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247,493 | cc47dc9cdfe8ffb12077dc263fbe6462626fa766 | (RollingStone.com) -- Season four of "The Voice," featuring Usher and Shakira filling in for Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera, taped blind auditions recently, and Rolling Stone had a chance to watch the new judges in action. What we saw in our brief glimpse into the new season was that there will be no messing around. All four judges, including returnees Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, mean business. When we spoke to Usher at iHeart Radio in Las Vegas in September he promised to promote a competitive edge, but he isn't the only one bringing that attitude. At the audition we saw some friendly competition between Usher and Shakira over one contestant, and when Usher bested Levine for another vocalist at the audition, he playfully taunted his fellow judge. 'The Voice' Season Three Awards . During a junket featuring all four judges and show creator Mark Burnett, Shelton confirmed this season will give new meaning to the term "battle rounds." "I would say the competitiveness is up," he said. "We've replaced Cee Lo with somebody that's just that much more aggressive. And Christina was always competitive, [but] now you've got four that are just killers up here." Levine agreed that Shakira might be the one they have to watch out for. "You have a pregnant, hormonal Colombian," he says. "She's ready to bust some heads. She ain't messing around." Shakira said she is happy to be welcomed with humor, as it shows her she is part of the family. "Spending some time with these guys, I can only tell you that it is the best -- they joke all the time and make me laugh onstage, offstage," she said. "They have been such great hosts making us, Usher and me, feel at home at all times." Cover story excerpt: 'The Voice' But the battle we witnessed over contestants was real, she insisted: "There's a lot of competitiveness, of course. Once we are in the process of trying to get a contestant recruited for our team, there's a lot of adrenalin, and there's a lot of tension, but the healthy kind." Both of the new coaches believe they bring more than just a new intensity. "You can't really compare my style to anybody," Usher said. "My style is more military than anything, because I'm all about the preparation and have always been. I rehearse a million times to be prepared. My style is to make them understand the seriousness of the craft and that they have the very best opportunity to be the greatest or the worst, depending on how you take it." As for Shakira's approach, she views it as very involved. "Besides being a singer, I'm also a producer and writer. Once I'm in the recording studio, I am so hands-on," she said. "While I'm coaching my team I tend to focus on the detail. I don't know if it's maybe because of the female condition, but men are more focused on the general aspects, and women tend to sort of focus on details a lot. And so when I'm giving directions to my contestants I'm particularly focused on details." "She plays the female card quite a bit," Levine said. "That's one thing we can't compete with, really." 'The Voice' renewed for two more seasons . As the proven commodities, Levine and Shelton, who between them coached the winning contestants in all three previous seasons, feel they still have an edge. "There are many advantages to being the seasoned veteran, starting with we've seen about 4,000 more auditions," Levine says. "We fell into the traps that the newbloods will fall into and dig themselves out of because they are strong, and they will survive, but we know from experience where we've been, where we're going, how to get through this. But these guys are smart and quick studies, so they are probably going to get better quickly, and it's going to suck for us because then they will probably win this damn thing." Usher brings in his own experience, having mentored Justin Bieber to the top of the charts, and Levine says that does count for a lot. "As much as I hate to say this about another coach in the beginning, Usher has done what this show has yet to do," he says. "You have launched a superstar, and that's our goal. That's the show's goal. That's something we want to do as an institution." Usher agreed. "The one thing that I hope is to come into this show and be able to score an incredible entertainer that people will talk about for years and years and track it back," he says. "I am kind of a living example of that. I started on Star Search, and my career kind of launched from there." How long he and Shakira will remain on the show is up in the air. "Everybody can't coach for life," said Burnett, "because when you have people with current recording in the game, this is not their job. Their job is their fans and making music and being live, and so we knew from the beginning that this would happen. They all have another life and their schedules." Shakira concurred that while this is where she is now, her music comes first. "We are not judges. It's not what we do for a living," she said. "We have musical careers that we have to attend to, but we are embarking on this great adventure and enjoying it until we feel that we have to get back to our first and most important duties with music." See original story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | Usher and Shakira will filling in for Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera .
Rolling Stone sat in on some blind auditions .
How long the pair will remain on the show is up in the air . |
154,485 | 53a45571fc5bc238b4b0cb8b52c003e593060f24 | By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 09:43 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:07 EST, 22 February 2013 . This is the dramatic moment McDonald's fraudster Kevin Pomeroy and his nephew Daniel tried to speed away from police in a high-speed chase. Pomeroy, who with his wife Julie conned high street businesses out of millions of pounds, reached speeds of more . than 100mph driving on the hard shoulder of the M60 motorway. Trying to evade capture, he threw incriminating items including a . mobile phone out of the window of his moving car during the eight-minute pursuit. Scroll down for video . Pursuit: A screen grab of the car chase where Pomrroy tried to get rid of evidence by throwing it out the window . Pomeroy hit speeds of 100mph while trying to escape police, even driving on the hard shoulder of the M60 . Pomeroy, 47, stole the identities of executives from McDonald’s and Greggs to order hoards of goods through ‘company accounts’. Over two-and-a-half years he ordered . items worth £20million in one of the biggest frauds of its kind, taking . delivery of £3million of goods. Con-artist: Kevin Pomeroy arriving at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court for sentencing today. He lead an organised crime group behind a £20m scam to defraud major retailers . These included 2,500 laptops, 3,000 . TVs, £400,000 worth of whisky, 20,000 bottles of champagne, 1,600 fake . Christmas trees and 600 coffee machines. The firms included Samsung, Argos, Sanyo, Fujitsu, Sony, M&S, Electrolux, Dyson, Staples, HMV, Jessops and John Lewis. The goods were delivered to empty warehouses across Manchester and then sold on eBay or the black market. Manchester Crown Court heard the Pomeroys set up email addresses in names of genuine employees from the two food companies. They ordered goods from other firms saying they wanted them on the ‘company account’. But they came unstuck when companies demanded payment for the goods they had ordered. Yesterday, Pomeroy, his wife and his nephew Daniel Pomeroy were hauled before a court for fraud. Kevin Pomeroy was sentenced to . eight-and-a-half years in prison, Daniel Pomeroy to three-and-a-half . years, which includes 18 months for a separate fraud offence, and Julie . Pomeroy to 12 months, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work. A fourth member of the gang, James Chapman, 22, was jailed for three years after admitting conspiracy. Dazzling: The plush living room in Pomeroy's luxury home in Failsworth, near Oldham , Greater Manchester . The extravagantly-furnished rooms in the £350,000 four bedroom house look like something from a glossy magazine shoot . A child's room at Pomeroy's house. Toys found there included a £1,000 rocking horse plus matching pink chairs and dressing table . The luxurious house's theme was black and white and there were expensive plasma screen TVs dotted throughout . High-end fittings adorn the bathroom of the family home . Plush: The back garden features an enormous trampoline and a a cabin . The black and white kitchen filled with top-end appliances and fittings . The court heard the couple lived in a £350,000 detached four-bedroom house in Failsworth, Oldham. Pomeroy drove a £65,000 Range Rover Sport while his wife had an Audi A3 convertible. They rented a £2,000-a-month apartment in Marbella, Spain and one of their children attended a £10,000-a-year private school. On the walls of their home were signed copies of photographs of Pomeroy’s favourite footballers. Bling: Watches recovered during the investigation. The gang ordered expensive goods and arranged for them to be delivered to addresses in Manchester and Cheshire . A piece of jewellery seized by police . A signed football boot from Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho and a Manchester United shirt signed by Ryan Giggs are among the sports memorabilia Pomeroy splashed out on . Pomeroy paid for £10,000 dental veneers using proceeds from the fraud . He even spent £10,000 on a set of . dental veneers. One retailer, Celltec, which sells electronic items, . went into liquidation as a direct result of the scam and 40 staff lost . their jobs. Daniel Pomeroy fled to Ireland but was arrested while visiting his mother. Simon Rowlinson, of the Crown . Prosecution Service, said: ‘Purchase orders were placed for items . required for fictitious events including laptops for internet café style . restaurants and over 55,000 bottles of whisky and champagne worth over . half a million pounds for various corporate events.’ Detective Chief Inspector David . Pester said: ‘The gang would order 400 TVs at a time, but the companies . would only discover the fraud when the first 100 were delivered and an . invoice was sent to McDonald’s who said they hadn’t ordered them. ‘The majority of stuff has never been traced.’ VIDEO Kevin and Daniel Pomeroy attempting to evade police during an eight-minute pursuit along the M60 . Julie Pomeroy (left) arriving at court for sentencing. In total, 13 companies fell victim to the scam, recording losses of around £3m . Daniel Pomeroy (left) was also part of the operation. Beautanails nail salon (right) in Oldham, which was used as a front for the money gained during Kevin and Julie's fraud operation . | Kevin Pomeroy posed as an exec and ordered expensive goods on credit .
He pretended to be a top-ranking employee of firms like McDonald's .
Father-of-two was able to live luxury lifestyle as a result of fraud .
One business went bust as a result of elaborate scam which would have netted fraudsters £20m if all their crimes paid off . |
44,322 | 7cfb9ca7661e2ec1e912452b05e0ca7d5a149835 | Mauricio Pochettino insists blame for Tottenham’s poor season should lie with him - but the Argentine is adamant he has no regrets about letting Michael Dawson leave the club. It was quite a claim when set against the dreadful, rudderless defensive performances that have followed Dawson’s summer departure for Hull after nine years in north London. What the club have lost in both a leader and centre-half could be thrown into sharp relief when Spurs play at Hull, even if they do have the comfort of knowing their worst form has been reserved for games at White Hart Lane. Mauricio Pochettino blames himself for Tottenham's poor start to the Premier League season . The Spurs boss said that he has no regrets about allowing Michael Dawson to join Hull this summer . Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by Stoke at White Hart Lane in their last Premier League game . It’s at home where four of their five Premier League defeats have occurred, though aside from geography it is clear that fundamental problems exist within a defence that concedes an average of 1.5 goals per game. Perhaps that ought to make Pochettino question the decision to let Dawson, 31, leave shortly after his own arrival, but the Tottenham head coach said: ‘It was not only my decision – we had a chat with Michael about the situation, and we agreed the best thing for him was to join Hull. ‘We were transparent with him all the way, and we had a very good relationship – we always talked face to face, but I don’t (regret letting him go) because it wasn’t only down to me. ‘I understand the situation with Dawson because I played for more than 10 years with Espanyol before I decided to leave. Like Michael, I was the captain and I shared the decision to leave with the club. Pochettino has overseen Spurs' worst start to a league campaign since Juande Ramos was in charge in 2008 . Centre back Dawson spent nine years at Tottenham and captained the side last season . ‘It is always sad, for the people who have been close to you for 10 years, when you part because you share emotions together. ‘But this is professional football, and when you decide to do something different, you need to look forward.’ Certainly looking backwards will offer little encouragement. Pochettino reiterated his belief that his players lack the correct ‘mentality‘, though he was clear that he must take responsibility for sitting 12th. He said: ‘I have no complaint with the players. I complain with me, with myself, because I need to give them more tools to play better. This is my worry.’ Pochettino attempted to play down suggestions that Jan Vertonghen is unhappy, but the Belgium centre-half is understood to be considering leaving the club after finding his opportunities limited under the Argentine. | Mauricio Pochettino accepts responsibility Tottenham's poor form .
Spurs are currently 12th in the league with 14 points after 11 games .
Michael Dawson left the club after nine years to join Hull this summer .
Pochettino has no regrets about selling the centre back despite Tottenham's defensive frailty . |
74,928 | d46e226f6c8a5912fd99e1f13571ddc809baac98 | (CNN)Liberation 70 years ago today at Auschwitz-Birkenau was anything but a celebration for my mother, Rena Margulies, who as an 11-year-old prisoner was one of the very few children to survive the Nazi death factory. She lacked the capacity to celebrate as Russian troops in their long coats and fur hats plowed through the snow-covered landscape into the massive camp. Rena was emotionally numb, intellectually bewildered and physically drained. At that moment she could hardly imagine that the madness that had destroyed her family and community could suddenly be lifted, that life could somehow return to a semblance of normality. Liberation simply allowed her to ease her focus on immediate survival and begin a long search for understanding. In the days leading to liberation, she and her mother, Hinda, had hidden under the wooden planks of a barrack as Nazi guards evacuated the camp, forcing prisoners on death marches and shooting those who could not march; she had witnessed musselmen, skeletal figures inhaling their last breaths, collapsing upon each other in a pile of death. She had repressed mourning for her little brother Romek who had been gassed four months earlier. One had to endure with stoicism, since any show of emotion could elicit a deadly beating or a bullet to the head. She had lived under a cloud of uncertainty and fear, wondering what had become of her father who had also been imprisoned in Auschwitz, all as she suffered from tuberculosis and malnutrition. The Russian Red Army may have have physically liberated Rena, but mentally she remained imprisoned, still feeling that she was surrounded by death. The coming days brought a series of disorienting events, rather than celebrations. The Russians handed the children striped prison uniforms, which they had never worn in camp. Rena put the uniform over her gray sackcloth dress, then marched with the other children by the barbed wire as a Russian camera crew filed the scene. This would become an iconic film clip documenting the liberation, but one that spread the false idea that all Auschwitz prisoners wore such striped uniforms when in fact they were for slave laborers who worked in Aussenkomando brigades outside the camp. On the train ride with her mother and Aunt Andzia back to their hometown of Tomaszow-Mazowiecki in central Poland, people exclaimed, "Oh, the Jews are back. Too bad Hitler didn't kill you all!," then shoved Hinda and Andzia off the train. The Holocaust was over, but hate remained very much alive. It was not until four decades later that the day of liberation would come to be a celebration of sorts. Rena, her cousin Frieda and a small group of child survivors gathered on January 27, 1985, to celebrate what they determined was their common "birthday" -- the day they were reborn to have a second chance at life. For each year afterward, the child survivors would meet for a weekend around January 27 to celebrate their rebirth, share cake, flowers and good wishes, but also to reflect, discuss, study and help each other face the trauma they had endured. Enough time had elapsed that they could then confront the nightmare. Study and reflection is exactly what the United Nations intended for this date when in 2005 the international body declared January 27 to be International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The U.N. urged "... member states to develop educational programmes that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust in order to help prevent future acts of genocide." Today, there are numerous deeply meaningful curricula that are of great benefit to students of all backgrounds. Just as my mother and her child survivor friends sought understanding as they tried to come to terms with the unimaginable, students around the globe must be engaged in education about the Holocaust and the lessons it holds for humanity -- because, tragically, the liberation of Auschwitz failed to deliver an end to terrorism and genocide. The world continues to suffer from too much hate-driven violence, from this month's terror attacks in Paris, to genocides in Syria, Darfur, Rwanda and Bosnia, all case studies that the lessons of the Holocaust 70 years on remain as relevant as ever. They still must be taught, more widely disseminated and never forgotten. This is a day not merely to commemorate, but to educate. | Allan Chernoff's mother was 11 when she was among those liberated from Auschwitz .
On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the lessons of the terrible event have not been learned in many parts of the world, he says . |
284,875 | fd258fea9fdfef9a404168596a0114b7ff84a98b | Leon Osman may be a steady, yet unspectacular performer on the field for Everton, but the same can't be said for his rapping skills. The 33-year-old performed his own rendition of Will Smith's 'Boom! Shake the Room' at his testimonial dinner on Saturday night and it proved to be a big hit with the guests in attendance. Osman, who has spent over 14 years at Goodison Park, was joined by the likes of Toffees legend Kevin Kilbane and former Everton player Nick Chadwick, with many of the current squad also expected to be in attendance. Everton Leon Osman gets into the swing of things as he raps Will Smith's classic hit Boom! Shake the Room . Osman is handed over a tambourine as the guests enjoy his rapping skills . Osman has a smile on his face as he enjoys his testimonial dinner on Saturday night . Osman has made over 300 appearances for Everton since turning professional in 2000 . Everton legend Kevin Kilbane was among the guests in attendance for Osman's testimonial dinner . Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle - 'Diamond Lights' Ian Wright - 'Do the Right Thing' Paul Gasciogne - 'Geordie Boys' & 'Fog on the Tyne' Andy Cole - 'Outstanding ' The dinner party was held at the Rum Warehouse at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, with the proceeds from the night going to Claire House and Make-a-Wish Foundation. Osman has already had his testimonial match, with Everton drawing 1-1 with Porto at Goodison Park in August. The veteran midfielder remains an integral part of the Everton squad, making nine appearances in all competitions this season, as Roberto Martinez's side currently sit ninth in the Premier League after 10 games played. | Leon Osman has been at Everton for over 14 years .
The 33-year-old had his testimonial dinner on Saturday night in Liverpool .
Osman produced an impressive rendition of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith's hit song 'Boom! Shake the Room'
Everton legend Kevin Kilbane was among those in attendance . |
113,708 | 1eb2b0689f7f434b6b843e11656f5224a53cda8d | About 4.7 million Graco and Century-branded strollers are being recalled after its maker received reports of 10 full or partial fingertip amputations and one laceration, federal officials said Thursday. Eleven models of strollers have a folding hinge on the side that "can pinch a child's finger, posing a laceration or amputation hazard," officials said. Caregivers are being advised to show "extreme care when unfolding the stroller to be certain that the hinges are firmly locked before placing a child in the stroller," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. "Caregivers are advised to immediately remove the child from a stroller that begins to fold to keep their fingers from the side hinge area," the agency said. Atlanta-based Graco Children's Products received six reports of fingertip amputation, four reports of partial-fingertip amputation and one finger laceration, the product safety agency said. The firm manufactured the strollers in China and will be providing a free repair kit beginning in December. About 202,000 strollers were also sold in Canada, and about 10,300 more were sold in Mexico, the federal agency said. Graco said its recall is voluntary. "Over the past 60 years, safety has been and will continue to be the priority at Graco," the firm said on its website. "As part of our continuous effort to provide quality and safe products, Graco identified that select stroller models, including some of our LiteRider models that were sold before the updated hinge was available, have folding hinges that could in rare circumstances have the potential to pinch a child's finger, posing a laceration or amputation hazard." The recalled models are Aspen, Breeze, Capri, Cirrus, Glider, Kite, LiteRider, Sierra, Solara, Sterling and TravelMate model strollers and travel systems. The models bear a manufacture date from August 1, 2000, to September 25, 2014, and were sold at Target, Toys R Us, Walmart and other retail stores nationwide and online. The prices were $40 to $70 for the strollers and $140 to $170 for the travel systems. | Graco Children's Products receives 11 reports of fingertip amputations, other injuries .
The strollers have a folding hinge that can pinch a child's finger and even sever tip .
"Safety has been and will continue to be the priority at Graco," firm says . |
269,168 | e8a99708dc006270e51cc5f93a354c8f6d031b77 | By . Claire Ellicott . PUBLISHED: . 05:48 EST, 6 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:18 EST, 7 June 2012 . Foolish: Michael Ruse was convicted after bragging to friends on Facebook that he would get off . AS the jury prepared to consider their verdict in an assault trial, they received a helpful pointer from one of the defendants himself. Michael Ruse, 21, had a Facebook conversation with a friend saying of his crime that he thought he would ‘get away with it’. Unfortunately for the bragging attacker, one of his online followers took exception to the comment and printed it out before handing it in at Portsmouth Crown Court. Confronted with the evidence, Ruse was forced to change his plea to guilty and was given a suspended prison sentence and a curfew. Judge Ian Pearson told him: ‘You were stupid enough to put on Facebook what amounted to a full confession. Your stupidity really is not much mitigation.’ And Russell Pyne, defending, conceded: ‘He needs help with regard to thinking skills.’ Ruse, from Leigh Park, was on trial with his friend Terry Reeve accused of attacking Reeve’s father, Gareth, with a baseball bat and baton. During the two-week trial, the court heard that Reeve, 20, had thrown a brick at his father’s car in March last year. Reeve and Ruse then armed themselves with weapons and attacked the 45-year-old lorry driver in a street in Leigh Park. Mr Reeve was left with a cut to his head and bruises all over his body. Ruse denied the charge and, just before the jury went out to consider their verdict, he posted an update on the social networking site saying: ‘Another week at court.’ Asked by a friend about the case he added: ‘Yeah I think I get away with it tbh x’, adding it was ‘looking good’. Guilty: Ruse, using the pseudonym Michael Miles, changed his plea after his Facebook updates were noticed . Stupid: Ruse described the judge as 'stuck up' in a Facebook update posted before he was sentenced . Confronted with the details of the . conversation, Ruse, who had denied assault causing actual bodily harm, . changed his plea to guilty. Having still not learned his lesson, Ruse, . who has previous convictions for assault and criminal damage, went back . online to describe the judge as ‘stuck-up’ hours before his sentencing. He was given a 46-week suspended jail term and an evening curfew was imposed. Even then, he was not finished. Ruse, who was also ordered to pay £250 . court costs, could not resist posting an update. Under his online alias . of ‘Michael Miles’, he wrote on Facebook: ‘Boom! Im coming home best . start sorting myself out. Tag for 6 months...and got to stay out of . trouble for 2 years.’ Running commentary: Ruse promised to let his friends know if he was sent to prison for the assault . Updates: Ruse wrote on his Facebook page daily to keep friends informed of his case's progress . Reeve, also of Leigh Park, was found guilty of the assault and criminal damage. He was jailed for a year and 55 days. Michael Ruse is far from the first criminal to regret his Facebook use. A paramedic who boasted on Facebook that he groped a patient’s breasts . whilst resuscitating her was found guilty of misconduct after his . comments were reported. Mark Small, from Bristol, posted: ‘Saved someone’s life and managed to . cop a feel of some cracking jubblies.’ A complaint was made and he was . found guilty of misconduct by the Health Professions Council. And two East London teenagers who raped a girl of 11 in a McDonald’s . toilet were convicted after police discovered a Facebook conversation . between the pair. One wrote: ‘I think the girl we rapped (sic) went to . police.’ A friend wrote: ‘What girl?’ The reply came: ‘The girl we bang . at my house.’ I'm free: At least 21 people liked Ruse's Facebook post after he was spared jail and given a curfew and fine . | Michael Ruse changed his plea to guilty after his Facebook updates were printed off and delivered to court anonymously .
He had been on trial for attacking his friend's father with a baseball bat and baton .
Asked by a friend how the case was going, he wrote: 'Yeah I think I get away with it tbh x (sic)'
He described the judge as 'stuck up' in another update after he was convicted .
But he escaped with a suspended prison sentence, a curfew and a fine .
He has been back on Facebook since, complaining about having to stay indoors at night . |
31,776 | 5a6290030f01364a548956bee632ec301b8dda8d | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 17:14 EST, 28 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:50 EST, 29 July 2013 . With her painstakingly-applied make up and fashionable clothes, Seanie Nammock is like any other teenager. But behind her stylish looks, the teenager is battling a devastating genetic condition that is slowly paralysing her. The 17-year-old, from West London, is suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a disorder that is turning her muscle and tendon into bone. Seanie Nammock, 17, has a debilitating genetic condition that causes her to grow a 'second skeleton' Her arms are locked onto a bent position and she struggles to raise them above her waist. Seanie with her 22 year old sister Sinead Nammock (right), who is helping to raise money to fight the condition . Already, her arms have become locked into a bent position at her waist, rendering them immobile like a statue. The teenager has grown extra bone over her shoulders so she can no longer reach above her waist and struggles to brush or wash her own hair or dress without assistance - and the condition could get even worse. The slightest knock or bump causes painful flare-ups that trigger the irreversible bone growth which locks her joints into place, and she cannot have any injections or biopsies as this too may cause unwanted bone to form. Seanie with her mother Marian Granaghan (left), 58, and sister Sinead. Miss Granaghan says she lives in constant fear her daughter will be in an accident that will exacerbate her condition . Bone growth caused by FOPs is different to regular bones . Happier times: Seanie as a baby. She was not diagnosed with the condition until she was 12. Right, Seanie and Sinead as youngsters . Perversely, the condition makes it harder for her to avoid accidents as she finds it hard to steady herself on banisters when climbing the stairs and her locked arms affect her balance. She can't even out out her hands to break her fall, a situation she describes as 'scary'. But the debilitating condition has not hampered her hobbies or social life. A keen cook, she loves to shop and spend time with her friends. Sisterly love: Sinead is climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise cash to combat Seanie's condition . 'My friends are brilliant, they do my hair for me sometimes and help me get my coat on and anything I can't do really,' she said. Seanie uses barbecue tongs to apply make up and a comb with an extended handle to do her hair. The teenager, who passed 10 GCSEs, including five A grades, told the Sunday People: 'I just crack on with things to be honest. There is no other option. 'It's taken me the last five years to get to the point where I'm able to push it to the back of my mind and just carry on.' The condition is particularly frustrating for Seanie because before she was diagnosed she was a keen sports fan, playing tag rugby and frequently visiting the gym. Maria Granaghan, Seanie's mother said: 'Her friends are all great. They all look out for each other and just get on with being girls and enjoying themselves.' Seanie was diagnosed with FOP in 2008 after she was admitted to hospital following a minor trampoline accident. 'She had fallen on her back and it had caused a sore lump to form,' said Miss Granaghan. 'It was huge, hard red and hot to the touch, so I took her to the hospital to get it checked out.' Unfamiliar with the symptoms, doctors at St Mary's Hospital told her not to worry, and sent her home - but when the lump didn't clear and Seanie began complaining of severe pain, her mother rushed her to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. MRI scans and further testing revealed the diagnosis. 'It was a horrible shock,' said Mrs Granaghan, speaking in 2009. She added that she is always on the lookout when she's out with Seanie, living in fear that a skateboarder or someone on a scooter will crash into her. There is no cure for FOP and only about 600 people in the world have been diagnosed with it. Seanie is forced to rely on over-the-counter pain killers to combat the condition. Like many other girls her age, Seanie is into make up and fashion. She has adopted more sedate pursuits because of her FOP, but used to be a keen sportswoman . Even a simple injection at the dentist is off-limits, so the teenager has to take good care of her teeth. The family is trying to raise £120,000 for the FOP research team, which gets no funding from the government, and her sister Sinead is setting off on a charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise cash later this week. Seanie is furious that the battle to cure the condition gets so little support. She said: 'If you get me started on that I will really have a right old rant, especially when I hear about girls getting boob jobs on the NHS or politicians and their spending sprees.' To support her sister's fundraising trek visit her Virgin Money Giving page to donate online. | Seanie Nammock has FOP - an incredibly rare genetic condition .
Her muscle and tendons are slowly turning to bone .
The slightest knock can cause painful flare-ups and lock up her body .
Just 600 people in the world have FOP, which receives little funding . |
229,915 | b5bbbf8642b1e22344cb977348152c481aec1a18 | Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived Wednesday in Madrid on an official three-day visit to Spain, just under a month before his son, Prince William, is to marry Kate Middleton in London, a British official said. Charles, the Prince of Wales, will meet with members of Spain's royal family, some of whom will attend the April 29 wedding at Westminster Abbey, a spokeswoman for Spain's royal household said. The visit also will focus on bilateral commercial relations, cooperation on climate change, opportunities for youth and cultural links, said a statement from Clarence House in London, the prince's office. Hosts for the visit will be Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and his wife, Princess Letizia, who will receive the visiting British royalty at the Pardo Palace, on the western outskirts of Madrid, for an opening ceremony with color guard. Pardo Palace is the former residence of the late dictator Francisco Franco and has been used, since Spain's return to democracy, as lodging for visiting foreign dignitaries. It's where Prince Charles and Camilla will stay for their two nights in Madrid. Later on Wednesday, Prince Charles will meet the president of Madrid's regional government and business leaders, members of the British community in Spain and attend a dinner at Spain's Royal Palace in central Madrid hosted by Prince Felipe. On Thursday, Prince Charles and Camilla will attend a lunch hosted by Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at their residence, the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. Prince Charles is expected to make brief speeches only twice during the trip, during a toast at the Royal Palace dinner on Wednesday and at Madrid city hall on Thursday morning, said British Embassy officials in Madrid. Britain and Spain have $53 billion dollars in bilateral trade, with the trade balance in Spain's favor, according to Clarence House, which said Prince Charles will engage in "commercial diplomacy, including trade and investment promotion." Up to a million British citizens live in Spain full or part-time and millions more visit annually, British officials said. Prince Charles and Camilla began the week with an official visit to Portugal. After two days in Madrid, they will go to Seville on Friday for more official events, and then have a private weekend in southern Spain, before their official visit to Morocco on Monday, Clarence House and British officials in Madrid said. Prince Charles has made two previous official visits to Portugal, 10 to Spain --- most recently for the 2004 wedding of Prince Felipe to Letizia in Madrid --- and two to Morocco. It is the Duchess of Cornwall's first official visit to Portugal, Spain and Morocco, British officials said. | Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall make an official visit to Spain .
Their hosts will be Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and his wife, Princess Letizia .
Some members of Spain's royal family will attend the wedding of Prince William . |
24,581 | 45aecefc4b853a6ba03158383d93b013ef70564e | By . Paul Bentley . and Laura Cox . PUBLISHED: . 12:16 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:00 EST, 14 January 2014 . Children as young as 15 are to be allowed to watch films filled with obscene language. Swear words are now so ‘commonplace’ among teenagers that age ratings will be relaxed, censors said yesterday. The British Board of Film Classification claims parents accept it is ‘game over’ when protecting their children from bad language. Controversy: The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, received more complaints than any other film in the past four years, according to the British Board of Film Classification . Under the new rules, even 12-year-olds could potentially be exposed to more profanities. Children’s charities, parents’ groups and politicians reacted angrily to the move, which they said amounted to a free-for-all. ‘It is truly outrageous – parents and children are being let down by a regulator who is no longer interested in regulating,’ said Pippa Smith, of the charity Safermedia. Margaret Morrissey, of the family group Parents Outloud, asked: ‘If no standards are set by adults, what chance do our children have of being polite and decent grown-ups and parents?’ Updating its guidance for cinema films and DVDs, the BBFC said from February 24 it would be ‘more flexible about allowing very strong language at 15’. Language: More than 50 parents said that the swearing and sexual innuendo of Men in Black 3 meant that it should not have been rated PG . An accompanying report insisted there was evidence of a softening of attitudes toward the most offensive words, ‘especially among younger respondents’. The board’s researchers sought the opinions of 10,000 people including, for the first time, 1,040 children aged 13 to 18. Previously, films classified as suitable for 15-year-olds were not permitted to ‘endorse discriminatory language or behaviour’. While strong language was banned, ‘aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language’ was unlikely to be allowed. Now, however, the guidance states that ‘there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language’. It adds that very strong language may be permitted depending on the context. It said: ‘Reluctantly, parents were accepting that there have been shifts in language in recent years and awareness and use of the word “f***” in particular, is almost commonplace, even for primary school aged children. ‘Even if their own children are not using language at home, parents are aware that it has become an accepted part of young people’s lives and its use in the school playground as well as with social media, mobile phones and the internet is widespread.’ It said that especially among boys of 14 and 15 years the C-word ‘was seen to be part of their vernacular’. Films rated 12A – which can be viewed by younger children if accompanied by an adult – have always allowed ‘moderate language’ and ‘infrequent’ strong language. Now, guidance states that ‘strong language may be permitted’ even if frequent, with certain conditions on whether it is justified by its context. The research report accompanying the guidance states: ‘By aged 15, most parents argued that it was “game over” and they could no longer control their child’s viewing. 'The shock value of bad language is felt to be diminishing with each generation.’ But last night Philip Davies, a Tory MP on the culture, media and sport select committee, said: ‘This reflects the general decline in good behavioural standards. ‘It makes children think it’s perfectly normal and reasonable to use bad language. I would rather they weren’t exposed to even worse levels of swearing. ‘They are still children at 15 and are already exposed to things in films at a younger age than I would care for them to be exposed to. ‘I would like to think that people would want to bring up their children to know that that isn’t acceptable.’ Mrs Smith added: ‘Everyone except the BBFC and broadcast media knows children will copy the swearing they hear. ‘Films make it cool. We dread to think what this latest announcement will mean for films deemed acceptable by the BBFC – an industry-funded body –for our children.’ Vivienne Pattison of Mediawatch said: ‘Swearing is not tolerated anywhere else in life – kids can’t do it at school, you can’t do it in public. 'So it is quite extraordinary that they’re just saying “Well, it’s a free-for-all in 15-rated films”. 'There is this idea that you just have to accept obscene language because we’ve got an evolving contemporary society and that’s just how it is. But, actually, no we don’t.’ Obscene: The Wolf on Wall Street contains 506 F-words in under three hours . Mrs Morrissey said: ‘Films and internet have done much to lower the tone and values of society. ‘We must remember young adults are the next generation of young parents.’ The new guidelines offer a subtle but significant shift – stating discriminatory language is ‘unlikely’ to be acceptable and that dangerous behaviour ‘must be clearly disapproved of’ if shown. There will be a crackdown, however, on words such as ‘crap’ which parents complained about hearing in films including the animated feature, The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists! Greater attention will now be paid by censors to horror movies and the psychological impact they can have on children, and to the sexualisation of girls, the content of music videos and the ease of accessibility of online porn. David Cooke, director of the BBFC, said: ‘Regular public consultation is crucial to continued public trust in what we do. ‘Our new classification guidelines reflect explicitly concerns raised by the public during the 2013 consultation and will, I believe, ensure that we continue to be in step with what the public wants and expects in order to make sensible and informed viewing decisions. ‘There is also room for continued improvement.’ The British Board of Film Classification has also announced plans to clamp down on raunchy music videos in the UK. Videos made featuring artists such as Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Britney Spears could be targeted following the large-scale public consultation. The body said there are ‘special worries’ about sexual content in music videos. The vow to crack down on the videos came as the BBFC released a report stating that parents are losing control over what their children watch. In its report it noted: ‘A specific issue highlighted by the consultation is in relation to sexual content, where the public is particularly concerned about the sexualisation of girls, and pornography. ‘The content of music videos and the ease of accessibility of online porn are special worries.’ It also said the ‘sexualisation of young girls was of particular concern’. ‘Music videos were identified as a key source of sexual imagery, which parents believed to be potentially harmful to young girls’ emotional wellbeing and social development,’ the report said. ‘The overwhelming reaction to the music videos content was one of shock and incredulity.’ | Films aimed at teenagers will be allowed to feature more bad language under new guidelines unveiled by the BBFC .
Parents have previously complained about swearing in PG and 12A films .
Board is set to crack down on horror over fears of 'psychological impact'
Public consultation revealed concerns over sexual content in filmss . |
10,141 | 1cc6f5d4b5e75063953673d12f1d988b0d666e48 | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 11:12 EST, 17 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:59 EST, 17 February 2013 . Second Lieutenant Walter Tull was the first black British Army officer . A new play about Britain's first black Army officer hopes to strengthen a campaign to award him a Military Cross. Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, who grew up in an East London orphanage, was recommended for a Military Cross for heroism on the Western Front, according to letters sent to his family after he was killed in 1918. He was commended for his 'gallantry and coolness under fire' during bloody battles in the trenches of Europe.' But the soldier never received the award, fuelling speculation he had been overlooked because of rules prohibiting officers of 'non-European descent' leading white troops. Now a play about his life is about to take to the stage this month and its writer hopes it will add fuel to the campaign to award Tull - who also played for Tottenham Hotspur - a posthumous Military Cross. Tull has been written by Phil Vasili who told The Independent on Sunday: 'Walter was made an officer during a time when it was practically expedient for the Army. 'The rules were broken because it suited the Army so to do. 'However, the rejection of his Military Cross recommendation was, I feel, because he embodied a legal contradiction as an officer of non-European descent.' The campaign has been backed by Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse, whose recent book A Medal for Leroy, draws heavily on Tull's life story. Speaking last year he said: 'We don't know why this medal was not awarded. There shouldn't have been any black officers in the British Army. 'I think the medal commendation somehow got misplaced. We just don't know. But now is the right moment to be putting this right.' Second Lt Tull was born in Folkstone, Kent, in April 1888, the son of a carpenter from Barbados who moved to England and married a local woman. By the age of 10 his parents had died and documents on the website Findmypast.co.uk show that he was living at an orphanage in Bethnal Green, East London. Walter Tull with fellow officers after being promoted to second lieutenant in 1917. He served as an officer in Italy and France . Write caption here . Walter Tull was born in Folkstone in 1888, the son of a carpenter whose own father had been a slave. His mother, from Kent, died when he was seven and his father two years later. He and his brother were sent to an orphanage in East London. Tull's football career began in 1908 for Clapton FC. He went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton. In 1914 he volunteered for the army and was promoted three times while training. Having been sent to France in November 1914, he returned home in May 1915 with 'acute mania' but later took part in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. On May 30, 1917 he received his officer's commission. He was sent to Italy where he was mentioned in despatches. He returned to the Western Front where, on March 25, 1918, he was killed by machine gun fire. His body was never found. He played professional football for Tottenham Hotspur - making him the first black outfield player in England's top division. On . the outbreak of war in 1914, he volunteered for the Football Battalion, . part of the 17th Middlesex Regiment, and fought in many fierce . operations, including the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He . was commissioned as an officer in May 1917 and sent to Italy where he . led his men and was mentioned in dispatches for bravery at the Battle of . Piave. Second Lt Tull was transferred to . France to take part in a push to break through the German lines at . Favreuil, in the Somme Valley. In March 1918, aged 29, he was killed. His . men tried to retrieve his body from No Man's Land but they were beaten . back by heavy enemy machine gun fire. His body was never found. The MoD said no record of the Military Cross recommendation was found in 2nd Lt Tull's service files at the National Archives . Tull will preview at Bolton's Octogan this Thursday. | Second Lieutenant Walter Tull was recommended for a Military Cross according to letters sent this his family .
The soldier was never given the award fuelling speculation he had been overlooked .
New play hopes to highlight campaign to award Tull a posthumous Military Cross . |
242,529 | c5ea327ee57189610cfd503e2a06b5b2d5d18245 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . These remarkable images show scores of homes and businesses left devastated by recent floods. Numerous properties in the rural areas of Thorney, Muchelney and Burrowbridge in Somerset were hit with up to four feet of water when the nearby River Parrett burst its banks on January 2. Last night, following another night of heavy rain, the water levels increased again by four inches. These pictures show homes and businesses in rural Somerset which have been hit with up to four ft of floodwater since the new year . The stunning images, including this one of a horse rider braving floodwater, were taken by photographer Matilda Temperley whose family live and work in the area . A sunken car on the road between Muchelney and Langport. Last night, the area was hit but another four inches of rainwater putting delaying any clean-up plans . A tractor can be seen almost entirely underwater in this picture taken on a farm near Muchelney Ham. In the background, a farmer walks his land . Due to high water levels in surrounding rivers and sodden ground, the floodwater is yet to show any sign of subsiding across the area known as the Somerset Levels. In the collection of images, residents can be seen walking down flooded roads and wading outside their now submerged homes. Locals have even used canoes to get around, with some forced to use a small boat to get their children to school - which is . thought cost around £1,000 a day. Meanwhile, hundreds of acres of water-locked farm land can be seen - with sandbags doing little to stop the continually rising water. The boat which has been use to deliver children to and from school pictured half way along the Muchelney to Langport road . Farmer James Winslade surveying some of his 790 acres of flooded land in Moorland. Many of his hay bails can be seen underwater also . This image shows an outside view of Professor Temperley's flooded home in Thorney where water almost reaches the lower level windows . A horse struggles through the newly-made mire as a quad-bike follows close by . In one poignant shot, a farmer can be seen looking over his sodden land and hay bails. In another, a tractor is left abandoned under several feet of water. But perhaps some of the most stark images are of Thorney House - which belongs to 98-year-old Professor Temperley. Having lived in the home almost all . of his life, the professor was evacuated from the beautiful late 19th . century property on New Years Day. The following day his home was flooded - leaving the home's interior completely devastated. An inside shot of Professor Temperley's 1770s home shows the family's attempts to save some of his belongings by piling them onto a piano . Business owner Julian Temperley at Thorney House. The floods are the worst the house has seen since it was built in 1770 . At 98, Professor Temperley was evacuated from Thorney house - kitchen pictured. All of his white goods has been destroyed by the water . Professor Temperley's living room - where light fittings, curtains and furniture have been destroyed . The . professor will move to temporary . rented accommodation while his family asses and fix the damage. The Temperleys say it could take months to get the house back in order. The stunning collection of images were taken by professor's granddaughter Matilda - more of her work can be viewed here. She . said: 'We have never seen anything like this. My grandfather - having . lived here for 98 years - has never seen anything like this. 'Once . the waters go, we will start a huge clean-up operation. We don't really . know how long it will take or how much it will cost.' A barn, located next to the house, where Somerset Cider Brandy barrels are kept. All of the company's produce was thankfully saved from the water . A tractor and trailer outside Thorney House, where Professor Temperley has lived for almost all of his life . The professional photographer took the shots over the past week. She said the area was hit by terrible floods last year - but this latest bout could spell ruin for many local businesses. Ms Temperley added: 'The river hasn't been dredged for almost 20 years and it is having a terrible affect. 'Many . business people are worried they will now have to pay huge overheads or . won't get insured because this is the second year we have had flooding. 'Last . years' floods, according to the Environment Agency, were the worst in . 100 years. They said it was a 100-year event but this year has been . worse.' Matilda's father . Julian is the owner of the Somerset Cider Brandy Company, which is located next to the professor's home. A barn where . barrels of cider are kept is shown in some of the images. Floodwater ripples around barn in Muchelney - one of the worst-hit areas of the Somerset Levels . Abandoned businesses at Burrowbridge. The basketworks on the right traded here for 70 years, before having to move following last year's devastating floods . A farmer stands beside his wet hay bales, piled up to protect the majority from the rain . Luckily Mr Temperley managed to save all of his barrels from this years' floods. He too said the problem was due to the fact the river had not be dredged for over 20 years. He said: 'We managed to get everything out. We lost a tractor but it was sacrificed for good reason. 'The river hasn't been dredged for 20 years and it looks like it is going to stay that way. 'We have a real problem here in Somerset now. We are used to flooding but this has just got out of control.' The flooded road through the tiny hamlet of Thorney with many adjacent homes pictured dangerously close to the water . A resident uses a canoe to get around in Thorney, while two others follow behind in waders . | Homes and businesses in the Somerset Levels flooded on January 2 by up to four feet of water .
