't as powerful. Psychologists at Central China Normal University, in Wuhan, China, showed 280 heterosexual students 32 pictures of the opposite sex and asked them to rate them according to how attractive they found them. The people in the photos were wearing either blue, white or red. Male students found 'feminine' women wearing red the most attractive and also rated them highest for looking 'warm' and competent. | The service is called Tickr and will ask users to upload 20-second clips .
To match users, videos earn 'ticks' if they are liked and 'icks' if not .
Site will launch an iPhone app next month costing £10 ($17) a month . |
121,923 | 299bf0a1c1c46a2aa37ab6d39226ba93263f81f4 | By . Jonny Singer . Sunderland owner Ellis Short has upped the stakes in the North East rivalry by nominating three prominent personnel at Newcastle United to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Short posted a video of his own challenge on Sunderland's youtube channel as centre-back pairing West Brown and John O'Shea douse him in water beside the Stadium of Light pitch. However the real entertainment in the short video comes not from the suited Short screaming as he is drenched, but from his choice of nominations. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Short nominate a Newcastle trio for the Ice Bucket Challenge . Short video: The Sunderland owner takes the challenge next to the Stadium of Light pitch . Ready to go: Having nominated his rivals, Short prepares for the ice cold water . Drenched: John O'Shea and Wes Brown empty the bin of freezing water over their boss's head . All over: As players and coaches laugh, Short gets up from his Ice Bucket Challenge . To the obvious delight and amusement of those filming the clip, Short targets his club's great rivals, calling on controversial Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to take the challenge. Short then moves on to call out Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, before turning his attention to midfielder Jack Colback. Colback, a Sunderland player from the age of eight until his move to Newcastle this summer, became a figure of some controversy when he decided to move across to St James Park. All three will now be expected to complete the challenge or donate to charity within the next 24 hours. Nominated: Owner Mike Ashley (left) and manager Alan Pardew (right) must now complete the challenge . Switch: Colback, who grew up in the Sunderland academy, caused a stir when he moved this summer . | Short nominates opposite number at rival club Ashley .
Sunderland owner also targets Newcastle manager Pardew and player Colback .
Colback played for Sunderland for fourteen years before joining local rivals on a free this summer to anger of his former club .
Short performed the challenge by the Stadium of Light pitch . |
114,933 | 2052a8183da0664ab1162661655091fc98a5a81a | (CNN) -- Android continues to dominate in the battle to be the top smartphone system in the world, thanks in part to Samsung, which reigned as the top phone manufacturer for 2012. Android grew its already significant chunk of the smartphone market to 68.8% last year, while Apple's iOS operating system stayed comfortably in second place with 18.8% of smartphone shipments, according to new stats from research firm IDC. Together, the two operating systems accounted for 87.6% of all new smartphones in 2012, leaving struggling competitors BlackBerry and Windows far behind. It's no surprise that Android has surged so far ahead of iOS. There are are thousands of Android handset models in every size and at every price imaginable, while Apple has released only six versions of the iPhone. Apple sold 130 million smartphones last year, according to Gartner. "Even with the Apple Maps debacle, iPhone owners were not deterred from purchasing new iPhones," said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas in a statement. Apple released one new iOS phone in 2012, the much-anticipated iPhone 5. However, according to Gartner it was previous iPhone models, which dropped in price enough to make them a more appealing option in emerging markets, that accounted for much of Apple's smartphone success. Even though Apple's sales are growing, IDC points out that its year-over-year growth is actually slower when compared with the rest of the smartphone market. Samsung sold 384.6 million phones in 2012, only 53.5% of which were smartphones, according to Gartner. Chinese phone maker Huawei climbed to the No.3 smartphone vendor spot in the final quarter of 2012. Nokia has been struggling and 2013 will be a key year for the company. Its fate is largely tied to that of Windows Phone 8, which runs on Nokia's latest Lumia phones. Both BlackBerry and Windows are compteting to win over smartphone customers with their new offerings. BlackBerry just released its long-awaited new smartphone operating system and two new handsets in January, and Microsoft debuted its Windows Phone 8 update at the end of 2012. BlackBerry must persuade its existing users to make the upgrade and win back some large companies, which were previously its biggest customers. Unlike BlackBerry, Windows Phone 8 unveiled its new products and marketing campaign early enough to make some progress last year. Though it only made up 2.6% of the smartphone market in 2012, it did grow its number of shipments an impressive 98.9%, according to IDC. BlackBerry plummeted 36.4% from the previous year, but we'll have to wait and see how its latest products do in the fresh year. Overall, the number of phone sales in 2012 actually dropped 1.7% from the previous year, the first drop since 2009. "Tough economic conditions, shifting consumer preferences and intense market competition weakened the worldwide mobile phone market this year," Gartner analyst Anshul Gupta said in a statement. | Reports: Android, Apple make up vast majority of global smartphone sales .
Samsung was the top phone maker in 2012 thanks to its popular Galaxy devices .
New BlackBerry and Windows Phone 8 devices are just now winning over new users . |
114,156 | 1f471e672b2aafe9ccb1d28fecd8a7e300526fc7 | By . Sally Lee for Daily Mail Australia . A thief armed with a large carving knife threatened a shop attendant when he robbed a Sydney store on Saturday night. The man had his face concealed when he entered the store with a 35cm knife and demanded money from 23-year-old Charlie. He told Nine News that the thief stuffed $200 cash into his bag and fled Lucky7 Supermarket in Glebe, Sydney's inner west, at about 9pm. Scroll down for video . A shop attendant was confronted by a thief armed with a 35cm knife when he robbed a Sydney store . The thief had his face concealed when he demanded money from the 23-year-old shop attendant before 9pm . Police are searching for the thief who fled with some cash from the supermarket in Glebe, Sydney's inner west . It was a confronting and terrifying moment for Charlie, who said he opened the cash register for the bandit because it wasn't worth fighting back. He said this is the first incident of its kind. The thief has been described as being of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern appearance, about 175cm tall and with a medium build. He was wearing a yellow shirt, dark grey hooded-jumper, jeans with white sneakers and was carrying a bag with a 'West Tigers' logo on it. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It was a confronting and terrifying moment for Charlie who said he opened the till for the bandit because it wasn't worth fighting back . | The man entered the store and demanded money from a 23-year-old shop attendant on Saturday night .
He fled with about $200 cash from Lucky7 Supermarket in Glebe, Sydney's inner west, at about 9pm .
He's been described being of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern appearance, about 175cm tall and with a medium build . |
227,013 | b1f49758aa65e1f793754a652db913f24fca03d0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:28 EST, 16 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:29 EST, 16 November 2012 . Catwoman meet your less stealthy match. Police are on the prowl for a man dressed as a leopard who harassed employees at a Shell gas station in Indianapolis. Local cops said the man in the feline costume told a gas station clerk he was hungry and threatened to hurt him. Scroll down for video . Surveillance video: Leopard man enters the store carrying a stuffed green animal . Surveillance video: Leopard man heads toward the cashier . ‘Every time, they think that it's funny,’ Sylvano Houessou, the manager of the gas station store, told Fox59. ‘They come to the store just to mess with you, fight with you, trying to do stuff. They just don't care about nobody, you know?’ The leopard man struck twice in three nights at the Shell station. Surveillance video caught him and his two friends walking in on a recent Sunday morning. The video shows the costumed prankster entering the store, rubbing his belly while waiting behind a customer and then tossing a green stuffed animal at a cashier. The leopard man then tackles a rack of junk food before running out of the store. Surveillance video: Leopard man rubs his belly while waiting behind a customer . Surveillance video: Leopard man tosses his green stuffed animal at a cashier . He was followed by a gas station employee carrying a big stick. Houessou and his employees told Fox59 that the costumed man and his friends are no longer allowed in the store. They will also keep their doors locked during late hours, they said. Surveillance video: Leopard man tackles a rack of junk food . Surveillance video: Leopard man runs out of the gas station store . Watch video here: . | A man in a leopard costume harassed employees at a Shell gas station in Indianapolis on two occasions .
Surveillance video shows the costumed prankster .
entering the store, waiting behind another customer while rubbing his .
belly and then tossing a green stuffed animal at a cashier . |
47,041 | 848d6810d0435d6c8712a06e0779559302b01f3a | Until recently, the dazzling visual effect caused by helicopter blades hitting sand and dust - and creating mesmerizing halos described as 'one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see in a war zone' - had no specific name; observers would simply marvel at the breathtaking sight without an understanding of what was causing it - or what to call it. Now, however - to honor the memories of two soldiers killed in the war in Afghanistan - the physics that create these types of breathtaking halos has a name: The Kopp-Etchells Effect. The effect is named after U.S. Army Ranger Benjamin Kopp and British soldier Joseph Etchells, and was given its title by photojournalist Michael Yon - who was covering the war and captured the effect in dozens of photos - as a way to honor the fallen soldiers. Pretty: Until recently, there has been no name for the halo effect that occurs when a helicopter lands in the desert . Dust: Rotors slicing through dust clouds help create the halo effect that occurs when helicopters land in the desert . Kopp-Etchells Effect: To honor slain soldiers who frequently viewed the halos, a war photographer named the effect after them . Heroes: Corporal Benjamin Kopp, left, and Corporal Joseph Etchells, right, were both killed during combat in Afghanistan in 2009 . Kopp and Etchells were killed in combat in Sangin, Afghanistan, in July of 2009. At the time of their deaths, the two men were just 22 and 21 years old, respectively. Kopp was born in Minnesota and enlisted in the Army straight out of high school, working his way up to the rank of corporal in just three short years. He completed two tours of duty in Iraq prior to his fateful tour in Afghanistan. Etchells hailed from Greater Manchester . and joined the British army in 2003. He, too, rose to the rank of . corporal, and had previous deployments before the tour in Afghanistan . that ultimately took his life. The . stories of the two soldiers aren't dissimilar from many members of the . armed services, and like most soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, the two . men likely would have been witness to the stunning halos in the night . sky that came with helicopters heading to-and-from various missions. Beautiful: the Kopp-Etchells Effect has been described as 'one of the most beautiful things you¿ll ever see in a war zone' Tragedy: The effect seen here was named after two men killed in battle in Afghanistan in 2009 . Cyclone: metallic dust spins of the blades of helicopter to create the cyclonic appearance . To honor the two men - and other brave men who, like them, spent countless nights escaping the horrors of war in the beauty of helicopter halos - Yon dedicated the effect to them. Until recently, what caused the Kopp-Etchells Effect wasn't entirely understood. One pilot told the photographer that the halos were 'a result of static electricity created by friction as materials of dissimilar material strike against each other.' Other theories were that the extreme speed of the blades moved dust particles so fast that they burned up like meteors in the atmosphere. Science blogger Kyle Hill at Nautilus, . however, explains the effect as the result of 'when a helicopter . descends into a sandy environment, the enormous downward thrust from the . blades inevitably kicks up a cloud of sand. 'Cutting through the sand and dust, the blades smash into millions of these tiny particles, . each sandblasting metal from the blade. Most of the time the only . visible consequence to the helicopter is pitting on the blades, with . enough damage warranting replacement. Every so often, however, the metal . blasted from the blades produces a miniature meteor shower.' Frequent sight: Most soldiers in combat zones witness the Kopp-Echells Effect frequently . Sawdust: metal from the wing's abrasion strips turns into a fine dust when it collides with sand and rocks from the ground . Combat: the beauty of the Kopp-Echells Effect is a welcome escape from the horrors of war . He goes on to explain that, to prevent deterioration of the blades, they are often coated with an abrasion strip, typically made of metals like titanium and nickel. 'This abrasion strip can handle a lot of wear and tear, but the desert is a harsh environment,' Hill explains. 'Sand is harder than the titanium or nickel that makes up the abrasion strip, so when a helicopter’s blades begin cutting through a cloud of sand, the particles hit the blades and send bits of metal flying into the air.' Those bits of metal come in a cloud of pyrophoric (flamable) particles, which ultimately burst into flames, thus causing the wondrous Kopp-Etchells Effect. Though beautiful, this effect is dangerous as it can blind the pilots' night vision gear. On truly dark nights a helicopter can land nearby and not be seen, but if the Kopp-Etchells Effect kicks in, then it suddenly becomes a more obvious target for enemy fire. | The Kopp-Etchells Effect was named in honor of two soldiers - one British and one American - who were killed in Afghanistan in 2009 .
The dazzling photos were taken by a photojournalist who covered the war, and who decided to start calling the halos the Kopp-Etchells Effect .
When the two soldiers died, they were just 21 and 22 years old . |
66,738 | bd40e5abcaf8e9e346bb601e44d2e1d8f840d09d | The Brazilian government has deployed forces to one of Rio de Janeiro's largest slums - in a clean-up operation which aims to reduce crime in the city ahead of the World Cup. Federal forces are here pictured entering the violence-plagued Complexo da Mare - one of Brazil's biggest slums - 'favelas' in Portuguese. These pictures show troops storming the favela bearing guns in bullet-proof vehicles while a helicopter circles above. The faces of the 130,000 residents who live on the Mare complex have also been pictured. Mare is formed of 16 separate communities and has been riddled with drugs and dominated by gangs and militias. It is close to Rio's international airport, which means that visitors must drive past it on their way into the city. Senior officials have denied that the Mare clean-up is related to the World Cup - claiming that they aim to improve the lives of Rio favela residents. Today, daily life in one of Rio de Janerio's biggest shanty towns was disrupted by military personnel in an attempted to clean up the city before the World Cup . Residents looked on bemusedly as armed federal officers in bullet-proof vests strode through the run-down streets in a bid to crack down on crime . This emaciated horse eating from a bin is not an uncommon sight in the violence-plagued Complexo da Mare, which is controlled by gangs and militias . Tanks were even rolled out into the complex early Sunday morning to carry more than 1,000 police and further military personnel on an impromptu patrol . Helicopters circle the Mare slum complex in Rio de Janeiro. The slum - 'favela' in Portuguese - is home to some 130,000 residents . Residents walk through the slum as dozens of police officers, in camouflaged uniform hold machine guns from behind heavy-duty navy trucks . Residents are seen walking out of the favela as armed troops in bullet-proof vests storm in . Locals carried on with daily life as police officers and marines in uniform filed through the narrow streets. No shots have been fired so far . Police in the city have attracted widespread criticism for their heavy-handed approach to controlling drug crime in the city. Last year, police were charged after bricklayer Amarildo de Souza, who lived in the city's biggest shanty town Roncinha, was tortured and murdered. Police were then charged with hiding his body . A special operations officer is pictured here in front of a graffiti drawing of Rio's symbolic statue: Christ the Redeemer. Troops have stormed the favela to rid it of drug gangs and clamp down on violence . In the coming days, army soldiers will begin patrolling the virtually treeless, flat area of about two square miles in northern Rio that hugs the main road to the airport and is home to about 130,000 people . A navy tank drives behind a police van carrying scores of police officers holding machine guns . One soldier hides behind a wall as he point his gun towards the street. It was dusk in Rio when troops entered the favela . Navy tanks roll through the favela. The police community pacification unit, known as the UPP, will step in once federal forces have left the area. The UPP will then remain in the shanty town in order to keep peace and control any uprising . A couple walks along as a navy tank storms into the place where they live. The army presence in favelas across Rio has sparked rage across the city. Last week, protestors set fire to a police office in the city . A policeman stands next to a piece of graffiti bearing the words: 'Politicians and the UPP' will die. The UPP is a special community officer group which steps in to keep peace in the favela once government troops have left . One police officer is pictured here holding a man up against a wall while he searches him. Troops took over the favela this afternoon - six weeks before the World Cup . Brazil will host the World Cup from June 14 and has been named host of the 2016 Olympics. The clean-up is an attempt to make Rio a safer place for tourists attending the events . Police wait outside an unknown house in the slum. Security forces will eventually set up permanent posts in Mare as part of the 'pacification' programme that began in 2008 and is meant to secure Rio ahead of the World Cup and also the 2016 summer Olympics . Early evening today the troops stormed the favela. It is unknown how long the operation will last. Once troops leave a 'pacification' force will be introduced into Mare . The BOPE paramilitary police unit have been patrolling streets since dusk. Once they leave a more long-term patrol force will be established in the favela. Police have installed 37 such posts in recent years in an area covering 1.5 million people . Please line up outside a boarded up pharmacy. They are pictured here in Nova Holanda, a part of the Mare slum complex . Three children sit on a sofa staring at the camera in the Complexo da Mare slum - one of the largest 'favelas' in Rio de Janeiro. Today, Brazilan government forces will clear out the favela ahead of the World Cup which begins on June 14 . Little Jessica prepares to carry water from the one pipe with running water - available to dozens of residents in the impoverished area. Mare favela is located near to Rio's international airport . Mother Quiva stands with her son Joao Vitor in the impoverished favela. The Mare complex has more than 13,000 residents . An 'pacification' initiative was launched in 2010 by government forces to reclaim power of the city's slums from armed gangs. Pictured here Louis Carlos de Sousa and Tania Gozalves at their home on the Complexo da Mare . Mare resident Joao Vitor kneels with a dog in the slum. The Complexo da Mare is close to Rio's international airport, which means that visitors to Rio must drive past it on their way into the city . Jessica washes dishes at the one with with running water available to dozens of residents in the area. The Brazilian government has claimed that the clean-up operation will improved the quality of life of favela residents' Rubbish litters the floor and graffiti covers the walls in the da Mare slum. The favelas are self-contained communities within the city and even have schools and local shops on site . Pacification officers, known as the UPP, will soon occupy and control life within the slum. UPP officers come in after federal troops 'clean-up' a slum imprisoning drug dealers in an attempt to rid the favela of crime. Pictured behind the children are community posters advertising items that are up for sale . Mothers gather to chat in the Mare complex. From today UPP officers will occupy the slum, the government pacification program was launched in December 2011 . Louis Carlos de Sousa (right) and Tania Gonsalves stand in their home on the complex. Police in the city have attracted widespread criticism for their heavy-handed approach to controlling drug crime in the city . Joao Batista da Silva (left) and wife Gizelda Alves da Silva pose on their bed in the Complexo da Mare slum. Police have been criticised for violent control tactics in the slums. Last year, police were charged after bricklayer Amarildo de Souza, who lived in the city's biggest shanty town Roncinha, was tortured and murdered . Friends hug in the complex while little Jessica washes dishes outside her home. 'Disappearances' of shanty town residents have become widespread in the police clean-up operation . Mother Quiva stands in her home near son Joao Vitor. The police have been the subject of much controversy in the country. Last week. a police headquarters was burned down in a protest against government presence in the favelas . A Mare resident Louis Carlos de Sousa is pictured here. Since winning the World Cup host title and being chosen as host for the 2016 Olympics, Brazilian authorities have cracked down on violence and drug gangs in the country's major cities . Joao Batista da Silva lives in the slum. A clean-up operation began on Rio's biggest slum Rocinha in 2011. In the clean-up helicopters circled the slum and troops charged into the favela in bullet-proof clothing . Community spirit is strong in the Brazilian slums where residents exist almost apart from the rest of society. Shanty towns in Rio are built into the hills weaved into the city . Rio has long been in the global spotlight for its slums and the drug-related violence. The government is hoping to change the face of the city with the upcoming World Cup . | 1,400 armed police and marines have stormed one of Brazil's biggest slums in bulletproof trucks .
Helicopters circle as scores of military point guns at residents as they walk through the streets in which they live .
Operation to rid Complexo da Mare, home to more than 130,000 residents, of violence and drug gangs started today .
Since 2011, government has cracked down on slums within the city ahead of World Cup which begins in June .
Brazilian police have attracted widespread criticism following use of violence and 'covered-up' murders . |
283,684 | fb81f068d202563cd8ddbd2db1954d005fb039b6 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:42 EST, 27 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:42 EST, 27 October 2012 . Veterans of the Battle of El Alamein gathered today for a special service to mark the 70th anniversary of the bloody battle. The evensong at Westminster Abbey in . London marked seven decades since the battle in North Africa - . widely hailed as the turning point in the Second World War. Around 40 British and Australian . veterans, many of whom are now in their 90s, were part of a 500-strong . congregation to honour those who fought in the 14-day battle. Heartfelt tribute: Wreath Bearers from the Royal Horse Artillery walk beneath the organ loft during a service marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein at Westminster Abbey . Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, second right, salutes after placing a wreath at the grave of an unknown warrior alongside Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, second left . Focus point: Wreaths laid by General Sir David Richards and General Sir Peter Wall rest on at the grave of the unknown warrior . More than 4,000 Allied servicemen lost . their lives and almost 9,000 were wounded in the combat that saw General . Sir Bernard Montgomery's troops defeat German general Erwin Rommel's . Afrika Korps. Addressing the congregation, Chief of . the Defence Staff Sir David Richards said: 'The Battle of El Alamein was . a turning point in the Allied fortunes in the Second World War, a . victory that Churchill referred to as a bright gleam that caught the . helmets of the soldiers, and cheered all our hearts. 'Men from all three services played their part, not least those from my own regiment, the Royal Artillery. 'I am very proud to be here today, . paying tribute to them, and their example of courage and professionalism . which today's armed forces constantly strive to live up to.' Bloody: More than 4,000 men lost their lives in the battle that lasted 14 days . Large casualties: A further 9,000 allied soldiers were wounded in the battle that is widely considered to be the turning point of World War II . Memorial: Veterans of World War II stand behind Black Watch veteran Major Peter Watson, who served in the battle of El Alamein, centre, as he pays his respects to the Grave of the Unknown Warrior . Veteran Robert Lay, 91, from . Northumberland, described the service as a 'timely opportunity' to . remember those who fought in the battle. Mr Lay, who served with the 5th Armoured . Tank Regiment at El Alamein, said: 'The 70th anniversary of the Battle . of El Alamein is for me a timely opportunity for remembrance of all my . close friends and associates, particularly my first tank crew - closer . than brothers - who I travelled with almost all the way to Tunis. 'All of them, I believe, were killed by the time we crossed the Seine in 1944.' During the service, two wreaths were laid at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The first was by the Chief of the . Defence Staff on behalf of The Duchess of Cornwall, whose father Major . Bruce Shand served with the 12th Lancers at El Alamein. A second wreath . was laid by the Chief of the General Staff Sir Peter Wall on behalf of . the armed forces. Remembrance: Around 40 British and Australian veterans joined the 500-strong congregation . Joint forces: Nearly 200,000 British, Australian, New Zealand, South African, British Indian, Free French and Greek soldiers took part in the battle . Past and present: Veteran of the Battle of El Alamein, Major Peter Watson, third left, stands with fellow members of The Black Watch Battalion . Speaking at the service, Defence . Minister Mark Francois said: 'I am honoured to be here today with so . many veterans and their families on the 70th anniversary of this . momentous battle. 'El Alamein was the first major Allied . victory of the Second World War, and it is important that we never . forget all those who fought so valiantly, including more than 4,000 men . who lost their lives.' Under the command of General Montgomery, . nearly 200,000 British, Australian, New Zealand, South African, British . Indian, Free French and Greek forces defeated the Axis powers. At the time of the battle, which began . on October 23, 1942 and ended on November 4, the Allies were fighting to . keep their vital supply lines open from the Mediterranean to the East. During the Second Battle of El Alamein the Allied forces of the 8th army lead by General Bernard Montgomery (pictured) defeated the Axis forces lead by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel . Into battle: British troops advance in El Alamein. Tanks and infantry fought in close co-operation to achieve victory . Rommel had inflicted heavy defeats on . Allied forces in Africa, forcing them back to the village of El Alamein, . about 60 miles west of Alexandria. Finally, on October 23 General . Montgomery ordered a counter-attack with almost 900 guns levelled at the . German positions to be discharged at once. While previously the Suez Canal was . threatened, and with it Allied access to the rich oilfields of the . Middle East, now the Allies were able to press their advantage and . eventually push the Germans and Italians out of Africa. Recalling the importance of the Allied . victory at the Battle of El Alamein, Sir Winston Churchill said: 'Before . Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat.' Pictured is the crew of an anti-tank gun cleaning their weapon. By the time the battle of El Alamein began, the British and Empire forces had been fighting in Africa for two years . General Bernard Montgomery (centre), commander of the British Army in North Africa during the Western Desert campaign, confers with staff officers . By October 1942, General Montgomery had amassed an army of nearly 200,000 men, more than 1,000 tanks, around 1,000 artillery pieces and more than 500 aircraft . The 70th anniversary service, led by the . Dean of Westminster The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, featured music from . the Band of the Royal Artillery with renditions of Leo Stanley's . Alamein March and Out of Africa by John Barry. Following the ceremony, a private reception was to be held for the veterans and their families. The British offensive of El Alamein will . be also be marked in Afghanistan by the 4th Mechanised Brigade (The . Black Rats), who are currently deployed as the lead formation of Task . Force Helmand. It was at the time of the Battle of El . Alamein that the brigade's soldiers adopted the Jerboa or 'Black Rat' emblem that they continue to wear as their insignia in Helmand Province . today. Plan of attack: How the forces were deployed on the eve of the battle . The battle of El Alamein, named after a village on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, ended in the victory of the British Eighth Army over Rommel's Afrika Korps. It was said to be the turning point in the war in Africa . Here we come: Sherman tanks go into action. The proceeded in single file because the paths through the mines were narrow . | Evensong at Westminster Abbey in .
London today marked seven decades since the battle in North Africa .
The 14-day battle is hailed as the turning point in the Second World War . |
78,098 | dd64fb236b77ad61ee4b34de8dccd65e995bce18 | By . Emma Innes . A mother has been left unable to chew food and is facing a £20,000 dental bill after dentists filled her teeth so many times they disintegrated. Emma Tait, 30, began visiting the dentist at the age of ten and says she had had all of her teeth filled by the time she was just 13 after years of not brushing her teeth properly. But the administration assistant claims NHS dentists continued re-fill her teeth instead of crowning them, causing them all to crumble. Emma Tait, 30, says her teeth have been filled so many times they have started to crumble . She says she is now facing a £20,000 dentistry bill in order to be able to sit and enjoy a meal with her partner and two children. The mother has been left unable to chew meals after all of her molars fell out and a dentist has now told her this wouldn’t have happened if the teeth had been crowned rather than refilled. She said: ‘When I was in my mid-20s a dentist said to me that it was a shame dentists didn’t give me crowns when I was younger. ‘They probably just assumed that I wouldn’t have wanted to pay for them because I was quite young, but it could have saved my teeth. ‘It takes me a lot longer than everyone else to eat a meal and I have to chew everything lots of times. ‘It normally takes me a good half an hour to eat my dinner - usually everyone is still waiting for me to finish. Ms Tait says the state of her teeth has severely affected her confidence . ‘It gets to the point that my jaw is so painful I just give up eating - salad is the worst because you have to chew it so many times. ‘It is a pain but I’ve kind of just got used to it over the years. Eating anything like tough meat is pretty much completely out of the question. ‘It can quite often be painful but it goes through stages and it has got to the point now where I don’t notice it as much as I used to. ‘I have a lot of problems with my gums as well - they quite often bleed and they are sore and painful.’ Ms Tait, from Weston-super-Mare, has now decided to ditch the NHS and go private in an attempt reinstate her teeth. She claims her remaining teeth will need to be restored at the cost of £11,000 and a brace will have to be fitted, with a price tag of £4,000. Ms Tait says her teeth are now in such a bad way she is being left with little choice but to pay for extensive dental work which could cost as much as £20,000 . Experts are then hopeful she can be fitted with two implants at a sum of £4,600 - allowing her to chew food once again. Though excited about the prospect of being able to smile with pride again, Ms Tait says she is worried about financing the treatment. She said: ‘I only have front teeth left on the bottom now and all of my top teeth are starting to fall out which is what spurred me on to find out what I can do to save them. ‘They basically told me that the best thing I can do now is have a brace fitted to put the teeth I have left into the position they should be in - then I’ll be able to have dentures. ‘But before I can have braces my teeth need to be secured so the fillings need to be redone and ideally they need to be crowned. ‘I was originally quoted £11,000 to have all the work done before the brace just to stabilise all the teeth I do have. ‘Paying is going to be a problem - I think we’re going to have to take it as it comes but I have looked into taking finance out and then more finance once that’s run out. ‘I can’t afford it but at the same time I need teeth really.’ Ms Tait claims that the treatment will not only enable her to eat a meal with her loved ones, but it will also boost her diminishing confidence. She said: ‘I have always considered myself to have bad teeth - I really don’t like smiling. Because of the way my teeth are my lips don’t come together. ‘It does affect my confidence - I don’t like to smile because I feel like I look like a horse. ‘The aim is to get the work started next month getting all the root treatments and stuff done - hopefully that will put my teeth in a temporary state of health ready to have a brace fitted.’ Ms Tait does not know how she is going to fund her dental work but says she has no choice but to find the money as she is struggling to eat . Though it has been recommended Ms Tait takes legal action against the NHS she said this was not something she is keen to do. She said: ‘It has been recommended to me that I could take the case further. ‘But I don’t really want to take them to court because I know then I’ll have to pay for a solicitor. ‘It could be that I lose my case and I’ve then wasted money which could be spent on new teeth.’ Commenting on Ms Tait's case, Dr Uchenna Okoye clinical director of London Smiling, said: 'If you are able to fill a tooth, it is better for the nerve to do so as it is less destructive than using a crown. 'However, there comes a time when you need to have a crown to stabilise the tooth. 'You can think of it as the difference between a soft elastic bandage to support a sprain and having an actual break that needs the support of a proper cast.' | Emma Tait says all her teeth had been filled by the time she was 13 .
She says dentists then continued to refill them rather than crowning them .
She says this mistake has caused them to crumble and fall out .
They are now so bad she can't chew food and is embarrassed to smile .
She is facing the prospect of extensive dental work to repair them .
