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106,694 | 15a2ec807daad4e62ce494981e77e4789be65074 | This holiday season, I am heading to the only Cuba I've ever known. To Nochebuena dinner with my cousin's roast pork, her mother-in-law's flan, platanos maduros, yucca and a salad. Nochebuena is a Latino celebration of Christmas Eve, and it's a big night for us. There will be quick-fire Spanish, varying degrees of English and jokes in the way I've only ever heard my Cuban relatives parry back and forth. Many presents will be opened, and everyone will act like we all got each other the perfect gift. I'm flying not to Havana but to Miami, where my grandparents and other relatives came years after Fidel Castro took over Cuba, when it became clear there would be no free speech for anyone but him. The stadiums were filling with "trials" against the enemies of the state, friends were disappearing and my mother, despite her government job, knew her unwillingness to stay quiet while people suffered would get her in trouble. So she went into exile in 1961, and she's never been back. Years later my grandparents followed their grown children -- my mother and uncle -- to the United States. When they applied to leave the country, Cuban government officials did an inventory of the contents of their home. Both their home and all of their things would be confiscated by the government on the day they departed. The morning she left, my abuelita was washing the dishes in their apartment before she and my grandfather left for the airport. Suddenly she stopped. "Let Fidel do the dishes," she said. I have never seen that apartment. Family traditions . When we land Tuesday in Miami, my mother and uncle will meet us at the airport and rush us to Havana Harry's or some coffee stand where I can get a real Cuban coffee -- none of this Starbucks silliness. There's a hint of Cuba in the taste. And Cuban and U.S. flags will be everywhere. I don't care about South Beach or Art Basel or Coconut Grove. Every bit of Cuba I get is gleaned from pictures, music, stories people tell me and these trips to see Miami family, where I get hints of my ancestry in the food and jokes and presents. I soak it up on every visit. I've never seen the sleepy, agricultural town of Pinar del Rio where my mother was born and lived until her teenage years. I've never seen where she went to high school after they moved to Havana or the beaches where she swam in the summertime and where one friend dangling his foot over a pier lost it to a shark. I don't know where she had her first piano recital. When she plays my favorite Cuban music on the piano, all too rarely, for some reason the notes make me cry. Maybe it's the hints of her life before me. The Christmas heat in Miami must be similar to what they feel in Cuba, only a short flight to the south. I will pack my summer clothes and a bathing suit for my daughter. Around midday on Christmas Eve some of us will head to El Palacio de Los Jugos for lunch and Cuban sandwiches. I will get my favorite Materva soda, too sweet for me now but still worth the memory. My cousin, whose Nochebuena pork would make Martha Stewart cry, likes to tease us to not to fill up at lunch. But we will be fine. Dinner won't be until much later -- our family is always late -- and we all want her cooking. Filling in the gaps . My definition of beauty isn't blond hair or blue eyes or any classic American stereotype. It's my black-haired Cuban cousins, who look so refined and elegant. They hug me, the baby of my generation and the half-American with the brown hair, so hard. They remind me to come back. To Miami, not to Cuba. I've only seen pictures of the tobacco trucks. My mother was taught to drive by the drivers at the tobacco trucking company where my grandfather worked, and it's why she still drives a car like she means business. Another hint of Cuba on those long road trips. I welcome the news of thawing American relations with Cuba and easing of travel restrictions. But I am tired of the ads for religious charity trips to Cuba and all-inclusive beach resorts where tourists get pampered while my people, once removed, depend on charity for the most basic medical supplies. I am tired of the reasons for the sadness in my older relatives' eyes. I don't want to hear any more stereotypes about who my people are or tourists talking about going to visit Cuba "before it changes." As Miriam Zoila Perez has written, I don't want to hear about your Cuban vacation. I simply want to buy a plane ticket and go there myself. I want to go to my mother's hometown and see where she was born without crying the entire trip. I want to put those hints together, fill in the gaps and see for the first time, where I am from. | CNN's Katia Hetter has Cuban ancestry but has never visited Cuba .
She will celebrate Christmas with her Cuban-American relatives in Miami .
Hetter: I want to visit my mother's Cuban hometown . |
140,611 | 41d3ea13d78bd39c7fc64040852a9c16c4bc232e | By . Amy Ziniak for Daily Mail Australia . Medicinal marijuana continues to be a contentious debate, but now a compound found in Marijuana could soon be tested on young Australians to prevent and treat psychosis . European researchers have suggested it could treat schizophrenia and be much more effective than other drugs by having fewer side effects. It comes as pressure continues to mount on state and federal governments in Australia to legalise the drug for medicinal purposes. Indian hemp / Cannabis plant (pictured) growing on plantation for medicinal purposes or as drug. A compound in this plant could soon be tested on young Australians to prevent and treat psychosis and schizophrenia . A plastic bag of skunk cannabis. Will marijuana be able to treat and prevent pyschosis and schizophrenia? Leading psychiatrist and mental health advocate Patrick McGorry told The Age, that one part of the drug was showing promise as an anti-psychotic medicine. Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry (pictured) says one part of marijuana is showing promise as an anti-psychotic medicine . The director of Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and 2010 Australian of the year said while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis was widely thought to be dangerous and increase the risk of psychosis in about 10 per cent to 20 per cent of people, another component - cannabidiol (CBD) - appeared to relieve psychosis, depression and anxiety. McGorry's team are hoping to trial pharmaceutical CBD in young people showing signs of early psychosis to see how it compared to other antipsychotic medications, which often cause undesirable side effects. 'There's been a lot more concern in recent times about antipsychotic medication. Obviously it's really effective, but the longer term side effects are worrying people, especially weight gain and metabolic problems,' Professor McGorry told The Age. 'People are willing to try more experimental treatments that have got some promise and cannabidiol is definitely one of those.' There's hope to commence a new trial soon with an application already in for government funding. McGorry does believe the plant possesses both bad and good qualities, saying they should not be confused. 'We're definitely not saying smoke dope to treat psychosis,' he said. He suggests if a trial were to be set up it would only involve the compound CBD. Cannabis expert, Jan Copeland has given her support to more studies of CBD being used for people with early stage psychosis. Marijuana cannabis plant leaves Annapurna Region Nepal. A compound found in Marijuana could soon be tested on young Australians to prevent and treat psychosis . Cannabis expert Jan Copeland (pictured) has given her support to more studies of CBD being used for people with early stage psychosis . The director of the University of NSW's National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre described CBD as a 'very interesting part of the complex cannabis chemistry' that does not get people stoned, but rather appears to balance the effects of THC, which makes some people anxious. She also told The Age, 'there was a small, but growing number of studies suggesting CBD relieved psychosis, anxiety and insomnia, and that her team was trialling it in about 10 people withdrawing from cannabis use to see if it helped them through the process.' But the search for CBD in street cannabis hasn't been encouraged. 'It has high levels of THC, around 15 per cent now, but almost no CBD, so it's definitely not the same thing as smoking cannabis,' she said. In July, market researchers, Reach tel, conducted a survey of more than 3,000 Australia's asking them the question : Do you support the legislation of cannabis for medicinal purposes? The majority would support the move at 65.9 percent, 14.4 percent said they would oppose the legislation and 19.7 percent were undecided on the issue. The chemical formula of CBD, a compound in marijuana which could help to prevent psychosis and schizophrenia . | A compound in marijuana could soon be tested on young Australians to treat psychosis and schizophrenia .
Researchers suggest CBD could have fewer side effects than other drugs .
Pressure mounts of governments in Australia to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes .
Hope to commence a new trial soon .
Survey of more than 3,000 Australians found 65.9% support legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes . |
235,542 | bcecf4659deb6406f38acb3f7b4d258c043f255c | A 30-year-old Princeton graduate, who allegedly shot dead his multimillionaire hedge-funder father, was upset that his weekly allowance had been cut back, according to published reports. Tommy Gilbert Jr, a former pupil of Manhattan's most prestigious private schools, was being questioned by police on Monday after 70-year-old Thomas Gilbert Sr, founder of $200 million hedge fund Wainscott Capital, was found with a gunshot wound to the head. A source told the New York Daily News that Mr Gilbert Sr had cut back Tommy's weekly allowance to $300 and threatened to stop paying his rent. Gilbert Jr lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea where, according to listings, guarantors were accepted on the $2,400-a-month rent. Scroll down for video . Hedge fund founder Thomas Gilbert, 70, (right) was allegedly shot in the head and killed by his son, Princeton graduate Tommy Gilbert (left) after the father cut the 30-year-old's allowance, according to published reports . Police remove a body bag from the luxury Manhattan apartment building late on Sunday where a multimillionaire hedge-funder was found with a gunshot wound to the head . The NYPD broke down the door of Gilbert Jr's West 18th St ground-floor apartment (pictured) to arrest him on Sunday. According to published news reports, Gilbert Jr had his allowance cut back by his father who was paying his $2,400-a-month rent . The Ivy Leaguer, who was a regular fixture at Manhattan's black-tie benefits with society beauties on his arm, reportedly slipped past the doorman and into his parents' building shortly before the attack at 3.30pm on Sunday. According to The New York Post, Gilbert Jr went to his parents' eighth-floor apartment and asked his mother to leave to get him a sandwich. The father and son were discussing 'differences in their relationship', according to The Wall Street Journal. Gilbert Sr's wife Shelley, 67, found her husband dead in the bedroom within minutes of the alleged attack and called 911, police said. According to a Daily News report, he had the gun on his chest in an alleged attempt to make it look like suicide. Gilbert Jr was then seen walking out of the building in Manhattan's Turtle Bay area covering his face with a hoodie around 3.35pm, the New York Daily News reported. The 30-year-old was found in his ground-floor apartment at 10.30pm on Sunday, after he fled from his parents' home in midtown, multiple media outlets claimed, citing police sources. Police have detained Gilbert Jr (pictured left in August; right at a concert in Central Park in 2012) after he allegedly barged into his father's bedroom with a gun. He was arrested on Sunday night at his home in Chelsea . Tommy Gilbert Jr, pictured in March 2014, with fellow Princeton graduate Arielle Patrick, at the School of American Ballet's winter ball in New York . Gilbert Jr is reportedly being held at the NYPD's 17th precinct in midtown Manhattan after being arrested on Sunday night at his home . Police recovered a Glock 22 .40-caliber handgun from the scene. At 10.30pm on Sunday, Gilbert Jr was arrested without incident at his apartment after NYPD officers dressed in riot gear, chopped down the door and found him hiding inside. He was taken to the 17th precinct in midtown. Gilbert Jr was being questioned and has not been named a suspect, according to the NYPD. Police have not ruled out the possibility of suicide prior to a report from the city's medical examiner. Shelley Gilbert, 67, made the 911 call after finding her husband with a gunshot wound to the head . The NYPD have not released details of a potential motive. A spokesperson told Daily Mail Online on Monday that the investigation was ongoing. Gilbert Jr had a lawyer and was refusing to speak to detectives. He was expected to be charged, The New York Post reported on Monday. Thomas Gilbert Sr started Wainscott Capital in 2011, growing the fund to a value of $200 million. He attended Princeton and Harvard Business School before a 40-year career on Wall Street. According to Wainscott Capital's website, he had extensive knowledge of the stock market, private equity, real estate and the fixed income market. His son, Tommy Gilbert Jr, attended The Buckley school on Manhattan's Upper East Side from kindergarten until eighth grade. Tuition costs around $35,000 a year. Noteable alumni of the school include actor James Harder, philanthropist David Rockefeller Jr and Robert Wagner, former deputy mayor of New York. He then went on to the $50,000-a-year Deerfield Academy in Western Massachusetts, which counts the King of Jordan and Prince of Jordan among its alumni. After graduating from Deerfield in 2003, Gilbert Jr accepted a place at Princeton University where he graduated in 2009. A friend told Daily Mail Online on Monday: 'He was a really nice person. He was smart, athletic and he went to Princeton. 'He took some leave of absences from Princeton which is why it took him so long to graduate. He must have been really angry to do something so out-of-character.' A classmate, who attended Deerfield with Gilbert Jr, also said: 'Tommy was my classmate. This story is an incomprehensible tragedy. My heart goes out to the entire Gilbert family.' Details of Gilbert Jr's profession remain unclear but he was photographed on multiple occasions at black-tie society events. The 30-year-old was pictured in March 2014 at the School of American Ballet's winter ball with Arielle Patrick, a 2012 Princeton grad, child of Manhattan private schools and now a PR director, who sources told the Daily Mail Online that he had dated. Miss Patrick refused to confirm whether the pair had dated on Monday. A fellow Princeton graduate told Daily Mail Online that Gilbert Jr was a 'highly disturbed individual'. Another friend told Today that 30-year-old Gilbert Jr had become 'volatile' in recent years. Friends in the 30-year-old's circle told Daily Mail Online that he loved surfing, was 'handsome and nice' but extremely quiet and never talked. Investigators escort a woman, believed to be the victim's wife, from the family's Manhattan home on Sunday . The family property is a $6,000-a-month rental apartment at 20 Beekman Place on 50th Street, a few blocks north of the United Nations on the east side of Manhattan. The building's porter told the New York Daily News that Gilbert Sr was 'friendly, very nice' and a 'gentleman'. According to the paper, the son was spotted slipping past the doorman wearing a hoodie shortly before the attack. 'I immediately got a bad vibe,' the doorman told police, according to the Daily News. 'The kid got into the elevator before I got the chance to pick up the telephone.' A neighbor, named as Bernard, said: 'Five minutes later he comes running out covering his face with a hoodie.' Gilbert Sr also owns a $10 million property in the Hamptons which is listed for sale at $11.5million. The 2.5 acre property has five bedrooms, four baths, a heated pool and screened in porch and sits in one of the area's most exclusive enclaves. Police surrounded the family property, a $6,000-a-month rental, in midtown Manhattan on Sunday . Police reports said the alleged fatal attack took place at the family apartment (pictured left) on the east side of Manhattan. investigators with evidence bags enter the Gilbert family home in Manhattan on Sunday (right) Thomas Gilbert Sr, 70, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at 3.30pm in his Beekman Place home on the east side of Manhattan. His son was arrested seven hours later after barricading himself in his home on West 18th Street . Wainscott Capital avoided losses which plagued other hedge funds in October last year, gaining 1.65 per cent that month. In an interview with FINalternatives, Gilbert Sr attributed the success to their moderate risk profile. 'We’re not trying to beat all of the biotech funds, we’re basically trying to avoid drawdowns,' he said. Named in the annual Who's Who In America list for five years running (1999-2004), Gilbert Sr started his career with a seven-year stint at Loeb Partners Corporation as managing director. Thomas Gilbert Sr owned this $10 million property in the Hamptons, which has since been sold . The 30-year-old went to Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts (pictured left), which counts the King of Jordan as an alumnus after studying at the prestigious Buckley school in New York City (right) | Thomas Gilbert, 70, was allegedly shot in the head by Thomas Gilbert Jr, 30, at his $6,000-a-month Manhattan home, according to police sources .
Gilbert Sr founded $200million hedge fund Wainscott Capital in 2011 .
Father and son were discussing 'differences in their relationship' before shooting, according to reports .
It is believed that the 30-year-old sent his mother out to get him a sandwich so she would not be in the home at the time, according to reports .
A friend told Daily Mail Online: 'He must have been really angry about something to do something so out of character'
Gilbert Jr, who attended $50,000-a-year school, arrested on Sunday night after barricading himself in his Chelsea apartment .
NYPD have not named Gilbert Jr as a suspect and have not ruled out the possibility of suicide . |
9,256 | 1a3b13257d7c7ddc61454b8ddc2be4c35f8eedce | By . Sam Adams and Thomas Durante . UPDATED: . 02:57 EST, 19 February 2013 . Death: New images of Osama bin Laden's corpse have been discovered, but won't be released to the public if the Justice Department has its way . Additional images of Osama bin Laden taken shortly after his death in a daring Navy SEAL raid have been found by the CIA - but all of the photos will remain unseen by the public. The discovery was announced on Friday in a letter from the Justice Department. The new pictures would add to about 52 grusesome shots of the terror leader's body after he was killed in May 2011 by members of SEAL Team Six as they raided his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Those photos were requested in a Freedom of Information filing by Michael Bekesha of Judicial Watch after the federal government ruled they must be kept classified for national security purposes. In a letter to Mr Bekesha obtained by The Huffington Post, the Justice Department said that 'the CIA recently located seven additional images of Osama Bin Laden's body from the May 1, 2011 operation that resulted in his death.' The letter went on: 'These additional images were not located during the CIA's search for responsive records in this case. However, these images of Bin Laden's corpse are of the same nature as thematerials the CIA previously identified [as classified].' A lower court has already upheld the . government's argument that the photos should remain secret in the . interest of national security, according to WestWingReports.com. But a federal appeals court is now considering whether the 52 pictures should be released to Judicial Watch, a conservative-leaning legal watchdog. The group says it is not seeking any information about equipment or techniques used in the raid. Viewing the raid: President Obama and his key staffers watch the Navy SEAL mission at Osama bin Laden's compound in this White House photo . But President Obama has maintained that the photos' release could endanger American citizens. During a recent '60 Minutes' interview, Obama said it was important to ensure that 'very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool.' After bin Laden was killed, the Obama administration said his body was buried at sea off the USS Carl Vinson - in accordance with Islamic tradition. The raid itself was completed shortly after 1am local time when bin Laden was shot once in the chest and once in the head by a U.S Navy Seal who announced: 'For God and country Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo.' Geronimo was the code-name given to the al-Qaeda leader. As Obama himself said in the White House Situation Room watching events unfold: 'We got him.' On TV: Bin Laden is shown watching himself on television in this video frame grab released by the U.S. Pentagon May 7, 2011, six days after his death . Safe house destroyed: Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound is pictured in May 2011 (left). It was demolished months later (seen at right) Before . the U.S Navy SEALs left the compound, they destroyed one of the two top-secret stealth helicopters that had brought them to the house after it . encountered difficulties on landing and therefore could not take off . again. Intelligence . recovered from the home made public in the aftermath of his death showed . Osama bin Laden wrapped in a blanket and watching news coverage of . himself. And it was later . reported from Pakistan that one of bin Laden's wives told the Pakistani . authorities that they had lived there for five years without detection. In . February 2012, Pakistani security agencies demolished the building to . stop it becoming a shrine to the al-Qaeda boss. | Images discovered in Freedom of Information request filed by Judicial Watch, a right-leaning legal watchdog .
Photos taken following killing of Bin Laden by Navy Seals in May 2011 raid on his compound in Pakistan .
President Obama has said that releasing photos could incite violence against the U.S. |
157,658 | 57d6ef6c4f11a91cc31fbba78ee409637d81ede9 | Britain’s spy agency collected webcam images – including . sexually explicit material – from millions of innocent internet users. Agents at GCHQ intercepted streamed webcam chats from Yahoo . users and stored their images using a surveillance programme codenamed Optic . Nerve. In one six-month period in 2008, the intelligence agency . collected images from more than 1.8million Yahoo users around the world – . regardless of whether they were terror suspects or not. Claim: Cheltenham-based UK spy agency GCHQ has reportedly harvested webcam images - including sexually explicit material - of millions of internet users . Leaked top-secret documents reveal that up to 11 per cent of . the stored images contained ‘undesirable nudity’. The revelations are the latest from a batch of files . published by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the US defence worker who has . exposed shocking details of how spy agencies snoop on people around the world. Optic Nerve – which critics last night branded eerily . reminiscent of telescreens in George Orwell’s novel 1984 – was run with the aid . of the US National Security Agency. It was intended for use in experiments in . automated facial recognition to try to find terror suspects. Anger: Internet giant Yahoo reacted furiously to the claims, branding them a 'whole new level of violation' Rather than collecting webcam chats in their entirety, the . system saved one image every five minutes from the users’ feeds between 2008 . and 2010. 'Unfortunately … it would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person' GCHQ . But documents leaked to The Guardian revealed that sexually explicit . pictures proved to be a problem for GCHQ. One comment from the agency read said: ‘Unfortunately … it . would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to . show intimate parts of their body to the other person. ‘Also, the fact that the Yahoo software allows more than one . person to view a webcam stream without necessarily sending a reciprocal stream . means that it appears sometimes to be used for broadcasting pornography.’ Internet giant Yahoo reacted furiously to the claims. A spokesman said: ‘We were not aware of, nor would we . condone, this reported activity. Ongoing: In its latest report on files leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden (pictured), the Guardian newspaper claims a surveillance programme collected still images of Yahoo webcam chats . ‘This report, if true, represents a whole new level of . violation of our users’ privacy that is completely unacceptable and we strongly . call on the world’s governments to reform surveillance law consistent with the . principles we outlined in December. 'This report, if true, represents a whole new level of violation of our users' privacy that is completely unacceptable and we strongly call on the world's governments to reform surveillance law consistent with the principles we outlined in December' Yahoo spokesman . 'We are committed to preserving our users’ trust and security and continue our efforts to expand encryption across all of our services.’ Tory MP David Davis said: ‘This is, frankly, creepy. It is . perfectly proper for our intelligence agencies to use any and all means to . target people for whom there are reasonable grounds for suspicion of terrorism, . kidnapping and other serious crimes. ‘It is entirely improper to extend such intrusive . surveillance on a blanket scale to ordinary citizens.’ Allegation: GCHQ is understood to have secretly accessed fibre-optic cables carrying huge amounts of internet and communications data and shared the information with the NSA (whose offices in Maryland are pictured) Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties campaign group Big . Brother Watch, said: ‘This is an indiscriminate and intimate intrusion on . people’s privacy. 'Orwell's 1984 was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual' Nick Pickles, Big Brother Watch . 'Orwell’s 1984 was supposed to be a warning, not an . instruction manual.’ GCHQ declined to comment on the claims. Mr Snowden originally leaked information about the attempts . by government spy agencies to harvest private information from millions of . people. Earlier this year, MI5 director general Andrew Parker warned . that revealing details about GCHQ’s work was a ‘gift to terrorists’. Controversial CCTV cameras that target millions of motorists for parking fines are set to survive a promised Government cull, it emerged yesterday. The use of enforcement cameras outside schools and other sensitive areas could carry on despite a previous vow to ban them. Roads minister Robert Goodwill told a conference of parking chiefs that, when it came to scrapping all the cameras, ‘no decisions had been made’, and that they might still be used outside schools. That contradicted previous pledges to outlaw all of the controversial cameras, which can issue penalties of up to £130 a time. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had previously vowed to ban them, accusing ‘bullying’ councils of fleecing drivers ‘on an industrial scale’. Councils rake in £30million a year from CCTV-led parking fines. A Government consultation on the issue also stated: ‘The Government intends to abolish use of CCTV cameras for parking enforcement.’ Mr Goodwill was speaking at a summit in London organised by the British Parking Association, which represents 700 councils and private sector operators. BY RAY MASSEY. | Cheltenham-based GCHQ has 'harvested webcam images of online users'
More files published following leak by US whistleblower Edward Snowden .
'Surveillance programme operated by GCHQ & NSA collected still images'
3% to 11% of webcam imagery stored by GCHQ has 'undesirable nudity'
Internet giant Yahoo brands the claims a 'whole new level of violation' |
196,388 | 8a29ce241967374499d064c23e3ce69998c5ce05 | They may have worked together for three years at Real Madrid, but Sergio Ramos seems to have forgotten all about his former manager Jose Mourinho. The Spanish defender pretended to confuse the Chelsea boss with Celta Vigo president Carlos Mourino when the Portuguese's recent quotes were put to him this weekend. Ramos and Mourinho are locked in a spat over comments the Spanish defender made about Chelsea stars Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. Sergio Ramos (right) celebrates Real sixteenth consecutive win, after snubbing Jose Mourinho . The Real Madrid man questioned whether Chelsea's two players were genuinely injured, insinuating that they were more committed to playing for their club than country. But Mourinho hit back, stating that Ramos 'is not a doctor', and criticised him for questioning the duo. And, when asked about those comments, Ramos seemingly snubbed his former boss, acting as if he didn't know who Mourinho was. Jose Mourinho had hit out at Ramos, arguing that 'he is not a doctor' and should not criticise Chelsea's players . 'I have nothing to say to the president of Celta,' Ramos responded after Real Madrid's win on Saturday night when the Chelsea manager's jibe was mentioned. The defender was more eager to discuss Real Madrid's win over Malaga, their 16th straight victory. That meant Carlo Ancelotti broke a club record - which was jointly held by Mourinho. Ramos had questioned how genuine the injuries to Chelsea duo Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa were . | Spain defender worked with Jose Mourinho for three years at Real Madrid .
But Sergio Ramos pretends to confuse Mourinho with Carlos Mourino .
Ramos had questioned whether Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa injuries . |
78,702 | def55a5fa7c63ed8395daecb973e6032b9dd5753 | A picture of a man dressed in a sinister clown costume taken from a Facebook page called 'Spot the Burnley Clown' which has sparked panic after social media users falsely claimed he was terrorising the area . Police have been bombarded with frantic calls from the public after a Facebook site about a mystery clown sparked panic across four towns and villages. The page called 'Spot the Burnley Clown' was set up to detail the movements of its creator as he paraded around areas of the Lancashire town dressed in an orange wig, painted face and fancy dress clothing. But despite there being no sightings of the clown in the flesh, the page sparked frenzied gossip on the social media network with stories falsely claiming the joker was armed with a baseball bat was hiding in bushes ready to mug people. The exaggerated stories spread panic across Burnley and the nearby towns of Blackburn and Clitheroe plus the village of Sabden. Fearing a madman was on the loose like Pennywise, the killer clown from the Stephen King horror TV series It, dozens of calls were made to Lancashire police to alert them. Teachers at primary schools were understood to have contacted police after concerned parents said their children were being frightened by reports. Twitter users claimed the clown had been knocking on windows and mugging people, but police said no sightings had been reported since the rumours surfaced. Officers said reports had been made from 'well meaning' people but said most were as a result of 'third hand' information. The fear of clowns is known as coulrophobia which adults and children can suffer from. Today, . Lancashire Police said: 'Over the last couple days, police have . received a number of calls from concerned members of the public in . Burnley and the surrounding areas with regards to a man dressed as a . clown reportedly in possession of a baseball bat. No sightings: These pictures were also posted on the Facebook page, but it is unclear whether they are of the same man. Police they are not taking any action because the reports are based on 'third-hand information' 'The calls have come as a result of various postings on Facebook as well as a dedicated page Spot the Burnley Clown, with comments becoming more and more exaggerated. 'We would like to reassure people that there is no foundation for any of these reports and we have had no first-hand reports of any incidents of violence or intimidation. 'We would urge people to only report first-hand instances of suspicious behaviour and try to avoid repeating gossip and third hand information. 'When people start to talk about incidents like this on social media, without any malicious intent, stories can become confused and sometimes exaggerated and people should bear this in mind.' Dozens of calls were made to Lancashire police over fears a madman was on the loose like Pennywise (above), the killer clown from the Stephen King horror TV series It . The Facebook page has a series of posts from a man claiming to be the clown. One read: 'I am sorry to everyone I scared tonight. I will keep my clownings to the parks from now on. Now i have to go to bed but I hope you all have a clowning good day tomorrow.' But he followed that up with: 'Will everyone stop being mean. I am a friend clown not a bad clown that is why I hide in bushes and behind trees where you least expect so I dont scare anyone.' His last message read: 'Am home now. I cleaned some peoples windows but they said to go away but I said I am a clown here to help everyone needs a clown in their life. 'Now I am at home maybe I will go out again later. I am your local neighbourhood friendly clown woof woof.' But one Facebook poster said: 'He’s one sad person who needs to grow up.' Another said: Omg this is well bad! Paedophiles will be doing this to lure kids in. Sick - you should be ashamed.' But another replied saying: 'Keep up the good work clown. If I see you about I’ll get you a custard pie.' Inspector Zeg Awan of Lancashire Police said: 'We are not treating it with a degree of importance. 'When it comes down to it, there have been no reported concerns about violence. It seems to be a trend that has originated elsewhere with someone basically playing hide and seek. 'One caller said a clown was hiding up a tree but that turned out to be false.' The scare mirrors an incident in . September this year when a man dressed as clown in Northampton terrified . residents by standing on street corners, sparking numerous copycat . incidents. Northampton . University student Alex Powell, 22, later admitted responsibility for . the saga. But since then there have been sightings of clowns in . Chesterfield, Mansfield and Doncaster. Documentary maker Alex Powell (right) has admitted being the man behind the Northampton Clown (left) The Northampton Clown has been a mystery since appearing on the streets on Friday September 13 . Mr Powell said not everyone has seen the funny side of his antics and he has even been sent more than 1,000 death threats on Facebook. The clown would also tease fans with clues on the page about where he would appear next. After rumours that he was carrying a knife, the clown told a local newspaper anonymously: 'I just wanted to amuse people. 'Most people enjoy being a bit freaked out and then they can laugh about it afterwards. 'It's like watching a horror movie. When people get scared they usually start laughing.' | Facebook page 'Spot the Burnley Clown' detailed movements of its creator .
Sparked panic online with false claims he was armed with a baseball bat .
Twitter users claimed clown was knocking on doors and mugging people .
Dozens of calls were made to police as wild stories spread around the area .
Police take no action because reports based on 'third-hand information'
Case comes after student prankster terrorised Northampton in clown outfit . |
115,620 | 213197116bfb6a2330d7b31faac151f31e95a399 | By . Joe Bernstein . QPR manager Harry Redknapp is to boost his Premier League squad by signing highly-rated midfielder Mark Davies from Bolton Wanderers this week. Redknapp is anxious to increase his numbers at Loftus Road after training with only 15 senior players last week, including Loic Remy who is heading to Liverpool. Davies, 26, also fits the younger age profile for new signings preferred by owner Tony Fernandes. The English Iniesta: Mark Davies is a target for Queens Park Rangers . Outbound: Loic Remy is on his way to Liverpool . Fernandes allowed Redknapp to sign Rio Ferdinand last week on a Bosman free but does not want the squad to be a Dad's army. Davies may initially join Rangers for a fee on a season-long loan until they see if they can preserve their top-flight status. Swansea City failed in a £5million bid to sign him a year ago but this time Championship club Bolton have agreed to let him go and a deal should be finalised by the end of the week. | Bolton's Mark Davies is being targeted by QPR .
Harry Redknapp hoping to increase his squad ahead of new season . |
77,705 | dc4bfdba93de469a2a4584032874659345ee9313 | By . Sean O'hare . Dr Corascendea Cathar caught by a BBC investigation claiming she can treat cancer with special remedy . A spiritual healer who claims she can treat cancer with a special diet has been condemned by medical experts for giving 'dangerous advice'. Slovakian Dr Corascendea Cathar, 62, who has no medical qualifications, claims her 'Dhaxem' healing can prolong the lives of cancer victims by combating tumours. She was charging £280 a session. Today she has fought back and said the journalist who came to her as a customer saying her had cancer deserves it for misrepresenting her. But Professor Chris Bunce of charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research has hit out at Dr Cathar, saying that what she claims is 'scary'. Dr Cathar, whose real name is Dagmar Ebster-Grosz, from Cheltenham, maintains her treatments can help patients. Following the investigation by the BBC's Inside Out West TV programme Dr Cathar took the details of her treatments and price list off her website. The BBC undercover team took former cancer patient Chris Geiger, from North Somerset, to secretly film an appointment with Dr Cathar. For the purposes of the filming, Mr Geiger, who was treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma when in his 20s, claimed to have had a relapse and be looking for treatment. According to Dr Cathar's website, 'Dhaxem is a form of healing that centres around the understanding of own purpose in life. It incorporates the full array of all natural components working together in harmony and with the view of advancing the person to the next stage.' She believes it is impossible to repair an ailing body without searching for the roots of the disease in the Soul. In a two-hour session, Dr Cathar gave Mr Geiger dietary advice and told him: 'If you want to stop cancer, you have to get high doses of quality calcium.' She also told him that only he could heal his disease and needed to live a 'pure' life to do so. Cancer sufferer Chris Geiger, (pictured) from North Somerset, secretly filmed an appointment with Dr Cathar for a BBC programme . Dr Cathar . sent out a detailed diet to Mr Geiger for a £90 fee. The diet recommended cabbage . juice 'as it beats cancer' and a particular herbal mixture which Cancer . Research UK says holds no benefits for cancer sufferers . 'My Divine Spirit Guide Lysseus made Dhaxem available to me in December 2002, when he started speaking to me. Lysseus sees the energies in every molecule of my body and he specified several times a day what was needed for my repair (of hip joints). Lysseus equally saw every event that formed my Soul and what I did to bring about my every experience. All made sense, and as I purified, my body repaired at an equal rate. Since meeting in Egypt 560 BC, Lysseus and I shared 24 of the 28 pivotal incarnations that we each had. We were sisters, we were a couple, and we were un-related. We died as a Cathar husband and wife in the 13th Century in France, and we met as two men with different interests during Renaissance, in today's Italy. We were friends and we were enemies. The connection between our Souls formed over the two and a half thousands of years of our Spiritual Growth is not subject to time, or place.' She claimed to have added ten years onto the life of a patient with terminal cancer. After the appointment, Dr Cathar also . sent out a detailed diet for a £90 fee. The diet recommended cabbage . juice 'as it beats cancer' and a particular herbal mixture which Cancer . Research UK says holds no benefits for cancer sufferers. After the visit, Mr Geiger said: 'It makes me feel really angry when I heard what she was saying today. I just so hope that people aren't taken for it and that she stops what she is doing immediately." Prof Bunce, who is research director for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity and a Professor of Experimental Haematological Oncology at University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, viewed the BBC's undercover footage. He said of Dr Cathar's advice: 'I think it's dangerous. You've got to remember the people she's talking to are scared and frightened. 'You know this kind of thing goes on but to actually see it happening is quite scary.' Speaking to Mail Online, Dr Cathar said: 'I work in a non-conventional way and my website says this. 'I work under the guidance of my spiritual guide, whereas these doctors work from books. It's a matter of opinion. Dr Corascendea Cathar's website no longer offers her services as a healer and now functions solelyy as a means of educating others about Dhaxem . 'I had been working on a detox diet . for this guy and was going through hundreds of different ingredients and . my spiritual guide told me cabbage juice would work for him . He then went away and wrote all these things about me which are just not relevant to what I do. 'I can say if he does have cancer he deserves it. 'It's like going to the Chinese and complaining that you can't buy normal groceries.' Dr Cathar claims to have cured three people with cancer and her website shows the profiles of two dogs which she claims she treated for cancer. Since removing the pricing and details of her treatment she says she no longer practices and instead works as a linguist and uses her Dhaxem website purely to educate others. In summer of 2003, Sophie looked suddenly gaunt. Her strong muscles were disappearing from her body as I watched. The speed of her deterioration horrified me. We seemed to be running out of time. I asked Lysseus (Dr Cathar's spiritual guide) whether he would heal Sophie of the cancer, and he said 'Yes'. To succeed, even a carnivore had to be made vegan, as entirely toxins free fish would have been difficult and red meet practically impossible, to find in a supermarket or at a butcher. Fighting a malignant outbreak in the body requires an immune system as efficient as can be, and lumbering it with toxic intake via meat as 'food', would have defeated the purpose.I cooked for Sophie a diet of crushed aduki with a smaller amount of mung beans, with organic oats and rye (after meat, wheat is also unsuitable for cancer), and I gave her multiple calcium, vitamin and mineral formulas in under normal circumstances unacceptable amounts - every three hours, day and night, for the first three weeks, which then extended to every six hours for another two months. I understood from Lysseus that although new cancer cells were still being made, after this phase, the body's immune system became strong enough to reduce their numbers by about the same rate as they generated, which meant that the spread of the cancer was under control. Treatment over the subsequent three months allowed us to suppress the disease. Within about four months from starting the treatment, Sophie's immune system became able to render harmless all existing, as well as the developing cancer cells in her body. Maintaining moderate amounts of calcium and other remedies over the next three years helped Sophie's body to gather the malignant cells into clearly defined pockets which were surgically removed in three stages by April 2006. | Dr Cathar claims she is directed by her spiritual guide .
She says he needed to live 'pure' life in order to recover . |
236,869 | be975544cad870b53b0943b969e81f0e65fec802 | By . Freya Noble . Gold Coast meter maid Marki Stibi has told of the girl's biggest fan who follows them down the Surfers Paradise strip . It seems the meter maids that stroll the tourist strip in Surfers Paradise in their gold lycra bikinis have found their biggest fan. In an interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin meter maid Marki Stibi revealed that the girls get a lot of attention, but the majority comes from one particular man. 'He comes every Thursday and Sunday, he’ll just run up to us around 3pm and literally follow us around the whole time - sometimes we’re like "Cameron, back up, please",' she told the publication. Cameron reportedly stalks and takes photographs of all the meter maids each time he sees them and owns all the merchandise the women sell. He even wears photos of the girls around his neck, and is the self-proclaimed biggest fan of the meter maids. Since 2003 Cameron has been visiting the girls every week without fail, but despite how it may seem the maids describe him as funny, seemingly undeterred by his obsession. The man reportedly has albums upon albums full of photos of all the girls past and present. Ms Stibi also revealed how appreciative people are of their services, despite the evolution of the job since its beginnings nearly 50 years ago. The man known as Cameron has been the meter maids' biggest fan since 2003 . The meter maids have been a fixture on the Surfers Paradise strip since 1965 when they were brought in to combat the negative image the Gold Coast was branded with after the introduction of parking meters. The original women strutted down the street in golden full-piece swimsuits and tiaras feeding coins into expired parking meters and leaving calling cards on windshields. Now, the full-piece suits have been replaced with shiny bikinis and the meter maids don classic Australian akubras on their heads in lieu of tiaras. The maids patrol the Gold Coast tourist strip putting extra time on cars that have overstayed their parking tickets . | Meter maids on the Gold Coast have revealed they have a 'stalker'
Known as Cameron, the man follows the girls every Thursday and Sunday .
He owns all their merchandise and takes photos every time he sees them .
Maid Marki Stibi said they often have to tell him to 'back off' |
280,043 | f6cb7ae4fa0f2be6a2cc30552d3ef2fa3281d8fd | Bombs in Shiite areas of Iraq claimed the lives of 25 people Sunday, the second day of the Muslim holy month Ramadan. An Iraqi soldier and a policeman also died in separate incidents. The violence started in the morning, when a car bomb exploded outside a popular restaurant in the central city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad, an official with Iraq's Interior Ministry said. Five people were killed and 14 others were wounded. Just before sunset, when Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast, three roadside bombs exploded within a few minutes of each other at the crowded al-Tameem market in a predominantly Shiite area in Baghdad's southern outskirts, police officials in the capital said. Fifteen people were killed and 60 others wounded, police said. Police: 11 dead, 37 wounded in Iraq blast . Later in the evening, five people were killed and 25 wounded when a car bomb exploded in another market, this time in Mahmoudiya, a predominantly Shiite area about 19 miles south of the capital, police in Baghdad said. Separately, a sniper killed an Iraqi soldier in Falluja on Sunday afternoon as he stood near his patrol, local police officials said. Falluja is in Anbar province, just west of Baghdad. A car bomb exploded near a police patrol in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in the evening, killing a policeman and wounding 16 others, including three officers, a police official in the city said. The city is predominantly Sunni. While the violence in Iraq has dropped since the peak of sectarian strife between 2005 and 2007, Iraqi residents continue to express concerns over the stability of the country and the efficacy of its security forces. 6 killed, 20 wounded in Iraq bomb blast, police say . Bombings over three consecutive days earlier this month left 52 people dead. In June, at least 240 people were killed in militant attacks in Iraq, according to CNN estimates. The recent carnage coincides with an emerging political crisis in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation, which faces an increasingly fractious legislature as Iraq's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political blocs increasingly seem at odds. Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support. Series of deadly attacks hit Iraq . | The bombs happened in predominantly Shiite areas .
99 people were wounded .
An Iraqi soldier and a policeman were killed in separate incidents . |
246,480 | cafeca059ebdd6093bb725d2cbcb38e58ad376e0 | Washington (CNN) -- The man charged in the failed Times Square bombing was working with the Taliban movement in Pakistan, the U.S. attorney general said Sunday. "The evidence that we have now developed shows the Pakistani Taliban directed this plot," Attorney General Eric Holder said, describing the investigation into suspect Faisal Shahzad during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." "We know that they helped facilitate it, we know they helped direct it, and I suspect we're going to come up with evidence that shows they helped to finance it," Holder said. John Brennan, the assistant to the president for counterterrorism and homeland security, told CNN's "State of the Union" that the Pakistani Taliban -- also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban, or TTP -- is closely allied with al Qaeda. The group has pledged to carry out attacks outside of central Asia, including the United States, Brennan said Sunday. Shahzad has been charged in the May 1 attempted bombing in Times Square. He was arrested while trying to fly out of New York on Monday night, two days after he allegedly attempted to set off a car bomb in Times Square. The bomb failed to detonate. It was the second case in the past six months of a bungled terrorist attack in the United States, following the failed bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day. Brennan said U.S. counterterrorism efforts had degraded the ability of groups such as al Qaeda and the Taliban to launch successful attacks. "They're trying to find vulnerabilities in our defenses," Brennan said, noting the attempts have been "unsophisticated." Shahzad, a Pakistani-American, had traveled to Pakistan several times in recent years, Brennan said. "He was captured by the murderous rhetoric of al Qaeda and TTP," Brennan said of the suspect. Preventing attacks by individuals, especially American citizens such as Shahzad, is a "very difficult challenge," Brennan said. The case raised new questions about whether terrorism suspects should be read the Miranda warning that advises them of their rights to remain silent and obtain legal representation. Critics have accused the Obama administration of losing interrogation opportunities by giving Miranda warnings to terrorism suspects, including the alleged Christmas Day airplane bomber and Shahzad. Brennan said Shahzad was interrogated for four hours under an exclusion to the Miranda warning involving public safety. Authorities then advised Shahzad of his rights, as required by law, Brennan told the "Fox News Sunday" program. "It did not impede our ability to continue to acquire very important intelligence from him," Brennan said. "It was, I think, a very good example that law enforcement, operating within ... the existing system, were able to leverage the opportunities that they had to get this information." Also on the Fox program, Republican Rep. Peter King of New York argued a change in the Miranda warning was necessary. "If there's another 10, 15, 20 plots out there, that to me is more important to get all the intelligence we can on that," King said. "So I think we may have to work on revisions." One idea, King said, would set up "separate system of justice dealing with American citizens who are allied with a foreign army or a foreign enemy." Holder also said Sunday that he was considering possible changes to the Miranda warning. Asked whether international terrorism made the current Miranda warnings too limited, Holder told the ABC program "This Week" that some adjustment may be necessary. The system is working so far, Holder said, but "we also want to ... make determinations as to whether or not we have the necessary flexibility, whether we have a system that can deal with the situation that agents now confront." "We're now dealing with international terrorism," Holder said, adding that his department would work with Congress "to come up with a proposal that is both constitutional, but that is also relevant to our time and the threat that we now face." | NEW: Faisal Shahzad linked to Pakistani Taliban, U.S. attorney general says .