The rural location, which was hit by severe flooding last year, was drenched again last night by four inches of rain .
Pictures show hundreds of acres of farmland underwater and scores of devastated homes .
Remarkable collection taken by photographer Matilda Temperley, whose family live and work in the area . |
213,615 | a0a637f3725f25103bf94ace1dfc64c1d017deb1 | The latest round of peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) remains the Turkish government's best bet not just to solve the country's 29-year old "Kurdish problem" but also to feed its energy-hungry population and wean it off costly and politically risky Russian and Iranian energy imports. To cope with a fast-growing economy and an increasing demand for energy, Turkey must ensure an adequate energy supply. So far, its power generation has largely relied on Russian and Iranian imports. The Syria crisis, however, has created a rift between Turkey and these energy suppliers, leaving the Turkish economy vulnerable to regional dynamics and price shocks. To fuel its growing economy and reduce its account deficit driven by high prices of oil and gas, Turkey has been scrambling to find alternative energy resources. To that end, the Turkish government has quietly been building up its energy presence in the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) oil and gas industry. On March 25, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani negotiated a framework deal that included Turkish stakes in exploration blocks and terms for the direct pipeline export of oil and gas from the KRG. The pipeline will allow Kurdish crude oil to be transported from the KRG directly into Turkey, bypassing Baghdad and setting up the KRG as a competitive supplier of oil to Turkey. In an effort to stave off political tension with Baghdad and Washington, the parties did not sign a government-to-government deal; instead, they turned the KRG energy portfolio over to public and private energy companies. In the spring of this year, Turkey established a state-backed firm to explore for oil and gas in northern Iraq. In January, Genel Energy, an Anglo-Turkish exploration and production company, was awarded the right to ship oil directly from the area. Since then, the company has been exporting crude oil from the KRG's Taq Taq fields to Turkey's Ceyhan port by truck. The amount of oil exported from Taq Taq will grow significantly when the construction of the pipeline is completed by the end of this year. The KRG's gas resources are even more appealing to Turkey. In 2012, Turkey's daily gas demand was 125 million cubic meters; this figure is likely to double this winter. As such, Turkey is expected to be one of Europe's biggest gas consumers in a decade. Kurdish gas is attractive to Turkey because the framework agreement between Turkey and the KRG includes specific terms on the price of gas. Turkey thus has leverage over pricing. Some experts have said the KRG's supplies could be three times cheaper than Russian and Iranian sources due to this leverage. This energy cooperation between the KRG and Turkey has been expanding rapidly. About a dozen Turkish companies have applied to Turkey's energy watchdog to obtain licenses to import gas from and construct oil pipelines in the KRG, and the KRG recently granted six Turkish companies permission to explore for oil. Last month, news leaked that a Turkish company was issued a license to import natural gas directly from the KRG. The Turkish state company Botas has also started construction of a gas pipeline from the KRG to Turkey's southeastern city of Mardin. Through this energy partnership, Turkey can secure an alternative low-cost supplier and realize Erdogan's goal of promoting Turkey as an energy hub, and the KRG can ensure its economic independence from Baghdad. But the success of the Turkey-KRG energy partnership hinges on the peaceful resolution of Turkey's Kurdish problem. The PKK has used pipeline attacks as a means of targeting Turkey's strategic assets. Until very recently, PKK attacks on pipelines knocked out oil and gas flows, forcing Turkey to buy Russian and Azeri gas at higher prices and keeping the Iraq-Turkey route mostly idle. In order to assure pipeline security and investment confidence, Turkey must finish what it started a year ago. In an effort to end three decades of fighting between Turkey and the PKK, Turkish intelligence started negotiations with the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 2012. As part of settlement talks, the PKK declared a ceasefire in March 2013 and started its withdrawal from Turkey toward its camps in northern Iraq in May. No serious fighting has been reported since, but that could change. Last month, the PKK announced that it halted its pull-out as both sides accused each other of failing to respect their part of the deal. Late last month, the Turkish government unveiled a reform package that allows the use of Kurdish language in election campaigns, lifts restrictions on the use of the Kurdish language in private schools, abolishes the requirement to recite the pledge of allegiance that forced schoolchildren to declare that "I am a Turk," and allows Kurdish towns to use their Kurdish names. For the Kurds, however, the reform package seems to only move forward halfway. Kurds have long asked for the right to public education in Kurdish, and the package only applies to private schools. The democratization package also does not offer concrete steps to address the Kurdish demand to lower the 10 per cent electoral threshold, which has mainly been used to keep pro-Kurdish parties out of parliament. After the announcement, the PKK warned that it may end the unilateral ceasefire. After a visit by Kurdish politicians to the prison island of Imrali where Ocalan has been held since 1999, the Kurdish leader also relayed a message asking the government to lay the legal groundwork to address all Kurdish demands or risk a breakdown in talks. But for the Turkish government, there is no easy way forward. With the 2014 local and presidential elections looming and no end in sight for the Syrian civil war, political uncertainty seems guaranteed. In the highly charged pre-election atmosphere, the Turkish government has to operate such that it does not alienate nationalists while at the same time keeps the peace process moving. Yet the bigger challenge facing Turkish decision-makers is the regional fallout from the war in Syria. Turkish media is reporting that in retaliation to Turkey's stance in Syria, Iranian intelligence has been talking to the PKK leadership in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains to convince it to abandon the peace process, promising support for Kurdish demands for autonomy in northern Syria in return. For Turkey, the stakes are higher than ever. Finding a peaceful resolution to its Kurdish problem will not only remove a strategic vulnerability; it will also ensure a less costly and politically less risky energy alternative to Russia and Iran and will realize Erdogan's dream of making Turkey one of the world's ten largest economies by 2023—the hundredth anniversary of the Turkish Republic. | Syria's war has created rift between Turkey and energy suppliers Iran and Russia .
Turkey negotiating deals with Kurdish energy firms to fill fuel gap .
Turkey has also established state-backed firm to explore for oil and gas in northern Iraq . |
91,285 | 0167c4f0219d1e004b0241544db6cb202ef4c1e6 | Atlanta (CNN) -- The number of documented U.S. cases of fungal meningitis has risen yet again, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 198 infections Saturday, including 15 deaths. The latest tally is 13 more than the agency reported Friday. And Saturday's death toll is an increase of one more than the previous day, due to a fatality in Indiana. Meningitis had been reported in 13 states thus far, with Tennessee the hardest hit with 52 documented infections and six deaths. One of the 198 cases reported Saturday is a "peripheral joint infection" that specifically affects a joint such as a knee, hip, shoulder or elbow. The cases have been linked to injections of a contaminated steroid produced by the New England Compounding Center. Some 14,000 people may have received the injections, the CDC estimated this week. Meningitis outbreak: What are compounding pharmacies? A Minnesota woman, Barbe Puro, filed a lawsuit Thursday -- which may be the first of its kind -- against the Massachusetts pharmaceutical company at the center of the deadly outbreak. In it, she alleges she was injected in September with a tainted batch of steroids from the NECC. Meanwhile, members of Congress on Friday expanded an investigation into the outbreak. In a letter to the director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, leaders of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce noted the Food and Drug Administration sent the NECC a warning letter in 2006 "detailing significant violations witnessed" by investigators the previous year. Woman sues over outbreak . Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick also accused the NECC this week of misleading regulators and operating outside its license by shipping large batches of drugs nationwide. Plus, the state's pharmacy board mandated that all Massachusetts compounding pharmacies sign affidavits stating they are complying with state regulations requiring compounders to mix medications for specific patients. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is usually caused by an infection, frequently with bacteria or a virus, but it can also be caused by less common pathogens, such as fungi in this case, according to the CDC. Steroid injections common for back pain sufferers . Fungal meningitis is very rare and, unlike viral and bacterial meningitis, is not contagious. Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CNN that fungal infections are not usually mild. He said when a fungus invades small blood vessels, it can cause them to clot or bleed, which can lead to symptoms of small strokes. In addition to typical meningitis symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea and stiffness of the neck, people with fungal meningitis may also experience confusion, dizziness and discomfort from bright lights. Patients might just have one or two of these symptoms, the CDC says. CDC: Tests may not detect meningitis fungus . | The CDC reports 13 fungal meningitis cases more than Friday .
They all have been linked to injections of a contaminated steroid .
Documented cases are reported in 13 states, with Tennessee especially hard hit .
The outbreak has been linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy . |
37,938 | 6b60ab4944489013d566329be0b5883c4b1285c3 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 14:22 EST, 9 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:20 EST, 12 January 2014 . Chilean engineers have been left red faced by a delay in the grand opening of the country's first-ever drawbridge - after they discovered a major part was installed upside down. The $30million Cau Cau bridge was supposed to open this month as an instant landmark connecting Valdivia, a coastal city in the south of Chile, with the adjacent Teja Island. But no one will be travelling across for a while, after builders realised at least one traffic deck had been installed upside down. How it's supposed to work: The $30million Cau . Cau bridge was supposed to open this month as an instant landmark . connecting Valdivia, a coastal city in the south of Chile, with the . adjacent Teja Island . Gaffe: Inspectors preparing for the opening day realised at least one traffic deck had been . installed upside down. Chile's president has laid the blame at the feet . of the Spanish company behind the development . It's a national embarrassment for the prosperous South American country. But its president, Sebastián Piñera, is blaming Spanish developers for the mistake. 'It can be fixed, ... and it will be fixed by the company that made the mistake,' fumed President Piñera. Public Works Minister Loreto Silva added: 'The only responsible party is the builder. We are going to make them answer for this' The bridge has ended up a laughing stock among Chilean social media users, who are wondering how construction workers managed to mess up something as seemingly clear as up and down. One wag tweeted a scrawly child's picture of a bridge, rendered in coloured pencil, with the quip: 'Leak of the installation plans for the Cau Cau bridge in Valdivia.' Another posted a picture of a tiny . foot-bridge by a pool in a budget resort, commenting: 'One of . the first tenders won by the idiots that made the bridge in Valdivia.' The mistake emerged when inspectors getting ready for opening day found that either one or two of the traffic decks were installed backwards, authorities said. Azvi, the Spanish infrastructure company behind the bridge development, did not immediately comment. A new opening date has not been announced. Valdivia, which is 520 miles south of Chile's sprawling capital Santiago, is home to about 125,000 people. | Chilean President Sebastián Piñera blames Spanish developers for mistake .
Bridge connecting Valdivia with Teja Island was set to open this month .
Gaffe becomes a laughing stock among Chileans using social media . |
89,358 | fda5d4dc28a226b264074e00a20495f54f65de01 | The Scottie dogs which stole the show at the spectacular Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow did not get quite as warm a reception with some Malaysian politicians. The animals which led each team in the parade of athletes at the event in Celtic Park proved a hit on Twitter - but have earned the ire of officials in the Islamic country as dogs are considered unclean by some Muslim scholars. During the parade of athletes, each team was led by a Scots man or woman in tweeds walking a Scottish terrier wearing a jacket bearing the name of the country. Scroll down for video . The Scottish Terrier accompanying the Singapore team during the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Some Malaysian Muslim politicians have criticised the use of the dogs, which they consider unclean . Adorable: Scottish terriers Blake and Solo. Many said the dogs stole the show at the opening ceremony . Judy Murray tweeted after the ceremony: 'Scottie dogs in tartan coats at CG opening ceremony. Barkingly brilliant.' Jackie Baillie MSP tweeted: 'Just love the Scottie dogs! Can I have one please?" while Heather Patterson wrote: "These Scottie dogs are the best thing about this ceremony... pure class.' However, Mohamad Sabu, the deputy president of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said: 'Malaysia and all Islamic countries deserve an apology from the organiser. Mohamad Sabu, deputy president of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party called for an apology and said the dogs were 'disrespectful' to Muslims . 'This is just so disrespectful to Malaysia and Muslims – especially as it happened during Ramadan,' he added, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'Muslims are not allowed to touch dogs, so the organiser should have been more aware and sensitive on this issue. It is hoped this incident can teach other Western countries to be more respectful in the future.' Dato Ibrahim Bin Ali, a far-Right politician, former MP and founder and president of Malay supremacist group Perkasa called the use of the dogs 'shameful' and 'offensive'. A Glasgow 2014 spokesman said there have been no complaints about the dogs from any of the nations taking part. This short-legged dog was originally bred to hunt prey such as badgers and foxes, and as a result is a stubborn and brave animal. Their independence and intelligence have drawn many dog lovers to the breed, but others find the Scottie's aloofness less than endearing. The breed doesn't naturally trust strangers, and will take their some time out figure out a situation or person. However, once they trust someone, they remain loyal for life. Source: Dogtime . | Malaysian officials called Scottie dogs 'shameful' and 'disrespectful'
Dogs are considered unclean by some Muslim scholars .
Event organisers said no one has complained about the dogs .
The Scottish terriers proved popular with viewers of the ceremony . |
203,486 | 9368d5b305bfd0c737400f0dac03d1b699732c81 | Despite their inconsistent start to the season and an injury crisis that has left their squad bereft of some world class talent, Manchester United's players appear to be in good spirits ahead of their clash against Arsenal on Saturday. David De Gea was a doubt for the match after dislocating his finger on international duty with Spain but trained with the squad and was all smiles in Ander Herrera's upload via Instagram. Luke Shaw, Angel di Maria and Michael Carrick also trained in the week in what is undoubtedly a massive boost for manager Louis van Gaal. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Premier League preview: Arsenal vs Manchester United . Ander Herrera (right) uploaded the above image via Instagram with his Manchester United team-mates . David De Gea (left) and Angel di Maria pose for a selfie ahead of their clash against Arsenal . Radamel Falcao (right) has endured a difficult start to his career in a Manchester United shirt . Angel di Maria celebrates scoring for Manchester united in their match against Leicester City . But United's midfield will be missing Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo is still out of the defence as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Arguably the most frustrating absentee is Radamel Falcao, who has picked up another injury after struggling initially with a calf issue. The players looked relaxed enough traveling with their laptop, bottles of water and Forbes magazine, which features stories on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. Forbes is also particularly known for its lists, including revealing who the richest Americans are in the world. United are seventh in the Premier League table but a victory at The Emirates on Saturday would see them overtake Arsene Wenger's side. Click to Like our Manchester United Facebook page. | Ander Herrera poses with Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria and David De Gea .
Manchester United could close the gap on the top four with victory .
But Louis van Gaal has a host of injuries to contend with for the game . |
65,217 | b92f07fdcd528df0f6068b89091d7f78f2b91089 | A North Carolina man sporting a '666' tattoo on his forehead has been charged with first-degree murder for fatally stabbing another man in a church, police say. William Everett Long, 53, stabbed George provost, 61, Thursday after the two got into an argument while making sandwiches at Duck United Methodist Church as part of a charity program in the small town of Duck, WTKR reports. The murder is the first in the tiny, seven-mile, seaside community in Dare County with a population of 379. The town was founded in 1668 as part of Currituck County. Scroll down for video . Charged: William Long, 53 (photographed) has been charged with first-degree murder for stabbing a homeless man in a church, the man sports a '666' tattoo above his left eyebrow . Church: Long and George Provost, 61, argued while making sandwiches at the Duck United Methodist Church (photographed), Long stabbed Provost with a kitchen knife . 'This tragedy doesn't just hit the church, it's hit our community very hard,' Sergeant Jeff Ackerman told WTKR. Ackerman said that the two argued and Long pulled a knife out of a kitchen drawer and attacked Provost. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 8.40am, according to CBS. Long, who has a lengthy rap sheet, is being held without bond. Ackerman said that police are also looking in to the man's unusual '666' tattoo which, in a biblical context, is associated with the Antichrist. No other guests or volunteers were injured in the incident, The Outer Banks Voice reports. Pray: The homeless-based charity program, OBX Room in the Inn, posted on its Facebook page asking people to pray for the homeless in the area . Tattoo: Sergeant Jeff Ackerman (photographed) said that police are also looking in to the man's unusual '666' tattoo . The two were staying at the church as part of the OBX Room in the Inn program, a church-based homeless assistance program providing food and shelter to the area's homeless population. The church released a statement saying 'In the midst of this tragedy, we remain prayerful.' The program, which is in its seventh year of operation, too released a statement about the incident on its Facebook page, requesting privacy as an investigation into the incident is conducted. | William Long, 53, has been charged with first-degree murder for stabbing George Provost, 61, in a church in Duck, North Carolina .
The two homeless men were staying at the church as part of a charity program and Long allegedly attacked Provost with a kitchen knife .
The murder is the first in the tiny town of Duck, that has a population of 379 . |
34,167 | 6113e2f180259cdd44dac05cb7ee453868850acd | In time, this may be remembered as the day Manchester United were reborn. The Gaal-acticos have found their mojo. It turned into a party, with 75,000 watching United move through the gears and give the fans what they want: goals, and lots of them. United settled on four, even though manager Louis van Gaal was after more when he sent on Falcao to join Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in attack for the final 23 minutes. Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Angel di Maria celebrate as the mood improved around Old Trafford . Radamel Falcao's arrival on the field was greeted with a rapturous reception by the home support . ‘Falcao, Falcao, give us a wave,’ demanded the Stretford End when the forward arrived on the pitch and the Colombian duly obliged. The build-up to his arrival on the field was momentous, with a whole stadium being swept along in the euphoria when Van Gaal sent his latest recruit dashing down the touchline to warm up. This was like the old United as they piled forward in search of goals, flooding Robert Green’s area and firing at will. QPR never stood a chance. Bravo Van Gaal, because the Dutch coach abandoned the disastrous three at the back and returned to the system English teams are most comfortable with. Marcos Rojo looked assured as part of a back four on his Manchester United debut on Sunday . Tyler Blackett marked himself out as a star of the future while Angel di Maria is already world class . A flat back four feels and sounds antiquated, but at least United’s defenders — Marcos Rojo, Tyler Blackett, Jonny Evans and Rafael — knew what they were doing. Rojo offered certainty, a composed figure alongside the improving and maturing Blackett. In time, Blackett can be one of the best. That’s the beauty of Van Gaal, because he has brought through some of the best talents in the game, Clarence Seedorf and Thomas Muller among them. Blackett is beginning to look the part. For all their eye-bulging spending over the past year, United and their fans know how to look after one of their own. Sunday, in a run that stretches back to October 1937, was the 3,705 successive match in which they have named a homegrown player in the matchday squad. It is early days for this new-look United, but this stadium responded to a team who played with purpose and pace. When you watch Angel di Maria contort his body to get past Rio Ferdinand and Steven Caulker, it is mesmerising. Angel di Maria scores his first Manchester United goal, and, whether deliberate or not, it was deserved . The Argentinian winger was the stand-out performer in a superb Manchester United display . Di Maria was replaced on 82 minutes, given a breather after 95 touches of the ball. Many of them were jaw-dropping. When he influences a game in this fashion, it is easy to understand why Cristiano Ronaldo was so critical of the decision by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sell the deep-lying winger. During the international break, Di Maria scored once and set up three in Argentina’s destruction of world champions Germany in Dusseldorf. This was another bracing performance. He didn’t seem sure whether his free-kick was supposed to beat QPR’s keeper, but there was no doubt about the touch that led to Juan Mata’s goal. It was a day for standing ovations, from the moment the team walked off at half-time when United were three goals to the good, to Di Maria’s departure, to Falcao’s arrival on the field. The fans wanted goals and now they have them. ‘Rooney, Rooney,’ they chanted when the captain drilled United’s third goal from the edge of the area just before the break. The Old Trafford fans were clearly excited to see their stars in the flesh and were pleased with what they saw . Daley Blind impressed on his Manchester United debut sitting in front of the back four . Wayne Rooney's goal made it 3-0 before half time and was well-received by the Old Trafford faithful . United supporters have retained a sense of humour, singing, ‘We’re going to win the league’, as the ball kept rippling the back of Green’s net. That seems a long way off, but Van Gaal is up and running after an uncomfortable start. Only a couple of weeks ago, when United were beaten 4-0 at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup, the aura surrounding him seemed to be to wearing off. After this tub-thumping win, the doubts have evaporated. VIDEO Van Gaal happy to get goals on board . | Louis van Gaal abandons disastrous three-man defence .
Back four looked secure in their roles and Tyler Blackett could be a star .
Angel di Maria touches the ball 95 times in his 82-minute performance .
Argentinian star shines in midfield diamond against QPR . |
103,289 | 1130f6754e3979cf1a1c19b6e03364e2333e71f1 | It was once a shrine to man's best friend. But now, few would recognize this moss-covered, bedraggled, crumbling woodland as a pet cemetery. The abandoned graveyard in New Orleans, Louisiana, was all but destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Thirty years prior, its owner was killed by a gravestone cutter and found half-naked, wrapped in chains, with a garbage bag tied to her neck by an electrical wire. Now, after stumbling across it by chance, photo-journalist Seph Lawless has captured the site in all it's eerie splendor. Scroll down for video . Abandoned: This is one of the headstones at an abandoned and destroyed cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana, 10 years after Katrina . Eerie: Photographer Seph Lawless said the site was the creepiest yet most moving experience he had ever had in his career . Collapsed: The main house of the graveyard has collapsed and vines have grown over it, weaving inside the structure . Its owner was killed with a gravestone cutter and found half-naked, wrapped in chains, with a garbage bag tied to her neck by an electrical wire . Seemingly deserted, there was one sign that pet owners may still visit the site: there was dog food strewn across one headstone . It was once a shrine to man's best friend. But now, few would recognize this moss-covered, crumbling woodland as a pet cemetery . The cemetery is more than 100 years old, with headstones dedicated to animals from as far away as Italy. One is simply engraved with the name: 'Satan'. And the house that used to run it has collapsed. 'It was truly the creepiest experience I've ever had,' photographer Seph Lawless told DailyMail.com. 'I was exploring Louisiana for a project about Hurricane Katrina, looking for signs of devastation. I sure found it but I never expected to find this. Hidden: Lawless was looking for signs of devastation after Hurricane Katrina but never expected to find this bizarre site . Historic: The cemetery is more than 100 years old, with headstones dedicated to animals from as far away as Italy . Lassie: This is one of the dozens of headstones that are now partially submerged in leaves, moss and dirt after the devastating hurricane . Love: Lawless said he was deeply moved by the scene as he walked among all the touching messages of love from owners to their pets . Upended: While some are rooted flat in the ground, other gravestones have been flipped by the hurricane and dropped at an angle . 'There are vines covering everything, it is all collapsed... it was very creepy.' Seemingly deserted, there was one sign that pet owners may still visit the site: there was dog food strewn across one headstone. 'That was very moving,' Lawless said. 'It was a strange place but truly one of the most touching and moving experiences I've ever had.' Lawless, who has compiled the images into a book went home to research the history of the cemetery but found very little online. Stripped of life: The beautiful multi-colored sunset is a strange contrast with the lifeless tree that stick out of the cemetery's ground . Wild: The natural disaster has transformed the site into a vine-covered wilderness that is now virtually deserted . Eventually, he came across a news article about the former owner, Dorothy Thompson, who was brutally killed in 1985 at the age of 63. In 2012, a man surrendered himself to New Orleans authorities and was charged with murder. According to The Times-Picayenne, Thompson was found three weeks after her disappearance in Mississippi River wrapped in chains. Brandon Nodier, a gravestone cutter, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in 2012. Last July, he pleaded guilty. For more of Lawless's work, see his Instagram and Facebook pages. | Seph Lawless came across 100-year-old cemetery as he was photographing New Orleans, Louisiana .
The site was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, its owner Dorothy Thompson was brutally killed in 1985 .
Main house has collapsed, trees and moss cover everything, one headstone just says 'Satan' on it . |
42,008 | 767dc41eed945160d9c5732c356c411942eaf24f | The mayor of Washington D.C. is demanding that the city’s major football team, the Washington Redskins, change its name as it is offensive to Native Americans. Mayor Vincent Gray said if the team wants to move from its current playing field outside the capital inside the borders of the District of Columbia they need to consider a new moniker. The word ‘redskin’ is considered a racial slur against Native Americans and the name has seen the football team face decades of legal battles. Calling for change: Mayor Vincent Gray said if the team wishes to move within the borders of Washington DC they need to 'do the right thing' and remove Redskins from their name . ‘I think that if they get serious with . the team coming back to Washington, there's no doubt there's going to . have to be a discussion about that,'' he told a news conference on Wednesday. ‘I think it has become a lightning rod, and I would love to be able to sit down with the team and see if a change should be made.' Mr Gray added: There's a precedent for this, and I think there needs to be a dispassionate discussion about this, and do the right thing.’ Mr Gray referred to the case of the city’s Washington Bullets basketball team which changed it's name to Washington Wizards in 1995 due to the high homicide and crime rate in the city at the time. Catch on: The Redskins' Rex Grossman throws a pass during a game at FedEx Field last year, but Mayor Gray warned that if they intend to move to a stadium within the borders of the city, the name will have to go . Offensive: Washington Redskins' logo . This is not the first time the Redskins have faced a battle over its name. A legal case against the club’s name was filed in 1992 by a group of Native Americans headed by Dr Susan Shown Harjo, founder of the National Museum of the American Indian. Although lower courts held up that the word ‘redskin’ was an offensive term towards Native Americans the case was thrown out by the Supreme court in 2009. ‘The term ‘redskins’ is the most vile and offensive term used to describe Native Americans,’ Dr Harjo told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2011. ‘It is most disturbing to the overwhelming majority of Native Americans throughout the country that the professional football team in the nation’s capital uses a team name that demeans us.’ The Washington Redskins currently play at the FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, a contract which runs out in 2026. The Washington Redskins is an National Football League team based in Washington D.C. The Redskins have won five NFL Championships, three Super Bowls and two pre-merger. Washington Redskins was founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves in Boston, Massachusetts. The team’s name changed the following year when it moved to share the home field with the Boston Red Sox and became Boston Redskins, and has been the Washington Redskins since its move to D.C. in 1937. The team played at the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in DC until 1997 when the move to the current FedEx Fields in Landover, Maryland. The team is ranked as the second most valuable in the NFL by Forbes Magazine, and was the highest grossing team during the 2009 season with $345 million in revenue. | Washington DC mayor Vincent Gray urge Redskins to 'do the right thing'
Team currently plays at FedEx Fields in Maryland but contract ends in 2026 .
Washington Redskins have faced battle of their name for decades . |
94,115 | 04fa4e1164e8ae49530e61365513379f546742e4 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 05:32 EST, 26 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:21 EST, 26 June 2013 . Imagine being able to hear everything that’s going on in your body, as if through a stethoscope. The quickening of your heartbeat. The blood coursing through your veins. Your brain wobbling in your skull. Even the swivelling of your eyes in their sockets. Then imagine not being able to turn those sounds off. Ever. Well that was the daily torture for Julie Redfern whose hearing became so acute it amplified sounds that are normally never heard. Julie Redfern, 47, suffers from superior canal dehiscence syndrome which means she can hear noises inside her body exceptionally loudly. The condition is caused by thinning of the temporal bone in the skull . She had to give up dining in restaurants with friends because she couldn’t hear a word they said over the sound of her own chewing. Mrs Redfern, 47, also had to cut out crunchy foods like apples and crisps because of the deafening noise in her head as she ate. Her job as a receptionist became an ordeal because when the phone rang on her desk the vibrations would make her eyeballs audibly shake. But after seven years of suffering she may finally be able to cut out the sounds thanks to pioneering surgery to plug up her acute hearing. Mrs Redfern from Padiham, Lancashire, said she first noticed the condition shortly after her 40th birthday as she sat playing the computer game Tetris and heard a strange squeaking noise as she followed the bricks from side to side, before realising it was her eyes. She said: ‘I remember it like it was yesterday. I was playing on the game and I thought “What’s that noise?” – then I realised that it was my eyeballs. Every time the block moved and I followed it with my eyes I could hear them squeaking. It was a horrible sensation, I could literally hear them moving, scratching, it was very weird.’ When her husband, Martin, came home she asked him if he could hear his own eyeballs. Mrs Redfern can hear her eyeballs move in their sockets, her heart beat, her brain wobble and her body fluids swish around . SCDS was first discovered in 1998 and causes vertigo, hypersensitivity to noises and the sense that stationary objects are moving. The condition is caused by a hole in the temporal bone. This bone should cover and protect the inner ear but in SCDS, the inner ear is exposed to more vibrations. This can develop from a trauma or slowly over time as a result of the pressure placed on the bone by a part of the brain called the temporal lobe. The average age of diagnosis is 45 and it is believed that one to two per cent of the population have an abnormally thin bone covering the superior canal. Some people with the condition control their symptoms by avoiding the situations that distress them. However, other people require surgery to treat the problem. She said: ‘He looked at me very strangely. I thought I was going mad. I started asking people if they could hear theirs but no one could. ‘The doctors just said “It’s your age, when you get to 40 these things happen”. I thought I can’t put up with this forever, I knew something wasn’t right. 'I could hear things that were louder than they should have been, I could hear myself swallowing and my voice echoing. ‘Everything moving in my head sounded as though it was swishing away. I would be stood in the queue at the supermarket and I’d start to sway, I felt drunk without having a drink.’ Eventually she read about a man who was suffering from the exact same symptoms so she photocopied the article and went to her doctor. She was referred to Manchester Royal Infirmary where she had a scan and was told she was suffering from superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS). SCDS is a rare medical condition of the inner ear caused by a thinning or honeycombing of a bone in the ear, which causes over-sensitivity to sound. Dr Gerald Brookes, a consultant neuro-otologist and skull base surgeon at the The Harley Street ENT Clinic in London, said: ‘Some people may be born with missing bone, or very thin bone, which “dissolves” with increasing age or may be damaged by a blow to the head. She has a theory that the condition developed as a result of a bike crash she had when she was 24 (pictured). Doctors initially put her symptoms down to her age as she started to notice them shortly after her 40th birthday . ‘The condition was only recognised relatively recently in 1998. Patients may complain of various odd and seemingly bizarre symptoms, and may even be considered to be suffering from a possible psychiatric ailment until the true diagnosis is made.’ Mrs Redfern said fluid was leaking from the superior canal in her ear and turning the bone into a honeycomb that amplified sounds in her body. She said: ‘The surgeon opened me up like a book just behind my ear and described the inside of it like honeycomb instead of being like cinder toffee because of the holes.’ Mrs Redfern (pictured on her wedding day in 1994) says that when she first told her husband, Martin, about the sounds she was hearing, he looked at her very strangely and she feared she was going mad . Then, during a complex five-hour operation which carried the risks of deafness, the surgeon had to fill in the holes on the bones to stop the sound travelling through them. Mrs Redfern said: ‘Even though there were risks I had to have it done, I couldn’t have coped with it for another 40 years, seven was enough.’ After having one ear done she is now aiming to have her second ear operated on which will hopefully lead to a complete cure. ‘I know when I have the other ear done I’ll be cured,’ she said. ‘But you never know I might miss not hearing all these strange little things.’ Mrs Redfern has had an operation to fill in the holes in her temporal bone but she will require another operation to cure the problem. She had the surgery despite the risk of deafness and facial deformity . Her surgeon said that he had only performed the operation four times before as the condition is so rare. Mrs Redfern is pictured in December 2012, days after the surgery . | Julie Redfern, 47, suffers from superior canal dehiscence syndrome - a thinning of the temporal bone which exposes the inner ear to more sound .
This causes her to hear noises inside her body that others cannot .
She can hear her brain wobble, her heartbeat and her blood moving .
Believes the condition developed because of a serious bike crash in 1991 .
Has had surgery to fill in holes in her temporal bone in her skull but needs another operation to fully cure her of condition . |
87,139 | f7443290df72d803dc0ec723b7f794f4f6e5e751 | By . Ryan Gorman . A Utah man known to be a white supremacist will go to jail for kidnapping, tying up and tattooing a woman against her will, authorities announced. Robert Calder, 40, was sentenced Monday to one year behind bars after pleading guilty to felony kidnapping. An aggravated assault charge against him was dismissed, records showed. The judge suspended a one to 15-year term and instead gave Calder credit for 162 days served and also ordered him to serve out a 36-month probation, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Where it happened: The suburban Salt Lake City apartment complex where Calder held, tattooed and beat the woman against her will . Calder, who goes by the name ‘Stinger,’ found himself in police custody after he and six members of the Silent Aryan Warriors gang met a woman he soon accused of being an undercover FBI agent, according to an affidavit cited by the paper. He pointed a gun at her face before tying her ankles and wrists and gagging her with a sock, according to police. The sock was held in place with duct tape wrapped around the woman’s head. Stinger is then believed by police to have told the woman he would ‘finish her tattoos’ before using an ink gun to write ‘RATTA 100%’ on her stomach. Calder then repeatedly beat her until she passed out, police said. Stinger was the only gang member she could identify out of the seven that were in her apartment that afternoon. He would not snitch on the others. | Robert Calder hogtied the woman and stuffed a sock in her mouth .
He forcibly tattooed 'RATTA 100%' across her stomach and beat repeatedly beat her during the eight hours she was held hostage .
Calder goes by the gang name 'Stinger' |
10,416 | 1da0533d3b038caf1019917ecb5a18a9c770ab5c | Gareth Bale showed off his skills in his Instagram account as the Real Madrid forward posted a video of him scoring through a basketball hoop with his feet. The Welshman is seen juggling the ball with his feet before side-footing it into the air and through the hoop. Bale was obviously inspired by the NBA as he posted the video on his account with the caption: 'Just saw the game in London. Always thought it was easier with my feet!!' WATCH: Gareth Bale juggles a football before sending it through a basketball hoop . Gareth Bale posted a video of him juggling a football on a basketball court in Spain . He then side-footed the ball towards a basketball hoop and the football goes straight through the net . The Real Madrid star, who had been inspired by the NBA in London, watches as the ball falls through the net . Bale had also posted a photograph of him brushing up on his Spanish after revealing he was fluent in Spanish swear words in November. The former Tottenham winger played in Madrid's 2-2 draw with rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday evening, which saw the European champions knocked out of the Copa del Rey after losing 4-2 on aggregate. Real Madrid currently sit top the La Liga table by one point ahead of Barcelona, and they head to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez to face Getafe on Sunday. Bale (left) played in Real Madrid's 2-2 draw with Atletico on Thursday which sent them out the Copa del Rey . The Welshman's side currently sit top of the La Liga table, one point ahead of Luis Enrique's Barcelona . | Gareth Bales posted a video to his Instragram account of him scoring in a basketball hoop from the three-point line .
The Welshman was inspired after watching the NBA match in London .
Bale's Real Madrid face Getafe away in the league on Sunday . |
94,352 | 0543af3a334068c19dc4ae5c932c5450202b0df4 | ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities cordoned off the home of missing toddler Caylee Anthony's grandparents on Thursday, hours after the remains of a small child were found nearby. Investigators have sealed off the Anthony home, which shows a large Caylee poster. The sheriff's office in Orange County, Florida, said it is seeking a warrant to search the home of George and Cindy Anthony. Sheriff Kevin Beary said the home has been secured "pending more investigation." The house has the "possibility of being more of a crime scene later," he added. A child's skull was found at about 9:30 a.m. by a utility meter reader who alerted authorities, sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said. Investigators, including those from the Anthony case, rushed to the scene, he added. Watch investigators swarm the scene » . CNN affiliate WFTV reported that the meter reader picked up a plastic bag at the site and a skull fell out. The remains have been removed by the medical examiner and will be sent to the FBI lab at Quantico, Virginia, Sheriff Beary said. The agency has told its lab analysts that the case is top priority, Beary added. "If they have to work through the weekend, they'll work through the weekend." "Bottom line, it's real simple, folks," Beary said. "We've recovered this human skull, it appears to be that of a small child, and now the investigation continues. We've got a lot of lab work to do, a lot of DNA work to do, a lot of crime scene work to do. We could be here all night." Watch the sheriff talk about what needs to be done » . Prosecutors have asked police not to disclose many details surrounding the discovery, Beary said. Caylee Anthony, 3, has been missing since June in a case that has received national attention. Casey Anthony, the child's 22-year-old mother, was charged last month with murder and other offenses. She is being held at the Orange County Jail. The area where the remains were found had been searched as part of the investigation into Caylee's disappearance, he said. But the precise spot where a county meter reader found them -- "45, 50, 60 feet back" from the street -- was flooded at the time of the search. No clothes were found with the remains, Beary said. Asked whether the remains could belong to another child, Beary said, "Not that we know of, but that's always a possibility, and that's why we've got a lot of work to do on this case still." Earlier, authorities said the Anthony family had been notified of the discovery. The remains were found "in very close proximity" to the Anthony home, Solomons said. View a map of where the remains were found » . An attorney for Casey Anthony filed legal papers Thursday afternoon seeking a court order to preserve all evidence collected, and to permit the defense to conduct its own forensic testing. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning. In a court hearing earlier Thursday, 9th Circuit Judge Stan Strickland postponed Casey Anthony's trial at the request of defense attorney Jose Baez. The attorney said he had not received all the evidence due him from prosecutors and was not ready to proceed with the January 5 trial. Baez asked Strickland whether the trial could be delayed until March. The judge scheduled a hearing January 15 to consider a new trial date as well as a possible change of venue. Casey Anthony remains in protective custody and has no contact with other inmates, corrections officials said. "She has been seen by a Corrections Health Services psychologist and her status was reviewed," officials said in a statement, adding Anthony was under psychological observation -- which is not the same as suicide watch. Baez arrived at the jail just before noon Thursday and stayed about an hour and a half, officials said. Prosecutors said this month that they would not seek the death penalty against Casey Anthony. If convicted of murder, she could be sentenced to life in prison. Authorities have said Casey Anthony waited about a month before telling her family that Caylee was gone. Cindy Anthony -- Caylee's grandmother and Casey Anthony's mother -- called the Orange County sheriff's office July 15, saying her daughter would not tell her where Caylee was. When questioned, Casey Anthony gave conflicting statements to police, including some that were later disproved, according to hundreds of documents and investigative reports released in the case. She claimed that she dropped Caylee off with a baby-sitter, but when police checked out her story, they learned that the address Casey Anthony supplied belonged to an apartment that had been vacant for weeks. The woman Casey Anthony named as her baby-sitter told police she did not know her. Investigators have said that cadaver dogs picked up the scent of death in Anthony's car, as well as in her parents' backyard. They also said air quality tests conducted by the FBI found evidence consistent with human decomposition and chloroform in the car's trunk. A neighbor told police Anthony had asked to borrow a shovel. Also, an analysis of Anthony's computer found that she had visited Web sites discussing chloroform and had done Internet searches on missing children, according to information released in the case. "There isn't a motive, and they haven't found a motive," Cindy Anthony said Wednesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live." Watch Cindy Anthony insist her daughter is innocent » . She added, "They told us they thought it was an accident, and she's scared and tried to cover it up. They don't feel there's a motive." Cindy Anthony stressed that five searches for the girl's body have "come up with nothing. There's nothing that they have found that, you know, has given them any evidence that Caylee is no longer with us." The Anthonys said they believe that the girl is still alive and that someone has her, noting several reports of sightings. Last month, Strickland denied prosecutors' request to impose a gag order in Anthony's case, saying he could not state that continued publicity would pose a threat to her trial or even that a gag order would stem the flood of media attention. CNN's John Couwels and "Nancy Grace" producer Natisha Lance contributed to this story. | NEW: Police to search home of Caylee Anthony's grandparents .
Child's remains found nearby on Thursday morning .
Affiliate reports that child's skull fell from plastic trash bag when found .
Utilility worker found remains in bag in area once underwater . |
52,881 | 95ff70553649c7248082e1f4ef1c817eeca0184b | Creating a space elevator on Earth has been considered as a possible way to cheaply and easily get things into space - either for building structures or providing supplies to a space station. But a team of experts are instead suggesting we should build one on the moon, to get useful material from the lunar surface. And in a newly released video the infrastructure that might make this possible has been revealed. Scroll down for video . A Washington-based company is planning to build an elevator on the moon. The LiftPort Group says it could be up and running by the end of 2019. Their design will involve an 'anchor' that is drilled into the lunar surface. Rovers will then scoop up material, to be transport to a space station in orbit . The Washington-based venture known as the LiftPort Group received about £70,000 ($110,000) worth of funding on Kickstarter back in September 2012. In October this year they also ran a Kickstarter to make a short film called 'Shoot the moon' about the project, which was also fully funded to just over £24,000 ($37,000). And the group says they can have their ambitious proposal up and running by the end of 2019. In September of this year dreams of taking an elevator into space were given a boost after researchers created ultra-thin, super-strong nanothreads made from diamonds. The threads are made up of a long, thin strand of carbon atoms arranged in the same way as the inside of a diamond. The discovery could finally be the breakthrough needed to hoist and support cosmic elevators that would transport people into the atmosphere. The research was carried out by John Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State University, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Materials. Their plan is to use a ‘ribbon’ cable to transport material, robots and even humans to and from the surface of the moon. It will be attached to a space station in a Lagrange Point around the moon, which is a position where the moon and Earth’s gravity cancel out, so a spacecraft or station can remain stationary. The cable from the station, dubbed the PicoGravity Laboratory (PGL), will drop down to a location on the moon known as Sinus Medii - which is roughly in the middle of the face that looks towards Earth. On the surface will be the Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure (nicknamed Elsie) Anchor Station. One of the main purposes of this structure will be mining the surface of the moon. The company plans to release rovers, which will extract valuable elements from the lunar soil. This will include rare Earth elements and helium-3, which can then either be shipped to Earth or stored in space to be used as fuel. The cable from the station, dubbed the PicoGravity Laboratory (PGL), will drop down to a location on the moon known as Sinus Medii (shown) - which is roughly in the middle of the face that looks towards Earth . To construct the space station, LiftGroup plans to use a counterweight. This involves ‘balancing’ the station in orbit with an object so that it stays in position. For this lunar elevator, the counterweight would be placed at the top of the 155,000 mile-long (250,000km) ribbon, where it would be held in place by Earth’s gravitational field. What material this ribbon will be made of, however, has not yet been revealed. The other end of the station will be anchored to the moon, using drills to keep it attached to the surface. And, like the ISS, the orbiting station around the moon will be modular - so more and more parts can be added over time. 'LiftPort Group is throwing all of its weight behind the Lunar Elevator,' the company writes on their website. 'The Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure will serve as both testing ground and demonstration of the feats mankind can accomplish when people work together. 'It’ll be a great opportunity to build on current research findings, and in the design and construction we know we’ll develop materials and engineering techniques and gain technical knowledge that will apply to the design of Earth’s space elevator.' To construct the space station, LiftGroup plans to use a counterweight. For this lunar elevator, the counterweight would be placed at the top of the 155,000 mile-long (250,000km) ribbon, where it would be held in place by Earth’s gravitational field (shown in illustration) LiftGroup says their design could be a precursor to an Earth-based space elevator system (Nasa illustration shown), which could make the transportation of material from Earth's surface into space much easier . | Washington-based company is planning to build an elevator on the moon .