But this could cost £20,000 and she doesn't know how she will fund it . |
158,548 | 58f83068d0aa23bbb0172b20e6a1bb663b7b0fb1 | Police are hunting for a gunman after the shooting murders of a man and woman, whose bodies were discovered on the side of a road in the NSW border town Moama. NSW police have established Strike Force Kennedia to investigate their deaths and detectives have been sent to the town to locate the person or people responsible. In a media conference, police said that the victims are yet to be identified but both lived locally and 'obviously knew each other'. The man was found dead inside of a white sedan, whilst the woman was positioned halfway out of the vehicle. Each had been shot multiple times. The bodies were discovered by a local resident on a bush track four kilometres outside of the Moama township. Scroll down for video . The bodies of a man and a woman were found in a white sedan on the side of the road (pictured). The man was inside the vehicle and the woman was in the process of exiting the vehicle . NSW Police media confirmed that the deaths are being treated as suspicious and urged members of the public to come forward with any information. 'This crime has occurred in your community and we are sure that people have knowledge of what happened and why,' said Superintendent Paul Condon of Deniliquin Local Area Command. The Mayor of the town, Thomas Weyrich told Daily Mail Australia that he is greatly concerned about the safety of the residents in Moama. 'My greatest concern is that we have somebody walking around who is armed and is capable of multiple homicides,' said Mr Weyrich. 'I am extremely concerned, the people of Moama need to be very, very careful who they talk to and communicate with. Police have cordoned the street off after the double murder of a man and woman on the side of the road in NSW border town Moama . 'Police are heavily involved and treating the case with the greatest urgency. The sooner the perpetrator or perpetrators are brought into custody the better.' Councillor Weyrich said that he and the community are shocked, as nothing like this has ever happened before. 'We are a quiet little New South Wales town. This is a very safe place and we don't by and large have any criminal activity. 'This has come out of left field.' The mayor did confirm that there is a bikie presence in the town. 'We do have a Bandidos clubhouse across the river and a member that lives close by, but I am not saying that they are involved.' A man and a woman have been found dead in the NSW town of Moama . Resident Kylie Spencer said she was driving into town about 9.20am on Wednesday and noticed a white car pulled off the road. 'I didn't know there were bodies,' Ms Spencer, who lives on the road, told AAP. 'I drove past thinking they had a punctured tyre. You do 100km/h down that road. 'It was just pulled over on the road, nothing suspicious at all.' Ms Spencer said there was another car pulled over next to the white vehicle. She assumed the motorist was helping out. Ms Spencer, a resident of 12 years, said the cars weren't local to that road. Emergency services, including police and paramedics, were called to the scene at Old Deniliquin Road on Tuesday morning. 'At 9.26am paramedics were initially called out to what we were told was a car accident,' a Victoria Rural Ambulance Service spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'When the paramedics arrived they confirmed two people were deceased. 'Police have now established a crime scene.' Shots were reportedly heard before the bodies were found. Residents of Old Deniliquin Road are not able to return to their homes after police cordoned off the street to establish a crime scene. The Riverine Herald also reports that an abandoned car was seen by residents. Police from Deniliquin Local Area Command, with the assistance of detectives from State Crime Commands Homicide Squad are investigating the deaths. The town is in the Riverina region, 220 kilometres north of Melbourne and west of Albury. More to come. The bodies were found on the side of the road next to a vehicle on Old Deniliquin Road (pictured) | A man and a woman have been found dead on a roadside in NSW .
A police strike force has been established to investigate the death .
The bodies were found beside a vehicle in the NSW border town Moama .
Mayor Thomas Weyrich is seriously concerned for residents' safety .
Police are treating both deaths as suspicious .
Initial reports suggest the deaths were after a shooting after two gunshots were heard .
Emergency services were called to the scene at 9.20am on Tuesday . |
228,480 | b3d5de671254ad50243bca9e9b0924c75f4d589a | (CNN) -- Feeding India's hungry school children is an undertaking unparalleled anywhere -- the $22 billion-a-year scheme provides a hot meal to an estimated 120 million students every school day. Reetika Khera, an economist at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi who has studied the scheme, credits the "very ambitious, very large and very popular" program with having a huge impact on student enrollment and attendance in a country in which, according to official government figures, nearly half of all children are malnourished. But the tragic deaths of at least 22 children and hospitalization of 24 more after eating a school meal in India's northeastern Bihar state highlight the failings of the program to provide healthy -- or even safe -- meals, in some parts of the country where governance, accountability and poverty remain entrenched issues. Read more: Principal on the run, children recover . The students became ill immediately after eating the meal of rice and potatoes in the village of Dahrmasati Gandawan on Tuesday. The circumstances leading up to the contamination, which has provoked violent protests in the region, remain murky, with the school's principal and her husband having absconded and currently being sought by authorities, area police chief Sujit Kumar told CNN. But Bihar state Education Minister P.K. Shahi has said the children were poisoned by an insecticide that was in the food. Officials believe the substance involved was organophosphorus, a chemical that the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says is commonly used in agriculture. Khera said the national school meal program had its origins in a landmark decision by India's Supreme Court in 2001 that decreed all government schools were required to provide free meals to students below the age of 13. Until that point, the schools had been discharging their commitments to child nutrition "by giving children 3kg of wheat or rice every month in lieu of giving them meals," she said. "The court said 'This will not do.'" Within a year, most states had implemented systems to offer daily meals to their students, but in Bihar -- one of India's poorest states she said, with a track record of poor governance and social welfare -- it took two years to start providing the service. "Bihar is always a little bit behind everything," she said. "Around 2004-5, they started rubbing their eyes and waking up and saying, 'Okay, we've got to get on this thing.'" Read more: Feeding school children in Bangalore . On the whole, the program -- aimed at achieving educational and nutritional goals in one swoop -- has been hailed as a success, with studies showing significant increases in enrollment and attendance, particularly among disadvantaged groups, such as girls, dalits and adivasis, said Khera. "By and large, it is a very important program and it has had a very good effect." But the quality of the service has varied greatly across the country. Some states, such as Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, developed sophisticated programs to deliver a quality service. By contrast, a 2010 study by India's Planning Commission reported that more than 70% of children in schools surveyed in Bihar were unhappy with the quality of their meals, three-quarters of the schools reported they lacked proper utensils, and many schools in Bihar complained of receiving their food supplies on a haphazard basis, resulting in hygiene issues. "Problems still remain, especially in states like Bihar, Jharkand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal," she said. "There is a very serious problem of administrative capacity and law. The implementation is poor, the money they put into the program is very little and so the quality of the food that is provided in this region is a general concern. They're still struggling with issues that a place like Rajasthan was dealing with 10 years ago." The fact that there were no answers days after the tragedy was "a reflection of the lackadaisical attitude of the Bihar government," she said. "Bihar needs to put mechanisms in place that will allow it to monitor these meals more effectively." Further complicating the picture, she said, was the role of private contractors in the food supply chain, motivated by the promise of profiting from the government-funded programs. "When you bring in contractors to supply meals, these people only come in it for the money. And when they come in for the money, they're going to skimp any way they can -- by cutting corners," she said. CNN-IBN, CNN's sister network, reported Bihar's education minister P.K. Sahi as claiming the school principal's husband was the supplier of the food for the school meals. CNN has been unable to verify his claims with the principal or her husband, who authorities say have "absconded." Khera said that while contaminated school meals were not unheard of across the country, an incident on this scale would hopefully serve as a wake-up call to authorities to improve the service where it was required. "But it's hard to see that happening, because there's a general problem of a lack of accountability, particularly in this state," she said. | India provides a free hot meal a day to every student below the age of 13 .
It is the largest program of its kind, feeding 120 million children every school day .
The scheme is designed to tackle education and nutrition in one swoop .
But the quality of the food varies wildly, with some states providing substandard meals . |
94,366 | 054a64c3d8824e44591afd503d63a3f4631cd0f6 | Within minutes of confirmation he had scraped home in the battle to protect the union, David Cameron immediately tried to regain the initiative by promising ‘English votes for English laws'. But what quickly became clear is that he is a million miles from being able to explain how he would honour his commitment – and that what he may end up proposing is likely to fall well short of the demands of many Tory MPs. Backbenchers, led by John Redwood, say that, as a quid pro quo for giving the Scots new powers over tax, benefits and finance, Scottish MPs should be stripped of the right to vote on these issues at Westminster, when they relate solely to England. The Scots would also lose the right to vote on other devolved issues such as the NHS and education. Addressing the nation Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to listen to 'millions of English people', beginning what could be a new and potentially equally acrimonious fight to introduce 'English votes for English laws' Under the backbench idea, favoured by some Cabinet members, Westminster would continue to be the home of the UK Government. But it would most likely hold two different sittings. MPs from across the UK would sit to discuss issues such as defence, foreign policy and immigration. Separate sessions would then take place, attended solely by English MPs, possibly in the form of a grand committee, to vote on English only matters, like the Heath Service. The Prime Minister knows this idea will be popular with many of his backbenchers, who have long being angry over the so-called West Lothian question – indeed, without such a pledge, they may not agree to vote for the package of bribes he promised to Scotland in his last-ditch bid to avoid a Yes vote. In a carefully-crafted soundbite, Mr Cameron said: ‘I've long believed that a crucial part missing from this national discussion is England. We've heard the voice of Scotland, but now the millions of voices of England must also be heard. 'The question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West Lothian question, requires a decisive answer. 'So just as Scotland will vote separately in the Scottish Parliament on their issues of tax, spending and welfare so too England as well as Wales and Northern Ireland should be able to vote on these issue - and all this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace the settlement for Scotland.' But his statement begs far more questions than it answers and William Hague, speaking after the Prime Minister, ruled out the idea of an English Parliament. Mr Hague said: ‘I don’t think people in this country will want, and I don’t think our work will lead to more expensive government and politics.’ Alex Salmond's Yes campaign was forced to face a convincing defeat as 55 per cent of Scots opted to stay as part of the United Kingdom in the historic independence referendum . Instead, Government aides are pointing to two existing reports on constitutional change. One is called the McKay report, and the other was penned by Ken Clarke. These would mean that when a Bill went through Parliament on the likes of health or education, there would be certain stages at which only English MPs could vote. Most likely, only English MPs would be able to amend the legislation. But, crucially, Scottish MPs would still be able to vote on the general principle. This, to many Tory MPs and supporters, could hardly be said to constitute ‘English votes for English laws’. Doubtless Ukip will have a field day pointing this out. What is certain is that Labour’s high command hates any suggestion of the idea that Scottish MPs should be stripped of their powers. Douglas Alexander, himself a Scottish MP, said it was a ‘knee jerk response... driven more by politics than the needs of the constitution’. It’s not surprising Labour are opposed, since turkey’s don’t vote for Christmas. Currently, the party has 40 MPs in Scotland who can be relied on to agree with the party command’s position on the supposed evils of NHS reform, opposition to Michael Gove’s school reforms and the rest. Strip them out, and the party at Westminster would be weakened considerably. Indeed, based on current opinion polls, it could spell chaos for Ed Miliband. At present, he is on course to win in 2015 with a majority of around 30 seats. Take out the Scots and he would no longer command a majority in England on his pet subjects of the NHS and education. He may even struggle to carry finance bills – though it’s far from clear what voting rights Scots MPs would have on this issue. For instance, they may be unable to vote on income tax, which is being devolved to the Scots, but be given a say on everything else. Some are even questioning whether – if Scots are no longer able to vote on crucial matters relating to England – there could ever again be a Scottish Prime Minister, Chancellor, Health Secretary, Education Secretary or Work and Pensions Secretary. In recent years, that would have meant no Gordon Brown, no Alistair Darling and no John Reid at Health, for starters. Any plans to ban Scottish MPs from voting on English issues could be opposed by Ed Miliband's Labour party, as they currently have 40 MPs in Scotland who are relied on to tow the party line when it comes to big issues . So what happens next? Mr Cameron says he wants to drive the changes through before the General Election, which seems an awesome task. If Labour does oppose the plans, could the PM rely of Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats to force them through? Mr Clegg is on the record as saying it is unfair for Scots to continue to vote on English only matters. But, on the other hand, the Lib Dem betrayal over boundary reform taught Mr Cameron not to trust his deputy as far as he could throw him. Certainly, Mr Clegg would demand sweeteners of his own, such as extra powers for the English regions and the great cities of the north. This, in turn, would not necessarily be popular with Tory MPs… . In other words, it could turn into a nine-month constitutional car crash which dominates the remainder of the Parliament and has the capacity to turn very ugly indeed. | David Cameron today pledged to listen to 'millions of English voices'
Addressing the nation the PM hinted that Scottish MPs could lose their right to vote on issues relating solely to England .
Westminster will remain as home of the UK Government but it is likely two different sittings under the proposed moves .
UK MPs would make decisions on defence, foreign policy and immigration .
But separate sessions attended solely by English MPs would vote on matters including the NHS, education, tax and benefits .
Expected to be popular with many Tory backbenchers who have long been angry over the so-called West Lothian question .
Plans likely to be opposed by Labour who has 40 Scottish MPs relied on to tow the party line on big issues and key votes . |
48,413 | 88a754dc1a3f0cbce82bf7b8ec32f6bd62ac6d39 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 04:42 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:42 EST, 25 October 2013 . A playground scrap saved a boy’s life when it led doctors to discover a dangerous tumour wrapped around his spine. When Ryan Savage returned from nursery complaining of a tummy ache, his mother Lisa put it down to bruising sustained in rough-and-tumble games with his friends. But at a check-up, it was revealed that Ryan’s pains were in fact a sign of aggressive neuroblastoma which, if left unchecked, could have become untreatable. Ryan Savage (pictured this time last year), seven, was diagnosed with aggressive neuroblastoma after a playground scrap left him with a stomach ache . On Wednesday Ms Savage, 32, received the amazing news that, following an intensive course of treatment, seven-year-old Ryan is now free of cancer. She said: ‘Were it not for the knock Ryan received at nursery, things could have been very different. ‘Neuroblastoma sometimes has flu-like symptoms but Ryan gave none of the signs. It’s often only diagnosed when it’s in its late stages, when it’s too late to do anything. ‘It was an amazing stroke of luck that doctors examined Ryan when they did.’ When he returned from nursery school in October 2009 Ryan, then aged three, rapidly deteriorated. Ms Savage said: ‘I dropped Ryan off at school in the morning. At midday I got a call saying Ryan had been thumped in the tummy while he was playing, as boys do. It was nothing serious. Ryan has just been told he is cancer-free for the first time in four years but his parents are aware the disease could return at any time . Ryan (pictured in hospital) has to have further . check-ups in January but his parents say they are currently just happy . that he is okay for now . ‘But then Ryan refused to eat and was in absolute agony. I took him to hospital, where they first thought the pain was caused by trapped wind. We were sent home, and I was told Ryan would get better. ‘He only got worse. I took him back to hospital where they decided Ryan had constipation. ‘Two days later, he had a high temperature, extreme pain and, worryingly, he couldn’t move his legs. Ryan (pictured at Christmas in 2010) was diagnosed with cancer in October 2009 after doctors found a tumour wrapped around his spine during a check-up after a playground fight . Ryan (pictured in November 2010) received treatment for the tumour in his back before doctors found more tumours in his chest which meant he required further surgery and chemotherapy . ‘I asked to speak a senior trauma doctor . who requested an immediate MRI scan. When he looked at the result the . colour flushed from his face. ‘They told me and my ex-husband Tim, who is Ryan’s father, that we had better sit down. They had found a tumour wrapped around his spine. 'We had to prepare for the worst. They said Ryan could have less than two months to live, and he might not reach Christmas.’ Ryan (pictured with his mother, Lisa) was only given two months to live when he was first diagnosed in 2009 and doctors said he only had a five per cent chance of making a full recovery . Doctors estimated Ryan had just a five per cent chance of making a full recovery. His . devastated parents, who were living in South Africa at the time, . mustered all their strength to support their boy through a course of . strong medication, followed by emergency surgery and a round of . chemotherapy tablets. They were told Ryan, who is a little brother to the couple’s daughter Sheila-Ann, 13, had miraculously entered remission shortly before the family relocated to England in October 2010. But when they got to their new home . in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, senior clinicians at the Royal Victoria . Infirmary in Newcastle discovered that Ryan’s situation was in fact . graver than anyone realised. Ryan's mother, Lisa, said: 'Were it not for the knock Ryan received at nursery, things could have been very different. It was an amazing stroke of luck that doctors examined Ryan when they did' ‘I . had a feeling - a mother’s intuition - that Ryan wasn’t in the clear,’ said Ms Savage. ‘A professor at the hospital rang to tell me that they’d . found another tumour in his chest. ‘Not only was Ryan not in remission, he was in fact in worse shape that I’d known. It was a terrible blow.’ Ryan . was put on a new regime which required him to brave three different . types of chemotherapy treatments for five days at a time, every three . weeks. He also received stem cell transplants. In 2011 he underwent more surgery to remove cancerous growths, including one which was wrapped around one of his ribs. Ms Savage (pictured with Ryan) said: 'We might have faced a worse-case scenario if we hadn't caught Ryan's illness early. In almost eight out of ten cases, neuroblastoma isn't diagnosed until it's in the last stages' The . treatment exacted a heavy toll on Ryan’s body and, exhausted, he took a . turn for the worse in early 2012. But by March that year the only . tumour left in his body was a growth behind his heart. His . chances of survival began to climb significantly and for the first time . Ryan’s mother dared to dream that her son might pull through. On Wednesday, Ms Savage, a former estate agent, was given the wonderful news that the heart tumour no longer appeared on scans. She said: ‘There’s no evidence of the tumour any more. His blood test is fine. ‘He . has a curvature of the spine and he has hearing and speech . difficulties, but with therapy these challenges can be overcome. It’s no . surprise he’s got some catching up to do - he’s been in hospital so . many times over the course his life. Ryan (pictured with his sister, Shelia-Ann at Halloween 2010) has been left with speech and hearing difficulties. He also now has a curved spine but he now has a chance of survival . ‘We have another test in January and we’re aware that the cancer might come back at any time, but for the moment, we’re so happy. ‘We might have faced a worse-case scenario if we hadn’t caught Ryan’s illness early. In almost eight out of ten cases, neuroblastoma isn’t diagnosed until it’s in the last stages. ‘If it wasn’t for that punch to the tummy, we would never have known it was there.’ Ms Savage paid tribute to the tireless efforts of the staff who brought Ryan back from the brink. She said: ‘Chance played a part, but so did a lot of hard work and generosity. If it wasn’t for the doctors and the people who donated blood and platelets, we would have lost Ryan.’ Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer which develops from nerve cells called neuroblasts. It usually starts in the child's abdomen, often developing in the adrenal glands above the kidneys. It can then spread to other areas such as the bones, liver and skin. The cancer affects about 100 children in the UK each year and is usually diagnosed in under-5s. It is the most common form of solid tumour cancer in childhood after brain tumours. The symptoms depend on where the cancer is and whether it has spread. Initial symptoms often include aches and pains and loss of appetite. The most common symptom when the cancer has developed is a lump or swelling in the child's abdomen. Other possible symptoms are a lump in the child's neck, bone pain, weakness in the child's lower body, anaemia and bluish lumps in the skin. Because the early symptoms are vague, the cancer is often not diagnosed until it has spread around the body. The outlook is better if the child is younger and the cancer is slower growing. It is common for the cancer to return after treatment and treatment tends to be less successful in older children. Source: NHS Choices . | Ryan Savage developed stomach ache after a playground scrap in 2009 .
At a check-up doctors found a tumour wrapped around his spine .
He was diagnosed with aggressive neuroblastoma and was given just two months to live - doctors said there was only a 5% chance of recovery .
He had surgery and chemotherapy and was thought to be in remission .
But, more tumours were then found in his chest so he had more surgery and chemotherapy - this week he was finally declared cancer-free .
His parents remain aware that the cancer could return at any time . |
83,612 | ed331a623bd58f22735c1f21ad5f31c971a1ff68 | The daughter of JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has come under fire for an article in which she branded the poor city of Flint, Michigan 'apocalyptic' - and used a photo of Israel as proof. Laura Dimon, 26, from New York, penned the piece for PolicyMic and detailed the town's crime and unemployment stats, sweeping over the number of residents her father's bank foreclosed on. 'Flint now drowns in the hell that has become much of America's Rust Belt,' Dimon wrote of Flint, which was the birthplace of General Motors. But after the article - 'This is America's Most Apocalyptic, Violent City - And You've Probably Never Heard Of It' - was published, it emerged that some of the photos of Flint were actually of other places. Under fire: Laura Dimon, the daughter of beleaguered JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon, has written an article about Flint, Michigan that has sparked anger for its focus and inaccuracies . A Reddit thread hitting back at the article first pointed out that the pictures were not all accurate. 'I thought I was hallucinating at first, but this picture is not actually from Flint,' one user wrote, the Raw Story reported. 'I know this because I lived in the place pictured almost my entire life. 'It's a city in Israel called Ramla. I'm really confused as to why this picture is featured in the article and I'm a little creeped out.' A Google street map view shows that the photograph in the article matches the street in Ramla. Another photograph that actually pictured Detroit was also removed amid the backlash. As Dimon was criticized, she admitted that she has never been to Flint. Oops: The article initially featured an image of Ramle in central Israel but it has since been removed . Spotted: A Google map street view shows the same road in Ramle that featured in the article . After the photos were taken down, the website added an explanation that the article had also been re-headlined to: 'This is one of America's most violent cities - and it deserves more attention'. 'We believe the correction better befits the intent of our writer,' the editors wrote, 'and we continue to stand by the story.' Deadline Detroit noted that PolicyMic is similar to websites like Buzzfeed that use a 'a behavioral analyst' to generate viral headlines before assigning them to a writer to produce a matching story. 'That cart-before-horse reversal - "do a clip job on Flint as America's most apocalyptic, violent city" - is not how things typically work at new media or those with print roots,' writer Alan Stamm wrote. 'But while traditional editorial practices may point the way to an ethical high road, they're not necessarily the route to a high-traffic path in journalism's reshaped landscape.' Corrections: The editors also changed the name of the article - after realizing Flint was in fact a well known place . Redditors also attacked Dimon's assumption that Flint - the home of General Motors and a feature of documentaries by Michael Moore, who grew up there - was unknown. And after being slammed for her article, Dimon gave a surprising reaction on her Twitter account. 'Flint . Fights Back piece is in serious consideration,' she wrote. 'Wow, what a vocal and . proud city. Pride well-earned. Thanks to all for the responses.' It is not the first time Dimon, a Barnard and Columbia graduate, has come under fire this month - after she, her siblings and parents sent out a Christmas card featuring them hitting tennis balls around their luxurious home. Spin: After the backlash from readers online, Dimon said she was impressed with the 'vocal and proud city' Troubled: She is the daughter of Jamie Dimon, the millionaire chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase . Jamie Dimon, 57, was branded 'tone deaf' after sending the decadent card to employees at JPMorgan. Critics said that the card was tasteless in a time of economic hardship as Dimon earns $18.7m a year, making him one of the best compensated bosses in America. MSNBC host Chris Hayes said it was as if . the Dimon family were saying: ‘Hey, we’re so rich we can destroy our . own stuff’, whilst The Atlantic magazine said it was ‘braggy and . opulent’. In October JPMorgan agreed a $13billion deal with the US government to end investigations into its selling of mortgage investments in the 2008 financial crisis. | Laura Dimon, 26, has been criticized for article in which she calls Flint - the birthplace of General Motors - unknown .
Readers found the article used a run-down image of Israel and another of Detroit, claiming they were in Flint .
Dimon is the daughter of Jamie Dimon, the JPMorgan Chase CEO . |
35,449 | 64bf4bc8b9f9567d50d1dfa09c8eefc03ebbcbfa | Last year it was the advert that warmed the hearts of football fans across the country. The uplifting Budweiser commercial portraying the lost dog and its Clydesdale horse friend was played during the Super Bowl - as it has done for nearly three decades. Now the beer company are doing the same again - and teasers from the newest installment give the impression it could be a tearjerker . Concern: Teasers for the new Super Bowl advert released by Budweiser show a dog's owner putting up 'Lost Dog' signs on the lampost . Covered: The dog, which featured in last year's commercial, is then seen hiding under piles of hay . GIFS released ahead of the advert's airing on February 1 show the dog hiding in rain-soaked boxes and sneaking through doors . A picture then posted on Twitter shows the owner putting up 'Lost Dog' posters. The Clydesdale horse also features, bucking up and commiserating the owner who his pining for the missing animal. Last year the commercial showed a puppy constantly escaping the fence surrounding its owners house and running to see a clyesdale horse in adjoining stables. After constantly infuriating its owner, the pair are eventually united in a field. Budweiser vice president Brian Perkins told US Weekly: 'The Budweiser Clydesdales have appeared in our Super Bowl ads for nearly three decades. 'This year, they will live up to their reputation and once again save the day in a heartwarming story about best buds never letting you down.' | Heartwarming advert portrays dog and his Clydesdale horse friend .
GIFs show pictures of the animal hiding in boxes and running in streets .
Is similar to the advert shown during the game last year .
Budweiser vice president Brian Perkins say it is a story about 'best buds never letting you down' |
243,781 | c78ab8551bc76b5d507dce9fd7c03f6879f4be14 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 07:35 EST, 12 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:17 EST, 12 December 2012 . David Cameron today accused Ed Balls of being a bully who ‘can dish it out but he can't take it’ as insults were thrown in a Commons row over government plans to limit rises in benefits to 1 per cent a year. The Prime Minister accused the shadow chancellor of ‘not being able to keep his mouth shut for 20 seconds’ after a stream of heckles about the below-inflation cap on welfare handouts. Mr Cameron clashed with Ed Miliband, who said the real-terms cut in state benefits was a ‘tax on strivers’. David Cameron took aim at Ed Balls' heckling today, after the shadow chancellor's gaffe at the despatch box last week during a debate on the Autumn Statement (left) And in a swipe at the PM’s membership of the infamous Bullingdon Club at Oxford University, the Labour leader asked: ' Have you wrecked a restaurant recently?’ Last week Chancellor George Osborne announced he was ending the link between inflation and benefits rises, and from next April most working age benefits would rise by only 1 per cent, not the 2.2 per cent as planned. The policy will save £3.7billion by 2016-17. But Mr Osborne’s suggestion that it was necessary to curb handouts for the jobless who are ‘still asleep, living a life on benefits’ while others go to work was seized on by Labour who say six in 10 of those affected are in jobs. Defending the policy at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron said: ‘The fact is this, that welfare needs to be controlled and everyone who is on tax credits will be affected by these changes because we have to get on top of the welfare bill.’ Mr Cameron said a person working full-time on the minimum wage would see their income tax bill halved under the coalition Government. 'We are saying to working people you can earn another £3,000 before you even start paying income tax. This is the party for people who work, his is the party of unlimited welfare.' Labour leader Ed Miliband mocked the PM for his membership of university dining group, the Bullingdon Club, asking: 'Have you wrecked a restaurant recently?' But Mr Miliband claimed more than 60 per cent of those affected by the one per cent cap are in work. He launched a deeply personal attack on the Chancellor saying those affected by the benefit curb included low earners. 'It's the factory worker on the night . shift, it's the carer who looks after elderly people around the clock . and it's the cleaner who cleans the Chancellor's office while his . curtains are still drawn and he's still in bed. 'The Chancellor calls them scroungers, what does the Prime Minister call them?' The Labour leader accused Mr Osborne ‘trying to play divide and rule’. Mr . Miliband added: ‘He said his changes were all about people living a . life on benefits... but it turned out it just wasn’t true – it was a tax . on strivers’ Mr Miliband accused Chancellor George Osborne of targeting his benefits squeeze on the person who cleans his office while he is still in bed . Amid a barrage of heckling from the Labour frontbench, Mr Cameron turned his fire on Mr Balls, who last week blamed his stammer for a blunder in the Commons about whether or not the deficit is falling. The PM said: ‘I'm surprised the Shadow Chancellor is shouting again because we learnt last week, like bullies all over the world he can dish it out but he can't take it. He never learns, he never learns.’ But Mr Miliband responded: ‘I’ve heard everything when the boy from the Bullingdon Club lectures people on bullying – absolutely extraordinary. Have you wrecked a restaurant recently?’ The Bullingdon Club has a reputation for wealthy students donning dinner suits to trash restaurants in Oxford. Mr Balls, described as a serial ‘heckler, barracker and sledger’, was knocked off his stride last week when the Chancellor announced that the Government’s deficit was forecast to fall this year. In an apparent slip, he conceded that the national deficit was ‘not rising’, provoking a wave of Tory cheers. Indeed, Mr Balls, who has spoken in the past about his lifelong battle with a stammer, appeared to speak the words clearly. But the following day he suggested his condition was to blame for his confusion, saying it sometimes ‘got the better of him’. ‘Everybody knows with me that I have a stammer,’ he said. ‘Sometimes that stammer gets the better of me in the first minute or two when I speak, especially when I have got the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and 300 Conservative MPs yelling at me at the top of their voices. VIDEO: Ed Balls gets in a muddle with the deficit . | David Cameron hits back at heckles from the shadow chancellor during Prime Minister's Questions .
Insults hurled over plan to cap benefits at 1% for the next three years .