Shahzad is charged in foiled Times Square car bombing .
Terrorists "trying to find vulnerabilities in our defenses," Obama terrorism adviser says .
Debate on Miranda warning heats up in wake of bombing attempt . |
85,672 | f2fd4aca5dbda2a61e01ba723f7b50160a17ad34 | Former Brazil striker Adriano was charged by Rio de Janeiro prosecutors on Tuesday for his alleged connection with drug trafficking. Prosecutors claim the striker bought a motorcycle and gave it as a gift to a known drug dealer in the shantytown where he grew up. It will be up to a judge whether to accept the charges. Adriano could face up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted. Former Brazil striker Adriano leaves the Public Ministry after being interviewed by police . Adriano has been accused of gifting a motorbike to a drug dealer that was later used for trafficking . It is not the first time he has been investigated for his alleged ties to drug trafficking in Rio, but he had never previously been charged. Several years ago, prosecutors had requested a probe into Adriano's purchase of the motorcycle, which allegedly was registered in the name of the drug dealer's mother and was used for drug trafficking. Prosecutors on Tuesday did not request Adriano's arrest but asked for him to surrender his passport, claiming the player has enough money to try to flee the country if wanted. Adriano and his lawyers could not be immediately contacted for comment. The 32-year-old forward reportedly has been negotiating with second-division French club Le Havre to return to football after several months without a club. He travelled to France recently to meet with club officials, and French media reported that a deal was close. The 32-year-old has hardly played over the last two years because of injuries and off-field problems . Adriano is reportedly close to a move to French Ligue 1 side Le Havre . Adriano played a few games with Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense earlier this year after being out of action for nearly two years because of injuries and off-field problems. He began his career with Flamengo and played for Inter Milan and AS Roma, among other clubs. He won four Serie A titles with Inter Milan early in his career, and with Brazil he won the 2004 Copa America and the 2005 Confederations Cup. He was in the starting lineup for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup, when the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Adriano was touted to make the team in 2010 in South Africa after leading Flamengo to the national title a year earlier, but was not included in the final squad. His last match with Brazil was in 2010. | Adriano Leite Ribiero has been charged for alleged links to drug trafficking .
Prosecutors claim former Brazil striker gifted a motorbike to a dealer .
Ex-Inter Milan and Roma forward is close to joining Ligue 1 side Le Havre . |
134,089 | 395a9573f2585d6a74f1d4848c0493a7f9518634 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 08:44 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:49 EST, 4 December 2013 . David Cameron has brokered a bizarre deal which will see China spend millions of pounds importing semen and trotters from British pigs. Downing Street said the semen deal agreement, which will be worth £45 million to UK firms, indicated it was doing all it could to ensure that all types of businesses reap the rewards from our relationship with China. China is home to half of the world's pigs, and its Communist leaders are apparently keen to improve the quality of its herds since the Chinese rely on pork for much of their protein intake. Trade: Britain has secured agreement from China to supply exports of pig semen for breeders, in a deal which could be worth as much as £45 million to the UK industry . China wants to increase the efficiency of its production, whilst minimising the environmental impact.It is hoped that the UK industry can play an important role in helping China achieve greater efficiency through the provision of high quality genetic stock. Britain is lobbying Beijing to also be allowed to export pig trotters, which are a waste product in the UK pork industry but are widely eaten by Chinese diners. Exports of trotters could be worth as much as £7.5 million a year to the industry in Britain. The first exports of porcine semen will commence in the first quarter of 2014. Prime Minister David Cameron enjoyed tea at the home of the Chinese author and poet Du Fu in Chengdu today by guides Jia Lan (left) and Wang Yu, as part of his three day visit to China . A Downing Street spokesman said: 'We're doing all we can to ensure that businesses up and down the country reap the rewards from our relationship with China. And that includes our pig farmers. 'This new deal to export pig semen will be worth £45 million to UK firms and means Britain's best pigs will help sustain the largest pig population in the world. 'And we're not stopping there - we're talking to the Chinese about serving up pigs trotters on Beijing's finest dining tables. 'That would be a real win-win - a multimillion-pound boost for Britain and a gastronomic treat for Chinese diners.' The Prime Minister has used the trip to strike a series of deals between the UK and China . Four Artificial Insemination (AI) centres based in England and North are expected to start exporting in the New Year. They are based in England and Northern Ireland. UK semen will be key to help the Chinese improve their pig production and make the industry more productive in the long term. The protocol for porcine semen agreed with the Chinese will allow the shipment of both fresh and frozen semen to China. It is the latest in a string of deals struck between Britain and China during Mr Cameron's three-day trade visit this week. | Prime Minister seals pig semen agreement with China worth £45million .
Britain is lobbying Beijing to also be allowed to export pig trotters .
Trotters are waste in the UK but are widely eaten by Chinese diners . |
131,927 | 369540c3d2740921a7d859be43435bb9a495f680 | By . Julian Robinson . A Lidl employee was forced out of his job after he blew the whistle on ‘degenerated and mouldy’ food being sold to customers, an employment tribunal heard. Matthew O’Donnell, 28, alerted senior managers after he spotted defrosted products on sale alongside mouldy fruit and vegetables at a store in Hanham, Gloucestershire, it was said. He claims the stock was compromised after the fridges and freezers were turned off for more than four hours during a heatwave for maintenance. Matthew O'Donnell, pictured outside the Lidl store in Hanham, Gloucestershire, has claimed he reported mouldy fruit at the shop . But the products were still on sale the next day and Mr O’Donnell claimed customers were even directed towards the products to ‘maximise consumption’. When the former employee made a complaint he says his concerns saw him bullied out of his job by bosses and co-workers after they were told he had ‘dropped them in it’, it is claimed. He has now taken the company to an employment tribunal where a judge will decide whether he suffered detriment or dismissal for exercising his rights. But Lidl has accused Mr O’Donnell of ‘grossly misinterpreting the situation’ and claims he left after finding he was not suited to the role. Mr O’Donnell told the tribunal: ‘I stated I felt let down by the procedure, which meant every time I spoke up to alert management to hazards I was always being penalised with harassment and loss of hours. ‘I had simply had enough.’ The tribunal in Bristol heard that Mr O’Donnell took up a job at the city’s Hanham store on June 8 last year after moving from Wales. He described how, during a night shift on July 7, an electrical contractor began upgrading electrics and the power was switched off for ‘over four hours’. He said: ‘The loss of power resulted in store deliveries being unable to be processed safely, chill cabinets not being secured as well as freezers defaulting to defrost mode, which severely compromised the integrity of the food stocked within the store.’ Mr O'Donnell claimed the stock at Lidl, pictured, in Hanham, Gloucestershire was compromised after the fridges and freezers were turned off for more than four hours during a heatwave for maintenance . He said when he returned to work the next day he found mould in the fruit and vegetable section and products ‘seriously degenerated’, four days prior to their use-by date. Mr O’Donnell then sent a report to senior Lidl officials, believing he would be protected from victimisation by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. He said he told managers he felt that he was responsible if anything happened to members of the public. But Mr O’Donnell, from Kingswood, Bristol, claims his initial complaints were dismissed by store manager Krysztof Golanski who said he was told by electricians that power was only down for two hours - the maximum allowed under company policy. He then took his complaints to personnel department at the company’s regional distribution centre in Weston-super-Mare. 'Every time I spoke up I was always being penalised with harassment and loss of house,' Matthew O'Donnell tells tribunal . The tribunal heard that Mr O’Donnell claims when he returned to work he became aware that Mr Golanski had advised all staff that he had ‘dropped them in it’. He said he found himself axed from shifts and ‘ostracised due to malicious rumour-mongering’. He claims he faced extra pressure at work, such as being told to scan faster on the tills or face a disciplinary for poor performance. His situation got so bad that Mr O’Donnell said he was forced to hand in a resignation letter, on September 9, due to the ‘lack of support and ongoing hostility, especially with ongoing food hygiene failures and lack of meaningful resolution of the dispute’. Smair Soor, a barrister representing Lidl, told Mr O’Donnell under cross examination that his version of events was a 'gross misinterpretation' of the facts. He added: ‘It might be that you didn’t find working in retail convivial. You had long queues and felt under pressure by your performance.’ The tribunal also heard that Mr O’Donnell was told he could be sacked after taking complaints about the food to senior company officials. Giving evidence, store manager Mr Golanski said the threats had not been intentional and were instead taken in the wrong way. The tribunal was expected to finish today. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Matthew O'Donnell forced out of his job after blowing whistle, tribunal hears .
The 28-year-old claims he spotted 'mouldy' produce at the Hanham store .
Later said he was made to 'scan faster' on tills or face disciplinary for poor performance .
Lidl has accused him of 'grossly misinterpreting the situation' last year . |
45,107 | 7f2c1eb8a30256e54a0218a3030623c5446b5205 | By . Neil Sears and Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 18:39 EST, 21 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:53 EST, 22 July 2013 . Good neighbours? Holly Willoughby and her husband Daniel Baldwin reacted angrily to claims they kept neighbours up with a house party . Her good girl image was somewhat diminished after she wore a very revealing black dress on the final of The Voice last month, prompting 139 complaints to the BBC. So an ugly neighbourly dispute is the last thing that TV presenter Holly Willoughby will have wanted – not least because she has been accused of ‘keeping the whole neighbourhood up last night with drunken behaviour’. The accusation was made in an anonymous letter delivered to the £3million home she shares with her TV executive husband Daniel Baldwin and their two young children. Mr Baldwin, 37, reacted angrily to the letter by emailing 50 neighbours, many of whom the couple have never met, seeking help in tracking down the letter-writer. He denies creating any such noise, saying he and Miss Willoughby were watching Nashville – a US drama set in the world of country music – and that they want ‘an explanation’ from their critic. And to assist their hunt, Mr Baldwin attached two images of the woman who delivered the letter, obtained from the CCTV cameras bristling from his luxury home. Now one furious neighbour has accused the pair of hypocrisy, saying that the couple have unleashed ‘utter building chaos’ on the area over the last year. David Moss, 55, said: ‘We have been shocked by this vicious intrusive email, in which they make themselves out to be good neighbours, when we have had enormous trucks blocking the pavement six days a week.’ The row has disrupted the usual calm in the well-heeled area of south-west London, where Miss Willoughby and her husband bought their house 18 months ago. Since then they have lavished hundreds of thousands more on the house, which already boasts an impressive garden and balconies overlooking the Thames. They have made a series of planning applications, including bids to build a large extension, a garage complete with ‘staff accommodation’, and a large swimming pool. It seems the neighbours have tolerated the work – but somebody must have snapped on Saturday morning, when the letter was delivered. The streets around Ms Willoughby's home: One . furious neighbour has accused the pair of hypocrisy, saying that the . couple have unleashed 'utter building chaos' on the area over the past . year . In the afternoon, Mr Baldwin sent out his email, headed, ‘Your help – our neighbourhood’. It read: ‘Dear Neighbours, this morning this lady left a letter on my doorstep. The letter was extremely rude and overly aggressive (I’ll save you from the gory details). Mystery critic: CCTV footage of the mystery woman who delivered the letter to Ms Willoughby's £3million home sent out by her husband . ‘It wrongly accused us of “keeping the whole neighbourhood up last night with drunken behaviour”. ‘In fact the whole house was in bed by 10.30pm – after two episodes of Nashville (please don’t judge me on this!). ‘The letter had no name or house number so I’d very much like to explain this to the lady on the picture and I’d like an explanation from her on the letter’s contents. ‘Her photo, from our CCTV footage is attached. Any help clearing this up would be hugely appreciated. ‘I’d like to think that we live in a neighbourhood where we can freely knock on our neighbours doors and have a civilised chat about any concerns/worries/issues.’ Mr Moss, who works in the NHS, added: ‘They think that they are decent neighbours, but at no point have they apologised for the disruption. 'The trucks and other stuff associated with their building works regularly block the pavement, and those who are elderly, disabled or pushing a pram have to take their life into their hands and walk in the road. ‘Just when we thought it was nearly finished, they have got planning permission to build a big pool in their garden.’ Mr Baldwin and Miss Willoughby, who also presents ITV1’s This Morning, refused to discuss either their email, or the complaints about the work on their home. The woman in the CCTV image could not be tracked down for comment last night. In case you missed it: Ms Willoughby in the very revealing black dress she wore while presenting the final to The Voice last month, which 139 complaints to the BBC . | Accusation made in anonymous letter to presenter's £3million home .
Star's husband reacts angrily by emailing 50 of their neighbours .
He denies making the noise, saying the household was in bed by 10.30pm .
And he included CCTV image of the mystery critic who brought the letter .
Neighbour says pair have unleashed 'utter building chaos' on the street . |
115,011 | 206d0277268367a423cfd8528a736f467ff22ff5 | Premier League defenders Vincent Kompany, Branislav Ivanovic and Pablo Zabaleta have all been shortlisted for the FIFA FIFPro World XI - but there is not a single Englishman on the list. FIFA released the 20-man list of defenders on Wednesday and it is the first time that not a single English defender has been shortlisted for the team. In a position that has been well represented by England in the past, it is a damning indictment of Roy Hodgson's squad not to have any defenders selected. Manchester City's Vincent Kompany was selected on the shortlist after helping his side to the title . David Luiz and Marcelo both featured for Brazil during their 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany . Barcelona's Dani Alves was also part of Brazil's World Cup squad and also makes the list . Former England captain John Terry was named in the FIFPro World XI five years running after its inception in 2005, while Rio Ferdinand was also selected 2008. Former Chelsea defender David Luiz - who moved to PSG in the summer for £50million, a world record fee for a defender - has been selected on the list despite playing a major role in Brazil's disastrous World Cup, including the 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany. Fellow Brazilian defenders Thiago Silva and Dani Alves, neither of whom played in that embarrassing defeat, were also selected. World Cup winners Philipp Lahm and Mats Hummels have both been named on the shortlist . Half of the defenders on the list represent clubs from La Liga, including Sergio Ramos (left) and Gerard Pique . World Cup winning defenders Philipp Lahm, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng all take their place on the shortlist, as does Bayern Munich's David Alaba. Real Madrid are the best represented club with five defenders, including Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane. Half of the players on the list play in La Liga with four Barcelona defenders and Diego Godin from champions Atletico Madrid. David Alaba (Austria / Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain / Barcelona), Dani Alves (Brazil / Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany / Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain / Real Madrid), David Luiz (Brazil / PSG), Filipe Luis (Brazil / Chelsea), Diego Godin (Uruguay / Atlético Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany / Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia / Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium / Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany / Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil / Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina / Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain / Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Brazil / PSG), Raphael Varane (France / Real Madrid), Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina / Manchester City) | It is the first time since the FIFA FIFPro World XI's inception that no English defender has been shortlisted .
David Luiz nominated despite featuring for Brazil in disastrous World Cup .
Half of the players ply their trade in La Liga with five players from Real .
Four players from the Premier League have been selected .
And four of Germany's World Cup winning defence are on the list . |
32,333 | 5bed18e12f3d0acf75f69b23993c906fad6a9ecf | BBC TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has asked forgiveness for using a racist term during a taping of his show "Top Gear," after Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper brought a media storm by posting the footage online. Clarkson mumbled the n-word while reciting the children's nursery rhyme "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" to choose between two cars. That version of the take was never aired. Clarkson posted an online explanation Thursday in which he said he was "begging for forgiveness" -- and argued that he had done everything he could to avoid using the word. "Ordinarily, I don't respond to newspaper allegations, but on this occasion, I feel I must make an exception," he said. Clarkson said that in filming the section a couple of years ago, he was very keen to avoid using the offensive term in a version of the nursery rhyme and mumbled it on two takes before replacing it with the word "teacher" on a third. "When I viewed this footage several weeks later, I realized that in one of the versions, if I listened very carefully with the sound turned right up, that I had actually used the word I was trying to obscure," he said. "I was mortified by this, horrified. It's a word I loathe, and I did everything in my power to make sure that that version did not appear in the program." This included contacting the production office to ensure that another take was used in the show, he said. Clarkson initially denied the report by the Mirror, tweeting, "I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time." But after the newspaper posted the footage in question online and amid calls from some quarters for his resignation, the presenter was forced to backtrack. He posted his video message less than 12 hours after his initial denial. A BBC statement said, "Jeremy Clarkson has set out the background to this regrettable episode. We have made it absolutely clear to him, the standards the BBC expects on air and off. We have left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this." "Top Gear" airs in a number of countries worldwide, including the United States. | Jeremy Clarkson asks forgiveness for using the n-word on a shoot .
The "Top Gear" host mumbled the word while reciting a nursery rhyme; it wasn't aired .
He says he did everything in his power to ensure that the footage was not used .
BBC: "We have left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this" |
271,407 | eb8db0a6e92d4c685034147e3c76030836498c1d | By . Michael Zennie . This Yogi might be smarter than the average bear, but he sure doesn't eat healthier. A couple in British Columbia, Canada, captured video of a black bear raiding their freezer for a pie - after tossing out several packages of vegetables first. Sandy Lewis, the owner of Powers Creek Retreat in West Kelowna, told Castanet.net that she had noticed food was going missing from her outdoor fridge and freezer for weeks. Scroll down for video . Yogi the bear was caught red-pawed rummaging through a freezer in British Columbia . Yogi tossed several packages of veggies as he raided the freezer. On this day, he apparently had a sweet tooth . However, she was confused, because there was usually no mess. She would just find the door open an items missing. She set up a camera and caught the culprit, erm, red-pawed. 'You could tell he had been in there before and the first time he opened the lid probably whacked him on the head,' Ms Lewis told Castanet.net. 'This time, he pushes it open and looks to make sure it doesn't hit him.' Mrs Lewis says the bear has been hanging around the camp for years. He never bothers any of the people or animals - he just breaks into the trash sometimes. After finding his pie, this beast proves he's smarter than the average bear by making a hasty retreat . His freezer raids are a relatively recent caper, though none of his antics are too bothersome, Mrs Lewis says. 'We've seen him out in the pasture with the horses, rolling around in the grass - the horses don't even care about him,' she said. 'He's very timid when it comes to humans, he always runs away.' | The black bear has been a fixture at Powers Creek Retreat in British Columbia, Canada, for years .
He carefully opened the door - even making sure it didn't swing back and hit him in the head . |
140,762 | 42050d593d19a1d662c7bf2a89283af7d5a44ec4 | By . Mia De Graaf and Emma Lowe . PUBLISHED: . 04:16 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:35 EST, 4 November 2013 . Manipulated: Pfeiffer was just 20 when a couple convinced her to try to live without food or water . Michelle Pfeiffer has revealed that she was once part of a cult – which taught that humans can exist without food or water. The 55-year-old actress explained how she had become involved with a ‘controlling’ couple when she first moved to Hollywood in her early twenties. The pair, who believed in ‘breatharianism’, tried to convert the star – and put her on a diet that ‘nobody could adhere to’. She claims she was only saved when she was introduced to her first husband Peter Horton. The actor had been cast in a film about the Moonies, followers of Rev Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church. While she was helping him research the role, it dawned on her that she too was a member of a type of ‘cult’. She said: ‘We were talking with an ex-Moonie and he was describing the psychological manipulation and I just clicked.’ Describing the couple as ‘kind of personal trainers,’ she added: ‘They worked with weights and put people on diets. 'Their thing was vegetarianism. They were very controlling. ‘I wasn’t living with them but I was there a lot and they were always telling me I needed to come more. 'Saved': First husband actor, Peter Horton, helped her see she was part of a cult as they researched his role for the film Moonies in 1979, about a notorious religious group. The pair were married between 1981 and 1988 . 'I had to pay for all the time I was . there so it was financially very draining. They believe that people in . their highest state were breatharian.’ Followers of breatharianism believe that . food and water is unnecessary – as sunlight can provide all the . nourishment that the body needs. But the practice has been linked to . several deaths, including that of Verity Linn, 49, who died in a remote . part of the Scottish Highlands in 1999. Established: The actress is now much more confident and a Hollywood heavyweight. The mother-of-two is currently starring alongside Robert De Niro in The Family about an Italian mob relocated to France . Her . diary mentioned the teachings of Jasmuheen – a self-proclaimed prophet . from Australia, also known as Ellen Greve, who thinks people can draw . nourishment from the ‘divine life force in the form of liquid light’. Miss Pfeiffer also denied having plastic surgery, but admitted that she had found ageing difficult. She . said: ‘The loss of youth, the loss of beauty – it plays havoc with your . psyche. I used to think I would never have surgery but I’m in the . “never say never” camp now.’ | Dangerous Liaisons star was taken in by 'very controlling couple' aged 20 .
Having just arrived in LA with no money, she was forced to pay for guidance .
They told her she could get all her nutrients from the sun without eating .
Pfeiffer, 55, tells how her first husband Peter Horton 'saved' her in 1980 . |
65,138 | b8f22a322eca86b79a9e82fa15193ef433d67bac | By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 08:00 EST, 26 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:49 EST, 26 September 2013 . Chaste and holy, Catholic priests are supposed to set an example to their communities by forgoing certain pleasures. But one community in California have been left stunned by the resignation their spiritual leader after he was lead into temptation. Father Daniel - known as Dean - McFalls, from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stockton, has voluntarily quit his post after admitting he had got a woman pregnant. Scroll down for video . Father McFalls recognises his decision will be a 'disappointment' to his congregation . McFalls has been given an indefinite leave of absence by the Bishop at the head of his Diocese . Now one member of his congregations has said she is glad he is gone, calling him 'flirty.' Diana Garcia, who has attended the church for 15 years, told Fox News: 'He’s gone after girls before and he’s gone after my daughters.' 'He’s just lustful, he didn’t say he was in love or marry the girl, no. 'It’s not about being a sinner, it’s about playing with God, he made a vow, this is a priest we’re talking about.' In a letter sent to the church and read to his congregation, McFalls said: 'A child will soon be born, and I am the baby’s father. I know this comes as a shock to you, and to many a disappointment. 'I assume full responsibility for my actions and will do all that I can so that my child receives the care and love that he deserves. 'As St. Paul told the “Romans: ‘God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his decree,’ and though the Lord never decreed that I sin, he does command that all life be respected and nurtured.' McFalls' was given an indefinite leave of absence by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, head of the Diocese of Stockton, and will now have to decide if he wants to remain a priest. Jack Valero, a spokesman for Catholic Voices, said: 'It is a very very sad thing to happen. It is the same as if a married man is unfaithful to his wife. St. Mary of The Assumption Parish will have to find a new priest after the sudden resignation . On its website the church still lists Daniel McFalls as its Pastor . 'He made a commitment and he did not stick to it. It undermines priests commitment to chastity.' Priests make their vows for life, so while McFalls will no longer serve his community, he could serve other communities and continue to perform priestly duties, such as marrying people, unless he volunteers to 'laicise' himself. Laicisation is an official process carried out by The Holy See in Rome to effectively 'unmake' a Catholic priest. Priests do not have to laicise themselves following sexual relations, as with adulterous husbands who may wish to continue being married. The process is uncommon, though has peaked in recent times following the Catholic child abuse scandal. | Parishioner says he was always flirting and had gone after her daughters .
Father Daniel McFalls made the announcement in a letter .
It is not known who the mother is or whether McFalls plans to marry her .
Will remain a priest unless he volunteers to have powers removed . |
165,822 | 627134793bd79ad186de41d2d9edf5c751d38c8e | British companies have placed nearly 8,000 job adverts for Romanians to come and work as taxi drivers, hotel staff, nurses and even doctors. The adverts – some of which have attracted more than 500 applicants – are written in the local language and have been posted on job-search websites in Romania. Some UK firms require only a ‘basic’ understanding of the English language and others say that previous experience is not necessary. Recruitment drive: Companies are advertising British jobs for Romanians on this website, including across the NHS, as restrictions were lifted today . NURSESSalary: £1,250 per month Location: South-East London Description: Six months’ experience needed. Must have at least a conversational level of English. Accommodation costs of £250 a month including utilities and council tax will be paid. Includes pension and five and a half weeks of annual leave. TAXI DRIVERSSalary: £1,400-£2,000 pmLocation: London Description: Valid driving licence, medium level of English and basic mathematics skills. Applicants should be a minimum age of 25. No driving convictions. EROTIC DANCERSalary: £4,000-£8,000 pm Location: Mayfair, London Description: Table dancing and stage dancing. Working hours are 4pm until 5am, six days a week. Minimum age is 18. Conversational English required. BUS MECHANICSalary: £25,000-£30,000 a year Location: Scotland Description: Previous experience of working on buses is essential. As well as on-going training, you will also benefit from a competitive salary and an excellent working environment. CARE ASSISTANTSSalary: £260-£500 pm Location: Bristol and Birmingham Description: Full-time job. Accommodation included. BAKERY WORKERSSalary: To be negotiated Location: Various Description: Work in a bakery, in production and packaging. No experience necessary. Conversational English required. One advert for ten unskilled bakery workers has received 527 applications from Romanians, even though it does not say where the jobs will be in Britain or how much employees will be paid. Other vacancies include 50 nursing jobs in southern England, 100 taxi drivers, ten GPs in Liverpool, 100 warehouse metallurgists and 20 carpenters in London. There are adverts for carers for the elderly, secretaries, au pairs, butchers, warehouse workers and fruit pickers. One nightclub in Central London has placed an advert looking for naked dancers. It is offering to pay them between £4,000 and £8,000 a month. Welcome to Britain: MP Keith Vaz greets Romanian Victor Spiresau as he arrived at Luton Airport today as UK labour market rules were relaxed today . However, many jobs available will pay only the minimum wage of £6.31. This is seven times the minimum hourly rate of 88p in Romania. Recruitment agencies are advertising jobs in the UK in shop windows across Romania. One advert reads: ‘From January 1, it will be easier to work in the UK. This is new! There are job vacancies there.’ Alongside the advert sits an image of the Union Flag. Agencies are holding job fairs across Romania each month in an attempt to lure people to the UK. The firms claim they have already found staff for dozens of UK-based hotel groups including Marriott, Hilton, De Vere and the Pride of Britain consortium, as well as fast-food chains such as KFC and private care homes. The first recruitment fair in Romania for NHS specialist nurses was held by the University Hospital of South Manchester Trust in Bucharest last month. Valentin Porubin-Lazurca, managing director of VPL Healthcare in Bucharest, one of the recruitment agencies that finds nurses, doctors and pharmacists for the UK, organised the fair. ‘More and more nurses are about to retire in the UK and they will have to recruit from overseas just to cover the replacement rate,’ he said. ‘At the same time there are too few future graduates in the UK. ‘The NHS needs one nurse for every eight beds so it is not rocket science that there will definitely be a need for highly skilled immigrants.’ Mr Porubin-Lazurca said Romanian nurses will become more attractive to British employers from today because they will no longer have to wait up to four months for their work permit to be approved. More than 62,000 jobs were advertised by British firms in the former Communist country in 2013, up from nearly 42,000 two years earlier. According to one healthcare expert, Romanian nurses will become more attractive to British employers from today because they will no longer have to wait up to four months for their work permit to be approved . Raluca Stefanescu, from a job website called Tjobs, said: ‘Most of the Romanians choose to leave the country for economic reasons and according to our statistics, more than 80 per cent are planning to work abroad for a few years, save some money and came back to buy a house and maybe start a small business.’ The website hosts more than 200 recruitment agencies that find workers for British employers.It found that demand was greatest for jobs in the hospitality and catering sector, followed by medical services, with 1,471 Romanian nurses registered to work in Britain between April 2010 and March 2013 under an exemption to the previous restrictions. Other popular fields were cruise ships, restaurants and catering, agriculture, construction, engineering, childcare and elderly care. | Some of the adverts have attracted more than 500 applicants .
Many require only a 'basic' understanding of the English language .
Others say that previous experience is not necessary .
Central London nightclub places advert looking for naked dancers . |
51,335 | 9155dd86c3495caa0bbb5123a1318f4385e2fdff | Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is adamant that teams competing in the Europa League should play subsequent Premier League games on a Monday night, but his calls have fallen on deaf ears. The Magpies qualified for Europe two years ago but struggled to juggle the domestic rigours as well - and Pardew reckons Tottenham and Everton are at a similar disadvantage this season. He argues the disparity in results could be eradicated by allowing for an extra rest day, but Sportsmail has learned that isn’t feasible and goes against Premier League regulations. Alan Pardew is adamant that teams competing in the Europa League should play subsequent Premier League games on a Monday night - but his idea has fallen on deaf ears and goes against league regulations . Ross Barkley and Christian Eriksen do battle as Tottenham against Everton at White Hart Lane on Sunday . Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs and the Toffees, who faced each other at White Hart Lane on Sunday have found life difficult in the Premier League this season – the latter only in the top half by virtue of a better goal difference than Liverpool. ‘I don’t think it is fair on any Europa League team to play on Thursday night and Sunday, I really don’t,’ Pardew said. ‘With the travel and everything, that really needs to be looked at by the Premier League. I don’t see why they can’t play on a Monday, the TV would like it.' Having any additional games on a Monday night would mean further diluting the weekend’s action, as well as providing supporters with extra travel headaches after matches, while broadcasters would not directly benefit from any move. | Alan Pardew wants an extra day's rest for Europa League teams .
Tottenham and Everton have struggled this season .
Newcastle manager's plans would go against Premier League regulations . |
135,563 | 3b6356bcee4a6b94181716fef461f765d8d2e30f | (CNN) -- Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is free to play in the Champions League final against Manchester United after UEFA dismissed an allegation of racism by Real Madrid. Real posted a video on their official web site which, they claimed, showed Busquets shouting towards Marcelo during their match at the Bernabeu. The footage was captioned "mono, mono", which means "monkey" in Spanish. An ill-tempered semifinal that saw two players sent off and Real manager Jose Mourinho sent to the stands finished 2-0 to Spanish champions Barca, who then secured their place in the final with a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Nou Camp. But the European game's governing body have decided there is no "strong and convincing evidence" to impose a ban on Busquets that would have forced him to sit out the showpiece final at Wembley on May 28. Ronaldo matches La Liga scoring record . A statement on UEFA's web site read: "The report lodged by Real Madrid CF concerning racial abuse against Marcelo by FC Barcelona player Sergio Busquets has been dismissed due to a lack of strong and convincing evidence." UEFA also confirmed they had dismissed an appeal from by Real regarding to an original complaint they had made about the behavior of Barcelona's players during the first leg in Madrid. Real accused their rivals of "premeditated anti-sporting behavior" and claimed Barcelona's players dived and tried to influence the referee during the game. The billion-dollar grudge match: The enormity of El Clasico . UEFA banned Mourinho for five games and fined him $71,000 after he was sent to the stands during the game for sarcastically applauding the referee and later claiming Barca's relationship with charity UNICEF meant they had too much power in football. Meanwhile, Barcelona have announced an extension to their arrangement with UNICEF, which will see them carry the charity's logo on their shirts. The club have had an arrangement with UNICEF, who are the world's leading organization protecting the rights of children and young people, for five years. UEFA also announced Monday that England, Norway and Sweden will be awarded another place in the Europa League next season due to the country's standings in the Fair Play rankings. Fulham, who are currently top of the Premier League's fair play table, are favorites to claim the English place ahead of Tottenham and Blackpool. | UEFA dismiss allegations of racism leveled at Barcelona player Sergio Busquets .
Real Madrid had accused Busquets of racially abusing one of their players .
Busquets is now free to play in the Champions League final against Man Utd .
Real and Barcelona both filed charges against each other after a fiery semifinal . |
15,283 | 2b77112cab21f964a569e52e13e047449c529221 | While many students who just completed their high school studies have taken a well-deserved holiday within Australia, there are those who decide to venture a little further. In Kuta, Bali, overnight thousands of teenagers celebrated the unofficial beginning of the overseas Schoolies Week at nightclubs and bars throughout the party hot-spot. Around 6000 students will travel to the popular Indonesian island in search of cheap drinks, all-night parties and other adventures in the coming weeks. Scroll down for video . Around 6000 school leavers are expected to travel to the tourist hot-spot to celebrate the end of exams . They have filled nightclubs to the brim in the popular party district . A girl dances at a Kuta nightclub as Schoolies debauchery hits full stride in Bali . Thousands of Australian teenagers have flocked to Kuta in Bali to celebrate Schoolies Week . First pictures show teenagers dancing at the beginning of what will be a full week of partying . Pictures from the first night in Kuta show Aussie teenagers filling popular nightclubs to the brim with a drink - often more - in hand. A former fishing village, Kuta is one of Indonesia's first and most popular tourist destinations boasting beautiful beaches and a pumping nightlife. Bikini tops for women and a lack of shirts at all for men seem to be the uniform of choice, and while most of the party-goers seem to be there just to enjoy themselves, many more are a little more mischievous. The students can be seen clutching cocktails of various bright colours wearing little clothing in the hot climate . A former fishing village, Kuta is one of Indonesia's first and most popular tourist destinations . This man decided to jump out in front of a silver taxi in the middle of the road, which seems to have stopped simply to avoid him . School leavers danced the night way under the neon lights . Balinese woman are pictured dancing and performing tricks on poles in many of the establishments, with many - mostly male - admirers looking on . One man can be seen standing in front of a silver taxi in the middle of the road, which seems to have stopped only to avoid hitting him. Others take to the streets on scooters with two or three people piled on the back of them. Most of the riders and passengers are without helmets. Some teenagers took a different approach, enjoying some of the local entertainment, . Balinese woman are pictured dancing and performing tricks on poles in many of the establishments, with many - mostly male - admirers looking on. Some teenagers decided to take their chances on the back of motorbikes, without the safety of a helmet . Many Schoolies took the opportunity to escape the spotlight of the Gold Coast, instead flocking to Kuta . It's no secret that when recent high school graduates head off to celebrate Schoolies week all they want to do is let loose. They're drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, passing out, getting naked, running wild on the streets and documenting it all on social media. But some of the teenagers living it up seem to be making drunken decisions that they will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives. Partygoers are getting inked as a permanent reminder of their celebrations, as tattoo parlours on the Gold Coast reveal they have been flooded with customers in the past few days. One extreme teen even went as far as to take the homemade option, carving the word SCHOOLIES into the skin on his stomach with a sharp implement. The wild times continue as school leavers celebrate the end of their exams all across the country . One extreme teen even went as far as to take the homemade option, carving the word SCHOOLIES into the skin on his stomach . These women got a little creative with their drinking attempting to sip from a vodka bottle while upside down . Many partygoers are getting permanent reminders of their experiences, like this man who had the logo for West End Draught on his ankle . Gold Coast tattoo artists have been swamped by customers looking for a long-lasting souvenir . One artist from Frontline Tattoo said one of the most popular requests this year from teenage men has been the letters FTB - which supposedly stands for 'For The Boys'. 'One guy asked to get it tattooed on his ass cheek,' Rob Domerelli told Courier Mail. Another nearby parlour - Custom Iron - said they had a group of men front the shop who asked for batman tattoos. Their reasoning: 'They told me they were getting it because they wanted to fight crime', manager Lindsay Hall told the website. This trio of Schoolies went for a more temporary approach on the tattoo front with temporary face tattoos inspired by the Hangover movies . Friends are sharing photos of their mates passed out in interesting and sometimes compromising situations . Some are even sharing intimate moments between their fellow partygoers . These women can be seen posing with an unusual drinking implement . This pair looked a little worse for wear the morning after what appears to have been a very big night . One woman had to be stretchered home by SES volunteers from a particularly big night out . This comes as the number of arrests overnight dropped dramatically compared to the first few nights on the Surfers Paradise party strip. Queensland: Surfers Paradise . New South Wales: Byron Bay . South Australia: Victor Harbor . West Australia: Rottnest Island or Dunsborough . Victoria: Surf Coast or Phillip Island . Overseas: Schoolies are also heading to Bali, Fiji, Thailand and Vanuatu . 'Thirteen schoolies were arrested overnight on 16 charges for mainly public nuisance and street related offences with police pleased with the overall crowd behavior at the Surfers Paradise schoolies celebrations,' Queensland Police said in a statement. 'Of the 13 male schoolies arrested eight were for drug offences relating to cannabis and ecstasy.' The statement also revealed: '80 schoolies given liquor infringement notices for drinking in a public place' while 12 more were given to non-schoolies for the same reason. Meantime the celebrations at the Victor Harbor Schoolie's Festival in South Australia wrapped up on Monday. One man was so committed to the cause that he had cans of beer taped to his hands . Men are also getting in on the flashing like this cheeky teenager overlooking the street below one night this week . One gentleman stepped out onto his balcony not wearing much at all while sipping on what appears to be beer . This lucky Schoolie is going home with a brand new haircut, after he shaved the name Jeff into the side of his head . For many the partying was a little too much, like this guy passed out on the bathroom floor wrapped in a towel . Others had cruel and digusting pranks played on them by friends while they were asleep . This man was caught with his pants half down passed out face down after a few too many drinks . Around 10,000 students attended the weekend event the ABC reported, and there were a number of arrests over drug and alcohol-related charges. But at the heart of it, the schoolies are taking selfies, getting naked, sunbaking, passing out and drinking loads of alcohol. Roughly 30,000 school leavers have flocked to Queensland's Gold Coast for the notorious week-long celebrations and many are documenting it all on social media for the world to see. Teenagers from across Australia are taking to Facebook and Instagram to post their embarrassing and sometimes hilarious party antics, despite warnings they might regret it later on. Beer bongs are commonly pictured among the enormous amount of images flooding social media . This clever gent had a beer hat strapped to his head while his mate poured more grog into his mouth . Roughly 30,000 school leavers have flocked to Queensland's Gold Coast for the notorious week-long celebrations and many are documenting it all on social media for the world to see . Many are taking to social media to post photos on hotel balconies without pants or tops . Despite warnings they might regret posting photos, Schoolies don't appear to be fazed or ashamed of their photos . This year's batch of Schoolies are taking selfies, getting naked, sunbaking, passing out and drinking loads of alcohol . Social media sites have been set up specifically to share those awkward schoolies photos, with some asking for people to send in shots of themselves and their friends. Facebook pages like Schoolies 2014 Exposed and Embarrassing Schoolies Photos are filled with photos of drunk young men and women, teens partying on hotel balconies and some even in compromising positions. Support group Red Frogs spends the weeks leading up to Schoolies educating school leavers on the potential negative repercussions of sharing certain types of photos. Teenagers from across Australia are taking to Facebook and Instagram to post their embarrassing, hilarious and just plain strange party antics . Social media sites have been set up specifically to share those awkward schoolies photos . Some social media pages are asking for people to send in embarrassing shots of themselves and their friends . These guys bragged on social media about trying to crash an official Schoolies events on the Gold Coast . Red Frogs gives out information on how to update your Facebook privacy settings in order to pre-approve photos before they're posted. But it seems to have fallen on deaf ears for many partygoers if the social media hashtags are anything to go by. Since Friday night there have been a total of 45 Schoolies arrested for street and drug offences. Facebook pages like Schoolies 2014 Exposed and Embarrassing Schoolies Photos are filled with photos of drunk young men and women . Teens partying on hotel balconies and some even in compromising positions are flooding social media . Hundreds of teenagers are documenting their week-long party stints on Instagram . This shot of three friends sharing a bubble bath at their Schoolies hotel was sent to the Embarrassing Schoolies Photos Facebook page . Support group Red Frogs spends the weeks leading up to Schoolies educating school leavers on the potential negative repercussions of sharing certain types of photos . Thousands are sharing selfies from across the Gold Coast . Hotel pool parties are renowned during Schoolies celebrations . Schoolies revellers always spill out onto the streets where 'Toolies' are often found partying amongst them . | Around Australia school leavers are celebrating the end of their exams .
They have swamped the Gold Coast in Queensland, Byron Bay in NSW, and Victor Harbor in South Australia .
About 30,000 Schoolies have flocked to the Gold Coast and they're sharing their drunk antics on social media .
Teenagers are using Facebook and Instagram to post embarrassing and hilarious party antics, despite warnings they might regret it .
Photos of passed out pals, new tattoos and interesting haircuts have started to appear .