The LiftPort Group says it could be up and running by the end of 2019 .
Their design will involve an 'anchor' that is drilled into the lunar surface .
Resources will be carried from the moon's surface to an orbiting station .
This space station will be anchored in an area of gravitational stability .
LiftPort says the resources could be used on our planet or in space .
And they say this could be a precursor to an Earth-based space elevator . |
253,716 | d46589d045f67768a4b14f299f405e10c460f696 | (CNN) -- Bayern Munich are through to the group stages of the Champions League after a 1-0 win at Swiss side FC Zurich gave them a 3-0 aggregate success in their play-off second leg. A strong Bayern side, featuring eight members of the Germany national side, secured their place in the last 32 courtesy of an early strike from Mario Gomez. Gomez was left unmarked in the area to finish off a flowing move involving Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller, for the only goal of the game in the seventh minute. Bayern -- who will be hosting the final of the competition in May 2012 -- now join compatriots Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in the main draw. Four other second round ties were played on Tuesday, with Spanish side Villarreal also sealing their place in the group stage with a 3-0 win over Odense of Denmark, for a 3-1 aggregate success. Highly-rated Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi netted a close range double, the second coming via a superb curling right-wing cross from Ruben Cani. Substitute Carlos Marchena added a third after goalkeeper Stefan Wessels fumbled his long-range shot, but a bad-tempered second half saw each side have a player sent off, with the home side losing Borja Valero for head-buttting Andreas Johansson in the stomach. Dinamo Zagreb are also through to the group stages, but they were given a scare by Malmo of Sweden. Zagreb side led 4-1 from the first leg in Croatia, but Malmo won 2-0 on the night, just failing to get the third goal that would have seen them progress on the away goals rule. Belgian side Genk beat Maccabi Haifa of Israel 2-1 on the night, a result that left the sides tied at 3-3 on aggregate. The scoreline remained the same through extra time, but Genk prevailed 4-1 on penalties to seal their place. Brazilian striker Ailton scored twice, with the decisive goal coming three minutes from time, to give Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia a 3-1 victory over Wisla Krakow of Poland for a 3-2 aggregate success. There is a consolation prize for the losing teams with a place in the group stages of the Europa League. | Bayern Munich are through to the group stage of the Champions League .
The German Bundesliga side beat FC Zurich 1-0 for a 3-1 aggregate success .
Spanish side Villarreal also progress afte a 3-0 victory over Odense of Denmark . |
251,687 | d1c518ccafc4643d5cecc4cdb789a1b4f5b14942 | British security forces were facing difficult questions yesterday as it emerged that ISIS killer Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, was brought to their attention five years ago. He was deemed to be so significant within terror circles that MI5 allegedly tried and failed to recruit him, and yet he was able to slip the net and begin his reign of terror in the Middle East. Born in Kuwait, he moved to London with his family aged six and later graduated in computer programming at the University of Westminster. It has been claimed that MI5 repeatedly tried to recruit Mohammed Emwazi, 26, - who has been named as Jihadi John (pictured) - as an informant and once put him on a terror watchlist to stop him leaving Britain . As long ago as 2007, Emwazi was involved in a West London offshoot of the Al Qaeda-inspired Al Shabab terror group in East Africa. Two members of that group were later to die in US drone strikes in Somalia, another vanished in a black cab despite being on a government control order and Emwazi was himself detained at the request of the British after travelling to East Africa. He claimed he was then questioned and harassed by MI5, who are said at one time to have tried to ‘turn him’ in to becoming a source. In fact, Emwazi may have come into contact with security sources as many as a dozen times over the years, The Telegraph reports. Similarities: It is thought that Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebolajo was also approached by MI5, and friends say it helped to radicalise hime . Emwazi’s case has strong similarities with that of Michael Adebolajo, one of the killers of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. MI5 tried to recruit him but then allowed him to operate without monitoring. And there were allegations last night that, as with Adebolajo, Emwazi’s targeting by MI5 may have helped radicalise him and lead him to seek revenge. In a further embarrassment for the Government and the security services, his name was discovered by investigators at the Washington Post. The security services had identified him six months ago. In other Jihadi John case developments: . Emwazi was dubbed Jihadi John by Western hostages because he was the leader of a group of British IS militants they likened to the Beatles. His menacing figure dressed in black and clutching a dagger in his left hand first appeared in an IS video last August, when he apparently killed the American journalist James Foley. He was later filmed delivering propaganda rants in the videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, father-of-two David Haines, British taxi driver Alan Henning, American aid worker Peter Kassig and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. Freed hostages have told how he had forced them to watch Al Shabab videos in captivity. Weeks after graduating in 2009, Emwazi flew to Tanzania with friends claiming to be on a week-long safari. Emwazi, from Queen's Park, London (pictured), is believed to have become known to the British security services in 2009 when he was accused of trying to fight with Somali terror group Al-Shabaab in east Africa . But he was arrested by police upon landing in the capital Dar es Salaam, apparently after a tip-off from MI5. He was sent back to Britain, via Amsterdam, where he claimed to have been accused by an MI5 officer of trying to reach Somalia. Two British trainee medics who met Emwazi in Syria said he was always ready for war. One told ITV: ‘He seems like someone with not a lot to lose. There were incidents where he ran into checkpoints and he dealt with people in a careless, gung-ho manner with disregard for his own safety. ‘He believed passionately in this cause and he believed that killing these people was the right thing to do. ‘He had no intention of returning and never identified himself as British – he said he was Kuwaiti or Yemeni. He had no link to Britain unless you asked him “Are you British” and he would say “Kind of, I lived there for a long time”.’ They said he seemed wealthy: ‘All of his kit was expensive. Even the guns he had were extremely expensive and rare in that part of the world.’ Emwazi's links to a who's who of terror suspects that brought him to the attention of MI5 . The identity of Jihadi John was known to MI5 as long ago as September but was cloaked in official secrecy. Meanwhile, as politicians promised to hunt him down, his family were subjected to an extraordinary surveillance operation. Here, Home Affairs Editor JAMES SLACK and Crime Correspondent REBECCA CAMBER detail how Mohammed Emwazi had been on the radar of MI5 for years and had links to a who’s who of terror suspects. Emwazi claims officers from MI5 (pictured) stopped him from flying in 2010, and even tried to recruit him after accusing him of trying to go to Somalia . CONTACT WITH MI5 . In May 2009, Emwazi was stopped with two associates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, allegedly en route to a safari. After being detained by police, held overnight and deported, he flew to Amsterdam, where he claimed that an officer from MI5 accused him of trying to reach Somalia – the stronghold of Islamist terror group Al Shabaab. Emwazi claims that MI5 representatives even tried to recruit him. On his return to the UK the next day, friends say he was again harassed by MI5, who warned him he was now on a terror watch list which prevented him from travelling to any Muslim country. Despite this, between 2009 and 2010 he travelled between London and Kuwait at least twice. In June 2010, he was detained by counter-terrorism officials in Britain who fingerprinted him and searching his belongings. The next day – to Emwazi’s fury, given he claimed to have a job and bride-to-be in Kuwait – he was prevented from flying. A possible attempt to leave London for Saudi Arabia in 2012 was also blocked. He is believed to have made it to Syria in 2013 – raising the question of whether the security services allowed him to travel on this occasion or whether he slipped the net. In total, there were an estimated 12 contacts, including telephone calls, between the security services and police and Emwazi and his family. THE LONDON NETWORK . Court papers name Emwazi as part of a terror fundraising network which was being monitored by the security services from as early as 2007. The group was involved in the ‘provision of funds and equipment to Somalia to undertake terrorism-related activity’. Members include a fanatic, known only as CE, who was placed under a control order. CE attended an Al Qaeda training camp led by Harun Fazul and Saleh Nabhan, a leading Al Qaeda figure suspected of involvement in the 1998 US embassy bombings in east Africa. On his return to Britain, CE was tasked with recruiting others to join Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab. The group also included Hamza Chentouf and Mohammed Ezzouek, who along with CE were interrogated by British intelligence officers in Kenya. Also on the list was an extremist who can be identified only as J1 – an Ethiopian accused of being a member of Al Shabaab and a close associate of one of four bombers who attempted to cause mass casualties on the London Underground on July 21, 2005. Links: Escaped terror suspect Ibrahim Magag . THE CONTROL ORDER ABSCONDEE . Emwazi also moved in the same circles as Ibrahim Magag, a Somali-born former train conductor from London involved in arranging ‘financial support for Al Qaeda’. Magag was put under a control order to stop him fleeing overseas to join a jihad. But on Boxing Day, 2012, he vanished. He has never been caught and officials believe he went to join British jihadists in East Africa. Magag had a history of tampering with his monitoring equipment, lying about why he was late reporting home for a night-time curfew and using a computer in breach of the terms of an order that was designed to protect national security – but he still managed to slip through the net. THE DRONE STRIKES . Also among Emwazi’s associates was Bilal el-Berjawi, a Londoner of Lebanese origin and Al Shabaab recruiter. He was quizzed by MI5 in 2009 over plans to blow up a Kenyan shopping centre in an attack sanctioned by Osama bin Laden. El-Berjawi was killed by a drone strike in Somalia three years ago. A few weeks later, British-born Mohamed Sakr, another Emwazi associate, from west London, was killed in a strike over Somalia. He had UK-Egyptian nationality, but the Government stripped him of his British citizenship shortly before he was killed. Likeness: Adebolajo was also spoken to by MI5 . SIMILARITIES WITH THE KILLER OF LEE RIGBY . Michael Adebolajo, like Emwazi, was well known to MI5 after cropping up in five inquiries, two of which were ‘priority one’ investigations – the most serious classification. Adebolajo went to Kenya in November 2010, where he was arrested on suspicion of attempting to travel to Somalia to join Al Shabaab. He appeared in court in Kenya but was not charged and returned home. His then–lawyer claimed he was freed on the recommendation of the British High Commission, avoiding formal deportation. Adebolajo told the Old Bailey there was ‘more to the story’ – hinting that, like Emwazi, MI5 had tried to recruit him as a source. Friends claim contact with the security services contributed to turning him towards violence. THE LONDON MOSQUE . In a statement last night, the Greenwich Islamic Centre denied that Emwazi had offered prayers there, but said it was its ‘clear understanding’ that he may have visited the mosque ‘like tens of thousands of people do every month’. The centre has been plagued by extremism in the past. It took action to remove hate preachers Omar Bakri, Anjem Choudary and Usman Ali, who allegedly used the premises to show children video footage of the 9/11 atrocity while chanting ‘God is great’. | Mohammed Emwazi, from Queen's Park, London, named as Jihadi John .
He is believed to have become known to British security services in 2009 .
British citizen moved to UK but fled to Middle East about three years ago .
It is claimed he was known to officials and that MI5 even tried to recruit him .
The daughter of one of his British victims, David Haines, said the family’s ordeal will be eased only ‘once there’s a bullet between his eyes’; .
There were fears Emwazi’s exposure could trigger a backlash against IS hostages including UK journalist John Cantlie; .
MI5 chiefs face being called to give evidence to the Intelligence and Security Committee to explain their dealings with Emwazi; .
His parents were said to be in shock and not convinced their son is a killer; .
Human rights activist Asim Qureshi described Emwazi as ‘a beautiful young man’ and blamed the security services for his crimes; .
It emerged that Emwazi had faced a string of charges linked to theft and petty crimes. |
117,338 | 2384ddbcad41646083c458f5cf094ec64739b908 | Britain is facing the threat of a spring of widespread industrial unrest at the hands of Labour’s biggest donor and the teaching unions, it has emerged. New documents suggest senior figures at Unite, which has given the Opposition more than £7.5million since Ed Miliband became leader, believe Britain’s first general strike since 1926 should be a ‘tool in our armoury’ in the fight against Government public spending restraint. And there could be further disruption in thousands of schools with teaching unions planning to escalate action. Protest: Documents suggest senior figures at Unite believe Britain's first general strike since 1926 should be a 'tool in our armoury' in the fight against Government public spending restraint . The Trades Union Congress voted in September to ‘consider the practicalities’ of a general strike, ahead of further discussion by trade unions. But now senior figures are ‘fighting to ensure that a general strike is not dropped from the agenda’, according to minutes from the December meeting of Unite’s executive council that have appeared on a website linked to the union. The document says there is ‘consensus that a general strike should be one of the tools in our armoury against cuts and austerity’. The last general strike in Britain took place in 1926, when millions refused to turn up to work for nine full days. The document adds that ‘serious campaigning’ is required to ensure that members support the move. ‘We concluded that other action, such as coordinated action in the public sector over pay, should be in addition to rather than in place of a move towards a General Strike,’ it says. A spokesman for Unite said: ‘These are not minutes at all – they are one person’s notes. Outrage: Education Secretary Michael Gove has infuriated unions by announcing plans to abolish automatic annual pay rises and giving heads more flexibility to set salaries according to performance . ‘On the substance, Unite voted for the resolution at the TUC last year calling for the practicalities of a general strike to be explored as a campaigning option against the Government’s austerity agenda. So did most unions, and the resolution was passed. Nothing more has happened since.’ Separately, teaching unions – which started work-to-rule action in October –are preparing to escalate their campaign of action, meaning schools across the country face disruption before Easter. Education Secretary Michael Gove has infuriated unions by announcing plans to abolish automatic annual pay rises and giving heads more flexibility to set salaries according to performance. Leaders at teaching unions NUT and NASUWT have now agreed to ‘build towards strike action in the spring term’, according to the Times Educational Supplement. NUT executive member Martin Powell-Davies told the TES: ‘The earlier we take strike action the better.’ | Documents suggest Unite backs a general strike, described as a 'tool in our armoury'
Teaching unions also planning to escalate action . |
280,717 | f7a9c0363312d4e7b2fe12eba110577153925ce2 | By . Simeon Gholam . Follow @@SimGholam . Steven Gerrard has admitted that England shouldn't have pushed for the late winner in their heartbreaking defeat against Uruguay, and instead should have settled for the draw. His Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez gave the South American side the lead before half time, but a close range Wayne Rooney effort pulled the Three Lions level. Roy Hodgson's side then spent the closing stages pushing for a winner, only to be hit by Suarez going the other way, and Gerrard knows that England should have been more cautious in their approach. Consoled: Steven Gerrard is embraced by club mate Luis Suarez after England's heartbreaking defeat . Acceptance: Gerrard admits that England should have controlled the game better in the closing stages . 'We never managed the game well enough when we got the equaliser. We can’t give chances to Luis Suarez because he buries them from that position,' Gerrard told reporters after the game. 'I just thought we needed to be a bit more clever, a bit more cute and a bit more difficult to beat. 'Maybe accept that going for a point might have been the best option. 'At 1-1 as a team we sort of went for the second goal and maybe we should have been more experienced and gone for the draw.' The 34-year-old spoke of his disappointment about England's campaign, arguing that their performances against Italy and Uruguay have warranted better than a pointless return. Key moment: Gerrard with defenders Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka after their defeat . Trudged: The captain walking down the tunnel deflated at the end of the game . 'I’m sort of frustrated because looking at the two games and how we have performed, we sort of deserve something out of either one of them if not both of them,' he added. 'I don’t think I am standing here saying we were poor in both games and our gameplan was wrong. 'At this level it is such a cruel level. You can’t give world class players chances – that’s one thing – and when you are still in the game you need to be more difficult to beat and that was the disappointing thing for me. 'Italy are a fantastic team and capable of winning both games but we're clutching at straws. The position we're in is the position we didn't want to be in coming into the tournament, relying on other people's results. It's very difficult at the moment.' | England should have settled for the draw against Uruguay, admits Gerrard .
Luis Suarez gave Uruguay the lead before Wayne Rooney equaliser .
But Liverpool forward struck late on to break Three Lions' hearts .
If Italy fail to beat Costa Rica on Friday, then England will be eliminated . |
59,897 | aa2b17df413e141d74eed3476e0c1f5c7434860f | (CNN) -- Emmindingen is a small town in southwest Germany, with about 26,000 people and an enviable unemployment rate of just 2.8% . But barely 20 miles away, across the French border, the picture is very different. The Alsatian town of Selestat has a similar industrial base, but an unemployment rate of 7.4%. Among young people, the contrast is even starker, with 23% of under-25s unemployed in the French town, compared to 1.8% in Emmendingen. The differing fortunes of these neighboring border towns illustrate the complaints of many French businesses, as their country heads towards a presidential election. Anne Leitzgen is the president of SALM Kitchens, a family-run business which has operated since the 1930s, and has one of the largest worktop production lines in Europe. Despite a commitment to invest in Selestat, she worries about the increased costs of running a firm in France, saying taxes are higher, labor is twice as expensive, and workers' benefits are double those paid in Germany. Leitzgen says she is concerned the next French government will tax companies like hers out of business. "We are afraid money will be taken from our companies, and afraid that taxes will increase a lot and the situation will become bad for companies our size ," she says. Further, she says, the "relationship between the unions is more constructive and easier in Germany." Across the border is the workplace of Emmanuel Foyer, a Frenchman who lives in his homeland but commutes to work in Emmendingen. Foyer, the sales manager for plastics industry solutions provider Braunform, believes a German focus on the long-term is behind the current success. "In Germany, for sure, we are thinking of the long-term. In a company like this, [there's a] huge focus on training and the future of our employees," he says. "The approach in Germany to keep workers in times of low-load level means we were ready when the economy restarted." The trade-off for German workers is less job security, no national, fixed minimum wage, and less extensive social protections for the unemployed. But the mayor of Selestat, Marcel Bauer, says it is time for France to make these changes to regain its economic competitiveness. "As soon as the next president is in office -- be it the one we've got or a new one -- I sincerely hope that jobs reforms will be put in place immediately," he says. "The system needs to be more flexible. There is a lot that must change, starting with the mindset of employers and employees." | Two towns either side of the French-German border have contrasting economic fortunes .
French Selestat has 7.4% unemployment, compared with 2.8% in German Emmendingen .
French businesses say they envy the lower tax and labor costs across the border .
They fear the burden on French business will increase after the forthcoming election . |
210,196 | 9c3737f105878b3232cb9be68f007f0ce17b5866 | (CNN) -- Each year, more than 3 million Muslims commit to Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that represents the fifth and final "pillar" of Islam and the largest annual human gathering on the planet. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able to do so is expected to make this pilgrimage once in their lifetime. As described in the Hadith of Gabriel, each pillar of Islam acts as a guide to day-to-day conduct for Muslims, outlining proper professions to God, prayer and spiritual mindfulness, not unlike the Book of Common Prayer for Anglicans or Judaism's Siddur. For this year's Hajj, iReporters from around the world documented their journeys, describing their experiences as they complete this Islamic sacrament. Thanks to the power of social media and platforms like CNN's iReport, they've been able to share their faith with the world, giving Muslims and non-Muslims alike a glimpse of the significance of this powerful and transformative event. The 2011 Hajj also holds special significance for Muslims in the wake of the Arab Spring this year. Though the pilgrimage has traditionally been thought of as an undertaking for middle-aged or senior Muslims, increasing numbers of young pilgrims have been making the trip to Mecca in the past decade. While on Hajj, Muslim pilgrims travel great distances to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the last month of the Islamic calendar, which is tied to the lunar calendar. At Mecca, nestled among the mountains and deserts of the western part of the country, lies the Sacred Mosque. This is the spiritual epicenter of Islam and the location of the Kaaba, the first Islamic house of worship, built by the patriarch Abraham and his son Ishmael. When Muslims orient themselves to Mecca for their five daily prayers, they are praying in the direction of the Kaaba. During Hajj, "One needs to spend money, exert one's body, behave with character and in all of that turn sincerely to God," says iReporter David Coolidge, 32, a Muslim chaplain at Brown University. "If one can spend a few weeks totally devoted to one's faith, it makes it that much easier to make one's faith a living reality when one is at home and living one's ordinary life." Jeddah, the "city of pilgrims," the first official stop on the Hajj . As iReporter Amaan Haq explains, Muslims engage in prayer and contemplation at Mecca for several days, undertaking rituals meant to spiritually purify themselves and bring their souls into better alignment with God. "The major rituals include walking around the Kaaba seven times, drinking from the holy Zamzam Well and holding a vigil at the plains of Mount Arafat led by an Imam, a Muslim cleric, kind of like a priest," he said. These observances are then followed by a three-day festival called Eid al-Adha, a global celebration for all Muslims commemorating Abraham's piousness and obedience to God." Haq, 27, made this year's Hajj with his wife, whom he recently married. He describes his pilgrimage as "quite breathtaking," remarking on the powerful sight of people from all walks of life gathered in the same ceremonial garb, for the same purpose. "I saw people from Brazil, Spain, from China, from Japan -- Muslims from all over the world speaking different languages, coming with their own cultures and ways of doing things, but all gathered here because of their bond with Islam," he said. Haq views his Hajj as a powerful renewal of his faith, expressing his awe at the sheer number of people gathered at Mecca and the sense of fulfillment he feels at seeing the Kaaba with his own eyes. "Islam hasn't been seen in a very positive light over the past decade, but this event really shows how everyone from all walks of life, from all over the Earth, is out here for the same purpose," he said. "It's amazing. There's no type of discrimination here. Everybody is gathered here as one body. There's this powerful feeling of brotherhood and togetherness. "Growing up in a Muslim family and reading about it or seeing videos of it, none of that helped me grasp what was actually going on. When you actually do it, it's very strenuous. It's hard work. But it's also the most rewarding thing I've done in my life." Video tour of Mecca . Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, credits the enthusiasm of young Muslims to participate in Hajj to a "revival, an Islamic awakening around the world, part of which we have seen in the Arab Spring." Though Muslims in particular may be reconnecting with Islamic values, he notes that a belief in unity, peace and justice is a central principal of all Abrahamic faiths. Awad also believes that in times of global turmoil and economic uncertainty, many young Muslims are drawn to the Hajj out of a yearning for equality and camaraderie. All pilgrims at Mecca are expected to dress and behave in a manner that removes all outward signifiers of wealth or social standing and focus entirely on their spiritual development. "I think many young people are rediscovering the proud heritage of Islam and that they belong to a higher cause," he said. "And I think more people are going on Hajj now because they want to attach themselves to that higher cause and the higher values that they sometimes see challenged by worldly governments and societies. "It's a rediscovery of their roots and their identity," he continued. "Hopefully, that strength and momentum and that spiritual charge will help them go back to their societies and play constructive and moral roles in their communities." Closeup video of pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba, one of the Hajj rituals . iReporter Yousef Awaida, 22, shares this belief in an Islamic awakening among Muslim youth, observing how Mecca during Hajj is a sea of tranquility and unity in one of the most turbulent regions on the planet. "So many people have all come here for the same purpose: to seek God's mercy and forgiveness," he said. "In reality, many of these people, when not in Mecca, will fight and spill each other's blood. But in this moment, in this city, I have not seen one confrontation. "Here, Muslims can strengthen the foundation of their faith: Being one people, who worship one God." That's a sentiment echoed in Amaan Haq's experience while on Hajj. "I've never really had this feeling in my life," he said. "To know the importance of this landmark, in this city, in this place. To know the history of the people who have been in this place and worshipped in this city -- not just in our lifetime or generation but throughout history -- that's an out-of-this-world feeling." A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to the Book of Common Prayer as a text for Catholics. It is a book of prayers and services for Anglicans. | More young Muslims embarking on Islamic pilgrimage than ever before .
2011 Hajj could be a flashpoint for global Islamic revival .
Pilgrimage is a defining moment in the life of Muslims .
Follow iReporters as they complete their Hajj . |
87,325 | f7c3270485d33d8de989155586e10b7361a3ff7c | A pageant for tiny chickens sees a bird with its puffed-out chest stand upright focusing on its posture, and strutting its rich yellow plumage for a stoney-faced judge. The chicken belongs to Mohamad Hatta who is as proud of his chicken as a father is of his children during the contest which took place near the capital of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. 'Yes my hero, puff out your chest!' Mohamad Hatta cries out above the din of fellow fowl-owners as his $10,000 bird pranced to victory in a 'beauty contest' for serama chickens. Cocky: A judge watches as a Serama chicken struts down a judging table during a beauty contest at Kampung Pandan in Kuala Lumpur . The breed - among the smallest . chickens in the world with adults weighing less than 500 grammes (17 oz) - have been a . favoured pet in its native Malaysia for decades. According to experts, there are about 250,000 serama in Malaysia. But its popularity has spread as far as Europe and America, with enthusiast clubs popping up to celebrate the decorative breed's distinctive characteristics. These include attractive and richly coloured plumage and a unique bearing marked by a protruding, heart-shaped chest and wings that hang straight to the ground, giving the pigeon-sized bird the air of a goose-stepping soldier on military parade. Despite the Asian bird-flu outbreaks over recent years, the serama has remained popular loved by ardent enthusiasts who will pay up to several thousand dollars for a prize bird. That's my girl: A Malaysian man prepares his prized Serama chicken 'Tokun' ahead of a beauty contest at Kampung Pandan in Kuala Lumpur - every bird likes to be pampered . Plucky: A prized Serama chicken 'Aramas' struts down a judging table during the popular beauty contest . Mohamad Hatta said: 'There are people who want to buy my bird. But I am not selling it. It is part of my family'. The bird is believed to be a cross between the Malaysian wild fowl and Japanese bantam. It first emerged decades ago as a decorative pet for Malaysia's state sultans before gaining a broader public following from the 1980s. Some believe the breed originated as a long-ago gift from a Thai king to a Malaysian sultan. Its name is thought to derive from 'Rama' - a term referring to Thailand's royalty. Many Malaysians actually eat serama, believing that they are an aphrodisiac that also fights asthma. Star bird: In this picture seasoned Serama beauty contest participant Pak Alang Ari makes final preparations to his chicken ahead of its debut . Serious contest: Judges sit out a series of tables to watch Serama chickens during a beauty contest which could pay out $10,000 . Onlookers: A Malaysian family watches during a Serema Chicken beauty contest at Kampung Pandan in Kuala Lumpur . But the bird's attractiveness and good-natured, manageable disposition has pushed it up the pecking order of Malaysian pets. Norzamini Tukiban, 54, heads the district chapter of Malaysia's serama association. He said: 'These beautiful tiny birds give you great pleasure to own. They are warm and tame and this allows you to hold them, making serama birds adorable household pets.' Ahmad Fauzi Mohamed, president of the Malaysia branch of the World Serama Federation, said the tiny bird has made its home overseas with serama clubs spring up in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Holland, South Korea and elsewhere. Bold bird: It is important for the prized Serama chicken to be able to dazzle judges with their display of confidence and good posture . 'Bootiful' chicken: This bird looks as though he thinks he'll win, standing straight with his chest held high . Dedication: Participants can spend hours preparing their Serama chickens for the beauty contest which is always taken incredibly seriously . The world federation has a membership of 35,000 and is growing by 10 per cent per year.But Malaysia remains the serama heartland and contests are held almost weekly. About 200 people turned out to the open-air community hall just outside Kuala Lumpur for a recent contest as driving tropical rain thundered down outside. Lifting the diminutive competitors onto viewing tables, judges scored contestants on posture, feather quality, colour and temperament. Hours of grooming precede shows, including embellishing plumage with additional feathers taped to the bird - which is allowed. Oils are applied to enhance the sheen of plumage that can range widely in one bird from red to white to black. A 2004 regional bird-flu outbreak gave breeders a scare, as the Malaysian government culled hundreds of serama along with other fowl to contain the contagion, though there were no reports of flu-infected serama. Ahmad Fauzi said: 'Many owners hid their birds in the jungle, trying to save the species'. But there are poultry import restrictions in the region which have hampered breeding and trade, forcing many enthusiasts to smuggle Malaysian chicks and eggs. At present, demand continues to outstrip supply, and champions can fetch up to $10,000. Fauzi Osman, a breeder from northern Malaysia said: 'Breeding is difficult and to get good-quality birds is extremely hard'. 'So die-hard enthusiasts like those from Indonesia will get someone to smuggle baby chicks for about $200 each.' Who won: The men check the scores posted onto the wall after the beauty contest and work out which serema chicken got the most points . Plucky, confident, and with a hint of bravado, the Serama originate in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. The bird is a result of cross breeding of the Malaysian wild fowl and Japanese bantam. It first emerged decades ago as a . decorative pet for Malaysia's state sultans before gaining a broader . public following from the 1980s. According to experts, there are about 250,000 serama in Malaysia. However, they are also popular in the United States and Europe where they have dedicated fan clubs. The tiny Serama are characterized by their upright posture, full breast and vertical tail feathers. However, what they lack in stature they make up for in cockiness. In Malaysia they are described as brave warriors and archangel chickens, because of their very human like appearance.However, they are the smallest breed of chicken in the world. Typically under 500g there are even smaller birds - at just under 250g - being bred in Malaysia. | The beauty contests have been taking place in .
Malaysia for decades .
According to experts, there are about 250,000 serama in Malaysia .
Champion birds can fetch up to $10,000 if they win the top prize .
Judges look for a bird with a puffed out chest and good posture . |
56,638 | a07d6b21281b3dafda7bf1045b4824c54b45ded4 | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 10:37 EST, 6 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:59 EST, 7 October 2013 . He was a brilliant Army surgeon who helped save the lives of hundreds of soldiers horrifically wounded on the Afghan battlefield. Lieutenant Colonel Mike McErlain was part of a team of highly-skilled medics toiling to treat harrowing injuries in the operating theatre at Camp Bastion. His dedication ensured young servicemen and women, including those with arms and legs blown off by roadside bombs, received a second chance. Heartbroken: Joanna McErlain has praised her surgeon husband Mike who collapsed and died just minutes into the 44-mile D-Day run . Lieutenant Colonel McErlain, a father-of-three, had an undiagnosed degenerative heart disease . He was so determined to help warzone amputees that he co-founded a charity run which has raised more than £100,000 for the victims. The annual D-Day 44 Run aimed to increase awareness of the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers along the Normandy coast on June 6, 1944, and collect money for BLESMA, the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association. But in a tragic twist Lt Col McErlain, a married father-of-three, collapsed and died just minutes into this year's 44-mile run. The seemingly healthy 45-year-old had an undiagnosed degenerative heart disease. Army surgeon: Lt Col McErlain was part of a team of highly-skilled medics toiling to treat harrowing injuries in the operating theatre at Camp Bastion . Now his heartbroken wife Joanna has spoken for the first time about her hero - and vowed to continue organising the D-Day 44 Run in his memory. She said: 'He was a wonderful man, husband and father and a talented surgeon. Everyone loved him. He was so humble. 'He was always as fit as a fiddle. It is such a terrible irony that he died doing that run because he loved it. He was humbled by the sacrifice of those who fell on D-Day. 'All those fallen heroes on the Normandy beaches and now there has just been another one. 'He was incredibly passionate about it. He used to say, "If it wasn't for the bravery of the people who fought at Normandy we would not be living in freedom today". Dedication: Pictured here working with a colleague, Lt Col McErlain was so determined to help warzone amputees that he co-founded a charity run. This photo has been doctored to show a partial colouring . 'I take some comfort in thinking that about Mike. If it were not for his work as a surgeon, a lot of people would not be here today.' Lt Col McErlain studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen, specialising in spinal surgery. He also studied trauma surgery in Melbourne, Australia. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as a medical cadet in 1990 and the Parachute Regiment in 1996. 'He was humbled by the sacrifice of those who fell on D-Day. All those fallen heroes on the Normandy beaches and now there has just been another one' Joanna McErlain . He served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he worked at the Role 3 Hospital in Camp Bastion. He worked in the operating theatre at the facility, widely acknowledged as the best in the world. A staggering 98 per cent of those who make it through the door still breathing do not die. Horrendously-wounded troops' chances of surviving to recuperate at home with their families, or becoming another number on the UK's grim death toll in the war against the Taliban, rest in the hands of the 250 professional medics. In 2011, Lt Col McErlain wrote a diary for a newspaper of his stint in Camp Bastion. He spoke of having 'one of the hardest days of my life', when the medical staff saved the lives of three soldiers who had legs blown off by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 'All three had what should be non-survivable injuries but we pulled them through,' he said. Work: Lt Col McErlain served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he worked at the Role 3 Hospital in Camp Bastion . Mrs McErlain, from Hindhead, Surrey, said: 'I remember saying to him "What's it like out there?" and he replied, "If you think of the worst case scenario and multiply it by 100, it's that". ‘He was so humbled by the guys who had arms and legs blown off and their determination to keep going. He never boasted about his own achievements. But helping to save so many lives was so incredible. 'You hear about guys in Afghanistan who get killed or have their limbs blown off and Mike and his team were the ones who saved them and they don't always get recognised. 'They are in the background yet without them the number of deaths would be greater.' Lt Col McErlain worked at the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit Frimley Park and volunteered to run clinics at Headley Court, the armed forces rehabilitation centre near Dorking, Surrey. A keen skier and mountaineer, the surgeon also loved distance running and cycling. He ran the 156-mile Marathon des Sables through the Sahara - dubbed the toughest footrace on earth - and cycled 1,000 miles back to the United Kingdom from Bosnia in 1995. His passion for running - and determination to raise money for BLESMA - inspired him to plot the D-Day 44 Run with brother-in-law Giles Barnes. It is a 44-mile run through Normandy, following the cliff tops, war graves and cemeteries and ending up at Pegasus Bridge, where the Paras landed in 1944. He was one of around 30 people who took part in the event this year. But two miles into the run, tragedy struck. Treatment: Casualties are brought into a hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2009 (file picture) Mrs McErlain, an interior designer who was in the support car with food, drinks and medical equipment, said: 'He had been running for about two miles with a U.S. firefighter. 'He was running along the cliffs which the U.S. Rangers climbed under fire in 1944 when he suddenly collapsed. The firefighter said he tried to resuscitate him but he was unsuccessful.' 'I wonder if it happened for a reason in Normandy. He could have been in the back garden playing football but he died in a place that was special to him. 'When I found out he'd died a lady came up and put her arms around me. I was crying my eyes out and it was the daughter of General Patten. 'She spoke to me softly and said, "Mike's being lifted up by all those fallen heroes and now he's one of them. None of them had wives, mothers, daughters with them. You are weeping for all of them." It was so comforting.' Lt Col McErlain and his wife had three children - Paris, 10, Venezia, nine, and Lucius, eight. His popularity was underlined when more than 1,000 people attended his funeral at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Lieutenant Colonel AJ Day, commanding officer at the MoD Hospital Unit Frimley Park, said: 'Mike was a thoroughly professional dedicated military consultant. 'He was instrumental in pioneering new equipment and techniques for his field. Mike has left a legacy in his work contributing widely to his specialist field to benefit the Defence Medical Services. 'To die during an event he felt so passionate about is testament to his character and all he stood for. He will be greatly missed.' | Lt Col Mike McErlain was part of a team of highly-skilled medics .
Treated harrowing injuries in operating theatre at Camp Bastion .
Co-founded charity run to raise £100,000 for warzone amputees .
Married father-of-three died just minutes into 44-mile D-Day run . |
209,092 | 9ac5e6b835a4231bbee4f554e40aaed96eb04b7e | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 08:21 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:21 EST, 5 January 2013 . A doctor attacked her children's nanny because she thought the youngsters had been abandoned in the street, a court heard yesterday. Dr Ping Zhu, 57, allegedly launched an attack on Rebecca Forsyth before smashing the hired help's BlackBerry mobile phone. The row was so fierce that police were called to break up the row, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. Dr Ping Zhu denied assault and criminal damages when she appeared in court yesterday . Chinese-born Zhu denied assault and criminal damage when she appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court. She was picking up her children from their father's home in in Bayswater, west London, at the time of the alleged attack last November 12. The doctor is said to have snapped because she believed Ms Forsyth had abandoned her duties and left her children alone. The doctor is accused of assaulting her nanny, Westminster Magistrates Court heard . The ensuing fight was reportedly witnessed by bystanders and the court was told police attended the scene. Wearing a bright pink scarf and clutching a designer handbag, Zhu spoke from the dock only to confirm her identity. She denies the assault ever took place or that she was responsible for Ms Forsyth's broken phone. The doctor was released on unconditional bail until her trial on March 18, when her nine-year-old son is due to be called as a witness. Zhu, of Holland Park, west London, pleaded not guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Dr Ping Zhu, 57, denies assault and criminal damage .
Nine-year-old son will be called as a witness . |
137,148 | 3d6ae404e3263c9b100039a4e753bfffa2098ad2 | (CNN) -- This month, Just Imagine has looked at the future of space, and the potential it holds for humanity. Should humanity aim for the stars ... The proponents of the NewSpace movement, like our featured commentator Bob Richards, hold that humanity must expand into space if we are to survive. They say that the limitless resources held by the stars will help humanity seek a bold new future. But some say that we should fix Earth's problems, especially the challenge of global warming, before we set our eyes on the stars. They say space travel is too expensive, and its carbon footprint too great, to be a priority for us right now. We want to hear your views. Should space be our next frontier? Or should we focus on fixing things here on Earth first? Post your comments in the Sound Off box below, and we'll publish the best. | We ask, should humanity expand into space?
Those in the NewSpace movement say space is humanity's future .
But others say we should focus on fixing issues on Earth first .
What do you think? Post your views and we'll publish the best. |
109,194 | 18bdebb76bdcef50d6b4bbbd349e23da0239664f | (CNN) -- Hundreds of people in Louisiana have been evacuated as widespread flooding threatens lives and homes. Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon after thunderstorms drenched the state with as much as a foot of rain this week. Eunice, a town in southwest Louisiana, has had 12.25 inches of rain since Tuesday, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service said. Jonathan Brazzell said seven parishes -- Acadia, Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Livingston and St. Landry -- have had widespread flooding since the storms began. There were no initial reports of injuries. "The Mermentau River is well above flood stage and expected to go to major flood stage," he said. St. Landry Parish spokeswoman Megan Vizena said 30% of the area was underwater. Authorities in Franklin, near the Gulf of Mexico, evacuated 118 people after 7 inches of rain washed over some roads and bridges, the weather service said on its website. In Acadia Parish, rescuers saved close to 80 people from rising water, including 20 at an oil well. "We will have more evacuations tonight," Maxine Trahan, a spokeswoman with the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office said. "There were so many roads that were closed there were not enough signs (to warn residents). An iReporter near St. Francisville, north of Baton Rouge, shot video of the rushing water of a creek under a bridge. "I've personally never seen Bayou Sara this high, in this spot, in this short of a time span due to rain," said Bonnie Marquette, who is a film location scout. The National Weather Service said at least two EF-1 tornadoes struck Thursday, one of which damaged 50 homes in St. Martin Parish. A third tornado, in Iberville Parish, was confirmed as well. More rain was forecast for the weekend, the service said. Watch encores of CNN's "The Coming Storms" at 8 and 11 p.m. ET Saturday . CNN's Sean Morris and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. | NEW: Three tornadoes touch down on Thursday; no injuries reported .
Governor issues state of emergency for all of Louisiana .
Town of Eunice has had more than 12 inches of rain in three days .
Authorities have rescued dozens, and many others have evacuated . |
230,282 | b63411c3287a72c1fe8d4ed09228fe60298bc460 | A federal grand jury has added drug charges to the state rape charges facing former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper. The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans announced Friday that Sharper now faces charges that he and a co-defendant — Brandon Licciardi — distributed three illegal drugs 'with intent to commit rape.' The federal charges were announced hours after a New Orleans grand jury indicted Sharper, Licciardi and a third man on rape charges. Scroll down for video . Big trouble: Former NFL safety Darren Sharper has now been indicted on multiple rape allegations in New Orleans, adding to a list of charges and allegations the ex-player faces in several states . Sharper, 39, is already in jail in California on charges that he drugged and raped two women there. He also faces sexual assault charges in Arizona. In that case, he was indicted by an Arizona grand jury in March on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted two women and drugged a third. Similar accusations against Sharper in Las Vegas remain under investigation. He was previously released on $1 million bail in the California case but turned himself in on February 27 after an arrest warrant was issued in New Orleans for which he has now been charged. Sharper is also under investigation in Florida and Nevada and authorities suspect he may have raped nine women in total. A Los Angeles County investigator described a pattern in which the former football star met women at clubs or parties and lured them to a hotel room, where they were allegedly drugged and raped. Under lock and key: Former NFL player Darren Sharper is already in jail in L.A. and being held without bail as he awaits trial for multiple rape charges across a number of states . The New Orleans warrant says police learned from witnesses that Sharper and an associate had acknowledged having non-consensual sex with two women. Sharper's attorneys say he never made such statements. The warrant does not elaborate on how the information was obtained or disclose the names of the witnesses. Disturbing details from other police reports also made public paint the picture of a possible serial rapist with a similar series of events in all incidents. The former all-pro would meet women in a nightclub and invite them back to a hotel room or his apartment to party, said police. He would then offer them shots spiked with drugs and sexually assault his victims after they passed out, officials said. Multiple complaints said Sharper used morphine and zolpidem, which is sold under the brand name Ambien, to sedate his prey. The women then woke up and came to the realization they had been sexually assaulted, according to court documents. Glory days: Sharper spent most of his careers playing for the Green Bay Packers but was on the Saints team when they won the Super Bowl in the 2009 season . Sharper won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints in 2010 but retired later that year after 14 NFL seasons that also included stints with Green Bay and Minnesota. He was sacked in February from his job with the NFL Network. Two other men, both acquaintances of Sharper and one of them a sheriff's deputy, were also charged as part of the nine-count grand jury indictment. Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging Sharper and former sheriff's deputy Brandon Licciardi on counts of distributing controlled substances with the intent to commit a crime of violence, witness tampering and impeding a federal investigation. All three face life sentences stemming from multiple rape allegations against them. | Darren Sharper is already in jail in L.A. after being indicted in Arizona on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting two women .