Ed Miliband says people affected include those cleaning George Osborne's office while he is still in bed . |
33,343 | 5ecc8a7ee52ed1d40fb51dc24ec72cc384020d2c | A dark cave thousands of feet up the side of a remote mountain in the Philippines is the final resting place of these curious corpses known as 'fire mummies'. The Ibaloi people, an ancient race from the Philippines, smoked their dead dry for months to mummify them - giving them their firey nickname. The preserved remains lie in dark caverns 4,000ft up the side of Mount Timbac, near Kabayan in the province of Benguet, 200 miles north of capital Manila. Scroll down for video . Creepy: Some of the Ibaloi fire mummies of the Philippines, which were smoked dry for months to preserve them before being locked away in their mountain resting place for as long as 1,000 years . Necropolis: Hundreds of skulls are piled up in the cave up the side of a mountain 200 miles north of Manila . Protected: Some of the corpses have been transferred to wooden boxes, presumably to protect them . Some of them have been locked away for more than 1,000 years. The Ibaloi's burial practice endured until the arrival of Spanish colonisers four hundred years ago and the mummy caves themselves remained untouched until the 19th century. Although only a handful of the mountainside Ibaloi tombs are open to the public, many have become the target of vandals and looters in recent years. It is believed only a few Ibaloi elders know the specific locations of the 80 sacred caves. They are said to perform ancient rituals at the tombs to this day. Well preserved: A close up of the feet of one corpse show how well it has lasted over hundreds of years . Ancient: The Ibaloi's burial practises endured until the arrival of Spanish colonisers four hundred years ago . Camera shy: Edgar Alan Zeta-Yep, 31, described how some mummies were positioned with their hands over their faces 'as if to shield the light from our torches'. Right, Mr Zeta-Yep looks at the entrance to the cave . Edgar Alan Zeta-Yep, 31, from the Philippines, hiked up Mount Timbac to see the ancient mummies. His visit came two decades after Edgar first saw one of the mummies at a Bangoiu City museum. Mr Zeta-Yep, who has been a travel photographer for seven years, told Mercury Press: 'I have always been fascinated by them. 'It was a spooky and enlightening experience crouched inside a small and damp rock shelter to admire and photograph the mummies really up close.' Mr Zeta-Yep used a DSLR camera on a portable tripod to take the shots with a long exposure, to capture the detail inside the dark caves. He said: 'After murmuring prayers, our Ibaloi guide lifted the covers. They were lying inside wooden coffins in a fetal position, some with hands over their faces as if to shield the light from our torches. 'The mummies were so well-preserved, we could even see the linear tattoos preserved on their arms and legs.' | The ancient Ibaloi people smoked their dead for months to preserve them .
Their burial practices endured until the arrival of Spanish colonisers .
Only a few Ibaloi elders know the specific locations of the 80 sacred caves . |
45,450 | 80150292358e425e41d30673f808faf5f652dac9 | Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against Olivier Giroud after he apologised for taking a female companion back to the team hotel. Married Giroud had consistently denied taking Celia Kay to the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf the night before the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on February 2. The striker had earlier issued a grovelling apology to his wife Jennifer and the Arsenal boss after a picture by the pin-up appeared in a national newspaper. Wenger said: ‘It is an internal matter but I do not want to comment publicly because I respect his privacy.’ The model took a picture of Giroud in . his hotel room wearing just underwear, which can be seen below. VIDEO Scroll down to see Giroud win Arsenal's France vs. Spain flight simulator challenge . Snapped: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud was caught in just his underwear by model Celia Kay after meeting her in a hotel hours before a game against Crystal Palace . Meeting: Kay, who posted this image on Twitter, met married Giroud at the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf . Grovelling: Giroud has admitted he made a mistake... but did not commit adultery when meeting model Celia Kay . Cameo: The French striker came on as a substitute in the dying moments of the win against Liverpool . Fight for forgiveness: Giroud, left, poses with his wife Jennifer last Christmas . Giroud took to social networking site Twitter to apologise to Jennifer - who gave birth to son Paul last June - and his club. ‘I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans,’ he said. ‘I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment.’ Rules: Giroud narrowly avoided a huge fine after he insisted to Arsene Wenger that nothing had happened . Model: Kay poses for international magazines such as FHM and Maxim . Warm up: The meeting took place just hours before Arsenal's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace . Kay, who models for international magazines such as Maxim and FHM, was pictured arriving at the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf at 12.50am and leaving at 3.04am that night. She insists she did not have sex with the 6ft 4in striker, who avoided a club fine when claims were made by Kay last week, insisting to Wenger that no meeting had taken place. ‘Olivier knows the truth and the fact that he lied about us is pathetic,’ Kay told the Sun on Sunday. Pictured: The model was pictured arriving and leaving the Arsenal team hotel just hours before their match against Crystal Palace . Revelations: Kay revealed her meeting with Giroud but the striker denied any wrongdoing . ‘He’s just digging a bigger hole for himself. If he is big enough to do the crime, he’s got to serve the time.’ The Gunners planned to fine the star up to £230,000 but backed off after his denial. His lawyers also sent a series of letters to the newspaper denying any wrongdoing. Giroud came on as a second half substitute for Arsenal on Sunday and will face Roberto Martinez’s side on the weekend of March 8. | Olivier Giroud took model Celia Kay to his hotel the night before Arsenal's game with Crystal Palace on February 2 .
Striker denied allegations but has since issued an apology to his wife, family, friends, team-mates, Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal fans .
Wenger has confirmed that Giroud will face disciplinary action .
Kay took a picture of the French forward wearing just his pants .
The model has worked for international magazines including FHM and Maxim . |
174,240 | 6d7fafb479fe8c1e3b19d1b06616aca4de0313dd | By . Reuters Reporter . A North Carolina man who spent nearly two decades in prison for murder will be released as early as this week as he awaits a new trial. Darryl Howard, 52, was awarded a new trial in May after a judge found misconduct during his 1995 conviction. On Tuesday, a state appeals court denied prosecutors’ request to keep Howard behind bars until they try him again, paving the way for his release. Seema Saifee, one of Howard’s attorneys, delivered the news to him by phone early on Tuesday. Darryl Howard, 52, celebrates on Tuesday after a state appeals court determined he could be released and denied prosecutors' request to keep him behind bars until they try him again . ‘There was just this moment of pure joy,’ said Saifee, a staff attorney with the nonprofit Innocence Project, which seeks to overturn wrongful convictions. ‘He has been waiting for this for so many years. He never gave up,’ she added. In overturning Howard’s conviction, Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson found that prosecutors withheld evidence and that a police officer misled the jury. Hudson called Howard’s prosecution one of the ‘most horrendous’ he’s seen in a 34-year career. The district attorney who initially prosecuted Howard, Michael Nifong, right, was disbarred in 2007 for his role in prosecuting several members of the Duke University lacrosse team who were falsely accused of rape . The . district attorney who initially prosecuted Howard, Michael Nifong, was . disbarred in 2007 for his role in prosecuting several members of the . Duke University lacrosse team who were falsely accused of rape. No . physical evidence connected Howard to the deaths of Doris Washington . and her 13-year-old daughter Nishonda in a Durham housing complex in . 1991. Shortly after the murders, a tipster implicated two members of a drug-related gang called the New York Boys in the crime. A police record of that account, which included references to the victims’ rape that had not been publicized at the time, was never shared with Howard’s defense attorneys. DNA tests at the time showed that semen found in the victims was not Howard’s, but Nifong argued in court that the murders were unrelated to a sexual assault. No physical evidence connected Howard to the deaths of Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter Nishonda in a Durham housing complex in 1991 . Recent tests have linked the samples to a convicted felon with a history of assaulting women. Current prosecutors have indicated they will retry Howard, and asked on Friday that he be held in jail rather than released on bail until his new trial. They cited his criminal record before the arrests, which included convictions for armed robbery and breaking and entering. Saifee said she hopes prosecutors will choose not to seek a new trial, and instead focus on prosecuting the alternate suspects implicated by DNA tests. | Darryl Howard, 52, who spent nearly two decades in prison for murder will be released as early as this week .
The North Carolina man was awarded a new trial in May after a judge found misconduct during his 1995 conviction .
On Tuesday, a state appeals court denied .
prosecutors’ request to keep Howard behind bars until they try him .
again .
No .
physical evidence connected Howard to the deaths of Doris Washington .
and her 13-year-old daughter Nishonda in .
1991 .
Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson called Howard’s prosecution one of the 'most horrendous' he'd seen in 34-years .
Michael Nifong, the DA who prosecuted Howard, was .
disbarred in 2007 for prosecuting the .
Duke University lacrosse team on false rape accusations . |
272,437 | ece02b7ef207eeac8cf9a144e1f62865193f825d | A giant sculpture of a hedgehog has been unveiled on Clapham Common after a survey found that a quarter of people in the UK have never seen the animal in the wild. The 12 foot long, eight foot wide, seven foot tall structure took a team of artists two months to build, and it has been keeping hundreds of visitors to the South London park entertained since being unveiled last week. The sculpture is mainly made from 2,000 soft wood spikes that resemble a hedgehog's spines, and a mixture of willow and coconut fibre that takes on the appearance of fur. Scroll down for video . Ambitious: The huge structure took a team of artists two months to build, and has been keeping hundreds of visitors to Clapham Common entertained since it was unveiled last week . Craft: The sculpture is mainly made from 2,000 soft wood spikes that resemble a hedgehog's spines, and a mixture of willow and coconut fibre that takes on the appearance of fur . The giant creature was erected to mark the launch of Sir David Attenborough’s new Natural Curiosities series on UKTV channel Watch tomorrow evening. A survey for the TV channel found that millions of Britons claim they have never seen a large number of animals that live in the wild in the UK. The study also found three quarters were concerned about dwindling numbers of hedgehogs and thought more should be done to protect them. A quarter of Britons say they have never seen a wild hedgehog, rabbit or fox, while 26 per cent claim never to have spotted a grey squirrel or frog, and 36 per cent say wild deer have eluded them. The average Briton takes only 16 walks in the countryside each year, dramatically limiting their exposure to wildlife, the survey of 2,000 adults revealed. As part of the Natural Curiosities programme, Sir David studies hedgehogs and even admired a small scale model of the Clapham Common sculpture before it was built. He said: 'The hedgehog is one of Britain’s greatest natural curiosities and this sculpture is a fitting tribute to one of our best loved species.' 'It is interesting to note that many of our supposedly common species are also hard to spot in the wild.' Star: The giant creature was erected to mark the launch of Sir David Attenborough's new Natural Curiosities series on UKTV channel Watch tomorrow evening . 'The fact that a quarter of British adults have never seen a wild hedgehog suggests that we are witnessing rapidly dwindling numbers, which is a concern. 'Hedgehogs have some interesting habits and play a very useful part in keeping down all kinds of insect pests. 'What people don’t know about hedgehogs is that in the wild they have vast territories, and they roam for miles on end. And how do they mate? - very carefully!' Andy Billet, one of the sculptors who worked on the project, said: 'This was my most challenging brief to date and we spent weeks replicating the skin tones and spikes to make the build as lifelike as possible.' As part of their work on the programme, researchers discovered that people aged 55 and over explore the countryside the most, averaging 17.6 walks per year. Those aged 25 to 34 go on the fewest walks at an average of 12.6, followed by 18 to 24-year-olds at 12.9. | Seven foot high sculpture was unveiled on Clapham Common last Tuesday .
It is made from 2,000 soft wood spikes and coconut fibre that resembles fur .
Structure created to promote new TV programme by Sir David Attenborough . |
109,060 | 1895f311164cd21493ffa65ea0e5444b12603c19 | By . David Mccormack . PUBLISHED: . 17:22 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:45 EST, 16 May 2013 . A theater critic is unrepentant after he quite literally took the law into his own hands and smashed the cellphone of another patron who refused to stop using it during a performance on Wednesday night. Kevin Williamson, a writer for the National Review, was attending a performance of 'Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812,' described as an ‘electro-pop opera’ based on ‘War and Peace’ and playing in New York at Kazino, a temporary structure beside The Standard Hotel. Writing about the incident on the National Review’s website, Williamson said he recommended the show but thought the audience ‘horrible - talking, using their phones.’ Theater critic Kevin Williamson is unrepentant after he quite literally took the law into his own hands and smashed the cellphone of another patron who refused to stop using it during a performance on Wednesday night . ‘It was bad enough that I seriously considered leaving during the intermission, something I’ve not done before,’ he wrote. The audience at the performance were sitting in groups at small tables and each table was explicitly told that photography and cell phone use was strictly prohibited during the performance. According to Williamson the people seated around him failed to comply with this simple request. ‘The main offenders were two parties of women of a certain age, the sad sort with too much makeup and too-high heels, and insufficient attention span for following a two-hour musical,' he wrote. 'But my date spoke with the theater management during the intermission, and they apologetically assured us that the situation would be remedied.’ Unfortunately the situation didn’t improve after the interval and so Williamson asked the woman sitting to his right to refrain from using her phone to access the internet. The audience at the performance were sitting in groups at small tables and each table was explicitly told that photography and cell phone use was strictly prohibited during the performance . ‘I asked her to turn it off. She answered: “So don’t look.” I asked her whether I had missed something during the very pointed announcements to please turn off your phones, perhaps a special exemption granted for her. She suggested that I should mind my own business,’ wrote Williamson, who has a theater column in the New Criterion. Angered by the woman’s disregard for the rules of the establishment, Williamson instinctively did something that many people may have fantasized about doing at one stage or another and threw the woman’s phone unto the floor and away from her. Asked afterwards if the phone was damaged, Williamson told Gothamist: ‘It had to be; I threw it a pretty good distance.’ The woman slapped Williamson and then after failing to find her phone stormed off to complain to the management. 'Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812,' described as an 'electro-pop opera' based on 'War and Peace' Not long afterwards Williamson received a visit from the show's security director who asked him to step into the lobby to ‘have a word.’ 'They tried to keep me there. He said the lady was talking about filing charges. So I waited around for a bit, but it seemed to be taking a while,' he told Gothamist. In the end he says he got bored of waiting and so left. 'In a civilized world, I would have . received a commendation of some sort. To the theater-going public of New . York — nay, the the world – I say: "You’re welcome,"' he wrote in the . National Review. Williamson has said he is willing to face the cell phone user in court should she decide to press charges, but in future perhaps she might think twice about using it in the theater. | Kevin Williamson lost it when the lady beside him refused to stop using her phone - even after he asked her politely to do so . |
137,195 | 3d770a024331cbf673e72fadf5346ae8649d16f3 | By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 07:07 EST, 13 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:19 EST, 14 December 2012 . Culture Secretary Maria Miller is to have her expense claims investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner . Embattled Culture Secretary Maria Miller is to have her expenses investigated by the Commons watchdog. The office of John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, said he was opening an inquiry following a complaint that Mrs Miller had claimed more than £90,000 in second home allowances towards the cost of a house where her parents lived. The complaint was lodged earlier this week by Labour MP John Mann, who claimed the arrangement was ‘identical’ to that of former Labour minister Tony McNulty, who in 2009 was required to repay more than £13,000 claimed on a second home occupied by his parents. In that case, the Commissioner said Mr McNulty, who lost his seat in the 2010 general election, had effectively ‘subsidised’ his parents from the public purse by allowing them to live rent-free. News of the investigation comes a day after Mrs Miller’s special adviser was accused of making veiled threats to a newspaper about tougher press regulation if they wrote about the expenses claims. Despite the probe, David Cameron yesterday declared his full backing for his Culture Secretary, saying: ‘Maria Miller does an absolutely excellent job as Culture Secretary and she has my full support. ‘A newspaper has asked her a number of questions. So far as I can see, she has got excellent answers to all those questions. 'I am sure she will answer them and then get on with her job, which is what she should do.’ Mrs Miller claimed £90,718 between 2005 and 2009 for the mortgage and other expenses of a property in Wimbledon, which she told parliamentary authorities was a second home, but is where her parents also lived. She declared a property in her Basingstoke constituency as her main home. The minister defended her expenses in an interview with the London Evening Standard, saying: ‘Those expenses have been audited twice independently so I think everything’s in order. 'I obviously spoke to the Fees Office about my claims and they were happy that everything was in order.’ However, she admitted one of the ‘independent’ audits was carried out by the Conservative Party. Asked why she suddenly stopped claiming on the Wimbledon home in 2009 as the wider expenses scandal erupted, she replied: ‘Because I think there was a lot of concern about the rules and, er, a lot of concern about, you know, the whole issue, and it’s something I felt that I didn’t want to be, sort of, mixed up in, the fact that I ... I just made that decision.’ No 10 refused to confirm whether the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary had met or talked by telephone about the claims. Mrs Miller’s special adviser Joanna Hindley is reported to have called the Daily Telegraph and, during discussions about Mrs Miller’s expenses, said she wanted to ‘flag up’ the Cabinet minister’s involvement with the Leveson report on Press regulation. Downing Street’s top spin doctor Craig Oliver was also accused of mentioning the Leveson reforms in a call to the newspaper’s editor. Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle highlighted the ‘antics’ of Miss Hindley in the Commons, claiming the intervention was an attempt to put pressure on the Telegraph. The Government seems to want to threaten the Press with statutory underpinning to control the news agenda,’ she said. No 10 insisted yesterday that Mr Oliver was simply highlighting concerns about the way the Telegraph carried out its investigation into Mrs Miller’s expense claims. Mrs Miller said this rented barn near Basingstoke was her main home, while saying the Wimbledon house where her parents lived was her second home, on which she claimed expenses . | Cabinet minister claimed £90,718 for London home where parents also lived .
Basingstoke MP under pressure after her spin doctor 'tried to kill story'
Mrs Miller is the minister spearheading gay marriage plan . |
276,126 | f1c0ffaaca3db5835a5725f6757afd604fae5930 | Some of the Queens Park Rangers players and staff look as if the Christmas spirit has taken hold at Loftus Road. The same can't be said for a number of others. Harry Redknapp's side have forgone a fully-fledged festive party, but did opt to record a miming version of Slade's Merry Christmas Everyone to amuse. At least that's what you'd hope. Shaun Wright-Phillips didn't look overly impressed to be included in the QPR Christmas video . Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was a part of the rendition by the Premier League side . Striker Charlie Austin got involved as the Hoops brought some festive cheer to their supporters . Although midfielder Karl Henry looked as if he'd rather be elsewhere as they mimed Slade's festive hit . The QPR video - involving a raft of first team players including the energetic Rio Ferdinand and rather static Shaun Wright-Phillips - has caught the imagination online. 'This is the best and worse thing I've seen' one supporter tweeted the Rs. But you cannot decry the efforts of Leroy Fer, Clint Hill and Glenn Hoddle, who give their mimicking a proper go. And even Redknapp gave it a whirl. You can't blame them for having a bit of fun - they've not lost at home since the middle of October. Coach Glenn Hoddle appeared jolly as he sang along to Merry Christmas Everyone . Former England striker Bobby Zamora got into the swing of things in front of the club's cameras . | Rio Ferdinand, Charlie Austin and Harry Redknapp all appear .
QPR mime Slade's Merry Christmas Everyone on Youtube .
Leroy Fer, Clint Hill and Shaun Wright-Phillips mime along . |
51,895 | 92fca0ec17eb913e665a549856b42e62a3d6b729 | Attorney General Eric Holder urged other countries to enact new criminal laws to help prevent possible terrorist attacks from returning Syrian fighters. In a speech in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday, Holder highlighted the threat from domestic extremists such as a lone terrorist who three years ago bombed government buildings in the Norwegian capital and gunned down people at a youth camp, killing 77 people in all. Holder said the United States, along with Norway and other European countries, face similar danger from "violent extremists fighting today in Syria, Iraq or other locations" who "may seek to commit acts of terror tomorrow in our countries as well." U.S. intelligence estimates that nearly 7,000 foreign fighters have traveled to Syria, including dozens from the United States. The issue of Syrian fighters from Western countries is dominating Holder's trip this week to Europe, which includes a meeting in London of attorneys general from the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Open visa access among European countries and the U.S. means "the problem of fighters in Syria returning to any of our countries is a problem for all of our countries," Holder said in his speech, excerpts of which were provided in advance by the Justice Department. "The Syrian conflict has turned that region into a cradle of violent extremism," he said. "But the world cannot simply sit back and let it become a training ground from which our nationals can return and launch attacks." To combat the threat, Holder is calling on countries to pass laws to criminalize the preparatory steps that suspects often take before an attack, and to allow police to conduct undercover investigations. The U.S. has a law that makes it a crime to provide "material support" to terrorists, including supplying money or weapons, or helping to plot an attack. Similar laws are now on the books in Norway and France. Holder also cited the FBI's success in using undercover sting operations, which have drawn controversy in the U.S. but have been successful in prosecuting dozens of suspects who had admitted to plans to commit terrorism. Many countries don't allow such operations. But Holder said the use of such operations could help countries thwart attacks. He said the U.S. has already used these tools to carry out prosecutions of people who sought to travel to join the fight in Syria. "These operations are conducted with extraordinary care and precision, ensuring that law enforcement officials are accountable for the steps they take and that suspects are neither entrapped nor denied legal protections," Holder said. He also called on countries to share information with Interpol and one another about their nationals who try to travel to Syria to fight and those who return. And he urged countries to come up with counter-radicalization programs that try to reach communities where young people may be exposed to extremists. "We must seek to stop individuals from becoming radicalized in the first place by putting in place strong programs to counter violent extremism in its earliest stages," Holder said. | Eric Holder urges countries to enact new criminal laws that clamp down on suspects .
He cites "violent extremists fighting today in Syria, Iraq or other locations"
U.S. intelligence estimates that nearly 7,000 foreign fighters have traveled to Syria .
Holder urges nations to share information about nationals who try to travel to Syria to fight . |
104,580 | 12f24d83d30c11ecc94eda06786c4fd7fb3ce774 | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 20:27 EST, 31 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:20 EST, 1 January 2014 . A woman became the biggest winner in ‘Price is Right’ daytime history this week when she won a car worth almost $160,000 - and lost her mind celebrating. Sheree Heil, of Tacoma, Washington, won a $157,300 Audi R8 V8 Spyder Quattro S Tronic while playing the game Gas Money. She also won a pair of Prada shoes and $10,000 cash before she was finished. Gas Money requires contestants to correctly eliminate four incorrect car prices to leave the car’s correct price as the last one remaining - cash prizes are awarded each time an incorrect price is eliminated. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Happy to be there: Sheree Heil is all smiles even before she knows that she'll be playing for . The anticipation: She knows it's going to be a 'dream car,' as host Drew Carey put it, but she doesn't know which one yet . A new car!: An Audi R8 V8 Spyder Quattro S Tronic . Contestants have the option of taking the cash and going home at any time, forfeiting their chance to win a car. Those who get each one right not only win the car, but also $10,000 cash. Ms Heil excitedly ran on stage after being the closest bidder – without going over – to a pair of Prada shoes. The excitable contestant was already overjoyed, telling host Drew Carey how good he smelled after hugging him. Before she had any idea she’d be playing for the German supercar. Announcer George Gray’s introductio0n of the Audi sent both Ms Heil and the show’s audience into a frenzy. Supercar: This Audi R8 is worth almost $160,000 . Shock: Ms Heil says 'cheese and crackers' when she sees the car . 'Cheese and crackers,’ Ms Heil said in awe of the car she had a chance to win. The woman looked about ready to burst when being told the rules of Gas Money before going to work. First down was $146,770 – she won $4,000 for the correct guess. She then knocked out two more prices without missing a beat, and growing even more excited by the second. The crowd, sensing what was about to happen, shouted prices, cheered her on and got louder and louder. Gas Money; Ms Heil had to correctly guess the four wrong prices and leave the correct price to win the car . Let's get going: Ms Heil can't wait to start her game - and win the car . She can't take it anymore: The anticipation is overwhelming her . Ms Heil jumped up and down, the audience jumped up and down and cheered with her. ‘Oh that car, oh that car,’ she said before flashing a thumbs up to the audience when asked if she would go for it. ‘She’s risking $8,000 here… which one of those is not the price of the car?’ Mr Carey implored her.Ms Heil took a deep breath. ‘one five two two nine five,’ she said. ‘She says $152,295 is not the price of the car,’ said Mr Carey. ‘Sheree, good luck.’ ‘I’m so nervous,’ ‘Price is Right’ model Rachel Reynolds said before flipping over the last price tag. ‘I’m so nervous too,’ said Mr Carey. And we're off: The game begins with a correct guess, and Ms Heil winning $4,000 . Helping hands: The crowd shouts prices, urging her to continue . Almost there: Only one price left to guess . Cheering her on: The crowd beckons her to make a guess, to win the car . ‘Oh please baby,’ Ms Heil said as the crowd roared in anticipation while she clutched Mr Carey by the arm. Ms Reynolds flipped the price over - $2,000 it said. ‘You got it!’ Mr Carey shouted as the crowd and Ms Heil went berserk. The biggest winner in the show’s daytime history, she ran around the show’s set jumping, and screaming while the audience shared in the pure joy of the moment. 'One five two two nine five': Ms Heil guesses $152,295 as being the wrong price . Tnesion in the air: Even host Drew Carey and model Rachel Reynolds admit to being nervous for Ms Heil . 'You got it!': The last price ticket flipped over to reveal a prize of $2,000 - she won the car . Write caption here . Electric: The audience lost its mind when she won . Victory lap: Ms Heil runs around the set jumping and screaming in excitement . Big hug: She hugs Ms Reynolds before running to her new car . I won!: Ms Heil can't believe it, she won the car . Smiles all around: Everyone is happy Ms Heil won the car . Overcome: She can't believe she won . Ms Heil hugged Ms Reynolds before running back towards the audience and jumping for joy. ‘She just won a $157,000 car,’ Mr Carey said, sounding as if he was in disbelief as she Ms Heil sat in her new Audi R8. ‘That was awesome,’ said Ms Reynolds. ‘I’m so happy for you.’ Ms Heil then got out of her new car and doubled over as if unable to deal with the flood of emotions she felt as the show cut away to commercial. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘oh my goodness.’ Though impressive, primetime 'Price is Right' specials have offered much larger prizes. The biggest win ever recorded on a primetime special happened in 2008 when Adam Rose won $20,000 and both showcases - which included a Ford Escape Hybrid, a Cadillac XLR and a $1million bonus for guessing within $1,000 of his showcase's value. His total winnings were $1,153,908. | Sheree Heil became the biggest winner in the show's daytime history .
She won an Audi R8 V8 Spyder Quattro S Tronic work $157,300 .
Primetime Price is right specials have given away larger prizes in the past, and even offered $1million . |
186,441 | 7d82bd436759c3a63c9ab9d649689c96ee69a2fc | (CNN) -- The last time Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams, the Russian was just 17. It was the final of the 2004 WTA Championships, and the victory capped her breakthrough year after an attention-grabbing first grand slam title at Wimbledon. Fast forward eight years, and history is repeating as the two biggest names in women's tennis meet again in Sunday's climax to the season-ending championships in Turkey. Neither ended 2004 ranked as No. 1, and the same will be the case this time. Sharapova overpowered Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-2 in the second of Saturday's semifinals, but the Belorussian had already guaranteed the year-end top spot by winning two of her group games. However, it was a measure of revenge for the second-ranked Russian, who lost to Azarenka in January's Australian Open final, the U.S. Open semifinals and in two other tournament title matches -- the most recent in Beijing earlier this month. "When you find yourself in a losing position a few times during the year, you want to try to figure out how to change those things around," Sharapova said. "I certainly didn't make as many mistakes today as I did in our previous matches this year. "I'd lost to Victoria the last few times, so I'm really happy I put myself in the semifinals to play against her and try to improve that -- I was hoping to have a better result, and I'm happy I did today." While she ended her losing run against Azarenka, Sharapova must now break a streak of eight successive defeats against Williams -- who thrashed her in August's Olympic final. The American, who won the WTA event in 2001 and 2009, reached the final for the fifth time with a 6-2 6-1 demolition of fourth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska in a rematch of July's Wimbledon final. The Pole had been on court for three and a half hours in winning her final group match on Friday, and it showed as U.S. Open champion Williams -- who had a rest day -- needed just 61 minutes to complete victory. "Those last two matches really killed me," Radwanska said. "Especially that I didn't have the day off, and especially that surface -- it's very sticky, so three and a half hours is a lot. "I really tried today and I really wanted to run, but my legs just didn't. This is the kind of tournament where you have to be fit every match to win. "I was trying, but Serena played too fast. I couldn't do anything." Williams, playing her first tournament since claiming her 15th grand slam title in New York, has now won 17 matches in a row against top-five players and has lost just twice in her last 49 matches. "I probably had an idea she was tired," the 31-year-old. "I just told her that it was awesome she played so well and played through another match, after playing a good eight hours. It was really inspiring for me." Azarenka was last year's runner-up but her hopes of reaching another final were seemingly hampered by an injury that left her in tears at times during the second set. She is 62-0 this year in matches where she has won the first set, but Sharapova improved her record in such circumstances to 51-1. "I'm not going to say I was the freshest today, but I also don't want to make any excuses," Azarenka said. "I think Agnieszka felt much worse than me today. I saw her before the match and we looked at each other and we laughed really hard. That says it all." While Azarenka has just one grand slam to her name, she won five other tournaments this year, reached three more finals, claimed bronze at London 2012 and was ranked No. 1 for all but four weeks. "I'm really proud of what I've done the whole year," the 23-year-old said. "I started the year with No.3 and I finished with No.1, which in numbers doesn't seem like a huge jump, but we all know in reality it's a pretty big difference. "I finished the year a much more mature person. I'm very proud of that too. The whole year was a lot of learning experience, trying new things and taking the whole journey with the good and a few bads -- I didn't have many. I cannot complain about this year." Meanwhile, Roger Federer reached the final of his home Swiss Indoors event for the ninth time with a 7-5 6-4 win over France's Paul-Henri Mathieu on Saturday. The world No. 1 is now level with John McEnroe on 875 career wins, leaving them equal fourth. If he beats his 2009 U.S. Open final conqueror Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday to win the Basel hard-court tournament for the sixth time, the 31-year-old will match American McEnroe on 77 top-level titles. | Maria Sharapova sets up final clash with Serena Williams at WTA Championships .
She has lost to American in last eight encounters but beat her in the 2004 final .
Sharapova defeats world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in Saturday's second semifinal .