Pages like Schoolies 2014 Exposed and Embarrassing Schoolies have been set up so people can send in photos of their friends . |
272,333 | ecbdd7623e9a9ca199e30003a36aa7d7cc8f5e15 | (CNN) -- Kashmiri separatist leaders on Monday slammed New Delhi's decision to call off talks with Pakistan, scheduled for August 25 in Islamabad. New Delhi called off the talks after Pakistan's New Delhi-based high commissioner, Abdul Basit, invited Kashmiri separatist leaders for consultations ahead of the summit. "The Indian foreign secretary conveyed to the Pakistan high commissioner today, in clear and unambiguous terms, that Pakistan's continued efforts to interfere in India's internal affairs were unacceptable. It was underlined that the Pakistani high commissioner's meetings with these so-called leaders of the Hurriyat undermines the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi in May on his very first day in office," according to a statement from India's External Affairs Ministry. A statement from Islamabad replied, "It is a longstanding practice that, prior to Pakistan-India talks, meetings with Kashmiri leaders are held to facilitate meaningful discussions on the issue of Kashmir. The Indian decision is a setback to the efforts by our leadership to promote good neighborly relations with India. The prime minister of Pakistan has clearly articulated the vision of peace for development." "It seems a knee-jerk reaction," said moderate Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq. "We have been meeting the Pakistani officials, including the country's New Delhi-based high commissioner, for the past 20 years. I don't know what happened today. It is a backward step. "The decision lacks political maturity and cannot be termed as far-sighted." Mirwaiz is flying to New Delhi on Tuesday to meet with Basit. Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani described the decision as unfortunate, saying it proved that "New Delhi was never serious to resolve Kashmir peacefully." Geelani also said he will be meeting with the Pakistan high commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday. Even mainstream political parties have expressed dismay at the cancellation of the talks. "It is not a good development. The separatists have been meeting Pakistani officials. They even met the then-Pakistan president, Parvez Musharraf," said Ali Mohammad Sagar, a senior ruling National Conference leader and minister. During his visit to Indian-administered Kashmir this month, Modi condemned "the continued proxy war by neighboring Pakistan." Addressing army officers and soldiers in the frontier Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan, Modi said that "the neighboring country has lost the strength to fight a conventional war but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism." Modi's criticism Islamabad came against in the backdrop of reported cease-fire violations by Pakistani troops on the border and increased militant attacks in Kashmir. Five Indian paramilitary soldiers and police officers have been killed in militant attacks and several others wounded since Modi's visit August 12. The two nuclear armed neighbors had agreed to a bilateral cease-fire on the border in November 2003, but it has seen severe breaches since early 2013. Kashmir has been in the throes of separatist violence since 1989; officials say it has claimed 42,000 lives, but rights groups and non-governmental organizations put the number at twice that. | India and Pakistan had scheduled talks for next week in Islamabad .
Pakistani official invited Kashmiri separatist leaders for consultations .
New Delhi criticizes "continued efforts to interfere in India's internal affairs"
Separatists say they will meet with Pakistani high commissioner anyway . |
87,347 | f7d38d0c6bf77a4a71cdb18c223c693eaaa11c78 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- More than a decade after a terrorist attack brought down New York's twin towers, their replacement -- an emerging new addition to the Manhattan skyline -- has nearly reached a landmark height. The One World Trade Center is now 100 stories high, stretching just over 1,244 feet and just 6 feet shy of the Empire State Building (without its antenna), according to Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The colossal steel structure is in the coming weeks expected to surpass the frame of the Empire State Building, which is currently Gotham's tallest skyscraper. The building reached its 100th floor last week and is expected to be completed by next year or sometime in early 2014, Coleman said Tuesday. Built on what was once referred to as ground zero in Lower Manhattan, the building will reach 1776 feet by way of a mast fixed atop its peak, making it the nation's tallest structure. The Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower, which stands at 1,450 feet and 110 stories high, is the country's current record holder. Housing three top floor observation decks, the first 90 floors of the One World Trade Center building will be designated for office space. The following 10 floors are to be reserved for air conditioning, heating, and electrical equipment. Despite years of political infighting and real estate squabbling that delayed its construction, more than half of the building has now been rented, with a tenant list that includes Conde Nast publishing company and a Chinese real estate investment firm called Vantone Holdings. In its shadow, twin reflecting pools are situated in the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood. The names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks, as well as six people who died in the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, are emblazoned across bronze panels ringing the pools. | The One World Trade Center building is now 100 stories tall, reaching just over 1,244 feet .
It is just 6 feet shy of the Empire State Building .
Building will hit 1776 feet by way of a mast fixed to its peak, making it the nation's tallest .
The Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is the country's current record holder . |
208,696 | 9a38eabcc47dde720a375552274ac4955fce0c3d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 16:18 EST, 20 January 2012 . Iran's state TV broadcaster was taken off air in the UK today after Britain's media regulator revoked its licence in a move likely to fan diplomatic tensions with the Islamic Republic. Ofcom ruled that Press TV, whose presenters include former MP George Galloway and Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth, failed to declare that Tehran rather than London was its editorial base when it was granted the licence. The watchdog said it was apparent that 'editorial control of the channel rested with Press TV International (based in Tehran)'. Scroll down for video . Furious: Former MP George Galloway discusses the Ofcom investigation during his Comment programme on Press TV last May . Making his views heard: Mr Galloway vents his anger on Twitter today after it was announced Press TV was being taken off air . Press TV was also fined £100,000 after broadcasting an interview with a journalist while they were being held in an Iranian prison, which Ofcom said was 'obtained under duress'. Ofcom said Press TV had 'indicated it is unwilling and unable to pay' the fine. The move is likely to stoke further anger in Iran after Britain shut the country's embassy in London and expelled all its staff in November in retaliation at protesters who stormed the British embassy in the Iranian capital. Venting his anger, Mr Galloway tweeted today: 'Champions of liberty the British govt have now taken Press TV off Sky.' High calibre: Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone (left) and Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth (right) have also presented shows on Press TV . The channel, which is funded by the Iranian government, says on its website that it has a vision of 'heeding the often neglected voices and perspectives of a great portion of the world'. This is not the first time it has fallen foul of Ofcom. A phone-in TV programme presented by Mr Galloway was criticised by the broadcasting watchdog for breaching impartiality rules in 2010. Ofcom investigated after Mr Galloway's weekly, one-hour English-language programme, Comment, sparked complaints that it was biased against Israel. High profile: Other regular contributors include former Sunday Express reporter Yvonne Ridley (above), who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2001 . The regulator concluded that 'due impartiality' had not been maintained in individual programmes or across the series. Its English-language service was removed from Sky TV's satellite platform today as a result of the latest decision, but will still be available online. Ofcom said it had offered Press TV the chance to 'have its operations in Tehran correctly licensed' but the channel failed to respond to the offer. In a letter published earlier this month, the channel's chief executive, Mohammad Sarafraz, said Ofcom was part of 'a desperate effort to silence an alternative voice in the UK'. He wrote: 'It is evident that the British Government's campaign against Press TV has its roots in the channel's extensive coverage of the multiple crises created by London's domestic and foreign policies.' Press TV International's presenters have also included former London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Yvonne Ridley, the former Sunday Express journalist kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. It said it 'will do everything possible to make sure that its voice will definitely reach its audience in the UK' and claimed it had been targeted because it 'aired critical views regarding Britain's involvement in wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan'. | Press TV breached rules by running channel from Iranian capital .
Presenters include former MP George Galloway, Ken Livingstone and Tony Blair's sister-in-law . |
225,852 | b071444b1c5200cdf2c97e3e8a2f80008e8523a3 | By . Daily Mail Reporters . PUBLISHED: . 16:05 EST, 22 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:06 EST, 22 June 2013 . Sarah Murnaghan, the 10-year-old girl who underwent a double lung transplant after her family petitioned to get her on the adult donor list, has finally awoken from her medically-induced coma. Sarah underwent surgery on June 12 and had been recovering ever since. A family representative announced today that Sarah was awake and communicative. Tracy Simon said Sarah had been awake since Friday and was able to answer yes or no questions by nodding. Awake: Sarah Murnaghan, bottom, is awake after she underwent a second surgery on June 21 . Progress: Sarah's parents say she has now recovered enough to be taken off oxygen, though she still gets support from a machine that helps her to breathe . According to Simon, Sarah's family are excited to see their daughter doing so well, but reports that Sarah is frustrated because a tube is keeping her form speaking. Sarah suffers from cystic fibrosis, a disease which was killing her up until the transplant last week. Doctors had only given her a few weeks to live without new lungs. Since she was too young to be put on the adult donor list, she faced certain death since child donations are rare. She is making rapid progress. Two days . earlier she was taken off of a heavy-duty breathing machine and is now . using a traditional ventilator. Doing well: Ten-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is taking steps in the right direction after she underwent a double lung transplant, her mother Janet (right) said on Facebook . Sarah's plight sparked a national . debate over organ transplant policies, which until now barred children . younger than 12 from the adult waiting list. On June 12, Sarah's mother said that a set of lungs had become available for her daughter. 'God is great! He moved the mountain! Sarah got THE CALL,' a statement posted on her Facebook page read. 'Please pray for Sarah's donor, her HERO, who has given her the . gift of life.' That afternoon, Sarah's mother spoke to a reporter from Fox 29 . about her daughter's searching, describing the family as being nervous . but 'excited' about the surgery because doctors had given her child . about a week to live, and they were out of options. In this May 30, 2013 file photo provided by the Murnaghan family, Sarah Murnaghan, center, celebrates the 100th day of her stay in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with her father, Fran, left, and mother, Janet . 'We're just so thankful for the donor,' Ruddock Murnaghan said, adding that while it is a great day for her, it is not lost on her that it is a tragic day for the donor's family, who had lost a loved one. The Murnaghans scored a . major victory on June 6 when a judge ordered the Organ Procurement and . Transplantation Network to add the 10-year-old to the list for adult . lungs. On surgery day, Mrs Murnaghan said . that had it not been for the judge's recent ruling, they would not have . gotten this set of lungs, which likely came from an adult or teenager. 'Sarah would've been number 400 or something on the list,' she said. The Organ Procurement and . Transplantation Network added the 10-year-old to the list on Wednesday night after . U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson's original ruling on June 5th.. The . ruling applied only to Sarah, who has end-stage cystic fibrosis and has . been awaiting a transplant at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. An expert has questioned the decision on medical and ethical grounds. Lung . transplants are the most difficult of organ transplants, and children . fare worse than adults, which is one reason for the existing policy, . said Dr. Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University Langone . Medical Center. Fears: Janet and Fran Murnaghan criticized the regulations that kept Sarah from getting an adult lung . He called it troubling, and perhaps precedent-setting, for a judge to overrule that medical judgment, and predicted a run to the courthouse by patients who don't like their place on the waiting list. 'I'm not sure I want judges or congressmen or bureaucrats trying to decide what to do with organs at the bedside,' Caplan said. The Murnaghans said pediatric lungs are rarely donated, so they believe older children should have equal access to adult donations. Holding on: Before the transplant last on June 12, doctors said Sarah had just a week left to live . Support: Sarah, who has been living in hospital since February, is pictured with her three younger siblings . Nationwide, about 1,700 people are on the waiting list for a lung transplant, including 31 children under age 11, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. | Sarah Murnaghan was given only a few weeks to live without a lung transplant .
Initially she was not allowed to be on the adult organ donor waiting list, and child donors are rare .
A judge placed an order to put Sarah on the adult list, and the national organ transplant network complied .
Sarah successfully underwent double lung surgery last week .
A family representative announced Saturday that Sarah is awake and responsive . |
27,049 | 4cba1997d99d234883d834cef96744c167237db2 | Gaza City (CNN) -- A rocket was fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon, and the Israeli military responded with an artillery strike, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said Friday. The rocket landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the Lebanese border, and no damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket. The IDF spokesman said that Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack. Two rockets were launched from the town of Mari in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's official news agency NNA reported, while a third rocket failed to launch. The artillery strike from Israel landed on the outskirts of Kfarshouba, the news agency added. The exchange of fire comes amid Israel's aerial offensive in Gaza against the militant Palestinian group Hamas and the stream of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza. Israel calls up reservists . As fears of an Israeli ground assault grew among Gaza residents on Thursday, Israel revealed it has beefed up its forces by calling about 30,000 reservists to their units. "We are utilizing that force to enable us to create a substantial force around Gaza, that if it is required, we'll be able to mobilize as soon as possible," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. The Israeli Cabinet has authorized the military to call up 40,000 troops if needed. That is 10,000 more than were called up during Israel's offensive into Gaza in November 2012. Government spokesman Mark Regev said units have been deployed. "We're ready to go, if we need to go," he told Blitzer. Regev said Israel didn't want a situation where Hamas, which controls Gaza, was given a "timeout" where it could regroup before restarting its attacks. The mood is grim in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 91 Palestinians, including women and children, and injured more than 620 since they began late Monday, Palestinian officials said. They said 23 people died in strikes Thursday and four more people succumbed to their injuries. Throughout Gaza, people are expecting an Israeli ground incursion. Many people have nowhere to flee and there are no bomb shelters. "I can't leave. I have nowhere to go. Better to stay at home, inside and be safe," one resident of the town of Bait Hanoun in northern Gaza told CNN. Most residents live in homes without safe rooms and walls made of breeze block, which a bullet could pass through like paper. Rising death toll . Each day the death toll has risen in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it has struck at 785 Hamas targets since announcing the start of its offensive Monday with the aim of hurting Hamas and stopping rocket attacks on Israel. Tensions in the region flared last week after the killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, followed by the killing in Jerusalem of a Palestinian teenager that police say may have been an act of revenge. Israel blames Hamas for the deaths of the three Israeli youths, although the group has denied responsibility. The IDF has said its targets in Gaza include rocket launchers, tunnels and the homes of senior Hamas leaders, which the IDF describes as "command centers." But among the dead are 22 children and 15 women, including an 18-month-old baby and an 80-year-old woman, according to information from the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Palestine Liberation Organization said Israeli bombs have hit civilian infrastructure, including a line that provides water to a refugee camp and a sewage plant. The IDF has not responded to the accusations. It says it uses phone calls and drops empty shells on roofs -- what it calls "roof knocking" -- to warn civilians that airstrikes are imminent. But the approach doesn't guarantee their safety. In one case, members of a family returned to a house in Gaza shortly after having been warned to evacuate it, Lerner, the Israeli military spokesman, said. They were caught in the airstrike. He called their deaths a tragedy, saying, "This is not what the IDF does." U.S. willing to help broker cease-fire . Hopes for a cease-fire appeared dim even as world leaders called for the two sides to stop the violence. U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone. "The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 cease-fire agreement," the White House said in a written statement, referring to the Egyptian-brokered deal that halted the previous Israel-Hamas conflict. The President also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and said the United States reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters he has been reaching out to regional leaders in an attempt to help get the two sides to stop the violence soon. "It is imperative not only to restore calm today, but to establish a political horizon for tomorrow," he said. "Without the prospect of an end to the conflict, the sides will grow ever more polarized." 'Prepared for all options' There have been hints for days from some Israeli officials about the possibility of a ground offensive in Gaza, but there were questions about the government's appetite for such a conflict. Netanyahu said Wednesday that the aerial offensive would be expanded and continue "until the firing at our communities stops and quiet is restored." He didn't specify what the expansion of Operation Protective Edge would entail, saying that Israel's military "is prepared for all possibilities." No Israelis have been killed so far by the hundreds of rockets fired toward southern Israel by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups in Gaza. Some Israelis have been wounded by the attacks. A CNN crew in Gaza was setting up a live shot when four rockets streaked overhead in the direction of Israel. Some in the crowd cheered. When told there were air raid sirens going off in Israel, there were more cheers. The Israeli Defense Forces said early Friday that since the start of Operation Protective Edge, 548 rockets have been fired at Israel. The country's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted 118 of them, the IDF said. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are believed to have about 10,000 rockets of varying ranges, according to the Israeli military. Israel has said some 3.5 million residents live in areas within reach of the rockets. Sides speak at U.N. Security Council meeting . Israel and the Palestinians laid out their positions at a U.N. Security Council meeting Thursday. Ambassador Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, accused Israel of "terrorizing our people, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds." Allegations by Israel that Palestinians are using human shields are "audacious," he said, and he rejected the argument that Israel is defending itself. Israel "deliberately carries out reprisals and collective punishment against the Palestinian people in declared retaliation and revenge ... for the killing of the three Israeli settlers, which the Palestinian leadership has clearly condemned," Mansour said. Israel, for its part, called on the Security Council to condemn Hamas and its launching of rockets across the border. Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, played a recording of a siren during the middle of his remarks, to show how Israelis only have 15 seconds, he said, to run for cover. "Asking Israel to show restraint while our cities are under constant attack is like asking the fire brigade to battle an inferno with nothing more than buckets of water," he said. Gaza timeline: From Samson and Delilah to Israeli-Palestinian fighting . Flare-up in Israeli-Palestinian violence: Why now? Has the Middle East crisis reached a tipping point? Was teen's death a revenge killing? CNN's Ben Wedeman reported from Gaza City. Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong, and Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Michael Pearson, Yousuf Basil, Brian Walker, Larry Register, Kareem Khadder, Diana Magnay, Tal Heinrich, Amir Tal, Salma Abdelaziz and Talal Abu Rahma contributed to this report. | NEW: Israel responds with artillery to rocket fired from Lebanon .
At least 91 Palestinians have been killed since Monday, officials say .
Spokesman for Israeli military says 30,000 reservists have reported for duty .
Gaza resident says if there is a ground offensive 'I have nowhere to go' |
258,208 | da2c79afc32a476f00648ecddcd3e35968413b7a | By . Katie Nicholl and Christopher Leake . Last updated at 8:49 AM on 19th December 2011 . Prince Harry has offered to become the most senior Royal ever to appear in court after one of his best friends was mugged on a London street. The Prince was on the phone to Thomas van Straubenzee at the exact moment a robber took his friend’s BlackBerry mobile phone, according to police records. Harry heard the scuffle taking place and immediately drove to the scene with his protection officer. Fearing 28-year-old Mr van Straubenzee had been hurt, the Prince circled the streets of Battersea, south-west London, looking for him. Scuffle: The Prince . was on the phone to Thomas van Straubenzee (left) at the exact moment a robber . took his friend’s BlackBerry mobile . When he could not find his friend, he drove to the nearest police station where he found Mr van Straubenzee reporting the crime. As he had overheard the mugging taking place, Prince Harry was required to give a police statement, which is now part of an ongoing investigation. Wandsworth Police said they had arrested a man in connection with the robbery and recovered the stolen mobile phone. The man was released on bail. It is believed to be the first time a senior Royal has walked into a police station to report a crime. A police source told the Mail On Sunday: . ‘Prince Harry came into the station to give a statement. It was a . separate statement from the one given by his friend who was mugged.’ Royal witness: The police station where Harry went to report the crime . A police spokesman said: ‘Police are . investigating an allegation of personal robbery which occurred at . approximately 8.30pm on Wednesday, November 30, in Albert Bridge Road, . SW11. ‘A mobile phone was . taken during the robbery. This allegation was taken seriously, as are . all allegations of robbery. A man was arrested on Thursday, December 1 . on suspicion of robbery and bailed to return in January pending further . inquiries. Police from Wandsworth are investigating.’ An . aide told The Mail on Sunday how Harry, who is believed to have been at . Clarence House, his London residence, leapt into action after their . conversation came to an abrupt end. ‘Prince Harry was aware of what had . happened to his friend and drove to the area immediately to try to find . him,’ the aide said. ‘He . circled the streets for a while in his car before following intuition . and finding his friend at a local police station in Battersea Bridge . Road. The Prince wanted to be there to offer some comfort and friendly . support. ‘Prince Harry . made his way to the station and by the time he arrived the police had . already enacted a number of operational procedures, which involved very . swift action and the kind of scenes you see on The Bill. Both the Prince . and his friend were very grateful to the police for how they handled . it.’ The 27-year-old . Prince, who has recently returned to the UK from America where he has . been completing the final stages of his Apache helicopter training . course, took Mr van Straubenzee home, then returned to Clarence House . with his protection officer. The . Prince and Mr van Straubenzee are childhood friends and attended . Ludgrove school in Berkshire and Eton together. Mr van Straubenzee is . also a close friend of Prince William and was one of his ushers at his . wedding. Nicknamed ‘Van’ by his friends, the 28-year-old accompanied Prince William on his first . official tour to New Zealand in 2005 and is a regular guest at William . and Kate’s Anglesey home. Both . Princes are also close to Tom’s parents, Alex and Claire van . Straubenzee, who live at their family’s estate in Grantham, . Lincolnshire, and are patrons of a memorial fund dedicated to Tom’s . brother Henry, who was killed in a car crash in 2002. Old friends: Thomas jokes around with William, Harry and his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy at the concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in 2007 . The fund raises money to help schoolchildren in Uganda. The Dutch-descended Van Straubenzees have a long history with the Royal Family and have served the British Crown for at least 150 years. Alex van Straubenzee is a former officer in the Royal Green Jackets, a regiment since merged into The Rifles. William and Harry socialise frequently with Tom and his younger brother Charlie. Just weeks ago, Prince Harry attended a party for the Van Straubenzee memorial fund, and the friends regularly shoot together. Clarence House has confirmed the mugging but said they could not comment on whether Prince Harry was speaking to Mr van Straubenzee at the time of the incident because the police investigation is ongoing. A spokesman for Prince Harry said: ‘Prince Harry joined a friend at a police station in South London after his friend had reported a robbery. By the time Prince Harry arrived to be with his friend, the police investigation into the incident had already begun. ‘The investigation is ongoing, so we cannot comment further.’ Wealthy Battersea has become a crime hotspot for muggings, murders and drug-dealing. Rich . residents have become targets of robberies, often committed by street . gangs in the area – a stone’s throw across the Thames from exclusive . Chelsea. Last month Richard Ward, 37, died from massive head injuries after being set upon in an unprovoked gang attack. Danger spot: The road where Thomas van Straubenzee was attacked . In . February, Niall Hall, a former aide to the Queen Mother, was carjacked . and kidnapped by a gang who stripped him naked and ran knives along his . body. Mr Hall, 49, was forced to reveal his bank card PIN numbers, and his valuable watch and cash were stolen. He . had to be treated for bleeding in the brain. Four men recently went on . trial in connection with the attack. A fifth man has pleaded guilty. In . the same month, firefighter’s wife Anna Smith, 33, suffered a severe . beating from thugs in the area after she fought to save a female . neighbour from being mugged. One of the most horrific crimes in Battersea was the murder in 2002 of local estate agent Tim Robinson. Dwaine Williams was jailed for life after stabbing Mr Robinson, 25, in front of his girlfriend to get his £20,000 Audi Quattro. In . 2007, drug addict Elmi Said Elmi was jailed for three-and-a-half years . for setting his Staffordshire bull terrier on people to steal their . mobiles and cash. | Thomas van Straubenzee, 28, was robbed on a Battersea street .
The 28-year-old was talking to Prince Harry at the time .
Prince and security officer circled streets looking for him .
Harry later gave statement which is now part of an ongoing investigation .
First time a senior Royal has walked into a police station to report a crime . |
158,380 | 58c30c4fcfebcb6cc60266131ccffa7a0e114ec7 | Dozens more women and girls have been abducted by Nigerian terror group Boko Haram a day after an apparent ceasefire was announced, it was reported today. Nigeria's military and president last week raised hopes that 200 schoolgirls snatched by the Islamic militants in April would be returned as a result of the truce. But fighting has continued and there is still no word as yet on the whereabouts of the teenagers. Some of the 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram are seen in a video released by the terror group earlier this year. A deal has reportedly been reached to secure the release in a ceasefire agreement, but fighting has continued and the militants have reportedly captured dozens more women and girls . The extremists attacked three north-eastern towns on Saturday and raised their flag in a fourth village, rounding up women and girls, according to locals. People who escaped this week from Bama, a town in a part of northeastern Nigeria where Boko Haram has declared an Islamic caliphate, say hundreds of residents are being detained for allegedly breaking the group's strict version of Sharia law. Residents who got out of Bama said so many people have been detained by Boko Haram that the local jail is overcrowded and houses are being used as makeshift prisons. Many young men have been forced to join Boko Haram, and those who refuse are killed, said those who ran away. People are jailed after brief 'trials' for infringements like smoking cigarettes, said Amina Bukar, a middle-aged woman who said she hiked through the bush for five days before reaching Maiduguri, the Borno state capital 75 kilometers (nearly 50 miles) away. Food is running short since shops have been looted by Boko Haram, said Bukar. 'Water also is very scarce, sometimes you line up (at the communal tap) for 24 hours,' she said. In a separate attack, a bomb exploded at a bus station in northern Nigeria's Bauchi state late on Wednesday, killing at least five people and wounding 12, police said. The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has been demanding the release of detained extremists in exchange for the girls since they were captured from a boarding school in May . The blast is likely to be blamed on Boko Haram, but not one has yet claimed responsibility. Officials had said talks with Nigeria's rebels would resume in neighbouring Chad this week, but there is still no confirmation that negotiations have resumed. The official silence raises many questions, especially since Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau has not confirmed that a truce has been agreed. Relatives of the girls abducted from a boarding school in northeastern Chibok town said they are confused but trying to be hopeful. 'Things are still sketchy with lots of holes and varying statements,' said Allen Manasseh, a brother of one of the missing schoolgirls. Manasseh said he relentlessly scours the news headlines to find out when his sister, Maryam, may return home. Dozens of activists continue a daily protest at Unity Fountain in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, using the hashtag BringBackOurGirls to demand that the government and military ensure the release of kidnapped students . Nigeria's Foreign Minister Aminu Wali on Tuesday said 'I can say with some optimism, cautious optimism, that were are moving toward a situation where we'd be able to, in the very near future, to be able to get back our girls.' Wali spoke at a news conference in Berlin of 'the possibility of having total cessation of hostilities.' In Nigeria's capital, Abuja, dozens of activists continue a daily protest ritual at Unity Fountain, using the hashtag (hash)BringBackOurGirls to demand that the government and military ensure the release of the students. Campaigner Aisha Yesufu said they had been told the girls would be freed on Monday, but it didn't happen. 'The government spokesperson came out and said that they never said Monday, that they are saying this week. We are still watching. We are extremely anxious,' she told the AP. Some 276 girls and young women writing science examinations were kidnapped from a government boarding school in Chibok in the early hours of April 15. Dozens escaped by themselves in the first couple of days but some 219 remain missing. Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes in the 5-year uprising to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation of some 160 million people divided almost equally between Muslims and Christians. | Terror group rounded up captives after storming three towns and a village .
Comes after Nigerian military and president announced truce with Islamists .
Fighting has continued including bomb blast at bus station which killed five . |
25,696 | 48cc6485243f26294291b9689f3cd719c645a091 | Double amputee smashed his personal best to qualify for London 2011 . Oscar Pistorius had his legs amputated when he was 11 months old . Now runs on carbon-fibre prosthetic running blades . By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 05:31 EST, 21 July 2011 . After a long battle to compete with able-bodied athletes, South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius has qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and next month's world championships by smashing his 400m personal best. Pistorious, known as 'Blade Runner' because he runs on carbon fibre prosthetic running blades, recorded a new personal best of 45.07 seconds for the 400m race in Lignano, Italy yesterday.Pistorius, 24, who had both legs amputated when he was just 11-months-old because of a congenital disorder, said: 'It was like a dream race. Chasing his dream: Oscar Pistorius races to his personal best of 45.07 seconds in Lignano, Italy . Going to Olympics: The South African, seen after his wining race, has now qualified to compete with able-bodied athletes . 'I just have not been able to sleep. I must have 300 messages congratulating me. 'I am sure tomorrow when I wake up it (the accomplishment) is going to hit me. It is really humbling to know I have gotten so much support from everyone.' The winning performance means Pistorius has made history to become the first amputee sprinter to qualify for the world championships, which begin on August 27 in Daegu, South Korea. A multiple Paralympic gold medalist, the South African had sought for years to compete in the world championships and Olympics. Speeding ahead: After a long battle, Oscar Pistorius has been allowed to compete with able-bodied athletes and has now qualified for next month's world championships . Oscar Pistorius was born with congenital absence of the fibula in both legs. When he was 11 months old, his legs were amputated halfway between his . knees and ankles. Congenital absence of the fibula is a . congenital disorder where in one or both legs there is a fibrous band . instead of the fibula. The result tends to be a short deformed leg, an absence of part of the ankle joint, and what is left is unstable and the foot has a deformity, or an absence of part of the foot. Sometimes the foot can be brought into normal function; sometimes it must be amputated. Pistorius's new time would have earned him fifth place in the men's 400m final in the 2008 Olympics and the runner was overwhelmed at his achievement. 'With 180 metres out, I just decided to set out for the end, and I really ran a very comfortable last 100 metres,' he said. 'It is kind of strange because I broke my personal best by half a second, which is ridiculous.' Pistorius was born with a congenital absence of the fibula - the calf bone. The Court of Arbitration for Sport gave him a chance to compete with able-bodied athletes in May 2008, when it ruled in his favour after a long legal battle with the International Association of Athletics Federations over the use of his running blades, which the IAAF said gave him an unfair advantage. In January 2008 the IAAF claimed that Pistorious's blades . required him to use 25 per cent less energy than his rivals to run at the same . speed. But the determined athlete argued that he was running at a disadvantage, with less blood in his body and no calf muscles, and Cas ruled he could compete with his blades. But after the CAS decision, he failed to record a time inside the Olympic qualifying mark and missed the Beijing Games, although he won the 100m, 200m and 400m at the Beijing Paralympics. The CAS stressed that any . advancements in the prosthetic-limb technology used by Pistorius could . be contested by the IAAF again. Going for Gold: The Paralympic gold medallist and world-record holder Oscar Pistorius, seen in the Olympic Stadium in London, now has his sights firmly set on 2012 London Olympics . | Double amputee smashed his personal best to qualify for London 2011 .
Oscar Pistorius had his legs amputated when he was 11 months old .
Now runs on carbon-fibre prosthetic running blades . |
203,565 | 93873174c011fa177f3065dd6b1ac12f9a072bf3 | (CNN) -- Last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix was an encouraging race for Ferrari, with Fernando Alonso's victory lifting some of the gloom which had descended over the legendary Italian team after a disappointing preseason. But while double world champion Alonso celebrated an unlikely triumph in one garage, the mood was considerably more sombre in the camp of his teammate Felipe Massa. The Brazilian has seen his position at Formula One's most successful team constantly called into question, having struggled to recapture his best form after fracturing his skull during a freak accident at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. The former Sauber driver's downturn continued with a disappointing 15th-place finish at the Sepang International Circuit, having failed to finish the season-opening race in Australia after colliding with Williams' Bruno Senna. But Ferrari's team principal Stefano Domenicali has backed the 30-year-old to answer his critics. "I well remember that, four years ago, in fact right after a Malaysian Grand Prix, which was won for us by Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe was more or less in the same situation as today," Domenicali told the team's official website. "The papers were demanding his immediate replacement and he managed to react in the best way possible, thanks to support from the team, which saw him win two of the next three races." In 2008, Massa was denied his first world title in heartbreaking circumstances. He won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix and began celebrating, but was denied the championship by one point as McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock on the final corner to finish fifth and steal the glory. "We remember how that particular season ended, with the Brazilian actually world champion, even if it was just for a few seconds, while we took our sixteenth Constructors' title," Domenicali said. He also revealed that, instead of spending time with his family ahead of the next race in China on April 15, Massa is heading to Italy to work with the team at Ferrari's home base. "He will be in Maranello to work alongside the engineers to calmly analyze everything that happened in these past two races, trying to identify why he was not able to deliver what he is capable of," Domenicali said. "That's the right spirit and we are here, ready to help him." Despite a positive result in Malaysia, Domenicali warned there is still work to do to ensure the F2012 car is competitive ahead of the next race in Shanghai. "I asked all my people to push to the maximum to try to bring forward as much as possible the developments planned for the next few races," he said. "Having Fernando leading the championship means nothing, and we definitely don't think all our problems have been made to vanish with the wave of a magic wand." | Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says Felipe Massa can return to form .
The Italian driver finished 15th in Malaysia and crashed out in Australia .
Domenicali reveals Massa is returning to Italy to continue work ahead of race in China .
The Ferrari chief warns there is still work to do to make the F2012 a competitive car . |
278,509 | f4c74a433971ed538e8a6d9af511029b06ea6244 | (CNN) -- A building under construction in downtown Boston partially collapsed Thursday morning, sending two people to the hospital, the city's fire department said. The incident happened about 8 a.m. at a construction site at 45 Stuart St., the Boston Fire Department tweeted. The collapse occurred on the 12th floor of what's slated to be a 33-story residential high-rise, causing damage from the 11th floor's roof down to the fifth floor. First responders treated two people with injuries that were not life-threatening and then took them to nearby Tufts Medical Center. The fire department later explained that one of those had "a serious head injury," while the other had a minor injury. "No others workers reported trapped at this time," the fire department tweeted. According to a sign posted outside the site, near the city's Chinatown district and around the corner from Boston Common, the building was slated to be completed in the middle of next year. | NEW: Fire department says 1 person suffers "serious head injury"; another has minor injury .
33-story residential high-rise was under construction in downtown Boston .
The collapse affected the 12th through fifth floors . |
146,999 | 4a149ea451f5fb4a72220e7bf1d699f287598de5 | By . Mark Prigg . Asteroids and comets repeatedly smashed into the early Earth and covered the planet's surface with molten rock during its earliest days, researchers have revealed. However, they say there may have been a positive effect - oases of water that could have supported the evolution of life. Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago - and it is believed its first billion years were far more dramatic than previously thought. For much of its early life, Earth and its sister worlds in the inner solar system were pummeled with an extraordinary number of cosmic impacts, the new research shows . The first 500 million years of the Earth's life are known as the Hadean Eon. Although this time amounts to more than 10 percent of Earth's history, little is known about it, since few rocks are known that are older than 3.8 billion years old. For much of the Hadean, Earth and its sister worlds in the inner solar system were pummeled with an extraordinary number of cosmic impacts. The first 500 million years of the Earth's life are known as the Hadean Eon. Although this time amounts to more than 10 percent of Earth's history, little is known about it, since few rocks are known that are older than 3.8 billion years old. For much of the Hadean, Earth and its sister worlds in the inner solar system were pummeled with an extraordinary number of cosmic impacts, the new research shows. Our planet was hit thousands of times by 'small' space debris, approximately 9 miles wide, researchers say. But occasionally, asteroids larger than 300 miles wide struck the Earth’s surface, vaporising the Earth’s oceans, and filling the atmosphere with steam. The meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013 was 65 feet wide, and the asteroid that may have killed the dinosaurs was believed to be six miles wide, for comparison. 'Here we provide a new bombardment model of the Hadean Earth that has been calibrated using existing lunar and terrestrial data,' the team, led by Simone Marchi, a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, wrote in Nature. 'We find that the surface of the Hadean Earth was widely reprocessed by impacts through mixing and burial by impact-generated melt.' The new model indicates that the Earth’s surface would have been mixed up by impacts that caused its rocks to melt, and gives clues about the extreme conditions that existed when the Earth was in its infancy. The early Earth, showing a surface pummeled by large impacts, resulting in extrusion of deep seated magma onto the surface. At the same time, distal portion of the surface could have retained liquid water. The history of the Hadean Earth (approximately 4.0 to 4.5 billion years ago) is poorly understood because few known rocks are older than around 3.8 billion years old. It is thought that roughly 4.5 billion years ago the Earth and Moon were being pummelled by asteroids, although the exact timing and magnitude of these impacts, and their effects on Earth’s evolution, are less well known. Simone Marchi and co-authors estimate the early Earth’s impact history, calibrated using the existing data for the Moon, which with its heavily cratered surface provides a clear record of the event that bombarded the Earth–Moon system. The new model suggests that the large impacts caused Earth’s surface to be widely reprocessed, a finding that may help to explain the absence of early terrestrial rocks and the age distribution of ancient zircons, minerals which have survived from the Hadean period. The researchers believe that, with few areas on Earth escaping untouched by impacts, life emerging during the Hadean was probably resistant to the extreme conditions that existed at that time. The researchers created this animation to show the impacts . The researchers discovered that ;the surface of the Earth during the Hadean was heavily affected by very large collisions, by impactors larger than 100 kilometers (60 miles) or so — really, really big impactors,' Marchi said. 'When Earth has a collision with an object that big, that melts a large volume of the Earth's crust and mantle, covering a large fraction of the surface,' The new findings suggest that Earth's surface was buried over and over again by large volumes of molten rock — enough to cover the surface of the Earth several times. Any water vaporized near these impacts 'would rain down again,' Marchi said, and 'there may have been quiet tranquil times between collisions — there could have been liquid water on the surface.' Marchi and his colleagues detailed their findings in the July 31 issue of the journal Nature. | Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago - and it is believed its first billion years were far more dramatic than previously thought .
Asteroids and comets repeatedly smashed into the early Earth and covered the planet's surface with molten rock .
Asteroids larger than 300 miles wide struck the Earth’s surface, vaporising the Earth’s oceans, and filling the atmosphere with steam.
Oases of water were left that could have supported the evolution of life . |
171,007 | 695472ca38ba8764b7834916f02f239a65b1e37a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:01 EST, 19 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:05 EST, 19 March 2013 . An emotional courtroom in Tennessee heard a jury find mother Lindsey Lowe guilty of the first degree premeditated murder of her newborn twin sons today. After deliberating for only two hours, Lowe, 26, was found guilty on two counts each of felony first degree murder and felony premeditated murder and was sentenced to two-life terms for her crimes. And as Judge Dee Gay revoked her bond and placed her into immediate custody Lowe turned to her distraught family members and mouth 'I'll be alright. I love you all', as she was escorted from the courtroom. Lindsey Lowe turned to look at her family as the jury announced that she was guilty of all the charges against her . In all, the jury of seven men and five women convicted Nashville resident Lowe of felony murder, premeditated murder and aggravated child abuse. Lowe will return for sentencing on the two counts of aggravated child abuse on April 26th. Lowe, who was often emotional during the trial, kept a stony-face as she was convicted of killing her twin boys at her parents home on September 12th, 2011 - after keeping her pregnancy secret from her friends and family. At trial, jurors saw a video of Lowe telling police she had given birth alone in the bathroom of her parents’ home on September 12th, 2011, and smothered the babies soon after. The bodies weren’t found until two days later. A family member discovered one baby dead in a laundry basket at the home in Hendersonville, 20 miles northeast of Nashville. Lowe stood to attention with her defense team as Judge Dee Gay presided over the jury's guilty verdict against her . The defendant turned to family members in the courtroom after the verdict was announced and told them, 'I¿m OK. I love you all. He¿s with me,' as she pointed toward the sky . When police arrived to investigate, officers found the second body under a bloody sheet in the same basket. Lowe was engaged at the time but became pregnant during an affair with another man, jurors were told. She hid the pregnancy from her family and friends, and the defense and prosecution offered competing arguments as to why. Hendersonville Police Detective Steve Malach testified that Lowe told him during an interrogation that she had kept her pregnancy secret so as not to disappoint her fiance or add to the stress of a family member’s illness. In a video of the interrogation, Lowe said she 'maybe' smothered them when she put her hand over the mouths of the babies. 'I was just trying to keep them quiet,' she said on the video. Malach testified that police searched the home thoroughly but found no evidence that Lowe had made any plans for the birth. Lindsey Lowe's parents, Paula, (left), and Mark Lowe, and her sister, Lacey, react as they listen to the jury return a guilty verdict for Lindsey during her murder trial today . The defense said Lowe wanted to block out the idea of being pregnant and said she didn’t even know she was giving birth until one of the babies came out in the toilet. 'Lindsey Lowe was pregnant, but she refused to accept it, her mind refused to accept it,' defense attorney John Pellegrin told the jury. Psychiatrist Dr. William Kenner testified for the defense that Lowe had blocked out her pregnancy then suffered shock and delirium from blood loss after she gave birth. Prosecutor Ray Whitley countered that by presenting evidence of Internet searches on Lowe’s iPhone for information on inducing labor and pornography involving pregnant women. Family, friends and church members, who have rallied to support Lowe, were sobbing after the verdict. Paula Lowe, (left), hugs her daughter, Lindsey Lowe, before the jury returned a verdict in Lindsey's murder trial today . Lindsey Lowe listens to her attorneys during a break in her murder trial today - before she was found guilty of killing her two twin sons after they were born . Her father, Mark, and sister, Lacey, testified on behalf of Lowe, both saying no one knew she was pregnant. The sister said they both had been in a wedding just days before the birth and Lindsey Lowe didn’t appear pregnant when she undressed in front of other women in the wedding party. The defendant didn’t testify. 'I just don’t feel like I can emotionally handle it,' she told the judge Monday, while fighting back tears. And yesterday the jury was shown photographs taken two days before Lowe gave birth to twin boys at her parents' home, smothered them and dumped their dead bodies in the laundry. She was pictured as a bridesmaid at a wedding in Lebanon, Kentucky on September 10, 2011, just two days before the murder of her two sons in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The images how Lowe in a strapless, floor-length gown that she had been fitted for six months earlier - and her sister testified that no one ever suspected she was pregnant at the ceremony. Secret: The jury in the case of Lindsey Lowe have been shown pictures of her as a bridesmaid (center) two days before she gave birth to twin boys and smothered them to death . No sign: Family said Lindsey's weight often fluctuated so they did not suspect she was pregnant . Speaking on the stand on Monday, Lacey Lowe said that her sister's weight often fluctuated so she did not think anything of it when she started to put on weight. She added that Lindsey changed clothes in front of the other women at the wedding and no one ever thought she was pregnant, Channel News 5 reported. Lacey, 23, who shared the bathroom where her sister gave birth to two healthy boys, said Lindsey told her she had an upset stomach the morning after she gave birth. She only found out that her sister had been pregnant when she was told by a police chaplain, she said. Emotional: Lindsey appeared on the stand briefly on Monday to say she would not be testifying in the trial . No clue: Her sister Lacey said that no one at the wedding two days earlier suspected she was pregnant . Also testifying on Monday, their father, Mark Lowe, described the moment he saw the dead body of one of his grandchildren - and how he was in so much shock, he waited 15 minutes to call for help. He said his wife, Paula, found one infant on the morning of September 14, 2011 and called him with 'some panic in her voice' to come upstairs. 'She said there was a newborn child in Lindsey's room and at that point I looked at the child and was frankly not sure what I would do next,' he told the court. 'I was pretty much in shock... I really did not know who to call or what I should do.' About 15 minutes passed before he called an attorney friend, who advised him to call a pastor. Discovery: Lowe's parents found the bodies of the newborn twins in this laundry basket as she was at work . Scene: She gave birth in this bathroom that she shared with her sister at their parents' home . House of horror: Lowe's parents found the bodies and called police to their home in Hendersonville . He then called Hendersonville police and said he asked them to take Lindsey, who was at work at the time, to the hospital. He said he also asked for his daughter to be allowed to have an attorney when she talked to police, but he said he was told this would not be possible. Lindsey Lowe also made a brief appearance on the stand to explain that she was waiving her right to testify. 'I just don't feel like I can emotionally handle it,' she said. Testimony: Her father, Mark Lowe, described the moment he saw the dead babies in the laundry . On trial: Lindsey Lowe could get life in prison without parole if she is convicted of first-degree murder . Last week, prosecutors showed pictures . of Lowe's home after the babies were discovered, including the bathroom she cleaned and the laundry basket where their tiny bodies were found. The jury also heard details of the autopsies, in which the Medical Examiner . said both boys were healthy and alive when they were born. Prosecutors have said that she told police that she smothered the twins so her parents would not hear their cries. The jury will now deliberate. If convicted of first-degree murder, Lowe could face life in prison without parole. Prosecutors had said previously they would not seek the death penalty. | A jury found 26-year-old Lindsey Lowe guilty of murder for the 2011 smothering deaths of her newborn twins today .