In L.A. he has already pleaded not guilty to charges involving the rape and drugging of two women he met in a West Hollywood bar .
Now he faces more charges of rape from two women in New Orleans .
Authorities suspect he may have raped nine women across five states .
He reportedly met most of the women in night clubs and invited them back to his hotel room where drugged them before the assaults occurred .
The ex-football star was fired from his job as an analyst for the NFL Network earlier this year . |
46,183 | 8214800dac4ed0fe4fd140236575b67dc10ebc9b | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 08:00 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:37 EST, 29 November 2013 . A fugitive Briton wanted over a £1.5million fraud in South Africa has been found working as a teacher in the UK - after the police were tipped off by a pupil. Broker Mike Hale, 63, left Pietermaritzburg four years ago after 20million rand (£1.55million) went missing from his insurance firm. Authorities there put out a search warrant and contacted Interpol in a bid to track him down. But Mr Hale, a former captain of the Great Britain water polo team, arrived back in the UK and passed background checks to become a supply teacher in Cornwall. Accused Mike Hale denies any wrongdoing and says he left South Africa because of stress . The ex-sportsman was brought to the attention of the authorities when a school pupil read about his case on Facebook and recognised him. The 13-year-old girl posted details of her detective work online along with a picture she took of Mr Hale - and soon more students came forward to confirm the sighting. Among them was former Falmouth School student Daniel Templeton, who was taught PE by Mr Hale 18 months ago. He wrote: 'I thought, "Oh my god, that's really him". 'I just find it ridiculous. Surely he must have gone through the system?' Police in South Africa are now waiting to extradite Mr Hale who is no longer working as a teacher after Penryn College and Falmouth School informed the police about the developments. The ex-sportsman, pictured with his partner, went undetected for years but was finally exposed when a school pupil read about his case on Facebook and recognised him . The alleged conman left South Africa in 2009 after the money went missing from the accounts of his company MJCM Insurance Brokers in Pietermaritzburg. He is accused of 20 cases of fraud affecting 200 people, including his wife of 13 years and his brother-in-law. Mr Hale denies any wrongdoing and says he fled South Africa because of stress. He said: 'My attorneys are dealing with it. There were other people over there who were in the wrong, I’m not in the wrong. Mr Hale pictured on a web cam by a student at Penryn College. Police in South Africa are now waiting to extradite Mr Hale . 'I’m very upset about it. It’s a very difficult situation. I left because everything failed and I was stressed out.' An international hunt for Hale was launched and details were posted on Facebook. Captain . Paul Ramaloko, national spokesperson for the Hawks (the Directorate for . Priority Crime Investigation), confirmed: 'Mike Hale is a wanted man.' He added: 'We know where he is. And we are in touch with the UK authorities to try and extradite him. 'The matter is at a very sensitive stage. We have been doing the necessary paperwork so that he can come to South Africa to answer for the alleged wrongs he has done here. 'He was not put on the Interpol wanted list. But his name was circulated to Interpol and the movement control system. 'That’s how we know where he is.' Hale had worked at colleges and schools across Cornwall. A statement from Cornwall College said: 'He registered in September 2009, having completed all necessary statutory checks as a qualified teacher, including professional references. 'In line with the current Disclosure and Barring Service guidance and our normal operating policy, all checks were updated November 2012 - all were clear. 'We have no information relating to alleged activities in South Africa. Mr Hale is no longer working with us.' A statement from Penryn College said: 'As soon as Penryn College and Falmouth School were alerted of the allegations, both immediately informed the police and the supply agency of the allegations made about him.' Hale, originally from Walsall in the West Midlands, was one of Britain’s most successful water polo players, starting his career at Walsall Swimming and Water Polo Club and being made captain of the England U-18 team in 1964. At just 16 he was selected to play for the Great Britain senior squad in 1966, a team he went on to captain in 1970 when it was among the best in the world. He is now living in a converted farmstead and has pigs and sheep in sheds on the land. Teachers have to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, which checks police records and information held by the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Education (DfE). Employees will have to provide evidence of their name, address and date of birth, along with the name and number of the employer organisation, and the level of CRB check. Standard Disclosures which teachers go through show current and spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. An Enhanced Disclosure can disclose details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings, Discharges (Conditional and Absolute) held on the Police National Computer (PNC); results of checks against the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) barred Lists; any information (including non-conviction information) held by the local police forces that the Chief Officer reasonably believes to be relevant to the application and ought to be disclosed. If the post involves working with children or vulnerable adults, the following may also be searched:Protection of Children Act (POCA) List and information that is held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99), which contains the details of people whose employment has been barred or restricted, either on grounds of misconduct or on medical grounds. | Mike Hale left South Africa four years ago after £1.55million went missing from his insurance firm .
Former captain of the Great Britain water polo team arrived back in the UK and passed background checks to become a supply teacher in Cornwall .
Ex-sportsman went undetected for years but was finally exposed when a school pupil read about his case on Facebook and recognised him .
Accused of 20 cases of fraud affecting 200 people, including his wife of 13 years and his brother-in-law .
Ex-sportsman denies any wrongdoing and says he left South Africa because of stress . |
196,535 | 8a5b964d3af3aeb32ee7adcdf347be0d582bd0cc | An Alberta man whose German shepherd named Dozer was snatched from his backyard spent a year and a half searching for the pooch before finally giving up. But when Richard Brower of Lethbridge finally decided to look for a new dog online, the search was much shorter. After 18 months of heartache, Brower's own dog was the first one he found himself face-to-face with at his computer. Distraught: Richard Brower of Lethbridge, Alberta searched for 18 months after his beloved German shepherd Dozer was stolen . 'The very first thing I saw was a huge picture of Dozer, and my heart stopped,' Brower told Globalnews.ca. Up until that point, Brower had searched high and low for the 125-pound dog. He'd enlisted his motorcycle riding friends to comb the neighborhood and all but shook down every German shepherd owner he stumbled across, all for naught. 'It's the closest thing to a miracle in my life,' he told CNN. Dozer had been stolen from Brower's backyard, but not from his heart. Nonetheless, the time had recently come for Brower to get a new companion. 'I never gave up hope,' Brower said, 'I'd just come to the realization that I couldn't go on without another dog.' Unbelievable: Miraculously, the first time he searched the internet for German shepherds after deciding to get a new dog, he was led to a picture of Dozer . 'It's the closest thing to a miracle in my life,' said Brower . Found: Dozer was stolen out of Brower's yard but now Brower says he's glad he searched hopefully all those 18 months . After his startling discovery of Dozer at the Claresholm Animal Rescue Society site, he showed the photo to his family. Brower's father was on his way home from a business trip when he stopped at the shelter--which is in a town 50 miles from Brower's home--to investigate. After a couple of quick tests, Brower's dad determined it was Dozer. Staff at Claresholm said they'd picked up Dozer as he was running along a highway nearly an hour from where Brower lives. 'My dad was bawling, I was bawling on the phone,' he said. And when Dozer came home 'he came flying in, put his head into my arm and started doing that wailing that German shepherds do.' All those months of holding out hope had paid off for Brower. 'It's the closest thing to a miracle in my life,' he said. | Richard Brower of Lethbridge, Alberta was so heartbroken by the loss of his dog that he searched for a year and a half before deciding to get a new dog .
The first time Brower searched the internet for German shepherds for sale, he wound up being directed to a nearby shelter's site where he saw Dozer . |
96,874 | 08ab722f2a9b5792b566345d948e84a91e236cd7 | By . Rob Cooper . Last updated at 9:38 PM on 21st November 2011 . Facebook will float on the stock exchange next year in a share offering which could raise as much as £63billion, it has been claimed. If it goes ahead it will be the biggest consumer technology public offering in history. Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, said in an interview that he expects the company to be listed on the stock exchange in the 'first half of next year'. Floatation? If Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, was to go public it could raise £63bn . The social networking site was co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg, 27, when he was at Harvard University seven years ago. Mr Hoffman is a major investor in the site and has significant holdings in a number of other web companies. As a private company, Facebook is limited to having just 500 shareholders. The U.S. regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, has put them under pressure to disclose how many people have a stake in the company. They have to make a declaration by next April and analysts have said it would be the perfect time to go public. Analysts believe that Facebook could be given a valuation of as much as $100bn - or £63bn - if they to announced a floatation. Mr Hoffman told the Sunday Telegraph he believes the company will go public as a means to raise capital. Claims: Reid Hoffman, who holds a significant stake in Facebook, suggested the company could announced a floatation in the first half of next year . He said: 'I suspect that Mark (Zuckerberg) will choose to go public because the . company has to put in a lot of financial work in order to make the . necessary filings and so he might as well make sure he benefits . employees and ultimately the company from the level of work that’s . already involved. 'Going public would benefit Facebook in lots of ways - namely having . public currency to do acquisitions. 'So Mark (Zuckerberg) might as well . get the benefit as well as the cost.' Mr Zuckerberg suggested in an interview last month that if Facebook went public it would be possible to reward staff with 'equity and options'. Facebook has not commented on the speculation. | Facebook could float for £63bn .
LinkedIn co-founder says Facebook will be listed on the stock exchange in the 'first half of next year' |
18,751 | 35159f5b17c44975a7e3b869dcffe6e73cdf3324 | An Arizona high school has sparked outrage from civil rights leaders after it held a 'Redneck Day' for students. Yesterday's school-wide event at Queen Creek High School was designed to satirize a reality TV show called 'Duck Dynasty,' school officials said. But the day's questionable title has offended some students, parents and local African-American and civil rights leaders who claim it serves as grim reminders of slavery and segregation. Anger: Queen Creek High School, pictured, has sparked outrage from civil rights leaders after it held a 'Redneck Day' for students . According to the Arizona Republic, one student wore a large Confederate flag to school, which particularly upset critics. 'We all know the connotation of "redneck," Rev. Ozetta Kirby, pastor of Holy Trinity Community AME Church in nearby Mesa told the newspaper. He added that the day 'really got to' his 16-year-old grandson, Marcus, who attends the school. Steve Montoya, a prominent civil-rights attorney in Phoenix, said the Confederate flag was the most offensive part. He told the Arizona Republic: 'The Confederacy represents the horrible institution of slavery, and that is a direct attack on African-Americans.' Spoof: The school-wide event was designed to satirize a reality TV show called 'Duck Dynasty,' pictured, which follows a family of duck hunters in Louisiana . Tom Lindsey, the superintendent of the Queen Creek Unified School District, said the only intent of 'Redneck Day' was to spoof the characters on the reality show, which follows a family of duck hunters in Louisiana. He said the student wearing the Confederate flag wasn't from Arizona and didn't appreciate the reaction the flag would receive. The boy was pulled aside and asked to change his clothes by an assistant principal and the meaning of the flag in Arizona was explained to him. 'We apologize to any people who, because of the word (redneck), were offended,' Lindsey said. | Wednesday's event at Queen Creek High School was designed to satirize a reality TV show called 'Duck Dynasty'
Sparked outrage among African-American and civil rights leaders who claim the day's title represents slavery and segregation . |
67,929 | c0ba1fae53e6d8f7c6e5aea3675a58f38bbd5ecc | (CNN) -- Tom Watson has learned plenty in the 21 years since he was last captain of the United States' Ryder Cup golf team. But there is one new-fangled invention the eight-time major winner can't quite get his head around. Watson does in fact have his own Twitter account with almost 59,000 followers, but he's a social media novice compared to the likes of current Ryder stars Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter -- posting just over 100 times in 21 months. "I've learned that it's very difficult to tweet," the 65-year-old told CNN's Living Golf show ahead of the biennial tussle between Europe and the U.S. at Gleneagles in Scotland this week. "I can't get my fingers to do it fast enough or put the right hashtag -- it's hard to do stuff like that." It will also be a tall order to wrest the Ryder Cup from European grasp -- the subject of his first official tweet back in January 2013. Whereas once golf's most enduring team contest was a virtual American whitewash, now it is their continental cousins who rule supreme. The U.S. has won just one Ryder Cup since 1999, and last time out in 2012 suffered a humbling that became known as the "Miracle of Medinah" when Europe somehow overturned a 10-6 deficit on an exhilarating final day. What better skipper to have at the helm, then, than Watson, who won three and drew one of his four appearances as a player, and was the last man to mastermind a U.S. triumph on European soil back in 1993? With a new-look team containing three rookies, the five-time British Open winner is the ideal man to school his newbies in the process of handling unprecedented levels of pressure. "Being a captain, I'm a stage manager," Watson says of his role as captain. "I try to provide everything the players need -- from the physical part but also the mental part. The mental part is important, to keep the players positive. "Make them understand that I understand what they are going through. Be a go-to guy if they have something they need to talk about under the high pressure situation of a Ryder Cup. "It's the highest pressure, I think, in all of golf. There are situations where you may get above your pressure level and since I've been there before I can be a go-to guy to talk to the players about that." The task facing Watson is clear -- just take a glance at golf's rankings. Three of the top five players in the world are in the European ranks -- the only American is veteran Jim Furyk at No. 4 -- and the continent has four straight Ryder Cup victories to its name on home turf. No doubt Watson will be reminding his players of the last time he donned the captain's robes, when he led the U.S. to a 15-13 victory over Europe at the Belfry in Birmingham over two decades ago. "We go into the Ryder Cup and on paper the Europeans look better without question," Watson says. "The McIlroys, the Kaymers, the Stensons, the Roses, are players who've really played well throughout the summer. "Right now on paper we are underdogs, but things can change. We all go through good stretches and we all go through bad stretches. "The thing that we bring to it is an underlying American spirit that we get the job done, no matter what it takes. That's the attitude that I have and the attitude I'll project to the players." The European charge will be spearheaded by the hottest player on the planet at present -- Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman captured half of the majors on offer in 2014 -- adding a second U.S. PGA Championship to a maiden British Open title -- to take his career tally to four. The 24-year-old is fully aware that as Europe's leading star he is going to be targeted by those in stars and stripes, the logic being that if you take down a team's top talent, the rest will crumble. After his U.S. PGA victory at Valhalla -- scene of the USA's last Ryder Cup win in 2008 -- McIlroy said he was ready to be the European "talisman" and drive his side forward. Watson is a big admirer of the undisputed world No. 1. "One of the things I love about Rory is how he plays the game," Watson said. "He plays it a lot like I do. He plays it quickly, with the blinders on. You don't see him moan with a bad shot, you don't see him go bananas with a good shot. "He keeps it on a steady keel throughout and I like that about him. I like his manners and the way he treats people, the way he respects the game and the people around him. "He's great for the game of golf and he's a very formidable competitor. I don't wish him too well in a Ryder Cup, I can say that, but I wish him well in other events." One of the biggest questions the United States team will face is whether they will suffer any kind of hangover from that chastening experience at Medinah in 2012. Under the leadership of Davis Love III, the U.S. had assumed a seemingly unassailable lead ahead of Sunday's singles matches, storming into a four-point advantage. It could have been even better, but for Englishman Poulter, who compiled an astonishing run of five birdies in his last five holes to rescue a point for Europe in Saturday's final fourballs match. Captain Jose Maria Olazabal's decision to front-load his singles lineup on Sunday then paid instant dividends as Europe won the first five matches, including Justin Rose's pivotal late victory over American stalwart Phil Mickelson. "I watched (2012) with glee the first two days then with a huge whole in my stomach after we lost on that Sunday," Watson recalls. "It lasted for several days that week -- it was physical. It was a very disappointing loss. "But I have to give credit to the European team, they were 25 under par collectively on Sunday; we were eight under par. "But it still boiled down, even to a five-point lead, to one stroke of the putter by Justin Rose on 17 which basically turned the match around." With Tiger Woods missing through injury, Mickelson will be one of the lynchpins of Watson's 2014 team. The 44-year-old has featured in the last eight Ryder Cups, stretching back to 1995, and brings with him an invaluable wealth of experience. And while his golfing prowess is the major weapon in Mickelson's armory, his sharp wit gets the team going. "One of the things I've done is talk to pretty much all the Ryder Cup captains of the past and they've all said Phil is really good in the team room, getting people jazzed up, pumped up," Watson says. "As a captain, I want the team room to be jokes going back and forth -- that helps with the nerves and Phil really does help that way. "One of the great things about Phil, he loves to gamble so when he's playing golf there's always something on the line. "You want somebody like that not only play for your team but also talk to the other players. Phil has that gambler mentality -- he can do anything he wants to do on the golf course, and Phil does." After two defeats in a row, and five reverses out of the last six, some have questioned whether the U.S. team has the desire to wrestle the Ryder Cup back across the Atlantic. But Watson has no such concerns. "There's no issues about motivation -- they are all motivated to win the cup back," he says. "We're tired of getting beat, and very simply they look at 2012 when the Europeans made that great run and came from behind as something they want to make amends for. "They want to prove to the world they can play." | Veteran Tom Watson is the United States' 2014 Ryder Cup captain .
The eight-time major champion last skippered the U.S. team in 1993 .
That victory in England is the last time the U.S. won on European soil .
The 2014 Ryder Cup starts at Gleneagles in Scotland on Friday . |
43,273 | 7a087246d3f3dacbf88db67bdfb1ed0a61cb3bb3 | (CNN) -- A man who shot eight people dead Tuesday at a Connecticut beverage distributor before turning the gun on himself chased at least one of his victims through the building and out into a parking lot, police said Wednesday. Police are still attempting to determine whether Omar Thornton targeted his victims, said Manchester, Connecticut police Lt. Chris Davis. But "it's probably likely that he was targeting some individuals," he said, as some of those who died were in management. Thornton passed others by without shooting them, he said. Authorities said Thornton, 34, resigned under pressure Tuesday after he was accused of stealing alcoholic beverages while on his driving route for Hartford Distributors. As he left that meeting, escorted by two people, Thornton said he wanted a drink of water and went into the kitchen area, Davis said. Police believe he had brought two 9mm handguns to the building in a lunchbox. In the kitchen, he pulled out the guns and shot his two escorts. Thornton then "went through the whole building in a very short amount of time" as workers cowered under desks and in "nooks and crannies" and 9-1-1 calls poured in, Davis said. Read 9-1-1 call transcript . He would not say whether anyone was shot in the parking lot, but said Thornton shot through a glass door to re-enter the building. Asked about allegations that Thornton, who was African-American, had experienced racial discrimination at work, Davis said police, working with the company, had found no evidence of discrimination. A girlfriend of Thornton had indicated he was a victim of racial harassment at the beverage center, the girlfriend's mother, Joanne Hannah, said Tuesday. She said Thornton told the girlfriend he had reported it to a company supervisor and a union representative but nothing was done about it. "There is nothing on record of any complaints from Omar and there had been no disciplinary actions with him prior to this," said Chris Roos, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 1035, said Wednesday. The first 9-1-1 call came in at 7:26 a.m., Davis said, and the first officers arrived within three minutes. A five-man team was sent into the building to search for the suspect within 10 minutes, he said. Thornton's body was found in a corner office area of the building by 8:15 a.m. Earlier Wednesday, Manchester police identified the eight slain people as Francis Fazio, 57, of Bristol, Connecticut; Douglas Scuton, 56, of Middletown, New Hampshire; Edwin Kennison, 49, of East Hartford, Connecticut; William Ackerman, 51, of . Broadbrook, Connecticut; Bryan Cirigliano, 51, of Newington, Connecticut; Craig Pepin, 60, of South Windsor, Connecticut; Louis Felder Jr., 50, of Stamford, Connecticut; and Victor James of Windsor, Connecticut, who was killed on his . 61st birthday. The injured people were Steven Hollander, 50, of South Windsor. He was treated and released from Hartford Hospital. Jerome Rosenstein, 77, of West Hartford, Connecticut, remained in serious condition, authorities said Wednesday. Cirigliano was the shop steward for the Teamsters union and its president, Roos said Tuesday. One of those killed was attempting to escape from the gunfire and drove a forklift into an electrical conduit, starting an electrical fire, Davis said Wednesday. He would not say whether that person was shot. Police also found a shotgun in Thornton's vehicle, but believe it was not used in the shootings, Davis said. Thornton was "fairly nomadic," he said, and authorities have searched his previous addresses, but found nothing of value. Asked whether the company had taken security measures for the meeting with Thornton, Davis said some measures were taken. The company had had a private investigator follow Thornton in an effort to determine whether he was taking the alcohol, he said. Thornton left no notes behind, and made no comments to relatives about his plans, Davis said, but the fact that he brought the guns to the building indicates the shootings were "obviously something he was thinking about doing." Thornton had six guns registered to him, and police were attempting to account for them all, he said. Authorities believe the guns used in the shootings were bought at a gun dealership in East Windsor, Connecticut. Joanne Hannah said Thornton showed her daughter, Kristie Hannah, a cell phone photo of racial epithets and a stick figure with a noose around its neck drawn on a restroom stall. He said he was in a stall once and heard a coworker say they "wanted that n----- out of there," she said. Thornton's mother told CNN affiliate WFSB that she received a phone call from him shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday. He told her he had just shot several people and planned to kill himself. She said she told WFSB that she pleaded with him not to do it for 10 minutes, but it didn't work. "He said, 'I killed the five racists that was there bothering me,'" Will Holliday, Thornton's uncle, told WFSB. "He said, 'That's it. The cops are going to come in so I'm going to take care of it myself.'" About 50 people were in the building at the time, officials said. "It couldn't have happened at a worse time of day," Teamsters union official John Hollis told CNN affiliate WTNH. "They have third shift going on, the first shift coming on, the office staff there, the sales staff there." About 170 people work at the company, Roos said. The shootings left the company and the community in shock. A memorial service was planned for Wednesday night to allow community members to grieve. At the company Wednesday, employees comforted one another. One man, identified only as Roy, was in the building at the time of the shootings. One employee embraced Roy. Asked afterward how Roy had described the incident, the man said Roy told him, "Pure hell, Al, and just walked away. Pure hell ... And I'm sure it was." CNN's Adam Reiss contributed to this report. | NEW: Omar Thornton brought two guns with him in a lunchbox, police say .
NEW: Authorities believe at least some of the victims were targeted .
NEW: Police think the guns used were legally purchased .
NEW: A memorial service is planned Wednesday night for victims . |
125,548 | 2e4f9c8452534e20b096f80828524e79de71cbf2 | By . David Williams . Last updated at 11:32 PM on 22nd June 2011 . Sectarian mobs brought violence and flames to the streets of Belfast in the city's worst riots for more than a decade. Three men were shot and wounded in the clashes on Tuesday night and police were on stand-by for further trouble yesterday. At least five shots were said to have been fired - one hitting a news photographer. Two other men were hit in the leg. Violence: Loyalist rioters attack police in East Belfast as trouble flares for a second night running . Riot: Loyalist paramilitaries supposedly on ceasefire orchestrated a major riot in Belfast and opened fire on police near Short Strand, a Catholic enclave in the Protestant-dominated eastern part of the city . Hand-to-hand combat: Around 500 people were involved in the riots . The last two days have seen pitched . battles between loyalists and republicans in the Lower Newtownards Road . and Short Strand, notorious flashpoint areas of East Belfast. Police have blamed the loyalist . Ulster Volunteer Force for igniting the violence on Tuesday night, . apparently in protest at restrictions on parades through contentious . areas during the forthcoming marching season. Assistant Chief Constable Alistair . Finlay said of the UVF: 'Their hands are upon this, whether by direction . by omission or commission.' However the bullets are believed to have been fired by Republican sympathisers. A woman of 20 was arrested last night . on suspicion of possessing a weapon and assaulting police but she has . not been charged in connection with the shootings. At least 400 rioters are said to have . attacked officers in East Belfast with petrol and paint bombs. Officers . responded by firing 66 baton rounds and water cannon. At one stage, masked youths used . sledgehammers to attack police vehicles, standing on the bonnets trying . to rip protective grilles from the windscreens so they could reach . officers inside. Northern Ireland first minister Peter . Robinson promised that he was prepared to become 'directly involved' in . attempts to resolve the trouble in his east Belfast constituency. 'At this time, when many are working . hard to build a better and brighter future for all in Northern Ireland, . it is disappointing and deeply concerning to see this level of violence . return to our streets,' he said. Deputy first minister Martin . McGuinness, blamed a 'small minority of individuals clearly determined . to destabilise our communities. They will not be allowed to drag us back to the past,' he declared. Photographer Niall Carson has his wounds tended to by police while a woman walks in front of a mural showing two Ulster Volunteer Force members in a mainly Protestant area . However, police fear the trouble may well escalate. The Protestant marching season is a . little over two weeks away and dissident Republicans have carried out a . string of attacks on members of the security forces - including the . murder of Roman Catholic policeman Ronan Kerr in Omagh less than three . months ago. The wounded photographer, Niall . Carson of the Press Association, was in a stable condition at the Royal . Victoria Hospital in Belfast after a bullet passed through his left leg. Close call: A petrol bomb lands close to a police officer in East Belfast on the second night of rioting . Attacks: Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the rioting . Another photographer said he saw someone peering over a wall who then fired five or six rounds. 'We were all running,' he added. 'The next thing I know a colleague yells "I've been shot".' Local MP Naomi Long said one man had been struck on the head with a brick, which fractured his skull. She described the trouble as 'very serious' and said appeals from public representatives had fallen on 'deaf ears'. Masked men: Scores of people in camouflage clothing were at the centre of the co-ordinated attacks that ignited the disturbances . Clearing up: Belfast City Council workers remove a barricade from a street in East Belfast after a second night of riots . Road to peace? A council worker sweeps up bricks and bottles after the previous night's violence . | Press photographer injured from gunshot wounds .
Masked youths attack police vehicles with sledgehammers .
First minister Peter Robinson says the riots are 'deeply concerning' |
269,230 | e8c1fcd052e989b9f423ae4d87bd72e5d7606d6b | (CNN) -- Superstorm Sandy smashed the East Coast on Monday night, triggering floods, fires and devastation. Some residents affected by the storm used the Instagram photo app to quickly post square-shaped photos showing flooding, darkened cityscapes, fallen trees and damaged structures. If you, too, have photos (and video) you would like to share, please go to CNN iReport, where you can contribute to the Open Story that shows the power of this storm. If you're on social media, you can mark your images and tweets with the #cnnireport hashtag. Please be aware that weather events can be highly unpredictable, so use caution and follow the directions of local authorities. . If you're having difficulty viewing this page, please click here. | Superstorm Sandy barrels ashore on East Coast, killing dozens and leaving path of damage .
Witnessing the effects of Sandy? Share your photos and video on CNN iReport and use the #cnnireport hashtag on social media . |
51,753 | 92947662a3a35edd27d7f80cfb4e73a39ca790fc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 7:03 PM on 24th November 2011 . Victim: Makayla Leigh Woods died three days after being shot by Mary Ann Holder . A 15-year-old girl has become the fourth child to die after a woman went on a murderous rampage at the weekend. Makayla Leigh Woods passed away on Wednesday afternoon after being shot by her boyfriend's mother, Mary Ann Holder, 36, in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday. The news was confirmed by Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes. Holder had also shot her two sons, nephew, niece and married ex-lover before killing herself. One other wounded child is on life support. Miss Woods was found critically injured at Holder's home with Holder's nephew Richard Suttles, 17, and niece Hannaleigh Suttles, eight, who were also in a critical condition. Holder's son Robert Dylan Smith, 17, was already dead. Hannaleigh died on Monday, followed a day later by Holder's 14-year-old son Zachary Smith. Holder had been having an affair with Randall Lamb, 40, for almost four years, and it was coming to a bitter end Sunday when she arranged to meet him at a community college parking lot. Police say she shot him in the shoulder and he was expected to recover. Holder then drove off to meet Zachary Smith. Nearly half an hour after the 911 call from Lamb's wife, a sheriff's deputy spotted Holder's black SUV. Holder was found dead inside with a gunshot to the head, and Zachary was critically wounded in the back seat. Authorities said Mary Ann Holder shot both her . sons - 17-year-old Robert Smith, left, and 14-year-old Zachary Smith, . right - in the head. Robert was killed instantly, while Zachary . succumbed to his wounds Monday . Deputies found two handguns inside the vehicle, including one in Holder's lap, the sheriff said. Officers then went to her home and found the other victims. The victims appeared to have been shot while they slept in a bedroom and the home's living room, Barnes' chief deputy Col. Randy Powers said. Jilted: Police believe Mary Ann Holder, 36, shot her son's girfriend Makayla Leigh Woods, her sons, ex-lover, niece and nephew . Police are continuing to investigate . the case. An autopsy has been performed on Holder and police are . waiting for the results of toxicology tests, but Powers said it . initially appears there were no signs of drug use. Holder, . Lamb and his wife had spent months trading accusations of stalking and . harassment in court documents. Lamb's wife had recently threatened to . file an alienation of affection lawsuit against Holder, investigators . said. Police . are investigating a $10,000 cheque made out to Lamb’s wife that Holder . gave him the day before the shootings, according to an application for a . search warrant obtained by The News & Record of Greensboro. Police say the cheque may have been for an out-of-court settlement of some kind. Despite . that, and despite two notes left by Holder taking responsibility for . the shootings, police say a definite motive is not yet clear. 'This . will be the $64,000 question, because we don't have anyone alive who . can answer it,' Powers said. 'A couple of theories have gone up in the . air, but we really don't know yet.' Richard Suttles remained on life support Wednesday, according Powers. Holder reportedly had custody of her nephew and niece after their mother died. Neighbour Joe Scott told WRAL.com: 'It's beyond my imagination that a mother would - good children such as they were - that she would do any harm to precious children.' Three-tiered shooting: The gunman shot victims at three locations throughout North Carolina . Mr Scott's wife Teresa said: Holder's decision to take in her dead sister's children appeared to add to the pressures of what appeared to be a life in turmoil. Hannaleigh Suttles, eight, had gone to live with her aunt after her mother's death. She is the youngest victim . 'Why would you take them children, keep them children, when your life's rocky, up and down?' Mrs Scott said Holder began renting the home across the street about four years ago. Holder's children were kind towards the elderly couple across the road, Mrs Scott added. They volunteered to help with yard maintenance and enquired about the health of her husband Joe, who has had recent health problems. In the past, Mr Lamb also appeared to like Holder's children, Mrs Scott said. 'They'd pack up things and go places together,' she said. But it was also clear the affair between Holder and Mr Lamb had soured, according to Mrs Scott. Robert Smith posted no-trespassing signs on trees in the front yard this year in response to the rising level of tension between Holder and Mr Lamb, Mr Scott said. | Sheriff .
says Mary Ann Holder, 36, shot sons Robert, 17, and Zachary, 14, in the .
head. Robert died on Sunday, Zachary died on Monday .
She also shot ex-lover, who had filed a restraining order, her niece, 8 and nephew, 17 .
Her niece also died on Monday . |
204,709 | 9507bd32cc7e9ccbc3f12e6d75d4686b59d2db01 | Angelic: Emani Moss, 10, pictured here a a toddler, was starved to death before her body was set on fire and stuffed into a trash can . The paternal grandmother of a 10-year-old Georgia girl whose emaciated body was discovered burned in a trash can over the weekend said the system had failed the child. Eman and Tiffany Moss, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, have been arrested and charged with murder, concealing a body, and child cruelty after police say they had starved to death their daughter, Emani, and then set her body on fire to cover up the crime. Police reports released since Saturday, when Emani's malnourished remains were found in a garbage bin outside her home in suburban Atlanta, indicate that the 10-year-old tried to run away from home and showed up at school with bruises and welts. 'My baby went through hell,' her grandmother Robin Moss told Atlanta Journal Constitution. According to the woman, after Emani had confided in her that she was being abused by her parents, her son and his wife kept the 10-year-old away from her. ‘Detectives believe the victim was isolated from people outside of her family in the weeks before her death,’ said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith. ‘She did not attend school outside the home during this school year.’ Robin Moss’ attorney said the woman tried to get child services to open an investigation into allegations of abuse, but no action had been taken. Scroll down for video . Inconsolable: Robin Moss, Emani's paternal grandmother, said she had fought to win custody of the 10-year-old and asked child services officials to investigate possible abuse, but no action was taken . Isolated: Police say her parents kept little Emani away from people outside of the immediate family and did not let her attend school . Miss Moss also said she had fought to win custody of her granddaughter, but the state would not let her have Emani. ‘I don't understand how the system kept putting her back in that home,’ Moss said. The bereaved grandmother explained that she helped raise Emani from the time she was 4 years old, and the two had developed a strong bond. In an interview with WSBTV, Robin Moss said that since her granddaughter’s death, she cannot sleep because she can 'see her hurt.' Division of Family and Children Services officials released a statement Tuesday announcing that it will look into the way the agency handled Emani’s case. Special bond: Robin Moss said she helped raise Emani from the time she was 4 years old, and the two had a relationship akin to that of a mother and daughter . Horrific death: Both Eman (left) and Tiffany Moss have been charged with murder, cruelty to children in the first degree and concealing a body. Tiffany had previously been arrested for beating her boyfriend's daughter . Horrific: Police found the body inside this trash can and said that there was evidence that it had been burned . Authorities conducted an autopsy on . Emani Sunday and determined that her body was burned after she was . dead, likely in an effort to conceal the crime, said Gwinnett County . Police Cpl. Jake Smith. Emani . may have died as early as October 30 and was severely underweight when . her body was found, Smith said. He said the autopsy showed the girl had . been denied food for several days before her death. Both Eman Moss and his second wife have criminal histories. The father was arrested in 2004 on charges of battery and cruelty to children after police said he allegedly beat his first wife in front of Emani. On . March 19, 2010, then-6-year-old Emani told a school nurse she was . afraid to go home with her bad report card because she was afraid her . parents would hurt her, according to one of the police reports. When the nurse investigated further, she found the girl had bruises on her body and reported it to police. Police . took Emani and her stepmother to department headquarters for interviews . that day and said Emani had severe bruises and welts on her chest, . back, shoulders, arms and legs, the police report said. Burned to death: Emani Moss was found burned to death, her father (left) and stepmother (right) are each charged with murder - leaving loved ones shocked . Tiffany . Moss told police she only hit the girl with a belt three times, the . report said. She was arrested on a child-cruelty charge. The . Georgia Division of Family and Children Services signed a 2010 plea . deal ordering Tiffany Moss to serve five years of probation for beating . Emani, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday. In July 2012, Emani tried running away from home, the police reports show. The . girl's grandmother, Robin Moss, was quoted by local news media on . Sunday and Monday as saying that she suspected Emani was being abused, . but couldn't persuade state authorities to grant her custody. Emani's . mother, Danita Leaks, told Atlanta FOX affiliate WAGA-TV on Monday that . she and Eman Moss fought over custody for two to three years and she . was unaware that her daughter was being abused. Disturbing call: The girl's father, pictured, told police he was suicidal and that his daughter was dead after drinking a chemical . ‘If . I would have known that him and his wife were abusing my baby, I would . not have let her stay over there,’ she told the television station. Authorities . initially said Eman Moss called police early Saturday saying he was . suicidal and that his daughter died after drinking some type of chemical . substance. Smith said . Monday that the detail about Moss being suicidal was a miscommunication . during the 911 call and was later clarified with the dispatcher. Police said they won't release audio from the call because it's part of the investigation and could be used in court. | Eman and Tiffany Moss were both arrested and face several felony charges in the girl's death .
First told police that Emani, 10, swallowed chemicals .
Investigators concluded she had not been fed since October 24 and her body had been burned after being stuffed in a garbage can .
Police report now reveals Tiffany Moss was arrested for abusing Emani in 2010 after a school nurse noticed bruises and welts . |
55,899 | 9e6e0c50d9ab61895333d6e8e23b29c12073c94a | (CNN)Kenyan police have fueled outrage by tear-gassing schoolchildren who were protesting over a playground. The children, along with teachers and activists, were demonstrating after the playground was walled off during the holidays, said Boniface Mwangi, who participated in the protest. The playground, near the Langata Primary School, had reportedly been confiscated for the construction of a parking lot. Video showed students and activists pushing, kicking and hitting the wall with planks of wood. Children wearing their green school sweaters held signs calling the seizure of the playground "terror against children" and Kenya "the land of shameless grabbers." Some of the students taking part were as young as 6, Mwangi said. Riot police responded to the demonstration by unleashing plumes of tear gas that sent the children fleeing in panic. As news of the police's actions spread, thousands of people voiced anger on social media, using the hashtag #OccupyPlayGround. Children were "promised laptops not canisters of tear gas," tweeted former Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. "Someone must be held accountable." Some children were treated in hospital after the incident, Mwangi said. At least one police officer was also hurt. Kenyan media reported that the police officer in charge of the operation at the playground has been suspended. Police didn't respond to CNN's request for comment. Some people on social media blamed the adult activists for the chaotic scenes. "What has #OccupyPlayGround achieved apart from crying terrorised children, activists pushing agenda via kids?" wrote a Twitter user on the handle @SnrMbatha. But Mwangi disputed that claim. "This is kids' action," he said. "They want back their playground and they came back to get their playground." The children were set to go back to school Tuesday. But not without the memory of what Mwangi called "a dark, sad day for Kenya." | The playground was walled off during the holidays, an activist says .
Children were "promised laptops not canisters of tear gas," tweets a Kenyan politician . |
8,709 | 18820f6e4313015bce803fcdbaa977dd16e1a1a6 | (CNN) -- "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only," Coco Chanel once said. "Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening". And what is happening, now that everyone is a smartphone owner, is that fashion and technology, traditionally uncomfortable bedfellows, are coming together like never before. Fashion editors were invited to the launch of the brand new Apple Watch, showing how much the ground has shifted. Google has teamed up with sunglasses brand Luxottica, which makes Ray Bans and Persol, to design a new range of its Glass wear. And Natalie Massenet, Net A Porter's founder and chair of the British Fashion Council, declared she wanted London to be "the most tech-savvy fashion capital in the world," as she launched London Fashion Week with Google. "Innovation is hugely important for brands to showcase," said Matthew Drinkwater, head of the fashion innovation agency at London College of Fashion. "There's recognition that the technology industry needs to engage with fashion lifestyle. All physical stores, not just premium brands, need to create a full experience for customers." Drinkwater worked with Nokia on the first digital skirt made from mobile phones and with Microsoft on the first wireless charging trousers. He added: "The brand has to live online and offline." Burberry, which has more than 17 million likes on Facebook, is one luxury brand that has fully embraced fashion tech. Burberry, the British fashion house, is a pioneer in fashion technology. It has integrated the physical and digital in its flagship stores in London, Hong Kong and Chicago. Mirrors become screens showcasing catwalk images. There are about 100 screens and 500 speakers. There are no cash tills (like Apple stores) and you pay on devices. You can even experience weather -- simulated rain showers/sounds of thunder -- just to remind you why you might need a Burberry trench coat. They've rolled out the augmented technology with intelligent mirrors to show the outfit you're trying as if you were the star of a catwalk show. Luxury retailers have been early adopters of new technology and are more advanced in the field than high street retailers, with greater focus on enhancing the in-store experience with video and microchips in clothing for shoppers to interact with. Angela Ahrendts, the former CEO of Burberry who oversaw its digital revolution, was subsequently poached by Apple to help run their stores and develop new products. Although the average town's main chains have been slower to embrace fashion technology, there are signs of change. Stores have begun to embrace "showrooming," where people examine the merchandise but purchase later online, often at lower cost, as an opportunity to engage. Topshop put digital at the heart of its London Fashion Week show by inviting influential bloggers to curate, for example. Chains are also embracing innovation through augmented reality software. Using camera-equipped mobile devices, apps can take detailed personal measurements to ensure clothes will be a perfect fit. The company Fits.me, founded in 2010, is a leading provider of virtual fitting room solutions. Clothes are photographed on robotic mannequins, allowing shoppers to try items on virtually. It means shoppers can try on every size with a few clicks and then choose the best fit. James Gambrell, chief executive of the start-up, explained: "I'm a big online shopper and like many men I don't like to try on clothes. Instead of doing that thing where you buy three sizes we decided to try 3D modeling with robots. "We have become better online than in stores. Online tech in retail can track where people go on the site. Such innovation needs to move back to the physical store." The firm, Holition, has combined a fabric that changed color in the presence of certain pollutants and a sensor that detected the color change and uploaded the results to the cloud to produce a prototype garment that monitored air quality in Paris. Nike and Adidas have been looking at embedding sensors that connect to smartphones to give a more complete picture of someone's training regime or real-time health. Even Ralph Lauren, which is seen as a more traditional brand, has launched a polo shirt that records the wearer's biometric data. For companies like these, the goal is to create technical clothing that can passively monitor your health and activity without the wearer having to think about it or carry around additional technology. The forthcoming Apple Watch and iPhone 6 launch promised a new era for wearable technology. "For the first time fashion is not just an add-on for technology. In the past a bag with a pouch for a phone was the extent of it," said Rachel Arthur, from trend forecaster WGSN. "Now there's a partnership with fashion labels. With technology getting smaller, there's no reason that it won't be embedded in collections and accessories." But others are more skeptical about wearables. Marc Curtis, head of innovation labs at digital agency TMW, said: "Strictly speaking, ever since Casio launched their CA 53W calculator watch, we've been stealthily trying to combine our technology with our clothes, our watches, our hats, even our shoes. "Arguably, Apple have not created anything unique in terms of technical innovation. However, they have placed mobile, contactless payments at the heart of their new devices." Curtis is more excited by the potential of smart fabrics, cloths that can be embedded with sensors and microprocessors that can communicate with mobile phones to process information such as the wearers' heart rate or temperature. And that is potentially the future of fashion technology: seamless, subtle and intuitive. Read more: Wearable tech that will turn man into machine by 2015 . Watch: Ralph Lauren's new tech threads . Read more: Is your wearable tech helping you - or watching you? | Fashion technology is beginning to enter the mainstream .