Williams cruised into her fifth final, beating fourth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska . |
171,545 | 6a0c71de1adeae914f597b023a13f027003a8b6c | November holidaymakers who are looking for cheap eats or beer should head to Prague while those who want to take in the sights in the sun should jet to Marrakech or Dubai. Those are some of the findings of a Travelzoo study that analysed ten popular autumn city break destinations. The travel website has put together a helpful planner for tourists, breaking down each city in categories including affordability, weather, public transit costs and food. Prague, one of the coldest November destinations, offers cheap eats and affordable public transit rates . Based on advice from travel experts in each city, the infographic offers budgeting tips and dining and hotel recommendations to help holidaymakers to plan their trip. In terms of spending power, Prague came out on top with an average meal for two costing just £18, while London was the most expensive at £50. Prague - one of the coldest November destinations - also has one of the cheapest public transit rates, although its bike hire is tied with New York as the most expensive at £6 per day. The infographic also lists suggestions for those who are looking to avoid crowds. Those who are heading to Paris, for example, should stop by Chateau de Vincennes, a royal castle east of the French capital, while tourists in Rome should visit the Knights of Malta Keyhole. Travelzoo has put together an autumn city break guide for ten popular destinations . | Tourists looking for warm weather should head to Marrakesh or Dubai .
Prague offers the cheapest meal for two with average cost of £18 .
Infographic recommends attractions for those looking to avoid crowds .
Head to Knights of the Malta Keyhole in Rome or Roosevelt Island in NYC . |
39,077 | 6e6ea09934ee77e9cb35d8716108c09719001d21 | Former Communist East Germany secretly sold its citizens to western pharmaceutical companies to use as human guinea pigs in drug trials. Tens of thousands of sick people in the former German Democratic Republic were treated with medicines not approved in the West to see how effective they were. Details of the top secret project have been unearthed in the files of the Stasi secret police in Berlin. The communist regime profited with millions in hard currency. The bridge between East Germany and West Berlin pictured in the early 1960s. Recently opened files show how Stasi officials secretly sold citizens to western pharmaceutical companies to use as human guinea pigs . But the human cost was high with dozens killed through side effects of drugs which had bypassed the normally stringent testing procedures demanded by western democracies. Even worse, some patients received placebos - pills that did nothing at all - to gauge how they responded in comparison to others who were given proper medication. The practice was exposed by journalists Stefan Hoge and Carsten Opitz and screened this week in Germany in a disturbing documentary entitled 'Test and Dead'. The Stasi files - miles and miles of yellowing paperwork which the hated secret police of East Germany failed to destroy when the country imploded in 1989 - revealed details of how it became one of the most important testing arenas for western drug companies. The conspiracy involved the state, doctors and western big pharma firms. GDR leaders were happy to implement the programme in a land which excelled only in shortages. 'There were pharmacies which could no . longer provide 20 percent of needed drugs,' said pharmaceutical . historian Christoph Friedrich from the University of Marburg. 'And that . shortage extended to hospitals.' The Stasi files have revealed details of how East Germany became one of the most important testing arenas for western drug companies (file picture) The thalidomide scandal at the beginning of the 1960's intensified the criteria for medical testing across the western world, including in West Germany. New regulatory requirements for market approval forced the manufacturer to conduct ever larger clinical trials of their drugs in large groups of patients. East Germany, for cold, hard cash, was willing to provide the guinea pigs - although they would never know that they formed part of a huge experiment. 'A secret Conference with politburo Central Committee members responsible for health care provided the stage for a momentous deal in the spring of 1983,' said historian Friedrich. 'At selected hospitals, doctors from western pharmaceutical companies were able to perform clinical tests of non-approved drugs. 'Paperwork in the Stasi files shows that western drug corporations signed contracts with a GDR foreign trade company. From 20 tests in 1983 there were 165 underway in 1988. 'The researchers could find no documentation in the Stasi files, or the records of the former East German Ministry of Health, showing that patients knew they were in fact being used as test models. The TV programme could find no-one in western big pharma companies who had any idea about the secret testing programme, said Opitz. | Tens of thousands tested with experimental drugs not approved in the West .
One study of a drug for heart conditions saw six out of 17 .
patients die .
Sinister practice exposed in disturbing new Germany documentary . |
164,110 | 6039093604f47f78b463aef8414f8613e2954e9e | Washington (CNN) -- Diversity is not a word that describes the Supreme Court's makeup over most of its existence. Only three women justices have served (the first in 1981), and only two African-Americans (the first in 1967). The first Hispanic was named last year, but no Native Americans or Asian-Americans have been named, nor have any openly homosexual or disabled justices. Only about 11 Catholics have served, and seven Jews. The expected elevation of Elena Kagan to the high court would represent both a step forward and a retreat of sorts, for bench diversity on the high-profile court, especially when compared to the man she would replace. Kagan is set to become the third woman on the current court, a move applauded by retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor and former first lady Laura Bush. The 50-year-old also has no judicial experience, unlike every current member of the court, who were previously federal appeals court judges. Justice Antonin Scalia, for one, likes that. "Currently, there is nobody on the court who has not served as a judge -- indeed, as a federal judge -- all nine of us," he said last month in a speech. "I am happy to see that this latest nominee is not a federal judge -- and not a judge at all." She would be the third Jewish-American, joining Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. The other six members of the court are all Catholic: Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor. Retiring Justice John Paul Stevens is the current court's lone Protestant. That has prompted divergent views from the religious and political community on whether diversity of faith matters. His departure and replacement by Kagan also would represent a loss of diversity on two other fronts: geography and education. The Chicago native is a true Midwesterner in his friendly personality and his approach to deciding many legal issues. Kagan would help form an unusual majority: five natives of the New York City area. Scalia is from Queens, Ginsburg still retains her Brooklyn accent, Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx and loves the Yankees, and Alito called Newark, New Jersey, home. The nominee herself was raised in the upper west side of Manhattan. Only Staten Island among the boroughs would be unrepresented on the high court. And then there is the academic equation, with the new court to be composed entirely of Ivy League law graduates. Kagan went to Harvard Law School, just like Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy and Breyer. That's another majority Kagan can boast. Ginsburg also attended the Boston-area school, as well as Columbia. The three other justices went to Yale. Only Stevens -- again -- stayed out of those ivied schools, graduating from Northwestern University at the head of his class in 1947. Stevens' departure is a generational shift, too: he is the court's last military veteran who came of age during the Depression, served in the Navy during World War II, and began practicing law during the Cold War. With the advent in the 1920s of open Senate hearings of court nominees, public and press scrutiny of court diversity have become important talking points. At that time, tremendous social and political changes in the country were reflected in a slow push to diversify the court's makeup. Since then, seats unofficially have been set aside for individuals of certain backgrounds. The first Jewish justice was Louis Brandeis, whose bitter 1916 confirmation was marked by underlying anti-Semitism. When Benjamin Cardozo joined him in 1932, a so-called Jewish seat was established. Cardozo was replaced by Felix Frankfurter, who was replaced by Arthur Goldberg, who was replaced by Abe Fortas. Currently, two Jewish justices sit on the bench, Ginsburg and Breyer. A similar precedent was created when Thurgood Marshall became the first person of color to sit on the court. When he retired, Clarence Thomas took Marshall's seat, although President George H.W. Bush considered a wide variety of candidates before settling on the Georgia native. Thomas has acknowledged to colleagues that he benefited to some extent from having the right connections in his career. Many political and legal experts expected George W. Bush to make his first court pick a Hispanic, but his two picks were white males. Some court observers believe political pressure to choose a justice strictly on gender or race is no longer relevant. "The whole commentary of the court has evolved away from that," said Pulitzer Prize winning author and court historian David Garrow. "Our society has changed; the novelty no longer exists." President Barack Obama's two high court choices have been applauded by many advocacy groups for the diversity they brought to the court, but criticism also has arisen on some fronts. Civil rights groups expressed disappointment the nation's first black president did not seriously consider naming any African-Americans to the court. "The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor certainly was historic in that she became the first Hispanic to sit on the high court, and it was embraced by civil rights groups," wrote CNN Political Analyst Roland Martin in May. "Yet this time, for highly qualified African-American female judges, such as Leah Ward Sears, the retired chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, to never make the cut for a face-to-face interview with the president has ticked off a number of leaders I've talked with over the last several days." Kagan in fact has been criticized for the lack of diversity she brought as Harvard's law dean from 2003-09. Guy-Uriel Charles, founding director of the Duke Center on Law, Race and Politics, looked at Kagan's hiring record, noting of the 29 positions she had a chance to fill, 28 were of those appointed were white and one was Asian-American. And of the group, only six were women -- five white and one Asian-American. "These numbers on the surface are appalling, and would be ripped to shreds by those who value diversity," Martin said. Kagan's defenders say her hiring power was limited, but she did help bring a number of conservative professors to the faculty, earning praise from many on the right. | No Native Americans, Asian-Americans, homosexual or disabled justices named to high court .
First Hispanic, Sonia Sotomayor, named last year .
Kagan would become third woman on Supreme Court .
Would join fellow Jewish-Americans Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer . |
37,579 | 6a6f192aa87894eba011a8ecf6c31f13b740856d | From the bright lights and constant clattering of a tenpin bowling alley to the calmness of a fine art workshop, it has been quite the career change for Peter Bellerby. A few years ago, the 48-year-old was working as the boss of a tenpin bowling business. Now he is crafting a beautiful array of bespoke globes which sell up to £59,000 a time. His artisan globe company which has A-list . clients from all over the world, one of whom has already paid full price . for a 'Churchill globe' mounted on an aircraft engine replica made by the heritage technicians at Aston Martin. Labour of love: Peter Bellerby, 48, and his team built the contents of this stunning workshop from scratch after he attempted to create a homemade globe for his father . Painstaking: The papering and painting processes take the longest to learn according to Mr Ballerby. He says a trainee will take the best part of a year to learn the skill . Gentle: The sections of paper are soaking wet when applied meaning even the slightest tension can cause a rip, forcing the craftsman to start again . Mr Bellerby, founder of Bellerby & . Co, was working as the boss of a bowling alley business six years ago . when he made his first globe for his father's 80th birthday. It was the lack of well crafted globes . on the market which forced the maker's hand. According to Mr Bellerby, he . wanted a globe which wasn't a 'cheap mass produced item, but also wasn't . a 500 year old antique. The self-starting craftsman decided . that he would make his own, and after 18 months of what he said was . 'frustration and concentration' his first globe and his new business was . born. Speaking from the . studio in Stoke Newington, Mr Bellerby said the process of learning to . make globes had been more about persistence than talent. He . said: 'I knew I wanted to get my father something different for his . birthday, and a globe was just an idea I was toying with. In fact, to . begin with I was thinking about making us one each, that was obviously . before I knew anything about the work which is involved.' After . 18 months of toil, and with his first far from perfect globe under his . belt, Mr Bellerby decided he would begin making more models to cater for . what he saw as a gap in the market. But . according to the modest businessman, the transition from part time . hobbyist to full time craftsman was more to do with persistence than . innate talent. He said: 'I . couldn't claim to be a natural, that's for sure. When it comes to making . globes I'm not sure that there are any naturals it's all about hard . work and repetition. 'That's . why I had to stay in the business really, I'd put some money into the . venture and I knew that the only was it would be a success would be to . push and keep making these things until they became the products they . are today.' Range: Bellerby and Co produce a range of different sized globes all to specification. The Churchill globe, seen here mounted on a solid oak base, costs from £39,000 . Team effort: Ballerby & Co employ specially trained artists to help with the production and application of the maps in their Stoke Newington studio . Bellerby's . first lesson to learn, one vital to making a proper globe, was how craft . a truly round sphere which could then be covered in a map. Explaining . his first attempts as trying, the entrepreneur has since come to rely . on some state of the are technology to make the base for his balls. He . said: 'My first attempts were made of plaster of Paris using . mathematical instruments, what you quickly learn is that the margin for . error is tiny and so much can go wrong. 'Every time you mess up a measurement, you're essentially multiplying that by Pi by the time you're finishing the shape. 'Nowadays . we use resin which is shaped using F1 fabricators to help us build the . molds. We have a very high degree of accuracy now.' One . the shape is complete, there comes the painstaking process of applying . the maps. Something, yet again, Mr Bellery says that there is no quick . trick to. Technique: The smaller globes, left, are made from solid granite which can weigh up to 2kgs while bigger versions are hollow and covered with paper segments, right . He said: 'I have a . trainee at the moment who has been with me for a few months learning to . paper the globe, it will probably be another five until she does her . first perfect one. 'The . papering process is long and requires complete concentration. The paper . is wet so it will take the shape of the globe properly, but that makes . it very fragile. 'At times . there will be five of us papering away on a big project and there won't . be a word shared between us, you just can't take your eye off it'. Bellerby's . maps are alterations of other cartographers' works.The entrepreneur . says he simply does not have to the staff or time to run a cartography . business too, but the decorations on his globe's have made them highly . desirable. Modestly, Mr Bellerby will not be drawn on the household names who adorn their homes with his creations. He . said: 'It's true that we have customers who your reader will have heard . of, but they're no more important than my other customers, so I don't . like to single them out. Quality assured: According to Mr Bellerby, his workshop operates a quality over quantity policy, he insists it would be impossible to 'churn out' his bespoke globes . 'Let's just say a few of my customers have their own wikipedia pages.You can work it out from that, can't you?' Estimating . that his workshop will turn out around 200 globes this year, the . craftsman says his focus remains on quality and not quantity, adding: . 'I've never had anyone come back to me to say, your globe is broke, or . scratched or misshapen... or just not good enough. 'The . thought of that makes me feel really, really bad. I suppose that's our . driving force really, it keeps my commitment to quality, anyway. Leader: Peter Bellerby, right poses with the base of a sphere ready for covering in the magnificent studio. Before globes, he spent his days as a bowling alley manager . | Peter Bellerby first made a globe as a present for his father's 80th birthday just five years ago .
When he researched the market he realised there was only ONE high quality bespoke globe maker in the world .
He then started his own workshop crafting the magnificent creations which are popular with celebrities . |
47,353 | 85768ce3c8bcc70a4be0e6042749c35b8b680d21 | By . Steph Cockroft . A former Moroccan diplomat and his wife are facing up to five years in prison after illegally sneaking a woman into America so she could work as their servant - for free. Former Moroccan diplomat Abdelkader Amal and his wife Hnia, from Alexandria, Virginia, refused to pay the victim a salary, despite forcing her to work up to 60 hours per week as their private housemaid. Instead, the husband and wife - who reportedly seized the victim's passport - paid just $8500 towards the woman's apartment in Morocco while she was employed between December 2007 and December 2010. A picture of who is thought to be Abdelkader Amal, left, and his wife Hnia, right. The couple, from Alexandria, Virginia, have admitted bringing a Moroccan woman into America under a fraudulent visa. They are pictured here with their daughter Mariam Amal, who is not involved in the case . The Department of Justice said the couple now face a lengthy prison sentence, as well as a $250,000 fine, after admitting bringing the Moroccan woman into America under 'false pretenses'. Mr Amal, who worked as a diplomat at the Moroccan embassy in Washington D.C., and his wife, who runs a cleaning company from their home, pleaded guilty at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to a charge of alien harboring. A spokesman for the DOJ said: 'The . guilty plea stemmed from evidence that Abdelkader and Hnia Amal . unlawfully brought a woman into the United States from Morocco and then . kept the woman in their home as a domestic servant for three years.' The DOJ said the couple promised to pay the housemaid - identified only as 'F.H' - $400 a week if she worked for the family's cleaning company. But the victim - who was snuck into the country on a fraudulent visa - was forced to work as the family's servant for three years, during which time she was never paid a salary. The couple instead made two down payments on the woman's . apartment in Morocco, which came to just $8500. A couple who opened the Amals' front door during a broadcast by abc, believed to be the two defendants, did not give any comment about the case. The couple kept the victim as their maid for three years but never paid her a salary, according to the Department of Justice . The two payments, made in October 2010 . and January 2011, covered only a quarter of the . total apartment cost, the DOJ said. According to court papers, F.H was forced to clean, cook and provide childcare for the Amals' grandchild. She was also made to work for the cleaning company and clean for the couple's friends, the DOJ said. Although the cleaning company was paid for F.H.'s work, the victim never saw any of the money. The Department of Justice confirmed the Amals face up to five years in jail after admitting bringing the woman into America on a fraudulent visa . The Amals snuck F.H into America on a visa which they had obtained after pretending she would be working as a housemaid for a different employer. According to Mr Amal's plea agreement in the case, he used to be employed as a military official in the Moroccan embassy in Washington D.C. Once he stopped working there after his retirement in 2003, he was no longer eligible to sponsor individuals to come into America, the DOJ said. The Amals have now agreed to pay more than $50,000 to F.H. They are due to be sentenced on July 11. | Abdelkader Amal and his wife Hnia pleaded guilty to alien harboring .
The couple illegally snuck the victim into America to be their housemaid .
The Moroccan woman, who worked there for three years, was never paid .
The couple instead paid just $8500 towards the victim's home in Morocco . |
103,615 | 11a75bec182997808b016bc278f139007f3bddc4 | (CNN) -- Saturday's World Cup downhill race in Bormio ended in a thrilling dead heat as Aksel Lund Svindal extended his overall lead despite narrowly missing out on a three-way share of victory. The Norwegian had to settle for third place after finishing just 0.01 seconds behind Austria's Hannes Reichelt and Italy's Dominik Paris -- who delighted the home crowd by claiming his first World Cup win. "It's amazing, it was my dream to win a downhill in the World Cup -- and now I finally won it," said the 23-year-old, who finished third at his national championships in March. "Tying with Reichelt doesn't make any difference -- I am only happy to be on top. I was very nervous in the leader box because I knew the others behind will ski well, but it turned out good. "It is totally amazing to win here in Bormio, I can't say anything just that it was a dream come true." Reichelt also set a time of one minute 58.62 seconds as he claimed the fifth World Cup win of his career and his second podium this season after placing third in the Super G at Beaver Creek in the U.S. at the start of December. "I feel like I am back in downhill because my last races were really bad, but I felt confident today," the 32-year-old said. "I think equipment today was very important because if the skies are stable on this bumpy slope it helps you to ski fast. During the Christmas break we did a good job, I did a lot of testing and now I can say I am on the right wave back. The year is ending really, really nice." Svindal earned his first podium finish at Bormio, which is considered one of the most testing courses on the World Cup circuit. He finished 0.01 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Austrian Klaus Kroll, who was the World Cup downhill champion last season. "It's crazy, four guys within two-hundredths on one of the toughest downhills in the world," said Svindal, who leads the downhill standings by 92 points from Paris and has a 114-point advantage in the overall competition. He now has a record-equaling six podium positions before New Year, matching the mark set by Austria's Michael Walchhofer in 2004-05. "I can't remember a race exactly this close. But as a ski racer you almost get used to it, it's actually kind of crazy like that," Svindal said. "For sure there is that one mistake at the bottom that I wish I had back, but that's ski racing. As long as you are fighting for the win like I am today, sometimes you get it and sometimes you don't. But racing is a lot of fun when you are in that position." Meanwhile, Veronika Zuzulova had a comparatively more comfortable victory in the women's slalom in Semmering, Austria, as she won her first World Cup race. The Slovakian was 0.10 seconds ahead of home hope Kathrin Zettel over the two runs, while Tina Maze extended her overall World Cup lead with her 11th podium in 16 starts. The Slovenian, who was fastest in the first run, now has a 427-point advantage over Germany's Maria Hofl-Riesch, who placed fourth. | Hannes Reichelt and Dominik Paris share first place in men's World Cup downhill race .
Aksel Lund Svindal extends his overall lead after finishing only 0.01 seconds back in third .
Svindal was just 0.01 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Klaus Kroll, last season's downhill champion .
Italian skier Paris wins the first World Cup event of his career to delight the home crowd . |
156,505 | 56555e9872ec4fc18551537d4a1ee92ebd96ab6c | By . Laurie Kamens . PUBLISHED: . 20:01 EST, 1 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:01 EST, 1 June 2013 . var twitterVia = 'MailOnline'; . DM.has('shareLinkTop', 'shareLinks', { . 'id': '2334571', . 'title': 'Video shows IRS employees on taxpayer funded dancing lessons', . 'url': 'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334571/Video-shows-IRS-employees-taxpayer-funded-dancing-lessons.html', . 'eTwitterStatus': ' http://dailym.ai/19xEYNU via @' + twitterVia, . 'articleChannelFollowButton': 'MailOnline', . 'isChannel': false, . 'placement': 'top' }); . 5 . View comments . The IRS is once again in trouble with lawmakers after a new video featuring agency employees dancing to the 'Cupid Shuffle' was released to The House Ways and Means committee. The video, which was meant as entertainment for IRS bureaucrats at a recent conference in Anaheim, California is part of a series of IRS training videos that reportedly cost $60,000 to produce. The videos were made with tax payer dollars and are part of a continued pattern of frivolous spending from the department that is being reviewed by Congress. Scroll down for video. The IRS spent taxpayer money to make a silly video with several employees learning the 'Cupid Shuffle' for a 2010 employee conference in Anaheim, California . The video, which features several IRS employees being taught the group dance and making what is meant to be humorous banter such as, 'This is harder than doing an op review,' came to light just a few days before a new report on the spending habits of the government agency. The report entitled 'Collected and Wasted: The IRS Spending Culture and . Conference Abuses,' was compiled by the Treasury Inspector . General for Tax Administration, a government watchdog group. The group previously uncovered condemning information that the IRS was targeting specific conservative political groups applying for tax-exempt . status. The dance video is from the IRS's 2010 employee conference, which will be one of the main focuses of the forthcoming report. According to The Washington Post, the forthcoming report contains information that the IRS spent approximately $49 million on employee conferences . over the past three years. The IRS has made several expensive training videos (such as a Star Trek-themed video pictured here) using tax payer dollars, totaling up to approximately $60,000 spent, according to a report . The Anaheim conference held for 2,600 employees in IRS's small business and self-employed division reportedly cost $4.1 million dollars to put together and was paid for in part with unused funds from the IRS's enforcement budget, according to the newspaper . 'Whether it is the tens of thousands . of hard-earned taxpayer dollars . spent to produce frivolous entertainment for agency bureaucrats, or the . IRS’s own admission that it targeted the American people based on their . personal beliefs, the outrage toward the IRS is only growing stronger,” Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany told . Politico in a . statement. Boustany continued to say that the video further proves that the . government agency is a place 'where abuse and waste is the norm and not . the exception.' Earlier this year the IRS was caught making two expensive training videos for employees that parodied television shows Star Trek and Gilligan's Island. After The Ways and Means committee discovered the videos and learned that thousands of dollars in taxpayer money were spent on making them, they demanded the IRS turn over all videos 'depicting television or movie parodies.' IRS frivolous spending on expensive training videos (a Gilligan Island-based video pictured here) and employee conferences has caught the attention of the House Ways and Means committee, which is reviewing the agency closely . The 'Cupid Shuffle' video was handed to committee as part of the request. The IRS stated making the expensive training videos after the Obama administration cut the agency's administrative expenses for travel and conferences, The Washington Post reported. With limited funds to meet their employees face to face, the IRS instead poured their money into the theatrical videos. In response to the new video, acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel called the money spent on conferences in the past 'inappropriate' and promised to institute measures to prevent this from happening again, Politico reported. 'Sweeping new . spending restrictions have been put in place at the IRS, and travel and . training expenses have dropped more than 80 percent since 2010 and . similar large-scale meetings did not take place in 2011, 2012 or 2013,' Werfel said. The IRS is expected to come under much scrutiny for their spending in the next few days, especially because the agency has repeatedly asked lawmakers for increased funding for their enforcement division, from which they used excess funds on conferences. At the close of the 'Cupid Shuffle' video the IRS employees are filmed commenting on the dance lesson. A female employee who turns to the camera and says, 'And I thought doing the Star Trek video was humiliating.' Watch video here: . | The IRS produced a dance video for entertainment at an employee conference in Anaheim, California using tax payer dollars .
The IRS has made several expensive videos that reportedly cost $60,000 to produce .
The agency has come under scrutiny after spending thousands of dollars on employee training videos and conferences . |
75,958 | d767f899ec117671c99c33ed224b36c8c1aeb453 | Captain America, the Hulk and Iron Man relied on the incredible 'Helicarrier' to launch their planes from the air in the 2012 The Avengers film. And now, the US military is taking a leaf out of Marvel's comic after it invited people to submit ideas for future 'aircraft carriers in the sky.' The hope is that these flying fortresses will someday carry, launch and recover multiple swarms of drones anywhere in the world. Scroll down for video . Darpa has invited people to submit ideas for future 'aircraft carriers in the sky.' The hopes is that these flying fortresses will someday carry, launch and recover multiple swarms of potentially deadly drones anywhere in the world. Artist's impression pictured . According to Darpa - the Pentagon's advanced military technology research agency - military air operations typically rely on large, manned, robust aircraft. But such missions put these expensive aircraft, and their pilots, at risk. And while small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can reduce or eliminate such risks, they lack the speed, range and endurance of larger aircraft. Darpa believes the solution is to create a flying Avengers-style platform that can rapidly carry these drones wherever needed. The concept resembles Helicarrier (pictured) used in the 2012 film The Avengers. Captain America, the Hulk and Iron Man relied on this craft to launch their planes from the air . 'We want to find ways to make smaller aircraft more effective, and one promising idea is enabling existing large aircraft, with minimal modification, to become 'aircraft carriers in the sky',' said Dan Patt, Darpa project manager. Drones that can choose to deviate from a set mission and hunt in ‘swarms’ could be patrolling skies within the next 25 years, according to a recent roadmap. Unmanned aircraft carrying stronger chemical weapons could also be on the horizon, the US Department of Defence (DoD) revealed in its Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap. While the document sets out plans for unmanned maritime, land and air vehicles, there is a lot of focus on the future capability of controversial drones, which, if the plans come to fruition, could deviate from mission commands set by humans if they spot a better target. The DoD's roadmap also features plans for deadly ‘swarms’ of drone-bombs that are launched from an unmanned ‘mothership’ to circle the skies while a human operator searches for targets for the drones to crash into, guided by the bots’ on-board cameras. 'We envision innovative launch and recovery concepts for new UAS designs that would couple with recent advances in small payload design and collaborative technologies.' The new project, called Distributed Airborne Capabilities, is likely to use a plane similar to the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, B-1B Lancer bomber or C-130 Hercules cargo plane, according to a report by The Washington Post. Darpa is also involved in another initiative, dubbed the Hydra Project, which is aiming to develop a network of undersea 'motherships', capable of deploying both underwater and aerial drones. Meanwhile, the US Air Force is developing tiny unmanned drones that will fly in swarms, hover like bees, crawl like spiders and even sneak up on unsuspecting. The Air Vehicles Directorate, a research arm of the Air Force, last year released a computer-animated video outlining the future capabilities of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs). 'MAVs will become a vital element in the ever-changing war-fighting environment and will help ensure success on the battlefield of the future,' the video explained. 'Unobtrusive, pervasive, lethal - Micro Air Vehicles, enhancing the capabilities of the future war fighter.' Air Force officials have already produced tiny remote-control prototypes - but they consume so much power that can only operate for a few minutes. Researchers estimate that it will take several years of advances in battery technology to make the designs feasible. This new project, called Distributed Airborne Capabilities, is likely to use a plane similar to the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, B-1B Lancer bomber (pictured) or C-130 Hercules cargo plane . Darpa, the Pentagon's Virgina-based military research agency, claims these flying fortresses will overcome the limits of speed, range and endurance typically associated with drones . | Darpa has invited people to submit ideas for a 'flying aircraft carrier'
The concept resembles Helicarrier used in the 2012 film, The Avengers .
It could overcome current limits in speed, range and endurance of drones .
Project may use a plane like the B-1B Lancer bomber or C-130 Hercules . |
268,071 | e72e4dccc8767f69aefa4734e7b23fbce38f85c0 | An 18-year-old who was beaten unconscious by the father of his alleged sexual assault victim pleaded not guilty in court today. Teenager Raymond Frolander pleaded not guilty to sexual battery on a child under 12 at his arraignment on Thursday morning in Volusia County, Florida. He is being held without bond. In a recent mugshot, Frolander's face appeared to have healed after his initial booking photo which showed his puffed lips, swollen eyes and bloody mouth after a beating by father Jason Browning. Scroll down for video . Teenager Raymond Frolander pleaded not guilty to sexual battery on a child under 12 in Florida on Thursday. The alleged molester is pictured left on July 18 after being beaten by his alleged victim's father and right, ten days later on July 28 . Mr Browning and his family attended court today. He told Click Orlando: 'Our family is ripped apart. My daughters don't even know how to hug or kiss their brother anymore.' Frolander is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in September before his trial begins in November. According to a Facebook post by the child's grandmother, Norma Jean Browning, the alleged victim will have to testify at Frolander's trial. She asked friends to remember her grandson in their prayers. Browning admitted he 'just snapped' when he allegedly walked in on Frolander naked with his son. Shortly after beating the teen unconscious, he went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, he said. 'I was going to kill him,' Browning admitted but said that his son's pleas stopped him. Frolander later admitted to Florida police that he has been molesting the boy for three years. The 18-year-old was considered family by the Brownings and often spent time with the 11-year-old boy, the father said. 'There was nothing uncommon to let the kids go in the bedroom and play video games together and now I have to wonder why the door was shut,' Mr Browning said. The father was not charged with a crime and police appeared to understand his reaction. 'Dad was acting like a dad. I don't see anything we should charge the dad with,' Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood told WFTS last month. This picture was posted on July 28 on a Facebook page called 'Raymond Frolander Is Innocent'. The individual who posted the picture claims that it was taken by Browning while he beat Frolander for allegedly assaulting his son on July 18 . Jason Browning beat Frolander into a pulp after allegedly finding him performing a sex act on his son last month. He said outside court today that his family's life had been 'ripped apart' 'You have an 18-year-old who has clearly picked his target, groomed his target and had sex with the victim multiple times.' A subsequent mugshot showed Frolander had been badly beaten around the face, leaving him with swollen lips and eyes, bruising and lacerations. At the time of the 911 call in the early hours of July 18, the dispatcher asked Browning if any weapons were involved in the assault he had called in. Browning responded: 'My foot and my fist.' He told the dispatcher: 'I just walked in on a grown man molesting [name redacted]. And I got him in a bloody puddle for you right now, officer.' Police arrived at the Daytona Beach home in Florida to find Frolander unconscious. 'He is nice and knocked out on the floor for you, I dragged him into the living room,' the father said. 'Send an ambulance. He is going to need one.' The dispatcher asked: 'Is he still unconscious?' to which the father responds: 'Yes... I hit hard, sir.' He said that Frolander was a 'damn lucky boy that I love my God'. The father added: 'He stood up and his pants were around his ankles and nothing else needed to be said. I did whatever I got a right to do except I didn’t kill him.' The father had left his home around 1am to pick up some food and when he returned, heard a strange noise coming from the bedroom, police said. He pushed open the door and allegedly found Frolander with his pants down performing a sex act on the child. The boy told investigators he had been playing video games with friends but when they left, Frolander took him to a back room and pulled down his pants. He also said Frolander had been abusing him for three years. Daytona Beach police chief Michael Chitwood told MailOnline that Frolander had a close family connection to the alleged victim. The chief said he believed that Frolander lived next door to the boy and his father. The suspect was living with the victim's biological mother. Frolander's stepmother is also engaged to the victim's father. The police chief said the young boy was intimidated and told by Frolander that terrible things would happen if he revealed the abuse. Chief Chitwood said: 'He's 11 years old, he should be running around outside and playing video games, not dealing with something like this.' | Teenager Raymond Frolander pleaded not guilty to sexual battery on a child under 12 in Florida today .