Lowe didn’t break down as the sentence was pronounced and she was taken away to begin two life terms .
The defendant turned to distraught family members in the courtroom after the .
verdict was announced .
She told them, 'I’m OK. I love you all. He’s with .
me,' as she pointed toward the sky. |
32,752 | 5d1740bf8fe96348e62288e76ef5574ee2a2b1f2 | By . Chris Pleasance . New 3D images of Pablo Picasso have been discovered nearly six decades after they were first taken. These three pairs of images, which appear in three dimensions when seen through a special viewer or glasses, were taken by French photographer Robert Mouzillat in 1957. In the photographs - taken at the height of Picasso's fame - the artist poses in his Cannes house in a stetson, and holds a cigarette and a drink in his cluttered studio. The never-before-seen pictures of Picasso were taken by Robert Mouzillat - the inventor of the 3D camera - in 1957 at the height of the artist's fame . Mouzillat invented the 3D camera, which uses two lenses to take pairs of pictures from slightly different angles, and chose the 75-year-old Picasso for one of his first projects. In order to view them in 3D, viewers are supposed to focus on a point halfway between their face and the picture, bringing the two photos together in the centre. Included in the collection of images are Picasso's biographer John Richardson, poet Jean Cocteau, surrealist artist Jaime Sabartes and Picasso's wife Jacqueline Rocque. His pets, including Lump the dachshund, Yan the boxer and Esmerelda the goat, are also pictured. The camera uses two lenses to take pictures from slightly different angles, and can be viewed in 3D by 'defocusing' your eyes so the two pictures appear as one image in the centre . The pictures were discovered by Anthony Sturgis, the director of the Holburne Museum in Bath, where the photographs will go on display. He was invited to Jersey by Mouzillat's daughter Elizabeth Mouzillat Jowett to view 100,000 images stored on the archives there. Among pictures of monuments, French landscapes, nudes, and the inside of the Elysée Palace, he spotted the images of Picasso. Included in the collection, which is to go on display in Bath, are images of Picasso's studio (pictured), his wife and several of his beloved pets - including Esmeralda the goat . Speaking to the Guardian, Sturgis said: 'It is not every day that one finds a group of photographs of Picasso that no one has seen before.' Among his favourites were the ones of Picasso's studio. He added: 'It really is rather amazing. They are my favourite images. You get a sense of the space and the room and this mix of his art, other people's art and then just clutter... rubbish.' Sereoscopic Photographs of Pablo Picasso is at the Holburne Museum, Bath, from February 22 to June 1. | Picasso was pictured in 1957 at the height of his fame .
Images were taken by Robert Mouzillat, inventor of the 3D camera .
The slightly differing perspective in each photograph gives the illusion of depth when viewers 'defocus' their eyes so separate images become one .
In order to make the illusion work, focus on a point roughly halfway between the images and your eyes until the pictures merge together .
Never-before-seen photographs to go on display in Bath . |
175,675 | 6f6826b407845ca427c1f60a50d2b7f73fb0ca1a | By . Bianca London . It's not just in the music charts . that Rihanna is a hit - her clothing line for River Island has been a . huge success for the British High Street store since it's launch at London Fashion Week in February. Following . on from the popularity of her first two collections, her AW13 range has now landed in store. Fans will be disappointed to know that this is the singer's final line for the High Street stalwart, but she promises it is set to be her best yet. Out with a bang: Rihanna has unveiled her final collection for River Island and promises fashion fans that it is her best yet . The . 80-piece collection incorporates a mix of urban sports luxe with city chic - a style that Rihanna champions and wears so well. With a strong emphasis on clean yet glamorous . dressing and a nod to streamlined sportswear, her latest offering is bound to be a hit with fashion fans. Final look: The campaign, which was shot by Lachlan Bailey, styled by Mel Ottenberg, and directed by Rihanna herself, stars some of the newest crop of fashion supermodels . Urban chic: The 80-piece collection incorporates a mix of urban sports luxe with city chic, true to Rihanna's own personal style . Androgynous: There's also plenty of casual pieces like denim jumpsuits, mesh dresses and beanies to add a touch of tomboy chic . In a nod to the season's hottest catwalk trends, there is plenty of metallic, . tartan, camouflage, floral, stripes, wet look fabrics and denim leathers. The Pour It Up singer most certainly had the party season in mind when she created the . glittering dresses, strappy heels and skintight skirts. Keeping in line with the her tomboy style, there's also plenty of casual pieces like denim jumpsuits, mesh dresses and beanies that her sometimes BFF Cara Delevingne is bound to be sporting in no time. On trend: Rihanna has clearly been paying attention to the catwalks this season - there is plenty of metallic, tartan, camouflage, florals and stripes . On trend: Rihanna has clearly been paying attention to the catwalks this season - there is plenty of metallic, tartan, camouflage, florals and stripes . Bomber . jackets, cropped . hoodies and printed camo snakeskin leather . skirts make up the limited edition collection - of which only . 100 of each item have been made. Underwear and shoes, including high knee boots and stilettos, complete the range, which is priced between £10 for underwear to £200 for the embossed leather jackets. The 25-year-old singer unveiled her first offering for the high-street store at London Fashion Week in February earlier this year, and her designs have been snapped up by the likes of Serena Williams and Cara Delevingne. Speaking to The Telegraph, River Island CEO Bernard Lewis, said: 'We've had an amazing year working with Rihanna. 'She's been an inspiration for our creative teams to work with and we've been constantly impressed by the amount of time and energy she's invested in the project.' The superstar collaboration has raised the store's profile abroad and they are now planning on expanding internationally. Barefoot trek: The star posted a snap of herself walking through a dirt road donning her own flowing black halter dress . Sumptuous: The singer reclines on a rock wearing a velvet dress from her collection . Designer AND model! The . singer posted several images from her upcoming 2013 winter collection . for River Island on Instagram recently . Check belted mac with PU collar, £70 . Cut out black body, £30 . Floral velvet sleeveless crop top, £25 . Check jersey sleeveless crop top, £20 . Textured gold top, £50 . Gold tuxedo dress, £75 . Tuxedo dress, £75 . Textured low back dress, £50 . Stretch leather trousers, £250 . | 25-year-old singer's last collection with High Street store .
80-piece collection is mix of urban sports lux and .
sophisticated dresses .
Plenty of glitter, tartan, strappy heels and skintight skirts . |
246,191 | caa6acb79b0c0b727b6da545efa9fd7f1a79acd4 | 'Rider safety is Uber’s #1 priority. We take reports like this seriously and are treating the matter with the utmost urgency and care.' This message from ride-sharing company Uber was seen when a D.C. driver was accused of sexually assaulting a sleeping passenger. It was also seen when an Atlanta driver allegedly pulled a gun on a valet. And when an Orlando driver reportedly touched a rider under her blouse. Victim: Roberto Chicas was attacked by Patrick Karahaj, 26, with a hammer after he and two friends argued over the route Karahaj was taking . Buzzfeed published a collection of statements the company released in the wake of eight incidents where drivers were accused of bad behavior or were involved in a crash. Groper: Ramy Botros, an Orlando Uber service provider, groped a female passenger and said she was dressed like she was 'asking for that' The announcements seem to follow a boilerplate formula, beginning with the representative talking about rider safety being Uber's priority, saying the company will respond with the 'utmost urgency and care.' In certain instances, the spokesperson will say they are suspending the driver or saying Uber is ready to aid investigators, as they did when an Alabama driver was found with weed and an open bottle of vodka in his vehicle. The statement quoted by NBC after a San Francisco UberX driver struck a passenger in the face with a hammer touched all the bases. 'Safety is Uber's #1 priority,' said Eva Behrend 'We take reports like this seriously and are treating the matter with the utmost urgency and care.' 'It is also our policy to immediately suspend a driver's account following any serious allegations, which we have done. We stand ready to assist authorities in any investigation,' Behrend added. According to a blog post on Uber's site, their policy is to conduct background checks on drivers that include looking at criminal history going back seven years. In the San Francisco hammer incident, the driver had a felony conviction from 2009 that the company missed for reasons that are not clear. Influenced: Police found marijuana and an open bottle of vodka in the vehicle of Uber driver Brandon Devante Oliver, 21, during a sting of ride-sharing and unlicensed cab vehicles in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Uber has not yet been given a license to operate . Recently the company has faced criticism over rider safety. The Chronicle reported that the district attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles called some practices of Uber and two other ride-sharing companies a 'continuing threat to consumers.' Uber has not responded for comment as of yet. | Statements issued after eight incidents of alleged driver misconduct or safety issues repeat similar lines .
'Rider safety is Uber's #1 priority' begins most statements .
The San Francisco and Los Angeles district attorneys conducted an investigation into the practices companies such as Uber and concluded the ride-sharing companies are a 'continuing threat to consumers' |
243,508 | c72d77195f9b4b03b4d3873b06237e473369d9f8 | By . Andrew Levy . They already had a strained relationship with their ‘vulnerable’ daughter. And the elderly couple’s troubles mounted after she apparently arrived in a taxi and told them she was moving in. Peter and Betty Smith later walked a short distance from their home and stepped in front of a speeding freight train. Witnesses said the driver sounded the horn for up to a minute as he approached them at an unmanned level crossing. Level crossing: The scene where a couple died after being hit by a train in Cherry Willingham, Lincolnshire . Probe: Officers and rail workers at the scene of the incident where British Transport Police are investigating . Yesterday, neighbours in the picturesque Lincolnshire village of Cherry Willingham said the couple’s apparent suicide pact followed problems with their 50-year-old daughter Jane. Geoff Walpole, 70, who lives two doors away, said: ‘I heard that their daughter arrived with her partner recently by taxi and told them she was going to live there.’ He added that there was a ‘big row’ on the day retired postman Mr Smith, 80, died along with his 78-year-old wife. Residents near their daughter’s home in Lincoln, where she lived with boyfriend Tim Evans, described heated exchanges whenever her father visited her. One, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He used to do the garden for her, and look after the house, clean the windows, do the shopping and then she turned on him about that. He always had to sit outside in the car.’ Another neighbour, Christine Wearing, 72, said: ‘Peter was such a placid man – he was a real gentleman. He was just such a patient man and did everything for his daughter.’ Mr and Mrs Smith are understood to have told their daughter, who used to work as a children’s nurse, that they were going to the shops on the morning they died. A local shop owner said: ‘I spoke to the daughter this morning. She had moved back in recently but I don’t know why. The couple left their bungalow after reportedly telling their daughter they were getting Mr Smith's glasses fixed . Remembered: This morning a floral tribute was placed close to where the tragedy occurred in Lincolnshire . ‘Peter had problems with his glasses. They were hurting his head. So they told their daughter they were catching the bus into town to get them fixed. ‘That’s when they did it. I’ve known them for 50 years. It’s so sad.’ Mr Smith and his wife, a former hairdresser, walked on to the railway line shortly before midday on Wednesday. The crossing has a 12ft wide metal gate. Drivers have to ring the main signal box for clearance to open the gates and cross, but pedestrians are able to walk across using a stile. Residents said that the crossing was used regularly and had a good safety record. The freight train, which was travelling from Lincoln city centre to Immingham Dock in Humberside, came to a halt at another level crossing 500 yards away, a short distance from a secondary school where pupils were taking part in their sports day. A card on flowers left at the scene this morning stated: 'A love to last eternity. Together forever. RIP xx' Services between Lincoln and Grimsby were halted for three hours before resuming in the afternoon. Paramedics from the East Midlands Ambulance Service arrived at the scene but the couple were pronounced dead. The Smith family said in a statement yesterday: ‘We are deeply saddened by our loss.’ British Transport Police said officers were ‘working to establish the full circumstances of the incident, which is currently being treated as non-suspicious’. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed and the Central Lincolnshire Coroner is expected to open inquests in the next few days. | Peter, 80, and Betty Smith, 79, stepped in front of speeding train together .
Incident happened close to their home in Cherry Willingham, Lincolnshire .
Couple 'walked onto railway line, straight into the path of the freight train'
Neighbours said 'suicide pact' followed problems with daughter Jane, 50 .
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457909090, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org . |
227,466 | b284f22d073c02a8f3b17aa9d8910ce0a499422f | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 18:30 EST, 17 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:30 EST, 17 December 2012 . While all the other reindeers may have laughed at him and called him names, not letting him join in their games, it seems Rudolph the reindeer's red nose is invaluable at helping him carry out his Christmas mission. Scientist have solved the puzzle of Rudolph's nose, claiming it is to stop it freezing and to help with the exertion of delivering presents to good children around the globe. They say Rudolph's nose shines so brightly because it is richly supplied with red blood cells which help to protect it from freezing and to regulate brain temperature. Christmas mission: This thermal imaging camera shows a reindeer's nose glowing red like Rudolph's. A new study shows how a rich supply of blood vessels in reindeer noses helps them to regulate their temperature . This superior 'nasal microcirculation' is essential for pulling Santa Claus's sleigh under extreme temperatures. Tiny blood cells known as micro-vessels in the nose are vital for delivering oxygen, controlling inflammation, and regulating temperature, the scientists claim. Norwegian and Dutch researchers knew . how important this regulation is for flying reindeer, especially as they . take to the skies from their frozen home near the North Pole. Not just a song: A reindeer in the Norwegian Arctic showing distinct pink colouration on its nose . They set out to test whether Rudolph's famous red nose was due to 'a highly dense and rich nasal microcirculation' compared with human noses. Using a hand-held video microscope, they first assessed the noses of five healthy human volunteers and found a circulating blood vessel density of 15 mm/mm2. When the technique was applied to two reindeer noses, the researchers found a 25 per cent higher density of blood vessels, carrying a super-rich concentration of red blood cells. They also found a high density of mucous glands scattered throughout the reindeer noses, which they say helps 'maintain an optimal nasal climate during changing weather conditions and extremes of temperature as well as being responsible for fluid transport and acting as a barrier.' Infrared thermal images showed that reindeer do indeed have red noses. Professor Can Ince said: 'The microcirculation of the nasal mucosa in reindeer is richly vascularised and 25 per cent denser than that in humans. 'These factors explain why the nose of Rudolph, the lead flying reindeer employed by Santa Claus to pull his sleigh, is red and well adapted to carrying out his duties in extreme temperatures.' The findings were published in the British Medical Journal. | Study shows Rudolph's nose is shiny because it is richly supplied with blood vessels to protect it from freezing and regulate brain temperature . |
121,903 | 29962bb3362028b537d14c97701d88754f3e3537 | By . Brian Barwick . A local survey tells me people like penalty shoot-outs. Make that very local. On Saturday evening, my wife Gerry was on her way out of the house when she passed the lounge door. Briefly in her eye-line the TV, and Brazil v Chile reaching its climax with the first penalty shoot-out of this World Cup. She stopped momentarily to ‘just watch the first penalty’, and was still there nine penalties later. And she wasn’t alone as over 12 million people saw Brazilian poster-boy Neymar score Brazil’s vital fifth penalty and Chilean fall-guy Jara strike a post and send his team-mates back to the hotel for their passports. Gary Lineker summed it up. 'There is conjecture about penalty shoot-outs but for me they are GREAT to watch.' And I’m with him on that. On the spot: Brazilian players celebrate after defeating Chile on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals . Pep talk: Neymar (R) gives Julio Cesar encouragement during Brazil's World Cup penalty shoot-out . Agony! Chile's Gonzalo Jara hits the post with his penalty to hand the advantage to Brazil . Saturday’s penalty shoot-out was described in excellent fashion by the BBC commentary pairing of Guy Mowbray and Martin Keown. It is one of the trickiest pieces of football commentary to get right. It is a time to be economical with your words, know exactly the consequence of every penalty scored or missed, know where you are in the penalty kick sequence, have readily at hand any particular telling piece of information about the incoming penalty-taker, implicitly understand each other’s role and most importantly let the pictures do the talking. And concentrate. Like mad. Things have got a little easier down the years. The graphics supporting the shoot-outs are clearer for one and the match directors themselves have had more experience of covering them. That doyen of football commentators, the late great Brian Moore reflected once with typical honesty on the ‘hospital pass’ he had sent his co-commentator Kevin Keegan during the famous penalty shoot-out between England and Argentina in World Cup ’98. Spoke too soon! Kevin Keegan wrongly predicted that David Batty would score at the 1998 World Cup . David Batty was next up and had to score to keep England’s hopes alive. Moore knew Keegan had managed him and wanted to know how Batty would handle it. A legitimate question but Batty shaped up to take the penalty more quickly than anticipated. As Batty stepped up to hit the ball, Moore said hurriedly ‘Kevin, you know him - yes or no, will he score.’ ‘Yes’ was still coming out of Keegan’s mouth as Batty missed the vital kick. And England were out. Guy Mowbray, now firmly established as BBC’s senior football commentator, had the right pace of delivery, Keown , the right snap analysis before and after every kick, and the pictures and remarkable atmosphere within the stadium did the rest. Been there, done that! BBC pundit Rio Ferdinand was able to reflect on his experiences from 2006 World Cup . With informed out-of-vision opinions from Lineker and Alan Shearer, both World Cup penalty shoot-out veterans, Rio Ferdinand’s reflections on his own experiences and Alan Hansen freely admitting he wouldn’t have the courage to take one, it was a very solid piece of television sport. On ITV, the pronunciation of Colombian sensation, James Rodriguez, seemed to create a little fun, Ian Wright, with a flourish, gave it the ‘Ham-Mez’, Clive Tyldesley, the straight-down-the middle James. I expect they’ll both agree on the pronunciation of FRED before ITV screen the Brazil v Colombia on Friday! Lost in translation: The pronunciation of James Rodriguez's name caused some fun on ITV . | Former Head of BBC Sport reflects on Brazil's penalty shoot out with Chile .
Over 12m people watched Neymar send Brazil through to quarter-finals .
Guy Mowbray and Martin Keown gave a measured commentary for BBC .
Kevin Keegan wrongly predicted David Batty would score in 1998 .
James Rodriguez's name has been causing pronunciation problems . |
7,251 | 148f18e41b5307338bc20301c9957c3b86a3ba00 | Britain will be 'swamped' by tuberculosis unless new measures to diagnose the disease . A leading doctor has warned that Britain will be ‘swamped’ by tuberculosis unless new measures to diagnose the disease in immigrants are introduced. The disease, which was rife in Britain until the 1950s, is an increasing and worrying problem in urban areas. Rising immigration has seen a surge in cases in the last 20 years. Under current rules, new immigrants from countries where TB is common are required to have chest X-rays before being allowed into Britain. But doctors argue this century-old method only spots active TB once it is already destroying the lungs – meaning cases are often diagnosed far too late. Other countries such as the U.S. use a blood test, which can detect the latent TB in those not displaying any symptoms. Cases have fallen since this technique was introduced in 2007. At the British Thoracic Society conference this week, Peter Davies of the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, said urgent changes were needed to halt the decades-long rise in TB cases. He told The Times: ‘The tide has been coming in for 20 years, it’s been getting bigger and bigger and if we don’t do something we will be swamped with TB as we were 100 years ago.’ TB is caused by a bacterium that spreads through saliva. The disease used to be known as consumption because the bacterium ate holes in the lungs. From 50,000 cases a year in Britain in the 1950s, the rate fell to 5,000 in the 1980s. TB is a bacterial infection which is spread by inhaling drops of saliva when an infected person coughs, speaks or sneezes. The disease mainly affects the lungs, . but can travel to other parts of the body including the brain, kidneys, . bones and joints. The disease is curable with a six-month course of . antibiotics, but a drug-resistant form can develop if the course is not . completed. Left untreated it can prove fatal. Symptoms include a persistent cough that . lasts for more than three weeks that gets progressively worse, . unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats, chest pain, fatigue and . loss of appetite. However, many people who are infected . never develop symptoms - although the bacteria remain in the body, they . are not infectious. Last year there were just over 9,000 cases of TB - a five per cent increase on the year before, according to figures from the Health Protection Agency. The main risk area is still London with 3,588 cases reported in 2011, accounting for 40 per cent of the UK total. And nearly three quarters of those suffering the disease were those not born in the UK. Professor Davies and his peers recommend that people from the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa, where rates are highest, should be given the blood test when registering with a GP. Those found to have latent TB can easily eliminate it with a course of antibiotics. Speaking about the blood test, he said: ‘It’s a no-brainer. If we screen for latent TB we would eliminate the majority of cases of people coming into this country. Now we’ve got the blood tests, for goodness’ sake let’s use them.’ He added that with TB claiming up to 500 deaths a year, the numbers were as many as HIV. The homeless and drug addicts should also be screened because new infections have become more common among these groups, he continued. Mike Mandlebaum, chief executive of the charity TB Alert, said: ‘The truth is that TB never really went away in the UK and has been steadily rising here, from around 5,000 cases a year at the end of the Eighties to 8,500 in 2007/8. ‘TB is a disease usually associated with certain high-risk groups such as those with HIV, those from Eastern bloc countries and Asia, and those living in crowded living conditions. But anyone can get it.' Onn Min Kon, a consultant at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, said that rates of the disease are continuing to rise and that the UK has the highest rates in Europe. Last year there were just over 9,000 cases of TB - a five per cent increase on the year before, according to figures from the Health Protection Agency . Echoing the sentiments of Mr Mandlebaum, he said even low risk people are susceptible if the disease is out of control, it being possible to become infected by being in the same room as someone with TB. He added that people should not become careless about the risks because they didn’t fit the traditional demographic of someone who gets the disease. His research has found that a fifth of immigrants to Britain from high-risk areas had latent TB – but the current guidelines for screening men around 75 per cent of these cases will be missed, so the real figure may be substantially higher. The Department of Health said that in line with NICE guidance, the NHS currently uses both chest X-ray screening and blood-testing to check for TB, with the evidence for new technologies kept under review.’ | 9,000 cases of tuberculosis in the UK last year - up 5% on the year before .
Immigrants currently screened using chest X-ray .
But experts argue this 100-year-old method only spots people with advanced disease, meaning many with no symptoms are missed .
Calling for blood test used in the U.S. to be standard test . |
119,908 | 26fc3f2f0835388717bcd73e9e45429014c7d087 | The deep web is a hive of illegal activity, rife with child pornography, drug deals and human trafficking. But because it is 'buried' so deep it is considered out of the reach of mainstream search engines and many law enforcement agencies - until now. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has developed an engine dubbed Memex - a combination of memory and index - that not only scours content on this so-called dark net, but also identifies subtle patterns in activity. Scroll down for video . The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has developed a search engine dubbed Memex - a combination of memory and index - that not only scours content on the so-called dark net, it identifies patterns and associations that may be too subtle to be recognised by human investigators . Memex was announced by Darpa last year and the agency recently gave Scientific American a preview of the software. Darpa said: 'Today's web searches use a centralised, one-size-fits-all approach that searches the internet with the same set of tools for all queries. '[But] common search practices miss information in the deep web - the parts of the web not indexed by standard commercial search engines - and ignore shared content across pages.' Memex was designed to overcome these challenges by extending 'the reach of current search capabilities and quickly and thoroughly organise subsets of information based on individual interests.' The dark net is a subsection of the deep web - the part of the internet that does not show up in searches or on social media. Most of the information on the web is far down on dynamically generated sites, unable to be found or seen by traditional search engines. This has been likened to dragging a net across the surface of the sea, missing much of the information in the depths. The dark net is used as a way of sharing information and trading goods, but the anonymous and encrypted nature of it has attracted large amounts of illegal activity. The Silk Road website, and its successor that were recently shut down, was used to sell drugs in exchange for Bitcoins. Other dark net sites let users share pornographic photographs, hacked information and credit card numbers. The Silk Road used an underground computer network known as the The Onion Router (TOR), which is a matrix of encrypted websites and servers that disguise the identity of users. It uses numerous layers of security and encryption, hiding the IP address and the activity of the user. It looks behind standard search results for patterns, links and similar behaviours. The software scours all aspects of the web - including those hidden in the dark net - to create data maps that might reveal clues about illegal activity. In particular, Darpa wants to use Memex to uncover human trafficking rings by searching for patterns in the number of online sex adverts being posted from certain regions, or porn sites featuring the same email addresses or phone numbers. These patterns could reveal links that human investigators could miss, explained Scientific American. 'We're envisioning a new paradigm for search that would tailor indexed content, search results and interface tools to individual users and specific subject areas, and not the other way around,' said Chris White, Darpa program manager. 'By inventing better methods for interacting with and sharing information, we want to improve search for everybody and individualise access to information. Ease of use for non-programmers is essential.' The Memex program gets its name from a hypothetical device described in 'As We May Think' - a 1945 article for The Atlantic Monthly. It was written by Vannevar Bush, director of the US Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during World War II. In the article, Memex was described as an analog computer that would supplement human memory. It would store and automatically cross-reference all of the user's books, records and other information. This cross-referencing, which Mr Bush called 'associative indexing', would let users quickly search large amounts of information, and gain insights from it. Targeting the deep web is also an initiative being developed in the UK. The Memex program gets its name from a hypothetical device described in a 1945 article for The Atlantic Monthly. In the article (pictured), Memex was described as an analog computer that would supplement human memory to store and automatically cross-reference all of the user's books, records and other information . In December, Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured) said a specialist unit was being set up to hunt down paedophiles using the dark net to share child pornography. The National Crime Agency and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) will use advanced technology to trace 'digital footprints' of criminals . In December, the UK government said a specialist unit was being set up to hunt down paedophiles using the dark net to share child pornography. The National Crime Agency and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) will use advances in analysing images and communications to trace the 'digital footprints' left by the users who share them. Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Yahoo will use proposed digital fingerprints, or hash values, of thousands of known child sex abuse images to prevent them being shared. Google has also developed new technology that allows child abuse videos to be identified and blocked. Microsoft, Google and Mozilla have also said they will investigate ways of placing restrictions within their browsers to block people from accessing child pornography. Google and Microsoft have both also introduced a number of changes to their search functions globally. Google claims to have seen a five-fold reduction in the number of searches for child abuse images since these changes were made. However, these changes are thought to be partly responsible for driving much of the trade in child pornography into the dark net. Prime minister David Cameron said the new unit is aimed at 'shining a light on the web's darkest corners' as he announced a package of measures to tackle online child abuse. The National Crime Agency estimates that around 20,000 people from the UK use secret or encrypted networks each day. The dark net consists of a network of encoded websites that sit behind the publicly available websites and cannot be found with normal search engines. It came to prominence in 2012 when the FBI made a series of raids on Silk Road - an online marketplace described as the 'eBay for illegal drugs'. Figures compiled by the National Crime Agency suggest that use of the dark net rose by two thirds in 2012. Hidden capabilities that let users email and host file storage through encrypted and anonymous networks are provided by services the The Onion Router (Tor). Tor users currently represent 0.18 per cent of the total number of internet uses in the UK. However, in a recent investigation, GCHQ and the NCA were able to track down a British man who had been maintaining chat rooms and websites in the Far East and Eastern Europe that were used to share child pornography around the world. He was also offering advice to other paedophiles about how to hide their behaviour and was using software to keep himself anonymous. Analysis by experts at GCHQ allowed them to trace the man and he was later sentenced to three years in prison for making and distributing indecent images of children. | Memex was designed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency .
It scours the so-called dark net to create data maps of links and patterns .
This identifies associations between sites and criminal groups, for example .
It follows the announcement of a UK-based unit set up to track down dark net users sharing child pornography over secret networks .
Experts will use digital fingerprints left on dark net to hunt paedophiles . |
107,868 | 170fe018349eaad6499cff867efa2c9e79619a15 | By . Sanchez Manning And Emily Hall . Desperate women are putting their lives at risk by buying potentially deadly fertility drugs sold illegally through the online auction site eBay. The prescription-only medications can cause blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and strokes. Women may also develop ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, that can cause fatal organ failure, and life-threatening cysts, as Lorraine Davy did in a case study. Scroll down for video . After buying potentially deadly fertility drugs online, women may develop ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, that can cause fatal organ failure, and life-threatening cysts, as Lorraine Davy (pictured) did . Women unable to afford private treatment are buying the egg production-boosting drugs online after being refused NHS funding, doctors say. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday has revealed that IVF medication is being sold for a third of the normal market price on eBay. The fertility drugs include brand names Suprecur, Cetrotide and Menopur. They are hormone treatments used to stimulate the ovary to produce more eggs to increase fertility and as part of IVF procedures. Last night doctors called for women to be warned of the dangers of buying such drugs over the internet. Leading fertility expert Professor Lord Winston cautioned: ‘You don’t know if they are what they say on the packet. The drugs may not be pure and there’s always a risk when drugs are taken without medical supervision.’ Dr Geetha Venkat, a consultant at the private Harley Street Fertility Clinic, added: ‘Women need to be warned against buying these medications online. These are hormone injections and unless they are medically supervised they can be dangerous to life.’ Women unable to afford private treatment are buying the egg production-boosting drugs online after being refused NHS funding, doctors say (stock image) The investigation found that 1mg of Suprecur (pictured), which normally costs £35 at a private clinic, can be bought for as little as £15 on eBay (stock image) But Dr Venkat said despite the dangers women were tempted to buy IVF drugs online because they are rejected for NHS funding and cannot afford the high costs of paying privately. But Dr Venkat said despite the dangers women were tempted to buy IVF drugs online because they are rejected for NHS funding and cannot afford the high costs of paying privately. She said: ‘Fertility treatment is quite expensive and it’s not available in many areas, even though NICE guidelines say that couples should be eligible for three cycles of IVF. It’s like a postcode lottery. ‘So the women buying the drugs on eBay are probably trying to cut the cost of paying privately.’ The MoS found that 1mg of Suprecur, which normally costs £35 at a private clinic, can be bought for as little as £15 on eBay. Meanwhile, a packet containing ten vials of Menopur to inject, costing £300 when purchased privately, is on sale for £100. It is suspected the sellers could be either unscrupulous pharmacists, criminals selling counterfeit goods or couples who have gone through IVF and have left over medication. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed yesterday that it is illegal for IVF drugs to be sold anywhere other than at a registered pharmacy or under the supervision of a pharmacist. An MHRA spokesman said: ‘This is unacceptable and we’ve asked eBay to remove these medicines from sale as a matter of priority.’ An eBay spokesman said: ‘Our policies prohibit the listing of prescription drugs. Ebay works closely with the MHRA and other regulators who have a direct line to eBay to enable us to remove any listings of concern as soon as they are reported.’ Lorraine Davy was desperate to become a mother after suffering three miscarriages in six years. Ms Davy said doctors refused her NHS-funded IVF treatment because of her bipolar disorder. Unable to afford to go private, she bought the drug Clomid – which boosts egg production – on the internet. Lorraine, 26, recalled: ‘I really wanted a child and I was at my wits’ end. The price was just under £30 – so it was quite cheap. The next thing was that I got a month’s worth of tablets through the post.’ Lorraine, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, said: ‘I started taking them and within a week I began getting pains in my stomach. ‘I got rushed into A&E and they did an ultrasound and the doctor said I had a massive cyst on my ovaries as big as a newborn baby’s head.’ The cyst almost cost Lorraine her life. ‘The doctor said it was touch and go because of the size of it. I told him I’d taken Clomid and he said that was the cause of the cyst.’ | Women unable to afford private treatment are buying IVF drugs online .
The prescription only medication can cause blood clots and strokes .
Investigation by the Mail on Sunday found that IVF drugs are being sold for a third of the normal market price on eBay .
Doctors called for women to be careful of the dangers of buying drugs online . |
119,395 | 263a559dd4831fdab15b40812746eeb8876ec05b | He was forced to apologize after skinny-dipping in the holy Sea of Galilee three years ago. Now, Kansas Rep Kevin Yoder has been mocked in a campaign advert for the 2014 election. Former state legislator Kelly Kultala, who is making an ambitious bid for the Kansas seat, chose to centre her campaign around the 36-year-old's dip in the lake during an official tour of Israel. The video features a number of seemingly naked people urging viewers to support Kultala in November's election, while criticizing Yoder with a series of 'nude' puns. Scroll down for video . Mocking: Former state legislator Kelly Kultala (pictured), who is making an ambitious bid for the Kansas seat, chose to centre her election campaign around Kevin Yoder's naked swim in the Sea of Galilee in 2011 . Supporters: The video features a number of seemingly naked people, including this elderly couple, who contribute, 'The naked truth is, Yoder voted to cut Medicare for seniors', while posing in a swimming pool . Bringing up the past: At the start of the footage, Kultala tells viewers: 'A while back, Congressman Yoder made news by skinny-dipping on the job'. A man then cries 'cannonball!' before jumping into the pool (pictured) Apology: Yoder (pictured) was forced to apologize after diving into the Seat Of Galilee naked as part of a meeting with Israeli Prime Ministe Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defeense Forces officers in August 2011 . At the start of the footage, a blue-suited Kultala is pictured standing in front of a swimming pool, saying: 'A while back, Congressman Yoder made news by skinny-dipping on the job'. A male 'cannonball!' cry is then heard and a figure is seen jumping into the pool, before the Democrat continues: 'But it's more shameless what he's doing to Kansas.' Seconds later, an apparently nude elderly couple, posing with an inflatable in the pool, contribute: 'The naked truth is, Yoder voted to cut Medicare for seniors.' A male worker lounging on a sunbed then alleges that Yoder 'opposed a raise for Kansas workers', before a seemingly naked woman says he 'stripped education funding for Kansas schools'. Nude: In the video, a male worker lounging on a sunbed (pictured) alleges that Yoder 'opposed a raise for Kansas workers', before a seemingly naked woman says he 'stripped education funding for Kansas schools' Making a point: As a man cruises behind her on a lilo, the woman (pictured) continues: 'Yoder lines the pockets of his millionaire donors with big tax cuts and they line his... when he has pockets' 'Dramatic renenactment': A man, donning only armbands, is then seen standing beside the pool in a 'dramatic reenactment' of Yoder's dip in the Israeli sea, where Jesus Christ is said to have walked on water . As a man cruises behind her on a lilo, the woman continues: 'Yoder lines the pockets of his millionaire donors with big tax cuts and they line his... when he has pockets.' A man, donning only armbands, is then seen standing beside the pool in a 'dramatic reenactment' of Yoder's skinny-dipping in the sea where Jesus Christ is said to have walked on water. Kultala ends the video saying: 'I'm Kelly Kultala. And I approve this message because congressman Yoder's record is nothing to blush about.' Yoder dived into the Seat Of Galilee naked as part of a congressional delegation meeting with Israeli Prime Ministe Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defeense Forces officers in August 2011. Underdog: Kultala ends the video saying: 'I'm Kelly Kultala. And I approve this message because congressman Yoder's record is nothing to blush about.' According to reports, she is an underdog in the election race . Holy: Yoder was one of six congressmen to jump in the Sea of Galilee (pictured) following a drunken night out . He was one of six congressmen who jumped in the lake following a drunken night out, prompting the FBI to launch a probe into the incident. The congressman, who was previously voted one of 'Hottest Freshmen in Congress, apologised for his 'disappointing' actions a year later. He told The Kansas City Star: 'I feel incredibly remorseful that I have caused embarrassment to my constituents and have caused folks who believe in me to be disappointed.' According to reports, Kultala is an underdog in her race against the two-term incumbent Yoder, who is believed to have amassed more than $2million in funding during the first six months of 2014. | Former state legislator Kelly Kultala mocks Kevin Yoder in campaign video .
Condemns the 36-year-old's naked dip in holy Sea of Galilee in August 2011 .
Video features several seemingly nude people criticizing Yoder with puns .
A couple say: 'The naked truth is, Yoder voted to cut Medicare for seniors'
Woman adds congressman 'stripped education funding for Kansas schools'
Kultala is reportedly underdog in race against Republican for Kansas seat . |
107,097 | 161e238d400625878b82a107755dd5ee920dc93a | By . Kit Holden . Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that he fears losing his job at the end of the coming season. Speaking at a press conference prior to Bayern's pre-season tour of the USA, the Catalan said, 'there are no secrets. If I don't win, then a different coach will probably come in'. The remark came in the context of concerns that the six members of Bayern's side who had just won the World Cup with Germany would suffer under lack of motivation upon returning to club football. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Robert Lewandowski scores his first goal for Bayern Munich . Concern: Pep Guardiola has said he could be out of a job in Bayern don't have a successful season . Winner: Bastian Schweinsteiger . Winner: Philipp Lahm . Winner: Thomas Muller . Winner: Jerome Boateng . Winner: Manuel Neuer . Winner: Mario Gotze . Both the media and Bayern's Director of Sport Matthias Sammer have voiced fears recently that Bayern would emulate their performances in 2006 and 2010, and start poorly after a World Cup summer. 'We can't allow ourselves a phase like that', said Sammer. Guardiola, though, whose Champions League winning Barcelona team of 2011 also contained newly crowned World Cup winners, is adamant that Germany's triumph is a good thing for his side. 'I am happy for Germany that they won the World Cup. It is a great gift for FC Bayern that six of our players were able to contribute to it.' Easy does it: Guardiola has been sporting a casual look as he guides Bayern through pre season . Nonetheless, further success is absolutely expected this season of Guardiola and his team. The Catalan begins the second year of his three year contract this summer, and despite winning the Double and the Bundesliga in record time last season, Bayern's exit to Real Madrid in the Champions League was enough to keep the jury out on their new coach. European success is the reference point for judging Guardiola's success at Bayern. After taking over a treble winning team, and leading them to a record Double, anything short of the European Cup title this year will be considered a failure for Guardiola. Concern: The former Barca boss is under pressure to succeed after his Champions League disappointment . The Munich press are already ramping up the pressure, with tabloid TZ publishing a survey which showed Bayern as clear Champions League favourites for next season. Guardiola knows himself that failure to win the tournament again may put his job at risk. He remains determined to avoid such a fate, and cool in the face of the pressure. 'I am here to do my job to the best of my abilities, just as I used to at FC Barcelona' he told the press. Beautiful day: Schweinsteiger kisses the ground in Munich after arriving back from the World Cup . VIDEO Berlin welcomes victorius Germany team home . | Bayern boss was questioned about his future during pre season .
He admitted if he doesn't win 'a different coach will probably come in'
Six of his players won the World Cup with Germany .
Questions raised about whether they will have sufficient motivation .
Bayern have performed badly after previous World Cups . |
198,244 | 8c9d30784f516a362bc1b77f986877c617ed3ca6 | (EW.com) -- It's like "Deal or No Deal" crossed with your own holiday party game. NBC has ordered a new game show from Howie Mandel based on a popular gift-swapping tradition. In "Howie Mandel's White Elephant," six contestants will select one package from an assortment of wrapped gifts containing millions of dollars in prizes. Using strategy, luck, and good guessing, contestants will decide whether or not to steal prizes that have been previously revealed, or gamble that the item in their unopened box is worth more. The contestant with the least valuable prize at the end of every round is eliminated. The concept seems to have the tense "take it or leave it" simplicity of "Deal," but adds the allure of using tangible gifts instead of dollars and has the contestants' gameplay impacting each other. The final two players will face a tough choice, based on the classic psychology experiment "prisoner's dilemma:" They're presented with a box filled with two life changing prizes. They must choose whether to share the gifts, or steal the other player's gift but risk walking away empty handed. NBC has ordered seven episodes from Mandel (who will host) and Mike Marks. There's no premiere date yet, but next holiday season would seem like a neat fit. See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | NBC has ordered a new game show from Howie Mandel .
"Howie Mandel's White Elephant" is based on a popular gift-swapping tradition .