Brands like Burberry and Ralph Lauren are integrating new tech in stores and clothing .
Wearables, including smart fabrics, are the future of this unconventional marriage . |
252,551 | d2d9b0cb79e22ed228a502df1584d50db3447203 | By . Sarah Harris . In future, all cars will be fitted ‘with Catholic converters’, if under-pressure students are to be believed. The statement, written by a University of Ulster undergraduate in a paper on vehicle emissions, is just one of a string of exam howlers identified by academics during this summer’s marking season. It was submitted to a Times Higher Education competition by John Milliken, a lecturer in education, who was also amused by another student’s claim that ‘the [hole in the] ozone layer was caused by a*******s. Paul the octopus: Britta Osthaus was surprised to read that 'octopuses are intelligent because they have been found to be able to predict the winners of football matches during the World Cup' Dr Milliken said: ‘He probably meant aerosols, but then… maybe not.’ One topical blooper was entered by Verity Brack, information technology programme director at the University of Sheffield, after a student wrote that Google was ‘one of the two main suppositories of data in the world’. Meanwhile, Josephine Kelly, a lecturer in business and government at Aston University, was intrigued to read that the Coalition government had a ‘toff stance on tax avoidance’. She noted that the student actually meant to write ‘tuff’. There was also a new interpretation of London’s thriving social scene in the 18th century in a paper on the creation of the Spectator publication in 1711. Forgotten by history? Lecturer Alix Green was baffled to read that 'Hitler's role in the Second World War is often overlooked' ‘Within these coffeehouses, men from all different parts of the world could interfere with each other’, wrote a student in a paper marked by Andrew Rudd, lecturer in English literature at the University of Exeter. Modern history was equally troublesome for a first year at the University of Southampton. According to Suzanne Reimer, senior lecturer in geography, the student observed that ‘globalisation has led to a growing interconnectedness between small-scale people and larger-scale cities across the globe’. Britta Osthaus, senior lecturer in psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University, who teaches a course on the mental capacities of animals, was surprised to read that ‘octopuses are intelligent because they have been found to be able to predict the winners of football matches during the World Cup’. This was a reference to Paul the Octopus, the cephalopod that ‘predicted’ results in the 2010 tournament. Meanwhile, Alix Green, lecturer in history at the University of Hertfordshire, was baffled to hear that ‘Hitler’s role in the Second World War is often overlooked’. The winning entry will be announced in next week’s Times Higher Education. | In future, all cars will be fitted 'with Catholic converters', wrote one student .
One of a string of howlers submitted by academics to competition .
Another student wrote of Coalitions 'toff stance' on tax avoidance .
Winning entry will be announced in next week's Times Higher Education . |
232,205 | b8b1379d17d1ba833d6dcc08c13f20e9a6c3cc29 | Africa must shake off its romantic view of China and accept Beijing is a competitor as much as a partner and capable of the same exploitative practices as the old colonial powers, Nigeria's central bank governor has warned. Reflecting the shifting views of a growing number of senior African officials who fear the continent's anaemic industrial sector is being battered by cheap Chinese imports, Lamido Sanusi cautions that Africa is "opening itself up to a new form of imperialism". "China takes from us primary goods and sells us manufactured ones. This was also the essence of colonialism," he writes in the Financial Times. His remarks are among the most trenchant yet by a serving African official about the continent's ties with the world's second largest economy. Trade between China and Africa was worth more than $200bn in 2012, 20 times what it was in 2000 when Beijing committed to a policy of accelerated engagement. It has been a period of strong growth partly thanks to Asian demand for African resources . But a boom in commodities, services and consumer spending has coincided with the relative decline of African manufacturing from 12.8 per cent to 10.5 per cent of regional GDP, according to UN figures. African leaders and the African Development Bank have recently urged governments to work with each other to ensure they maximise benefits from relations with their leading trade partner, but they have traditionally cloaked their concerns in emollient diplomatic language. In contrast Mr Sanusi has thrown down the gauntlet to Beijing. "China is no longer a 'fellow underdeveloped economy'," he writes. "China is the second biggest economy in the world, an economic giant capable of the same forms of exploitation as the west. China is a major contributor to the de-industrialisation of Africa and thus African underdevelopment." An experienced private sector banker, Mr Sanusi is credited with cleaning up Nigeria's banking system after a crash that wiped out 60 per cent of bank capital in 2009. He has also given Nigeria's central bank a more activist role, providing concessional refinancing to banks exposed to manufacturers and small and medium enterprises struggling to service high-interest, short-term loans. In his article, Mr Sanusi argues that African countries must respond to "predatory" trade practices -- such as subsidies and currency manipulation -- that give Chinese exports an advantage. He also says the continent must build infrastructure and invest in education so that African businesses can compete for continental trade as Chinese labour costs rise. "China is losing that advantage as its economy grows and prosperity spreads," he writes. "Africa must seize the moment and move manufacturing of goods consumed in Africa out of China to the African continent ... I cannot recommend a divorce. However, a review of the exploitative elements in this marital contract is long overdue." His comments come ahead of South Africa's hosting of a summit of Bric nations later this month. South Africa, the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, was incorporated into the bloc of Brazil, Russia, India and China last year. South African President Jacob Zuma last week warned western companies to shed an old "colonial" mindset when investing in Africa and to stop warning against the embrace of China. "China is doing business in a particular way and we think we can see the benefits," he told the Financial Times. "But we are very, very careful," he added, citing Africa's experience of colonialism. Such a relationship he said must "benefit both. And this is what we and China have been agreeing." | Nigeria's central bank governor warns China is a rival as much as trade partner .
Africa is opening itself up to new "imperialism", says Sanusi .
Trade between China and Africa worth more than $200 billion . |
237,520 | bf68a4a69c1d123b892c3015a9912fff13b62ee2 | (CNN) -- Perhaps Tim Meadows' invitation back to "Saturday Night Live" got lost in the mail. The actor, who appeared on "SNL" from 1991 to 2000, initially seemed upset to see the show bring back its Bill Brasky sketch without him on Saturday. Written by "SNL" alums Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the sketch revolved around guys recalling the daring feats of legendary businessman Bill Brasky. At the heart of it was Ferrell who, with teeth too large and a drunken slur, would join his compatriots in toasting Brasky's awesomeness. With Ferrell back on the show Saturday, "SNL" resurrected the sketch and tapped his "Anchorman 2" co-stars David Koechner and Paul Rudd, host of the night's episode, to join him. Most viewers were probably thrilled to see the sketch return, but Meadows apparently was shocked. "They did Brasky without me ... ," he posted on his Facebook page. "Not even a 'hey would you want to come to do one line and bring your kids to see (One Direction)...?' Nothing ... Wow ... I guess I know my place." Meadows said he's "grateful for what they did for me" but it "stings a little to not even be considered as someone they would like to come back around. ... Sorry ('The Ladies Man') bombed. ... (I)f it would have done better they wouldn't treat me like a red-headed stepchild." Other Brasky sketch regulars from the old days, such as Alec Baldwin and John Goodman, were also missing in action, and Meadows suggested the bit appeared to double as an "Anchorman 2" promo. "I'm sure it's economics and budget," he said Sunday morning. "I'm not in 'Anchorman' and I'm not promoting a show so who would want to pay for me to fly to NYC. I'm nobody." Later, after encouraging words from fans ("The Ladies Man" may not have done well at the box office, but at least one person considers the 2000 movie a classic) and learning the sketch was a last-minute deal, Meadows seemed to have made peace with being left out. "Thanks everyone for all your kind comments. I'm not mad at the show," he shared. "I know what it takes to produce those sketches in a short amount of time. I talked to a friend on the show who said it WAS a last-minute sketch. I acted like a baby. I'm happy for all of my friends' success and will always be grateful and proud to have been a part of 'SNL.' That being said don't forget to see 'Anchorman 2' coming soon to a (theater) near you." CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | "Saturday Night Live" alum Tim Meadows didn't seem happy to see sketch return without him .
The NBC series resurrected the Bill Brasky sketch on Saturday .
Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Paul Rudd took part in sketch .
Meadows later said he understood it was a last-minute addition . |
125,351 | 2e0a2a02e1e609721759970e8d3e2678214fb1b2 | When it’s cold outside there’s something irresistible about a warm, fluffy jumper. Never more so than this season, as these sweaters are the height of fashion, lining the rails of every clothes shop on the British High Street. Some of these snuggly knits are made from cashmere, others from merino wool or mohair. But there is one fibre that is softer and fluffier than all the rest: angora. These sought-after knits are produced from the fur of the angora rabbit — giant balls of fluff with tiny faces peeking out, bred for their long, soft wool. Scroll down for video . Factory horror: An angora rabbit is tied up by its feet and its skin stretched as it is being cut with an electric shear . Angora fibres are hollow, which gives clothes a fluffy texture. It’s warmer than wool and the fibre is also exceptionally fine — just 11 microns (11 thousandths of a millimetre) in diameter — which means angora is softer than cashmere. It is also far cheaper than the luxury fabric, with angora jumpers on sale in Topshop for £36 and scarves in John Lewis for just £30. But an investigation this week revealed these bargain knits may be coming at an immense cost to the animals that produce this fluffy angora wool. The images, taken at an undisclosed location in China, shows angora rabbits in cages . The rabbit is bent across the woman's knee before being trimmed of its fur using scissors . Animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) released a gut-wrenching exposé into the angora industry in China, which is responsible for 90 per cent of the world’s supply of angora wool. Investigators went to ten different angora farms and witnessed, they say, appalling abuse of animals at all ten locations. At half of the farms a particularly barbaric form of live plucking is used to remove the fur. PETA, which is campaigning for shoppers to boycott angora, is not naming the farms to protect its sources, but has documented its hard-hitting findings in video footage. Be warned, neither the still images nor the video make for easy viewing. The woman holds the rabbit by the ears while trimming its fur at the Chinese angora farm . Shocking truth: The animals are constantly injured from throughout the plucking as they struggle to break free . Torture: The Chinese fur traders use the plucking technique as it results in better quality fur and more money . Terrified white rabbits, screaming with fear, are stretched prone on wooden boards and held by the neck while that much-prized soft fur is plucked by hand — though scalped might be a more appropriate term. Hair is wrenched from the follicles until only raw, pink skin remains. In other scenes, the defenceless creatures are tethered with rope by the front and back legs while they are sheared by men armed with metal scissors, who pay little attention to the cuts they are inflicting on the animals. There can be little doubt that in this footage, rabbits are treated in a horrifying manner. ‘After their fur is yanked out, the gentle, sensitive rabbits are left in shock, able only to lie motionless inside their tiny, filthy cages,’ says PETA spokesman Ben Williamson. Animal cruelty: The angora rabbits are alive throughout the plucking and are kept for several years, plucked every few months, before their throats are slit . Locked up: The cages injure the rabbit's feet and the insanitary conditions see many of them, such as this one, suffer infections and illness . Rather than simply trimming the fur with clippers, as many breeders do, the factory workers are seen wrenching the fur from the root, causing the rabbits incredible pain. The reason for this cruelty? Simple economics — and expedience. Angora has a trade value of £22 to £28 per kilogram, but the longer hair that comes from plucking, as opposed to shearing, can sell for more than double that. As for speed, one only needs to watch the footage to discover how quick removing the hair in this manner is. Angora breeders in the UK told the Mail that plucking a rabbit without causing harm takes up to two weeks of gently removing loosened hair, not the minutes it takes to rip hunks of fur from a terrified animal in the factories visited in China. Shearing a rabbit takes up to an hour when done with care — but again, the process recorded on these videos was terrifyingly swift. This process is repeated every three months for the two to three years of the animal’s life. Angoras can live for five years, or even as long as ten years when well looked after, but farmed rabbits have a much shorter lifespan, which can be as little as two years. Yet it is not just the manner in which these animals — which are more commonly kept as pets in Britain — have their fur harvested that has sparked animal welfare concerns. Pictures show forlorn looking rabbits with tattered and partially shaved fur cowering in tiny cages in half-covered sheds. Pain and suffering: The terror in the animal's eyes is unmistakeable as a worker with a Chinese angora trader stretches it out and yanks out its fur . ‘The rabbits are kept in tiny filthy cages, surrounded by their own waste,’ says Mr Williamson. ‘The cages offer little protection from the elements. They are forced to spend their entire miserable lives standing on the thin cage wires that constantly cut into their sensitive footpads, never having a chance to dig, jump or run around.’ Once the rabbit’s health fails, they are of little use to breeders. Those who survive the brutal conditions in these rabbit farms are killed by having their necks broken, and are hung upside down and have their throats slit before their flesh is sold to local markets, PETA says. There are thought to be more than 50 million rabbits on angora farms in China, producing more than 4,000 tonnes of fur a year. Left to recover: After the rabbit had had all its fur yanked out it is thrown into a cage to regrow its fur in complete solitude . It is by far the world’s biggest producer, followed by Argentina, Chile, the Czech Republic and Hungary, which produce the bulk of the remaining 10 per cent of the supply chain. While plucking of angora rabbits does occur in other countries, the Mail has not found any reports of the particularly barbaric form witnessed in these Chinese factories being employed elsewhere. There is no doubt that China has a woeful record of factory farming and animal cruelty, particularly when it comes to producing clothes for the fashion industry, many of which end up on sale on British High Streets. In 2009, campaigners exposed how down used in jackets and other items was being ripped from the bodies of live geese by Chinese suppliers. Two years later it emerged that raccoon dogs were being skinned while still alive to produce imitation sheepskin boots. No hope: This young bunny is in the process of regrowing its fur while recovering from an eye infection in a naked steel cage . In China, there are no penalties for the abuse of animals on farms and minimal, if any, standards to regulate their treatment. A new law was drafted in 2009, but has not been implemented. The UK once had its own angora industry, but it died out after World War II and now remains only as a cottage industry, with producers unable to compete with the cheap angora from eastern countries such as China. ‘We can’t compete with the Chinese, so it’s very much a niche market,’ says Sarah Paul, who breeds and produces angora on a small scale on her farm in North Yorkshire and has raised rabbits for the past 30 years. ‘I’m one of the few left, there are no commercial producers in the UK any more. As an animal, they are lovely and very easy to keep and the fibre is absolutely gorgeous.’ Her rabbits (all lovingly tended to, nails clipped, and coats combed) mostly live on the barn floor and are clipped, not plucked, every 14 to 16 weeks. Angora rabbits regularly moult, which allows breeders to harvest their hair in this manner. ‘That’s the most labour intensive part,’ says the mother-of-four. She says that, far from screaming and struggling to escape, the rabbits become quite ‘soporific’ as they are groomed and clipped, a process that can take an hour for each one. If a rabbit is not clipped, she says, its fur can become matted, ‘almost imprisoning’ the animal. Ms Paul, who runs Bigwigs Angora, sells her rabbits’ fibres to independent wool spinners in small packs of nearly an ounce for £3. A single angora rabbit, well looked after, may produce about just over 1lb of fur a year from three to four clippings, which is blended with other fibres to make a 50 per cent angora yarn — enough to make two and a half jumpers. A single jumper would cost £64 to make with £8 balls of yarn, a far higher price than the mainstream fashion industry can tolerate with its insistence on large profit margins. On the British High Street, the Mail found angora products on sale in every store we visited, most of them displaying labels saying ‘Made in China’. While this doesn’t necessarily mean the wool was sourced in China, the vast majority of angora sold in Britain comes from that country. Of the retailers approached by the Mail — which included John Lewis, Topshop and H&M — only Marks & Spencer told us where they sourced their angora: China. Among the store’s offerings this season are a £39.50 roll-neck jumper, made from 38 per cent angora, and a three-quarter sleeve cardigan in the palest of pinks, made of 55 per cent angora, for £49.50. A spokesman said: ‘We put animal welfare at the heart of our business and are committed to the highest standards in all our supply chains, including angora wool.’ The store said live plucking did not meet their high welfare standards, while H&M also condemned the practice and Topshop said only shearing and combing were acceptable. ‘As a condition of doing business with us, all our suppliers must adhere to our strict animal welfare policies,’ said the M&S spokesman. While this may be the case for some stores, this week’s horrific images of rabbits will surely be enough to give many British shoppers pause for thought when they stop to stroke the fluffy angora jumpers on offer on our High Streets this winter. | Cruel methods at Chinese angora farm revealed by investigation .
Rabbits trimmed then plucked using painful and cruel techniques .
Longer angora hair comes from using inhumane plucking method . |
125,023 | 2d9c85d3ca8143f40e6b1d5b0683bc9d2be29b21 | By . Martin Keown . Follow @@martinkeown5 . England's World Cup campaign is all but over following a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in Sao Paulo. The result leaves England bottom of Group D with zero points and needing Italy to win their two remaining matches and hope they can beat Costa Rica themselves on Tuesday. Luis Suarez was Uruguay's match-winner but how did England's players fare? Sportsmail's Martin Keown returns his verdict... VIDEO Scroll down to watch Suarez's emotional dressing room message to wife and kids . Joy: Luis Suarez celebrates his winning goal during England's 2-1 victory over England . Head boy: And it was Suarez who headed Uruguay into the lead before half-time . ENGLAND (4-2-3-1) TEAM AVERAGE 5.6 . JOE HART 6 . Nervous at start. Distribution good. Exposed from corners at near post and he should have sorted that. GLEN JOHNSON 5.5 . Didn’t close down Cavani for goal but made up for it with his lungbusting role in equaliser. GARY CAHILL 6 . Best of the defenders but should have gone with Suarez for second goal. Despair: Gary Cahill is consoled by Wayne Rooney following the defeat which all but ends England's World Cup . PHIL JAGIELKA 5 . Flicking at the ball rather than making proper clearances and at fault for Suarez’s first goal. Jag's in first gear: Phil Jagielka was caught out for Luis Suarez's opening goal . LEIGHTON BAINES 5.5 . The step up in class has been too quick. Finally got forward more in the second half. STEVEN GERRARD 5.5 . Crossed well for Rooney’s chance and sprayed the ball well. Poor on their goal. Calm down: Steven Gerrard is spoken to by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo . JORDAN HENDERSON 6 . An alright performance defensively. Covered a lot of ground. Used the ball well at times. RAHEEM STERLING 5 . Couldn’t get him on the ball enough. Didn’t look fit. Could have interchanged better with Rooney. Attention: Raheem Sterling did not impact early in the game like he had against Italy . WAYNE ROONEY 6 . Some poor misses but persisted and got the goal he and England so desperately craved. At last: Wayne Rooney drew England level with his first ever World Cup goal . So close: Wayne Rooney reflects after his first-half free-kick curled narrowly wide . DANNY WELBECK 4.5 . International pace but needs to link better. Comes inside a lot but never runs at his opponent. DANIEL STURRIDGE 6.5 . Lively. Our most dangerous player. Good movement but a bit wild in the final third. SUBSTITUTES . Ross Barkley (for Sterling 64) 6At least he tried to beat men. Adam Lallana (for Welbeck 71) 6Bright and helped spark the brief revival. Rickie Lambert (for Henderson 84) 5Too late to make an impact . MANAGER . ROY HODGSON 5.5 . Wrong to move Sterling out wide. Shouldn’t have changed his formation from the Italy game. Knee bother: Luis Suarez was back in the Uruguay starting line-up following knee surgery . URUGUAY . TEAM AVERAGE: 6.4 . (4-3-2-1): Muslera 6; Pereira 6 Gimenez 6.5, Godin 5, Caceres 6.5; Gonzalez 6 (Fucile 80), Lodeiro 6.5 (Stuani 67, 6), Arevalo 7; Rodriguez 6; Suarez 7.5 (Coates 89), Cavani 7 . MAN-OF-THE-MATCH - Luis Suarez . | Luis Suarez scored first-half header from Edinson Cavani's cross .
Wayne Rooney equalised from close-ranger after Glen Johnson centre .
Suarez won the game after an error by Steven Gerrard .
Rooney missed two gilt-edged chances earlier in the match .
England all-but eliminated from World Cup after two defeats .
They play Costa Rica on Tuesday in final Group G match . |
163,483 | 5f642c8fb10c91a7f01f6ddc2959a3c4a08e72db | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 11:45 EST, 9 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:45 EST, 9 April 2013 . A grandmother and her granddaughter were showered in glass after an explosion sent a gas canister flying through her living room window. Joan Roberts, 85, was watching the news when the butane canister flew 20ft from a van outside into her home. The force of the blast caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the property in Knutton, Staffordshire. Explosion: The gas canister flew through the window of this living room as Joan Roberts, 85, was watching television with her granddaughter Rebecca . The woman and her granddaughter Rebecca were able to escape before a neighbour dialled 999. Emergency services were called to the scene but the grandmother escaped serious injury because the canister missed her head by 'a matter of inches' and landed in the kitchen. Two men, aged 27 and 29, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs., were arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion. Damage: The smashed window in the property in Knutton, Staffordshire. The bill for internal damage is estimated to run into thousands of pounds . Staffordshire Police are trying to establish what caused the canister to explode in the back of a van which was parked outside the retirement housing complex. A force spokesman said: 'Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured in this extremely unusual incident but extensive damage has been caused to the property. 'We have carried out initial inquiries including a forensic examination of the inside of the flat and the canister itself. 'We will also need to examine the van and will be speaking to a number of witnesses.' The grandmother is now staying with relatives while repairs to her home are carried out. Resident Joyce Evans, 56, said: 'It was like a bomb going off. 'Apparently the lady was watching the evening news with her granddaughter and had just sat down when the canister flew past her head by a matter of inches. 'A second earlier and she would have been it's path and it could have taken her head off. 'It's a miracle she was okay.' Neighbour Mark Crutchey, 50, added that the explosion could have killed someone. 'I just heard a loud bang and glass shattering,' he said. 'It looks like the canister didn't just go through the glass, it managed to smash through the actual frame of the window, so it just goes to show the force. Probe: Police are investigating the incident and have arrested two men on suspicion of causing an explosion . Surprise: Pensioner Joan Roberts, 85, was playing bingo with friends just a few hours after the gas canister flew through her window . 'It's a miracle that no-one was badly hurt, it easily could have killed someone.' After narrowly escaping injury, Mrs Roberts was playing bingo with friends just a few hours later. A friend said yesterday: 'Joan maybe old but she's a character and she was playing bingo and laughing just after the explosion. 'She was obviously shaken by what had happened but was just relieved her granddaughter Rebecca wasn't hurt. 'I think it all happened so fast she didn't know how close she had come to being hit by the canister. 'It's such a strange thing to happen but knowing her she'll probably be laughing about it in a few weeks.' | Joan Roberts, 85, was watching the news when the canister crashed into her home in Knutton, Staffordshire .
Two men held on suspicion of causing an explosion .
Canister missed the grandmother's head by just a few inches . |
160,370 | 5b5243ff6e7bdf15edf4a24b1f1a98b1b81fd181 | A 10,500-square-foot, three-floor luxurious apartment owned by a Saudi prince that has three panic rooms and a clear view of the Hudson River in New York's Upper West Side has been put on the market for $48.5million - down from the $75million price is was listed for in 2012. The apartment, reportedly owned by Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, is located in the Heritage at Trump Palace and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and six half bathrooms. Though the extravagant space had all the amenities a person could ask for, the prince, 82, is selling his apartment because he rarely uses it, according to listing agent Ryan Serhant. Saudi Prince Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's 10,500-square-foot Upper West Side three-floor apartment has been listed for $48.5million . The condo, which is located in the Heritage at Trump Palace, is filled with marble slabs and beautiful furniture. It might be sold furnished . This Jacuzzi is just one amazing feature in the home. The apartment also has three bullet-proof panic rooms and a fitness center . The prince is reportedly selling the massive Upper West Side condo because he doesn't use the residence as much as he would like . One reason the prince doesn't use the apartment could be the fact that he is confined to a wheelchair. He suffered a stroke in 2002, according to The Washington Institute. The home was originally created by merging six smaller units of the 31-story condo building on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors, according to court records released by the Wall Street Journal. With large slabs of Calacatta marble throughout the space, the apartment has three bulletproof panic rooms, a gym, billiards room, hair salon, a ventilated cigar room, a fully automated smart-home feature and a 60ft living room that overlooks the Hudson River. The apartment also has a built-in saltwater aquariums, a sushi bar, outdoor terraces, a spa and a six-person Jacuzzi. There are also monthly common charges of $19,705 and buyers have the option of hiring the apartment's current caretaker, according to Curbed. The apartment is listed by a corporation in which Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is the principal, according to a lawsuit relating to a past sale in the building. The apartment was created by merging six smaller units in the 31-story building. It takes up space on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors . Along with its own spa, the apartment also has a billiards room, hair salon, ventilated cigar room and built-in saltwater aquariums . The space overlooks the Hudson River, has outdoor terraces, fully automated smart-home features and a 60ft living room . The apartment has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and six half-bathrooms spread throughout its luxurious space . Mr Serhant, the real estate broker, said there is a possibility that the apartment could be sold furnished. The unit is selling for nearly $4,600 per square foot, which is high for the Upper West Side. The price is more likely to be seen in areas of New York like 'billionaire's row', on 57th Street, according to Johnathan Miller, president of appraisal firm Miller Samuel. The average price-per-square-foot in the Upper West Side is $1,572, which is nearly three times higher than New York's average of $627, according to Zillow. Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is a senior member of the House of Saud and was a close ally to the late King Abdullah. He served as the Director General of Saudi intelligence from 2001 to 2005. The unit is selling for nearly $4,600 per square foot, which is high for the Upper West Side, where the average is $1,572 . At $4,600 per square foot, the apartment is selling for seven times the average price per square foot of a New York apartment, which is $627. The space's price is in line with listings on 'billionaire row' on 57th Street . Listing agents for the apartment are Nest Seekers International's Ryan Serhant and Brian Chan and Raphael De Niro of Douglas Elliman . The principal of the corporation listing the apartment is Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, according to a lawsuit relating to a past sale in the building . Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud's three story apartment is in the Heritage at Trump Palace, pictured above . | Saudi Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is selling because he rarely uses it, real estate agent says .
Apartment was originally created by merging six smaller units on fifth, sixth and seventh floors of 31-story condo building .
Includes billiards room, hair salon, ventilated cigar room, outdoor terraces, spa and view of Hudson River .
Marked down from original listing of $75million . |
190,207 | 82470d1418cea09cbbd93a92b9678fdde2937f3e | By . Daniel Martin . Stay optimistic: David Cameron will be told to resist copying Ukip, in light of a Conservative triumph in the Newark by-election . David Cameron will today be told to stick to an ‘optimistic’ message and resist becoming ‘Ukip-lite’ after his party successfully defended a by-election seat for the first time in 25 years. Conservative candidate Robert Jenrick held off the threat of a Ukip ‘earthquake’, winning Newark with a reduced majority of 7,403. It was the first time the Tories have successfully defended a seat in a by-election since William Hague won in Richmond, Yorkshire, in 1989. Ukip’s candidate Roger Helmer surged from a distant fourth in 2010 to second, but with 25 per cent of the vote he failed in his party’s aim of reaching 30 per cent. Mr Helmer admitted yesterday that the failure of ‘box office’ party leader Nigel Farage to campaign hard in the Nottinghamshire constituency may have impacted on the result – less than a fortnight after Ukip topped the European elections poll. Today a senior Tory minister will claim the campaign tactic of concentrating on the ‘long-term economic plan’ had been the right one. In a speech entitled Reasons to be Cheerful, Home Office minister Damian Green will say: ‘What Newark tells us is that the temptation to become Ukip-lite should be firmly resisted. 'The political battle of our times is between optimists and pessimists. Conservatives should be optimists believing that free markets and a strong society are the basis for a successful country in this century.’ Ukip’s rise in support pushed Labour into third place, while Lib Dem support was obliterated – leaving their candidate trailing in sixth place. Ed Miliband’s party saw its vote share fall – a disappointing result less than a year from a general election in a constituency the party won during Tony Blair’s first landslide in 1997. In a sign of the depth of concern in the Tory camp over the possibility of losing, the Prime Minister hit the campaign trail in Newark four times. Victory: Robert Jenrick, centre, was elected MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, beating Ukip's Roger Helmer, left . Mr Farage accused the Tories of running a ‘nasty’ campaign, but insisted his party had still achieved one of its best by-election results. Nigel Farage’s lack of appeal to female voters helped the Tories win in Newark, a survey found. A . poll before the election showed the parties neck-and-neck among men . while nearly three times as many women would vote Tory compared to Ukip. It found 36.8 per cent of men planned to vote for Ukip’s Roger Helmer, with 36.2 per cent backing Tory Robert Jenrick. But only 16.8 per cent of women backed Ukip, against 47.6 per cent intending to vote Tory. ‘I think there’ll be an awful lot of Conservatives with a majority of less than 10,000 who will look upon this result in sheer horror,’ he said. ‘For Ukip, it’s still a good night’s work.’ Experts said that Newark – together with the recent local and European elections – provided no evidence that Labour was on track to win an overall majority next May. John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said: ‘Labour do not have the enthusiasm and depth of support in the electorate that make them look like an alternative government. 'It is not the sign of a party making progress, but a party which seems to be in retreat, and now retreating so far that if it goes any further there will be question marks about its ability to win the next election.’ Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems garnered just 1,004 votes and 2.6 per cent of the vote – bad enough for it to lose its deposit for the ninth by-election since joining the Coalition. Mr Cameron said: ‘We need to work between now and the election to say very clearly we have got a long-term plan, we are getting Britain back to work, we are cutting people’s taxes, we are helping hard-working people. The job isn’t finished yet but we are on the right track, let’s stick at it.’ PS . As his party suffered in Newark, Mr Clegg looked like he hadn't a care in the world as he fooled around for the cameras at a book launch for Lord Ashdown. Goofy: Nick Clegg leaves Paddy Ashdown's book launch in Piccadilly, Central London . | Speech by Tory minister today will support strategy of focusing on economy .
Conservative Robert Jenrick won Newark seat with a majority of 7,403 .
He saw off Ukip candidate Roger Helmer, who came second . |
210,708 | 9ce9ecc27dd027ba9bb259311475a0478c4b9b35 | (CNN) -- Backed into a corner and desperate; That's the view of some economists watching the European Central Bank's latest attempts to curtail the euro bloc's recession. Thursday's interest rate cut, designed to combat a three-year debt crisis, will not stimulate economic growth in the bloc, they say. Less than a year after the ECB President Mario Draghi buoyed the markets with his promise to do "whatever it takes" to keep the currency together, the central bank's governors move has left some economists questioning whether the ECB has reached the limits of its power. Speaking in Bratislava, Slovakia, ECB President Mario Draghi said the central bank is "ready to act if needed." But the Italian shied away from announcing any extraordinary policy measures such as another "big bazooka" to increase bank liquidity or the unlimited purchases of government debt -- known as OMTs -- for troubled eurozone nations that sparked controversy in September. Read more: The eurozone's reluctant leader . Joerg Rocholl, president of the European School of Management and Technology, told CNN that the rate cut is "a desperate move," and means the ECB can avoid criticism that it is "overstretching its mandate." Despite the ECB's commitment to bankroll ailing eurozone nations who request a full sovereign bailout by buying up government bonds, it has so far resisted the temptation to implement aggressive monetary stimulus. That intransigence puts it at odds with many of its peers around the world. The Bank of Japan, the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have all embarked on a process of quantitative easing -- increasing the supply of money in the economy -- while also introducing other policies such as an unemployment benchmark and a funding for lending scheme, intended to encourage banks to loan to small businesses. Read more: Will `Abenomics' lift Japan from recession? Mujtaba Rahman, head of research firm Eurasia Group's Europe practice, said Draghi "exhausted" his political capital when he introduced the OMT program in September. Italian and Spanish bonds, which had been been weighed down by market uncertainty, rebounded. Rahman added the ECB may be reluctant to announce new support measures because it breeds inertia among politicians looking to push through changes, such as a banking union, needed to bring Europe closer together. He said: "The wind has gone out of the sails on banking union. Once you announce intervention, you remove the incentive for countries to put the necessary structures in place." He told CNN that "shovelling money" to small businesses in peripheral Europe is the most likely next step for the ECB, but says the German elections and legality of the ECB's current bond-purchasing program are obstacles to any extraordinary policy announcements in future. With the worst hit countries in Europe in a depression and unemployment rising, the ECB could be forced to take more action, in addition to the current measures, to prevent the crisis worsening. Greece and Spain are both suffering with unemployment above 27% while Italy is drowning in a government debt of almost 2 trillion euros ($2.6 trillion), according to Eurostat -- the European Commission's data service. Read more: May Day protesters flood streets of Europe . Joerg Kraemer, chief economist at Commerzbank -- Germany's second-largest bank -- would expect the ECB to cut the deposit rate to negative territory before putting in place any other non-standard measures such as a loan scheme for small businesses. He said that the central bank is "in a corner" and has already exceeded its mandate significantly. Peripheral countries must stop expecting the ECB to come up with solutions to problems that should be solved by governments, he added. "We are already seeing drastic action," Kraemer told CNN, "the ECB has a very expansionary monetary policy, which I personally think, is too expansionary." He added: "This immediately puts the reform pressure off the peripheral countries and especially Italy. Without far reaching reforms you don't solve the reasons and the causes for the sovereign debt crisis." | Speaking in Bratislava, Slovakia, ECB President Mario Draghi said the central bank is "ready to act if needed."
Rahman said ECB may be reluctant to announce new support measures because it breeds political inertia .
Greece, Spain are both suffering with unemployment above 27% while Italy struggling with high government debt . |
137,731 | 3e1d033f86dc8ad2c9a473ba64163506461306ad | Two young boys wept when they saw their family's cat Madison again for the first time, after she was believed lost for over two months. At the beginning of a video posted to YouTube, a mother identified in the video description as Sheryl warns three children sitting on a couch to keep their faces covered with their faces covered until she gives the all-clear. They are heard shrieking as the suspense builds. Scroll down for video . Sweet surprise: A mother had her children keep their eyes covered before they saw their missing cat again . It's her! The boys are overwhelmed when they realize their missing cat is back home . Reunited: One of the boy's emotionally clings to their favorite feline . 'Okay, you can look,' she says. The two boys and a girl take pillows and blankets off their faces - and yell excitedly as they see their lost cat being held by another girl. 'I knew it! I knew it!' a blond boy is heard yelling. He walks toward another girl holding the pet, and cries as he embraces the returned feline. His brother and sister quickly follow. A brown-haired boy, identified later in the video as Shane, asks where the cat was found. Sheryl is heard saying 'She was down by the Shell gas station. I found her today.' Overcome: Shane (in green) was seen sobbing after learning cat Maddie was back home . 'I'm so happy': Shane was overjoyed to see 13-year-old Maddie again . Shane sobs, with reddened a nose and eyes, as the blond boy is heard saying 'I knew it, I knew it,' before he briefly embraces the cat then walks off camera. 'What do you think, Shane?' Sheryl asks. In between sobs, he replies 'I'm so happy,' and wipes the tears from his face. 'Let it all out,' a girl is heard saying in the clip. After petting the returned cat, Shane asks 'What was she doing when you found her? Sleeping, or-' 'No, she was following two little girls,' the woman says. 'Do we look like girls to you?' Shane says to his blond brother - who firmly replies 'No!' In an intimate moment, the blond boy is seen standing with his forehead pressed against the head of the cat. Home sweet home: Shane's younger brother presses his head against family cat Madison . In a statement to Rumble, Sheryl said 'Madison is our 13+ year old one eyed cat.The boys 11 and 9 have known her all their lives. She is super sweet and love spending her spare time hanging out on peoples shoulders. When we got her she was so tiny we had to feed her with a bottle and take her with us if we were going to be gone for more than three hours. 'Around two+ months ago she got out, we guessed our other cat that knows how to open the patio screen assisted Maddie. The day I posted the video, was the day I found her. I leave early to get the boys from school and as I drove and was about 1/2 mile away form our house when I noticed a cat walking behind some kids. 'At first I thought "wow, that looks like Maddie" and as I glanced again I noticed her fall to the ground and roll trying to get the kids to pet her. This was a trademark Maddie move! I zipped the car around and ran to her."IT WAS HER!" Excited, I called my daughter(18) to tell her the good news. 'She met me at the door with tears in her eyes. I told her I will be back with the boys and I wanted to surprise them and to wait with Maddie in her room. And the video is them seeing her for the first time in months.' | Mother Sheryl surprised her children when she presented them with the family cat Madison .
The elderly cat, thought to be at least 13 years old, was believed lost for over two months .
Her two sons, ages 11 and 9, were filmed shrieking and weeping after seeing their cat safely back home . |
146,995 | 4a13e91a4ea2cd644ccc6f2a7aa94c9ec05ed8e5 | By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 13:03 EST, 7 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 23:44 EST, 7 August 2012 . Mitt Romney is courting General David Petraeus, the hero of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, to be his vice presidential pick, it was claimed today. In spite of speculation on The Drudge Report which cited an unnamed source who overheard President Barack Obama talking about the Republican candidate's desire to name Petraeus as his running mate, Petraeus released a statement denying the rumor. 'Director Petraeus feels very privileged to be able to continue to serve our country in his current position, and, as he has stated clearly numerous times before, he will not seek elected office,' CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz told Reuters. It remains to be seen whether the four-star general, who is currently the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, would even agree to such a proposition. In previous interviews he has said he has no interest in jumping into the political arena. If Petreaus were tapped to be the Republican vice presidential nominee, it could shift the entire balance and momentum of the election -- electrifying Romney's campaign by picking a man regarded by most of the nation to be a war hero. The pick: The Drudge Report says President Barack Obama believes Mitt Romney wants CIA Director David Petraeus to be his vice president . And Obama could find a fearsome political enemy in the retired general. The two men had a falling out after the president declined to follow Petreaus' advice on keeping American forces in Afghanistan longer. The president is said to be nervous about giving Petreaus too much political power in his administration -- while at the same time worry about the damage he could mete out if he becomes an administration critic. Drudge quotes an anonymous Democratic fundraiser, who says he overheard the president whispering this week about Romney courting Petreaus for the number two spot on the Republican ticket. 'The president wasn't joking,' the fundraiser told Drudge. Romney is said to have met with Petraeus in New Hampshire, where both men have homes. The White House swiftly batted down the report and said the president believes no such thing. Game change: Picking the general, who has bipartisan popularity, could change the momentum of the race for Romney . 'Warrior scholar': Petraeus, who holds a PhD in international relations from Princeton University, is regarded as the greatest military strategist so far this century . David Petraeus, 59, has become one of the most prominent military figures of the 21st century, thanks to a combination of political prowess and military savvy. He was born in upstate New York and attended the West Point, where he graduated near the top of his class in 1974. He quickly rose through the ranks as a promising Army officer and continued his education by earning a PhD in international affairs from the prestigious Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. His degree, along with combat command experience, led politicians and military officers to begin calling him the 'warrior scholar.' In 1991, he was shot in the chest by an M-16 rifle when a soldier tripped during a live-fire exercise. After he recovery, he earned an early release from the hospital by impressing the doctors with 50 sit-ups. He first gained combat prominence in 2003, when he commanded the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq. He became the father of modern American counterinsurgency after he oversaw the writing of the Army manual on the subject in 2007. That spring, he was tapped by President George W Bush to employ his new tactics during the Iraq War 'surge,' which has been credited with stabilizing the country and allowing US forces to pull out. The success of Petraeus' strategy, combined with his calm and diplomatic public persona, have made him enormously popular in Washington -- on both sides of the aisle. In 2010, President Barack Obama tapped Petraeus to employ a similar strategy in Afghanistan. He was appointed director of the Central Intelligence Agency and retired from the Army in 2011. The US Senate confirmed in with a 94-0 vote. 'I can say with absolute confidence, such an assertion has never been uttered by the president.' press secretary Jay Carney said during a daily press briefing. 'And again be mindful of your sources.' The former Massachusetts governor overtly dodged a question about Petraeus while speaking with reporters this afternoon. Allies describe Petraeus as a 'good soldier' who follows orders, but he and Obama had a falling out of sorts over the troop draw down in Afghanistan. Petraeus opposed pulling American forces out of the war-torn nation when he was the top general in the country and asked the president to give the military more time to beat back the Taliban. However, the president is believed to have listened to polls from a war-weary nation instead of his top general. Petraeus confirmed that revelation during US Senate hearings on his appointment to the CIA. The Romney campaign has been mum about its vetting process for the Republican vice presidential nominee. Numerous names have been bandied around Washington, some seen as reasonable, others are long shots. Petraeus, whose name had been mentioned by pundits but only in passing, is considered one of the long shots. Ohio Sen Rob Portman is viewed as one of the most likely vice presidential picks. Other possible names in the hat include: Florida Sen Marco Rubio, Virginia Gov Bob McDonnell, former Minnesota Gov Tim Pawlenty, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. Petraeus could be a game-changer for Romney, who is beginning to trail Obama in some key battleground states. The general hold a PhD in international relations from Princeton University and is celebrated as one of the greatest military strategists in a generation -- earning him the nickname the 'warrior scholar.' He is wildly popular on both sides of . the aisle. When Obama nominated him to lead the CIA, he passed senate . confirmation with a 94-0 vote -- a nearly unprecedented unanimous vote . in the heavily-divided Congress. Petraeus . is the author of the counterinsurgency strategy that turned the tide . against insurgents in Iraq -- allowed US forces to leave the country . with relative stability. He also deployed the tactic in Afghanistan, to less success. However, in 2011, he retired from the Army after a career that spanned four decades and assumed a post at the CIA. When he took the CIA post, The Daily Beast speculated that Obama fears the political power Petraeus could wield. Critics suggested promoting him to . chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most powerful military . officer in the nation, would have given him too large a podium -- one . where he could control military policy by threatening to make . disagreements public. The Daily Beast also speculated that . Obama feared Petraeus could become a deadly critic of the administration . if he retired and entered public life. Despite this, Petraeus has repeatedly denied he has political ambitions. | Drudge Report says Barack Obama was overheard saying Romney was courting the popular general .