Father Jason Browning beat Frolander unconscious after allegedly discovering him performing a sex act on his son .
Mr Browning said today: 'Our family is ripped apart. My daughters don't even know how to hug or kiss their brother anymore' |
276,705 | f2769c4bf52183b8b8deb665cf38f3f415b9a71f | By . Sam Creighton . A fifth person has been arrested over a savage hammer attack at an upmarket London hotel that hospitalised three wealthy tourists. The 32-year-old man was picked up by police today, in Islington, north London, on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently being questioned. Three other men, aged 56, 34 and 32, have already been arrested in connection with the attack, and police have been given more time to quiz them about what happened. A fifth person has been arrested over the attack at the upmarket London hotel, police are still investigating . The Cumberland Hotel, near Marble Arch, has a four-star rating and 1,000 rooms, including a Jimi Hendrix suite . A woman, 31, has also been held on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The attack took place when a lone man managed to get into the seventh-floor room at the four-star Cumberland Hotel, near Marble Arch in London’s West End, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The three victims - sisters from the United Arab Emirates - were asleep in the room at the time and, when one woke up, the man set upon her with a hammer and then turned on the other two before fleeing the hotel in bloodstained clothes. One of the victims, Khuloud Al Muhairi, 36, is still in a critical condition more than four days after the attack. The other two, Fatimah Al Muhairi, 31, and Ohoud Al Muhairi, 34, remain in hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. A fourth woman, who was staying next door when the attack took place and ran down to the first screaming for help, is believed to be 18-year-old relative Shekha Al Mauhairi. The sisters were part of a large family group staying at the hotel while on holiday from the United Arab Emirates . Police believe the suspect entered a room on the seventh floor (stock image of a Cumberland Hotel room) The teenager posted messages on Twitter just moments after the incident. She wrote: 'I am 18 years old and someone has attacked my family.' She then tweeted: 'I'm in London. Some foreigner from London came and attacked us.' In a final tweet she said that she has now moved to another hotel and is being looked after by security. Her tweets have since been deleted. Khuloud Al Muhairi, 36, remains in critical condition but her sisters, while still in hospital, are stable . The women, who are in their thirties, had travelled to London for a shopping spree . It is understood that the three women had deliberately left their door unlocked because they were staying in the hotel as part of a large family group. The wealthy family, arrived in the UK between April 3 and 5 for a holiday of shopping and sightseeing and the women had visited large West End stores the day before they were attacked. No keys were stolen from the hotel and police said there had been no breach of security at the venue. Detectives are scouring CCTV to establish the movements of the women and their attacker earlier in the day. The Cumberland Hotel is near Europe's busiest shopping street, Oxford Street, and has 1,000 rooms including a Jimi Hendrix suite. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | The 32-year-old man was arrested in London and is being questioned .
Three men and a woman have already been held in connection with attack .
All three victims are still in hospital and one remains in critical condition . |
75,255 | d55dad9e83ecf958de064528521d8458a247408d | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Bobby Brown "is innocent until proven guilty" on a drunken driving charge that followed a traffic stop this week in California, his lawyer said. "Mr. Brown has not been convicted of anything associated with this incident," attorney Tiffany Feder said Tuesday night. "Mr. Brown is taking this matter seriously and an investigation is under way." Brown, 43, showed signs of intoxication and failed a field sobriety test during the traffic stop in the Reseda area of Los Angeles County, California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Tiana Reed said. "Mr. Brown was not driving erratically," his lawyer said. "He was speaking on his cell phone." He was "released on his own recognizance" after being charged, Feder said. Brown, the ex-husband of the late singer Whitney Houston, is scheduled to perform with his group New Edition on Thursday in St. Louis. | The singer "was not driving erratically," his lawyer says .
Brown showed signs of intoxication and failed a field sobriety test, police say .
Brown is Whitney Houston's ex-husband . |
191,308 | 83b87290b3a7393878fd4c2db8db99d586a51aef | (CNN) -- Famed film director Roman Polanski, wanted in the United States for having sex with a minor in the 1970s, was questioned this week by Polish authorities but allowed to leave after the interview. A spokesman for the Polish Prosecutor General's office said Thursday that authorities there didn't believe it was necessary to hold him in custody while the United States seeks to extradite him. Mateusz Martyniuk told CNN that Poland received a request from U.S. officials to arrest Polanski, and the Oscar winning filmmaker came Wednesday to the office in Krakow. "(The matter) was not sent to the court that could impose a temporary arrest because the prosecution did not find basis for that," Jan Olszewski, one of Polanski's attorneys, told CNN affiliate TVN24, according to the network's translation. Polanski, who was in Krakow on Thursday, said he wants to film a movie in Poland, his parents' homeland, next spring. The director has both French and Polish citizenship. He told TVN24 he hoped the extradition question had been settled "once and for all." Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 in California to having unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, who was 13. The director of "The Pianist" was 43 at the time. He fled to Europe before he was sentenced. Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in 2009 on a U.S. fugitive warrant. The Swiss rejected the American extradition request in 2010 because the United States did not supply all the legal records Switzerland requested and because Polanski had a reasonable right to think he would not be arrested if he visited the country, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said at the time. Geimer publicly forgave Polanski in 1997 and has called for the case to be dismissed. Besides the Oscar win for "The Pianist," Polanski also received Academy Award nominations for "Tess" and "Chinatown." | Roman Polanski fled the United States after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old .
U.S. authorities wanted him arrested while in Poland, an official there says .
Prosecutors found no reason to detain him, lawyer for Polanski says .
The Oscar-winning director says he hopes that means the end of the U.S. extradition quest . |
199,262 | 8df411436c058f3cece08ccdbbb44dde53de6cf7 | FA Cup giant killers Bradford are set to be snubbed by the BBC for a second time after opting against showing their quarter-final tie against Reading live. The corporation came in for criticism after it chose to air Aston Villa's fifth round tie with Leicester rather than the League One side's 2-0 win against Premier League opposition Sunderland at Valley Parade on Sunday. And despite that decision causing such a stir, which led to Bradford supporters chanting 'are you watching BBC' and goalscorer Jon Stead insisting the game 'should have been on TV' during his post-match interview, the BBC are risking further backlash by ignoring the club once more, according to the Telegraph's Ben Rumsby. Billy Clarke (centre) fires Bradford ahead against Sunderland as they set up FA Cup quarter-final . Jon Stead (right) seals the tie with a neat finish to complete the FA Cup fifth round giant killing . The BBC had first and third pick of the last-eight ties and understandably plumped for Manchester United's clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford as first choice. BT Sport, who are sharing FA Cup coverage with the BBC, opted to show Liverpool against Blackburn as their first pick, and the BBC have controversially ignored Bradford's match in favour of the Midlands derby between Aston Villa and West Brom. Match of the Day Two presenter Mark Chapman on Sunday night moved to clarify why the BBC had not shown Bradford's win over Sunderland. 'I do have an answer on that subject,' the presenter said. 'And it comes from the BBC football management who say the following: "They had to pick their live games before the replays were played in the fourth round and therefore couldn’t be sure who Bradford would be at home to. If they had been allowed to wait they would have chosen it".' Mark Chapman said that the BBC had to choose the live games before Bradford's opponents were known . Stead joked during his post-match interview that the tie against Sunderland should have been shown on TV . Gary Lineker and Mark Chapman were subject to a cheeky tweet from Bradford following their FA Cup win . Sunderland needed a replay to beat Championship side Fulham in the fourth round and the BBC had to select the live games before the tie was decided, with the corporation instead opting to show the all Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Leicester. Gary Lineker had earlier claimed the BBC would have screened Bradford's fifth-round clash had their opponents been known prior to the fourth-round replays. The BBC later released a statement explaining how the selection process for the FA Cup ties works. The TV match selections for the 5th round of the FA Cup caused a bit of a reaction yesterday, so I wanted to use this post to explain in a bit more detail how the selection process works. You still might not agree with our picks, particularly if you're from Bradford, but hopefully you'll see there's a bit of logic to what we try to do. As Gary Lineker mentioned yesterday, the hardest thing is that both the BBC and BT have to make our selections before the outcome of replays. That's the only reason why Phil Parkinson's side didn't get a live match this time round. We had to weigh up the options and given Sunderland's recent form, thought it was a realistic possibility of the match being League One against a Championship side. In this case it wouldn't have been much of a shock whatever the result and the winners would be guaranteed a live Quarter-Final, as Reading have done by progressing at Derby. If Bradford definitely had a home tie against Premier League opposition we certainly would have chosen to have the match live on BBC One. That has been a big part of our policy so far, showing AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Bristol City and tonight Preston, all looking to overcome opposition from the top flight. As the game unfolded yesterday at Valley Parade, we shared the frustration of fans and would have loved to have been broadcasting the match live. It's everything the FA Cup and our new comprehensive coverage is about. We are speaking to the FA about whether we can change this in the future, but understand it's tricky for them. Clubs understandably want to get plans for ticketing, policing and fans in place without waiting for 10 days for TV companies to confirm their selections. But we hope there's a middle ground where we can get a little more flexibility to ensure we have as much chance as possible of capturing cup classics like yesterday. Of course a lot of things are easy in hindsight. We have been really pleased with most of our picks so far and really fortunate to get some proper cup shocks. Warrington from the eighth tier overcoming Exeter City, Blyth Spartans winning in dramatic fashion at Hartlepool, AFC Wimbledon running Liverpool close and Cambridge holding Manchester United under the Abbey Stadium lights. It's also great to see the difference the TV money can make to these clubs, as well as placing them in the national spotlight with over 7 million viewers tuning in. Our audience research also suggests that fans want to enjoy a mix of these David vs. Goliath matches and games involving Premier League sides. For those who can't afford subscription to sports channels, it's been great to be able to see live international stars like Alexis Sanchez, Angel Di Maria, Steven Gerrard, Ron Vlaar and Alex Song, all as part of the licence fee. While the Aston Villa vs. Leicester game wasn't everyone's cup of tea, it was a hotly contested Midlands derby with both clubs picking full strength sides and produced a cracking second half watched by over 4 million. Of course, we would have loved to have been live at Chelsea in the 4th round and Bradford in the 5th, but the good news for fans is that even when a game isn't shown live there's always comprehensive Match of the Day highlights available. There's a lot more extra coverage devoted to the FA Cup on the BBC, with lots of additional content and different ways to enjoy it. After the 4th round, 26 million people had watched the coverage on the BBC, that's 8 million more than on terrestrial TV this time last season. It's not all about viewing figures and ratings, but it's pleasing to be able to bring coverage of the world's most loved cup competition to such a wide audience. Despite some of the criticism coming out of Bradford, a lot of thought goes into the matches we pick, and I hope the selections outlined above show we are particularly keen to showcase clubs outside the Premier League. I'm a Bristol Rovers fan myself so know all too well what the cup can mean to those outside the elite. When we sit down tomorrow morning to pick our two matches for the Quarter-Final we will take all I've discussed into consideration, but the good news is that all four matches will be live on TV. That means Bradford's incredible heroics over the last five rounds have guaranteed them a money-spinning Quarter-Final game and boy do Bantams fans deserve it! | Bradford City were drawn against Reading in the FA Cup quarter-final .
Bradford beat Sunderland 2-0 to reach the last eight of the tournament .
The BBC were criticised for not showing the giant killing live on TV .
And the corporation are set to snub the League One side's quarter-final . |
21,117 | 3be706fdb9a9c58aa8dc4acf20705d7252f96844 | (CNN) -- Colorado police searching for a missing 10-year-old girl said Sunday they found her backpack in a subdivision more than six miles away from her home, their first break in the case. Police would not say what items were in the bag belonging to Jessica Ridgeway, who has been missing since Friday, except that some of the items had her name on them. A homeowner in a subdivision in Superior found the bag on the sidewalk outside his house about 6.4 miles from the girl's hometown of Westminster. Both towns are along the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. "We're trying to determine when it got there, why it got there," Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso said, adding it's a big break in the case. A bloodhound is being used at the scene where the bag was found, Materasso said. Police had not previously been searching for Jessica in the area. They are now interviewing nearby residents, Materasso said. Jessica was last seen by her mother as she left for school walking to a friend's house. Authorities then issued a statewide Amber Alert for Jessica, who has blue eyes, blonde hair, and glasses. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black puffy jacket with pink lining, and black boots with pom-poms, according to the Amber Alert. New York: Infant remains found in backyard . Suspect charged in Wales over missing girl . | NEW: Police say a backpack they found belongs to Jessica .
NEW: Police say it's a big break in the case .
A resident found the backpack with items with girl's name on them .
The 10-year-old was last seen walking to school Friday morning . |
281,407 | f8842ed7c86aa4610a88783cfdf9450d3c479c85 | A 63-stone man had to be rescued using a giant digger after he had heart failure. Michael Lehberger called the emergency services when he began to notice symptoms. But it soon became apparent that he would not fit through the door of his home in Riegelsberg, Germany. Scroll down for video . Michael Lehberger had to be rescued after feeling symptoms of heart failure last week . The 29-year-old had to be lifted using a cushioned CAT digger as the emergency services struggled to rescue him . Firefighters were forced to smash a hole into the side of his house to allow him to escape, reported the Sun. He was then loaded into a cushioned CAT digger and lifted to safety. The specialists had spent time building scaffolding outside his house, but found that it was too dangerous to try and carry him. Mr Lehberger was loaded into a cushioned CAT digger and carried from his home . Neighbours have said that they have not seen him outside of his house in approximately two years . Firefighters and paramedics worked for six hours overnight to rescue the 29-year-old . A firefighter covers the patient in a blanket as they carry him to safety . A window had to be expanded to allow the man to escape the house. He could not fit through his front door . Firefighters discuss how best to get the man out of his house and to the hospital . The 29-year-old was taken to hospital in an ambulance that is designed to hold four people. The entire rescue mission took six hours to complete. He was taken to a hospital with special beds designed for the patient's needs. They were forced to extend a window in the side of the house until it was big enough to get him out . The rescue mission began shortly after midnight and took six hours to complete . The emergency services were forced to build scaffolding in an attempt to get him out . The team tried to use a crane, but it was too dangerous to lift him out that way . An ambulance and firefighters outside Mr Lehberger's home . Head of the operation Volker Klien said: 'I have never experienced such a situation. Klien added that the man was too heavy to be taken in a car. A neighbour said that they had not seen him beyond his doorstep for approximately two years. The customised private bathroom for Mr Lehberger. His weight makes it difficult for him to do everyday things . An old photo of 400-pound man Michael Lehberger flamed mountain as Goal keeper of the DJK Puettlingen (front centre) Michael Lehberger's bedrom inside the Riegelsberg home he had to be rescued from . | Michael Lehberger called emergency services when he had heart failure .
The 63-stone man could not fit through the door of his Riegelsberg home .
Firefighters had to extend a window to rescue him from the building .
He was then carried to safety using a cushioned CAT digger .
An ambulance built for four people took him to hospital . |
235,111 | bc5ddd518806fa32bcf98f81e74d599045d0ef7f | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow cabinet office minister, accused the coalition of 'electioneering at the tax payers expense' The coalition has been accused of 'electioneering at the tax payers expense' after launching a multimillion pound newspaper and television assault to promote its policies, it has been reported. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are said to be using public money to fund campaigns that highlight their Help to Buy Scheme and superfast broadband. Other adverts were said to include those raising awareness of healthy school meals and improvements to the health service. 'Ministers need to justify this immediately,' Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow cabinet office minister, told The Times. 'This looks like shameless electioneering at taxpayers' expense.' The Government's Help to Buy 30 second advert reached a prime time television audience after appearing during the hit ITV series Broadchurch starring David Tennant. A spokesman for the Treasury told the MailOnline that the advertisement, that is set to run for three months, has been paid for by the banks. 'For the scheme to support homebuyers across the UK, as many people as possible need to know how it works and understand if they are eligible,' said the spokesman. 'That's why the Government have developed a targeted public information campaign. The costs are funded by fees paid by the mortgage lenders under the scheme, not the taxpayer. 'So far, Help to Buy has helped 71,000 people realise their home owning aspirations, and is a key part of our long term economic plan that has ensured that first-time home buyers in 2014 rose to their highest level since 2007.' Scroll down for video . The 30 second television advert for the government's Help to Buy scheme appeared during a break for the hit ITV show Broadchurch . The government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the Times their superfast broadband awareness campaign would provide 'value for money for the tax payer,' as contractors BT will return more money to the public purse as more people sign up. The Cabinet Office said they have actually halved the cost of government communications since the 2010 general election.The proposed spend for this year was £289 million. 'As part of our long-term economic plan we have halved the cost to taxpayers of government communications since the 2010 General Election,' he said. 'We are now coordinating this centrally to ensure it is properly focused and effective, using low-cost campaigns whenever practical. 'All marketing and advertising delivers coalition government priorities, for example supporting our Help to buy scheme which is helping hardworking people buy a home, army recruitment and improving public health.' The government has also been advertising its superfast broadband scheme . | Coalition has launched a multimillion pound advertising campaign .
Conservatives and Lib Dems accused of funding it with tax payers money .
They have been accused of 'electioneering at tax payers expenses' |
212,285 | 9ee3a2b84cf444fd169a03fad182ee774a02ee9a | By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 04:30 EST, 17 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:23 EST, 18 September 2012 . There are only four days until the first shoppers get their hands on an iPhone 5. But for those who have pre-ordered, they can watch their phone make its way slowly from overseas from China, with crates stacked high with iPhones due to land in both the U.S. and UK by the end of the week. Fans have been using the UPS delivery company's website to figure out when their phone will arrive, and by doing so have shown that that the first shipments left ZhengZhou in China yesterday. If people still want more information, then Apple has released detailed specifications about the phone, to allow third-party manufacturers to create cases for the phone. Waiting for your iPhone 5? This is what you will be getting: Apple has released these specifications of its new device . The specifications show every individual measurement of the iPhone - from the width of the lens to the spaces around the buttons. This means that third-party case-makers can get to work creating different covers for the phone, and a rush of covers are now likely to start appearing on eBay and other merchant websites. Apple states its design aims and warnings to manufacturers with the specifications. The company says that 'a well-designed case will securely house an Apple device while not interfering with the device’s operation. 'Significant factors in mechanical design include access to the device’s sensors, controls, and connectors. 'A case that encroaches too closely on the perimeter of any camera lens may produce image degradation, even without obstructing the lens. The case should not cause contrast decrease, color shift, image blocking, or flash interference through any camera lens.' Taller yet thinner: The iPhone 5 has gained an increased screen size and a new dock connector . To show the care Apple puts into ensuring a premium experience, it even offers a template against which manufacturers can take pictures to ensure image degradation does not take place. The avid buyers who have pre-ordered their iPhone have used UPS's order page as well as Apple's serial code checker to tease out new facts about their phones. For instance, the earliest manufacturing date discovered so far is August 5th-11th - showing just how tightly Apple runs its ship. An estimated 50million iPhone 5s are likely to be sold over the next year, meaning all of Apple's factories are outputting at maximum capacity to supply demand. Meanwhile, for those who want their hands on the first model, be warned that queues have already started forming outside Apple Shops in London and New York in preparation for the official launch this Friday. | Apple releases full specifications so that case-makers can begin their designs .
Fans use UPS tracking website for re-assurance their phone is on the way from ZhengZhou, China . |
269,197 | e8b20c11617c788def533c5525d00c0865be9244 | (CNN) -- Their CVs combined look like the envy of all bona fide air adventurers. Pioneering ultralight aircraft? Been there. Setting world records by circling the globe nonstop in a balloon? Done that. Commanding the first ever 24-hour flight on a plane powered just by the sun? Yep, you've guessed it. And now, following 12 years of complex designs and intense training, aviation pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg are set to conquer new heights, taking up the challenge of the first solar flight around the globe. The Swiss duo unveiled last week Solar Impulse 2, a revolutionary aircraft designed to achieve the longest ever flight in the history of aviation in terms of duration for a single pilot. It will attempt to fly non-stop for 120 hours (yes, that's five successive days and nights) over oceans and continents without a drop of fuel. Made of carbon fiber, Solar Impulse 2 is the evolution of a prototype that has smashed several aviation records in recent years, including the first fully solar-powered overnight flight lasting 26 hours in 2010. The upgraded plane has a huge wingspan of 72 meters, wider than a standard Boeing 747, and weighs only 2,300 kilos -- that's about as heavy as a family car. Its wings are covered with a skin of 17,000 solar cells that supply four electric motors with renewable energy, while its custom-made lithium batteries are able to store enough solar energy throughout the day to keep the ultralight plane flying at night. "What we have now is the first airplane in the world which has unlimited endurance," says 62-year-old Borschberg, a father of three, who was the one in the cockpit in 2010's record-breaking flight. "It can fly a day and a night, it can fly a week, it can fly a month -- theoretically it can fly a year," he adds. "It's the most energy efficient airplane ever built." 20-minute sleeping . Inside the airplane's tiny cockpit, measuring about one and a half the interior volume of a 2013 Mini Cooper, every detail has been calculated to achieve maximum energy efficiency while ensuring the pilot can live there for several days. Its structure is surrounded by a high-density foam to protect the pilot from temperatures ranging from -40°C +40°C in the absence of heating and air conditioning. There is enough space for food, water and oxygen supplies, while a multipurpose seat, which comes packed with a parachute and a life-raft, functions as a toilet. It also reclines to allow the captain to perform physical exercises to keep blood circulation going as well as take a nap -- but only for up to 20 minutes. "We've learned to do what we call polyphasic sleep," says Borschberg, referring to the practice of sleeping several times over a day. "You need to know how to rest, how to eat, when to go to the toilet and how to keep the body functioning. Of course, we've also prepared for the worst -- how to jump out if it's necessary, how to survive in the ocean with a small life raft and how to get rescued." To achieve all that, Piccard and Borschberg have spent countless days and nights inside flight simulators over the last few years. But while technical training is crucial, Piccard says preparing yourself mentally is as important. "You have to be ready in your head to really visualize all the solutions," says Piccard. "All the positive emotions around the flight that will last five to six days alone over the ocean, and also visualize how to enjoy it -- otherwise it's very, very difficult." It runs in the family . If there's someone who knows about difficult, if not impossible, undertakings, then that's Piccard, a third-generation adventurer. His grandfather was the first man to make it to the stratosphere in a balloon while his father was the first to reach the deepest point of the Earth's oceans, the Mariana Trench at nearly 11,000 meters. Following in their footsteps, Piccard developed a passion for aviation early on. Starting out as a teenager, he soon became one of the pioneers of ultralight flying and won several hang-glider aerobatics competitions. In March 1999, he completed the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight with Brian Jones from the UK, while four years later he joined forces with Borschberg, an aviator, entrepreneur and mechanical engineer, to embark on their lofty mission to build a solar aircraft that could circle the world with no polluting emissions. "In my family tradition there has always been the scientific exploration and the protection of the environment -- so this is what drives me," says 56-year-old Piccard, who is also a doctor, psychiatrist, and a father of three. "(To) have an interesting and exciting life but also have a useful life for others," he adds. Indeed, more than just setting new records, it's this desire to chart a sustainable path for future generations that seems to motivate the Solar Impulse founders -- when asked whether he was at all afraid of undertaking once again something that's never been done before , Piccard is unequivocal. "To be really honest," he says decisively, "I am very afraid of living in a world that burns one million tons of oil every hour -- without even counting gas and coal; a world that is destroying the planet and the environment," he continues. "I am much less afraid to fly in a solar-powered airplane because solar power is one of the solutions for the future. A future without fuel . Following last week's unveiling, Piccard and Borschberg are now set to begin test flights in mid-May before embarking on their 35,000-kilometer journey in March 2015. Starting from the Gulf region in the Middle East, the two pilots will then fly over India, Myanmar and China, cross the Pacific, the United States and the Atlantic with the aim of returning to their departure point. With a sluggish top speed of just 88 miles per hour, each ocean crossing will last five to six days, taking the total flight time up to 20-25 days over the course of a few months. "Because it's a single pilot and the plane flies slowly, we're going to land on every continent and switch the pilot," explains Piccard. "So one of us will make the Pacific, one will make the Atlantic; one will cross China the other one will cross America and so on." Each stop on their itinerary will last for several days as the Solar Impulse team wants to organize public events to raise awareness about a more sustainable way of life. "This is really the message we want to spread," says Piccard. "With clean technology, with renewable energy we can achieve incredible things without any fuel at all." READ THIS: Is your flying car finally here? | Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have unveiled Solar Impulse 2 .
The solar-powered aircraft will attempt to circle the globe next year .
It will have to fly non-stop for five days and nights crossing the Pacific and the Atlantic .
The aviation pioneers want to raise awareness about clean energy . |
127,886 | 3150a3086f42447e7b904823528ce82f9b1c4230 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 05:49 EST, 21 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:24 EST, 21 August 2013 . Ever felt those pangs of sadness when you're sat at the far end of the dinner table or missing out on the biggest wedding party of the year? You're suffering from a serious case of FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out. Not only is FOMO detrimental to our state of mind, it is also also costing us thousands of pounds a year. Despite budgets being tightened across the nation, Brits are shelling out an extra £1,463 on social activities they can't afford because they just can’t say no. A new study shows the social phenomenon FOMO is having a huge impact on the nation’s wallet with one in six Brits (16 per cent) revealing they’re unable to say no to social events even though they can’t afford it. Fear of missing out: Brits are shelling out an extra £1,463 on social activities they can't afford because they just can't say no . One in five (20 per cent) claim missing out on social occasions makes them feel depressed and, as a result, sufferers are going to extreme lengths to be part of the action; one in six (16 per cent) go without meals to fund the last-minute aspects of their social lives. Those susceptible to FOMO shell out an average of £28.13 extra a week participating in events they haven’t planned for, or agreed to, until the last minute. For around one in ten (9 per cent) the cost of FOMO is much higher with the real cost reaching £75 per week on last-minute social fixes. Holiday envy is the biggest cause of FOMO, with friends’ and family trips away rated the number one activity Brits hate to miss out on. Missing out: Birthday parties are what most people fear missing out on, while missing out on engagement parties and weddings is the third biggest cause of a serious case of FOMO . Birthday parties come second, while missing out on engagement parties and weddings is the third biggest cause of a serious case of FOMO. Fear of missing out is strongest in Wolverhampton where nearly two thirds (59 per cent) of residents confess to joining a last minute outing with friends once or twice a week. In Oxford, on the other hand, FOMO doesn’t appear to have taken hold - only one in 13 (eight per cent) throw caution to the wind and join in with an event they haven’t budgeted for. A spokesperson for VoucherCodes.co.uk, who carried out the survey, said: 'We’re in the sixth year of the recession and despite the fact so many Brits are struggling to get by on their austerity budget it appears we’re still unable to say no to occasions we can’t afford. 'If you’re one of the 16 per cent of people who regularly go over their social budget to avoid missing out it’s probably time to admit you’re not setting enough aside for social activities. 'If your budget is completely maxed out think outside the box next time your friends suggest going for a drink.' 1. Holidays2. Birthday parties3. Engagement parties and weddings4. Dinner parties5. Concerts/gigs6. Last minute activities such as a trip to the museum or cinema, or a meal out7. A regular Friday/Saturday night out8. Festivals9. Hen/stag parties10. Baby showers and christenings . | One in six Brits can’t say no to social events even though they can’t afford it .
Brits spend £28.13 on average per week on last-minute social events .