The concept seems to have the tense "take it or leave it" simplicity of "Deal" |
282,489 | f9e23504879741f631169ea7a4c4e4e6ff696661 | By . Morwenna Jones . Morwenna Waters has witnessed first-hand how both men and women fuel sexism at Cambridge University . Scandal-ridden ‘drinking societies’ at Oxford and Cambridge Universities have been around for centuries – but their reputations have never been lower. One study has suggested almost half of female students at Cambridge have reported being groped, pinched or touched, a drinking society from the same university has been filmed marching down a street chanting ‘rape’, and a boycott row has engulfed the Oxford Union whose president is accused of rape. I learned about these elite societies during my days as a naive, unworldly fresher at Cambridge when I dated one of their members. The evidence was all around me in drinking games that entertained men but demeaned women. Yet so many women – particularly those new to university – agreed to take part. Most recently there has been ‘whaling’, where young men compete to find, bed and ‘harpoon’ the ugliest girl in a bar or club. Then there is Fat Girl Rodeo, where boys grab a curvaceous young woman, threaten to rape her, and hang on as long as they can as she desperately tries to throw them off. Thank goodness I’ve never been a victim of either of these ‘games’, though their existence proves that drinking societies remain puerile and disgusting, and often regard women as playthings who exist merely for sex and entertainment. Sadly, my fellow females don’t seem to be doing much better. While male societies call themselves The Epics, The Cobblers, The Tribe, or The Speakers, female societies include The Harlots, The Ho-Hoes, Gymslips and Slags, and a host of other innuendo-derived titles. The names tell you everything you need to know about the sexism, attitudes and expectations that define drinking societies as much as they define current student culture. The girls who meet these expectations are the girls, already blinded by alcohol, who stand up and confess to such things as taking part in a threesome or sleeping with a lecturer and are then given a ‘drinking fine’ – an alcoholic drink as punishment. Why do the women admit to these things, or agree to spend an evening dressed in tiny pink hotpants and a sports bra; or allow guys they’ve known for three hours to drink tequila shots out of their belly button as they lie submissively on a curry-strewn table? Female students at Cambridge lick cream off the bodies of male students in a raucous drinking game . High jinks: These games have affected the reputations of Oxford and Cambridge more than ever before . One explanation may be that, for that moment, when you stand half-naked on top of a table and down whatever lethal alcoholic concoction you’ve been given, you’re the centre of attention. You’re accepted as one of the party people and something exclusive to the ‘cool kids’ at university, which is what you want to be. In fact, you are merely part of the show. The next morning you wake up, mortified that you exposed your slightly too flabby post-Christmas holiday stomach to the diners at Curry King with a horrible awareness that you’ve successfully and simultaneously established yourself as both a ‘good-time girl’ and a complete idiot. Would you want future employers seeing your behaviour? Or your mother? Would you even want a photo up on Facebook? Then there are traditions such as the Cambridge Pitt Club’s one of sending anonymous invitations to a dubiously selected handful of first-year girls. There was also uproar over the actions of The Black Cynets at Oxford, who invited the college’s prettiest freshers to a ‘fox hunt’ where they would dress as foxes and be hunted by drunken and predatory males. It was cancelled after provoking a furore. Such activities feed the public a damaging image of our universities. The Pitt Club, The Wyverns and the notorious Bullingdon Club at Oxford present a picture of smug, self-regarding students revelling in port, cigars and striped bow ties. All of them are male. Of course, there are double standards. It goes without saying that a banterous twentysomething, bow tie-sporting male student can take his top off and chant loudly while downing a bottle of wine without raising an eyebrow. When you strip down and drink lethal alcoholic concoctions, you're accepted as one of the party people . But for a female student to do the same thing is quite a different matter. Some women might shrug off the resulting stigma or the ‘reputation’ they have sprouted overnight. But what about the rest of us? Such sexist antics – and the women who are lured into indulging them – make it hard for us to be taken seriously in the country’s leading seats of learning. It is too easy to say, ‘If you don’t want to do it, then don’t’. There are occasions when I and many of my friends have done exactly that. We’ve watched while our peers have stripped or downed dubious-looking alcoholic beverages believing ‘it’s just a bit of fun’. But the consequences for all young women can be much more serious. I have one friend who now refuses to . socialise with a college drinking society having once been encouraged by . them to strip and show off her slightly larger-than-average breasts to . the rest of the room. They think women exist purely for sex . I . have another friend who continually worries about her ‘reputation’ preceding her on the rare occasions when she goes on proper dates after . she earned herself the nickname ‘the college bench-press’. These girls could have said no, but the peer-pressure surrounding them would almost definitely have subsequently labelled them as that worst of all epithets – boring. Oxbridge drinking societies are marked by stories like these. Scarily, they are regarded as normal. They are also ‘normal’ across the rest of the country. Go to Leeds, Manchester, Reading, London or any other university in the country and you will find some sexist behaviour in the university’s drinking culture. It’s become a given in an age where websites such as uniladmag.com have more than 500,000 likes on Facebook, and in which ‘fancy-dress’ is code for women wearing as little as possible. Yet what makes this sexism worse for Oxbridge women is our sense of injustice. It is not fair that, having been at these universities for almost as long as some of their most famous drinking societies (the Pitt Club was founded in 1830, women started at Cambridge in 1869), we are not given the same social opportunities. Women have been attending Cambridge (Kings College pictured) since 1869 and yet sexism prevails . The member of the elite drinking club I dated went to £80-a-head dinners. He met influential, interesting, talented and clever men from all over the world, purely because they were ‘old boys’. He built up a hefty network of contacts that guaranteed that he would be safe from unemployment. Have I been given any of these opportunities? Of course not. Am I going to be? Not unless I’m a scantily clad guest of one of these drinking society dinners. Where is the Plath Club at Cambridge? Or the Thatcher Club at Oxford? At Cambridge there is the Beard Society and The Misfits. However, the former is a very small group named after the classicist Mary Beard and the latter is better known for having members that are very good at finding boyfriends from among the upper echelons of the university rugby team. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want young women to emulate the scandalous behaviour of the boys. In fact most of us at university would simply prefer that their wild nights of drinking didn’t have to involve us. | Oxford and Cambridge Universities' reputations have never been lower .
Men go 'whaling' - compete to find, bed and 'harpoon' ugliest girl in the bar .
They 'rodeo' fat girls, threaten to rape them and hold on until thrown off .
Female societies include The Harlots, The Ho-Hoes, Gymslips and Slags . |
226,942 | b1de196e97322c2b288796604f935d3846dc20cb | (CNN) -- Gunmen shot and killed a food monitor for the United Nations' World Food Program on Thursday, the second killing of a WFP humanitarian worker in Somalia in three days, a spokesman for the agency said Thursday. Mohamud Omar Moallim, a food monitor for the United Nations, was killed in Somalia on Thursday, the U.N. says. Peter Smerdon said Mohamud Omar Moallim, 49, was shot by unidentified gunmen while distributing food to displaced people at Daynile, 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of Mogadishu. The gunmen put Moallim's body in a WFP vehicle and drove away, then pushed the corpse from the vehicle and drove on, Smerdon said. Moallim joined WFP in 1993 and worked until 1995 as a logistics assistant. He rejoined the agency in May 2006 as a food monitor. He was abducted in September 2008 for 16 hours outside Mogadishu. He leaves two wives and 11 children. Colleagues said Moallim was calm, extremely hard-working and highly responsible and was often consulted for advice and support by other staff members. On Tuesday, three masked men shot and killed 44-year-old Somali national Ibrahim Hussein Duale while he was monitoring food distribution at a school in Yubsan village, near the Gedo regional capital of Garbahare, the WFP said. Witnesses say the gunmen approached Duale while he was seated, ordered him to stand up and then shot him, according to the account on the WFP Web site. Duale leaves a wife and five children. He joined WFP in 2006 as a food monitor in the Gedo region, which borders Kenya and Ethiopia. | U.N. aid worker shot by unidentified gunman while handing out food, U.N. says .
Attackers threw body in car, drove off, then dumped body, says U.N. spokesman .
Another aid worker shot on Tuesday while distributing food at a school, U.N. says .
Both the slain humanitarian workers leave behind families . |
98,421 | 0ab9deb6ace058779994b78c828e3f1d37a79c1c | Like millions of women across Britain, I will stop at virtually nothing if it promises to make me fitter faster. From toning footwear to vibrating dumbbells, Jazzercise and aqua-aerobics, you name it, I’ve tried it. And, as a busy mother-of-two, if it requires no effort on my part, so much the better. So, when I heard about a new, high-tech exercise regime, which simply required me to strap myself into a body suit that looks like something from RoboCop, plug in some electrodes and let science work its magic, it sounded like a dream come true. Scroll down for video . A new, high-tech exercise regime, which simply requires you to strap yourself into a body suit, plug in some electrodes and let science work its magic - it sounded like a dream come true . And if it’s good enough for Usain Bolt — not to mention the WAGs and models who frequent the exclusive West London gyms that are the first to offer it in the UK, before it rolls out nationwide — it’s good enough for me. E-Fit was first designed as a rehabilitation aid for elite athletes — top footballers Frank Lampard and Lionel Messi are fans — but has since garnered a reputation as a quick fix for weight-loss and improved muscle tone. This, in turn, has led to huge demand from normal women who want to get rid of cellulite and stubborn body fat. It uses Electrical Muscular Stimulation (EMS) technology to provide the equivalent of an hour’s workout in 20 minutes, giving your muscles electric shocks as you work out. Although you can’t see results straight away — it takes about four sessions — EMS apparently stimulates 90 per cent of your body’s main muscles every time you use it. Nadia Cohen with specially trained E-Fit expert Csaba Hegedus who travels the globe training people to use the system . The scientists behind it claim it can help with body-shaping, weight-loss, stamina and endurance, as well as improving posture and reducing back pain. The system also promises to stimulate your mood and sense of wellbeing — in fact, pretty much the only thing it won’t do is give you a massage afterwards. During a single session, the device works 350 different muscles, contracting them a total of 36,000 times, meaning they’re working up to ten times harder than during conventional exercise — ideal for busy women who don’t have enough time in their week to spend hours pumping away in the gym. Admittedly, it sounds oddly reminiscent of the Slendertone-style slimming belts that have been around since the Seventies — the same belts that led thousands of couch potatoes to believe they could get a six-pack just from sitting on the sofa and which were dismissed as ‘quackery’ by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The scientists behind it claim it can help with body-shaping, weight-loss, stamina and endurance, as well as improving posture and reducing back pain . It’s true the principles of EMS have been around for a while, but the technology has advanced and new research shows EMS can have a positive effect in conjunction with exercise. Sadly, you still can’t just sit on the sofa and expect miracles. Various studies confirm you can get serious results from this approach. In fact, the American Council On Exercise recently tested developments in equipment, and revealed that muscle strength and endurance improved over time in those who had used an EMS device. So, with all this in mind, I headed to one of the six gyms in the UK to offer E-Fit, and eagerly squeezed myself into the gymwear provided — a skin-tight T-shirt and three-quarter-length gym trousers, specially made from 95 per cent breathable cotton, so that nothing will stand in the way of the electrodes as they power through to your muscles. Then, it was on with the gear that contains the technology — a bulky, high-tech jacket and unflatteringly-padded shorts — with extra straps fastened around the biceps and calves. I smiled at specially trained E-Fit expert Csaba Hegedus as he pulled the straps tighter. How bad could it be? Csaba, who travels the globe training people to use the system, warned me that my muscles would be put through their paces, thanks to short, sharp electric shocks. It sounded a little extreme, but the list of benefits spurred me on, not to mention the fact I knew it would be over in 20 minutes. As he jabbed at the buttons on the shiny, silver keyboard attached to the suit by a series of wires, I began to feel a slight tingle through my body. ‘Crank it up!’ I chirruped with a thumbs-up, thinking of all the hours of gym-time I’d save. This ultra-modern system works by contracting the muscles, during which you basically clench your entire body while waiting for the pain to subside . I felt brave — this was easy. All I could feel were jabbing, pinprick sensations all over my body. It was rather strange, and certainly not nice, but by no means painful or uncomfortable. So, at my insistence, Csaba cranked it up. The scale goes from zero to 100. By the time it reached half capacity, I was a jibbering, juddering wreck as, every few seconds, electronic pulses seemed to sink beneath my skin, before trying to blast their way out to the surface. I couldn’t say aloud what I was thinking — because I was too breathless to do more than gasp. In the Sixties, Soviet sports scientists used EMS in the training of elite athletes . This ultra-modern system works by contracting the muscles, during which you basically clench your entire body while waiting for the pain to subside. Csaba kept reminding me of the importance of moving — this is designed to boost your workout, not replace it, so you can’t just let the machine take the strain. He led me through a gruelling regime of bicep curls with light weights, lunges, squats, running and jogging on the spot, before fast-paced sit-ups, abdominal crunches, cycling and scissoring my legs — each of the exercises accompanied by what felt like constant, static electric shocks. As he cranked up the intensity, I gritted my teeth as electrodes pulsed on to my skin, triggering my nerves to contract and relax the muscles. At £50 per session, E-Fit is not much more than a regular session with a posh personal trainer, and takes up far less of your day . As your body is rigid, even the simplest squat or lunge is a real effort. Performing strengthening and toning exercises while wired up to the machine apparently intensifies the way the muscles respond, forcing them to work twice as hard in the same time. Towards the end, I could feel my muscles were contracting involuntarily, even when Csaba switched the machine off. Was this normal? I asked. ‘Yes,’ Csaba reassured me. ‘It’s a sign it’s doing the job.’ The underlying muscle tissue is activated, too, which is what gives such a powerful sensation and makes you even more exhausted. By the end of the session, I collapsed, drenched in sweat, feeling as if I’d been through an hour of circuit training, not a 20-minute workout. At £50 per session, E-Fit is not much more than a regular session with a posh personal trainer, and takes up far less of your day. So, if you can endure the discomfort, this could be worth the effort. And if it cuts down my time in a sweaty gym, I could definitely be persuaded to return. For more information see www.e-fit.co.uk . | Once in the suit plug in some electrodes and let science work its magic .
Scientists claim it can help with body-shaping, weight-loss and stamina .
This ultra-modern system works by contracting the muscles .
You clench your entire body while waiting for the pain to subside .
Nadia Cohen with specially trained E-Fit expert Csaba Hegedus .
He travels the globe training people to use the system .
It also improves posture and reducing back pain .
At £50 per session, E-Fit is not more than a session with a personal trainer . |
22,966 | 412a54ce8efffa53bcdb68b46b66d1a62f8dd0a2 | (CNN) -- Susan Blake writes her son Joseph all the time. "I send him e-mails," she says, "keeping him updated on what's going on." Each e-mail goes unanswered. All she can do is hope that he sees them. It's how she copes with one of the most unsettling and baffling missing persons cases in recent years: the mystery of the McStay family. Next week marks the third anniversary of the disappearance of Joseph McStay, 43; his wife, Summer, 46; and their two young children, Gianni, 7, and Joseph Mateo, who would be 6 this month. February 4, 2010 was the last day anyone saw the family or heard from them. When police entered their Southern California house more than 10 days later, they found eggs on the kitchen counter and bowls of popcorn in the living room. Their two dogs were also in the home. But not a single trace of the McStays. 2010: California police search for missing family . Did they voluntarily leave? Are they in Mexico? Are they in danger? Are they dead? Despite hundreds of tips and several high-profile television reports and interviews, no one has a clue. "This is definitely an unusual case," says Lt. Glenn Giannantonio of the San Diego Sheriff's Department's homicide division "At this point we are no closer to finding them than on the day they disappeared. I know that sounds horrible, but we just don't know what happened to them." The sentiment is shared by Dennis Brugos, who led the sheriff's department investigation into the McStays' disappearance before retiring last year. "Nothing makes any kind of rational sense that you can put together," Brugos says. The McStays lived on a cul-de-sac in Fallbrook. Described on its website as the "friendly village," Fallbrook is about 18 miles from the Pacific Coast and some 50 miles north of San Diego. Joseph McStay owned Earth Inspired Products, a company that built custom water features for high-end commercial businesses around the world, says Mike McStay, his younger brother. Summer stayed home to raise the children, but according to Mike was planning on getting back to work. The family's locked and abandoned Isuzu Trooper was located February 8, 2010, in San Ysidro, just two blocks from the border. Surveillance video taken that night shows a family fitting the description of the McStays walking into Mexico. "If you look at the clothing that they were wearing at the time, it coincides with when the vehicle was found; it leads you to believe that that was them crossing the border," Brugos says. "I can't say definitively it's them, but it's a high probability." Giannantonio agrees. "We do believe the family on the tape going into Mexico is that of the McStays, " he says. But Joseph's mother isn't convinced. "My son's meds were in that car," she tells CNN. "My son has asthma and doesn't go anywhere without the meds on him. And to have babies go without car seats. This is the stuff that doesn't add up." Mike McStay says he is not sure if the family is on the video. "The best is that the children appear to be size appropriate, but I could never get an ID off the adult. Even if it were them crossing, we still don't know to what intent. We don't know if it was under duress or willingly." However, he says he believes someone has an answer. "How does somebody not see them?" he wonders. "They have to go get groceries, get the basic necessities of life; they have to have a way to generate an income. There has to be something. "My brother is out there. I want what everyone wants, a phone call, a letter, something. I don't want to know why he left. We just have to know that they are OK." Mike McStay is familiar with the theories speculating on what might have happened, including one presented in the new book, "No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family." Author Rick Baker says his own investigation, including reviewing hundreds of personal e-mails, shows that Summer and Joseph were having problems and that their relationship was, in his words, about to "explode." Baker speculates, among other things, that at least one of the family members may have met with foul play. Mike McStay bristles when asked to comment on Baker's suggestion. "I don't know how he sleeps at night," McStay says of the author. "I suspect he's looking for money. He's a good manipulator and knows how to twist things. He's just trying to sell books." Blake, the mother, says there were many inaccuracies in the book. "It was very hard to read all this, very heartbreaking, the accusations." She says, "The bottom line for me is this book will bring focus to finding the family, sad to say." Giannantonio cautions there is no evidence of any criminal activity. "Everything leads us to believe the disappearance is voluntary. It's still categorized as a missing persons case," he says. "We have to rely on facts and evidence. We don't want to publicize unsubstantiated theories. Everyone has theories, however we can't come out and say this is what actually happened unless we have something to back that up. Other people can, but that's not the business we are in." Brugos says he thinks anything is possible. "If you are staying together as a group, as a family of four, it's probably a little more difficult. If you want the kids to go to school, questions are asked, and with the Internet everybody is an amateur detective." Mike and his mother get reported sightings of the McStays on a regular basis. They come from all over the country. Mike, who says he chases them all down, recently received a tip from Belize, where his brother owned property. "Every time one comes your heart pumps and you hope to God that this is it," Blake says, "and when it's not you fall apart. It's heartbreaking and very hard." She isn't giving up. Neither is Mike, though both are mindful that ultimately the truth could be devastating. "Until my dying day I will try to resolve this thing. I have to know where my brother and my family are," Mike says. "I'm going to have to stick with this for the rest of my life. Until we have closure. So that we can have some peace. I know all of us need peace." Blake says the search for her family is the biggest fight of her life. "I refuse to give up. I hope to God, but at the same time it's been three years. "How can a family of four just disappear?" | McStay family went missing nearly three years ago .
Surveillance video shows four people of similar size crossing into Mexico .
Relatives dispute author's claim that wife was involved in disappearance . |
192,577 | 854898758fc800a8bec09eff03b1625093ae4865 | (CNN) -- Psy's new song "Hangover" featuring Snoop Dogg dropped three days ago and the video has already racked up more than 31 million views on YouTube. That's actually a pretty slow start for the Korean superstar, considering "Gangnam Style" became the first video to pass two billion hits a week ago, while his follow-up single "Gentleman" also broke a record for the most views in 24 hours -- it currently has 694 million views on YouTube. The "Hangover" video shows Psy taking Snoop on a ridiculous guided tour of what he does best -- hardcore drinking, Korean-style. This involves endless bomb shots, hanging out at a jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse), throwing up and karaoke with strangers -- with one particularly surreal scene of Snoop, Psy and and two Korean women blithely skipping through an amusement park, presumably drunk. True to the premise, Psy told CNN he was actually hungover when the song came out. Promotions for the new song kicked off Sunday on Jimmy Kimmel, with the unlikely trio of Kimmel, Psy and Snoop heading to a local karaoke bar in Los Angeles and bringing the house down with their yodeling. We asked Psy to talk about his hot new collaboration. CNN: How were you introduced to Snoop Dogg? Psy: My manager Scooter Braun put me in touch with him at my request. When I first wrote this track, I thought that Snoop's slow rapping would fit perfectly with my rapping on this track, so I asked him to put me in touch with Snoop and it's how it all happened. CNN: Who came up with the ideas for the video? Psy: When I first spoke with Snoop on the phone to discuss the collaboration idea, Snoop loved the title of the song, and I immediately suggested to him during that first conversation to shoot the music video in Korea and show us getting drunk and getting hungover in the most traditional Korean way. CNN: Where was the video filmed and who chose the locations? Psy: It was shot in Incheon. I chose that location because Snoop only had 18 hours to shoot the video. Since he was going to arrive at Incheon International Airport, I wanted to shoot the entire video in an area that is the closest to the airport to get the most out of those 18 hours. CNN: What was the filming process like? Psy: I initially told him that the shoot would be very relaxed and that he would only be in five scenes to entice him to come to Seoul and shoot the video. He ended up being in more than 20 scenes in more than 10 different locations within those 18 hours. CNN: Why did you decide to go with a different director this time? Psy: I co-directed this video so technically it's the same director, but my co-director [Cha Eun-taek] was different from that of "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" [co-directed by Cho Soo-hyun] because the type of the song is different -- electronic dance music versus 808 hip hop -- and I also wanted my fans to experience something different. CNN: What surprised you about working with Snoop Dogg? Psy: We all know how diligent Snoop is. He is all about working hard every time -- haha. I am just joking. I was very surprised working with him because he ended up shooting 20 different scenes in a short time -- it was a tough schedule, but he was a total pro and I appreciated it so much. CNN: How did you celebrate passing two billion views of "Gangnam Style"? Psy: I really did not have a chance or time to celebrate because I immediately flew to LA for the Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance and other promos. CNN: What are some events/concerts/collaborations coming up for you? Although I cannot say at this moment who I collaborated with this past year [for an upcoming EP], but what I can tell you is that I worked with some big name artists! Psy's new EP is slated to come out later this year. The lead single on the EP "Daddy" will be released this summer. | Psy and Snoop Dogg shot new "Hangover" music video in Incheon, South Korea .
Video shows traditional Korean style of drinking and partying .
Psy's EP will be released later this year . |
45,349 | 7fcdcd0571faa3076c254d1b75e086faafa62aa6 | (CNN) -- Rainstorms and flooding in southern China have killed at least 16 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless, according to state-run media. Residents in Rongcheng, southwest China's Guangxi region on July 4. Authorities had sent text messages to more than 1 million people to take precautions in southern China, the Xinhua news agency said Saturday. More than 400,000 residents total were forced from their homes in Fujian, Guangxi Zhuang, Hunan and Jiangxi. At least two people were missing in southeast Fujian Province after downpours that started Wednesday, according to the news agency. The financial damage caused by the rain and flooding -- including damaged homes and crops -- was estimated at $35.4 million. Destruction included a flooded reservoir and damaged dike in Luocheng County, where fears of a dam collapse forced evacuations. The storms also disrupted traffic, triggered landslides and cut electricity in various parts of southern China. | Storms disrupted traffic, triggered landslides, cut electricity across southern China .
Media: Authorities send precautionary text messages to more than 1 million people .
Financial damage caused by rain, flooding has been estimated at $35.4 million . |
176,477 | 70761ab05e4e6083fc01561eff8081fbda9bb34e | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 20:56 EST, 22 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:45 EST, 23 July 2013 . Sir Ian Andrews, who is chairman of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, has been accused of protecting the industry his wife plays a prominent role in . A senior police officer who refused to . name companies that hired corrupt private investigators is married to a . leading figure in the industry. Yesterday it emerged that the wife of . Sir Ian Andrews, chairman of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, is a . senior lawyer for G3 Good Governance Group, a global security and . investigations firm. Moira Andrews worked for the Crown . Prosecution Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before . taking the role of general counsel for the firm in 2011. Last night MPs raised concerns that . Sir Ian, a former Ministry of Defence mandarin, had failed to disclose . his wife’s job when giving evidence about private investigators to the . Home Affairs Committee in June. A senior Conservative member of the . committee, James Clappison, said: ‘Although it is not strictly required . of witnesses, it would have been wise for Sir Ian to have declared this . relationship, especially given the circumstances of this extremely . sensitive inquiry. ‘I am very surprised that he failed to mention this.’ Soca said last night that Sir Ian ‘did . not consider there to be a conflict of interest that should be . declared’ and would write to Home Secretary Theresa May and committee . chairman Keith Vaz to explain this. It later published a letter to Mr . Vaz in which Sir Ian said it was a ‘matter of public record’ that after . leaving the FCO in 2011 his wife worked for G3, ‘amongst other . independent interests’. He described G3 as a ‘strategic . advisory consultancy specialising in providing advice on managing . opportunities, risk mitigation, governance and regulatory compliance, . particularly in emerging markets’. SOCA has attracted criticism for its lack of transparency from senior MPs who are investigating the scandal . He distanced himself from decisions . about the report and the inquiry into private investigators, saying . these were ‘completed or initiated’ before he became chairman of Soca. He said the decision to keep a list of . those using private investigators secret was made by the agency’s . director general, Trevor Pearce, on legal advice. A spokesman for Mr Vaz said he was ‘not aware’ of Mrs Andrews’ employment. G3 said: ‘It is a matter of public . record that Moira Andrews has been general counsel of G3 Good Governance . Group since 2011, a role which she has filled on a part-time basis.’ | Sir Ian Andrews is a head of national police agency SOCA .
He may face questions over his wife's role at a private eye firm . |
32,897 | 5d752d6cf00318e9789e1f7b7c2dac8140b4173e | By . Emma Glanfield . These pictures reveal the latest designs for the next set of luxurious multi-million pound suites planned for the revamped Battersea Power Station. More than £600million of property inside the iconic building has already been sold after phase one, Circus West, was launched earlier this year. Now, developers behind the revamp, Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), have unveiled the latest designs and prices of the second phase of plush apartments – which are to be put on a ‘London-only’ sale in May. Scroll down for video . Developers behind the revamp of Battersea Power Station have unveiled the latest designs of the plush apartments which will boast 'bold, beautiful and generously-sized' living spaces, pictured . Guide prices for the homes also include one-bedroom apartments from £1 million, two-bed apartments from £1.5 million and three-bedroom homes starting from £2.7 million. A penthouse price is available only on application . Around 254 homes will be released as part of the next stage of redevelopment – with prices for a studio apartment starting from £800,000 and ranging up to £4million for a four bedroom home. Guide prices for the homes also include one-bedroom apartments from £1 million, two-bed apartments from £1.5 million and three-bedroom homes starting from £2.7 million. A penthouse price is available only on application. The old power station, which sits on the banks of the River Thames, has become one of London's best-loved landmarks, with numerous failed attempts to revive the Grade II listed building over the past three decades. It was designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also worked on other well-known structures including Liverpool Cathedral, London’s Waterloo Bridge and Bankside Power Station which has since become the Tate Modern. He also designed the iconic red telephone box before his death in 1960. Since Battersea Power Station ceased generating electricity in the 1980s, development proposals for what is Europe's largest brick building have included a Disneyland, a nightclub, a football club and just about everything in between. Now owned by a consortium of Malaysian investors, the 39-acre site is being completely redeveloped to include a six-acre public park, office space for 5,000 people, around 200 shops and restaurants and leisure and recreation facilities. The new homes will boast ‘bold, beautiful and generously-sized’ living spaces and will fall into two styles across three different locations of the landmark building - The Switch House East, The Switch House West, and Boiler House Square at the top. More than 250 apartments and townhouses built within the iconic Battersea Power Station are set to go on the market in an exclusive 'London-only' sale on May 1 . Since Battersea Power Station ceased generating electricity in the 1980s, development proposals for what is Europe's largest brick building have included a Disneyland, a nightclub, a football club and just about everything in between . A number of apartments will sit in the original fabric of the building, among exposed brickwork and industrial fittings, while other homes, in a ‘panoramic, glazed style’ will be on top of the power station looking out over the River Thames, or back onto the famous Boiler House facade. All of them will have access to more than 1.5 acres of roof top gardens while many will have their own private outdoor space. Boiler House Square will be on top of the tall, central Boiler House between the chimneys with two new storeys built around an open, landscaped garden square with a central skylight, while Switch House East and West will lie on the longer, lateral flanks of the power station. The interiors have been designed by London-based interior designers Michaelis Boyd Architects, who describe the style as ‘refined industrialauthentic, highly tactile and visually dramatic’, and will be around 40% larger than average new build developments in London, according to developers. Rob Tincknell, Battersea Power Station Development Company chief executive, said: ‘This launch is genuinely a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of a small number of very special bespoke residences that have been meticulously designed to reflect the quality and detailing applied to Giles Gilbert Scott's original masterpiece. A number of apartments will sit in the original fabric of the building, among exposed brickwork and industrial fittings, pictured, while other homes, in a 'panoramic, glazed style' will be on top of the power station looking out over the River Thames, or back onto the famous Boiler House facade . The converted Battersea Power Station will be surrounded by a modern garden area featuring an array of plants and seating areas, pictured, where residents will be able to relax and take in the view of the extensive redevelopment . ‘Being significantly larger than many other comparable new home residences in London and with the best in class design and specification, homes at the Power Station have been designed with a view to attracting owner-occupiers who want to be at the heart of the vibrant community planned for the Power Station.’ The launch of the new properties at Battersea Power Station will be held in London only on May 1 as part of a commitment to prioritise UK buyers. Prospective buyers will have to register their interest and attend allocated sales appointments. The redevelopment of the building will create 15,000 new jobs, 3,500 new homes and a privately-funded extension of the London Underground at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station. The revamped Power Station will feature 200 shops and restaurants a state-of-the-art performance venue, cinema, six-acre riverside park and a new Underground tube station, which will connect to the Northern line . More than £600million of property inside the iconic building has already been sold after phase one, Circus West, was launched earlier this year. Preparatory work on the site began in 2012, and the first properties are expected to be completed by 2016 . Construction work on the site will begin in the summer and will see the removal and individual rebuilding of the four iconic white chimneys of the Grade-II building, to avoid their possible collapse. Preparatory work on the site began in 2012, and the first properties are expected to be completed by 2016. The former power station is considered a prime example of 1930s Art Deco architecture and was made famous on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album. The latest stage in the development will see flats marketed in London alone, as developers aim to entice people already living in the capital to the new community. Construction work will begin in the summer and will see the removal and rebuilding of the four iconic white chimneys, to avoid their possible collapse . The power station was decommissioned in 1983 and has stood empty while a series of plans to redevelop it failed. It is now owned by a consortium of Malaysian investors and will be completely redeveloped to include a six-acre public park, office space for 5,000 people, around 200 shops and restaurants and leisure and recreation facilities . Pink Floyd's Animals album cover, pictured, which was released in 1977, featured the iconic Battersea Power Station building with a flying pig floating above it . 1926: The site of a super-station at Battersea is first mooted, with its proposed location causing a storm of protest. Plans are approved by Electricity Commissioners the following year. 1930: Battersea A, the first of the two adjacent power stations begins to take shape. Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is appointed and tasked with connecting Battersea Power Station’s architectural features. The steel frame is enveloped in a brick skin and the chimneys pre-cast in concrete. Distinctive fluting is designed for the brick cladding and chimney bases.1933: The first two 69MW generating units in Battersea A begin operating. Two years later, a further 105MW generating set completes Battersea A. Design and presentation throughout the finished building reflects its eminent position in the industry.Battersea . Battersea Power Station, pictured, was designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also worked on other well-known structures including Liverpool Cathedral and London¿s Waterloo Bridge. He also designed the iconic red telephone box . 1937: Construction begins on Battersea B. With war imminent, brick and concrete covers are constructed for the turbo– alternators and shelters built over existing glass. 1939: Construction of Battersea B continues throughout World War II. A survey by Architectural Magazine finds that the power station is the second most popular modern building in the country. 1944: Battersea B comes into service.1953: With the last 100MW set commissioned the overall capacity is 509MW. Battersea generates a fifth of London’s power, with 28 stations taking care of the rest. It has a higher thermal efficiency than any other power station.1955: The fourth and final chimney is completed, making the power station the largest brick building in Europe.1975: Battersea A ceases generation after 42 years.1976: Pink Floyd suspends an inflatable pink pig between The Power Station’s chimneys, for its ‘Animals’ album cover. Chaos ensues when the pig breaks free and flies into a Heathrow flight path.1980: In recognition of its Art Deco splendour, the Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine lists Battersea Power Station as a building of special architectural and historical interest.1982: Battersea B ceases operations.1984: Battersea Leisure wins a development competition run by The Department of Environment and The Central Electricity Generating Board with plans for a leisure and entertainment complex.1987: John Broome purchases the site.1989: With initial demolition complete, including removal of the Boiler House roof and west wall, funding runs out and Battersea Leisure ceases trading.1993: Hong Kong-based consortium Parkview International buys the site and embarks on a series of schemes and planning applications.2006: Real Estate Opportunities (REO) plc, majority-owned by Irish developer Treasury Holdings, purchases the site and appoints Rafael Viñoly’s practice to devise a new master plan.2010: The London Borough of Wandsworth grants planning for a development of 7.9m sq ft – one of the largest planning consents granted in central London.2010: Following the collapse of the Irish real estate market, the Irish agency NAMA and Lloyds TSB foreclose on REO loans and administrators Ernst & Young (E&Y) are appointed.2012: In June, it is announced that SP Setia and Sime Darby have entered into an exclusive agreement with Ernst & Young, NAMA and LloydsTSB to purchase Battersea Power Station. Wandsworth Council greets the announcement by stating that the deal is 'very good news.' In September the purchase is completed.2013: Battersea Power Station launches its public sales. | 254 luxury homes built within the landmark Grade II* power station set to go on the market in a 'London-only' sale .
Prices range from £800,000 for studio flat, to £2.7million for a three bedroom home and £4million for a four bedroom .
Redevelopment to create 15,000 new jobs, 3,500 homes and will feature restaurants and a new Underground station . |
51,917 | 930900d4e0b84a4669997e9564b176672b76d6d7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:20 EST, 22 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:19 EST, 22 May 2012 . Arrested: Thomas Langenbach, 47, was caught swapping bar codes on boxes of Lego at Target in Cupertino . A top Silicon Valley executive has been switching bar codes on Lego boxes in a scam to buy the toys at huge discounts, according to authorities. Thomas Langenbach, 47, is vice-president of SAP, a global software company in Palo Alto, California. He is expected to be arraigned today on four felony counts of burglary at Santa Clara County Court. The 47-year-old was being watched by security at several Target stores after his purchases were flagged as suspicious. On May 8, staff at the Target branch in Cupertino recognised him and placed him under surveillance. He was caught red-handed covering the store's labels with his own. When he walked out with a set, which he didn't pay full price for, security apprehended him and called the police. Langenbach carried out the scam by making his own bar codes using his software skills, according to police. He would then surreptitiously switch the tags before going to the check-out point. It allowed him to buy a $279 box of Millenium Falcon box for just $49, for example. Liz Wylie, of Mountain View police, told Mercury News that Langenbach was caught on CCTV performing the scam with expensive Lego kits. When his multimillion-dollar home in San Carlos was searched by police, they discovered hundreds of Lego boxes stashed inside. The bricks were ordered by size, color and style. Scroll down for video . Scam: Langenbach, 47, was seen on CCTV at several Target stores switching bar codes on huge boxes of Lego to buy them at massive discount . Operation: The tech executive allegedly sold more than 2,000 Lego boxes on eBay for $30,000 . The tech executive allegedly sold more than 2,000 items on eBay for around $30,000 under the name 'tomsbrickyard'. Authorities found a bag of pre-made bar codes in Langenbach's car. He was arrested on May 9 and charged with stealing seven boxes of Lego worth $1,000. He posted $10,000 bail on the same day. The tech executive's motives were unclear but authorities suggested he may have acted out of 'boredom or compulsion'. Ms Wylie said: 'In his house, we found hundreds of boxes of unopened Lego sets... The motive was clearly money. Why does he want the money? I don't know. I can think of a million different possible scenarios.' Baffling: Lagenbach's motive for stealing the Lego was unclear considering he is VP of a multinational tech company and lives in this multimillion dollar home in San Carlos, California . SAP, the software company that the 47-year-old works for, offers a detailed guide on their website how to create bar codes. Lagenbach has been with SAP since 1988 and moved to the company's Palo Alto base in 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has a degree in computer science and business administration from Berufsakademie Mannheim university in Germany. Prime Target: Langenbach was caught carrying out his scheme to underpay for hundreds of boxes of Lego at the store in Cupertino (left) | Software executive, 47, hit Target on several occasions .
Police found toys stashed at his multimillion dollar home .
His company SAP offer guide to printing bar codes on website . |
137,932 | 3e642d9d681be730bc746c7d1e164a2492af68f4 | Solving the mystery of how 900-year-old African coins ended up in remote Australia could not only recast the history of foreign contact Down Under, but shed light on Aboriginal rock art. How the ancient Kilwa coins, believed to date from about 1100, came to be discovered on the Wessels Islands off the Northern Territory in 1944 has long posed questions about foreign visits to far off Australian shores. Australian Ian McIntosh, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University-Purdue University in the United States, said rock art found on the islands -- which includes one image which appears to show a type of European sailing vessel -- could hold some clues. The Kilwa coins were discovered lying in the sand by Royal Australian Air Force radar operator Maurie Isenberg during World War II . Isenberg initially tried to sell the coins but was unsuccessful. He put them away for decades and it wasn't until 1979 that he sent them to a museum for identification . 'A big part of the next stage will be documenting, dating and interpreting (the art), together with indigenous peoples,' McIntosh told AFP from his home in Indiana. The Kilwa coins were discovered lying in the sand by Royal Australian Air Force radar operator Maurie Isenberg during World War II when he was stationed on the island as the Pacific conflict raged. He found nine coins in all, five African copper pieces and four Dutch coins of European origin which are not nearly as old. Isenberg initially tried to sell the coins but was unsuccessful. He put them away for decades and it wasn't until 1979 that he sent them to a museum for identification, along with a map showing where he had found them. McIntosh said there were several theories on the coins, including that they were washed ashore after a shipwreck. The coins - believed to have originated in the medieval sultanate of Kilwa- have led to speculation that parts of northern Australia were visited by other mariners from as far away as the Middle East and Africa . One explanation could be that a known Indonesian, a shipwreck survivor who lived his life on the Wessels Islands, could have brought the coins to the area . European sailors are known to have sailed the coast of Australia in the 1600s, but it wasn't until captain James Cook landed in Sydney's Botany Bay in 1770 that the British laid claim to the country. The coins -- believed to have originated in the medieval sultanate of Kilwa, an area which is now in Tanzania -- have led to speculation that parts of northern Australia were visited by other mariners from as far away as the Middle East and Africa. As McIntosh wrote in a recent paper for the journal 'Australian Folklore', in terms of the chain of events in the discovery, 'the argument for the involvement of Kilwa traders and also the Portuguese is quite compelling'. He notes the sea route from Kilwa in east Africa to Oman and then onto India, Malaysia and Australia's close neighbour Indonesia was well established by the 1500s and probably for many hundreds of years before that. The coins were found on a beach on the Wessel Islands. The islands, pictured here at marker A, are off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia. They were a key strategic position during the Second World War . Aboriginal Australians are thought to have first arrived on the Australian mainland by boat from the Malay Archipelago between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago. However, the first known landing in Australia by Europeans was by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. Other Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century, and dubbed the continent 'New Holland.' In 1770, British explorer Captain James Cook explored the east coast of Australia. The British penal colony was then first established at Botany Bay in January 1788. During the following century, the British established other colonies on the continent. This reduced the number of indigenous Australians because of conflict with the colonists and new diseases bought over from Europe. Australia fought with the British during both world wars. McIntosh said a number of his team felt the coins had simply been washed ashore but admitted 'we're still toying with a whole bunch of ideas here'. The academic said one explanation could be that a known Indonesian, a shipwreck survivor who lived his life on the Wessels Islands, could have brought the coins to the area. The coins, he speculates, may have represented this man's 'worldly wealth'. McIntosh said an expedition he led in July to the site where the coins were discovered, which involved an intensive search in the harsh terrain, had not uncovered any further coins. 'Over the past couple of years, we've developed a whole series of hypotheses to explain how those coins might have got from East Africa to northern Australia,' he said. 'The whole point of this initial site survey was to try and get enough evidence to push us in particular directions.' What the researchers did uncover was the Aboriginal rock art and some potential evidence of shipwrecks -- a not unlikely proposition given the dangerous reefs off the islands -- in the form of a six-foot piece of timber from a boat. McIntosh said the scientists would work with indigenous people to look at the art and see whether it matches any known ship types, adding that there were multiple stories of interaction in the past with 'different people -- black and white from somewhere else, not Aboriginal.' For now the mystery remains. 'These coins probably remained in circulation for a couple of hundred years but only in the vicinity of East Africa, beyond that they didn't have value,' McIntosh said, adding that other coins of this type had only been found in Zimbabwe and Oman. 'Nowhere else in the world have they been found, except for northern Australia," said McIntosh. "Very unusual. That's had everybody puzzled.' Australian scientist and professor at Indiana University, Ian McIntosh, points to the location where the copper coins were found . | Coins date back to six centuries before Captain Cook claimed the island for the British throne in 1770- but where they came from remains a mystery .
Last month rock art was found that may provide clues about their origin .
Scientists hope to match the ships depicted in the art with known vessels . |
210,510 | 9ca0a44bde16bf88e5a614ed8913d880faf80f1c | New Delhi (CNN) -- Police in the Maldives arrested the Indian Ocean nation's former president Mohamed Nasheed on Monday after he didn't show up for a trial over accusations against him of abuse of power. His arrest is the latest twist in the political turmoil this year that has shaken the Maldives, a popular tourist destination consisting of hundreds of coral islands south of India. Read more: The Maldives - Trouble in paradise . The authorities took Nasheed into custody at around 9:45 a.m. local time while he was campaigning on a remote island of the archipelago for upcoming presidential elections, according to police and the former president's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). "We believe Nasheed's arrest is politically motivated, aimed solely at preventing him from campaigning ahead of the presidential elections," Ahmed Naseem, who served as foreign minister under Nasheed, said in a statement on the party's website. Nasheed, the predominantly Muslim nation's first democratically elected president, resigned in February amid a police revolt prompted by his arrest of a top criminal court judge. Read more: Maldives tense after day of street violence . The former president and his supporters say he was forced from office at gunpoint in a coup orchestrated by his political opponents. But his successor and former vice president, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, insists the transfer of power was legitimate. The Maldives Police Service say the trial at the Hulhumale Court relates to Nasheed's arrest of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed earlier this year. The court issued the arrest warrant Sunday to ensure Nasheed attends the next hearing of the case, police said. Read more: Maldives' deposed president faces arrest as wife flees to Sri Lanka . Nasheed said last week that he hadn't received a court summons requiring him to attend the next hearing. He said he had written to the court to request that the hearing be rescheduled until after his planned return to the capital, Male, on Oct. 13. But the authorities were unwilling to wait and arrested Nasheed on the southern island of Fares-Maathoda on Monday. Photos made available by the MDP showed him surrounded by more than a dozen police officers wearing helmets and body armor. Naseem, the former foreign minister, accused the police of using "disproportionate force" to arrest Nasheed. "They landed on this tiny island dressed in full SWAT gear and carrying weapons," he said. "They behaved aggressively, and sometimes violently, towards Nasheed's supporters." Read more: Former Maldives president beaten, his party says . Nasheed and the MDP have questioned the legitimacy of the trial, saying that judges in the Maldives had been upset by the party's campaign for judicial reform. "It is impossible for any MDP Member, let alone President Nasheed to get a fair trial here," Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, a party spokesman, said last month. Nasheed is already familiar with the Maldives' courts and prisons. Prior to becoming president, he was arrested as a journalist several times and held as a political prisoner. Read more: Maldives president resigns after police revolt . He was a fierce critic of the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years before Nasheed defeated him in elections in 2008. Nasheed accused Gayoom of running the country with an iron fist, crushing dissent, amassing wealth and stacking his administration with friends and relatives. But Gayoom is still considered a hero by many in Maldives who credit him for transforming a fishing culture into a tourist nation. CNN's Harmeet Shah Singh reported from New Delhi, and Jethro Mullen from Hong Kong. | A court has issued an arrest warrant for ex-president Mohamed Nasheed .