Petraeus was the most prominent military commander in the nation -- credited with stabilizing the Iraq War .
Tension between the general, who is now CIA director, and Obama over draw down of troops in Afghanistan .
Petraeus issued a statement denying the rumor .
Obama is thought to fear Petraeus' political power if he becomes a critic of the administration .
White House denies Obama ever mentioned Petraeus as possible vice presidential candidate . |
194,083 | 873c9ab028af51ed38d3defdc6c1f9d336e54579 | By . Hugo Gye and Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 02:46 EST, 31 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:29 EST, 1 February 2013 . Legendary quarterback Dan Marino was all smiles as he headed back to work after revelations that he fathered a secret lovechild with a junior network employee and paid her millions of dollars to keep it quiet. The former Miami Dolphins star looked at ease as he taped CBS's Super Bowl segments in New Orleans on Thursday after the network confirmed he will still be featured in the coverage on Sunday. 'Dan has said all there is to say on this matter, . and will be in his usual role on our broadcast Super Bowl Sunday,' CBS said in a statement on Thursday. Reports emerged today that the Hall of Famer, who has long been regarded as a family man, cheated on his wife of 28 years, Claire, with Donna Savattere, a production assistant at CBS Sports. Scroll down for videos . At ease: Dan Marino seemed at ease as he smiled while filming segments for CBS's Super Bowl coverage on Thursday - just hours after it emerged he'd had an affair and fathered a love child in 2005 . Thinking about what you've done? Marino looks deep in thought during the filming in New Orleans . Their daughter Chloe was born in June . 2005, and is now being raised by Ms Savattere and her husband, whom she . met after her relationship with Marino, the New York Post first reported. Mr . Marino, 51, admitted to the affair, saying in a statement: 'This is a . personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally . and financially for my actions now as I did then. 'We mutually agreed to keep our arrangement private to protect all parties involved.' He . insisted that he and his wife - who celebrated their 28 year wedding . anniversary on Wednesday - are still together and 'continue to be a . strong and loving family'. Former mistress: The mother of his child, Donna Savattere, poses with the girl and her husband Nahill Younis . Happily married: Marino with his wife Claire, with whom he celebrated his 28th anniversary yesterday . Early days: One of Marino's sons shared this picture of his parents in their younger days on Twitter . His wife is believed to have been . staying at their $5 million waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale as news . of her husband's affair and love child broke on Thursday morning. Marino met his mistress while . carrying out his role as a pregame analyst for CBS, where he has worked . since 2003. Ms Savattere was 35 at the time of their relationship. After . Chloe was born, Mr Marino allegedly paid her millions of dollars to . ensure her silence and take care of their daughter, the . Post reported. While the amount Marino paid her has not . been disclosed, she moved to New York and spent her time in the Upper . West Side and the Hamptons, where she became a fixture on the social . scene. Weathering the storm: Marino is pictured walking to his car in New Orleans today amid taping sessions . Family home: Photos show Marino's $5 million Fort Lauderdale home, where his wife is believed to be staying . Dan Marino is one of the most prolific . quarterbacks in American football league history, holding or having held . almost every major NFL passing record. He was picked in the first round of . the 1983 draft by the Los Angeles Express, but chose to sign with the . Miami Dolphins, and stayed with the team for the entirety of his career. He was best known for his quick . release and powerful arm and leading the Dolphins to the playoffs ten . times in his seventeen-season career. Although he was never part of a Super . Bowl-winning team, he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in . American football. He was inducted into the Hall of . Fame in 2005. Since retiring before the 2000 season, he has appeared in numerous ad campaigns and joined CBS in 2003 as an in-studio analyst. The birth also came two months before . Marino was inducted into the Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, after he . was introduced by his eldest son Daniel, Marino praised his family for . their support. 'To Claire and the kids, you guys are my true Hall of Famers,' he said. 'You guys are my whole life. You mean everything to me.' Savattere has . since married banker Nahill Younis, whom she met on a trip to the . Bahamas. The couple had a son together before their wedding at their . home in the Hamptons in 2009. A wedding announcement for the couple in a Hamptons wedding magazine says: 'Donna was already a mother when Nahill met . her, and Donna’s daughter quickly became an important part of his life.' She . explained their choice of using orange for decorations at their . wedding, explaining: 'Nothing in our lives is traditional or about . "following the rules".' Mr Marino is believed to be in touch with his now-seven-year-old daughter. Ms . Savaterre was said to have revealed the secret to friends and showed . them photographs of her and the quarterback together at restaurants and . clubs. Family: Ms Savettere, now known as Donna Younis, with Chloe and her younger son . She is also said to have made . attempts to change the name of her and Marino’s daughter from Chloe . Alexis Savattere to Chloe Alexis Younis, according to records. Marino also has six children with his . wife Claire: Daniel, 26, Michael, 24, Joseph, 23, Ali, 20, Lia, . 17, and Niki, 16. The couple adopted Lia and Niki from China. One of their sons, Michael, was . diagnosed with autism when he was two, and the family has been striving . to bring public awareness of autism since establishing the Dan Marino . Foundation in 1992. The football hero is set to appear on . CBS this weekend as part of its coverage of Sunday's Super Bowl, where . the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Baltimore Ravens. 'Family man': Marino is pictured with his father, Dan, and two of his sons at a Miami Heat and New Orleans Hornets game in Miami in April 2004 - a year before the birth of his love child . Support: Marino and his wife are pictured left in 2008; right, his children swarm around him at an event in his honour at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The couple have three sons and three daughters . Together: Marino poses with his son Michael, who suffers from autism, and wife Claire in Miami in 2008 . The network's live pregame coverage . kicks of at 2 p.m. from Jackson Square. In the broadcast, CBS will air . an interview Marino conducted with San Francisco quarterback Colin . Kaepernick. Mr . Marino is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in American football . league history, holding or having held almost every major NFL passing . record. Although he was never part of a Super . Bowl-winning team, he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in . American football. He was best known for his quick . release and powerful arm and leading the Dolphins to the playoffs ten . times in his seventeen-season career. He was inducted into the Hall of . Fame in 2005. Family: Marino is pictured with three of his six children, (from left to right) Joe, 23, Mike, 24, and Ali, 20 . Proud: Joe Marino and his sister Lia, whom the family adopted from China, stand with their father's statue . Mr Marino starred as himself in the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The storyline involved a football player becoming obsessed with the quarterback who taught him how to kick. In . December 2011, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan . Marino's 27-year-old record for the number of passing yards in an NFL . season. Brees' final . pass of the 45-16 home victory over the Atlanta Falcons, a nine-yard . touchdown toss to Darren Sproles, took him to 5,087 yards, beating . Marino's 5,084 for the Miami Dolphins in 1984. Hero: The Miami Dolphins quarterback was considered one of the best players in the history of football . Dan Marino playing himself in the 1994 hit comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . | Miami Dolphins star cheated on wife of 28 years with Donna Savattere .
Daughter Chloe, seven, said to be in touch with her dad .
Football hero to appear on CBS this weekend for Super Bowl coverage . |
256,757 | d852f4dd327a95ef9ef2b0611ee5d8d58131258e | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 18:16 EST, 24 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:50 EST, 25 October 2012 . Backer: Government funding for the Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria was signed off by the Department for International Development while Andrew Mitchell was in charge . A foreign aid programme receiving more than £70million in Government cash to fight malaria is ‘a dangerous distraction’, according to a damning report by Oxfam. The charity wants funding withdrawn and says the scheme, which aims to boost provision of malaria medication in Africa, fails to help those most in need. Oxfam’s concerns follow renewed criticism of the Department for International Development over the billions it is pouring into overseas aid. International Development Secretary Justine Greening is to examine every aid contract worth more than £1million in a bid to tackle waste. The UK is one of the main financial backers of the Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria, which hopes to boost the circulation of the most effective anti-malaria medication by subsidising private sector suppliers. But Oxfam says selling medication ‘excludes poor people’ and that treatments are not reaching those who are most at risk of dying from the mosquito-borne disease. The Government has spent £71.6million on the AMFm project since it was launched in 2009. It contributed £40million during the first two years followed by £31.6million last year. Funding for the past two years was signed off while Andrew Mitchell –who resigned as Chief Whip last week – was in charge of the DfID. Oxfam says the programme, which is administered by The Global Fund and is being piloted in seven countries including Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, should be abandoned. The charity admits the programme has led to increased distribution of medicine but says it distracts from more effective solutions. Oxfam’s senior health policy advisor, Doctor Mohga Kamal Yanni, said: ‘There is no cheap option or short cut to combat malaria. Support: Funding for the scheme was approved while Mr Mitchell was International Development Secretary . ‘The AMFm is a dangerous distraction from genuine solutions like investing in health workers. The Global Fund must act on the evidence and put a stop to the AMFm now.’ The scheme is also backed by UNITAID, an international drug-purchasing body; the Canadian government; and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates’s charitable foundation. A DfID spokesman said: ‘Studies have shown that drugs have got to remote areas and more vulnerable groups are now being reached.’ The Global Fund defended the programme and a spokesman said: ‘Some Western aid groups oppose a pragmatic approach that includes any involvement of the private sector. ‘But the reality of this programme is that it is getting life-saving medicine to people who need it most from the private sector outlets where they already seek treatment. ‘To call that a health risk is simply untrue.’ UK aid spending is due to rise from £8billion a year to £12billion in order to hit a target of 0.7 per cent of GDP. Review: International Development Secretary Justine Greening is to examine every aid contract worth more than £1million in a bid to tackle waste . | Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria is 'dangerous distraction' - charity .
Report says Britain's funding for scheme should be withdrawn .
Project to boost medication is being piloted in seven African countries . |
155,444 | 54e8a3ae33128c92eed48c1cb0d7e9f68327a0d3 | They are two of the most destructive computer viruses ever created, tailor-made for cyber-espionage and capable of wreaking havoc on government systems. Both Flame and Stuxnet are believed to have been used by the U.S. government to wage online warfare against hostile regimes. Now The Washington Post has claimed, citing anonymous Western officials, that the United States and Israel jointly developed the Flame computer virus that collected intelligence to help slow Iran's nuclear program. The so-called Flame malware aimed to map Iran's computer networks and monitor computers of Iranian officials, the newspaper said. Collaboration: Sources say the two nations worked together to develop Flame, with the purpose of damaging Iran's nuclear program . It was designed to provide intelligence to help in a cyber campaign against Iran's nuclear program, involving the National Security Agency, the CIA and Israel's military, the Post said. The cyber campaign against Iran's nuclear program has included the use of another computer virus called Stuxnet that caused malfunctions in Iran's nuclear enrichment equipment, the newspaper said. Current and former U.S. and Western national security officials confirmed to Reuters that the United States played a role in creating the Flame virus. Since Flame was an intelligence 'collection' virus rather than a cyberwarfare program to sabotage computer systems, it required less-stringent U.S. legal and policy review than any U.S. involvement in offensive cyberwarfare efforts, experts told Reuters. The CIA, NSA, Pentagon, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. Flame is the most complex computer spying program ever discovered. Two leading computer security firms - Kaspersky Lab and Symantec Corp - have linked some of the software code in the Flame virus to the Stuxnet computer virus, which was widely believed to have been used by the United States and Israel to attack Iran's nuclear program. The destructive computer worm Stuxnet is believed to have damaged . Iran's nuclear programme in 2010. | Paper claims two nations developed virus to map Iran's computer networks .
Virus shares code with another virus that damaged Iran's nuclear program in 2010 . |
176,999 | 711c49b3b54e516f590d948d250c7126d5c2ea82 | A father-of-four claims he could have been decapitated when he crashed into a 'booby trap' while riding his dirt bike on a popular bush track. Craig Billiet saw the barbed wired strung across the track between Little Creek and Emmerdale, north of Brisbane, Queensland, just in time as he was riding at speed on Tuesday at around 12pm. Mr Billiet, 34, said the barbed wire was at neck height on the track and he saw it just in time to stick his arm up to protect himself. 'I'm lucky I saw it before it hit me and was able to put my arm up - it got the brunt of it, ' Mr Billiet told Daily Mail Australia. Craig Billiet nearly lost his head to a barbed wire booby trap while riding his dirt bike on a popular bush track between Little Creek and Emmerdale, north of Brisbane, in Queensland . Luckily, Mr Billiet noticed the wire and was able to put his arm up to protect his neck. His arm sustained most of the injuries . While his arm sustained most of the injuries, Mr Billiet's neck also received severe lacerations from the barbed wire. Mr Billiet is still in shock from the accident and said he rode that very track just two days before. 'I was in another world - all of a sudden I was holding my neck freaking out and thinking "what the hell just happened?"', he said. Mr Billiet said he got straight back on his bike and rode home to his partner, Melanie, and four children. Mr Billiet said the marks are slowly healing but he is still in pain. He said one mark could have had a few stitches . 'Blood was gushing out - I was in quite a bit of pain', Mr Billiet said. 'My partner was in shock to start with - she had a look at it and cleaned it up. 'There is one mark that probably could have got a couple of stitches.' The 34-year-old just bought his dirt bike but does not think he will be riding it any time soon. 'I am not keen at all to go for another ride at the moment,' he said. The incident has also prevented Mr Billiet from attending work. He runs his own business, Craig's Complete Couches and Upholstery Cleaning. 'I'm taking it slow - I'm going to try to do a bit of work today - I'm still in pain.' Mr Billiet reported the incident to local police in Gladstone and said he hopes they are able to find the person/s involved. 'I don't know who would do something like this - it has left me in shock.' Mr Billiet only just bought his dirt bike but said he will not be riding it any time soon . Mr Billiet owns his own business, Craig's Complete Couches and Upholstery Cleaning. Since the incident he has not be able to work because of the pain he is in. He says he is going to take it slow . | Craig Billiet, 34, was riding on a bush track between Little Creek and Emmerdale, north of Brisbane, in Queensland .
He noticed the barbed wire booby trap just moments before reaching it .
Mr Billiet raised his arm for protection .
Both his neck and arm suffered severe lacerations .
Mr Billiet is in shock and has reported the incident to police . |
166,074 | 62bcff281f54d6629e2647da6d64bd4beefcc8b7 | China has once again been rocked by a violent attack targeting civilians after two SUVs plowed into people gathered at an open market in Urumqi, the capital of the western Chinese region of Xinjiang. Explosives were tossed from the vehicles, before one of the SUVs exploded, leaving many shoppers dead or wounded on the streets as flames and smoke billowed from the scene. The incident left 31 dead and more than 90 others hurt, according to Xinhua, China's state-run news agency. The brazen act was described by China's Ministry of Public Security as "a serious violent terrorist incident" and it vowed to crack down on the perpetrators. It was the latest in a series of deadly attacks in public places in China in the past few months. It also put the spotlight once again on Xinjiang, a region with a long history of friction between Han Chinese, China's biggest and most dominant ethnic group, and the indigenous Uyghurs, a mainly Turkic-speaking Muslim population. What happened in the recent attacks? -- April 30, 2014: After Chinese President Xi Jinping had wrapped up a visit to Xinjiang, an explosion rocked the South Railway Station of Urumqi, followed by a knife attack at the same location. Three people died and 79 others were injured in the attacks, according to Xinhua, as "knife-wielding mobs" attacked people at one of the station's exits following the blast. Two people, described as religious extremists and part of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, were blamed for the incident. Both died in the blast. -- March 1, 2014: Twenty-nine people were killed and 130 were injured when 10 men armed with long knives stormed the station in the southwest Chinese city of Kunming. Kunming railway station is one of the largest in southwest China. Witnesses described men clad in black outfits stabbing and attacking people with cleavers and knives. Local government officials told Xinhua that evidence at the crime scene indicated "it was orchestrated by Xinjiang separatist forces." -- October 28, 2013: Chinese authorities indicated a Xinjiang connection when a jeep plowed into crowds in Tiananmen Square, killing five and injuring at least 40. Who are the Uyghurs? The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group who live in Xinjiang, an area the size of Iran that is rich in natural resources, including oil. The province shares borders with Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Uyghurs, who speak a language related to Turkish, regard themselves as culturally and ethnically close to central Asia, despite a long history of Chinese rule. Since the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912, Xinjiang, which means "new frontier" in Chinese, has enjoyed varying levels of autonomy. In 1933, rebels declared independence and created the short-lived Islamic Republic of East Turkistan. The Chinese Communist Party took over the territory in 1949 and in 1955 it was declared an autonomous region, giving it a status similar to that of Tibet, which lies to the south of Xinjiang. Why do Uyghurs resent Chinese rule? Over the decades, waves of Han Chinese migrants arrived in the region, displacing Uyghurs from their traditional lands and fueling tensions. Xinjiang is now home to more than 8 million Han Chinese, up from 220,000 in 1949, and 10 million Uyghurs. The newcomers take most of the new jobs, and unemployment among Uyghurs is high. They complain of discrimination and harsh treatment by security forces, despite official promises of equal rights and ethnic harmony. Activists say that a campaign is being waged to weaken the Uyghurs' religious and cultural traditions and that the education system undermines use of the Uyghur language. Why is China concerned about the Uyghurs? Simmering tensions have erupted into riots. The worst violence in decades took place in July 2009, when rioting in Urumqi between Uyghurs and Han Chinese killed some 200 people and injured 1,700. That unrest was followed by a crackdown by security forces. Beijing says Uyghur groups want to establish an independent state and, because of the Uyghurs' cultural ties to their neighbors, leaders fear that elements may back a separatist movement in Xinjiang. What could be triggering attacks in Xinjiang? It could be multiple factors, but China is increasing its grip over Xinjiang society, said James Leibold, senior lecturer of politics and Asian studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne. President Xi's administration views Xinjiang "as a crucial backdoor into central Asia" -- one that could provide a new Silk Road and economic opportunities. There are also natural resources in the province. China has quadrupled internal security budget in Xinjiang, he said. "It has increased armed patrols as well as security cameras in the region." At the same time, China has also injected money to boost economic development amongst the Ugyhur minority and the Han Chinese who live in Xinjiang, Leibold added. Is the violence in Xinjiang getting worse? "I think these things are cyclical in nature," said Leibold, an expert on Chinese ethnic policy relations. "If you look at Xinjiang over the last 60-plus years it's been under Chinese Communist Party rule, the violence ebbs and flows." The 1950s were particularly bloody, as was the Cultural Revolution, and violence was reported in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he said. "It's impossible to confirm that ethnic violence has increased," he said. "The government puts out statistics and all the information we get are bits and pieces." The Chinese government blames what it calls three evil forces: Separatism, extremism and terrorism. What is significant in recent violence is that the target of the attacks appear to be shifting to civilians from security forces, he said. "We have seen targeting of innocent civilians and places, an attempt to maim innocent civilians in large numbers," Leibold said. "This violence has seeped outside of Xinjiang autonomous region," he added, referring to the incidents in Tiananmen and the Kunming train station several months ago. Are there Uyghur terrorist groups? Some say the threats from Uyghur separatist groups have been exaggerated and that little of the violence inside Xinjiang should be considered terrorism. They also say that the civil unrest is carried out by individuals or small groups, rather than an organized militant group. However, Uyghur groups have claimed responsibility for bus bombs in Shanghai and Yunnan prior to the Olympics in 2008. The Chinese government blamed an attempted hijacking of a flight in 2012 on Uyghurs. The U.S. State Department listed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as a terrorist organization in 2002 in the wake of the September 11 attacks during a period of increased cooperation with China on security matters. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, some 22 Uyghurs were rounded up in Pakistan and Afghanistan and detained at Guantanamo Bay. The final three ethnic Uyghurs were released from Guantanamo to Slovakia where they were "voluntarily" resettled early last year. | Violent attack in Urumqi open market brings spotlight on Xinjiang .
China's Xinjiang autonomous region has a long history of friction .
Recent spate of attacks and bombings in China has been blamed on separatists . |
158,160 | 58801e051e268c8a940f0f31509888074e080afb | Ray Rice attended a football game at his high school in a New York City suburb and was greeted with open arms despite being suspended from the NFL following his recent domestic violence scandal. WABC-TV in New York reports that the recently released running back attended the game at New Rochelle High School with his wife, Janay Rice, and their daughter in New Rochelle. Rice was released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Monday after video of him punching his then fiance Janay was released. Scroll down for video . Warm welcome: Ray Rice, right, and his wife Janay Rice attend the Ramapo versus New Rochelle high school football game at his alma mater and students and the coach say they were happy to have him back . Happy: Ray Rice the former Baltimore Ravens star suspended by the NFL after video surfaced of him allegedly knocking his then fiancee in a hotel elevator was in good spirits at his high school alma mater . Previously, he had been suspended two games by the league and the Ravens organization had announced its support for him. The New York Daily News reports that students at the school and the football coach said that they were happy to see Rice back at his alma mater. 'Ray is a part of our family, and a part of this program and that's why I'm happy he's here today,' said New Rochelle Huguenots coach Louis DeRienzo. 'I know the character of the man and he will rise from this.' A 17-year-old senior named Justin Watson told reporters that he still respects Rice even after video surfaced of him beating Janay. Family affair: Rice and his wife Janay and their child were in good company at New Rochelle High school on Monday shortly after rice was suspended from the NFL for domestic violence . Well-received: Rice, his now wife Janay Rice, and their children stood on the sidelines at New Rochelle High School in New York, his first public appearance since he was suspended Monday . Incriminating video: In this still image taken from a hotel security video released by TMZ Sports, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice drags his fiancee, Janay Palmer, out of an elevator after punching her . 'He's from New Rochelle, he's done a lot for us so we support him,' Watson said. 'We really have a lot of love for him and instead of kicking him down we want to help him back up.' The case has put the NFL in an uncomfortable spotlight as it faces criticism for how it handles cases in which players are accused of domestic violence. The schools superintendent for New Rochelle, Brian Osborne, said in a statement emailed on Thursday that 'our community stands united in the belief that physical violence to settle differences cannot be condoned.' The high school also removed Rice's jersey from its wall of fame and took down a placard honoring him. | Ray Rice attended a football game at New Rochelle High School with his wife, Janay Rice, and their daughter .
Students and the coach say that they were happy to see him despite video surfacing of him beating Janay and dragging her into an elevator .
'Ray is a part of our family, and a part of this program and that's why I'm happy he's here today,' said New Rochelle Huguenots coach Louis DeRienzo .
However the school distanced themselves a bit by removing his jersey from their wall of fame . |
193,343 | 864c3e96d5a5ef193c73990fe8c25a96278aba75 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:19 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:19 EST, 3 November 2013 . Arrested: Self-proclaimed 'sadomasochist' Mia McCarthy, 23 (pictured) has been accused of raping her 52-year-old girlfriend after a night of 'rough sex' A 23-year-old self-proclaimed 'sadomasochist' has been accused of raping her older girlfriend after a night of 'rough sex' in July. Mia C. McCarthy was arrested on October 25 for allegedly punching, biting, choking and threatening to kill her girlfriend of nine months that day. The unidentified victim also told officers McCarthy, from Lake Worth in Florida, raped her with a 'marital aid' during a night of 'rough sex' after the victim's birthday on July 21. The victim reported the attack to police on October 25 at Butterfly House, a sexual assault care center in Wellington, according to The Sun-Sentinel. The victim said she'd had a violent fight with McCarthy that day. She claimed McCarthy punched and scratched her, and choked her so hard she almost passed out. Detectives found bruising, bite marks and scratches on the victim's neck. She also said McCarthy . threatened her, saying, 'breathe or I'll kill you', which has left her . in constant fear her former girlfriend will kill her. The victim also claimed McCarthy assaulted her on July 21 after the couple partied at Delux, a Delray Beach nightclub, for the victim's birthday. Safe house: The victim reported the attack to police on October 25 at Butterfly House, a sexual assault care center in Wellington (pictured) She said McCarthy raped her with a 'marital aid' after smoking Kratom, a product the Drug Enforcement Administration describes as having opiate, sedative and euphoric effects. 'It was the first time McCarthy got rough with her and [the victim] did not know what to do,' the detective wrote in the report. McCarthy, who was arrested on October 25, told investigators the couple enjoyed rough sex which sometimes left marks. She said they didn't use safe words, 'no' meant 'yes' and she meant to stop but didn't. She said she apologized to the victim afterwards. McCarthy faces charges of battery, domestic battery strangulation, attempted murder and sexual assault. She remains in Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $55,000 bail. | Self-proclaimed 'sadomasochist' Mia C. McCarthy, 23, accused of raping her 52-year-old girlfriend after a night of 'rough sex'
The unidentified victim said McCarthy punched and threatened her .
McCarthy said couple enjoys rough sex that sometimes leaves marks, don't use safe words and agree that 'no' means 'yes'
The couple had dated for nine months . |
190,963 | 834aa12baadbb1647b105d38387525aaf3733594 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:38 EST, 16 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:36 EST, 16 December 2013 . A 33-year-old woman has leapt to her death from the 24th floor of a luxury Manhattan apartment block, authorities said today. Taheri Sunnuz died on Sunday after smashing a bedroom window at an apartment on the Upper East Side and throwing herself out. The woman had been visiting a couple who lived in the building at the time of her death. Taheri Sunnuz, died after she jumped from the window of a 24th-floor apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (pictured) on Sunday . Miss Sunnuz was described as 'irrational and irate' when she got to the home on 3rd Avenue and East 92nd Street, according to the New York Daily News. The woman's parents were allegedly called to come and pick her up - but before they could so, she jumped to her death through the broken window. The woman reportedly lived nearby on East 103rd Street. | Taheri Sunnuz died on Sunday after smashing a bedroom window at an apartment on the Upper East Side . |
192,051 | 84aeab4fb571eb8c1e81412ae563055debccb39a | By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 05:47 EST, 9 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 9 February 2013 . The principal dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet claims he is being framed for an horrifying acid attack on the firm's artistic director. Sergei Filin, 42, nearly lost his sight after suffering third-degree burns to his face and neck in the attack three weeks ago after a masked man threw acid in his face outside his home in central Moscow. Now in an extraordinary twist, the ballet's biggest star Nickolai Tsiskaridze claims managers have been dropping hints he was involved as part of a sinister campaign to oust him from the world-famous dance group. Real target? Nikolai Tsiskaridze claims that as the Bolshoi's 'most famous' dancer he is at the centre of a Stalin-style witch hunt . Mr Tsiskaridze, 39, believes that as the Boshoi's 'most famous dancer', it is he not Filin who is the real target of a Stalin-style witch hunt. And despite having a 'cast-iron and concrete alibi', he believes he is the victim of a conspiracy to link him with the attack. Acid attack: Sergei Filin, 42, nearly lost his sight after the attack outside his home in central Moscow . He told the BBC: 'It's like being back in . the days of Joseph Stalin. 'They're organising meetings against me, . they're trying to force staff to sign letters condemning me - they tried . that last week. 'But all the ballet teachers in the Bolshoi refused to sign it. 'They have decided to use this as an excuse for a witch hunt, to get rid of all the people they don't like. This isn't against Sergei Filin, It's directed against me.' Mr Tsiskaridze went on to accuse the ballet's general director Anatoly Iksanov of trying to 'settle scores' with him. He added: He wants to damage my reputation. But my reputation can't be damaged. I was, and, I still am the most famous dancer in the Bolshoi.' Filin, who is being treated for his injuries at a German Clinic, said he believes the attack was linked to his job as he has received repeated threats. A Moscow native, he joined the Bolshoi in 1988 and was named its artistic leader in March 2011, after three years in a similar position at another Moscow theatre. Such is the power and prestige of the post in Russian life that Anatoly Iksanov, director of the Bolshoi, said he believed the attack was a product of envy or rivalry. Premier danseur: Tsiskaridze struts his stuff with the world famous Russian dance group . Treatment: The artistic director of the Bolshoi ballet Sergei Filin was interviewed at the hospital in Moscow where he was being treated after the attack . Filin had already reported having his car . tyres slashed and his emails hacked, as well as receiving repeated . nuisance calls from someone who stayed silent when he answered. The . Bolshoi, which has both ballet and opera troupes, reopened last . February after a six-year renovation to its landmark colonnaded . building, close to Red Square in the very centre of Moscow. As a symbol of Russian . culture for more than 200 years, it is a big draw for both locals and . foreign tourists, and has seen power struggles among both dancers and . directors throughout its history. Since . the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many of those conflicts, . whether driven by egos or artistic convictions, have been played out in . public. After the . tightly controlled three-decade tenure of Yuri Grigorovich ended in . 1995, the Bolshoi Ballet went through five artistic directors before . Filin's appointment. He said: 'Someone really doesn't like what I've been doing there. Perhaps they don't like the fact I've been successful.' Dancers and staff at the Bolshoi, which has become a hotbed of infighting, backstabbing and overinflated egos, have claimed Filin may have even staged the attack himself. After Filin appeared on Russain Television without a bandage, Tsiskaridze, even went so far as to suggest he might not have been injured at all saying: 'If that really was acid you wouldn't be able to show your face for months.' The Bolshoi, which has both ballet and opera troupes, reopened last February after a six-year renovation to its landmark colonnaded building, close to Red Square in the very centre of Moscow. As a symbol of Russian culture for more than 200 years, it is a big draw for both locals and foreign tourists, and has seen power struggles among both dancers and directors throughout its history. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many of those conflicts, whether driven by egos or artistic convictions, have been played out in public. After the tightly controlled three-decade tenure of Yuri Grigorovich ended in 1995, the Bolshoi Ballet went through five artistic directors before Filin's appointment. In 2003 Anatoly Iksanov, director of the Bolshoi, dismissed ballerina Anastasia Volochkova after reportedly saying she was too heavy for male dancers to lift. And in 2011, a senior ballet manager resigned after a scandal over sexually explicit photographs. Prestigious career: Sergei Filin in 2011 with the then president Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana attending a gala opening of the Bolshoi in Moscow . | Nickolai Tsiskaridze claims he is at the centre of a Stalin-style witch hunt .
Artistic director Sergei Filin attacked outside his Moscow home .
Tsiskaridze claims managers have been dropping hints he was involved . |
140,393 | 418c020e7c8f8669d55e8507d0336c330d2fa733 | By . Jennifer Newton . Pope Francis has told the head of the United Nations that it must do more to help the poor and redistribute wealth. In a meeting with the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today, he called on the world’s governments to promote an ‘ethical mobilisation’ of solidarity with those less well-off and adopt a new spirit of generosity to address the causes of poverty and hunger. The pontiff made his comments in an address to Mr Ban and the leaders of several U.N. agencies who were all meeting in Rome. Pope Francis meets with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Rome today . Pope Francis then listens as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon makes his speech in the Vatican . Pope Francis said: ‘In the case of global political and economic organisation, much more needs to be achieved, since an important part of humanity does not share in the benefits of progress and is in fact relegated to the status of second-class citizens. ‘I urge you to work together in promoting a true, worldwide ethical mobilisation which, beyond all differences of religious or political convictions, will spread and put into practice a shared ideal of fraternity and solidarity, especially with regard to the poorest and those most excluded.’ He also told the U.N. officials that while there had been a welcome decrease in extreme poverty and improvements in education ‘the world's people deserve and expect even greater results’. The Pope said in his speech that the world should work together in promoting a true, worldwide ethical mobilisation . He said a contribution to equitable . development could be made ‘both by international activity aimed at the . integral human development of all of the world's people and by the . legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the State.’ ‘An awareness of everyone's human dignity should encourage everyone to share with complete freedom the goods which God's providence has placed in our hands,’ Francis added. Pope Francis has consistently used his meetings with world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, to champion the cause of the world's poorest. The Pope, who was known as the ‘slum bishop’ in his native Buenos Aires because of his frequent visits to shanty towns, has often said since his election that he wants the Catholic Church to be closer to the poor. In the past 14 months since his election, Francis has issued several strong attacks on the global economic system, saying in one speech last September that it could no longer be based on ‘a god called money’. The Pontiff, pictured during his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, has often championed the cause of the poor . | Called on the world to do more to help the poorest people .
Says governments should promote an 'ethical mobilisation' of solidarity with those less well off .
Made his comments in an address to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon .
Heads of U.N. agencies were all meeting with the Pontiff in Rome today . |
43,879 | 7bc77e07749d925db6c013fbf7f4b63a03c93e08 | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 08:23 EST, 20 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:08 EST, 20 March 2013 . A landlord who rented out a family home only to discover it had been turned into a cannabis farm by the tenants today accused police of trashing the property when they raided the premises. Gary Bond, 53, and his wife Rebecca claim the house was cleaner when the cannabis factory was still up. The garage manager had let the property, in Kings Heath, Birmingham, to a couple believed to be Polish six weeks ago. But after they failed to pay their rent, Mr Bond entered the house and discovered it was filled with 400 cannabis plants, each potentially worth £1,000. What a mess: Gary Bond is a disappointed at the state West Midlands Police left his uncle's property in . West Midlands Police kept the property under surveillance overnight but the mystery tenants never returned. To make matters worse, garage manager Gary and wife Rebecca, 42, from Solihull, were also unhappy with the state police left the property in after they dismantled the factory. 'I was told that the cannabis team would visit the house, hire a skip and sort it all out,' he said. 'But instead, they smashed light bulbs in the back garden, cut the cannabis plants off pot-high leaving the pots behind. Taking it all in: Gary Bond and his wife say the property was cleaner when the house was occupied by its mystery tenants who turned it into a cannabis farm . Angry: Gary Bond and his wife are unhappy with the destruction left in the Kings Heath house . Gary Bond looks at the mess left after his uncle's home was turned into a cannabis factory worth £400,000 . 'Fertiliser, smashed plugs and extractor vents were spread around the house.' The house belongs to Mr Bond's uncle Terrance, 75, and the money generated from the property's rent pays his nursing home fees. Mr Bond said: 'I just want the house let again and in it's current condition it doesn't seem likely any time soon.' Destruction: Mr and Mrs Bond say the house was cleaner when the cannabis farm was still up . Mr Bond fears he will struggle to pay his uncle's nursing fees now the property is not generating money . Mrs Bond added: 'It was cleaner when the cannabis farm was still up. 'The cannabis gardener was a tidy person as there was washing up done, toiletries in the bathroom and he even had a dustpan and brush.' But Sgt O'Keeffe said: 'Cannabis farms need large amounts of fertiliser and irrigation whilst the heat and lighting tends to come from electricity bypassed from mains supply; they are routinely the dirtiest, most dangerous scenes police attend. 'It's almost impossible to dismantle a cannabis factory on this scale without creating some mess.' | Gary Bond let the property in Kings Heath to a Polish couple .
Unbeknown to Mr Bond, the tenants were growing cannabis plants .
Mr Bond is unhappy at the state police left the home after they removed the plants .
Rent from the property pays for his uncle's nursing fees . |
391 | 0126a31d2fd50c5bccbd00670f0d3a46b8136a64 | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan police have intercepted 41 children whom insurgents were planning to use as suicide bombers, an Interior Ministry spokesman said Tuesday. Four suspected insurgents were about to smuggle the children across the mountains into Pakistan from eastern Kunar province on Friday, said Sediq Seddiqi, the spokesman. "We strongly believe that the children were being taken to Pakistan to be trained, brainwashed and sent back as Afghan enemies," Seddiqi said. The children are aged between 6 and 11, he said. Police handed the children back to their families after they were rescued in the Watapur district of Kunar province, he said. "The insurgents cheat poor and ordinary Afghans and take away their children," Seddiqi said. Afghan and foreign forces have arrested many would-be suicide bomber children in the past. Earlier this month Afghan forces rearrested two children in Kandahar province on suspicion of planning to be suicide bombers. The two were from a group of would-be suicide bombers who were pardoned by President Hamid Karzai last summer, according to a press statement from the Kandahar governor's office. They had gone to Quetta, Pakistan, to get more training before being sent back to Afghanistan for suicide attacks, the statement said. | Four suspected insurgents were trying to smuggle 41 children abroad, officials say .
Police suspect the 41 children were going for suicide-bomber training .
They have been returned to their families, the Interior Ministry says .
It's not the first time police have caught children trying to be suicide bombers . |
277,369 | f35becde0928e51cdd99f634a7987b9d32917e3a | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 03:03 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 26 August 2013 . Seaside piers across Britain are under threat from rising maintenance costs and rocketing insurance bills, new research has claimed. Too many piers are trapped in a cycle of neglectful ownership with only periodic attempts at conservation, according to Jess Steele, the author of the People’s Piers report published today. She believes that a new option of taking piers into community ownership, which is being pioneered for Hastings Pier, could be the answer to the problem. Popular attraction: Despite around six million people visiting Britain's piers, including Brighton Pier, pictured, many could fall into disrepair (Stock photo) The report claims that 57 seaside piers are under threat, not only from corrosive sea water but from owners who fail to make provisions for the high maintenance costs and insurance bills, estimated at around £33m over the next five years. The study, published by the trade association Co-operatives UK, examines the ownership, usage and future of Britain’s piers. It highlights the crisis, offering a blueprint for their future revival as co-operatively owned assets for the benefit of the community. Seaside piers remain as popular as ever, with six million people a year visiting them, according to the research. Hastings Pier, which was ravaged by fire in October 2010, has been returned to local ownership ahead of a £14 million project to revive the battered Victorian structure. Most of the money has been raised by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with help from the Coastal Communities Fund, the Community Assets Fund, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council. Work will start this month on the Grade II-listed pier in East Sussex and will be completed by spring 2015, turning it into the 'People’s Pier', officials said. Wreck: The Victorian Hastings Pier in Hastings, East Sussex, was one of many piers to have been hit by disaster when it was destroyed by fire in October 2010 but has been saved as part of a £14 million restoration project . Up to 95per cent of the pier was left a burnt-out eyesore when it was almost destroyed in an arson attack three years ago following years of neglect. Two men, then aged 18 and 19, were arrested shortly afterwards but the Crown Prosecution Service later said there was not enough evidence to bring charges. Ravenclaw, the Panama-registered owners, failed to do anything to the structure and when they could not be contacted Hastings Borough Council sought a compulsory purchase order so the pier could be handed over to specially set up trust called the Hastings Pier Charity. Salvation: Piers could be saved for the nation if more are taken into community ownership, the study claimed (Stock picture) Now it is in their hands, work will begin to renovate the substructure, refurbish the only pavilion still standing and to build a new visitor centre, a spokesman for the trust said. At present 56 per cent of piers are privately owned, with 39% in local authority hands and 5% in community ownership, the report said. It is calling for a fast-track compulsory transfer process to rescue important community and heritage assets and a presumption in favour of local communities taking ownership. Ms Steele said: 'More people live by the seaside than live in Wales and 10% of our national heritage assets are within a mile of the sea. 'Seaside piers make us smile. But too many piers are trapped in a cycle of neglectful ownership with only periodic attempts at conservation. 'We believe that there is a new option, now being pioneered for Hastings Pier, which is to take piers into local community ownership.' John Penrose, Coalition Minister for Tourism and Heritage until 2012, said: 'For piers across the country, exposed at all times to sea and weather, there is a real challenge in meeting the high financial costs of upkeep and insurance. 'I applaud the search for new solutions to our national assets that can harness the passion and commitment that comes with co-operative and community models.' Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: 'The complete turnaround in Hastings Pier’s fortunes is yet another great example of what is happening across the country when government gives power back to communities to decide how best to run things locally. 'A host of important local assets, from football stadiums to shops and pubs, are now being listed as community assets and I’d encourage seaside communities to nominate the piers they care about with their local councils as a first step to securing their future.' | 57 piers across Britain could be closed forever, study finds .
High maintenance costs and insurance bills many owners are allowing them to fall into disrepair, according to report .
More than half of piers are privately owned, 39% in local authority hands and 5% in community ownership .
Community ownership could safeguard their future, expert claims .