One in five feel depressed after seeing pictures of activities they’ve missed . |
136,840 | 3d06475318dba1591d11486deb98e0223f2cd38f | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 11:35 EST, 12 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:40 EST, 12 October 2013 . An aide to the Republican candidate running against Newark, NJ, Mayor Cory Booker for the state’s vacant Senate seat has been fired after a profane rant questioning his rival’s sexuality. Stephen Lonegan aide Rick Shaftan was fired after an explicit tirade to Talking Points Memo about Mr Booker’s unwillingness to ‘take advantage of the perks of office’ during interaction the Newark mayor had with a vegan stripped from Oregon, concluding he tweets like ‘a gay guy.’ Published Friday, the rant came after Mr Shaftan was asked why he felt Mr Lonegan was gaining in the polls against his more well-known rival. The misguided attack also saw the strategist compare Mr Booker to disgraced former senators Larry Craig and Gary Hart. Misguided: Republican operative Rick Shaftan's rant against Newark Mayor Cory Booker cost him his job . Mr Shaftan’s first shots at the mayor were directed at his Twitter exchange last month with the stripper. It was just weird. I mean, to me, you know, hey, if he said, 'Hey, you got really hot breasts man, I'd love to suck on them.' Then like, yeah, cool. But like, he didn't say that,’ Mr Shaftan explained to TPM. ‘It was like kind of like, I don't know, it was like what a gay guy would say to a stripper,’ Mr Shaftan continued. ‘It's the way he was talking to her. It's just like like there was no sexual interest at all.’ The Lonegan aide then bragged that if he was single and a stripped was tweeting him, that he ‘might take advantage of the perks of the office.’ They've even met!: Mr Shaftan posted this picture, taken with Newark Mayor Cory Booker, to his Facebook page . Mr Booker met stripper Lynsie Lee while filming a still-unreleased documentary about Twitter, according to TPM. The Twitter exchange between the two, which BuzzFeed made public last month, was brief and fairly innocuous. ‘And the East Coast loves you and by the East Coast, I mean me,’ Booker wrote. ‘Well now I'm blushing :),’ Ms Lee replied. "Its only fair,’ Booker retorted. The faux-controversy soon blew over. A Booker adviser even joked that the real story was that a vegan strip club exists. She caught someone's attention: Mr Shaftan ridiculed Mr Booker for not 'taking advantage of the perks of office' after not taking things further with vegan stripper Lynsie Lee . The messages in question: This Twitter exchange gave mr Shaftan fits, leading him to say Mr Booker tweets like a 'gay man' Big fan: Ms Lee's prolific appreciation of Mr Booker via Twitter shows up almost daily, she has even claimed to 'have dibs on First Lady' The mayor himself touted the Twitter exchange as proof he is still ‘engaging with people no matter what their profession,’ TPM noted. Remarking about the non-stop flood of naked pics posted to social media by the gregarious stripper, Mr Lonegan gnashed his teeth over Booker’s lack of interest. ‘I don't know who she is. I don't know anything about her.' Get the f**k out of here dude,’ Mr Shaftan ranted. ‘You can't follow her Twitter page and not know she's got those great breasts. How do you f*****g not know?’ ‘Who does this guy really want to work for? Who's he representing?’ Mr Shaftan wondered aloud. The unhinged aide also questioned the frontrunner’s willingness to allow speculation over his sexuality to continue, his fondness for pedicures and Hollywood fundraisers. You're fired!: Stephen Lonegan immediately fired Mr Shaftan and apologized for his remarks . ‘I love seeing on Twitter when someone says I’m gay, and I say, ‘So what does it matter if I am? So be it,’ Mr Booker said earlier this year. ‘I hope you are not voting for me because you are making the presumption that I’m straight.’ The soon-to-be-fired aide’s rant began to finish up after he compared Mr Booker to former Senators Larry Craig and Gary Hart. Mr Craig’s political career came to a screeching halt after he was busted in an airport sex sting trying to solicit sex in a men’s bathroom, infamously tapping his foot on the ground between stalls. Mr Hart’s numerous affairs, most notably with Donna Rice, brought a disastrous end to his 1988 presidential candidacy. No comment: Mr Booker has not publicly remarked on Mr Shaftan's comments . Finally satisfied he had exorcised all of the Booker demons from his system, Mr Shaftan touted his candidates ‘surging’ place in the polls. Mr Lonegan fired him almost immediately after the article was published Friday afternoon, and publicly apologized for his comments. Mr Booker has not publicly addressed the incendiary comments. Neither he, nor his campaign could be reached by MailOnline. This is the second time in recent months a New York-area political aide's ranting has been highlighted on TPM. Anthony Weiner aide Barbara Morgan cursed an intern during a July rant to the site. Mr Weiner declined to fire her. The special election to determine who will fill the NJ Senate seat left vacant after the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg died will be held Wednesday. | Stephen Lonegan aide Rick Shaftan's unhinged rant cost him his job .
The rant was in response to a question asking why Mr Shaftan believed his candidate was gaining ground in the race .
The special election is Wednesday . |
194,732 | 8811b7f5fe82ac3a951d34c9fb4deea7a8976f6c | TV presenter Sarah Beeny says she has finally 'realised her dreams' by legally listing her controversial mansion as a wedding venue. Beeny and her husband Graham Swift said they have overcome a 'stressful' 12 months to open Rise Hall, near Hornsea, East Yorkshire, for bookings. They bought the former convent 10 years ago and were granted a wedding licence by East Riding Council in 2010, although couples were not allowed to get married 'over concerns for the health and safety of their registrars'. Here come the brides: Sarah Beeny infront of Rise Hall which has finally received the permission to be used as a wedding venue . Beeny’s run-ins with the authority over the property featured in her Channel 4 programme, Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare. The . couple bought the 33-bedroom property for £441,101 in 2001 and part of . the TV series showed a section of it being turned into a . wedding venue. However, Beeny had not yet applied for a planning application for weddings which angered her local Councillor. She has now put all the wrangles with the council behind her. The property developer said: 'Both Graham and I are so pleased that we are able to realise our dreams in bringing this beautiful house alive again and we look forward to sharing Rise Hall with future couples who are now able to get married here.' Lovingly restored: Rise Hall has already hosted weddings since Beeny moved in, but they did not have the permission to do so . Earlier in 2011 Humberside Fire and . Rescue Service restricted use of the first-floor bedrooms as there was . no 'protected means of escape'. Speaking last year Beeny said: 'Every . time we agree things, they say they want more things; I think our . frustration is that Rise Hall is a really important significant building . and everything has been done to a really high standard. 'They don’t have a problem with what we have done, their problem is that we didn’t talk to them enough about it.' Sweet dreams: One of the 33 bedrooms at Rise Hall with wood panelling . Restoration Nightmare: Beeny restored the house in front of a Channel 4 audience of millions . The presenter also had to submit a retrospective application to turn Rise Hall into a home, . because she did not apply for change of use permission when she started . living there. Beeny and her husband Graham Swift say the hall never had planning permission, and had been a family home in the past. But . local councillor Matthew Grove told the Hull Daily Mail: 'The ordinary . man in the street has to jump through hoops to get even the smallest . extension approved. 'Yet here we have a listed building being changed, with no planning permission in place, and without anyone batting an eyelid.' Beeny said they had spent £12,000 getting a certificate of lawful development to prove the former . school was being used as a private residence, even though the council . knew they had been living in it for 10 years. The Grade II- star listed building boasts 28 rooms sleeping 56 guests and has seven reception rooms. The venue will be managed by events specialists Dine. Daniel Gill, managing director of Dine, said: 'Rise Hall is a beautiful country house, which has been painstakingly restored by Sarah and Graham to bring it back to its former glory. 'The team at Dine is really enjoying . working with the couple at this fairytale venue and we can’t wait to . make brides’ dream wedding come true.' Work to do: Beeny talks viewers through the proposed changes inside Rise Hall on Restoration Nightmare . A hell of a house: A mixture of its size, condition and location gave her an ambitious restoration project . | Rise Hall had already hosted weddings since Sarah Beeny moved in 10 years ago, but without permission . |
61,860 | afb99cc0428c68b7f57a415136715f5d77b03a51 | Matt Targett, the latest left-back off Southampton's production line, has penned a five-year deal with his boyhood club. The 19-year-old has impressed since breaking into the first team this season, with his debut coming in August's Capital One Cup defeat of Millwall. Targett has been rewarded with a new deal until 2019 at a club which has seen Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge and Luke Shaw flourish after being given a chance at left-back. Matt Targett (right) pictured alongside Southampton manager Ronald Koeman (left) after signing his contract . Targett (left) has signed a new five-year contract at Southampton after making his first team debut . Targett wants to replace loanee Ryan Bertrand (right) in the starting line up under Ronald Koeman . 'Being a Southampton supporter, it means a lot more to be staying at the club because it's where I want to spend my career,' Targett told Southampton's official YouTube channel. 'I want to get into the first team and to keep progressing by playing week-in week-out. 'Ryan Bertrand is doing a great job this season and has made that left-back spot his own, so I just need to keep working hard in training to keep pushing him.' | Defender Matt Targett made his Southampton debut in 2-0 win over Millwall .
He is a Southampton fan and another local talent to emerge at St Mary's .
Targett wants to become a regular starter under manager Ronald Koeman . |
94,693 | 05ad6f69a0bc3897087f37784cc475c38b34cb2d | Roberto Martinez wants Everton’s players to wreck Steven Gerrard’s Merseyside derby farewell and banish their own wretched record in this famous fixture. Everton have beaten Liverpool only four times since the turn of the millennium. Their last win was in October 2010, a run in all competitions that stretches nine matches, so recent form makes Brendan Rodgers’ side favourites to ensure Gerrard’s 33rd derby appearance is a successful one. Rodgers wryly observed that Evertonians would probably be glad to see the back of Gerrard, who will join LA Galaxy in the summer, but Martinez feels Everton’s players are ready to inject some momentum into their campaign. Steven Gerrard leads the way as Liverpool train at Melwood on Thursday morning . Gerrard will likely play in his last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday evening . Premier League: Games - 29, Won - 16, Drawn - 9, Lost - 4, Win % - 55.1, Goals - 9, Assists - 4, Bookings - 3, Red cards - 2 . Cup: Games - 3, Won - 1, Drawn - 1, Lost - 1, Win % - 33.3%, Goals - 1, Assists - 0, Bookings - 0, Red cards - 0 . Victory at Crystal Palace last Saturday was Everton’s first since December 15 and Martinez hopes that will prove to be a turning point. The Everton manager is aware of the emotion surrounding Gerrard but hopes he leaves Goodison Park with a defeat. ‘There is going to be a lot of talk about Gerrard but the only thing that matters to us is to try to use this as a springboard for our season,’ said the Spaniard. ‘We picked up a very important win last weekend. The derby comes at the perfect moment for us. It can kick-start our season after the good moment we are sharing. ‘If you want to grow as a team you need a strong rival and a strong rivalry. We had that last season. I’m not too concerned about the record for the last 20 years. I’m more concerned about what the record is going to be in the next 20 years.’ Roberto Martinez will be hoping to ruin what could potentially be Gerrard's final Merseyside derby . Gerrard will be playing in his last Merseyside derby unless they meet in the Europa League . The build-up to this game is not entirely settled for Martinez, who is ready to take a chance on the hamstrung James McCarthy. Kevin Mirallas has cast doubt on his future at Goodison and suggested he may leave in the summer. Tottenham were keen on signing Mirallas in January but never made a bid. The Belgium international has never said he wants to leave but, with 18 months left on his contract, he feels he is approaching the stage where he has to review his situation. ‘I like it over here but I feel ready for a new challenge,’ said Mirallas. ‘I dream of playing in the Champions League next season, with Everton or with another club. I just have to see after the season. ‘Don’t forget, the 2015 Europa League winners will qualify for the following season’s Champions League. I like the Premier League but Spain tempts me. Atletico Madrid have enquired, but there was no offer.’ James McCarthy could be risked by Martinez as he recovers from a hamstring injury . Kevin Mirallas has cast doubt on his future at Goodison and suggested he may leave in the summer . For Liverpool, the build-up to this fixture has been relatively smooth and confidence is high following the dramatic FA Cup win at Bolton. Rodgers’s main decision is whether to start Daniel Sturridge or use the England striker from the bench. ‘He is not far away from starting, he is really champing at the bit,’ said Rodgers. ‘But we want to make sure he is going to be available now for the rest of the season. If the timing is not quite right it can hurt us. ‘His appetite to play is there, which is great. I need to speak with my staff and Daniel and make a decision. It is difficult because these are games that we want to win, so it is hard if someone only needs 30 or 45 minutes.’ | Steven Gerrard could be set for final Merseyside derby on Saturday .
Roberto Martinez hopes his players will wreck Gerrard's day .
Liverpool face Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League .
Martinez could risk James McCarthy on his return from injury .
Everton vs Liverpool: Team news, match stats, odds and more . |
260,091 | dcc725a624e23f53406449c48b369bf283196805 | (CNN) -- Chilean inspectors stumbled upon hundreds of exotic animals from Peru destined for illegal trade while conducting what they thought was going to be a routine inspection of a fishing boat, the government said Tuesday. A family of Scarlet macaws in Costa Rica in June 2008 at a zoo aimed at conserving the species. The Chilean boat, the Rosa Isabel, was carrying macaws, toucans, parrots, turtles, squirrels and crocodiles, most of them protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which prohibits the sale of these species, the government said in a statement. In all, officials counted more than 400 exotic animals from Peru, the statement said. The incident began before dawn, when inspectors from Chile's Maritime Administration boarded the boat and found the live cargo stuffed inside dozens of cardboard boxes lined with chicken wire and with holes cut on the sides for ventilation. The animals were handed over to the Farm and Cattle Service of Arica, Chile's northernmost city, for return to Peru, the minister of agriculture said Monday in a statement. The captain of the ship, Moises Segundo Diaz Verdugo, a Chilean national, faces a possible fine of between $188,000 and $940,000, to be determined by an Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) court. Under an agreement between SAG and the National Institute of Natural Resources of the Republic of Peru, signed in 2007, the animals will be returned to Peru, SAG said. The national director of SAG, Francisco Bahamonde, credited coordination among various state bodies with impeding the illegal entry of protected species and products that can transmit pests or illnesses and said they would "redouble" their efforts. Chile busts trade in exotic animals from Peru . | More than 400 exotic animals from Peru were found .
The animals include macaws, toucans, parrots, turtles, squirrels, crocodiles .
Most of the animals are protected under international pact on endangered species .
The wildlife will be returned to Peru . |
285,498 | fdf0c29c5bd68f0125289786a114c03b7ea7a48c | (EW.com) -- We're not messing with you: ABC is canceling "Mind Games." Effective immediately, the freshman drama series starring Christian Slater and Steve Zahn as psychologically manipulative problem solvers will be pulled from the network's schedule. Repeats of Sunday night freshman drama "Resurrection" will air the next two Tuesdays at 10 p.m. instead, then "Celebrity Wife Swap" will take over the slot starting April 15. "Mind Games" debuted five weeks ago and has performed lousy in the ratings, the last episode averaging only 2 million viewers and a 0.7 rating among adults 18 to 49. For Slater, it's been rough sledding on broadcast TV these past six years. "Mind Games" was his fourth TV show since 2008 and only one has made it to a second season (Fox's "Breaking In," which still didn't make it to a standard 22 episodes). See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The freshman drama has been pulled .
It has not performed well in the ratings .
It's Slater's fourth show since 2008 . |
20,423 | 39f2ee7917a6081e8bcb2f2646c919136675dcf0 | (CNN) -- When a police officer demanded that she cover her hair, Amira Osman Hamed simply refused. "I'm Muslim, and I'm not going to cover my head," she declared. For that, the 35-year-old Sudanese engineer was arrested last August and charged with "indecent dress." Now Hamed faces a possible sentence of 40 lashes if a court convicts her when she faces the judge on Monday. Still, she refuses to wear a headscarf. Hamed's determination to challenge arbitrary rules restricting women's freedom is part of a wave of energy pushing against those limits, notably (but not exclusively) in Muslim countries. In Muslim-majority states in Africa, South Asia, the Persian Gulf and elsewhere, women are relentlessly demanding more equal treatment. To some, the matter of whether or not to cover one's hair may seem like a trivial issue. But the right to decide what one wears is a basic freedom. And strict rules by the government or by religious authorities dictating women's attire are almost always the tip of the iceberg -- the most visible portion of a structure that constricts women's freedom, taking away their right to make other important choices about their own lives. Hamed herself has already pushed back. In 2002, the human rights activist was arrested and convicted under the same law. She paid a fine for the crime of wearing pants in public. In 2009, the ban against trousers snagged the journalist Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein and 12 other women in a Khartoum restaurant, all wearing slacks. Several pleaded guilty, paid a fine, and were flogged for their crime. Al-Hussein refused. She was so outraged that she sent out invitations to her trial and to her possible flogging. In the end, the Sudanese Journalists Union paid the fine, but al-Hussein did not waver. Sudanese women, she pointed out, are getting swept up under the infamous article 152 of Sudan's 1991 Criminal Code. In the country ruled by an Islamist party with its own interpretation of Sharia, Islamic law, the rules are strict but conveniently vague. The statute calls for punishment of up to 40 lashes for anyone committing an "indecent act" or wearing an "obscene outfit." Not surprisingly, the law is used mostly against women. Government figures for 2008 said 43,000 women were arrested for clothing-related offenses in the capital alone. And the cases keep coming. A few weeks ago, police were recorded lashing a woman in the street for getting into a car with a man. The images are chilling. The extraordinary displays of courage from women challenging restrictions on their lives include the case of Malala Yousafzai -- the Pakistani girl who nearly died after Taliban gunmen shot her in the face -- and other young girls, like Yemen's Nujood Ali, divorced at the age of 10 and now a campaigner against child marriage, and thousands of others. Nobody, however, has gained the fame of Malala, whose call for girls to receive an education crossed the line for those who think women should remain subservient, with society under the full control of men. Her courage frightens the Taliban. Some in Pakistan claim that Malala, now a celebrity, is a product of the West. But these outbreaks of courage, these rumblings for change, are coming from within the Muslim world. Muslim women do not need the West to tell them that inequality and second-class status for women are unacceptable. The rules enforcing inequality are often couched as religious mandate, but they are mostly the product of deeply traditional societies. The societies, however, are changing. Women are part of those societies, and many accept the restrictions -- but not everyone is happy with the status quo. Consider Saudi Arabia. In most parts of the kingdom, many women, depending on the regions where they live, are required to cover themselves from head to toe, wearing the niqab, a veil that covers even the face, essentially erasing a woman's identity while she is in public. Most Saudi women are accustomed to wearing it. For now, those demanding change are focusing on other areas. Saudi women chafe under many rules. One of the best known is an unwritten ban on their right to drive. Last weekend, a group of women in Saudi Arabia defied the stunningly anachronistic rule that puts Saudi misogyny in a category of its own. Saudi women have fought for years to gain the right to drive. In 2011, when they thought they might have something like a Saudi Women's Spring, echoing the popular revolutions in the region, activists organized the Women2Drive day. Many were arrested after they took to the road. Despite the arrests, they tried it again last weekend. Some men raised an outcry. Others cheered. Two Saudi men, wearing their traditional red kaffiyehs, created an Internet sensation with the parody song "No Woman, No Drive," mocking the driving ban with a takeoff on the Bob Marley hit "No Woman, No Cry." The video has had millions of hits, with lyrics that introduce viewers to the absurd logic of the ban, such as one Saudi cleric's contention that driving could damage women's ovaries and threaten their fertility. The inability to drive creates a host of practical problems for Saudi women -- problems that make them even more beholden to the whims of men. But other rules are even more offensive, such as the one that prohibits a Saudi woman from leaving the house, working, studying, traveling, even receiving medical treatment without the permission of a male "guardian," usually her husband, father, or brother -- or even a son. Not all Muslim countries impose terrible restrictions on women, and not all countries with profound inequality between the sexes are Muslim. But the worst countries in which to be a woman, according to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report, are almost all Muslim-majority states in Africa, the Gulf, and South Asia. Luckily, those are also countries where women are fighting back, pushing to close the gap, armed with the conviction that the restrictions they face are not mandated by their religion, but by social norms that are subject to change. And that change, a call for human rights for all -- including for women -- is not an invention of the West. It is what a woman like Amira Osman Hamed demands when she says she is a Muslim, and she simply will not be told what to wear. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis. | Frida Ghitis: Sudanese woman faces flogging for refusing to wear a headscarf .
Others flogged for wearing slacks, or riding in car with man who is not relation .
Ghitis: Muslim women fighting back, refusing to comply, driving cars in Saudi Arabia .
Ghitis: Girls like Malala aren't products of West; they are fighting back on their own . |
42,888 | 78f44eaa5402410ce5dd44d35509b9c240945fef | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 03:48 EST, 28 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:59 EST, 28 March 2013 . A woman who is a criminal lawyer by day is leading a secret double life as a pop star by night may sound like the premise for a TV show. But Bowie Jane is the real deal, working full time as a straight-laced barrister during the day, but unbeknown to her colleagues and clients, she moonlights as a pop siren by night - often performing in front of thousands. The 27-year-old regularly rushed from the quiet court room to the stage, where she swaps her wig, robe and briefcase for Lycra suits and black nail polish. Scroll down for video . Disrobed: Bowie Jane is a criminal lawyer by day and - unbeknown to her colleagues and clients - a pop star by night. She even sometimes wears her stage outfits under her legal robes if she has to dash to a performance . Sometimes the singer even wears her costume underneath her legal robes to save time getting changed for evening gigs. 'I’m living two lives at once, by day one person and by night another, and sometimes it can get rather confusing,' she said. 'Music has always been my passion but my parents wanted me to get a degree and a proper job. For the last four years I have been juggling the two, working as a lawyer during the day and performing five or six nights a week. Appealing: She said: 'I'm living two lives at once, by day one person and by night another, and sometimes it can get rather confusing' 'It’s strange as the judges and my clients and colleagues have no idea that I sing.' Bowie Jane, who has just released her first single Luv Bomb, has a double degree in Bachelor of commerce and Bachelor of laws. She is qualified as a criminal lawyer in Australia and so is not able to work in Britain, although she does visit clients over here. Bowie Jane has performed at the Australian Open and has just released her first single 'Luv Bomb' She has tackled criminal cases for the last four years, but uses a stage name to cover her true identity and is keen to keep her pop career a secret from the legal world. 'I keep my pop music very separate and only a few very close friends know how I spend my evenings,' she said. 'Law is a male-dominated industry and very conservative and I’m worried that people wouldn’t take me seriously if they found out. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. 'I look and dress very differently at work compared to when I go on stage, which also helps.' Bowie Jane, who is from Melbourne, Australia, but spends half the year living and working near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, said the clash of roles had caused some problems. Once she had to be on the main stage at the Australian Open tennis tournament but was still in the middle of her working day and had to ask to be excused to go to a meeting. 'I literally hopped on a train, ran down there and changed into my clothes, then got onto the stage,' she said. She also finds it hard work when she has long trials and has to squeeze in song writing and gigs. 'Doing a trial wipes you out and I was keeping my fingers crossed that my cases would all finish in time for me to tour and promote my single,' she said. Bowie Jane, who gets more than 10,000 MySpace hits a month, writes her own tracks and describes her music as 'very pop, in that it’s catchy.' She is currently promoting her new single and touring. The 27-year-old often has to dash from the court room to the stage and writes her tunes at night . | Australian Bowie Jane is a UK-based lawyer by day, pop singer by night .
She sometimes wears stage outfits under her legal robes .
The 27-year-old has degrees in law and commerce . |
63,821 | b52f0d90c19765bf830c543d5d31d51909e42508 | A couple who unearthed a time capsule dated 1978 hidden away in their wall have found the man who left in there when he was just 12 years old. Greg Sandoval and his partner were renovating their house in Fontana, California, when they pulled away a wall panel to find a plastic bag hidden there more than 36 years ago. The package contained a note, a few coins, a newspaper cutting and a McDonald's scratch card - and was signed by seventh-grader Robert Wright. Times a-changing: Robert Wright, shown left as a schoolboy, hid a time capsule in the wall of his home in Fontana, California, when he was 12. Now he is aged 49 (right), the capsule has been rediscovered . 'Hello whoever finds this': The 12-year-old Wright explained in the note that his dad's DIY was giving him the chance to hide the note away. He also provided 'proof' of the date . The note read: 'Hello to whoever finds this. My name is Robert Wright. Today my dad is putting up paneling. 'Today is November 18th, 1978, 15 till 12:00 noon. I'm 12 years old and a student at Fontana JR. High, 7th grade. 'I am 5'3, blond hair, hazel eyes. Here is proof of the date. Robert Wright.' Discovery: Greg Sandoval and his partner, pictured, found the capsule inside the wall of the same home while the were renovating . McDonadl's baseball quiz: The plastic bag containing a note, coins - and this scratchcard from a McDonald's restaurant . Laid out: Above the items which were removed from the plastic bag can be seen . At first, Sandoval had no idea who Wright really was - and his own searches came to nothing. But after telling his story to local news station ABC7, news the capsule had been found made it across the country to the boy - now grown into a 49-year-old man. Wright, who lives in Austin, Texas, said he was inundated with messages after the local news story - and realized the boy in question must have been his schoolboy self. Home: Pictured above is the house in Fontana, California, which concealed the capsule for 36 years . He told ABC News: 'I watched the video link and was like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is me. I am that Robert Wright.' Recalling the moment he stashed away the package, he said: 'I wrote the note and it wasn’t enough and I needed proof of the date so I tore off a newspaper. 'I don’t have any recollection of the McDonald’s ticket - my guess is I just ran off into my room and grabbed whatever I could find with the date on it and just stuck it in the baggy and threw it in the wall.' | Greg Sandoval found capsule from 36 years ago in his home, signed by child .
Robert Wright, a seventh-grader, had filled a pouch with note and coins .
Also included a promotional scratchcard from McDonald's .
Wright, now 49 and living in Texas, heard about the find and came forward . |
106,805 | 15c637cf8959229b1db8946db695aba4e9ce4931 | By . Leon Watson . Last updated at 6:04 PM on 13th December 2011 . A drunken row over the attractiveness of X Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson (pictured) led to a man having boiling water poured over him and part of his ear bitten off . Two men who burned and mutilated a . semi-conscious man after they reportedly argued over last year’s X . Factor final were jailed today. Lee Stynes, 28, and Mathew . Gannaway-Pitts, 18, subjected Brian Wade to a vicious attack in which . part of one of his ears was severed and his face scalded with boiling . water from a kettle. The kettle was then used to bludgeon him, hours after the three had . watched an episode of the reality talent contest. It has been reported the men, who . had been drinking heavily, earlier argued over finalist Rebecca . Ferguson, who came second to winner Matt Cardle during the 2010 final, . discussing whether she would win and whether she was likely to sleep . with any of the three of them. The court heard Wade, aged in his . 40s, was left with a disfigured ear and skin pigmentation on his head . after the attack, which had also left him in fear of Stynes and worsened . his epilepsy. Paranoid schizophrenic Stynes, who had . a past history of violence, was jailed indefinitely for public . protection at Exeter Crown Court today. The court heard that he . jumped on Mr Wade, who was almost unconscious, and shouted to . Garraway-Pitts: 'Watch this, I’m going to bite the b*****d’s ear off.' The court heard he had 42 . previous convictions, including two for threatening to bite people’s . noses off and one for throwing boiling water at someone. Judge Erik Salomonsen told the men: 'Your victim was falling asleep, his speech was slurred and you set upon him. Regardless of who started it, you have been involved in a horrific attack.' Lee Stynes, 28, and Mathew Gannaway-Pitts, 18, admitted the charge at Exeter Crown Court (pictured) Stynes, of no fixed abode, pleaded . guilty to GBH with intent on October 10, with police saying after the . court appearance that they had argued over the X Factor. He will serve a . minimum of three years and four-and-a-half months but will only be . released when he is deemed not to be a danger to the public. As he was led away, he said 'Cheers, guv' to the judge. Gannaway-Pitts, also of no fixed . abode, who was 17 at the time of the attack on December 18 last year, . admitted GBH at the earlier hearing and was sentenced to 16 months. The . court heard he 'hero-worshipped' the older man and had started the . beating before Stynes joined in. The court heard that the two . defendants were frequent visitors to Mr Wade’s flat in Exeter, the . location of the attack, where they went to drink and take drugs. On the night of December 17 last year . the three of them, along with Mr Stynes’ girlfriend and another man had . been drinking in the flat which was such a mess because of Wade’s . 'hoarding' that he slept in the lounge. Finalist: Rebecca Ferguson with Cheryl Cole (centre) and Cher Lloyd (left) in the X Factor last year . Prosecutor Terry Holder said that they . had at some point watched an episode of X Factor which they previously . recorded, before carrying on drinking. Stynes, his girlfriend and . Gannaway-Pitt then left to go to the home of the younger man’s father, . but returned after failing to get in. 'The matter seems to have been started by Gannaway-Pitt showing off,' Mr Holder said. 'He started punching Mr Wade, who was by then rather zombie-like.' Stynes joined in, before running into . the kitchen to get the kettle of boiling water, which he said, falsely, . also contained sugar - which burns badly when it contacts with skin. He . came in and poured it over his 'defenceless' victim, saying 'take that . you bastard'. Gannaway-Pitt then picked up the . kettle and beat Mr Wade so severely he smashed the kettle. It was then . that Stynes bit off part of Mr Wade’s ear. The court heard that the . younger man stole the piece of ear and later showed it to his . girlfriend, boasting that he had bitten it off himself. Mark Jackson, defending Stynes, said . his client had not premeditated the attack but said he was previously . told that Wade had committed a sexual assault on his girlfriend. He said his client had been abused as a . child and 'continued to hear voices', turning to drink and drugs to . cope with an illness that left him quick to anger. Stynes once attempted . to get himself admitted to a psychiatric unit and set himself on fire . when he was refused, Mr Jackson said. 'At 28 he is a relatively young man. He has had an awful life so far,' he said. 'He has done what he can to get help from authorities. He will take it as and when it is offered.' Gannaway-Pitts was ordered to serve 16 . months but because he had served almost a year on remand he was . released immediately on licence. | Victim had boiling water poured over him and part of his ear bit off .