Police arrest him while he campaigns for upcoming elections .
Nasheed and his supporters say he was forced from power in a coup in February .
But the authorities want him to stand trial over allegations of abuse of power . |
213,572 | a0999d2b70b17dd3146b19b5821d1961e3ac5db3 | By . David Kent . After citing the heat as a contributing factor in their loss to Costa Rica, Italy were again sweating it out on Sunday ahead of their decisive Group D match against Uruguay. That clash on Tuesday in Natal, which will decide the second team to go through to the round of 16 with Costa Rica after England's elimination, will be in similar conditions and another 1pm local time kick-off. Midfielder Thiago Motto claimed the Italians were at a disadvantage due to the 'crazy heat' in Arena Pernambuco in Recife, where a header from Costa Rica's Brian Ruiz was enough to hand them a defeat. But with Tuesday's clash just north of Recife in the coastal city of Natal set to be no different coach Cesare Prandelli had his side out in the heat of the day in preparation for the match they must win or draw. VIDEO Italy and Uruguay set for crucial Group D clash . Cooling down: Mario Malotelli pours water over his head in a bid to turn down the temperature in Natal . Sweating it: Italy claimed the heat in their match against Costa Rica was a factor, but Tuesday will be the same . Preparations: Balotelli is the man in the middle during training in Natal ahead of their clash with Uruguay . Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon admits the 1-0 loss to Costa Rica was draining, both physically and emotionally after they only just beat England courtesy of a Mario Balotelli header. 'Of . course this time we have to carry the loss to Costa Rica as baggage and . that could make it seem tougher than it is,' Buffon said. Their place in the tournament is nothing new for Buffon, who is the third player to be part of five World Cup squads along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. 'It's really not that bad of a situation,' Buffon said Sunday. 'This is the 10th tournament I'm playing with Italy and in 10 tournaments only one time - in last year's Confederations Cup - were we already qualified by the third match ... So it's not like much has changed.' Buffon went to the 1998 Cup though he didn't play, but he's held the starting place since 2002. Heated: Buffon (right) and Prandelli talk during training in Natal on Sunday . Laying down the law: Prandelli addresses his team, which must win or draw to make the round of 16 . Buffon showed he could still be decisive in the third-place match of last year's Confederations Cup, when he stopped three penalties in a shootout win over Uruguay. That was after a 2-2 draw in which Edinson Cavani scored both goals for Uruguay. And Cavani is not even Uruguay's most dangerous striker, as Luis Suarez showed when he scored both goals in a 2-1 win over England on Thursday. 'Cavani and Suarez are a great attack duo but it's not like we're just realising that now,' Buffon said. 'They have confirmed themselves for many years with the national team and individually with their clubs. It's normal when you face a squad of Uruguay's caliber that there are quality players.' Mario Balotelli has spearheaded Italy's attack for the opening two matches but coach Cesare Prandelli could add Ciro Immobile up front against Uruguay. Immobile led Serie A with 22 goals for Torino before completing a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, just days before flying to Brazil. But his only action thus far was in the final 17 minutes of the Azzurri's 2-1 win over England in their opening match. Extra striker: The Serie A's top scorer Ciro Immobile (centre) could line up with Balotelli against Uruguay . Work out: Italy do the hard yards under bright blue skies . 'I don't think Mario and Ciro have ever played together,' Buffon said. 'It would be something new that would carry all of the associated risks - and benefits.' Italy will also probably be without key defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi, which could prompt coach Cesare Prandelli to revert from a four-man defense to the three-man formation employed by three-time Serie A champion Juventus. Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli - who each play for the Turin club - would fill those places. 'Our coach is always able to find the right balance in situations like this,' Buffon said. 'He's a maestro at that. ... We're definitely going to need a warm heart and a cold head. We can't throw away our self-confidence for one poor match.' No matter what happens on Tuesday, it won't be easy for Italy. 'If we are eliminated after the first round it would be a failure,' Buffon said. 'It would be a personal disappointment and nobody would hide from that. But if we advance we're going to face hostile opponents and that's where the real problems start.' | Italy play Uruguay on Tuesday in a crucial World Cup clash for both countries .
The match will decide which team progresses along with Costa Rica to the last 16 of Brazil 2014 .
Mario Balotelli and the Italy squad were training hard on Sunday in preparation for the big upcoming fixture . |
171,865 | 6a6fa4171cce0fa08a9211c1f9907be53be742e2 | Fiddling with tiny padlocks and trying to remember combinations could be a thing of the past for travellers. A new digital lock has been launched, allowing tourists to lock and unlock their suitcase with a swipe of their iPhone. The eGeeTouch lock, from US company Digipas, claims to offer a hassle-free alternative to normal locks and keys, offering increased security because you will need a specific smartphone or tablet to use it. Scroll down for video . You can now open your luggage lock with your smartphone, removing the need to remember combinations . The eGeeTouch uses NFC, a feature found on most smartphones, to open and close the mechanism . The lock is battery operated which will last for three years, but it can also be charged via USB, and uses NFC (Near Field Communications) to operate; a feature that is compatible with most smartphones. However, the product also comes with a pre-paired fob and sticker that is specific to that particular combination - working in a similar way to a lock and key. It was decided to use NFC technology as, unlike Bluetooth, there is no pairing code to input. The package also includes a pre-paired fob should your phone not have NFC enabled . The eGeeTouch Smart Lock will be able to be purchased in a variety of colours and designs . The company's website states: 'The world's-first eGeeTouch Smart Luggage Lock elevates your travel experience offering hassle free and improved security of luggage to accommodate increasing highly mobile worldwide travelers. 'This smart lock is embedded with state-of-art intelligent proximity access security technology to effectively eradicate disadvantages associated with traditional keyed and combination padlocks. The new Smart Lock will provide relief to passengers who are prone to losing keys . 'The Smart Luggage Lock is innovated for incredibly ease-of-use plus high security protection offering hassle-free and peace of mind experience to the frequent travelers and holiday makers which the traditional luggage locks are unable to match.' The design has also been recognised in the Tech for Better World category at the 2015 CES Innovation awards. 'We are truly honored and privileged to be named a winner of the prestigious CES Innovation Awards which, to us, is a significant endorsement and validation of our leading-edge innovation and products,' said Dr Jim Li, inventor & group CEO for Digipas. MailOnline Travel has contacted Digipas to establish the projected guide price of the Smart Lock. In the worst-case scenario, and you haven't charged your batteries up however, there is a mechanical key that can be used to open the lock. So maybe it's not time for the lock key to make a permanent exit just yet. | Digipas launches NFC-operated eGeeTouch Smart Luggage Lock .
Smartphones, tablets and smartwatches can operate lock .
Different to other Bluetooth locks as no pair code is required . |
112,931 | 1db6b6e793e11f52dc09cdf499847dae8e639a0a | By . Derek Lawrenson for the Daily Mail . For Europe's Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, choosing his three wild card selections for the match at Gleneagles later this month proved an exercise in the three Rs. There was romance in opting for Stephen Gallacher to make his cup debut at a venue just 30 or so miles from his home in Linlithgow. There was Ian Poulter, the racing certainty. Then came cold reality, and the agonising decision of having to choose between Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. McGinley was standing next to him as his foursomes partner when Donald almost died of stage fright on his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004. 'He was just besotted with nerves for the first six holes,' he said. VIDEO Scroll down for From pro shop to the tour, Ian Poulter's incredible story . Big decision: Europe captain Paul McGinley announces his wildcards to face the United States . Left out: Luke Donald has been left out of the European Ryder Cup team by captain McGinley . Demanded inclusion: Stephen Gallacher's blistering recent form has earned him a wildcard . Only one celebrating now: Lee Westwood (right) and Donald drink to Ryder Cup success two years ago . Since 2000, European captains' picks have a hugely impressive Ryder Cup record: . Wins - 25 . Losses - 11 . Halves - 7 . Europe have won five Ryder Cups out of six in that period. The Dubliner has been there every step of the way, watching the Englishman grow into one of the finest Ryder Cup players of all time. But still he felt he couldn't pick him. 'It was the shortest of short heads between Lee and Luke,' confirmed McGinley. 'But in August at the Bridgestone Invitational and the USPGA Championship we saw a little flourish of form from Lee that Luke was not able to show. There were no green shoots of form from him and that proved the difference.' Sometimes you shake your head in amazement on these occasions but McGinley is such a clear thinker that even if you disagreed with any of his choices you had to respect the sound logic. Forget the red herring that he would be hidebound by statistics. 'These selections were primarily about a captain's instincts,' he said, which is as it should be. At the press conference at Wentworth, the excitement felt by Gallacher, even down a crackly phone line, was plain. 'I've been dreaming about playing in the Ryder Cup all my days,' said the 39-year-old Scot, and given the identity of his uncle Bernard — eight times a player, thrice captain — it might almost literally be true. VIDEO Paul McGinley announces wildcards . Missing pieces of the jigsaw: The three wildcard names are added to a board displaying Europe's team . Line-ups: The United States wildcards are set to be revealed late on Tuesday by Tom Watson . McGinley's boys: The full European team to take on the United States later this month . VIDEO Ian Poulter's incredible story . For: . Gallacher's last five strokeplay results at Gleneagles are: 2nd (2013), 6th (2012), 6th (2011), 14th (2010), 10th (2008). Against: . The Scot has never won a singles match in seven attempts at a major event. He has played in the World Golf Championship matchplay event, the Royal Trophy, the Seve Trophy, Volvo Match Play and the Eurasia Cup. It was vital for the health of European golf that a player who went out to the Italian Open last week and came so close to the top two finish he needed to make the team automatically — he finished third — received his due. Imagine if he had been overlooked? What sort of message would that have sent out, going forward, to all those who loyally support the European Tour? After qualifying for the team in similar circumstances in 2004, McGinley (below) recognised that more than anyone. 'Picking Stephen was an easy one,' he said. 'He showed me last week he deserved a place on this team. It wasn't just the 65 he shot on Sunday, the second best round of anyone on the day. On Friday he stood 14 shots off the lead at one point but came home in 30 and showed exactly how much he wanted it. 'Let's be clear. I haven't done Stephen a favour by picking him. His performances demanded he be picked.' The other easy one was Poulter, currently on a wondrous run of seven successive victories in Ryder Cup matches. 'He's always up for the Ryder Cup challenge, isn't he?' said McGinley, smiling, and the Englishman was only too willing to concur. 'I made 24 birdies in the tournament last week and the encouraging thing for me is that I am starting to hole some putts again,' said Poulter. 'I've got three weeks now and I can guarantee I will be ready.' Then came the difficult bit. The pick that left a knot in McGinley's stomach. The first call he made after making his mind up was to Donald, to get the worst bit out of the way. 'He was desperately disappointed and I know the next time I see him in person it is going to be a very difficult conversation,' said McGinley. The man to beat: Rory McIlroy is the leading figure on the European team for Gleneagles . Miracle at Medinah: Europe's team celebrate their remarkable success in Chicago in 2012 . Mr Ryder Cup: Ian Poulter has an incredible record in the event and was never likely to be left out . 'Let's not get it out of perspective. There are much harder things to take in life than the Ryder Cup. But in sporting terms it was the hardest phone call I have ever had to make.' The other thing that swung it Westwood's way was his influence in the locker room, a fact recognised by the player himself. 'I think I've got more experience than most captains and if Paul wants me to practise with the rookies or talk to them or help in any way, almost like a playing vice-captain if you like, I'm very happy to do that,' he said. This will be Westwood's ninth Ryder Cup — only Sir Nick Faldo (11), Christy O'Connor and Bernhard Langer (both 10) have played more — and the pride he feels is obvious. This is only the second time he has been picked, and he recognised he will be under more pressure. But the man who admitted he lost his spark in July is sounding a lot more like his old, formidable self. The Ryder Cup can do that for a man. 'The spark is definitely back, I'm swinging the club a lot better and I'm more focused,' said Westwood, who will add this week's Wales Open to his schedule before the Ryder Cup to make sure he is acclimatised. The three selections complete a strong European team, led by current major winners Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer. It won't be as easy at Gleneagles as many think — the Americans are better than advertised — but the home side will deservedly start as clear favourites. Rory McIlroy . Age: 25 . Country: Northern Ireland . Ryder Cup record: P9 W4 L3 H2 — points 5 . Did you know? McIlroy nominated Wayne Rooney and George W Bush when he did the ice bucket challenge. Henrik Stenson . Age: 38 . Country: Sweden . Ryder Cup record: P7 W2 L3 H2 — points 3 . Did you know? Stenson’s father also plays gold, but he only picked it up when he got tired of waiting for his son in the driving range car park. Victor Dubuisson . Age: 24 Country: France . Ryder Cup record: Not palyed . Did you know? When he isn’t playing, Dubuisson enjoys fishing with his friends and family . Jamie Donaldson . Age: 38 . Country: Wales . Ryder Cup record: Not played . Did you know? Donaldson said in a Twitter Q&A that his ideal fourball would include Tiger Woods, Hugh Hefner and Ben Hogan. Sergio Garcia . Age: 34 . Country: Spain . Ryder Cup record: P28 W16 L8 H4 — points 18 . Did you know? Sergio Garcia’s girlfriend, Katharina Boehm, is a former college golf star who has caddied for Garcia during tournaments. Justin Rose . Age: 30 Country: England . Ryder Cup record: P9 W6 L3 H0 — points 6 . Did you know? By the age of 14, Rose was a plus one handicap. Martin Kaymer . Age: 29 . Country: Germany . Ryder Cup record: P6 W3 L2 H1 — points 3.5 . Did you know? Kaymer’s father, who taught both his sons golf from an early age, forbade them from using tees. Thomas Bjorn . Age: 43 . Country: Denmark . Ryder Cup record: P6 W3 L2 H1 — points 3.5 . Did you know? Bjorn also loves football and supports Liverpool. Graeme McDowell . Age: 35 . Country: Northern Ireland . Ryder Cup record: P12 W5 L5 H2 — points 6 . Did you know? McDowell supports Manchester United and missed the 2011 Masters par-3 tournament to watch them play Chelsea. Stephen Gallacher . Age: 39 . Country: Scotland . Ryder Cup record: Not played . Did you know? Gallacher is the cousin of Sky Sports news presenter Kirsty Gallacher. Ian Poulter . Age: 38 . Country: England . Ryder Cup record: P9 W6 L3 H0 — points 12 . Did you know? Poulter is an avid car collector. Lee Westwood . Age: 41 . Country: England . Ryder Cup record: P37 W18 L13 H6 — points 21 . Did you know? Nottingham Trent University presented Westwood — born nearby in Workshop — with an Honorary degree as a Doctor of Science in 2007. | Europe captain Paul McGinley has named his Ryder Cup wildcards .
McGinley makes announcement at Wentworth Golf Club on Tuesday .
Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher get the nod .
Luke Donald is biggest name to miss out .
Rory McIlroy leads nine players who qualified automatically . |
91,120 | 0132e11e7c90319fd96bb8913d57450e4798ed7d | It is 45 years since John Wayne took home an Oscar for his role as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. But today the wily US Marshal made an unlikely comeback: in a news flash about a prison break. In a shambolic mix up on WDKY Fox 56, a picture of the late actor's iconic role flashed on viewers' screen with the caption 'Michael Fleet' - the name of a convicted thief who escaped from a Kentucky prison last week. Comeback: John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn appeared on Fox viewers' screens in a story about a prison break . Similar? The character, for which Wayne won an Oscar, was used instead of Michael Fleet's mugshot (right) His face, complete with eye patch and cowboy hat, appeared alongside that of serial burglar Joshua Stephenson, the other inmate who ran from his cell and hid in his ex-girlfriend's apartment for five days. Apologizing for the confusion, station managers explained the photo Cogburn is the default image for mugshots before they are uploaded. Due to an error before the 10pm screening, Michael Fleet's mugshot was not programmed into the segment, leaving viewers with Wayne's growling expression. Fleet, who escaped Blackburn Correctional Center, is still on the run. Slip up: The station said the Marshal from True Grit is the default image for mugshots before they are uploaded . A '60s classic: Wayne, who died in 1979, was lauded for his role alongside Katharine Hepburn in the movie . Stephenson, 23, was detained on Thursday after police received a tip-off. The mother of his child told police Stephenson, who is in the middle of a five-year term, called her last week saying he had been released from prison and was coming to see her, Fox 19 reported. By 12.30am on Thursday, he was booked into Butler Country jail and charged with holding the woman in her apartment against her will. He is also facing a felony escape charge. | WDKY Fox 56 used picture of John Wayne's True Grit character Rooster Cogburn and captioned it 'Michael Fleet', the name of an escaped inmate .
It came in a segment about two thieves on the run from Kentucky prison .
Wayne, who died in 1979, won an Oscar for the role in 1969 .
Cogburn is the default for mugshots before they are uploaded, station said . |
275,899 | f16b46e3f0b23e6fbae6ffaa621c64eae9389515 | By . Hayley Peterson . PUBLISHED: . 19:48 EST, 24 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:12 EST, 26 September 2013 . NBC Sports has sparked outrage for airing an NRA-sponsored show in which the host kills an elephant by shooting it in the face. In a highlighted reel from this week's episode of 'Under Wild Skies,' host Tony Makris - who is a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association - is filmed hunting an elephant in Botswana with a guide. Makris and the guide hide behind brush about 20 feet away from the animal and talk about shooting it in the face, before Makris fires a couple shots. Scroll down for video . 'Under Wild Skies' host Tony Makris stands beside an elephant he just killed with the help of a hunting guide (right) Makris explains how he was aiming for the elephant's face when he fired several shots at the animal . Makris, pictured, hits the animal - but does not kill it. The elephant shrieks in pain and runs off, but doesn't get far enough away to escape its fate. 'I'm bent over literally shootin' through a hole in the trees,' he says to the guide, just before firing the two shots. He hits the animal, but does not kill it. The elephant cries out in pain and runs off, but doesn't get far enough away to escape its fate. Makris fires another shot and the animal lets out a long, loud groan. Then Makris begins chuckling. 'Somebody got a little cheeky there,' he says breathlessly, apparently referring to the elephant's struggle to stay alive. 'Can we shoot some birds this afternoon, or...?' he adds. In the next shot, Makris and the hunting guide are standing next to the lifeless elephant. The elephant that was killed during the filming of 'Under Wild Skies' is pictured while still alive . Makris and the guide hide behind brush about 20 feet away from the animal and talk about shooting it in the face, before Makris fires a couple shots . 'You snuck us right in this guy's . bedroom,' Makris says, marveling at his work. 'I mean look at this, this . is where he hangs out!' 'He didn't know we were here, but what a hunt!' Afterwards, the men celebrate by drinking champagne. Deadspin, which first reported on the show, points out that a ban on hunting elephants is set to go into effect in Botswana in 2014. Some NBC Sports viewers are now calling on the network to cancel the show. Twitter user Mike Potter called NBC's airing of the show 'outrageous, obscene, unforgivable and just plain wrong.' Another user added: 'Shame on you for "Under Wild Skies." Elephants are endangered and this is NOT a sport. I will no longer watch NBC Sports.' Makris is the chairman of Mercury Group, a public relations agency that is largely responsible for transforming the NRA from a sportsman's group into one of Washington's most powerful lobbying organizations . On Facebook, David Dunaway posted to the 'Under Wild Skies' page, 'Dear NBC Sports: This is a huge mistake. I am pretty disgusted that you would show elephant hunting.' After the kill, the men celebrated by drinking champagne . User Alex Kenney tweeted, 'You aired an elephant being shot in the face?...for sport? If I find out this 'Under Wild Skies' show isn't cancelled GOODBYE [NBC Sports Network].' On Facebook, David Dunaway posted to the 'Under Wild Skies' page, 'Dear NBC Sports: This is a huge mistake. I am pretty disgusted that you would show elephant hunting. Your brand is terribly damaded by this.' Andrew Schaefer added: 'How anyone could glorify that type of killing is beyond me, let alone televise it when children are watching? We couldn't change the channel fast enough.' Makris is the chairman of Mercury Group, a public relations agency that is largely responsible for transforming the NRA from a sportsman's group into one of Washington's most powerful lobbying organizations, according to a February 2013 article in the Washington Post. | 'Under Wild Skies' is hosted by Tony Makris, a lobbyist for .
the National Rifle Association .
In a highlighted reel from this week's episode, Makris travels to Botswana and hunts an elephant, shooting it several times before it dies .
Makris laughs as the animal lets out one last groan after the final shot and then he jokes about wanting to hunt for birds .
Makris celebrates the hunt by drinking champagne .
Some NBC Sports viewers are now calling on the network to cancel the show . |
240,172 | c2ec63d9687eff4081946e5c00311df1f7d99103 | By . Wills Robinson . Police have arrested a 60-year-old Elvis impersonator after a firearms scare at his country home sparked a manhunt. Derrel Weaver was detained after the search which was prompted by an incident at Higher Widlake Farm in Widegates, Cornwall, on Thursday evening. Members of the public had been warned not to approach the motorcycle enthusiast during the search which involved armed officers and local police. Manhunt: Derrel Weaver was being sought after an incident at his home, Higher Widlake Farm in Widegates, Cornwall, on Thursday evening . Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they had arrested Weaver in the early hours of this moning. A spokesman said: 'The man was located on land in Widegates by police officers shortly before 9.30pm on Friday. Two firearms were seized nearby. 'He was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and will be taken into custody at Launceston police station. 'He has first been taken to a local hospital for a medical assessment as a precaution. 'Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the enquiry at this time.' Officers were called to a farm in the village around 9.30pm on Thursday following a domestic incident. Armed police were brought in to assist the search in the narrow country roads of Widegates, Cornwall . A large police presence, including firearms and local officers, remained in the Widegates area while a man was sought in connection with the incident. Trenode Church of England Primary School was closed yesterday as a precaution following consultation with the head teacher. Assistant Chief Constable Andy Bickley said today: 'We would like to thank the public for its support and assistance with this matter. 'We would particularly like to praise the local community in Widegates for its patience and calm in the face of a large police presence throughout the day. Tribute: Mr Weaver describes himself on social media as a rock n roll singer and a professional tree surgeon who trained with the National Trust . 'We are thankful that this matter has now been brought to a safe conclusion.' On a Google Plus page for Mr Weaver, he is described as having founded The 750Fours, a club for owners of Honda CB750 motorbikes. A statement on the About section adds: 'Derrel is lead singer with the Rock n Roll Revival Band DW & The Road Rockets, and has also launched a successful solo career, releasing eight albums to date.' The page describes Mr Weaver's occupation as 'Rock n Roll Singer' and adds that he runs his own tree surgery business, having been trained by the National Trust. Albums released by Mr Weaver, priced at £9.99, include covers of numerous Elvis songs such as Blue Suede Shoes and Return To Sender. Motoring fan: On a Google Plus page for Mr Weaver, he is described as having founded The 750Fours, a club for owners of Honda CB750 motorbikes . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Derrel Weaver, 60, was being sought after an incident at his Cornwall home .
Was believed to have access to guns at Higher Wildlake Farm in Widegates .
He was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and detained .
Armed officers and local police were involved in the search yesterday . |
136,900 | 3d15e46edd8edaf2e5f0ba9cac25e2349e380824 | It should have been the happiest day of their lives, a time for celebration and feasting on the £5,000 buffet spread. But for Mateisz and Joanna Golbow, both 22, their wedding day quickly turned in to a nightmare as almost the entire 120-strong guest list were struck down with food poisoning at the reception. The newly-weds realised something was awry when their guests kept disappearing to the toilet, before excusing themselves and making a swift exit. The couple (left) look elated on their special day, but the smiles quickly turned to frowns (right) when almost their entire guest were struck down with food poisoning and had to keep dashing to the toilet . The chicken, eggs and salad at the buffet spread at the reception all contained some dangerous bacteria . The guests, pictured here at the wedding, later complained about upset stomachs and vomiting from the food . But the couple were so busy entertaining their guests they had failed to eat any thing and did not notice the extent of the disaster until the end of the reception. The guests who attended the wedding in Rudolowice, a village in south-eastern Poland complained of upset stomachs, vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches. Recounting her 'special' day, the devastated bride said: 'Every hour there were fewer and fewer people as they disappeared into the toilets and then went home or to hospital. 'Me and Mateusz had been so busy enjoying ourselves and socialising, we hadn't bothered to eat anything so we didn't notice until the end. 'And as nobody wanted to ruin our special day they didn't tell us what the problem was until we phoned the next day and asked why everyone had left so soon. 'Then it became clear that with everyone having the same symptoms, it was food poisoning. Mateisz and Joanna Golbow, both 22, said the catering company that supplied the food had ignored them . Groom Mateusz added: 'Eighty people, including a one-year-old child, were treated for food poisoning. 'We then found out that the chicken, eggs and salads all contained some dangerous bacteria. 'We had to throw away more than £5,000 worth of food that had been left over and when we contacted the catering company they ignored us and now won't even answer the phone. 'What should have been the happiest day of our life turned out to be the worst for our friends and family.' | Guests attended reception in Rudolowice, village in south-eastern Poland .
Newly-weds realised something was awry when people kept going to toilet .
But they had not eaten anything so did not notice full extent of problem .
Only became clear at end of reception that everyone had food poisoning .
Chicken, eggs and salads in £5,000 buffet contained dangerous bacteria . |
128,351 | 31df13d139894dd8fb4bba312bfcf85b91325b4d | Real estate mogul and 'The Apprentice' star Donald Trump isn't running for president yet, but he is sounding more and more like someone who believes there's a path to the White House opening up before him. 'I can tell you there's a very substantial chance I will (run),' Trump told MailOnline in an interview Monday before he spoke at an event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington. But 'I don't want to put a number on it,' he said, when asked whether the chance of a Trump candidacy was better than 50-50. He is, however, lining up support in key early primary states and taking pre-emptive swipes at potential rivals, both classic behaviors of the species POTUS seekus. Next month Trump will appear at three separate events in Iowa, one of the three marquee states whose Republican voters will anoint a front-runner in the 2016 presidential nomination contest. READY FOR HIS FIRESIDE CHAT: Trump's no-holds-barred style draws massive crowds, and he insists his hair is all-natural . EARLY THROWDOWN: Trump claimed conservative Republican Sen. Ted Cruz 'has a problem because he was born in Canada,' raising the specter of a new birther controversy . One of those speaking engagements will be a 'freedom summit' where he will jockey for stage time with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, former U.S. ambassador John Bolton and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina – all names familiar to those in the 2016 campaign-watching business. Sources tell MailOnline that Trump also has political events lined up in New Hampshire and South Carolina – the other two crucial early primary states – although they haven't yet been announced publicly. 'Everybody wants me in there,' Trump said of his nationwide support among Republican leaders. 'I helped lots of people get elected (this year). I did lots of robocalls for people. Everybody I did a robocall for won.' A GOP political operative in Iowa said Monday night that Trump is 'one of a kind, and that scares the hell out of a lot of people.' 'I don't think he's serious, but can you imagine if he were?' the campaign adviser asked. 'Holy s**t, would that be fun to watch. And he's so rich he wouldn't have to kiss anyone's *ss for donations' 'He's a loose cannon with a private jet. I can't wait.' During his public remarks Monday evening, Trump reiterated that he is 'considering' a run 'very strongly. A lot of people believe I'm having fun with it, and I enjoy the process, but the country's in serious trouble.' 'I think we need someone very good, very fast, or we'll be in a lot of trouble,' Trump said, scoffing at critics who say 'that I'm playing games.' He said he would announce a decision 'sometime after the beginning of the year. Probably sometime in March, April or May.' The billionaire insisted that he 'would rather do what I'm doing than run for president, but I love the country more.' 'Until I see someone I think is outstanding, I'd be inclined to do it.' MailOnline asked him on Monday for his estimation of six potential presidential front-runners, including three Democrats and three fellow Republicans. Former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, he said, is 'a front-runner, but we've seen that before,' referring to her 2008 crash-and-burn at the hands of Barack Obama. Trump cautioned that Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another Democrat, could give Hillary her 2016 Waterloo moment. 'If she runs it's going to be very tough for Hillary,' he said. 'I don't know if it's going to be that easy for her to get the nomination. I would say Elizabeth Warren is going to be competition for her.' Trump said he likes Vice President Joe Biden, but 'I don't think he's going to be a factor.' A Monmouth University poll released Monday morning indicates he's right: Biden attracted the support of just 2 per cent of Democrats. On the Republican side, he had much harsher things to say – an indication that he has a primary fight on his mind. Outgoing Texas Gov. Rick Perry, he said, will continue to be dogged by a 2011 debate misstep – the infamous 'Oops' moment – that saw him unable to come up with the names of three federal agencies he had pledged to shut down if he won the White House. 'It's going to be very hard for him – because of what happened the last time around,' Trump said. Then the knives came out. 'I'm a Republican but the last thing we need is another Bush,' he said, referring to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. 'And his position on immigration is ridiculous.' SMACKDOWN: Trump predicted that Hilary Clinton (left), the early Democratic presidential favorite, will face a serious challenge from Massachusetts en. Elizabeth Warren (right) who has staked out more liberal positions . 'LOOSE CANNON WITH A PRIVATE JET': One Iowa campaign adviser who works for GOP candidates said a Trump candidacy would be a blast to watch . 'THE LAST THING WE NEED IS ANOTHER BUSH': The 'Apprentice' star jabbed at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for his position on immigration that mirrors President Barack Obama's . Bush stands out among GOP 2016 hopefuls as the most friendly to Obama's executive decision to guarantee millions of illegal immigrants a deportation-free two years until he leaves office. And Sen. Cruz might attract his own birther controversy, Trump suggested. 'Ted Cruz has a problem because he was born in Canada. He admits he was born in Canada, and I assume that's a problem,' he told MailOnline. The Calgary-born Cruz's father began his life in Cuba and later became a U.S. citizen. His mother was born in the United States. That, say most quoted experts, is enough for Cruz to satisfy the constitutional requirement that only a 'natural born citizen' can be elected president. A Cruz spokesperson confirmed that outlook late Monday night, saying that 'Sen. Cruz is a U.S. citizen by birth, having been born to an American mother.' Trump famously courted controversy by taking credit for Obama's belated release in 2011 of his long-form birth certificate. 'I am really honored and I am really proud, that I was able to do something that nobody else could do,' he said at the time, citing his own bush-beating with public questions about the president's heritage. Trump later offered to donate $5 million to a charity of Obama's choosing if he would release his college and passport applications before October 2012. He explained this year at the National Press Club that he believes the president may have falsely claimed to have been a Kenyan national in order to ease his admission to elite universities in the U.S. Asked to think of a 'single nice thing' to say about the president during a press gaggle after his Economic Club speech, Trump shrugged. 'The one good thing you can say is that he's a good campaigner,' he said. 'But he did it fraudulently because the things he said weren't so.' NOT A FACTOR: Trump doesn't expect Vice President Joe Biden to make any noise at all in the 2016 presidential contest . Trump couldn't come up with anything nice to say about Mrs. Clinton. 'Hillary is someone I know very well,' he said, adding that Bill and Hillary Clinton 'are members of clubs that I have.' 'And it's going to be interesting with Hillary. I think Hillary is going to have some opposition. I don't know if it's going to be that easy for her to get the nomination.' Trump told a capacity audience at the Marriott Marquis hotel in D.C. that America's deteriorating economic conditions would require the next U.S. president to re-think the nation's economic policies. The real unemployment rate, he said, isn't the 5.8 per cent figure that the Bureau of Labor Statistics claims. 'It's probably 20 per cent,' he said, accounting for part-time workers and millions who have 'given up' on the labor market. He also told MailOnline that Senate Democrats' recent release of a 'partisan' report condemning the Central Intelligence Agency's controversial terrorist-torture program 'was an outrage.' 'We paid $40 million for a report that should have never been even contemplated,' he said, suddenly animated. 'And I think it's a great embarrassment to this country, to the CIA, to patriots. I think it's something that should have never even been thought of.' He also said he constantly has to push back against reports that claim he wears the world's worst toupee. 'It's legitimately my hair,' Trump insisted, drawing laughs. | Trump has kept his spotlight hot and raised smirks by speculating about a White House run, but now he's scheduling speeches in early primary states .
'A lot of people believe I'm having fun with it, and I enjoy the process,' he said during an Economic Club of Washington event, but 'the country's in serious trouble'
He lashed out at potential opponents including Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz .
Couldn't come up with a 'single nice thing' to say about Hillary Clinton and insists Sen. Elizabeth Warren will give her serious competition .
Trump has flirted with running for more than a decade but has never pulled the trigger .
One Iowa political consultant says: 'He's a loose cannon with a private jet. I can't wait' |
81,391 | e69bff8b3f72e799e376d868580fbc214e765a2d | (Mashable) -- Rovio Entertainment, known for its intense focus on one mega-successful game title, "Angry Birds," is looking to diversify with another new mobile game called "Amazing Alex." The title is a rebranding of "Casey's Contraptions," which Rovio bought from developers Noel Llopis and Miguel A. Friginal earlier this month. Rovio CEO Mikael Hed told Finnish TV station Yle that the latest game "has an educational element and centers on the main character Alex, a curious young boy who loves to build things." The title is expected to be released within the next two months. "Casey's Contraptions" is another physics-based game along the lines of "Angry Birds." The game features Rube Goldberg-type contraptions that are made from items like balloons, soccer balls, scissors and buckets. Rovio announced the billionth download of "Angry Birds" last week. The company, which released the game in 2009, offers four different versions of the game -- "Angry Birds Space" is the latest. In addition, Rovio is working on a movie, TV show and theme park based on the property. What do you think? Can Rovio be known for something beyond "Angry Birds"? Sound off in the comments. © 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | Rovio Entertainment has bought "Casey's Contraptions" and is rebranding it as "Amazing Alex."
"Casey's Contraptions" is another physics-based game along the lines of "Angry Birds"
The game features Rube Goldberg-type contraptions that are made from items like balloons . |
42,839 | 78d0f776f6c16d1b0ca38792b76aff6ff2bb5baf | By . Chris Pleasance for MailOnline . Tammy Devine, 39, received a letter accusing her of being involved in the accident despite the fact that she only stopped to help victim with a broken arm . A good Samaritan who stopped to help a pedestrian who was nearly killed during a car crash has been told she must pay to clean up after the accident. Tammy Devine, 36, was driving through Hathershaw, in Oldham, last month when she saw the crash and stopped to help. Miss Devine, a mother-of-two, then stayed with the victim, who suffered a broken arm, until emergency services arrived. However last week she received a letter from Oldham Council accusing her of being involved and ordering her to pay for cleaning up. Miss Devine said: 'It was absolutely horrible when I opened the letter. I thought to myself, I have not been involved in a crash, what's going on? 'When I called the council to see what had happened and they mentioned Ashton Road I was shocked because I stopped to help someone. 'I said to police when I called them that I'm worried about helping anyone ever again if it means I'll get a fine.' CCTV footage taken at the scene of the accident shows the moment the victim narrowly avoids being killed as an out-of-control car jumps the curb before hitting a lamppost just in front of her. In the letter, Oldham Council said Miss Devine's Vauxhall Corsa had been involved in the collision, when in fact the crash had been between a blue Audi and a black Mercedes. Scroll down for video . CCTV captured the moment the victim, who has not been identified, narrowly avoided being killed after an out-of-control car mounted the pavement before hitting a lamppost . Miss Devine stopped to help the woman, who suffered a broken arm, and stayed with her until an ambulance came. However last week she was sent a letter telling her she was being fined £457 . Miss Devine said she has been contacting Greater Manchester Police since she got the letter last week, but received no response until reporters contact the force. Officers have now admitted there was a mistake, apologised and agreed to cancel the fine. Oldham Council said they acted on information given to them by Greater Manchester Police. A GMP spokesman said: 'After looking into this matter we can confirm that Tammy Devine had no involvement whatsoever in the road traffic collision that occurred on Ashton Road on August 13. 'Upon arrival at the scene, officers have taken the details of all the vehicles present which unfortunately included Miss Devine's car as she had pulled over to help the injured pedestrian. 'As a result of this the details of the car were passed on to Oldham Council's Highways Department. 'Greater Manchester Police would like to offer its most sincere apologies to Miss Devine for any distress and inconvenience this may have caused her or her family.' After being contacted by reporters, Greater Manchester Police acknowledged they had given the wrong information to the council, and apologised to Miss Devine . | Tammy Devine, 36, stopped at crash scene in Oldham, Greater Manchester .
Waited with victim, who suffered broken arm, until paramedics arrived .
Last week got a letter saying she was involved in accident and had to pay .
Miss Devine, a mother-of-two, says she is now worried about helping again . |
132,921 | 37dde8c8b8988ef61e2c6fe12fc5b0e1af4c5673 | Its quaint cottages, picturesque gardens and towering church spire have earned Painswick the title of ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’. So it’s perhaps of little surprise that residents of the quiet village reacted with fury when a racy lingerie shop opened on their high street. But in an unusual twist to the tale, it was revealed that the risqué boutique of underwear was part of the set for The Casual Vacancy, one of the BBC’s most anticipated dramas of 2015. Outraged residents in Painswick, in the Cotswolds complained about the sex-shop film set for the new BBC adaptation of JK Rowling's book, A Casual Vacancy, starring Keeley Hawes, right . Residents complained to the Parish Council unaware the 'store' was a film set for the adaptation . The drama is based on The Casual Vacancy, written by JK Rowling, pictured, published in 2012 . The cast of high-profile adaptation of JK Rowling’s bestselling book, have spoken of how the fake shop was branded a ‘disgrace’ but also how some sheepish residents came in to browse the aisles, only to be turned away by the film crew. And Miss Marple star Julia McKenzie, 73, said the three-part series could be the last time fans see her on screen for several months, revealing she has had to turn down work after breaking her knee. The 2012 novel from the Harry Potter author, 49, tells the story of the fictional village of Pagford. Its dark themes of drug addiction, sexual abuse and suicide saw it sell one million copies in its first three weeks. But it was the lingerie store of character Samantha Mollison, played by Keeley Hawes, that drew the ire of Painswick residents when their village became the backdrop for the book’s twisting tale. Speaking at a preview of the series, director Johnny Campbell revealed the locals’ anger at thinking a sex shop had opened in their quiet streets. Although, he also admitted the makeshift store did get some enquiring visitors. He said: ‘They did mistake it for the real thing and complained about it at the local parish council meeting, they said it was a disgrace. ‘But there were a couple of occasions when we were filming and an old lady, white hair and a stick, was walking past looking in the window. We said, “Please excuse....”, she said, “Oh no, I’ve got all that stuff.” ‘Someone came in, they thought there was a sale on so we found people looking round at some of the stuff, it was amusing.’ The adaptation which stars Keeley Hawes, left and Julia McKenzie, right, will be broadcast next month . Unlike the fictional Pagford, where drug addiction and murky local politics seem to be the norm, Painswick paints a very different picture. Built largely of stone from a local quarry, it is one of the best preserved villages in the Cotswolds and sits in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of 38 such areas across England and Wales. With a population of barely over 2,000 it is a quiet community but one that is full of history. Its parish church, which dates back nearly 1,000 years, gave refuge to the Roundheads during the English Civil War. There are reportedly 99 yew trees growing in the courtyard, with legend claiming the Devil refuses to let a one hundredth take root. But even the charms of Painswick do not seem to be enough to lure Miss Marple star Julia McKenzie, who plays Shirley Mollison in The Casual Vacancy, back to rural life. She quit the countryside for London some years ago and claimed at Monday’s screening to have no regrets at abandoning the small village lifestyle. She said: ‘I lived in the Cotswolds for about 14 years, I lived in Burford which was actually one of the areas where we filmed. I can tell you there’s a lot of politics in village life. ‘In my particular village for instance, there were some very wealthy people who wanted to buy a new notice board. The arguments about whether it should have a front of glass or on this side or over that side - they gave up because they didn’t want to buy it any more. They don’t have anything else to do but keep an eye on other people. It’s very political on villages.’ Her turn in the series may be the last time she graces screens for several months following breaking her knee at the end of last year. Speaking about the injury for the first time, she said: ‘I broke my knee cap, London streets are not paved with gold I’m afraid, they are pitfalls. I went straight over with an arm full of shopping in November. ‘I thought it would just get better, I thought it was just swollen and I’d be all right. But it wasn’t and I had actually fractured my knee cap. ‘For the last two months I’ve been in a leg brace with iron bits and good knows what, sitting with my foot up all the time. I can’t do with out my crutch at the moment, I’ve lost my confidence a bit. ‘I’m just about to start physio, I’m doing some gentle work now and then I’ll go into about three months of physio. I can’t bend it, it’s so sore. ‘I’ve had to turn down a couple of things which might have taken me into the year but it’s ok. Half the time I actually look for an excuse not to work these days.’ The first episode of The Casual Vacancy will broadcast on BBC1 on Sunday February 15 at 9pm. The drama was filmed over the summer in picturesque Northleach, pictured . | Residents in Painswick in the Cotswolds complained about the new shop .
They were unaware that Samantha's Boudoir was simply a film set .
Some residents even popped in for a browse, television bosses revealed .
The drama, starring Keeley Hawes, is from a book by author JK Rowling .