Six million people visit seaside attractions each year . |
1,850 | 0555bda88856e4ac5101e202f6c88606c25b634d | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 06:25 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:49 EST, 4 October 2013 . When Margot and Valerie were rescued from a battery farm things started to look up. No longer stuck in cramped cages, they were suddenly free to roam around the garden to their hearts’ content. But it seems their new-found freedom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. The chickens weren’t used to being outside and found it a bit chilly for their liking. Nice and warm: Ex-battery chickens Margot, left and Valerie, right, show off their cosy fleece-lined jackets . Wrapping up: The pair had jackets made after their owners were told ex-battery hens often struggle in the cold . So their owners, Trevor and Samantha . Stickley, put their heads together and came up with a solution – two . chicken-sized fleeces. The couple from Bournemouth took the pair to a tailor’s shop where the birds had their inside drumsticks and chicken breasts measured for two fleece jackets. The garments slip over the hens’ heads and cover their crowns, although there is enough room for them to flap their wings. Custom-made: Owners Trevor and Samantha Stickley took the pair to a tailors, where they were measured . Stay still! Margo the chicken is measured for her jacket by manageress of The Zip Yard tailors, Sam Old . One of the jackets is lined with leopard print and has a wishbone design on the front andthe other has a red trim and a heart logo on. The 18-month-old Rhode Island Red hens will wear the coats throughout the winter until they are more used to the chilly temperatures. Trevor, 47, a taxi driver from . Bournemouth, said: 'We rescued the chickens from a battery hen place and . this is their first winter out of the environment they’re used to. Good fit: The chicken's breasts and inner drumsticks were measured by staff . 'Battery hens don’t see day light and they aren’t used to the cold weather or changes. 'Someone explained to us that they might suffer from the cold in their first season, so we looked on the internet for a way around this. 'We took Margot and Valerie to a local tailors and they have fitted them with these two lovely jackets. Creation: The jackets, pictured completed above, were then made from a drawn pattern, pictured behind . 'Our family and friends think that it’s brilliant we managed to find somewhere who would happily measure and fit coats for two chickens.'A spokeswoman from the Zip Yard, the tailors behind the quirky jackets, said: 'We were very surprised to have an enquiry about a pair of chickens. 'We have never worked with animals before and it was the weirdest request we have received but we were happy to help. 'They were our most bizarre customers but they very well behaved. Happy customers: Margot poses in her jacket with owner Trevor Stickley . | Chickens Margot and Valerie rescued by Trevor and Samantha Stickley .
Couple from Bournemouth were told ex-battery hens often struggle to adapt to the cold in the winter months .
So owners took pair to Zip Yard tailors, who made the fleece-lined jackets after measuring under their drumsticks and across their chests .
The chickens wear their jackets while in the back garden . |
94,700 | 05af6628c9e9aa65fb0e0e16ad01291dc00f25a1 | For a year after her journalist son went missing in Syria in 2012, Debra Tice kept calling his cell phone. It would ring and ring. Nothing. She would send Austin Tice messages on Facebook. No response. "It's excruciating," Tice's father, Marc, told CNN on Monday at their Houston home. The void of not knowing what happened to their son or who has him is a "constant presence." All they know is that he was abducted in a Damascus suburb. His absence haunts them. When they try to relax and do something normal in life, some small pleasure, there is an immediate feeling that they should be writing another letter, making another call or searching for some thread they haven't pulled that may be hidden in the extensive notes they've accumulated over the years they have searched. When Debra Tice insists that her son will be found, she speaks firmly, her eyes intently fixed, voice firm and clear. "There has never been a moment of questioning that he's coming home," she said. That state of mind keeps despair at bay, and she won't waver from faith. But could ISIS, the vicious militant group that has beheaded two other American journalists, have him? The Tices don't know for sure, but say they don't think that's the case. There has been no communication or ransom requests from the captors to the Tices -- a tactic ISIS has previously used in the abductions of other journalists. That is what leads the Tices to believe ISIS does not have their son. Even contemplating a scenario like that is unbearable to them. "If we start thinking about that ... the pit of despair has no depth," Debra Tice said. "It's an abyss." Video of Tice . Only one clue has emerged since the disappearance of the 33-year-old, who is also a former U.S. Marine captain. A shaky 47-second video uploaded to YouTube in September 2012 showed him blindfolded, apparently being walked through rocky terrain by men carrying guns. At that time, the State Department said Tice was believed to be in the custody of the Syrian government -- but the regime of President Bashar al-Assad did not say it was detaining him. His parents said this week that they've been told by the Syrian government that their son is not in its detention facilities. Tice was freelancing for McClatchy and The Washington Post, filing stories for them starting in May 2012. His Twitter posts and pictures on the photo-sharing site Flickr drew thousands of followers. In July 2012, Tice appeared on CNN's "Global Public Square" to talk about what he saw in Syria. He was then a law student and spending his summer reporting on the war. He described being embedded with a rebel group fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and seeing that the government's helicopters fly so high it seemed impossible that fighters could aim their missiles. He also said that he witnessed hostile fire that seemed random and badly aimed from al-Assad's tanks and troops. He was last publicly heard from via Twitter on August 11 of that year, saying that he spent the day with Free Syrian Army rebels who were fighting to oust al-Assad from power. Tice tweeted that he enjoyed a good time at a pool party. "They even brought me whiskey. Hands down, best birthday ever," he posted. Parents on a mission . The Tices have traveled, at their own expense, to Lebanon to meet with people who they felt might help them find their son, they told CNN. They made three trips to Beirut, they said, and did not want to specify exactly whom they talked with, referring only to "folks" in "channels that are credible." They said the most complete information they've received about their son -- including that he is alive -- has come from sources other than those in the United States. They have worked to cultivate those sources. They expressed extreme frustration with U.S. government "policies" that they said keep people in the U.S. government from giving them information about their son. The parents have repeatedly been told that they need security clearance to hear information that officials have. "We don't want to be treated like we're a security risk," Marc Tice said. "Who else has more motivation to be careful about information about our son?" "We've asked repeatedly, 'What is it that we need to do to enable you to share this information with us?'" Debra Tice said she told U.S. officials, without saying which officials specifically. The parents have been told "we'll get back to you," she said. Marc Tice said the process has been "terribly frustrating," adding that he feels that there are many in the U.S. government that the parents have dealt with who genuinely seem to empathize and want to help the Tices. But the Tices want to be clear. They aren't concerned with changing policy. They have a singular focus. "We want to get our son home safely," Debra Tice said. A spokeswoman for the State Department said Wednesday that the family's frustration is "understandable and heartbreaking." "No parent should ever endure the Tice family's anguish. We are in awe of their courage and tenacity in doing everything in their power to bring Austin home," Jen Psaki said. "The government provides all of the information we can to families in these circumstances without jeopardizing our efforts to bring Austin home safely or putting at risk the intelligence sources on which we depend for our national security." She said several U.S. agencies had been working for Austin Tice's release, though their efforts couldn't be discussed publicly. A 'strong guy' The Tices have talked to people who have been held hostage and freed. The parents are comforted to hear how much it means to those former captives when they realize how hard and constant their families' fight to find them was. "It's about faith," Debra Tice said. Marc Tice said his son is a "strong guy" with a "strong mind, a strong body," which gives him confidence that whatever his son is enduring, he will somehow find a way through. Austin Tice loves the people of the Middle East, his parents said. Since he was a child, he has been curious. He wanted to know how people lived. He wanted to explore the world. He felt compelled to go to Syria because he was frustrated hearing time and again, during media coverage of the civil war, that reports could not be verified. Al-Assad often blocked foreign journalists from covering the conflict and many journalists steered away from the war because the violence was so intense and often directed at them. "He thought, 'Really, I have the ability to stay safe,'" Marc Tice said. His son, he said, felt it was a "calling" to go. | State Department says Washington is in awe of family's courage, tenacity .
Freelance journalist Austin Tice has been missing in Syria since 2012 .
His parents express frustration over lack of information from U.S.
The Tices have traveled to Lebanon three times to get information . |
79,044 | e009bb31f7877a618a0e36457d147efc38ebdafa | The Justice Department and JPMorgan Chase are wrestling with whether some of the $13 billion tentative settlement covering JPMorgan's mortgage practices should come out of the government's pocket, a source familiar with the talks told CNN. Lawyers for the two sides are continuing talks on some final sticking points in the settlement covering the bank's mortgage securities practices. The outline of the deal was struck last Friday. The biggest point of contention remaining is whether some of the settlement money covering mortgage securities sold by Washington Mutual, which was acquired by JPMorgan, could end up coming from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the government-backed insurer of banking deposits, the source says. When JPMorgan bought failing Washington Mutual from the government in 2008, the FDIC was stuck with some of its liabilities. The Justice Department insists on language in the settlement that would prohibit JPMorgan from making claims against the FDIC for some of the money it is going to have to pay. On Friday, JPMorgan and the agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac concluded their portion of the broader settlement. The bank agreed to pay $5.1 billion to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to cover alleged deceptive practices in sales of mortgage securities, including by Washington Mutual, to the government-backed housing finance giants. The FHFA agreement doesn't include a prohibition on JPMorgan recovering money from the FDIC. Justice Department lawyers want it included in their final deal. JPMorgan declined comment. | Justice Department and JPMorgan reached tentative, $13 billion settlement last week .
The deal covers the bank's mortgage securities practices .
Sticking point involves liabilities associated with JPMorgan's purchase of failing Washington Mutual .
JPMorgan finalizes portion of settlement with housing agency . |
201,821 | 914913d71b424c2b8763ff1442934b5ab3390522 | Barcelona, Spain (CNN) -- The deep-rooted Spanish tradition of bullfighting is under fire in Barcelona and its region of Catalonia, where the regional parliament will vote on Wednesday whether to ban the fights. If approved, Catalonia would become the first region in mainland Spain to outlaw bullfighting, and some see it as a slap in the face to the rest of the country. Enrique Guillen, 24, laments that he might be the last Barcelona-born bullfighter to take the "alternativa," or ceremonial fight in the ring against the biggest bulls to become a full-fledged matador, which he did last year at Barcelona's sole remaining bullring, the Monumental. Guillen's father worked at the bullring, opening the doors for bulls to charge in to face matadors and their death. "My father brought me to see the bullfights when I still had a pacifier," Guillen said. "It would be frustrating not to be able to give to my children what my parents gave to me." But activist Aida Gascon, of the Anti-Bullfighting Party, known as PACMA, looks beyond the tradition and sees animal cruelty. She says she's attended just one bullfight in her life, and that was only to get a sense of the bull's suffering, which she depicted in a painting that hangs in her living room. "Bullfighting is part of Spanish culture," Gascon said. "But that should change. Many traditions disappear as the society advances." The number of bullfights across Spain has dropped by one-third in recent years, due mostly to budget constraints of local governments, which often fund the spectacles. In Catalonia, there are now just over a dozen fights a year and the Monumental bullring in Barcelona is about the only place in the region that still holds fights. But Luis Corrales and his pro-bullfight group, known as PPDF, released a study predicting big economic losses for Catalonia if bullfighting is banned. This would mainly result, he says, because the Catalan government would have to pay damages to the bullfighting industry, which holds long-term operating licenses. "When the Catalan government and the opposition are working hard to trim the budget, how could they justify making big indemnity payments to the bullfighting industry, when it's not necessary," Corrales said. But critics disagree, saying the economic impact would be minimal, given the small number of fights still held in Catalonia. Either way, the Catalan parliament bullfight vote is being watched not only in Spain, but abroad, where many have a fascination with bullfighting. The proposal to ban bullfighting started as a popular initiative in Catalonia and was accepted for consideration by parliament last year by a slim margin of votes. Since then, there has been an ever-intensifying debate, with bullfighting proponents and opponents gathering support from across Spain, even from abroad. Most analysts predict that the vote on Wednesday will be very close. The two largest parties in parliament, the ruling Socialists and the opposition Catalan nationalists, or CiU, have given their members of parliament freedom to vote their conscience. Some smaller parties on the left are expected to vote for the ban while the conservative Popular Party is expected to support continuing the tradition. The ban, if approved, would take effect in January 2012 and would not end bullfighting in the rest of Spain. It still has a strong following in Madrid and in the south around Seville. Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean already does not allow bullfighting, but a ban in Catalonia would be considered a bigger blow to the tradition. Some analysts say that Catalan nationalism, including the desire by some in the Barcelona area for independence from Spain, also is playing a role in the vote, as well as the upcoming regional elections for parliament later this year. But the main bullfighting proponents and opponents say the root issue is a clear line in the sand: tradition vs. protection of animals. The Catalan parliament vote is expected by 1 p.m. (7 a.m. ET) Wednesday. | Catalonia would become the first region of mainland Spain to ban bullfights .
Only one bullfight ring remains in Barcelona, with about a dozen fights a year .
"Many traditions disappear as the society advances," ban backer says .
Economic impact would be painful, bullfight booster argues . |
283,811 | fbb2e6af9ea4a254de39a85fad9ebb1e85272f9d | Quadruplets born to a Dallas-area minister and his wife already share something with their father. The boy and three girls delivered Monday at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine arrived on their dad's 36th birthday. Josh Hall, who's a youth pastor at Gateway Church in Fort Worth, said he's 'ecstatic' about his expanded family. Brooks, Sadie, Elle and Ivy join two sisters - 4-year-old Zoe and 2-year-old Kaytlin. Scroll down for video... Forty finders and forty toes: A tiny hand reaches out for Dad . Happy Birthday! Joshua Hall will never forget his 36th birthday when his wife Anna Hall delivered quadruplets at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine . Proud dad: Elizabeth Watkins, RN, settles newborn Hall quad in NICU while Joshua Hall, father of the quads, watches. The four babies were delivered at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine on May 5 to Anna and Joshua Hall, Fort Worth residents . Planning ahead: The couple announced to the world on Facebook that they were having four babies earlier this year . Before there were six: Josh and Anna Hall pictured here n a beach holiday before their children were even though of! A Baylor spokeswoman on Thursday said mother Anna and the quadruplets, born more than a month premature, are in good condition. Hospital officials say Brooks at birth weighed 3 pounds 11 ounces, Sadie was 2 pounds 15 ounces, Elle was 3 pounds 6 ounces and Ivy was 3 pounds 5 ounces. Elle and Ivy are identical twins. 'We feel very blessed to welcome these four new children into our family,' the proud dad said. The family already has two other girls, 4-year-old Zoe and 2-year-old Kaytlin. One of four: The quads - three girls and one boy - arrived May 5, which is Mr. Hall's birthday . Big family: Joshua and Anna Hall welcomed quadruplets on Monday, Joshua's birthday, The babies - one boy and three girls -- are the first set of quadruplets ever born at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine . The infants started arriving at 1:58 p.m. Brooks came first and weighed in 3 pound s,11 ounces, followed by Sadie at 2 pounds, 15 ounces . Recovering: Mrs. Hall had been hospitalized on bed rest at Baylor Grapevine for several weeks . My firstborn son: Dad, Joshua, watches over Brooks who was first to arrive. The only boy to arrive in the quads that were born . 'It was an exciting afternoon here,' said hospital President Steve Newton. Nurse manager Susan West said that the hospital delivered more than 2,500 babies last year. 'Since this is the hospital's first set of quads,' West said, 'this birth is extra special to us.' The average quads are born at about 29.5 weeks, said Dr. Sherri Kappler, medical director of the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Anna Hall 'was able to reach almost 32 weeks, which was great news for the babies,' Dr. Kappler said. A full-term baby is born between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation. Anything prior to that is considered premature. About 10 percent of all newborns require special monitoring in the NICU, making sure that they are breathing, feeding and developing properly. Memorable: Nurse manager Susan West said that the hospital delivered more than 2,500 babies last year. 'Since this is the hospital's first set of quads,' West said, 'this birth is extra special to us.' Reaching out: The parents of quads, Joshua and Anna Hall reach out to feel their newborns . Sleep tight: The babies will remain in hospital for a few more weeks as they are looked over . Visitors: Parents of six, Joshua and Anna Hall take a look at their newborns . The quad babies will remain in the hospital for a few weeks. 'Because these babies are often very small, they need special care to aid in growth and development before they can go home. Breathing and feeding may be difficult for these tiny patients,' the hospital said. 'We are just praying everybody is going to be good sleepers good eaters. It is going to be fun,' added mother Anna. In March, Steven and Michelle Seals gave birth to quintuplets, four girls and a boy, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Spiritual: 'We feel very blessed to welcome these four new children into our family,' Josh Hall said. Checking up: Most quadruplet pregnancies last 29.5 weeks. Anna Hall's pregnancy lasted close to 32 weeks . Blessed: The Halls already have two daughters who are four and two years old. Making their big day extra special, the quadruplets were born on dad Josh's birthday . Neonatal intensive care clinical staff settles Hall quads - three girls and one boy - into their new surroundings after their birth, May 5 . | Anna and Joshua Hall became proud parents of quadruplets .
Three girls and one boy were born at 32 weeks .
Brooks was first at 3 lb, 11 ounces .
Sisters Sadie at 2 lbs 15 oz; Elle at 3 lbs, 6 ounces; and Ivy at 3 lbs, 5 ounces came next .
Elle and Ivy are identical twins . |
164,193 | 60547783062e0247205fd892757235aad9370d4d | (CNN) -- Sing in the shower, not in public. That's the message to anyone visiting one South Carolina beach community. The town of Sullivan's Island has proposed an ordinance that would make it illegal to belt out show tunes, pop songs, or any musical notes, for that matter, if they disturb the peace. "I haven't had one islander complain about it," said Andy Benke, the town administrator. "There are places where you can go and be loud and vociferous. Sullivan's Island is not one of them." "We want you to have a good time but in the same sense we want you to act respectful and if you don't we have a tool to deal with it," Benke added. That tool would be a ticket from a police officer for a maximum fine of $500. And the ban isn't just for singing. The measure reads as follows: . "It shall be unlawful for any person to yell, shout, hoot, whistle, or sing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the comfort, or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity." The town, which is on a barrier island just north of Charleston Harbor, has a population of about 2,000 but swells to around 5,000 during summer weekends, Benke said. He called it "first and foremost a single residential community. "There are a lot of visitors to the beach 24 hours a day," he said, "and we just need a way to maintain the quiet family atmosphere." The town council has already voted two times for the ordinance and after a third vote in July, it is expected to be put into effect in August, Benke said. He said the welcome mat is always open for people to enjoy the town but made it clear loud, disruptive noises, including public singing during quiet hours, will not be tolerated. "There are probably six or seven little restaurants in the town that stay open until 2 a.m.," he said. "People are leaving, (having) had a good time all night. Maybe they don't know they are being loud and think it's okay. But it's not." | Beach town of Sullivan's Island wants to keep things quiet .
Considering ordinance that would impose maximum fine of $500 for loud violators .
Town is north of Charleston, South Carolina .
Official says "places you can go and be loud ... Sullivan's Island is not one of them" |
30,789 | 57890e52b18f611ecb51d7f67fd580978c561f69 | (CNN) -- An elderly couple survived a bear attack in rural British Columbia, and authorities are hunting for the animal. The attack, near the southeastern city of Kimberley, apparently happened Sunday while a husband and wife were out on an afternoon walk, Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson Sgt. Laurie Jalbert said. The woman was walking in front when she encountered a brown bear and cubs who were near a dead deer. The bear turned on the woman, Jalbert said, and her husband tried to help her. The bear then turned on him and began attacking him, then turned back to her. Somehow the couple managed to fight the animal off, and it left, Jalbert said. The husband is in his 80s. The wife is in her 60s. Both were rushed to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary and remain in stable condition. Both have head wounds and bites on their arms and legs. Jalbert said authorities believe the bear was a grizzly, but the husband said he thought it might be a black bear. If a bear is determined to have attacked someone, often it is put down, Jalbert said. During this time of year in that area, bears are starting to hibernate. Because this bear has cubs, it may be out of its den longer to gather food, Jalbert said. | Couple out for walk survives bear attack near Kimberley, British Columbia .
The husband, in his 80s, tried to help his wife, in her 60s, but the bear turned on him .
Conservation authorities are looking for the bear, police say, and it may be put down . |
255,296 | d675edac4827a8a543d41d6c332f8358f83ed450 | By . Alex Gore . PUBLISHED: . 13:10 EST, 23 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:27 EST, 23 December 2012 . Unemployed Spaniards in a highly indebted commuter town in the outskirts of Madrid have been celebrating winning the top prize in El Gordo, the world's biggest lottery. The 200-year-old Christmas draw, known as The Fat One, doled out more than 2.5 billion euros (£2bn) in prizes around the country, where one in four of the workforce is jobless. There was a top individual prize of four million euros and smiles were particularly broad in Alcalá de Henares, a university town 20 miles from the capital, where some people had won a 400,000 euro share in the jackpot. Winners: Javier and his wife Silvia celebrate their lottery fortune outside an Alcala de Henares shop . Money, money, money: A group of friends toast their recession-hit town's El Gordo success . Many lived in the working-class neighbourhood and had bought tickets, known as decimos, for 20 euros. In Spain it is common for friends, relatives and colleagues to club together to buy the tickets, so the joy was spread even further. Winner Javier Hernando, a middle-aged owner . of a bar in Alcala de Henares, a working class town 20 miles northeast . of Madrid, said the prize would allow him to look at life differently, . as European authorities press countries on the periphery of the euro . zone to raise the age of retirement. Fellow winner Luis, 28, an unemployed electrician, said he would spend the money on buying a flat. Around 1,800 people around the country bought shares in top prize tickets, and more than 25 million won some sort of prize. Winning this year was particularly sweet, not just because Spain is suffering its second recession in three years, but also because 2012 is the last year winners will pay no tax on their takings. Spain's centre-right government, which has introduced austerity measures this year to shrink its public deficit, ruled that from next year those who win over 2,500 euros will pay 20 percent to the state. Celebrate: Manuel shows a photocopy of the winning number as he drives through a jubilant Alcalá de Henares . Joyous: People celebrate winning the second prize in Manises, near Valencia . The lottery, which dates back to . 1812, is an important Christmas tradition in Spain, with many families, . offices and bar regulars clubbing together to buy a full ticket for 200 . euros. Sales dipped 8 per cent this year to 2.47 billion euros compared to a 0.5 percent drop in 2011. 'It is no wonder that sales have gone . down taking into account the economic situation we are going through. We are in crisis, people are out of work and have no income,' said a . spokeswoman for the National Lottery. Those who did not win big can look . forward to the El Nino lottery on January 6, or Epiphany, when Spaniards . traditionally give presents to children. That lottery will award 840 million euros, though winners will have to pay tax. Raise a glass: Xavier Cos Valero sprays cava outside the shop where a winning ticket was bought in Barcelona . | Plenty of smiles in Alcalá de Henares where some won 400,000 euro share .
27 million people win prizes in a country where one in four are jobless . |
229,236 | b4cfc37219007171a39fd2784e2755814d41bda6 | New York (CNN)Add Wall Streeters to the list of Republican power players uneasy about the prospect of another Mitt Romney bid for the White House. The corridors of high finance were the target of intense hostility during Romney's last presidential run. President Barack Obama's campaign successfully seized on the former Massachusetts governor's time at private equity firm Bain Capital to paint a picture of an industry that destroys middle-class jobs while wealthy executives reap generous profits -- often taxed at lower rates. Financial executives remember the attacks in 2012 all too well and, faced with the possibility of another Romney campaign, are wary of another round of negative attention. "His formal entry will shine brighter light on some of the issues in the industry that people in the industry would rather not have a bright light on," said Jonathan Foster, managing director of the New York-based private equity firm Current Capital. Romney told supporters Friday he won't embark on another campaign. The Private Equity Growth Capital Council, a Washington trade group that spearheaded a campaign in 2012 to improve understanding about the industry, stood ready to beat back criticism if Romney went back on the campaign trail. PEGCC is "prepared to engage and counter any mischaracterizations and attacks from the right or the left that could undermine the reputation of the private equity industry," Ken Spain, the group's vice president of public affairs, said in an email before Romney's Friday announcement. Romney faced widespread skepticism from plenty of fellow Republicans who questioned his conservatism and ability to bond with voters. Everyone from News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch to rank-and-file GOP members of Congress threw cold water on the idea of a third Romney campaign. That would have made make finance -- where Romney spent decades of his professional life -- even more important as he sought political and financial support. In a sign of the industry's significance, Romney made one of his first significant public acknowledgments that he is seriously considering another campaign to GOP donors in New York this month. If Romney ran again, the spotlight would have again shone most brightly on the private equity sector, which acquires companies and restructures them with the end goal of turning a profit. Scott Meadow, a private equity investor who has done business with the former governor, said one of the biggest challenges in 2012 was to get the media to portray fairly the kind of work that PE does and the range of organizations, such as pension funds and endowments, the industry supports. "It really felt like it was not in the interest by the press to get out -- to really explain what the idiosyncrasies are and benefits are to private equity," Meadow said, adding that there's a prevailing sense among PE executives that it's "a waste to go forward trying to defend the industry." But there's no sign that the climate for Romney has improved since 2012. The wealth he accumulated during his years as a PE executive will still be scrutinized, as issues like income inequality and raising the minimum wage have become even more politically potent. The midterm elections in November demonstrated that private equity -- which had already become a better-known household phrase thanks to the 2012 elections -- remains a rich target for criticism. In several key statewide races across the country, politicians with PE backgrounds, including gubernatorial candidates Bruce Rauner in Illinois and Tom Foley in Connecticut, were targeted by their opponents for their work in private equity as well as their massive wealth. Rauner won his race, while Foley and other PE candidates, such as Senate hopeful Greg Orman in Kansas, were defeated. "His opponent basically trashed the hell out of him and trashed the hell out of the fact that ... companies that he invested in killed old people or something like that," said Bill Daley, Obama's former chief of staff, who served as an adviser on Rauner's transition team. "Those sort of stories are tailor-made out of the private equity industry." | Private equity could be back in the spotlight if Mitt Romney runs for president .
Industry took a beating when Romney ran in 2012 . |
23,231 | 41ebe6a83b0e69e4d1cf0a51f99aef2dc31be3ea | (CNN) -- Pure products of Hollywood, "The Hunger Games" and "John Carter" were conceived, designed, stretched and pre-tested with one purpose: to lighten billfolds while satisfying mass appetites. These two movies seemed especially intent on seizing the wavering attention spans of young people with premises deeply rooted in science-fiction -- or, as some genre lovers might prefer to call it, speculative phantasmagoria. Same goals, different results. Drastically. Different. Results. Hunger Games, in case you hadn't heard by now, has exceeded advance expectations by reaping $155 million in its first three days of nationwide release. That's the third-highest opening tally in box-office history, just beneath the $158.4 million drawn from 2008's Batman sequel, "The Dark Knight," and not too far removed from the $169.2 million made last summer by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II." Those latter two features were sequels, while "Hunger Games" is just the first installment of what will almost certainly be a trilogy of films made from Suzanne Collins' phenomenally popular trilogy of books. The stories are set in a dystopian future in which a totalitarian society forces teenagers to engage in globally televised ritual murder. This means that "Hunger Games" made the biggest, fattest opening-weekend nut of any movie that wasn't a sequel or spin-off. Meanwhile, after two weeks in the Great American Multiplex, "John Carter" continues to tumble in what many believe is a downward spiral of similarly unprecedented dimension. Disney's lavish, $250 million adaptation of the swords-on-Mars fantasy novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs brought in $5 million, increasing its overall box office to $62.3 million -- roughly half of which was made in its own opening weekend. Those using the word "epic" to classify "John Carter" now use it to describe its estimated $200 million shortfall. "John Carter," for whatever it's worth, isn't quite as dismal a movie as it is a moneymaker. Thirty, even 20 years ago, it might have been exotic enough to be taken for pop-cultural innovation. Now it comes across as a lumbering, good-natured oaf who happened to stumble into the marketplace at the wrong time. On the other hand, "The Hunger Games," with its reality-TV-on-toxic-drugs premise, is so very much "of its time" that it's tempting to think much of its imagined future has already arrived. (Do you feel a draft? I do.) Meanwhile, those who approach "John Carter" with foreknowledge of its box-office crash-and-burn might be surprised to see how charming it can be at times, especially when its eponymous Civil War veteran-turned-rhino-riding superhero (Taylor Kitsch) is adjusting his previously Earth-bound muscles to Martian gravity. In its heedlessly bombastic manner, the movie is faithful to its origins as a rip-snorting romantic fantasy much like Burroughs' far more famous stories featuring Tarzan. If the producers were more willing to let Andrew Stanton direct the movie as the garish, live-action comic strip it was meant to be, it might have connected, though not necessarily for a home run. But even the decision to call the movie "John Carter," instead of "John Carter of Mars" or even "A Princess of Mars," the actual title of Burroughs' first installment of the Carter opus, is emblematic of an over-cautiousness that dampens every sequence and set-piece. The whole movie feels worked-over, second-guessed, whipped to a thickness that hobbles the movie's momentum. It's as if "John Carter" wants you to see every single one of those aforementioned millions of dollars up on the screen. And who besides an accountant would care? The budget of "Hunger Games" is an estimated -- and, as with the movie itself, relatively modest -- $100 million. There are flashy things to see in Gary Ross' movie, from the chompers on Stanley Tucci's unctuous host to the pyrotechnic dress worn by the story's otherwise ice-cool heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). But the movie's adapters, including Suzanne Collins herself, know that the basic story elements have already worked their mojo on their target audience; even those who haven't read the books likely were drawn by curiosity. Whatever special effects were marshaled on the movie's behalf didn't seem as important as how Kat would wriggle or shoot her way out of trouble. Those wishing "Hunger Games" had more tragic dimension or made its audience more explicitly feel the sting of its carnage have a point. But the movie wasn't made for them. It was made for the millions of young readers who, for whatever reason, share Kat's smoldering resentment of the status quo. I'd like to think that as these young adults of all ages buy their tickets to this speculative phantasmagoria, they retain some suspicion, however vague, that the hype masters who made them flock to the multiplexes on cue over the weekend exert a not-altogether-benign influence over their lives. If that's so, and I'm not really all that hopeful, it may become harder over time to hurl big, bloated carnivals at them to lighten their wallets. Even if they're good-natured, slovenly lugs like "John Carter." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gene Seymour. | Gene Seymour: "Hunger Games," "John Carter" exist to make money, appeal to masses .
But "Hunger's" returns went through the roof, he writes, "Carter's" fell through the floor .
Wildly expensive "Carter" seems old, he says, while "Hunger Games" is of the moment .
Seymour hopes young audiences are aware of Hollywood's hype manipulation . |
56,541 | a03c07498dff5888e93024e62782ee13bb33c8f0 | With its amiable discussions on greenfly and compost, it may seem as innocuous as a radio show could be. So regular listeners to Gardeners’ Question Time will be surprised to find it caught up in a race row. For an academic claims that Radio 4’s long-running programme is spreading covert racist stereotypes disguised as horticultural advice. The panel from BBC Radio 4's Question Time, which has been criticised as being full of racial language . Dr Ben Pitcher, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Westminster, says the panel show is ‘saturated’ with racial language. From debates about native and non-native plant species to advice about the purity of different soil types, the programme’s resident green-fingered experts are secretly feeding nationalist and fascist fantasies, he claims. Speaking on another Radio 4 programme, Thinking Allowed, he said: ‘Gardeners’ Question Time is not the most controversial show on Radio 4, and yet it is layered with, saturated with, racial meanings. The context here is the rise of nationalism. The rise of racist and fascist parties across Europe. Nationalism is about shoring up a fantasy of national integrity. My question is, what feeds nationalism? What makes nationalism powerful?’ Dr Pitcher said there is a ‘crisis in white identity in multicultural Britain’ caused by the fact that ‘white culture’ is historically associated with racism and far-Right views. White people are therefore forced to find other ways of talking about white identity – such as through gardening – so they do not appear to be racist. Speaking on the same programme, Lola Young, a crossbench peer and former professor of cultural studies, agreed with Dr Pitcher’s argument. She added: ‘I remember back in the late 80s-early 90s when rhododendrons were seen as this huge problem, and people were talking about going out rhododendron-bashing. Dr Ben Pitcher said he believes the programme is saturated with racial language . ‘That was at a time when Paki-bashing was something that was all too prevalent on our streets. This kind of slippage of language into alien and native is a thread in our language.’ It is not the first time Gardeners’ Question Time has been embroiled in a race row. In 2008, listeners complained after a plant known as a ‘black man’s willy’ was mentioned. The BBC was accused of ‘pandering to political correctness’ after it apologised. Last night horticulturalist Stefan Buczacki, who was on the programme for 13 years, said Dr Pitcher’s claims were ‘utterly absurd’. ‘Many things have been said about Gardeners’ Question Time, but you can’t say it is racist,’ he said. ‘His comments show a complete lack of understanding of the natural world. ‘Gardeners understand the fluidity of species over space and time. ‘They come and go, and adapt to different environments. That is what we mean by native and non-native species. It has nothing whatsoever to do with nationalism or racism. ‘There is enough real racism in the world without looking for it in places it doesn’t exist.’ A BBC spokesman said: ‘The passing mention of Gardeners’ Question Time was part of a broader discussion about language and race... the comment simply reflected the programme’s use of accepted gardening and horticultural terminology.’ NATIVE VERSUS NON-NATIVE SPECIES: The show’s experts often warn gardeners of the dangers of introducing foreign species of plant to a garden, and the importance of weed control. But is this actually a racist code? SOIL: According to Dr Pitcher, nationalists often use the metaphor of soil to discuss ethnic purity. Are the Gardeners’ Question Time discussions about compost and soil types as innocent as they seem? RHODOCHITON VOLUBILIS: A 2008 episode outraged some viewers when a caller asked for advice on how to care for the perennial climber, commonly known as ‘black man’s willy’. SPADE: To most gardeners, it is no more than a simple garden implement. But in America, the word has long been a derogatory term for African Americans, equivalent to n*****. BLACKFLY: Listeners often call in asking how to rid their broad beans of the pesky black bean aphid, commonly known as blackfly. But is there a secret racist subtext? | Dr Ben Pitcher claims BBC Radio 4 programme is saturated in racism .
Sociology lecturer says its spreading covert racist stereotypes in disguise .
Believes the show is secretly feeding nationalist and fascist fantasies .
Appeared on another Radio 4 programme 'Thinking Allowed' on July 30 . |
31,857 | 5aaaeba24f90629218c4c2f3c61cc99376c87b46 | Arsenal star Mesut Ozil was a surprise guest at world famous DJ Steve Aoki’s set and even helped drop a cake onto fans . The midfielder is currently on holiday in Las Vegas on a prolonged pre-season break after winning the World Cup with Germany this summer. The Gunners star joined Aoki standing above the crowd on stage in front of a massive crowd before the DJ and Ozil pranked the public, launching a huge cake on their heads. VIDEO Scroll down for Germany celebrates World Cup victory with on stage stunt . Party time: Arsenal star Mesut Ozil enjoys heading on stage at a gig in Las Vegas with DJ Steve Aoki (left) Ozil experienced a mixed first season at Arsenal in the Premier League, scoring five goals and notching up nine assists but failed to live up to his hype on a consistent basis after his £42.5 million move from Real Madrid last summer. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has granted Ozil and his fellow Arsenal World Cup winners with Germany, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski a well-deserved break after helping Germany to success in Brazil. The trio will not return to pre-season training at Arsenal until August 11, the day after the Community Shield clash versus Manchester City and just five days prior to the first Premier League match against Tony Pulis' Crystal Palace side. Fancy some cake? Ozil and Aoki launch a cake into the crowd off the stage during the gig in Las Vegas . Jump around: Ozil gets into the party mood with DJ Aoki as he enjoys a break after winning the World Cup . World champion: Ozil (far right) celebrates as part of Germany's World Cup winning side in Brazil . | Arsenal star on holiday in Las Vegas before returning to London .
Joined DJ Steve Aoki on set and threw a cake off the stage onto the fans .
Won World Cup with Germany and the FA Cup with Arsenal this summer . |
217,452 | a58715cf75ccedf208f2f1783f8486eae7749073 | A Pakistani teenager awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote girls' education brought her passion for learning to Philadelphia, where she received the Liberty Medal on Tuesday. In accepting the honor, Malala Yousafzai implored world leaders to spend money on supporting learning, not wars, and to solve their differences with words. 'Education is the best weapon against poverty, ignorance and terrorism,' she said. Scroll down for video . Malala Yousafzai holds up her Liberty Medal during a ceremony at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, in Philadelphia . Many honors: Yousafzai, 17, recently became the world's youngest Nobel laureate. Organizers of the Liberty Medal ceremony didn't know that would be the case when they decided months ago to honor her . Yousafzai, 17, recently became the world's youngest Nobel laureate. Organizers of the Liberty Medal ceremony didn't know that would be the case when they decided months ago to honor her. But the coincidence might have been expected: She has become the seventh medal recipient to subsequently receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The medal is given annually at the National Constitution Center to someone who strives to secure freedom for people around the world. Tuesday's ceremony included speeches from women with powerful stories about education, including Minnijean Brown Trickey, who helped integrate an Arkansas high school in 1957, and University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann, a first-generation college student who rose to lead an Ivy League school. Gutmann, also a board member of the Constitution Center, praised Yousafzai for her 'compelling vision and immense courage.' 'An educated mind is the most powerful force for good on our planet,' Gutmann said. Huge honor: Malala Yousafzai puts on her Liberty Medal. She is the seventh winner who's also been named the year's Nobel laureate . In awe: Little League pitcher Mo'ne Davis reads a selection of Malala Yousafzai's blog as the Pakistani teen becomes the recipient of the Liberty Medal during a ceremony at the National Constitution Center . The medal is given annually at the National Constitution Center to someone who strives to secure freedom for people around the world. Yousafzai began her activism six years ago by using an alias to write for the BBC about living under Taliban rule. In 2012, a Taliban gunman shot her in the head while she was returning from school because of her vocal support for gender equality and education for girls. She ended up being treated for her injury in Britain, where she recovered and now lives with her family. She attends a high school for girls but continues activism on those issues through speaking engagements, a best-selling book and a nonprofit organization called the Malala Fund. Yousafzai said Tuesday that when the Taliban went to Pakistan's Swat Valley, where she lived with her family, she had two options: not speak and wait to be killed or speak and then be killed. 'Why should I not speak?' she said. 'It is our duty.' Modest: Malala Yousafzai waves as she arrives on stage before receiving the Liberty Medal . Among giants: Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown Trickey speaks during the Liberty Medal ceremony . She said the Taliban 'made a big mistake' trying to silence her. The day she was shot, she said, 'Weakness, fear and hopelessness died, and strength, power and courage were born.' Her appearance in Philadelphia came less than two weeks after she became the youngest Nobel laureate, sharing the prize with Kailash Satyarthi, a children's rights activist from India. The Liberty Medal comes with a $100,000 award, which Yousafzai said she'll spend in Pakistan on children who need education and other support. Previous recipients of the Liberty Medal who went on to win the Peace Prize include former South African President Nelson Mandela, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former President Jimmy Carter. The National Constitution Center is dedicated to increasing public understanding of the Constitution and the ideas and values it represents. | The medal is given annually at the National Constitution Center to someone who strives to secure freedom for people around the world .
On Tuesday, Malala Yousafzai asked world leaders to spend money on supporting learning, not wars, and to solve their differences with words .
In 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala in the head because of her vocal support for gender equality and education for girls .
Malala became the seventh Liberty Medal recipient to also receive the Nobel . |
130,022 | 3416a41d1dd7c320f9215b3279e936b3ca7c9660 | (CNN) -- All sides involved in the controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells in research claimed vindication Tuesday after two teams of researchers reported having reprogrammed human skin cells to act like the stem cells, which have the potential of morphing into other cells and thereby curing disease. President Bush has twice vetoed bills that would have eased limits on funding for embryonic stem cell research. People who believe that life begins at conception liken the destruction of the embryonic stem cells to killing and therefore oppose their use in research. The new research, they said, shows that alternatives are available. "By avoiding techniques that destroy life, while vigorously supporting alternative approaches, President Bush is encouraging scientific advancement within ethical boundaries," the White House said Tuesday in a written statement on the new research. Bush has twice vetoed bills that would have eased restrictions on the use of federal funds for research involving embryonic stem cells. Watch Bush state why he opposes the use of stem cells . In August 2001, he limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to lines that had already been created. But some researchers say those cells are not useful. "The president believes medical problems can be solved without compromising either the high aims of science or the sanctity of human life," the White House statement said. "We will continue to encourage scientists to expand the frontiers of stem cell research and continue to advance the understanding of human biology in an ethically responsible way." Watch a Harvard expert talk about what's next in stem cell research » . "This breakthrough provides further evidence that the most promising avenues of stem cell research are also the most ethical," concurred Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, a physician. "Politicians should note that the scientific community is moving rapidly without the assistance of laws requiring the taxpayer-funded destruction of human life." He added, "This breakthrough helps vindicate President Bush's policy and his vetoes of Congress' short-sighted and outdated approach to stem cell research. History will note the wisdom of President Bush's refusal to set a dangerous precedent that could not be easily undone." And Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said he believes "that the current stem cell policy has been very important in driving the discovery of ethical and successful ways for scientists to find treatments and cures. "What has too often been missing from this important debate is a simple fact of modern science: Encouraging medical research and protecting the sanctity of life are not mutually exclusive goals." The methods described in the papers about the new research "should continue to be pursued and strongly promoted, as they should help to steer the entire field of stem cell research in a more explicitly ethical direction by circumventing the moral quagmire associated with destroying human embryos," said the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a posting on its Web site. But those views were not shared by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who has pushed for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and said he will continue to do so. "Our top researchers recognize that this new development does not mean that we should discontinue studying embryonic stem cells," he said in a written statement. "Scientists may yet find that embryonic stem cells are more powerful. We need to continue to pursue all alternatives as we search for treatments for diabetes, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries." He added that Tuesday's announcement "reiterates the need for federal support for medical research and again points out the president's misplaced priorities in vetoing the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill which included a substantial increase for the National Institutes of Health." A lead author of one of the landmark studies, James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, urged that reprogrammed cells not wholly supplant embryonic stem cells in research. "I don't like the idea of pulling the plug," he told reporters in a conference call. He added that Tuesday's advances in reprogramming cells would not have been possible without the advancements in embryonic stem cell research over the past decade. E-mail to a friend . | Teams report reprogramming human skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells .
Bush: advance is "within ethical boundaries"
Harkin: "We need to continue to pursue all alternatives" |
123,279 | 2b5deac99c3e8d33e676ea1645e642dbb4e5327a | By . David Martosko In Washington . PUBLISHED: . 12:46 EST, 13 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:26 EST, 13 May 2013 . 'It is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people¿s confidence under the current leadership,' Rubio wrote to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew . Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio demanded the resignation of acting IRS commissioner Steven T. Miller on Monday, as President Barack Obama seemed to apologize for the tax agency's targeting of Tea Party organizations and other right-wing groups for special scrutiny before granting them tax-exempt nonprofit status. Americans, Obama said, are 'properly concerned' about what, if true, would be 'outrageous' IRS conduct, and said the bureaucrats responsible would be 'held accountable.' 'You don't want the IRS ever being perceived to be biased, and anything less than neutral, in terms of how they operate,' Obama said during a White House press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron. 'I've got no patience with it, I will not tolerate it, and we will make sure we find out exactly what happened on this,' he told reporters. In a letter to Treasury Secretary . Jack Lew, however, Rubio upped the ante and raised the possibility of . criminal charges being brought against IRS personnel who probed tea . party groups that applied for the right to promise tax deductions to . their financial contributors, or for the right to lobby on a not-for-profit basis. 'The . American people deserve answers about how such seemingly . unconstitutional and potentially criminal behavior could occur, and who . else was aware of it throughout the Administration,' Rubio wrote. 'If . investigations reveal that bureaucrats or political appointees engaged . in unconstitutional or criminal targeting of conservative taxpayers, . they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Scroll down for video . Obama was faced with questions about the performance of his administration's IRS on Monday, allowing that targeting groups for their political views was 'outrageous' Rubio wants a scalp from Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller (L). A source told MailOnline that Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations for the IRS, is under investigation. Alan P. Dye, an attorney in . Washington, D.C. who represents nonprofit clients in tax proceedings . with the IRS, told MailOnline that at least six of his clients have been . caught in a 'ridiculous' situation that has delayed their applications . for as long as 30 months. 'They're very pissed off,' he said, 'and they have every right to be pissed off.' Dye, a partner with the firm of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean and a member of the Committee on Exempt Organizations of the Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association, called the situation 'clearly more than just bureaucratic idiocy.' 'Someone made a decision that certain groups should be subject to special scrutiny because of their political views,' Dye alleged, 'The IRS actually has a manual that they are supposed to follow, that says you can't do this.' Dye was referring to questions his clients received from the IRS, after they filed applications for tax exempt status, which demanded the names and contributions amounts of all their financial donors. 'Congress has already decided, in the Internal Revenue Code, that donors shouldn't be disclosed to anyone except for the IRS,' he told MailOnline, 'but everything these groups tell the IRS is open to public inspection once their exempt status is granted.' Tea party protesters demonstrated in 2012 against the US Supreme Court's ruling upholding the constitutionality of Obamacare. Dozens of individual organizations have complained that the IRS treated them differently from liberal or politically neutral groups . Hundreds of small protests, like this one involving The Tea Party Immigration Coalition, have cropped up in 2013 in opposition to the president's immigration reform package - a topic on which Rubio has himself been an approving leader in the Senate . 'With respect to donors, they should . never ask that question. When they ask me for that information, I tell . them they're not getting it. The donors have a right to privacy.' 'Regardless of who's in the White House,' he added, 'I find it personally offensive that anyone in the IRS would do this.' Granting or rejecting tax-exempt status to a nonprofit group should take no more than nine months, Dye said. When the IRS discovered in June 2011 that it was applying a special standard to right-wing groups, he explained, the agency failed to address problems with applications that were already in process. That has left some groups waiting for more than two years. Rubio wrote to Lew that those in the IRS who targeted conservative organizations 'have committed a violation of the public trust that has already had a profoundly chilling effect on free speech. Such behavior cannot be excused with a simple apology.' A Treasury Department source with knowledge of internal matters at the IRS told MailOnline that Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, is under investigation by the agency's Office of Inspector General. Dye called Lerner 'a relatively low-level person.' She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Washington, D.C. nonprofit attorney Alan P. Dye (L) said his tea party clients are 'pissed off' at the IRS for making tax decisions according to politics, not by the law . Rubio's spokesman said the senator was traveling and did not have an immediate respond to a questions about whether the senator would accept Lerner's resignation as a sufficient government response to the scandal, which first broke Friday. ABC News has published online a draft timeline that the Office of Inspector General released to selected media outlets. It shows that the IRS began targeting conservative groups for a special level of investigative scrutiny in early 2010. Tea party organizations played a major role in the 2010 midterm congressional elections, turning the tide of dozens of House races and a few Senate contests toward Republicans, and assisting the GOP with ousting Democratic then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in favor of Ohio Republican John Boehner. Yet Obama said Monday that 'if, in fact, IRS personnel engaged in the kind of practices that had been reported on and were intentionally targeting conservative groups, then that's outrageous and there's no place for it.' 'And they have to be held fully accountable,' the president added, 'because the IRS as an independent agency requires absolute integrity.' 'And you should feel that way regardless of party. I don't care whether you're a Democrat, independent or a Republican. At some point, there are going to be Republican administrations. At some point, there are going to be Democratic ones. Either way, you don't want the IRS ever being perceived to be biased and anything less than neutral in terms of how they operate.' | Lawyer on his tea party clients: 'They're very pissed off,' he said, 'and they have every right to be pissed off.'
Rubio complains to treasury secretary about 'seemingly unconstitutional and potentially criminal behavior'
Obama: Tax bureaucrats 'have to be held fully accountable, because the IRS as an independent agency requires absolute integrity' |
166,233 | 62f279bf00bcd86bf044e14ca66197eee0f3683b | By . Martha De Lacey . The lights are up, the tree is sparkling, carols are being sung, mince pies baked and it's finally December: the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. But despite all the festive giddiness, some men won't be prioritising gift-buying, with one in five leaving their seasonal shopping until Christmas Eve, and ten per cent not even bothering to buy their partner a gift at all. Furthermore, an impersonal fifth of men simply give cash to their beloved come 25 December. Ten per cent of men give their partner nothing on 25 December... and one fifth give cash instead of a thoughtful gift . Some 40 per cent of men admit they buy their other half their gift while they're out shopping together, while on in five leave all their gift-gathering until Christmas Eve . More than half of UK's men start . thinking about their Christmas shopping today, according to research, yet only four per cent have bought their . gifts. One third of men blame being disorganised (35 per cent) as being the reason . for the last minute panic buys. A further 10 per cent admit they will . deliberately leave their gift-buying until post-Christmas to bag a . bargain in the sale. Almost half the nation's women (40 per cent) admit they would be genuinely upset if their loved-one got them a Christmas present they didn't want . And a further 40 per cent admit they buy their other half their gift while they're out shopping together, according to research from buyagift.com, who polled 2000 adults on their Christmas shopping habits. Research also showed us to have a lack of trust in our partners when it comes to presents, with a third of the nation saying they have no faith in their partners gifting abilities whatsoever. This doesn't bode well with keeping the peace over the festive break: nearly half the nation's women (40 per cent) admit they would be genuinely upset if their loved-one got them a Christmas present they didn't want. Dan Mountain, CEO of buyagift.com, said: 'There is a lot to organise at Christmas and it can be a busy and stressful time of year, but that's no excuse to be a scrooge this December. 'Though it looks like the nation's men are letting the side down, many of us have no faith in our other half's gifting abilities. | One in five men leave festive shopping until Christmas Eve .
A third of men blame being disorganised in not getting shopping done .
Perfume, CDs/DVDs and wine are most popular gifts from men to women . |
207,864 | 991e899edfc4daa43262f1d84d356253d1b4bd59 | Alan Hansen is set to appear on Strictly Come Dancing, according to The Sun on Sunday. The Match of the Day pundit, who will retire after the World Cup, is said to be in talks with the BBC over an appearance on of their most popular shows, which resumes this autumn. A Sun source said: ‘The feeling is that a deal can be done. Strictly: The Sun on Sunday report that Alan Hansen could be set to take part in Strictly Come Dancing . Goodbye: Hansen has announced that he will be leaving Match of the Day after the World Cup . ‘He would be a brilliant signing for Strictly. The fact that he is known for his forthright views is a bonus.’ A Liverpool legend and former Scotland international, Hansen has worked on Match of the Day since 1992, having retired from playing in 1991. He would join a long list of sporting stars to have appeared on Strictly, including former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and ex-Wales international midfielder Robbie Savage. Cricket: Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has already appeared on the show . MOTD: Fellow Match of the Day presenter Robbie Savage has also appeared on the show . | Match of the Day pundit is set to leave the show after the World Cup .
Hansen has worked on Match of the Day since 1992 .
Fellow BBC pundit Robbie Savage has already appeared on the show . |
121,823 | 29780f1c8ba3c4d1a9db53685b35cf501e4e87c0 | For any Premier League club looking to rebuild on the cheap this summer, there are a few bargains to be had. Not every close-season addition must come at club-record expense or be prised from a rival. The advent of the Bosman ruling has seen the market flooded with free agents in recent years, the temptation to bring in a new face at no cost proving an attractive proposition for would-be suitors. This summer is no different. Here, Sportsmail runs you through our free-transfer XI (formation: 4-3-3). Free trade: Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole could both be up for grabs this summer . Goalkeeper: Brad Friedel (Spurs) He’s getting on – he’ll turn 43 on Sunday – but there are a few saves left in the American’s glovebag yet. Until the arrival of Hugo Lloris at White Hart Lane in 2012, he had played every minute of the previous eight Premier League seasons. He only made six starts in all competitions this time around but would still make an able deputy for a top-flight club in need of an experienced head and reliable pair of hands. Right back: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) Named in France’s provisional World Cup squad, Sagna will be one of the most sought-after frees this summer. Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all circling and the absence of a transfer fee should see his £100,000-per-week wage demands satisfied. Something for nothing: North London rivals Brad Friedel and Bacary Sagna are out of contract this summer . Centre back: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) Unceremoniously dumped after 12 years at Old Trafford, he will have no shortage of admirers over the coming months. Former United defender Steve Bruce, now in charge of Hull, has already hinted that Ferdinand’s number is on speed-dial and the 35-year-old will want a starting role having been a spectator for much of United’s calamitous campaign. Centre back: Joleon Lescott (Manchester City) Just five years ago Lescott was a £22m England player on his way to the Etihad as City’s rapid rebuild gathered pace. Two Premier League winner's medals later and he is heading for the exit door having made eight appearances this season. Lescott is still just 31 and, given he satisfies the homegrown quota, could well attract interest from a top-six club. United: Manchester defensive pair Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott have been released . Left back: Ashley Cole (Chelsea) Snubbed by England, Cole will not feel so unwanted when the scramble for his signature begins. He is perhaps the prize pick of all the players up for grabs this summer and there is an argument to say he remains one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. Left midfield: Patrice Evra (Manchester United) After eight seasons at Old Trafford - and five Premier League titles - Evra will be moving on this summer. He's still good enough to warrant a place in the France squad and, given his 33 league outings for United this season, there are still plenty of miles in the tank. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him back in the Champions League next year. Available: Left backs Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra (who is in our midfield) will have no shortage of suitors . Central midfield: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) The 35-year-old is the only member of England’s World Cup squad who could leave on a free during the close-season and, were he to serve a reminder of his talent at the finals, it could well trigger a race for his services. He appeared 26 times for Chelsea in the league this season – scoring six times – and would remain a dependable presence at the heart of any midfield. Right midfield: Joe Cole (West Ham) His return to West Ham has not, it is fair to reflect, been a success. Nonetheless, there will no doubt be one top-flight club willing to take a punt on the former England forward. In it together: Ex-West Ham, Chelsea and England stars Frank Lampard and Joe Cole face uncertain futures . Striker: Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) He may have scored just three goals this season but Ameobi will be an attractive proposition for promoted clubs in the market for an experienced target man. He has made north of 23 league appearances in each of the last four campaigns and, should he shine at the World Cup with Nigeria, will not be short of interested parties. Striker: Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal) After nine years in North London – and not a single trophy - the Dane will finally bid a not-so-fond farewell to the Gunners. He will no doubt talk of a transfer tussle between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the likelihood is that a mid-table Premier League club could be the setting for his rehabilitation. Forward thinking: Shola Ameobi and Nicklas Bendtner could attract interest from Premier League newcomers . Striker: Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea) Nine goals from 16 league starts is a fair return but, it appears, not fair enough for Jose Mourinho. The Cameroon striker will be released this summer and the lure of his name – not to mention his goal threat – should be enough to persuade one top-flight admirer to meet his wage demands. On target: Samuel Eto'o scored nine league goals for Chelsea this season . | Out-of-contract stars set to spark transfer tussle this summer .
Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna also among big names available on a free .
Joe Cole and Joleon Lescott will cost nothing .
Champions League winners and England stars on the list . |
59,492 | a8ea1ee341310e7f9f6e172b1234294195370550 | By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 12:18 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:40 EST, 8 January 2014 . George Osborne has slapped down Vince Cable over his warning that house price rises mean Britain risks ‘repeating the mistakes of Gordon Brown’. The Chancellor dismissed the Business Secretary's criticisms and told the Cabinet that while the property market is rebounding ‘relatively quickly’ in London, there is little evidence of rapid increases elsewhere. Mr Osborne insisted ministers should be . reassuring voters that the coalition’s reforms mean that the Bank of . England has taken back responsibility to step in and deflate any . unsustainable house price bubble. Chancellor George Osborne, pictured in Downing Street today, has grown increasingly frustrated with outbursts from Business Secretary Vince Cable . Senior Liberal Democrats claim that . the Chancellor is prepared to see the housing market overheat in the . run-up to the 2015 general election, boosting economic confidence and . increasing the chances of a Conservative election victory. But . Government sources told MailOnline that Mr Osborne dismissed Mr Cable’s . warnings at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. ‘In London prices are going up . relatively rapidly but in many parts of the country that’s simply not . the case,’ said one. ‘The Bank of England now has responsibility to look at house prices and intervene if it thinks it necessary.’ Another . source said: ‘Of course the Government has to be vigilant about any . kind of imbalance, not just in terms of housing. That’s what we have . reformed financial regulation in the way that we have. ‘Vince . and others should be out there making a virtue of the fact that we are . the Government that has given the Bank that power.’ Tougher affordability checks are coming into force following a review of the mortgage market by the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority. This will mean banks and building societies being required to do new ‘stress tests’ on borrowers to ensure they will still be able to afford their loans if interest rates go up. Mr Cable has spent the day at the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing at the University of Strathclyde . Figures show that house prices last month experienced their biggest monthly rise for more than four years. The . average cost of a home rose by 8.4 per cent last year, according to the . Nationwide building society. Despite the rises, the average cost of a . home, at £175,826, is still five per cent below its pre-financial crisis . peak in 2007. UK house . prices are set to rise by as much as a further eight per cent in 2014, . according to the most optimistic forecasts by economists and property . professionals. Last week Mr . Cable, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, opened up another split . in the coalition as he described house price increases as a ‘worrying’ development that could threaten the economy. ‘The . Government has done really good work turning the economy around: we . can’t now risk it being derailed by a housing bubble repeating the . mistakes of Gordon Brown,’ Mr Cable said. Under Mr Osborne’s changes to Labour’s failed regulatory system, the Bank also has the power to rein in schemes such as Help to Buy and to demand that lenders limit mortgage borrowing. It has already scaled back the mortgage element of the Funding for Lending scheme, offering cheap credit, to focus on business lending. The Bank has held rates at a record low of 0.5 per cent since 2009 and flooded billions into the financial system to keep borrowing costs down. With the economy now recovering, there is increasing speculation about when the Bank will start raising rates, with most expecting the first small increase next year. | Chancellor says ministers should reassure voters about property market .
Business Secretary Vince Cable warned of 'risks' of rising prices .
Osborne tells Cabinet there is little evidence of steep rises outside London .
Help to Buy scheme allows people to purchase home with 5% deposit . |
159,239 | 59d5bdd2b37b23707b72bfcbe66052e3763b0ad4 | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 6 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:30 EST, 6 April 2012 . Attack: Christina Reber, 43, is accused of grabbing hold of her former partner's scrotum . A man had his scrotum torn ‘by his on-off girlfriend’ during a row in his home, it was revealed today. Christina Reber, 43, marched into her former partner’s home and grabbed hold of his genitalia and squeezed ‘as hard as she could’, it has been claimed. The victim, 57, was left with a long and wide tear to his scrotum following the attack in Muncie, Indiana. The man had ended their eight-month relationship just days before she allegedly carried out the attack, The Smoking Gun reported. Reber, 43, was arrested on suspicion of several offences following the incident last Friday. She was released from prison yesterday after providing a $10,000 bond. She has been charged with two felonies - aggravated battery and illegally entering the property. She is also accused of domestic battery. The traumatised victim has such bad swelling he is unable to walk and has been off work. A police report said the wound is still bleeding – and doctors still do not know whether he will be permanently wounded. According to a police report, Reber walked into the victim’s property unannounced and yelled at him to ‘call the f****** police’ before she attacked him. Wounded: The victim, 57, was rushed to the nearby Ball Memorial Hospital in Indiana. He has been left unable to walk or work following the attack . The report by officer Nick Ramsey said: '(The victim) stated that after he grabbed Reber he felt her grab his scortum and begin squeezing as hard as she could. '(He) stated that he was in incredible pain when Reber grabbed his scrotum and began digging in her fingers. '(He) stated that Reber refused to let go of his scrotum and that both of them fell to the ground.' It added that he was covered in blood - and part of his scrotum had been completely torn from his body. The man was rushed to the nearby Ball Memorial Hospital following the attack. Reber will appear in court on April 30. | Victim left unable to walk - and may be left permanently wounded .
Christina Reber, 43, who had been dating man, 57, for eight months, accused of carrying out the attack . |
229,807 | b59a759d0842c362122e3a9df2b2e4dcf93da0a6 | Prince Charles is famous for his love of plants but it seems the Queen loves flowers just as much as her eldest son. According to Alan Titchmarsh, the monarch adores her garden so much, she has a weekly posy cut and delivered to her on Monday mornings when she returns to Buckingham Palace from Windsor. The half-dozen blooms are taken from the palace gardens and are a gift from her gardeners, who like to show off the latest fruits of their labours. Keen gardener: The Queen, seen here with the Duke of Edinburgh, is a keen gardener . Weekly gift: The Queen is handed a posy by her gardeners every week so she can see what is in season . 'She has a little posy cut for her every Monday, which is placed on her desk when she gets back from Windsor,' said Titchmarsh. 'It will typically have six or seven different types of flowers from the garden to give her a little snapshot of what's looking good at that time.' Currently, that means honeysuckle, winter jasmine and blueberries, although the selection changes depending on the season. Titchmarsh made the revelations during an interview with the Radio Times to promote The Queen's Garden, a documentary about the Buckingham Palace grounds which is due to be screened on Christmas Day. The veteran gardener was given unfettered access to the Palace gardens for a year and was allowed to place cameras in trees in order to chart its progress through the year. The result is a rare snapshot of the Queen's 40-acre private gardens in all their glory - complete with 35 types of mulberry and a rare white helleborine orchid. Insider: Alan Titchmarsh is behind a new documentary that explores the Buckingham Palace grounds . Sprawling: The Buckingham Palace gardens cover 40 acres and are home to 35 species of mulberry bush . Also captured on the motion sensing cameras is the local wildlife, among them foxes and hedgehogs, although the monarch hardly features at all. That, explains Titchmarsh, is because the royal gardeners are enormously protective of their employer. 'The gardeners are quite cagey [about] talking about what the Queen likes,' he says. 'But what becomes quite evident is she loves what we would call English cottage garden flowers - unostentatious flowers, not things that are too exotic.' Not, however, that the Queen is shy of making her feelings on planting clear. 'If it's a quick replanting of a bed, they wouldn't bother her much with that,' says Tichmarsh. 'But she is very much involved with major changes. 'The summer garden parties were always in July but now they have been moved earlier to June, that means adjusting the planting scheme to make the borders brighter earlier. 'She would be consulted about that sort of thing.' Wildlife: Along with foxes and hedgehogs, Buckingham Palace is also home to several hives of honeybees . Public: The beautiful gardens are opened to a select group of guests each June . | The Queen adores gardening and takes a keen interest in Palace gardens .
Is presented with a weekly posy containing the best of what's in season .
Adores English country garden flowers according to Palace gardeners .
Buckingham Palace gardens to feature in new Christmas documentary .
Read the full interview in this week's Radio Times, out now. The Queen's Garden will be screened at 3.10pm, Christmas Day on ITV . |
210,987 | 9d4012527a58ce6e50b1920bac91718a84e49599 | By . Chris Hastings . They went head-to-head for viewers with Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey and now the BBC and ITV are at it again – with two new, almost identical period dramas. But this time, after being trounced by ITV in the battle of Upstairs v Downton, the BBC is determined to get a head start on its rival. It is racing to complete a new drama, The Paradise, a lavish saga set in a 19th Century department store, hoping to get it on screen before ITV’s latest big production called Mr Selfridge, which tells the story of the American tycoon who founded the famous London store. Head to head: Denise (Joanna Vanderham) in BBC's The Paradise (left) and Jeremy Piven star of ITV's Mr Selfridge (right) Both dramas will cover similar ground and the BBC is keen to ensure its new eight-part show does not suffer the same fate as the revival of Upstairs Downstairs, which bombed in the ratings because Downton, ITV’s master-and-servant saga, was screened first. A BBC source said: ‘We have a very similar situation as we did with Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey and the idea is to get our new show out first.’ Both dramas will have their fair share of steamy love interest – The Paradise is based on Emile Zola’s classic 1883 novel Au Bonheur Des Dames (The Ladies’ Delight), which charted the lives and loves of staff in a fictional Parisian department store. The show’s writer, Bill Gallagher, who wrote Lark Rise To Candleford, has relocated the action from Paris to the North East. John Moray, played by Emun Elliot, in The Paradise which is based on Emile Zola's classic 1883 novel Au Bonheur Des Dames (The Ladies' Delight) Mr Selfridge is based on the book Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge, by Lindy Woodhead – and its screenwriter is Andrew Davies, whose previous TV hits include lusty productions of Pride And Prejudice and Sense And Sensibility, and the sexually explicit Tipping The Velvet. The BBC has invested millions in its new drama, hoping to deliver huge audiences by offering a heady mix of sexual intrigue, class struggle and shopping. Producer Simon Lewis said last night: ‘The Paradise is about relationships and it is about love affairs – in fact we have a lot of love affairs.’ Miss Audrey (Sarah Lancashire) in The Paradise . The series chronicles the love . triangle made up of handsome store owner John Moray, played by Game Of . Thrones star Emun Elliott, wealthy banker’s daughter Katherine . Glendenning, played by Elaine Cassidy, and Denise Lovett, a newly . arrived and very ambitious shop girl played by Joanna Vanderham. Moray is all set to marry Glendenning until Lovett enters his life and turns his world upside down. The series will also examine The Paradise’s devastating impact on smaller shops and businesses in the area. Characters include the embittered small store owner Edmund Lovett – the uncle of shop girl Denise – played by Peter Wight, who resents the success of the newly opened department store and spends most of his time plotting its demise. Writer Mr Gallagher said: ‘Here comes this brash new department store and there is a little old guy who has got the store across the street. He is desperately trying to cling on and survive and will not accept that his kind of working is doomed.’ Another key character is Miss Audrey, the formidable but lonely head of ladieswear, who is played by former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire. The Paradise is being filmed in the Durham area, where the BBC has built elaborate sets including a mock-up of a street complete with period shop fronts. BBC bosses plan to run a trailer for . the show next Saturday at 8pm during the Olympic coverage and are . believed to be planning a 9pm Sunday night slot for the show. They could . broadcast it as early as next January to ensure it starts several weeks . before the new ITV show. Street scene: Jeremy Piven filming the new ITV drama Mr Selfridge in London . Mr Selfridge will star Jeremy Piven, last seen in the American drama Entourage, who will play the charismatic Harry Gordon Selfridge, the man who is said to have turned shopping into a pleasure rather than a necessity. Co-stars include Katherine Kelly, who played Becky McDonald in Coronation Street, as the alluring socialite Lady Mae. Selfridge’s life was as colourful as anything found in the pages of a novel. Following the death of his wife in 1918, he enjoyed liaisons with a string of high-society figures including twin sisters Roszika and Janszieka Deutsch, better known as Vaudeville act The Dolly Sisters, and interior decorator Syrie Maugham. He enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, and by the time he died in 1947 he had squandered his fortune. | BBC's The Paradise is set in a 19th century department store .
ITV's Mr Selfridge tells the story of the American tycoon who founded the famous London shop . |
24,868 | 4676607bd345c7e7c73f190c456c6dd2010db3ba | Five-year-old brain cancer patient Ashya King has been filmed on an outing to the park in a touching family video posted online by his brother today. The little boy can be seen smiling as he is gently lifted out of his pushchair in the Prague playground by his older brother Naveed, who then sits with him on a rocking toy while carefully supporting his head. The footage, uploaded by Naveed, 20, then shows him playing with a giggling Ashya on a toy digger - much to the little boy's delight. It is apparently the first time that the seriously ill boy has been able to go to the park with his family since he started being treated in the Czech Republic. Five-year-old brain cancer patient Ashya King has been filmed on an outing to the park in a touching family video posted by his brother . The little boy can be seen smiling as he is gently lifted out of his pushchair in the Prague playground by his older brother Naveed . It comes after he was pictured at a pizza restaurant clutching a favourite toy and looking healthier than he has done for weeks in an image also shared by his older brother. Ashya's parents, Brett and Naghmeh King, sparked an international police hunt when they removed their son from Southampton General Hospital on August 28 without medical consent. They took him to Prague to receive proton beam therapy which was not available for him on the NHS. The video blog footage shows the family taking Ashya outside and to a children's park on a sunny day. When the footage of the family in the park comes to an end, Naveed says to the camera: 'So that's kind of been like the first time in ages that Ashya's been able to go to the park. He then sits with him on a rocking toy. It is the first time in two months the little boy has gone to the park . Naveed can be seen gently supporting his younger brother's head as they rock back and forth . Ashya is clearly enjoying his time at the park - and smiles as he and his older brother sit on the rocking toy . The footage, uploaded by Naveed, 20, then shows him playing with a giggling Ashya on a toy digger - much to the little boy's delight . 'It's been about two months maybe since he's been at the park. That's pretty much since he's had his operation. So, two months for such a young boy is such a long time.' He added: 'He had such a great time. It's amazing.' Naveed described the outing as 'a huge thing'. He said: 'We haven't actually taken him out since we've been here. I really wanted to make sure he had a nice time... I'm really happy that he was happy.' The footage was posted online today but it is not clear when exactly the footage was filmed, although at the beginning of the film Naveed says it is Sunday. Two days ago, Naveed posted a photograph of himself and Ashya on Instagram, saying: 'Ashya found 2 people today in prague wishing him well, people who he had never meet before, but they knew all about him!' While posted online today, it is not clear when exactly the footage was filmed, although at the beginning of the film Naveed says it is Sunday . Five-year-old cancer patient Ashya King was seen for the first time since undergoing brain tumour treatment - on a family trip to a pizza restaurant with his older brother Naveed . Once it was discovered the Kings had fled with Ashya in August, an international arrest warrant was issued and the parents faced a protracted legal battle to get him to the Proton Therapy Centre (PTC), with a High Court judge only approving the move after they had been released from police custody in Spain. The PTC has said proton therapy is more effective than radiotherapy as it limits the collateral damage of radiation to other vital organs, such as the heart and liver in Ashya's case. This would lead to less severe long-term side-effects including heart and breathing problems. The NHS has since agreed to fund Ashya's treatment. Jana Kulhankova, of the Proton Therapy Centre of Prague, said the boy had been moved into his own private room following his last round of proton beam therapy. Naveed King (right) claims Kids n Cancer have accused his family of being greedy by asking for the £50k raised for his younger brother Ashya's (left) treatment. The charity refused the request because it will be funded by the NHS . Brett and Naghemeh King with their son Ashya, 5, at the Motole University Hospital as he waits to have proton beam therapy at a clinic in Prague . 'Ashya left the intensive care unit on Tuesday and has been put in an individual room,' she said. He has 'started to put on weight, he is smiling, and he is reacting to the gestures of his parents and those close to him,' she added. His father, Brett King, said the family are now considering the next step of his treatment which could see them head to Spain. He said: 'Now Ashya has started his proton beam therapy, we need to be thinking about what comes next. 'He still cannot move on his own and he can't talk properly either so we need to think about physiotherapy and occupational therapy for him. 'We have got a doctor who works in Madrid coming to see us soon so he can assess Ashya and his condition. But he will definitely need ongoing treatment in a hospital so we won't be coming home for a while.' He added that Ashya still needs to be fed through a tube and they are still working out the best way to get him to the hospital in Spain. 'Once we meet the doctor, we will have a better idea of what lies ahead,' he said. | Ashya King, five, is seen smiling as he is gently lifted out of his pushchair .
Older brother Naveed, 20, then sits and holds him on a rocking toy .
The YouTube footage then shows him helping Ashya on a toy digger .
Comes after Ashya was seen pictured on a family trip to a pizza restaurant . |
73,271 | cfcc81776217340bb30c29980514a5ceecaf84c0 | Washington (CNN) -- No blood was spilled. But otherwise, a packed Senate hearing room Tuesday watched the political equivalent of a heavyweight fight. Top Senate Democrat Harry Reid sat just feet from rival Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for a rhetorical battle royal over campaign finance and Reid's push to change the Constitution to limit that spending. "The Constitution doesn't give corporations a vote, and it doesn't give dollar bills a vote," said Reid. The Nevada Democrat is pushing for a Constitutional amendment to override the Supreme Court's 2010 "Citizens United" decision and allow Congress to set firm limits on independent and corporate campaign spending in federal elections. The proposal, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Michael Bennet of Colorado, would also allow states to set more campaign limits in their elections. The Judiciary Committee hearing set up a rare side-by-side appearance by Reid and McConnell, two powerful leaders who are known for their sometimes bitter disagreements over process and policy in the Senate. The effect was electric as the hearing started. Hundreds of seated spectators craned their necks to see both men. As McConnell looked straight ahead at the panel of senators, Reid swung. "Campaign finance reform has been proposed a number of times before -- even by my counterpart, Senator McConnell," Reid said. The Democratic leader pointed to the Republican's 1988 proposal that would have restricted some PAC and so-called "soft-money" contributions made to organizations. McConnell's office has said that the proposal was an alternative to a much more limiting campaign finance bill and insists he has not voted for any funding restrictions since. But Reid kept at it. "Senator McConnell had the right idea (in 1988)," he offered. The Nevada senator also employed his signature move in the debate, blasting conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, saying the brothers run 15 "phantom" or "phony" campaign funding organizations. Who are the Koch brothers? McConnell waited his turn. Reid finished but then surprised some in the room, indicating he would not stay to hear McConnell's response. Reid's office later told CNN that he had to give remarks at a meeting about mental health and suicide prevention. As he moved to leave, Reid joked that his Republican counterpart likely would not be upset by his departure. "Nope, no problem," McConnell deadpanned. To scattered laughter, Reid exited. Then, the Republican punched back. "Given how incredibly bad this amendment is, I can't blame my friend, the majority leader, from wanting to talk about the Koch Brothers or what I may have said over a quarter century ago," McConnell said. The Kentucky Republican jabbed at the proposal to give Congress control of campaign limits. He called it a threat to basic speech rights and then got to the basic disagreement of the debate: Whether limiting campaign dollars is also limiting speech. Supreme Court allows more private money in election campaigns . By setting spending rates, McConnell argued, Congress would choose who gets how much influence in politics. "Not only would (this proposal) allow the government to favor some speakers over others, it would guarantee preferential treatment," McConnell argued. Other senators in the hearing soon rang in, exchanging quotes from the founding fathers and debating which political party was truly protecting free speech. "This amendment is about power and it is about silencing citizens," boomed Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican of Texas. "When did the (Democrats) abandon the Bill of Rights? ... This would give Congress the power to ban books and muzzle movies." Members of the group Public Citizen, which opposes the "Citizens United" ruling that removed legal barriers preventing corporations and unions from spending unlimited sums on federal elections, laughed mockingly as Cruz spoke. A few rows ahead, some others shot them stern looks. 2014 Midterms: What's at stake . Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer responded directly to Cruz' strike at Democrats. "I think if Thomas Jefferson were looking down at what's being proposed here, he would agree with it," Schumer said. The New Yorker noted that the Supreme Court has upheld some limits on speech, including restrictions on things like child pornography. He directly challenged the Texas tea party favorite. "I want to ask you Sen. Cruz - are you against anti-child pornography laws?" Schumer asked. At the time, Cruz was gone, voting on the Senate floor. When he returned, he was not pleased. "I understand that in my absence Sen. Schumer very kindly gave a lecture on civility and encouraged me not to go over the top, while he then in the same breath accused me of supporting child pornography," Cruz told the committee sarcastically. "So I appreciate that demonstration in senatorial restraint from the senior senator from New York." The hearing was both a serious, powerful debate and an exercise in the tricky personal and political barbs that now litter the Senate. Attendance alone indicated the high stakes and interest in the topic -- with a long hallway full of people being sent to an overflow room to watch the hearing from the building next door. The subject has keen advantages to both political sides, both use it to stoke their bases. But while the hearing may have been high-interest, McConnell ultimately raised the bottom-line question: Where will this constitutional amendment push end up? "Everybody on this committee knows this proposal is never going to pass Congress. This is a political exercise and that's all this is," McConnell told the committee. Democrats insist they will fight for the change, but there is no vote scheduled yet on the proposal and it is not clear when there could be one. Primaries Roundup . | Democrat Harry Reid and Republican Mitch McConnell in a rare joint appearance at Senate hearing .
Reid is pushing to change the Constitution to override a court decision opening up campaign spending .
The hearing was an exercise in the tricky personal and political barbs that now litter the Senate . |
158,052 | 585826ee6bf4f969707c88ec0783874b73daaa08 | This rare cloud phenomenon lasted for around 20 to 30 minutes on Monday . A massive roll cloud blew over Timbercreek Canyon, Texas on Monday. A roll cloud is a horizontal cloud formation that glides relatively low to the ground, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.Usually these types of clouds occur alongside thunderstorms, sea breezes, and cold fronts. This particular roll cloud wasn't caused by a thunderstorm. Huffington Post reports, roll clouds can occur at mysterious times, even during temperate weather. They are not dangerous, and can be caused by cold winds--perhaps that was the cause in this particular instance. Truck driver Bonnie Mask who lives near Amarillo, Texas managed to capture the rare weather phenomenon on camera. Mask, who had the day off, looked out her window Monday morning to spot the tube-like roll cloud which tread on for about 20 to 30 minutes..Yahoo News reported that She captured the video from in deck in Timbercreek Canyon so that she could show the footage to her husband, Todd. Todd Mask later posted the video on his youtube channel. According to Livescience, 'Sinking cold air causes warm, moist air on the planet's surface to climb to higher altitudes, where the moisture condenses into cloud form.' Bonnie Mask captured this roll cloud on camera--not caused by a thunderstorm in this rare instance . Kim Cunningham, a meteorologist for the Weather Channel, told Yahoo,' This is fairly rare, by the way, to have these things and see these things,especially when not associated with a thunderstorm. ... It's pretty cool though, and it probably freaked a lot of people out.'Roll clouds are also extremely rare. Mask told Yahoo news, 'There was some cool air that blew over as the cloud blew over the house,' she said, adding that it was 'kind of strange.' Todd Mask described the cloud in his wife's footage as, 'rolling like an ocean wave' and 'like a horizontal vortex.' Sometimes roll clouds are mistaken for UFOs. Todd Mask and his wife Bonnie called the phenomenon that blew over Texas 'kind of strange.' | A roll cloud is a horizontal cloud .
formation that glides relatively low to the ground, according to the .
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association .
In a rare instance, the roll cloud in Texas on Monday was not associated with a thunderstorm .
Truck driver Bonnie Mask had the day off so she decided to capture the event on camera in a captivating video . |
192,354 | 850ca6f1172556c727bbfc2777c8a8e22b76c417 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 06:08 EST, 5 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:08 EST, 5 December 2012 . A glamorous 28-year-old businesswoman killed herself because she struggled to cope with living alone in Britain with her family dispersed across the world, an inquest heard yesterday. Sales manager Sharon Bukokhe, of Levenshulme, Manchester, was a high achiever working for a family planning charity but felt lonely because relatives including her husband lived abroad. Mrs Bukokhe, who was originally from Kenya, used her laptop to research ways to commit suicide, applied full make up and painted her nails then suffocated herself at her flat in April. Suicide: Sales manager Sharon Bukokhe, of Levenshulme, Manchester, was a high achiever working for a family planning charity but felt lonely as relatives including her husband lived in other countries . A diary found after her death said: ‘I think that any life is as valid as the next, such that an ending of 25 is as good as 88. I have no real regrets or fears any more, I just feel decisive and justified.’ Mrs Bukokhe, who appeared to friends to be ‘the happiest person in the world’, settled in the UK in 2002 and graduated in design and engineering at Nottingham Trent University, the inquest heard. She was later appointed sales manager of a charity helping with family planning issues involving third world countries. But Mrs Bukokhe was deeply affected by her family living in other countries. Her husband lived in South Africa so he could complete a Master’s Degree whilst her mother lived in Richmond, Virginia, in the US, and her sister lived in Canada. Her only relative in Britain was her brother who lived 250 miles away in Gillingham, Kent and as a result of her feelings of loneliness she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Tragic: Mrs Bukokhe, who was originally from Kenya, used her laptop to research ways to commit suicide, applied full make up and painted her nails then suffocated herself at her flat in April . Mrs Bukokhe’s sister Caroline Lusiche, who flew in from Canada to be at the inquest in Manchester said: ‘There were many factors which led to it. 'I think that any life is as valid as the next, such that an ending of 25 is as good as 88. I have no real regrets or fears any more, I just feel decisive and justified' Diary entry by Sharon Bukokhe . ‘She was a high achiever, her marriage was also a big factor. She wanted it to succeed but he was in South Africa doing his masters. She moved and they decided to put that marriage on hold. ‘She had come here as a very young girl and it really affected her that we were all dispersed in different countries. In the last few days we had been trying to get back in touch with each other. ‘But because of the time difference- me in Canada - we kept missing each other. I sent her an email and did not hear back then I heard. ‘She was trying to be the one to bring the family together, she had a lot on her shoulders weighing on her. She had high objectives we were taught to hold our chin up and get on with it. Glamorous: She was sales manager of a charity helping with family planning issues in third world countries . ‘She tried to persevere she wanted to do that to protect your feelings - she didn’t want to make you feel bad.’ 'She was a high achiever, her marriage was also a big factor. She wanted it to succeed but he was in South Africa doing his masters. She moved and they decided to put that marriage on hold' Caroline Lusiche, Mrs Bukokhe's sister . Mrs Bukokhe’s flatmate of two years, Stefanie Maccalli, told the hearing: ‘She was a really artistic, creative person, very active - and I think everybody who didn’t know her particularly well found her the happiest person in the world. ‘I would say the creative and joy and artistic side was real but the happiness she was showing all the time was not always real. There were times when she was not this happy, outgoing person. 'The two years I knew her where divided into a two periods, the first she was taking medication for the bipolar and she was always very happy. ‘In the second part she changed the amount of medication. She would have ups and downs every few weeks. When low she would not like to talk too much and would take a day off work and stay in her room and watch movies. Intelligent: Mrs Bukokhe, who appeared to friends to be 'the happiest person in the world', settled in the UK in 2002 and graduated in design and engineering at Nottingham Trent University (left), the inquest heard . ‘She was always trying to find a balance. She started saying things like she could not show weakness, she felt guilty about being dull.’ Ms Maccalli said that the last time she saw her was on April 24, in the kitchen of their shared home. 'She was a really artistic, creative person, very active and I think everybody who didn’t know her particularly well found her the happiest person in the world' Stefanie Maccalli, Mrs Bukokhe's flatmate . ‘She told me that she was thinking about buying a house, she was taking in a very positive way about the future - but her eyes did not show that,’ Ms Maccalli said. ‘She took her food upstairs so I got that she was in one of her low moods. The last look she gave me, I got the feeling it was kind of a serious look. I had a bad feeling.’ Ms Maccalli added that the next couple of nights she arrived home late but had become concerned that neither she nor her other housemate had seen Mrs Bukokhe. ‘I decided to check Facebook to see if she had gone somewhere but I couldn’t find her profile. That was the moment everything started clicking,’ she said. ‘I sent her a text to her mobile. Part of me was already thinking something bad.’ Cut off: Her only relative in Britain was her brother who lived 250 miles away in Gillingham, Kent and as a result of her feelings of loneliness she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder . ‘We tried to open the door it wouldn’t open - it was obvious that it was closed from the inside. We decided to try and break the door, we looked inside and she was on the floor in front of the door. ‘She was dressed with make-up and her nails done, she looked like she had been somewhere nice or she was just going somewhere.’ 'When I found out it shocked me very much. She always put a brave face on, she said she did feel very lonely' Dr Javaid Khan, Mrs Bukokhe's doctor . The inquest was told Mrs Bukokhe had last seen her doctor, Dr Javaid Khan, in March this year. He told the inquest that she had stopped taking her medication in January, and said she was feeling low and her sleep was variable and she had a lack of motivation. Dr Khan said: ‘She was having suicidal thoughts but she could put them aside. She was not a severe type of manic depression, there was a low assessment of suicide. ‘When I found out it shocked me very much. She always put a brave face on, she said she did feel very lonely.’ Recording a verdict of suicide, Deputy Coroner for Manchester Carolyn Singleton said: ‘I’m sure that Sharon intended to kill herself.’ | Manchester sales boss Sharon Bukokhe worked for family planning charity .
Nottingham Trent University graduate's husband was South Africa student .
Her closest relative lived 250 miles away and others lived in US and Canada .
She applied full make up and painted nails then suffocated herself at home .
For confidential .
support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local .
Samaritans branch or click here for details . |
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