Stynes had previous convictions for biting people's noses . |
175,044 | 6e91528f5fe2a03b673e352924dc355bbde77ff4 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Do you hate the thought of ever being parted from your beloved dog? You may never have to thanks to a UK competition organised in South Korea that will clone your dog for free. The winner of the contest will be flown to Seoul in South Korea to watch the process as part of a Channel 4 documentary to be aired next year. Imagine never having to say goodbye to your pet dog. That is what is in store for one lucky British dog owner as a team of top scientists from Seoul, South Korea, are offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to clone 'man's best friend' for free . Taking just one microscopic skin cell, the team from Sooam Biotech claim they can recreate an exact clone of a dog canine in just two months. Dr Woo Suk Hwang, the chief technical officer at Sooam Biotech, pioneered the technique in 2005. His group is currently the only company in the world that offers dog cloning commercially. He has now successfully cloned at least 400 dogs - thought to be one of the most difficult animals to clone. Taking just one microscopic skin cell, the team from Sooam Biotech claim they can recreate an exact clone of a dog canine in just two months . The process involves obtaining live cells from a living dog or a dog five days after it has died. Dogs that have similar ovulation time are selected as egg donors and surrogate mothers. Eggs . are collected from the egg donor through a procedure called ‘flushing’ and the nuclei of the eggs, which contain DNA of the egg donor, is . removed. Then donor cell is then injected into the enucleated egg and the two cells are ‘fused’ together. This fusion procedure produces a cloned embryo that is transferred into a surrogate dog. The whole process takes less than a day but comes with a hefty price tag, at around $100,000 or £63,000 to clone one dog. Sooam Biotech has cloned highly trained rescue and police dogs for the South Korean government, as well as a number of highly prized pets in the US. But the cloning of animals has been a source of controversy since the technique was pioneered in Scotland in 1996 with the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be cloned. John Woestendiek, the author of 'Dog, Inc.', a book about the dog cloning industry, says that the practice is centred in South Korea because there are much lower ethical standards for the treatment of dogs than in Europe and the United States. 'You can rent [dogs] from farmers for the laboratory and, hopefully, everything goes OK, return them to the farmer, but everything's not going to go OK.' The author says that some of the dogs used in the cloning process as egg donors or surrogate mothers are later sent back to the farms where they are killed and eaten. The process involves obtaining live cells from a living dog or a dog five days after it has died. Dogs that have similar ovulation time are selected as egg donors and surrogate mothers. Eggs are collected from the egg donor through a procedure called ‘flushing’ and the nuclei of the eggs, which contain DNA of the egg donor, is removed. Then donor cell is then injected into the enucleated egg and the two cells are ‘fused’ together. The process involves obtaining live cells from a living dog or a dog five days after it has died. Eggs are collected from the egg donor and the nuclei removed. Then donor cell is then injected into the enucleated egg and the two cells are 'fused' together . This fusion procedure produces a cloned embryo that is transferred into a surrogate dog. The whole process takes less than a day but comes with a hefty price tag, at around $100,000 or £63,000 to clone one dog. Dr Hwang, who is also the director of the UK Dog Cloning Competition said: ‘We can clone any breed, size or shape of canine and are coming to the UK to offer this process to the owner of one very special dog. ‘We welcome entries from any UK-based dog owner who wants to benefit from this exciting new advance in biotechnology.’ New Yorker Danielle Tarantola, who paid an incredible $50,000 for the procedure using pet Trouble's DNA last year, will also feature on the show. Pictured here is her cloned pup 'Double Trouble' Ms Tarantola said: 'I really can see no difference between them. So many of their gestures and the way they play is identical' The whole process will be filmed for a documentary by CB Films to be screened on Channel 4 next year. New Yorker Danielle Tarantola, who paid an incredible $50,000 for the procedure using pet Trouble's DNA last year, will also feature on the show. Ms Tarantola had been so upset by the death of her constant companion four years ago that she shelled out the massive fee so that she could have an identical replacement. She said: 'He was like the child I never had - and I probably did treat him better than most people treat their children.' Ms Tarantola, who named the new pup Double Trouble, added: ‘I really can see no difference between them. So many of their gestures and the way they play is identical.' Applications to this unique competition are open now and close on 25th November 2013. | Sooam Biotech in South Korea usually charges £63,000 to clone a dog .
Group has cloned 400 dogs- a process criticised by some as unethical .
The winner of the competition will be featured on Channel 4 next year .
Dog owners interested in having their dog cloned should contact [email protected] or www.facebook.com/dogcloninguk . |
123,200 | 2b425ef90ccbea3a22ad593df7717466b3ee5ad3 | For some, putting up some basic shelving constitutes a major DIY project. DIY for one Californian father, however, is slightly more extreme, as he’s built a 180-foot-long roller coaster in his backyard. Will Pemble, 50, made his son’s dream come true after he was asked to build the roller coaster at their home in San Francisco after a trip to a local theme park – but he very probably made his own dream come true, too. Scroll down for video . On the right track: A Californian father has built a huge roller coaster in his backyard . Life can be up and down: Mr Pemble spent around six months building the roller coaster . DIY project: Mr Pemble spent around $3,500 on materials . The father-of-two threw himself into the project and was so desperate to share his love of physics that he even set up his own website, CoasterDad.com, to showcase his incredible creation. His project was finally complete after spending around $3,500 on building materials and grafting for more than 300 hours. E-commerce management consultant Mr Pemble said: ‘Like most things in life, this project all came about because I got excited by an idea. Mr Pemble was so desperate to share his love of physics that he even set up his own website, CoasterDad.com . Captured on film: Mr Pemble made a series of POV YouTube videos to document his progress . Size matters: The roller coaster stretches around the Pembles' huge backyard . Rigorous: Mr Pemble tested the coaster using a frame on wheels . Testing times: A cart is filmed hurtling around a bend . ‘We were just back from one of many amusement park trips and Lyle asked a simple question, “Why don't we build our own roller coaster, Dad?” ‘I couldn't think of a single good reason to say no so Lyle and I headed off to the lumber yard for a few supplies. ‘Today, our backyard roller coaster is an unending source of excitement, challenge, education, and connection. ‘The coaster is complete and fully operational, although we keep adding onto it and making modifications. Maintenance: Mr Pemble showing damage to the cart . Track day: The Pembles check that everything will run smoothly . ‘I would say it's more of an experiment so it will probably never be finished, as long as there are still things to try and learn. ‘The track as it is today has a complete loop that's about 180 feet around, with the whole thing taking six months to build.’ Mr Pemble said he has had several requests from fans asking him to build them backyard roller coasters. The father-of-two also revealed his son Lyle, 10, and daughter Ellie, 12, were the inspiration behind the gravity-defying project. He added: ‘Coaster Dad is all about sharing information and ideas about backyard roller coasters, but even more, it's here to support science education for kids. ‘People started asking if we did this kind of thing for a living and if could we go and build backyard roller coasters for other families. ‘If I'm honest, I can't think of a single good reason to say no so that could well happen in the future. ‘Our mission is purely to share our love of physics, family, and fun so one thing has just led to another. ‘The whole family has been involved in the project and the neighbours always check in to see how we're doing. ‘It's amazing that all of this came from a kid asking one simple question and a dad saying yes.’ According to Mr Pemble's latest post on CoasterDad.com, there are still a few teething problems to overcome as a new cart he'd built crashed the third time it was sent around the track. Mr Pemble wrote: 'The track was going up fast and beautiful..... and we were in high spirits as we ran the new cart down the new track during our first test. Then, it happened! It was time for us to switch from being super pleased with ourselves into a slightly less comfortable, but ultimately more productive mode: Namely, Learning From Roller Coaster Cart Crash mode!'We ran the new cart down the track three times. The first and second times, things seemed to go well. The third time, as they say, was the charm. But only if you define the word “charm” as metal-on-metal-crash-with-cart-filp-and-disappointment.' | Will Pemble, 50, from San Francisco has built a 180-foot-long roller coaster in his backyard .
He has spent around $3,500 on materials and put in around 300 hours of hard work to build the incredible structure .
The finished track took around six months to build and Mr Pemble documented his progress online . |
51,067 | 907d878f18983de75b42b0c53ab902a49a28ffcb | (CNN) -- Finally. Finally. Finally, a strong important voice in the world, the United Nations, speaks out on behalf of the rights of children and condemns the Vatican and the bishops for crimes of violence, rape and sexual abuse against children by transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish, withholding documents for prosecution and perpetuating an institutional culture of secrecy and shame. What's truly shameful is that the Catholic Church was not itself that strong and important voice, protecting "the least of these." It's shameful that in spite of Pope Francis' refreshing compassion toward the poor and downtrodden, to date he has not addressed the issue fully. Pope Francis is caught up in the shame and like most of his brother bishops, seems unwilling to say, "Enough is enough -- not ever again in our church will one of these little children be harmed." The media have said the church is suffering from a "code of secrecy." Kirsten Sandberg, the chairwoman of the United Nations, put it this way: "We think it is a horrible thing that is being kept silent both by the Holy See itself and in local parishes. " As a survivor of rape and violence at the hands of a priest when I was a young girl, I understand that secrecy. I went silent at age 7 and became a part of the secret code that no one could unlock in me, because there were always pieces missing. For the rest of my childhood I really wasn't there. I split and left a part of me behind in shame and secrecy. It has taken me more than half a lifetime to piece myself back together. I was 52 years old and still captivated by the Catholic Church when I let the buried "secret" memories emerge. His name was Father Rucker -- George Neville Rucker. I must have trusted him when he asked me to crawl up on his lap as he sat watching a movie in an auditorium so long ago. He raped me while my mother was in the lunchroom nearby. The tragedy here -- among others -- is that Mom died before I was strong enough to tell her about that terrible day. We missed out on conversations about intimacy and love because I would always shut down and disconnect. Rape robbed me and my family of so much that mattered -- like truth and honesty between us. After high school at age 18, I entered the convent of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Santa Barbara, California, and remained there as a nun for 15 years. Detaching from the destructive invasion of Father Rucker into my body and soul allowed me to hold onto God and to the sisters I loved. Very simply, that is how I was able over half a lifetime to remain in the Catholic Church until the day I awakened to the tragedy of the little girl whom I once was. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles released 12,000 pages of files on scores of priests accused of sexually abusing children in 2013. I found out that the pastor of our parish back in 1947 suspected Father Rucker of "touching" little girls. It was the bishop who would not listen and passed Father Rucker on and on until 2002, when he was defrocked. He had become a real liability to Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of the archdiocese. About 33 women accused him of abusing them when they were young. That's five decades of abuse. In 2002, he was charged with 29 counts of molesting girls. He was taken off a cruise ship on its way to Russia to face the charges; authorities thought he was trying to flee. But his case was dismissed in 2003 after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the charges were too old. It is easy to think that when we talk about the crisis of child rape and abuse that we are talking about the past -- and the Catholic Church would have us believe that this most tragic era in church history is over. It is not. It lives on today. Pedophiles are still in the priesthood. Coverups of their crimes are happening now, and bishops in many cases are continuing to refuse to turn information over to the criminal justice system. Cases are stalled and cannot go forward because the church has such power to stop them. Children are still being harmed and victims cannot heal. These criminal acts happened over and over to tens of thousands of children in the past, continue now and will continue until Pope Francis and the bishops act fiercely to insist that children and their safety come first, and that priests and protecting the image and power of the Catholic Church come a distant second. Pope Francis must take action and mandate every bishop to immediately defrock any priest who has sexually abused children in the past or in the present and let the civil authorities investigate any priest or bishop alleged to have sexually abused a child. It's common sense. Nothing else will show the world that the Catholic Church is serious about its promise to address this issue. Pope Francis will need to begin at home and release whatever records the Vatican possesses on priests and bishops accused of these crimes, wherever they are in the world. Anything short of this speaks of lip service and platitudes. Francis also needs to chastise and demote bishops guilty of protecting priest abusers and working against the criminal justice system -- not honor and promote them. Cardinal Mahony was recently honored in celebrating Mass with Pope Francis -- and yet it is documented that he withheld information and transferred priests within and outside his diocese. At least Mahony acknowledged in a statement in 2013 that he had been "naive" about the lasting impacts of abuse and then met with 90 victims. But Pope Francis' speeches and actions to date do not reflect a spirit of compassion for, or understanding of, the impact on survivors. Any positive changes in the Catholic Church to protect children and hold the church accountable have come about largely because of the tireless work of SNAP, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. These are brave and courageous men and women who tell their stories of abuse without shame. We can also thank the Catholic community of laypeople who want their children to be safe and their church to become the church it can be: a beacon of hope for its members and the world. Now, it's the Vatican that must take action, as the U.N. report urges, to show us that its apologies are matched by actions to both stop the abuse of children and the church's coverup. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mary Dispenza. | Mary Dispenza: Finally, the U.N. condemned the Vatican for its negligence in priest abuse cases .
Dispenza was raped by a priest when she was a young girl and it shadowed her life .
She says abuse is still secret and the church still protects priests, holds back evidence .
Dispenza: Pope must take strong action to stop clergy abuse of children and coverup . |
237,144 | beec99dfab549e8e9a781693e20eec8eb4b1dbe5 | Jack Wilshere says he is getting back to his best now that he has been able to put together a run of games for Arsenal. The England midfielder has 'missed a lot of football' over the past few years with injuries, but insists that he now feels good and is fully fit again. Wilshere has started five of Arsenal's seven Premier League games , including Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and says that fans will now finally get to see the best of him. Jack Wilshere says Arsenal fans will see the best of him now that he has been able to get a run of games . The England midfielder was outshone by Cesc Fabregas on Sunday but says he is always looking to improve . 'I feel good and I'm always looking to improve, no matter what,' Wilshere told Arsenal's official website. 'For a player of my age, I've missed a lot of football so I'm just trying to play as much as I can, train as much as I can and I've always said that when I get fully fit you'll see the best of me. 'I said at the start of the season that it was going to take some time to get back to my best. 'Ever since my first injury, it's always taken a run of games - probably between five and 10 - to get back to my best. Wilshere insisted Arsenal only needed to take their chances better against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge . The young midfielder has spent too much time sat on the bench with injuries in recent years . 'Some players are different, some players come back and are at their best straight away. But some need a run of games and I'm one of those players.' Wilshere also claimed that Arsenal had been unlucky at Stamford Bridge, failing to take their opportunities in an even game. 'We've played well but at this level, against the top three in this league, when you're on top you need to make the opportunities count and if you don't then you're going to get punished,' he said. | Wilshere has featured in six of Arsenal's seven league games, starting five .
England midfielder says it takes him time to get back into form after injuries .
'For a player of my age, I've missed a lot of football' says Wilshere .
Gunners star says his side 'played well' in 2-0 defeat to Chelsea . |
6,959 | 13b5d9c8f2e36c275d53e5270593b364138d9d37 | Luis Suarez appearing to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked the football community and will certainly live long in the memory. Now, just a few months on, some fans have amusingly recreated the infamous incident using the new FIFA 15 game. In pictures posted to Twitter, fans have claimed the game is ‘so realistic’ for letting them relive the moment that saw the Barcelona striker banned from football for four months. Luis Suarez's apparent bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked football and earned the frontman a lengthy ban . Fans have recreated the now infamous incident of Suarez's bite on the newly released FIFA 15 game . ‘FIFA 15 is so realistic’ said one Twitter user beneath an image that sees Suarez sinking his teeth into Holland's Daryl Janmaat. ‘Was playing the FIFA 15 Demo earlier got to say its pretty damn realistic,’ said another tweeter under an image of Suarez and new Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic. Of course, the ability to bite a player is not actually a feature of the new game. Instead, the gamers have used the game’s replay mode to spot some odd player collision moments in the game. The glitches seem to show Suarez’s mouth sinking into players, and it doesn’t help his case that in some his eyes are closed and teeth bared in an apparent biting action. One fan on Twitter joked that FIFA 15 was so realistic beneath a graphic of Suarez appearing to bite Holland defender Daryl Janmaat . Suarez signed for Barcelona from Liverpool after the World Cup in a £75million deal. However he is still yet to make his competitive debut as he continues to serve his ban for biting Chiellini. And that is replicated in FIFA 15 - fans picking up the game will be unable to use Suarez in the game’s career mode for the entirety of his ban. However playing one of the game's other modes that has full squads available without suspensions - such as an exhibition one-on-one against another gamer - allows the hilarious images to be taken. Suarez's real-life ban until October 26 is replicated on the new FIFA 15 game when users play as Barcelona . Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier plays a game of FIFA 15 with a young fan following the game's release . | Images from the Fifa 15 video game appear to show the Uruguayan striker biting other football players .
Suarez was infamously banned for four months during the World Cup for seeming to bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini .
Fans have taken to Twitter mocking the striker with images from the game .
It is not really a new feature, but rather a result of gamers positioning players in the game to make it look like another biting incident .
In the game's career mode Suarez is serving his real-life ban until October . |
261,267 | de5e69721bc4309910c8c7a4b628bc0afba05118 | New Orleans (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Isaac neared hurricane strength Monday night, closing on the Gulf Coast with a projected landfall a day short of the seventh anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Isaac was forecast to strike land south of New Orleans on Tuesday night, perhaps as a Category 1 hurricane with top winds of about 90 mph. The Katina anniversary was leaving much of the Gulf Coast with "a high level of anxiety," as New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu put it Monday. Residents of low-lying coastal areas from the Florida Panhandle to southeastern Louisiana were ordered to evacuate ahead of storm surges and heavy rain, while Landrieu acknowledged his own jitters due to the coincidence. Isaac is expected to be weaker than Katrina, which came ashore as a Category 3 hurricane with 125-mph winds. But New Orleans could start to feel tropical storm force winds by midnight Monday, and while Isaac may veer off its currently projected course, "It seems to be settling into a pathway and a speed that is becoming predictable," Landrieu said. "It is quite ironic that we have a hurricane threatening us on the seventh anniversary of Katrina," he said. But he added that as of Monday afternoon, "There is nothing this storm will bring us that we are not capable of handling." Most of Katrina's nearly 1,800 deaths occurred when the protective levees around New Orleans failed, flooding the city. But Landrieu said the levees have had $10 billion in improvements since 2005, and the city's pump stations have backup generators ready in case of electrical outages. One of those stations is the biggest in the world and some can move as much as 150,000 gallons per second. "This is the best system that the greater New Orleans area has ever seen," Col. Ed Fleming of the Army Corps of Engineers said. Preparing for Isaac, state by state . Isaac faltered a bit in the Gulf of Mexico as an eye wall that had been forming appeared to break up Monday afternoon, slowing its development, National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Ed Rappaport told CNN. As of 11 p.m. ET, its top winds remained 70 mph -- just under hurricane strength -- and it was expected to become a hurricane "Monday night or early Tuesday," the Miami-based hurricane center reported. Isaac was centered about 190 miles (305 kilometers) southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and it was moving to the northwest at 10 mph. But tropical-storm-force winds extended more than 200 miles from the center, and hurricane warnings stretched from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Alabama-Florida border. Tropical storm warnings extended eastward to Destin, Florida, and westward from Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, about 150 miles west of New Orleans. There was also the potential for a lot of rain, as much as 18 inches in a few areas of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, the hurricane center said. As the storm heads north, its rain would benefit some drought-ravaged states like Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Landrieu has not ordered an evacuation of his city, most of which is below sea level and protected by a network of levees. But he said he would "strongly urge" about 900 people who live outside the levee system to leave -- and if anyone else is thinking about getting out, "now would be a good time to go." Live blog: Isaac moves in . Others in low-lying Louisiana parishes and in coastal counties and barrier islands of Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida were told to clear out ahead of the storm. In Alabama, state Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner warned that strong winds and high water may affect the Mobile area even if the storm hits as far west as Louisiana. "It is a very large storm," Faulkner said. "And oftentimes we confuse and focus on a specific dot that may be identified as the center of the storm when very dangerous conditions may exist as far as 200 miles from that specific dot." The storm lashed Cuba and the Florida Keys over the weekend after slamming into Haiti, where at least 19 people had been reported dead by Monday, the country's civil protection agency reported. The Hurricane Center projected storm surges of 3 to 6 feet for the Florida Panhandle, 6 to 9 feet for the Alabama coast and 6 to 12 feet for the Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana shores. In Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Hancock County authorities ordered residents of low-lying areas to evacuate Monday evening. The National Park Service had already ordered visitors to leave the barrier islands off the Mississippi coast. Jackson County, which includes the coastal cities of Pascagoula, Gautier and Ocean Springs, ordered evacuations for anyone living south of U.S. Highway 90 -- a major artery along the Mississippi coast -- or for those living in mobile homes, along rivers and in other vulnerable areas. "Those residents that experienced flooding during Hurricane Katrina should evaluate what the effects of the possible 8-12 foot tidal surge would have to their property and make an informed decision with regard to evacuation," a message from the county Board of Supervisors added. But on Dauphin Island, south of Mobile, many residents were preparing to sit out Isaac at home, said Alexa Alexander. "We are boarding up (and) getting supplies ready," said Alexander, who lives and tends bar on the island. "We've had a little bit of people leave Dauphin Island, but not much. Most of the locals are going to ride it out." Dauphin Island was badly damaged by Katrina, which cut the island in half -- a gouge since filled by sand and rock. The skies there were just clouding up Monday afternoon, Alexander said. Louisiana resident Ryan Unger plans to stay in place despite an evacuation order. He filled up gas tanks Sunday night in case he has to run his generator. "Starting to get a little sense of anxiety, like, OK, am I ready for it?" he said. "Realizing we ain't really ready for a storm. So we're just all thinking about what we gotta do to get in place to get ready for it." Residents of St. Charles Parish and parts of Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana had been ordered to clear out as well. Some 9,000 residents in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, were ordered to evacuate Monday morning, along with the towns of Jean Lafitte, Crown Point and Barataria. "We're worried about tidal surge," Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said. Airports across the region also made plans to shut down as the storm passed. New Orleans will shut its international airport after its last flight Monday night, spokesman Ryan Berni said, while smaller airports in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida also announced closures starting Tuesday. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called on residents in coastal parishes prone to flooding to voluntarily evacuate. Even pro football player Courtney Roby of the New Orleans Saints was a little nervous. "Kinda a scary feeling of uncertainty," he said via Twitter. Disaster dining: How to stay safe and stay fed in a storm . Mississippi officials dispatched 1,500 National Guard troops to the state's three southern counties to help with emergency operations, as well as 45 state troopers to ease traffic flow. The state has distributed 10,000 sandbags to residents ahead of the storm. "In short, we have done everything in our power to be prepared for the storm," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said. In the coastal Mississippi city of Pass Christian, people were moving their boats to higher ground and preparing their homes. "Lookin' like we're gonna be ground zero again," said Daryl Vaught, as he prepared to place sandbags in front of his doors and garage. "It seems like Katrina just happened yesterday," Vaught told CNN affiliate WDSU. "Hopefully we'll dodge a bullet here this time. I didn't last time." iReport: Isaac pounds Ft. Lauderdale beach . It appeared Monday that the storm's ferocity would mostly bypass Florida's west coast and the Republican National Convention in Tampa, where the schedule was pushed back a day by organizers over concerns about the storm. The storm passed well west of the city, but flood advisories remained posted around the area Monday evening. Share your photos and videos of Isaac on CNN iReport . CNN's Mariano Castillo, Matt Smith, Josh Levs, Dave Alsup, Chelsea J. Carter, Tom Cohen, Martin Savidge, Gary Tuchman and Jim Spellman, and journalist Jean Junior Osman contributed to this report. | NEW: Isaac continues path toward southern Louisiana .
Storm could dump 18 inches of rain in some areas .
Current projections show the storm making landfall Tuesday night or Wednesday morning near New Orleans .
The storm could be a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds by then . |
206,919 | 97ec2875e0217401d42e5c467c29e00c8d3e2133 | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 18:51 EST, 3 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 22:37 EST, 3 May 2012 . First rule of the anarchist handbook - when attacking the big guns of the capitalist world, try not to endorse their products. An Occupy activist missed the irony in his own dress sense during Tuesday's May Day protest by attacking a Nike store wearing a pair of the brand's sneakers. The instantly recognizable Nike tick can be seen emblazoned on the side of his shoe, as the unidentified man, his face covered with a bandana, stands in front of 'death to capitalism' graffiti on the shop window in downtown Seattle. Just do it! An anarchist wears Nike trainers... to attack a Nike store in downtown Seattle with the words 'death to capitalism' sprayed across the window . If the shoe fits: The rookie activist takes a swing at a bank's plate glass window still in his Nikes and fetching lavender shirt... while a startled passer-by looks on . He teamed the sneakers with a fetching lavender shirt, color-coordinated face mask and on-trend neon pink hairband to hold his hoodie in place. The outfit was accessorized with a backpack and baton wound in a rag. Thousands of Occupy Wall Street activists clashed with police across the country on Tuesday as they swarmed into the streets as part of the movement's nationwide May Day protests. Some 50 black-clad protesters in Seattle . used sticks to smash downtown store windows and ran through the streets . disrupting traffic. According to the Seattle Times, Mayor Mike McGinn said those demonstrators then ditched their black clothes and lost themselves in the crowd. Chaos: Masked protestors use bats and wooden poles to destroy the glass storefront of an American Apparel store in Seattle on May Day . Police reported several . arrests after clashes between police and demonstrators with offenses . including vandalism and striking an officer. May Day, which has been associated . for more than a century with workers' rights and the labor movement . around the world, has been used by American activists in recent years to . hold rallies for immigrants' rights. In a deliberate attempt to bring large-scale European-style May 1 . protests to America for the first time, Occupy called for a general strike, urging workers to attend marches rather than work. The mass-scale protest came after the anti-capitalism movement called for a general strike and urged millions of workers to stay at home and gather in city centres. Burning: A police officer in riot gear emerges after shooting pepper spray at masked protestors when demonstrations turned violent in Seattle . Shattered: A disguised activist pulls away more sheet glass from the window of a Wells Fargo branch in downtown Seattle on Tuesday . | Teamed the footwear with neon pink headband and lavender shirt for an anti-capitalist assault in Seattle . |
229,042 | b492adf8ff194c0935c70bffc9855612532d6874 | The number of people employed by the BBC has risen despite repeated promises to cut staffing levels. Official figures have revealed that 22,039 people work at the corporation, an increase of 310 since last year. It has also emerged that headhunters were paid more than £650,000 in 2013 to fill posts across the organisation. Tony Hall ON his first day as Director General of the BBC at New Broadcasting House in central London . Yesterday critics branded the staffing rise ‘astonishing’ and the use of headhunters ‘ludicrous’. While the official employment figures – taken as a snapshot a month ago – include employees on permanent, fixed-term and flexible contracts, they do not include casual staff, so the true figure could be even higher. In October 2011, then director-general Mark Thompson said 2,000 jobs would be cut by 2017 as part of a push to save £700million. However, the latest figures show the BBC is hiring people faster than it is cutting back. A spokesman for the corporation claimed yesterday it is still on track to make savings of £850million by 2017 and that the rise in staff can be partly attributed to one-off projects. He said: ‘Occasionally staff numbers will fluctuate depending on programme schedules and other special projects, such as the Commonwealth Games, covering the Scottish referendum, further development and personalisation of iPlayer.’ BBC Director-General George Entwistle resigned over his failure to get to grips with the Savile (left) scandal and his predecessor in the BBC hot seat Mark Thompson (right) who promised to cut staff . But the 2014 figure of 22,039 is higher than the 22,013 employed in 2012 when the BBC had the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to cover. There was a fall to 21,729 in 2013 before the recent rise. John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: ‘At a time when all public sector organisations should be cutting back on staffing numbers, it’s astonishing the BBC’s has actually increased. ‘You’d have thought the headcount would peak during a big event like the Olympics so the continued growth is disappointing news for families feeling the pinch, hoping for cuts to the licence fee.’ The BBC has also been criticised over the amount it has spent on headhunters. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in the calendar year 2013 the BBC spent £657,522 on ‘recruitment consultants, executive search, and headhunting firms for the hiring of BBC staff at all grades, including senior staff and members of the executive board’. In the financial year ending March 2013 it spent £700,813. It was during this period that £150,000 was paid to recruitment consultants to find a replacement for Mr Thompson. But then the BBC made an internal promotion, giving George Entwistle the £450,000-a-year job. He lasted just two months before quitting after a series of scandals including the Sir Jimmy Savile revelations and Newsnight’s wrongful implication of Lord McAlpine in a child abuse case. Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the Commons culture committee, said it was ‘completely ludicrous’ for BBC to spend so much on headhunters. He added: ‘Most businesses seem to do perfectly well drawing up their own shortlists and don’t have to resort to hiring expensive headhunters. ‘It’s another example of the BBC having too much money, which is why we should have a reduced licence fee.’ A spokesman for the BBC said its main recruitment channel is its website. He added: ‘We do however sometimes use external recruitment consultants to help ensure we obtain applications from a wide range of high-quality candidates, often for very specialised roles.’ | Official figures have revealed that 22,039 people work at the corporation .
That's an increase of 310 since last year .
In 2011, then DG Mark Thompson said 2,000 jobs would be axed by 2017 .