BBC is due to broadcast The Casual Vacancy next month . |
176,719 | 70c89c6f1c798a1ef652bc95a7a572b9dfe2954d | (CNN) -- America, meet Timothy Bradley. Apparently you aren't very familiar with his work. He's a professional boxer, pretty good one, too. He's won three world championships. But he's not particularly loud and boastful. Nor does he carry a big punch. Nor is he an imposing physical presence, standing just 5-foot-6. He just wins. Saturday night, at the MGM Grand, in front of a pay-per-view audience, he gets to show Americans what they have been missing. A career that started when a rambunctious 10-year-old found his way to the gym in Palm Springs, California, culminates in a 12-round test against one of the two best fighters in the world. Bradley, with 28 wins and no losses (one no contest), gets his chance of a lifetime against Manny Pacquiao, whom we're pretty sure you have heard of. Casual fans, on the whole, think Bradley has no chance. Boxing analysts will say he can win -- if -- but you get a sense they don't think he has much of a chance either. Sports Illiustrated's Bryan Armen Graham predicts a knockout. Pacquiao on boxing and politics . "There's a lot of pressure riding on this," Bradley said by phone while on his team bus a week ago. "By winning this fight, this changes our lives forever. We'll be able to put some money in our pockets, and by winning a huge fight like this we can secure our futures." Bradley will get at least $5 million (plus money from the pay-per-view sales), by far the biggest payday of his career. He promises he will put the money away, so when he retires, he, his wife and three children will have plenty and he won't ever have to come back to the fight game. If you ask anyone outside the Bradley camp why he could win, they don't necessarily point to one thing he does particularly well in the ring. It's his will. "Tim Bradley, in almost every respect is a B-plus fighter but he has A-plus determination that makes him special," said Max Kellerman, a CNN contributor and an analyst for HBO, which like CNN is owned by Time Warner. Bradley said he cannot be outworked. He means in the ring -- and out. On Kellerman's show "Face-Off," Bradley's trainer and Pacquiao's sparred over who works harder in the gym. "I don't think there's anybody that trains harder than this guy," Joel Diaz said. "Manny will train harder than him and that's why we'll win," Freddie Roach retorted. "I don't think so," Diaz answered, a bemused smile crossing his face. "They don't know, they don't know," Bradley added. "They don't know where I come from. They don't know my background." Bradley said his determination comes from life in the tough neighborhood of the North End in Palm Springs. Let's just say there aren't any manicured lawns in that section of town. There was plenty of trouble to be found. Bradley got suspended in second grade for fighting. He got suspended in fourth grade for fighting. He once punched another kid a couple of times for nudging him -- with his wheelchair. When he was 10, the story goes, a friend told him to take his butt to the Palm Springs Boxing Club. Bradley told his dad he wanted to give boxing a shot. Big Ray, as Timothy Bradley Sr. is known, said sure, as long as you listen to your coach -- me -- which sometimes required a good dose of understanding. Once during a workout at the family home, Big Ray, a security officer, wanted to use a medicine ball, but there was none around. "He goes out into the desert and gets a rock," the younger Bradley told HBO, which followed both Bradley and Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) as they prepared for the fight. "He gets a rock! ... He's trying to hit me with a rock on my stomach." Bradley said his dad pushed him until he would cry, then would tell him "You think this is hard, wait until you get in that ring." Kellerman said he talked to the elder Bradley about the difficult training, and Big Ray said his influences were hard-assed football coaches and that was the way he trained his son. Big Ray was also able to use boxing as an enticement to his son, a poor student. The grades and discipline improved when Bradley's parents threatened to hold him out of the ring. Big Ray has been in his son's corner for every fight, through more than 140 amateur battles and his rise through the 140-pound division. As he's fought bigger fights for bigger purses, Bradley has added a few people to his staff, but not many. He likes to keep his team small, preferring family and a few close friends. It's a matter of trust, he said. He just doesn't let many outside people into his circle. It's not like he's an introvert. On the contrary, he's a sociable, friendly guy whom everyone likes. He's definitely not a thug like he was when he was a child. It's a form of protection. "It's a way to keep the leeches out," he said. "I'm making some money now, and lot of people change." Lots of strangers come up to him, shove a card in his hand and offer something. Bradley wonders, "Where were you 10 years ago, eight years ago when I was struggling?" Where were they before he left to fight Junior Witter in 2008, when he boarded the plane to England with just $11 in the bank, knowing he couldn't lose. If he did, he wouldn't be able to afford to be a full-time fighter. When you watch videos of the two boxers doing their running, the stark difference in the entourages hits you like a Pacquiao straight left. What seem like a dozens people or more follow the Filipino legend, while Bradley jogs alone or with a brother-in-law. But unlike training runs of the past, Bradley spends a lot more time waving to folks in the neighborhood. His celebrity has taken off since he signed to fight Pacquiao. Everywhere he goes he stops for pictures, signs autographs, takes a little time to talk to his supporters. The big-money fight has also afforded him the opportunity to add some specialists to his staff. Bradley, who commits to a vegan diet during training camp, has hired a chef from his favorite restaurant to come to Las Vegas so he won't have to eat in the hotel restaurants and fret that he might eat the wrong thing. He has a new massage therapist, who is the wife of his strength coach. Gotta keep it in the "family," he reminded. "You don't want just anybody laying hands on you," he said. There is no doubt that Pacquiao will lay his hands on Bradley plenty on Saturday. Kellerman said Pacquiao's best chance for a knockout will come early. If it goes past five rounds, well, "That'll be a dogfight." Finding the next Manny Pacquiao . Bradley hasn't seemed overwhelmed by increased media attention, the increased fan adoration, the increased pressure from getting in with the mighty Pacquiao. "Once I set foot in that ring it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter what you've done," he said. He echoed earlier comments that his preparation for this fight, essentially the past 18 years, will ensure a legendary victory. "I don't care if he climbed Mount Everest. I don't care if he's walking on water. This is about me," he told reporters last week. "Every morning I wake up and look at myself in the mirror. If I am at my very best, I will win the fight. I will be victorious. I put in the time, the dedication and the hard work." | Timothy Bradley has 29 professional fights and no losses .
Saturday he takes on one of the best fighters in the world, Manny Pacquiao .
Bradley's celebrity has recently taken off, but many don't know his story .
He grew up in the bad part of Palm Springs, California, trained by his dad . |
169,013 | 66a7fc312bda41f89a14d7e334e0f4979e164ba2 | Criminal intent: Actress Brittany Murphy's death in 2009 was initially attributed to pneumonia but a new toxicology report says she may have been slipped rat poisoning or an insecticide . A new toxicology report says rat poisoning may have been the real cause behind the death of actress Brittany Murphy. The mother of the Clueless actress found her dead body on December 20, 2009 and the Los Angeles Coroner originally attributed the death to pneumonia and anemia. Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, followed her in death five months later from the same causes. But according to an independent report ordered by her father, Angelo Bertolotti, Murphy did not die from natural causes, leading some to believe that she and her husband may have been poisoned by a third party. Mr Bertolotti finally secured the release of his daughter's hair, blood and tissue samples for testing after years of litigation and submitted them for independent testing. The Carlson Company found ten heavy metals in Brittany's system which were several times higher than World Health Organization high levels at the time of her death. 'If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals (toxins) administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent,' the report says. Heavy metals are found in most rodenticides and insecticides meaning the actress could have been slipped rat poisoning or bug killer. At the time of her death, Brittany displayed all the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning including: headaches, dizziness, abdominal cramps, coughing, sweating, disorientation, wheezing, congestion and pneumonia. Scroll down for video . Fighting for the truth: The Clueless actress' father Angelo Bertolotti (above) ordered the new toxicology report, and resents the way his daughter's death has been covered in the media . Scene of the crime? Brittany Murphy died at her home in the Hollywood Hills on December 20, 2009. Her husband followed her in death five months later . Who did it? While Murphy's husband Simon Monjack's samples have not yet been independently tested, he exhibited the same symptoms as his wife before his death leading some to believe he too was poisoned . Murphy's husband also exhibited similar symptoms before his death, leading some to believe he too was poisoned. Mother-in-law Sharon discovered his body as well after moving in with him following her daughter's death. 'Vicious rumors, spread by tabloids, unfairly smeared Brittany's reputation,' Mr Bertolotti told the Examiner. 'My daughter was neither anorexic nor a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied. Brittany and Simon were ridiculed by The Hollywood Reporter, when they complained of being under surveillance in fear for their lives. I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany.' At the time of her death, early speculation was that the actress died of a drug overdose or anorexia after years of shocking weight loss. Prescription pills were found in the actress' system, but they were treating a cold and respiratory infection. Murphy was perhaps most famous for her role in 1995's Clueless, but she also had more serious roles in Girl, Interrupted and played Eminem's love interest in 8 Mile - the movie about the rapper's life. At the time of her death, Murphy's career had tapered off and her last major role was in 2004's Little Black Book. Before marrying Monjack, Murphy dated Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in the film Just Married. After breaking up with the actor, she went on to have two serious relationships that led to engagements with talent manager Jeff Kwantinetz and production assistant Joe Macaluso before marrying Monjack, a screenwriter, in May 2007. Exposure to heavy metals found in rat poisoning such as Barium, PNU, Thallium, Strychnine, Zinc Phosphide and Arsenic produce these symptoms: . Headache . Weakness . Nausea . Abdominal pain . Shortness of breath . Vomiting . Dizziness . Gastrointestinal distress . Anorexia . Muscle pain . Painful neuropathy . Hair loss . Anxiety . Muscle twitching . Uncontrolled facial grimacing . Garlic taste in mouth . via Medscape . | The Clueless actress died on December 20, 2009 and the Los Angeles County Coroner said at the time it was due to pneumonia .
A new toxicology report ordered by her father found ten heavy metals in the actress' system, meaning she might have ingested rat poisoning . |
19,561 | 378a939bae831924865f3ba7a53ebd4c1c1b154e | (CNN) -- Clashes between tribesmen and government forces near Yemen's Sanaa International Airport on Wednesday led to its closure. All arriving flights were diverted to Aden, and no flights were taking off from Sanaa, said a Ministry of Transportation official who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the news media. Witnesses said the situation near the airport was chaotic, with explosions, clashes, tribesmen approaching the airport and electricity cut to the surrounding neighborhood. According to the office of Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, a leader of the main opposition al-Hashid tribe, the government is believed to have cut the electricity. The flight restrictions were imposed as anti-regime tribesmen battling Yemeni forces occupied the government's news agency compound and the Tourism Ministry in the capital Wednesday, the latest regime entities to be taken over during this week's street battles, witnesses said. Hundreds of al-Hashid tribal members occupied and surrounded the SABA news agency compound and the tourism building in Sanaa after fighting with government forces in the Hasabah neighborhood. Other ministry buildings in Hasabah also have been seized. They are the Interior, Trade and Commerce, the Education and the Local Administration headquarters. These and other government buildings in Hasabah were evacuated Tuesday night by the Interior Ministry as fighting raged. Yemeni state-run television said supporters loyal to the al-Hashid tribe were shelling government facilities. The fighting broke out after a regionally brokered deal calling for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave office fell through. Saleh himself is a member of the al-Hashid tribe, a huge and powerful entity with many strands. After a march Friday, during which dozens of anti-government demonstrators were killed, al-Ahmar embraced the anti-government demonstrators and broke ranks with the president. Since then, more and more tribal members have turned their backs on the president as well. The violence has attracted international attention. "We expressed our joint concern on the deteriorating situation on the ground," U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters Wednesday in England with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The United States is evaluating the security situation in Yemen, but is not moving to evacuate the embassy, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday. However, the embassy is permitting employees who want to leave to do so. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed fears that the battles might further destabilize the situation and called for "an immediate end to the fighting" and the continuation of efforts to resolve the country's political crisis. Saleh's office called media outlets, including Yemen TV, and issued statements from Saleh defending himself. "I will not be forced by the tribes to enter a civil war," Saleh said. "We will not give in and will fight those who threaten security and stability in the country." Similar clashes Tuesday killed as many as 41 people -- with both sides claiming casualties. Al-Ahmar said 17 men from the al-Hashid tribe were killed in those clashes. The government said 14 soldiers and 10 civilians were killed. Yemen, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda, has been roiled by protests for most of the year amid anti-government demonstrations that have swept across much of the Arab world. Many of the protesters in Yemen want Saleh to step aside after three decades of rule. But representatives of the demonstrators who've taken to the streets for months insist their movement is nonviolent and say they will continue a peaceful revolution as the tribesmen and government forces battle. "The government wants to show the world that our revolution is violent. We tell them no, it is peaceful and will always be peaceful," said Mohammed Saleh Abdullah, a youth revolution leader. Riyadh Areqi, another youth revolution leader, said protests will continue "under all circumstances until Saleh falls and is held accountable for all his crimes."? "What is taking place between the al-Ahmar family and government forces does not involve the Yemeni revolution," he said. "Millions are protesting peacefully today around the country while Saleh sheds the blood of the Yemeni people." Gulf Arab states said Monday that they had suspended efforts to ease the embattled president from office after he once again balked at signing a deal with opposition leaders. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, foreign ministers with the Gulf Cooperation Council said they were dropping the deal "for lack of appropriate circumstances for agreement." The council is made up of representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. Under its plan, Saleh would have ceded power to a transitional government after 30 days. At his meeting Wednesday with Cameron, Obama noted that Yemenis want a "more unified and more secure" nation and "greater opportunity and prosperity." "We are proud of the leadership of the Gulf Cooperation Council in seeking an orderly and peaceful resolution to the crisis, and we call on President Saleh to move immediately on his commitment to transfer power." Opposition leaders signed the pact Saturday, but Saleh said he would not go along unless the opposition re-signed the agreement at a public ceremony at his presidential palace, which was surrounded by armed pro-government protesters. Opposition members have long contended that Saleh had no intention of signing the agreement. Saleh said Wednesday that he's "willing to sign the proposal, but on the basis of dialogue." "I will not give any more concessions in order to step down," he said. Journalist Jeb Boone contributed to this report. | NEW: All arriving flights diverted; no flights are taking off .
President Ali Abdullah Saleh is a member of the powerful al-Hashid tribe .
The United States is not moving to evacuate its embassy .
Al-Hashid tribal members occupy government's news agency compound, Tourism Ministry . |
245,600 | c9e4e461b6f284e81de500c64b7f91cf168e0c02 | Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- A magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit southern Iran on Saturday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said, a day after another moderate quake in the country's northeast left 170 people injured. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from Saturday's earthquake that struck about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Kerman, the USGS said. Friday's magnitude 5.6 earthquake rocked the northern agricultural city of Torbat-e Heydarieh for about 10 seconds, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Three villages in the city and 10 others nearby were damaged, and 170 people were injured, IRNA said. Ten people were hospitalized, IRNA said. There was concern Saturday because the Torbat-e Heydarieh quake has produced no aftershocks. Mahmoud Mozaffar, the head of the Red Crescent Society's Rescue Division, told IRNA that could mean a larger earthquake is imminent. The Red Crescent set up 300 tents in Torbat-e Heydarieh to house those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Iran lies on a series of seismic fault lines and experiences earthquakes almost daily. At times they have devasting consequences, most notably in December 2003, when a 6.6-magnitude quake devastated the ancient city of Bam in southeast Iran and killed at least 30,000 people. Last year, an earthquake struck Hormozgan province in southern Iran, injuring about 700 people in the port city of Bandar Abbas, state media reported. In 2008, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck in Hormozgan, demolishing nearly 200 villages and killing at least six people. | Magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits southern Iran on Saturday .
It follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake Friday .
170 people were injured in Friday's quake . |
269,324 | e8d9ff5a2008a6524adb677225eb7e255a07c20c | (CNN) -- Coming out of the closets of our culture seems to be the thing to do these days, but it is not a new phenomenon. In the inaugural issue of Ms. magazine in 1972, dozens of American women signed a statement declaring "We Have Had Abortions," even though abortion was still mostly illegal in the United States. Celebrity names dotted the list—Gloria Steinem, Nora Ephron, Lillian Hellman and Billie Jean King among them. This consciousness-raising maneuver played a key role in changing public attitudes toward abortion. It contributed to what legal scholars Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegel call the "successive waves of arguments" that "prompted growing public support for liberalizing access to abortion." A year later, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision decriminalized most abortions. In 1978, former first lady Betty Ford entered the Long Beach Naval Hospital's Drug and Rehabilitation Service, and publicly admitted her own alcohol and drug dependency. In 1982, she became founding director of the Betty Ford Center for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. While many remained silent, celebrities Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor and Ali MacGraw all chose to openly share their experience at the center. At a 1991 press conference, NBA megastar Magic Johnson announced that he had tested positive for HIV. He retired from basketball and subsequently served as a public voice for HIV-AIDS education, prevention and anti-discrimination efforts. Opinion: Jolie's choice carries risks along with benefits . Last month, NBA player Jason Collins announced that he is gay. While he justly deserves praise for an action that puts him among the first active American athletes in any of the four major professional team sports to publicly so identify, it has also been widely noted that he is far from early or alone in the coming out ranks of major athletes. Celebrity names already dot that list too -- Greg Louganis, Martina Navratilova, Sheryl Swoopes and former NFL player Wade Davis among them. Tuesday, Angelina Jolie made public the fact that she elected to undergo a double mastectomy, at the age of 37. This was her attempt to lower her risk of breast cancer, given the fact that she carries "the breast cancer gene." She hopes to encourage other women to consider the potentially life-saving procedure for themselves. No doubt, other women will now come forward. A new list of celebrity names will coalesce. What is particularly remarkable about the public statement made by Angelina Jolie is that she is a young, beautiful, sex symbol. She risks her career by changing her image in this way. To medicalize her breasts in the public's perception is potentially to de-sexualize them. The bodily care of cancer prevention is far from the glamorous dream world that Hollywood sells. Clearly, Jolie has chosen the high moral ground of trying to save lives by publicizing the procedure and stating that she feels as beautiful as ever. We should be grateful for her straightforward and courageous statement. Indeed, we should be grateful for all -- celebrities or not --who have driven social change by publicly outing themselves. It is arguable that we might not have had as much support for abortion reform, or addiction treatment, or HIV-AIDS research, or marriage equality, without them. Destigmatizing cancer prevention surgery will happen more quickly if celebrities and others get publicly vocal about their personal health choices. Sambolin: I feel empowered, supported in cancer fight . Importantly, abortion and addiction and HIV-AIDS and love are different issues from preventative mastectomy. Abortion is a difficult but fundamentally ordinary choice in an untenable situation. Addiction is a disease that is relatively well understood, even if it is still difficult to treat. HIV-AIDS is a global pandemic that is by now well known. Marriage equality is a function of health and happiness in the first place. But the phenomenon of breast cancer still eludes scientists. We still do not know how to prevent it or reliably cure it, save perhaps by surgically removing a vulnerable organ. Furthermore, it seems that a lot of our current ideas about it are not even correct. While the public receives the message that getting regular mammograms is an effective preventive strategy, it has recently been reported that such screenings turn out to be only minimally effective in lowering the morbidity of the disease. As Peggy Orenstein wrote in the New York Times, our war against cancer has been a "feel-good war." In fact, given the incidence of false positives, and of cancers that do not actually need to be treated, such screenings can cause harm. According to a survey of 30 years of screening published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November 2012, as cited by Orenstein, "mammography's impact is decidedly mixed: it does reduce, by a small percentage, the number of women who are told they have late-stage cancer, but it is far more likely to result in over diagnosis and unnecessary treatment, including surgery, weeks of radiation and potentially toxic drugs." When a celebrity such as Angelina Jolie makes such a generous and powerful intervention, it is right for the world to pay attention. But the list needs to grow longer, as well, of those demanding greatly increased support for primary cancer research and stricter environmental controls on the toxic substances we eat and breathe. Cancer needs a social movement demanding change. Otherwise, no matter how many celebrities and others come courageously forward, and how well the world adapts to preventive mastectomy, it will not be enough. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Laura Wexler. | Laura Wexler: Angelina Jolie deserves credit for disclosing her preventive mastectomy .
She says Jolie joins tradition of celebrities whose openness has improved life in America .
Wexler: There's much we don't know about breast cancer; a movement for change is needed . |
269,816 | e9751ceecf1af8b0d0dcc1a594de8921a729dc62 | (CNNGo) -- Such is the evolution of in-flight entertainment that travelers can now fulfill their own needs on flights. One-flick-suits-all journeys are relics of the past. But what exactly is that person watching next to you? And why are they getting so excited? And now why are they crying? Orgasms and tears are on the menu for some airplane movie watchers, it seems -- but they arrive with warnings. Qantas has taken in-flight entertainment to dizzying heights by including among its offerings a 50-minute French documentary "The Female Orgasm Explained," which comes inclusive of naked scenes and reveals the mysteries of female sexual pleasure, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The documentary is part of the airline's "The Edge" channel, which gives new meaning to videos on demand. CNNGo: World's sexiest accents . "With The Edge, we source programs that are out of the ordinary across all genres," Qantas said in a statement. "The Female Orgasm Explained" runs until November. It does come with a warning that the film is for mature audiences only. For crying out loud . While Qantas is warning about sexually explicit material, Virgin Atlantic is giving warnings on a different topic: tears. The Australian reports that Richard Branson's airline surveyed travelers and found that 55 percent had heightened emotions during flight --- funny, that. What's more, 40 percent of men hid under their blankets to hide their tears. (What are Qantas travelers doing under that blanket?) The stories most likely to jerk the tears of those surveyed by Virgin were "Toy Story 3," "Blind Side" and "Eat Pray Love." Oh, cherub, would you like a handkerchief? CNNGo: The world's most expensive city is ... The first two films to carry the new Virgin Atlantic tear warnings will be "Water for Elephants" and "Just Go With It." The warnings will flash on passengers' screens. So it seems crying and female orgasms require warnings. Laughter remains without warnings --- maybe because passengers can do it above their blankets? © 2011 Cable News Network Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved . | Qantas offers a documentary on female orgasm as part of its in-flight entertainment .
The airline warns the documentary is for mature audiences .
Tearjerker movies are labeled as such on Virgin Atlantic . |
13,096 | 2529c64010ec584199ddee46faa3b3ff3fc1cdc9 | (CNN) -- Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti announced his retirement Thursday, a month after a devastating crash in Houston, where he suffered head and spinal injuries. In a statement released through his team, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Franchitti said he made the decision to stop racing based on the advice of doctors who have treated and assessed his injuries. "They have made it very clear that the risks involved in further racing are too great and could be detrimental to my long term well-being. Based on this medical advice, I have no choice but to stop," he said. "Racing has been my life for over 30 years and it's really tough to think that the driving side is now over. I was really looking forward to the 2014 season with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, with a goal of winning a fourth Indianapolis 500 and a fifth IndyCar Series championship." Franchitti suffered a concussion in the wreck as well as fractures to his spine and ankle. The wreck occurred in the last lap of IndyCar's Grand Prix of Houston on October 6, when Japanese driver Takuma Sato bumped Franchitti's car, sending it airborne into the protective fencing. The car spun multiple times against the fence, sending shards of debris flying toward the grandstands and shearing off part of its side. Thirteen spectators were also hurt during the crash. IndyCar Series to review safety after Franchitti crash . The Scotland native won IndyCar racing's top prize in 2012, 2010 and 2007. Franchitti ends his career with 31 IndyCar wins and 33 starts in the No. 1 position. "I'll forever look back on my time racing in CART and the IndyCar Series with fond memories and the relationships I've forged in the sport will last a lifetime," he said. "Hopefully in time, I'll be able to continue in some off-track capacity with the IndyCar Series. I love open-wheel racing and I want to see it succeed." Franchitti was married to actress Ashley Judd for more than 11 years, but the couple announced in January that they were splitting up. Another racing crash casts light on fan safety . | Dario Franchitti was injured in a crash on October 6 at the Grand Prix of Houston .
Franchitti, 40, suffered a concussion as well as fractures to his spine and ankle .
Based on medical advice, he says he has "no choice but to stop"
Franchitti ends his career with 31 IndyCar wins and 33 starts in the No. 1 pole position . |
109,915 | 19ac3606df733fa372b301d1a95b071ca32e5afd | Hoh Indian Reservation, Washington (CNN) -- For the Hoh, life centers on the silver waters just off their reservation. Throughout the tiny Native American tribe's history they have lived and fished on the westernmost point of Washington state where the river that shares their name meets the Pacific Ocean. According to the tribe's legends, the Hoh were created on the river by K'wati or the "Changer" in what the tribe refers to as the "Time of the Beginnings." In Hoh lore the tribe were "upside down people," who walked on their hands and struggled to throw fishing nets with their feet. K'wati, the legend goes, righted them and taught the tribe to live from fishing the river and ocean. Those same waters now threaten the tribe's future. For tribe member and treasurer Amy Benally, the danger can be seen on the doorstep of her family's home that has stood at the mouth of the river for nearly a century. Benally grew up there with 12 members of her family. Now the home is a gutted wreck from repeated flooding. At first the waters took out the garage and the small building Benally's grandfather used to smoke fish. Then the family had to flee upstairs. "We'd see the waves and the logs coming," Benally said standing in the musty ruin of the home. "We'd stand out here on the porch, and my grandfather would get mad at us and tell us to come back into the house. It was pretty scary." Although the lowlands where her family lived were always prone to flooding, Benally said the water rises more often now. "It never used to be this bad," she said. "The river's changed." Ernest Penn, the tribe's fish and wildlife officer, is a constant presence on the river and sees the difference too. Cruising up the river in his boat, Penn showed where heavy rains caused a landslide, where erosion changed the river's bank and where, pointing to a stretch of water, a "big pasture used to be." The flooding is no small problem for a tribe of just under 300 people who occupy a reservation only one square mile in size. Several homes have been abandoned, other homes and the tribe's community center wear permanent necklaces of sandbags to keep away floodwaters. There is little room for new buildings and even where there is it's unlikely they could be put up -- more than 90 percent of the reservation is in the flood plain, according to tribal leadership. There are no clear culprits for the tribe's woes. According to Spencer Reeder, the Washington Department of Ecology's lead strategist for climate change policy, the increased flooding could be due to a combination of factors including global warming, logging upriver and cyclical weather patterns that have brought heavy rains. According to a department study, the coast where the Hoh live could see an additional rise from climate change in sea levels of as much as 3 feet over the next century. Already, when the reservation floods, the water comes up with terrifying speed. Baseball games have been interrupted, said Penn. "We'll be waist deep on the ball field." Last year, Penn decided to move away from the reservation. "I got two little kids, what if the river came up around them?" To rescue the tribe's future the Hoh leadership decided to move most of the reservation to higher ground and purchased new land for the expansion. Before they begin building homes though, the Hoh are waiting for Congress to pass a bill that places 37 acres of national park land in a trust for the tribe. The tribe would not be able to develop that land, but the grant would mean that tribe members will continue to live on one piece of land and help the Hoh obtain funding for new housing. According to a spokesman for Rep. Norm Dicks, the Washington state Democrat who sponsored the bill, Congress is expected to vote on the measure by the end of the year. For Tribal Chairperson Maria Lopez, the move away from the water won't come soon enough. "We are ready to move, we are ready grow," Lopez said looking out at the coastline where a major fault line sits. Tribal lore talks of an earthquake and giant wave that devastated the Pacific Northwest coastline 400 years ago. "What would happen," Lopez asked, "if a tsunami comes while we are here?" | Hoh tribe of Washington state weary of constant flooding .
Several homes have been abandoned, other structures have permanent sandbags .
Tribe will move most of reservation to higher ground, new land has been purchased . |
22,056 | 3e9b5fef870ad541e7a772c0a7f3d84e3ea3ad87 | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 09:40 EST, 14 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:51 EST, 14 May 2013 . The toll of Falklands veterans who have killed themselves since the war ended has been laid bare. An authoritative study of the emotional and mental cost of the conflict discovered 95 troops who fought in the South Atlantic had committed suicide since 1982. But while grim, the findings undermined the claim made by The South Atlantic Medal Association in 2002 that more Falklands veterans had taken their own life than the 255 soldiers who died on the battlefield. Ex Para Stephen Hood, pictured here drinking after the battle of Goose Green, was found dead in his car in January . Police believe Hood, who was found six miles from his home, died of carbon monoxide poisoning . The South Atlantic Medal Association . had said in 2002 it was ‘almost certain’ the number of suicides exceeded . the conflict death toll. But campaigners insisted it still . proved more needed to be done to tackle post-traumatic stress disorder . and mental illness caused by horrors of war. Commodore Andrew Cameron, chief . executive of veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress, said: ‘The . number of Falkland war suicides this study reveals is too many . ‘Indeed, any suicide which is directly linked to service in the Armed Forces is too many. ‘But what this study does, for the . first time, is help us understand the needs of veterans and impact of . psychological injuries long after the guns fall silent. Stephen 'Hank' Hood with his wife Carol, 51, daughter Kirsty Hood, at 23 and son Leigh Hood . ‘What we see is quite a lot of . veterans who talk about or are concerned about suicide. They don’t . follow through but it is still a cry for help.’ Military charities believe the UK is . facing a ‘ticking timebomb’ of ex-servicemen who are suffering . potentially life-changing mental disorders following intense conflicts. In January, ex-Para Stephen Hood – who featured in iconic film footage celebrating victory at the battle of Goose Green – was found died six miles from his home in Rhyl, North Wales. The father-of-two went missing as news bulletins were featuring the latest demands by President de Kirchner for Britain to surrender the Falklands. Television reports included the Goose Green footage of Hood and fellow paratroopers. He was shown smiling at the camera and drinking from a bottle of Bacardi. The same clip featured in the 2006 film This Is England and The Iron Lady, the 2011 film about former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Hood served with 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment in the Falklands, and previously in Northern Ireland. Troops who do not get help for mental . illnesses often face problems including homelessness, social exclusion, . mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse and fall into crime. The Ministry of Defence announced in . 2010 that it would investigate the circumstances of 21,432 Falklands . veterans three decades after the war. The aim was to find out whether suicide rates were more common than in the general population. The study, up to the end of December . 2012, found that 1,335 Falklands troops had died, compared to an . estimated 2,079 deaths if they had experienced the same mortality rate . as the general UK population. It meant the veterans had a 36 per cent . lower risk of dying. Of those Falklands veterans, 95 - or 7 per cent - had killed themselves or a coroner had recorded an open verdict. That meant the veterans were 35 per cent less likely to kill themselves than the general population over the three decades. An MoD spokesman said: ‘Every suicide . is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families and relatives of . all those lost who bravely served in the Falklands conflict. A view of Goose Green, the East Falkland settlement which was recaptured from Argentine forces by paratroopers from the British Falklands Task Force in May 1982 . The Union flag flying over Port Howard, West Falkland, for the first time after the Falklands War started after being hoisted by 40 Commando, Royal Marine . ‘Whilst this extensive study suggests . that the rate of suicide amongst those who served in the conflict is in . fact lower than the UK civilian population we are clear that the mental . health of our personnel and veterans remains a top priority.’ He said the Government had committed . £7.2million to improve mental health support for military personnel, . including creating a 24-hour helpline in conjunction with Combat Stress. The spokesman added: ‘We would . encourage any Falklands veterans or serving personnel who need help to . come forward to access the wide range of support available.’ Veterans or their families can call the helpline on 0800 138 1619. | Government claims fewer ex-service members are likely to commit suicide .
During the war, 237 UK armed forces personnel were killed . |
3,710 | 0abd120228317862a13da0797a520cca56aa1da2 | By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . Michael McIntyre took home a cool £9¿million from his latest stand-up tour . Michael McIntyre has cashed in a £9 million cheque from his latest stand-up comedy tour. The comedian turned BBC1 chat show host, left, pocketed the money for his 73-date Showtime tour, which included ten nights at London’s O2 Arena in 2012. The tour grossed £21 million, putting him on a par with the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith. Now it has been revealed that he . last year paid himself and his wife Kitty the £9.23million that was left . after covering costs and taxes when he wound up the company set up for . the tour, Buddywaldo. Showtime . made McIntyre, 38, one of the highest-grossing comics in the world, and . last year he paid £2.5 million for a six-bedroom house in the Wiltshire . countryside. It is a far cry from his plight a decade ago, when he was £40,000 in debt and struggling on the stand-up circuit. The . BBC paid McIntyre about £500,000 to present his six-part chat show, . which tomorrow features an interview with Nigella Lawson. The . show has had a mixed response from critics, with 400,000 viewers . deserting it in the second week in which the guests were Abbey Clancy, . Jeremy Clarkson and Sir David Jason. He . was also reportedly paid £2 million in advance for his autobiography, . ‘Life and Laughing: My Story’ and has sold over three million DVDs in . the UK. Last year he splashed out £2.5million on a six-bedroom mansion in the Wiltshire countryside. The property is home to the couple and their two young sons Lucas and Oscar and boasts a tennis court and outdoor swimming pool. Hot ticket: McIntyre's Showtime tour grossed £2million, putting him on a par with the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith . He has previously spoken of how he was £40,000 in debt and living in rented accommodation just 10 years ago. His brand of friendly, inoffensive humour has attracted fierce criticism, even among his own peers. Vic Reeves has previously described him as being ‘far too easy and soft’, saying, ‘the same people who think Jedward are funny will go and see Michael McIntyre’. Special guest: The BBC paid McIntyre about £500,000 to present his six-part chat show, which tomorrow features an interview with Nigella Lawson . | The comedian pocketed the money for his 73-date Showtime tour .
The tour included ten nights at London’s O2 Arena in 2012 .
A decade ago he was £40,000 in debt and struggling on the stand-up circuit . |
55,254 | 9c8b99d4907097eab4bd24d3470470f64588ca9c | Tokyo (CNN) -- Toyota on Wednesday announced recalls involving more than 1.5 million vehicles worldwide for issues that could result in fuel leakage, the company said. One recall involves about 1.2 million units of 16 models -- including the Noah and other models -- within Japan and 140,000 Avensis and Tourer models overseas because of faulty fuel pipes that could cause fuel leakage, according to the company. A separate recall involves 245,000 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350 vehicles, 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250 vehicles and 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350 vehicles sold in the United States to inspect the fuel pressure sensor installation, according to a company statement. "Due to insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor connected to certain engine fuel delivery pipes ... there is a possibility that the pressure sensor could loosen over time," the statement said. "Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicle for fuel leakage and if no leakage is found, will tighten the fuel pressure sensor with the proper torque. If a fuel leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced and the sensor will be tightened with the proper torque." The inspection and possible gasket replacement will be conducted at no charge to the vehicle owner, according to the company statement. Toyota said no accidents have been reported in relation to the recalls. CNN's Junko Ogura contributed to this report. | More than 1.3 million vehicles are recalled because of potentially faulty fuel pipes .
An additional 245,000 Lexus cars in the U.S. are recalled for fuel pressure sensor inspection .
Toyota says no accidents have been reported in relation to the recalls . |
7,802 | 161b89d82447a4df4e6ff7dfbfeef178996f6269 | Miami (CNN) -- The 4-year-old girl sobbed as rescuers rushed her ashore. In the boat behind her, the faces of her fellow survivors were painted with "a thousand-yard stare," one witness said Monday. That girl and three others spent 20 hours stranded in stormy water after their 22-foot boat capsized off the Florida Keys over the weekend. They were picked up Sunday afternoon by Coast Guard rescuers. A few hours earlier, David Jensen was maneuvering the Snap Shot, his fishing charter boat, from Duck Key to the open sea when he and others "saw a big object floating in the distance." "The closer I got, I could see a guy waving," Jensen said. They found three men clinging to part of what had been their boat. One charter customer quickly jumped in to help, while others threw life jackets to the men, only one of which could muster the energy to swim over, Jensen said. Once aboard, a language barrier -- the rescued men were Spanish-speaking -- and raw emotions made it difficult to ascertain exactly what had happened. One who did speak English was very upset: "He lost his mother," Jensen explained. Officer Robert Dube of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Monday that a son had tried to hold onto his 79-year-old mother in the hours after their ship went down around noon Saturday. But she slipped away into the rough waters, Dube said, before rescuers could reach her. This victim, later identified as Zaida San Jurjo Gonzalez, and the men had clung to the capsized boat's hull. But four others -- three women and the young girl -- couldn't hold on, and drifted off, Jensen said, based on his conversations with the survivors and authorities. The charter boat captain contacted the Coast Guard after learning others were unaccounted for, and he took his boat out five miles in the direction where the four had drifted away. He saw no signs of them. But rescuers did come upon the four Sunday morning, bringing them aboard near Marathon, which is roughly halfway between Key Largo and Key West, according to a Coast Guard statement . Authorities later learned that the three women, wearing life jackets, had held tight to a floating cooler and took turns holding the girl through the afternoon, night and next morning. "That definitely saved their lives," Dube told CNN. "It could have been a lot worse situation." Wayne Crosby of Captain Hook's Marina and Dive Center said he watched rescuers bring the four to a dock in Marathon on Sunday. They handed the girl off the boat first, he told CNN affiliate WSVN. "They had her all wrapped up. ... She couldn't stop crying. She was panic-stricken," Crosby said. At the dock, rescuers scrambled to tend to all the victims. "They just had that look on their face, like a thousand-yard stare," Crosby told WSVN. The group had suffered multiple jellyfish stings over the course of their ordeal, Dube said. And by Monday, the 4-year-old had been treated for mild hypothermia and exhaustion. But the wildlife officer added that, by then, she appeared to be "in very good spirits." Ernie Perroncello, owner and operator of Sea Tow in Marathon, said weather in the area Saturday when the boat went down was terrible. "You can get yourself in trouble real quick " on the area's water, said Perroncello, whose company salvaged the capsized boat. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux and Dave Alsup contributed to this report. | NEW: A charter captain describes coming upon three men clinging to a capsized boat .
NEW: He says one was upset because "he lost his mother," who had slipped away .
The Coast Guard later rescued four more who'd been on the boat, including a young girl .
A witness says the girl "couldn't stop crying" when rescuers brought her ashore . |
153,971 | 52fee256d6156b31e75af032275b8d771666e062 | By . Alexandra Klausner . PUBLISHED: . 16:43 EST, 16 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:31 EST, 17 November 2013 . Seven cases of meningitis occurred recently on Princeton University's college campus in New Jersey. School Officials are meeting with the trustees this weekend to discuss whether or not to administer students a vaccination. The vaccination in question is the only Meningococcal that prevents against meningitis group B. The Novartis manufactured vaccination called, Bexsero, may be used in Europe and Australia but has not yet been approved in the United States. Princeton will decide whether or not to administer students a meningitis vaccination that has not yet been approved in the United States . Elizabeth powers, a spokesperson for Novartis said they are working with the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health in order to get a vaccine for the school. 'We have filed an Investigational New Drug application for our MenB vaccine in the U.S., but have not yet come to an agreement on a pathway to licensure for this vaccine with regulatory authorities,' Novartis spokeswoman Elizabeth Power told CNN. Martin Mbuga, a spokesman for the Ivy League School, said that the school is working to eradicate the problem as safely as possible. Bexsero is the only vaccine that prevents against the rare type of meningitis B that already infected seven people, one of whom is still hospitalized . The school has been telling students to keep washing their hands, not to share drinks, and to always cover their coughs, reported USA Today. Group B meningitis is a bacterial strain that causes symptoms such as fever, vomiting, stiff neck, headache, confusion, and sensitivity to light. It is characterized as a swelling of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. If left untreated it can cause permanent brain damage, hearing loss, and lead to limb amputations and death. It can be treated with antibiotics. The type of meningitis spreading over the campus is a very rare form that usually only affects children. A professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, William Schaffner, told USA Today that 'Usually, when you see this kind of meningitis on the campus, it's meningitis C," he said. 'This is very, very unusual.' CNN reported that the first case occurred after a student returned to Campus in March after Spring recess. Two months later, six more students and a visitor contracted the disease. Most of the students recovered except for one student who is currently hospitalized after being diagnosed on Nov.8. The Mail Online got the chance to speak to Dr. Daryl Isaacs, an expert in preventative medicine, clinical diagnosis, and travel medicine. He is currently on staff at New York University School of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, and New York Downtown Hospital. He was also featured as the doctor in the popular film, 'SuperSize Me.' Meningitis is spread by exchanging saliva, sharing drinks, or other respiratory secretions . He told the Mail Online, 'All students should get vaccinated before going to college.' 'It's a disease caused by overcrowding,' he said. 'It spreads anywhere there are people such as in dormitories, cafeterias, and prisons.' He also emphasized the dangers of the disease and called it, 'rapidly spreading and highly fatal.' As for whether or not the school should administer the vaccination to its students, he said 'absolutely.' He said most college students are required to be vaccinated before arriving on campus and if students opt out of the meningitis vaccination then they must sign a waiver. He described the outbreak as 'strange' and attributed it to the fact that the vaccinations students are currently required to receive are 'very effective' but may not prevent this rare form. If the board decides to distribute the vaccine, 8,000 students could be offered the preventative measure. Princeton University is an Ivy League University and has a reputation for academic excellence . | Seven cases of a rare form of meningitis B occurred at Princeton University .
School Officials are meeting with trustees over the weekend to decide whether or not to give students a vaccination not yet approved in the United States .
Meningitis is a 'rapidly spreading' and sometimes 'fatal' disease that spreads in crowded places . |
61,199 | add519e612f65b445e79ae9f0e07540a1acddacf | Hunting for your charger and a free plug socket could soon be a thing of the past. This is according to two electricians, who have designed the world’s first portable turbine phone charger that lets people charge their mobile phone using wind power alone. In fact, the generator can power up any item that requires a USB charger for power. Scroll down for video . Called Trinity, the device doesn’t quite mimic the shape of your usual wind turbine. Instead, the product folds together into a 12-inch (30 cm) cylinder. It then unfolds into a vertical turbine that be used to charge USB devices. Inside the turbine is a battery that holds 15,000 mAh and a 15-watt generator. To open the blades, you first need to pull out the legs and arrange them in a tripod or flat. This will then enable the blades to catch the wind and spin, generating power. Plugging a USB device into the base of the turbine will then charge it. To close it up, the legs are pushed back in and the blades closed automatically. To open the product you pull out the aluminium legs and arrange them either into a tripod or on a flat surface. At the top of the legs is a turbine with three blades. These capture the wind and spin, providing green energy for a generator that can supply to 15 watts of power. There is also an internal battery that can store energy if you don’t need it right away. The inventors claim when fully-charged the turbine can charge your phone four to six times. Once . the turbine is out of juice you can either charge it using the wind or . plug it into a wall output, although obviously for clean energy purposes . the former is preferred. The . company is currently running a Kickstarter project for funding, and . they hope to be able to launch the portable turbine commercially by the . start of next year. The Trinity portable wind turbine unfolds to provide clean energy for your phone by harnessing the power of the wind. When spun the rotating blades charge the turbine, which can then be used to power mobile phones . Inside the turbine is a 15-watt generator that powers a 15,000 mAh battery. On the base of the turbine is one USB plug into which you can plug a USB device . The turbine can be unfolded wherever you are, so as long as you've got a breeze you'll be able to charge your phone. The legs can also be laid flat on surfaces . | Trinity is a portable wind turbine that can charge USB devices .
Created by American electricians Einar Agustsson and Agust Agustsson .
The power station folds into a 12-inch cylinder when not in use .
When unfolded, blades are used to catch the wind and charge the station .
USB devices like smartphones can then be plugged in and charged . |
34,609 | 6253a98ce6f21387f028e56c9e277e576c1bb79a | By . Emma Innes . A GP is being investigated amid claims he failed to diagnose a two-year-old with leukaemia and dismissed her symptoms as ‘toddler bruising’. Sarah Sargent, 31, took her daughter, Lacey, to the doctor when worrying bruises began appearing on her body. She claims Dr David Pelta didn’t even get out of his chair during the brief 30 second check-up at Queensway Surgery in Southend, Essex. Lacey Sargent was diagnosed with leukaemia after developing bruising. But, when her mother first took her to the GP, she was sent away and told she had 'toddler bruising' She is pictured before her illness . She said he glanced over his desk, said it was ‘toddler bruising’ and there was nothing he could do and then sent them home. Two days later, Lacey’s condition worsened and Mrs Sargent and her husband Stuart, 30, took their daughter back to see another GP at the surgery. This time, Dr Michael Jack immediately referred Lacey to Southend Hospital where she was diagnosed with leukaemia. In the seven months since, Lacey has had numerous blood transfusions and painful bone marrow tests and been forced to take chemotherapy tablets at home. But the family have finally had some good news after being told the treatment is working. It means Lacey has just one month left of taking medication before she is slowly weaned off the chemotherapy. Lacey's mother, Sarah, says Dr David Pelta just spent 30 seconds with her and that he did not check her over . NHS England IS investigating Dr Pelta who has voluntarily left the practice pending their report. Mrs Sargent, of Southend, Essex, said the GP should be permanently struck off. The mother-of-three said: ‘I took Lacey to see him and he didn’t even get out of his chair. He just peered over the table and said “it’s just toddler bruising”. ‘I just thought “I’m not a doctor, I don’t know” so I left and made another appointment for blood tests in two weeks’ time. ‘The second doctor examined her four times and immediately admitted her to hospital. He knew what was wrong but didn’t want to say. After months of chemotherapy, Lacey is now responding well to treatment and will soon be weaned off medication . ‘When we found out it was awful. You just don’t expect any of your children to come down with leukaemia.’ She added: ‘It has been horrible but she has been happy the whole way through and I’m so proud of her. ‘There is always a chance that it can come back which is extremely scary. I don’t think I could go through it again. ‘Now we want Dr Pelta struck off. We want to protect other families. You have to do your job properly and he didn’t.’ Mrs Sargent says she spoke about her concerns to a pharmacist before seeing Dr Pelta in August last year and they told her Lacey should have a blood test. Dr Pelta is also being investigated by the General Medical Council over separate allegations. He has been placed under a series of restrictions since November last year after concerns over his medical notes. He is one of four doctors who saw a 20-year-old before she died from heart failure. Jodie Fields’ family have refused to accept an inquest ruling that she died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and say her symptoms should have been picked up sooner. A GMC spokeswoman said: ‘I can confirm that the GMC is investigating. ‘Dr Pelta has restrictions on his practice while the investigation is on-going. They were imposed on October 17.’ In a statement released by the Medical Protection Society, Dr Pelta, of Westcliff, Essex, said: ‘While matters are being investigated, I voluntarily agreed not to attend the practice. ‘I cannot comment while there is an investigation taking place.’ Ian Stidston, director of commissioning for NHS England Essex, said he couldn’t comment on individual cases. Fatigue and pale skin - this is because leukaemia can cause anaemia which makes a child feel weak, tired and light-headed. Infections and fever - children with leukaemia lack normal white blood cells which would normally help fight infection. Easy bruising or bleeding - this includes frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bleeding a lot from small cuts. Bone or joint pain - this is caused by a build up of leukaemia cells near the surface of the bone or inside the joint. Swelling of the abdomen - leukaemia cells may collect in the liver and spleen causing them to enlarge. Loss of appetite and weight loss - if the spleen and liver swell, they can press against the stomach causing loss of appetite. Swollen lymph nodes - some leukaemias spread to the lymph nodes causing them to swell. Source: American Cancer Society . | Sarah Sargent took daughter Lacey to the GP with unexplained bruising .
She says Dr David Pelta said it was 'toddler bruising' and sent her home .
Also says he didn't check Lacey over and only spent 30 seconds with her .
Two days later, her condition worsened and she saw a different GP .
She was immediately referred to hospital where she was diagnosed .
After chemotherapy she is now responding well . |
274,165 | ef1d3a758d1b91ff78c2e8526d9e1793e3c9d896 | By . David Kent . Nike have unveiled their latest football, under the name of 'Ordem', which will be used in three of the biggest leagues in Europe - England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A. Each league will use a different colour variation of the ball, with the the Premier League taking the blue edition while La Liga has the orange and Serie A the pink. According to the sportswear company, the Ordem is Nike’s 'most innovative, technologically advanced and aerodynamically tuned ball to date'. True flight: Nike have unveiled their Ordem football, the company's 'most aerodynamically tuned ball to date' Rainbow warriors: Serie A will use the pink edition (L) while La Liga's ball will feature orange (R) The ball consists of 12 fuse-welded panels in a three-layer casing system, and a poly-blend wrapped, free-floating carbon latex bladder. The Ordem also features so-called AEROW TRAC grooves, Nike Football’s latest innovation. The grooves are engineered to grip and channel the air to produce the truest trajectory and most consistent flight, which help ensure stability and accuracy in mid-air. The ball will be available from July 17 and priced at around £95. We go again! Manchester City will be defending their Premier League title using the new football . Power of three: The Ordem will be used in the Premier League, la Liga and Serie A . VIDEO Manchester United sign record shirt deal . | Nike have released the 'Ordem' the official ball of the Barclays Premier League, La Liga and Serie A .
Ball comes in three colour waves with England using the blue edition, Spain the orange and Italy the pink .
Nike claim the latest design is their most 'aerodynamically tuned ball to date'
The Ordem is available from July 17 and priced at around £95 . |
201,791 | 913cc785dbe151b03f76f1009010604780960b67 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 04:06 EST, 28 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:23 EST, 28 March 2013 . A three-time convicted rapist who spent 33 years on the run will finally face justice today. Gary Allen Irving, Massachusetts' number one most dangerous fugitive, is scheduled to appear at a Maine courtroom for the start of extradition proceedings this morning. He is being held after police finally tracked down the violent sex attacker to an address in Gorham, Maine, following a manhunt which has lasted for more than three decades. Justice: Gary Allen Irving, pictured last night (left) and in an old mugshot (right), was finally captured after spending 33 years and 260 days on the run after he was convicted of three rapes in Massachusetts . Officers from Massachusetts Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad and the FBI pounced on a home at 9.15pm last night where he had been living under an assumed name. Officers and agents discovered a fearsome arsenal of weapons during the raid, including seven rifles, two sawn-off shotguns and a handgun, MyFoxBoston reported. Now in his 50s, Irving fled Massachusetts in 1978 after he was convicted of three violent rapes in Norfolk County and sentenced to life in prison. One of his victims was a girl of just 16. He had been on the run for 33 years, 260 days, and was the subject of numerous public appeals for information which could offer clues to his whereabouts. Comparison on his mug shot photos from now and from before he went on the run show how he has aged in that time - including growing a bushy beard. South Street, Gorham, Maine: Officers tracked down Irving to an address on this road, where they found him living with a family and in possession of a fearsome arsenal of illegal weapons . It is not clear how police were finally able to catch up with Irving, but a spokesman said he had been living with a family in South Street, Gorham, under the assumed name Greg Irving. Irving was being held overnight at a Maine courtroom before a scheduled appearance this morning to be arraigned as a fugitive. He is also likely to face federal charges for the possession of illegal firearms. | Gary Allen Irving was convicted of three rapes 33 years ago .
One of his victims was a girl of just 16 years old .
Police and FBI find ten weapons in his home during raid . |
185,561 | 7c5dc204f1eef720d1d7df486f80a6823409d93f | By . Rachel Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:36 EST, 25 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 25 November 2013 . These are the staggering images of one teenager's enormous contruction made entirely from K'Nex. Nick Cottreau, from Nova Scotia, Canada, spent more than six months and used more than 25,000 of the toy pieces to create a giant rollercoaster model that fills his entire bedroom. The fascination and obsession to build mammoth models started when Nick received his first K'Nex set at the age of five. Scroll down for video . Obsession: Nick Cottreau (pictured) built the enormous K'Nex rollercoaster using 25,000 pieces . The . concept behind K’Nex was originally conceived by Joel Glickman who, . while at a wedding, wondered what he could creates with his drinking straw if he could . connect it with others. He and his brother Bob Glickman discussed the idea and shortly after founded K’Nex. The . original building system consisted simply of rods and connectors which . could be easily attached together to make different things. Over time the K'Nex system has become more complex, however. Concordia . University's Women in Engineering chapter has erected models of a space . shuttle, the Sears Tower, and the Eiffel Tower out of K'nex. The . U.S. Space and Rocket Center holds a Guinness Book of World Records . Award for the 'World’s Largest K’NEX Sculpture' and also has a huge . space shuttle and rocket in their gift shop in Huntsville, . Many hobbyists have even included low-power motors and wheels other than K'Nex in their constructions. Even real bicycles - complete with wheels - have been constructed using K'Nex. One cycle takes around seven minutes to complete and features numerous lifts, drops, spins and loops which keep the balls moving around the track. Nick said: 'Sometimes I would work on it every day for a week, sometimes I would not touch it for more than two weeks. 'When I did work on it was either for . just a short amount of time or sometimes I would spend an entire day . building and planning. 'I'm . lucky that the majority of the pieces used in the build were gifts for . Christmas or my birthday, but if I were to buy all of the pieces new it . would cost in execs of £2000. K'Nex . is a construction toy that was invented by Joel Glickman. It first went . on sale 1993 and is designed and produced in Pennsylvania, USA. The toy's building system consists of interlocking plastic rods and connectors, which can be pieced together to form a wide variety of models, machines, and architectural structures. The giant rollercoaster model fills the teenager's entire bedroom. His fascination and obsession to build mammoth models started when Nick received his first K'Nex set at the age of five . One cycle of the the rollercoaster takes around seven minutes to complete and features numerous lifts, drops, spins and loops which keep the balls moving around the track. Here Nick's K'Nex supply is pictured . In total, . Nick, 16, has more than 37,000 pieces of K'Nex and constantly spends his . spare time planning out new and more extravagant designs. K'Nex is a construction toy invented by Joel Glickman that is designed and produced in Pennsylvania. The toy's building system consists of interlocking plastic rods and connectors, which can be pieced together to form a wide variety of models . In total has more than 37,000 pieces of K'Nex and constantly spends his spare time planning out new and more extravagant designs. He added: 'My friends and family are all generally quite impressed with the machines and find it amazing that I can build stuff as complex as they are' Nick added: 'My friends and family are all generally quite impressed with the machines and find it amazing that I can build stuff as complex as they are. 'It's interesting to watch people's reactions that haven't seen my machines in a while, they forget how big and intricate it is. 'I've already planed out most of my current machine and I already have a support plan for my next machine.' Nick said: 'Sometimes I would work on [the rollercoaster] every day for a week, sometimes I would not touch it for more than two weeks' | Nick Cottreau, from Nova Scotia, Canada, .
spent more than six months to create .
one giant rollercoaster model that fills his entire bedroom .
He said the fascination and obsession to build mammoth models started when Nick received his first K'Nex set at the age of five . |
269,272 | e8ce16480e5e022e7684ed47faab6fb6a18e1507 | (CNN) -- Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is rejoining Juventus after three years at Real Madrid, the Serie A club announced on their Web site on Tuesday. Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro won two Primera Liga titles during his three-year stay at Real Madrid. News of Cannavaro's return comes less than 24 hours after the Turin-based club sacked coach Claudio Ranieri and replaced him with former player and youth coach Ciro Ferrara. The 35-year-old Cannavaro was voted world player of the year after leading Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 and has helped Real to achieve two title triumphs during his stay in Spain. Cannavaro was in Italy on Monday for a charity match and told the Juventus Web site: "I am happy to have returned to Turin and to have the opportunity to wear the black and white jersey again. "I am sorry that for a section of the fans the anger for having been transferred is greater then the appreciation for the glorious seasons which we lived together. "I am sure that I can convince the most sceptical through my work, professionalism and the passion with which I will face this new adventure". Defender Cannavaro won two scudetti with Juventus, in 2005 and 2006, while the side are currently fighting to clinch third place behind champions Inter and their city rivals AC Milan. His one-year contract will come into force as from the start of July and club official Alessio Secco enthused: "Fabio is a world champion, a golden ball winner and a great team-spirit builder. "During the Summer of 2006 the club was forced to sell him due to great economic necessities. "This year we took advantage of the natural expiration of Cannavaro's contract to bring him back to Turin and we are sure that his technical abilities will help Juventus become more competitive". Cannavaro left Juventus after the club had been relegated to Serie B following the match-fixing allegations that rocked Italian football. He was born in Naples and played for them for three seasons before joining Parma where he won the UEFA Cup and two Italian Cups over a seven year period from 1995. Cannavaro, who has 124 caps for Italy, left Parma to join Inter Milan in 2002 but after only two seasons moved on to Juventus. New coach Ferrara is determined to take Juve straight into next season's Champions League group stage and said on Monday: "I think the players need to understand that we're in a tight spot. "They need to rediscover the right motivation to tackle our last two matches with the right attitude. The players need to rediscover their pride and the right motivation." | Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro rejoining Juve after three years at Real Madrid .
News comes less than 24 hours after the club sacked coach Claudio Ranieri .
Defender Cannavaro, 35, won two scudetti with Juventus, in 2005 and 2006 . |
268,633 | e7f6c8df40a686469a034044f164cd71f95a029a | After a century and a half of holding onto its secrets, the recently decoded diary of Confederate officer James Malbone reveals he wrote his Civil War diary in code to conceal juicy camp gossip. Sprinkled amid entries on camp recipes and casualties are encrypted passages in which Malbone dishes on such juicy topics as a fellow soldier who got caught in bed with another man's wife. Malbone also writes about meeting the wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and describes her looks in an apparent echo of rumors at the time that she may have been of mixed race. Diary: James Malbone, an officer in the Confederate army, kept a diary where he recorded recipes and lists of deserters, as well as gossip written in code . 'That's pretty shocking,' said Kent D. Boklan, the Queens College computer science professor and former National Security Agency cryptographer who deciphered Malbone's code with little difficulty. 'It's a military diary and you expect military information, but you don't expect the first lady of the Confederacy to make an appearance in this diary,' he said. According to Boklan, Malbone's encrypted entry about Varina Howell Davis describes her as 'dark complected' with 'very very brown skin dark eyes' and 'high cheek bones wide mouth.' Davis' wife was a well-educated woman for her time, and as a result, was the target of 'all kind of gossipy innuendos from the ladies' in Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, according to Sam Craghead of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. Malbone, a lieutenant with the 6th Virginia Infantry Regiment, was severely wounded in the arm at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. Assigned to light duty behind the lines, he used a leather-bound pocket diary to jot down his thoughts and even a poem. Simplicity: Kent Boklan, a former cryptologist for the National Security Agency, said the code is not difficult to break, with symbols substituted for letters of the alphabet . Secrets: The diary was likely acquired by a soldier from New York and wound up in the state's collections, before a volunteer discovered the code . President: Jefferson Davis was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America, whose wife was rumored at the time to be of mixed race because of her darker skin and dark eyes . Many of the entries were in a code he devised himself, consisting of a variety of symbols, including punctuation marks and a dollar sign, that corresponded to letters of the alphabet. Other entries — names of deserters, costs of supplies — were written in plain text. This was because the diary would have been submitted to his superiors so they could copy the information for their records, says Jim Gandy, librarian at the New York State Military Museum. Gandy said the journal probably came into the possession of a New York soldier at the end of the war and wound up in the state's vast collection. It is the only Confederate diary in the museum. There is no record there of Malbone's ultimate fate. It wasn't until 2012 that a museum volunteer discovered the diary was written partly in code. The museum contacted Boklan, who had broken Union and Confederate codes used in other documents, and he completed the deciphering after working on it for a week in January. 'Technically, this is not very hard to break,' Boklan said. 'There were some odd things. With a little bit of work and patience everything worked out.' | James Malbone began writing in a leather-bound journal after being severely wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville .
In between plain-text entries he recorded gossip, including an entry about Confederate President Jefferson Davis's wife, written in code .
He devised his code himself out of a series of symbols that corresponded to letters of the alphabet .
The code was broken by Kent Boklan, Queens College computer science professor and former National Security Agency cryptographer . |
260,512 | dd59ef2228e2ce16be3589902cc8d427fb9f8b56 | Meet the python on a murderous cane toad rampage. The snake was spotted wrapping itself around the neck of a cane toad in the car park of Darwin's Sky City Casino this week. It's believed to have killed at least another two in as many days. Scroll down for video . A snake was spotted wrapping itself around the neck of a cane toad in the car park of Darwin's Sky City Casino this week . 'When I first looked I had a thought that someone had got a cane toad and put on some Christmas decorations,' Jason Carpenter, who snapped the photo, told the NT News. 'Then I realised it was a cane toad with a python wrapped round it. It was a negative outcome for the toad.' The snake, nicknamed 'The Assassinator', doesn't stick around to eat the cane toads and instead just leaves their bloated bodies in the casino car park, which is how Mr Carpenter stumbled across it. He joked that the snake should train up his friends to help round up and kill more cane toads to stop the pest destroying native species and the environment. It comes following revelations freshwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory had worked out ways to eat cane toads without being poisoned by just chewing off the legs. The snake, nicknamed 'The Assassinator', doesn't stick around to eat the cane toads and instead just leaves their bloated bodies in the casino car park . Crocodile specialist Dr Adam Britton told Daily Mail Australia last week that he and his wife had discovered a significant amount of toxic cane toads with missing legs in rivers 500 kilometres from Darwin. 'My wife Erin did some surveys in 2009 after the cane toads reached the areas. She observed the twisted and mangled toads and noticed the crocodile teeth marks,' Mr Britton said. 'We know that they often like to flick and tear off whatever they're holding in their mouth and that's what we're seeing a lot around the area. It comes following revelations freshwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory had worked out ways to eat cane toads without being poisoned by just chewing off the legs . Crocodile specialist Dr Adam Britton discovered a significant amount of toxic cane toads with missing legs in rivers 500 kilometres from Darwin . 'We were sceptical at first but now we've seen patterns and it's obvious that they're mangling the back legs to feed themselves.' The poisonous cane toads have the power to effect the crocodile population, according to Mr Britton. ‘The toads have toxins in parts of their body that will usually kill the crocodiles when they consume them,’ he said. 'The ones who have been tearing of their legs from its limbs are the ones who have survived.' The poisonous cane toads have the power to effect the crocodile population, according to Mr Britton . | Snake was spotted wrapping itself around the neck of a cane toad in Darwin's Sky City Casino .
Its believed to have killed at least another two cane toads in as many days .
The snake doesn't stick around to eat the cane toads and instead just leaves their bloated bodies in the casino car park . |
116,374 | 223343d314d1519fcb6adfd49663d08ecd27f032 | An undersea earthquake off the East Cape of New Zealand, measuring 6.5, has been widely felt around the North Island. Damage was reported at Ohope, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, when the quake struck about 150 kilometres off the coast about 10.37am local time on Monday. The Pacific tsunami warning centre said based on the data, there is no tsunami threat from the earthquake but threat will continue to be monitored as aftershocks continue. GeoNet said the severe quake was about 31 kilometres underground and has received more than 1600 reports of the quake some being felt from as far away as Whangarei in the Far North to one person down in Dunedin. Geonet Siesmologist Bill Fry said the depth of the quake was below interface and since the 6.5 magnitude shock there has been quite a few aftershocks. 'There was a magnitude 4 quake that happened about 30 to 40 minutes after the 6.5 shake,' he said. Scroll down to video . The earthquake measuring 6.5 hit New Zealand's North Island and some felt it as far Dunedin . Geonet image of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake shock . 'We are still getting aftershocks but the typical sequence is that it has slowed down, the frequency has slowed down.' 'Now watching and monitoring aftershocks to see if anything further will happen,' said Mr Fry. He said the 6.5 quake was less than 2 per cent force of gravity, with very small exceleration. Mr Fry said there was no tsunami threat but that would have happened quite quickly from the time the earthquake struck, taking only about 15 minutes for it to take effect. 'The area has been prone to earthquakes in the past and the biggest dangers is assessing whether a tsunami will follow a shock.' 'In 1947 an earthquake caused a tsunami, it moved very slowly and there was a very large tsunami, so any time we have an earthquake we immediately need assess the potential for a tsunami,' he said. Twenty-two people reported it as moderate with just one person at Ohope reporting damage. 'It was just really a long rolling one and then quite a strong jolt, and it carried on rolling and that was it,' said Ohope Beach Primary School's Jenny McKenzie. However, she did not think it was bad enough to cause any damage, she told NZ Newswire. The earthquake on Monday morning in New Zealand also hit social media quickly . Liz Koia told stuff.co.nz, the shelves rocked and lights swung inside the Eastern Four Square at Te Araroa. 'It just kept rolling. The shelves were rocking, the fluorescent lights that hang down were swinging from side to side,' she said. A staff member at East Cape Manuka Company told Daily Mail Australia they did hear it in the cafe and at first it was just shock. 'Customers got up and ran under the door,' she said, 'but nothing fell off the shelves, nothing was broken we just got a bit of a fright.' 'There was a tsunami warning from the local school which evacuated, as well as businesses but we have all just come back to work and the panic is over.' 'It was a big one, haven't been any like this except the odd little shake.' | 6.5 earthquake hits the east coast of New Zealand's North Island .
Minimal damage has been recorded from the quake which was reporting by 1600 people according to Geonet .
Civil Defence say the quake is unlikely to have caused a threatening tsunami .
Geonet is monitoring several aftershocks . |
186,464 | 7d88a26e50aa9008197248730a4bd8988757eee1 | (CNN) -- A stampede killed at least 18 people in a large crowd gathered to pay last respects to a religious leader on Saturday in India, official news agency Press Trust of India reported. The pandemonium, which injured 60 more people, started after the gates were closed to the residence of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who had died the day before at age 102, CNN sister network CNN-IBN reported. Burhanuddin was the head of a denomination of Islam known as Dawoodi Bohra. His funeral will continue as scheduled, CNN-IBN reported. India has seen deadly stampedes at religious events before. In October at least 115 died, when Hindu pilgrims crossing a bridge to a temple broke into a panic, as a rumor spread that the bridge was about to give way. About 25,000 people were on the bridge at the time, and many jumped off it into the Sindh River. In February, at least 36 died at a stampede at a train station, as millions of people clamored to get to the Ganges River for a Hindu religious festival. | The pandemonium injured at least 60 more people, CNN-IBN reported .
The religious leader, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, died at age 102 .
The stampede started when the gates to his residence was closed, CNN-IBN reported .
A stampede at a religious event killed at least 115 in October . |
71,486 | caa257be96d4198128f63232110c04667b97dfe4 | (CNN) -- Editor's note: Kathleen Koch is author of the best-selling book, "Rising from Katrina," which explores how citizens recover from disasters. She was a CNN correspondent for 18 years. For the last year my dining room has looked like the local post office, minus the junk mail. Stacks of letters from around the country piled high. But in this case, there was only one destination -- Japan. While most were collecting money to help the survivors of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, I wanted to send something equally crucial to their recovery: hope. "Words of Hope for Japan" began in March 2011 with a trickle, just 10 letters, all from individuals. But soon they were pouring in at the rate of 200 a day! Schools, churches, Rotary Clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. In the end, some 5568 cards and letters arrived from the United States, Canada and Mexico making it the largest letter-writing campaign for Japan in the country. So many felt moved to offer words of support and condolence to those who had lost so much. The most touching letters came from the Gulf Coast where I'd grown up. People there understood what Japan was going through and were eager to "pay it forward" because of the help and encouragement they received after Hurricane Katrina. "For months, you never heard the sound of a bird. I missed that most of all. There were times when we thought that we would never have a normal life again," wrote a grandmother from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where a storm surge similar in height to the tsunami had decimated nearly every building near the beach. "We learned so much from it, however," she continued. "You can live with a small amount of food each day; water is very precious; family and friends are the most important; and God loves us." A New Orleans teenager penned a three-page letter and described spending days stuck in the Superdome. "When we left the city, the sun was shining so brightly. I looked up and smiled because I learned that after a storm, there is sunshine. Rays of sun will shine upon your heart, body and soul when you feel alone in the dark or when you are about to give up." A Biloxi, Mississippi, 10-year-old drew on her post-Katrina experience when she warned the Japanese to "stop digging through gunk and mud. ... If you keep doing that soon you will get sick. And if you get sick you won't have medicine to cure yourself." Many cards and letters simply exuded joy and optimism. Flowers, rainbows, hearts and smiley faces accompanied exhortations to "Be Happy," "Have Hope," "Don't Worry," and "Stay Strong!" I'd planned to send the letters straight to Japan, but an industrious woman in Atlanta, Georgia, offered to translate them since not all Japanese speak English. Asako Akai-Ferguson organized more than 200 volunteers around the world to painstakingly translate each card. The project was a godsend for translators who had helplessly watched the disasters unfold. "I have been extremely frustrated being so far away from home and not being able to do anything to help the survivors of the earthquake, other than just sending money," e-mailed Virginia volunteer Sachiko Ide. And by all accounts, the letters have helped. Our first batch of one thousand went to a middle school in Minamisouma that had been turned into a shelter. Japanese philanthropist Dr. Minoru Kamata hosted a surprise concert there, handing out letters and posting dozens on bulletin boards for the audience to read. "Though the damage in the disaster area is awful, I believe that these letters must warm victims' hearts very much. I don't know how to thank you," he e-mailed afterwards. The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in Tokyo has delivered the majority of the letters. Carl Williams, coordinator of JACL relief efforts, sent photos of a group of school children he encountered in Iwaki City on the four-month anniversary of the tsunami praying at the shoreline near the site of their destroyed school. He handed out cards and completely changed the somber mood. "They had all just been crying minutes before. Can you believe it?" he marveled. The tsunami had so badly damaged the robes in a kimono store in Ogatsu, Japan, that the plan was to shutter it. Encouraged by the letter he received from "Words of Hope," the owner changed his mind and decided to re-open his business. A Missouri woman received a response from a woman in Ishinomaki City whose town was destroyed by the tsunami. "She said my letter made her very strong and smile," said Deborah Kamp Clifton. "It made her realize that she has wonderful friends all over the world." Simple, old-fashioned snail mail. Not even we realized the power it would have. | "Words of Hope for Japan" is a letter writing campaign for earthquake, tsunami victims .
Kathleen Koch started the "Words of Hope for Japan" campaign a year ago .
Two hundred volunteers translated thousands of letters .
Many Hurricane Katrina survivors used their experience to offer comfort and advice . |
204,557 | 94d2dfe889327842b0a8e26ceb0ac163a62a2706 | CALAIS, France (CNN) -- French authorities on Tuesday dismantled a makeshift camp dubbed "the Jungle," which housed illegal migrants fleeing dangerous homelands to seek a more prosperous life in Europe. After being forced from their makeshift home, occupants of "the Jungle" were driven away in buses for processing. French police broke up protests by refugee rights advocates and began clearing the squalid camp. The French government said it was targeting human smuggling and did not say where the migrants would be relocated. Police arrested 276 migrants, 125 of whom were minors, said Calais prefecture official Catherine Mande. See photos of police clearing the camp » . A statement from the French immigration minister's office said the "illegal encampments" would be destroyed and then three bulldozers, a dozen trucks and a logging company would return the land to its natural state. Watch a report on the camp's closure » . The statement said the goal was to destroy the Jungle and other migrant shanties, "which have become the main launch pad for clandestine immigration into the United Kingdom." Was the French government right to demolish the illegal migrant camp? Aided by smugglers, many of the migrants in coastal northern France attempt to make it into Britain, hiding in trucks that cross the English Channel. France and Britain signed an agreement in July to crack down on illegal immigration, including dispersing the migrants at the Jungle. British Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was "delighted" to hear that France was honoring the agreement. "The measures that we have put in place are not only there to prevent illegal immigration but also to stop people trafficking," he said. "We are working with the French not only to strengthen our shared border but that of Europe as a whole." Johnson said both nations were committed "to helping individuals who are genuine refugees." Others who don't need protection were expected to return home, he said. The Jungle -- shanties cobbled from cardboard, plastic tarpaulins and scraps of wood -- housed as many as 1,000 men from nations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Somalia. Camp resident Mohammed Bashir escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan and made a new home in a tent here, among the heaps of garbage, sand and bramble on the outskirts of the French port city of Calais. Sometimes, eight men shared the tent. "I never lived in such a condition like this back home, but right now we don't have any other choice," said Bashir, 24, who left behind his family. "It's very difficult, very hard for a person who has children and parents." Desperation filled the air in the Jungle. Many residents survived arduous and illegal treks from their homelands. Some held ambitions to keep going another 20 miles, across the water to Britain. Others hoped to realize refugee status in France. See a map of the region » . But Tuesday, they were forced to put their plans on hold as they were evicted from the Jungle. Refugee advocates circled the migrants and scuffled with police to keep them at bay. But eventually, the protests were broken up, the migrants were taken away and the shanties started coming down. The French government's decision drew criticism from humanitarian workers who don't think that demolishing the camp will help resolve illegal immigration issues. They say moving the migrants is simply displacing the problem. "We don't know where they're going to go," said Matthieu Tardis, an advocate for asylum seekers. "We don't know what the government plans to do. We are not respecting human rights here, for sure." The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees sent staff to Calais earlier in the summer to counsel people about asylum procedures in France and Britain. According to the U.N. agency, most of the illegal migrants enter Europe through Greece and often fall victim to smugglers who turn a profit by helping migrants reach their destinations. The camp residents who fled Afghanistan told CNN they had paid smugglers large sums. They were promised much more than the filthy camp, they said. Bashir said he had no choice but to flee his home after Taliban militants accused him of spying. "When they don't need you, they just slaughter you," he said. "They threatened me that [I would] be slaughtered." Bashir's future remains uncertain as ever. He is sure only of one thing: He cannot go home. | French police arrest 276 migrants at "Jungle" camp, 125 were minors .
Migrants had been living in makeshift tents made from cardboard, plastic sheeting .
Refugee advocates circled the migrants, trying to keep police at bay .
The French government has not said where the migrants would be relocated . |
270,589 | ea751976207de284f9200347ba5f2bf3a2d49e1d | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 17:23 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:23 EST, 30 May 2013 . Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, hinted the Government may channel money saved from departmental budgets into infrastructure projects . Ministers are to pump billions of pounds into big infrastructure projects after being urged to boost growth by the International Monetary Fund. In a speech last night, Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, indicated that Chancellor George Osborne will funnel cash from day-to-day departmental budgets into major building projects. In a speech to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Mr Alexander vowed to ‘stick to the path we are on’ economically and rejected Labour’s calls for more borrowing to fund investment. But he said: ‘We will continue to show flexibility wherever it is needed, and to shift resources wherever we can to support economic growth.’ He added: 'For key areas of capital . expenditure - like infrastructure - we intend to make commitments right . through to the end of the decade.' Mr Alexander stressed that the Treasury was taking a ‘zero-based approach’ to capital projects in the spending review, requiring departments to show that every scheme they propose will generate economic benefits. He said: ‘When we took such an approach in 2010, it resulted in the most economically important areas being prioritised. 'So investment in transport, for example, was not just protected from cuts, its budget was actually increased in every year, which has enabled us to commit to crucial projects like High Speed 2.’ Danny Alexander said the Coalition has shown its willingness to invest in infrastructure projects by committing to HS2 railway . His comments suggest the government is listening to the IMF, which last week called for ministers to shift current spending into infrastructure projects to boost growth in the economy. But Labour Treasury spokesman Chris Leslie accused the government of dragging its feet. He said: ‘George Osborne has invested billions less in infrastructure than the plans he inherited, meaning housebuilding is at record lows and the construction sector is shrinking. ‘Ministers should listen to the IMF, which said that infrastructure investment must be brought forward right now. Decisive action this year would not only create jobs and growth now but strengthen our economy for the long-term. Major infrastructure projects have also been beset by dithering and delay.’ | Danny Alexander hints Government will invest in infrastructure .
Said the Coalition will continue to 'shift resources wherever we can'
Said commitments will continue until the end of the decade . |
133,753 | 38f26962936f11bfc15da75e70cc3882944b577a | (CNN)Celtic won the first Old Firm clash in nearly three years as two first half goals sunk ailing Glasgow rival Rangers at Hampden Sunday in their Scottish League Cup semifinal. The bitter rivalry between the two clubs which have dominated Scottish football for decades is well chronicled, but Celtic's superiority as Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons found the target took the heat out of the fixture. It was the 400th competitive meeting, but first since April 2012, shortly before cash-strapped Rangers was liquidated and forced to re-form as a new entity in the bottom flight of the Scottish leagues. The 2-0 win for Celtic reflected the current status of the two clubs, one topping the Scottish Premiership, the other struggling to catch Hearts in the battle for the automatic promotion spot from the second flight. Rangers had hoped for redemption in the cup competition, but it is Celtic who will face Dundee United in the final on March 15. Griffiths headed home the opener on 10 minutes and Commons blasted home the second just after the half hour mark. Celtic was content to soak up sporadic Rangers pressure in the second half, with keeper Craig Gordon barely tested. It left manager Ronny Dalia satisfied with his team's efforts. "I think 2-0 was a fair result," he said. "In the first half we had four chances and we scored two which was okay. The second half we didn't have many but they didn't have a shot on target either." Rangers -- without a permanent manager since the departure of Ally McCoist -- and still beset by boardroom wrangles -- will now be left to focus on its bid to win promotion back to the Scottish Premiership. If it succeeds the Old Firm matches will again become regular fixtures -- a welcome boost to the finances of both clubs -- as they are played to capacity audiences with extra television revenues. Sunday's game was beamed live to 54 countries. Arsenal rout . Meanwhile, in the English Premier League, Arsenal continued its recent charge with a 5-0 rout of struggling Aston Villa, without a goal in the last six league games. The match at the Emirates was entirely one-sided and the Gunners took the lead on eight minutes when Olivier Giroud scored after an assist from Mesut Ozil. German international Ozil added the second with the impressive Theo Walcott, watched by England manager Roy Hodgson, grabbing the third. Santi Cazorla scored the fourth from the penalty spot with Hector Bellerin's 30-yard effort completing a fine afternoon for Arsene Wenger's men. Arsenal has now taken 19 points from a possible 24 and risen to fifth, leapfrogging north London neighbor Tottenham Hotspur. Fourth-placed Southampton later suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Swansea, ending with 10 men after Ryan Bertrand was sent off in the second half. Jonjo Shelvey scored the Swansea goal after 83 minutes of a tight encounter. Messi magic . Barcelona's title hopes in Spain stayed on track but the Catalan giants had to twice come from behind to beat Villarreal 3-2 in the Nou Camp. Denis Cheryshev put the visitors ahead after half an hour, only for Neymar to level just before the interval. Luciano Vietto restored the Villarreal lead on 51 minutes but it was shortlived as Rafinha leveled two minutes later. Lionel Messi had been involved in that goal and he put Barcelona into the lead for the first time with a fine strike after an assist by Luis Suarez. The win lifts Barca to just one point behind leaders Real Madrid, but having played a game more. | Celtic wins Old Firm clash with Rangers at Hampden .
Goals from Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons put Celtic in League Cup final .
Arsenal thrashes Aston Villa 5-0 in EPL action .
Lionel Messi scores winner as Barcelona edges Villarreal 3-2 . |
91,243 | 015c4be1a9f6833a6af0344ec9a2d17897dfca65 | House-hunters are flocking to an unusual bachelor pad on the market for £250,000 - to try out the fireman’s pole. Kevin Wallace has put his home in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, up for sale - and most viewers are turning up for a go on the 18ft stainless steel pole. The 30-year-old, who is director of a joinery company, installed the pole as a quick way to reach his basement ‘man cave’. Adventurous: Kevin Wallace has put his the home in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, up for sale - and most viewers are turning up for a go on the 18ft stainless steel pole . Getting around the house: The 30-year-old, who is the director of a joinery company, installed the pole as a quick way to reach his basement 'man cave' On the market: Sellers DJ Alexander describe the property as a 'stylish two-bedroom apartment, recently been renovated, and in truly splendid condition' Stylish: The estate agents also say that it has a 'wonderful breakfasting kitchen complete with modern fitted units and sold oak worktops' Mr Wallace has used it so often that he claims to be able to slide from the kitchen to the basement with a full cup of coffee - and not spill a drop. Sellers DJ Alexander describe the property as a ‘stylish two-bedroom apartment, recently been renovated, and in truly splendid condition’. The company also says that it has a ‘wonderful breakfasting kitchen complete with modern fitted units and sold oak worktops’. But the mention of a ‘very quirky fireman’s pole’ has caught the eye of prospective buyers and helped draw more than 30 views in the first seven days. Taking a sip: Mr Wallace has used it so often that he claims to be able to slide from the kitchen to the basement with a full cup of coffee - and not spill a drop . Unusual fitting: The mention of a 'very quirky fireman's pole' has caught the eye of prospective buyers and helped draw more than 30 views in the first seven days . Going down: Mr Wallace has not fitted a safety rail round the pole and admitted that his home is presently not the best place to bring up young children . Popular: House-hunters are flocking to the unusual bachelor pad on the market for £250,000 - to try out the fireman’s pole . Mr Wallace said: ‘Anyone who comes to the flat has to go down it - It’s an initiation. Everyone who has come to view it has been down it.’ But he has not fitted a safety rail round the pole and admitted that his home is presently not the best place to bring up young children. Mr Wallace said: ‘It’s great fun on a Saturday night when your mates are round. I can get down it with a cup of coffee in my hand.’ He added: ‘Even my gran has been down it and she loved it. I just thought, “Oh, wouldn’t it be cool to install a pole to simply slide down into the basement?” ‘As far as bachelor pads go, it ticks all the boxes. It’s a man cave basement, with a 55in television and you can literally get food from the kitchen and slide right down and relax on the sofa.’ | Kevin Wallace has put Edinburgh home up for sale and most viewers want to go down 18ft stainless steel pole .
30-year-old joiner installed the pole at his two-bedroom flat as a quick way to reach his basement 'man cave'
Mr Wallace has used it so often that he can slide from kitchen to basement with cup of coffee - and not spill it . |
182,928 | 78e80fbd7a4333cb5101e0a13e63439bea153baf | By . Peter Allen In Paris . Public outcry today led to the removal of a Princess Diana film poster placed at the exact spot where she was killed in a car accident. There was widespread fury at the decision to put the advertisement for ‘Diana’, which stars Naomi Watts, in such an insensitive place. But workmen were seen today removing it from above the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, in central Paris, after the movie’s distributor was shamed into action. Fury: A 'Diana' film poster placed where the princess died has been pulled down after a public outcry . A source at Le Pacte told French news agency AFP: ‘We asked for the removal of this poster after controversy in the British media.’ The 6ft x 4ft hoarding was directly above the underpass where a Mercedes Diana was travelling in ploughed into a wall in August 1997. Rosa Monckton, for many years one of Diana’s closest confidantes, was among those who attacked the ‘shameless attempt to publicise a film that should never have been made.’ Diana's friend and confidante Rosa Monckton was . among those who attacked the ‘shameless attempt to publicise a film that . should never have been made’. The lead role is played by Naomi Watts, . right . The film, in which Diana is played by Australian actress Naomi Watts, pictured, has already been panned by critics in the UK and France . She said the placing of the poster above the Alma tunnel was ‘despicable’ and ‘disgusting’. Diana . remains hugely popular in Paris, where she is still referred to as . ‘Lady D.’, but the film about her has already been panned by critics in . France and Britain. Jerome Garcin, of the Nouvel Observateur, said it was impossible to imagine anything ‘more stupid, more ugly’. The poster had been put up at the entrance to the Pont de l'Alma tunnel - exactly where she had died . The Princess died when the car she was travelling in crashed into the wall in the tunnel . The film is loosely based on the romance Diana had with Dr Hasnat Khan, which ended in 1997, just before she died alongside another boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul. Paul was later found to have been drink-driving, and pursuing paparazzi photographers were also partially blamed for the deaths, although conspiracy theories about a murder plot persist to this day. The source at Le Pacte said the Alma poster was one of around 1000 which had been placed around Paris, and the rest would remain in place. The tunnel in Paris has become a place where tributes continue to be left in the princess's memory . Notes of remembrance are written above the Alma Tunnel to commemorate Lady Diana's death 16 years ago . | There was public outcry in France and UK after insensitive poster went up .
A giant advert for the film was placed at the exact spot the princess died .
One friend of Diana said it was a 'shameless attempt to publicise the film'
Workmen were today seen pulling the giant billboard down . |
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