However, corporation is recruiting faster than it is reducing . |
125,712 | 2e8188612b72f56f2de1b701fda9075b6c2b8b7d | By . Wills Robinson . and Christian Gysin . Their crucial encounter with Italy is only four days away, so England fans would have hoped key players are putting their feet up between training sessions. But strikers Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck took a more relaxed approach to their preparations today, as they tried their hand at a Brazilian form of martial arts with a group of youngsters. The pair, along with Adam Lallana, Fraser Forster and Jack Wilshere, joined in with the Capoeira demonstration during a visit to Rio's infamous Rocinha Favela. Showing off his moves: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge dances during the Capoeria demonstration with the Rochina Favela in the background . They balanced on one hand, raised their legs over the youngsters' heads and bent down like they were ready to grapple as one man played the drums. The . Capoeria is a martial art that was developed by slaves in the 16th century and combines dancing with acrobatics and music. The 'Three . Lions' contingent visited a sports complex attached to the Favela – or . slum – as part of a continued charity initiative which was started by . the FA and the players when they visited Brazil last year. The Favela is home to a staggering 70,000 people and is one of the poorest areas of Brazil. Acrobatics: The strikers moved into the centre of the circle, with Manchester United's Danny Welbeck performing a handstand . Steady: Sturridge then pulled off an impressive move, balancing on one hand on the artificial football pitch . The sports complex on the edge of the . Rocinha neighbourhood is said to have played a major part in the . regeneration of the area since it was opened more than four years ago. The . complex provides a football pitch and area which allows youngsters to . enjoy sports such as boxing , volleyball, tennis, swimming, martial arts . and skateboarding. The complex also provides a 24hr Accident & . Emergency unit, a family clinic and a psychosocial clinic. During . the afternoon visit the players – who were joined by former England and . West Ham player and now FA Director of Football Development Sir Trevor . Brooking and Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington - met and . mixed with a group of children that regularly use the complex. At . one stage Liverpool striker Sturridge and Manchester United forward . Welbeck performed cartwheels with some of the children who in turn . showed the players their martial arts skills. To the floor: Welbeck bends his knees in tandem with one of the other dancers while a drummer plays in the background . The England World Cup squad have now . pledged to donate a five figure sum to the Rocinha complex through their . charity the Footballers Foundation Charity . Arsenal . and England midfielder Jack Wilshere said during the visit: ‘The entire . squad is keen to gain an appreciation of our surroundings and . experience the culture of Brazil during our time here. 'The . visit to the Rocinha Sports Complex provided an incredible insight into . the unique and powerful role sport plays in this country. ‘With one of the poorest areas of the . city situated just metres away, the complex provides an opportunity, . through sport, for residents of the favela to transform and enrich their . lives.’ Kick: Welbeck then lifts his leg over a youngster's head during the martial arts demonstration . Smile: Pictured at the back of the photo (from left to right) Fraser Forster, Danny Welbeck, Adam Lallana, Jack Wilshire and Daniel Strurridge pose with the Capoerira dancers in front of the 'slum' Another player – Southampton’s Adam Lallana – said: ‘The Sports Complex has helped to completely transform one of the poorest and potential violent areas of Rio. 'The facility provides an incredible opportunity for children to enjoy the simple pleasures of sport – and in doing so can help to take their lives in the right direction. ‘It was an honour for the players to be invited to the centre today.’ Moves: The Brazilians also got the chance to be the centre of attention, performing cartwheels . Earlier in the day the England team staff and players welcomed more than 100 children, young people and local residents to their Urca training base in Rio de Janeiro as they began final preparations for their FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign which begins when they play Italy in the Amazonian city of Manaus on Saturday evening. At one stage Liverpool striker Sturridge laughed as he tried to copy the dance routine of a Brazilian child and joked: ‘I can't do that’ - before he then performed a double back flip as his personal finale. During the visit by the players the smell from the favela sewer wafted across a small 5-a-side Astroturf football pitch close to the multi-coloured shacks and huts making up the slum. Welbeck said after the visit: . ‘It is something I really wanted to do, it is great. I was here last year in Rio, and this time I am really feeling the vibe of the country. It was great to see the kids, they are just enjoying their lives.’ Midfield star Lallana - who carries photographs of his young son in his kit bag, said: . ‘The kids are unbelievable. It is nice to see a different side of Brazil, on the beach we only see the lovely waves and sea. The favela is completely different.’ Kicking out: Sturridge looks impressed as one of the youngsters manages to get almost horizontal to the ground while performing a flip . | Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck tried Capoeria in front of youngsters .
Is a form of martial arts that combines dancing, acrobatics and music .
Strikers performed handstands with Rio's Rocinha Favela in the background .
Adam Lallana and Jack Wilshere were also part of England contingent . |
37,283 | 699f228b90528a4797456491df1ccb71c9871f27 | A mother filmed the moment another woman tried to slam into her car while she was driving with her young daughter. Sherri Norman was driving in Randleman, North Carolina when she claims another woman, who was speeding, tried repeatedly to pass her, ultimately succeeding. It did not end there however, as video shows the woman repeatedly stopping short to get Norman's car to slam into her own vehicle, veering off the road to try and side slam her car, and then ultimately stopping and getting out to begin punching Hastings through an open window on the driver's side of the vehicle. Scroll down for video . A woman was filmed flipping off another driver in a road rage incident on Saturday . She then ran up to the woman's car, while the driver's daughter was in the backseat . The woman began trying to puncht he driver through her car window . This as the woman's daughter Destiny can be heard screaming out of fear and crying in the backseat. That woman, 40-year-old Kristin Leigh Phillips, has now been charged with reckless driving to endanger, assault and battery, injury to personal property, driving left of center and two counts of communicating threats according to Fox 8. 'I knew what was going to happen. I wanted it on tape. Twice the lady tried to pass me on a two-lane road with double lines on a hill,' said Norman. Only after the woman managed to role her window up did the other woman return to her car . 'She about ran me off road first time. She got behind me a second time and then went to go around again. I let her have the road, called 911, reported her and her plate number… I started phone video which was in a holder on dashboard — hands free.' She gave the video to the police on Saturday after the incident occurred and Phillips was arrested Monday. | Sherri Norman was driving in Randleman, North Carolina on Saturday when a woman tried to slam into her car and run her off the road .
She began filming, and caught the woman as she stopped short, ran out of her car, and started trying to punch her through a window .
She gave the video to police and on Monday Kristin Leigh Phillips was arrested . |
262,639 | e034d7ef05ef8750f49c16e292ab887c298aa9bd | Kneeling on a pillow, surrounded by mothers and their children, the Countess of Wessex looked perfectly at ease as she took part in a musical play session in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, yesterday. Cuddling three-month-old Rowan Wilson-Jones, the royal laughed happily as the youngster sucked on her hand as she joined in on a sing-a-long for toddlers. After greeting flag-waving pupils gathered in the playground of Wittering Primary School, the Countess made her way to the children's centre - which she renamed the Wittering Families' Centre. Scroll down for video . The Countess of Wessex was happy to join in the musical session with families at Wittering Primary School . The mother-of-two looked relaxed as she rocked three-month-old Rowan, who sucked happily on her hand . Sophie playfully covered her ears after little Rowan Wilson-Jones started crying during her visit . There she delighted the children - and their parents - by singing nursery rhymes including Humpty Dumpty and Incy Wincy Spider, according to the community group that organised the session. The Countess, who is a long-standing supporter of children's charities, spent time cuddling the children - rocking three-month-old Rowan as they took part in the fun with his mother Emma. She looked unfazed as the baby sucked on her hand - looking down and smiling at the little boy. At Wittering Primary School, which she last visited in May last year, Sophie crouched down to speak to the pupils who shrieked with delight as she walked into the playground. She also took the time to speak to a number of different groups and chat to parents. Earlier in the day, the Countess visited RAF Wittering, just south of Stamford, Lincolnshire, in her capacity as Honorary Air Commodore of the station. The helicopter carrying Sophie touched down at the base mid-morning, where she was greeted by pupils from nearby Wittering Primary School. She was handed bouquets by two year six pupils, before she headed to met with service personnel in the officers' mess. The royal looked relaxed as she spoke to one mother at the playground of Wittering Primary School . Sophie tenderly stroked the cheek of three-month-old Rowan as he sat on her lap during the musical play . The Countess was happy to speak to one young girl who was taking part in the musical play session . During her tour of the base, which she visits regularly, Sophie awarded good conduct, long service and overseas service medals and certificates. She also spent time meeting with the families of servicemen and women currently serving in the RAF, as well as speaking with some of the units which will relocate to the station in the coming months. Dressed in a chic ensemble of a black jacket and a navy skirt teamed with nude heels, the 49-year-old was every inch the royal style icon as she toured the RAF base - stopping to look inside a Grob Tutor aircraft. Screaming primary school pupils eagerly waved flags as they greeted Sophie at Wittering Primary School . The mother-of-two crouched down to speak to the children who crowded into the playground to see her . Year six pupils Rebecca O’Sullivan and Owen Harrison handed Sophie a bouquet on her arrival to RAF Wittering . While at the base, the Countess watched an aerobatic display and met with members of Cambridge University Air Squadron. The visit came in the wake of a busy month for Sophie, who has spent most of it touring the country and hosting charity suppers at Buckingham Palace. Last week, the Countess delighted pupils at the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate, where she greeted a number of youngsters with a warm embrace. Earlier that day, the Countess had spent the morning raising the profile of another cause close to her heart, the plight of people suffering from cancer. Earlier in the day, the Countess visited RAF Wittering,in her capacity as Honorary Air Commodore of the station . At the RAF base, which she visits regularly, the Countess presented medals and certificates to personnel . Sophie is shown round a Grob Tutor aircraft by members of Cambridge University Air Squadron at the base . In Tumbridge Wells, she visited the local hospital, being shown around the decontamination unit before officially unveiling a memorial to staff who perished during the First World War. Afterwards, she was driven to the nearby Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, which helps support anyone affected by the disease. Next month is also set to be an engagement-packed one, with a visit to Buckinghamshire, including a tour of the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, among the highlights. Her husband, Prince Edward, also has plenty in his diary, starting with a trip to Birmingham early next week. The Countess also spent time meeting with the families of servicemen and women currently serving in the RAF . Dressed in a chic ensemble of a black jacket and a navy skirt, the royal looked elegant as she toured the base . | Countess of Wessex took part in musical play session in Peterborough .
She cuddled three-month-old Rowan as she sang Humpty Dumpty .
The royal was greeted by flag-waving pupils at Wittering Primary School .
Earlier she presented medals at met service personnel at RAF Wittering . |
181,632 | 7728bbd1f76181e062eb410d2ed8cb4dc9eeebba | (CNN) -- Cloaked in darkness and enveloped by mist, aerialist Nik Wallenda walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope late Friday and into the record books. It was a historic walk that observers say was in line with his appetite for the extreme and the high-wire customs of his "Flying Wallendas" family. Pumping his fist in the air, Wallenda sprinted the last few steps on the wire. After touching down on Canadian soil, he embraced his family, grinning ear to ear. The tense 1,800-foot journey took 25 minutes, according to CNN affiliate CTV. "I'm extremely blessed to be where I am," Wallenda said after stepping onto Canadian soil. Gotta watch: Tightrope stunts . To abide with immigration law, he had a U.S. passport tucked in a plastic bag in his pocket during the trip, according to the affiliate. Two border guards were waiting as soon as he stepped on Canadian soil to ensure he had the correct paperwork. "It hasn't sunk in yet," he told ABC, which broadcast the event. "This is something that I've played over and over in my mind for the last 20 years, and to finally be here at this point, it is very surreal. As I said as I left that wire, I'm extremely blessed to be where I am." Wallenda described the difficulties of dealing with the wind and heavy mist from the roaring falls. "It's all about the concentration, the focus, and it all goes back to the training. You know, in the middle of the wire at one point, I just started thinking about great-grandfather and paying tribute to him and all the walks that he did," he said. His great-grandfather Karl Wallenda was killed at the age of 73, attempting to walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico in 1978. When asked by ABC how he planned to top the walk over Niagara Falls, Wallenda said he hopes to become the first person in the world to walk a tightrope across the Grand Canyon, in Arizona. Thousands were on hand to watch Wallenda teeter his way on the 2-inch-wide wire over Horseshoe Falls toward Canada. He wore a harness at the insistence of those sponsoring the event, officials say, despite what he said was his desire to walk without a safety rig. Nik Wallenda, 121 feet in the air: 'It's extremely important to never let your mind wander' Wearing a red and black rain jacket and a balance pole around his neck, Wallenda appeared calm and focused as he took small steps, gingerly placing one foot in front of the other. Wallenda, who hails from multiple generations of high-flying daredevils, had a near fall as he stumbled on a tightrope above Baltimore's Inner Harbor earlier this year. "It's been a dream of mine for a long time," Wallenda told CNN before the Niagara Falls attempt. "I'm one of those people who always tries to overachieve. I want to do more. I want to do bigger things." Other daredevils have tried their luck walking over Niagara, but farther downstream and not since 1896. More than 10 people have attempted to cross different parts of Niagara Falls, some in barrels, one on a bicycle and even one with a washing machine strapped to his back. Wallenda is the first person in recent history to cross over the actual falls, braving the thick mist and roaring waters, according to the affiliate. Nik Wallenda finishes high-wire act that killed great-grandfather . CNN's Jason Carroll contributed to this report . | NEW: Other daredevils have tried their luck, but farther downstream .
Next on his to-do list? The Grand Canyon .
Wallenda had a near fall after stumbling on a tightrope above Baltimore's Inner Harbor .
His great-grandfather was killed at the age of 73 attempting to walk between two buildings . |
61,782 | af7f3927d39b5461b53633db0537ea7254fb026f | (CNN) -- Alexis Sanchez sealed Barcelona's victory in last weekend's El Clasico with an impudent goal and Friday gave them a hard won victory over Espanyol in the Catalan derby. Sanchez struck in the 68th minute to break the deadlock in the Camp Nou and the 1-0 victory was Barca's 11th win out of 12 in La Liga. He tapped in from close range after Brazilian star Neymar threaded a ball through the legs of two defenders to find his teammate, who netted his seventh league goal in the last nine games. It was one of few clear cut chances for the reigning champions against obdurate opponents who occasionally offered a threat in attack. The visitors had the best chance of the first half when Victor Sanchez was sent through and his goalward bound effort was only denied by the flailing leg of Victor Valdes in the home goal. Summer signing Neymar nearly opened the scoring midway through the second half when his curling shot went just wide but ever a threat, his assist on the goal proved the crucial moment. By contrast, Lionel Messi had another quiet game by his standards and has now gone four straight without scoring. Even with this comparative drought, Barcelona have forged four points clear of Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand, and nine in front of Real Madrid, beaten 2-0 last Saturday. All three table toppers enjoyed midweek wins in a hectic period in the Spanish championship, with Atletico and Real looking to close the gap on the leaders in their 12th round matches this weekend. In the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund took over at the head of affairs from Bayern Munich after a thumping 6-1 beating of VfB Stuttgart Friday night. Stuttgart had been unbeaten in seven league matches and took the lead through Tunisian defender Karim Haggui. But their joy was to prove short lived as Greek international Sokratis Papastathopoulos drew Dortmund level before Marco Reus's 22nd minute effort put them ahead. Polish scoring machine Robert Lewandowski hit a second half hat-trick with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adding the other. It left Juergen Klopp's men two points clear of champions Bayern, who play at Hoffenheim Saturday. Reigning French Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint Germain stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 23 games with a 4-0 defeat of Lorient. Goals from Lucas, Jeremy Menez and two from Edison Cavani left Laurent Blanc's men three points clear of Monaco, who play at Lille Sunday. | Barcelona beat Espanyol in Catalan derby .
Goal from Alexis Sanchez gives Barcelona 1-0 in in Nou Camp .
Borussia Dortmund thrash VfB Stuttgart 6-1 .
Go two points clear of Bayern Munich ahead of weekend games . |
180,633 | 75d427e086e8b97832a5824acade9c3428dce5a5 | By . Janet Tappin Coelho In Brazil . This is the horrifying moment the body of a dying woman is dragged along the road, hanging from the back of a police car. Claudia Silva Ferreira was hit in crossfire during an alleged exchange of bullets between police and traffickers in Morro da Congonha favela in Madurai, Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday morning. The innocent 38-year-old mother of four, who had gone out to buy bread for her family, was alive when her body was allegedly 'thrown like a piece of meat' into the boot of the police car by three officers who have since been arrested. Her body fell out of the vehicle and was left hanging on just by her clothing. She was dragged along for 250 metres before officers stopped. Footage of her body being dragged along the road by a police car was taken as officers transported her to the nearest hospital. According to her son, his mother was alive and shaking her head when she was put into the boot of the car. Police protocol states that an injured person should be accompanied on the back seat. Scroll down for video . 'A piece of meat': Dying mother-of-four Claudia Silva Ferreira is dragged behind a police car after being hit in the crossfire during a gun battle between police and drug traffickers . The 38-year-old's body was allegedly bundled into the boot of the police car by three officers who have since been arrested . Victim: Claudia Silva Ferreira's tattered ID card. According to her son, she was alive and shaking her head when she was put into the boot of the car . | Claudia Silva Ferreira, 38, .
hit in crossfire 'as police fought drug traffickers'
Innocent mother of four had gone out to .
buy bread for her family .
She was reportedly alive when she was bundled into boot of police car .
Three officers involved have since been arrested . |
56,956 | a14fcd6b081844d0a0cea88fa6968b91d3e18e5d | (CNN) -- Barbie boasts an extensive resume of more than 150 careers, from fashion model to nurse, astronaut, veterinarian, firefighter, aerobics instructor and rapper. Now, Barbie is leaning in with a 21st century gig as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneur Barbie is available in four ethnicities and carries the essentials of start-up life: a tablet, smartphone and briefcase. Mattel says it hopes to inspire a generation of female entrepreneurs with Entrepreneur Barbie, which went on sale Thursday on Amazon. She also comes with a marketing back story in which Mattel partnered with eight real-life female entrepreneurs to serve as "chief inspiration officers." "Having positive role models for dolls that are inspiring young girls to be entrepreneurs is exactly what we need to inspire a generation of young women to start running businesses," Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, said in an interview with TechCrunch. "You can't be what you cannot see." "To me, Barbie has always been a way to live out each and every one of my dreams and that young women today have Barbie as a role model, an icon in the form of an entrepreneur is so exciting and the best form of inspiration," said Jennifer Fleiss, co-founder of Rent the Runway. In typical start-up style, Entrepreneur Barbie made her debut by hosting a Twitter #BarbieChat in which she invited her #CIOs to share stories of "breaking glass (and plastic) ceilings." While many participants in Wednesday's Twitter chat praised Barbie's latest career, Mattel faced familiar criticism for pink-washing the message. Entrepreneur Barbie comes wearing a fitted pink dress in her usual unrealistic proportions. "If we're talking representation, let's take a step back. It is impossible to ever grow up and be Barbie. She's anatomically impossible (unless you get tons of plastic surgery and survive on light and air)," writer Sarah Gray said in a Salon column. "Entrepreneur Barbie is modern woman with her smartphone and her tablet stuck in a sexist, outdated, dangerous representation of femininity. I take umbrage with the fact that, even though this doll is backed by an awesome group of diverse women — aimed at providing positive representation — Barbie still represents this problematic view of women." The backlash is nothing new. Barbie caused a stir in February when Mattel and Sports Illustrated revealed that she would appear in the 50th anniversary edition of its annual swimsuit edition. The partnership included a promotional cover-wrap on 1,000 copies declaring Barbie "the doll that started it all," a four-page advertising feature inside the magazine and video outtakes posted online. The doll was also available for sale at Target. Mattel stood by Barbie's "unapologetic" stance, and continues to use the #unapologetic hashtag in its social media campaigns for Entrepreneur Barbie. Do you think Entrepreneur Barbie is a suitable role model for children? Share your take, and your favorite iteration of Barbie, in the comments section below. | Mattel says it hopes to inspire female entrepreneurs with new Barbie .
Entrepreneur Barbie partners with eight real-life female entrepreneurs .
Some criticized Mattel for suiting up Entrepreneur Barbie in a pink dress and her usual proportions . |
22 | 001732b374f362d3961a510da315601e4b5e7e84 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 1:25 AM on 3rd August 2011 . Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has shocked Twitter followers by offering £50,000 to anyone who could identify - and break the arms of - a sinister tweeter who threatened to harm his daughter. The self-made millionaire became embroiled in a row yesterday afternoon after receiving a string of anonymous threats via the micro-blogging service. The messages threatened to 'bring hurt and pain' to his family unless he handed over £35,000. Reward: Duncan Bennatyne sent out this message to his 372,000 followers . And although Mr Bannatyne later withdrew his threat, the entrepreneur said 'I'd gladly do my time' to get revenge on the anonymous tweeter. The TV star received a series of tweets from someone calling himself Yuri Vasilyev, linking to a message threatening to harm Hollie Bannatyne, 25. He responded by posting: 'I offer £25,000 reward for the capture of the coward who calls himself @YuriVasilyev_ Double if his arms are broken first'. Although this tweet was soon deleted, Mr Bannatyne posted another message saying: 'OK £30,000 reward for info leading to his arrest'. The drama began yesterday, when he . received a message from the Twitter account @YuriVasilyev_ which linked . to a message about Holly. It read: 'Dear Dragon. My name is . Yuri Vasilyev and I'm looking for a £35,000 investment to stop us . hurting your Hollie Bannatyne. We will bring hurt and pain into your . life. 'We are watching her. She is very attractive. Want photos? Tweet using the hashtag £4money to confirm payment will be made.' Threatened: Duncan Bannatyne received sinister messages threatening his daughter Hollie, right . A . later message said: 'Duncan Bannatyne - Hollie is going to get hurt. We . will bring pain and fear. You should have expected us. We are the men . of Belarus. 'We do not give up. We will stand . tall. You should have paid. £35,000 to stop it. Contact us to pay. We . are watching. Expect us. We are the men of Belarus.' Despite Vasilyev's claim to be from Belarus, Mr Bannatyne has said that he believes him to be in Moscow. His latest message to Vasilyev reads: 'Go home to your mum and cry we are closing in on you little boy'. That message was also later deleted. Mr Bannatyne's threats have met a mixed reaction from Twitter users. Many have helped to try to locate Vasilyev, although this is unlikely to be successful without tracking him down electronically, as 'Yuri Vasilyev' is a common name in Russian-speaking countries. But one user, speculating that Vasilyev was using a fake name, told Mr Bannatyne: 'Whoever the real Yuri Vasileyev is I hope hijacking his identity & ur call to vigilantes doesnt end in his injury or death.' [sic] . Mr Bannatyne said in a statement: 'My family is well protected, but I take any threat to them very seriously and will do all I can to ensure the person or people involved are caught.' Last night, police issued a statement saying: 'Durham Constabulary can confirm Duncan Bannatyne has reported a number of threatening messages he had received via email and Twitter in which threats were made against a member of his family. 'These appeared to originate from an email address based in Russia. 'We have been liaising since then with Mr Bannatyne and conducting enquiries into the credibility of these threats.' Mr Bannatyne contacted the Durham Constabulary because his family have long been based in the North East. | Police brought in over Twitter threats believed to be made by man in Russia . |
286,026 | fe9a6edb622d781b75c6fde42908efd4b8a09684 | (CNN) -- Researchers in Tanzania have chemically reproduced the stench of smelly feet in an innovative new approach to combat the spread of malaria in the country. The scientific team at Tanzania's Ifakara Health Institute has developed a potent serum -- similar to that of human foot odor -- to lure and kill mosquitoes, which can carry malaria and other diseases. Four times more powerful in attracting mosquitoes than natural human odor, the synthetic smell is now being used in a pioneering research program aimed at killing mosquitoes outdoors using a "mosquito landing box." "The goal is to eliminate malaria," said scientific researcher, Fredros Okumu, who is developing the technology. "We are going to do this by tackling the transmission of disease outside the house." Mosquitoes are lured inside the boxes by the synthetic odor, which is dispersed by a solar-powered fan. Once inside, the insects are either trapped or poisoned and left to die. "We know mosquitoes don't see people, they smell them." Okumu said. "Substances we emit when we sweat, such as lactic acid, act as a signal to mosquitoes ... The aim here was to produce a mixture that would mimic a human being." The result, said Okumu, was a chemical blend that "smelt just like dirty socks." "If you came to our lab when the research was being done, you would have thought that someone had just come off a soccer field," he admitted. Okumu, who is currently completing a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in England, plans to develop the mosquito landing boxes over the next two years, thanks to a $775,000 joint grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the not-for profit organization Grand Challenges Canada. "This is a great example of an African innovator, with an African innovation, tackling an African problem," said Dr Peter Singer, CEO of Grand Challenges Canada. "Malaria kills about 800,000 people a year, mostly children, in Africa. At the moment existing technologies, such as bed nets and sprays, tend to repel mosquitoes inside the home. "This technology attracts mosquitoes outside the home to kill them, and could be complimentary to what is there now," Singer continued. Working closely with villagers in remote communities where malaria is endemic, Okumu is aiming to produce a practical and sustainable technology that will be easy to run and operate. Okumu is keen to explore further cost-saving measures in order cement the mosquito boxes as part of everyday Tanzanian life. Ideas include using the boxes' solar-panel technology to supply energy to people's homes and substituting the costly chemical mosquito lure with actual foot odor collected from specially designed cotton pads placed in people's socks. "We hope at the end of the two years we will be able to tell the world this is a good strategy to use and start involving industry and more communities and villages," said Okumu. The prevalence of malaria in Tanzania has decreased in the last 10 years and Okumu has seen rates in his region dramatically decline from 40% in 1997 to around 7% today. "We are sure that the reduced rates are due to the improved delivery of bed nets, drugs, insecticides and living standards," said Okumu. "But malaria is not going to disappear using these existing methods." Okumu says he hopes to see his boxes used across the region before existing methods become less effective. "Mosquitoes can modify their behavior quite rapidly to deal with the added deterrents of sprays and bed nets," he said. "For example, instead of going into houses to bite people, mosquitoes are now starting to wait to bite people outside," he said. For Okumu, this is a personal as well as a scientific venture. Born in western Kenya, malaria has been apart of Okumu's life for as long as he can remember. "All the places I have lived have been malaria zones. When I was growing up I had malaria at least twice every year," he said. He continued: "Malaria has claimed so many lives and diseases like this are one of the biggest blocks to our social and economic development." | Scientists have chemically reproduced the pungent smell of foot odor .
The chemical mixture is four times more powerful in attracting mosquitoes than natural odor .
The synthetic smell is being used in a new initiative to kill mosquitoes in the open air .
"The goal is to eliminate malaria" says researcher Fredros Okumu . |
142,201 | 43e4f2a49f10501ab1d2e777ae7bec61c8cf2783 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 02:50 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:00 EST, 11 July 2012 . Tragedy: Liam Shackleton died from multiple injuries after he fell from the bedroom window of his grandfather's flat in in Leeds . The sister of a six-year-old boy who plunged to his death from the eighth floor of a tower block after child locks were removed from a window may have tried to save him, an inquest has heard. Liam Shackleton died from multiple injuries after he accidentally fell from the bedroom window of his grandfather’s flat in Leeds in May last year. His traumatised 10-year-old sister Tiffany is believed to have grabbed on to her brother as he climbed on to the window sill from a chest of drawers and . may have been trying to prevent him from falling, the inquest at . Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard. Retaining locks which would prevent the window from opening too wide had been removed since new double glazing was installed in the flats in Lindsay Mount, in the Lincoln Green area of the city, in 2005, the inquest was told. Robert Goor, head of repairs and maintenance for council housing, said the locks were fitted as standard but could be moved or removed with an allen key. He said Peter Shackleton, who was the tenant of the flat and Liam’s grandfather, may have removed the locks which were supplied with the windows. Investigations found the locks were in place on one window in the living room. Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner David Hinchliff said: 'When the windows were fitted, they should have had these retaining locks on. 'The point of these retaining locks is they are removable, adjustable, you can slide it up and down to adjust the gap the window goes to and you could, if you wanted to, remove them altogether.' He added: 'The point of the locks is, if you do have active children, they can prevent the window opening to a dangerous level. 'Had these blocks been on and set at a level which would restrict the width the window could open, this accident could have been prevented.' He said he would write to the landlord of the . property in Lindsay Mount, in the Burmantofts area, and recommend they . look into fitting all windows with static inhibitors to prevent them . opening too wide. He also said he would . recommend regular inspections of the properties to ensure safety . features are in place and working. Liam’s mother, Tanya Shackleton, who sat with her husband Martin, left the room in tears at one point as Mr Hinchliff described her son as 'a very active little boy, full of mischief'. Retaining locks which would prevent the . window from opening too wide had been removed since new double glazing . was installed in the flats (pictured) in 2005, the inquest was told. Liam fell from the eighth floor . Mrs Shackleton said that her father-in-law had not removed the retaining locks from the windows. Mr Hinchliff said to her: 'Your belief is there were never any little blocks on the bedroom windows.' The inquest heard that Liam, with his mother, father and siblings, had been living in his grandfather’s one-bedroom flat for three weeks while they waited to be rehoused. On the day of Liam’s death, on May 31, the family were in the bedroom of the flat for around three hours while workers replaced carpet tiles in the living room. Furniture from the living room had also been moved into the bedroom, including a chest of drawers that had been moved underneath the window to make room for extra furniture. After the carpet was laid, the adults . began to move the furniture back into the living room, leaving Liam and . his sister playing in the bedroom. A short time later, at around 5.15pm, Liam’s sister came into the living room to tell her mother Liam had fallen. She later told police that she was getting cross with her brother as he . was not listening to her when she told him to stop climbing on the chest . of drawers. Mr Hinchliff said: 'She said she had hold . of Liam when he fell from the window. She might have realised he was in . some danger and tried to prevent it.' He added: 'She had got cross with her brother because I don’t think he . would listen or do what she was telling him and she said he accidentally . fell from the window. She might have been trying to get him down.' Mr Hinchliff said the window in the bedroom was opened as the room became 'very warm and stuffy' and the adults were smoking. Liam’s uncle Shaun Shackleton found the young boy lying on the grass outside and left him with his mother while he went to get an ambulance. Liam was taken by ambulance to the Leeds General Infirmary but died a short time later. Mr Hinchliff told Mr and Mrs Shackleton: 'When you are living in what . was an unsuitable and cramped condition because of the circumstances you . were in, it does mean even further diligence and supervision has to be . made when you have hyperactive children, who understandably have no . sense of danger and are too young to have regard for their own safety.' Speaking after the inquest, Mr Shackleton, 36, said they wanted to move on with their lives. He added that he agreed with the coroner’s recommendations. Two men, aged 57 and 36, a 28-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were arrested on suspicion of child neglect but were not charged. | Liam Shackleton died from multiple injuries after he accidentally fell from bedroom window .
His 10-year-old sister Tiffany 'grabbed on to her brother as he climbed on to window still to stop him falling'
Retaining locks to stop the window opening fully had been removed, council said . |
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